Monday, 27 January 2014

No.10992, Monday 27 Jan 2014, Spinner

Spinner's bowling spell goes well. Apart from themed words in the pangram grid, a few season the clues as well.


ACROSS
1 P uddle around first Peruvian mammal (6) POTTER (P OTTER)
4 S omalian neighbour’s spell breaks into two after original Disarming Jinx (8) DJIBOUTI (D J BOUT in II)
10 I nterchanges beheaded enchantresses (7) WITCHES (sWITCHES)
11 S eeds protect returning valuable spices (7) NUTMEGS (NUTS around GEM<)
12 O utside of the law, politician pushes out rookie — That’s unstated (8) IMPLICIT (MP in place of L in ILLICIT)
          "Politician pushes out rookie" Ahem, ahem!
13 L asso that lass’s bottom (6) NETHER (NET HER)
15 E rase erotic content from the fortuneteller (4) SEER (T)
17 M agical game brings money with abandon (9) QUIDDITCH (QUID DITCH)
         
20 N asty hog enters; Wets the kennels (9) DOGHOUSES (HOG* in DOUSES)
21 L ow, lacking energy, but has right to dazzle (4) BLUR (BLUe R)
24 Y ard divided by 36, with unlimited beds moved in gradually (6) INCHED (INCH bEDs)
25 S cented root that covered green headgear (5,3) STRAW HAT (RAW in S THAT)
28 W rongdoer flees one country for another (7) AUSTRIA (AUSTRALIA - AL (Capone))
29 E xit messy petrol station forgetting teapot (7) NOSTRIL (PETROL STATION-TEAPOT)*
30 A grees to come down in cheat’s absence and comes down (8) DESCENDS (conDESCENDS)
31 R agged debate with editor (6) FRAYED (FRAY ED)


DOWN
1 T raining to cover ground is weak, but most cunning (8) PAWKIEST (PT around (IS WEAK)*)
2 H arry Potter, without hesitation, to include Umbridge’s head to total (3,2) TOT UP (POTTer U)*
          Nice to see Harry as an anagrind. My only grouse was that Harry and Potter are both in the answers too.
          But what the heck, it is a themed crossie, innit ...
3 A lien’s chin broke by native (6) ETHNIC (ET CHIN*)
5 T en to pursue Chinese dynasty’s curse (4) JINX (JIN X)
6 I n-charge follows the time after graduate becomes sentimental (8) BATHETIC (BA THE T IC)
7 M orally wrong manipulation of a hint/clue (9) UNETHICAL (A HINT CLUE)*
8 (U) Rather inure to collecting first special cover (6) INSURE (S in INURE)
          Reminded me of the days in the '70s when I used to regularly queue up at the GPO at the end of Abid Road 
          in Hyderabad for those special first day covers
9 P ersevering fool finds one couple — You and me (9) ASSIDUOUS (ASS I DUO US)
14 T urn away specialist with daughter’s alert (9) ADVERTENT (AVERT ENT with D)
16 O verwhelmers of the demons live with limitless force and top strength (9) EXORCISTS (EXIST around fORCe S)
18 N on-functioning footwear kept in shape by this (8) SHOETREE (E)
          I don't know about shoetrees, but we have some garbage-bag trees near our house. They regularly sprout garbage bags.
19 O riginally, Parseltongues made noise and spoke pointlessly (8) PRATTLED (P RATTLED)
22 G enius from zone with unlimited size (6) WIZARD (WARD with sIZe)
23 O ld Trafford’s second most selfless footballer? (6) PASSER (PASSE R)
          Rarely gets credit ... Kya set up hai!
26 O verheard whiskered badger (5) HARRY (~HAIRY)
27 D irection with magic stick (4) WAND (W AND)
          Reminded me of Wanda Witch


Some general words like Prattled and Passer are not included in the theme. Despite the 'magical' nature of Exorcists, I am told by expert HP adviser that it may not be part of the theme.
Posted by at
Labels: , , , ,

30 comments:

  1. Col_Gopinath27 January 2014 at 08:38

    Djibouti anno needs another 1

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kishore27 January 2014 at 08:43

      Thanks, updated. I think Roman two i.e. II was intended, so it can't be a 1 !

      Delete
  2. Srivathsan27 January 2014 at 08:59

    8D was originally this- Urine splashed around first special cover (6). I have no idea how more than half the clue has been altered. I'm not sure if the clue was considered distasteful or anything, but if so, I thought it would've been brought to my notice. This unexpected change has resulted in something going awry, which is yet to be spotted :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Col_Gopinath27 January 2014 at 09:17

      Splashing urine around a first special cover would definitely mean you are up to good. So no need to swear about it :-)

      Delete
    2. Kishore27 January 2014 at 09:21

      The clue acrostic has gone for a six.

