What I Learned from Today’s Puzzle
BIG ORANGE COUCH (14D: Iconic ’90s Nickelodeon sofa) Nickelodeon used the BIG ORANGE COUCH as a mascot for SNICK (Saturday Night Nickelodeon) in the 1990s. SNICK was a programming block geared toward preteens and teens. The BIG ORANGE COUCH was featured in promos, and was seen in a number of locations.
YONDR POUCH (26D: Magnetic bag used to store students’ cellphones) YONDR is a company founded in 2014 by Graham Dugoni. Their main product is the YONDR POUCH, a magnetic bag used by schools and other venues to create phone-free spaces. The YONDR POUCH allows each person to keep their cell phone with them, but makes it inaccessible until the pouch is unlocked.
Random Thoughts & Interesting Things
ANGRY BIRDS (16A: Video game with feathered protagonists vs. enemy pigs) The video game ANGRY BIRDS was first released in 2009. Since then, a number of variations of the game have been released. The basic premise of the game is to use a slingshot to launch BIRDS at pigs, with the goal being to destroy all of the pigs on the playing field. It’s been quite a few years since I’ve played ANGRY BIRDS, but the clue describes it perfectly, and I was able to fill in the answer without any crossings.
YEAR (26A: _ of the Snake) (2025 in the Chinese zodiac)) The YEAR of the Snake began on January 29, 2025. This clue reminded me of the crossword on that day.
OTOE (28A: Great Plains tribe) The OTOE were historically a semi-nomadic people that lived along the Missouri River in the Great Plains. Today the OTOE people are part of the OTOE-Missouria Tribe, which has its headquarters in Red Rock, Oklahoma.
ERIE (34A: People with a namesake Great Lake) The ERIE people lived in what is now western New York, in the Great Lakes region along the southern shore of Lake ERIE. In the mid-17th century, warfare forced most of the tribe to leave the area. Lake ERIE and ERIE, Pennsylvania are named for the ERIE people. Our crossword friend ERIE is making its first appearance of the month today, and its third appearance of the year. Surprisingly, we didn’t see ERIE at all in February.
WING (37A: Artificial limb for Icarus) In Greek mythology, Icarus was the son of Daedalus. During an attempt to escape from Crete, Icarus and Daedalus used WINGs that the latter constructed of feathers and wax. Although Daedalus warned him not to fly too close to the sun, ICARUS ignored his father’s warning. The sun melted his WINGs and he fell into the sea and drowned.
SEOUL (47A: Capital of South Korea) SEOUL is the capital and largest city of South Korea.
WISH (56A: Disney film in which Asha meets a magic fallen star) WISH is a 2023 animated Disney movie about Asha, a 17-year-old girl who makes a WISH on a star, and then meets a living, magic fallen star. Ariana DeBose voices the role of Asha.
OSCAR THE GROUCH (4D: Furry green Muppet in a trash can) I’ve always had a soft spot for OSCAR THE GROUCH, the curmudgeonly Muppet who lives in a trash can. Here’s a fun fact: OSCAR THE GROUCH was originally orange, and did not become his characteristic green until the second season of Sesame Street. On the show this color change was explained as being a result of a visit to Swamp Mushy Muddy.
BETA (17D: Letter after alpha) Looks like it’s time to review the beginning of the Greek alphabet: alpha, BETA, gamma, delta, epsilon, zeta, eta, theta, iota…
AFT (22D: Second-largest U.S. teachers union) AFT here stands for the American Federation of Teachers, which was founded in Chicago in 1916. The largest U.S. teachers union is the National Education Association (NEA).
RIRI (25D: “Umbrella” singer’s nickname) “Umbrella” is a 2007 song by Rihanna. To fans, Rihanna is known as RIRI, Rih, or Rih-Rih. This clue reminds me of the January 21, 2025 puzzle, “Singin’ in the Rain.”
APA (39D: “Riverdale” actor KJ) Riverdale (2017-2023) is a TV series based on the characters of the Archie comic books. KJ APA plays the role of Archie Andrews.
ACLU (41D: Bill of Rights defense org.) In the U.S., the Bill of Rights refers to the first ten amendments of the U.S. Constitution. These amendments guarantee specific personal freedoms and rights. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is a nonprofit organization that works – through litigation and lobbying – to protect the individual rights of all people in the United States. I’m always happy for an opportunity to shout-out the ACLU and the amazing work they do.
SEWS (47D: Stitches like Betsy Ross) Betsy Ross (1752-1836) was an upholsterer and seamstress. Betsy Ross is known for making a number of U.S. flags during her lifetime, although the story about her making the first U.S. flag is unsubstantiated.
RPG (54D: World of Warcraft, for one (Abbr.)) RPG here stands for role-playing game and refers to a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fantasy world. World of Warcraft is an online RPG. Although I’m not a gamer, I know of World of Warcraft from my son, and I’m always grateful to him for that knowledge when the game appears in the puzzle.
