Tag: Kraken’s realm briefly crossword clue

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Constructed by: Kevin Christian & Drew Schmenner
Edited by: Patti Varol

Today’s Reveal Answer: State Bars

Themed answers are all song titles with the name of a STATE in the title:

• 37A Regulatory legal associations, and what 17-, 23-, 54-, and 61-Across are? : STATE BARS

• 17A Katy Perry song whose lyrics mention Venice Beach and Palm Springs : CALIFORNIA GURLS
• 23A Stevie Ray Vaughan blues cover with the line “I’m standin’ out in the rain” : TEXAS FLOOD
• 54A Title song of a 1961 film featuring a lei-wearing Elvis Presley : BLUE HAWAII
• 61A “Just an old sweet song” performed by Ray Charles : GEORGIA ON MY MIND

Read on, or jump to …
… a complete list of answers

Bill’s time: 6m 21s

Bill’s errors: 0

Today’s Wiki-est Amazonian Googlies

Across

1 Two-time NBA MVP Malone : KARL

Karl Malone is a retired professional basketball player who was nicknamed “the Mailman”. Malone played most of his career with the Utah Jazz, from 1985 to 2004.

5 “Parks and __” : REC

“Parks and Recreation” (sometimes just “Parks and Rec”) is a sitcom that started airing on NBC in 2009, and is a show that has grown on me. It stars the “Saturday Night Live” alum Amy Poehler. The creators of “Parks and Recreation” are part of the team responsible for the American version of “The Office”, so you’ll notice some similarities in the style of the two shows, and some actors that have appeared in both.

14 “The Little Mermaid” prince : ERIC

“The Little Mermaid” is a 1989 animated feature from Disney that is based on the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale of the same name. It tells the story of a mermaid princess named Ariel who falls in love with the human Prince Eric. Ariel’s father is chief merman King Triton. Her best friend is Flounder, who despite his name is not a flounder at all and is actually a tropical fish. Ariel is also friends with Sebastian, a red Jamaican crab whose full name is Horatio Thelonious Ignacious Crustaceous Sebastian.

16 Mongolian, e.g. : ASIAN

The East Asian nation of Mongolia lies between Russia to the north and China to the south. With an area of over 600,000 square miles and a population of about 3 million people, Mongolia is the most sparsely populated sovereign nation on the planet. Almost half of the Mongolian populace lives in the capital city of Ulan Bator.

17 Katy Perry song whose lyrics mention Venice Beach and Palm Springs : CALIFORNIA GURLS

“California Gurls” is a song recorded by Katy Perry that she co-wrote with Snoop Dog, who performs some verses. The title was going to be written as “California Girls”, but the spelling was changed to “California Gurls” as a nod to Big Star’s lead singer Alex Chilton, who died a couple of months before the song’s release. Big Star used the “gurl” spelling in their 1974 track “September Gurls”.

21 Pantry array : CANS

The word “pantry” dates back to 1300, when it came into English from the Old French “panetrie” meaning a “bread room”. Bread is “pain” in French, and “panis” in Latin.

23 Stevie Ray Vaughan blues cover with the line “I’m standin’ out in the rain” : TEXAS FLOOD

“Texas Flood” is a blues song originally recorded by Larry Davis, in 1958. It has since been covered by numerous artists, most notably Stevie Ray Vaughan. Vaughan used it as the Title track for his debut studio album, released in 1983.

Stevie Ray Vaughan was a guitarist and singer who was very much associated with the blues revival of the 1980s. Sadly, Vaughan died in a helicopter crash in East Troy, Wisconsin when he was just 35 years old.

28 Hot toddy option : TEA

The word “toddy” has come a long way. Its origins lie in the Hindi word for a palm tree, which is “tar”. The derivative word “tari” was used for palm sap, which came into English as “tarrie”, then “taddy” and “toddy”, all of which described an alcoholic drink made from fermented palm sap. That was back around 1600. Late in the 18th century, the palm sap drink called “toddy” had morphed into meaning any alcoholic drink made with liquor, hot water, sugar and spices.

31 Zilch : NADA

We use the term “zilch” to mean “nothing”. Our current usage evolved in the sixties, before which the term was used to describe “meaningless speech”. There was a comic character called Mr. Zilch in the 1930s in “Ballyhoo” magazine. Mr. Zilch’s name probably came from the American college slang “Joe Zilch” that was used in the early 1900s for “an insignificant person”.

