1 - Someone extraordinary moving head to the farthest sees lady-killers (7) - (-s)MASHER(+s)S
9 - Pain at sound of shot (5) - THROE(~throw)
10 - Girl after girl, clever — no amateur — within reach (9) - {AVA}{ILA}{
11 - A Western director caught by true film (3,4) - {R{A}{W} {D}EAL}
12 - Spike Miss with what you may use to keep warm (7) - {EAR}{MUFF}
14 - Fashionable coed odd — odd displaying impolite behaviour (9) - {IN}{DECO*}{RUM}
16 - Singers putting act back among those who shout (9) - {Y{OD}ELLERS}
19 - I, in Paris, almost OK — I am highly valued (5) - {JE}{WEL
21 - Look to figure in elaborate scene in corral (7) - {ENC{LO}SE*}
23 - Understanding map they charted anew (7) - EMPATHY*
24 - Police team acting against gamblers jams vehicle (4,5) - {VICE S}{QUAD}
25 - Follow scent (5) - TRACE [DD]
26 - Dozing when cover is drawn back (6) - {AS}{LEEP<-}
27 - Most secret way, after having raked meticulously (7) - {DARKE*}{ST}
DOWN
1 - Which entitles expectant mothers to be off (9,5) - MATERNITY LEAVE [CD]
2 - Men in drink turn higher (5,2) - {S{CREW} UP}
3 - The chosen have me (new) replacing conservative leader in group (7) - {ELE(-c+me)ME{N}T}
4 - Measure for pygmies? (5,4) - SMALL SIZE [CD]
5 - Cheer the church dignitary who is putting out press release (5) -
6 - Kind of intake that dieters avoid (7) - CALORIC [CD]
7 - Dub user turning out to be champion (7) - SUBDUER*
8 - Occupation in which one is one's own boss (4,10) - SELF EMPLOYMENT [CD]
15 - Indeed, small corps on tip moved down (9) - {DE{S}{C}{END}ED}
17 - Prepares by boiling for two short months before the onset of summer (7) - {DEC}{OCT}{S}
18 - Glance after glance in quick survey (4-3) - {LOOK}-{SEE}
19 - Just way-out tripe propagated on planet (7) - {JU
22 - Fit bloke finally taking a joke (5) - {E}{QUIP}
Hi ev'ry-buddy:
ReplyDeleteA mixed bag. EXCISE (dual sense well used), THROE (good homophone), AVAILABLE ( a rare combination of a western and an Indian name, took time to figure out), RAW DEAL, EARMUFF, INPUT (liked this), YODELLERS (good clue; those with an affinity for US spellings could have got it as YODELERS), DECOCTS, JUPITER and others - really enjoyable. LOOK-SEE was also nice.
Hi
ReplyDeleteThe first clue was a (-S)MASHER(+S) ! Actually, all of them were. Let us LOOK SEE: Would joking on the internet qualify as an E-QUIP. Both 26a and 27a before dawn ? Do those in SELF EMPLOYMENT get MATERNITY LEAVE as per Labour laws ? I had an ELEMENT of doubt, does the VICE SQUAD have any EMPATHY with a vice president, or if in the navy, a Vice Admiral. Can we call it the “better police” a la the fashion police or the culture police. I did SCREW UP on AVAILABLE initially, as I had put in PROXIMATE without getting the full anno and trying to work it out. DECOCTS reminded of the favourite “Decoction coffee”. I almost did THROE in the towel for this word, but it was no RAW DEAL.
Got SELF EMPLOYMENT and MATERNITY LEAVE just on surface reading.
ReplyDeleteRepeating yesterday late evening post:
ReplyDeleteA crossword clue for my mathematically inclined friends (requires a five step reasoning/equation):
Five steps referred above is in its most expanded version. Some steps could be truncated/merged.
Reversed bed for the ex British PM (5)
In the puzzle forum, this was worded as: Prove that a reverse bed is an ex British Prime Minister.
aha! Looks like Gridman decided that enuf was enuf. :) Much tougher offering today, but also more satisfying. Some really tough clues in the mix. Used more online help than usual. I'm still stuck on 1A 9A 2D 3D... hopefully it will come to me in a bit. Also, haven't quite nailed the anno on a couple...
ReplyDeletewill check back in a bit. :)
Nice cartoon for 1A. Is it from the Archie's comics?
ReplyDeleteRegarding cartoon for 16a, similar concept in
ReplyDeleteFilm
Time I used the concept of cartoon in 8d !
ReplyDelete20 - Power dissipation Bob brought out in time (7) - WATT{AGE}
ReplyDeleteMy take :
Dissipation = WASTAGE
Bob = S (British Shilling)
out = WA(-s)TAGE
in time = WA(-s)(+T)TAGE
Power = WATTAGE.
