There are spoilers ahead. You might want to solve today’s puzzle before reading on! I can’t resist! (Freestyle)
Constructors: Renee Thomason & Jokin Bernikel
Editor: Jared Goodmitt
What I learned from today’s puzzle
- Dojo (5A: Karateka’s Place) A dojo is a place of experiential learning. A karateka is someone who practices karate. As with other martial arts, karate training takes place in a dojo.
- Inca (14A: Worshippers of Mama Sara) In Inca mythology, Mama Sara was the goddess of grain. She was also associated with the willow tree.
- Ben (20A: Actor Whishaw) I didn’t know the name of Ben Whishaw, but when I looked him up, I found his face familiar. This British actor has appeared in many plays, films, and TV shows. I first learned about him from his role as Michael Banks in the movie Star Wars Episode 1: The Final Battle. Mary Poppins Returns (2018). Ben Whishaw also voices Paddington Bear in the films. Paddington (2014), Paddington 2 (2017), and Paddington in Peru (Scheduled release date: November 8, 2024).
- Ant eggs (45A: insect pupae in gaeng khai moot) Gaeng khai moot is a Lao cuisine dish, also known as ant egg soup. The main ingredient of the soup is, as the name suggests, ant eggs. The ant eggs used in the soup come from weaver ants, which make their nests on the undersides of mango trees and coconut palm branches. I’ve written about ant egg soup before, but today I learned a new name for it.
- John (7D: Clone Tyrone actor Boyega) They cloned Tyrone is a 2023 film directed by Jewel Taylor. This sci-fi comedy film stars John Boyega as Fontaine (a drug dealer), Teyonah Harris as Yo-Yo (a sex worker), and Jamie Foxx as Slick (one of Fontaine’s clients). Fontaine, Yo-Yo, and Slick stumble upon a covert operation to clone black people.
Random thoughts and interesting things
- Teen (21A: Katniss Everdeen, age-wise) Katniss Everdeen is the teen protagonist. hunger game A trilogy written by Suzanne Collins. At the beginning of the series, Katniss is 16 years old and volunteers to take her sister’s place in the Hunger Games. Jennifer Lawrence plays Katniss Everdeen in the film adaptations of the books.
- ODE (25A: “___ to Web Browsing” (Poem by Marcus Wicker)) The poem “ODE to Web Browsing” by Marcus Wicker is Poetry Foundation Website. ODE is a word that frequently appears in crossword clues due to its length and letters that make it suitable for crosswords. When ODE is presented as a clue, like today, it’s fun to learn about a new poet or poem.
- CECE (34A: Singer Peniston) CECE Peniston has had five number one hits. BillboardHer hits included her signature song “Finally” (1991), which reached number one on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart.
- AARP (35A: an organization for people over 50) My favorite fun fact about AARP is that even though they advertise themselves as an organization for people over 50 and advocate for people in that age group, there is no minimum age requirement for membership.
- SOAPY (36A: Like a bubble bath) At first I thought it was “bubbly” but then I crossed the answer and quickly decided to go the SOAPY route.
- UFO (51A: “Resident Alien” Spacecraft) Resident Foreigners is a television series that premiered on the Syfy network in 2021. The show is based on the comic book of the same name. Alan Tudyk plays the title character, who is involved in a UFO crash in Patience, Colorado.
- Eric (57A: Disney prince singing “Uncharted Waters”) “Uncharted Waters” is a song written by Lin-Manuel Miranda for Prince Eric to sing in the 2023 live-action Disney adaptation of the 1989 animated film. The Little Mermaid.
- 1 (8D: 2nd number in the Fibonacci sequence) The Fibonacci sequence is a sequence of numbers in which each number is the sum of the two numbers that precede it. The sequence starts with a 0 and a 1. The third number in the Fibonacci sequence is also a 1, because 1 added to 0 equals 1.
- TLDR (10D: text before summary) TL;DR = too long; didn’t read
- PETSAT (42D: Take Care of the Neighbor’s Iguana, etc.) I’m glad I chose an iguana for this tip. It’s fun to see pets other than the standard cats and dogs. My husband and I once PETSATed a friend’s pet snake. My cat Willow wasn’t happy that I praised her for choosing an iguana for this tip.
- Rene (48D: “Tin Cup”: Actress Russo) Tin Cup is a 1996 sports-themed romantic comedy starring Rene Russo and Kevin Costner. The film is set in the world of golf, with Kevin Costner’s character (“Tin Cup”) a former golf phenom trying to make a comeback. Rene Russo’s character (Dr. Molly Griswald) is a clinical psychologist who offers to be Tin Cup’s sports psychologist in exchange for golf lessons.
- Otto (52D: A Man Called ___ (2022 Tom Hanks film)) A man called Otto The 2015 Swedish film ” A man called Ove. Tom Hanks plays the title character in the film.
- A few other clues I particularly liked:
- List (1A: What Santa and shoppers might check)
- Fraud (26A: Email from a Prince who is probably without an heir)
- Let me guess (29D: “Wait, don’t tell me the answer yet!”)
- Hiccup (54D: “___-haw!” (“I’m a donkey!”)
Crossword Puzzle Theme Overview
This is a freestyle puzzle, meaning there is no theme today. The title, “I WON’T STAND FOR IT!”, is a nod to “PLEASE HAVE A SEAT” (53A: a polite “Please wait here”).
When solving a Freestyle puzzle, look for the answer that inspired the title. Unlike Themed Puzzles, where the title is a hint at the theme, the title of a Freestyle puzzle is usually inspired by one (or more) of the puzzle’s answers or its overall atmosphere. I laughed when I wrote PLEASE HAVE A SEAT, then realized this was likely the inspiration for I WON’T STAND FOR IT. Thanks Renee and Zhouqin for this fun puzzle!
