April 21, 2023

Title: BFFS

Constructors: Kelsey Dixon & Rafael Musa

Editor: Erik Agard

Theme Answers:

BLACK FLYING FOX (14A: Large bat species found in Australia)

BEST FOOT FORWARD (35A: Apple TV+ show about a young amputee starting public school)

BREAKS FREE FROM (61A: Escapes)

Theme synopsis: Each theme answer has the initials BFF.

Things I learned:

• BLACK FLYING FOX (14A: Large bat species found in Australia) The BLACK FLYING FOX, also known as the BLACK fruit bat, is one of the largest bat species in the world. It has a wingspan of more than three feet. The BLACK FLYING FOX is native to Australia, Papua New Guinea, and Indonesia.
• BEST FOOT FORWARD (35A: Apple TV+ show about a young amputee starting public school) Josh Sundquist is a paralympic athlete, motivational speaker, and comedian. The 2022 Apple TV+ series BEST FOOT FORWARD is based on Josh Sundquist's book, Just Don't Fall. The show centers around 12-year-old Josh Dubin (played by Logan Marmino) as he enters public school after being homeschooled. I did not know about this TV show, but I am familiar with

  

  Josh Sundquist and Leah

  Josh Sundquist, as he was the speaker at an event when my daughter was in high school. He's an amazing and engaging speaker. Here's a photo of Josh Sundquist and my daughter, taken in 2013. 
• ANI (5D: Modeh ___ (Jewish prayer)) Modeh ANI is a prayer that Jews recite in the morning.

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• OTIS (21A: "Sittin' On) the Dock of the Bay" singer Redding) Did you simply read this clue, or did you sing it (either aloud or in your head)? Otis Redding recorded "(Sittin' On) The DOCK of the Bay" on December 10, 1967, just three days before he died in a plane crash. The song was released in January 1968, and became the first posthumous song to top Billboard's Hot 100.
• EID (41A: "___ Mubarak!") "EID Mubarak!" means "Blessed feast" or "Blessed festival" in Arabic. The Muslim greeting is used for the festivals of EID al-Fitr (a festival marking the end of Ramadan) and EID al-Adha (a holiday honoring Abraham's obedience to God). This is an especially appropriate clue/answer for today, as EID al-Fitr is today in some countries including the U.S. (in some countries, EID is tomorrow). EID Mubarak!
• GIANNIS (44A: NBA star Antetokounmpo) Giannis Antetokounmpo is a power forward for NBA's Milwaukee Bucks.
• LEARN (1D: "You live and you ___!") "You live and you LEARN!" could be an appropriate motto for this blog.
• PLURALS (11D: "Bulls" and "warriors," but not "heat" or "jazz") It was a fun idea to use words that are also the names of NBA teams for this PLURALS clue.
• SPORCLE (23D: Website with trivia quizzes) SPORCLE is a trivia website on which users can take quizzes on a variety of subjects. 
• HBO (28D: "We're Here" channel) We're Here is an HBO reality TV show co-hosted by Bob the Drag Queen, Eureka O'Hara, and Shangela. On We're Here, the drag queens travel to small towns across the United States, and recruit residents to participate in one-night-only drag shows.
• AWW (30D: "What a cute kitten!") I have not just one, but two cute kittens to share with you today! Lily (on the left) and Mister are my son's cats. My husband and I are currently

  

  Lily and Mister

  
  visiting Lily and Mister (and our son) in Seattle.
• ICARUS (45D: Mythological figure who flew too close to the sun) In Greek mythology, ICARUS was the son of Daedalus. During an attempt to escape from Crete, ICARUS and Daedalus used wings that the latter constructed of feathers and wax. Although Daedalus warned him not to fly too close to the sun, ICARUS ignored his father's warning. The sun melted his wings and he fell into the sea and drowned.
• HAKA (52D: Maori dance) The HAKA is a ceremonial dance in the Māori culture. The Māori are indigenous people of New Zealand.

Geography review:

• PERSIA (11D: Old name for Iran) It was in 1935 that the Shah of PERSIA (Reza Shah) requested the country be referred to as Iran rather than PERSIA. In 1959, Reza Shah's son decided that the names PERSIA and Iran could be used interchangeably in formal correspondence, but Iran is the name that is generally used.
• UGA (25A: School in the Peach State, for short) "The Peach State" is a nickname for the state of Georgia. The University of Georgia (UGA) is located in Athens, Georgia. 
• IDA (49A: State east of Wash.) As the clue informs us, Idaho (IDA) is located east of Washington. The capital of is Boise, and the capital of Washington is Olympia.

One of my first thoughts upon opening this puzzle was, "What a fun grid!" I find this grid pattern particularly pleasing. My second thought was that it is appropriate for a BFFs puzzle to be co-constructed. In addition to the answers I've already highlighted, I enjoyed TEXT ME, (Jennifer) ANISTON, BOOGIE, and SURFING. Thank you, Kelsey and Rafa, for this puzzle that is an excellent way to start a Friday.