Joseph Knecht

  State Raps It appears to me that our veteran constructors Kevin Christian and Drew Schmenner have given us another "modern lingo" Thursday theme for today's offering.  We'll start with our themers, which are all the titles of songs ... 17. Katy Perry song whose lyrics mention Venice Beach and Palm Springs:  CALIFORNIA GURLS .  This song was co-written with rapper Snoop Dogg and served as the lead single for her third studio album, Teenage Dream (2010).  If you want to know why it's spelled that way, read this .   I'd rate the official video an  R  for all the skin, but this PG -rated video just has the music,  lyrics, and a few suggestive double-entendres ... 23. Stevie Ray Vaughan blues cover with the line "I'm standin' out in the rain":  TEXAS FLOOD .  In 1983 Stevie Ray Vaughan recorded this song originally by blues musician Larry Davis ... 54. Title song of a 1961 film featuring a lei...

Dress Codes Today's constructor Keegan Edgar is making his LAT debut (his constructor debut anywhere I think), and he wants to know why people who perform certain services are such conformists when it comes to their garb ...   20A. Court garb:  TENNIS WHITES .  These people don't wear robes, but they do serve. So why do tennis players wear white -- at least on the poncier courts?   Turns out it's a Victorian thing . Serena Williams Wimbledon 2012 29A. Naval garb:  SAILOR SUITS .  Actually SAILOR SUITS are for Halloween parties😀. The Navy calls their garb  uniforms  (but Keegan had room for only 5 letters), and  the US Navy is pretty strict about the uniforms of those who serve in them   Two Sailors in Dress Whites Fleet Week in New York 47A. Restaurant garb:  W...