Monday, 29 July 2013

No.10837, Monday 29 Jul 2013, Spinner


ACROSS
1 A magical mantra engineered just like this clue? (14) ANAGRAMMATICAL (A MAGICAL MANTRA)* &LIT too?
10 A poetic commendation inherent in a silken voice (5) ENVOI (T)
          An example is appended at the end of this post
11 Bird’s tail was cut off and the sound that followed was piercing (9) THRUSTING (THRUSh TING)
12, 19 Pronounce, ponder and put away the lining which children would circle on cold, frosty mornings? (8,4) MULBERRY BUSH (~MULL BURY BUSH)
          Round and round the Mulberry Bush, ...methinks there was a spider web on it ...
13 Animal that goes ‘Pop’ due to a pointed stand (6) WEASEL (W(est) EASEL) 
          Ref to Pop goes the weasel
15 Holy hippos out in the pursuit of wisdom (10) PHILOSOPHY (HOLY HIPPOS)*
16 Like the evergreen stuff that made a comeback with the sleazy Nipponese (4) PINY (T<)
          Two continuous words starting with P and ending with Y !
19 See 12 Ac.  
          (See up there, didn't Spinner tell you so ?!)
20 An effect of the recessive gene makes the British want a woman with the European Parliament (5,5) BLACK SHEEP (B LACK SHE EP)
          An African chief's wife gave birth to an albino baby. The chief went up to the white missionary and charged 
          "I black, my wife black, baby white, you white, how?" The padre, wanting to explain how albinism 
          occurs due to recessive genes, showed him the mountainside, saying "all sheep white, one sheep black,
          you black, how?". The chief, with acknowledgement of guilt, declared ceasefire with: "You no tell, I 
          also no tell".
23 The fallen man without a surname had a swelling and was extremely teary (6) HUMPTY (HUMP TearY)
          Ref to Mr H. Dumpty without his surname
25 Sybarite’s weird, unusual collection (8) BESTIARY (SYBARITE)*
27 Missing man and sailors cheat mutineer who turned his back on them (9) ABSCONDER (ABS CON DER<)

28 Game makers can consume home-food (3,2) EAT IN (EA (Ref to Electronic Arts, a video game maker, whose logo is EA) TIN)
29 Mce mce mce (5,5,4) THREE BLIND MICE (3 MICE without eyes = ~Is)
          Fell in love with this one at first sight, because love is blind

DOWN
2 Television disowning one broadcast that shows new stuff (9) NOVELTIES (TELEVISION -1)*
3 Leader of the blind community? (5,3) GUIDE DOG (CD)  
          A seeing-eye dog
4 Stakes on the Brazilian city’s odd rally raised already (10) ANTERIORLY (ANTE RIO RaLlY)
5 She’s bloody as a spirited tomato (4) MARY (CD)
          Tomato juice with spirit, vodka=Bloody Mary, not Queen of Scots
6 One who analyses the canopy (6) TESTER (2)
7 Provides an upper surface to slice bananas (5) CEILS (SLICE)*
8 Part and then unite cleanly? (7) LEGALLY (LEG ALLY)
          Not sure if def. is fully apt
9 Mountain cat and alien return to form an alliance (4,2) TEAM UP (PUMA ET)<
          Sometimes we have minced 'mountain cat' for breakfast !
14 Stylish perception needed to manage an avian enclosure (7,3) CHICKEN RUN (CHIC KEN RUN)
          Another game, though not in the same class (kindergarten) as others, and not by EA 
17 Stiff final held in one nice ground (9) INELASTIC (LAST in (1 NICE)*)
18 This other map contains a line that connects the equally hot (8) ISOTHERM (T)
19 Where you would find the left lung inside-out (2,5) BY HEART (DD)
          Knowing something inside out = knowing something by heart. This is the real objective of all those games, getting 
          the songs by heart as a memory exercise ...
21 Agassi first quit running, then started practising (6) PLYING (PLAYING -A)
22 Slogged and smashed in with a trace of roughness (6) STROVE (R in STOVE)
24 Thinker recalled unfinished summary (5) MUSER (RESUMe)<
          Reminded me of Rodin's  Le Pensuer.  The word play reminded me that I should complete my unfinished Résumé‎
26 Implicit devotee of Lord originally in a lifeless form? (4) IDOL (I D O L)

Welcome, Spinner,
Our new compiler,
A web-master or a verbal shaman,
Or deliverer of a turning Chinaman ?
Looks like you are a winner !

Spinner opened with songs and games !  

