Sunday, 21 April 2013

Special, Sunday 21 Apr 13, Spinner

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Three answers per commenter.
2. Annotations to be compulsorily provided with the answers.



ACROSS

8. Throw out mould (4)
9. Circling bisector flanking good man leads to the science of birth (10)
10. Small, thriving first-year is muddy (6)
11. Don’t start declining or dismissing (8)
12. Worker, after pairs are mixed, can be a trying person (8)
14. Praises for cleats’ designs (6)
16. Croon or burn without energy (4)
17. Triumphs with first attempt on farm vehicles (5)
18. Look across the broad aisle for the stage (4)
19. To fix it, spirit somehow followed the beast (6)
21. Draw sans top players is devoid of propagators? (8)
23. Round member to grasp her oidium-content (8)
26. Rotating image around Polly, a bird (6)
27. Board enrols people from the Board? (10)
28. It is sick if one does this to one’s cookies (4)

DOWN

1. Hone basics till you arrive at projectile science (10)
2. Hiding residue in operation, maybe? (8)
3. Cold returning crazy rockets (6)
4. Is the French thing in the middle of the water? (4)
5. To bribe Jew, Elsa furnished ornaments (8)
6. Concoct, say, story without ending – It’s rough (6)
7. Oversee if school principal is capable  (4)
13. Silly twist for annoying people (5)
15.  Most craving good man, in thirties, maybe (10)  
17.  Atrociously need single (8)
18. Agent dined after extremely dense section (8)
20. These creatures are a cross between bees (6)
22. Entangle Harry’s semen? (6)
24. Move due to loss in remuneration? (4)
25. Poems shuffled in a measured quantity (4)



To attempt the crossword on a separate page follow the link SPINNER 1 

Enjoy

102 comments:

  1. 9.A.OBSTETRICS.*(BISECTOR+ST)

    ReplyDelete
  2. 9A - OBSTETRICS - BISECTOR* outside ST
    14A - ECLATS - CLEATS*
    5D - BEJEWLS - (T)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Compensation for 9A

    15D - THIRSTIEST - THIRTIES* outside ST

    ReplyDelete
  4. 18A- (broaD AISle)-T
    DEf- Stage

    18D- Delegate
    Agent- Def.
    Extremely dense- DE
    Section- Leg
    Dined- Ate

    ReplyDelete
  5. 7D- Scan
    Oversee- Def.
    School principal- S
    Capable- can

    ReplyDelete
  6. 12A Worker, after pairs are mixed, can be a trying person (8)
    ASPIRANT (ANT after PAIRS)
    1 D. Hone basics till you arrive at projectile science (10)
    BALLISTICS ( basics till*)
    22 D. Entangle Harry’s semen? (6)
    ENMESH (H+SEMEN)

    ReplyDelete
  7. 8A - CAST [DD]
    24D - {P{L}AY}
    25D - DOSE* (Reverse anagram)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Sorry to be late, "insane to screw up" here.
    I'm stumped, anyway.

    ReplyDelete
  9. 21A. Draw sans top players is devoid of propagators? (8) SEED LESS [DD]

    18D. Agent dined after extremely dense section (8)D(-ens)E LEG ATE

    23A. Round member to grasp her oidium-content (8) SPHEROID [T]

    ReplyDelete
  10. 16A - SING {SING(-E)}
    13D - TWITS (TWIST*)

    ReplyDelete
  11. Yes, Entangle is on double duty in 22D.

    ReplyDelete
  12. ACROSS
    8
    10 {S}{LUSH}{Y}
    11 (-r)EJECTING
    17
    19
    27
    28

    DOWN:
    2
    3
    6 {BRU(~brew)}{TAL(-e)}
    17
    20

    ReplyDelete
  13. Replies
    1. Please do not put in the answers if you do not have the Annotation.

      Delete
    2. Sorry. I thought it was [CD].
      By the way, was my 17D solution deleted?

      Delete
    3. Sorry for mistaking it as [CD]. Asking for forgiveness, I also humbly request the annotation.

      Delete
  14. 2 DN. Hiding residue in operation, maybe? (8) ST(ASH)ING

    20 DN. These creatures are a cross between bees (6) I {BE(X)ES}

    ReplyDelete
  15. 17. Triumphs with first attempt on farm vehicles (5) W(A)INS

    ReplyDelete
  16. 25D - DOSE* (Reverse anagram)

    Indirect anag.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Very good debut for Spinner with some nice clues involving some not so straight ones.

    ReplyDelete
  18. I apologize for the typo in 3D. It should have been "Cold returning in crazy rockets" (6)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Nice crossie, by the way. Can't comment too much, cause I'm new to this myself. :)

      Delete
  19. The Battosai,

    I have deleted your fourth answer as the limit is three, besides you have posted an answer without the annotation. Both these are clearly specified in the instructions at the beginning of the CW. Please abide by them.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Very sorry. My 17D was just so as to compensate for 2D, given moments before my post.