33 Writer/actress Fey : TINA

Comic actress Tina Fey has a scar on her face a few inches long on her left cheek, which I was shocked to learn was caused by a childhood “slashing” incident. When she was just five years old and playing in the alley behind her house, someone just came up to her and slashed her with a knife. How despicable!

37 Regulatory legal associations, and what 17-, 23-, 54-, and 61-Across are? : STATE BARS

The legal profession is referred to as “the bar”. The term arose in medieval times when European courtrooms were divided into two with “barring” furniture, basically a wooden rail that separated the public from the participants in the trial.

43 Cornerstone number : YEAR

In practical terms, a cornerstone is the first stone set during the construction of a building with a masonry foundation. Also known as the foundation stone or setting stone, the cornerstone determines the final position of the final structure, as all other stones are laid with reference to that first stone. For some time, we’ve also used the term “cornerstone” in a ceremonial sense. A ceremonial cornerstone is set in a prominent position at the corner of a wall, and usually bears significant information such as date of construction and names of the architect and builder.

48 Skin care brand : AVEENO

Aveeno is a manufacturer of skincare and haircare products that was founded in 1945. The name Aveeno comes from the Latin name for the common oat, i.e. Avena sativa.

50 Old film channel : TCM

Turner Classic Movies (TCM

52 Kraken’s realm, briefly : NHL

The Kraken are an NHL team based in Seattle. They played their first league game in Seattle in 2021, marking the first time that Seattle hosted a professional hockey team since the days of the Seattle Totems in 1975.

54 Title song of a 1961 film featuring a lei-wearing Elvis Presley : BLUE HAWAII

“Blue Hawaii” is one of a series of Elvis Presley movies, one released in 1961. 36-year-old Angela Lansbury was cast as the mother of the character played by 26-year-old Presley. Apparently, Lansbury “wasn’t amused” at the age gap, but took the role anyway.

59 With, at le restaurant : AVEC

In French, if it’s “pas sans” (not without), it’s “avec” (with).

60 __ América: quadrennial soccer tournament : COPA

The Copa América is the oldest international soccer tournament in the world, having been first contested in 1916. The tournament was established for international teams from South America, as the South American Football Championship. In 1993, the name “Copa América” was adopted, and teams were invited from Central and North America, and the Caribbean.

61 “Just an old sweet song” performed by Ray Charles : GEORGIA ON MY MIND

“Georgia on My Mind” is a song composed in 1930 by Hoagy Carmichael and Stuart Gorrell. Gorrell’s lyrics refer to the state of Georgia, although there is a common assertion that the reference is instead to Hoagy’s sister Georgia Carmichael. Hoagy himself assures us that the former is the case, in his second autobiography “Sometimes I Wonder”. Hoagy Carmichael himself made the first recording, in 1930, but the most famous is the 1960 cover version by Ray Charles. “Georgia on My Mind” was made the official state song of Georgia in 1979.

69 Maker of apple products : MOTT’S

Samuel R. Mott was a producer of apple cider and vinegar. In 1842 he founded his own company to market and sell his products. The Mott’s company owns brands such as Mr & Mrs T, Hawaiian Punch and ReaLime/ReaLemon.

Down

1 Fast-food chain owned by Yum! Brands : KFC

Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC)

2 San Francisco Bay city : ALAMEDA

“Alameda” is Spanish for “a place full of poplars”. There are a number of locations in the US and elsewhere with the name “Alameda”, including the county of Alameda, California where I lived for decades. Alameda County is home to the city of Alameda, located on Alameda Island.

4 Boxer Ali : LAILA

Laila Ali is the daughter of the great Muhammad Ali and is a very capable boxer in her own right. Laila’s professional record is an impressive 24 wins, including 21 knockouts. Now retired, she never lost a fight, and nor did she ever draw. One of those victories was against Jackie Frazier-Lyde, daughter of her father’s nemesis Joe Frazier. Laila is not a bad dancer either, coming in third place in the fourth season of “Dancing with the Stars”.

5 __ Speedwagon : REO

REO Speedwagon is an American rock band that formed in 1967, and is still going strong. The band’s biggest hits are “Keep On Loving You” (1980) and “Can’t Fight This Feeling” (1985). The founding members chose the name for the REO Speed Wagon flatbed truck. Note that the band’s name is one word “Speedwagon”, whereas the vehicle’s name uses two words “Speed Wagon”.

7 Dos y tres : CINCO

In Spanish, “cinco” (five) is “dos y tres” (two plus three).