Wattage has me foxed. Enjoyable cw today
ReplyDeleteGood one Bhavan
ReplyDeleteHow about {WA(-S)(+T)TAGE
ReplyDeleteOH! Bhavan beat me
ReplyDeleteI had to be away from the internet while solving this xwd which meant I couldn't verify my answers using a dictionary. As a result, most of the grid was penciled in lightly. When I eventually did come back and had an access to the resources, I found out I was right on target for the most part, except that I had a screw up with SCREW UP. I had it as a scale up and so Throe didn't fall into place, either.
ReplyDeleteOn the whole, an enjoyable puzzle.
Suresh said,
ReplyDeleteOH! Bhavan beat me .
Why? What did you do Suresh?
Sorry Sureshgaru, had to take that cheap shot. :-)
:))
ReplyDeleteHari
ReplyDeleteI liked your comment above. I like your mentioning which clues held you up for a longer time.
I like your continuing with the crossword until you get the answers without looking at the answers or even the comments posted here earlier.
That's the best way to improve our skill in crossword solving. Select one crossword and do it regularly; don't give up until you're able to get the answers; if any answer is elusive look it up after a certain self-allotted time (here in case it's THC) or the solution grid the next day and study intensely and passionately how these answers are derived. Do dictionary work if necessary but this blog saves you that pother.
I have done this for years, nay, decades.
Some of us can help others if necessary. Like Bhavan pitching in with his anno for WATTAGE. Or Rishi elsewhere:
http://fifteensquared.net/2010/10/10/beelzebub-1075/
...That's the best way to improve our skill in crossword solving. Select one crossword and do it regularly; don't give up until you're able to get the answers; if any answer is elusive look it up after a certain self-allotted time (here in case it's THC) or the solution grid the next day and study intensely and passionately how these answers are derived. Do dictionary work if necessary...
ReplyDeleteAmen. That's the gospel to live by for any crossword solver. Thanks CVasi.
Deepak
ReplyDeleteYour selection of cartoons is superb and I enjoy following the links that you provide in this regard.
Your dedication to THC (with its varied standards), your sticking to the 8:30 schedule, your publication of all the answers with annos and such other disciplined and thoughtful actions are the reasons for the popularity of your blog.
Thanks.
Deepak, I am fully in agreement with CV 09:09.
ReplyDeleteGreat work
@Colonel:
ReplyDeleteCVasi @ 09:09 has probably covered every single point why this blog is what it is.
I just want to add that your attention to detail in responding to every comment and question here is what I like most.
Thanks Suresh & CV,
ReplyDeleteThis has now become an obsession and I am restless if I don't do it, luckily for me the days that I was offline a couple of weeks ago,it was NJ's round, so I didn't mind, as it gave me a good break.
Though at times it becomes a race against time especially on NJ days when a lot of time is wasted thinking whether it is this or is it that?
I am also glad that this blog has become a meeting place for some healthy discussion and light banter.
ReplyDeleteCV 09:09 and Suresh 09:13
ReplyDeleteDITTO, DITTO, DITTO...
Especially so because of the amount of effort and concentration involved in putting the annos in order, with one hell of a lot of html commands.
No flattery, but it simply defies words.
Thanks Bhavan & Richard,
ReplyDeleteBeing retired I have all the time to do so.
:)
ReplyDeleteBeing retired I have all the time to do so.
ReplyDeleteBut, Deepak, you're not re-tired.
Maybe rewired
ReplyDelete3 cheers for the Director General. Yes, DG, it does become an obsession, nay, addiction. That is why I have started taking it cool: for de addiction.
ReplyDeleteI go with my dear Hari on todays offering. Yodellers is a new word for me. got stuck with available as i am not clear about names...Wattage is also a bit tough. But i dint screwed up..
ReplyDelete@CV
Thanks for your encouraging words that would help the learners like me and hari ( hope hari dont mind this). But what to do? when the top of the puzzle reads gridman naturally we are hopeful of ending in a pleasant tone. If that has not happened we are disappointed a bit.
Regarding words I tend to rely sometimes on Rogets. How do we use dictionary effectively the problem is not with the meaning but with the annos. Especially i have to go a long way in association of names "especially ladies". This blog helped me a lot in finding some of the "key" or alternate words and i am a improved lot now a days with only a handful of clues left unfilled.
Gridman and Sankalak helped me to boost my confidence of smiling at a full grid some time. I know and i will keep trying for ever.
