Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's crossword, Don't Move a Muscle! (Freestyle)

There are spoilers ahead. You might want to solve today's puzzle before reading further! Don't Move a Muscle! (Freestyle)

Constructor: Jess Rucks

Editor: Amanda Rafkin

Comments from Today’s Crossword Constructor

Jess: Themeless puzzles are my favorite to make, because you can fill them with fun words and interesting clues. I enjoy many of the longer answers in this puzzle (usually the stars of themeless grids), but I'm most excited about some of my shorter answers' clues. Being able to include lifeguard and surfing legend EDDIE Aikau in the puzzle is one example! If you're ever on Oahu and are lucky enough to be there when the waves in Waimea Bay reach over 40ft tall, there will be a big wave surf competition called The Eddie named after him (only 10 have been held since 1984). Make sure you go -- epic!  I'm also pleased with the clue for SEX in this puzzle. And of course, with the announcement about Tim Walz (my assistant basketball coach in 10th grade – he didn't just coach football), OPE feels especially timely! Thanks for solving; hope you enjoyed it!

Milo says hi!!

What I Learned from Today’s Puzzle

• EDDIE (58A: ___ Aikau (Oahu surfing legend)) EDDIE Aikau (1946-1978) was a lifeguard and surfer. When EDDIE Aikau was 16 years old, he dropped out of school and got a job at the Dole pineapple cannery. The job enabled him to buy his first surfboard, and to have mornings available to surf. In 1968, EDDIE Aikau was hired by the City & County of Honolulu as the city's first official lifeguard. During his lifeguarding career, EDDIE Aikau saved the lives of over 500 people, often braving extremely large waves to do so. In 1978, EDDIE Aikau was part of a crew that set out in a double-hulled voyaging canoe to re-enact the route of the Polynesian migration between the Hawaiian and Tahitian islands. The canoe capsized, and EDDIE Aikau was lost at sea attempting to paddle for help. The rest of the crew was eventually rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard. A memorial surfing competition is held in Oahu in EDDIE Aikau's memory: the EDDIE Aikau Big Wave Invitational, or simply "The EDDIE." Surfers (chosen by polling among their peers) are invited to participate in the competition, which may be held anytime between December to February. As Jess mentioned in her notes, the competition is only held when the waves reach a certain height. If the waves are predicted to get high enough to meet the requirement, the participants are notified and have 12 hours to arrive at Waimea Bay in Oahu. "The EDDIE" was last held on January 27, 2023.

