Saturday 13 April 2013

No 10746, Saturday 13 Apr 13, xChequer

 It's one of those days today when the mind is blank. xChequer has me totally floored, not able to make any headway. Sorry for an almost blank CW. A couple of breaks also did not clear my mind.
ACROSS
1   A cricket batting order? (6) INSECT {IN}{SECT}
4   Marked pages in articles ripped apart (8) SCRAPPED {SCRA{P}PED} Pages? APPARENT {A}{PP}{A}{RENT} - See comments
10 Trash pile, rubbish in bad shape (9) SCRAPHEAP {S{CRAP}HEAP*}- See comments
11 Streetwalker wearing a new skirt (5) APRON {A{PRO}N} - See comments
12 Unreasonable limit (7) EXTREME [DD] - See comments
13 Event over, Oscar ceremony’s ending in a grand manner (7) ROYALLY {R{O}{Y}ALLY} - See comments
14 Enjoys insults (4) DIGS [DD] - See comments
15 Corrupt leader at trade union gets busted (10) ADULTERATE {LEADER+AT+TU}*
19 Appropriate pause at end of session does follow (10) COMMANDEER {COMMA}{N}{DEER}
20 Batsman’s first edge possibly bowler’s edge (4) BRIM {B}{RIM}
23 Point combined and developed (7) EMERGED {E}{MERGED}
26 Maybe bend and lock with secure code (7) HAIRPIN {HAIR}{PIN}
27 Express sorrow without energy or reverence (5) PIETY {PI{E}TY} - See comments
28 Ballroom reggae? (9) DANCEHALL [DD] - See comments
29 Ordered a number in demand (8)  NEATENED {NE{A}{TEN}ED}
30 Speaks complete sense at first (6) UTTERS {UTTER}{S}

DOWN
1   Seat contested and won by independent as a substitute (7) INSTEAD {IN{SEAT*}D} - See comments
2   Plan huge returns after shaky start (9) STRATAGEM {START*}{AGEM<=}
3   Secret message in rejected photograph referring to a lady (6) CIPHER {CIP<=}{HER}
5   Document copy, part of pair (5) PAPER {P{APE}R} - See comments
6   American carefully considered termination of holiday in New Zealand (8) ANALYZED {ANAL{Y}ZED*} - See comments
7   Recruit limited by will or nerve in retreat (5) ENROL [T<=] - See comments
8   Photographic process, colour, endlessly hyped (7) TINTYPE {TINT}{hYPEd} - See comments
9   Resisted action to circumvent key mission (8) DEFENDED {DE{F}{END}ED}- See comments
16 Nurse gathering energy pierces limb drawing blood (8) LEECHING {LE{ECHIN}G} ? {LE{E{CHI}N}G} - See comments
17 Kite flying near a pole (9) AEROPLANE*
18 Sobers perhaps, having imbibed spirit and ale, ignoring a waterspout (8) GARGOYLE {GAR{GO}Y}{LEa} - See comments
19 Degrade revolutionary writer about article (7) CHEAPEN {CHE}{A}{PEN}
21 Crushes minute fishes (7) MANGLES {M}{ANGLES} - See comments
22 Most comprehensive work in other words (6) WIDEST {W}{ID EST} - See comments
24 Soldiers revolting in each cleansing procedure (5) ENEMA {E{NEM<=}A}
25 Chief magistrate received money for scam (5) DODGE {DO{D}GE} - See comments


98 comments:

  1. 1 Seat contested and won by independent as a substitute (7) IN(STEA*)D

    ReplyDelete
  2. 7 Recruit limited by will or nerve in retreat (5)

    ENROL{T<-}

    ReplyDelete
  3. 4 Marked pages in articles ripped apart (8) SCRAPPED {SCRA{P}PED} Pages? APPARENT PAPER* in AN
    10 Trash pile, rubbish in bad shape (9) SCRAPHEAP*
    11 Streetwalker wearing a new skirt (5) A(PRO)N
    12 Unreasonable limit (7) EXTREME 2
    13 Event over, Oscar ceremony’s ending in a grand manner (7) ROYALLY RALLY around O Y
    14 Enjoys insults (4) DIGS 2

    ReplyDelete
  4. 10 Trash pile, rubbish in bad shape (9) (SCRAP)(HEAP)
    12 Unreasonable limit (7)EXTREME [2]
    14 Enjoys insults (4) DIGS [2]

