KKK has managed to say Modi (albeit Lalit) and Rambo (albeit Stallone) in the same breath ! Lots of living persons in the puzzle: Lalit Modi, Sly Stallone, Viru Sehwag
Stumped by 15a
Stumped by 15a
ACROSS
1 Suspension of race when sea gives way to land initially (6) SLURRY (SCURRY -C+L)
4 Crooks, initially violent, restrained by medicines (6) CURVES (CURES around V)
9 Indian son still under trial? (4) BETA 2
My heart went Dhak, Dhak, at remembering this film
10 Mow around pattern supposedly made by aliens (4,6) CROP CIRCLE (CHARADE, mow a round pattern).
Can also be considered a CD
11 ‘I’m leaving the platoon,’ said the temporary ruler (6) REGENT (REGimENT)
The Colonel may dispute the numbers of a regiment and a platoon ...
12 In a distinct manner of speech, fool holds some lectures (8) IDIOLECT (LEC inside IDIOT)
13 Compulsive shopping is a gross abomination lacking better taste initially (9) ONIOMANIA (AbOMINAtION)*
15 Bugs for stories about South Africa (5) ANASA (ANA SA) See comments
16 Rock pile to cover up missing alien (5) SCREE (SECRetE)
Incidentally 20d is used, but not referenced here
18 Patent his ludicrous view of equating all to God (9) PANTHEIST (PATENT HIS)*
22 Seasoned beef cut by force of one (8) PASTRAMI (PAST RAM 1)
23 Bother is not a nicety (6) NUANCE (NUisANCE)
25 Native sailor is archetypal (10) ABORIGINAL (AB ORIGINAL)
26 Identify half of them as being just the same (4) IDEM (I'D thEM)
27 Herb in the South East is the exact … (6) SESAME (SE SAME)
28 … purpose of the serpent’s anger (6) ASPIRE (ASP IRE)
DOWN
1 Pub that the lady lived in (7) SHEBEEN (SHE BEEN)
She been a bar girl ? May stay so, says Supreme Court
2 High-class guru of management (5) USAGE (U SAGE)
3 Cheese found in Cagliari cottage (7) RICOTTA (T)
5 Street kid’s church in crumbling ruin (6) URCHIN (CH in RUIN*)
6 Hostility of Sehwag’s lens we hear (9) VIRULENCE (VIRU ~LENS)
7 Singles out groups harbouring the French (7) SELECTS (LE in SECTS)
8 Changes Lalit’s, say, obsessions about replacing the unknown (13) MODIFICATIONS (MODI FI(xC)ATIONS
14 Upsets public, partly laments… (9) OVERTURNS (OVERT moURNS)
17 … about Stallone’s hero initially spoiling word games (7) CRAMBOS (C RAMBO S)
19 Rings for Uncle Pai’s magazines (7) TINKLES 2
Uncle Pai's Amar Chitra Kathas really revolutionised Indian comics
20 Conceal in South Eastern Mediterranean island (7) SECRETE (SE CRETE)
21 Old Testament’s Aramaic translation led to heated argument, flayed some nerves (6) TARGUM (ARGUMenT)*
24 Excuse for abilities failing to sever links? (5) ALIBI (ABILIties)*
It ain't me that was not there ...
's seems to be the weak point of KKK.
ReplyDeleteTwo clues with surplus 's in this Cryptic:
6D Sehwag's lens we hear would give VIRU'S LENCE
8D Lalit's, say would give MODI'S.....
I thought that the "'s" could just serve surface reading purposes and did not think that they were obstructive. Shall keep this in mind in the future. Thanks!
DeleteVenkatesh,
Deletes seems to be the weak point of KKK.
Two clues with surplus 's in this Cryptic:
6D Sehwag's lens we hear would give VIRU'S LENCE
8D Lalit's, say would give MODI'S.....
Reply
Replies
Klue Klux Klan10:52 am GMT+5:30
I thought that the "'s" could just serve surface reading purposes and did not think that they were obstructive. Shall keep this in mind in the future. Thanks!
I don't think there is anything wrong in this? How else can one write the clue? Viru's need not necessarily mean VIRUS, it can be Viru has Lens.
15 Bugs for stories about South Africa (5) {ANAS}{A}
ReplyDeleteAna: A collection of anecdotes about a person or place (Word web)
Well solved. small typo in anno. It is {ANA}{SA}
DeleteTYPO: {ANA}{SA}
DeleteThanks, Sandhya
DeleteMy friends here may like to read this:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.thehindu.com/books/the-narasiah-flavour/article4927571.ece?homepage=true
It is the review of a translation work that I have done under my real name.
