Satyen Nabar's Sun Spl analysed
Thursday, 31 December 2009
No 9728, Thursday 31 Dec 09, M Manna
1 - Fellow in biblical tale deserving forgiveness (10) - {PARDON}{ABLE} (Correction - PAR{DON}ABLE - Thanks to Anokha, see comments)
6 - Vera appears to declare positively (4) - AVER*
9 - Raises volume — rejecting piano, used a forte (5,2) - {F}{A}{DES U}{P} <- )
10 - Form of art in the spirit and propriety (7) - {DECO}{RUM}
12 - Badly dressed woman, but strict about Latin (8) - S{LAT}TERN
13 - There may be an inn to stay in this country of Western Africa (5) - {BE}{NIN*}
15 - Take heed girl, avoid giving evasive statement (5) - HED{G}E* Why avoid giving?
17 - Waiting for an escort (9) - ATTENDANT [DD]
19 - One fractionally on top (9) - NUMERATOR [E]
21 - Revise poem from time to time (5) - {T}{EMPO*} Nice clue
23 - Gong brings many in to dinner, for example (5) - MODEL Anno pending (Addendum - ME{D}AL - See comments below)
24 - Destroys the star’s composure (8) - SHATTERS*
27 - Get on line for Internet market information (7) - NIELSEN Anno pending
28 - They’re prepared for a row when they meet (7) - OARSMEN [E]
29 - The fate of great many (4) - LOTS [DD]
30 - Indicatory anagram book (10) - DICTIONARY*
DOWN
1 - Become distended (4) - PUFF [CD]
2 - Doctor idled about a problem difficult to understand (7) - R{IDDLE*}D MM's Definition needs a re-look
3 - The attack is beginning (5) - ONSET [DD]
4 - Is one upset? In part — place is falling apart (9) - APPLECART*
5 - How the full cargo ship left a Yemeni port (5) - {L}{ADEN}
7 - Her majesty in the Victoria and Albert gallery (7) - {V}{ER}{AND}{A}
8 - Thinking disaster’s overwhelmed mark (10) - RUMINATION Anno pending, first I thought this was (-p)REMONITION but I could find no such word, though it fits the grid (Correction - RU{M}INATION - Ignore the earlier comment)
11 - It can be made to display china (7) - CABINET* Nice anagram
14 - Help one man in trouble? Remarkable! (10) - PHENOMENAL*
16 - Senor for a couple of pounds registers himself (7) - ENRO{LL}S*
18 - Evict a seaman? That’s a volte-face! (4,5) - {TURN} {AB}{OUT}
20 - Having obliged around five hundred, the good man is most resentful (7) - {MA{D}DE}{ST}
22 - Doctor taken in by girl on African xylophone (7) - MARI{MB}A

24 - A Muslim given backing in student body (5) - {SUN<-}{NI<-} )
25 - Roots out a piece of writing left unfinished (5) - TORSO* [DD]
26 - Young Dan turns out for him (4) - AND*{Y}
GRID
Wednesday, 30 December 2009
No 9727, Wednesday 30 Dec 09, M Manna
1 - Freedom is necessary in some French debates (13) - DE{LIBERATION}S
8 - Putting people in the wrong situation results in misery (7) - TOR{MEN}T
9 - Coach with one shoe? (7) - TRAINER [DD]
11 - Oriental combine that’s come to light (6) - {E}{MERGE}
13 - They also step around to initiate great moral reforms (8) - APOSTLES*
15 - Pole having to bear with a great many (5) - {TOTE}{M}
18 - A number leave one country for another (7) - AUSTR(-a-l)IA
19 - Foreign currency row with Argentinian leaders (5) - {DIN}{AR}
21 - Sporting plaid, Tom is a tactful sort abroad (8) - DIPLOMAT*
23 - Empire disintegrated before the intended time (6) - PREMIE* Nice clue
25 - Improved spiritually if a deed was corrected (7) - EDIFIED* I for A
26 - Ancient Egyptian who tossed seamers (7) - RAMESES*
DOWN
2 - The pledge given is to be taken seriously (7) - EARNEST [DD]
3 - It’s a rage in Ireland! (3) - IRE [T]
4 - Little creatures abandoned on course having been decapitated (4) - {(-l)EFT}S
7 - No French mathematical sign should cause bewilderment (7) - {NON}{PLUS}
8 - Sporting venue can give better grind (5,6) - TRENT BRIDGE*
10 - Deer on grass, possibly in parks (4,7) - ROSE GARDENS*
12 - Amusement activities (5) - GAMES [CD]
17 - A creature of the summer (5) - ADDER [DD]
20 - Meissen shattered — that’s retribution (7) - NEMESIS*
22 - Substance that could make one stupefied (5) - OPIUM [E]
24 - Light up your face in amusement (4) - GRIN [CD]
27 - Represent an area on a flat surface (3) - MAP [CD]
Tuesday, 29 December 2009
No 9726, Tuesday 29 dec 09, M Manna
ACROSS
1 - Peak the day before others (7) - {EVE}{REST}
5 - Tom Jolly — a single master, we hear (7) - ?A?B??? (Addendum - {CAT}{BOAT} - Thanks to Maddy, see comments)

10 - See not a single church (6) - {NOT}{I}{CE}
11 - For once, rang and said something nice about (8) - {EX}{TOLLED}
12 - Select Sidney for England team despite being a pest (6) - {CAP}{SID}
13 - Stable part of unattached wood (5,3) - {LOOSE} {BOX}
14 - May be lit for votive purposes (6) - CANDLE [CD]
15 - Moved sideways with daughter to slide out (6) - SIDLE*{D}
18 - First Olympic games held in this city (6) - ATHENS [E]

