Source: http://doctor-photoshoots.blogspot.com/2010/08/model-hot-asian-free-pictures-picture.html"

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Monday, August 16, 2010 John Lampkin

Theme: Get Moving - The actions indicated by the first word of the four theme entries might describe the start of a person's day, in an orderly fashion.

17A. Be inactive, like a volcano : LIE DORMANT.

26A. Be in a favorable position : SIT PRETTY. John has a few photos demonstrating theme answers 26A and 55A, please scroll down to the end of my write-up.

42A. Don't give in : STAND FIRM.

55A. Proceed very cautiously : WALK ON EGGS.

Argyle again.

A bit of a stiff breeze for a Monday but diligence allows headway and safe passage into port.

Quite low black square (34) and word (74) count, which bring us plenty of non-theme long fill, including nine 7-letter and fourteen 6-letter entries.

Across:

1. Trig or algebra, e.g. : MATH. We also CIRCLE (21D. Geometry shape) and TRIANGLE (36. Pool rack shape).

5. Range dividing Europe and Asia : URALS. Geography 101

10. "Java" trumpeter Al : HIRT. I always picture the Muppet version.

14. Professor 'iggins : 'ENRY. From "My Fair Lady". Both Hs are dropped in Cockney accent.

15. Brown-toned old photo : SEPIA. So called because of a brown pigment used was obtained from the ink-like secretion of the cuttlefish.

16. Basie's "__'Clock Jump" : ONE O. Some more jazz.

19. Johnson Space Center org. : NASA. Originally known as the Manned Spacecraft Center, the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center is located in Houston, Texas.

20. Showing profound knowledge : ERUDITE. From Latin ērudītus, from ērudīre to polish, from ex-(not) + rudis (unpolished, rough). Sort of a backhanded compliment.

21. Red bullring props : CAPES.

22. To the extent that : AS FAR AS.

24. Like many old movies : SILENT. Very old!

25. Highlands family : CLAN.

29. Tony of "Some Like It Hot" : CURTIS. Here with Jack Lemmon (Tony on left) from the 1959 film.

32. Brother's daughter : NIECE.

33. Pro __: for now : TEM.

34. TV surfer's selection : CHANNEL. Not a block in the middle of the grid, John?

36. __ chi: martial art : TAI. Tai chi chuan (literal translation "Supreme Ultimate Fist"). That is what Wikipedia said.

39. Bobby of the Black Panthers : SEALE. Founder, chairman and national organizer of the Black Panther Party.

40. Remains of a wreck : DEBRIS.

46. Dublin's land : EIRE.

47. Go berserk : LOSE IT.

48. Satisfy by offering concessions : APPEASE.

51. '50s "The Tonight Show" host Steve : ALLEN. Classic clip of Steve Allen cracking up at himself during a sportscaster sketch on live TV. Every time he looked at a monitor, he'd go off again.

52. From abroad : FOREIGN.

54. Make a sharp turn : VEER.

58. Crossword constructor's germ : IDEA. How did you get the IDEA for today's theme, John?

59. Spruce oneself up : PREEN.

60. St. __'s fire : ELMO. I've never seen it. Any of you sailors witnessed it?

61. Egyptian Christian : COPT. The word "Coptic" was originally used to refer to Egyptians in general, but it has undergone a semantic shift over the centuries to mean more specifically Egyptian Christian. Per Wikipedia.

62. Given to pouting : MOODY.

63. Splinter group : SECT.

Down:

1. Singer Tormé : MEL. The Velvet Fog.

2. Singer DiFranco : ANI. The Righteous Babe.

3. Supplier of firs : TREE FARM

4. Firefighter's water source : HYDRANT.

5. Vitamin intake std.: US RDA. std = standard. RDA Recommended Daily Allowance.

6. Neglectful : REMISS.

7. Give __ on the back : A PAT.

8. "Come here often?" is one : LINE. This could be clued as geography related too.

9. H.S. senior's exam: SAT

10. Puff the Magic Dragon's land : HONA LEE.

11. Acting peevishly : IN A PET. Being petulant.

12. Take offense at : RESENT.

13. Warm and cozy : TOASTY.

18. Lord's Prayer starter : OUR.

22. Bank statement no. : ACCT..

23. Revolve on an axis : SLUE.

24. Radar gun reading : SPEED.

27. Word before self or sanctum : INNER. An echo to the INNER SELF (ego) puzzle last week.

28. Oz Woodman's makeup : TIN. And no heart. From "The Wizards of Oz".

30. Stranded in winter, perhaps : ICED IN.

31. Mine passage : SHAFT.

35. Self-proclaimed "Greatest" boxer : ALI.

37. Runs on TV : AIRS.

38. "Understood" : "I SEE".

39. Show disdain for : SNEER AT.

41. "Saturday Night Fever" soundtrack singers : BEE GEES.

42. Like Serbs and Croats : SLAVIC.

43. Holy Ohio city? : TOLEDO. There are many theories of where "Holy Toledo" came from.

44. Catching z's : ASLEEP.

45. Like cards in a crooked deck : MARKED.

49. Showy perennial : PEONY.

50. Wrestler's victory : PIN.

52. Casino card game : FARO.

53. Nondairy spread : OLEO.

55. Typing test fig. : WPM. Words Per Minute.

56. Maker of Terrain and Acadia SUVs : GMC. Terrain and Acadia The Acadia is bigger and much more expensive.

57. Boozehound : SOT.

Answer grid.

