January 28, 2023

Title: JARRING ENDS

Constructor: Enrique Henestroza Anguiano

Editor: Anna Gundlach

Theme Answers:

BIDDY MASON (20A: Philanthropist who won a court case for her family's freedom in 1856)

WEB COOKIE (35A: Small info file created while browsing)

IN A PICKLE (40A: Dealing with a sticky situation)

W. KAMAU BELL (52A: "United Shades of America" host)

Theme synopsis: Each theme answer ENDS with a word that is a type of JAR. We have a MASON JAR,  a COOKIE JAR, a PICKLE JAR, and a BELL JAR.

Things I learned:

• BIDDY MASON (20A: Philanthropist who won a court case for her family's freedom in 1856) Bridget "BIDDY" MASON was born enslaved in Mississippi in 1818. In 1848, a Mississippi man named Robert Smith became a convert to the Mormon church and moved his family and enslaved persons - including BIDDY MASON and her three daughters - to Utah. A few years later, Robert Smith moved again, this time to California, ignoring the fact that California was a free state, and enslaved persons entering the state automatically became free. After living enslaved in California for five years, BIDDY MASON challenged Smith in court for her freedom. The judge's ruling freed BIDDY MASON and 13 members of her extended family. BIDDY MASON worked as a midwife and nurse, and eventually purchased land in what is now downtown Los Angeles. She helped organize First A.M.E. Church, which is still active. You can learn more about BIDDY MASON here and here. 
• OSCAR BAIT (36D: Prestige films that try to "hook" Academy voters) I was unfamiliar with this terminology, but the hints in the clue helped me figure it out. Films made as OSCAR BAIT are often released just in advance of OSCAR season, in order to be fresh in the minds of those who cast votes for the Academy Awards. Researchers at the University of California Los Angeles have studied 25 years of movie data to predict what types of movies are most likely to receive Academy Award nominations. This article ranks the most unsuccessful OSCAR BAIT movies of 2022. 

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• FADS (5A: Heelys and cronuts) Do you remember the FADS heelys and cronuts? Heelys are a brand of roller shoe - shoes with wheels embedded in the sole, allowing wearers to roll along by shifting their weight to their heels. Heelys were most popular in the 2000s. Cronuts, as their name suggests, are doughnut-shaped pastries made from croissant-like dough. Cronuts were first introduced in 2013. Although heelys and cronuts are both still around, demand for them has decreased.
• ANIME (16A: Hayao Miyazaki's film medium) Hayao Miyazaki is a co-founder of Studio Ghibli, the Japanese studio known for its ANIME. (I first learned about Studio Ghibli when we saw it as a theme answer July 23, 2020.) Hayao Miyazaki's directing credits include the ANIME films My Neighbor Totoro and Spirited Away, both of which I have written about previously. 
• SARI (28A: Garment worn with a choli) A choli is a fitted bodice worn with a SARI.
• W. KAMAU BELL (52A: "United Shades of America" host) United Shades of America is a CNN documentary series starring comedian W. KAMAU BELL. On each episode of the show, W. KAMAU BELL explores the unique challenges faced by an American community. Recent episodes include "Black in Appalachia," "California is Burning," and "Hawaii for Hawaiians."
• HAS (9D: "Heather ___ Two Mommies") Heather HAS Two Mommies is a 1989 children's book by Lesléa Newman. Although it was not the first children's book with LGBTQ+ characters (that would be When Megan Went Away, published in 1979), it was among the first.
• ITO (41D: Figure skater Midori) ITO Midori is a former professional figure skater. She represented Japan in the 1992 Olympics, winning a silver medal. She has been ranked among the "Top 10 Greatest Female Figure Skaters of All Time."
• AFRO (50D: Prefix with "centrism" or "futurism") I have previously written about AFROfuturism, first on December 23, 2021, and again when we saw it as a theme answer on January 11, 2022. AFROcentrism is an approach to studying history from the perspective of African people and their descendants. 

Geography review:

• OHIO (15A: The Buckeye State) OHIO's nickname of "The Buckeye State" comes from the OHIO Buckeye trees that grow across the state. The buckeye tree produces brown nut-like seeds that are round and have a lighter-colored circle on one side. Some people believe if you carry a buckeye in your pocket it will bring you good luck.
• RIO (26D: ___ Grande) The RIO Grande, known in Mexico as the RÍO Bravo, originates in Colorado and flows to the Gulf of Mexico. The river forms the border between the U.S. state of Texas and Mexico.

Although it definitely did have JARRING ENDS, I found this puzzle a smooth solve. A nice variety of JARS here. I wouldn't mind having a filled COOKIE JAR magically appear on my desk about now. Thank you, Enrique, for this puzzle that was a superb way to start my Saturday.