Posted by at
Labels: , ,

100 comments:

  1. Deepak Gopinath29 July 2013 at 08:37

    Spinner transitions from THCC to THC, congrats and welcome.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Chaturvasi29 July 2013 at 08:55

      Any others wishing to transit may write to me.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous29 July 2013 at 10:02

      Spinner transitions from THCC to THC, congrats and welcome.

      Is that called cutting a ' Corner' ?

      Delete
  2. SandhyaP29 July 2013 at 08:37

    Great cluing Spinner, great solving/commenting Kishore!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. SandhyaP29 July 2013 at 08:38

      Typo: Clueing

      Delete
    2. Chaturvasi29 July 2013 at 08:41

      Why, 'cluing' is quite correct with many Britishers using that sp., though you, like myself, may prefer 'clueing'.

      Delete
    3. Kishore29 July 2013 at 09:44

      Thanks, Sandhya. WRT to my loquaciousness, as noted by many, I can only quote Malang Chacha, who said:

      Rashan pe bhashan bahut hai par bhashan pe rashan nahi. Isiliye jab bolta hoon to thoda zyada bolta hoon.


      And this bit from a song from Shor:
      Do pal ke jeevan mein, ik umr choorani hai.*

      In fact, when I met CV recently, I had quoted this last line to him.

      *This is the spirit I learnt from "Anand".

      Delete
  3. Shrikanth29 July 2013 at 08:38

    Welcome Spinner. A very nice offering. Loved 29A particularly.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Bhavan29 July 2013 at 08:39

    Several good clues from Spinner. Particularly liked INELASTIC.

    What I don't like are clues like 29A which don't bend, but break the rules of cryptic clueing. There is no definition and the wordplay doesn't lead to the answer in the absence of the homophone. Even if there was some indication of i = ~eye in the clue, it is still a bridge too far. mce = m(-i)ce = m(-~eye)ice = mice without eyes = blind mice.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Deepak Gopinath29 July 2013 at 08:42

      Inspite of all that I still liked 29A. The clue says such a lot without saying as much.

      Delete
    2. Bhavan29 July 2013 at 08:47

      GEGS for SCRAMBLED EGGS was considered a great clue at one time. Some still might. But it had/s its detractors.

      I was merely registering my voice of dissent for the clue.

      Delete
    3. Chaturvasi29 July 2013 at 08:48

      Well, I don't quite agree!

      Though a stern critic of lazy, incomplete and careless clueing, I appreciate an occasional clue of this kind - which, upon solving, brings a smile on the lips of the solver.

      I have called it the occasional clue that defies some element of clueing requirements..

      If every clue has some kind of problem that it has - as you correctly say - then that CWD would come in for much criticism here.

      Delete
    4. Shrikanth29 July 2013 at 08:57

      Though there was no definition, I felt it was it was OK as it was one of the theme clues.

      Delete
    5. VJ29 July 2013 at 09:06

      GEGS: Not sure where it's from, but the clue is comparatively less ambiguous. Today's 29A is a bit iffy IMO. "I" for eye is a stretch. I'm not entirely against the idea, but not a great fan either. If these tricks are used as the wordplay part to go with the definition, it'd be more appreciated.

      However, I'm okay with these kinds of clues as long as they logically lead to the solution i.e. ABCDEFGHIJKLM. (4)

      Delete
    6. Raghunath29 July 2013 at 09:47

      I think this could be pardoned, esp. since it's Spinner's debut and give him credit for coming up with an original sort of clue. Suppose it's his 'doosra', as experts believe that you cannot bowl this without a bit of bend in the arm. Apart from this plenty of googlies, arm balls, Chinamen, straighter ones and the ocassional under armer.

      Delete
    7. Kishore29 July 2013 at 09:52

      Aah, you refer to the Chinaman too

      Delete
    8. Raghunath29 July 2013 at 09:54

      ?

      Delete
    9. Raghunath29 July 2013 at 09:57

      Not sure whether he is left or right handed.

      Delete
    10. Anonymous29 July 2013 at 09:59

      Pl ref. to welcome limerick with various meanings of Spinner...

      Delete
  5. Chaturvasi29 July 2013 at 08:40

    Is there any risqué element in 8d?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kishore29 July 2013 at 08:47

      IC IT NOW !

      Delete
    2. Deepak Gopinath29 July 2013 at 09:00

      Tut-tut on behalf of all the tut-tutters!!!

      Delete
    3. Kishore29 July 2013 at 09:02

      It is an open and shut case !

