Sunday, 14 April 2013

Special, Sunday 14 Apr 13, The Battosai

INSTRUCTIONS

 1.   Three answers per commenter.
2.   Annotations to be compulsorily provided, please do not post the answer if you do not have the annotation.

Sazanami
by
The Battōsai


ACROSS
1.   Deputy not first with Indiana order (6-2-7)
9.   Cheese dish by one in complicated barter (7)
10. Recover lost miracle (7)
11. Live longer outside roofless hut for fruit (5)
12. Upcoming increase in lease fee (9)
13. Indifference toward mid-branching in rogue mitosis (8)
15. Alienated, confused manic has nothing (6)
18. Outclassed by humming bee having dined (6)
19. It is a superstitious idea that colour changes act (5,3)
22. Worsen tax covered by cluttered garage (9)
24. Save for some recreation with minister (5)
25. Admire odd solid in popular browser (7)
26. Wrong move being away from site with Daniels for Tea (7)
27. Register Station in disarray by selective inflammation (15)

DOWN
1.   Nothing in false issuer to be thoughtful (7)
2.   Cancer caused by king-based setup without Hillary and Lincoln (9)
3.   Tricky lob into the upper right was splendid (5)
4.   Damaged entire street for gain (8)
5.   Not very bad service for colour (6)
6.   Denoting language using bad 2D, or by cooking Chef's macaroni (9)
7.   Lawyer back on time for saying (5)
8.   Popular medic? No? Doctor has Tetanus for Necrosis (7)
14. Chant around broken vial for knight (9)
16. This manic out of sorts is an operator (9)
17. Live outside - back to urinate in peculiar lotus? (5,3)
18. Direction to beg around falling rain (7)
20. Container returned with a smaller amount is not fully covered (7)
21. Ready with Terry and Elliot for special cell (6)
23. Definition for good loss (5)
24. Cracked software missing "retweet centre" till now (2,3)


Author’s Note

Sazanami is the Japanese equivalent of ripple.
I wanted my first crossword to be at least a small ripple in the infinite ocean of cryptic crosswords.
Reviews welcome on THCC or at kenshin.thebattosai@live.com with the subject XWord and an in-mail reference to the crossword title.

To attempt the crossword on a separate page follow the link SAZANAMI  

Enjoy.

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106 comments:

  1. Chaturvasi14 April 2013 at 10:33

    1d. Nothing in false issuer to be thoughtful (7) SERI(O)US*

    7d. Lawyer back on time for saying (5) AD<- AGE

    24d. Cracked software missing "retweet centre" till now (2,3) SO FAR (SOF[tw]AR[e])

    At first I thought it was an anag. after del., but soon thereafter I realised that after deleting the letters, we are left with the answer; so 'cracked' isn't an anag. ind.)

    ReplyDelete
  2. The Battōsai14 April 2013 at 10:42

    I made a mistake. I had considered SOFAR to be gotten after SOFTWARE is anagrammed. Sorry.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The Battōsai14 April 2013 at 10:47

      Idea was (stupidly) SOFTWARE* = SO(TWE)FAR; SOTWEFAR-TWE = SO FAR. :)

      Delete
    2. Chaturvasi14 April 2013 at 10:52

      Oh, I see! We have to anagram the letters and then remove TWE ! Which is so true in what you have written. But not everyone might anagram the same way to get the non-word with the letters TWE in contiguity. Don't worry! It was fun.

      Delete
    3. The Battōsai14 April 2013 at 10:57

      It was a blatant error on my part. I'll take care that it doesn't happen again. Thanks. :) I would've not noticed it till someone pointed it out.

