July 9, 2023

Title: P.S. I LOVE YOU

Constructor: Matthew Stock

Editor: Amanda Rafkin

Theme Answers:

PAINT STORE (17A: Where to buy Sherwin-Williams or Valspar products)

PARADIGM SHIFT (26A: Fundamental change in understanding)

PASSENGER SEAT (46A: Spot next to a car's driver)

PEPPER STEAK (59A: Meat-and-veggie stir-fry dish)

Theme synopsis: Each theme answer is a two-word phrase with the initials P.S.

Things I learned:

• PAINT STORE (17A: Where to buy Sherwin-Williams or Valspar products) I was familiar with Sherwin-Williams, but Valspar is new to me. The Sherwin Williams Company was started in Cleveland, Ohio in 1866. The company's headquarters are still located in Cleveland. The Valspar Corporation is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, but it was founded in Boston, Massachusetts in 1806. Valspar was purchased by Sherwin Williams in 2017. As the clue informs us, you can find Sherwin-Williams and Valspar products at a PAINT STORE, as both companies make PAINTs and coatings.
• IAN (45D: Chess grandmaster Nepomniachtchi) IAN Nepomniachtchi has been a chess Grandmaster since 2007. He is currently ranked fifth in the International Chess Federation's list of Top 100 Chess Players. 

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• SCAM (10A: "Make $10,000 in two days" post, probably) If you're inclined to wonder, "Is this a SCAM?" the answer is probably yes. This answer pairs well with IT'S A TRAP (38D: "Don't fall for that!")
• SUE (21A: WNBA legend Bird) SUE Bird is a retired professional basketball player. She played for the WNBA's Seattle Storm from 2002-2022. During that time, the Seattle Storm won four WNBA championships.
• REM (33A: ___ sleep (when most dreams occur) Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep gets its name from the characteristic rapid movement of the eyes that occurs while a sleeper is in this stage. During this stage of sleep, the sleeper has low muscle tone (meaning the body is generally still), and often experiences vivid dreams.
• ISLAM (34A: Religion with Five Pillars) The five pillars of ISLAM are the foundation of Muslim life. The pillars are basic acts considered mandatory by believers. The five pillars of Sunni ISLAM are: Shahada (Profession of Faith), Salat (Prayer), Zakat (Almsgiving), Shawm (Fasting), and Hajj (Pilgrimage). Shia ISLAM has the same basic acts, but they differ in the naming and numbering.
• SANTA (52A: "___ Baby" (Christmas song)) "SANTA Baby" is a 1953 Christmas song sung by Eartha Kitt.
• OREE (53A: Hockey Hall of Famer Willie) Willie O'REE is a former professional hockey player. He was the first Black player in the NHL. I learned about Willie O'REE from the May 6, 2021 puzzle. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2018. That same year, the NHL created an annual Willie O'REE Community Hero Award to honor an "individual who - through the game of hockey - has positively impacted his or her community, culture or society."
• PEPPER STEAK (59A: Meat-and-veggie stir-fry dish) This is fun. Today's puzzle is the third of Matthew Stock's puzzles in a row to feature PEPPER STEAK as a theme answer! It's an interesting example of how one theme answer can be used in a variety of themes. We previously saw PEPPER STEAK on June 3 and June 28. I wonder if Matthew has any more PEPPER STEAK themes in store for us?
• AXE (65A: Lumberjack World Championships tool) The Lumberjack World Championships are held annually in Hayward, Wisconsin. Competitors use AXEs to compete in events such as "Underhand block chop," and "Standing block chop."
• KOTSUR (5D: Actor Troy who won an Oscar for "CODA") The 2021 movie, CODA, stars Emilia Jones as Ruby Rossi, a hearing "child of deaf adults" (CODA). Troy KOTSUR plays Ruby's father, Frank Rossi, a role for which he won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
• ARCS (12D: Stomp Rockets' paths) A Stomp Rocket is a toy rocket powered by the release of compressed air. Click on the link to see Stomp Rockets traveling in ARCS.
• DEV (27D: "Lion" star Patel) Lion is a 2016 Australian movie based on the true story told in the 2013 book, A Long Way Home, by Saroo Brierley. DEV Patel stars as Saroo Brierley, a man setting out to find his family in India 25 years after he was separated from them.
• TMNT (30D: Group with Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello, and Rafael (Abbr.)) Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello, and Raphael are the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT).

Geography review:

• ATL (35A: City dubbed "The Big Peach" (Abbr.)) and CNN (4D: Network headquartered in 35-Across) The Cable News Network (CNN) was founded in 1980 by Ted Turner and Reese Schonfeld.  It is currently owned by Warner Bros. Discovery, and has its headquarters in Atlanta (ATL), Georgia. Atlanta is Georgia's capital and largest city, and "The Big Peach" is one of its numerous nicknames. Other nicknames for Atlanta include "The Big A," "Hot 'Lanta," and "Hollywood of the South."

My favorite part of solving today's puzzle was uncovering PEPPER STEAK, and thinking, "Wait a minute..." I'm fond of these little touches that constructors build into puzzles that could be easily overlooked. When you do notice them, you feel in on a secret. Thank you, Matthew, for this delightful Sunday puzzle.