July 18, 2023

Title: BREAKING BARRIERS (FREESTYLE)

Constructor: Christina Iverson

Editor: Amanda Rafkin

Freestyle: This is a themeless puzzle. The title, BREAKING BARRIERS, is a nod to NEVERTHELESS, SHE PERSISTED (24A: With 51-Across, feminist rallying cry since 2017) and (51A: See 24-Across).

Things I learned:

• INCAS (5D: People who kept records by using quipus) Quipus are knotted strings used by the INCAS as a means of collecting data and keeping records. They are sometimes referred to as "talking knots." The word "quipu" comes from the Quechua word for "knot." Quipus were used to store numeric information, with clusters of knots and the types of knots representing digits. When I read this clue, I guessed the answer, although I wasn't familiar with quipus. It was interesting to learn about them. 
• HRC (21D: LGBTQ+ advocacy grp. whose logo is a yellow equals sign on a blue background) The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) is the largest LGBTQ+ political lobbying organization in the U.S. According to their website, "HRC's campaigns are focused on mobilizing those who envision a world strengthened by diversity, where our laws and society treat all people equally, including LGBTQ+ people and those who are multiply marginalized." When I read this clue, I recognized the description of the logo as one I've seen before, but I couldn't recall the name of the organization.
• CHEF (48D: Cookbook author Sean Sherman aka The Sioux ___) Sean Sherman is a CHEF, cookbook author, and promoter of indigenous cuisine. Sean Sherman is an Oglala Lakota Sioux, and the name of his 2017 cookbook is The Sioux CHEF. The cookbook won a James Beard Foundation Award for Best American Cookbook. Sean Sherman was named one of Time's "100 Most Influential People of 2023."

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• CSU (22A: School hidden in "academic subject") The initials CSU can stand for a number of academic institutions, including Colorado State University (Fort Collins, Colorado), Chicago State University (Chicago, Illinois), Cleveland State University (Cleveland, Ohio), and the Connecticut State Universities (Connecticut). 
• NEVERTHELESS (24A: With 51-Across, feminist rallying cry since 2017) and SHE PERSISTED (51A: See 24-Across) In 2017, during the U.S. Senate confirmation hearing of Jeff Sessions to

  

  Elizabeth Warren and me

  become Attorney General, Senator Elizabeth Warren spoke against confirmation, quoting Ted Kennedy and reading a letter from Coretta Scott King. During the proceedings, the Senate voted to require Senator Elizabeth Warren to stop speaking. Referring to Senator Elizabeth Warren's speech, Senator Mitch McConnell said, "She was warned. She was given an explanation. NEVERTHELESS, SHE PERSISTED." I'm sure he didn't mean for his words to become a feminist rallying cry, but that is exactly what happened. So many women can relate to persisting in the face of opposition. I loved seeing NEVERTHELESS, SHE PERSISTED in the puzzle. Also, writing about this reminded me of the time I was fortunate enough to meet Elizabeth Warren in 2019, which is a great memory.
• CHUTES (28A: ___ and Ladders (board game)) The board game Chutes and Ladders, released by Milton Bradley in 1943, is a variation on an ancient Indian game known as snakes and ladders. The game is based purely on luck - no skill involved - as players race to reach the top of the board, aided by landing on squares with ladders, and set back by landing on squares with chutes. I played a ton of  Chutes and Ladders when I was a kid. I find it an extremely frustrating game, on par with Candyland!
• DISCO (34A: Gloria Gaynor genre) As soon as I read this clue, Gloria Gaynor's 1978 song, "I Will Survive" started going through my head. Come to think of it, "I Will Survive" pairs well with NEVERTHELESS, SHE PERSISTED.
• NATE (38A: "Great" kid-lit detective) Since 1972, when NATE the Great by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat was published, there have been 30 children's detective stories featuring NATE the Great. NATE solves mysteries with his dog, Sludge. The character of NATE was inspired by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat's father, and some of the characters in the books are named after her other relatives. Since Marjorie Weinman Sharmat died in 2019, her son Andrew Sharmat has taken over writing the series. I was seven years old when the first NATE the Great book came out. I still have some of the NATE the Great books I ordered from Scholastic.
• LOIS (65A: "The Giver" author Lowry) LOIS Lowry's 1993 dystopian novel, The Giver, is on many middle school reading lists. The book won the 1994 Newberry Medal, an honor awarded for "distinguished contributions to American literature for children." A 2014 film adaptation of the book starred Meryl Streep, Jeff Bridges and Brenton Thwaites.
• ELLIE (2D: "The Last of Us" protagonist) The Last of Us is a TV series based on a video game of the same name. Pedro Pascal portrays Joel, a smuggler tasked with escorting a teenager across the country. That teenager is ELLIE, portrayed by Bella Ramsey.
• CAT (37D: Grown-up kitten) The other day I walked into my office to see Willow,

  

  Willow

  
  my grown-up kitten, sitting in my desk chair. It was unclear whether my CAT was waiting for me, or planning a takeover. 
• CHE (44D: Revolutionary Guevara) CHE Guevara was a major figure in the Cuban Revolution. He served as Minister of Industries of Cuba from 1961-1965, and was executed in Bolivia in 1967. As a historical figure, CHE Guevara is revered by some groups, and reviled by others. Time magazine named CHE Guevara one of the 100 most influential people of the 20th century.
• RENEE (54D: Actress Zellweger) RENEE Zellweger portrayed the title character in the 2001 movie, Bridget Jones's Diary, as well as in the sequels, Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (2004) and Bridget Jones's Baby (2016). For her portrayal of Judy Garland in the 2019 movie, Judy, RENEE Zellweger won an Academy Award for Best Actress. I'm partial to seeing the name RENEE in the puzzle, as that is my middle name, as well as my daughter's middle name.
• ADA (63D: Mathematician Lovelace) Always happy to see ADA Lovelace in the puzzle. ADA Lovelace was one of the first computer programmers, and is considered to be one of the first to recognize the full potential of computers.
• DRS (64D: Ph.D. holders) I appreciate this clue. Not all doctors (DRS) are medical doctors. In keeping with the NEVERTHELESS, SHE PERSISTED theme, this answer reminded me of the flap over first lady Jill Biden's use of the title. DR. Jill Biden has a Doctorate of Education degree (EdD). EdD holders are also DRS. It also reminded me of a personal experience I had when serving on the Iowa City School Board. Shortly after I joined the Board, a document listed a male member of the School District's administration as DR. ___, and listed me as Mrs. Sally Hoelscher. We both hold PhDs. I've never demanded people refer to me as DR. Hoelscher, as I prefer to be called Sally, but I did earn the degree, and if you're going to use a title to refer to me, DR. is the correct one. (Stepping off of my soapbox now...)

Geography review:

• UTAH (16A: Zion National Park's state) Zion National Park is located in the Southwest corner of UTAH. A prominent feature of the park is Zion Canyon, which has reddish and tan sandstone walls that were eroded by the Virgin River. Zion National Park is one of five National Parks in Utah. The other four are Arches, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, and Canyonlands. My husband and I have visited all five of these National Parks. They are all spectacular in their own way.

It's been almost a year and a half since we've seen a USA Today puzzle by Christina Iverson, and I was delighted to see her byline today. Christina is a fellow Iowan, though she lives on the other side of the state. Although we live in the same state, Chritina and I met in Connecticut this past April at the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament. NEVERTHELESS, SHE PERSISTED is a great phrase around which to build a puzzle. In addition to the answers I've already highlighted, I also enjoyed TALENT POOL, LEAD VOCALS, and FULL SUN. Thank you, Christina, for this puzzle that was a delightful way to start my Tuesday.