Category: BUSINESS

Crossword Blog & Answers for April 20, 2025 by Sally Hoelscher
There are spoilers ahead. You might want to solve today’s puzzle before reading further! Thought Leaders
Constructor: Sam Cordes

Editor: Amanda Rafkin

What I Learned from Today’s Puzzle

BARS (18A: Top-quality hip-hop lyrics) In the world of hip-hop, the word BARS refers to the lyrics, particularly strong or impactful lyrics.

OTTER (51A: Mammal form of the shape-shifting creature Kushtaka) The Tlingit are Indigenous peoples of North America’s Pacific Northwest. In Tlingit folklore, Kushtaka are mythical shape-shifting creatures capable of assuming human form and the form of an OTTER. Kushtaka are far from friendly; they attempt to trap souls and prevent reincarnation.

GENE (70A: Patton known as “the Dancing Machine”) GENE Patton (1932-2015) was better known by his stage name, GENE GENE the Dancing Machine. GENE GENE the Dancing Machine gained popularity in the 1970s for his appearances on the talent search game show The Gong Show. GENE Patton worked as a stagehand at NBC Studios, and was one of several amateur performers who warmed up the audience. Eventually, GENE GENE the Dancing Machine became a recurring feature on the show, coming on stage in his signature green sweater jacket, flat cap, bell-bottoms, and sneakers, and performing a shuffling dance.

OTHER (2D: “The ___ Guys” (2010 comedy film)) The OTHER Guys stars Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg as New York City Police Department officers.

SAW (4D: Horror franchise with Billy the Puppet) The SAW horror franchise began with the 2004 movie, SAW. The franchise now includes ten movies as well as other media. The series involves a serial killer known as Jigsaw, who uses Billy the Puppet to communicate with his victims. It’s possible I’ve known this at one time, but horror movies are not my genre of choice, so if I did know it I had blocked it out. Fortunately, crossing answers helped me out.

Random Thoughts & Interesting Things

BOSS (1A: Video game hurdle) In video games, the term BOSS refers to a significant computer-controlled enemy. This is something I learned four years ago from a crossword puzzle.

ATTA (12A: Roti flour) ATTA is a wholemeal wheat flour. ATTA flour is used to make flatbreads such as roti, chapati, and naan. Because of the high gluten content of ATTA flour, dough made with it is strong and elastic, and can be rolled into thin sheets.

SHOWER GIFT (16A: Diaper cake, perhaps) A diaper cake is not an actual cake (thank goodness!), but rather a baby SHOWER GIFT in which diapers are arranged to resemble a tiered cake.

SHUI (34A: Feng ___) The practice of feng SHUI involves situating buildings and furniture in specific orientations in an attempt to increase harmony between individuals and their environment. The Chinese term feng SHUI translates to “wind-water” in English. The biggest challenge for me here was remembering how to spell feng SHUI.

DEEP DISH PIZZA (38A: Chicago-style pie) One of the many things Chicago, Illinois is known for is DEEP DISH PIZZA aka Chicago-style PIZZA. Chicago-style DEEP DISH PIZZA was invented at Pizzeria Uno in 1943. I am a fan of all kinds of PIZZA, including Chicago-style DEEP DISH PIZZA.

TANTRA (46A: Hindu text) In Hinduism, the TANTRAs are scriptures dealing with techniques and practices aimed at expanding one’s consciousness and channeling divine energy. The tantric texts are generally in the format of a dialogue between god and goddess.

MAYO (60A: PB&M sandwich ingredient) Peanut butter and MAYO sandwiches (PB&Ms) became popular in the 1930s, particularly in the southern United States. The popularity of the PB&M seems to have decreased in the 1960s, but occasionally the Internet will discover it again (as it does…).

SECOND CITY (61A: Improv troupe based in Chicago) The SECOND CITY improv troupe debuted in Chicago in 1959. SECOND CITY’s alumni list is impressive and includes Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Jordan Peel, Stephen Colbert, and many other well known names.

OREO (65A: Cookie in some cheesecakes) OREO cheesecake sounds delicious at the moment (or at any moment to be honest). Our crossword friend OREO is making its third appearance of the month and its eleventh appearance of the year.