      Delete
    4. Shrikanth29 July 2013 at 09:10

      And as long as it is done Legally :)

      Delete
    5. Kishore29 July 2013 at 09:11

      Otherwise, you end up married (I am unable to quote the exact legal citation)

      Delete
    6. Raghunath29 July 2013 at 09:39

      Bunch of naughty old boys:)

      LEG: 3 stage,part, bit, section, portion, stretch, segment, lap

      Both in thefreedictionary.com & http://www.chambersharrap.co.uk/

      Delete
    7. Raghunath29 July 2013 at 09:41

      Explanation in reply to Kishore's query against 8 D.

      Delete
    8. Kishore29 July 2013 at 09:42

      "Bunch of naughty old boys"

      Abhi to main jawan hoon

      Delete
    9. Anonymous29 July 2013 at 09:58

      Raghu 941: My query was wrt the defn. If ' cleanly' = 'legally' is apt. Nothing to do with legs, to which you have drawn attention to ...

      Delete
    10. Raghunath29 July 2013 at 10:10

      Sorry. Didn't notice that. Re the def is it an American slang wherea business is 'clean' if its legal?

      Delete
  6. Rengaswamy29 July 2013 at 08:47

    28 Game makers can consume home-food (3,2) EAT IN (EA (Ref to Electronic Arts, a video game maker, whose logo is EA) TIN)

    Good anno by Kishore. Even though I solved it, I was not satisfied with my anno, till I saw this blog.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Chaturvasi29 July 2013 at 08:51

    Kishore

    Your cartoons have always had great ideas. Now your art work has improved tremendously.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kishore29 July 2013 at 08:56

      To use Paint or DoodleBuddy, that was the Q. I stuck to P, but I think my mouse handling has improved as the delirium tremens has considerably decreased.

      BTW, I am sure you got the name on the grave. Right ?

      Delete
    2. Chaturvasi29 July 2013 at 09:02

      That's a Q worth gunning for...

      Delete
  8. Chaturvasi29 July 2013 at 08:54

    Two continuous words starting with P and ending with Y !

    This blogger doesn't miss anything. Misses beware!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kishore29 July 2013 at 08:59

      I did miss your observation about 8d, the innocent chap that I am !

      Misses as in plural of Miss ?

      Delete
  9. Chaturvasi29 July 2013 at 08:59

    I invite readers to enter just one word that starts with P and ends in Y.

    This must be done without a moment's thinking.

    PEONY

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kishore29 July 2013 at 09:01

      Psychology, and its relatives form a huge gang.

      Delete
    2. Deepak Gopinath29 July 2013 at 09:02

      PLENTY

      Delete
    3. Shrikanth29 July 2013 at 09:06

      Primary

      Delete
    4. VJ29 July 2013 at 09:09

      PASTRY

      Delete
    5. Kishore29 July 2013 at 09:11

      WRT 901, kin include Psychiatry, Psychotheraphy, Pharmapsychology, et al

      Delete
    6. Krishnan29 July 2013 at 10:10

      Parsimony, pry.

      Delete
    7. Mukundala Balasubramanyam29 July 2013 at 10:58

      PONY, PLAY

      Delete
    8. RameshJ29 July 2013 at 11:09

      Pray, Was CV's mind still stuck on 8D when he threw this challenge ? ;)

      Delete
    9. Raghunath29 July 2013 at 11:16

      Pasupathy

      Delete
    10. Anonymous29 July 2013 at 11:58

      Ramesh @1109

      Possibly

      Raghu @1116

      Why not Parthasarathy ?

      Delete
    11. Lakshmi Vaidyanathan29 July 2013 at 12:04

      PANTRY,PRODIGY

      Delete
    12. RameshJ29 July 2013 at 12:14

      Kishore @11:58
      Probably "pushy" would have been a better answer in that case :)

      Delete
    13. Deepak Gopinath29 July 2013 at 12:20

      The longest ones I found after googling

      photolithographically, psychophysiologically, psychotherapeutically

      Delete
    14. Raghunath29 July 2013 at 12:26

      Kishore,'
      LVs second entry describes you.' Fastest draw in the East"?

      Delete
    15. Rengaswamy29 July 2013 at 17:06

      P to Y - What CVji is looking for is FUSSY not loudly but silently!

      Delete
    16. Mukundala Balasubramanyam29 July 2013 at 17:39

      LOL !! As good a joke as 20A !!!

      Delete
  10. Shrikanth29 July 2013 at 09:02

    Kishore 20D - ROFL

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Deepak Gopinath29 July 2013 at 09:03

      You mean 20A?

      Delete
    2. Kishore29 July 2013 at 09:08

      He's probably 'down'on the floor !

