HEITC = ETHIC
BTAAE = ABATE
CNORBO = BRONCO
ATRHWM = WARMTH
CARTOON ANSWER:
WHEN SHE SAW THAT THE FITNESS WATCH COULD TRACK HER PULSE, SHE BOUGHT IT – – –
ETI AAE BRN ATH =
Welcome Back,
Puzzle Players!
Tick-Took
Today’s cartoon brings us into the smartwatch area of a pineapple-branded tech store, where two shoppers are browsing the latest devices. When the associate asks if she would like him to show her how one of the watches works, she stops him and says she already understands. Her partner looks on with mild surprise and remarks on how quickly she has arrived at her decision. With the watch on her wrist and everything she needs to see right in front of her, the decision came instantly.
🧩 Clue Word Breakdown
HEITC = ETHIC
My pick for hardest. I just couldn’t see it!
Last used: 11/07/2022 as TECIH
BTAAE = ABATE
Took a few tries, but no trouble.
Last used: 08/21/2025 as BAETA
CNORBO = BRONCO
It was almost perfectly spelled out in reverse.
Last used: 12/22/2024 as NOORBC
ATRHWM = WARMTH
Quite visible.
Last used: 11/18/2024 as MRAHWT
🔍 Jumble Jeff’s Jems
➤ Tech Store Chic
The scene takes place inside a glass-paneled tech store with two display counters, one positioned in front of the characters and another behind them. Two smartwatches are shown with different colored bands, and both screens display the pineapple logo. Price tags are visible, but the prices themselves are scribbled out.
➤ Meet Josh
Josh wears a pineapple-branded lanyard with his name clearly visible. His hair is pulled back into a bun, he has square-framed glasses and a goatee, and a smartwatch on his right wrist. Directly behind him sits a smartphone displaying the pineapple logo.
➤ The Decision Makers
The woman making the purchase wears a shirt with a runner logo on the left chest, a smartwatch on her left wrist showing a pulse screen, and holds a credit card in her right hand. Her partner wears a shirt with a small J logo on the left chest and holds a smartwatch in her right hand.
🧩 Final Solve
The final answer was a twelve-letter anagram that solved neatly into a 2 + 1 + 9 layout. For the third day in a row, the answer practically rolled off the tongue, with the caption and dialogue making the solution clear right away. The clue words were still fun to work through afterward, but so far this week has offered little resistance. If the solve happened to tick you off a bit, the pulse reading on the smartwatch and the partner’s comment about how quickly the decision was made were subtle nudges in the right direction.
⌚️ Click-to-Reveal Smartwatch Facts
➤ How big is the global smartwatch market?
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➤ How old are most smartwatch wearers?
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➤ What is the most sought-after smartwatch feature?
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🎉 National Holidays* – December 17
➤ National Maple Syrup Day — A day celebrating real maple syrup and the long tradition behind tapping trees and turning sap into a familiar staple. From pancakes and waffles to cooking and baking, it’s a nod to one of nature’s simplest and sweetest contributions. SOURCE
➤ Wright Brothers Day — Wright Brothers Day marks the first successful powered flight by Wilbur and Orville Wright on December 17, 1903. It recognizes a moment that changed transportation forever and opened the door to modern aviation. SOURCE
➤ National Say It Now Day — This day encourages speaking up and sharing meaningful words before the moment passes. Whether it’s gratitude, appreciation, or something long overdue, the idea is simple: don’t wait. SOURCE
*For entertainment purposes only. Consult reliable sources for critical use.
🥄 Viral Recipe
3-Ingredient Brownie Cookies
These cookies went viral for a reason. With just three ingredients, they bake up soft in the middle with crisp edges and a rich chocolate flavor that feels far more complicated than the recipe actually is. They come together fast, disappear even faster, and prove that simple can still deliver big results.
🛒 Daily Drops*
➤ Crumbl Cookie x Dove Soap Limited Edition Collection
This limited run brings together Crumbl Cookie scents and Dove body care, turning familiar dessert flavors into everyday products like body wash, scrubs, deodorants, and beauty bars. Scents include Confetti Cake, Strawberry Crumb Cake, and the newer Tres Leches option. The collection is available online now and is expected to roll out in Walmart stores nationwide later this month while supplies last.
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➤ Chiquita Plantain Chips
Chiquita has expanded beyond bananas with a new line of plantain chips made in partnership with Snax Sational Brands. The chips come in several flavors, including Original, Sweet, Garlic, Chile Limón, and Sea Salt Scoops, and are positioned as a simple ingredient snack option. The rollout is scheduled to begin nationwide in early 2026 across grocery and online retailers.
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➤ Oreo Cookie Dough Flavored Cookies
Oreo is bringing back its cookie dough flavored sandwich cookies for a limited time, pairing chocolate wafers with a cookie dough flavored creme that includes chocolate chip pieces. The return follows strong demand from past releases and is expected to hit shelves around late December as part of the brand’s seasonal lineup.
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➤ Honey Bunches of Oats Cinnamon Protein Cereal
This new cereal adds a cinnamon flavor and extra protein to the Honey Bunches of Oats lineup, aiming to balance familiar crunch with a more filling breakfast option. It keeps the classic clusters while leaning into higher protein trends, with availability beginning at select retailers and expanding more broadly in the coming months.
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*Prices and participation may vary. Retailers may alter or end promotions without notice. For entertainment purposes only.