BEST (68A: “___ in Show” (2000 mockumentary)) BEST in Show is a mockumentary about dog shows. The movie follows five dogs and their owners as they travel to compete in a dog show. Much of the dialogue in BEST in Show was improvised by the cast: Jennifer Coolidge, Christopher Guest, John Michael Higgins, Michael Hitchcock, Eugene Levy, Jane Lynch, Michael McKean, Catherine O’Hara, and Parker Posey.

ABBI (8D: “Broad City” actress Jacobson) ABBI Jacobson and Ilana Glazer co-starred in the TV sitcom, Broad City (2014-2019). The show was developed from a web series of the same name and is based on the stars’ real-life friendship and New York City adventures.

SEA BREEZE (9D: Drink similar to a Cape Codder) A SEA BREEZE is a cocktail made of vodka, cranberry juice, and grapefruit juice. The related cocktail known as a Cape Codder lacks grapefruit juice.

SPHERE (24D: Round Las Vegas entertainment venue) The Las Vegas entertainment venue SPHERE opened in 2023. When we saw SPHERE referenced in a puzzle earlier this year, I geeked out learning about the science of constructing a SPHERE-shaped building.

OTOH (27D: “That being said,” in a text) OTOH = on the other hand

SEAN HAYES (34D: “SmartLess” co-host) SmartLess is a weekly comedy podcast co-hosted by SEAN HAYES, Jason Bateman, and Will Arnett. Each week, one of the co-hosts introduces a mystery guest to the others. Recent guests include Jeff Goldblum, Maria Shriver, and Elton John & Brandi Carlile.

INTO (39D: “___ the Wild” (Jon Krakauer book)) Jon Krakauer’s 1996 non-fiction book INTO the Wild is about Chris McCandless, a man who after graduating from Emory University, stopped communication with his family and began traveling west, eventually making his way to the Alaskan wilderness, where his body was eventually discovered in an abandoned bus. A movie adaptation of Jon Krakauer’s book, also titled INTO the Wild, was released in 2007.

EATEN (53D: “___ Alive” (1985 Diana Ross album)) EATEN Alive is Diana Ross’s sixteenth studio album. Fun fact: The album was produced (and primarily written) by Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees.

EDU (62D: www.uoregon.___) The University of Oregon is located in Eugene, Oregon. Its sports teams are the Oregon Ducks.

CIG (64D: Prop for Cruella, for short) In Disney’s 1961 animated movie, One Hundred and One Dalmatians, the evil villain Cruella de Vil is rarely seen without a cigarette, CIG for short, in hand. This was also true in other 101 Dalmatians movie adaptations and spin-offs … until the 2021 live-action reboot, Cruella. In 2007, Disney banned smoking in its movies.

A few other clues I especially enjoyed:

ALIBI (21A: “It couldn’t be me! I was out of town!” e.g.)

SPOT (36D: Help out in the gym)

RHYME (54D: Four and score, for example)

Crossword Puzzle Theme Synopsis

SHOWER GIFT (16A: Diaper cake, perhaps)

DEEP DISH PIZZA (38A: Chicago-style pie)

SECOND CITY (61A: Improv troupe based in Chicago)

THOUGHT LEADERS: The first word of each theme answer can be placed in front of the word THOUGHT to form a new phrase: SHOWER THOUGHT, DEEP THOUGHT, and SECOND THOUGHT.

I am familiar with a SHOWER THOUGHT – a flash of inspiration while taking a SHOWER or doing some other mundane chore – but I hadn’t heard that particular phrase to describe it before. Therefore, although I was able to fill in SHOWER GIFT right away, I needed DEEP DISH PIZZA for the “Aha!” moment of recognizing the theme. Thank you, Sam, for this excellent puzzle.

One more thing today: It’s fun that two of today’s theme answers are related to Chicago. Speaking of Chicago, the Midwest Crossword Puzzle Tournament will be happening in Chicago on Saturday, October 4 this year. Why not make plans to attend? And while you’re in Chicago, take in a show at The SECOND CITY and enjoy some DEEP DISH PIZZA.

