Puzzle solutions for Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025
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Jumbles: BOSSY KIOSK UNWIND PLIGHT
Answer: When it came to knowing exactly when to spray. the skunk had − GOOD "IN-STINKS"
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"As a youngster, I never dreamed there could be a career actually earning a living writing music." − John Williams
(Distributed by Andrews McMeel)
THERE ARE TWO RULES IN LIFE: NUMBER ONE, NEVER QUIT! NUMBER TWO, NEVER FORGET RULE NUMBER ONE. − DUKE ELLINGTON
(Distributed by King Features)
SPECIAL BEVERAGE THAT THE FAB FOUR WOULD GULP DOWN TO REJUVENATE THEIR BODIES: BEATLE JUICE.
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SWAN WREN CROW DUCK HAWK ROOK
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MINING, GENES, SMASH, HASHTAG, GARMENTS
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ADHERED
TRIANGLES
SPIN
POLISH
HONDURAS
SCHIPOL
GESTURE
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Comfort is important
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Online Crossword & Sudoku Puzzle Answers for 02/08/2025 - USA TODAY
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USA Today
22 minutes ago
- USA Today
'Ballerina' Ana de Armas spills on that explosive 'John Wick' ending
'Ballerina' Ana de Armas spills on that explosive 'John Wick' ending Show Caption Hide Caption Ian McShane talks working with Ana de Armas in 'Ballerina' Ian McShane shares why it was smart to bring Ana de Armas into the "John Wick" franchise in the new film "Ballerina." Spoiler alert! We're discussing important plot points and the ending of 'Ballerina' (in theaters now), so beware if you haven't seen it yet. Ana de Armas goes through snowy hell to find vengeance in 'Ballerina,' and by the end, she winds up a wanted woman. The 'John Wick' franchise spinoff introduces dancer/assassin Eve Macarro (de Armas), who's trained by the same Ruska Roma organization that begat John Wick (Keanu Reeves). She's still a rookie hitwoman when Eve discovers that the mystery men who murdered her father when she was a little girl belong to a killer cult. Eve defies the wishes of the Ruska Roma's Director (Anjelica Huston) and goes after the cult and its leader, the Chancellor (Gabriel Byrne). Join our Watch Party! Sign up to receive USA TODAY's movie and TV recommendations right in your inbox Along the way, Eve also has to rescue Ella, the young kidnapped daughter of an ex-cult member (Norman Reedus). And before the explosive finale, Eve learns that Lena (Catalina Sandino Moreno), one of the Chancellor's enforcers, is actually her long-thought-dead older sister, though Lena is killed by her own people soon after the revelation. 'She really is alone,' de Armas says of her character. 'So she really now feels like she has nothing to lose except for maybe Ella. Maybe that's what's going to give her some purpose from now on.' Let's dig into the best spoilers from 'Ballerina,' from the very Keanu ending to a mystery awaiting Eve's next mission. What happens in the ending of 'Ballerina'? Eve travels to a little Austrian town full of murderous locals to track down the Chancellor, and as she gets closer to accomplishing her mission, he reaches out to the Director to help deal with his problem. (Because the cult is such a wild card, Ruska Roma and other crime organizations try to keep the peace with them.) The Director sends in the feared 'Baba Yaga,' John Wick (who's still alive at this point in the story, which takes place between the third and fourth 'Wick' movies), to take care of the situation. John gives Eve an out, explaining that her actions have consequences but she can leave peacefully if she wants. She refuses and they tussle, though John doesn't kill her – they have a quite a bit in common, from being orphans to wanting vengeance for loved ones. Wick gives her a half hour to take care of the Chancellor before he needs to take care of her, but just before time runs out, and Eve is confronting the villain, Wick shoots him from a sniper position. Eve returns Ella to her dad and goes to the ballet to see the performance of an old Ruska Roma friend who couldn't cut being an assassin. Eve's phone pings, she sees that there's a $5 million bounty on her head, and she walks out quietly from the theater. 'It is a really good ending,' de Armas says. 'It can go anywhere from here. I do feel like she found herself. She got what she wanted: 'I chose this life, this is what I want to do.' ' Although 'she looks up to John,' de Armas adds, Eve can't take his or anyone else's advice to move on from her loss. 'Literally every person she goes to tells her, 'Stop it. Let it go.' And she can't, it's just stronger than her. There's some relief in her and now she will deal with the consequences. She's not afraid of that and it'll be what it'll be.' Does the new 'John Wick' movie have a post-credits scene? Nope! Although 'John Wick: Chapter 4' had a mid-credits sequence, 'Ballerina' doesn't. What it does boast, however, is the rockin' new Evanescence track 'Fight Like a Girl' (which is a theme in the movie). For those looking for a tease of where Eve could go next, director Len Wiseman says to pay attention to the bounty on Eve at the end of the movie. That was 'a Keanu idea,' the filmmaker says, and it speaks to 'the spirit of the consequences behind this world.' But 'it's ambiguous who put that contract out,' Wiseman adds. And while audiences will have to wait to see who that mystery person is, 'I have my fun, really dark ideas.'