20 - One van used for nine days to carry out catholic prayers (6) - NOVENA*
23 - Begin to attack (3,5) - SET ABOUT [DD]
25 - Jabber to provoke teasingly (6) - NEEDLE [DD]
26 - One rightly ridiculed hoop-la, for instance (4,4) - FA{I}{R} {GAME} ?
27 - Having an appearance of a beauty (6) - LOOKER [DD]
28 - Why late changes result in having lots of money (7) - WEALTHY*
29 - Caught the horse with a lariat noose (7) - LASSOED [CD]
DOWN
2 - Garden flowers placed on musical instruments (6) - VIOLAS [DD]

3 - Check condition and replace (9) - REINSTATE [CD]
4 - Put up house in a shelter (7) - SHEDDED ?
6 - Events of a drama (7) - ACTIONS [CD]
7 - Attractive call for the English (5) - {BELL}{E}
8 - Notices new kinds of poison (8) - ??E?O?E?
9 - Bed time story lover’s plea? I don’t believe it! (4,2,7) - TELL ME ANOTHER [DD]
16 - Relaxing one’s guard is risky (9) - DANGEROUS*
17 - In the main it’s the cheapest way to travel (8) - STEERAGE [E]
19 - Had no desire for an argument (7) - STOMACH [CD]
21 - House holding an orchid (7) - V{AN}ILLA

22 - Complex legal point to imply in court (6) - ALLEG*{E}
24 - Month to play tricks on her (5) - APRIL [DD]
GRID
Monday, 28 December 2009
No 9725, Monday 28 Dec 09, M Manna
1 - The French region about which to make a choice (9) - SE{LE}CTION
6 - Finish with one’s tail in the air (3,2) - {END} {UP}
9 - A jain takes course in martial arts (5) - NI{N}JA* Ninja is not a martial art, but it is someone who pursues a martial art!!
10 - Graduates put in to transform old school (4,5) - AL{MA} {MA}TER
11 - One being impudent without being able to stop the flow of current (10) - INSUL{A}TING Don't know how A comes in
12 - Flood survivor apparently declined threat inspection (4) - {NO}AH Anno eludes me
14 - It drives one to drink when you are parched (7) - THIRSTY Anno pending
15 - Fit to be eaten for bees, so take lid off (7) - EDIBLES*
17 - Nora had to go to the river to find her (7) - {ELE}{ANOR*} ? Couldn't find any river named ELE
19 - Declares that it’s a lock-up (7) - A{SSERT<-}S Nice clue
20 - Vortex guy? (4) - EDDY [DD]
22 - Current way to produce greater efficiency (10) - {STREAM}{LINE}
25 - A great egg concoction to get together (9) - AGGREGATE*
26 - A few in the Tyneside area find this simple (5) - N{A}{IV}E NE from Tyneside being in the NE area of the UK and IV being a few!!
27 - Cancel because having entered before (5) - ER{AS}E
28 - Will change statement (9) - TESTAMENT* Nice clue
DOWN
1 - Moses received the 10 Commandments on its Mount (5) - SINAI [E]
2 - A natural slip of landladies lacking a bent for it (9) - LANDSLIDES(-a)*
3 - Early form of rock music (6,4) - CRADLE SONG [CD]
4 - Not suitably done to sleep in it (7) - {I{NAP}T}LY Don't ask me where LY came from
5 - Refusal by colliery to take on English candidate (7) - {NO}{MINE}{E}
6 - She has them shortened to a degree (4) - {(-th)EM}{MA}
7 - Time to do it in the same manner (5) - DI{T}TO*
8 - Secures leverage (9) - PURCHASES [DD]
13 - Declines nothing — kind of frenzy in compulsive drinking (10) - {DIPS}{O}{MANIA}
14 - The ones here confront ante-revolutionary legislature (3,6) - {THE SE}{NATE*}
16 - Idle vicar, running wild, will polish off the grub! (9) - LARVICIDE*
18 - Pull out car fallen by accident in crater (7) - RE{T}RACT T meaning Model 'T' of FORD?
19 - Set ways stuff for remaining young looking (7) - AGELESS [DD]
21 - Closely follow a well qualified person’s teaching (5) - {DOG}{MA}
23 - Difficult to let engineer be chosen for office (5) - EL{EC}T*
24 - In short we are what we used to be (4) - WE'RE Nice clue
GRID
Sunday, 27 December 2009
No 2564, Sunday 27 Dec 09
1 - Wound soldiers surrounding German's room (6) – T{RAUM}A
4 - Usher in very dirty bar (5,3) – {BLACK} {ROD} Never heard of this earlier
9 - Go round (run round) gallery (6) – {R}{O}{TATE}
10 - A titled woman crossing border in novel (4,4) – {A}{DAM {BED}E}
12 - Touring in the more historic Welsh county (9) – MERIONETH* Had to Google this
13 - Stuff round end of profiterole? (5) – CR{E}AM

14 - One may be used to break rocks in prison, around side by hospital (12) – SL{EDGE}{H}AMMER

18 - Adventuress lends from all, unwisely (4,8) – MOLL FLANDERS*
21 - A member, separated (5) – {A}{PART}
22 - Clear river containing single rodent (9) – EX{ONE}{RAT}E
24 - English poet, Arnold, drunk at public house (8) – {RANDOL*}{PH}
25 - Empty container into large tank (6) – VA{CAN}T
26 - Sluggish beast, before noon, followed by worker (8) – {STAG}{N}{ANT}
27 - Break in bay (6) – RECESS [DD]
DOWN
1 - Dessert - is it a rum concoction? (8) – TIRAMISU* Google result

