Crossword Blog & Answers for March 9, 2025 by Sally Hoelscher

Constructor: Nate Cardin

Editor: Amanda Rafkin

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)