      Delete
  3. CA Prasad14 April 2013 at 10:45

    9.A.REAREBIT. *I+BARTER

    ReplyDelete
  4. Jayaseelan14 April 2013 at 10:46

    27A GASTROENTERITIS *{Register Station}
    4D INTEREST *{entire st}

    ReplyDelete
  5. CA Prasad14 April 2013 at 10:47

    10.A.RECLAIM. *MIRACLE

    ReplyDelete
  6. Shrikanth14 April 2013 at 10:47

    10A - RECLAIM - MIRACLE*
    25A - IDOLISE - I(SOLID*)E
    7D - ADAGE - DA <-- AGE

    ReplyDelete
  7. Chaturvasi14 April 2013 at 10:48

    Corrects a typo in the given answer.

    9a.RAREBIT (I+BARTER)*

    ReplyDelete
  8. Shrikanth14 April 2013 at 10:49

    Compensating 10A

    1A - SECOND IN COMMAND - NOT FIRST + INDIANA + ORDER

    ReplyDelete
  9. The Battōsai14 April 2013 at 10:51

    All criticisms will be taken in a constructive manner. :)
    Kindly email your comments or post them here right away.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Chaturvasi14 April 2013 at 10:57

      All criticisms will be taken in a constructive manner. :)

      ...as long as they are made constructively!

      Delete
    2. The Battōsai14 April 2013 at 10:59

      But aren't criticisms constructed (with words)?
      Hence any criticism can be taken in a constructive manner.

      JK

      Delete
  10. Lakshmi Vaidyanathan14 April 2013 at 10:55

    13A . Indifference toward mid-branching in rogue mitosis (8)
    STOICISM (C+MITOSIS)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Chaturvasi14 April 2013 at 10:59

      mitosis - "an elaborate process of cell division involving the arrangement of chromosomes in definite figures" (Chambers)

      Delete
  11. Sreelakshmi14 April 2013 at 10:58

    22A- AGGRAVATE- (GAR {VAT} AGE*) def- Worsen
    4D- INTEREST (ENTIRE ST)* def- Gain
    18D- BEARING (BE{RAIN}* G) def- Direction

    I have watched the Japanese Anime- Kenshin and I absolutely love it! :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The Battōsai14 April 2013 at 11:01

      You do not know what that comment did to me.
      It can't be described with the words I know.
      So let's just say it brought smiles, and leave it at that.
      :)

      Delete
    2. Sreelakshmi15 April 2013 at 09:39

      Whoa! :D Kenshin, Kaoru, Yahiko, Sanosuke, Misao, Aoshi, Saito....it's simply epic! I especially liked Season 2 where they are fighting against Makoto Shishio! :D

      Delete
  12. CA Prasad14 April 2013 at 11:04

    6.D.MACARONIC. *C+MACARONI

    ReplyDelete
  13. The Battōsai14 April 2013 at 11:05

    Are the people here Anagram-Gods? :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Chaturvasi14 April 2013 at 11:12

      macaronic - "used of poetry in which vernacular words are given Latin inflections and intermixed with genuine Latin for comic effect; written or including lines in more than one language." (Chambers)

      Ah, this is a word that I had learnt quite recently. Don't remember if it was in a Guardian or some other crossword that I saw or it was a gridfill in a puzzle that I set myself.

      Remember, all the gridfills don't come from a setter's head; some might come from a word pattern search software.

      JK: BTW, what is that crossword puzzle app that you say you created? Would love to learn about it.

      Delete
    2. The Battōsai14 April 2013 at 11:17

      JK was supposed to mean Just Kidding. Now I seriously don't know if you're also JK or if you're referring to me as JK. :)

      I didn't create an app. I was approached to create one by my friend, when I refused because I didn't know GUI (front-end) programming. But he showed me the layout and an example crossie. I love English, and got instantly attracted.

      That aside, I'm currently working on a secret project that will help people at THCC (secret)!

