Sally Hoelscher, a renowned crossword puzzle enthusiast, recently delved into USA TODAY’s latest crossword puzzle titled “I Won’t Stand For It!” The puzzle, crafted by constructors Renee Thomason and Zhouqin Burnikel and edited by Jared Goudsmit, offered a mix of intriguing clues and answers that left Sally both entertained and enlightened.
One of the standout clues was DOJO (5A: Karateka’s place). A DOJO is a training space for martial arts, and a karateka is someone who practices karate. This clue highlighted the importance of experiential learning in martial arts.
Another interesting clue was INCA (14A: Worshipper of Mama Sara). In INCA mythology, Mama Sara was the goddess of grain and was also associated with willow trees. This clue provided a glimpse into ancient INCA beliefs and their reverence for nature.
The puzzle also featured BEN (20A: Actor Whishaw). BEN Whishaw, a British actor, is known for his roles in “Mary Poppins Returns” and as the voice of Paddington Bear in the “Paddington” movies. This clue introduced solvers to an actor whose face might be familiar even if his name isn’t.
A culinary twist was added with ANT EGG (45A: Insect pupa in gaeng khai moht). Gaeng khai moht, a dish in Lao cuisine, uses ANT EGGS from the weaver ant species. This clue not only tested solvers’ knowledge of exotic foods but also their familiarity with different cultures.
JOHN (7D: “They Cloned Tyrone” actor Boyega) was another notable clue. “They Cloned Tyrone” is a 2023 sci-fi comedy starring JOHN Boyega, Teyonah Harris, and Jamie Fox. The movie revolves around a secret operation cloning Black people, adding a layer of social commentary to the puzzle.
Sally also shared some random thoughts and interesting tidbits she encountered while solving the puzzle. For instance, TEEN (21A: Katniss Everdeen, age-wise) reminded her of the protagonist of “The Hunger Games” trilogy, played by Jennifer Lawrence in the movie adaptations.
ODE (25A: “___ to Browsing the Web” (Marcus Wicker poem)) introduced solvers to a poem by Marcus Wicker, available on the Poetry Foundation website. Sally appreciated how this clue brought new literary works to her attention.
CECE (34A: Singer Peniston) highlighted CECE Peniston’s success in the music industry, with five number one hits on Billboard’s Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart, including her signature song “Finally.”
AARP (35A: Org. for people 50 and older) was another fun fact. Despite promoting itself as a 50+ organization, AARP has no minimum age requirement for membership, making it accessible to a broader audience.
SOAPY (36A: Like a bubble bath) initially stumped Sally, as she had “sudsy” in mind. However, crossing answers led her to the correct solution, SOAPY.
UFO (51A: “Resident Alien” spacecraft) referred to the TV series “Resident Alien,” which premiered on Syfy in 2021. Alan Tudyk stars as the title character, whose UFO crash-landed in Patience, Colorado.
ERIC (57A: Disney prince who sings “Wild Uncharted Waters”) was a nod to the 2023 live-action adaptation of “The Little Mermaid,” with a song written by Lin Manuel Miranda for Prince ERIC.
ONE (8D: Second number in the Fibonacci sequence) tested solvers’ knowledge of the Fibonacci sequence, where each number is the sum of the two preceding numbers. The sequence starts with zero and ONE.
TLDR (10D: Letters before a summary) stands for “too long; didn’t read,” a common internet abbreviation.
PETSAT (42D: Cared for a neighbor’s iguana, say) was a fun clue, as it mentioned an iguana instead of the usual cat or dog. Sally shared a personal anecdote about pet-sitting a friend’s snake, adding a personal touch to her analysis.
RENE (48D: “Tin Cup” actress Russo) referred to the 1996 sports-themed romcom “Tin Cup,” starring RENE Russo and Kevin Costner. The film revolves around a former golf prodigy attempting a comeback.
OTTO (52D: “A Man Called ___” (2022 Tom Hanks film)) was a clue about the remake of the 2015 Swedish movie “A Man Called Ove,” with Tom Hanks portraying the title character.
Sally also enjoyed a few other clues, such as LIST (1A: Something Santa or a shopper might check), SCAM (26A: Email from an heirless prince, probably), and LET ME GUESS (29D: “Wait, don’t say the answer yet!”).
The puzzle’s title, “I Won’t Stand For It!,” was a nod to the answer PLEASE HAVE A SEAT (53A: Polite “Wait here”). Sally appreciated the humor and creativity behind the title and its connection to the puzzle’s answers.
Overall, Sally found the puzzle to be an enjoyable and enlightening experience, filled with interesting clues and answers that tested her knowledge and introduced her to new information.
