The usual devious offering from xChequer and a pangram too. Liked AMAZE, IMPOST, SPECIFYING and TEMPLATES.
ACROSS
1 Title of respect for rural bigwig next to end of name (7) ESQUIRE (E + SQUIRE)
5 Trouble outside institute over nuclear syntheses (7) FUSIONS (FUSS outside I O N)
9 Representative engaged in struggle to oust king and obtain freedom (9) EXEMPTION (EXERTION with MP for R)
10 A labyrinth’s floor (5) AMAZE (A + MAZE)
11 Way is found around when reaching a standstill (6) STASIS (ST + IS outside AS)
12 Silly mix-up over blood group in prescribed contents of courses (7) SYLLABI (SILLY* outside AB)
14 Dissent, then approval for retreat (4) NOOK (NO + OK)
15 Remarkable electronic toy thrown out of gear (10) NOTEWORTHY (E TOY THROWN)*
19 Having complete power over a body of men in German controlled ship (10) POSSESSING (POSSE + IN G outside SS)
20 Pithy fundamentals? So be it! (4) AMEN (T) Pith-y = inner
22 Cattleman won that lady through a joke (7) COWHERD (W + HER inside COD)
25 Point of view black at first with this around one’s wrist (6) BANGLE (B + ANGLE)
27 Last of a series, nothing very great (5) OMEGA (O + MEGA)
28 Hold one back allowing catcher to get started (9) INITIATED (DETAIN + I <= outside IT)?
29 Say pulse is off by a nose (7) SOYBEAN (BY A NOSE)*
30 Seeing legless serpent’s head in the beginning (7) GENESIS (SEEING* + S)
DOWN
1 The period before noon’s the end of day for a poet (4) EVEN (EVE + N)
2 Doubts directions to pursue search on moon (9) QUESTIONS (QUEST + IO + N S)
3 One month after joining duty (6) IMPOST (I + M + POST)
4 Novice finally aims and discharges (9) EMISSIONS (E + MISSIONS)
5 Short cold-blooded creature caught in the end (5) FINIS (FISh outside IN)
6 Horse’s delaying tactic in jumping ring (8) STALLION (STALL + IN outside O)
7 Butler reportedly saw red with this woman (5) O’HARA (CD, ~scarlet) Wonder if enumerations for words like this should be 1’4 or 5?
8 Defining moment to overcome pressure although there’s no victory in competing (10) SPECIFYING (SEC outside P + IF +vYING)
