March 16, 2023

Title: IN TANDEM

Constructor: Erik Agard

Editor: Erik Agard

Theme Answers:

MAIN INGREDIENTS (16A: Stars of dishes)

REDLINING (18A: Major cause of the racial wealth gap)

MINI NOTEBOOKS (43A: Small places to jot things down)

KAWASAKI NINJA (46A: Sport bike brand named after a type of feudal Japanese warrior)

Theme synopsis: Each theme answer contains a TANDEM (a group of two arranged one behind the other) of the word IN.

Things I learned:

• BLUE HOUR (15A: Colorful period after sunset) I entered "twilight" here at first, which fit, but it quickly became apparent that wasn't the correct answer. The BLUE HOUR is a period of twilight so named because it is a time when the sunlight takes on a BLUE shade. The BLUE HOUR occurs after sunset, and also before sunrise, when the Sun is significantly below the horizon. There is a part of me that feels like I must have heard this phrase before, but most of me feels like I would have remembered it if so, because BLUE is my favorite color. At any rate, I will remember the phrase BLUE HOUR now!
• KAWASAKI NINJA (46A: Sport bike brand named after a type of feudal Japanese warrior) Sport bikes are a type of motorcycle designed to optimize speed, acceleration, braking, and maneuverability. The KAWASAKI NINJA is the name shared by a series of sports bikes manufactured since 1984. The KAWASAKI NINJA is regarded as one of the fastest bikes in the world, with some models attaining speeds of over 240 miles per hour. (Yikes!)
• AJI (3D: ___ verde (Peruvian green sauce)) The main ingredients in AJÍ verde are cilantro and AJÍ amarillo chili peppers, giving it a characteristic green color. Some recipes also include cheese and huacatay (aka black mint).

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• REDLINING (18A: Major cause of the racial wealth gap) REDLINING is a despicable practice designed to discriminate against Black people and promote segregation. REDLINING practices withhold financial services and insurance from those residing in particular neighborhoods. In the United States, the National Housing Act of 1934, part of Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal, promoted the practice of REDLINING. The Fair Housing Act of 1968 was aimed at ending REDLINING, but, of course, it's impossible to undo years of damage instantaneously. If you'd like to learn more about the history of REDLINING in the U.S., I recommend this History article and this NPR article. 
• OURS (23A: "Yours, Mine and ___") Yours, Mine and OURS is a 2005 movie starring Rene Russo and Dennis Quaid. The movie is a remake of a 1968 film of the same name that starred Lucille Ball and Henry Fonda. The movies are loosely based on real-life couple Frank and Helen Beardsley, a widow and widower that began dating and eventually married, blending their family of 18 children.
• MINI NOTEBOOKS (43A: Small places to jot things down) Check out this

  

  MINI NOTEBOOKS

  
  fabulous set of MINI NOTEBOOKS that were a gift from a friend! I am a doodler and I also jot down notes to remind me of various things. In the past I used Post-it Notes for this purpose (and sometimes still do), but I've discovered that jotting notes in a MINI NOTEBOOK keeps my desk a bit neater.
• NLRB (54A: Agency that investigates unfair labor practices) The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) is an agency of the federal government tasked with enforcing U.S. labor law. 
• RNA (2D: Bivalent booster molecules) The bivalent booster refers to the "COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent," the most recent version of vaccines that target COVID-19. The vaccine contains modified messenger RNA that targets the virus that causes COVID-19. Are you up-to-date on your COVID vaccines? If not, it's not too late. Vaccines help protect you and those around you.
• THE GOAT (9D: Nickname for the best player in the history of a sport) THE GOAT stands for THE Greatest Of All Time. 
• LETITIA (38D: "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" star Wright) LETITA Wright portrays Shuri / Black Panther in the 2022 movie Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. She also plays this role in Black Panther (2018), Avengers: Infinity War (2018), and Avengers: Endgame (2019). 
• DIWALI (40D: Holiday during which Lakshmi Puja is performed) DIWALI is the Hindu festival of lights celebrated during the Hindu month Kartika (between mid-October and mid-November). During DIWALI, diyas, oil lamps made from clay, are lit throughout the home and outside. DIWALI lasts for several days, and the main day of the festival is the day of Lakshmi Puja. During Lakshmi Puja, the goddess of prosperity, Lakshima, is honored. Lakshmi Puja includes the cleaning and decoration of homes, as well as lighting diyas and opening windows and doors to invite Lakshmi in.

Geography review:

• LOBSTERS (38A: State symbols of Maine) The state of Maine is located in the northeastern United States with coastline along the Atlantic Ocean. It's not surprising, therefore, that Maine is known for its commercial fishing industry - including lobstering - and its seafood cuisine. LOBSTERS are Maine's state crustacean. Maine is one of only six U.S. states to have a state crustacean.
• IRAN (42A: Tehran's country) Tehran is the capital of IRAN, as well as its largest city.

Not only does each theme answer contain a TANDEM of the word IN, the theme answers are also presented IN TANDEM, as adjacent pairs. I appreciated this extra touch. Enjoyable bonus fill includes FUN RUN, UNSPEAKABLE, GO-KART, and GYMNAST. Thank you, Erik, for this puzzle that was an excellent way to start my Tuesday.