Thursday 25 July 2013

No 10834, Thursday 25 Jul 2013, The Phantom

Some great construction today, e.g., 11D.

ACROSS
1   Woman’s heart melts; boyfriend’s given drip with downer (8) SEDATIVE {ShE}{DAT{IV}E}
5   Celestial body, universal deity of Heliopolis, in physical form rotates (6) URANUS {U}{RA}{NUS<=} Anno not clear See comments
9   Indian car model with electronic display (8) INDICATE {INDICA}{T}{E}
10 Rodent edges away, in trickery, trapped — dead (6) AGOUTI  {mAG{OUT}Ic}
12 Standoffish officer, head of department (4) COLD {COL}{D}
13 Acquisitive search party, nabs son involved in recurring crime as reported (10) POSSESSIVE {POSSE}S{S}IVE Anno pending (Addendum - {POSS{ES{S}IV<=(~vice)}E} - See comments}
15 Order to execute at end of battle cry (5,7) DEATH WARRANT {DEATH} {WAR}{RANT}
18 Model of excellence or average? (4,8) GOLD STANDARD {GOLD} {STANDARD}
21 Short boy, in brief struggle externally with rider on waves (5,5) WATER SKIER {WA{TER S{KIt}E}R} The Phantom has included himself here.
22 Beautiful return of service overwhelms ace (4) FAIR {FA{1}R<=}
24 At home, one in sheep’s skin reminisces about arrival of a stream (6) INFLOW {IN}{FLOW<=}
25 Unrehearsed, Bill told tales about Boys’ Brigade (2,6) AD LIBBED {AD} {LI{BB}ED}
26 Volunteer for silent revolution (6) ENLIST*
27 Study graph to ascertain power of vision (3,5) EYE CHART {EYE} {CHART} Graph on double duty

DOWN
1   Jerk starting to leave after inauguration of stock exchange (6) SWITCH (-t+s)SWITCH
2   Girl on date, led astray to cheat (6) DIDDLE {DI}{D}{LED*}
3   Leaders to address concerns through understanding (4) TACT {T}{A}{C}{T} Definitely not Indian ones!!
4   Expression of appreciation for vet; Khan’s foot is healed (4,2,6) VOTE OF THANKS*
6   Rare tigress with depleted energy treated by officials (10) REGISTRARS REGISTRARSe*
7   Problematic report large number in India backed; concerning sailors (8) NAUTICAL (~naughty){NAUTI}{CAL<=}
8   Small knife in the Italian movie, stabbing hapless stot (8) STILETTO {ST{IL}{ET}TO*}
11 Retiring rooms we shared finally with current senator; reverted after a celebration (3,9)  ASH WEDNESDAY  {A}{SH {WE}{D}{NES<=}{DA<=}Y} My my, some construction!
14 Enumeration involving an Indian and American state is very critical (10) CENSORIOUS {CENS{OR}{IO}US}
16 Nutritive breakfast item for instance is good, perhaps with energy (3,5) EGG WHITE {EG}{G} {WITH*}{E}
17 Reluctant, female in most sullen mood is apathetic (8) SLOTHFUL {S{LOTH}{F}ULlen}
19 Meek character’s agreement in Russia with Greek character (6) LAMBDA {LAMB}{DA}
20 Praise journalist’s article on Rajaji (6) CREDIT {CR}{EDIT} (Correction - {CR}{ED}{IT} - Thanks to Ajeesh)
23 Detect deliveries missing in record (4) DISC DISCover

77 comments:

  1. 13 Acquisitive search party, nabs son involved in recurring crime as reported (10) POSSESSIVE {POSSE}S{S}IVE Anno pending

    POSS(ES(S)IV<=)E

    VISE = ~vice (crime)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Nice one from Phantom especially with the involved constructions of some clues handled neatly.

    ReplyDelete
  3. 5a Your anno is correct. U for Universal, deity of H is RA, in his physical form i.e. as SUN, rotates =<
    21 Short boy, in brief struggle externally with rider on waves (5,5) WATER SKIER {WA{TER S{KIt}E}R} The Phantom has included himself here.
    With Solomon and Nefertiti
    13 POSSE around ES(S)IV, which is Son in ~vice<

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Solomon & Nefertiti instead of the row boat, right?

      Delete
    2. Yes, Solomon the Wise and Nefertiti the Beautiful !

      Delete
  4. With ref to the Water Skier cartoon:

    Peter need not worry. He's safe.

    ReplyDelete
  5. 8 Small knife in the Italian movie, stabbing hapless stot (8) STILLETO

    The answer needs to be corrected as STILETTO.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Kishore's face is finally on display in signature!

    Hi, handsome!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Prompted by CV's 1030 and my 1250 yesterday ;-)
      with a caveat: Items shown on photographs are for representation only and may or may not match with the actual product.

      Delete
  7. Tom-tom msg received from The Phantom

    As I might not be able to join until possibly late in the day, would like to clarify a couple of points which might arise in discussions in the blog:

    All abbreviations have been used from

    http://www.chambersharrap.co.uk/,
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crossword_abbreviations,
    http://www.crosswordunclued.com/2008/10/cryptic-abbreviations.html.

