0201-25 NY Times Crossword 1 Feb 25, Saturday

Constructed by: Kate Chin Park & Rafael Musa
Edited by: Will Shortz

Today’s Theme: None

Bill’s time: 15m 58s

Bill’s errors: 0

Today’s Wiki-est Amazonian Googlies

Across

9 ___ Fierce, onetime Beyoncé persona : SASHA

Sasha Fierce is an alter-ego that Beyoncé Knowles has developed for her stage and recording work. Beyoncé describes Sasha as very sensual and aggressive. She released a studio album called “I Am… Sasha Fierce” in 2008.

26 What might check your id? : EGO

Sigmund Freud created a structural model of the human psyche, breaking it into three parts: the id, the ego, and the superego. The id is that part of the psyche containing the basic instinctual drives. The ego seeks to please the id by causing realistic behavior that benefits the individual. The superego almost has a parental role, contradicting the id by introducing critical thinking and morals to behavioral choices.

27 Setting for the Times Square ball drop: Abbr. : EST

The famous New Year’s Eve (NYE) ball-dropping tradition in Times Square started on January 1st 1908. The original ball was lit with one hundred 25-watt light bulbs and was dropped at one second after midnight. A fifth version of the ball was introduced in 2008 for the centennial anniversary of the ceremony. The 2008 ball was built by Waterford Crystal and was lit by 9,567 LED bulbs that consumed the same amount of power as ten electric toasters. The current ball was used for the first time in 2009, and is double the size of the 2008 ball at 12 feet in diameter. The ball now sits atop Times Square year round, so you can go see it next time you are in town.

28 Sojourner Truth speech in which she said “You need not be afraid to give us our rights” : AIN’T I A WOMAN?

Sojourner Truth (real name “Isabella Baumfree”) was an African-American abolitionist and women’s rights activist. Truth was born a slave in New York State, and freed in 1827. She became famous for her speeches against slavery, including her most famous address “Ain’t I a Woman?” that was delivered at the Women’s Convention in Akron, Ohio in 1851.

30 Lee who directed “Sense and Sensibility” : ANG

Ang Lee is a Taiwanese-born filmmaker who has directed several critically acclaimed and commercially successful movies. He has worked in a variety of genres, including romantic comedies (“Sense and Sensibility”), dramas (“Brokeback Mountain”), and superhero movies (“Hulk”).

Emma Thompson is one of my favorite English actresses, and someone who has appeared in many of my favorite films. She probably first came to attention in the US when she won an Oscar for her role in “Howards End”, which she followed up with “Remains of the Day” and “In the Name of the Father”. Perhaps my favorite production of hers is her own adaptation of “Sense and Sensibility”, which won her Oscars for Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Actress. Emma Thompson went to Cambridge University and was good friends with a host of successful British actors and entertainers, including her ex-boyfriend Hugh Laurie who is famous in the US for playing the title role in television’s “House”.

32 Part of some beauty treatments and the lunar cycle : WAXING

The verb “to wax”, in phrases like “wax lyrical” and “wax poetic”, means “to grow”. “To wax” is the opposite of “to wane”, which means “to decrease”. We are probably most familiar with the “waxing and waning” of the moon.

35 Napa neighbor : SONOMA

Did you know that there are far more wine grapes produced in Sonoma than Napa? Within Sonoma County some of the more well-known appellations are Chalk Hill, Anderson Valley and Russian River Valley. Personally, when I want to visit the wine country, I head for the Russian River Valley as it’s far less crowded and much more fun than Napa Valley.

36 Brief getaway for newlyweds : MINI-MOON

A mini-moon is a mini honeymoon.

38 Word between two names : NEE

“Née” is the French word for “born” when referring to a female. The male equivalent is “né”. The term “née” is mainly used in English when referring to a married woman’s birth name, assuming that she has adopted her husband’s name, e.g. Michelle Obama née Robinson, Melania Trump née Knavs, and Jill Biden née Jacobs.

41 Deg. held by Shaquille O’Neal and Melinda Gates : MBA

Retired basketball player Shaquille O’Neal now appears regularly as an analyst on the NBA TV show “Inside the NBA”. Shaq has quite a career in the entertainment world. His first rap album, called “Shaq Diesel”, went platinum. He also starred in two of his own reality shows: “Shaq’s Big Challenge” and “Shaq Vs.”

Melinda French met her future husband Bill Gates at a trade fair in New York in 1987. The couple married in 1994, and divorced in 2021. They launched the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in 2000, which in 2020 became the second largest charitable foundation in the world (after Denmark’s Novo Nordisk Foundation).

45 Tools for certain appraisers : LOUPES

A loupe is a small magnifying lens that is held in the hand. “Loupe” is the French name for such a device.

46 Where “sabaidee” means “hello” : LAOS

Lao, the language of Laos, does not use spaces between words (or periods!), although this is apparently changing. Spaces are used between sentences and clauses.

