October 27, 2023

Title: SINK SHIPS

Constructor: Chandi Deitmer

Editor: Amanda Rafkin

Theme Answers:

SHI PEI PU (3D: Chinese opera singer who doubled as a spy)

SUSHI PIZZA (20D: Toronto dish with a rice crust and fish toppings)

ANCESTOR WORSHIP (10D: Element of the Tarpan ritual)

Theme synopsis: Each vertical theme answer contains the word SHIP. Looking at theme answers in the grid, the word SHIP is SINKing, moving from left to right.

Things I learned:

• SHI PEI PU (3D: Chinese opera singer who doubled as a spy) SHI PEI PU (1938-2009) was an opera singer from Beijing. Over the course of 20 years, he developed a relationship with Bernard Boursicot, a French Embassy employee. During their affair, SHI PEI PU convinced Bernard Boursicot that he was a woman, even presenting a child he claimed was theirs. In 1983, both SHI PEI PU and Bernard Boursicot were arrested and charged with espionage, which they were each convicted of in 1986. During the investigation, details of their affair became public. David Henry Hwang's 1988 play, M.Butterfly, was inspired by the relationship of SHI PEI PU and Bernard Boursicot.
• ANCESTOR WORSHIP (10D: Element of the Tarpan ritual) In Hinduism, Tarpan refers to an offering made to departed spirits and divine entities. The ritual - performed with sesame seeds and water - is a way to honor one's ANCESTORs and acknowledge the debt one has to them. 

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• ESTAR (28A: Spanish for "to be") and SER (63D: Spanish for "to be") It's true, the Spanish words ESTAR and SER both mean "to be." If you're interested, here's a Duolingo guide about the differences between ESTAR and SER.
• TBS (30A: ATL-based broadcaster) The Turner Broadcasting System, or TBS, was established in 1976, when it began offering nationwide access to the Atlanta, Georgia-based independent TV station, WTCG. TBS is currently owned by Warner Bros. Discovery.
• LIVES (48A: Cats are said to have nine of them) Tomorrow is my cat, Willow's, gotcha day. Twelve years ago tomorrow we adopted her as a 2-month-old kitten from our local animal shelter.

  

  Willow

  I estimate that over the last 12 years, Willow has used up a couple of her nine LIVES, but I'm hoping she still has quite a few left.
• SUSHI PIZZA (20D: Toronto dish with a rice crust and fish toppings) SUSHI PIZZA has a crust of fried rice, topped with avocado and salmon, and drizzled with spicy mayonnaise and wasabi sauce. This is the third time we've seen SUSHI PIZZA as a theme answer. The other two times were April 27, 2022 and January 25, 2023. 
• WAS (26D: "I ___ a Teenage Werewolf") I WAS a Teenage Werewolf is a 1957 science fiction horror movie. Michael Landon stars as the title character. The title of the movie has been played on multiple times over the years, resulting in a number of "I WAS a Teenage..." variations. In Stephen King's novel, It, and the movie based on the book, several of the characters watch I WAS a Teenage Werewolf. 
• NEVE (40D: "Wild Things" actress Campbell) Wild Things is a 1998 movie in which NEVE Campbell plays a high school girl who accuses her guidance counselor of rape.
• SPRUCE (49D: Common violin wood) There's a reason SPRUCE is used in the construction of many violins. SPRUCE has a high stiffness-to weight ratio, meaning it maintains its strength, even when it's cut very thinly. SPRUCE is often used for the top of a violin for this reason.
• A few clues I especially enjoyed today:
• I'M HOME (13A: Words after "Hi, honey!")
• IRS (25A: Org. that receives a lot of mail in April)
• EXES (51A: People that might be deleted from your contacts)

Geography review:

• PAINTED (15A: ___ Desert (colorful Arizona attraction) The PAINTED Desert is located in Arizona, near the Four Corners area of the United States (the junction of Arizona, UTAH, Colorado, and New Mexico). The desert is notable for its badlands topography,

  

  PAINTED Desert

  with steep slopes, ravines, and gullies carved (over many years) from stratified layers of siltstone, mudstone, and shale. The area features red rock as well as shades of gray and lavender. Portions of the PAINTED Desert are located in Petrified Forest National Park. That's where this photo was taken.
• UTAH (34A: Bryce Canyon's state) Bryce Canyon, located in southwest UTAH, is the centerpiece of Bryce Canyon National Park. Geological structures called hoodoos (thin spires of rock) formed out of red rock are a distinctive feature of Bryce Canyon. I've previously shared a photo of the hoodoos of Bryce Canyon. 
• LAHORE (36A: Punjabi metropolis) Punjab is a province of Pakistan. The capital of Punjab is LAHORE. After Karachi, LAHORE is the second-largest city in Pakistan. Today I learned that LAHORE has something in common with Iowa City, Iowa. Both cities have been designated by UNESCO as Cities of Literature, Iowa City in 2008 and LAHORE in 2021.

Well, yesterday when I commented that LOOSE LIPS had not caused any SINKing SHIPS, I obviously spoke too soon! I laughed when I opened today's puzzle. It's an absolutely perfect follow-up to yesterday's. Thank you, Chandi, for this puzzle that was a fantastic way to start my Friday.