13 Police officers caught in prison set free (10) INSPECTORS (C inside PRISON SET*)
16 Lacking love, none in blog bothered with lending dignity (9) ENNOBLING (NoNE IN BLOG)*
17 Patterns of art regularly seen in places of worship (9) TEMPLATES (A.T inside TEMPLES)
18 Drink is always stored in barrel initially to mature (8) BEVERAGE (EVER inside B + AGE)
21 Standard measure with indication (6) ENSIGN (EN + SIGN)
23 Small panty without lining may be prone to tears (5) WEEPY (WEE + PantY)
24 Legendary spirit but a spirit we can hear (5) DJINN (~gin)
26 Joins in a date with daughter and son (4) ADDS (A + D + D + S)
ACROSS
1 Title of respect for rural bigwig next to end of name (7) ESQUIRE (E + SQUIRE)
5 Trouble outside institute over nuclear syntheses (7) FUSIONS (FUSS outside I O N)
9 Representative engaged in struggle to oust king and obtain freedom (9) EXEMPTION (EXERTION with MP for R)
10 A labyrinth’s floor (5) AMAZE (A + MAZE)
11 Way is found around when reaching a standstill (6) STASIS (ST + IS outside AS)
14 Dissent, then approval for retreat (4) NOOK (NO + OK)
15 Remarkable electronic toy thrown out of gear (10) NOTEWORTHY (E TOY THROWN)*
19 Having complete power over a body of men in German controlled ship (10) POSSESSING (POSSE + IN G outside SS)
20 Pithy fundamentals? So be it! (4) AMEN (T) Pith-y = inner
22 Cattleman won that lady through a joke (7) COWHERD (W + HER inside COD)
25 Point of view black at first with this around one’s wrist (6) BANGLE (B + ANGLE)
27 Last of a series, nothing very great (5) OMEGA (O + MEGA)
28 Hold one back allowing catcher to get started (9) INITIATED (DETAIN + I <= outside IT)?
29 Say pulse is off by a nose (7) SOYBEAN (BY A NOSE)*
30 Seeing legless serpent’s head in the beginning (7) GENESIS (SEEING* + S)
DOWN
1 The period before noon’s the end of day for a poet (4) EVEN (EVE + N)
2 Doubts directions to pursue search on moon (9) QUESTIONS (QUEST + IO + N S)
3 One month after joining duty (6) IMPOST (I + M + POST)
4 Novice finally aims and discharges (9) EMISSIONS (E + MISSIONS)
5 Short cold-blooded creature caught in the end (5) FINIS (FIS
6 Horse’s delaying tactic in jumping ring (8) STALLION (STALL + IN outside O)
7 Butler reportedly saw red with this woman (5) O’HARA (CD, ~scarlet) Wonder if enumerations for words like this should be 1’4 or 5?
8 Defining moment to overcome pressure although there’s no victory in competing (10) SPECIFYING (SEC outside P + IF +
13 Police officers caught in prison set free (10) INSPECTORS (C inside PRISON SET*)
16 Lacking love, none in blog bothered with lending dignity (9) ENNOBLING (N
17 Patterns of art regularly seen in places of worship (9) TEMPLATES (A.T inside TEMPLES)
18 Drink is always stored in barrel initially to mature (8) BEVERAGE (EVER inside B + AGE)
21 Standard measure with indication (6) ENSIGN (EN + SIGN)
23 Small panty without lining may be prone to tears (5) WEEPY (WEE + P
24 Legendary spirit but a spirit we can hear (5) DJINN (~gin)
26 Joins in a date with daughter and son (4) ADDS (A + D + D + S)
7d - Re the blogger's query against this clue.
ReplyDeleteSome UK crosswords have begun giving the enu for such answers as indicated by the blogger.
When we indicate a hyphened word with the hyphen, can't we indicate a word with an apostrophe with that punctuation?
Finally, it's left to the setter and the editor.
I, for one, haven't begun that practice and in any case these words are uncommon - too rare to be bothered about this nicety of the use of apo in enu.
I have expressed the need to indicate the apo in this blog earlier. It would be pretty horrible if words like D'Artagnan came without the indication
DeleteThere's been lots of discussion on this, you'll find loads of posts on the Net. I gathered that the generally accepted convention is that 'apostrophes don't count', meaning you don't specify in the enu. Some special crosswords specifically require this indication
DeleteBrilliant as usual from eXchequer. Have one query though. On the usage of abbreviation in anagrams. While in 13D, I found it fair as it indicates C is inside, in 15A , it is slightly iffy I felt.
ReplyDeleteI see no prob.
DeleteIn 13 d there is content in an anag.
In 15a it's just an anag - no c/c is involved.
Clue for AMAZE is excellent.
ReplyDeleteMany of THC setters display assured and consummate skill in clue-writing.
I am sure solvers appreciate this. Whether the publishers do, I am not sure.
Many sponsored and partnered events are held but so far we have not had one for the crossword feature. In supplements some competitions offering promotional goods as prizes are offered (who is that blurred figure? Is there a signage with a silly mistake? Are a cat and dog seen in a cuddly situation?) but nothing related to the crossword!
Even 'Religion' column in Variety page has been bestowed with some attention! It has been rechristened Faith.
Congratulations to Bhala for getting the 4th position in February CCCWC at andlit.org.uk
DeleteIt 'floor'ed me for a long while trying to connect with floors/ storeys of a building until I entangled the maze!
DeleteThanks Sir
DeleteOccasionally I have been runner-up in that comp. If I remember right, the phrase was CHRISTMAS TREE.But that must have been several years ago.
DeleteVinod Raman (Textrous) has done well often. Devanathan too.
Nowadays I take part regularly in some other place. Only once I was the winner, getting the chance to hold the subsequent contest.
If one's clue gets shortlisted from among 40 to 50 clues, one might feel gratified.
Ranger@9.48-
DeleteCongrats, Bhala. Happy for you.
Many good clues. I too see no problem in clue 15a reg. abbrv.
ReplyDeleteA doubt however in 23d: Is "prone to tears" correct? Is it "tear" or "tearing"?
Catcher: IT in the sense of attraction?
Weepy is 'prone to tears' , isn't it ?
