This was a joyride. Good surface stories coupled with unambiguous cryptic instructions meant I didn't have to refer to a dictionary even once. Liked the misdirection in 29a and fresh treatment of tired words like HICCUP and OGRE [thank god it was not a reversal of so/therefore!]. Thank you Lightning.
ACROSS
1 The lifeless hair (8) DEADLOCK [DEAD + LOCK]Definition? Typo in tie clue. See comments below
5 Informed about cricket club’s universal difficulty (6) HICCUP [HIP outside C C U]
9 Capital may be king’s essential aspiration (8) CANBERRA [CAN + BE + R + aspiRAtion]
10 Easterner hiding behind a vessel (6) ASTERN [T]
12 Escape from start, where top two are dismissed (5) ELUDE [prELUDE]
13 Daredevil, say destroyed evil giant (9) VIGILANTE [EVIL GIANT]*
14 Source of inspiration to exist as a criminal (6) BEACON [BE A CON]
16 Carbon // trace? (7) ELEMENT [DD]
19 For the most part, respect a liberal officer (7) ADMIRAL [ADMIRe + A + L]
21 Segment of American theme song (6) ANTHEM [T]
23 John needs to resolve some serious, unfinished details (5,4) LOOSE ENDS [LOO + NEEDS* + S]
25 Work period in a theatre (5) OPERA [OP + ERA]
26 Note carried by chap — one extremely miserable, ill-tempered person (6) MEANIE [E inside MAN + I + miserablE]
27 Engineer in Sparta is a member of an armed resistance group (8) PARTISAN [IN SPARTA]*
28 Squash amateur, after losing final game, in a state of shock (6) TRAUMA [AMATeUR]*
29 Bond, after getting rid of 7 at home, converges upon target (6,2) ZEROES IN [007 + IN]
DOWN
1 Stevedore clipped temperature label (6) DOCKET [DOCKEr + T]
2 Article, a man used inordinately, to the point of producing disgust (2,7) AD NAUSEAM [A + A MAN USED*]
3 Side, perhaps with European to harbour one feudal lord (5) LIEGE [L + EG E outside I]
4 Vehicles flanking a procession (7) CARAVAN [CAR + VAN outside A]
6 Rude to overwhelm very poor person (9) INSOLVENT [INSOLENT outside V]
7 Complete century list (5) CLEAN [C + LEAN]
8 Pizzeria’s head cook can't eat Italian bacon (8) PANCETTA [P + CAN'T EAT*]
11 Monster hogs area without limits (4) OGRE [hOGs aREa]
15 Pitching ace primed to seize the moment (5,4) CARPE DIEM [ACE PRIMED]*
17 Snack or sandwiches — regular servings for starters (9) ELEVENSES [ELSE outside EVEN + Servings]
18 Scholar breaking pill on coaster (5,3) TABLE MAT [MA inside TABLET]
20 Mark // row (4) LINE [DD]
21 Placate extremely atrocious saint outside, for all to see (7) ASSUAGE [AtrociouS + SAGE outside U]
22 Basic rule describing new shot in snooker (6) CANNON [CANON outside N]
24 Old, great Indian city (5) OMAHA [O + MAHA]
25 Better not in party (5) OUTDO [OUT + DO]
,+carpe+diem.jpg)
ACROSS
1 The lifeless hair (8) DEADLOCK [DEAD + LOCK]
5 Informed about cricket club’s universal difficulty (6) HICCUP [HIP outside C C U]
9 Capital may be king’s essential aspiration (8) CANBERRA [CAN + BE + R + aspiRAtion]
10 Easterner hiding behind a vessel (6) ASTERN [T]
12 Escape from start, where top two are dismissed (5) ELUDE [prELUDE]
13 Daredevil, say destroyed evil giant (9) VIGILANTE [EVIL GIANT]*
14 Source of inspiration to exist as a criminal (6) BEACON [BE A CON]
16 Carbon // trace? (7) ELEMENT [DD]
19 For the most part, respect a liberal officer (7) ADMIRAL [ADMIRe + A + L]
21 Segment of American theme song (6) ANTHEM [T]
23 John needs to resolve some serious, unfinished details (5,4) LOOSE ENDS [LOO + NEEDS* + S]