2 - Lawyer to sailors caught in a further capsizal (8) – {A}{T{TO}{RN}EY<-} )
3 - Saw German chap stalking maiden (5) – {M}{OTTO}
5 - Mistress from Holland may, struggling with it (4,8) – LADY HAMILTON*
6 - Tell all to turn up ahead of fair (4,5) – {COME} {CLEAN}
7 - Mention about Ecstasy in jacket (6) – RE{E}FER
8 - Lovely and vague (6) – DREAMY [DD]
11 - Film a whole planet exploding (6,6) – LETHAL WEAPON*
15 - Good landlord won't fancy an empty place (5,4) – {G}{HOST} {TOWN*}
16 - Jude Law, a rep in part, bringing one to this US state (8) – DELAWARE [T]
17 - Fireproof material, like finest used by sailor (8) – {AS}{BEST}{OS}
19 - Sign male's ignored in reference book (6) – T(-he’s)AURUS
20 - Iran, an amazing land for children? (6) – NARNIA*
23 - To remove all trace of epoch's close to impossible (5) – {ERAS}{E}
GRID
Saturday, 26 December 2009
No 9724, Saturday 26 Dec 09, Gridman
ACROSS
1 - Associate to come round father and medical officer (8) - COM{PA}{DR}E
5 - Avoid playing chess with bridge player (6) - ESCH{EW} Where did one S go?
10 - Boor holds remains of attack (4,3) - L{ASH} OUT
11 - I said: “See, it’s on the tail of a peacock!” (7) - (~i){EYE}{SPOT}

12 - Reptile – one, unknown, driven out of South American country (6) - {I}{GU(-y)ANA}

13 - Rumour about block-buster: V-1 (4,4) - {BUZZ} {BOMB}

15 - Detail in one piece (4) - ITEM [CD]
16 - Now, end-term changes arouse curiosity (10) - WONDERMENT*
18 - Relative, after sleep, to phone for place-setting part (6,4) - {NAP}{KIN} {RING}
20 - Hurried with small hamper (4) - {S}{PED}
23 - On church, Rome’s dilly-dallying again (4,4) - {ON}{CE} {MORE*}
24 - Lathe-worker to shift with hesitation (6) - {TURN}{ER}
26 - ”Too much,” old teacher returns rice dish (7) - {RIS<-}OTTO Anno pending (Addendum - {RIS<-}{O}{TTO<-} - Thanks to Chaturvasi, see his comments) 27 - Chart drawn up on each windpipe (7) - {TRACH*}{EA}
28 - Not an altruistic quality (6) - EGOISM [CD]
29 - Yanked hatch up: last character is within. That’s tenacity! (8) - CHUT{Z}PAH*
DOWN
1 - The way to a crash? (9,6) - COLLISION COURSE [E]
2 - I am up to clever lures to produce disorder (7) - {MI<-}{SRULE*}
3 - Tot up a pony (6) - {A}{MOUNT}
4 - Rubbish Oriental method of learning (4) - {ROT}{E} Could never do this at school
6 - They make explosive expirations (8) - SNEEZERS [E]
7 - Greeting, lead an individual to a joint (7) - {HI}{PB}{ONE}
8 - How the opener of an innings would walk to the pitch and beard the bouncers – very nervously (4,5,6) - WITH BATED BREATH [DD] (Addendum - {WITH BAT{ED BREATH*} - Thanks to Suresh, see comments)
9 - Underproductive Delhi’s top worker is no longer needed (9) - {REDUN*}{D}{ANT}
14 - Drilled, we hear, Rex to bellow back in corporate meeting place (9) - (~bored){BOARD}{R}{OOM<-} )
17 - A pair of shoes that is not actually a pair (8) - ?I?M?T?S (Addendum - MISMATES [CD])
19 - Painter’s picture presented to small association (7) - {PIC}{ASSO}
21 - Old English magazine on high scrap (5-2) - {PUNCH}-{UP}
22 - Where you may find rich Arab bores (6) - ?U?A?T (Addendum - KUWAIT [CD] Good one - Thanks to Richard see his comments below)
25 - Sibyl without inordinate desire (4) - (-w)ITCH
GRID
Friday, 25 December 2009
No 9723, Friday 25 Dec 09, Gridman
ACROSS
1 - Wait endlessly with relation after relation each deserting new neighbourhood of Honolulu (7) - {WAI(-t)}{KI(-n)}{KI(-n)}
5 - Managing the arrival with Papa in the place of Mama (6) - CO(-m+p)PING
9 - Fabric, only new stuff (5) - NYLO*{N}
10 - Green Oriental learner accepts support for describing a column (9) - {VERT}{E}{BRA}{L}
11 - Silent on a lot of money being given to icon-breaker (7) - {LAC}{ONIC*}
12 - Store woman’s report (7) - {SHE}{BANG}
13 - Quotes in report some pages from the Web? (5) - CITES(~sites)
14 - Travelling, having restless nite in moving train (9) - ITINERANT*
16 - Be in bed unaware of the alarm ringing (9) - OVERSLEEP [CD]
19 - Simpleton gets artist out of imprisonment (5) - DU(-ra)NCE
21 - Classify; if so, one might reach heights (4,3) - {SORT} {OUT}
23 - Somewhat pert with a no-good sea-slug (7) - {TREP*}{A}{NG} Seen plenty of these while at Port Blair, I believe they are a delicacy in the Far-east as they have Aphrodisiac properties; scores of smugglers used to come to the Andamans to harvest these sea-cucumbers.