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 10 Trash pile,// rubbish /in bad shape (9) {S(CRAP)HEAP*}

      rubbish CRAP in bad shape (SHAPE*) = SCRAPHEAP (Defn: trash pile)

      Delete
  5. 18D Sobers perhaps, having imbibed spirit and ale, ignoring a waterspout (8)

    {GAR{GO}Y}{(-a)LE}

    27A Express sorrow without energy or reverence (5) PI{E}TY

    ReplyDelete
  6. 5 Document copy, part of pair (5) P(APE_R
    6 American carefully considered termination of holiday in New Zealand (8) ANALYZED
    7 Recruit limited by will or nerve in retreat (5) ENROL <T
    8 Photographic process, colour, endlessly hyped (7) TINT hYPEd
    9 Resisted action to circumvent key mission (8) DE(LEAD)ED

    ReplyDelete
  7. 21 Crushes minute fishes (7)
    M (ANGLES)

    ReplyDelete
  8. 7 Recruit limited by will or nerve in retreat (5) ENROL <=T

    ReplyDelete
  9. 21 Crushes minute fishes (7) M ANGLES
    25 Chief magistrate received money for scam (5) DO(D)GE

    ReplyDelete
  10. 28 Ballroom reggae? (9) DANCEHALL ??

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, it is a DD:

      1.A building or part of a building with facilities for dancing.
      2.A style of dance-oriented reggae, originating in the late 1980s. (Freedict)

      Delete
  11. 8 Photographic process, colour, endlessly hyped (7) {TINT}{h YPE d}

    ReplyDelete

  12. 22 Most comprehensive work in other words (6) {W}{ID/EST}

    ReplyDelete
  13. 6 American carefully considered // termination of holiday in New Zealand (8) ANAL(Y)ZED
    Y in ZEALAND*

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I thought American is used to indicate the spelling variant. But z in analyzed is only British, right?

      Delete
  14. 9 Resisted // action / to circumvent key / mission (8){DE(F)(END)ED}

    ReplyDelete
  15. 10 Trash pile, rubbish in bad shape (9) SCRAPHEAP*
    10 Trash pile, rubbish in bad shape (9) (SCRAP)(HEAP)


    My anno would be S(CRAP)HEAP*

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's correct. I took it that way while solving but messed up when posting.

      Delete
    2. Just like APPARENT was also wrongly analyzed at first

      Delete
  16. 4 Marked pages in articles ripped apart (8) SCRAPPED {SCRA{P}PED} Pages? APPARENT PAPER* in AN

    Correct anno= A(PP) A RENT

    ReplyDelete
  17. 4 Marked pages in articles ripped apart (8)

    {A{PP}A}{RENT}

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sorry, didn't realise Kishore had posted the correct anno.

      Delete
    2. That's all right. We all have been working parallely and at cross purposes, like ants, but managed to finally crack the whole thing. aut Caesar aut nihil...

      Delete
  18. Thanks to everyone. I hope I never have one of these days again :-(

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Chin up, Deepak! Cheers!

      I shudder to think hoe you must feel.

      Delete
    2. That was a typo for 'how'. I was in the same boat a few days back and recovered only around 815 and feverishly tried to set things right.

      Delete
    3. I've never had such a bad day. I used to have such days for the Sunday CWs but never this bad.

      Delete
  19. Thanks for the feedback ( for yesterday's CW). I missed joining you folks on the woman hunt and other adventures. Apologies in advance for polluting Bhala's space with response to yesterday's CW. Will do that after today's is done and dusted

    ReplyDelete
  20. 16 Nurse gathering energy pierces limb drawing blood (8) LEECHING {LE{E(CHI)N}G}
    nurse - CHI
    (Chi Eta Phi is a professional association of nurses)
    gathering
    energy - EN
    pierces
    limb LEG

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LE{E{CHI}N}G

      EN: enrolled nurse
      CHI: energy
      LEG: limb

      Delete
    2. I think Chi= Energy ( From Chinese Qi )
      EN= Enrolled Nurse

      Delete
    3. Sandhya's fingers move faster than anyone can see :)

      Delete
    4. Agree with SP and RJ

      Delete
    5. {LE{E(CHI)N}G} is right; here, EN stands for nurse and CHI for energy. Thanks to Sandhya and RameshJ

      Delete
  21. Sandhya's fingers move faster than anyone can see :)

    And having writ move on to the next

    ReplyDelete
  22. In the meantime a couple of claps for the setter.