      Delete
    2. Okay, in that case please mention that you are compensating for a repetition.

      Delete
  20. Compensating for 2D.
    17D = WANT+ONLY = WANTONLY

    ReplyDelete
  21. I don't get the anno for 3D and 19A. Waiting.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No matter. Both are obtainable using Chambers.

      Delete
    2. Have modified the clue. The word 'in' is missing in the clue. Please refer.

      Delete
    3. Yes. After checking, obtained. :) Which is what I meant (No matter, I obtained the anno, after referring Chambers).

      Delete
  22. Leftovers

    19A, 3D and the Annotation for 28A which has been entered by The Battosai without an annotation

    ReplyDelete
  23. 19a To fix it, spirit somehow followed the beast (6) ASS IGN*

    3d Cold returning in crazy rockets (6) CORYZA (T) - the medical term for URTI or cold

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kindly enlighten me on how spirit means "IGN"

      Delete
    2. Spirit = Gin. Somehow GIN is IGN.

      Delete
    3. I don't say use of indirect anagram is wrong. But standard crosswords avoid indirect anagram as it is frowned upon by purists. Certain publications will not allow that clue-type.

      Delete
  24. Nice CW. Thank you Col. & Spinner. You spin well. Keep spinning them.

    ReplyDelete
  25. In 28a the clue-writer probably suggests that if one were to TOSS the cookies, they will crumble and to do so is sick.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. But isn't that a cryptic def.? Should I have posted this whole line of reasoning along with the answer?

      Delete
    2. The anno for 28 A : " To toss one's cookies" is an expression used to mean "To vomit". Hence it would be 'Sick' if one tossed one's cookies.

      Delete
    3. Yes and besides that you posted it with a question mark indicating that you didn't have the annotation

      Delete
    4. Okay. Will refrain from being stupid in the future. :)

      Delete
  26. Yes. I hope the wicket keeps turning and bouncing.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Thank you Col. for the opportunity.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Well done Spinner. Good debut.

    ReplyDelete
  29. I especially liked the 2D clue where I thought Hiding was a telescopic indicator.

    ReplyDelete
  30. We must be prepared to offer a critique, not just heap praise on a crossword that is in public domain.

    Here some clues are good, of course. But many clues have problems - mostly in the surface reading being implausible.

    Put A in B and get C may work. But the clue sentence must be meaningful. That is the basic - primary - requirement.

    The surface reading might be deemed to be bizarre but it must be meaningful in a certain way.

    In the second rung of criticism we might argue over the use of indirect anagrams, lack of cryptic grammar, use of incorrect indicators, parts of speech in clue/wordplay and so on. I am not suggesting that clues here are riddled with problems of this kind.

    I am only asking which clues don't pass the 'plausible surface reading' test. Anyone try?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, that is one where the surface reading doesn't mean anything at all.

      Delete
    2. My response was to 10a. that was in the Comment you deleted.

      Delete
    3. You're right. 17d and 22d too should be revised.

      Delete
    4. Chaturvasi, I'm curious as to what your stand is on using indirect anagrams. While I was infatuated with the idea initially, reading up on Ximenian clue-ing changed my opinions. I would like to hear(see?) your views.

      Delete
  31. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Was that to not refer to me as TB? :D

      Delete
    2. I am against the use of indirect anagram.

      I don't think any of Gridman's puzzles has indirect anagram.

      I usually follow Ximenean rules (I got the book in the late 1960s with a local bookseller specially importing a single copy for me) but occasionally I may be libertarian. That is to say, we must not be bound too much by 'rules'. We must be prepared for experimentation.

      For example, I don''t use 'a' for I because from a to one to 1 to I is a stretch.

      I won't use 'an' for A or 'a' for AN. Usu. I will give them gratis.

      I may write the clue

      Pict(picture)ure (5)

      or

      HIJKMNOP... (4)

      or

      OBSTRCT THE MAIL (5,7)

      None of these has definition but on getting some crossings they may be solveable.

      Delete
    3. Nice, although I don't get any of the clues. :)
      Maybe with experience!

      Delete
    4. Please read

      OBSTRUCT THE MAIL (5,8)

      (corrects typo as well as the enu)

      Delete
    5. What's happening to me? Deepak, you're right! The correct enu is 5,7.

      Delete
    6. (1) Still clueless.
      (2) NOEL (Christmas?)
      (3) BLOCK LETTERS? Unsure.

