I must doff my hat (let me see if it's the cap that I am wearing at present) to Buzzer for creating this puzzle.
In India the chances of getting your crosswords are very slim. Why? Because most newspapers just use syndicated crosswords (I heard from a UK source quite recently that the payment that each puzzle gets from the local agency is a pittance: I say that if this was what a UK setter would originally get for a puzzle, they would not set it in the first place; this pittance is what the syndicate gets after having made most money from the same puzzle by repeated selling over the years).
Secondly, newspaper editors are still in the old mindset that there are few setters in our own country. They are not alive to fresh winds blowing and they are not ready to explore and tap and encourage talent in crossword-setting.
Finally, even if they want to carry original crosswords, there is nobody on the staff to evaluate and judiciously use crosswords.
Under such circumstances, if someone sets a crossword - that too a barred one like this - and offers it for free, it must be for love of the wordgame and a generous spirit to share joy with friends.
Done. A couple of annos unsure. Nostalgia for CV and DD built in. Liked every (-B)uzzer clue. Liked the way a detailed word when filled in appears in its original form due to neighbouring word. Loved the ref to Sylvester.
CV 1038: Chalta hai. Arre yaar, Hindi mein socho, tum sub edit karte ho!
Yes, 3d is great, after the setter has pulled wool over your eyes for some time, and you finally get the answers, you feel like you have lost the first two letters of this answer.
I can't think of any other instance where an Indian composer has used the barred grid for his/her published crossword. Anyone know?
Many clues are very good. Slight criticism may be made of a word here or there (I don't like the use of the word 'soon' in 35a, for example. Or the wordplay of 7d seems familiar) but overall it's a commendable effort.
In the UK such grids are usually used for advanced cryptics but occasionally it is used for a plain puzzle as well. I would think that this is a plain barred, unless Buzzer has tucked away a Nina that we haven't yet spotted.
I understand, Suresh. I took the opportunity to write about use of the barred grid. I too am not a big fan of that. I rarely solve puzzles using that type of grid.
Kishore (from today's comments under yesterday's blog) If you are talking of the two-in one crossword that DH publishes, it's a UK syndicate. I remember the grid using checked letters liberally (with fewer blocks than usual)- as you say many answers will appear by themselves as you enter solutions of others.
It was my first barred puzzle so I let the software do most of the work (grid pattern and auto filling the words). The only thing I can take credit for is rejecting some of the grids with words that were even more obscure than in this.
Although Kishore in his inimitable style unearthed a few patterns, there wasn't any conscious attempt on my part. Lets put it down to sheer dumb luck the way 15A,16A and 25A, 26D appeared to be linked.
For 1D, I had an exclamation mark at the end of the clue instead of the ital. But then I thought that looked self-congratulatory. So instead ...er... looks like I did the same unwanted thing in a different way. No wonder they say 'a pat on the back is hardly any distance from a kick in the ...'
Clearing up some obscure refs in above mails and what has been referred to by the Sting Operator (which I had not shared above):
The Sylvester ref I made was to the cat burglar (!) who usually grabs Tweety of the "I Tawt I Taw A Puddy Tat" fame.
I loved several other things about this CW:
Snow leopard braving it in the ice storm. A smaller CAT elbowing out the ounce from the corner. The hidden mountain in the second row. The detailed zulu ref. The de-creasing use.
The fourth row says it all. i knitted my BROW, i was NUTS, but what the HELL.
It was not a lit or semilit silver medal effort. It was zimbly superb.
Just received this from Buzzer
ReplyDeleteA barred grid from our Buzzer! Wow!
ReplyDelete24d DENOTE*
27d ORCHID*
30d IRIS I[ng]R[av]I[ta]S
23D {AC{IDI}C}
ReplyDelete28A ICE STORM*
35A PREDECEASED*
CV
ReplyDelete30D needs to be corrected to
GAIA
G[-r]A[-v]I[-t]A[-s]
12D motility
ReplyDelete14D jereboam
26D atmans (-b)atman's
Deepak
ReplyDeleteThe perils of cold-solving! Thanks for the correction.
12d MOTILITY*
ReplyDelete28a ICE STORM*
35a PREDECEASED*
Will now proceed to Excel it. Thanks, Buzzer.
I get three more ;-)
ReplyDelete2a SNOW LEOPA* RD
ReplyDeleteBeautiful, the animal and the clue.
22d A BID ED
ReplyDelete7D PEA HEN
I must doff my hat (let me see if it's the cap that I am wearing at present) to Buzzer for creating this puzzle.
