J
"A structure... extending into a sea, lake, or river to influence the current or tide"
a jetty
There's an Oscar for this, the art of camera work in filmmaking
cinematography
The Alpine forget-me-not was designated its official flower in 1917, 42 years before it became a state
Alaska
wizardofodds.com says in blackjack, always do this with a pair of aces or a pair of 8s; never do it with a pair of 5s or a pair of 10s
split
Trees on the island of Socotra named for this mythical creature produce a blood-colored sap that is used as varnish for violins
a dragon
A short film of current affairs formerly shown along with a movie in a cinema
a newsreel
D
"A region of low atmospheric pressure that is usually accompanied by low clouds & precipitation"
a depression
It's a catalogue of recordings by a particular performer or composer
discography
In this Pixar film, Miguel performs "Remember Me", which reawakens the title character's memories of her father
Coco
You're holding 3 of a kind, but you know your opponent has a flush; your odds of drawing a pair for this winning poker hand? Not great
a full house
Often called the world's smallest tree, Salix herbacea, or the dwarf this tree, is found in the tundra & rarely exceeds two and a half inches tall
a willow
It can be a piece of paper to absorb excess ink, or a police station's daily record of arrests
a blotter
F
"A rapid & extreme flow of high water into a normally dry area... beginning within 6 hours of the causative event"
a flash flood
You have to know your codes & ciphers to be an expert in this
cryptography
If you remember the Alamo, you'll know this general of the Mexican forces who overran it
Santa Anna
Red cards like Zurgo Bellstriker will help you play aggressively in this game with a colon & a subtitle
Magic: The Gathering
The anti-cancer drug Taxol was produced from the bark of the Pacific species of this 3-letter tree
a yew
"Stratford Mill" & "The Hay Wain" are examples of this type of painting by John Constable, a major artist of the form in the 1800s
landscape
I
"A line connecting points of equal pressure"
an isobar
Currier & Ives specialized in this printing process from Greek for "stone"
lithography
This word comes before "mémoire" in a French term for a summary of a meeting so everyone remembers what was said
aide
In Monopoly, this card says it "may be kept until needed or sold", so do that
Get out of Jail (Free)
In 1964 Donald Rusk Currey accidentally killed a 5,000-year-old specimen of this gnarly, ancient tree on Wheeler Peak in Eastern Nevada
the bristlecone pine
A structure of this type was built in Ur around 2000 B.C. & dedicated to the moon god Nanna
a ziggurat
F
"(or F scale)--a scale of tornado intensity"
Fujita
This art of taking shorthand still flourishes in court reporting
stenography
The novel "À la recherche du temps perdu" was given this Shakespearean & tautological English title
Remembrance of Things Past
One golden rule of this: "On the opening lead never under-lead an ace against a suit contract"
bridge
This fig tree, Ficus microcarpa, is known for its aerial roots, which sprout from the branches & down to the soil
a banyan tree
16 pieces of eight were once equal to one of these old gold coins
a doubloon