Great job CV
DeleteDear CV sir, Read that first in the morning. I was to post here on that. Relished the reviewer's comment: "A crossword buff, Rishikesh has managed to find English equivalents even for tricky usages."
DeleteCongrats!
DeleteKudos, CV.
DeleteFrom me too!
DeleteRef Kishore’s remark at 11A. A Regiment has 4 Coys, Each Company has 3 to 4 Platoons, so that’s 12 to 16 Platoons in a Regiment.
ReplyDeleteCurious to know: What is the structure of the THCC Solvers' Regiment, headed by our dear Colonel?
DeleteIt contains, in no particular order, the Colonel, the CEC, the Bee and the Clown
DeleteCrown perhaps...
DeleteAn ellol in plonunication?
DeleteYou forgot all the foot soldiers!!
DeleteA sperring ellol thele! Prease lead it as plonunciation.
DeleteThat makes me uneasy. I prefer what I said.
DeleteShouldn't CEC have been CCE*
DeleteAll the foot soldiers give us the boot !
DeleteCEC= Chief Examiner (Explainer) of Clues is same as CCE. Give us some con-Seshans ...
DeleteYou are shoe-ing them away!
DeleteYou sock it really well, Richard.
DeleteHe prefers Chief Clue Explicator
DeleteI hang up my boots on that one ...
DeleteRichard @ 9:04 and 9:05
DeleteHi Lichald ! I'm a tuberight !! Riked the bantel !!!
15 Bugs for stories about South Africa (5) {ANA}{SA}
ReplyDeleteAna - collection of stories, e.g., Americana
South Africa - SA
Defn - bugs - anasa (squash bugs)
26 Identify half of them as being just the same (4) IDEM (I'D thEM)
ReplyDeleteHow I'D for Identify?
Rengaswamy,
DeleteI think ID is an accepted abvn for Identify and Identity.
Agree for Identity. But not heard for identify.
DeleteI have come across ID being used as abbreviation for Identity Document.
DeleteAs a verb, to id someone is the same as to identify someone, so should be fine.
DeleteThe witness was asked to ID the suspect
DeleteQuite a nice puzzle from K3. Questions:
ReplyDelete1A. Homophone indicator for sea?
14D. partly laments = (mo-)urns?
21D. Some nerves = en?
1A -I sea a point in Bhavan's query.
DeleteThese got on ens during solving
Delete1A. I thought that 'sea' cor 'c' was accepted usage without the homophone indicator. Now that I know that it is not, I shall never use that again. I have no excuse for the gaffe. Sorry.
Delete14D. I always thought 'partly' could be used to indicate a subset of the entire word. But yes, I do agree that in the interest of fairness, how many the 'partly' denotes should more explicitly be mentioned. Shall strive to not repeat this.
21D. Again, the 'some' is ambiguous, I see. Again, can make no excuse for this.
1 Suspension of race when sea gives way to land initially (6) SLURRY (SCURRY -C+L)
ReplyDeleteUse of C for Sea (where is homophone indicator?). Or is it an accepted practice to use without homophone indicator?
XWD the crossword dictionary has:
Deletesee C,V.
V is abbr. of vide, L. for 'see'
C is prob. from the sound. I have seen it used in advanced cryptics but I am now unable to explain correctly the proper justification.
PS; Sea can't be used for C without the hom ind.
Delete1 Pub that the lady lived in (7) SHEBEEN (SEE BEEN)
ReplyDelete{SHE}{BEEN}
Typo corrected
DeleteToI today has a story titled: A tool to turn sweat into potable water.
ReplyDelete( http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/science/A-tool-to-turn-sweat-into-potable-water/articleshow/21155516.cms )
My question:
For your glass of distilled water from this machine, whose sweat would you prefer?
Reminds me that the International Space Station was not only called ISS but also *ISS.
DeleteThe sweat of one's own brow is preferred...
DeleteGood answer! Congrats!
DeleteIt is odd that the title should mention a tool
DeleteI asked a famous actress to donate her sweat-soaked towels for my glass of distilled water. She said: "No sweat".
DeleteSweet of her !
DeleteThe water may have some Khushboo in it. Sherbet Rooh Afza
Delete+ 1. Not exactly a return compliment.
DeleteMy 9-18 post was in response to CV's 9-15.
DeleteThe water may have some Khushboo in it.
DeleteWe can expect a Sundar comment on that.
Reminded me of Server Sundaram which became Main Sundar Hoon in Hindi
DeleteWith Thai Nagesh in Tamil and Mahmood in Hindi...
DeleteTH in its lead front page article on Telangana says The Die is Cast. Reminded me of the oft used line in Asterix: Alea Jacta Est
ReplyDeleteWow, quite an active morning... 46 comments in jus' 45 mins
ReplyDeleteLike Frederick Algernon Trotteville's poetry, we have been letting our tongues go loose.