ReplyDeleteIn India the chances of getting your crosswords are very slim. Why? Because most newspapers just use syndicated crosswords (I heard from a UK source quite recently that the payment that each puzzle gets from the local agency is a pittance: I say that if this was what a UK setter would originally get for a puzzle, they would not set it in the first place; this pittance is what the syndicate gets after having made most money from the same puzzle by repeated selling over the years).
Secondly, newspaper editors are still in the old mindset that there are few setters in our own country. They are not alive to fresh winds blowing and they are not ready to explore and tap and encourage talent in crossword-setting.
Finally, even if they want to carry original crosswords, there is nobody on the staff to evaluate and judiciously use crosswords.
Under such circumstances, if someone sets a crossword - that too a barred one like this - and offers it for free, it must be for love of the wordgame and a generous spirit to share joy with friends.
*read: "getting your crosswords published are..."
ReplyDelete16A {NUT}{SHELL}
ReplyDelete29A A{TT}IRING
11D SILVER MEDAL (CD)
14D jereboam
ReplyDeletetypo: JEROBOAM (DD)
26D Typo in the clue: Instead of Ruce Wayne it should be Bruce Wayne (Batman).
ReplyDeleteNo - the missing B is deliberate. -B for atman
ReplyDeleteDone. A couple of annos unsure. Nostalgia for CV and DD built in. Liked every (-B)uzzer clue. Liked the way a detailed word when filled in appears in its original form due to neighbouring word. Loved the ref to Sylvester.
ReplyDeleteLiked the way a detailed word when filled in appears in its original form due to neighbouring word.
ReplyDeleteWhat I mean is the first letter of the second word is the letter deleted from the first word.
33a, as so many others, is quite good.
ReplyDeleteAah, CV has identified with 33a.
ReplyDeleteDD is still playing hide and seek.
ReplyDeleteLiked the way a detailed word when filled in appears in its original form due to neighbouring word.
ReplyDelete---
Kishore, I appreciated this only after you noted it. You're too keen. Do you ever need to use the razor?
Kishore
ReplyDeleteYou're wrong! I edit, not subedit! No underwhelming ever!
Take 3d: Any setter can be proud of such a clue.
ReplyDeleteCV 1038: Chalta hai. Arre yaar, Hindi mein socho, tum sub edit karte ho!
ReplyDeleteYes, 3d is great, after the setter has pulled wool over your eyes for some time, and you finally get the answers, you feel like you have lost the first two letters of this answer.
CV: 1036: Only Occam's.
ReplyDeleteRegarding suits, nothing suits like a suit as Barney Stinson says.
Liked the Modus Operandi of another clue too.
ReplyDeleteYou're too keen.
ReplyDeleteYes, I am tooken.
In the lyrics of Hey Goodlooking, Hank Williams uses the word 'tooken' for rhyming with 'lookin' '
and meaning 'taken / took'.
http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/hey-good-lookin%27-lyrics-hank-williams/41c5c510db0fe56c48256e70002412a0
1D cat burglars
ReplyDelete4d wren (ched)
ReplyDelete2D Smyrna
ReplyDelete31A Mace
ReplyDelete3D outwit
ReplyDeleteDG, Free for all now?
ReplyDelete9A S MO UR (heart of LURE)
ReplyDelete10A ALL EG ES
13A RAJ A(<-)
DD 1122, I Tawt I Taw A Puddy Tat, ref to Sylvester in my 946
ReplyDeleteDid not expect this crossword. So logged in routinely around 10 am. and got through.
ReplyDeleteWhile CV wowed the barred grid. I did not enjoy the grid, though I enjoyed solving the clues. Requires more concentration I felt
Suresh, Typo in 1148: 9a A MO UR
ReplyDeleteThe MO is the modus operandi ref to in 1054.
Tks for the correction Kishore. My left hand makes a number of errors
ReplyDeleteYes, I wowed the barred grid.
ReplyDeleteI can't think of any other instance where an Indian composer has used the barred grid for his/her published crossword. Anyone know?
Many clues are very good. Slight criticism may be made of a word here or there (I don't like the use of the word 'soon' in 35a, for example. Or the wordplay of 7d seems familiar) but overall it's a commendable effort.
In the UK such grids are usually used for advanced cryptics but occasionally it is used for a plain puzzle as well. I would think that this is a plain barred, unless Buzzer has tucked away a Nina that we haven't yet spotted.
I didn't understand the wordplay of AMOUR until it was mentioned here. But I didn't think too hard lest my brain should hurt!
ReplyDeleteShould words 'decreasing' and 'petty' have been italicised? A cryptic clue has a cryptic element and so why this emphasis?