24 - Where all visitors are welcome (4,5) - OPEN HOUSE [E]
25 - Sailor, accountant and setter get counting frames (5) - {AB}{AC}{I}

26 - Staff has right to go on a hunger strike (6) - STA{R}VE
27 - Capotes exchanged for shoe parts (7) - TOECAPS*

DOWN
1 - Straight wagers on course (3,5,2,4) - WIN PLACE OR SHOW [CD] Was never interested in horce racing so had to look this up on the net.
2 - Hot, bad one to call endlessly (7) - {ILL}{I}{CIT(-e)}
3 - Knock lands recovered from the seas (7) - INNINGS [DD] Never knew the second meaning
4 - Bad language in CV invitee presented (9) - INVECTIVE*
5 - Provides check for sidewalk borders, we hear (5) - CURBS(~kerbs)
6 - Lead rep, being clumsy, takes son, we hear (7) - {PRE*}{CEDE}(~seed)
7 - Nair wanders around vehicle in bliss (7) - NIR{VAN}A*
8 - Goods that aren’t well-earned (3-6,5) - ILL-GOTTEN GAINS [CD]
15 - Pat in time turned testy (9) - IMPATIENT*
17 - Serious listener Sten is distracted (7) - {EAR}{NEST*}
18 - Suppress Tom’s lifting that woman (7) - {SMOT*}{HER}
19 - When a new arrival is expected (3,4) - DUE DATE [E]
20 - Canadian falls (7) - NIAGARA [E]

22 - Peace pact is genuine about first of contingencies (5) - TRU{C}E
GRID
Thursday, 24 December 2009
No 9722, Thursday 24 Dec 09, Gridman
ACROSS
1 - Dress beau, hatless, in customary manner (8) - {HABIT}{(-d)UDE}
5 - Caught, terrorist’s leader is scratched and struck (6) - T(-r)APPED Should have been lightly struck.(Correction (-t)RAPPED - See Sandhya's comments)
9 - Being tense, adjusted for final settlement (5,2) - WOUND UP [DD]
10 - Exclusive circle where outsiders won’t be allowed (2-5) - IN-GROUP [CD] Never heard of this group before
11 - Steward army officer, mood being nasty (5-4) - {MAJOR}-{DOMO*}
12 - I go around the scholar — an insect, in fact (5) - {I}{MA}{GO} Watch the video in the link
13 - Fools with playthings (4) - TOYS [DD]
14 - King of kings in India (9) - MAHARAJAH [E]
17 - Emphatic agreement with a cartoonist’s work? (3,4,2) - YOU SAID IT [DD]

19 - Late announcement? (4) - OBIT [E]
23 - Don’t begin to dally with firearm (5) - (-t)RIFLE
24 - Burmese leader and more smarmy one discarded shoulder belt (9) - {B}{AND}{O(-i)LIER}
25 - Durable in residence? (7) - ABIDING [DD]
26 - Partially inspect rare images (7) - SPECTRA [T]
27 - Going back to silver dole-out (3-3) - {AG}{E-OLD*}
28 - Gang leader on street calls for supplies for strippers (1-7) - {G}-{ST}{RINGS}
DOWN
1 - Good watcher gets doctor the tailless insect of the Sphinx family (4,4) - {HAWK} {MO}{TH(-e)}

2 - Sad, stupid bird (4,3) - {BLUE}{JAY}

3 - Old English-Welsh rulers’ stud or shed (6) - TUDORS*
4 - Attaché case? (10,3) - DIPLOMATIC BAG [E]
6 - Discovered ANC gal in church (8) - ANGLICAN*
7 - Fairly shared in Rome? (3,4) - PRO RATA [E]
8 - Journalist put up plan to position the troops (6) - {DE<-}{PLOY}
10 - As a policy these nations don’t get entangled with others (13) - ISOLATIONISTS [E]
15 - It is not ordinary even on losing face (8) - ESPECIAL [CD]
16 - Battles among denizens of the tinsel town? (4,4) - STAR WARS [CD]
18 - Nothing following confused desi referee’s call (7) - {OFF}{SIDE*}
20 - There from the start, like some kitchen shelves (5-2) - BUILT-IN [DD]
21 - Force fit girl (6) - {ARM}{ADA}
22 - So pure, yet in a way affected person (6) - POSEUR*
GRID
Wednesday, 23 December 2009
No 9721, Wednesday 23 Dec 09, Gridman
1 - Attempt to wear a banian in disguise (8) - TR{A}{VEST}Y
6 - Once more without a profit (4) - (-a)GAIN
9 - Early stage reached more by accident (6) - EMBRYO*
10 - Unwelcome greeting? (4,3) - KEEP OUT [E]
13 - Groups that make appearances in theatres (9) - AUDIENCES [CD]
14 - Artist with one word of thanks for Indian side-dish (5) - {RA}{I}{TA}
15 - Stop a story: “King bugged” (4) - {K}{ILL}
16 - Involve in fighting and be ready for marriage? (3,7) - GET ENGAGED [DD]
19 - Become entangled in a Hindu union? (3,3,4) - TIE THE KNOT [DD]
21 - Repeat Election Commission on hold-over (4) - {EC}{H}{O}
24 - Question union leader on measure to put down (5) - {Q}{U}{ELL}
25 - Be unexpressive? (4,5) - KEEP QUIET [E]
26 - A fellow I hang cruelly for money (7) - {A}{F}{GHAN*}{I}
29 - That’s all! (8) - EVERYONE [CD]
DOWN
2 - Give a face-lift to mere, old circus (7) - REMODEL*
3 - Educated in poetry? (6) - VERSED [CD]
4 - Test to see if there’s a stain? Not exactly! (4-5) - SPOT CHECK [CD] Nice clue
5 - Wow! Word of agreement to infuse one thousand! (5) - Y{I}{K}ES
7 - Appreciating a party band (7) - {A}{DO}{RING}
8 - The nitty-gritty of what may be in the tool-box (4,3,5) - NUTS AND BOLTS [DD] (Reminds me of the story of the short headline for the Rapist who escaped 'NUT SCREWS AND BOLTS'
11 - Anger gran touring within the borders of Erode (6) - E{NRAG*}E
12 - Where the dealings are unprejudiced? (6,6) - MARKET SQUARE [CD]
17 - Let go without any charge (9) - EXONERATE [E]
18 - Indian dinner-plate to a Greek goddess (6) - {THALI}{A}

