There are spoilers ahead. You might want to solve today’s puzzle before reading further! Career Moves
Constructor: CJ Tan
Editor: Amanda Rafkin
What I Learned from Today’s Puzzle
- HATER (40A: “___’s Anthem” (Infinity Song tune with the lyric “I would rather sit and criticize”) “HATER’s Anthem” is a 2023 song by the soft rock / R&B band Infinity Song. The song begins with the lines, “I love the way it feels to be a HATER / Something so sweet about thinkin’ that I’m better…”
- HOODIE (61A: Sweatshirt aka a bunny hug) Today I learned that a hooded sweatshirt, aka a HOODIE, is also known as a bunny hug. The use of the term bunny hug to refer to a HOODIE traces its roots to Saskatchewan, Canada, though the exact origin of the term is unclear.
- KEKE (53D: “One of Them Days” star Palmer) One of Them Days is a movie released in January of this year. It stars KEKE Palmer and SZA as friends and roommates who need to scramble to get the money to pay their rent and avoid eviction.
Random Thoughts & Interesting Things
- ESTD (7A: Abbr. in the Guinness logo) Guinness is a stout (a type of dark beer) that was originally brewed by Arthur Guinness in 1759 at the St. James’s Gate Brewery in Dublin, Ireland. The Guinness logo features a harp and the letters ESTD followed by the year 1759.
- ALIA (15A: “RRR” actress Bhatt) RRR is a Telugu-language movie that tells a fictional story of two revolutionaries in India who fight against British rule. ALIA Bhatt portrays Sita, the fiancée of one of the revolutionaries.
- STL (23A: Tower Grove Park’s city (Abbr.)) Tower Grove Park is located in St. Louis (STL), Missouri. The park, which opened to the public in 1872, is on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. Tower Grove Park features pavilions dating from the Victorian Era and statues from the 1800s.
- SLR (24A: _ingle-_ens _eflex) In this kind of fill-in-the-blank clue, each blank corresponds to one letter. A Single-Lens Reflex (SLR) is a type of camera.
- GMOS (51A: Soybeans with altered DNA, etc.) GMOS are genetically-modified organisms, those whose DNA has been altered. Plants such as soybeans may be genetically modified in order to increase nutrient value or increase resistance to pests and diseases.
- HAN (56A: Largest ethnic group in China) The largest ethnic group in China – and in the world – are the HAN. The HAN people make up 91% of the population in China, and 18% of the global population.
- EID (59A: End-of-Ramadan festival) Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. Muslims around the world observe Ramadan by fasting from sunrise to sunset during the 29 or 30 days of the observance. EID al-Fitr, also called the “Festival of Breaking the Fast,” marks the end of fasting during the month of Ramadan. This year Ramadan was observed from March 1 to March 29.
- REBUS (1D: Puzzle in which “SHBESTOW” may represent “best in show”) A REBUS is a type of puzzle that involves wordplay and visual elements. In the letter string “SHBESTOW,” the word BEST is found within the word SHOW, leading to the answer of “best in show.” I enjoyed this clue!
- EARS (7D: Organs with canals) The EAR canal is the opening (or pathway) that connects the outer EAR to the middle EAR.
- AMORE (34D: “That’s ___” (Dean Martin song) “That’s AMORE” is a 1953 song by Dean Martin. “When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie, that’s AMORE…” The song first appeared in the 1953 movie The Caddy, and has appeared in a number of other movies since then including Rear Window (1954), Moonstruck (1987), Grumpier Old Men (1995), Stuart Little (1999), Enchanted (2007), and The Garfield Movie (2024).
- CAT CONDO (36D: Structure that may have scratching posts) and PET SIT (44D: Care for a buddy’s fur baby, say) My husband and I recently had a friend PET SIT for our cat, Willow, while we were on vacation. The experience has worn Willow out. If she weren’t so sleepy, she would be excited about CAT CONDO being in the puzzle.
- HUGHES (40D: “I, Too” poet Langston) Langston HUGHES (1901-1967) wrote the poem, “I, Too,” in 1925. The poem begins with the line, “I, too, sing America,” and ends with “I, too, am America.” It’s always a good day to be reminded of this poem.
- ABRADE (43D: Wear down by friction) I was convinced this was “erode” for far too long, even though it obviously didn’t fit. Crossing answers eventually got me to the right answer.
- ASHES (50D: What a phoenix rises from) A phoenix is a mythical bird of ancient Greek folklore that combusts into flames when it dies. The phoenix then experiences a rebirth and rises from the ASHES.
- A few other clues I especially enjoyed:
- FAVOR (38A: Someone who says “Do me a solid!” is asking for one)
- EYE ROLLS (11D: Reactions to bad puns)
- LOVER (25D: Sweetheart, or a Taylor Swift album)
- ADAGE (31D: “Laughter is the best medicine,” e.g.)
Crossword Puzzle Theme Synopsis
- BUTTERCREAM (17A: Cupcake frosting option)
- CAMERA CREWS (36A: Cinematographers’ teams)
- FREE CAR WASH (57D: Perk that a dealership may offer)
CAREER MOVES: Each theme answer contains an anagram of the word CAREER: BUTTER CREAM, CAMERA CREWS, and FREE CAR WASH.
I am getting better at spotting hidden anagram themes. The word “MOVES” in today’s title indicates that the letters of the word “CAREER” are moving around. We have the following anagrams of CAREER: ERCREA, ERACRE, and REECAR. Thank you, CJ, for this enjoyable puzzle.
Leave a Reply