For more on USA TODAY’s Crossword Puzzles
April 20, 2025
Professional wrestlers turned actorsCelebrities

Professional wrestlers turned actorsCelebrities

April 20, 2025
Lady Gaga apologizes for Coachella technical difficulties

Lady Gaga’s most recent album title “Mayhem” is fitting for the problems that took place during her weekend 2 set at Coachella.

The buzzy headliner experienced technical difficulties from the beginning of her second set at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on April 18 in Indio, California.

During Gaga’s very first song, “Bloody Mary,” her headset mic stopped working and she was discreetly handed a handheld mic before starting “Abracadabra.”

She performed all of the choreography for that song, as well as the difficult choreography for “Judas,” while holding a regular microphone. Later, with her signature humor, she offered an apology to fans: “I’m sorry my mic was broken for a second. At least you know I sing live.”

Coachella 2025 draws Fyre Festival comparisons as concertgoers face 12 hour wait times

“Mayhem,” released March 7, marks the “Born This Way” singer’s seventh studio album, topping the Billboard 200 albums chart after its release. “Mayhem” closes out with her hit Bruno Mars duet “Die With a Smile.”

Among her legion of fans dubbed “Little Monsters,” the album is seen as a return to her edgy, electronic roots that defined the early years of her now-two decades long career.

After honing her acting skills with roles in “A Star is Born” and “Joker: Folie à Deux” and experimenting with a softer jazz sound alongside the late Tony Bennett for the 2021 joint album “Love for Sale,” the album offers longtime fans more of the signature club anthems that first made Gaga famous.

“This record was about celebrating bringing industrial music and grunge together, but also with these super-pop sensibilities and 2000s influences,” Gaga told USA TODAY in March.

Gaga’s Coachella performance is her first time headlining the festival since 2017 as she is set to embark on a tour this summer to support “Mayhem.”

The Mayhem Ball tour, set to begin in Las Vegas on July 16, marks Gaga’s first time taking her act on the road since 2022’s Chromatica Ball Tour.

Contributing: Anna Kaufman, Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY; Brian Blueskye, The Desert Sun

April 20, 2025
Vince Vaughn appears in ‘Wedding Crashers’-themed Trump photo

Vince Vaughn is crashing the internet after a photo posted by The White House.

The “Wedding Crashers” alum, who played a Washington, D.C. divorce mediation attorney that crashed weddings to meet women opposite Owen Wilson in the 2005 film, is seemingly starring in a new role: visitor of President Donald Trump.

On Friday, the official White House Instagram account shared an apparent photo of Trump with the “Delivery Man” star at the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office. The shot was a spoofy movie poster inspired by the 2005 cult favorite.

“White House Crashers,” the poster read with “President Donald J. Trump & Vince Vaughn in the Oval Office” as the caption. USA TODAY reached out to reps for Vaughn for comment.

Vince Vaughn makes rare appearance with children at Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony

Vaughn and Trump have been pictured together previously. In 2020, a viral video showed Vaughn chatting with Trump at the national championship football game.

The video showed Vaughn sitting in box seats next to First Lady Melania Trump and the president. In the 31-second clip, Vaughn and the president spoke before shaking hands and then waving goodbye.

Both the Trumps and Vaughn smiled when the actor walked away. But later, he walked back the run-in during a 2020 profile in The Los Angeles Times.

“In my career I’ve met a lot of politicians who I’ve always been cordial to; I’ve met Nancy Pelosi and was cordial to her as well,” Vaughn told the LA Times, adding that “it was the only time I’ve ever met him. We said hello. He was very personable. I didn’t get into policies.”

“I think people are more charged than ever about these things,” Vaughn continued. “But I don’t think most people take that stuff as seriously as the small percentage that’s making noise about it.”

He added: “I was raised with the idea that you could have different likes and beliefs, and you should respect and defend that in other people, not shout it down. The people you disagree with the most, you should stand up for their right to do that.”

Contributing: Patrick Ryan and Hannah Yasharoff, USA TODAY

April 20, 2025
Wendy’s has a ‘ton’ of respect for Katy Perry after Blue Origin beef

Wendy’s is attempting to end its beef with pop star Katy Perry after backlash.

