Tuesday 1 October 2013

No 10892, Tuesday 01 Oct 2013, Lightning

Enjoyable offering from Lightning.
ACROSS
1   Medium ale brewed is heavenly (8) ETHEREAL {ETHER}{ALE*}
5   Muscle therapist of old following incomplete art of healing (6) PHYSIO {PHYSIc}{O}
9   Cheat and secure fortune finally at card game (8) CRIBBAGE {CRIB}{BAG}{E}
10 Missing blood type dispatched (6) ABSENT {AB}{SENT}
12 Stay back at southern wastelands (5) MOORS {MOOR<=}{S}
13 Translate one book with hesitation before end of contest (9) INTERPRET {1}{NT}{ER}{PRE}{T}
14 Sad weaver enters the borders of Gooty (6) GLOOMY {Go{LOOM}otY}
16 Foretell the German wind (7) MEANDER {MEAN}{DER}
19 Tighten damaged fist, freezing every nerve for starters (7) STIFFEN {FIST}*{F}{E}{N}
21 Image is materially demonstrating a form of prejudice (6) AGEISM [T]
23 Peacekeepers in booth to set things up? Quite the opposite (9) UNINSTALL {UN}{IN}{STALL}
25 Article thanks Greek character (5) THETA {THE}{TA}
26 Acknowledgment of a promise by gangster (6) AVOWAL {A}{VOW}{AL}
27 Empower half a dozen to break in causing resentment (8) ENVIABLE {EN{VI}ABLE}
28 Followed measure to prosecute Democrat (6) ENSUED {EN}{SUE}{D}
29 Madness exhibited by shy, irate doctor (8) HYSTERIA*

DOWN
1   Settle in a tent in Spanish party (6) ENCAMP {EN}{CAMP} Camp & Party are not exactly synonymous are they? See comments.
2   U.S. state set up one election, essentially wooing the common people (3,6) HOI POLLOI {HO<={1}{POLL}woOIng}
3   Visual puzzle about transportation vehicle (5) REBUS {RE}{BUS}
4   Furiously destroy gray line for the most part (7) ANGRILY {GRAY+LINe}*
6   Nervous? Breathe in and be dormant (9) HIBERNATE*
7   Son to exhibit promise (5) SWEAR {S}{WEAR}
8   Surpass another at gazing, resulting in tears (8) OUTSTARE {OUT}{TEARS*}
11 First half of the English alphabet — is it ‘indivisible’? (4) ATOM {A to M}
15 A soft cube designed to confuse (9) OBFUSCATE*
17 Amputate lady’s arm (9) DISMEMBER {DI'S}{MEMBER}
18 Kiss ace Lotus engineer (8) OSCULATE*
20 Disheartened Indian writer gets food item (4) NAAN NA{?}AN Couldn't think of the Indian writer! Is it Nanjil Nadan ? (Addendum - NArayAN - See comments)
21 Plant developing around eastern border of Bellary in abundance (7) APLENTY {APL{E}NT*}{Y}
22 Recording device in which discussions remain private? (6) CAMERA [C&DD]
24 Driving aids, that could be wooden too (5) IRONS [CD]
25 Shade around a spot (5) TAINT {T{A}INT}

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46 comments:

  1. Kishore1 October 2013 at 08:32

    20d NArayAN, NARAYAN !

    ReplyDelete
  2. Kishore1 October 2013 at 08:33

    1 Settle in a tent in Spanish party (6) ENCAMP {EN}{CAMP} Camp & Party are not exactly synonymous are they?

    They belong to his camp. Can work, I think ...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Raghunath1 October 2013 at 09:29

      from Chambers: camp: side, faction, group, party, section, set, crowd, caucus, clique

      Delete
  3. raju umamaheswar1 October 2013 at 08:42

    No, naan and nee, neit, it could be NAYAN tara Sehgal? or am I neighing up a wrong course? This is a near Ximenian crossie which was smooth and predictable.

    Can I request the current compilers to start using new prefixes instead of Al fo Al Capone, and Di for princess and er for royalty ? These are wearing thin amongst the regulars and the younger crop of solvers may be wondering '' why so?'' Can we star creating and introducing something new and refreshing? Ahem, am I mean , ye-all think?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kishore1 October 2013 at 08:54

      It could be even NAndAN Nilekani. But talking of a sublime author can bring only RK Narayan to mind.

      Curiously, DI could mean DI Kaskar, who is India's No.1 wanted person, and be a substitute for Capone ...

