Theme: The SHELL, you say! The unifier explains it perfectly
54 A. Corporations with little business activity, and what are formed by the circled letters: SHELL COMPANIES. Corporations without active business operations or significant assets. These types of corporations are not all necessarily illegal, but they are sometimes used illegitimately, such as to disguise business ownership from law enforcement or the public.
Here, the phrase is repurposed [or reused, per 28D] to indicate a bookends type theme for the puzzle, in which the names of prominent American corporations are split, providing the beginning and ending letters for the theme fill entries.
16 A. Fruity frozen treat: ORANGE POPSICLE. A popsicle is a piece of flavored ice or ice cream on a stick. In this case the flavor is ORANGE. Rather specific fill for an other general clue. Oracle Corporation is an American multinational computer technology corporation headquartered in Austin, Texas. In 2020, Oracle was the third-largest software company in the world by revenue and market capitalization. Oracle also declined during 2022. It started to recover in October and has recently passed its former high and gone hyperbolic.
25. Pursue additional education, e.g.: APPLY FOR COLLEGE. To ask to be accepted as a student at colleges or universities by filling out and sending applications. Apple Inc. is an American multinational technology company headquartered in Cupertino, California. Apple is the world's largest technology company by revenue, with US$394.3 billion in 2022 revenue. As of March 2023, Apple is the world's biggest company by market capitalization. As of June 2022, Apple is the fourth-largest personal computer vendor by unit sales and the second-largest mobile phone manufacturer in the world. It is often considered as one of the Big Five American information technology companies, alongside Alphabet (parent company of Google), Amazon, Meta Platforms, and Microsoft. Apple stock had a choppy decline through 2022, bottoming early this year. It has since soared to new highs.
35. Spanish "I like": ME GUSTA. Literal. Meta Platforms, Inc., formerly named Facebook, Inc., and TheFacebook, Inc., is an American multinational technology conglomerate based in Menlo Park, California. The company owns Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, among other products and services. Meta is one of the world's most valuable companies and among the ten largest publicly traded corporations in the United States. It is often considered one of the Big Five American information technology companies, alongside Alphabet (parent company of Google), Amazon, Apple, and Microsoft. Meta stock price peaked in September, 2021, then lost over 75% of its value at the November, 2022 low. It has since recovered, but is still far below its all time high.
42 A. Slips, bras, etc.: INTIMATE APPAREL. Women's underwear and nightclothes. synonyms: lingerie. types: gown, night-robe, nightdress, nightgown, nightie; lingerie consisting of a loose dress designed to be worn in bed by women. Intel Corporation is an American multinational corporation and technology company headquartered in Santa Clara, California. It is one of the world's largest semiconductor chip manufacturer by revenue, and is one of the developers of the x86 series of instruction sets found in most personal computers. Its stock was badly battered last year, losing over 50% of its value. It flattened out in October and is starting to make a comeback.
Hi Gang, JazzBumpa here to broker today's transactions. All the theme entries are American multi-national corporations involved in various aspects of technology. Let's see how we can push forward.
Across
6. Place to soak some barking dogs: FOOT SPA. A bowl for soaking the feet in warm water, especially one in which the feet are massaged by small jets of water. For "dogs," not canines.
13. Indigenous New Zealanders: MAORIS. Māori originated with settlers from East Polynesia, who arrived in New Zealand in several waves of canoe voyages between roughly 1320 and 1350.
15. Underhanded course of action: LOW ROAD. A behavior or approach that is unscrupulous or immoral.
18. Precious stone: GEM. A precious or semiprecious stone, especially when cut and polished or engraved.
19. Release, as an album: DROP. The act of releasing it to the public.
20. Chats online, briefly: IMS. Instant Messages.
21. Beach bucket: PAIL. A bucket is usually an open-top container. In contrast, a pail can have a top or lid and is a shipping container. In common usage, the two terms are often used interchangeably. In this context, a beach bucket is a toy for plying in the sand.
22. "Rumor has it ... ": I HEAR. Through the grape vine, maybe.
31. Spring flower: IRIS. A plant with sword-shaped leaves and showy flowers, typically purple, yellow, or white. Native to both Eurasia and North America, it is widely cultivated as an ornamental.
