Tuesday 24 December 2013

No 10964, Tuesday 24 Dec 2013, Sankalak


ACROSS
1   Escape turmoil somehow and get gold, say (8,5) PRECIOUS METAL*
9   The firm chosen to be appointed by invitation (2,5) CO-OPTED {CO}-{OPTED}
10 Take off with independent partner toting appeal (7) IMITATE {I}{M{IT}ATE}
11 Euros sold clandestinely with not a whiff! (9) ODOURLESS*
12 Fibre extracted from mistletoe? (5) ISTLE [T]
13 Futile note, outsize, in Old English (6) OTIOSE {O{TI}{OS}E}
14 Microbe causing god of wine, sick inside, to lose honour (8) BACILLUS {BACch{ILL}US}
17 Position of the body in an elevation with time to replace a bit of languor (8) ATTITUDE A(-l+t)TTITUDE
19 Tenant with not as much energy, close to indolence (6) LESSEE {LESS}{E}{E}
23 A bid to remove the top of the strongbox (5) OFFER cOFFER
25 The reptile to make a liar gloat wildly (9) ALLIGATOR*
26 Rude sailor, American that is, with a touch of vanity (7) ABUSIVE {AB}{US}{I{V}E}
27 Grey replacing top of meal, he keeps smiling! (7) GRINNER (-d+gr}GRINNER
28 Hypodermic treatment to give encouragement (1,4,2,3,3) A SHOT IN THE ARM [CD]

DOWN
1   An instrument to play for cricket body in another game (7) PICCOLO {P{ICC}OLO}
2   Man of science goes to LIC in distress (9) ECOLOGIST*
3   Trendy acts, say, for trainees (7) INTERNS {IN}{TERNS}(~turns)
4   Cancels peacekeeper’s parties with ecstasy (6) UNDOES {UN}{DO{E}'S}
5   Chief support for master in temporary residence (8) MAINSTAY {MA}{IN}{STAY}
6   Liabilities liquidated avoiding a lie in Georgian place (7) TBILISI liaBILITIeS*
7   Minimum of energy in the final (5) LEAST {L{E}AST}
8   Nightingale of India, say (7) POETESS [CD]
15 Ancient Roman province where Italian university’s relocated (9) LUSITANIA {ITALIAN+U'S}*
16 Lying next to a ballroom entertainer with very little money (8) ADJACENT {A}{DJ}{A}{CENT}
17 Fruit of a victory party in which a CO is mocked (7) AVOCADO {A}{V}{A}{CO}{DO} (Correction - {A}{V}{A+CO}*{DO} - See comments)
18 The lake is hard and may cause a loss of gloss (7) TARNISH {TARN}{IS}{H}
20 Henry, single, erupts into language (7) ENGLISH {H+SINGLE}*
21 Sound receptor through which you heard rumba etc. (7) EARDRUM [T]
22 Catchphrase of one not quick enough on the draw, say? (6) SLOGAN (~slow gun)
24 The animals originally found around unique natural ambience (5) FAUNA {F}{A}{U}{N}{A}

36 comments:

  1. 17D - Fruit of Sankalak's effort - the Col's favourite!

    Smooth going with a typically Sankalakesque crossie. Took Google assistance only for ISTLE, TBILISI and LUSITANIA.

    BACILLUS, mentioned by me in a post yesterday, so came easy. Another blogger had mentioned A SHOT IN THE ARM just the other day.

    27A - I presume GR stands for grey. +GR(-d)INNER.
    8D - Sarojini Naidu was well remembered.

    Most of the clues were well crafted. Liked PICCOLO, SLOGAN, FAUNA and a few others.

    Thanks, Sankalak. You made my day.


    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Enu for 9A should perhaps be (2-5) and not (2,5). It could be a typo.

      1d - Does the annotation need a correction? {A}{V}{ACO*}{DO}

      Delete
  2. 17 Fruit of a victory party in which a CO is mocked (7) AVOCADO {A}{V}{A}{CO}{DO}

    {A}{V}{OCA*}{DO}

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 17D - Sandhya has put it correctly.

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    2. Pl. don't struggle. They have made it simpler these days- Go to person.

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    3. Yes, certainly, she is a 'go to person' whenever there's a problem in Annos ! Thanks, Paddy.

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  3. Yesterday after I wrote a couplet in sequence to Kishore's in his cartoon, Richard came out with a good one and Kishore added another - I am sure readers would have noted the innuendo in the latter couplet. I leave it to the imagination of the readers and will not mention it.
    Members of the group are quite talented and always rise to any challenge.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, CV. Perhaps you can repeat the invitation today and the contributions can continue.

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  4. Yet another smooth flowing crossy from Sankalak ! Had some problem in North-East corner.

    14 Microbe causing god of wine, sick inside, to lose honour (8) BACILLUS {BACch{ILL}US}

    How is 'ch' linked to 'honour' please ?

    ReplyDelete
  5. Replies
    1. Thanks, Ajeesh ! You've converted me into a Megabyte :)

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  6. Bet, my age in action . Sorry MB

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No need to feel sorry about it, Ajeesh ! :)

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    2. Ajeesh, I was about to come that point. Noticed it just a few seconds back ! Nice cluing of Megabyte ! Keep it up !!

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  7. I have a doubt outside CW domain, but I feel this is the best forum since we have quite a few language experts. Perhaps Cv can clarify.

    Is it correct to add the prefix of Mr. to posts/ For example- Mr.President,Mr.PM etc.Somehow it does not gel with me.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mr/Madam will be needed when speaking directly to that person and addressing a question to him or her. In writing posts etc that is not required unless a question is being quoted.

      Delete
  8. Has anyone tried the Google Doodle Crossword?

    http://www.google.com/doodles/100th-anniversary-of-the-crossword-puzzle

    ReplyDelete
  9. Of course, I have not heard the word used for persons other than very senior dignatories. One would not be called Mr. Consultant, or Mr. Typist, or the like

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. or Mr or Ms Crossword Blogger...

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    2. Suresh, I know you meant to type 'dignitaries'. The spelling that you have used is influenced by the word 'signatories'.

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  10. Kishore: Your cartoon on hands on experience for interns is spot on. Tehelka Machca diya! Full justice to your prowess and process of imagination.!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kishore may also have had Bill toh paagal hai and Monica, oh my darling in mind when he drew it...

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    2. May be it was Just ice that was firing my thought?

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    3. Richard, Bill's training was not 'hands on'. It was more of a broken spine!

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    4. Kishore 4:30: Just ice! 'Charade power...'

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    5. Check out 4.33 Anagram power! broken spine= spine*

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    6. Nice cartoon... Thought it was funny.

      In situations like these, I wish bosses invariably played the victim after intern kicked them in appropriate places.

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  11. While I was in B'lore I had the chance of reading National Standard. It is the upcounty Indian Express with this masthead in southern parts.
    Carries very good articles. Is laid out well, Type, font size and interspacing everything is easy on the eye.
    It also has a crossword - set obviously by an Indian. It has both cryptic and straightforward .
    clues.
    For Sunday group solving, the Col may perhaps have this (if feasible).
    I don't know if it is available online and if so whether the clues can be copy-pasted easily.
    Also, I don't know the frequency of publication and whether the weekday and SUnday crosswords differ.
    If it is on Sunday, fine. If not, maybe the Sat cwd can be carried.
    Subject to any copyright restrictions, as I always say.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Never heard of the paper National Standard. Even if I do find it whom do I approach to get copyright clearance?

      Delete
    2. Just checked and found that it was launched in Bangalore on 15 Aug this year

      Delete

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