    11 D Clue: Has two words starting which are not found in any English dictionary, but is ‘officially’ found in the Indian Railways time-tables and stations. The Hindu’s Crossword guideline says it’s OK to use a word/ words not found in Standard English dics. but used widespread in India.

    Hope it's smooth going today!

    Thanks,

    The Phantom

    ReplyDelete
  8. Another good one from Mr. Walker

    ReplyDelete
  9. 11D What's the connection between "Retiring rooms" and SH?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, thanks... Had some trouble figuring out the anno... A little complex.

      Delete
    2. Honestly, till now I had not fully comprehended the anno. Only after I saw these messages under the Comments section did I figure it out.
      So thanks to the querists and the responders.
      Yes, the clue is very competently handled.
      A compliment which we could rarely if ever have handed out to a now-retired setter.

      Delete
    3. I had not cottoned on to 'rooms' as an inserticator.

      Delete
    4. CV@10:53,

      Not Joking, are you?

      Delete
  10. I am not joking!

    I don't solve THC in any real sense of the term, but I am quite engaged with it as can be determined by the messages that I post so prolifically here and elsewhere.

    In the few moments that I looked at the long clue and the answer, I could not annotate it to my entire satisfaction.

    Some more moments were needed before which the nudges came from the Commenters.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Your use of Not Joking? dawned on me a little late!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am learning from Kishore!!

      Delete
    2. For once you are foxed? See the inference in my 11:07 and CVs 11:17

      Delete
    3. He just pretends to have been foxed. And that is a joke! :)

      Delete
    4. ;-)
      BTW, talking of foxes, did anyone notice that we have the wolf and the lamb sharing space today ?

      Delete
  12. Many a time I find it hard to learn from Kishore.

    Every comment of his "is a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma", courtesy, Sir Churchie, Need a crash course.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Another one to describe his posts:

      "It's a mystery. Broken into a jigsaw puzzle. Wrapped in a conundrum. Hidden in a Chinese box. A riddle." — The Riddler, The Long Halloween

      Delete
    2. Now what have I done ?!

      Delete
    3. Kishore has different avatars. He can be what Richard has described. He can also be an open book (except that I forgot to keep a book mark).

      Delete
    4. Kishore @ 12:14,

      It's not what you did but it's something that you didn't get.

      Delete
    5. Hi, Richard !

      Till 9:40 AM Kishore's face was on display in signature. Now it's not to be seen ! Did you, by any chance, cast an evil eye at his handsome face !?

      Delete
    6. MB 12:44

      Kishore asked at 12:14 - Now what have I done ?!

      Your post fits in perfectly as an answer to his question. That is what he has done (removed pic).

      Delete
    7. Nope, I have not removed it. CV has correctly made an observation at 1232

      Delete
    8. BTW, that pic is about 6 months old, when I sported a fuzzy upper lip, till the missus bristled ...

      Delete
    9. Kishore @ 1:05

      So that was one of your DASAVATHARS !!

      Delete
  13. Phantom's dog returned in 24 !

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, sorry, I forgot its not a dog, but a wolf !

      Delete
  14. I had the foll in mind for:
    21 A: Short boy as KI d
    17 D: most sullen mood as SUL k. As SUL len is not most.
    I thought CV would have appreciated the Rajaji clue he being an ex ed.
    Trust Kishore to come up with Wolf (Devil).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I also thought it was Kit, which was thw first Phantom's name

      Delete
    2. and the 21st ? and potentially the 22nd ?

      Delete
    3. Not only Wolf, lamb too !

      Delete
    4. Sorry, that should have been Phantom's first name.

      Delete
    5. The first Phantom was also Kit :) or rather Christopher

      Delete
    6. Or both or all of them...

      Delete
    7. Kishore !

      Why this "hide and seek" with your face !? Sometimes here and sometimes there !! :)

      Delete
    8. Influenced by Batman & y t.

      Delete
    9. MB

      The 'avatar' (as the icon pic is called) is associated with an email sign-in.

      Kishore is using two different sign-ins, and depending upon which one he is using at the moment the pic concerned appears.

      When Kishore is posting posts/comments he may even be using two different devices - the regular desktop at home or an iPad or smart phone when he is on the go.

      Delete
    10. MB, CV, as ever, is right about multiple devices.

      Delete
    11. Thanks, CV Sir ! Now the picture is clear !! I mistook this Avatar for other normal Avatars !!!

      Delete
    12. Though, as CV knows, those too exist...

      Delete
    13. So you are a "Sakalakalavallabhan" too !! Nice !!!

      Delete
    14. I did put Kid first but later changed as Kit is the son of the current Phantom besides of course being the abvn for Christopher

      Delete
  15. I dont think one would miss Paddy much, as MB seems an apt stand in. He has the enthu as Paddy.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Thanks, Mr.Walker, for the compliment !

