August 22, 2023

Title: ALL ABOUT THAT BASE

Constructor: Nate Cardin

Editor: Amanda Rafkin

Theme Answers:

SAFETY FIRST (16A: "Put caution before anything else!")

LEAP SECOND (27A: Tiny adjustment occasionally added to Coordinated Universal Time)

MAJOR THIRD (45A: Musical interval between C and E, for example)

FOREVER HOME (61A: Shelter pet's new, permanent family)

Theme synopsis: The last word in each theme answer is a BASE. Appearing in order, we are rounding FIRST BASE, SECOND BASE, THIRD BASE, and finally arriving at HOME BASE.

Things I learned:

• SIA (63A: Two-time National Poetry Slam champion Beau) The National Poetry Slam is a competition featuring spoken word poetry performances. Beau SIA was on the NYC-Urbana team that won the National Poetry Slam Championships in 1997 and 2000. He placed second in the individual competition in 2001. Beau SIA was also part of the 1996 Nuyorican Poetry Slam team the was featured in the 1998 documentary SlamNation, which is about the National Poetry Slam. Beau SIA's Instagram account features some of his poetry. 

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• SIR (18A: "___ Cumference and the First Round Table" (punny math book) SIR Cumference and the First Round Table: A Math Adventure is the first of a series of punny math books by Cindy Neuschwander, illustrated by Wayne Geehan. Other books in the series include SIR Cumference and the Dragon of Pi, and SIR Cumference Gets Decima's Point. SIR Cumference's wife is named Di of Ameter, and their son is named Vertex. Well, you get the idea. Somewhere on one of our bookcases we have this book, so I was excited to see it mentioned. To learn more about Cindy Neuschwander's books, check out this interview with her on Maths Through Stories. 
• RYAN (21A: "Barbie" actor Gosling) RYAN Gosling in the recent movie, Barbie? He's just Ken. 
• DIE (20A: One of 36 cubes in Super Big Boggle) Boggle is having a clue moment. We saw the game used to clue LETTER just three days ago. 
• LEAP SECOND (27A: Tiny adjustment occasionally added to Coordinated Universal Time) A LEAP SECOND is occasionally added to the end of June or December to address slight differences between International Atomic Time (as measured by atomic clocks) and Coordinated Universal Time ("observed solar time"). Most of us never even notice this extra time when we receive it. We've seen LEAP SECOND as a theme answer twice previously (in the time I've been blogging), on March 8, 2022, and January 3, 2023. In November of last year, it was decided that the LEAP SECOND would no longer be used. However, that change won't happen until 2035. 
• ACLU (47A: "Because Freedom Can't Protect Itself" org.) The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has been working to "defend the rights of all people nationwide" since 1920. 
• FOREVER HOME (61A: Shelter pet's new, permanent family) Okay, this clue and answer definitely made me say, "Aww!" I showed this answer to Willow; we are both glad she has found her

  

  Willow

  FOREVER HOME with us. 
• RAID (6D: Invade someone else's Twitch stream) A feature of the live streaming service Twitch is the ability to RAID another channel. Basically a streamer sends their viewers to another Twitch channel. A RAID is a way to provide visibility to streamers and help boost the popularity of a channel.
• RIRI (7D: "Umbrella" singer, to fans) "Umbrella" is a 2007 song by Rihanna, known as RIRI to her fans. 
• DESK (31D: NPR's Tiny ___ Concerts) NPR began its series of Tiny DESK Concerts in 2008. The DESK at which the concerts usually occur is that of NPR's Bob Boilen, host of All Songs Considered. The archive of Tiny DESK Concerts includes over 800 performances. I looked to see whether Meghan Trainor had done a Tiny DESK Concert, but she hasn't (yet). That may seem like a non sequitur, but it really isn't! Meghan Trainor's 2014 debut single was "All About That Bass."
• ADELE (43D: "Skyfall" singer) ADELE has done a Tiny DESK Concert! That was in 2011, so she didn't sing "Skyfall," as it was recorded the following year for the James Bond movie of the same name.
• NEVE (57D: "Scream" star Campbell) NEVE Campbell's many TV and movie credits include playing the role of Sidney Prescott in the five Scream movies.

From the earworm I received when I read this puzzle's title, to uncovering FIRST, SECOND, and THIRD BASE in order before uncovering the answer FOREVER HOME, this solve was utterly delightful. I did not LOATHE a thing in this crossword. Thank you, Nate, for this puzzle that was a terrific way to start my Tuesday.