DeleteNo Fry-day blues!
DeleteI'm tongue-tied !
DeleteVaali (TS Rangarajan), the legendary poet-lyricist who has penned over 10,000 songs, many of which are classic evergreen ones, is no more.
ReplyDeleteVery recently I, as a member of the audience, saw him on the podium at the release of his poetic bio of HH 45th Srimath Azhagiyasingar.
DeleteI understand Vaali and Nagesh (of the aforementioned Server Sundaram) were roommates
DeleteKishore: You are right. See this link: http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/creator-invincible/article2514677.ece
DeleteWhat Ho!
ReplyDeleteI sincerely hope that this puzzle is a step in the right direction towards better clueing. Judging from the comments, I think it is. Thank you for the comments and pl. do give more feedback on it. Will try and incorporate it all in the future offerings.
Cheers!
KKK,
DeleteYou need to answer Bhavan's queries @ 8:40
Congrats, CV! A very befitting eulogy of your skills is that review!
ReplyDeleteThe reviewed has commended the translator for doing justice in conveying the flavour of the original and the thought process of the Tamil author while maintaining the flow. CV has also translated some books by (Maha)Devan. Devan's detective 'Thuppariyum Sambhu' has endeared himself to the Tamil reading public.
ReplyDeleteRa Ki Rangarajan, a renowned former Editor of the Tamil magazine Kumudam, has translated a number of English books including Papillon by Henri Charriere ('Pattampoochi') besides several novels of Sidney Sheldon. So smooth was the flow and the use of the language, that it appeared to the readers as these were written for the first time in Tamil.
Sorry for the typos:
ReplyDeleteIn first line, in place of 'The reviewed', it should be 'The reviewer'
The last sentence should read '...as if these were written..'
Day after day,THC is moving away from an average puzzle solver like me,due to its unpopular and rare words (for solutions)getting more featured,thereby in a way,make me lose interest in it.Much earlier,this was not the position.Take me,for example,until not long ago,I could crackup to 80 to 90%,at times,even 100% also.But now, 100% is impossible for us.I am now finding strangely odd among a group of above average and top performers.What is more,appreciation of the clue with the solution is also losing its charm,wit and punch.This is not only my view,but also of some of my co-solvers as well!
ReplyDelete+ 1. Getting 80 to 90%, at times even 100% by average solvers, is possible only in case of puzzles offered by Sankalak and Gridman and none else ! With others if you could get atleast 50%, you can feel satisfied. When it goes below 50%, for the reasons you mentioned above, well,
Deleteno doubt one loses interest. THC should kindly consider the views of majority lot(average solvers).
I may add here, I don't say I solve their puzzles in a jiffy. I do take a couple of hours to reach that figure of 80 to 90% but the satisfaction derived is immense !
DeleteInteresting and valuable feedback. How do you suggest this problem can be addressed?
DeleteUnderstandably some of the newer setters are still finding their feet and will be many more puzzles away before they refine their techniques and make their clues easier while still being fair.
I feel at the moment their output cannot even be compared to or even spoken in the same breath as that of Gridman or Sankalak.
Speaking from my own experience, there isn't any target group of solvers that a setter has in mind and writes clues to cater specifically to them.
Any ideas to keep the interest of solvers from flagging are welcome.
Everyone starts as a beginner and progresses over the years. Can you join a professional course without going through 12 years of school?
DeleteDifficult or easy, it's all in the solver's mind than in the puzzle itself. I don't think setters need to dumb down their submissions just to please a certain group of people. It's only fair that solvers challenged themselves and improved their skills through practice. Believe it or not, solvers won't even feel that they've gotten better. It just happens naturally.
DeleteSeshagiri Row Karry
DeleteWrt your Letter to the Editor in yesterday's paper, you seem to believe in the dictum 'bar dance' !
VJ @ 5:04
DeleteYes, I agree with your view.
Interesting viewpoint. At least to me an obscure word usually presents an opportunity to learn a new word. At the same time, all new words (learnt by someone from a given grid) can't be termed obscure either. However I agree this goes hand in hand with fair clueing. Gridman once clued SYZYGY (a word I did not know then) in a fair manner that I could get it without breaking my head too much.
DeleteVisit here for some high-brow jokes:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/how-many-surrealists-does-it-take-to-screw-in-a-light-bulb-a-fish-the-most-highbrow-jokes-in-the-world-8691191.html
I think our own Kishore may have mentioned one or two of these here before.
Superb. Liked the BMB best. lemme add one here:
DeletePascal, Newton and Einstein are playing hide and seek. E goes away to count. P hides. N just draws a square of side 100 cm round himself. E comes and says : I got you, N. N says: no, you got P. 1 N per sq. m is a P.
