There are spoilers ahead. You might want to solve today’s puzzle before reading further! False Starts

Constructor: Taylor Johnson

Editor: Anna Gundlach

Random Thoughts & Interesting Things

• MSG (1A: Flavor enhancer found naturally in tomatoes) Monosodium glutamate, or MSG, is used in cooking as a flavor enhancer. When added to food, it enhances umami (savory) flavors. MSG is found naturally in some foods such as tomatoes and cheese.
• HUN (32A: “Mulan” invader) The two Disney Mulan movies, both the 1998 animated film and the 2020 live-action adaptation of that movie, are based on the Chinese folklore story Ballad of Mulan. In the animated version of the movie, the HUNs, led by their leader Shan Yu, breach the Great Wall and invade China. The HUNS were a nomadic people in Central Asia between the 4th and 6th centuries. Little is known of their culture.
• AUG (37A: Winter mo. in the Southern Hemisphere) The Southern Hemisphere, the half of the Earth south of the equator, includes all of Antarctica and Australia, 90% of South America, 33% of Africa, and a few islands off of the continental mainland of Asia. Seasons in the Southern Hemisphere are opposite of what they are in the Northern Hemisphere. Therefore, the winter months in the Southern Hemisphere are June, July, and August (AUG.) instead of December, January, and February.
• ORA (47A: Pop singer Rita) Rita ORA’s most recent album, You & I, was released in July 2023. Singles from that album include “Praising You” and “You Only Love Me.” Rita ORA is also currently a host on the reality singing competition TV series The Masked Singer.
• INK (54A: Cuttlefish’s defense) Cuttlefish are Cephalopods, a class that includes octopuses, squid, and nautiluses. Cuttlefish are unique in that they have an internal shell, called the cuttlebone, which is used to control buoyancy. Cuttlefish also have a characteristic W-shaped eye, eight arms, and two tentacles. When threatened, a cuttlefish may release INK that allows it to escape from predators.
• PESOS (71A: Cancun currency) and EUROS (26D: Money in Milan) I appreciate that both of these clues use alliteration (words starting with the same letter). Cancún is a city in southeast Mexico, so the currency used there is Mexican PESOS. Milan is the second-largest city in Italy, and EUROS are used as money in Italy.
• MOCHI (1D: Chewy Japanese rice cakes) MOCHI is pounded sticky rice that is molded into cakes. It often has a sweet filling.
• MAUI (5D: “Moana 2” character who shares a name with a Hawaiian island) The island of MAUI is amed for a demigod in Polynesian mythology who is known for being a trickster. That demigod is a character in Disney’s 2016 animated movie, Moana, and in the 2024 sequel, Moana 2. Dwayne Johnson voices MAUI in both movies.
• CASHEW (7D: Nut often used in vegan cheese) Vegan cheese is a non-dairy plant-based product. Some vegan cheese is made from seeds and nuts, such as CASHEWs. Soaked CASHEWs are blended with various seasonings to create a creamy spread that mimics the texture of cheese.
• MEWL (8D: Little kitty sound) My cat, Willow, is no longer a kitten, so she doesn’t MEWL. She does have a couple of distinctive meows. There’s the “Hello, hello, hello!” meow, the “I’ve brought you a present!” meow (see yesterday’s write-up), and the “That’s enough petting,” meow. She also has a noise she makes that isn’t quite a full meow, more like “mrrp” – that one cracks me up every time.

• AREPA (9D: Venezuelan cornmeal cake) An AREPA is a corn cake associated with Venezuelan and Colombian cuisine. AREPAs are often split and filled with meat and cheese.
• NEKO (33D: Indie singer ___ Case) NEKO Case is a singer-songwriter who has had a solo career as well as being a part of the indie rock group the New Pornographers. She also collaborated with k.d. lang and Laura Veirs to release an album in 2016. NEKO Case’s website says she “sings with the fierce abandon of a newborn infant crying in a basket in the woods.” NEKO Case recently wrote a memoir, which was released last month, The Harder I Fight the More I Love You.
• KOREA (55D: Where gochujang is a frequently used condiment) Gochujang paste is a hot and spicy fermented condiment popular in KOREA. My daughter recently introduced me to gochujang, and I’m now in the phase where I add a dash (or more) of it to random dishes that I think could benefit from a little zing.
• EROS (63D: Cupid’s Greek equivalent) In Greco-Roman mythology, Cupid is the god of desire, erotic love, attraction, and affection. EROS is Cupid’s Greek equivalent.
• LEE (65D: Author Harper ___) Harper LEE (1926-2016) wrote the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel To Kill a Mockingbird (1960). She also wrote Go Set a Watchman, which was published in 2015.
• A few other clues I especially enjoyed:
  • BEFORE (39A: I’ve said it ___ and I’ll say it again…”)
  • ISN’T (50A: “Well, ___ that neat?”)
  • TOE (42D: Ballerina’s balancing point)

Crossword Puzzle Theme Synopsis

• HOPE THIS HELPS (20A: “Fingers crossed my advice serves you well!”)
• POSITIVE OUTLOOK (41A: Generally optimistic attitude)
• NAME YOUR PRICE (59A: “Just tell me what it’ll cost”)

FALSE STARTS: The first word (the START) of each theme answer can be paired with the word FALSE to create a new phrase: FALSE HOPE, FALSE POSITIVE, and FALSE NAME.

I did not get off to a FALSE START on today’s puzzle, in spite of its name. For some reason, it amuses me that the generally upbeat comment, “HOPE THIS HELPS,” points to the somewhat dubious phrase FALSE HOPE. It’s almost like saying, “HOPE THIS HELPS … not!” Anyway, it made me chuckle. Thank you, Taylor, for this enjoyable puzzle.

For more on USA TODAY’s Crossword Puzzles

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