December 2, 2022

Title: PRIMARY FUNDS

Constructor: Enrique Henestroza Anguiano

Editor: Erik Agard

Theme Answers:

HEDGE MAZE (17A: Labyrinth with green walls)

SLUSH PILE (31A: Publisher's stack of unsolicited manuscripts)

MUTUAL AID (46A: The Black Panthers' community survival programs, for example)

TRUST FALL (64A: Team-building exercise that ends with a catch)

Theme synopsis: The first (PRIMARY) word of each theme answer is a type of FUND. We have a HEDGE FUND, a SLUSH FUND, a MUTUAL FUND, and a TRUST FUND.

Things I learned:

• ALI (14A: Guyanese president Irfaan ___) Irfaan ALI was elected president of Guyana in March 2020. Following legal challenges and a recount of all ballots, he was sworn in on August 2, 2020. Irfaan ALI is the first Muslim president of Guyana.
• REY (13D: "El ___" (ranchera song with the lyric "mi palabra es la ley")) Ranchera is a genre of traditional Mexican music. The song, "El REY," which means "the king," was released in 1971 by José Alfredo Jiménez. The song has been covered by multiple artists, including Vincente Fernández, whose 1973 version made it onto the Hot Latin Songs chart. The song was inducted into the Latin Grammy Hall of Fame in 2007. The lyric "mi palabra es la ley," means, "my word is the law." In 2022, Christina Aguilera released a song titled "La Reina," (the Queen), which she has said is a response to Vincente Fernández's version of "El REY." (Essentially, a man can be the king, but he's nothing without his queen.) Although I was unfamiliar with the song, "El REY," I knew that "REY" was the Spanish word for "king," and the lyrical hint allowed me to guess the answer as REY and ley rhyme.
• ANN (63D: Track star Shelly-___ Fraser-Pryce) Representing Jamaica at the Olympics, Shelly-ANN Fraser-Pryce has one eight medals since 2008, three gold, 4 silver, and one bronze. At the 2020 Summer Olympics (held in 2021), she won a gold medal in the 4x100 m relay and a silver in the 100 m. She has been given the nickname, "Pocket Rocket," and is currently the third fastest woman of all time.

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• HAT (1A: Chullo or sombrero) A chullo is an Andean style of woolen HAT which has earflaps. A sombrero is a wide-brimmed Mexican HAT. As I've said before, providing two examples in a clue means a solver need only be familiar with one of them to be successful.
• AILEY (15A: Dancer Alvin) I first wrote about Alvin AILEY on September 22, 2020. 
• LEFTY (19A: Righty tighty, ___ loosey) So helpful. I say, "Righty tighty, lefty loosey," to myself every single time I am tightening or loosening a bolt or screw. 
• CLASSIC (37A: Book that stands the test of time) What's your favorite CLASSIC book? It would be hard for me to pick a hands-down favorite, but several I've reread numerous times are Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie (well, honestly I've reread everything by Agatha Christie multiple times), Pride and Prejudice by Jane Eyre, and The Princess Bride by William Goldman. I'd be delighted if you'd leave a comment telling me about your favorite CLASSICS. 
• DEE (45A: Actress and activist Ruby) Ruby DEE played the role of Ruth Younger in the stage and film versions of A Raisin in the Sun. In addition to acting, DEE was a well-known civil rights activist. She emceed the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom and gave the eulogy at Malcolm X's funeral in 1965.
• MUTUAL AID (46A: The Black Panthers' community survival programs, for example) The Black Panther Party created several MUTUAL AID programs, including a Free Breakfast for Children Program and Community Health Classes. 
• DIME (53A: Thinnest U.S. coin) In case this has you wondering, the DIME has a thickness (thinness?) of 0.053 inches (1.35 mm).
• TRUST FALL (64A: Team-building exercise that ends with a catch) Anyone else shudder while filling in this answer? Perhaps I'm the only one with a distrust of TRUST FALL exercises.
• SEEDS (70A: Pepitas, for example) Pepitas are pumpkin SEEDS.
• TIDIED (3D: Used the KonMari Method) The KonMari Method is Marie Kondo's system of organizing and tidying. It involves only keeping items that "spark joy" and designating a place for everything.
• MEZCAL (7D: Agave-based spirit) MEZCAL is made from the spiky-leaved plant, agave. Over 70% of MEZCAL is made in the Mexican state of Oaxaca. Tequila is a type of MEZCAL. (All tequila is MEZCAL, but not all MEZCAL is tequila.) Here's a Food 52 explanation on the differences between MEZCAL and tequila.
• LIFE-SIZE (11D: Like Madame Tussauds sculptures) Marie Tussaud (1761-1850) was a French artist known for her LIFE-SIZE wax sculptures. The first Madame Tussauds wax museum was opened in London (on Baker Street) in 1835. Since then, similar museums have been opened around the world. The Madame Tussauds London even features a LIFE-SIZE wax sculpture of Marie Tussaud.
• TDS (65D: QB-to-WR scores) Quarterback (QB) to wide receiver (WR) scores are touchdowns (TDS). Hooray for me knowing these sports initialisms.

Geography review:

• MALAWI (51D: Country bordered by Mozambique) MALAWI is a landlocked country in Southeastern Africa. In addition to Mozambique, it is bordered by Zambia and Tanzania. The capital of MALAWI is Lilongwe.

 Let's talk FUNDS, shall we? I'm not sure I could adequately explain what all of the FUNDS represented in today's puzzle actually are, but I recognized them all. This is a fun grid shape, almost split in half diagonally by those black squares zigzagging through the middle. You might say this puzzle has ATTITUDE. Thank you, Enrique, for this puzzle that was an enjoyable way to start my Friday.