    ReplyDelete
  23. My orkut and fb did not shoe the grid tody too. What about you, Col.?

    ReplyDelete
  24. Had a Q about 5D : Document copy, part of pair (5)
    Document = Defn
    Copy = Ape
    Part of Pair = PR ? and if so how is containment indicated ?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. copy APE
      part of
      pair PR
      Defn: document P(APE)R

      Delete
    2. Part of is the containment indicator, PR comes from Pair

      Delete
    3. Thanks Venkatesh & Col.

      Delete
    4. Here, 'part of' is a content indicator.
      See: http://www.crosswordunclued.com/2009/02/container-and-content-indicators.html

      Delete
  25. xC,
    Congrats on having a PANGRAM.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Replies
    1. F is in 9Dn DEFENDED


      ... and J.

      Delete
    2. Defended. But seriously, not pangram

      Delete
  27. Replies
    1. Four short of a Pangram. It would be interesting if some clues could be modified to get in the missing letters.

      Delete
    2. XYZQ usually turn up, but I usually see J as a trigger to look for a pangram

      Delete
    3. For example, K and V can be worked in by making 19D CLEAVED; 24D EMEER; 29A DARKENED; 27A VEERY

      Delete
  28. I suppose Venkatesh meant it is an 'exceptional' PANGRAM ;-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. What xC would have heard a long time ago: tallied subject to a difference of Rs .... :-)

      Delete
  29. Several good clues today, but enjoyed 19 Ac the most. Particularly, for the way DOES (noun, pl. of DOE) was cloaked to read like a verb.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Would it not be deers then?

      Delete
    2. The plural for DEER is DEER.

      Delete
    3. But some would say that it's an unfair clue. Had it been Does at the beginning of the sentence it'd have been acceptable. This style ain't generally favored.

      Delete
    4. Not sure why you consider it unfair, or which general convention is being referred to. I do try to test my clues for fairness to the solver and thought it passed. If there is a specific issue, will do my best to clarify

      Delete
  30. At a loss for words!! Trying to justify even with a filled grid.

    One of the few things I could justify is w.r.to yesterday's discussion about she/ her.3D- 'Referring to a lady' for 'her'.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Today's Metro Plus has two quickies and also a great idea to make money...

    ReplyDelete
  32. Very challenging, and after a long time a flawless CW. IMO IN SECT was the best being so aptly worded.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Nothing novel here. It is a repeat of an Everyman clue which appeared in Sunday THC 2609 on 14.11.2010.
      1 - Batting order in cricket, say (6) – {IN}{SECT}

      Delete
    2. When did Raghunath say it was a novel clue?

      Delete
    3. I think it's too much to say the latter example is "a repeat" of an earlier clue.

      I can understand if it is said the wordplay in today's clue was seen earlier.

      If a clue appearing in one crossword is the same, word for word, elsewhere, then we can say it is a repeat.

      Crossword setters do try to use different word breakups for a given word but sometimes it may not be possible or it may have been simply used again.

      For INSECT Gridman's clues so far have been from the very prosaic to tolerable attempts:

      5 Spider, mosquito or fly (6)

      5 Creepy-crawly about to be featured in inside picture (6)

      16 Fly perhaps in group (6)

      26 It is of interest to an entomologist (6)


      Each different but nothing as good as today's.

      Delete
    4. Ah, if I'd been aware that a similar wordplay had been used for the same answer, might have done it differently. The word does seem to lend itself to be expressed in that fashion.

      Actually, this puzzle had been completed some months back, and in the interim I came across shades of this wordplay in a Buzzer puzzle, leading to the solution 'INFORMATION'. At that time I was debating whether to change before submission, but finally decided to stick with it since the definitions were different. As CV says, it may simply just happen

      Delete
    5. Bhala, wouldn't it have been better had the clue been written in such a way that question mark was placed after Cricket instead of having it after Batting Order? Well this is a definition by example and hence, IMO, it'd have been more appropriate had there been a question mark after Cricket, which happens to be an example of INSECT.

      Delete
    6. It could be done in different ways for sure. Even without the question mark, it would work. I added the question mark as an indicator for some lateral thinking

      Delete
    7. There's no lateral thinking required for BATTING ORDER. BATTING is IN and ORDER is sect. What's not straight here is the definition part as it's defined the order way around (definition from example). In this game, indicators (here, question mark) are generally placed next to fodder. So had the doubt. I'd have to check.

