Thursday 21 April 2016

No 11681, Thursday 21 Apr 2016, Neyartha


ACROSS
7   Applied mathematicians sacrifice a Scot to get data (10) STATISTICS STATISTICianS
9   It might be upped to increase the stakes (4) ANTE [DD]
10 Bag flipped by quarrel over the Kansas fuel-making factory (8) GASWORKS {GAS<=}{WOR<=}{KS}
11 Long address concealed by the split, anyway (6) LITANY [T]
12 Variety of grass (5) RANGE [DD]
13 Prejudiced Bob discarded reacting bicarbonates (9) SECTARIAN bICARboNATES*
14 Doctor and the bridge partners love playing what might make Indian farmers happy (7) MONSOON {MO}{NS}{O}{ON}
17 Male journalist replacing the first-class trophies (7) EDWARDS (-a+ed)EDWARDS
20 Melting of the iodine vat is an abnormality (9) DEVIATION*
22 Extremely cold bridge player at the wrong place in coast (5) GELID G(+e)ELID(-e)
25 Lithium found in steep rock turned over for an aromatic bulb (6) GARLIC {GAR{LI}C<=}
26 Sweet things to look at? (3,5) EYE CANDY &lit
27 Reportedly cut the lawn for practice (4) MODE (~ mowed)
28 Failure to appear with a cargo of metal results in self-denial (10) ABSTINENCE {ABS{TIN}ENCE}

DOWN
1   Some teenagers run away to accompany leaders to the classes (6) STRATA Acrostic
2   Seize letters from Anu, surprisingly (5) USURP [T]
3   Deadlines altered without notice to get a source of oil (7) LINSEED DEadLINES*
4   Irregular diastole is atypical (8) ISOLATED*
5   Woman's garment with the horse trainer's equipment (6) HALTER [DD]
6   Tolerate Arabic on the democratic flag (8) STANDARD {STAND}{AR}{D}
8   Fuel for the municipalities flanking Georgia (4,3) TOWN GAS {TOWN {GA}S}
15 Cook, poor, collects darnel sent up by the wheeler dealer (8) OPERATOR {OP{ERAT<=}OR*}
16 Lens maker changes topic before Diana edges away (8) OPTICIAN {TOPIC*}{dIANa}
18 Fair to exchange ring for article in surplus (7) AVERAGE (-o+a)OVERAGE
19 Heroism interpreted such that one wants more (7) MOREISH*
21 Alternatively, the islands around Holland can get attached to the European Union (2,4) IN LIEU {I}{N L}{I}{EU}
23 Charge to write to the auditor (6) INDICT (~ indite)
24 Mail found by lifting hourglass (5) REMIT <=

GRID

37 comments:

  1. Another excellent puzzle by this setter. My search for the modern Sankalak has now come to an end The clues gave immense pleasure to solve!

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    Replies
    1. It is good you share my sentiments Rathna

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  2. theme is evident - some nice clues - liked Mode and Moreish was new to me :) Indict and indite was nice too - so also Linseed,, enjoyed Gelid. But I must say a few clues rather unimaginative and seem over - contrived; just to arrive at theme - Statisticians cut down to statistics .. uhmm .. awards becoming edwards - with def as male :( again overage become average - is overage right for surplus? 1d - Strata..wish were more elegant - students running away to classes seems strange for students no? :)

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  3. To pick a nit 19d has a major part of the answer in the clue itself (more). Otherwise an enjoyable puzzle

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    1. The other day CV was talking of this issue though in that case it was in different clues, here the repetition is in the same clue which I feel should be avoided

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    2. Must be an oversight. Any repetition of a three- or more letter string in a CLUE and the SOLUTION is always frowned upon by solvers.
      The other day I was talking of repetition of a letter string in more than one grid entry in a single puzzle - not repetition in clue/solution.
      The latter instance too may be avoided but it is not something to be frowned upon. In fact, a planned thematic may consciously repeat a letter string such as triple letters (e.g., SSS) or MODI as Gridman did once.

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  4. When one says the puzzle is bad, one is expected to give reason. When one says puzzle is good, no reason is expected This mentality is why we don't grow . Other setters must take cue from Neyathra

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  5. Off Topic:

    If a clue has an abbreviation and we delete another abbr. from this abbrv. is it acceptable?
    Say if it has TAR for sailor, and thankless/ without thanks, can we delete TA from TAR?

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    Replies
    1. Offhand, I don't see any problem. But if you could give the sample clue I - or someone else - might be able to give an opinion.

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    2. Cooking up a clue:

      Sailor volunteers out with specialist to pay lease.

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    3. Doesn't make much sense but it should do say whether the question I've asked is understood.

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    4. Since it is a 4 letter word & you have given the topic of discussion, it looks easy :) If it is a 8/9 letter word will it be possible to solve ?

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    5. LV, I was asking deleting an abbrv from another is acceptable.

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    6. Assuming the enu is 4 and the answer is RENT, the anno is remove TA from TAR and add ENT to get RENT.
      I don't see any prob. Would love to hear what others,including Sankalakans and Neyarthaians, think.
      BTW, ENT is generally 'medical department', rarely specialist or doctor in most UK crosswords. Rufusians may concure.

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    7. In the particular case the enu is 7 and the abbreviations involved are 2 and 1 letters. That is 2 minus 1. This might not help in arriving at any conclusion

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    8. Raghu I understood your question :) My doubt is that will it not be difficult to guess that abbreviations are used.Then you have to delete one abbr. from another to get the answer.

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    9. That's a synonym and not abvn

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    10. It would be weird. If you can think of an example, maybe. For instance, if you wanted to remove RE from REP, it would sound convoluted, I think. But, as CV said if you frame such a clue then............

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    11. I assure you it will not be convoluted. Surface would be smooth as silk like in the old Thai Airways ad.;)

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  6. I had put in garter in stead of halter for 5D. Wrong?

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  7. I mean which one is more suitable for the other part of the clue, namely,trainer's equipment?

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    Replies
    1. It is horse trainer's equipment so GARTER will not fit the bill

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  8. Loved this second offering from Neyartha..a far easier offerings this run...was not sure about range..mode & moreish...yes did find more in moreish as part of clue a bit jarring...

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  9. I was able to spot Statistics, Range, Standard, Deviation, Mode, Average & Strata as part of the theme. Any more?

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  10. Put OVERAGE in lieu of AVERAGE and lost EDWARDS.

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  11. Wasn't sure. So entered only Verage and waited for the crossings

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  12. So the clue can be said to be correct bothways?

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    Replies
    1. On a closer reading of the clue I would say Average is more like it. But there is room for doubt. I do not apply my mind so much when solving and let the crossings do the job.

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  13. When I say a puzzle is bad no one agrees. When I say a puzzle is good no one agrees.

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  14. You are all holding a personal dislike against me. This attitude must change Yoou must speak from your heart

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