ReplyDeleteKishore 11:54.
ReplyDeleteA good software can take care of that! All the work (and plaudits or brickbats arising therefrom) is in the writing of the clues.
For CV My comment on the grid does not mean I did not enjoy the crossword. I loved it.
ReplyDeleteDeepak. Kishore is eagerly waiting for "further instructions"
ReplyDeleteI understand, Suresh. I took the opportunity to write about use of the barred grid. I too am not a big fan of that. I rarely solve puzzles using that type of grid.
ReplyDeleteYes, Suresh, waiting to contribute my Morse-l.
ReplyDelete20A {GALA}{HAD} ~night
ReplyDelete21D ARTHUR
33A SU{BED}IT
Kishore @ 11:48
ReplyDeleteNo free for all as yet as lot of visitors may not know about this CW since I had put in a post at 7 that there will be no CW today.
Boo Hoo Kishore
ReplyDeleteKishore's 11:48 is, I presume, because DD jumped the gun
ReplyDeleteApologies - I took the remainder list as being the starting gun!
ReplyDeleteMea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa!
@David(9:05): Thanks!
ReplyDeleteKishore
ReplyDelete(from today's comments under yesterday's blog)
If you are talking of the two-in one crossword that DH publishes, it's a UK syndicate.
I remember the grid using checked letters liberally (with fewer blocks than usual)- as you say many answers will appear by themselves as you enter solutions of others.
Diwali greetings to all.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the feedback.
It was my first barred puzzle so I let the software do most of the work (grid pattern and auto filling the words). The only thing I can take credit for is rejecting some of the grids with words that were even more obscure than in this.
Although Kishore in his inimitable style unearthed a few patterns, there wasn't any conscious attempt on my part. Lets put it down to sheer dumb luck the way 15A,16A and 25A, 26D appeared to be linked.
For 1D, I had an exclamation mark at the end of the clue instead of the ital. But then I thought that looked self-congratulatory. So instead ...er... looks like I did the same unwanted thing in a different way. No wonder they say 'a pat on the back is hardly any distance from a kick in the ...'
Also 11D Silver medal was an attempt at a &lit or a semi &lit with (derive small)*. Looks like it didn't come off well.
ReplyDeleteClearing up some obscure refs in above mails and what has been referred to by the Sting Operator (which I had not shared above):
ReplyDeleteThe Sylvester ref I made was to the cat burglar (!) who usually grabs Tweety of the "I Tawt I Taw A Puddy Tat" fame.
I loved several other things about this CW:
Snow leopard braving it in the ice storm.
A smaller CAT elbowing out the ounce from the corner.
The hidden mountain in the second row.
The detailed zulu ref.
The de-creasing use.
The fourth row says it all. i knitted my BROW, i was NUTS, but what the HELL.
It was not a lit or semilit silver medal effort.
It was zimbly superb.
Simply superb puzzle. Thanks Buzzer and Col for putting this up. Had a crack at it quite late today. Here's 3 from my list:
ReplyDelete15A BROW (brown -n)
18A RAITA (atria*)
32A HYDE [T]
Aah, DD's 32a has popped in.
ReplyDeleteDG, 21d posted by Mathi at 1243.
ReplyDelete5D LAZULI
ReplyDeleteKrishnan,
ReplyDeleteThe anno is {LA}{ZUL(-u)}{I}
@kishore
ReplyDeleteMy park of choice is St James Park - but have enjoyed some very lazy days in Hyde. Also very much liked the Lodhi Gardens last week
Standing on packing cases ?
ReplyDeleteAh - if I got on my soapbox, I might never get off
ReplyDelete19A IRON ORE
ReplyDeleteIf I am on a soapbox, I will be...
ReplyDelete...bubbling.
Grid with solution will be added to the main post tomorrow morning, so there is time till then for someone to have a go at the remaining 5 answers.
ReplyDeleteLate to the party and filling in the blanks, if I may.
ReplyDelete6D: ELATER (CD&D)
8D: {RE}AL(-t)ER
25A: (-can)TAB(-ile) (-h)OR(-n)
Nicely done by Buzzer and quite inspiring really, to see a barred grid from one of our own.
Last two
ReplyDelete17A & 34A
34A AIRED(~I heard)[dd]
ReplyDeleteSumitra,
ReplyDelete34A is INDIA (I for India)
The anno for 34Ac for me was last in as it took me a while to get the 'heard on the radio' reference to the NATO phonetic alphabet. That leaves 17Ac..
ReplyDeleteCol & Veer
ReplyDeleteThank you