Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Year of the Snake
Constructor: Zhouqin Burnikel
Editor: Amanda Rafkin
OTIS (56D: Milo's canine companion) The Adventures of Milo and OTIS is a 1986 Japanese movie about an orange tabby cat named Milo and a pug named OTIS. An English-language version of the movie, narrated by Dudley Moore, was released in 1989. My cat, Willow, is delighted to learn about Milo. She's reserving judgment about OTIS until she has more information.
MILAN (5A: City where Prada was founded) Milan is the second-largest city in Italy, following Rome, the country's capital. MILAN is considered the fashion capital of Italy. The luxury fashion house Prada was founded in MILAN in 1913 by Mario Prada.
ULNA (17A: Elbow-to-wrist bone) Humans have two elbow-to-wrist bones, the ULNA and the radius. ULNA is, of course, the one that fits here.
PASTA (18A: Orzo or orecchiette) Orzo is rice-shaped PASTA. Orecchiette is a small PASTA that derives its name from the Italian words for "ear" (orechhia) and "small" (-etta).
PIT BULL TERRIER (20A: Medium-sized muscular dog) The PIT BULL TERRIER is one of multiple dog breeds that are sometimes referred to as PIT BULLs (which isn't a breed classification). PIT BULL TERRIERs are a cross between bulldogs and TERRIERs. These dogs often get a bad rap for being aggressive, as some of them have historically been bred to fight, but breed isn't an indicator of aggression. PIT BULL TERRIERs are playful, intelligent, and friendly.
TEA (23A: Drink served with lo mai gai) Lo mai gai is a dish in Chinese cuisine. It consists of glutinous rice filled with chicken and other ingredients, which are wrapped in a grape leaf or dried lotus leaf, and then steamed.
LAOS (42A: Asian country home to the Pha That Luang temple) LAOS is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia. Its capital is Vientiane. Pha That Luang is a Buddhist stupa (a mound-like building used as a place of meditation) in Vientiane, LAOS.
HYDE (45A: Jekyll's evil side) Dr. Jekyll and Mr. HYDE first appeared as characters in the 1886 novella by Robert Louis Stevenson, Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. HYDE. Mr. HYDE was the evil alter ego of Dr. Jekyll. These characters have appeared in numerous adaptations of the novella.
TAHOE (61A: Lake sacred to the Washoe) The Washoe are Indigenous people who have lived in the area around Lake TAHOE (which is located on the California-Nevada border) for thousands of years. The name of Lake TAHOE is derived from the Washo word for lake. (Washo is the language spoken by the Washoe people.)
LEAD (65A: Element with the symbol Pb) The chemical symbol of LEAD is derived from the Latin word, "plumbum." I'm always happy to see science clues in the puzzle.
ANTS (66A: Insects with a sweet tooth) This clue made me smile, because I've never thought about ANTS' preference for sweet foods as a "sweet tooth," but it certainly fits. Not all ANTS have a sweet tooth, some ANTS prefer salty foods or protein or fat. Many species of ANTS are exceptional at detecting sugar, which provides energy for them.
OSLO (68A: Capital city with the world's oldest ski museum) Our crossword friend OSLO (making its second appearance of the year today) is the capital of Norway. OSLO is home to the Holmenkollen Ski Museum, which includes an exhibition of 2,500 pairs of skis.
PARMESAN (38A: Substitute for Pecorino Romano) PARMESAN and Pecorino Romano are hard Italian cheeses. PARMESAN is made from cow's milk, while Pecorino Romano is made from sheep's milk.
HE'S (45D: "___ Just Not That Into You") HE'S Just Not That Into You is a 2004 self-help book by Greg Behrendt and Liz Tuccillo. The book was adapted into a 2009 movie of the same name.
MEZCAL (48D: Smoky agave liquor) The sap of the agave plant is fermented to make an alcoholic beverage called pulque, which is distilled to produce the spirit, MEZCAL. Tequila is MEZCAL made from a variety of the plant known as blue agave. All tequila is MEZCAL, but not all mezcal is tequila.
A LA (60D: Arroz ___ cubana) Arroz A LA cubana is a rice dish that originated in Cuba, and typically consists of white rice, tomato sauce, and a fried egg. The dish often includes a fried plantain as well.
A few other clues I especially liked:
SANDS (67A: Smooths with gritty paper)
RELIEF (2D: "Load off your mind" feeling)
LOST (7D: In need of directions)
PIT BULL TERRIER (20A: Medium-sized muscular dog)
PLANT MANAGER (38A: One overseeing an assembly line)
EYES ON THE PRIZE (55A: "Focus on your goal!")
YEAR OF THE SNAKE: The first word of each theme answer can be paired with the word SNAKE. This gives us SNAKE PIT, SNAKE PLANT, and SNAKE EYES.
I've been looking forward to this puzzle. Today is the Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, and Zhouqin often does a puzzle to mark this holiday. You can read my synopses of past puzzles: "Happy Spring Festival" (2021), "Year of the Tiger" (2022), "Year of the Rabbit" (2023). I'm noticing we didn't get a puzzle last year for Year of the Dragon, so I'm especially happy to see today's puzzle. As of today, we are in the "Year of the Snake." Thank you, Zhouqin, for this timely puzzle.
As a bonus, I'm sharing a picture of my SNAKE PLANT with you. It got so tall, we had to take it off of the plant stand and set it on the floor.