Random Thoughts & Interesting Things

• PAPA (1A: One of the Three Bears) and MAMA (27D: One of the Three Bears) We're just a Baby Bear away from having a complete set.
• DOTS (5A: Dippin' ___ (sweet treat)) This clue / answer pair made me smile. My mom is a huge fan of Dippin' DOTS. No visit to Busch Stadium to watch the St. Louis Cardinals play is complete until she has her Dippin' DOTS! Dippin' DOTS are created by flash freezing ice cream mix in liquid nitrogen. The result is essentially ice cream pellets. Because Dippin' DOTS need to be stored at -40 ℉, they are not widely available.
• NERD ALERT (17A: "What an adorkable thing to say!") This is a fun clue, and reminded me of the June 25, 2024 puzzle constructed by Jess Rucks. In that puzzle we saw ADORKABLE clued as [Delightfully nerdy].
• SPLEEN (20A: Organ that filters blood) The SPLEEN is an organ that plays an important role in the immune system. It acts as a sort of blood filter, removing old blood cells, recycling iron, and holding a reserve of blood.
• TAHOE (23A: Second-deepest lake in the U.S.) Located in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, Lake TAHOE straddles the state lines of California and Nevada. As the clue informs us, Lake TAHOE – at a depth of 1,645 feet – is the second deepest lake in the U.S. The deepest lake in the U.S. is Crater Lake in Oregon, which has a depth of 1,949 feet.
• MANE (27A: Lion's hair) and ESS (44D: Suffix for "lion") A pair of lion clues seems timely, considering we're in Leo season, according to the zodiac.
• AVALON (32A: King Arthur's island) AVALON is the mythical island that features in the legend of King Arthur. AVALON is where King Arthur's sword, Excalibur was made.
• BARNARD (34A: Women's college affiliated with Columbia University) BARNARD College is a private women's liberal arts college in the New York City borough of Manhattan. Barnard is affiliated with (but legally and financially separate from) Columbia University, and was founded in 1889 as a response to Columbia University's refusal to admit women (which didn't happen until 1983!). Alumni of BARNARD include anthropologist Margaret Mead (1923), author Ann Brashares (1989), and filmmaker Greta Gerwig (2006).
• GOLEM (41A: clay creature of Jewish folklore) In Jewish tradition, a GOLEM is a clay creature that has been magically brought to life. The GOLEM, after being brought to life by ritual incantations or the writing of Hebrew letters, becomes a helper or companion. If you'd like to learn more about GOLEM, I recommend this article from My Jewish Learning.
• LOVE (51A: "___ Shack" (B-52's song)) "LOVE Shack," which the B-52s released in 1989, became the band's signature song. According to the band, the song was inspired by a club near Athens, Georgia called the Hawaiian Ha-Le.
• CARE BEARS (56A: Stuffies with belly badges) CARE BEARS were created by Elena Kucharik in 1981. Originally designed to be used on greeting cards, the idea expanded to included toys, and has grown to books, TV shows, and movies. Each CARE BEAR is a different color and has a unique symbol on its belly badge. One thing that caught my attention about this clue is the use of the word "stuffies" to mean "stuffed animals." I've heard this word used before, but it's not one I use, and seeing it in print made me wonder when it came into use. According to Merriam-Webster, the word stuffie has been in use since 1938 – not exactly a new usage! Another word I've heard used to describe stuffed animals is "plushie." That word has only been around since 1982. (Yes, I know 1982 was 42 years ago, but really, it was just yesterday...)
• OPE (62A: Midwestern word often said before "'Scuse me!") The expression "OPE!" can be used to mean "sorry!" or it can also be used as an expression when one is mildly startled. It's a multipurpose word, really; it might also be used to express awkwardness or excitement. As a Midwesterner, I enjoyed seeing OPE in the grid.
• DOLPHINS (5D: Marine mammals with highly complex emotional processing systems) There are 40 species of DOLPHINS, including the well-known bottlenose DOLPHIN, and our crossword-friend the orca. DOLPHINS are amazing animals; they have large brains, are intelligent, and can feel emotions such as love, joy, fear, and suffering. Here's my favorite fun fact about DOLPHINS: They can identify other DOLPHINS by tasting their pee.
• OCELOT (6D: Spotted wildcat) An OCELOT is a medium-sized wild cat with a spotted coat. Like other wild cats, OCELOTs use vocalizations – a variety of meows and growls – to communicate. OCELOTs can purr, like their house cat cousins, but they can't roar like their big cat relatives.
• THREES (7D: Caitlin Clark made 548 during her college career) Since my sports knowledge is limited, I'm always thrilled to see a sports clue I know the answer to. Living in Iowa City, I'm familiar with Caitlin Clark, who currently plays for the WNBA's Indiana Fever. In college, Caitlin Clark played for the University of Iowa. She is the NCAA Division I all-time leading scorer (3,951 points). She is also the NCAA women's Division I career leader for three-pointers, or THREES (548).
• REO (9D: ___ Speedwagon) REO Speedwagon has been making music since 1967. The band has included a number of different members through the years, but one of the band's founding members, Neal Doughty, has played on every album. REO Speedwagon released their first album, which was self-titled, in 1971. Their most recent studio album is Not So Silent Night ... Christmas with REO Speedwagon (2009).
• EMU (10D: Bird whose males incubate eggs and rear chicks) I'm a fan of a clue that offers a fun animal fact. When mating season rolls around, the male EMU makes the nest. After the female lays five to fifteen eggs (that are green, by the way), the male sits on the nest, incubating the eggs until they hatch. Female EMUs mate with multiple partners, and may lay eggs in several nests. This means that a male EMU may incubate and rear EMU chicks that are not his own.
• CAT'S CRADLE (11D: String game) I have spent hours of my life using a loop of string to make string figures. CAT'S CRADLE is a two-person string game, though there is a solo version, and there are other shapes that one person can make. When my kids were young (before cell phones were ubiquitous), I would keep loops of string in my purse to provide entertainment when waiting was required.
• MASA (14D: Dough for pupusas) MASA is a maize dough used for making pupusas, a thick flatbread that originated in El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Guatemala.
• TELEKINESIS (23D: Ability to move objects with the mind) This answer reminds me of a joke my son used to tell me when he was younger. He would sing (to the tune of "If You're Happy and You Know It"), "If you're telekinetic and you know it, raise my hand..."
• IAN (26D: "Cats" actor McKellen) The 2019 musical movie Cats was based on Andrew Lloyd Webber's 1981 musical of the same name, which in turn was based on T. S. Eliot's 1939 poetry collection Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats. The movie was a box-office bomb, but its cast contained many big names. IAN McKellen played the role of Gus the Theatre Cat.
• CLE (49D: The Browns, on a scoreboard) The Cleveland Browns (CLE, on a scoreboard) are an NFL team based in Ohio.
• A few other clues and answers I especially enjoyed:
  • SEX (22A: Bit of census datum)
  • STRUGGLE BUS (25D: Metaphorical ride for someone having a tough time)
  • NADA COLADA (29D: Tropical mocktail)
  • HEADLAMP (37D: Camper's hands-free night light)

Crossword Puzzle Theme Synopsis

DON'T MOVE A MUSCLE! (Freestyle): There's no theme today, as this is a freestyle, or themeless, puzzle. The title is a nod to TELEKINESIS (23D: Ability to move objects with the mind).

I enjoyed the multiple animal references in today's puzzle, particularly the several cat references, of course. I also appreciated learning about EDDIE Aikau. Thank you, Jess, for this delightful puzzle.

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