USA Today
2 hours ago
- USA Today
Internet celebrity Tiki is up for adoption. The waitlist is full.
Internet celebrity Tiki is up for adoption. The waitlist is full. Show Caption Hide Caption Foster dog Tiki's viral TikTok journey from fear to affection, and now, adoption Tiki, a rescue dog in Los Angeles, overcomes his traumatic past with love and patience. Now, he's ready for adoption, with hundreds of hopeful applicants. Tiki, who melted millions of hearts with his innocence and recovery, is now up for adoption, his foster Isabel Klee said. The plot twist, however, is that applications and the waitlist are both full after the 5-year-old dog received more than 100 applications in just the first hour alone. The pooch, who got a new lease on life after he was rescued from dire circumstances, became social media famous after Klee documented his journey on TikTok, with some of the videos garnering millions of views. "The response has been so heartwarming," Klee, a content creator and upcoming author based in Brooklyn, told USA TODAY. "The world can be a really harsh place, especially right now. There's a lot going on, and I think everybody just kind of needed this story that was feel good and hopeful to turn to." Tiki's virality also helped New York-based Muddy Paws Rescue, who connected Klee with Tiki, raise over $200,000 through Tiki-themed merchandise and donations, Klee said. Tiki refused to leave his bed when he first came home When Klee first brought him home, Tiki did not eat, drink or leave his bed even to go to the bathroom. Klee was unable to reveal the circumstances in which Tiki was rescued due to privacy concerns, but said she was made aware of the situation, which wasn't very great, when she picked him up for fostering. "There was this big fear he wouldn't get better," Klee said. "There were nights when I would just lay awake looking at my ceiling, wondering what the outcome would be." "Before I picked him up, ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) told us this dog was in really bad shape, and they didn't know if he was going to be able to be rehabilitated," Klee said. "We didn't know what his outcome would be. But Muddy Paws Rescue and I decided to pull him anyway, because I feel all dogs deserve the chance to get better, and a lot of dogs can't get better in a shelter environment, because it can be really stressful." Slowly but steadily, things started looking up. "Day by day, he did get better," Klee said. "I kind of just sat back and learned to exist with him. I didn't push him. I let him come out of his shell on his own." It started with Tiki first only putting his paw outside the crate. Then he started drinking water, then eating. "Every day it was something new, until eventually he was crawling into my lap and asking for cuddles," Klee said. "It happened really slowly, but day by day, he got braver and braver." Curious little pup Klee said it took almost 13 days for her to touch Tiki for the first time because of how hesitant he was. But when it finally happened, "it was well worth the wait." After more than a month in Klee's care, Tiki is now also getting warmed up to being around other people and pets. While he isn't entirely comfortable in their presence, like when Klee has people over, he does come outside and hangs out with them, observing everybody. "He is very curious," Klee said. "He met my mom and allowed her to give him kisses and pets. Every single day with every person he meets, he gets a little braver, and he comes out of his shell a little bit more." Tiki's favorite things As Tiki came out of his shell, one of his favorite things to do is sit with dirty laundry. "He's obsessed with our dirty laundry," Klee laughed. "It sounds really funny, but he'll go into the hamper and take out, like a shirt that I wore and cuddle with it, which is just the cutest thing. He also loves our shoes. It's like he loves to cuddle with the things that smell like us. He never destroys them, he just likes to sit with them." As for his favorite snack, "he's obsessed with cheese," mostly cheddar, Klee said. Tiki and Simon Klee may be putting in most of the effort, but Tiki's favorite person in the house is her 6-year-old dog Simon, who she adopted after fostering him when he was just a little puppy. "Simon is the best partner in fostering," Klee gushed. "He is just so patient (and) understanding. He gets it. He understands these dogs need help and teaches them to be a dog again." Klee credited Simon with teaching Tiki how to play with toys and encouraging Tiki to go outside for the first time. "Having a confident dog in the house is just like the best possible thing when you're fostering a fearful dog," Klee shared. Isabel and Simon have fostered 20 dogs together Klee and Simon have fostered 20 dogs together, though Klee has been fostering dogs for much longer. The content creator shared she's been fostering dogs since she was 25 but took a long break when she adopted Simon after fostering him. "Simon has a lot of complicated health issues so I stopped fostering for a number of years, and then picked it back up about two years ago," Klee said, adding the two have now fostered 20 dogs together. Depending on the dog's need, fosters have been as short as a few days and as long as two months. "It's been a lot, (but) I find it so rewarding," Klee said. "Of course, there are difficult moments, but I think the joyful moments far outweigh it." She added: "Tiki is such a great example. Four weeks (in) and he's a completely different dog. Just being that vessel for change and seeing them grow over a short amount of time is the most magical thing." Tips for fostering For anyone looking into fostering dogs, Klee's word of advice would be to have patience. "Patience is the most important thing," Klee, who is also in process of writing a book on fostering, said. "Whether that's being frustrated that the dog is peeing inside, or that they're barking at you or, whatever it may be. Just come at it with patience and the understanding that this dog is in a brand-new space, and (that) it's scary and terrifying (for them)." Tiki is not going to be with Klee much longer, given the overwhelming response received on his adoption application. However, an adoption doesn't mean their relationship would come to an end. Klee shared she always exchanges information with any family that adopts the dogs she has fostered, and "most of them still keep in touch" with her. "I get pictures all the time," Klee said, adding it is up to the adopter on whether they want to keep a relationship with her. "Luckily most people find the dogs through my page, so they usually do want to keep in touch. I'm very happy about that." Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@ and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.