20 - Combines after one at last crops up (7) - {E}{MERGES}
22 - Embarrassing colour? (7) - CRIMSON [E]
23 - Balance money? (6) - EQUITY [DD]
25 - It goes with fork (5) - KNIFE [E]
GRID
Tuesday, 22 December 2009
No 9720, Tuesday 22 Dec 09, Gridman
ACROSS
1 - Timers on way to work with guards (11) - {ST}{OP}{WATCHES}
9 - Mailer's determined tendency to face facts (7) - REALISM*
10 - Hoisting equipment gets crier swept dramatically into empty dock (7) - {D(-oc)}{ERRIC*}K}
11 - Strange shape of the moon, perhaps (5) - PHASE*
12 - A busy or humble person is not one to make this kind of crow (4,5) - IDLE BLAST ? (Addendum - IDLE BOAST Thanks to Shuchi)
13 - Below, fellow is caught in rainfall (5) IN{F}RA
15 - Lightning bugs (9) - GLOWWORMS Lightning or lighting?

18 - Fan of the Capricorn's attack on learner ended (4,5) - {GO}{AT} {L}{OVER}
21 - Moor's entanglement (3-2) - TIE-UP [DD]
22 - But they don't chime in camps (4,5) BELL TENTS [CD]
24 - Don't begin to shield runaways in the capital (5) (-s)DELHI*
26 - Rum's not constituent of cure-all (7) - NOSTRUM*
27 - Adjust anew to girl in oddly pert case (7) - RE{ADA}PT*
28 - The sort of rock maestri deny belting out (11) - SEDIMENTARY *
DOWN
1 - Youth to expose fish (9) - {STRIP}{LING}
2 - Mantra's expression of surprise in U.S. city (5) - {OM}{AHA}
3 - We, with all fussing about, get this kind of tyre (9) WHITEWALL*
4 - Pressing — old Bob is out pressing (7) - TAMPING Anno pending (Addendum - (-s)TAMPING Thanks to Shuchi)
5 - Nobleman: "Hi! Happy to come up with a ring" (7) - {HI}{DALG<- strong="">O->}
6 - Clean tree (5) - SCRUB [DD]
7 - Say 'no' to boy on the rise with a craving that's endless (8) - {DIS<- strong="">A}{GREE(-d)}->
8 - Take off garment without voyeur at last (4) - SKI(-r)T ?
14 - Brave female not giving attention? (8) - {F}{EARLESS}
16 - Comedian, hard-working, won no Oscar — is offish (9) - {WIT}{HDRA*}{W(-o)N}
17 - Concession to man's attempt at clever argument (9) - {SOP}{HIS}{TRY}
19 - Having poisoned, leaderless workers stealthily moved around (7) - V{(-m)EN}OMED*
20 - Talking point? (7) - ROSTRUM [CD]
22 - Put up with nonsense? (4) - BUNK [DD]
23 - They are served in coolers (5) - TERMS [CD]
25 - Pack animal brings everything up around morning (5) - {LLA<- strong="">MA<- span="" style="color: white;">)->->
Richard Lasrado
GRID
Monday, 21 December 2009
No 9719, Monday 21 Dec 09, Gridman
ACROSS
1 - Hundred going through summer in France tear-jerking with the others (2,6) - {ET {C}E}{TERA*}
5 - Mean fortuneteller (6) - MEDIUM [DD] Is a Medium a fortuneteller?
9 - Izzat of swine going around others with a bit of enthusiasm (8) - {P{REST}IG}{E}
10 - Get easily into a kind of sandals (4,2) - SLIP ON [DD]
12 - It may get filed (4) - NAIL [CD]
13 - Musical groups from Trinidad bend least to manipulation by leader of strings (5,5) - {STEEL BAND*}{S}
15 - Material for the first three of fabulously rich (6) - {FAB}{RIC}
17 - Emirate to question a sailor (5) - {Q}{A}{TAR}
20 - Poor, born and dead before youth leader (5) - {NEE}{D}{Y}
21 - Cover put around mischievous fellow, it’s clear (6) - L{IMP}ID
24 - Envy hep PTA going all out on a celebration (5,5) - HAPPY EVENT*
27 - Jump-start to woman in island (4) - {J}{AVA}
29 - Field of vision? (6) - OPTICS [CD]
30 - Issac, tic is set right; another complaint is here (8) - SCIATICA* (Addendum - Seems to be an error here, I think Gridman intended ISAAC and not ISSAC)
31 - Turn on many in retreat with ultimate prurience (6) - {EX{C}IT}{E}
32 - Not that you use this almanac once in twelve months (8) - YEARBOOK [CD]
DOWN
1 - Use some complex pendulums (6) - EXPEND [T]
2 - Believe old statesman changed diet (6) - {CR}{EDIT*}
3 - One may say it or hear it while leaving (2-2) - TA-TA [E]
4 - Not initiating alarm is good (5) - (-f)RIGHT
6 - From the books of 41 in Electricity Board (2,3) - E{XLI}B
7 - One member, frail, putting in appeal for freedom from punishment (8) - {I}{M}{PUN{IT}Y}
8 - Service car on street line (8) - {MINI}{ST}{RY}
11 - The first of whizkids became suspect on casting off last computer accessory (6) - {W}{EBCAM(-e)*}
14 - Clownish hit not completed on New York’s leader (4) - {ZA(-p}{NY}
16 - Dwell over an experience again (6) - RELIVE [E]
17 - Who in France gets Puducherry’s capital joke? (4) - {QUI}{P}
18 - Measure article about man put in a high position (8) - {EN}{TH{RON}E}
19 - Hastily-posted in-charge is tyrannical (8) - {DESPOT*}{IC}
22 - Icon’s a different appearance in gambling house (6) - CASINO*
23 - Material mother produced on query (6) - {DAM}{ASK}
25 - Craft brings end to any chat going off course (5) - {Y}{ACHT*}
26 - Opening of house in pleasant corner (5) - NIC{H}E
28 - Beautiful exhibition (4) - FAIR [DD]
GRID
Sunday, 20 December 2009
No 2563, Sunday 20 Dec 09
ACROSS
1 - US rock star encountered crossing a lounge (4,4) – {ME{A}T} {LOAF}
5 - Training on first of April, leader of Dambusters took off (4) – {A}{PE}{D}
8 - Crouch down by bed to get large bag (8) – {RUCK}{SACK}
9 - Style, class to a T (6) – {FORM}{A}{T}
11 - Demand made by former partner to behave (5) – {EX}{ACT}
12 - Love playing Chartres in big band (9) – {O}{RCHESTRA*}
14 - Dutch painter depicting seedy boys' home with urchins (10,5) – HIERONYMUS BOSCH* Had to google search this even though it was an anagram
16 - Throughout most of term, terribly strict (4,4,2,5) – {FROM STEM TO*} {STERN}
20 - Terrorise giddy merrymaker (9) – ROISTERER*
21 - Number one cricket club with a hallowed ground (5) – ME{CC}{A} ?
23 - Warm current in lake, one abroad (2,4) – E{L} NINO*
24 - Book, say, with Dickens character causing envy (8) – {B}{EG}{RUDGE}
25 - Lost, excellent fabric (4) – {L}{ACE}
26 - Small ballistic missile, ear-piercing (8) – {S}{TRIDENT}
DOWN
1 - Angry mother describing parking in NE town (7) – MOR{P}ETH* Had to google search this
2 - Bill, artist in African capital (5) – {ACC}{RA}
3 - The Parisian, so hot running in African country (7) – {LE}{SO}{THO*}
4 - Fruit, fish and vegetable retailer, initially (7,4) – {ANCHOVY} {PEA}{R} Result of another google search, never heard of this one