9 The Tigers of the SEC : LSU

The Tigers are the sports teams of Louisiana State University (LSU). They are officially known as the Fightin’ Tigers, and the school mascot is “Mike the Tiger”. The name comes from the days of the Civil War, when two Louisiana brigades earned the nickname the “Louisiana Tigers”. Given the French/Cajun history of Louisiana, the LSU fans use the cheer “Geaux Tigers” instead of “Go Tigers”.

10 Plane feature with a lift-to-drag ratio : AIRFOIL

Airfoils are streamlined shapes designed to generate lift when moving through a fluid, most commonly air. A plane’s airfoil, most notably its wing, is a critical component for generating lift. The characteristic curved upper surface and often flatter lower surface create a pressure difference as air flows over them. The faster airflow over the curved upper surface results in lower pressure, while the slower airflow on the underside creates higher pressure. This pressure difference generates an upward force known as lift, which is crucial for flight.

15 Milan farewell : CIAO

“Ciao” is Italian for “‘bye”. “Arrivederci” is more formal, and translates as “goodbye”.

Milan (“Milano” in Italian) is Italy’s second-largest city, second only to Rome. It is a European fashion capital, the headquarters for the big Italian fashion houses of Valentino, Gucci, Versace, Armani, Prada and others. Mario Prada was even born in Milan, and helped establish the city’s reputation in the world of fashion.

24 Greek cheese : FETA

Feta is a Greek cheese made from sheep’s milk, or a mixture of sheep and goat’s milk. The cheese is salted and cured in a brine solution for several months before it is eaten.

25 Parishioners : LAITY

Anything described as laic (or “laical, lay”) is related to the laity, those members of the church who are not clergy. The term “laic” ultimately comes from the Greek “laikos” meaning “of the people”.

26 Ecto- or endo- finish : PLASM

The endoplasm is the inner part of a cell’s cytoplasm, and the ectoplasm is the outer part.

30 Car loan fig. : APR

Annual percentage rate (APR)

40 Red diamond, e.g. : RARE GEM

Red diamonds are among the rarest and most prized of all colored diamonds. Unlike other colored diamonds, which often owe their hue to chemical impurities, red diamonds’ color appears to stem from structural anomalies, imperfections in the crystal lattice structure of the diamond. These imperfections, likely occurring during the diamond’s formation deep within the Earth, are thought to trap light and selectively absorb wavelengths, resulting in the red color.

46 Trattoria red : CHIANTI

Chianti is a red wine from the Chianti region of central Tuscany in Italy. Historically, Chianti was stored in a characteristically bulbous bottle wrapped in a straw basket. However, the pragmatists have won the day and regular wine bottles tend to be used nowadays.

51 “Shameless” star William H. __ : MACY

William H. Macy is a favorite actor of mine, and one who appears in several of my favorite movies, including “Fargo” and “Air Force One”. He is also magnificent in the US version of the British TV show “Shameless”. In 1997, Macy married fellow actor Felicity Huffman, someone found guilty of fraud in the infamous case about college admissions bribery. Macy was never charged.

“Shameless” is a comedy drama TV series about a dysfunctional Chicago family consisting of six children and a single father who spends his days drunk. The US show is a remake of the original British “Shameless” that is based on a similar family who live in Manchester in the North of England.

56 The NCAA’s Huskies : UCONN

The UConn Huskies are the sports teams of the University of Connecticut. I wasn’t able to uncover the derivation of the “Huskies” moniker. Although it is true that “UConn” sounds like “Yukon”, that isn’t the derivation of the “Huskies” nickname. The school didn’t become the University of Connecticut (UConn) until 1939, and the Huskies name has been used since 1933.

57 Barnard attendee : WOMAN

Barnard College is a private women’s school in New York City. It was founded in 1889 and, since 1900, has been affiliated with Columbia University.

63 “The Matrix” character who chooses the red pill : NEO

Neo is the character played by Keanu Reeves in “The Matrix” series of films. One of Neo’s actions is to choose a red pill over a blue pill. The blue pill would have allowed him to remain in the Matrix, a fabricated reality. The red pill led to his escape into the real world, and a much more difficult life.

65 Actor Cheadle : DON

Don Cheadle is a Hollywood actor who is perhaps best known for his lead role in the 2004 drama “Hotel Rwanda” that deals with the harrowing subject of genocide. Since then, Cheadle has been very active in campaigns to end genocide in Darfur, Sudan.