      Delete
    3. The Battōsai14 April 2013 at 11:21

      Okay, nothing in telling THCC members. After all, it was supposed to be for you. I'm creating an app which allows you to solve crossies on your smart devices by taking a snapshot of the day's The Hindu Crossword. Currently I'm working on recognizing the clues and converting them to digital format, which is in big trouble because of the fonts used in THE HINDU for crossword clues. There is nearly no difference between a capital I and small L in the font. (Actually a difference of 3-5 pixels, which makes it hard to do OCR)

      Delete
    4. Deepak Gopinath14 April 2013 at 11:21

      since JK is Just kidding, if visitors here abbreviate your pseudonym you will become TB!

      Delete
    5. The Battōsai14 April 2013 at 11:23

      Then I hope they don't do that! :)

      Delete
    6. Deepak Gopinath14 April 2013 at 11:27

      This app already exists and is available through Facebook and Orkut. A separate app is also available for Android devices, look under LINKS on the left hand side panel of this page

      Delete
    7. The Battōsai14 April 2013 at 11:28

      And Chaturvasi: I read in some interview of yours that you take 10-15 mins max for any Indian crossie. Unable to place my source at the moment. I also remember it being mentioned that it was because they are set by a single person. Is that correct?

      Delete
    8. The Battōsai14 April 2013 at 11:30

      Colonel: If that is so, then all my work will be for naught.

      Delete
    9. The Battōsai14 April 2013 at 11:33

      From the app description:
      An application for solving crosswords published in the popular Indian newspaper daily "The Hindu". This application downloads the grid from the web and converts to an editable format for android applications.

      To reiterate my point, I'm creating an app which allows you to digitize any crossword you take a snapshot of. Meaning you snap today's crossie and you can save it in AcrossLite format or something if you want, or just simply solve it on the app. Initially I'm supporting onlt THC, later it will be any crossword. You snap, save, send to a friend, like that. Atleast that's what I'm planning. :)

      Delete
    10. Deepak Gopinath14 April 2013 at 11:35

      Not necessarily, your app may turn out to be better.

      Delete
    11. Chaturvasi14 April 2013 at 11:36

      Colonel: If that is so, then all my work will be for naught.

      For which price you can sell the app!

      JK (truly).

      Delete
    12. The Battōsai14 April 2013 at 11:43

      Thanks all.
      I'm done with grid detection and digitization. The OCR is what is failing me. There is so little difference that I's and l's are getting mixed up in the clues I'm recognizing. I don't want this to ruin the user experience so I'm still working on ways to address this issue.

      Delete
  14. Lakshmi Vaidyanathan14 April 2013 at 11:12

    23D. Definition for good loss (5)
    GLOSS (G+LOSS)

    ReplyDelete
  15. Lakshmi Vaidyanathan14 April 2013 at 11:27

    18A. Outclassed by humming bee having dined (6)
    BEATEN (What is the anno? BEE is there.If it is dined it must be ATE there is one extra E and from where the N came from)

    ReplyDelete
  16. Anonymous14 April 2013 at 11:32

    Welcome, The Battosai,

    Arigato, ichi now, ni when?

    2d CARCINOMA(monarchical-hl)*
    17d SLEEP OUT ((PEE< inside LOTUS*)
    19a BLACK CAT (colour=black, act*=cat)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The Battōsai14 April 2013 at 11:36

      ichi wa zen.
      zen wa ichi.
      (If you know that reference)

      Ni depends on Col. :)

      You got moonarchical??!?!?!

      Delete
    2. The Battōsai14 April 2013 at 11:40

      And,
      Arigato.

      I'm doubtful on how often to submit crosswords here. I've actually been drafting and re-drafting an email regarding this to the Col. for about a week now.

      I think I've to step up my work if I have to be a regular setter. :) So I'm waiting for a better crossie work from my end before I send in my next submission. Because obviously, a newbie's crossie is solved here in a matter of minutes!

      Delete
    3. Anonymous14 April 2013 at 11:45

      I had to look up the ref. My knowledge of Japanese numbers is just from the dojo.