DeleteYes, but a garment that is so thin that it tears easily is 'prone to tear' (not tears).
DeleteBTW, should we say 'prone to tear' or 'prone to tearing'?
BTW, again, I prefer the spelling 'panties' for the garment. Panty is adj, as in pantyhose or panty girdle or pantyline.
I was writing this when I lost it in some power outage (though I do have UPS) and had to dos ome retyping.
Resuming after power cut.
DeleteI feel it is "prone to tearing".
28 A: Catcher: IT : Attraction/ draw/ magnet?
Compared to my normal score in an xChequer CW, I did much better today. Some of the clues including ones in the byline were interesting and enjoyable. On the whole, may I say 'less devious?'
ReplyDeleteHad to use Google in my attempt to spy out K's cartoon.'finis' is the crashing down of the 'wall'?
ReplyDeletePerfect. I wanted to connect the end of the Stasi with two words in the grid, stasis and finis
DeleteOT - If you already wrapped this up, here's my latest brand crossword for anyone who wants to try it. Crossword XI. Please do try and leave me your feedback either here on in comments at the crossword page. If you have a COD, do let me know:)
ReplyDeleteNo Amrutanjan or Keshavardhini, but a couple of other uniquely Indian brands. (Referring to last week's discussion in this blog)
DeleteTalking of Amrutanjan, I just came across a Pakistani sweet dish called Mutanjan!
DeleteMuted or mutated words? I remember, when we were in the Middle East, our Pakistani neighbour's wife used to pronounce the Bollywood stars' names as Jiya Prada and Siri Devi.
DeleteKishore,
DeleteDid that dish cost Rs 500? ;-)
Richard, JP acted in Siri Siri Muvva
DeleteRaghu, ?
DeleteJust joking about the Rs 500 odd charge you got for the call from Pakistan.
DeleteOMG, you jusr reopened wounds that were healing
DeleteSowmya,
Delete'Over everything' as an indicator for an Acrostic in 6D doesn't look right to me
I'm sorry, Kishore.
DeleteThanks for the feedback Colonel. I had intended "Over everything" in the sense of "on top of everything", to mean first letters. However, if that doesn't work, in your opinion, will take note of that for future usage.
Delete30 Seeing legless serpent’s head in the beginning (7) GENESIS (SEEING* + S)
ReplyDeleteIs 'legless' a genuine 'anagrind' pl ? I thought legless 'SEEING' is 'SEEIN(-G)' !
legless = drunk
DeleteThanks Bhala :) I chastise myself for not having referred the OED !!
DeleteOT: The Bata ad on TV is a pleasure to watch.
ReplyDeleteThe one that shows a smart just-born baby - when I saw it for the first time I was repelled. Every time it comes on now, I quickly change the channel so I don't have to look at it. See, I don't remember even the product name. What a failure as an ad! The ad had a woman in labour in delivery position. I can understand babies being smart but a just-born baby can't be so big as to do so many things.
I understand from the papers that a watchdog has objected to the ad but the producers were trying to defend it.
For me as a consumer and watcher of ads, this was a disaster - unless I missed something.
In any case the loud shrill cry of agony at the beginning is enough to put you off the ad.
Richard, what's your opinion?
The moment this ad appears, we simply change the channel ! I would say it's a disgusting ad !!
DeleteIt is a senselessly made ad, IMO
DeleteI loved the ad and thought it was interesting. It always made me smile. And not to mention, the nurse in the ad was really cute :)
DeleteWell the kind of mobile technology available these days is so simple that most kids are quite comfortable using it. If you took a smart phone or a tablet to a baby, his/ her first reaction would be to poke at the device. Such is the intuitive nature of touch interface, which the ad happens to capture.
And I thought the ad conveys exactly what it wishes to do, that is, grab the attention of internet users. I read someplace that the company's dongle sales jumped about 10% after the campaign was out.
VJ, all that just because you nurse a thing for the nurse ;-)
DeleteI look at an ad in different ways. The characters, their expressions, the surroundings, the drama in that and the way the ad conveys the message. I liked the MTS ad. Thought it was slickly made. I also like the "centrefresh" ad featuring the 'waiter's interview' at New Madras Hotel. Their ads are usually nice. In this regard I find the Fevistick ad irritating and crude. The Fevicol ads were good.