      Delete
    2. Col_Gopinath1 October 2013 at 11:04

      Wonder what VJ has to say? I am drawing parallels to his comment regarding use of Cologne, same way here too the possibilities are vast if an authors name is the intention

      Delete
    3. VJ1 October 2013 at 11:22

      Forget the authors, all I can think of now is NAANs...

      Delete
    4. Col_Gopinath1 October 2013 at 12:21

      Talking of Naans, this is what wiki has

      Typically, it will be served hot and brushed with ghee or butter. It can be used to scoop other foods, or served stuffed with a filling: for example, keema naan is stuffed with a minced meat mixture (usually lamb or mutton or goat meat); another variation is peshawari naan. Peshawari naan and Kashmiri naan are filled with a mixture of nuts and raisins; in Pakistan, roghani naan which is sprinkled with sesame seeds; Kulcha is another type. Amritsari naan also called as amritsari kulcha is stuffed with mashed potatoes, onion (optional) and lots of spices. Possible seasonings in the naan dough include cumin and nigella seeds. The Pakistani dish of balti is usually eaten with a naan, and this has given rise to the huge karack or table naan, easy to share amongst large groups.

      Delete
    5. VJ1 October 2013 at 12:48

      Wow!!!!! And now I'm really hungry and there ain't gonna be no naans for me :(

      Kashmiri naan is interesting!!!

      Delete
  4. raju umamaheswar1 October 2013 at 08:45

    Clue of my day was ATOM !! Something not so neat as water for H2O with whiiskey ?

    ReplyDelete
  5. Padmanabhan1 October 2013 at 09:47

    Atom was the best- in the category of H to O!

    For those who missed Gridman's late blog of yesterday, my request is to take the trouble of going through it for the neat and elaborate thesis on innuendos of plagiarism. He has taken the trouble of analysing it so well ans so impersonally,as only he can.

    I was reminded of it now after seeing the ATOM !

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mukundala Balasubramanyam1 October 2013 at 10:35

      ...didn't miss a single word of C.V. Sir's commentary right from Saturday to Monday.

      Delete
  6. Raghunath1 October 2013 at 09:47

    Very nice puzzle. Like clues for ATOM and UNINSTALL.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Padmanabhan1 October 2013 at 09:52

    1D-
    Does 'camp' lead to ten?. In that case I am unable to parse 'en'.

    Kishore,
    A small typo in the nice cartoon- spelling of competition. I probably stare more at your cartoons, being an ardent fan. I am not too sure if it is still possible to correct it- of course, only for record's sake. I think I have already mentioned that I am collecting all of them in a folder and will be ready to give you as & when you decide to publish it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Raghunath1 October 2013 at 10:00

      EN: 'in' in Spanish. CAMP: Party

      Delete
    2. Anonymous1 October 2013 at 10:03

      Thanks, Paddy. Rectified one on its way to the Col.

      Delete
    3. Kishore1 October 2013 at 10:06

      Sent. Kindly update, Deepak.

      Delete
    4. Kishore1 October 2013 at 10:08

      Thanks, Paddy for keeping stock. As you may suspect, my stock is larger ;-)

      Delete
    5. Mukundala Balasubramanyam1 October 2013 at 10:26

      ...live-stock or wood-stock ! ;-)

      Delete
  8. Padmanabhan1 October 2013 at 10:12

    I know, but just wanted to offer. I have access only to those published in this blog!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Shrikanth1 October 2013 at 10:38

    +1 for the tagline .. Atom seems to be the universal favourite. The smile that appears in a solver's face when the answer reveals itself is priceless..

    ReplyDelete
  10. Shrikanth1 October 2013 at 10:50

    I have a query on 8D. Good reverse anagram , but doesn't 'resulting in' a bit misleading ? Is it OK to use the device like this? I always get confused with this type of clue.

    At the cost of expending a clue , will this work ?

    Forgetful Brian (12)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mukundala Balasubramanyam1 October 2013 at 10:55

      I've no idea since I am "ABSENT-MINDED" !

      Delete
    2. VP1 October 2013 at 11:45

      Shrikanth, this is the first time I am attempting a rev. anagram, so may not have it spot on. But my reasoning was this: If I sub. the word outstare for the definition, "Outstare resulting in tears", it seems to work where an anagram of stare results in tears. If this construction is not a valid one, will employ some other device in the future.

      Delete
    3. Shrikanth1 October 2013 at 13:38

      Even I am unsure Venkatesh. That's why I asked :)

      Delete
  11. VP1 October 2013 at 10:54

    ATOM was saved at the last minute by Kishore, who pointed out the incorrect def. that I had (originally written as "it's indivisible").