6 - Saw lead choking dog? (7) – P{ROVER}B
7 - Cup of tea? Missed out (9) – DEMITASSE*
10 - Close to tent, spots rubbish (5) – {T}{RASH}
13 - Forge iron bar initially on it (11) – {COUNTER}{FE}{IT}
15 - Moving, English poet to Alabama (9) – {E}{MOTION}{AL}
16 - Warning about onset of thunder (loud) (5) – FOR{T}E
17 - Disappointed, no end, having received a bronze - that's diabolical (7) – {S{A}{TAN}IC(-k)} Not sure of Anno
18 - Warriors will achieve odd reversal in Asia, possibly (7) – SA{MUR<-}AI*
19 - Most closely related are placed in home (7) – NE{ARE}ST
22 - Group of activists worry about introduction of democracy (5) – CA{D}RE
GRID
Saturday, 19 December 2009
No 9718, Saturday 19 Dec 09, Nita Jaggi
ACROSS
1 - A puff of air may extinguish the candles in a party (4,3) - BLOW OUT [CD]
5 - Very excited for a jacket to be shortened (6) - {A}{BLAZE(-r)}
10 - Priests finally answer the king initially reporting in this language (8) - {S}{ANS}{K}{R}IT IT from? (Addendum - {S}{ANS}{K}{R}{I}{T})
11 - Usual feature of fast food restaurants (6) - BURGER [E]
13 - Stumbles with ease around the Rolls Royce (4) - E{RR}S
14 - Money put in the large mints even in Thailand (10) - INVESTMEN*{T}
16 - Grossly inadequate (6) - MEAGRE [CD]
18 - No lava is spread on the side road of the hill station (8) - LONAVA*{L}A Last A from?
21 - Man is holding a member for the number one returning as the title-holder (8) - {CHA{M}P}{ION<-} )
22 - Please the furious dean in difficulty (6) - E{NDEA*}R
25 - Fabric? Can be rubberised in nature (10) - WATERPROOF [CD]
27 - Make connection with a secret agent (4) - BOND [DD]
30 - Turn up to come together following the far end of the side (6) - {E}{MERGE}
31 - Long time to transform an entire treaty on both sides (8) - ETERNI*{T}{Y}
32 - A very easy task (6) - D?D?L? (Addendum - DODDLE [E])
33 - Men are out in the dark country (7) - D{ENM*}ARK
DOWN
2 - Nothing to be taken up by the soldiers on the ship (5) - {LIN<-}{ER<-} )
3 - Watch over corpse on an island (4) - WAKE [DD]
4 - Marriages in the United Nations namely are not for the scions (6) - {UN}{(-sc)IONS} Don't know how SC gets deleted
6 - Direct infield hit circles low (5) - B{L}UNT
7 - Total amount of coarse material (9) - AGGREGATE [DD]
8 - Point lacking in the greatest kind of birds (7) - EGRETTA(-s)*
9 - Admire the tournaments coming up after the initial events (6) - {E}{STEEM<-} )
12 - Defective product for the French doctor is known at last (5) - {LE}{MO}{N}
15 - Cut in the credit operation (4) - {CR}{OP}
17 - Parade hit by mistake by racial segregation (9) - APARTHEID*
19 - Family member is a social worker around Uruguay (4) - A{U}NT
20 - Dried coconut in front of the house portal regularly (5) - {CO}{P}{R}{A}
21 - Gathered a crowd, eh! for the hired hand (7) - COWHERD*
23 - Showing anger, I travel on an overnight flight (3-3) - {RED}-{EYE} ?
24 - Arrange insurmountable boundaries of an aircraft mission (6) - {SORT}{I}{E}
26 - Note, the girl is fit for the king (5) - {RE}{GAL}
28 - Sire is somehow following the ring on the tree (5) - {O}{SIER*}
29 - Seed weight (4) - GRAM [DD]
GRID
Friday, 18 December 2009
No 9717, Friday 18 Dec 09, Nita Jaggi
1 - One may throw a party to bid them goodbye! (8) - FAREWELL [CD]
5 - Lively dance on the carpet (4) - SHAG [DD]
9 - Pious leader has a short time for the duke (8) - REVEREN(-d+t)T
10 - Kofi’s second American lawyer is in a state of bliss (6) - {ANAN}{DA}
12 - Gumbo ingredient is acceptable by soldiers (4) - {OK}{RA}

