Suresh and Vijaylakshmi up in Vizag, we hope all's well.
Here I'm feeling a bit under the weather due to a stressed out stomach, so I'm going back under the blanket.
ACROSS
1 Gopi, uninitiated, consumed a narcotic (6) OPIATE {
5 Craziest act draws support finally, taking time (8) (Addendum - DOTTIEST - {DO}{T}{TIES}{T} - See comments)
9 Glaringly offensive and loud tirade following delay (8) FLAGRANT {FLAG}{RANT}
10 Beginners in analytical statistics are taken in by random test samples (6) TASTES {T{A
11 Lost? Steering aimlessly? Look out for a board indicating driving directions! (6,4) STREET SIGN {
12 Doper at ease, having consumed speed (4) RATE [T]
13 The ridiculous rates for cinemas! (8) THEATRES {THE}{RATES*}
16 Guides for cryptic setters short of time (6) STEERS SET
17 Rants about assistance not being available for large families (6) TRIBES
19 Rich and fit to party (4-2-2) WELL-TO-DO {WELL}-{TO}-{DO}
21 Gandhi marched for this last struggle (4) SALT*
22 Old horse-drawn four-wheeler transport — it's so cheap! (4-6) POST-CHAISE*
26 A drug's a heavenly thing (8) ASTEROID {A}{STEROID}
27 A secular representation of a pause in a verse (8) CAESURAL*
28 Mafioso had to give away money to charity (6) DONATE {DON}{ATE}
DOWN
2 Storyline about one TV show's first episode (5) PILOT {P{1}LOT}
3 Director's detailed perspective (5) ANGLE
4 He collects tax money from former thespian (7) EXACTOR {EX}{ACTOR}
5 Imprisons revolutionary, instead (7) DETAINS*
6 Regularly treat pain, nurse ailment (7) TETANUS {T
7 Rebel stirred up unrest in and around German capital (9) INSURGENT {INSUR{G}ENT*}
8 Ground the elders shielded from bad weather (9) SHELTERED*
14 The woman set a table for a drink (6,3) HERBAL TEA {HER}{BAL TEA*}
15 Three under a large bird (9) ALBATROSS [DD]
18 Vendor loses top
19 Drink with mug (7) WASSAIL {W}{ASSAIL}
20 Found officer returning on wrong date (7) LOCATED {LOC<=}{DATE*}
23 Professional article about protective wear (5) APRON {A[PRO}N}
24 Key move (5) SHIFT [DD]
GRID
Get well soon Col!
ReplyDelete5 Craziest act draws support finally, taking time (8) {DO}{T}{TIES}{T}
ReplyDeleteTies = Taking ? I am still not getting it ...
DeleteTies=draws
DeleteDO; Act
DeleteT: time
TIES: draws (as in a game)
T: supporT
That being the case, was a position indicator required for the last T ?
DeleteThe time T is getting inserted in DO TIES T
Delete"taking" was supposed to be the indicator. A bit weak
DeleteA very smooth puzzle. Highly enjoyable. Thanks Mac. One small query , was 'The' needed in 14D ? I was fiddling around with that as a fodder ...
ReplyDelete+1
Delete11a my cod ... For the superb surface
+1 on 11A ... and a very interesting spread of anagrinds
DeleteRe 14D:
Delete"The woman" = "her"
Not sure if it works without "the"
"The woman" is better.
Delete"she" or 'her" is used when there is already a woman.
I gave Rita a sari. She was delighted.
(Excuse the typo in the first letter of the name.)
I gave ten rupees to the beggar on the street. She was happy.
In these sentences she = the woman.
A beggar woman pleaded with me. I gave her ten rupees.
That is Sita. Her friends are all lively.
In the last but one sentence we can substitute 'her' by 'the woman'. Not just 'woman'.
In the last sentence, we say "That woman's friends are all lively".
Sorry I don't know grammatical terms to explain this.
You will have to explain to madam Gita as to why that typo handed over the sari to Rita and not her
DeleteAnd was it only a typo ?? :)
DeleteIs it personal pronoun? Faint memory of Wren & Martin.
DeleteApropos 1a and the comment above it, it looks like Gopi certainly requires medication ...
