July 7, 2022

Title: INTERNAL MATTER

Constructors: Rebecca Goldstein & Rachel Fabi

Editor: Erik Agard

Theme Answers:

NATO MEMBERS (16A: Countries in an international alliance founded in 1949)

POTATO MASHER (29A: Kitchen tool used to make shepherd's pie)

ROMA TOMATOES (45A: Ingredients in marinara sauce)

MARISA TOMEI (60A: "Spider-Man: No Way Home" actress)

Theme synopsis: Each theme answer contains INTERNAL MATTER in the form of the word ATOM spanning the two words in the answer.

Things I learned:

• PAM (7A: Saleswoman for the Michael Scott Paper Company) I needed the help of crossing answers for this one, but once I figured it out, I recognized it as a reference to The Office. The mockumentary TV series, The Office, depicts work at the fictional Dunder Mifflin Paper Company. In the fifth season of The Office, Michael Scott (Steve Carell), PAM Beesly (Jenna Fischer), and Ryan Howard (B.J. Novak) attempt to start a new company, the Michael Scott Paper Company. 

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• ION (15A: Charged particle) and MASS (9D: Weight) These two answers provide a couple of nice theme bonuses. An ION is a charged ATOM, and one definition of MASS is a quantity of MATTER.
• NATO MEMBERS (16A: Countries in an international alliance founded in 1949) The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is a military alliance established with the signing of the North Atlantic Treaty in 1949. There are currently 30 NATO MEMBERS. Five additional countries (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Finland, Georgia, Sweden, and Ukraine) have informed NATO of their desire to join the alliance. 
• POTATO MASHER (29A: Kitchen tool used to make shepherd's pie) Shepherd's pie is a savory dish of meat and/or vegetables topped with mashed potatoes. There are many variations of shepherd's pie, but the mashed potato topping is consistent. 
• NIH (32A: Home of the National Library of Medicine) The United States National Library of Medicine (NLM) is an institute within the National Institutes of Health (NIH) located in Bethesda, Maryland. The NLM is the world's largest medical library. The current director of the NLM is Patricia Flatley Brennan. If you aren't yet familiar with MedlinePlus, I recommend bookmarking the site for future use. Operated by the National Library of Medicine, MedlinePlus is a great online resource for trustworthy information on medical topics.
• EMO (37A: Dashboard Confessional genre) Dashboard Confessional is an EMO rock band whose name is derived from a song off of their debut album. "The Sharp Hint of Tears" begins with the line, "On the way home / This car hears my confessions."
• ASTRAL (41A: ___ projection (out-of-body experience)) ASTRAL projection refers to an intentionally-triggered out-of-body experience. Some individuals attempt to attain ASTRAL projection through meditation or self-hypnosis. This Oprah Daily article goes into more detail about ASTRAL projection.
• MRS. (59A: "___ Piggle-Wiggle") MRS. Piggle Wiggle (1947) was written by Betty MacDonald, and is the first of a series of children's books about a small woman living in an upside-down house. MRS. Piggle Wiggle (which my auto-correct keeps trying to unhelpfully correct to MRS. Piglet Wiggle...) provides parents with "cures" for their children's bad habits, such as the "Interrupting Cure," or the "Won't-Pick-Up-Toys Cure." 
• MARISA TOMEI (60A: "Spider-Man: No Way Home" actress) In the 2021 movie, Spider-Man: No Way Home, MARISA TOMEI plays the role of May Parker, Peter Parker's aunt.
• GOSPEL (65A: CeCe Winans genre) CeCe Winans has won 15 Grammy Awards, the most for any female GOSPEL singer. She has also been honored with seven NAACP Image Awards. 
• PITA CHIPS (10D: Hummus scoopers) and DOUBLE DIP (11D: Scoop hummus twice with the same scooper) I love this pair of consecutive clues whose answers appropriately appear side-by-side in the grid. 
• ARENA (28D: PPG Paints ___ (Penguins' home)) The Pittsburgh Penguins are an NHL team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. As the clue informs us, the home ARENA of the Pittsburgh Penguins is the PPG Paints ARENA.
• MATRIX (46D: "The ___: Resurrections" (2021 sci-fi sequel)) The MATRIX: Resurrections was the fourth installment in the MATRIX movie franchise. It was preceded by The MATRIX (1999), The MATRIX Reloaded (2003), and The MATRIX Revolutions (2003).
• SAMOSA (47D: ___ chaat) SAMOSA chaat are snacks of fried or baked dough filled with a savory mixture and served with a spicy chickpea curry (known as chole), yogurt, and chutney. SAMOSA chaat is a popular street food in parts of India.

Geography review:

• UCLA (27A: School in the City of Angels) Los Angeles is Spanish for "the angels," and one nickname of Los Angeles, California is the City of Angels. The City of Angels, also known as The Entertainment Capital of the World, La-la-land, and, of course, L.A., is home to the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA).

I thoroughly enjoyed this delightful science-related theme that included four great theme answers. The cluing was enjoyable overall, but I especially enjoyed the clues for PANT (35A: Talk...like this...while breathing...very fast) and HOT MESSES (34D: They're all over the place). I feel as I'M SO TIRED (33D: "This is exhausting!") is my common reaction to the news these days. Sigh. Thank you, Rebecca and Rachel, for this puzzle that was a delightful way to begin my Thursday.