      Moonarchical?!.... Why extra o. My take:

      2. Cancer caused by king-based setup without Hillary and Lincoln (9)
      king-based =monarchical
      without Hillary and Lincoln, delete HL= monarcica
      set up=aind
      def=cancer=monarcica*=carcinoma

      Delete
    4. Anonymous14 April 2013 at 11:46

      The moonarchical ref reminded me of Moonswamy...

      Delete
    5. The Battōsai14 April 2013 at 11:51

      I think I'm waiting for comments, while you pros are waiting for the crossie to be completed by others, before giving detailed comments.

      Delete
  17. Chaturvasi14 April 2013 at 11:43

    7. Live outside - back to urinate in peculiar lotus? (5,3)

    Have people started peeing in all sorts of places after Ajit Pawar's recent 'damning' advice?

    Where is the world going to?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The Battōsai14 April 2013 at 11:49

      Something nowadays makes me interpret all statements as clues.

      Where is the world going to? (x)

      Delete
    2. The Battōsai14 April 2013 at 11:54

      Is it necessary that I get out of my infatuation with anagrams?

      Delete
  18. The Battōsai14 April 2013 at 11:44

    Are people busy on Tamil New Year that only regulars are here today?

    ReplyDelete
  19. B.V.K.14 April 2013 at 11:44

    Late today
    3D - NOBLE {N(LOB)*E}

    ReplyDelete
  20. B.V.K.14 April 2013 at 11:52

    15A - ANOMIC {MANIC*+O}

    ReplyDelete
  21. B.V.K.14 April 2013 at 11:55

    14D - CHEVALIER {CHE(VIAL)*ER}

    ReplyDelete
  22. B.V.K.14 April 2013 at 11:57

    I don't get the anno for 11A but I'll wait for the answer to be published. Enjoyed the anagrams, Battosai.

    BTW, no comments on Sir RJs accomplishment yesterday?

    ReplyDelete
  23. Raghunath14 April 2013 at 12:02

    19 AC. It is a superstitious idea that colour changes act (5,3)BLACK,(CAT*)
    25 AC Admire odd solid in popular browser (7)I(DOLIS*).E
    8 DN Popular medic? No? Doctor has Tetanus for Necrosis (7)DEMO(+T)(-n)IC

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Chaturvasi14 April 2013 at 12:42

      Not so familiar a word.

      demotic adj relating to the people; popular (Chambers)

      Delete
    2. The Battōsai14 April 2013 at 12:47

      demotic actually means popular with respect to a certain group of people, esp. colloquially popular. Am I wrong?

      Delete
  24. Raghunath14 April 2013 at 12:12

    19 & 25 AC already taken so compensating:

    20.Dn Container returned with a smaller amount is not fully covered (7) (TOP<-)LESS
    21. Ready with Terry and Elliot for special cell (6)GAM(E T)E

    ReplyDelete
  25. Raghunath14 April 2013 at 12:13

    Corr:
    21. Ready with Terry and Elliot for special cell (6)GAME(T E)

    ReplyDelete
  26. raju umamaheswar14 April 2013 at 12:19

    Arigato, Battosai: Good for starters on a Sunday. My clue of the day is:14 day. well conceived and of course that soft ware appn you're trying out. Please do share with us so that we can make use of them, but in plain English and computerese.

    Have you been solving Japanese crosswords?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The Battōsai14 April 2013 at 12:22

      Arigato.

      Iiya. Not been solving any Japanese crosswords. Don't even know how they'd look!

      Delete
    2. Chaturvasi14 April 2013 at 12:48

      I have seen - not solved - some Japanese puzzles known as 'nanograms'.

      The puzzle has a title and a rectangle. The rectangle is a grid with blank cells (no blacks or blocks). There are figures (numbers) at the top and left of the grid.

      It would seem that by interpreting the numbers we have to click on certain cells so they become blocked.

      When the puz is done, the blocked/color-filled cells form a picture matching the title.

      Delete
    3. The Battōsai14 April 2013 at 13:51

      I've seen them too, but I think they're NONOGRAMs.