25 Work period in a theatre (5) OPERA [OP + ERA]
26 Note carried by chap — one extremely miserable, ill-tempered person (6) MEANIE [E inside MAN + I + miserablE]
27 Engineer in Sparta is a member of an armed resistance group (8) PARTISAN [IN SPARTA]*
28 Squash amateur, after losing final game, in a state of shock (6) TRAUMA [AMATeUR]*
29 Bond, after getting rid of 7 at home, converges upon target (6,2) ZEROES IN [007 + IN]
DOWN
1 Stevedore clipped temperature label (6) DOCKET [DOCKEr + T]
2 Article, a man used inordinately, to the point of producing disgust (2,7) AD NAUSEAM [A + A MAN USED*]
3 Side, perhaps with European to harbour one feudal lord (5) LIEGE [L + EG E outside I]
4 Vehicles flanking a procession (7) CARAVAN [CAR + VAN outside A]
6 Rude to overwhelm very poor person (9) INSOLVENT [INSOLENT outside V]
7 Complete century list (5) CLEAN [C + LEAN]
8 Pizzeria’s head cook can't eat Italian bacon (8) PANCETTA [P + CAN'T EAT*]
15 Pitching ace primed to seize the moment (5,4) CARPE DIEM [ACE PRIMED]*
17 Snack or sandwiches — regular servings for starters (9) ELEVENSES [ELSE outside EVEN + Servings]
18 Scholar breaking pill on coaster (5,3) TABLE MAT [MA inside TABLET]
Cartoon by Rishi
20 Mark // row (4) LINE [DD]
21 Placate extremely atrocious saint outside, for all to see (7) ASSUAGE [AtrociouS + SAGE outside U]
22 Basic rule describing new shot in snooker (6) CANNON [CANON outside N]
24 Old, great Indian city (5) OMAHA [O + MAHA]
25 Better not in party (5) OUTDO [OUT + DO]
Well, No.11111 !
ReplyDeleteFunnily, I had to use the '1' key six times to type the above !
DeleteJust missed Friday the 13th!!
DeleteKishore@8.38-
Delete..with an additional capital lock sandwiched.
If it was the 13, I would have made one more comment:
Delete11111 in binary is 31 in decimal which is the reverse of 13
Not cap lock, shift ...
DeleteThe abbreviation of 'number' is 'no.' and not 'No.'. Hence you are short of shift...
DeleteThe abbreviation 'No.' holds good only at the beginning of a sentence.
DeleteIf I am not wrong the abvn for 'number' is always with a capital N irrespective of it's location
DeleteI am of the same opinion as Deepak
DeleteRichard's usage note is new to me. Could he cite his authority?
DeleteIf R's contention is correct, I think he should bring it to the notice of the GOI. Ref:
Deletehttp://law.incometaxindia.gov.in/DitTaxmann/incometaxacts/2007itact/sec_197a.htm
You can see several instances of Form No., F.No. (for file number) and Circular No.
DeleteOn the lighter side, (if I have a 'lighter' side), I was a bit numb - er, after R's observation...
DeleteRichard
DeleteVisit
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Numero_sign
Richard digging deep for authority? ;-)
DeleteLogging in late after returning from a long-distance drive.
DeleteOh! MAHA response to my post.
1. It was not my intention that writing 'No. 1' was absolutely wrong, but that it was not necessary. In a country where, in the media, in presentations, legal documents, official acts and the like, capital letters are profusely and generously used when not necessary, it will be difficult to have an argument. K complained of having had to use the shift key which I thought was not needed. Since 'no.' is short for 'numero' which is not a proper noun, the need for capitalizing it is difficult to understand.