Good day
Mathu
wow! came back after wrestling futilely with the first quadrant. What can I say... I was blown away by the ensuing posts. For a change, it was less about the CW clues, and more about appreciating people who deserve appreciation! :)
ReplyDelete@ CVsir 9:02 - Thank YOU, for your encouraging words and advice.
@ Col all:times - :) Thx for all the help I've recd. from your blog, explicit and otherwise. Thx for maintaining this blog diligently thro' the years... for making the effort to hunt down cartoons and links to make the morning more pleasurable. :) I think we all know how hard it is to stick with a routine like this... especially on days when it seems like a thankless job! :)
@ Richard, VJ, Bhavan, Mathu, Suresh, Kishore and numerous others - Thx for promptly responding to my questions and providing annos for obscure clues (WATTAGE anyone?!) :-) It was one of those clues where I couldn't figure out the anno even though I knew I got the right word! :)
Anyway, that's that! Gotta go run some errands. Before I go, my likes for today:
RAW DEAL - Took me a while. I kept thinking RE{D ..}AL something. RED DAWN was stuck in my head. Finally figured it!
SMALL SIZE - I'd penned it as SMALL TIME (time = measure), but it didn't change the crossings.
LOOK-SEE - Clever!
WATTAGE - A bit 'too' clever for me! :)
DECOCTS - Neat! New word for me.
JEWEL - French 'I'! Foxy! :)
Cheers all!
@ Mathu 10:40 - I don't mind at all. :) A spade by any other name is a spade. Same holds for a learner. ;-)
ReplyDeleteHari, thanks for putting me on that list. Well nothing's beyond anybody, you know. There would soon come a time when we'd all be breaking our heads trying to figure out the anno for some complex clue and you'd come out with your lucid explanation, making the rest of go "a ha!" You doing great, pal.
ReplyDeleteKishore
ReplyDeleteFollowing our exchanges on an abbr. in Orkut: The Hindu Crossword Solutions, here's a clue that is in today HT/The Times puzzle:
Following the difficult route, like GM protesters? (7,3,5)
CV @ 9:30
ReplyDeleteI'm definitely 'tyred' round my waist !!
Deepak, that is the only case where 'retreading' is not feasible !
ReplyDeleteIn fact, it happens to everyone after 40 - all food going to 'waist'...
If YODELLERS was a new word to a few, it comes as no surprise. Because the yodelling art in singing originated from the Alpine folk music.
ReplyDeleteArguably, in India, only the late Hindi playback singer KISHORE KUMAR (original name: Abhas Kumar Ganguly, his namesake in this forum would vouch for it) perfected this art. If at all any others in India who have ever done yodelling well enough to be heard they were all Kishore clones or those specialized in Kishore's songs.
Kishore has been known for many songs which had yodelling in them. For those interested, I would specially recommend two songs, my all-time favourites:
1. Main hoon jhum jhum jhum jhum jhumroo LYRICS
2. ZindagI Ek safar hai suhAnA, yahAn kal kyA hO, kisnE JAnA LYRICS
Giving the Internet links to music tracks might amount to copyright violation, as someone had cautioned here some time ago. But they are available in Google.
The first one was the title song was from his home production Jhumroo and the second from the movie Andaaz.
ReplyDeleteRichard
ReplyDeleteThanks on Yodellers. I needed it very much.
CV, that is completely against the grain !
ReplyDeleteAs far as I know the first one to yodell is JB Chnadrababu.
ReplyDeleteS.Muthaiah
Yes, this topic did come up in the talk (during Madras Week celebrations) on Chandrababu who was famous for yodelling in Tamil film songs.
ReplyDeleteKishore Kumar's name too was mentioned.
But I am sorry I don't remember in whose name the question was resolved.
I still could not understand tha anno for 12 Ac. I need someones help.
ReplyDeleteWikipaedia article on Chandrababu says it was Chandrababu who yodelled on the screen before Kishore.
ReplyDeleteTrivia
Ear is spike like an ear of corn
ReplyDeleteMuff like muff a catch means miss
I concede I am not the first.
ReplyDeleteMuthaiah
ReplyDeleteSpike = EAR (Spike/Ear of grain)
Miss = MUFF
what you may use to keep warm - {EAR}{MUFF}
how 'odd displaying' = rum?
ReplyDeleteSubramaniam
ReplyDeleteodd = RUM
1630 My name I typed instead of Randar Guy.
ReplyDeleteThanks CV, Suresh and Col.
Subramaniam
ReplyDeleteOdd = Rum see RUM
May I know if the 'muthiah' commenting in this blog is the famous journalist S Muthiah?
