Sally Analyzes USA TODAY’s Daily Crossword Puzzle, Absolute Units

There are spoilers ahead. You might want to solve today’s puzzle before reading further! Absolute Units

Constructor: Stella Zawistowski

Editor: Jared Goudsmit

Today’s puzzle, crafted by Stella Zawistowski and edited by Jared Goudsmit, offered a delightful challenge with intriguing clues and solutions. Here are some highlights and fascinating facts I discovered while tackling it.

KINK (24A: “My ___ Is Karma” (Chappell Roan song)): “My KINK Is Karma” is a song from Chappell Roan’s debut studio album, “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess” (2023). This was new to me, adding another interesting piece to my music knowledge.

OPERA (64A: Show such as “Turandot”): “Turandot” is an OPERA by Giacomo Puccini, left unfinished at his death in 1924 and completed by Franco Alfano. It premiered in 1926, telling the story of Prince Calaf’s quest to marry the princess Turandot by solving her riddles.

BOWL (68A: Dish for butajiru): Butajiru, a Japanese dish, is a pork and vegetable soup flavored with miso. The word was utterly new to me but piqued my culinary curiosity.

ERIKA (21D: Voice actor Ishii): Erika Ishii voices characters in the 2024 animated film “Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths.” They bring to life Doctor Light and Huntress of Earth-Two in the movie and have lent their voice to numerous video game characters.

NEAL (59D: “Holy Days” poet Larry): Larry Neal was a notable cultural critic, poet, and playwright, pivotal in the Black Arts Movement of the 1960s. His poem “Holy Days” can be found on the Poetry Foundation website, showcasing his influential work.

SAMS (61D: Fantastic ___ (hair care franchise)): Fantastic SAMS, a haircare franchise founded in 1974 by Sam Ross in Memphis, Tennessee, pioneered the no-appointment, walk-in salon concept. While there are over 500 locations, it’s understandable why the chain is new to me as there are none in Iowa.

Today’s puzzle also provided random but intriguing tidbits of information. For instance, “Forward” has been Wisconsin’s state motto since 1951, displayed on its seal and flag. It was even featured on the U.S. Mint’s commemorative Wisconsin quarter in 2004.

I learned that cow chip throwing, a competition involving dried cow dung, is widespread in Beaver, Oklahoma, known as the “Cow Chip Throwing Capital of the World.” This contest, held each August, is sometimes broadcast on ESPN.

CHICKEN FEET, also known as phoenix claws, are a dim sum dish prepared through frying, braising, and simmering. For more details, serious food enthusiasts might want to seek further reading.

SKA is a lively music genre from Jamaica, originating in the late 1950s, blending Caribbean mento, calypso, American jazz, and rhythm and blues. Its distinctive upbeat tempo and horn sections make it easily recognizable.

The short film “Frozen Fever,” featuring sisters Anna and Elsa, premiered in 2015 alongside the live-action remake of “Cinderella.” Additionally, Chelsea Market in NYC, initially a National Biscuit Company site, was where the Oreo was invented.

Coding enthusiasts might recognize Agda and Python as programming languages, while Cairo’s official currency is the Egyptian pound.

World Environment Day falls on June 5, urging environmental protection and proactive measures. This year’s host was Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, focusing on land restoration, desertification, and drought resilience. The next year’s theme aims to combat plastic pollution.

In Japanese cuisine, MOCHI is sticky rice pounded and molded into cakes using a kine, a wooden mallet.

The Virginia opossum, commonly called a POSSUM, is North America’s only marsupial, despite its name suggesting a more restricted habitat.

Clues like “Person, place, or _____” had me recalling the classic Schoolhouse Rock song, “A Noun is a Person, Place, or Thing.”

Omar Little, a character from the crime drama “The Wire,” was portrayed by Michael K. Williams. Shaquille O’Neal, aka Shaq, played college basketball for Louisiana State University (LSU) before his NBA career. PREP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) is a method used for HIV prevention. In Croatia, a Euro is commonly used as currency.

The theme of today’s puzzle revolved around absolute units: FEET, DEGREES, and POUNDS. Each of these units is definitive and measurable, adding a layer of consistency and enjoyment to the puzzle. A heartfelt thank you to Stella for this memorable experience.

Source: USA TODAY