There’s a story in the food section of The Times today on malt liquor. I didn’t know what it is, other than something sold along with beer. It’s a beer for people who don’t like the hoppy or bitter ales that are the hallmarks of craft brewers. So it’s not for me. The first example they give of a resurgence of malt liquor is produced by the Virginia Beer Company and is called “39 Words.” But the article does not explain why it’s called 39 Words nor what those words are. WTH? It seems like something the readers of Owl Chatter need to know, so I did a little digging. First of all, it’s billed as “A strong beer brewed for all women,” and was released on Women’s Equality Day last year, which is August 26, the date in 1920 upon which the 19th Amendment to the Constitution was adopted, granting women the right to vote. (Sorry about that long sentence – it just kept falling down the stairs.) And the 39 words are the words in the Amendment. Here they are:
The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
Yup: it’s 39.
“Bridges in film,” at 57A today is JEFF. He won a Best Actor Oscar once, for Crazy Heart in 2009, which was terrific. Maggie Gyllenhaal was nominated for Best Supporting Actress in it, but lost out to Mo’nique in Precious.
Other Oscar-nominated roles of Jeff’s include The Last Picture Show (1971), Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (1974), Starman (1984), The Contender (2000), True Grit (2010), and Hell or High Water (2016).
Raise your hand if you’ve ever fallen in love with a waitress/waiter. In 1975, while filming Rancho Deluxe, Bridges met Susan Geston, who was working as a waitress. They got married in 1977 and have 3 daughters and a granddaughter. A little arithmetic tells me they’ll be celebrating their 46th anniversary this year. Mazel Tov! Here’s a family shot of Jeff and Sue with Jeff’s mom and dad. You may recognize the dad.
There was a terrible pun in the puzzle at 41A. The clue was “‘I’m [blank] of you’ (Valentine’s Day message for a plant lover?)” And the answer was FROND. OK, a groaner for sure. But commenter lydianblues said:
“While peering into a fish tank in an aquarium store, looking at the leafy water-plants and sea creatures: “with fronds like these, who needs anemones” . . .
Fans of Olympic sports should recognize two incredible woman athletes in today’s puzzle: U.S. gymnast Suni LEE, and Jamaican speedster ELAINE Thompson-Herah.
Suni Lee is Hmong-American. She was the 2020 Olympic gymnast all around champion, and is tied for tenth as most-decorated American female gymnast, with six world championship and Olympic medals. She’s 19, was born in St. Paul, MN, and attends Auburn University.
And Elaine Thompson-Herah — fuhgedaboutit. She is the fastest woman alive at 100 meters. She is the only female sprinter to win both the 100 and 200 meter dashes at consecutive Olympics (2016 and 2020). (Only one male has done it: fellow-Jamaican Usain Bolt.) She is 30 years old, and married to former sprinter and coach Derron Herah. If you’ve got a minute, you can watch her run:
At 11D, the 1983 hit song that began with “Domo arigato” was MR. ROBOTO, by Styx. It’s foreign to me, but was a big hit for them. It’s off their “concept” album Kilroy Was Here, a rock opera. The new direction the band took with it created some tension and led to a breakup. This appears to be the message:
The problem’s plain to see
Too much technology
Machines to save our lives
Machines dehumanize
And on that creepy note, we’ll bid you goodbye. Thanks for stopping in.
The Wellington Files 