Sally solves the daily USA TODAY crossword, Chest Binders

There are spoilers ahead. Before you read on, you might want to solve today’s puzzle! Box files

Constructors: Sara Cantor and Kaitlin Hsu

Editor: Amanda Rafkin

What I learned from today’s puzzle

• MIKU (5A: Hatsune’s Virtual Idol) Hatsune MIKU is a pop star. She has a Spotify profile and performed at Coachella. However, Hatsune MIKU is not human. As the hint notes, she is a virtual idol. Her voice was created in 2007 by Japanese media company Crypton. When Hatsune MIKU “performs” on stage, her image is displayed on a huge screen. The name Hatsune MIKU means “the first sound of the future.”

• DATA (17A: Lili Elbe, for example) Lili Elbe (1882-1931) was one of the first people to undergo sex reassignment surgery. A transgender woman, Lili Elbe was a painter, but stopped painting after her transition. Lili Elbe’s life inspired a novel (2000) and a film (2015) Danish girl.

• MEN (11D: “I’m Afraid of ___” (book by Vivek Shraya)) Vivek Shraya is a writer, musician, visual artist and adjunct professor at the University of Calgary. Her memories I’m afraid of MEN (2018) was a finalist for the Lambda Literary Award for Transgender Nonfiction. In the book, Vivek Shraya “explores how masculinity was forced upon her when she was a boy and continues to haunt her when she was a girl – and how we might reimagine gender in the 21st century.”

• CHAN (35D: Poet and drag artist Wo performing as The Illustrious Pearl) Wo CHAN’s poem “June 8, the Smiling Barista Remembers My Name” can be read on the Poetry Foundation website.

Random thoughts and interesting things

• WHO (1A: “___ Afraid of Gender?” (book by Judith Butler)) Judith Butler is a philosopher, gender theorist, professor, and author. Their first book, Gender Issues: Feminism and the Questioning of Identity was published in 1990. Their latest book, released in March this year, is WHO IS AFRAID OF GENDERThe book explores the effects of gender fear on reactionary politics around the world.

• HENNA (12A: Reddish dye used during Rasm-e-Heena) Rasm-e-Heena is a traditional part of Pakistani weddings. During the ceremony, which usually takes place before the wedding, family and friends paint HENNA patterns on the couple’s hands.

• TAO (23A: “Mozart of Math” Terence) Terence TAO is a professor of mathematics at the University of California, Los Angeles. He is considered one of the greatest living mathematicians and is called the “Mozart of mathematics”. Terence TAO has won numerous awards, including the Fields Medal (described as the Nobel Prize in mathematics) and a MacArthur “Genius” Fellowship. Terence TAO is the author of numerous mathematics textbooks and runs a blog on mathematics topics. Terence TAO’s name was the answer to the July 29 2023 puzzle.

• SYNC (27A: “It’s time… for you to lip-___… for your life!”) “It’s time… for you to lip-SYNC… for your life!” is a line uttered by RuPaul before the Lip-SYNC battles RuPaul’s Drag Race.

• H MART (32A: “Crying at ___” (Memories of Michelle Zauner)) Crying at H MART is a 2021 memoir by Michelle Zauner, lead vocalist of the band Japanese Breakfast. In the book, Michelle Zauner discusses her relationship with her mother and her grief following her mother’s death in 2014 from pancreatic cancer. Crying at H MART is being adapted into a film. Japanese Breakfast will provide the film’s soundtrack.

• ESME (44A: writer Weijun Wang) The debut novel of ESMÉ Weijun Wang, Border of Paradisewas published in 2016. Her second book titled Schizophrenias collected (2019) is a series of essays about her experiences with schizoaffective disorder. In addition to writing her own ESMÉ books, Weijun Wang founded The Unexpected Shape, an online writing academy “specifically for the ambitious, the unheard, and those living with limitations.”

• ELI (50A: “Riverdale” actor Goree) In the third and fourth seasons of the TV series RiverdaleELI Goree portrayed the recurring character Munroe “Mad Dog” Moore. ELI Goree also played the role of Muhammad Ali in the movie, One night in Miami (2020).

• KIVA (58A: Pueblo meeting space) Many Pueblo KIVAs are large circular rooms that are located underground. KIVA is used for spiritual and political meetings.

• OPAL (61A: The Combination of Pearls and Amethyst in “Steven Universe”) Steven Universe is an animated television show about the adventures of magical alien warriors known as the Crystal Gems. The title character, Steven Universe, is a “Gem”-human hybrid. The Crystal Gems work to protect Earth and the fictional city of Beach City. Occasionally, two or more Gems can combine to create a larger, more powerful Gem, as occurs when Pearl and Amethyst combine to create OPAL. The character OPAL is voiced by Aimee Mann.

• ELLEN (62A: Broidy, who co-organized the first gay pride march) In 1970, ELLEN Broidy, along with Linda Rhodes, Craig Rodwell, and Fred Sargeant, organized the first gay pride march in honor of the Stonewall riots of the previous year. On the Addresses Project website, you can read an interview with ELLEN Broidy, in which she talks about organizing the march.

• TAPAS (20D: Tortilla de patatas and croquetas, e.g.) TAPAS are a variety of appetizers or snacks popular in Spanish cuisine. Tortilla de patatas, also known as Spanish omelette, is a dish prepared with eggs and potatoes. Croquetas are a type of fried dumplings made of thick dough surrounding a filling.

• ERAGON (21D: A fantasy hero who rides a dragon) ERAGON is a book by Christopher Paolini that is the first part of a tetralogy known as The inheritance cycle. ERAGON was adapted into a 2006 film of the same title. The title character is a farm boy who becomes a Dragon Rider.

• GEKONS (42D: Lizards with water-repellent skin) I’m a fan of a tip that has a fun fact about animals. GEKONS are small lizards that can be found on every continent except Antarctica. It has been observed that the hydrophobic skin of GEKOKS has antibacterial properties.

• EVAN (54D: ___ Rachel Wood) Earlier this year, EVAN Rachel Wood starred as Audrey, opposite Darren Criss as Seymour, in the off-Broadway adaptation A little shop of horrors.

Summary of the crossword topic

• BATTLE STAND (19A: Tool to prevent some cutlery from rolling off the table)

• CHEESE ON CROSTS (35A: Milk and bread dish)

• CHECKERED PAST (53A: Dark History)

Each thematic answer is contained in the word SKIN. In other words, CHEST acts as a BINDER for each topic response: CHOPSTICK REST, CHEESE ON TOASTAND CHESATISFIED PAST.

This is a classic type of Modern USA theme, nicely done here with a great set of themed answers. In addition to the answers I highlighted above, I especially liked the clue for ACHE (56A: It can make you say “Oof ouch owie”). This clue made me laugh! Thanks to Sara and Kaitlin for this great puzzle.

More crossword information published in USA TODAY

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Crossword Blog & Answers on June 29, 2024 by Sally Hoelscher