The fast-food chain, known for its salty fries and social media posts, walked back its earlier shade aimed at the “E.T.” singer after posting “Can we send her back” after the star’s appearance on a Blue Origin flight on April 14.

Perry fans slammed the sassy social media post, which came after popular account Pop Crave posted on X that Perry “returned from space,” but Wendy’s clarified the comments in statements to entertainment outlets.

“We always bring a little spice to our socials, but Wendy’s has a ton of respect for Katy Perry and her out-of-this-world-talent,” reps for Wendy’s told Entertainment Weekly and People. USA TODAY reached out to reps for Perry and Wendy’s for comment.

Stars in space, critics on Earth: Emily Ratajkowski, Olivia Wilde speak out

However, Wendy’s stopped short of a full apology.

The singer, along with several other members of a star-studded, all-female crew, blasted off as part of Blue Origin’s latest space mission, taking off and landing successfully. Perry put her pop star duties on hold to explore the outer orbit for 11 minutes.

The mission, called NS-31, also included television personality Gayle King and journalist Lauren Sánchez, who is engaged to Blue Origin (and Amazon) founder Jeff Bezos. The crew was rounded out by former NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe, bioastronautics research scientist Amanda Nguyen and film producer Kerianne Flynn. The six women became the first all-female space crew in more than 60 years, Blue Origin has said.

Katy Perry’s Blue Origin mission slammed as out of touch

In the lead-up to the flight, Perry, King and Sánchez all expressed nerves and an eagerness to bring a female finesse to space. And on the day of the launch, celebrity friends including Oprah Winfrey, Khloe Kardashian and Kris Jenner joined the historic moment at the site in Texas.

But the out-of-this-world event was also slammed on social media as out of touch. Fellow celebrities Emily Ratajkowski, Olivia Wilde and Olivia Munn were among the Hollywood stars to distance themselves from the mission.

“I feel super connected to love,” Perry said of her trip to space, adding that the flight was “all for the benefit of Earth. She continued: “I wanted to model courage and worthiness and fearlessness,” revealing it was a hard decision as a mom to take that risk but that she needed to “surrender” to the universe.

Contributing: Anna Kaufman, Edward Segarra

April 20, 2025
Coachella 2025: Lady Gaga, more celebrities at Weekend 2Music

Coachella 2025: Lady Gaga, more celebrities at Weekend 2Music

April 20, 2025
Let’s talk emotional ending, post-credits scene

Spoiler alert! The following post discusses important plot points, including the ending of “Sinners” (in theaters now).

Ryan Coogler’s horror movie “Sinners” goes hard when it comes to the blues, so it makes sense that a bona fide music legend would show up before the credits roll.

The filmmaker enlisted Buddy Guy to play the older version of a key character in his 1930s-set period epic. And it also led to an emotional day on set: One of Coogler’s biggest inspirations for “Sinners” — and Guy’s casting – was a blues-loving uncle who saw the guitar legend perform more than 50 times. As they filmed a post-credits scene set in 1992 on the first day of production, star Michael B. Jordan hugged Guy, and “it hit me like a ton of bricks,” Coogler says. “I realized I had dressed Buddy Guy up like my uncle without knowing it. And seeing Mike hug him, it broke me down. I was like, ‘Oh, that’s what this movie is about this whole time.’ ”

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In “Sinners,” gangster twins Smoke and Stack (Jordan) find a juke joint in their Mississippi hometown and recruit their gifted guitar-playing cousin Sammie (Miles Caton in the ‘30s, Guy in the ‘90s) to play opening night. However, their shindig is turned upside down with the appearance of Irish vampire Remmick (Jack O’Connell) who attacks the partygoers, turning them into new bloodsuckers and adding to his army.

Coogler and Jordan break down the movie’s emotional ending and a time-jumping post-credits scene:

What happens in the ending of ‘Sinners’?

Remmick first “turns” Stack’s former lover Mary (Hailee Steinfeld), and she makes Stack a vamp, which knocks his brother Smoke for a loop. From there, he and the survivors try to stay alive until dawn. Smoke’s ex Annie (Wunmi Mosaku) is bitten, and she makes Smoke stake her in the heart before she can turn. Smoke and Stack ultimately come to blows, Sammie makes it out of the sawmill alive and Smoke and Sammie defeat Remmick when the sun rises and he (along with most of his vampires) go up in flames.