      Delete
  27. raju umamaheswar14 April 2013 at 12:26

    correction: My clue of the day is 14 down and not 14 day !! NOT computerese !

    wonder how a Japanese crossword will look like with all their hieroglyphic alphabets ! I'll ask my son in Nagoya to send me some.

    In a hurry to close down the PC as the Power Gods have shut me off already !!

    ReplyDelete
  28. Padmanabhan14 April 2013 at 12:29

    12A-
    Upcoming- Def.- Resurgent
    Increase- Surge
    Lease value- Rent
    (surge)in (rent)

    Nice and interesting CW (debut?) Thank you The Battosai (I am not abbreviating!) & Col.

    Happy Tamil New Year's day & Vishu for everyone.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The Battōsai14 April 2013 at 12:33

      Arigato.
      Hai, debut.
      And a second arigato for not abbreviating! :D

      Delete
    2. Padmanabhan14 April 2013 at 12:37

      What I meant was it is too good for a debut!

      Delete
    3. The Battōsai14 April 2013 at 12:46

      Arigato again.

      Delete
  29. Padmanabhan14 April 2013 at 12:36

    Kishore
    I have seen cartoons on Moonswamy. was it TOI? or IE?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous14 April 2013 at 12:42

      It can't be IE. Moonswamy was a creation of Mario Miranda and published in the ET (and in the 'Jest a minute' page of the IWOI before it folded up) in the strip which also starred Boss, Ms Fonseca of the polka dotted skirt fame, Ms Nimbupani and a mantriji whose name I forget.

      Delete
    2. Chaturvasi14 April 2013 at 12:54

      I can recall all those characters from the time of the IWoI. The polka dots on Ms Fonseca's skirt had a tale of their own.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous14 April 2013 at 13:00

      Right !


      and Left :-)

      Delete
    4. Anonymous14 April 2013 at 13:15

      Bundaldas !

      Delete
    5. Anonymous14 April 2013 at 13:27

      A really apt name for a minister full of hot air....

      Delete
    6. Padmanabhan14 April 2013 at 16:17

      I think they reproduced in The Mail which was in print at that time since I could not have seen any of the other dailies mentioned by you. I remember all those characters as also the polka dots! Alt. it could have been Shankar's weekly with the famous Sotto Voce. Kishore & CV may be knowing about it.

      Delete
  30. Deepak Gopinath14 April 2013 at 12:36

    Leftovers

    Across - 11, 24 & 26
    Down - 5 & 16

    ReplyDelete
  31. Padmanabhan14 April 2013 at 12:40

    16D- Machinist- (this manic)*

    ReplyDelete
  32. Padmanabhan14 April 2013 at 12:46

    24A- Skimp- save
    Recreation- Skip
    Minister- M

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The Battōsai14 April 2013 at 12:49

      It was supposed to be SKI(-ING)+MP

      Delete
    2. Chaturvasi14 April 2013 at 13:04

      I did solve it.

      The clue is unconventional.

      To get SKI we have to think of SKING (from 'recreation') and then from the word 'some' preceding it we have to derive SKI (dropping ING). This is a stretch, I think.

      I wouldn't consider Minister as the aptest of indications for MP but one might argue that not every MP is a Minister but every Minister is certainly an MP. 'Politician', 'member', 'representative'. 'lawmaker' and other possibilities exist.

      Delete
    3. The Battōsai14 April 2013 at 13:32

      Oh! I used minister straight away because I saw it in a THC. Thanks!

      Delete
  33. Anonymous14 April 2013 at 12:50

    Since my Japanese is limited to edamame and the like, I had to look lup Sazanami. Reminded me of Blondie from the sphaghetti westerns and Joe Millard's Dollar books.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The Battōsai14 April 2013 at 14:01

      I think I have mentioned what sazanami is. :)

      Delete
  34. Deepak Gopinath14 April 2013 at 12:52

    My 3 to wind up

    11A - {O{(-h)(-ut)}LIVE}
    26A - OFFSI(-t+d)DE
    5D - CERISE(-v)*


    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Chaturvasi14 April 2013 at 13:09

      11a is the least satisfactory of the clues. Someone had the answer but did not enter it here as the anno was not forthcoming.

