Friday 27 June 2014

No 11122, Friday 27 Jun 2014, From the files of Sankalak


Thanks to Padmanabhan's efforts and liaison, we are back to normal. The CW is not available online due to some software issues which are being addressed and will be back soon.

Another masterly offering. Words cannot express how we will feel when The Hindu runs out of CWs from the files of Sankalak.

ACROSS
1   Rat catcher Roca trained as a special role player (9,5) CHARACTER ACTOR*
8   Person, inadequate, just for once (3-3) ONE-OFF {ONE}-{OFF}
9   Deliveries exploited and carried too far (8) OVERUSED {OVER}{USED}
11 Cody upset in obstruction by biological timer (4,5) BODY CLOCK {B{ODY C*}LOCK}

 Cartoon by Rishi
12 Working, one working with a bulb (5) ONION {ON}{1}{ON}
13 More wet weather in Monaco? (7) RAINIER [DD]
  Cartoon by Bhargav
15 Send back one from Odisha, dismiss the blunderer (3,4) SAD SACK {SAD<=} {SACK} How I love these comics
17 Rely on having energy in one part of the pool (4,3) DEEP END {DE{E}P END}
19 It holds the lecturer’s address (7) LECTERN [CD]
21 For overweight gangster, it is deadly (5) FATAL {FAT}{AL}
23 Crass whim translated into sailor’s handicraft (9) SCRIMSHAW*
25 Ill-fated one standing trial with a touch of regret (8) ACCURSED {ACCU{R}SED}
26 Silver in the residence by way of tribute (6)  HOMAGE {HOM{AG}E}
27 Dishonest trader but he may sell white goods too (5-9) BLACK-MARKETEER [CD]

DOWN
1   Tool to make one express satisfaction with lawyers (7) CROWBAR {CROW}{BAR}
2   Way to go if you are not to be left behind (5) AHEAD [CD]
3   Face vet if troubled, stirring the emotions (9) AFFECTIVE*
4   Rebel leader inspires but annuls it (7) REVOKES {R}{EVOKES}
5   Goods found in cold, old ship (5) CARGO {C}{ARGO}
6   Stubborn old boy, say, about returning nickel (9) OBSTINATE {OB}{ST{IN<=}ATE}
7   General knowledge about sand strewn in port city (6) GDANSK {G{SAND*}K}
10 Snake beginning to ruffle wild pig (4) BOAR {BOA}{R}

14 The same impression, one found in one American state (9) IDENTICAL {1}{DENT}{1}{CAL}
16 Cause decay of French music maker lacking resistance (9) DECOMPOSE {DE}{COMPOSEr}
17 Vanquish with extremes of diligence, an achievement (6) DEFEAT {DiligencE}{FEAT}
18 Take the helmet off the pretty girl, the Spanish maiden (7) DISHELM {DISH}{EL}{M}
19 Enticement from a Belur entity (4) LURE [T]
20 Novel, unknown listener seen on January 1 (3,4) NEW YEAR {NEW} {Y}{EAR}
22 Worldly riches providing the words of a song (5) LYRIC [T]
24 Hold energy within for a lift up (5) HEAVE {H{E}AVE}

59 comments:

  1. Thanks Col Sir & Padmanabhan Sir for all your efforts .

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. All thanks should go to Padmanbhan. My role was just writing a few letters to the Readers editor and adding some complaints on the Hindu site.

      Delete
    2. Thanks Padmanabhan, this is great news.

      Delete
    3. About problems in the crossword feature I had written numerous mails to the readers' editor.
      After the recent hitch in appearance of the CWD online in time, the Col, Kishore, VP, Mrs PP and others wrote separate emails to the paper.
      Paddy's personal efforts capped all that. I thanked him personally yesterday when he was kind enough to call me.
      Let's hope that soon the CWD begins appearing online early in the morning.
      Let's also hope mistakes will be lessened.

