March 14, 2023

Title: RECITING PI

Constructor: Zhouqin Burnikel

Editor: Erik Agard

Theme Answers:

PAI GOW POKER (17A: Casino card game)

PYROTECHNICS (30A: Fireworks)

PIE A LA MODE (64A: Dessert with a crust and a scoop)

Theme synopsis: The start of each theme answer sounds like PI, though each one is spelled differently: PAI, PY, PIE.

Things I learned:

• DAD (11A: Tatsuo Kusakabe, to Mei and Satsuki) This is a reference to the 1988 anime film My Neighbor Totoro, which I have written about previously. In the movie, Tatsuo Kusakabe is a professor, and a DAD to two young daughters, Mei and Satsuki.
• PAI GOW POKER (17A: Casino card game) PAI GOW is a Chinese gambling game played with dominoes. PAI GOW POKER, also called double-hand POKER, is a version of the game played with cards. PAI GOW POKER originated in the United States in the 1980s. Players are dealt seven cards each, which they arrange into a five-card POKER hand and a two-card POKER hand - thus the name double-hand POKER. The object of PAI GOW POKER is to create two hands that beat the bank's two hands.
• SUMO (29A: Honbasho sport) A honbasho is a professional SUMO tournament.
• DUO (43A: Musical group like Yu Quan) Yu Quan is a soft rock DUO composed of Chen Yufan and Hu Haitian. In 2013, the DUO won the first season of the Chinese reality TV show, I Am a Singer.

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• BEE (21A: Something black and yellow that can't see red) This clue read likes a a children's joke. It's true that a BEE cannot see the color red. BEEs see light in slightly different wavelengths than humans. Although they can't see the color red, BEEs, unlike humans, are able to see in the ultraviolet spectrum. 
• ACID (26A: The A in DNA) and GENES (70A: Factors in heredity) Deoxyribonucleic ACID (DNA) is a chain of nucleotides that coil around each other forming a double helix. GENES are specific sequences of those nucleotides. Hooray for science in crosswords!
• SNAP (38A: Applaud at a poetry slam) A poetry slam is a spoken word competition. Poets perform before a live audience and judges. Poetry slams originated in Chicago in 1984 by Marc Smith as a way to enliven the poetry scene. A SNAP is used as a way to show appreciation at poetry slams, as SNAPs are less likely to distract the performer.
• ANDREA (49A: Actress Martin or Brillantes) ANDREA Martin's filmography includes her portrayal of Aunt Voula in My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002) and My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 (2016). ANDREA Brillantes played the title role in the Filipino TV series Annaliza.
• OLE (62A: Copa Mundial cheer) "Copa Mundial" is Spanish for "World Cup." The FIFA World Cup is an international football (known as soccer in the U.S.) competition held every four years.
• CAPER (1D: Tapenade bud) Tapenade is a spread consisting of puréed olives, CAPERs, and anchovies.
• DOSA (13D: Pancake made from urad dal) A DOSA is a thin pancake made from a fermented batter of lentils and rice. Urad dal are split black lentils.
• LION DANCE (36D: Tet performance) Tết, also known as the Vietnamese New Year, celebrates the arrival of spring based on the Vietnamese calendar. During the LION DANCE, performers wearing a LION costume mimic a lion's movements in order to bring good luck and fortune in the upcoming year.
• PASSIVE (46D: Type of voice used in this clue) The PASSIVE voice is used in this sentence. This sentence uses the active voice. (I think that's correct?) Here's more information if, like me, it's been a few years since you studied grammar. 

Geography review:

• RENO (24A: City north of Carson City) Carson City is the capital of Nevada. Carson City is considered part of the RENO-Sparks metropolitan area.
• ASIAN (3D: Malaysian, for example) Malaysia is a country in Southeast Asia. The country consists of two regions, Peninsular Malaysia (part of the Malay Peninsula) and East Malaysia (part of the island of Borneo). The capital of Malaysia is Kuala Lumpur.
• CAPE COD (6D: New England resort area) The peninsula of CAPE COD extends into the Atlantic Ocean from the southeast corner of Massachusetts. CAPE COD's beaches and maritime feel make it a popular resort area.
• CONGO (32D: Africa's second-longest river) The CONGO River is the second-longest river in Africa, shorter only than the Nile. By discharge volume, the CONGO is the second-largest in the world, following the Amazon River. The CONGO River crosses the Equator twice, and flows through the CONGO Rainforest, the second-largest rainforest area in the world (after the Amazon rainforest).
• TUNDRA (41D: Vast Arctic plain) The term TUNDRA refers to a region with limited tree growth due to frigid temperatures and a short growing season. The Arctic TUNDRA is located in the far Northern Hemisphere, and includes parts of Russia and Canada.

Happy PI Day! I've previously written about the origins of this mathematical celebration. I am a fan of this day that combines celebrating mathematical nerdiness and eating PIE, so I was delighted to open today's puzzle and see a PI-related theme. PIE Á LA MODE is a perfect third theme answer, since (in my opinion) the perfect way to celebrate PI Day is to eat PIE. Are you celebrating PI Day today? I am planning on making a coconut custard pie which makes its own crust, making it as easy as it is delicious. I'd love to know what kind of PIE you're planning to eat (or have already eaten). Let me know in the comments! In addition to the PI content, I also liked DATA MINES and ADD TO CART. Thank you, Zhouqin, for this puzzle that was a delightful way to start my Tuesday.