Regarding M's sets ref in 22, there is a similar recursive expansion of GOD in Douglas Hofstadter 's EGB. What an awesome book.
DeleteSorry, that's BBM, not BMB
DeleteI would suggest every 'serious' solver to visit www.crosswordunclued.com, where Shuchi has a whole list of topics for beginners explaining every type of clue found in THC and elsewhere. Apart from this blog (THCC) there is no better site to improve one's CW solving skills.
ReplyDeleteObscure words are off-putting, but one must appreciate the setter's skills (within the bounds of convention and fairness) in coming up with a clue for even words used commonly.
Any friends of Chris Reynolds here ?
ReplyDeleteI have been doing The H indu crossword for thirty years but today I could not get even25 percent.Put me off too.
ReplyDeleteSame is the case with me.I am happy that I am not alone.
DeleteOne cannot and should not have any objections to the so called tough/obscure words. What better place to learn new words than a CW ( I would like to add our own blog to this list since I have learned many words and ideas from the blog)! I would like to recall CV's point- tough words should have easy cryptic part leading to them. If both are tough, we (particularly the non-experts) find it off putting and we find ourselves in the wilderness. Another part which I find difficult in some clues is finding out the defn. If this itself is obscure, well....
ReplyDeleteIt is equal parts- setter's & solver's point of view. One must be able to understand and appreciate the CW with ref. to subject,word play and context. The idea should be to make it entertaining and enjoyable- not needlessly tough( I mean the cryptic part)keeping in mind that this is not the place to test the solver's knowledge or skill. What I mean is that the approach is not to find out who is cleverer, the setter or solver.
I may be excused if I am wrong, but this is based on my experience of solving and being part of the blog for the last few years.
I feel it is also not correct on our part as solvers to rate the setters, considering the effort put in by them and also keeping in mind that they are also better solvers.
What a plausible logic ! That's Sankalism !!
ReplyDeleteTo all the carpers and grousers !
ReplyDeleteStop whinging and whining. Imagine the compilers' creative efforts put in to keep us solvers engaged and busy. As the Col had commented. gaining experience is the key. No job offer without experience and hence get qualified. The compiler puts in his wit and wisdom and throws us all in a tizzy and its for us to pick up the gauntlet and cross swords with him , thrust and parry. Its not as though the compiler just picks up random words and phrases and bungs them into the grid. He spends hours to ensure that we are all beguiled by his efforts. By our comments , he knows what levels we can be taken to ansd he raises the bar. One need not to aim at excelsior peaks to solve 100 percent always. I have a pile of partly completed crosswords put away to be visited again and completed and I do succeed. There was this story that I read a few years ago of a lady who waited for more than 40 years to complete an unfinished crossword !!
Relish what is served , savour every bit of flavour coming out of it and smack your tongue in satisfaction when sated. The cook knows how difficult it is to garner up stuff and serve. !
A word to the compilers too. Do keep in mind that Crossword solving is a pastime (to me it is not so !) and a pleasure. So employ all your compiling wit and wisdom to serve us better !
Happy solving ye-all !
It cannot be denied there is some truth in what Seshagiri Karry and Mukundala Balasubramanyam say, it can easily be felt the forum thread too where we just enjoy filling the grid without bothering to the technical details of the solving process, an ordinary solver class unlike the purely intellectual group here who delight in the niceties of the pastime which we read with awe and appreciation. I beg to differ with the Colonel for comparing the solving exercise to passing from lower classes to higher classes. Even though it is true that practice makes perfect there are certain convoluted cluing patterns which no amount of practice/experience can help learning. As one gets old one loses interest in learning new words which one easily forgets for the simple reason of never coming across them again!!! pardon me for this confession- but that is the stark truth. On the other hand old, unforgotten references to Shakespeare or or other well known literary figures like in CV's puzzles are always welcome and are a source of genuine pleasure. Nice word play, anagrams, and clever topical, current references are always welcome. But when a solver cannot make head or tail of what some clues mean it is frustrating- because an average solver who feels immensely happy with just 80% correct answers and pure joy when 100% is achieved starts with the hope of giving a good exercise to his brain without sweating in unknown frontiers/mazes. I do not think it is anything to do with 'difficulty level' as in sudoku. It is just the manner of the setter. The pick of the lot as correctly mentioned are Gridman and Sankalak. Humble confession of a 'janatha' solver, the kind to which the majority of solvers belong. Ultimately it is the amount of joy or disappointment at one's own ability to solve the clues which makes or breaks a solver's day!
ReplyDeleteI can't agree with you more!
Deleteoops! lots of mistakes! Beg your pardon!
ReplyDelete