December 11, 2023

Title: GIRLS WHO CODE (Freestyle)

Constructors: Jasmeet Arora & Brooke Husic

Editor: Amanda Rafkin

Freestyle: This is a themeless puzzle. The title, GIRLS WHO CODE, is a nod to ADA LOVELACE (19A: Theorist who wrote the first computer algorithm) and GRACE HOPPER (55A: Mathematician who invented the code compiler), tied together nicely with the grid-spanning PAIR PROGRAMMING (39A: Activity where two software developers share a computer).

And now a word from our constructors: 

Jasmeet: as a software engineer, this one is close to my heart! it was so magical that two of the biggest contributors to the field had the same number of letters in their names. also i just love that Brooke and i got to PAIR on this together! ❤️ my favorites are 23 Across, 13 Down, 11 Down, and 67 Across.

Brooke: i am very grateful that Jasmeet looped me in to this minitheme idea and always enjoy collaborating with her! i spent most of my scientific career writing code every day, so this one is close to my heart too, which made it extra-fun to team up with jasmeet. i enjoyed reading about samuel plato, i like the tie-in of 9-down to the minitheme, and i love namkeen lassi.

Things I learned:

• PLATO (32A: Architect Samuel) Samuel PLATO (1882-1957) is known for his work on federal housing projects and U.S. post offices. He worked on projects in nine states, including 38 post offices. Samuel PLATO succeeded in establishing a career as an architect at a time when discrimination and racism were major obstacles for Blacks pursuing professional careers. 
• EVIL (59D: "Speak No ___" (Uzodinma Iweala novel)) Speak No Evil is a 2018 novel by Uzodinma Iweala. The book tells the story of Niru, a "queer first-generation Nigerian-American teen living in Washington, D.C." Uzodinma Iweala is currently the CEO of The Africa Center in New York City. 

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• CAV (1A: Cleveland basketball pro) The Cleveland Cavaliers are an NBA team based in Cleveland, Ohio. Their nickname is the CAVs.
• ADA LOVELACE (19A: Theorist who wrote the first computer algorithm) It's always delightful to see computer programmer ADA LOVELACE (1815-1852) in the puzzle. She is considered to be one of the first to recognize the full potential of computers. 
• SPIES (23A: Kim Possible and Ron Stoppable, for example) Kim Possible is the title character of the animated TV series, Kim Possible. Ron Stoppable is Kim's friend, neighbor and accident-prone sidekick. The two are SPIES that fight crime while also dealing with adolescent issues. There are also movies, a miniseries, and video games based on Kim Possible.
• ELSA (36A: Animated queen voiced by Idina Menzel) Idina Menzel is the voice of ELSA in Disney's 2013 animated movie, Frozen. And, of course, the voice behind ELSA's song, "Let It Go." Idina Menzel also voiced Elsa in several Frozen short films, and in Frozen II (2019). 
• PAIR PROGRAMMING (39A: Activity where two software developers share a computer) PAIR PROGRAMMING is a fabulous grid-spanning answer, and the perfect companion to the PAIR of women featured in this puzzle. PAIR PROGRAMMING is exactly what it sounds like; two people sharing a computer to work on PROGRAMMING.
• GRACE HOPPER (55A: Mathematician who invented the code compiler) GRACE HOPPER (1906-1992) was a computer scientist, mathematician, professor, and a rear admiral in the U.S. Navy. As the clue informs us, she invented the computer compiler, a program that translates English terms into code understood by computers. Her compiler was the precursor to the programming language COBOL.
• SALTY (11D: Like namkeen lassi) Lassi is a yogurt-based drink that originated in Punjab, India. Namkeen lassi is a version of the drink also known as SALTY lassi.
• HAIR TINSEL (28D: Sparkly strands among tresses) I like to think of my gray strands as HAIR TINSEL.
• KORMA (51D: Dish braised with dahi) KORMA is dish that originated in South ASIA. It consists of vegetables braised with dahi (yogurt), water or stock, and spices to produce a thick, creamy sauce.
• ALOO (57D: Potatoes, in Hindi) If you are a regular reader of Sally's Take, I hope you were able to fill in this answer immediately.
• ONE (62D: "___ Small Girl" ("Once on This Island" song)) The song "ONE Small Girl" is from the one-act Broadway musical Once on This Island. The musical is about a peasant girl on a tropical island using the power of love to bring people of different social classes together. The original Broadway production ran from 1990-1991. A Broadway revival staged in 2017 won a Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical. A live action film adaptation of the musical is in the works at Disney Studios.

Geography review:

• IOWA (15A: Missouri's neighbor) Two days ago  we saw IOWA clued in reference to Minnesota, its neighbor to the north. Missouri is IOWA's neighbor to the south. 
• STL (70A: City Museum city (Abbr.)) This clue made me happy, because I adore the City Museum in St. Louis (STL), Missouri! The City Museum is located in a building that used to house the International Shoe Company. Many of the museum's exhibits, as well as its interior decor,  feature repurposed objects. Inside the museum you'll find slides, caves, a giant tree house, a skateless park, and much more. The museum's roof features a school bus that overhangs the edge of the building, and a dome that used to be atop the St. Louis Science Center. The City Museum was founded by artist and sculptor Bob Cassilly. It opened in 1997. (I thought I had written about the City Museum previously, but I can't find the post if I have. It must be that I am simply remembering recommending the City Museum to so many friends.)
• ASIA (2D: Most populated continent) Nearly 60% of the world's population lives in ASIA, which is the largest of Earth's seven continents.
• LGA (35D: Queens airport letters) LGA is the airport code for LaGuardia Airport, which is located in Queens, a borough of New York City.

Although this puzzle is a freestyle, or themeless, it has plenty of content that is related to the title GIRLS WHO CODE. I like to call this type of puzzle a "themed-ish themeless." In addition to the trio of ADA LOVELACE, GRACE HOPPER, and PAIR PROGRAMMING, we have a couple of bonuses: MEGA (6D: Prefix for "byte") and COURSE LIST (9D: Catalog that may include Comp Sci 101). Thank you to our constructing PAIR, Jasmeet and Brooke, for this puzzle that was a delightful way to start my Monday.

One more thing today: If you're in the mood to solve another puzzle, I constructed today's Apple News+ puzzle, titled "Lotsa Pasta." (The Apple News+ puzzles require Apple devices and a subscription.)