13 - Payment of the bill for a small community (10) - SETTLEMENT [DD]
15 - It may be granted to the male staff at the time of their newborn! (9,5) - PATERNITY LEAVE [E]
17 - Terrorist may get shot in this kind of staged killing! (5,9) - CLOSE ENCOUNTER [CD]
21 - Engineer has a right to be in the workshop that is heat-resistant (10) - {RE}{F{R}ACTORY}
22 - Jane Austen’s strange girl (4) - EMMA [E]
25 - Regular Turk, exactly signs an agreement (6) - {T}{R}{E}{A}{T}{Y}
26 - Mates manage to secure your gemstone (8) - AME{THY}ST*

27 - Pinkeye? Can be tender in the morning (4) - SORE [CD]
28 - Left out an issue of the prisoners ordered to follow an elected leader (8) - IN{SPIRER(-son)*} Where did IN come from?
DOWN
1 - The French cover the tube in a line in the trench (6) - {F{U}R}{ROW}
2 - Wanderer has a machine (5) - ROVER [DD]
3 - Small protuberance on the trimmed plant material taken up (4) - WART(-s)<- )
4 - Note the new bird lamp (7) - {LA}{N}{TERN}
6 - Thinner lad is in distress in a remote area (10) - HINTERLAND*
7 - Drink for a soldier in general is intoxicating (6,3) - {GI}{NGER ALE*}
8 - Hairdo for a heartless pal is accepted for sex appeal (5) - {P(-a)L}{A}{IT}
11 - Editing mark is anyhow set by the typist in front (4) - STE*{T}
14 - Supporter is in an inner room with a sequence of letters for the performer (10) - {BEN}{EF}{ACTOR}
16 - Lesson of a different kind of human nature (9) - ALOOFNESS*
18 - Money for an official letter (4) - NOTE [DD]
19 - Rower will arrive with us in the country (7) - O{AR}{S}MAN
20 - Uncle turns up thrice with the teacher (6) - {MAS<-}{TER}
21 - Tries to organise the ceremonies (5) - RITES*
23 - Politician in the fringe of Madras always has an alternative (5) - {M}AY{OR} Anno eludes me
24 - Do not start on the way to work (4) - {ST}{OP}
GRID
Thursday, 17 December 2009
No 9716, Thursday 17 Dec 09, Nita Jaggi
ACROSS
8 - Safe plan for an officer to promote debt collection (6,8) - {CO}P{PER BOTTOMED*} This should have been shown as (6-8) and where did the P come from?
9 - Foreigner has a queen bird (6) - {SCOT}{ER}

11 - Misfortunes for a group of cabs covering the initial kilometres (8) - {SET}{BAC{K}S*}
13 - They may be the clues solved from left to right (6) - ACROSS [CD]
14 - Hostility in the country to capture its borders (6) - {MALI}{CE} its borders is I and S and not C and E
16 - Request the worker to hold the tap on the street (6) - {BE{H}E}{ST} Tap and H ?
19 - Fish part is cut with a bit of oil in Norway (6) - {TARP*}{O}{N}

23 - One in an ethnic community in Italy has a disease (8) - BER{I}BER{I}
24 - Scared to be alone in the beginning in the French capital at four (6) - A{F}RAID Anno eludes me
26 - Abandoned side favoured the sudden movement (4,2,3,5) - {LEFT} {IN} {THE} {LURCH}
DOWN
1 - I yell aloud that it is cold (8) - ICECREAM (~i scream) Should be (3-5) or (3,5)
2 - Mark the location (4) - SPOT [DD]
3 - This system has a point (6) - METRIC [E]
4 - Leaderless mob, severely injured out in the city on the opposite side (7) - (-m){OB}{VERSE(-ely)}
5 - Do nothing in an administration covering the regular agendas (8) - STA{G}{N}{A}TE
6 - Left George in a position holding the hard, half head of the turtle (10) - {L}{OGGER{H}E}{(-he)AD}