2. I had read several references during the pre-Internet and pre-Google days as to where exactly capitalization was totally necessary and also had followed style-sheets in the various media houses about the use of capital letters. Now it is extremely difficult to trace and quote sources. In my current field of media, we do not use capital letters for even heads of states or top officials, except in abbreviations like CM, PM and others. Styles can differ and I do not have any issue about it. (I have observed that magazines like Time and India Today have followed the same style.)
Without any reflections, I do not think that viewing government documents, texts of laws and legal presentations as guidelines or benchmark for such writing standards would be a right idea.
1 The lifeless hair (8) DEADLOCK [DEAD + LOCK] Definition?
ReplyDeleteChanging 'The' to 'Tie' gives the definition.
Must be a printer's devil.
Quite possible, given the trend in printing mistakes! Venkatesh, this is a very good catch by you! Congrats!
DeleteI don't think so. To me it appears to be the handiwork of an overenthusiastic typist trying to make unwanted corrections
DeleteYes, the original clue submitted was: Tie lifeless hair (8).
DeleteDeadlock broken at last!!
DeleteNot sure whether the guy in Rishi's toon is a waiter or a subservient husband being put on the mat by the lady
ReplyDeleteI am sure it is the latter!
Delete'Dog bites man' is no news- certainly not cartoon stuff.
DeleteIf you ask me, it is a waiter that I had in mind - though I must admit now that I have not included any element in the cartoon that would have suggested unambiguously that it is a hotel.
DeleteIf I am not mistaken it is the cartoons in our vernacular magazines that bring husbands in disrepute.
In the Western countries there is nothing demeaning about the husband cooking.
Even in many NIR households the husband prepares coffee for his wife.
Well, I know that here in India too there are households where husbands share the cooking chores - but that is something that is ignored or glossed over - without giving due credit to the man who, poor soul, brings home the bacon - and then cooks it in the kitchen.
I did not mean 'disrepute' but still funny and cartoon stuff.
DeleteWell, I for one do all the veggie cutting involved ...
Delete... though I do not bring home the bacon ...
DeleteVery nice enjoyable CW. Had to work a lot (with and without wiki) but still I was found wanting in a few. I was simply below par.
ReplyDelete13A refers to the the costumed vigilante Daredevil, the "Man Without Fear". This Marvel Comics star, the blind attorney Matt Murdock, who is secretly also the costumed vigilante Daredevil, has also figured in a movie.
ReplyDeleteI had a HICCUP while dealing with DEADLOCK for want of 'definition'! But could complete the puzzle, of course, by referring 'dic' and visiting 'net' here and there.
ReplyDeleteThank you Lightning for an engrossing and entertaining puzzle. :-)
The nice opener gives away Bhavan. I am always able to spot it without looking for the name tag.Comprehensive and to the point.
ReplyDeleteKishore w.r.to cartoon-
ReplyDeleteI could not connect Omaha to D day until I looked up. That was great and I learned something today (in spite of seeing many II WW movies)
Still a doubt about poetry teacher.
ReplyDeleteYou should see the movie called The Dead Poets' Society starring Robin Williams. His slogan is Carpe Diem. The visual is OO, without the 7 ...
DeleteI knew I was missing a lot. Thamk you.
DeleteThe words from today's puzzle are meanie, carpe diem, zeroes in, and Omaha and a visual representation of clue 29a.
DeleteBTW, Omaha was one of the words that triggered military intelligence's interview of a cwd setter in the days before D Day
There is a minor difference between bacon and pancetta. This relates to the mode of their preparation. While bacon is cured and smoked, pancetta is cured and unsmoked. These are used interchangeably in dishes, depending on whether or not one wants a smoky flavor. There is a third variety called 'prosciutto' which is made from the hind leg of a pig.
ReplyDeleteI ain't that much of a e-pig-ure ...
DeleteThis is not meat and drink for me. Appears to be bookish - er - Internet-ish and not coming out of experience.
DeleteIn the Chennai edition of ToI on page 11 there is a story titled Crossword "puzzle lands principal in cops' net".
ReplyDeletePrincipals of colleges can't just allow magazines to carry their names as Editors unless they have absolute control over what goes into the publication. This they do just to add laurels to themselves without ensuring that a staff member has an eye on what goes into the paper. To talk now of political affiliations of student contributors is ridiculous.
