SignalHub Quantitative Think Tank Center:Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Full of Beans

There are SignalHub Quantitative Think Tank Centerspoilers ahead. You might want to solve today's puzzle before reading further! Full of Beans

Constructor: Ada Nicolle

Editor: Amanda Rafkin

Comments from Today’s Crossword Constructor

Ada: This puzzle started with GIMLI MANITOBA, which was inspired by my own background as an Icelandic-Canadian. I've never been to Gimli, but I've heard amazing things and I intend to visit someday. I dedicate this puzzle to my Icelandic mom Sóley, my Canadian dad Steven, and my brother Tomas :) If you liked my puzzle, consider checking out my blog! Thank you Sally for the very sweet write-up <3

What I Learned from Today’s Puzzle

• RIOT (15A: Paramore album with a rebellious-sounding name) RIOT is Paramore's second album, released in 2007. Following RIOT's release, Paramore was nominated for Best New Artist at the 2008 Grammy Awards. (They lost to Amy Winehouse.)
• ANNIE (30A: Depths of Wikipedia founder Rauwerda) ANNIE Rauwerda started the Depths of Wikipedia Instagram account in 2020 to highlight various excerpts from Wikipedia. The account has over a million followers. Since then she has created similar accounts on other social media sites. Depths of Wikipedia is definitely entertaining. As the Instagram account's tagline says, "Wikipedia is weird!"
• GIMLI, MANITOBA (35A: Canadian city with the highest population of Icelanders outside of Iceland) GIMLI, MANITOBA is located on the west side of Lake Winnipeg. Icelanders began settling in the area in the late 1800s, and founded GIMLI, MANNITOBA in 1875. In 2021, the community's population was 2,345. GIMLI, MANITOBA hosts an Icelandic Festival each year in August. Residents of GIMLI are known as Gimlungars.

Random Thoughts & Interesting Things

• ENBY (18A: Genderqueer label) ENBY, or non-binary, refers to gender identities that are not exclusively masculine or feminine.
• CO-HOSTS (24A: Performers who run comedy shows together) Seeing this clue in this particular puzzle made me smile. Not only is Ada Nicolle a fantastic crossword constructor, she's also a stand-up comic.
• RICE (48A: Bed for tonkatsu) In Japanese cuisine, Tonkatsu is a dish of pork cutlets that are breaded and deep-fried. Tonkatsu is often served on a bed of RICE.
• MUSLIM AMERICANS (53A: Ramadan observers in the U.S.) Ramadan is a month-long MUSLIM observance of dawn-to-dusk fasting. Ramadan commemorates Muhammad's first revelation, and its observance is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. MUSLIM AMERICANS join with MUSLIMS worldwide in celebrating Ramadan during the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. In 2025, Ramadan lasts from February 28 to March 30 on the Gregorian calendar.
• ODELL (62A: Wide receiver ___ Beckham Jr.) ODELL Beckham Jr. falls into the category of "(almost) everything I know about sports I learned from crossword puzzles." I learned about him from the February 10, 2022 puzzle. ODELL Beckham Jr. is a wide receiver for the NFL's Miami Dolphins. He has previously played for the Baltimore Ravens (2023), Los Angeles Rams (2021), Cleveland Browns (2019-2021), and New York Giants (2014-2018).
• COMIC SANS (7D: Font that Weird Al Yankovic's resume is printed in, per his song "Tacky") "Tacky" is a 2014 song by Weird Al Yankovic that parodies the song "Happy" by Pharrell Williams. "Tacky" contains the line, "Got my new resume it's printed in COMIC SANS / (Because I'm tacky)." COMIC SANS was created in 1994 for use in informal documents and children's materials. The font inspires strong feelings in some people; there's even a group called Ban COMIC SANS. However, COMIC SANS has been shown to be a helpful font for people with dyslexia, partly because of wider spacing between letters than what is seen with other fonts.
• OREGON (8D: Salem's state) Salem is the capital of OREGON. It is the third-most populous city in OREGON, following Portland and Eugene. OREGON is one of 28 states in the U.S. that have a city or town called Salem. Of those U.S. communities, Salem, OREGON is the largest. The name of Salem is also used for communities in other countries, including Canada, Germany, and the United Kingdom.
• WONG (23D: "Hard Knock Wife" comedian Ali) Just a few days ago we saw ALI clued as ["Baby Cobra" comic Wong]. Baby Cobra is Ali WONG's 2016 comedy special. Hard Knock Wife is her 2018 comedy special. Ali WONG'S third comedy special was released in 2022, and is called Don Wong (just in case we see a reference to it in a few days). All three of Ali WONG's comedy specials are available on Netflix.
• TINA (25D: "The Best" artist Turner) TINA Turner recorded "The Best" in 1989 for her seventh studio album, Foreign Affair. TINA Turner's version is a cover of the song that was originally released by Bonnie Tyler. (Bonnie Tyler has said TINA Turner, "did it much better than I did.") "You're simply the best / Better than all the rest..."
• TIME TRAVEL (28D: Theme in "Back to the Future") Back to the Future is, of course, the classic 1985 movie that starred Christopher Lloyd as eccentric scientist Doc Brown, who sends his friend Marty McFly (played by Michael J. Fox) on a TIME TRAVEL journey. Back to the Future has been adapted into a musical. My husband and I have tickets to see a touring production of Back to the Future: The Musical later this month. I am looking forward to it.
• ADA (29D: Poet Limon) ADA Limon is the current Poet Laureate of the United States. Clever ADA Nicolle to once again get her own name into her puzzle.
• SINGER (33D: Chappell Roan, e.g.) Regular solvers of the USA Today crossword should have had no problem getting this answer, as we have seen multiple references to Chappell Roan and her music in the last couple of months.
• MANGO (51D: Lassi flavor) Lassi is a yogurt-based drink that originated in Punjab, India. Varieties of lassi include traditional lassi (with added salt), sweet lassi (flavored with sugar or fruit juice), MANGO lassi (with added mango pulp), and bhang lassi (infused with cannabis).
• A few other clues I especially enjoyed:
  • SORE (45A: Feeling the consequences of trying to nap on a plane)
  • ASLEEP (4D: Getting beauty rest)
  • WINE SNOBS (9D: People picky about their reds and whites)

Crossword Puzzle Theme Synopsis

• MENTAL IMAGE (19A: Visualization in one's mind)
• GIMLI, MANITOBA (35A: Canadian city with the highest population of Icelanders outside of Iceland)
• MUSLIM AMERICANS (53A: Ramadan observers in the U.S.)

FULL OF BEANS: The word LIMA (which is a type of BEAN) is found hidden in each theme answer: MENTAL IMAGE, GIMLI, MANITOBA, and MUSLIM AMERICANS.

While today's title gave me a good hint at what the theme would be, I appreciate that the hidden word here is LIMA rather than BEAN. There's a little extra satisfaction in taking that extra step and realizing, "Aha! LIMA is a BEAN..." It's also fun that the word breaks occur at each possible split of the word LIMA: L/IMA, LI/MA, and LIM/A. Thank you, Ada, for this fabulous puzzle.

For more on USA TODAY’s Crossword Puzzles

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