But that’s not the end of the fight. The shady white guy who sold the twins the sawmill was a local Ku Klux Klan leader, and the place is a trap: He and his men aim to kill anyone who comes out in the morning. So while a tired and scarred Sammie returns to his preacher dad, ex-soldier Smoke rounds up machine guns and heavy weaponry to take on Klan members. He kills them all, but is mortally wounded himself, and as he dies, Smoke is reunited with both Annie and the child they lost as a baby.

“This movie for me was about identity, as my movies always are, and how people see themselves, but also what people do,” Coogler explains. “Smoke sees himself as a father and as a man who’s unredeemable because of his past sins, but he also sees himself as a soldier. For him, soldier means he’s a killer. He’s as good at killing people as Sammie is at singing (and) as Stack is at coming up with schemes and talking people into doing things that they might not want to do.

“That would always be how he would respond to what happens. It was also the only ending that made sense.”

Does ‘Sinners’ have a post-credits scene?

There are two. The final moment after the credits roll finds young Sammie at his dad’s church, doing a sweet rendition of “This Little Light of Mine.” But the meatiest one is a mid-credits scene that catches up with Sammie in 1992. Decades later, he’s playing in his own club and dressed to the nines, just like his cousins.

Old Sammie sits at the bar when he’s shocked to find Stack and Mary, very much still kicking and rocking a ‘90s vibe, walk through the door. Stack reveals to Sammie that he made a deal with Smoke to let the kid live out his life. Before leaving, Stack goes in and looks like he might bite Sammie and finally turn him, but instead embraces him.

Jordan feels that Stack would keep his word because he “owed” his brother that one wish. “He still checked in one time, just right before he’s getting ready to go,” he says.

The actor thinks Stack wanted to hear Sammie play live again: “He’s probably the last person alive that knew who he was before he was a vampire. There was an honesty that was there and a vulnerability that he wasn’t going to get any more for the rest of the eternity.”

Jordan also appreciated revisiting the ‘90s with his wardrobe: a Coogi sweater, Cartier glasses and a brass knuckle ring that reads “Stack.” “Hopefully the kids this Halloween, they pull up.”

April 20, 2025
We went to a silent book club. It’s worth the hype

NEW YORK – A Wednesday night at Lofty Pigeon Books in Brooklyn is an introverted reader’s dream with cushioned chairs, ambient music, snacks, books and – for an hour – absolutely no talking.

This is a silent book club.

It’s a book club in name only. In practice, it is anything but the lively, let’s-discuss ethos you’d expect.

In a silent book club, participants don’t have to read the same book. They don’t necessarily have to discuss. It’s an excuse to quietly read alongside other readers. As the official Silent Book Club LLC puts it, “it’s BYOBook,” and it’s catching on at Lofty Pigeon and many businesses around the country.

The trend reflects a growing post-pandemic need to connect in person while also being mindful of social batteries. Data provided to USA TODAY from Eventbrite shows a 223% increase in silent book club events from 2023 to 2024, especially in cities like Chicago, Indianapolis, New York City, Seattle and Atlanta. But there are hundreds of locations all around the world – you can find one near you on the silentbook.club interactive map.

Sometimes billed as “reading parties,” these events are particularly popular with young adults, many of whom have found their reading community online through BookTok. According to another survey from Eventbrite, 95% of young adults want to explore their online interests and communities through in-person events, and 62% say they prefer lightly structured activities.

Silent book clubs remove traditional book club pressure

Brooklyn resident Ariya McGrew has come to nearly every Lofty Pigeon silent book club since it started in June 2024. She describes the community atmosphere using the famous “Cheers” theme song – it’s a place “where everybody knows your name.”

Traditional book clubs were never a good fit for her because they felt too rigid, but silent book clubs have only strengthened her reading habits. The monthly dedicated reading time helps her focus, especially to start off a new book on the right foot.

“I’m an avid reader, but the pandemic lockdown threw my reading for a loop because I was so used to reading on the subway during my commute and I found it hard to focus (at home),” McGrew says.