ReplyDelete:P
Delete20 D: Sure, by now he would have gone back and taken it.
DeleteI too was wanting to hear from Suresh.
ReplyDeleteMaybe the cyclone has affected the communication network and he is not able to use the Internet.
The devastation caused to the city as a whole and the airport in particular was heart-rending
If an infrastructure building cannot last even 10 years,it's a pity.
Vizag is a coastal city, prone to cyclones. So can metal and glass be used so extensively?
In Chennai, glass panels at the airport routinely crash down even in normal weather.
Shouldn't architecture suit the local conditions?
Score is 26, so far at Airport
Delete26 is what score?
DeleteThe false ceiling and other frames have started falling, glass partitions crack etc and so far it has happened 26 times after the handing over of the infrastructure to the IATA
DeleteThanks for a great time, Mac! Thoroughly enjoyed the puzzle. Great surfaces overall, but I especially liked 16, 28, 2, 6, 7, 8, 20...that's becoming too many to list!
ReplyDeleteComing to THCC (indeed, to THC itself!) after a long break due to travel. Feels good to be back.
Thanks to DG, especially for putting up the blog despite being under the weather. Get well soon!
Samosas. I could get all but three before 8.30 a.m.
ReplyDeleteWhat is the cut off for samosas in a puzzle? 70%,80%,90% or 100% :)
DeleteI was under the impression that it is 100%. Does it mean that I had been needlessly starving on many days?
DeleteForgetting sloggers and bloggers for the nonce and concentrating on hoggers, it looks like some of them have been wolfing samosas without a centum, that too in the plural !
DeleteAfter IXL, it is per-centage plus time !!
DeleteI think CGB has completed the crossie. Hence the samosas. As an addl info he stated that except three he got all before the 8.30 a.m.
DeleteIf I remember right, the proposer of the 'Samosa Plan' ( though she is perhaps too busy to blog these days) meant it only for 100%.
DeleteIMHO it is 100%, otherwise no Samosas! Time doesn't matter. I had stomachful of them right now! Thank you, Mac, for the delicious Samosas served today!
DeleteJust spoke to Suresh on his mobile. He is safe but in Rajamundry since no essentials are available there including power. It may take days to restore power and limp back to normalcy. Fortunately roads have been made motorable and he could drive away. Obviously no chance of his logging in or send a mail etc. He is in fact staying in a hotel and awaiting improvements. He could not be in touch with Vijayalakshmi and we could only hope she is also safe somewhere.
ReplyDeletetake care and get well soon Col.
Agree with all comments saying how good this puzzle is. Thanks Mac for the entertainment.
ReplyDeleteA doubt about 2D-
ReplyDeleteAngler= Director? What is the indication for removal of A?
The director's ANG LEE
DeleteDetailed = tail removed ==> ANG LEE ---> ANG LE
Thank you Mac for the clarification ( I think we missed it). and for the nice enjoyable crossword. Enjoyed solving it.
DeleteNice and smooth puzzle. 11A and 22A were very good. Other anagrams were well concealed.
ReplyDeleteCWE - BUNDOBUST
ReplyDeleteIf you want to take part in this, visit the page, which is the second when you reach this site.
It can be accessed by scrolling down when the Comments sec of the first post is collapsed.
Or by clicking on the link at the left sidebar.
Nice one from Mac.
ReplyDeleteHad a Q on 11A
Is it an indirect anag if the letters to be removed is not given directly? Here Look is given from which we need to derive lo & then remove.
If the deletion fodder is a discontinuous chunk, or needs to be anagrammed and then removed from the anagram fodder, then it seems indirect. In the present scenario, I'm not sure
DeleteThat is why the Q. Hoping to have some thoughts from experienced setters/solvers
DeleteI think it is OK. I have seen usage of right away. Where only R is removed. So in my opinion, abbreviations being removed while being provided with the whole word is alright.
DeleteI will try.
DeleteIf we have to remove ACE from 'paracetamol' and by some other operation get the solution, we give some indication for the deletion but the fodder is 'ace' - not a syn. such as champion.
If the del of ACE is from 'sea chest' I believe we needn't still give any anag signal, because the letter a c e are in the same order though dispersed.