      How did I do today? :)

      Delete
    7. A picture in a picture is an INSET

      No L = {NO}{EL}

      They are all in capitals so BLOCK LETTERS

      Delete
  32. Noted. Will keep in mind the comments about indirect anagrams and surface reading. Thank you for the comments!

    ReplyDelete
  33. A query: Would the surface be plausible if 'first-year' is taken as a person studying in his first year??

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I was about to mention that, exactly. Eventhough the first-year can refer to a first-year student, the adjective 'muddy' doesn't work too well.

      Delete
    2. You could've replaced 'muddy' with 'mushy' or 'emotional', and it would've been nice(r).

      Delete
  34. Yes. As a guy who indulges in rain-football, I thought muddy would do fine. Point taken.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. But 'mushy' or 'emotional' would have made the definition a little vague.

      Delete
    2. How would've 'cheesy' performed? Any other good suitable synonym would've done the job, I think. Although it can be said that a muddy person is an untidy (or similar) person, it doesn't give good surface (doesn't make sense immediately on reading).

      Delete
  35. Another general suggestion, from what was given to me too, on my first crossie. Instead of trying to add uncommon words as a challenge, common words may be attempted to be clued in a challenging way. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. To write a clue in itself is challenging.

      To write good clues for common words is an art.

      I wouldn't say the grid must not have uncommon/hard words. They must not be overdone. If too manya re used in as ingle grid, solvers will think the setter is showing off.

      OTOH, if an uncommon word or two are used, the solvers are happy that their vocab is enhanced (though they may never get a chance to sue those words in everyday conversation.

      If I go to a doc and tell him, I have 'coryza', he may charge me more!

      Our clue-writer scores because for this difficult, unknown word he has written an easy clue - reverse telescopic. (Yet that was not solved at any early stage!) That's the trick: write easy clues for hard words!

      Delete
    2. I was wondering, initially,
      how rockets could be an anagram indicator, and returning could mean 'O',
      having got CORYZA as:
      O in CRAZY* = CORYZA! :D

      Delete
    3. And by that initial comment, I only meant "not too many hard words". A correction.

      Delete
  36. I too think indirect anagrams are unfair. I too had asked in this forum about the use of a = 1 =a, which appeared in two THCs which appeared recently. I liked this the best, albeit a short clue:

    7. Oversee if school principal is capable (4)

    ReplyDelete
  37. For the attention of mathemagicians taking part in this forum:

    Human computer Shakuntala Devi passed away in Bangalore on Sunday, April 21.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. DEEP REGRETS-- INEXORABLE ARE THE WAYS OF GOD !! RIP -YOU INVENTED NUMBER CRUNCHING !

      Delete
    2. One of India's greats,certainly. It's a sad day.

      Delete
  38. "If I go to a doc and tell him, I have 'coryza', he may charge me more!"- CV

    I liked it and it is probably true. On the other hand doctors also charge you more by naming their diagnoses with such names!

    ReplyDelete
  39. Raju you had raised some queries late on Saturday regarding Gridman's CW and repeated the same today under the regular Sunday CW. Here are the answers to your queries

    I'm afraid that your comparison of Gridman's CW with that of NJ's is a bit odious, it appears you have not seen too many of NJ's products further I don't think anybody comments here will agree with that comment of yours.

    Let me see if I can settle your doubts

    15A is absolutely perfect I don't see anything wrong with the construction.

    21A From where did you get 'resort'? it's nowhere in the clue. Nestle and Shelter are definitely synonymous.

    8D It appears you have not heard of 'the ladder of success'

    14D Deva = Good spirit, what's so 'ayyo deva' about it?

    16D You are right NO does not fit in DEED. But NOT definitely fit in a short DEE(-D) to get {DE{NOT}E(-d)}

    19D Pants means 'throbs or pulsates'

    23D Yes

    26D INAPT/INEPT/INAPPROPRIATE/CLUMSY are all synonymous, look it up in a dictionary.

    I hope that satisfies your doubts

    ReplyDelete
  40. Thanks. No offence meant. I still feel this is not the stock one could expect from Gridman. He could do better ! I have never criticised him before but this one time, he can be pardoned for falling 'in line' with the compilers who expect you to find the answer and then rationalize as to why the answer is so !

    I'll refrain from mentioning NJ anymore . We have already extinguished her ideas from our mind and it was rather facetious of me to have drawn a comparison. Sorry

    I still fell inept and inapt have two different and distinct meanings and English language being so liberal, I can concede. Aren't they to be used contextually?

    I erred when I mentioned Resort-- I meant Retreat. I get the idea that a Retreat can also be a shelter, though a bit far-fetched.

    Thanks so much and pardonb any harshness in my commens that could be easliy attributed to my late night entry !

    midnight now and hence good morning !!

    ReplyDelete

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