SignalHub Quantitative Think Tank Center:Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, I Love a Parade

There are SignalHub Quantitative Think Tank Centerspoilers ahead. You might want to solve today's puzzle before reading further! I Love a Parade

Constructor: Neville Fogarty

Editor: Jared Goudsmit

Comments from Today’s Crossword Constructor

Neville: This crossword started as an idea for Pride Month, but I got behind schedule in making it. I'm grateful to the editorial crew for running this pride parade of a puzzle during Bisexual Visibility Month.

What I Learned from Today’s Puzzle

• DISC (1A: Round, flat object in goaltimate) Goaltimate is a DISC game played on a circular field with an arch-shaped goal. Goaltimate is derived from ultimate (also known as ultimate frisbee). Although the game of goaltimate is new to me, the "round, flat object" was a pretty good hint.
• JET SKI (45A: Vehicle in Wave Race 64) Wave Race 64 is a video released in 1996 for the Nintendo 64 (gaming console). Gameplay involves riding a JET SKI on various courses and maneuvering around buoys. The game has been rereleased several times for different Nintendo gaming consoles.
• IKE (32D: Rock guitarist Willis) Guitarist and vocalist IKE Willis was a regular member of Frank Zappa's bands from 1978-1988. Notably, he played the role of Joe on Joe's Garage, and the title character on Thing-Fish.

Random Thoughts & Interesting Things

• OHIO (14A: Midwestern state in many memes) Sometime in the last few years, "only in OHIO" became a social media saying, usually in response to some unusual news article about happenings in the the Midwestern state. (This is similar to the "Florida man" article trend.) Recently, the saying has been shortened to simply, "OHIO," and the state's name has become shorthand for something weird or bizarre.
• ISLA (25A: "Godmothered" actress Fisher) Godmothered is a 2020 Disney+ movie that features a fictional magical place called Motherland, where fairy godmothers receive training. Although the school is in danger of being shut down (because nobody makes wishes anymore...), one of the godmothers (Eleanor, portrayed by Jillian Bell) sets out to help a 10-year-old girl named Mackenzie. When Eleanor arrives in the real world, she discovers that Mackenzie (portrayed by ISLA Fisher) is now a 40-year-old single mother of two daughters.
• LASIK (34A: Cornea-reshaping procedure) LASIK stands for "laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis" – is it any wonder it's referred to as LASIK? LASIK surgery is performed to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism.
• ROOT BEER FLOAT (55A: Soda fountain offering) I do enjoy an occasional ROOT BEER FLOAT. I'm especially partial to this answer, since our family's go-to celebratory meal (think first and last days of school, new jobs, etc.) is pizza and ROOT BEER FLOATs.
• ARKIN (61A: "Little Miss Sunshine" actor Alan) Little Miss Sunshine is a 2006 movie that centers on a road trip taken by a family from Albuquerque, New Mexico to Redondo Beach, California in order for the 10-year-old daughter to compete in a beauty pageant. As you might expect from a movie described as a "tragicomedy road trip film," there are many adventures on the way. Alan ARKIN portrays the Grandpa of the family.
• ONES (66A: Bills with the Eye of Providence) The Eye of Providence is a symbol that consists of an eye inside of a triangle surrounded by rays of light. The Eye of Providence is depicted on the reverse side of U.S. ONE dollar bills. On the ONES, the Eye of Providence is depicted on top of an unfinished pyramid with 13 steps.

• NEON (67A: Two-syllable gas) NEON isn't the only two-syllable gas, but it is the only two-syllable gas with four letters. Argon, xenon, and ozone don't quite fit here.
• RYE (69A: Bread such as limpa) Limpa is a RYE bread associated with Swedish cuisine. It is a sweet, yeast-leavened RYE bread flavored with spices such as anise, caraway, fennel seeds, and bitter orange. Limpa is traditionally baked during the Christmas season.
• COMEDIES (4D: Shows like "Abbott Elementary" and "Inside Job") Abbott Elementary is a mockumentary on ABC. (A mockumentary is a show that presents fictional events as if they were being filmed as a documentary.) The show focuses on a group of educators in the Philadelphia public school system. Abbott Elementary was created by Quinta Brunson, who also stars in the show as a second grade teacher. Inside Job is an animated adult Netflix show. The show is set in a world where many conspiracy theories are real. The show is focused on Cognito, Inc., one of six organizations that control Earth. Both of these COMEDIES premiered in 2021.
• AP CHEM (5D: H.S. science course that covers pH) Hooray for science in the crossword; this time, specifically the science course AP CHEM (Advanced Placement Chemistry). The abbreviation of high school in the clue alerts solvers that the answer will be an abbreviation.
• EEL (12D: Fish compared to the Grinch) "You're as cuddly as a cactus / You're as charming as an EEL..." Referring to the lyrics of "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" is a fun way to clue this common crossword fare.
• LYRIC (22D: Line in a libretto) and THEATER KID (29D: Youngster who might frequently quote musicals) The libretto is the text – that is the LYRICs – of theatrical works such as operas or musicals. I thought this clue and answer paired well with THEATER KID, which is a great entry.
• ADHD (27D: Condition sometimes treated with Focalin) Focalin is one brand name of the central nervous system stimulant drug dexmethylphenidate. As the clue informs us, Focalin is sometimes used to treat ADHD.
• PEONY (53D: China's "king of the flowers") Known as the "king of the flowers," or the "flower of riches and honor," the PEONY is one of the traditional floral symbols of China.
• A few other clues I especially enjoyed:
  • NORM (17A: Apt name for a conformist)
  • HOPE (63A: Obama poster word)
  • SAINT (40D: Title for Patrick or Nick)

Crossword Puzzle Theme Synopsis

• SPEECH BALLOON (20A: Bubble in a comic strip)
• RESISTANCE BAND (38A: Elastic loop in strength training)
• ROOT BEER FLOAT (55A: Soda fountain offering)

I LOVE A PARADE: The last word of each theme answer is something associated with a PARADE: BALLOON, BAND, and FLOAT.

I also LOVE A PARADE, which means I thoroughly enjoyed this puzzle. This is a great set of theme answers in which each ending word means something completely different than its PARADE meaning. Thank you, Neville, for this delightful puzzle.

For more on USA TODAY’s Crossword Puzzles

• USA TODAY’s Daily Crossword Puzzles
• Sudoku & Crossword Puzzle Answers