January 23, 2026

Title: BROKEN STRINGS

Constructor: Zhouqin Burnikel

Editor: Amanda Rafkin

Theme synopsis:

• STOP STARING (16A: "Avert your gaze!")
• STREET PARKING (38A: Curbside spot to leave a car)
• SMART RING (60A: Health tracking device worn on a finger)

BROKEN STRINGS: The word STRING is BROKEN by each theme answer: STOP STARING, STREET PARKING, and SMART RING.

What I learned from today's puzzle:

• PICS (20A: VSCO uploads, for short) VSCO is a photography app for iOS and Android devices. The app allows users to upload PICS and edit them in the app. I wasn't familiar with this app, though it's been around since 2011.
• POI (57A: Paste that might be classified as "two-finger") POI, a traditional Polynesian food, is a paste made from taro. This much I knew, but I was not familiar with the "two finger" classification. Apparently, this is an informal classification that refers to how many fingers are required to scoop it up: "one-finger," "two-finger," or "three finger." The thicker the POI, the fewer fingers required to scoop up a mouthful.
• SMART RING (60A: Health tracking device worn on a finger) I am familiar with SMART watches, but didn't realize there are also SMART RINGs. A SMART RING can track health data, and also can be used to do cashless payments and provide access to controlled areas.

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• MALE (6A: Like emus who care for their chicks) This is a fun animal fact. After female emus lay eggs, the MALE incubates them and then takes care of the chicks once they hatch.
• APP (18A: TikTok or Temu) TikTok is a social media APP focused on video sharing. Temu is an online marketplace APP offering heavily discounted products that are mostly shipped directly from China.
• SUTRA (26A: Kama ___ (ancient Hindu text)) The Kama SUTRA is an ancient Hindu text dating to between 400 and 300 BCE. Perhaps the most well-known parts of the Kama SUTRA are those concerning sexuality and eroticism. 
• SNORES (42A: Sleeps soundly?) The question mark in this clue means it's not referring to sleep without interruption, but rather to sounds made while sleeping, or SNORES.
• EAR (44A: Organ with a "drum") The EARdrum, also known as the tympanic membrane, separates the outer EAR from the middle EAR. Its function is to transmit changes in pressure (caused by sound) to structures in the middles EAR. 
• APE (50A: Tailless primate) APE is making back-to-back puzzle appearances, as we saw it yesterday as well.
• ASPEN (66A: Tree with "quaking" leaves) The quaking ASPEN is named because its leaves appear to tremble in even the slightest breeze. My favorite fun fact about ASPEN trees is that they propagate through their roots, so when you see a grove of ASPEN trees, it is often one organism sharing a common root system.
• OREO (67A: Cookie that entered the Chinese market in 1996) Some OREO flavors, such as Green Tea OREOs are available in China and Japan, but not in the U.S. Our crossword friend OREO is making its second appearance of 2026 today.
• ARI (7D: "Soft Girl Era" singer Lennox) "Soft Girl Era" is a 2025 song by ARI Lennox.
• DESERT (33D: The Kalahari, for one) The Kalahari DESERT is located in southern Africa. In addition to covering most of the country of Botswana, its 350,000 square miles extend into Namibia and South Africa.
• ERG (35D: Fraction of a joule) The ERG and the joule are both units of energy. An ERG is equal to 10⁻⁷ joules.
• A few other clues I especially enjoyed:
• PINATA (54A: Papier-mache container filled with candy)
• ARTIST (2D: Cartoonist or calligrapher)
• DOODLE (3D: Sketch absentmindedly)
• SIMILE (48D: Clear as mud, for one) 

This is a straightforward container theme, in which each theme answer is "contained" within the same word. This is a classic USA Today theme type. There's nothing wrong with that, especially when it's executed well, as is the case here. Thank you, Zhouqin, for this enjoyable puzzle.