      Delete
    3. Shrikanth29 July 2013 at 09:09

      Yes Colonel , sorry 20A

      Delete
    4. Chaturvasi29 July 2013 at 09:23

      MB (lest you should scratch your head)

      I just learnt by googling that what AD means is Rolling On Floor Laughing (after reading the joke in this blog at 20a).

      I too enjoyed it, but sitting firmly in the chair.

      Delete
    5. D.Srinivasan29 July 2013 at 10:07

      Idhudhaan VIZHUNDHU VZHUNDHU sirikiradhaa?

      Delete
    6. Mukundala Balasubramanyam29 July 2013 at 11:03

      Just saw 20A ! LOL !! Cracker of a joke !!!

      Delete
    7. Mukundala Balasubramanyam29 July 2013 at 11:32

      CV Sir @ 9;23

      I did scratch my head for some time not only with ROFL but also AD(Afterdark) ! Thanks for stripping ROFL !!!
      Today I was late to join the FUN-PARTY :) I generally make my entry after 10:00 or so.

      Delete
  11. Bhalchandra Pasupathy29 July 2013 at 10:30

    Welcome Spinner. Nice variety and liked quite a few clues. Kishore's commentary provides the perfect foil

    ReplyDelete
  12. RameshJ29 July 2013 at 10:36

    Good opener from Spinner. Liked 29A which was more like a rebus puzzle than a traditional cw clue.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Kishore29 July 2013 at 10:55

    Just uploaded solution grid with theme entries highlighted:
    Here we go round the MULBERRY BUSH
    Pop goes the WEASEL
    Baa Baa BLACK SHEEP
    HUMPTY Dumpty
    THREE BLIND MICE
    MARY had a little lamb

    Did I miss any ? Pl let me know.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mukundala Balasubramanyam29 July 2013 at 11:09

      Yes, we missed you yesterday ! :)

      Delete
    2. Anonymous29 July 2013 at 11:24

      Sometimes I have other fish to fry

      Delete
    3. Chaturvasi29 July 2013 at 13:17

      சும்மா வறுத்து எடுத்துடுவாரு
      Summaa varuththu eduththuduvaaru...

      (I.e., he will just fry till it's quite black)

      Delete
  14. RameshJ29 July 2013 at 11:13

    23D The fallen man without a surname had a swelling and was extremely teary (6) HUMPTY (HUMP TearY)

    What is the role of "was" in the cryptic reading of the clue ?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Srivathsan29 July 2013 at 12:34

      It is there purely for the surface reading. I understand that it's not okay for such words to be present between the different parts of the clue leading to the answer. Definitely an area I could improve on. Thank you.

      Delete
  15. Srivathsan29 July 2013 at 11:15

    Firstly, thanks to the Colonel and CV sir for all the support. Also, thank you for the 'envoi', Kishore-Ji. Also, you haven't missed any of the themed entries.

    As for 'legally' , legal=clean is marked informal usage in http://thesaurus.com/browse/legal But, legally = cleanly, in retrospect, may not be fair to the solver, I suppose. Shall try to steer clear of such usage in future.

    As for 29A, it was more a rebus-inspired clue. Though it breaks every single cryptic rule, like CV sir said, it was intended to be a break from the regular pattern (quite like a doosra, as pointed out). Like the clue for NOEL in one of Gridman's offerings. As long as a good percentage of the solvers are able to figure out the solution, I feel it is justified.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous29 July 2013 at 12:42

      SS, you have not answered my query regarding the connotation of Spinner as enquired in the 'envoi':
      a. Spider
      b. Spin doctor
      c. Spin Bowler

      Delete
    2. Raghunath29 July 2013 at 12:49

      I'll go for option c as I remember in his last offering in THCC, Col saying he was out playing a cricket match.

      Delete
    3. Srivathsan29 July 2013 at 20:56

      Yes, I am an off-spinner. Not a chinaman bowler, though (Those guys are vanishing from cricket, sadly) I play for Nungambakkam SC in TNCA's fifth division. That spinning, was what probably rubbed off on my clues. Also, if my work results is a nice web of clues, you may go for option 'A' as well, only, I'm four limbs short.

      Delete
  16. Srivathsan29 July 2013 at 11:17

    I was also hoping that, by the time the solver arrived at 29A, the theme would've caught on, making it simpler for him/her to decode this type of clue.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Raghunath29 July 2013 at 11:25

    An impressive debut, Spinner. Only advice by me is bowl with a shorter run up!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Mukundala Balasubramanyam29 July 2013 at 11:55

    Srivathsan Santhanam @ 11:15

    As for 29A, I had to Google it. Your intention to break away from the regular pattern is OK(once in a while). You see, Familiarity Breeds Contempt, hence, Variety is the Spice of Life(once in a while)!! You agree with me !? A nice puzzle. I enjoyed it. Could get pass marks !!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Srivathsan29 July 2013 at 12:29

      Definitely. Variety was the driving force behind such a clue.

