August 8, 2022

Title: IN THE LOOP

Constructor: Neville Fogarty

Editor: Erik Agard

Theme Answers:

LOCAL STOP (16A: It's passed by express trains)

LOLLIPOP (20A: Treat on a stick)

LOFI HIP HOP (41A: Downtempo music that some people study to)

LOIN CHOP (58A: Tender cut of lamb)

LOVE ON TOP (63A: Beyonce song with four key changes)

Theme synopsis: Each theme answer is contained withIN THE word LOOP.

Things I learned:

• ANDY (14A: Cornell grad on "The Office") ANDY Bernard, played by Ed Helms, is a character introduced in Season 3 of the mockumentary sitcom, The Office. ANDY often referred to his alma mater of Cornell - here's a video compilation of every time ANDY said "Cornell" on the show. Spoiler alert...On the series finale, ANDY has found a job at Cornell.
• KEN (53A: Pioneering gay activist Jones) KEN Jones was a Black gay activist who is known for his work to desegregate LGBTQ+ activism. KEN Jones was a deacon and a Vietnam vet, and became the first Black chair of San Francisco Pride. Ken Jones was featured in When We Rise, the ABC docudrama about the history of LGBTQ+ rights advocacy. In the miniseries he was portrayed by Michael K. Williams and Jonathan Majors (who played young KEN Jones). KEN Jones died in 2021 at the age of 70.
• DIEGO (65A: San ___ Super Bloom (team in the Western Ultimate League)) Western Ultimate League was founded in 2020, and is a professional women's ultimate league. I have previously written about the self-officiated sport of ultimate, also known as ultimate Frisbee. San DIEGO Super Bloom is one of the Western Ultimate League's seven teams. 
• KARMA (25D: Kriyamana is a type of it) In Hinduism, Kriyamana KARMA, sometimes referred to as future KARMA, is the KARMA (a principle of cause and effect) that human beings are creating in the present through our actions.

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• DISCO (15A: "Don't Leave Me This Way" genre) "Don't Leave Me This Way" is a 1975 song originally recorded by Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes featuring Teddy Pendergrass. The song reached number three on Billboard's US Hot DISCO Singles chart. It was later covered by Thelma Houston (1976) and the Communards (1986). Interesting side note: Tina Turner released a (different) song titled "Don't Leave Me This Way," in 2000. That song became a minor hit in Germany. Tina Turner's song is a (non-DISCO) ballad.
• SHOGUN (19A: Former Japanese title) SHOGUN was the title used for Japan's Emperor-appointed military dictators from 1185 to 1868. 
• TWO (39A: Smallest prime number) A prime number is a number that is not a product of two smaller numbers. For example, four is not a prime number because it is a product of TWO times TWO. Since a prime number is defined as a "number greater than one," the smallest prime number is TWO.
• LOFI HIP HOP (41A: Downtempo music that some people study to) LOFI HIP HOP is also known as chillpop. It combines elements of HIP HOP and chill-out music (a genre characterized by slow tempos and relaxed moods). LOFI HIP HOP originated in the 2000s, and gained popularity in 2020 during the early part of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a side note, although LOFI HIP HOP would not fit yesterday's theme, it reminded me of that puzzle since all of yesterday's theme answerS contained a form of "FI."
• MRS. (43A: ___ Peacock) and PLUM (55D: Shade of purple) I will always be happy to see a Clue reference in my crossword (either the board game or the movie inspired by the game). Although PLUM was not clued in reference to the game, the earlier reference to MRS. Peacock had me thinking of Professor PLUM (my favorite Clue suspect) as I filled in that answer.
• PLASMA (55A: About 55% of blood) and LYMPH (21D: ___ nodes) LYMPH nodes are part of the lymphatic system, which is part of the body's immune system. LYMPH, the fluid flowing through the lymphatic system, is similar to blood PLASMA. Hooray for science in crosswords!
• LOVE ON TOP (63A: Beyonce song with four key changes) When she co-wrote "LOVE ON TOP," Beyoncé took inspiration from her performance of Etta James in the biographical drama, Cadillac Records. At the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards, Beyoncé performed "LOVE ON TOP" live, and at the end of the song announced she was pregnant. Fun fact: Matthew Stock mentioned the key changes in "LOVE ON TOP" when he guest blogged for me on August 23, 2020. 
• DOSE (67A: Prescription amount) and MEDS (69A: Prescriptions, for short) The former pharmacist in me is a fan of these two clues.
• COCO (3D: Pixar film with the song "Remember Me") The song "Remember Me" is used throughout the 2016 Pixar movie, COCO, including in the end credits. 
• TOM (64D: Male cat or turkey) Although Willow is not a TOM cat, nor is she (usually) a turkey.

  

  Happy International Cat Day!

   However, she is delighted that there is a cat clue in today's puzzle, because today is International Cat Day. Let's face it, Willow thinks every day is Cat Day! You might celebrate by visiting the CATS of SALLY'S TAKE page, or by sending me a photo of your cat to be included in a future blog post!

Geography review:

• LAOS (9A: Boun Khoun Khao country) Boun Khoun Khao is an agricultural festival held in LAOS  centered on the idea of giving thanks for the rice harvest. 
• OMAHA (18A: Nebraska's largest city) OMAHA is located on the eastern edge of Nebraska. It sits on the banks of the Missouri River. Council Bluffs, Iowa is across the river. Lincoln, the capitol of Nebraska, is about 60 miles southwest of OMAHA.
• KOREA (25A: Where "Arirang" is sung) "Arirang" is a Korean folk song that appears twice on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List, as it was submitted separately by North KOREA and South KOREA. Many variations of the song exist, all with a similar refrain. 
• ALA (37D: Birmingham's state (Abbr.) Birmingham is located in north-central ALAbama. Although Birmingham is the third-most populous city in the state, after Huntsville and the capital city of Montgomery, the Birmingham metropolitan area is the largest in ALAbama.

I hope you're feeling IN THE LOOP today! I enjoyed this theme with its five theme answers - LOVE ON TOP was my favorite. I also liked OTTOMAN, COSMO, and PRANCING. The grid is asymmetric, but it is just two black squares away from having top-bottom mirror symmetry. (Can you find those two squares?) With complete lack of SNARK, I say thank you, Neville, for this puzzle that was a great way to begin my Monday.