October 16, 2022

Title: FINDING GOD

Constructor: Zhouqin Burnikel

Editors: Anna Gundlach & Erik Agard

Theme Answers:

CHICAGO DOG (16A: Wrigley Field treat in a poppy seed bun)

LOGO DESIGN (29A: Part of creating a brand identity)

EGO DEATH (45A: Total loss of self identity)

GO DOWNHILL (58A: Take a turn for the worse)

Theme synopsis: The word GOD is found connecting the two words in each theme answer.

Things I learned:

• PAN (39A: Vessel for making japchae) Japchae is a stir-fried dish originating from Korea. It is a savory and sweet dish of cellophane noodles and vegetables, seasoned with soy sauce and sesame oil.
• EGO DEATH (45A: Total loss of self identity) EGO DEATH is a new term to me. In the hero's journey - a common template for mythological and adventure stories - EGO DEATH is part of the second phase. The term EGO DEATH is used in psychedelic and mystical communities to describe a temporary (and often instantaneous) state of autobiographical amnesia, when you suddenly view the world without remembering information about yourself.
• UKE (64A: Genoa Keawe's instrument, for short) Genoa Keawe (1918-2008), known as Auntie Genoa, was a Hawaiian singer and ukulele (UKE) player. She was known for her falsetto singing, and her ability to hold a note for over two minutes. Her signature song was "Alika."

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• MEME (1A: Euphoria High or Sad Keanu) Euphoria High MEMEs are those referring to the HBO TV series Euphoria. (The school on the TV show is named Eastland High, but most people on TikTok and Twitter refer to it as Euphoria High.) Sad Keanu is a MEME based on a paparazzi photo of Keanu Reeves sitting on a bench eating a sandwich. 
• OPERA (14A: Hanoi ___ House) Located in Vietnam's capital, the Hanoi OPERA House was built by the French Colonial Administration from 1901-1911, and is modeled on a Parisian OPERA house, Palais Garnier. 
• CHICAGO DOG (16A: Wrigley Field treat in a poppy seed bun) Wrigley Field is the home stadium for MLB's CHICAGO Cubs, so it's appropriate that CHICAGO DOGs are served there. A CHICAGO DOG is an all-beef hot DOG served on a poppy seed bun (as the clue informs us) and topped with yellow mustard, chopped onions, relish, a dill pickle spear, tomato, pickled peppers, and celery salt. There is no ketchup on a traditional CHICAGO DOG. (Side note: Although I've never had a CHICAGO DOG, the idea of FINDING GOD while eating one amuses me.)
• ELI (36A: Trans activist Erlick) I have previously written about trans activist ELI Erlick.
• WRAPS (41A: Kati roll and ssam) Traditionally, a kati roll, originating in India, was a skewer-roasted kebab wrapped in paratha bread (a type of flatbread). The term kati roll has expanded to include WRAPS of various fillings inside Indian flatbread. Ssam is a bite-sized lettuce WRAP in Korean cuisine. Lettuce is used to WRAP a piece of meat and other fillings.
• EDIE (25D: Singer Brickell) EDIE Brickell is the lead singer with the folk rock group, EDIE Brickell & New Bohemians. The band's 1988 debut album was Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars. EDIE Brickell has also released solo albums, Picture Perfect Morning (1994) and Volcano (2003). She (appropriately) played a folk singer in the 1989 movie, Born on the Fourth of July. 
• BROTHER (44D: Tahj Mowry, to Tia and Tamera) I have written several times about twin sisters, Tia and Tamera Mowry, who play identical twin sisters on the TV series, Sister, Sister, and in the Disney movie, Twitches. Tahj Mowry is the younger BROTHER of Tia and Tamera. Acting runs in the family, apparently, as Tahj Mowry played the role of T.J. Henderson on the TV series, Smart Guy, and will appear in the upcoming Disney+ TV series, The Muppets Mayhem.
• ADOPT (49D: Bring home a stray cat) All of the cats we have had, were ADOPTed, including

  

  Willow

  Willow. Since she got her annual vaccines on Friday, Willow has been feeling a bit punky. She spent much of yesterday snuggling under a blanket on my lap.
• OLIN (55D: "The Reader" actress Lena) The Reader is a 2008 movie based on a German novel of the same name by Bernhard Schlink. Lena OLIN played the role of Rose Mather.

Geography review:

• SEDONA (33A: Arizona resort city) SEDONA is a city in north-central Arizona. Located within the   Coconino National Forest, SEDONA is known for its natural beauty, which includes formations of red sandstone. Here's a fun fact (speaking of LOGO DESIGN): SEDONA is home to the only McDonald's whose arches are turquoise rather than the traditional golden color. 
• IDAHO STATE (28D: Pocatello-based university) Pocatello is a city in southeastern IDAHO, and the home of IDAHO STATE University. 
• URDU (50D: National language of Pakistan) Pakistan is a country in South Asia. Its capital is Islamabad. Over 60 different languages are spoken in Pakistan, but URDU and English are the country's official languages. URDU is the lingua franca of Pakistan, a bridge language spoken by over 75% of Pakistanis.

Four interesting paths to FINDING GOD in this take on a classic USA Today theme type. Enjoyable entries include WHOOPIE PIE, ESCARGOT, and PROP ROOMS. Thank you, Zhouqin, for this puzzle that was a fine way to begin my Sunday morning.