      Delete
    2. Chaturvasi29 July 2013 at 12:51

      "Could get pass marks"

      - The solver or the setter?

      Delete
    3. Mukundala Balasubramanyam29 July 2013 at 14:56

      The former, who incidentally is a tyro !

      Delete
  19. Deepak Gopinath29 July 2013 at 12:13

    I am maintaining a database of all keen followers of THC and my blog, so that if ever we have a S&B meet (S&B is Sloggers and Bloggers meet, for those who are unaware)I can send them information about it.
    Those who are interested in getting their names into the databse please send me your Name, Address, E-mail & Phone numbers so that I can add it to the database.
    This message is for all those who are new to the blog and those who have not sent me their details earlier. My e-mail ID is available in the Contact details at the top of this page.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Suresh29 July 2013 at 12:22

    29A was fairly easy to solve.

    The point is does it not require a definition element, or at least a head note stating that a certain number of themed clues do not have a definition?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Srivathsan29 July 2013 at 12:28

      Since there was just one clue of it's kind, a note would've been superfluous, I felt. Since it was a clue with no meaningful words, integration of a definition into the clue was tough. Like stated above, it does break the established rules. But as a setter, I'm counting on the recreational value of the clue to compensate for the rule-breaking.

      Delete
    2. Suresh29 July 2013 at 12:36

      Granted. Maybe a simple 'No?' at the end of the clue would have done it without removing the entertainment value

      Delete
  21. Srivathsan29 July 2013 at 12:23

    Raghunath-Ji, point taken. Days after setting this one, it occurred to me that some of the clues might have been longer than necessary. Shall make it brisker in future.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Lakshmi Vaidyanathan29 July 2013 at 12:53

    @Spinner
    29A brought a smile after solving.Nice xword, solved without scratching or banging my head! Thanks :-)

    ReplyDelete
  23. Unknown29 July 2013 at 12:55

    Well I certainly enjoyed 29A ! Brought a smile to my face ...

    ReplyDelete
  24. Srivathsan29 July 2013 at 13:01

    Thank you :) I guess 29A has had the intended effect.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Mukundala Balasubramanyam29 July 2013 at 15:50

    VJ @ 9:06
    Hi VJ !
    Answer for ABCDEFGHIJKLM (4) please ! I have to be spoonfed you see !!

    ReplyDelete
  26. Padmanabhan29 July 2013 at 19:28

    Pass mark?- 'the solver or the setter' was the question.
    My answer- The clue!

    Felt sorry for not being able to participate in time in all the fun. Which do I like most- the CW or Kishore's remarks or all the comments? Unable to decide!

    While all of you were searching for p....y, I was wondering why all of you missed Paddy! Out of sight.....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous29 July 2013 at 21:35

      After CV's drawing attention to a risque interpretation of a clue, I think everybofy got fixated on a 5 letter word for p---y, with the same letter in the third and fourth slot..., they overlooked you. Do not despair, your rival was worthy !

      Delete
    2. Navneeth29 July 2013 at 22:50

      Potty is worthy? Quite an oxymoron, that! ;-)

      Delete
    3. Padmanabhan29 July 2013 at 23:53

      You will have to think of something better- say for example, meow!

      Delete
    4. Navneeth30 July 2013 at 00:20

      I was being intentionally potty, Mr. Paddy! (Hence the ";-)")

      Delete
  27. PKPSwami29 July 2013 at 20:15

    1,29a &9d wow wonderfully spun.

    ReplyDelete
  28. raju umamaheswar29 July 2013 at 21:02

    A good spin by SPINNER.Congrats ! I liked the 'a Magical mantra ' to spin the letters to ANAGRAMMATICAL..Very imaginative and creative . The true art of a cruciverbalist. This was the clue of my day. To turn a THC from a THCC blogger is to come of age, separating the men from the boys. Many of us are content to remain boys, as to become a man, is to take on responsibilities and remaining a boy is to refuse to grow up !! But it is fun to become a boy when you are a man, as Kishore and others have proved here.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Navneeth29 July 2013 at 22:52

    Oh, BTW, for some reason the word which first came to mind, a proper noun at that, when I read Chaturvasi's post was PLINY.

    ReplyDelete

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