December 12, 2022

Title: ALBUM DROP

Constructors: Kavin Pawittranon & Nijah Morris

Editor: Erik Agard 

Theme Answers:

TRIPLE-DOUBLE (3D: Stat sheet-stuffing basketball feat)

AND WE'RE LIVE (17D: Phrase at the start of a broadcast)

WHAT A CONCEPT (21D: Sarcastic "How come no one's thought of that before?")

Theme synopsis: The last word of each vertical theme answer is a type of ALBUM. We have a DROP of a DOUBLE ALBUM, a LIVE ALBUM, and a CONCEPT ALBUM.

Things I learned:

• WII (15A: Nintendo console with a Nunchuk controller) The WII remote is the controller for Nintendo's WII home video game console. The Nunchuk controller connects to the WII remote, and is so named because it resembles the traditional Okinawan martial arts weapon, nunchaku (or nunchucks). As I have never played a game on a Nintendo console, and never used a WII remote, with or without a Nunchuk controller, I really have no idea if I've described this correctly! However, once I had the W from OWNER (9D: Proprietor), I was pretty sure the answer had to be WII.
• CHOP (54A: Do a big ___ (go natural)) The "big CHOP" is a term used to refer to cutting off relaxed or chemically processed hair, and reverting to your natural hair texture. 
• ADAI (2D: Dosa served with avial) Avial is a thick vegetable stew originating from Southern India. A dosa is a thin pancake made from a fermented batter of lentils and rice. ADAI dosa is a variation  eaten with avial that is made with curry leaves, red chillies, and asafoetida (dried latex exuded from the rhizome of perennial herbs).
• TRIPLE-DOUBLE (3D: Stat sheet-stuffing basketball feat) A TRIPLE-DOUBLE in basketball refers to a performance of a player that achieves a double-digit total in three of five statistical categories in a single game. Those categories are points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocked shots. Russell Westbrook, who currently plays for NBA's Los Angeles Lakers holds the record for career TRIPLE-DOUBLEs (194). Add the TRIPLE-DOUBLE to the list of sports things I've learned from crosswords. It remains true that (almost) everything I know about sports I've learned from crossword puzzles. 

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• DEATH RAY (24A: Killer beam from a UFO) This answer immediately made me think of Star Wars, and the DEATH Star, a space station with a DEATH RAY capable of annihilating entire planets into rubble. A cheery thought; good thing that technology remains fictional.
• GET INTO IT (32A: Start arguing) and GOES AT IT (7D: Has an argument) There's a bit of an argument going on in the upper right corner of the grid!
• BORAT (38A: Sacha Baron Cohen character from Kazakhstan) BORAT is a fictional character performed by Sacha Baron Cohen in the mockumentaries BORAT! Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan (2006) and BORAT Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery of Prodigious Bribe to American Regime for Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan (2020). BORAT is also a main character on Da Ali G Show, a satirical British TV series. 
• MCRIB (42A: Seasonal fast-food sandwich with pork) and BBQ (12D: Potato chip flavor, for short) The MCRIB, a BBQ-flavored pork sandwich, has made occasional appearances on the McDonald's menu since its introduction in 1981. Since 2006, it is generally available in the fall at most McDonald's restaurants. If you're a fan of the MCRIB, you might be interested to know it's a permanent menu item at McDonald's in Germany and Luxembourg. (Typically it's served with fries, rather than BBQ potato chips.)
• BOB (43A: Inverted ___ (hairstyle)) The inverted BOB refers to hair cut in short layers at the back of the head, tapering to a longer length at the sides of the face.
• LACROSSE (44A: Sport with sticks) My first thought was hockey, which obviously didn't fit. Crossing answers revealed LACROSSE as the sport with sticks. LACROSSE is the oldest organized sport played in North America. Players use the head of their stick, featuring a net, to carry, pass, catch, and shoot the rubber ball into the goal.
• LAMPREY (64A: Bloodsucking fish) and EEL (53D Snakelike fish) A LAMPREY is sometimes inaccurately referred to as a LAMPREY EEL. Though both are long fish, LAMPREYs and EELs are members of different classification systems. Some species of LAMPREY bore into other fish to suck their blood. 
• MEI (13D: Younger sister in "My Neighbor Totoro") I learned about the 1988 anime film, My Neighbor Totoro, and the sisters Satsuma and MEI, from the October 10, 2020 puzzle. 
• BABUSHKA (38D: Headscarf from the Russian for "grandma") A BABUSHKA is a headscarf tied under the chin. The scarves were traditionally worn by older Russian women, which is how they got their name. 
• HARAM (46D: Not halal) In Islam, HARAM refers to foods that are forbidden, and halal refers to foods that are permissible to eat. Although the terms are often used in reference to Islamic dietary laws, their meaning can be expanded to be used to refer to actions or the use of other items, such as pharmaceuticals.

Geography Review:

• HALLOUMI (46A: Cheese from Cyprus) Cyrus is an island country in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. The capital of Cyprus is Nicosia. HALLOUMI, a cheese made from a mixture of goat's and sheep's milk, has been produced on Cyprus for many years. HALLOUMI has a higher melting point than many cheeses, making it a good choice for frying or grilling. 

This is a classic USA Today theme type. I liked the choice of interesting theme answers here; my favorite is the sarcastic, "WHAT A CONCEPT." In addition to the answers I've highlighted above, I also liked BRAIN TEASER (16A: Little mental workout). The clue for OVEN (27D: Place to store extra pans in the kitchen) made me laugh. Thank you, Kavin and Nijah, for this puzzle that was an enjoyable way to start my Monday.

One more thing: Many thanks to Kelsey Dixon, Shannon Rapp, and Matthew Stock for guest blogging this weekend while I took some time off to spend with family. I'm always grateful for my guest bloggers! If you missed their write-ups, I recommend going back and reading them.