As an introvert, silent reading time also helps her balance her desire to be around others without spending the whole time talking. Lofty Pigeon’s events have an optional 30 minutes of socializing at the end.

At Dorothy, a lesbian bar in Chicago that has hosted monthly silent readings since October 2022, everyone is “the weirdo in the corner reading their book,” owner Whitney LaMora says.

“Not only are we more introverted than ever, but a lot of new queer people who are coming to our bar are still more introverted than ever. So the ability to come to something where you don’t have the pressure, nobody’s going to put a microphone in your face, it’s not going to be your turn eventually,” LaMora says. “A lot of us do want to gather and do want to be with others, but are still reeling from being ripped out of society (during the pandemic).”

There’s also no stress to read at a certain pace or by a certain date.

“That is a beautiful thing if it works,” LaMora says. “I’ve never been a part of a book club that has lasted more than six months ever in my almost 39 years and to have a silent book club that is thriving almost a year and a half later is pretty awesome.”

Readers are hungry for low-cost, accessible third spaces

Silent book clubs and the bars and bookstores they inhabit are examples of “third spaces,” or important community gathering spots that aren’t home or work.

Briana Parker, one of the co-owners of Lofty Pigeon Books, started hosting silent book clubs at the request of her customers. She was skeptical because she enjoys reading alone at home, but then she participated alongside her patrons and found herself relishing in the “wonderful celebration of reading” that made her feel like she was a part of something bigger.

LaMora has seen similar excitement with her customers at Dorothy: “Our first few months, the response was so large that before we would open the doors, there would be a line of people, all with their books.”

The events are usually free, but it’s still a business and community-building opportunity for those who host. Lofty Pigeon encourages participants to shop local with a 10% off discount on silent book club nights. Dorothy partners with local bookstores, collects donations for the nonprofit Chicago Books for Women in Prison and has the Chicago Public Library come in to register library cards.

Above all, it offers readers a chance to slow down.

“People have a lot of demands on their time and energy. This is an hour that’s just for them to set aside and read,” Parker says. “We’re constantly hearing from our customers they just don’t have as much time to read as they would like. So this is a way of scheduling it in and giving that gift to yourself.”

Looking for your next great read? USA TODAY has you covered.

Taste is subjective, and USA TODAY Books has plenty of genres to recommend. Check out the 15 new releases we’re most excited about in 2025. Is dystopian your thing? Check out these books that are similar to “The Hunger Games” and “1984.” Or if you want something with lower stakes and loveable characters, see if a “cozy mystery” or “cozy fantasy” book is for you. If you want the most popular titles, check out USA TODAY’s Best-selling Booklist.

Clare Mulroy is USA TODAY’s Books Reporter, where she covers buzzy releases, chats with authors and dives into the culture of reading. Find her on Instagram, subscribe to our weekly Books newsletter or tell her what you’re reading at [email protected].

April 20, 2025
Crossword Blog & Answers for April 19, 2025 by Sally Hoelscher
There are spoilers ahead. You might want to solve today’s puzzle before reading further! Wanna Put My Tender Heart in a Blender
Constructor: Amie Walker

Editor: Amanda Rafkin

What I Learned from Today’s Puzzle

OCHO (9A: ESPN8 The ___) Not being into sports, I don’t watch much ESPN, and ESPN8 The OCHO – a programming block on ESPN – is new to me. In learning about it, I discovered it has an interesting origin story. In the 2004 movie Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story, ESPN8 The OCHO was a fictional channel that showcased obscure competitions that are “almost a sport.” (The OCHO was a nod to ESPN2 being referred to as The Deuce.) In 2017, ESPN paid tribute to its portrayal in Dodgeball and aired a day-long ESPN8 The OCHO marathon on ESPNU. That event was a success, and has led to ESPN8 The OCHO being a recurring ESPN feature. Events aired during ESPN8 The OCHO include dog surfing, speed chess, chess boxing, dodgeball (of course!), jump rope, speed cubing, juggling, cornhole, and many others.