    ReplyDelete
  17. Praise journalist’s article on Rajaji (6) CR EDIT

    I did not have any prob with the Col's initial anno. CR EDIT. Edit, short for Editorial, can indeed be taken as journalist's article (ED IT).

    However, the revised anno may be the setter's intended anno.

    I was wondering if the charade is correctly indicated. In a down clue, the role of "on" is quite clear (though in an across clue we have come to understand A on B could be AB as well as the more accepted BA).

    In a Dn clue EDIT on CR can only give

    E
    D
    I
    T
    C
    R

    What do others think?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have seen "on" to indicate after for across clue. Not sure if I have ever seen it for a down clue.

      Delete
    2. I agree with you. AB for A ON B (or more like A on top of B) is more appropriate for a down clue.

      For a long time I was wondering where CR came from and what connection it had with clue.

      Delete
  18. Phantom, what about the Lamb, da?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. WIKI says : DA! means YES! in Russian language.

      Delete
    2. Oh, I know that ! I learnt Russian in school. I was pulling Phantom's leg for the wolf and lamb combo ...

      Delete
    3. See that's what I meant earlier! And I know you meant what I said earlier by your ":)"

      Delete
    4. Kishore,

      Lamb is like "Lamb to the slaughter", what with Devil lurking around with other animal in the deep jungle.
      Apart from Russian, English and Indian languages do you also know the language of the Bandar people?

      Delete
    5. Not Phantom's Bandar, but Kipling's Bandarlog ;-)

      Delete
    6. I had learnt Russian in the 5th standard: by now what I know may be fit only for the bandarlog ...

      Delete
    7. I don't wan to Tom-Tom it !

      Delete
  19. About 'On' in clues:

    I did have Ajeesh's anno in mind. Moreover after having the issue of "RI" abbreviation used i my last puz, I would never have ventured to use Edit for Jour.. art...

    I don't agree with CV, Ramesh and VJ. If it works for Across clues it should work for Down clues as well. In an across it can also mean EDIT CR.

    Strictly speaking there is no room for "on" in an Across clue. It has to be 'before' or 'after'. And if it is OK there then it is also alright in a Down clue.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Phantom, there are many real life instances where A on B works horizontally - like bat on ball (straight drive), house on the sea (not necessarily on top of the ocean), money on me etc

      Delete
    2. I see your point. At the same time I still feel it's fair. More on this here:

      http://www.crosswordunclued.com/2012/02/notorious-on-b-device.html

      Delete
    3. Well like the article says, it's kind of rare. Possibly there's an explanation. When A's clinging onto B, it could be treated as BA. Not impossible

      Delete
  20. Joining in late. Enjoyed today's CW (though a few were beyond me)as well as all the comments.
    Thank you Richard, Kishore & Phantom for remembering me! Yes, I am able to feel MB's enthu from this far!
    Thank you Kishore for the poems- I learned a lesson in Mechanics while I was going up and down and getting caught under a ton of bricks! At least, I have a valid explanation for being absent (from the blog)!

    ReplyDelete
  21. One of those Phantom creations that makes you feel at first glance:here's a ghost' that can never be exorcised !~ But then , as one gets into the spirit of the matter, everything unravels and falls in place. I always fill in first and then parse to justify. A bit difficult to learn the construction of some of the answers. I had put in GOOD STANDARD instead of GOLD STANDARD and then again, LOATHFUL instead of SLOTHFUL ! A bit of dejavu of the old RMDC crosswords eh, CV? Does any one remember those? and they used to give a prize too !! In which paper it used to appear , I recall not. It used to be my father's favourite !

    ReplyDelete
  22. Mukundbala: I thought I had the longest name and hence prefer being called just Raju. You made my day when you say that you read my comments first thing in the morning ! Sort of an ego-booster and all that ya?
    I too enjoy your pun-bhandhi with Kishore and Richard. makes the blog more participative. These comments help cool the heated brains after solving all those phantastic ,moving, gridlocked, sunny, scintillating, dextrous spitfiring, flashy lights, afterdark, cryptically composed, that kkkos us breaking our skulls. A good vehicle to break our stress, not forgetting those use of the vulcanisers and checking outs !

    Keep blogging and let the leading light keep leading us !!

    ReplyDelete
  23. I have only heard of RMDC crosswords.They go back to late 40s and the 50s. From what I could gather now, they were started in Bombay and when the company had some trouble with the lawmakers it moved to what is now Karnataka where the owner R M D Chamarbaugwala published the crosswords in a weekly newspaper - the name of which is not known.

    The Illustrated Weekly of India later modelled its Quotes crossword on RMDC crosswords and in the late Fifties I used to notice it in that weekly magazine along with pictures in a double-spread of newly-weds.

    Titbits used to have a crossword where the clues would admit of two or more answers from which you have to choose one.

    RMDC crosswords must have had a similar element of chance and there must have been an entry fee for you to take a chance for the jackpot.

    Quotes too had the possibility of chance and an entry fee but their stand was that the quotes wee from real works of real authors. I might have sent one or two entries when I was a boy of some 15 years from Durgapur, West Bengal.

    ReplyDelete

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