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32. Fish in a swarm: EELS. Eels are ray-finned fish belonging to the order Anguilliformes, which consists of eight suborders, 19 families, 111 genera, and about 800 species. Eels undergo considerable development from the early larval stage to the eventual adult stage and are usually predators. They do swarm in deep water
33. Ctrl-__-Del: ALT. On a personal computer with the Microsoft Windows operating system, Control+Alt+Delete is the combination of the Ctrl key, the Alt key and Del key that a user can press at the same time to terminate an application task or to reboot the operating system.
34. Not 'neath: O'ER. Over, aka above.
38. "Obvi": DUH. Said of something that is readily apparent and not at all surprising.
39. Comedian DeLaria: LEA. Lea DeLaria is an American comedian, actress, and jazz singer. DeLaria is credited with being the first openly gay comic to appear on American television with her 1993 appearance on The Arsenio Hall Show.
40. Notable times: ERAS. A long and distinct period of history with a particular feature or characteristic. Three of our granddaughters attended the Detroit performance of The Eras Tour, the ongoing sixth headlining concert tour by American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift. Described by her as a journey through all of her "musical eras", the Eras Tour is a tribute to all of Swift's studio albums so far. They loved it.
41. Ballet leap: JETE. A jump in which a dancer springs from one foot to land on the other with one leg extended outward from the body while in the air.
33. Ctrl-__-Del: ALT. On a personal computer with the Microsoft Windows operating system, Control+Alt+Delete is the combination of the Ctrl key, the Alt key and Del key that a user can press at the same time to terminate an application task or to reboot the operating system.
34. Not 'neath: O'ER. Over, aka above.
38. "Obvi": DUH. Said of something that is readily apparent and not at all surprising.
39. Comedian DeLaria: LEA. Lea DeLaria is an American comedian, actress, and jazz singer. DeLaria is credited with being the first openly gay comic to appear on American television with her 1993 appearance on The Arsenio Hall Show.
40. Notable times: ERAS. A long and distinct period of history with a particular feature or characteristic. Three of our granddaughters attended the Detroit performance of The Eras Tour, the ongoing sixth headlining concert tour by American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift. Described by her as a journey through all of her "musical eras", the Eras Tour is a tribute to all of Swift's studio albums so far. They loved it.
41. Ballet leap: JETE. A jump in which a dancer springs from one foot to land on the other with one leg extended outward from the body while in the air.
47. Express big feelings, maybe: EMOTE. Portray emotion in a theatrical manner.
48. Transit option to NYC's Roosevelt Island: TRAM. A tram is a rail vehicle that travels on tramway tracks on public urban streets; some include segments on segregated right-of-way. The tramlines or networks operated as public transport are called tramways The Roosevelt Island Tramway provides the most modern aerial tramway in the world, running every 7-15 minutes from 59th Street and Second Avenue in Manhattan to Tramway Plaza on Roosevelt Island.
49. Web access co.: ISP. Internet Service Provider.
50. "Any minute now": SOON. Immanent.
51. WNBA honor for A'ja Wilson in 2020 and 2022: MVP. Most Valuable Player.
59. Item on a laundry list?: TIDE POD. Water-soluble pouches containing highly concentrated laundry detergent, marketed by Proctor and Gamble under the Tide brand name.
60. Campfire treats: S'MORES. Toasted marshmallows sandwiched between graham crackers with a chocolate segment.
61. Bounding main: OPEN SEA. An expanse of sea away from land.
62. Prevent, as disaster: AVERT. Prevent or ward off an undesirable occurrence
Down:
1. Dark cloud on the horizon?: SMOG. Air pollution that reduces visibility. The term "smog" was first used in the early 1900s to describe a mix of smoke and fog. The smoke usually came from burning coal. Smog was common in industrial areas, and remains a familiar sight in some cities today. I don't think this clue is accurate. Smog occurs much closer than the horizon.
2. Largest lagomorph: HARE. A lagomorph is a mammal of the order Lagomorpha; a hare, rabbit, or pika.
3. Cover a lot of ground: ROAM. Move about or travel aimlessly or unsystematically, especially over a wide area.
4. Mantle piece: URN. A tall, rounded vase with a base, and sometimes a stem, especially one used for storing the ashes of a cremated person.