Constructor John Lampkin is also an avid Nature photographer. He writes:

"Last month I shared some of my butterfly pics as a tie-in to one of my theme entries, PAINTED LADY. Today, two entries, SIT PRETTY and WALK ON EGGS, reminded me of a photo journal I self-published six years ago. “Into a Nest of Tree Swallows” chronicles the hatching and development of a family of young birds from egg to fledgling. The book is a hand-crafted set of 16 pages of the best of the hundreds of images I created by photographing the inside of a nest at a local park over a three week period. Coincidentally, the shots were all taken with a Coolpix, the same camera C.C. received as a gift in June! Here are seven pics from the book, guaranteed to melt even the hardest of heart."

If you are interested in John's photographs, music or other artistic work, please visit his website.

Argyle

PS: Blogger continues to spam comments with embedded links. Please have patience. Our blog team will un-spam the posts as quickly as possible.

Source: http://crosswordcorner.blogspot.com/2010/08/monday-august-16-2010-john-lampkin.html

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Monday August 2, 2010 Allan E. Parrish

Theme: OL' MAN RIVER (57. "Show Boat" classic, and where to find the ends of 17-, 26- and 44-Across) - The ends of first three theme entries are parts of a river.

17A. Soft mattress topper : FEATHER BED

26A. Edison's electrical preference : DIRECT CURRENT

44A. Government-owned financial institutions : NATIONAL BANKS

I am not familiar with the song. The Ol' Man River does refer to the mighty Mississippi, correct?

Actually, a 5-letter RIVER will work as a unifier too. But OL' MAN RIVER provides a more sparkling choice, in addition to its 10-letter symmetry to FEATHER BED.

Quite a scrabbly 74 worder. Only letter J is missing. Total 18 entries are of medium 6/7-letter length. A nice mix. Also a few clue echos.

C.C. here. Argyle's sister is visiting. He'll be back next Monday.

Across:

1. Money in Mumbai : RUPEE. Alliteration.

6. Lose effectiveness, as painkillers, with "off" : WEAR. And WEAKENS (10D. Loses strength).

10. Wild or Old region : WEST

14. Pole vault, e.g. : EVENT

15. Palindromic pop group : ABBA. And 'N SYNC (33. "No Strings Attached" pop group). Pop group echo.

16. Big fair : EXPO

19. Eagerly excited : AGOG

20. Monterey County seat that's the birthplace of John Steinbeck : SALINAS. I forgot. We had this clue before.

21. '50s-'60s USSR leader Khrushchev : NIKITA. Cold War is so far away.

23. Grafton's "__ for Corpse" : C IS

24. Set aside for later : STORE. TABLE also has 5 letters.

31. Bills with George on them : ONES. I'd prefer "Bills with Washington on them". Also ABE (8D. Prez on a penny).

32. Roman moon goddess : LUNA

36. NBA position : CTR (Center)

37. Grazing land : PASTURE. And LEA (58D. Grazing land).

39. Small taste : SIP

40. Composer of marches : SOUSA. He died in the month of March also.

42. Like most pets : TAME

43. Fashion's Chanel : COCO

47. Super Bowl XXI MVP Phil : SIMMS. Wikipedia says he's known for inaugurating the phrase "I'm going to Disney World!".

48. Big mouth, in slang : YAP

49. Diocese leader : BISHOP

52. Abandon : FORSAKE

56. Workplace protection org. : OSHA

60. Scold severely : FLAY

61. Croat's neighbor : SERB. I've never understood the Balkan War. Is it about religious conflict?

62. Online read : EZINE

63. Online help pages, briefly : FAQS. Frequently Asked Questions.

64. City transport : TAXI

65. Real bargains : DEALS

Down:

1. NFL arbiters : REFS

2. Eye layer containing the iris : UVEA. Latin for "grape".

3. Ring loudly : PEAL

4. Draws in : ENTICES

5. Cultural, as cuisine : ETHNIC. I miss authentic Thai food & my experiences.

6. Major conflicts : WARS

7. Flow away, as a tide : EBB

9. Philadelphia suburb : RADNOR. What is it famous for?

11. Former soldier : EX GI

12. Dick and Jane's dog : SPOT. Obtained the answer via crossers.

13. Forum garb : TOGA

18. "Born in __": Cheech Marin film : EAST LA

22. Good-night girl of song : IRENE. Have never heard of the song "Goodnight, Irene".

24. Beach bronzings : SUN TANS

25. Psychological shock : TRAUMA

26. Medicos : DOCS

27. Division word : INTO

28. Show over : RERUN

29. Standard practice : CUSTOM

30. Boxing's "Iron Mike" : TYSON. I remember the ear-biting incident.

34. Shaver's mishap : NICK

35. USN noncoms : CPOS (Chief Petty Officers)

37. Barbecue site : PATIO

38. Trust, as a friend : RELY ON

41. Walks with attitude : SASHAYS. Lucina likes to use this word.

43. Turn over at sea : CAPSIZE

45. Customs levy : IMPOST

46. Kept out : BARRED

49. Big Broadway hit, in slang : BOFF. So is BOFFO.

50. Land in el mar : ISLA

51. NBAer O'Neal : SHAQ

52. Formula One racer Teo __ : FABI. His name escaped me also.

53. Nike competitor : AVIA. Latin for "fly".

54. __ Ration: pet food : KEN- L. Third time in a month?

55. "__ Tu": 1974 hit : ERES. Eres Tu = "It is You".

59. Mysterious guy : MR. X. Nice edge word.

Answer grid.

Here is a recent photo of our Cool Hand Larry (Windhover). Looks more like a philosopher than a farmer, no? Still want to share his bike, Annette?

C.C.

Source: http://crosswordcorner.blogspot.com/2010/08/monday-august-2-2010-allan-e-parrish.html

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