51 Morphine source : OPIUM

The opium poppy produces a latex that can be dried, producing the drug known as opium. The drug has been used since ancient times, and was usually absorbed by smoking it. The latex contains several alkaloids that have a profound effect on human metabolism, including morphine and codeine. Opium’s morphine is particularly significant for the illegal drug trade. The morphine can be extracted from the opium and converted to heroin.

55 “Passing” author Larsen : NELLA

Author Nella Larsen wrote only two novels: “Quicksand” (1928) and “Passing” (1929). Despite the modest output, she is regarded as a leading figure in the Harlem Renaissance. A central theme of Larsen’s writing is the plight of mixed-race individuals in American society. “Passing” deals with a mixed-race woman “passing” as white, and was made into a powerful film of the same name released in 2021.

58 Five-limbed marine creatures : SEA STARS

Starfish (sometimes known as “sea stars”) come in many shapes and sizes, but commonly have “pentaradial symmetry”, meaning they have symmetrical body-shapes with five points. Most starfish are predators, mainly living on a diet of mollusks such as clams and oysters.

Down

1 Cochise, for one : APACHE

Cochise and Geronimo were perhaps the two most famous Apache leaders to resist intrusions by the European Americans in the 1800s. Both lived lives full of conflict, but both also lived relatively long lives. Cochise eventually entered into a treaty putting an end to the fighting, and retired onto a new reservation. Cochise died of natural causes in 1874, at the age of 69. Geronimo surrendered, and spent years as a prisoner of war. He spent his last years as a celebrity, and even rode in the inaugural parade for President Theodore Roosevelt. Geronimo died of pneumonia in 1909 at the age of 79.

2 Calf-length pants : CAPRIS

Capri pants first became popular on the island of Capri, apparently. They were invented in Europe in 1948, but only became stylish in the US in the sixties. Mary Tyler Moore often wore Capri pants on “The Dick Van Dyke Show” and to some extent she sparked a fashion trend. After a lull in the seventies and eighties there was a resurgence in sales after Uma Thurman wore them (and danced in them) in “Pulp Fiction”.

4 Sweetly, in music : DOLCE

The musical term “dolce” instructs the performer to play “gently and sweetly”.

6 First sign in the Chinese zodiac : RAT

The 12-year cycle in the Chinese calendar uses the following animals in order:

  • Rat
  • Ox
  • Tiger
  • Rabbit
  • Dragon
  • Snake
  • Horse
  • Goat
  • Monkey
  • Rooster
  • Dog
  • Pig

8 Typical Little League coaches : PARENTS

Little League Baseball was founded in 1939 in Williamsport, Pennsylvania by Carl Stotz. Back then, Little League was limited to boys. Participation was opened up to girls in 1974, although it took a lawsuit by the National Organization for Women for that to happen.

9 Dubious, in modern lingo : SUS

The slang term “sus” is a shortened form of “suspicious” or “suspect”.

10 “___ of Avonlea,” literary sequel of 1909 : ANNE

“Anne of Green Gables” is a 1908 novel by Lucy Maud Montgomery that she set in the fictional Prince Edward Island community of Avonlea. Montgomery wrote several sequels to “Anne”, with them all being set on Prince Edward Island (PEI), from where the author hailed.

12 Main script of written Japanese : HIRAGANA

Japanese writing comes in a number of forms, including romaji (which uses the Latin alphabet), kanji (which uses Chinese characters) and hiragana (which has a cursive and flowing appearance).

25 Coils : TWINES

Our word “twine”, meaning “light string”, has the same root as our word “twin”. The original Old English “twin” was a double thread.

28 “Till one has loved an ___ a part of one’s soul remains unawakened”: Anatole France : ANIMAL

“Anatole France” was the pen name for French poet and novelist François-Anatole Thibault. France won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1921.

29 ___-Missouria Tribe : OTOE

The Otoe and Missouria Native-American tribes, once part of a larger group in the Great Lakes region, migrated west and became distinct peoples with related languages and customs. They inhabited areas of present-day Nebraska and Missouri, giving those states and the Missouri River their names. European contact brought trade but also devastating diseases, leading the diminished Missouria to merge with the Otoe. Today, the Otoe-Missouria tribe is headquartered in Red Rock, Oklahoma.

33 “Ta-da!” : AND VOILA!

The French word “voilà” means “there it is”, and “voici” means “here it is”. The terms come from “voi là” meaning “see there” and “voi ici” meaning “see here”.

34 Share the bill : GO DUTCH

A Dutch door has a top and a bottom equally divided in area. There is a suggestion that the term “go Dutch” originated with the Dutch door. The bill is “split”, and so are Dutch doors. That said, when people “go Dutch” they each pay for themselves, as opposed to even splitting the tab.

37 Many Everest climbers : NEPALIS

Nepal lies to the northeast of India. Today, the state is known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal. In 2008, the Communist Party of Nepal won the country’s general election. Soon after, the Assembly voted to change the form of government, moving away from a monarchy and creating a secular republic.