5. Circled square on a calendar, maybe: BIG DAY. A very important or significant day.
6. First three community cards in Texas Hold 'em: FLOP. The dealing of the first three face-up cards to the board, refers also to those three cards themselves.
7. Alley-__: OOP. Used to encourage or draw attention to the performance of some physical, especially acrobatic, feat.
8. Hurt sounds: OWS. Expressions of pain.
9. Start to cycle?: TRI. A vehicle similar to a bicycle, but having three wheels, two at the back and one at the front. This kind of clue makes me gnash my teeth.
10. __ media: SOCIAL. Websites and applications that enable users to create and share content or to participate in social networking.
11. Expert who relies on a show of hands: PALM READER. Typically, this clue refers to a non-verbal method of voting by raising hands. Here, the PALM READER is one who practices fortune-telling through the study of the palm. Also known as palm reading, chiromancy, chirology or cheirology, the practice is found all over the world, with numerous cultural variations. Clever clue.
12. Citrus drinks: -ADES. I can't find a specific definition for this suffix on its own. But these drinks contain the juice of the fruit mixed with sweetened water.
14. Calligrapher's flourish: SERIF. A slight projection finishing off a stroke of a letter in certain typefaces.
17. Casual top: POLO. A casual short-sleeved cotton shirt with a collar and several buttons at the neck.
21. "Thx" counterpart: PLS. Please and thanks, shortened.
22. Fruity frozen treats: ICES. Very cold -ADES, maybe.
23. "NBC Nightly News" anchor Lester: HOLT. Lester Don Holt Jr. (born March 8, 1959) is an American journalist and news anchor for the weekday edition of NBC Nightly News, NBC Nightly News Kids Edition, and Dateline NBC. On June 18, 2015, Holt was made the permanent anchor of NBC Nightly News following the demotion of Brian Williams. Holt became the first African-American to solo anchor a weekday network nightly newscast.
24. Pataky of "Fast & Furious" films: ELSA. Elsa Lafuente Medianu [b 1976] known professionally as Elsa Pataky, is a Spanish model and actress. Pataky is known for her role as Elena Neves in the Fast & Furious franchise. She has appeared in the films Snakes on a Plane, Giallo and Give 'Em Hell, Malone.
6. First three community cards in Texas Hold 'em: FLOP. The dealing of the first three face-up cards to the board, refers also to those three cards themselves.
7. Alley-__: OOP. Used to encourage or draw attention to the performance of some physical, especially acrobatic, feat.
8. Hurt sounds: OWS. Expressions of pain.
9. Start to cycle?: TRI. A vehicle similar to a bicycle, but having three wheels, two at the back and one at the front. This kind of clue makes me gnash my teeth.
10. __ media: SOCIAL. Websites and applications that enable users to create and share content or to participate in social networking.
11. Expert who relies on a show of hands: PALM READER. Typically, this clue refers to a non-verbal method of voting by raising hands. Here, the PALM READER is one who practices fortune-telling through the study of the palm. Also known as palm reading, chiromancy, chirology or cheirology, the practice is found all over the world, with numerous cultural variations. Clever clue.
12. Citrus drinks: -ADES. I can't find a specific definition for this suffix on its own. But these drinks contain the juice of the fruit mixed with sweetened water.
14. Calligrapher's flourish: SERIF. A slight projection finishing off a stroke of a letter in certain typefaces.
17. Casual top: POLO. A casual short-sleeved cotton shirt with a collar and several buttons at the neck.
21. "Thx" counterpart: PLS. Please and thanks, shortened.
22. Fruity frozen treats: ICES. Very cold -ADES, maybe.
23. "NBC Nightly News" anchor Lester: HOLT. Lester Don Holt Jr. (born March 8, 1959) is an American journalist and news anchor for the weekday edition of NBC Nightly News, NBC Nightly News Kids Edition, and Dateline NBC. On June 18, 2015, Holt was made the permanent anchor of NBC Nightly News following the demotion of Brian Williams. Holt became the first African-American to solo anchor a weekday network nightly newscast.
24. Pataky of "Fast & Furious" films: ELSA. Elsa Lafuente Medianu [b 1976] known professionally as Elsa Pataky, is a Spanish model and actress. Pataky is known for her role as Elena Neves in the Fast & Furious franchise. She has appeared in the films Snakes on a Plane, Giallo and Give 'Em Hell, Malone.
