May 9, 2026

Title: "GET IT?" (Freestyle)

Constructor: Rafael Musa

Editor: Amanda Rafkin

Theme synopsis:

"GET IT?" (Freestyle): There's no theme today, as this is a freestyle, or themeless puzzle. The title is a nod to DO YOU SEE MY POINT ("Am I making sense?").

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• SONS (17A: Mumford & ___ (folk rock band)) The English folk rock band Mumford & SONS consists of Marcus Mumford, Ben Lovett, and Ted Dwane. Although Ben Lovett and Ted Dwane aren't Marcus Mumford's actual SONS, the group chose the name as a nod to him being the group's most visible member and because it sounds like the name of an antiquated family business. Mumford & SONS' 2012 album Babel won a Grammy Award for Album of the Year.
• APIA (18A: Samoa's capital) Samoa is an island country in the Polynesian region of the Pacific Ocean. It is located about halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand. Not only is APIA Samoa's largest city, it is also the country's capital. In fact, APIA is Samoa's only city. 
• SNOOT (28A: Part of a pet that is "booped") Sometimes I can't resist booping my cat, Willow's SNOOT. Maybe that's why she often hides her SNOOT (nose) with her tail when she's sleeping.

• ACA (30A: Obamacare, for short) Obamacare is officially known as the Affordable Care Act (ACA). President Obama signed the ACA into law on March 23, 2010, and many of the law's provisions were put into place by 2014.
• DIOS (41A: "Ay, ___ mio!") "Ay, DIOS mio!" means "Oh, my God!" in either Portuguese or Spanish.
• ZAC (42A: "Baywatch" actor Efron) Baywatch is a 2017 movie based on the TV series of the same name. Like the TV series, the movie is about lifeguards patrolling the beaches in Florida. ZAC Effron portrays Matt Brody, an Olympic gold-medal winning swimmer who aspires to be part of the Baywatch lifeguard division.
• AHA (47A: "Eureka!") Always fun to have the "AHA!" moment of seeing AHA in the puzzle. 
• STING RAYS (54A: Fish that may have serrated tails) STING RAYS have flattened bodies and long, whip-like tails. Some STING RAYS have serrated tails, with barbed spines that are used for defense.
• ULNA (58A: Forearm bone) Well, the answer here was either the ULNA or the radius, since those are the two forearm bones. Luckily only one of those possibilities has four letters. 
• OTTO (59A: Main character in "Rocket Power") The animated TV series Rocket Power originally aired on Nickelodeon from 1999 to 2004. The main characters are OTTO Rocket, Regina "Reggie" Rocket, Maurice "Twister" Rodriguez, and Sam "Squid" Dillard. The group's adventures usually involve extreme sports such as skateboarding, surfing, biking, etc.
• SLEDS (67A: Vehicles for going down sand dunes) I appreciated seeing this clue angle for SLEDS, as it brought back fun memories of sledding on sand dunes at Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado. It's a great deal of fun to SLED on sand dunes, though I was not good at it and kept falling off my SLED!
• SNAP STORIES (24D: Ephemeral social media updates) This clue was a good opportunity to remind myself that "ephemeral" means "lasting a short time." Snapchat is a social media app that allows users to post photos and videos. Most SNAP STORIES are only visible for 24 hours.
• ORO (29D: Top medal in los Juegos Olímpicos) "Los Juegos Olímpicos" is Spanish for "the Olympic Games," and "ORO" is Spanish for "gold."
• COACHELLA (31D: Music festival in the California desert) COACHELLA is an annual music and arts festival held in Indio, California. Indio is located in the Colorado Desert, southwest of Joshua Tree National Park. COACHELLA is held on two consecutive three-day weekends in April. 
• RED (33D: Color of envelopes gifted on Chinese New Year) Part of the Chinese New Year tradition is to give gifts of money in RED envelopes. The color RED symbolizes good luck and prosperity.
• YOUNG (39D: Like a 19-year-old college graduate) I enjoyed this clue for YOUNG. Many college graduates are 22 or 23 years old. A 19-year-old college graduate is YOUNG by comparison.
• DES (61D: ___ Moines, Iowa) DES Moines is the capital of Iowa. Speaking of college graduates, DES Moines is the home of Drake University, the college from which I graduated (at the age of 22) a few years ago. Okay, it's been more than a few... I'M OLD (60A: "Kids these days")
• Several other clues I especially enjoyed:
• THERE THERE (19A: "It's gonna be okay")
• OUTRO (32A: Part of a song that might have a fade-out)
• CHILI (43A: Spicy stew used as a hot dog topping)
• POWER COUPLE (4D: Pair of equally successful partners)

I APOLOGIZE (10D: "That's my bad") for not highlighting every delightful answer in this puzzle. I haven't even talked about SAY WHAT NOW? ((26D: "Is that for real?!") yet. So much to enjoy today. Now I'm hungry for SPICY TUNA (11D: Ahi mixed with sriracha mayo). Thank you, Rafa, for this excellent puzzle. 

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