CHAOS (3D: Word before “agent” or “magic”) I am familiar with the term CHAOS agent, which refers to a person who introduces disorder and instability. However, the term CHAOS magic is new to me. CHAOS magic is a belief system that arose in the 1970s in England. A concept in CHAOS magic is that one’s mind has the power to change reality. CHAOS magic is utilized in the worlds of DC Comics and Marvel Comics. I was grateful that the clue here provided two examples, allowing me to figure out the answers, even though I was only familiar with one of them.

GOTTA RUN (8D: “I’m outie”) Today I learned that the phrase “I’m outie” can be used to mean “GOTTA RUN.”

Random Thoughts & Interesting Things

PHIL (16A: “Modern Family” dad) Modern Family is a mockumentary TV series that follows the lives of three families. It originally aired for 11 seasons from 2009-2020. PHIL Dunphy, played by Ty Burrell, is the dad of one of the families. Ty Burrell won multiple Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for his portrayal of PHIL.

EURO (28A: Irish currency) Like Italy, which we saw referenced in a clue for EURO three days ago, Ireland is one of the 20 member countries of the European Union that uses the EURO as its currency.

ORA (34A: “Descendants: The Rise of Red” star Rita) Descendants: The Rise of Red is a 2024 Disney+ movie. It is the fourth film in the Descendants franchise. Rita ORA portrays the Queen of Hearts, the mother of the title character Red, the Princess of Wonderland (who is portrayed by Kylie Cantrall).

TIO (39A: Madre’s hermano) Your madre’s hermano (mother’s brother) is your TIO (uncle).

INEZ (42A: “You heard the rumors from ___, you can’t believe a word she says”) You heard the rumors from INEZ, you can’t believe a word she says,” is a line from Taylor Swift’s 2020 song, “betty.” In addition to the titular Betty and INEZ, the other person named in the song is James. Fun fact: Taylor Swift named the characters in this song after Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively’s daughters.

HAKA (60A: Maori dance) The Māori are indigenous people of New Zealand. The HAKA is a ceremonial dance that is usually performed in a group and involves chanting, stamping, hand movements, and facial gestures.

MOORE (6D: “Tangled” star Mandy) Tangled is a 2010 animated Disney movie loosely based on the fairy tale “Rapunzel.” Mandy MOORE voices Rapunzel.

HOLY (19D: “What if the way you hold me is actually what’s ___?”) Here’s a second Taylor Swift reference. “What if the way you hold me is actually what’s HOLY” is a lyric from Taylor Swift’s song, “Guilty as Sin,” off of the 2024 album, The Tortured Poets Department.

TOLEDO (24A: City in Spain or Ohio) TOLEDO, Spain is located in the central part of the country. TOLEDO, Ohio is located in the northern part of the state, on the western end of Lake Erie. TOLEDO, Spain and TOLEDO, Ohio are sister cities.

SKA (27D: Reel Big Fish genre) SKA is a music genre that originated in Jamaica. It combines elements of mento, calypso, jazz, and rhythm and blues. Reel Big Fish formed as a SKA band in 1991. Their most recent album, released in 2018, is titled Life Sucks…Let’s Dance.

ROCK STAR (36D: Joan Jett or Debbie Harry) Joan Jett founded Joan Jett and the Blackhearts in 1979. They were inducted into the ROCK and Roll Hall of Fame in 2015. Debbie Harry is the lead singer of the band Blondie, which was inducted into the ROCK and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006. I appreciate the choice to highlight two female ROCK STARs in this clue.

DEKES (51D: Hockey fake-outs) In hockey, DEKES are feints that draw opposing players out of position. The term is derived from a shortening of the word “decoy.” I learned the word DEKE from a crossword nearly five years ago. It has shown up occasionally since then, and I am always thrilled to be able to fill it in right away.

THAI (56D: Cuisine with phanaeng) Phanaeng is a type of red THAI curry paste.

SHE (57D: “___ Used To Be Mine”) “SHE Used to Be Mine” is a song Sara Bareilles wrote for the musical Waitress (which was adapted from the 2007 movie of the same name).

EAR (58D: Unit of corn) EAR is making back-to-back puzzle appearances. We saw it yesterday clued as [Common piercing spot].

A few other clues I especially enjoyed:

NEITHER (55A: “Is there a secret third option?”)

