Current:Home > reviewsOff the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Triathlon -TradeBridge
Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Triathlon
View
Date:2025-04-18 09:20:28
There are spoilers ahead. You might want to solve today's puzzle before reading further! Triathlon
Constructor:Adam Simpson
Editor:Jared Goudsmit
What I Learned from Today’s Puzzle
- CYCLE BILLING (36A: Practice of sending invoices on a schedule) While I'm familiar with this practice, the term is new to me. Identifying the theme helped me in figuring out this answer.
- OAR (46A: Rowing tool like a yuloh) A yuloh is a Chinese sculling OAR. It is fixed on a fulcrum, and a rope runs from the underside of the OAR handle to the deck of the boat.
- ELSE (64A: "Anyone ___ but You" (The Moldy Peaches song)) The Moldy Peaches are an indie group formed in 1994 by Adam Green and Kimya Dawson. Their song, "Anyone ELSE but You," was featured on the soundtrack of the 2007 movie Juno.
- INUIT (43D: People in the short film "Nalujuk Night") Nalujuk Nightis a 13-minute film created as part of a National Film Board of Canada project to create documentary films about INUIT culture from an INUIT perspective. Directed by Inuk filmmaker Jennie Williams (Inuk is the singular of INUIT), the short film documents a tradition in Nunatsiavut, an autonomous area claimed by the INUIT in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. On Nalujuk Night, Nalujuit (the plural of Nalujuk) – scary-looking beings wearing animal furs and seal skin boots – walk through the street and hand out bags of treats to children. If a Nalujuk encounters someone who has misbehaved over the past year, they chase them.
Random Thoughts & Interesting Things
- ANNE (13A: ___ Boleyn (queen in "Six")) Sixis a musical whose characters are the six wives of King Henry VIII of England. The musical is a modern retelling, imagining the queens telling and reframing their story in the form of a singing competition to determine which of them had the worst experience being married to Henry VII. ANNE Boleyn was the second of King Henry VIII's six wives. She was the Queen consort of England from 1533-1536. ANNE Boleyn was charged with treason and executed in 1536. I have seen Six, and thoroughly enjoyed it! The music and costumes are incredible, and the message of female empowerment is a welcome one. Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss who wrote Sixused a pair of pop stars as the inspiration for each character. ANNE Boleyn was modeled on Avril Lavigne and Lily Allen.
- MENU (17A: In-N-Out Burger has a "Not-So-Secret" one) In-N-Out Burger's "Not-So-Secret MENU" is available on their website. MENU items include Animal Style and Protein Style burgers.
- STEAMS (41A: Cooks, like clams or shumai) I have previously written about shumai, a traditional Chinese dumpling that is often served steamed.
- ESTONIA (49A: Baltic country) ESTONIA is a country in Northern Europe. ESTONIA only shares land borders with two countries, Latvia and Russia. ESTONIA has coastline on the Baltic Sea, the Gulf of Finland, and Lake Peipus. The capital of ESTONIA is Tallinn.
- ESPN (63A: Channel that covers triathlons) Nice bonus answer!
- OLYMPIANS (9D: Athletes who will compete in Los Angeles in 2028) The 2028 Summer Olympics will be held in Los Angeles, California. Triathlon has been an Olympic event since 2000, making this an additional bonus answer.
- LAO (38D: Language spoken in Vientiane) LAO is the official language of Laos, a landlocked country in Southeast Asia. The capital of Laos is Vientiane.
- A few other clues I especially enjoyed:
- ONE WAY (2D: Like some mirrors and streets)
- CUPS (36D: Vessels for dice or tea)
- AFTER (50D: Last word of a fairy tale, often)
Crossword Puzzle Theme Synopsis
- SWIM UPSTREAM (19A: Take a difficult path)
- CYCLE BILLING (36A: Practice of sending invoices on a schedule)
- RUN FOR OFFICE (53A: Try to get elected)
TRIATHLON: Each of the three theme answers starts with a word that is a TRIATHLON activity: SWIM, CYCLE, RUN.
A TRIATHLON is a multipart race in which participants SWIM, CYCLE, and RUN. It is especially nice that each of these three target words undergoes a meaning change. For example, the word SWIM is used in a metaphorical sense in the phrase SWIM UPSTREAM, but literally in the SWIM leg of a TRIATHLON. Thank you, Adam, for this enjoyable puzzle.
For more on USA TODAY’s Crossword Puzzles
- USA TODAY’s Daily Crossword Puzzles
- Sudoku & Crossword Puzzle Answers
Disclaimer: The copyright of this article belongs to the original author. Reposting this article is solely for the purpose of information dissemination and does not constitute any investment advice. If there is any infringement, please contact us immediately. We will make corrections or deletions as necessary. Thank you.
veryGood! (74)
Related
- California DMV apologizes for license plate that some say mocks Oct. 7 attack on Israel
- Key swing state faces ‘daunting’ level of uncertainty after storm ravages multiple counties
- US job openings rise to 8 million as labor market remains sturdy
- Watchdog blasts DEA for not reporting waterboarding, torture by Latin American partners
- Where will Elmo go? HBO moves away from 'Sesame Street'
- Sam Schmidt opens paralysis center in Indianapolis to rehabilitate trauma victims
- Why was Pete Rose banned for life from MLB? Gambling on games was his downfall
- John Amos, Star of Good Times and Roots, Dead at 84
- 'No Good Deed': Who's the killer in the Netflix comedy? And will there be a Season 2?
- A 'Ring of fire' eclipse is happening this week: Here's what you need to know
Ranking
- DeepSeek: Did a little known Chinese startup cause a 'Sputnik moment' for AI?
- Let All Naysayers Know: Jalen Milroe silences critics questioning quarterback ability
- Endearing Behind-the-Scenes Secrets About Bluey You'll Love For Real Life
- Judge rejects computer repairman’s defamation claims over reports on Hunter Biden laptop
- New data highlights 'achievement gap' for students in the US
- Asheville, North Carolina, officials warn water system could take weeks to repair
- A 'Ring of fire' eclipse is happening this week: Here's what you need to know
- All-season vs. winter tires: What’s the difference?
Recommendation
DeepSeek: Did a little known Chinese startup cause a 'Sputnik moment' for AI?
Days after Hurricane Helene, a powerless mess remains in the Southeast
7 Debate Questions about Climate Change and Energy for Pennsylvania’s Senate Candidates
Georgia National Guard starts recovery efforts in Augusta: Video shows debris clearance
Realtor group picks top 10 housing hot spots for 2025: Did your city make the list?
Port workers strike at East Coast, Gulf ports sparks fears of inflation and more shortages
Adrien Brody Has Iconic Reaction to Kim Kardashian Mistaking Him for Adam Brody
Officials identify driver who crashed into a Texas pipeline and sparked a 4-day fire