41 Instrument that might contain dried beans : MARACA

Maracas are percussion instruments that are native to Latin America. They are constructed from dried shells, like those of a coconut, to which handles are attached. The shells are filled with dried seeds or beans, and played by shaking.

42 Flat-topped straw hat : BOATER

A boater is a straw hat often associated with boating, hence the name.

46 “12 Angry Men” director : LUMET

As a movie director, Sidney Lumet had a great string of celebrated films to his name including “12 Angry Men”, “Dog Day Afternoon”, “Network” and “The Verdict”. Although nominated for an Academy Award for Best Director for each of these films, he never won an individual Oscar. However, the Academy gave Lumet the recognition he deserved in 2004 by presenting him with an Honorary Award.

The powerful 1957 movie “12 Angry Men” was directed by Sidney Lumet, and has a stellar cast of “jury members” including Henry Fonda, Lee J. Cobb, Jack Klugman and Ed Begley. If ever there is a movie that clearly was based on a play, it’s this one. Practically the whole film takes place on one set, the jury room.

Complete List of Clues/Answers

Across

1 Experience that’ll change one’s mind : ACID TRIP
9 ___ Fierce, onetime Beyoncé persona : SASHA
14 Broad views : PANORAMAS
16 Up to : UNTIL
17 Dessert often flavored with cinnamon and vanilla : APPLE TART
18 [Back away from my doghouse!] : [SNARL!]
19 Give in under pressure : CRACK
20 Beef : FEUD
22 Old oath : EGAD!
23 Engage : HIRE
24 Wild West outlaw : BANDIT
26 What might check your id? : EGO
27 Setting for the Times Square ball drop: Abbr. : EST
28 Sojourner Truth speech in which she said “You need not be afraid to give us our rights” : AIN’T I A WOMAN?
30 Lee who directed “Sense and Sensibility” : ANG
31 E to F, for example : SEMITONE
32 Part of some beauty treatments and the lunar cycle : WAXING
35 Napa neighbor : SONOMA
36 Brief getaway for newlyweds : MINI-MOON
38 Word between two names : NEE
39 Grab bag contents : ODDS AND ENDS
41 Deg. held by Shaquille O’Neal and Melinda Gates : MBA
44 Amp (up) : REV
45 Tools for certain appraisers : LOUPES
46 Where “sabaidee” means “hello” : LAOS
47 They’re heard in a herd : MOOS
49 Solo : STAG
50 Pseudoscientific bodily emanations : AURAS
51 Morphine source : OPIUM
53 Figure in history or math? : CLASSMATE
55 “Passing” author Larsen : NELLA
56 Attacks in the press : HIT PIECES
57 Sinuous : SNAKY
58 Five-limbed marine creatures : SEA STARS

Down

1 Cochise, for one : APACHE
2 Calf-length pants : CAPRIS
3 To an extent : IN PART
4 Sweetly, in music : DOLCE
5 Footslog : TREK
6 First sign in the Chinese zodiac : RAT
7 “Love your work!” : I’M A FAN!
8 Typical Little League coaches : PARENTS
9 Dubious, in modern lingo : SUS
10 “___ of Avonlea,” literary sequel of 1909 : ANNE
11 Many a child actor’s “manager” : STAGE MOM
12 Main script of written Japanese : HIRAGANA
13 Finish line? : ALL DONE
15 Collegiate focus : STUDIES
21 Play areas that, despite their name, are actually squares : DIAMONDS
24 Things to avoid at all costs : BIG NO-NOS
25 Coils : TWINES
28 “Till one has loved an ___ a part of one’s soul remains unawakened”: Anatole France : ANIMAL
29 ___-Missouria Tribe : OTOE
30 Center of a revolution : AXIS
32 Unguarded on the field : WIDE OPEN
33 “Ta-da!” : AND VOILA!
34 Share the bill : GO DUTCH
36 Group that practices baptism for the dead : MORMONS
37 Many Everest climbers : NEPALIS
40 Render pointless : NEGATE
41 Instrument that might contain dried beans : MARACA
42 Flat-topped straw hat : BOATER
43 Look at critically : ASSESS
46 “12 Angry Men” director : LUMET
48 Grump : SULK
50 How a home might be sold in a seller’s market : AS IS
52 ___ Day (European festival) : MAY
54 Business with lockers for storing valuables : SPA

4 thoughts on “0201-25 NY Times Crossword 1 Feb 25, Saturday”

  1. 11:51, no errors. Couldn’t sleep last night, so I got up and tackled various puzzles. And, for once, it seems to have worked out (though I’m seriously underslept).

    My spell checker thinks “underslept” isn’t a word. My spell checker can go to … well … wherever it likes … 🤨 … 🙂.

  2. No errors, however, this one took me quite a while. I get the Times every morning and solve manually. If I enter the wrong word such as starfish (gah!) instead of Seastar,
    it takes me a while to reroute.😊

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