PATHS (1D: “I’m so glad our ___ crossed”)

SHOE RACKS (31D: Places for mules, but not horses?)

Crossword Puzzle Theme Synopsis

THANKS FOR THE ADD (17A: Message of appreciation after an accepted connection request)

THAT REMINDS ME (35A: “While we’re on the subject…”)

SECRET HANDSHAKE (57A: Insiders-only greeting that may involve a hip bump)

WANNA PUT MY TENDER HEART IN A BLENDER: Each theme answer contains an anagram of the word HEART: THANKS FOR THE ADD, THAT REMINDS ME, and SECRET HANDSHAKE.

“WANNA PUT MY TENDER HEART IN A BLENDER” is a lyric from the Eve 6 song, “Inside Out.” The song was Eve 6’s debut single, released in 1998. Today it’s the title and theme of this puzzle. The phrase “IN A BLENDER” is serving as an anagram indicator. The following anagrams of HEART are found in the theme answers: RTHEA, HATRE, and RETHA. Thank you, Amie, for this excellent puzzle.

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April 19, 2025
Jailed Harvey Weinstein to stay in a hospital during retrial

Harvey Weinstein has won a court ruling in his favor after transferring in and out of the hospital several times while serving his jail sentence.

A New York judge on April 17 ruled the disgraced Hollywood producer, 73, can be transferred from Rikers Island to Bellevue Hospital’s prison ward in Manhattan as his retrial moves forward in criminal court. In a statement to USA TODAY on Friday, Weinstein’s lawyer Imran H. Ansari addressed the news.

“Harvey Weinstein is pleased with the Court’s Order directing the City to transfer him from Rikers Island to Bellevue Hospital so he can receive the medical treatment he needs as he begins his trial. It is without question that Rikers Island is the prime example of a deficient and dangerous prison,” Ansari said in the statement.

His lawyers added: “Mr. Weinstein has suffered tremendously within its walls and no human in his medical condition, no matter what they are accused of, should be treated so inhumanely and without any regard to the protections of our Constitution.”

USA TODAY has reached out to the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office.

The Miramax cofounder has experienced a spate of health issues in recent years. A November filing from one of Weinstein’s lawyers listed medical problems such as chronic myeloid leukemia (bone marrow cancer), diabetes, coronary artery disease, obstructive sleep apnea, thyroid issues, obesity, high blood pressure and chronic back pain. The lawyer, Imran H. Ansari, accused Rikers Island Correctional Facility of having “failed to render proper medical treatment.”

Last July, Weinstein was transferred to Bellevue Hospital for “myriad” health conditions and tested positive for COVID-19. He also contracted double pneumonia while he was hospitalized. In September, he was rushed to the hospital and underwent emergency heart surgery.

Weinstein has been transported to New York City’s Bellevue Hospital several times since he was sentenced to 23 years in prison following his conviction on rape charges in February 2020. The New York Court of Appeals judges threw out the conviction last year after determining the judge overseeing the trial had allowed “irrelevant” testimony from women whose allegations were not part of the case.

Harvey Weinstein’s hospital transfer happens amid his rape, sex crime retrial

Weinstein’s retrial is now underway with jury selection. He has pleaded not guilty to the three charges, which include criminal sex act in the first degree and third-degree rape.

At the center of the retrial are three women, with two alleging that Weinstein forcibly performed oral sex on them in 2006 and another who claims he raped her in 2013.

Weinstein’s health issues: Disgraced mogul was ‘begging’ for earlier retrial

Since the #MeToo movement snowballed in 2017 with sexual assault allegations against the “Shakespeare in Love” producer, Weinstein has repeatedly denied all claims that he engaged in nonconsensual sex acts.

In August 2024, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that New York Gov. Kathy Hochul determined Weinstein could remain in New York until the end of his case, at which point he would be transferred back to California to serve a 16-year prison sentence stemming from his 2022 conviction in Los Angeles.

This story has been updated with new information.

If you or someone you know has experienced sexual violence, RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline offers free, confidential, 24/7 support to survivors and their loved ones in English and Spanish at: 800.656.HOPE (4673) and Hotline.RAINN.org and en Español RAINN.org/es.

April 19, 2025