Friday 19 March 2010

No 9794, Friday 19 Mar 10, M Manna

Bye to Manna and it's Neyartha for Saturday & Monday
ACROSS
1 - Possibly a hangman's noose? (7) - {NECK}{TIE}
5 - Making the waiting well worthwhile (7) - OVERTIP [CD]
9 - Twists and runs aground (7) - STRANDS [DD]
10 - A float with a baited hook and line for an angler (7) - TRIMMER ?
11 - Sapper admits sick in a small trench (5) - R{ILL}E
12 - Pins tress arranged for single girls (9) - SPINSTERS*
13 - An impoverished man — one cannot follow better! (9) - {MEND}{I}{CANT}
15 - Leapt around a corolla leaf (5) - PETAL*
16 - Seal softly mashed material for pottery making (5) - PASTE [DD]
18 - Capital fellowsin pairs as required (9) - PARISIANS*
21 - Citadel taking a cut and turning over store (9) - {A}{CROP}{OLIS<-} )
24 - A card to beat (5) - HEART [DD]
25 - States' alternative name — claim by Heather (7) - {AM}{ERICA}
26 - Dismiss with disgrace for his careless attitude (7) - CA{SHI*}ER*
27 - Carted away on time to reduce quantity (7) - {DETRAC*}{T}
28 - Gets rid of the sound of snow vehicles (7) - SLEIGHS (~slays)

DOWN
1 - No sound form of medication (7) - {NO}{STRUM}
2 - She maybe involved with carol singing in New York (7) - {CAROL}{YN*}
3 - Inner gate conceals mandarin (9) - TANGERINE*

4 - Becomes comfortable from pain (5) - EASES [CD]
5 - A clothier striking a craftsman (9) - {OUT}{FITTER}
6 - Improves text when tied up in quarter (5) - {EDIT*}{S}
7 - Play ‘Stormy weather' (7) - TEMPEST [DD]
8 - Mean also to arrange personal cover (7) - {PAR}{ASOL*}
14 - An appealing individual! (9) - APPELLANT [CD]
15 - So the taps can be turned very quickly (9) - POSTHASTE*
16 - Place a piece of stiff paper on the notice board (7) - {PL}{A}{CARD}
17 - Sent holding uneasy agent to catch a snake! (7) - SE{RPE*}NT
19 - Giant graduate involved in reducing weight (7) - A{BA}TING*
20 - Ridicules South Africa, tries diversification (7) - {SA}{TIRES*}
22 - She is the leading singer in an opera (5) - PRIMA [CD] I thought it was Prima Donna
23 - Plunders a Spanish town of white wines (5) - SACKS [DD] Sack is not a Spanish town!! See the various meanings at the link.

10 comments:

  1. Good morning all.

    Maybe we can say there were fewer errors today ?

    Put down 10A and 23D by way of guess. Liked the clue for MENDICANT.

    Richard

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  2. I may be late with tomorrow's post as I have to see of some YEZDI riders who are off on a ride to Horseley Hills and they are starting off from close to my house, moreover it's Neyartha.

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  3. Just read this post on yesterday's blog
    "Gridman and Manna seem to be birds of the same feather in giving lascivious clues like the one in 11ac".

    I am sure it must have been said in jest and a sense of friendly banter. Still, With due respect to the poster, I would like to put forth my take on this.

    I can't vouch for Manna (I don't solve his/her crosswords) but I've been solving Gridman's xwds regularly for little more than a year now and am yet to see a clue that can be termed 'lasvicious'. A bit naughty at times may be, but never ever in bad taste. Based on the discussions in this forum, I presume the following clues may have prompted the uncharitable comment.

    Six come to tourist city for sex therapist's suggestion (6) VIAGRA
    Open angry Nu's last letter I placed first (5) UNZIP
    A thin girl streaks in drizzle (5,4) LIGHT RAIN

    Contrast this with two much acclaimed clues (and rightfully so) I came across in the last few days in world renowned xwrds/forums ( I could reel off many more).

    German composer's rear needs to discharge explosive gas (9) Guardian 24959 (Paul)

    Hard member? Ms Lewinski gives head and the organ gets blown or sucked (9) DIY COW Clue writing competition.

    I rest my case.Like Mrs PP said in an earlier post - "Why, all the visitors to this blog are adults, aren't they?".I would like to believe that most here see the funny side of such chuckle inducing clues.Else, lets agree to disagree. Sincere apologies if this post or the quoted clues unintentionally offended anyone.

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  4. I think 22D could be this...

    Donna, the "she" is Prima the lead (in an opera).

    "She" and "singer in an opera" answer each other.

    So the definition = leading = PRIMA

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  5. LOL, funny post, Maddy. Clues were hilarious.

    I think prudishness is forgivable. After all it's a personal choice.

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  6. Today's puuzzle started off with 1 & 2 Ac Neck-tie and Overtip easily.

    3 Dn Mandarin set me thinking of official, then the anagram fodder 'Inner gate' gave the right answer.

    For 22 Dn, I penned in TOSCA and then corrected it after seeing the crossings.

    I could not solve 5 Dn and 10 Ac. For 5 Dn, I was tryig to find an anagram of 'A clothier' to mean a craftsman

    23 - Plunders a Spanish town of white wines (5) - SACKS
    Sack is an antiquated wine term referring to white fortified wine imported from mainland Spain or the Canary Islands.There were sack of different origins: (i) Canary sack from the Canary Islands, (ii) Malaga sack from Málaga, (iii) Palm sack from Palma de Mallorca, and (iv) Sherris sack from Jerez de la Frontera. It is this term - Sherris sack - that later gave way to Sherry as the English term for fortified wine from Jerez. "Sack" is commonly but not quite correctly quoted as an old synonym for Sherry.

    Sacking also refers to the looting or pillaging of a captured city or town. In general way, it refers to looting or plundering.

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  7. Being adults 'adult content' leaves no doubt in our minds and with maturity we have no reason to shy away from it is my contention. That does not mean I have no aversion to references with 'bad taste' which are clearly different from mild to strong naughtiness-something we chuckle at.

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  8. What we need to differentiate is between adult content and vulgar content. I would clearly brand the second clue quoted by Anish regarding Ms Lewinski as vulgar.

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  9. 'Necktie' was fun! Tastes do differ, and how! Let's just enjoy the beauty and the myriad hues of this lovely language.

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