USA TODAY's Daily Crossword Puzzles
Sudoku & Crossword Puzzle Answers
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Crossword Blog & Answers for January 29, 2025 by Sally Hoelscher
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Yahoo
Caitlin Clark's stylish arrival steals the WNBA All-Star spotlight
Caitlin Clark didn't need to touch the court to make an impact during the WNBA All-Star festivities. The Indiana Fever rookie was ruled out of the game due to a groin injury that has been bothering her for several weeks. She also missed the league's 3-Point Contest despite being named a captain for the weekend. Even off the court, Caitlin Clark makes headlines But when Clark arrived at the event, all eyes were on her, and not for anything basketball-related. Sporting a sharp black blazer over a crisp white button-down, she layered in a graphic tee tucked neatly into structured black shorts. A wide belt with a square pouch detail cinched her look together, and she completed the ensemble with black pointed-toe heels. Social media lit up immediately after images of Clark's outfit surfaced. 'She stole the show,' one user wrote. 'Caitlin looks fantastic,' another fan added. Others chimed in with praise, calling the outfit 'Prada-worthy' and comparing her entrance to that of a CEO showing up to run the league herself. MORE: WNBA star has plan for $52,575 cash from WNBA All-Star Weekend Injury Update Clark has now missed 11 games this season, an unusual run of absences for a player who's known for her durability. Even with the missed time, she's still been producing at a high level, averaging 16.5 points, 5 rebounds, and nearly 9 assists per game. The All-Star break gave her some added rest, but there's still no firm timetable on when she'll be back to full strength. For now, she's still managing the groin injury that forced her off the court during one of the league's biggest weekends. Whether she's suited up or sidelined, one thing is clear: Caitlin Clark continues to be the main attraction. More WNBA News: Caitlin Clark dodges kiss, sparks wild fan reactions at All-Star Event Lexie Hull and Caitlin Clark connection The full history of NBA 3-Point Contest winners How Caitlin Clark's injury affected cost of All-Star game tickets
New York Times
2 days ago
- New York Times
The Passion of the Cartoonist
CARAVAGGIO: The Palette and the Sword, by Milo Manara Just in time for his 80th birthday, the Italian sex comics genius Milo Manara has finished a two-volume graphic biography of another famously libidinous artist: 'Caravaggio: The Palette and the Sword.' The books are, in many ways, Manara's theory of his own work, and Caravaggio is his stand-in: 'Ecstasy is ecstasy, regardless of where it comes from,' the great painter declares to one of his models on one page. The girl is teasing him for portraying her as his 'Mary Magdalene in Ecstasy' from a sketch he made while she was masturbating, but Caravaggio and Manara are both adamant: It is the passion itself that matters, not whether it happens to be carnal or devotional. Manara defies easy categorization; or rather, he invites conflicting characterizations. He has worked on both DC and Marvel Comics characters and drawn dream-logic comics with the film director Federico Fellini, all using the same virtuosic line. But he's best known as an especially unrestrained pornographer, one whose smut often ranges into literary territory. There's a gender-swapped version of Jonathan Swift's satire 'Gulliver's Travels' and an adaptation of the ancient Roman writer Apuleius' bawdy novel 'The Golden Ass' in his bibliography. (The word 'ass' refers to a donkey here, for what it's worth.) In Caravaggio, Manara has an especially appropriate subject for his attentions: a horny scoundrel who painted some of the most transcendently beautiful images of Christian faith ever made. (He often tried to use them as bribes to stay out of prison.) Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Cosmopolitan
3 days ago
- Cosmopolitan
Sarah Pidgeon Responds to Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy Criticism
Sarah Pidgeon knows the internet has opinions on her portrayal of John F. Kennedy Jr.'s wife—beloved fashion icon and all-around it-girl Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy—in American Love Story, and she's finally breaking her silence. The rising star responded to the criticism during the I Know What You Did Last Summer premiere on July 14. 'I know how special Carolyn is to me and I understand how widely beloved she is, so this role comes with a lot of responsibility—and I'm not surprised that people have strong opinions about it,' she told Variety on the red carpet. She added, 'That's what makes her such an interesting person. I mean, not only how she dressed, but the woman who worked at Calvin Klein and the person that JFK Jr. fell in love with. She's a human being beyond just these pictures. She really resonates with a lot of people, and she certainly does with me.' ICYMI, showrunner Ryan Murphy shared first-look images of Sarah and her co-star, Paul Kelly, on Instagram in June and was met with backlash for CBK's hair and outfit choices. 'This PRIDE?! Violent,' former Vogue fashion editor and stylist, Gabriella Karefa Johnson, wrote under the post. Another critic added, 'The opportunity of a lifetime to source archival Carolyn fits and y'all did this,' as others noted her high-fashion look looked 'cheap' in Ryan's recreation. After the pics dropped, Carolyn's friend and former hairstylist, Brad Johns, reacted to Sarah's portrayal in conversation with Page Six. 'I love Ryan Murphy. I mean, I live for him. But there must be some kind of glitch with the costume people or the hair people, because it's not right—it's all white and burnt,' he said, adding, 'Her hair was not white and it wasn't burnt, and she hated the idea of having ashy hair—which I was totally against, too, and I never did it.' Sarah's team seemed to have considered the criticism as the actor debuted a new-and-improved shade of blonde at the I Know What You Did Last Summer premiere. She stars alongside Madelyn Cline, Chase Sui Wonders, and Gabbriette Bechtel in the reboot of the 1997 slasher film, which also features its original stars, Freddie Prinze Jr. and Jennifer Love Hewitt. Her character sports brunette hair in the movie, so naturally, fans ate up her look on the red carpet. In her Instagram comments section, one wrote, 'This Prada blonde moment is actually beyond words,' and another added, 'Oh the light hair is goooood 🔥👏🏾.' Ryan Murphy also reacted to comments about his take on Carolyn during an interview with Puck, saying, 'I had no idea that people cared as much as they do, but I guess that's a good thing.' The series has already started filming and is set to premiere during the week of Valentine's Day in 2026.