A few other clues I especially enjoyed:
ZEN (9A: _ garden (meditation spot with raked gravel)) HARM (1D: “First, do no _“)
SEES (23D: Spies with their little eyes)
Crossword Puzzle Theme Synopsis
OSCAR THE GROUCH (4D: Furry green Muppet in a trash can)
I’M NO SLOUCH (5D: “My work ethic is solid”)
BIG ORANGE COUCH (14D: Iconic ’90s Nickelodeon sofa)
YONDR POUCH (26D: Magnetic bag used to store students’ cellphones)
SOUTHERN DISCOMFORT: At the SOUTHERN end (that is, the bottom) of each vertical theme answer, the word OUCH is found: OSCAR THE GROUCH, I’M NO SLOUCH, BIG ORANGE COUCH, and YONDR POUCH.
The phrase SOUTHERN DISCOMFORT is a play on Southern Comfort, which is a brand of whiskey. It makes for a fun theme today. Figuring out the theme helped me complete the puzzle, as I knew the theme answers needed to end in -OUCH. This was particularly helpful for YONDR POUCH, which is new to me. Thank you, Nate, for this enjoyable puzzle, which did not cause me any DISCOMFORT, SOUTHERN or otherwise.
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What I Learned from Today’s Puzzle
ROE (25A: Eggs in ashpal kuku) Ashpal kuku is a custard-like dish in Iranian cuisine. It is made by mixing ROE (fish eggs) with (chicken) eggs, and frying the mixture.
LEMON (30D: Kabkabou fruit) Kabkabou is a fish and tomato stew that originated in the African country of Tunisia. In addition to fish and tomatoes, kabkabou ingredients include capers, olives, and LEMONs.
ROZ (50D: The New Yorker cartoonist Chast) ROZ Chast has had cartoons and covers published in The New Yorker since 1978. Additionally, she has written and illustrated a number of books. I’m intrigued by You Can Only Yell at Me for One Thing at a Time: Rules for Couples (2020). Fun fact: ROZ Chast draws a cartoon for the “author photo” of each of her books.
Random Thoughts & Interesting Things
PARK (1A: Acadia National _) Acadia National PARK was the first national PARK east of the Mississippi River. Originally named Lafayette National PARK, it was established as a national PARK in 1919, and renamed Acadia in 1929. The PARK includes Cadillac Mountain, the tallest mountain on the eastern coastline. My husband and I are on a quest to visit as many National PARKs as we can. Acadia National PARK is on our “to be visited” list.
COLLEGE MASCOTS (20A: Otto the Orange, Big Red, etc.) Otto the Orange is the COLLEGE MASCOT for Syracuse University (located in Syracuse, New York). There are four schools whose COLLEGE MASCOTS are named Big Red: Sacred Heart University (Fairfield, Connecticut), Western Kentucky University (Bowling Green, Kentucky), Lamar University (Beaumont, Texas), and the University of Arkansas (Fayetteville, Arkansas).
RACE (33A: Ironman triathlon or the Iditarod) An Ironman triathlon consists of a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bicycle ride, and a 26.22-mile run (i.e. a marathon). The time limit to complete this RACE is generally 16 or 17 hours. The Iditarod is an annual long-distance sled dog RACE in Alaska. The distance of the Iditarod is 938 miles. The course record of 7 days, 14 hours, 8 minutes and 57 seconds was set in 2021 by Dallas Seavey.
CUP (36A: 25% of a quart) This was a good measurement review with a little math thrown in for good measure. There are four CUPs in a quart, and four quarts in a gallon.
PET (52A: Garfield, to Jon) and PAW (1D: Lion’s foot) A cartoon cat reference and a big cat reference? My PET cat, Willow, approves of these clues. In gratitude, she’s showing you her PAW.
PEOPLE MAGAZINE (57A: Celebrity news publication) PEOPLE MAGAZINE has been keeping folks updated on celebrity news since 1974.
ETNA (62A: Volcano aka Mongibello) Mount ETNA (also referred to simply as ETNA) is an active volcano on the island of Sicily, Italy. ETNA is also known as Mongibello in Italian, and Muncibbeḍḍu in Sicilian.
PLEAT (67A: Kilt feature) The kilt originated as men’s clothing in the Scottish highlands. Traditionally made of woven wool in a tartan pattern, a kilt resembles a wrap-around skirt with PLEATs at the side and back.
LEIA (68A: “Star Wars” heroine from Alderaan) In the Star Wars franchise, Alderaan is an Earth-like planet with humanoid inhabitants. Alderaan is the home planet of Princess LEIA Organa. In the 1977 original Star Wars movie (later renamed Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope), Alderaan is destroyed by the Death Star’s superlaser, as a test of the superlaser and a message to the rest of the galaxy. (Apologies for the spoiler if you haven’t seen Star Wars yet.)
ISLANDER (40D: Resident of Sulawesi or Newfoundland) Indonesia is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania, between the Indian and Pacific oceans. Sulawesi is one of Indonesia’s over 17,000 islands. It is one of four islands known as the Greater Sundra Islands. (The other