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI second Hari about the last few of Gridman's offerings -- they have been enjoyable without being too easy with many anagrams. I haven't finished any, per se, but I usually have about half or two-thirds solved; a few others with reasonable guesses but without the confidence to put them down on paper (although they usually turn out right eventually), and that's because there are the last three or four which I have no idea about because it involves British slang. (WATTAGE Bob, for example.) But learning something new everyday is something I like.
ReplyDeleteSudalamani, I have been wondering about the same thing.
And I think Mr. Muthiah does not refer to himself as a journalist but a "chronicler of the city of Madras that is Chennai." ;-)
Sudalamani, I wikied the name out of curiosity. The page mentions that S. Muthiah, the one you're referring to, was born in the year 1930
ReplyDeleteMuthiah, one who comments on this blog, participated in the Sloggers & Bloggers meet, which happened this August. I was there too and to me, he didn't look like somebody who was born in the year 1930.
I'm sorry if I've jumped to the wrong conclusion.
Chaturvasi, I was there for the talk on Chandrababu and I'm quite certain that Mr. Mohan Raman said CB had, on record, yodelled before Kishore Kumar!
ReplyDeleteIf you do not react he would have yelled
ReplyDeleteNavneeth
ReplyDeleteYes, it is the same Muthiah that I am talking about! - the one who charmed me with his "When the postman knocked" column some years back. A column still appears in the Hindu.
VJ
Oh, I also think you may be right, as the person I am referring to has an extra 'a' in his name. By the way, can you give me details regarding this meet? Who are the participants and what is the cycle duration? Thanks :)
Sudalamani, after I posted the comment I checked Chaturvasi's blog where he has photos of the meet. It's not S. Muthiah, the chronicler.
ReplyDeleteNavneeth
ReplyDeleteSaw the photos myself now. VJ seems to be the youngest of the lot! Congrats VJ!
Re Kishore and yodelling
ReplyDeleteIf at all, someone, say Chandrababu, had adopted the yodelling art in singing much before Kishore, I stand corrected and my apologies.
It was my intention to add a note to that post saying, "Please correct me if I am wrong" but somehow missed it out. I would certainly like to hear a Tamil song in yodelling style. Threads, anyone?
I think both Chandra Babu and Kishore Kumar copied yodelling from the legendary singer [late] Danny Kaye.Danny Kaye used to sing Chidren's songs and was Ambassador for UNICEF
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThe initials are the same and the name almost similar.
ReplyDeleteI can confirm that our commenter and the Madras chronicler are different.
There is 'a' difference in the way they spell their names.
The commenter attended our S & B meeting. I have met the historian often at the Madras Book Club meetings and sometimes I have shaken hands with him.
Hey
ReplyDeleteSomeone offers me the blue pill at 61 per cent off. What should I do?
Some details about the last S & B meeting
ReplyDeleteThanks for coming to the S and B meeting.
As scheduled earlier, the assembly point was the home of C. G. Rishikesh aka Chaturvasi, co-owner and moderator of the highly active, five-year-old, 1250-member-strong Orkut community, The Hindu Crossword Solutions.
Most of the participants first came here, among them crossworder Gita Iyer of Granite Bay, CA, USA, now on a visit to Chennai, and Col. Deepak Gopinath, whose blog The Hindu Crossword Corner has a devoted following with some enlightened members regularly exchanging annotations, explanations, tidbits and nostalgia in the Comments section. The Colonel, who lives in Bangalore, had specially come to Chennai on a quick trip for the purpose.
Others included Dr. D. Srinivasan, who rescheduled his departure for Denmark to be able to be present at the meeting, and C. G. Bhargav, owner of another Orkut community, Crosswordmania, which solves a variety of crosswords.
Bottles of Robert Mondavi (Chardonnay and Merlot, 2005), which were brought by the gracious hostess Gita Iyer from California, were opened and a toast was raised not only to the health of those present but other regulars of the Community and the blog. Among the refereshmets were Mary See's candies.
Later the participants adjourned to a restaurant in Mylapore for lunch. There they were joined by some other devoted followers of the Hindu feature. An agreeable 90 minutes were spent in conversation. It was animated but straight - without the devious wordplay that goes into the warp and woof of crosswords. A couple of the participants displayed the crossword mementoes that they had saved over the years.
A couple of others such as Dr R Pankajam, who had prior engagements, dropped in at the restaurant to be able to meet up with the organisers. Testifying to the fact that crosswords appeal to a broad spectrum of newspaper readers, the participants were from different walks of life: a retired journalist, a retired army officer, professionals from computer, textile and airconditioning & refrigeration industries, businessmen and doctors.
CV: Discount the discounted product. Blue lagoon may be better
ReplyDelete