      I too had it but left me unmoved.

      Deepak, even with your anno, I am unable to see how it works.

      Besides, the use of 'Live' in the clue sentence when the answer is OLIVE is a drawback, I think.

      This criticism is not meant to be destructiive.

      Delete
    2. Deepak Gopinath14 April 2013 at 13:12

      I saw it like this

      Live longer = OUTLIVE
      outside = Deletion indicator
      roofless hut = (-h)UT
      for
      fruit = OUTLIVE - (-h)ut = OLIVE

      Delete
    3. Chaturvasi14 April 2013 at 13:14

      Oh I see. That didn't strike me!

      Thanks, Deepak.

      Delete
    4. Padmanabhan14 April 2013 at 13:23

      I read it like this-
      Live longer- Outlive
      outside- removal indicator
      roofless hut- ut
      (Outlive- ut) leads to Olive

      Delete
    5. The Battōsai14 April 2013 at 13:33

      Precisely what was intended.
      To think it didn't strike Chaturvasi, though! :)

      Delete
    6. B.V.K.14 April 2013 at 14:32

      Good one. Thanks Col. for the anno.

      Delete
  35. The Battōsai14 April 2013 at 13:04

    Arigato gozaimasu, everyone.

    It was an exciting debut day for me!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Deepak Gopinath14 April 2013 at 13:20

      Thanks Battosai and as Spock would say

      Dif-tor heh smusma (Live long and prosper)

      Delete
  36. Chaturvasi14 April 2013 at 13:21

    General feedback.

    Some more variety in clue types may be tried.

    I wonder if we have hidden (telescopic), palindrome, homophone, cryptic def and similar clue-types. (I have not made a conscious clue by clue analysis.)

    The clue variety can be achieved only if we keep track of clue types used while we write the required 30 clues.

    Perhaps we need to keep an eye on that aspect even when we fill the grid. The first entries in the grid might be three or four words which would yield to such clue types and then fill the rest of the blank celss. The other fills can always be tackled with the use of charades - which might usually dominate a crossword.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The Battōsai14 April 2013 at 13:30

      Sure, thanks! :)

      Delete
    2. Anonymous14 April 2013 at 13:41

      After the General feedback, it is time for Colonel feedback

      Delete
    3. Deepak Gopinath14 April 2013 at 14:30

      Colonel feedback already given before general feedback to maintain rank structure ;-)

      Delete
  37. The Battōsai14 April 2013 at 13:41

    Will try better next time! :)

    ReplyDelete
  38. Anonymous14 April 2013 at 16:12

    A small suggestion:


    Unnecessary false capitalisation has been used to give away word play components. Eg:26a, 8d. That almost makes one feel that the setter kept them for reminding himself/herself, but forgot to remove later.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The Battōsai14 April 2013 at 23:56

      They were actually there to make sure the clues were fair.
      For example, the solver had no way to know that tetanus stand only for t, while necrosis stands only for n, in 8D. So it was like a clue, inside a clue. I tried to stick to Ximenian clue-ing, but...

      Delete
  39. Richard14 April 2013 at 16:19

    Joining in late. Re General feedback and Colonel feedback...

    It gives a feeling of being in the Regimented Society of Bloggers... :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous14 April 2013 at 16:42

      Your absence today was a Major problem...

      Delete
  40. Richard14 April 2013 at 17:21

    4:12 Call it capital punishment...

    ReplyDelete
  41. Richard14 April 2013 at 17:26

    4:42 Your absence today was a Major problem...

    Yes, that is because I commissioned myself very late...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous14 April 2013 at 17:36

      521,526 combined: we found urselves headless !

      Delete

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