November 15, 2023

Title: IN AND OUT

Constructor: Will Nediger

Editor: Amanda Rafkin

Theme Answers:

SKIN CARE ROUTINE (17A: Regimen that might involve cleansers)

FUR-BEARING TROUT (41A: Legendary hairy creature)

FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH (65A: Mythical spring that reverses aging)

Theme synopsis: Each theme answer contains the word IN and the word OUT.

Things I learned:

• FUR-BEARING TROUT (41A: Legendary hairy creature) According to folklore, the FUR-BEARING TROUT is a fish with a thick coat of fur that helps keep it warm in the chilly waters in which it supposedly lives. One FUR-BEARING TROUT was supposedly caught in Canada in Lake Superior. The man that purchased the fish after it had been mounted by a taxidermist, gave the FUR-BEARING TROUT to the Royal Museum of Scotland. It was discovered that the FUR-BEARING TROUT in question was simply a regular TROUT wrapped in rabbit fur. Although the FUR-BEARING TROUT is only a legend, there is a mold - known as cotton mold - that can infect fish and present the appearance that the fish has fur.

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• SKIN CARE ROUTINE (17A: Regimen that might involve cleansers) and TONER (53D: Pore-shrinking product) In addition to cleansers, TONER might be part of a SKIN CARE ROUTINE.
• HENNA (19A: Dye worn at some weddings) Last month, I wrote about the mehndi party, a pre-wedding celebration in South Asian culture in which HENNA is applied in intricate designs on the hands. (I also shared some photos, so if you missed them, check out that post.)
• PILATES (29A: Yoga alternative) PILATES, named after a German physical trainer Joseph PILATES, is a form of exercise that uses controlled movements and emphasizes strength and flexibility.
• REY (47A: Lana Del ___) I have written about singer-songwriter Lana Del Rey several times previously.
• TAO (56A: "___ Te Ching") The TAO Te Ching is a fundamental text for Taoism.
• FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH (65A: Mythical spring that reverses aging) The FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH will, as its name suggests, allegedly restore YOUTH to those who drink from it or bathe in it. The FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH has traditionally been associated with Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León. However, when we saw FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH as a theme answer back in February, I learned that scholars now believe Ponce de León never searched for the FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH.
• ERIN (3D: "The Office" receptionist) Toward the end of the fifth season of the TV series, The Office, ERIN Hannon (Ellie Kemper) was introduced as the receptionist, replacing Pam Beesly (Jenna Fischer), who moved to a different position.
• DONNA (4D: "Hot Stuff" singer Summer) "Hot Stuff" is a 1979 song by DONNA Summer. For "Hot Stuff," DONNA Summer won the inaugural Grammy Award for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance in 1980.
• HARP (6D: Dorothy Ashby played it) I learned about jazz HARPist and composer Dorothy Ashby from the May 14, 2021 puzzle. 
• ACER (7D: Maker of Aspire PCs) Aspire is a series of PCs made by ACER, a Taiwanese electronics corporation.
• EMMA (49D: "Sex Education" star Mackey) The TV series, Sex Education, follows the story of Otis (portrayed by Asa Butterfield) and Maeve (portrayed by EMMA Mackey), teenagers who set up a sex advice business. 
• ROBYN (50D: "Dancing on My Own" singer) ROBYN is a Swedish singer and songwriter. Her song "Dancing on My Own," was a hit when it was released in 2010, and has since been covered by other artists and used in several TV shows, including RuPaul's Drag Race and Orange is the New Black.
• MOMA (60D: NYC home of "The Lovers") "The Lovers" is a 1928 painting by surrealist René Magritte that is housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art (MOMA) in New York City. The painting shows a couple kissing, but their heads are shrouded in cloth.
• Some clues I especially enjoyed:
• STEM (52A: Cherry part that some people can tie with their tongue)
• RBI (37D: Baseball stat sometimes pronounced "ribeye")
• FOG (67D: Common Bay Area forecast)

Geography review:

• SHAH (5A: Former ruler of Iran) The country of Iran has a history dating back to the 600s BCE. Through the years, the rulers of IRAN have held different titles, including Khan, Emir, Bey, Sultan, King, and SHAH. The last SHAH of Iran was Mohammad Reza Pahlavi (1941-1979), who was overthrown in the 1979 Iranian Revolution.
• SAMOA (39A: Apia's country) SAMOA is an island country in the Polynesian region of the Pacific Ocean. APIA is the capital of SAMOA, and its largest city.
• LIMA (23D: City known as the "Gastronomical Capital of the Americas") LIMA is the capital of Peru. LIMA is known as a culinary destination. The city is home to four of "The World's 50 Best Restaurants." 

The title of today's puzzle made me think of a question we used to ask our dog, "Do you want IN or OUT?" Here we get both IN AND OUT in each grid-spanning theme answers. I also enjoyed the answers I'M IN NO MOOD and CURRY SAUCE. Thank you, Will, for this puzzle that was an excellent way to start my Wednesday.