Crossword Blog and Answers for September 25, 2024 by Sally Hoelscher

Random Thoughts and Interesting Things

• WHIT (10A: Rhymes and Synonyms for “bit”) For some reason, I particularly like clues and answers that contain rhyming synonyms. I even joked that one day I would build a puzzle made entirely of rhyming synonyms. Anyway, WHIT is a fun word that is a synonym for the rhyming BIT.
• ATOLE (14A: hot drink made with masa) Of Mexican origin, ATOLE is a popular hot drink during the Day of the Dead and Las Posadas celebrations. ATOLE is made with masa (corn dough), water, sugar, cinnamon and vanilla.
• THUMP (17A: Loud noise) and ROAR (18A: Loud noise) This puzzle makes noise! ​​The hint echoes for consecutive clues are especially fun.
• NEGOTIATION (20A: ___ coaching (service offered by 81cents to help close wage gaps)) Since 2018, 81cents has been “providing affordable and accessible virtual NEGOTIATION support (and data!) to women and other underrepresented minorities.” The organization’s name refers to the fact that in the United States, the average woman earns 81 cents for every dollar earned by the average man. Additionally, the average Black woman earns 61 cents for every dollar earned by the average white man, and the average Latino man earns 86 cents for every dollar earned by the average white woman.
• ANA (24A: Santa ___, CA) Santa ANA is a city in Southern California. Santa ANA is part of the greater Los Angeles area and is the county seat of Orange County.
• PHASE (26A: Luteal or Follicular) The menstrual cycle (a series of natural changes in the uterus and ovaries) consists of the follicular PHASE, ovulation, and the luteal PHASE.
• ADAM (58A: Skater Rippon) ADAM Rippon is a retired competitive figure skater. He won a bronze medal at the 2018 Winter Olympics. Also in 2018, he won the season 26 of Dancing with the Stars with Jenna Johnson. Reading about what ADAM Rippon has been up to lately, I discovered that last year he was a contestant on a new reality TV show, Stars on Mars. The series features celebrities living together in a camp designed to simulate life on Mars.
• CAT NAP (1D: Rapid Cat Sleep) My cat, Willow, says, “Did someone say CAT NAP?” I’ll take care of her. She’s also a fan of WAG (35A: Tail Wagging).

• ATHENA (2D: Greek Goddess of Wisdom) In ancient Greek religion and mythology, ATHENA is a goddess associated with wisdom, war, and crafts.
• NOUGAT (3D: soft ingredient in Toblerone) and TOOTH (7D: 3-Down may stick to one of them) I like Toblerone, a bar of Swiss chocolate, NOUGAT, almonds and honey characterized by its unique shape of joined triangular sections. However, NOUGAT actually tends to stick to the TOOTH (or teeth). The unique shape of Toblerone is said to have been inspired by the Matterhorn, a mountain in the Alps.
• ELMO (4D: Puppet with his own “world”) The world of ELMO is a segment on Sesame StreetIt is of course hosted by ELMO and is designed to appeal to younger viewers. The world of ELMO takes place in a pencil-drawn version of ELMO’s apartment.
• SEPT (5D: Bi Visibility Day Mo.) Bi Visibility Day is celebrated every year on SEPTEMBER 23.
• TARO (9D: “the Polynesian potato”) is a traditional staple food of the Polynesian people. Most of the ways in which TARO is prepared are similar to how potatoes are served, earning it the nickname “the Polynesian potato”.
• HUALAPAI (11D: Arizona Tribe) The HUALAPAI are a federally recognized tribe located in northwestern Arizona. I learned about the HUALAPAI when we saw the tribe’s name as a theme answer (in a puzzle by Erik Agard) on January 3, 2022. The HUALAPAI have approximately 2,300 enrolled tribal members, approximately 60% of whom live on the HUALAPAI Reservation in northern Arizona.
• NPR (22D: “Code Switch” podcast network) Change of code is a weekly NPR podcast in which journalists of color have “the courageous conversations about race you’ve been waiting for.” The podcast’s name refers to the linguistic term code-switching, which refers to a speaker alternating between two or more languages ​​or language varieties within the same conversation.
• HAWAI’I (27D: “___ Pono’i” (anthem with lyrics by King David Kalakaua)) “Hawaii Pono’ī” (meaning “Hawaiian”) was written by King David Kalākaua, former king of the Kingdom of Hawaii. The song was adopted as the national anthem of the Kingdom of Hawaii in 1876. The song is now used as the anthem of the U.S. state of Hawaii.
• RE-READ (29D: Savoring again, like a favorite book) For me, RE-READING a book is relaxing. It’s comforting to know the story (except for the parts I’ve forgotten), and I always notice details I hadn’t noticed before. I’m currently RE-READING Jasper Fforde’s Thursday Next series of books.
• HAM RADIO (36D: A method of communication with meat in its name) HAM RADIO refers to the use of RADIO frequencies for non-commercial exchanges. When I first read this clue, I thought, “I don’t know this,” and started to move on. Then HAM RADIO came to mind and I realized I knew it. I credit the TV show There are only murders in the building because this answer is within reach. In the current season of the show, AMATEUR RADIO plays a role whose extent remains to be determined.
• EVS (38D: Cars that need to be charged, for short) EVS here stands for “electric vehicles.” Instead of occasional stops at the gas station to refuel, EVs require occasional recharging of their batteries. As an EV owner, I’m always happy to see these cars being highlighted.
• HORA (55D: Circle Dance) We just saw the HORA in the puzzle two days ago.
• Some other clues that I particularly liked:
  • Fasten your seat belts (31A: “Get ready!”)
  • MOO (50A: cow’s “udder”)
  • POLO (60A: Game played on horseback or in water)
  • IT’S A SIGN (12D: “The Universe is Telling Us Something”)