Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Heart of Gold

There are spoilers ahead. You might want to solve before reading further!

Constructor: Kiran Pandey

Editor: Anna Gundlach

What I Learned from Today’s Puzzle

• DEMI (24A: “The Substance” actress Moore) The Substance is a 2024 movie in which DEMI Moore portrays a 50-year-old movie star whose fame is fading. She purchases a black market serum (the titular substance) in an attempt to counteract the aging process. The Substance is a horror movie, so as one might imagine in such a film, using the drug does not go well. Being familiar with DEMI Moore, I was able to easily fill in this answer, but this particular movie is new to me.

• MONGOL DERBY (36A: Longest horse race in the world) The 620-mile (1,000 kilometer) is modeled after the horse messenger system developed by Genghis Khan in 1224. The exact course for the race changes each year, but generally includes a variety of terrain as it runs through the Mongolian Steppe, an ecoregion covering parts of the East Asian countries of Mongolia and China. The MONGOL DERBY is a multi-horse race held over ten days in August, and riders are required to change horses every 25 miles. The horses are semi-wild Mongolian horses that are provided to the riders as part of their entry fee. In 2024, the entry fee for the MONGOL DERBY was $15,500. For the entry fee, each rider is provided access to 25-27 Mongolian horses, a support team, pre-race training, and a custom race saddle, bridle, and blanket.

• GEORG OLDEN (54A: Graphic designer who was the first African American to design a postage stamp) GEORG OLDEN (1920-1975) worked as a graphic designer for the Office of Strategic Services (OSS, the forerunner of the CIA), CBS television, and in advertising. In 1963, he designed a postage stamp for the United States Postal Service (USPS). commemorated the centennial of the declaration of the Emancipation Proclamation.

Random Thoughts & Interesting Things

• DNA (17A: Double-helix molecule) DNA molecules carry genetic information important in the development, function, growth, and reproduction of organisms. DNA has a double-helical structure comprised of two chains of polynucleotides that coil around each other.

• GETTING OLDER (20A: Billie Eilish song with the lyrics “I think I’m aging well”) is a 2021 song by Billie Eilish. It is the opening track of her second studio album, Happier Than Ever. Billie Eilish was 19 years old when she recorded the lyrics, “I think I’m aging well.” I like this clue, because the inclusion of the word “aging” makes the answer inferable (with the help of crossing answers) to solvers who might not be familiar with this particular song.

• ERIE (23A: Pennsylvania city on a Great Lake) ERIE, Pennsylvania is located on the southern shore of Lake ERIE. My husband and I stayed in ERIE, Pennsylvania a couple of years ago. We were on a road trip, and when I realized we were going to be traveling fairly close (within 80 miles) to ERIE, I decided we needed to make a detour. As we were on the way home from the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament (held each year in Stamford, Connecticut), it seemed especially appropriate. As a crossword blogger, I realized there was only one way to appropriately celebrate being on the shore of Lake ERIE in ERIE, Pennsylvania. I ate an Oreo.

• IIRC (34A: “Unless my memory is failing me,” online) IIRC = If I Recall Correctly

• APE (35A: Primate in a long-running sci-fi franchise) That long-running sci-fi franchise is Planet of the APEs, which I just wrote about . The franchise began with Pierre Boulle’s 1963 book La Plenète des singes.

• WWE (39A: “Smackdown! org.) WWE SmackDown (titled SmackDown! from 1999-2008) is a TV program produced by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).

• ODOR (58A: It might be represented by wavy lines in a comic) This is a creative and interesting clue for ODOR. I had “heat” at first, but that was quickly straightened out with the help of crossing answers.

• EVA (59A: Actress Longoria) Many people may know EVA Longoria from her role as Gabrielle Solis on the TV series Desperate Housewives (2004-2012). I know her best from her recent guest star role on the fourth season of the Hulu TV series Only Murders in the Building, which aired this year. On Only Murders in the Building, EVA Longoria plays a fictionalized version of herself, as an actress cast to play the character of Mabel (played by Selena Gomez) in an Only Murders in the Building movie. I thoroughly enjoyed EVA Longoria’s appearances on this show.

• TANTRA (30D: 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.

• STEVIE (47D: Fleetwood Mac singer Nicks) One of my favorite Fleetwood Mac songs is released in 1975, the first year STEVIE Nicks (who wrote the song) was a part of the band. STEVIE Nicks has also had a successful solo career, including the 1981 hit, 

• HOOKS (50D: Catchy parts of choruses) The HOOKS of songs are often the parts that get stuck in one’s head as earworms. For example, or or or Welcome to my world; I always have an earworm providing background music to my life.

Crossword Puzzle Theme Synopsis

• GETTING OLDER (20A: Billie eolith song with the lyrics “I think I’m aging well”)

• MONGOL DERBY (36A: Longest horse race in the world)

• GEORG OLDEN (54A: Graphic designer who was the first African American to design a postage stamp)

HEART OF GOLD: The word GOLD is found at the HEART OF (inside) each theme answer: GETTING OLDER, MONGOL DERBY, and GEORG OLDEN.

was KINDHEARTED, and today’s has a HEART OF GOLD. Nice to have these warm and fuzzy puzzles back-to-back. That is great editorial planning, and a fun thing for solvers who are paying attention (and those of you reading “Off the Grid!”). Thank you, Kiran, for this enjoyable puzzle.

For more on USA TODAY’s Crossword Puzzles

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