August 17, 2022

Title: TRIPLE OT

Constructor: Zhouqin Burnikel

Editor: Erik Agard

Theme Answers:

ROOTED TO THE SPOT (17A: Unable to move)

DOT DOT DOT (40A: Ellipsis)

SWEET POTATO TOTS (61A: Crispy, cylindrical side dish)

Theme synopsis: Each theme answer contains the letter combination O-T three times. 

Things I learned:

• RABBI (5A: Religious title held by Amy Perlin) In 1986, RABBI Amy Perlin founded Temple B'nai Shalom in Fairfax Station, Virginia. She was the first woman RABBI in America to start her own congregation. On the subject of women RABBIs, the first woman to be ordained as a RABBI in America, Sally Priesand, was ordained just 50 years ago, in 1972. And, I have previously written about Regina Jonas, the first ordained female RABBI.
• DINGO (21A: Wild dog in the Dreamtime) In some Australian Aboriginal cultures, Dreamtime, also referred to as The Dreaming, refers to the time long ago when Spirits (sometimes referred to as Ancestors) created the land and people. The DINGO plays a prominent role in many of the Dreamtime stories. Some of the stories describe creatures that shapeshift; existing as humans and DINGOs.

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• TUNA (1A: Tekkamaki fish) Tekkamaki is a type of sushi containing raw TUNA. 
• GEESE (43A: Birds that love golf courses) Golf courses have wide open spaces and a water source, making them appealing to GEESE. As an added bonus, there are no predators. Sure, the golf courses  have humans walking around for part of the year, but the GEESE get used to them. Of course, while golf courses may make for happy GEESE, GEESE on the golf course do not make golfers happy. Some golf courses have utilized dogs to scare away the GEESE.  
• AGE (57A: "Coming of ___ in Mississippi") Coming of AGE in Mississippi is a 1968 autobiography by Anne Moody. The book chronicles Anne Moody's experience growing up in the South at the beginning of the Civil Rights Movement. 
• SPA (58A: Naked Wax Bar in Baton Rouge, for example) Although I wasn't familiar specifically with the Naked Wax Bar in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the answer was inferable, especially since we see SPA frequently as an answer. Now I have learned that Naked Wax Bar is a Black-owned wax bar, SPA, and bathhouse. 
• TORI (1D: Kelly who sang in "Sing") Sing is a 2016 animated musical movie with anthropomorphic animals (that sing, of course!). TORI Kelly voices Meena, a teenage elephant with an exquisite voice and severe stage fright. 
• NO ONE CARES (3D: Putdown similar to "Cool story, bro") Ouch. Similarly, I had a high school English teacher that used to say, "Thank you for sharing..."
• RADICAL (5D: "The Body Is Not an Apology: The Power of ___ Self-Love") The Body Is Not an Apology: The Power of RADICAL Self Love is a 2021 book by Sonya Renee Taylor. The Body Is Not an Apology is also the name of a movement and a media and education company founded by Sonya Renee Taylor to explore "the intersections of identity, healing, and social justice through the framework of RADICAL self-love."
• BLOG (7D: "Sally's Take on the USA Today Crossword" is one) Hmmm, what might the answer to this clue be? Always a bit surreal (and a huge thrill!) to get a shoutout in the puzzle. If you have found your way to the BLOG as a result of this clue, welcome! 
• EDIE (18D: LGBTQ+ advocate Windsor) I have previously written about EDIE Windsor, the plaintiff in the 2013 Supreme Court case, United States v. Windsor.
• ONO (62D: Hawaiian name for wahoo) ONO is the Hawaiian name for the wahoo, a fish found in tropical and subtropical areas. In Hawaiian, "ONO" means "delicious," or "good to eat."

Geography review:

• AIRES (38A: Buenos ___, Argentina) Buenos AIRES is the capital and largest city of Argentina. Its name translates to "fair winds." Buenos AIRES is located on the southeastern coast of South America. 

I'm just sitting here writing my BLOG while I eat SWEET POTATO TOTS and drink APPLE CIDER. Actually, only one of those things is true; the other two are wishful thinking. A fun repeated letter theme. I especially liked the theme answer DOT DOT DOT, though it took some help from crossing answers to see it. AT IT AGAIN and OLD PAL are great bonus fill. Obviously, my favorite clue is the one for BLOG. 😊 Thank you, Zhouqin, for this puzzle that was a delightful way to begin my Wednesday.