      Delete
    4. CV knows that it was not my visit but his NAME that carried the day. So hats off to him. Before I could make my complaint, at the mention of CW, the reference was to CV and it made things work.

      Delete
  2. Thanks a lot! We reap what Paddy sowed.

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  3. It was close call between chosing Obelix and Sad Sack. I figured that the Colonel might pick a Sad Sack illustration...

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  4. Yous (in plural) are welcome.
    I was only doing my little bit to have normalcy restored. Col.'s preamble for the last 2 days had me worried and I felt I had to do something.Luck was on my side and I was able to meet the right man who assured me that he will restore normalcy soon. I had faith in the Indian system of taking things lightly and it proved right!
    Thanks to all of you for thinking big about a small effort.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you very much Paddy. Feel quite happy and relieved too. God bless you.

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    2. Thanks! Have been in Kashmir this whole week and was disappointed at not being able to wake up to my favourite pastime.

      Delete
  5. That said, how are we going to thank Sankalak for his master craftsmanship?

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  6. 13 More wet weather in Monaco? (7) RAINIER [DD]

    His wife had a lot of Grace ...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We have a place in Chennai- Kellys!

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    2. I hope they have the right jean .. s ...

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  7. 18D- I was trying to remove H and got nowhere! I was so sure about it that it was the only unfilled LETTER in the grid.

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  8. Replies
    1. Paddy, pl ref. his toon

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    2. Got it. He was observant to do it correctly and you are the one to notice and appreciate it!! Thank you for the clarification.

      Delete
  9. "Let's also hope mistakes will be lessened."

    Reminded me of an old cartoon I saw decades back, with the boss inspecting his new and buxom typist's handicraft, with her sitting on his lap and having the caption:

    "Excellent, Ms Buxley! You are improving. Only 10 mistakes in the first line today ! I knew I did not make any mistake in appointing you"

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  10. Is it part of the 'Polka dot' cartoons which appeared in IE (Miss Fonseca, if I remember right)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No. I think it was from a book of cartoons called "Kiss me, you fool!"

      Delete
  11. Come Sankalak, and can I be denied of my Samosas and Chai?! Certainly not! A smooth flowing pleasant CW worth solving and enjoying by one and all.

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  12. 18 Take the helmet off the pretty girl, the Spanish maiden (7) DISHELM {DISH}{EL}{M}

    Never knew 'a pretty girl' can become 'a delicious dish' too! ;-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If you believe the way to a man's heart is through his stomach, then you will realise that quite a few of the references are based on food. This is not restricted to English. In Hindi, names like Imarti, Rabri, Jalebi etc are fairly common in the rural areas. In Bengal, MishTi. But do not call your wife, medu vada, dosa, pongal or kolkaTTu...

      Delete
    2. ...how can I call her.... err.., after all she is a Home Maker and not a Meal Maker, you see!!!

      Delete
  13. A smooth one. I really cheer myself as i cud do majority of the grid , barring few columns and rows. Not to pick up any ROW, thou. Thanks to SANKALAK who made my SANKALP stronger

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  14. Regarding the animation for Sad Sack:

    Sarge must have lost a lot of weight since morning. He has been jumping all the time. Also pictured, a dog with a sore throat.

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  15. w.r.to Col.'s byword on Snakalak's files, let us hope it as voluminous as some of our Govt.files. Though much of it has now been computerised I could still see quite a lot of them (dusty too!) on their racks. Sometimes I have a doubt if they are referred to at all. They generally ask you to give a xerox copy in stead of dusting theirs.

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  16. TH bodyclock seems to be working late. CW grid with clues minus name credit has just appeared. This has been happening around the same time for the last few days.

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  17. Paddy's initiative in padding into the Hindu office paid off ! Congrats Paddy. No need now for our blog brigade headed by the Colonel to march into the field , as suggested by me earlier.

    Col: are you intending to invite the concerned person to the S & B meet in Madras next month? Or will he dampen the spirit of camaraderie of the bloggers to get on with what they have decided to meet on? Will be missing all the fun but can be happy if the pics are posted and a story line is added as to how it went . You have still not responded to my request for a meet in CBE?
    .

