January 8, 2024

Title: A LITTLE TO THE LEFT

Constructor: Deanne Cliburn

Editor: Jared Goudsmit

Theme Answers:

PINCH HITTER (20A: Substitute slugger)

DASH CAM FOOTAGE (38A: Video record of a fender bender)

HAIR OF THE DOG (55A: Supposed hangover remedy)

Theme synopsis: On the LEFT of each theme answer, we find a word that means A LITTLE: PINCH, DAHS, HAIR.

Things I learned:

• VOODOO (44A: Louisiana religion practiced by Marie Laveau) Marie Laveau (1801-1881) was a Louisiana Creole (an ethnic group descended from residents of colonial Louisiana). She lived in New Orleans, and was a practitioner of VOODOO. Louisiana VOODOO combines elements of traditional religions of West Africa, Catholicism, and Haitian VOODOO. Customers would appeal to Marie Laveau, who earned the nickname of "VOODOO Queen," asking for help with family disputes, health, and finances. Angela Bassett portrays a fictionalized version of Marie Laveau on the TV shows American Horror Story: Coven and American Horror Story: Apocalypse. Although I wasn't familiar with Marie Laveau, the "Louisiana religion" part of the clue helped me figure out the answer.
• SIR (46A: Title for Lewis Hamilton) SIR Lewis Hamilton is a race car driver. He currently competes in Formula One, and is tied (with Michael Schumacher) for the most World Drivers' Championship titles, having won seven. Lewis Hamilton is from Hertfordshire, England.

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• HAS (1A: "I can ___ cheezburger? (meme with bad grammar)) In 2007, Eric Nakagawa posted a picture of a British Shorthair cat that appeared to be smiling, with the caption, "I can HAS cheezburger?" Eric Nakagawa and Kari Unebasami then set up a webblog named I Can HAS Cheezburger (ICHC, for short). ICHC shares content submitted by readers, most of it consisting of funny animal memes.
• NANNY (19A: Caregiver such as Mary Poppins or Fran Fine) Mary Poppins is the NANNY featured in a series of eight children's books by P. L. Travers, which were published between 1934 and 1988. The books have been adapted into movies and stage musicals. Julie Andrews portrays Mary Poppins in the 1964 movie of the same name. Emily Blunt portrays the NANNY in the 2018 movie, Mary Poppins Returns. Fran Fine is the title character of the TV series, The NANNY, which originally aired from 1993-1999. Fran Dresser plays the role of Fran Fine.
• HAIR OF THE DOG (55A: Supposed hangover remedy) "HAIR OF THE DOG" is an expression used to refer to drinking alcohol as a hangover remedy. Originally, the expression HAIR OF THE DOG referred to a method of treating a bite from a dog with rabies. HAIR from THE DOG that bit the person was placed in the wound. By the way, HAIR OF THE DOG is not recommended as a treatment either in its literal sense (for a bite from a rabid dog) or its figurative sense (as a hangover cure).
• AIOLI (64A: Sauce similar to toum) The main ingredient of the sauces AIOLI and toum is garlic. AIOLI is a garlic sauce used in northwestern Mediterranean cuisines. Toum is a garlic sauce used in Eastern Mediterranean cuisines.
• AD HOC (67A: Latin phrase preceding the word "committee") The Latin phrase "AD HOC" translates to "for this." An AD HOC committee is one formed for a specific purpose.
• HENRIETTA (9D: "The Immortal Life of ___ Lacks") The Immortal Life of HENRIETTA Lacks is a nonfiction book by Rebecca Skloot, published in 2010. The book tells the story of HENRIETTA Lacks (1920-1951), a Black woman who had cervical cancer. After a tumor of hers was biopsied, cells from that tumor were cultured without her consent or knowledge. (This was common practice at the time.) Those cells became the first immortalized human cell line, and are known as HeLa. The HeLa cell line continues to be used in medical research. I read The Immortal Life of HENRIETTA Lacks when it first came out, and I enjoyed it. I especially found it interesting because during my graduate school days I did research using HeLa cells. The estate of HENRIETTA Lacks filed a lawsuit against Thermo Fisher Scientific for profiting from the HeLa cell line without getting consent from HENRIETTA Lacks. The lawsuit was settled last year.
• UMA (10D: "Red, White & Royal Blue" actress Thurman) Red, White & Royal Blue is the debut novel (and New York Times best-seller) of romance author, Casey McQuiston. The last time I wrote about this book, I noted that it was being adapted into a movie. The movie, Red, White & Royal Blue, was released in 2023. UMA Thurman portrays Ellen Claremont, the first female president of the United States.
• NAN (11D: Photographer Goldin) I have previously written about photographer NAN Goldin.
• NORI (36D: Temaki seaweed) Temaki, also known as a hand roll, is a large cone-shaped style of sushi with NORI on the outside. It is generally eaten with fingers because it it too awkward to pick up with chopsticks.
• TRIBE (53D: Comanche Nation, e.g.) The Comanche Nation is a TRIBE of indigenous people from the southern plains of the United States. They were once a part of the Shoshone TRIBE. The Comanche Nation is currently headquartered in Lawton, Oklahoma.
• HALO (55D: ___ Top (ice cream brand with an angelic name)) The HALO Top Creamery was founded in 2012 in California. The brand markets itself as a "light ice cream that actually tastes like ice cream."
• ODIN (56D: Major Norse deity) and THOR (58D: 56-Down's son) In Norse mythology, ODIN is a god associated with wisdom and healing. He is married to the goddess Frigga. One of their sons is THOR, the god of lightning, thunder, and storms. 
• FAA (Air traffic control org.) The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is a transportation agency of the U.S. government. The FAA oversees all aspects of civil aviation, including air traffic control.

Geography review:

• IDAHO (62A: Boise's state) Boise is the capital of IDAHO, and its most populous city. Boise is located in southwestern IDAHO, along the Boise River.

The title of A LITTLE TO THE LEFT let me know exactly what to expect from today's theme. I enjoyed uncovering the LITTLE synonyms at the beginning of each theme answer. In addition to the answers I've already highlighted, I also enjoyed PREAMBLE, ACROBATIC, LEGACY, and I'M ON IT. Congratulations to Deanne Cliburn making her USA Today debut! Thank you, Deanne, for this puzzle that was a great way to start my Monday.