      Delete
    3. Kishore27 January 2014 at 09:24

      "distasteful" ?!

      Delete
    4. Suresh27 January 2014 at 09:55

      Not for the likes of Swami Agnivesh and a famous PM

      Delete
    5. Kishore27 January 2014 at 10:13

      It is better known as Perfumed Indian Scented Sherbet as against Sweet Hot Indian Toffee

      Delete
    6. Mukundala Balasubramanyam27 January 2014 at 12:52

      A monkey in silk is a monkey no less ! So the thing under scrutiny is still...!

      Delete
  3. Srivathsan27 January 2014 at 09:31

    15A too has been modified . The original was - Erase erotic content from the Prophet (4), a reference to the Daily Prophet in the wizarding world. I see there are other interpretations as well, hence the chop and change.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Srivathsan27 January 2014 at 09:35

    I guess the curse has been placed on 8D. Probably should have INSUREd it.

    ReplyDelete
  5. RameshJ27 January 2014 at 09:41

    Hats off to Spinner. Pangarm, theme & clue acrostic all rolled into one. Too bad the clue acrostic didn't make it to the final print.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kishore27 January 2014 at 09:54

      Straw hat or sorting hat?

      Delete
    2. Kishore27 January 2014 at 09:55

      Pan to garm hai, Rameshji.

      Delete
    3. VJ27 January 2014 at 11:01

      Yep, too bad, the setter must be pissed

      Delete
    4. Srivathsan27 January 2014 at 12:38

      Thank you Ramesh ji. And yes VJ, I'm trying to solve the curious case of the missing piss.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous27 January 2014 at 13:18

      Maybe you can find it at

      http://www.almitrapatel.com/docs/266.doc

      On the same site you will find the amazing biodata of this ebullient young lady (77 at last count) with whom it has been my pleasure to be associated


      Delete
  6. Suresh27 January 2014 at 09:56

    Terrific cartoon. Can you send me a soft copy so I can preserve it on my PC

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Col_Gopinath27 January 2014 at 10:07

      Suresh just right click on the image and save it on your computer

      Delete
    2. Kishore27 January 2014 at 10:15

      Ref. to snitch was with ref to Quidditch

      Delete
    3. Kishore27 January 2014 at 10:16

      The last line in the toon looks like I am preaching, but given the time constraint, I was not sure how to word it in a better way

      Delete
  7. RameshJ27 January 2014 at 10:21

    Thanks Kishore/Col for adding the Pangram/ Clue Acrostic to the list of post labels. Hope I got the spelling of pangram right this time

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous27 January 2014 at 10:57

      The Col. added them. I merely selected from a list

      Delete
  8. PKPSwami27 January 2014 at 19:56

    Wonderfully spun using warp & weft (clues across and down) &made thereon a fine fabric (cw). Nice.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Srivathsan27 January 2014 at 20:50

    Thank you Swami sir.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Srivathsan27 January 2014 at 21:34

    For the benefit of the non-Harry Potter fans, the clue acrostic, which reads/ should have read as "I solemnly swear that I'm upto no good" is a secret password that is used to open the Maruader's Map, a map of the entire Hogwarts School, along with all the secret passageways, used by Harry for his night time adventures.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Navneeth27 January 2014 at 22:48

      Thanks for the clarification, I thought you were in Election mode - seriously!

      And a brilliant effort overall.

      Delete
    2. Srivathsan28 January 2014 at 11:38

      Thank you :)

      Delete
  11. Rengaswamy27 January 2014 at 21:49

    GOA RADIO ORGANISED A COMPETITION FOR POEMS, IN WHICH THE FIRST LINE

    MUST BE THE ROMANTIC, BUT THE SECOND LINE SHOULD BE THE OPPOSITE

    This was the winner sent by Joao Caitan :

    My darling, my lover, my beautiful wife,
    Marrying you messed up my life.
    I see your face when I am dreaming.
    That's why I always wake up screaming.
    Kind, intelligent, loving and hot;
    This describes everything you are not.
    I love your smile, your face and your eyes,
    Damn, I'm good at telling lies!
    My feelings for you, no words can tell,
    Except for maybe 'Go to hell.'
    What inspired this amazing rhyme?
    A bottle of whisky, one part lime

    ReplyDelete

deepakgita@gmail.com

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)