DeleteKishore, now that you mention it, hmmmmmmmmmmmm
DeleteLogging in late.
ReplyDeleteCV 11:28 - I fully agree with you. It is bad enough to put anyone off and good enough to make mothers-to-be jittery. It promotes an Internet service - MTS or something - flaunting the tagline 'Born for Internet'..
As for today's puzzle, I would have ended up with many blanks.
10A - AMAZE - I got kind of a deja vu feeling when I saw it. It has been clued in different ways in THCC last year..
No.10697 - Gridman : 12A Dazzle with a way-out puzzle (5)
No 10828 - Skuldugger : 23D A convoluted system to render one speechless (5)
No 10676 - Buzzer : 23D Answer to puzzle comes as surprise (5)
It is neither possible nor appealing. As CV correctly stated even the product name is not visible. All said and done, that IS the purpose of any Ad. Totally senseless in every aspect.
ReplyDeleteRe discussion between CV and Raghu on 'prone to .....'. Perhaps CV can correct me if I am wrong.
ReplyDeleteThere are quite many phrases in which the verb 'to' should be followed by a noun or a noun clause.
Two examples I can immediately recall are 'looking forward to' and 'with a view to'.
I feel it is wrong to say, 'I look forward to see you' (which many people do in conversation or communication). The correct way is 'I look forward to seeing you' or 'I look forward to your visit'.
Similarly, 'The US and Chinese leaders are meeting this week with a view to improving trade relations'.
Maybe CV can confirm this.
On the same line, "I am looking forward to see you" is acceptable, I think.
DeletePerhaps not. Over to experts.
DeleteOur discussions also centered on the clue in question - "prone to tears" which I felt was incorrect. It could have been "tearing" in 23 D.
DeleteCorrecting a slip in 12:44: Pls read as There are quite many phrases in which the preposition 'to' should be followed by a noun or a noun clause.
DeleteSowmya @ 10:15 - My pick: 5D Items in refreshment? (7)
ReplyDeleteThanks Richard:) Nice to know which clues worked out well:)
DeleteIs there anything like Cashvardhini?
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorite slokas Richard..Knowledge = Cashvardhini:)
Deleteविद्या ददाति विनयं विनयाद् याति पात्रताम्।
पात्रत्वाद्धनमाप्नोति धनाद्धर्मं ततः सुखम्॥
vidyā dadāti vinayaṁ vinayād yāti pātratām|
pātratvāddhanamāpnoti dhanāddharmaṁ tataḥ sukham||
Knowledge gives humility, from humility, one attains character; From character, one acquires wealth; from wealth good deeds (righteousness) follow and then happiness
Although I mentioned in a lighter vein, it created an opportunity to learn a new sloka. Thanks a lot. I will save and cherish this.
DeleteBy the way, Sowmya, I should have said: धन्यवादाः (dhanyawādāh)
DeleteMy pleasure Richard:) - many things learnt in school stay with one for life, IMO:)
DeleteOn the question of apostrophes in cryptics, I fully agree with Kishore, especially when it is used in the context of proper names .There are always ways of indicating this. Like when they use cockney English pronunciation, there is always an indicator of an elide of a letter in the clue.. But these are days of sMS-ese when all punctuation marks are put to full stop. ! So one has to accept the cryptics without any critique ! Make them as cryptic as cryptic can !
ReplyDeleteTV ads are getting Hinglisised like Ullu banoing - and that grotesque and disgusting ad showing a child birth is very offensive to sensibilities. There are always streamers, that run very fast for one to even read, to report on offensive contents to be reported to some non-descript authority. Does any one care? I intensely detest all those whitening cream ads. Inh a country like India, where fawn which is a happy blend of black and white is the usual complexion, ads for creams for making one Fair are certainly NOT lovely !
Gone are the days of subtlety in conveying the message. I if course did appreciate the one recently run on widow remarriage; very delicately and sensitively done.
In today's crossie , I had difficulty in getting the NW corner completed. A few iffy clues !
Puzzle - Typically exChequeresque, perhaps a tad on the easier side.
ReplyDeleteMTS ad - Attention grabbing, yes, but not worth my time. And no, it's not a Shakespearean play with drama and characters to be analysed, but simply a lousy idea executed with third-rate computer graphics. ;-)
Sowmya@5:19: That's one which I definitely remember from my school days (not all that long ago, though) and can recite from memory.