Doesn't look furious
25. Garlicky dip: AIOLI. A cold sauce consisting of an emulsion of garlic and olive oil; it is found in the cuisines of the northwest Mediterranean, from Andalusia to Calabria.
26. Take a long look in the mirror?: PREEN. Devote effort to making oneself look attractive and then admire one's appearance.
27. Vessel that may fly the Jolly Roger: PIRATE SHIP. A sailing vessel used by a person who commits robbery on the seas. Jolly Roger is a pirate's flag with a white skull and crossbones on a black background.
28. Waste reduction strategy: REUSE. Reuse is the action or practice of using an item, whether for its original purpose or to fulfill a different function. It should be distinguished from recycling, which is the breaking down of used items to make raw materials for the manufacture of new products.
29. Muscle used in a squat, informally: GLUTE. A muscle of the buttock.
30. Broadway icon Merman: ETHEL. Ethel Merman [1908 - 1984] was an American actress and singer. Known for her distinctive, powerful voice, as well as her leading roles in musical theater, she has been called "the undisputed First Lady of the musical comedy stage." She performed on Broadway in Anything Goes, Annie Get Your Gun, Gypsy, and Hello, Dolly!
35. "Someone didn't get the __": MEMO. To not know something that everyone else knows: Everybody seems to be wearing green today - I guess I didn't get the memo.
36. Part of Q.E.D.: ERAT. Latin abbreviation for quod erat demonstrandum: "Which was to be demonstrated." Q.E.D. may appear at the conclusion of a text to signify that the author's overall argument has just been proven.
37. Scandal suffix: GATE. This originated with Nixon's Watergate scandal, the burglary of the DNC headquarters in the Watergate Office Building. Now the suffix is recklessly added to any distinctive word associated with a political scandal.
41. Printer problem: JAM. Paper getting stuck in the printer mechanism.
43. Hold up: IMPEDE. Deter, delay, obstruct, hinder.
44. Bonding partner: ATOM. ATOMS are the smallest particles of a chemical element that retain the properties of that element. Molecules are made up of atoms bonded together.
45. Play things?: PROPS. Prop is short for 'property' and is any object used in a performance that isn't part of the set or worn by an actor. Props can be anything, from small to large items – a notebook to a fountain. This is a clever clue.
46. Country that connects the Americas: PANAMA. Panama is a country on the isthmus linking Central and South America.
49. Analogy phrase: IS TO. A is to B as alpha is to beta. Comparative connector, I suppose. In a cursory search I'm unable to discover anything else about this usage.
50. Word with bread or cracker: SODA. These items are made with sodium bicarbonate in the recipe rather than yeast as a leavening agent.
51. Slimy mud: MIRE. Swampy or boggy ground.
52. Swerve: VEER. Change direction suddenly.
53. "Over here!" in a library voice: PSST. A non-vocalized whisper.
55. Ballroom dancer Goodman: LEN. Leonard Gordon Goodman [1944 - 2023] was an English professional ballroom dancer, dance teacher, and dance competition adjudicator.
56. Vinyl records, briefly: LPS. Long Playing records.
57. Cedar Rapids campus: COE. Coe College is a private liberal arts college in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. It was founded in 1851 and is historically affiliated with the Presbyterian Church. The college is a member of the Associated Colleges of the Midwest and the Association of Presbyterian Colleges and Universities.
58. Native American Heritage mo.: NOV. November. On August 3, 1990, President of the United States George H. W. Bush declared the month of November as National American Indian Heritage Month, thereafter commonly referred to as Native American Heritage Month. The bill read in part that "The President has authorized and requested to call upon Federal, State and local Governments, groups and organizations and the people of the United States to observe such month with appropriate programs, ceremonies and activities". This landmark bill honoring America's tribal people represented a major step in the establishment of this celebration which began in 1976 when a Cherokee/Osage Indian named Jerry C. Elliott-High Eagle authored Native American Awareness Week legislation the first historical week of recognition in the nation for native peoples. This led to 1986 with then President Ronald Reagan proclaiming November 23–30, 1986, as "American Indian Week"
On that happy note we wrap up today's midweek transactions. Thanks for keeping me company. Hope you found it to be profitable.
Cool regards!
JzB