USA Today
3 hours ago
- USA Today
He did a marathon with 24 hours notice thanks to his wife. Experts advise against it.
He did a marathon with 24 hours notice thanks to his wife. Experts advise against it. "It was fun to poke the bear and then eventually the bear bit me," Logan Goodspeed said with a chuckle. Show Caption Hide Caption Husband runs marathon with no training and 24 hour notice Maisie Todd documented her husband's marathon-running journey, after she signed him up and notified him only 24 hours before! Logan Goodspeed had never run a marathon. He's not even a runner or someone who regularly works out. But last weekend, the 32-year-old participated in his first marathon with just 24 hours' notice. On Sunday, June 1, Goodspeed participated in the Rock 'n' Roll San Diego Marathon thanks to his wife, Maisie Todd, who secretly signed him up back in April. And the entire journey, from Goodspeed learning the news to crossing the finish line, was documented on TikTok, garnering nearly 40 million collective views as of June 5. "I thought it would be funny just to say, 'Oh, I signed my husband up for a marathon with no notice.' That's kind of it. And then so many people wanted updates. I was running around like a chicken with my head cut off on Sunday trying to find him, follow him around, film it, edit it and upload," Todd told USA TODAY. In the end, Goodspeed completed the marathon, half running and half walking, in five hours and 58 minutes, finishing 5,081 out of 5,935 participants, per the Rock 'n' Roll San Diego Marathon website. And though he was a bit sore the day after the race, Goodspeed told USA TODAY on June 3 that he was surprised at just how good he felt. Despite how Goodspeed felt after the race, health experts and running coaches strongly advise against participating in a marathon with zero preparations, as short- and long-term injuries can be serious, or even fatal. Here is Goodspeed's story and journey to the finishing line. How it started So why did Todd sign up her lounging husband for a marathon without any clues? "Logan just kept saying that he could wake up and ... complete a marathon," Todd said. "Everyone was like, 'Come on, Logan, there's no way that you're going to wake up and complete a marathon with 24 hours' notice,' but he kept bringing it up and kept saying he could do it." Goodspeed isn't a fitness guru who "never runs, never swims, (never) bikes." Todd described him as "more of a lounge by the pool and read type of guy." So when Goodspeed was adamant he could take on the challenge, Todd decided to call him out on it. "It was fun to poke the bear and then eventually the bear bit me," Goodspeed said with a chuckle. In a TikTok video with 9.4 million views, the first of the series, Todd wakes Goodspeed up, with a bright camera flash, to let him know he has 24 hours to prepare for the race. "Okay, can't wait," Goodspeed says groggily in the video. As for preparations, there wasn't enough time for the recommended plan to gradually build up mileage over several weeks and months. Rather, Goodspeed needed race snacks and, more importantly, running shoes. After a trip to a nearby second-hand store, Goodspeed ended up with a pair of Adidas Climacool Bounce sneakers, which Adidas markets as "casual running or light workouts." "For more intense training or long-distance running, you might want to consider a shoe with a more responsive midsole," the Adidas website states about its Bounce line. Though the shoes may not have been designed for marathon running, Goodspeed said they were comfortable and did the job. Finishing with time to spare The goal, Goodspeed said, was to complete a full marathon, which is 26.2 miles, in seven hours or less. The key was to complete the marathon, not necessarily run the entire race. At five hours and 58 minutes, Goodspeed said he ran about half the marathon: 13.1 miles. Is it safe to run a marathon with no prep? In addition to the countless comments on TikTok asking for updates, there were also plenty that advised Goodspeed from participating in the race with zero training. Several warned about the risk of rhabdomyolysis, an injury that occurs when muscles break down and release the protein myoglobin in the blood, per the Cleveland Clinic. Rhabdomyolysis can be fatal. Goodspeed said he avoided these comments ahead of the race and knew if he started to experience pain, he would tap out. Fortunately, he didn't, aside from typical soreness. Nonetheless, health experts and running coaches don't recommend tackling a marathon with no training. In 2023, running coach Helen Gaunt told Runner's World that the body is not built to go from zero to 26.2 miles without training. The length of the marathon alone can put stress on various organs, including the heart and lungs. Gaunt advised that beginners start with a 16-week training program to gradually increase mileage. More marathons in the future? Despite the overall success of his first marathon, Goodspeed said he doesn't have plans to sign up, or be signed up, for any more marathons anytime soon. If he were to run a marathon again, Goodspeed said he'd enjoy doing so with a group of friends that could make the race more fun, rather than participating solo. Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her at gcross@