If any CWD has a rule that names of no living persons should be in gridfills or clues, it is for a good reason.
We have enough words to play around with instead of bringing in names of individuals.
Of course, even if we use names of famous people who have passed into history, we need to be responsible in handling them.
Couldn't agree more with the preamble. Such a satisfying solve. It's not the level of difficulty ultimately but the way the clues are put together that makes a CW interesting
ReplyDeleteWhile taking part in clue-writing competitions/exercises - why even in crosswords themselves - I have often found that the same word breakup can have different phraseology in clues, rendering one far superior to another. English is a versatile language.
ReplyDeleteWell-worn words/phrases still come in for refreshingly novel treatment.
It is this abiding quality that gives endurance to this word game.
O/T
ReplyDeleteSuperb recovery by the Dutch against Spain after letting one in.
Score line looked like one after a penalty shootout! I don't remember such a score in a World cup game.
ReplyDeleteVery light on the mind-- thank you , LIGHTNING. No thunderbolts . No deadlocks.
ReplyDeleteDEADLOck is my clue of the day.
And a big THANKS to Mr. Venkatraman for having facilitated sav9ing the crossword, upon my request. No more cutting corners with Orkut. very useful and user friendly.
T
Raju see my comment at 6:09 below
DeleteRaju
ReplyDeleteSorry to be writing this but I must.
Please stop cribbing about Orkut if you don't get the crossword in any app. to solve interactively. We have said repeatedly that the problem lies elsewhere.
We have said specifically that if any app is not able to reproduce the grid correctly, it is because it is not sitting properly in the web edition of the paper. There might be other reasons as well.
Please make an effort to understand this.
CV
(replacing the cane in the shelf. Ointment to apply on knuckles will be couriered.)
My gripe is mine and I'm your gripe? Point taken that you've proprietorial rights to defend Orkut ! When you see my gripe next, just strike '' delete""::
DeleteCV: cane can remain on the shelf and Courier service will be bounced back !
ReplyDeleteDare I say that this Lightning left me with a buzzing sensation! ;-) Enjoyed the surfaces and constructions.
ReplyDeleteRe: yesterday's puzzle...
My attempt to post a comment didn't fare well, for some unknown reason (Firefox/Windows 7). Essentially what I wanted to convey was that 'African city' was fair and that I wouldn't mind even if it was just 'city'. Today, we have a 'city' in 24D, one arguably less well known than ASWAN*, and a little misdirection in the surface, to boot, and yet none has complained. :)
*Well, outside the US, in any case.
Very well said. But having said that, there may not always be consistency in the observations. That's life!
DeleteTime for some gripe water!
ReplyDeleteRaju, apps, in Orkut or elsewhere, work on the principle of GIGO - (Garbage In - Garbage Out)
If their input data is defective, like an improper grid in the online paper or missing clues, they run into trouble. They do not have AI to help them spot a problem and solve it. Hence, on days Orkut has problems, there is a large probability that Mr Venkataraman's app will also have a problem, unless he has built in some AI. I am sure he can say more about it.
The point I am trying to make is - gripe if you must but don't blame Orkut, which is appavi in this case.
ReplyDeleteJust say you didn't get the crossword in the app.
Some more gripe water
ReplyDeleteVenkat's online site will also not work on such days. The last time it happened was with CW No 11095 on 27 May. Just try to get it through THC Online. You will get 'White space' instead of 'Black'!!
Hope Venkat will not get the blame.
DeleteJust visited the IXL site where it says registrations will start soon for IXL 2014. It's being planned for Aug - Sep.
ReplyDeleteThey have announced a CBSE Cryptic Crossword contest.
Thanks, Deepak. I am sure there will be more participation this year ...
DeleteO/T
ReplyDeleteFor your weekend entertainment, please read
http://www.dramadose.com/jungle-book-rangbaaz/
http://www.dramadose.com/bade-miyan-deewane/