12 - Scholar and a couple of learners aim to scribble in the beginning with pens (10) - {BA}{LL}{POINT}{S}
15 - Refers to the companies (8) - CONCERNS [DD]
17 - Gas absent in the first-rate lantern (3,5) - T?? LIGHT (Addendum - {TOP} LIGHT Don't know how though) (Correction thanks to Maddy - TOP (-f)LIGHT)
18 - Cardamom is good in Chile for its variety (7) - EL{AI}CHI* No indication about language
20 - Apes are at the Spanish borders of the eateries (6) - {AT}{EL}{ES}

25 - Uncommon part of an umbra region (4) - RARE [T]
Wednesday, 16 December 2009
Emerging 'isms' of the 21st. Century
Just a few humorous ones in jest, with malice to none!!
Cheers,
Emerging 'isms' of the 21st. Century.
INFOSYSism
You have a 1000 poor cows. You put them on a nice campus, & send them one at a time to the US for milking.
WIPROism
GE has a cow. You take 49% of the milk.
SATYAMism
You have a cow. You have its milk. But don't know what to do with it!
DELLism
Intel has a Goat. Samsung has a Camel. Buy milk from both & sell it as Cow's milk.
IBMism
You have old stubborn cows. You sell them as pet dogs to innocent small businessmen.
MICROSOFTism
You have a cow. Force the world to buy milk from you. Spend a million dollars to feed poorer cows.
SUNism
You have a bull. It doesn't give milk. You hate Microsoft.
ORACLEism
You have a cow. You don't know which side to milk, so you sell tools to help milk cows.
SAPism
You don't have a cow You sell milking solutions for cows implemented by milking consultants.
APPLEism
You have a cow. You sell iMilk.
SONYism
You have a cow. You spend $50 mn to develop the world's thinnest milk.
CITIBANKism
Welcome to Citibank. If you have a cow, press 1. If you have a bull, press 2...stay on line if you'd like our customer care to milk it for you.
HPism
You don't know if what you have is a cow. You sell complete milking solutions through authorised resellers only.
GEism
You have a donkey. People think you have a 100-year old cow. If someone finds out, that's his imagination at work.
RELIANCEism
You don't yet have a cow. You sell empty cans to people for Rs. 501, because Dhirubhai wanted everyone to have milk.
TATAism
You have a very old cow. You re-brand it as TATA Indicow.
The Confused Times
PARSIism
You are an Indian Cow, with 1000yrs. of History in the land.
You still proclaim you are a Persian Cow; a direct descendent 'Cyrus the Great' and expect the 'Diaspora Parsi to believe this BULL!
N0 9715, Wednesday 16 Dec 09, Nita Jaggi
ACROSS
7 - Stripped to the waist maybe, for some horsemen (8) - BAREBACK [DD]
9 - Sensation of a light mattress let out half dry (6) - T{ICK}LE* Anno pending
11 - Plastic film (9) - CELLULOID [DD]
12 - Social outcast has a device when the Vatican left for Portugal (5) - LE(-v+p)ER
13 - Covering the woman in a gathering (6) - {SHE}{AT}H H from ?
14 - Top view of these patterns (5,3) - BIRDS EYE [CD]
17 - Sworn voluntary document that may serve as evidence in court! (9) - AFFIDAVIT [E]
22 - Fail to check the mistake made! (8) - OVERLOOK [E]
23 - Stick firmly on the notice at this place (6) - {AD}{HERE}
25 - Woman’s garment fastened around the waist (5) - SKIRT [CD]
27 - Persuaded the party for the French wine in the last month in retrospect (9) - {CON}{VIN}{CED<-} )
28 - Wine bottle initially made of silver is for the miners (6) - {M}{AG}NUM Anno pending
29 - Same type of byproduct in wine (8) - CONGENER [DD]
DOWN
1 - Shake off the basic kind of a leading element (7) - ABSCIS*{E}
2 - Yet to serve up the covered small bread in the food lift (7) - T{ROLL}EY <- )
3 - Runaway southern birds (5) - (S}{COOT}
4 - Invoice with double lines (4) - {BI}{LL}
5 - Team’s head jumper (7) - SKIPPER [DD]
6 - Levels of doctorates (7) - DEGREES [DD]
8 - Ample supply for an American man in the United Nations is fruitful without the French character (9) - {BO}{UN}{TIFUL(-fru)*}
10 - Maid works for the soldiers and the lieutenant head commander (7) - {ADMI*}{RA}{L}
15 - Reducing the air for the fish following the start of daybreak (9) - {D}{WIND}{LING}
16 - That’s what a couple undergoes when split! (7) - DIVORCE [E]
18 - Use up the company menus freely (7) - {CO}{NSUME*}
19 - Is up for instance dividing the group of workers to hem in (7) - BESIEGE Anno pending
20 - Danger signals on an endless sandy shore in Ohio is not specific (7) - BEAC(-h){O}{NS}
21 - Sign the last section of alternatives for the sellers (7) - {V}{END}{ORS}
24 - Have fun with the European leader, is the one out to perhaps join the party at last (5) - {E}{NJ}{O}{Y} O from?
26 - Thank you note is in good condition (4) - TRUE Anno pending
GRID