    RK Narayan was the intended author (with Narayan being the fodder for deleting the middle).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mukundala Balasubramanyam1 October 2013 at 11:11

      Hi VP !
      Could you please expand those initials ? I get mixed up when I see VP and VJ :)

      Delete
    2. VJ1 October 2013 at 11:27

      Hi Mukundala, don't know about VP, but VJ (short for Vijay) was created a couple of years ago - more as a joke when NJ was at her peak. I gotta say, I'm guilty of trolling this wonderful blog. Used to be the only one rooting for the infamous setter

      Delete
    3. VP1 October 2013 at 11:41

      Mukundala, VP is short form for my name Venkatesh Prabhakar. Stuck with me from college days through work given that many people used to have the name Venkatesh. Nowadays I use it everywhere just to be consistent :)

      Delete
    4. Mukundala Balasubramanyam1 October 2013 at 11:44

      Thanks, VJ. At least I'm sure of your name ! Left with VP now :)

      Delete
    5. Mukundala Balasubramanyam1 October 2013 at 11:48

      Thanks, VP aka Venkatesh Prabhakar ! Enjoyed your puzzle. Got pass marks :)

      Delete
    6. Anonymous1 October 2013 at 13:02

      It's your clue VP. I just tweaked it. You deserve all credit for thinking it up.

      Delete
  12. VMA Nair1 October 2013 at 11:00

    scatterbrain

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Shrikanth1 October 2013 at 13:40

      So does it work?

      Delete
    2. Suresh1 October 2013 at 13:51

      Yes it does

      Delete
    3. Suresh1 October 2013 at 13:53

      And like you said you wasted an excellent clue

      Delete
    4. Shrikanth1 October 2013 at 14:05

      Not entirely wasted .. It is anyway this group that would have solved whenever it would have appeared :)

      Delete
  13. Bhalchandra Pasupathy1 October 2013 at 12:44

    Very smooth one as usual from Lightning. Would hardly have parsed 8D, though the word yielded.

    My only suggestion would have been for 29A, where 'doctor' being an instruction to solver, could have been placed differently

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. VP1 October 2013 at 14:49

      Agreed, both 'doctor' & 'engineer' (18D) need to be placed differently.

      Delete
  14. VMA Nair1 October 2013 at 13:56

    From Shuchi's blog
    http://www.crosswordunclued.com/2010/06/reverse-anagrams.html

    Sometimes the setter will helpfully add a hint alongside the anagrammed word - "perhaps", "could be", etc. - to let you know that something unusual is going on.

    Shri,
    Incomplete definition in your clue?


    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Shrikanth1 October 2013 at 14:06

      Yup, getting the point .. In the original format it had ! .. maybe that would have helped

      Delete
    2. VP1 October 2013 at 14:52

      Shrikanth, The only point which I think is an issue in "Forgetful Brian (12)" would be that Forgetful is an adj while scatterbrain is a noun.

      Delete
    3. Shrikanth1 October 2013 at 15:54

      Yeah ... you are right Venkatesh.

      Delete
  15. raju umamaheswar1 October 2013 at 20:13

    VP:
    Disheartened Indian writer gets food item (4) NAAN

    I feel when the expression disheartened is used, there should be only one letter deletion , like in NAyAn--- I mean, have a heart !! How many hearts do we have? Only one . If so many letters have to be deleted, a more appropriate qualifcation should have been given, as some works of that author !! There could be any number of Indian authors with their names starting and ending in N, with either one or many letters to be ''disheartened ''

    Your crossie was great in all other aspects, more or less, but I'm certainly disheartened over this disheartening parsing -- RKNaRAYan.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. VP1 October 2013 at 23:32

      Raju,

      I am not sure if I completely agree with the fact that disheartened needs to specify only one letter deletion. Does it mean I cannot use disheartened in an even lettered word where two letters need to be deleted ? My take is disheartened need not be treated any different than cored or hollow when it comes to cryptic reading for specifying the number of letters to be deleted.

      The point on "there could be many number of Indian authors whose names start na and end with an" is perhaps a valid one - and I have to check to see how many popular ones exist.

      Delete
  16. raju umamaheswar1 October 2013 at 20:33

    KISHORE: Curiously, DI could mean DI Kaskar, who is India's No.1 wanted person, and be a substitute for Capone ..

    May be, you could use this in your next INCOGNITO's creation?

    Kaskar to kissak gaya aur kho gaya peekay -me
    our idhar milan ho gaya Sharif aur Badmaash NY-me !!

    ReplyDelete

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