I am on the train on my way back to Bangalore, so don't be surprised if you see an incomplete CW popping up at 8:30, all depends on the connectivity on the train.
'B'-day today!
cOARSe
'B'-day today!
ACROSS
9 - Battalion overly
engrossed in strategy (7) - (Addendum - PLATOON {PLA{TOO}N} - See comments)
10 - Brazilian city in South-East
America is important (7) - SERIOUS {SE}{RIO}{US}
11 - Bandage is a despicable covering (5) - (Addendum - SPICA [T] - See comments)
12 - Bottleneck before tramp to thumb a ride (5-4) –
HITCH-HIKE {HITCH}-{HIKE}
13 - Bar magistrate and another official (4,5) - LINE JUDGE {LINE} {JUDGE}
14 - Beaten path in the woods to follow (5) - TRAIL [DD]
15 - Bulb one lit around a foyer (7) - (Addendum - SHALLOT - {S{HALL}OT} - See comments)
17 - Ballet performer under a special training (7) - DANSEUR {UNDER+A+S}*
19 - By the sound of it pasta is only a cent (5) - PENCE Anno pending (Addendum - PENNY (~penne) - See comments)
20 - Band overcoming final hesitation to give a performance
(9) - RENDERING {R{END}{ER}ING}
22 - Burial chamber in Seoul, a building wrapped in silence
(9) - MAUSOLEUM {M{A+SEOUL*}UM}
24 - Balance from both sides (5) - LEVEL <->
25 - Buggy code with odd behaviour (7) - DECORUM {CODE*}{RUM}
26 - Bauble made by silly knitter (7) – TRINKET*
DOWN
1 - Biblical dozen
with a job peeling flesh (8) - APOSTLES {A}{POST}{fLESh}
2 - Budget speech
presented with capital deficit (6) - (Addendum - RATION oRATION - See comments)
3 - Bees' produce
befitting a queen, gelatin perhaps (5,5) - (Addendum - ROYAL JELLY {ROYAL} {JELLY} - See comments)
4 - Broken tooth end
is sharp (2,3,3) - ON THE DOT*
5 - Bloodsucker,
from the outset, selects prey (6) - TSETSE [T]
6 - Bridge and
rummy, casual hobbies primarily (4) – ARCH {A}{R}{C}{H}
7 - Bully at mid-on
sledged England's opener (8) - DOMINATE {DOMINAT*}{E}
8 - Bargain from a
street deal, 500 less (1,5) - A STEAL {A} {ST}{dEAL}
14 - Beef cut redolent in cooking (10) – TENDERLOIN*
16 - Broadcast in Oz under a new name (8) - ANNOUNCE {A}{N}{N}{OUNCE}
17 - Blow up device; it may end in ruins (8) - DYNAMITE*
18 - Badge of royalty changing hands in accordance with law
(8) - REGULATE Anno pending (Addendum - REGALITY - (-l+r)REGALITY - See comments)
19 - Balm for shock prof regularly prepared (6) - POMADE {PrOf}{MADE}
20 - Bleary-eyed man in card game lost one million (6) - RHEUMY {R{HE}UmMY}
21 - Bring up bill, one grand, for in charge (6) - INVOKE Anno pending (Addendum - INVO(-ic+k)KE - See comments)
23 - Blades trim rough edges (4) - OARS 
9 - Battalion overly engrossed in strategy (7) -
ReplyDeletePLA(TOO)N, though the Col. might have reservations equating a Bn to a Pn.
19 - By the sound of it pasta is only a cent (5) - PENCE Anno pending
PENNY ~PENNE
21 - Bring up bill, one grand, for in charge (6) - INVOKE Anno pending
ReplyDeleteINVO(-ic)(+K)E
2 - Budget speech presented with capital deficit (6) -
(-o)RATUIB
Sorry, hand on wrong keys:
Delete(-O)RATION
There are a number of Platoons in a Battalion
ReplyDeleteThats why the reservation in 834. Did not elaborate at that time since many clues were still open. Now adding: Platoons are a few (usually 3) sections(usually 10 men), smaller than a Coy (around a 100) but Bns (not always the same size) are larger units.
DeleteYou are both absolutely right.
DeleteI was looking at the "infantry battalion" entry in Chambers against platoon. So the definition should have been qualified.
Following feedback from the likes of Shyam, Shuchi et al from the last time, I wanted to change a few things (like the intrusive "is" in 11A, a better definition in 9A ) but this was sent prior to all that. Instead of vexing the listing editor with modifications, I decided to let it be.
13 - Bar magistrate and another official (4,5) -
ReplyDeleteLINE JUDGE
15 - Bulb one lit around a foyer (7) -
S(HALL)OT
3 - Bees' produce befitting a queen, gelatin perhaps (5,5) -
ReplyDeleteROYAL JELLY
11 - Bandage is a despicable covering (5) -
SPICA T
Thoroughly enjoyable puzzle. I had a question.
ReplyDeleteTo B or not to B, that is not the question.
To B or to B, that is also not the question.
Is it B's B'day or is it B's Honey's B'day, by any chance?
Does the Queen Bee clue (3D) give a clue?
DeleteNeither :)
DeleteThere was no reason or season. It just fell in place, like how it was with the previous 'places' puzzle.
Then, co-incidentally, B stands for Bharat Bundh !
DeleteElaborating:
DeleteTo B or not to B, that is not the question.(because there is no chance of not to B)
To B or to B, that is also not the question.(because B is the only choice)
Kishore,
ReplyDeleteCan you explain shallot? one lit? Only part I understand is hall for foyer.
sot is a drunk. one who is lit is also a drunk.
DeleteThank You,Suresh.
DeleteComing from B, I looked for an Australian connection for Oz,naturally. Never connected to 'an ounce' Meant to mislead?!
ReplyDeleteVery (or Bhery for Calcuttans) enjoyable cw today.
ReplyDeleteIt is not easy to write all the clues starting with a particular letter. The setter has brought it off splendidly.
DeleteWhen did the setter get the idea - after he seeded the grid with words and wrote one or two clues? Or did he have the idea even to start with and carefully chose the lights so they will be amenable to write clues with the particular letter?
Thank you.
DeleteThat was it. After writing a few clues which I was satisfied with, I realised that they started with the letter B. So wanted to see if I could extrapolate it to the rest. Had to change a few words with whatever little wiggle room was available with the crossings.
Tomorrow it might be something else :)
Bitamin C in the offing?
DeleteSure it was not inspired by today's alliterative Bharat Bandh?
DeleteI am on the train on my way back to Bangalore, so don't be surprised if you see an incomplete CW popping up at 8:30, all depends on the connectivity on the train.
ReplyDeleteAs usual B could have stood in... ;-)
For obvious reasons he couldn't even if he wanted to :-)
DeleteAhem, Ahem, statisticians:
ReplyDeleteA good CW can also spawn lots of comments.
For the mathematician - quod erat demonstrandum QED. It was demonstrated.
DeleteFor the normal 'prose-aic' guy:
DeleteQuite easily done
Anno for 18D anyone?
ReplyDelete18D is not Regulate. It is (-l+r)REGALITY
ReplyDeleteI did not notice that you had it as regulate.
DeleteI was going to say Sridhar Shenoy gave the answer with anno in the Orkut community THCS.
DeleteVery enjoyable one today, loved the way many of the clues gave a smooth read while craftily concealing the definition
ReplyDeleteAppreciation- B to B !!
ReplyDeleteAgreed about a good CW inviting many comments- but it has to be the Big B !
QED- Quite Easily Done. I was reminded of my Maths lecturer in PUC who used to make this f(P)un!
ReplyDelete