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Someone is being requested to cover the event. Regarding a meet at CBE we can have one provided you can garner sufficient attendance for the meet.

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    2. I, Coimbatore Gopal Bhargav, do hereby promise to attend the S & B meeting if held in Coimbatore at a future date.

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    3. I too will attend if it is after July 20.
      I am CBE-born. I did my SSLC there, though all my education except that one year was elsewhere.

      Delete
  18. Thank you Raju. As I said earlier, the credit is due only to CV. I was just carrying a msg. Generally ambassadors get better treatment that Presidents!

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  19. No need o be modest about what you have achieved Paddy. The time and effort taken is itself a wonderful thing. The success is a result thereof.

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  20. I agree with Suresh.
    Though I have written to RE several times and also spoken to some staff, all that was before the latest fiasco.
    Paddy took the trouble of meeting a staff member and mentioning the recent trouble and also getting some clarification.
    He should accept our gratitude for doing his bit for the blog.
    I take no credit whatever.
    If my name cropped up during his meeting with the staff member, it was but natural as we were colleagues for more than 15 years. That must be treated as incidental without detracting anything from Paddy's efforts.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I heave a big sigh of relief! Tonight I'm leaving for a long stay- more than a fortnight- with our sons, one in Bangalore and another in Chennai, accompanying my daughter and her kids on a visit from the US and in both those places I rely on online edition.
      I think back with nostalgia when many years ago I had been happy to find the online edition as early as 2-30 am when I burn midnight oil once in a while to finish reading a novel or follow some heated argument in forumhub.com!!!Those were very enthusiastic days when we were living in Trichy and I was in form!

      Delete
    2. Thanks, PP, for the 'in form' ation. Have a nice trip!

      Delete
    3. From your timeline it looks as though you may be in Chennai around 6th July when we meet. You may think about it and inform Col.
      Yes, I have enjoyed and looked forward to that middle of the night schedule- not when I am here but during my stay in U.S.

      Delete
  21. Kishore

    I, like you, must have grown up in a house full of books with people having eclectic tastes.

    For that title "Kiss Me, You Fool" I remember having seen in my house when I was a young boy.

    I don't remember anything more. Having some self-esteem, I may not have opened the book. Or I might have dared not make any explorations.

    There are many books in my library from those days but this title must have fallen by the wayside at some point of time.

    PS: On TV I often hear people say "at some point in time", Is that also correct?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, CV. I had that book till about 2012.

      As to your timely observation, point in time should be acceptable since time is considered a continuum. Point of time is another usage I have seen. "At that time" should also work, though it is " point" less !

      Delete
  22. I think it is one of the recent 'Americanisations' and that is probably why it sounds strange to CV. I have heard it very often in BPO circles."Then' is probably much simpler and says it all or if it is 'some point' being indefinite we tend to use 'sometime',

    ReplyDelete
  23. Hole in One
    One Sunday morning, a priest wakes up and decides to go golfing. He calls his boss and says that he feels very sick, and won't be able to go to work.

    Way up in heaven, Saint Peter sees all this and asks God, "Are you really going to let him get away with this?"

    "No, I guess not, " says God.

    The priest drives about five to six hours away, so he doesn't bump into anyone he knows. The golf course is empty when he gets there. So he takes his first swing, drives the ball 495 yards away and gets a hole in one.

    Saint Peter watches in disbelief and asks, " Why did you let him do that?"

    To this God says, "Who's he going to tell?"

    I am lucky!

    ReplyDelete
  24. At this point in time reminds me : I'd like to be clarified: whenever we read about the past, referring to some incidence that took place, 'at the time' is used and not' at that time'. Any one noticed this nuance? Which is correct?

    ReplyDelete
  25. excellent stuff from sankalak's files. enjoyed it.

    ReplyDelete

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