      Delete
  33. Responding to Afterdark's Qs:

    Brit spelling is ANALYSED and DEER is plural too.

    ReplyDelete
  34. In my opinion I would rate this CW as the best since 04 Feb 09, when I started this blog.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. High praise coming from you Col, not sure if I am worthy of it, but thank you very much indeed

      Delete
    2. You are being modest! It was a very interesting and challenging crossword.

      Delete
    3. It was tough crossword without it being obscure. I think you fully deserve Col.'s praise for this effort. Looking fwd to the next scorcher in the month of May.

      Delete
  35. Not all words terminating in -ize can be termed as US sp.

    There are some words which even in Br Eng end in -ize. E.g., 'fertilize'.

    I can't say why!

    'Analyze' is US sp, however, and today's setter has indicated it while clueing the word clue though we might expect total avoidance of US spellings in gridfills.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. CV, point noted, what I do try to ensure before filling is to see whether the spelling is accepted in standard dictionaries like Chambers, Oxford, Collins. I have deleted many a word that does not conform to this. Also try to make sure that the solver is duly warned.

      Taking away American spellings alone may be a bit of an overkill I feel, and also somewhat selective. If we extend that logic, we should probably not incorporate American usage of words while clueing (or to stretch a point, Australian, Scottish.....). For consistency therefore, I just check if the standard English dictionaries mentioned allow the spelling and usage

      Delete
    2. As long as it has been indicated, there should be no problem. I'd consider it as a way of speaking rather than an American spelling, as you would with clues involving Spooner, Cockney or a drunk (slurring).

      Delete
    3. Actually I see no problem even if it is not indicated as long as it there in a Standard Dictionary of English

      Delete
  36. I was clean bowled lock, stock and barrel. Lots to learn indeed.

    ReplyDelete
  37. Very good crossword, Bhala

    ReplyDelete
  38. Too many good clues to name them all here :) Really lovely crossword. Spent well over an hour on this and enjoyed every bit of it. Thankfully it was on a Saturday and could devote the time for this.

    ReplyDelete
  39. Kishore: On your comments on Mango and its use: I had written earlier to the papers re:Aam Aadmi and Banana Republic; : How the aam aadmi gets a raw deal: aam ke aam gutli ke daam !! with the netas sucking away all the juices and leaving the aam aadmi with a mere gutli !!

    ReplyDelete
  40. Kishore@10.09- about 2 quickies in today's Metroplus,
    I should have known better than to take a straight meaning to his comment! By the way, the second quickie is not the way to make money but to regain lost money! (that is what it says anyway!)I am not too sure if it is applicable in India.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jo paane ke liye kuch khota hai, use Baazigar kehte hain.
      Par Punjabi mein jo khota hain, Hindi mein use gadha kehte hain...

      Delete
    2. Gadha is a donkey?! (Ass in other words?)

      Delete
    3. In Hindi, khota means loses
      In Punjabi, khota means donkey

      as in the fav. cuss Khote da puttar

      Delete
  41. Time to bring out the dead.
    Regarding yesterday's unanswered questions

    13A Cup with cocain mixed drink (9) CAPUCCINO

    I fell into the internet trap here & ended up "inventing" a word. My apologies for not verifying if such a variation really exits. I verfied cocain, but did not do it for the gridfill.
    Note to self : Trust the net but verify

    25A Scientist’s woman wearing filleted topaz (5) HERTZ

    Is woman = her ? I think that is ok. http://www.crosswordunclued.com/2013/04/clueing-really-long-solutions-in.html seems to support it where Female=her is used

    Can topaz be filleted ? Good question. I agree with the blog comments. A better choice of subtraction indicator is called for, for this clue to work.

    4A Perhaps flying towards the North (8) SCOTSMAN

    One of the versions had this as "Perhaps flying towards the North from London". On hindsight, I should have left it there instead of making it more cryptic.

    14A Measure the limit of sound (7) MAXWELL

    I think this clue works. Max = the limit of. Sound= well
    Can sound be well ? As an adjective it seems fine.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. For 25A : Can wearing be used to indicate adjacent placement ?
      I think it can. While 'wearing' indicates covering when used with clothes. The same is not true when used with accessories. You wear a watch, a lip stick, an ear ring or glasses.

      Delete

deepakgita@gmail.com