OTOH, if we have to delete ACE from 'concealment', we give an anag signal for the del fodder 'ace' because the letters are not in thes ame order.
In the instance cited, the situation is peculiar.
Look out, we are told and we delete LO from some word.
My take is that in crosswords we use the component Lo for Look,
So deriving LO from Look is not that difficult.
If we have had to remove SEE, it would have been unacceptable bec. a syn. is involved.
The clue writer has broken a rule, perhaps, but he has done it with some responsibility.
This kind of breaking a rule may be permitted.
I think there is no question if the removal were an unique abbreviation for the given word. But lo is not an abbreviation of look. Hence the question still remains
DeleteThanks CVji. To paraphrase, if the component to be removed from the anagram fodder is an abbreviation or a standard crossword substitute for a given word, then it is acceptable to indicate it indirectly
DeleteLo is not an abbr of 'look'. But is a very common word as seen ine xpressions such as Lo and behold! - where lo is 'look'.
DeleteThat is why I said it could be allowed here.
This is my personal opinion and I can't back it by citing any authority.
I agree with CV. No problem with 'lo' for look.
DeleteWhile I'm not complaining, l still feel it' s a bit of an indirect deletion to have "lo" removed from an anagram fodder through a different word. So, it being a fair device is questionable IMO. If we have the point of reference as 'easily-identifiable word associations," we'd be making it seem very subjective. What's easily identifiable to one may not be the case for all. As far as following standards are concerned, if we have it as objective as possible, it'd be nicer. Generally, standard abbreviations are okay in an anagram fodder and if we expanded it, if used for deletion from an anagram fodder, it should be all right too. But using an alternate word is definitely akin to cluing with an indirect anagram, which is actually a big no-no.
DeleteI know, a setter's job is not as easy as a critic's, but it's an interesting challenge for a setter too. A person setting crosswords as a hobby or profession, could feel a lot better about himself/ herself if he/ she worked with as many restrictions as possible (to make all components fall in line with strictest standards) and still came out on top. Taking liberties, even a bit, points to laziness, as I see it.
So the final word seems to be : It is ok in this case, but close enough to the borderline, that setters should be very careful while using this device. Thanks folks for the inputs.
DeleteAll well here in Rajahmundry. All is not well in Vizag. There is no electricity and unlikely to be restored for the next 2 days. Hence no water supply. Diesel is hard to get, so generator is used for only some time to pump up water from the borewell.
ReplyDeleteSo we decided yesterday morning to run away and have come to Rajahmundry and staying in a hotel till power is restored.
Vijaylakshmi is not answering her landline. Cell is down too. She must be okay.
Wonder if Anand is still in Vizag.
Good to hear from you suresh.
DeleteLet's hope Anand is safe and well. His address that I have is "#203, Sea Scape Apartments, beside A N Beach hospital, Maharanipeta"
My roommate still can't contact his parents at Vizag
DeleteGood to hear from Suresh garu.
DeleteGood to hear from Suresh. Superb puzzle from Mac. Thorougly enjoyed solving it.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteCV & Ramesh:
It's all very well to go on and on with the dynamics of clue-building and formation. Aren't we killing an ant with a sledge-hammer?
Each clue writer formulates his or her own ideas and builds up his armoury to challenge the solver. We should merely pick up the gauntlet and try our best to match our wits as solvers to that of the compiler. If we succeed, very good. if not, learn new ideas in clue building and be happy. That . to me, is the very essence of the crossword being cryptic.-- just that; cryptic. New ideas get thrown up that way and I have found our THCC compilers a very creative lot, as can be seen from the recent contest initiated by CV. But then, critiques written need not be patronising (my humble thoughts not aimed at any one please. lest I be misunderstood !! )as there are as many ideas in the clue building as there are creative minds. Look at the very number of permutations and combinations of the clues in the last two contests ! Amazing !
So, lets be practical and be happy that we can solve any and every crossword or sorry that we cannot ! The fun is in the solving itself and lets be thankful that we indeed can solve different creations successfully.Too much analyzing creates mental blocks-- so lets give our ideas a free flow and create more and more tough ones ! There is no template or stereo-typing needed. Yes, some basic rules have to be observed to give the crossies the orderliness that they need for the solvers to approach them with an open mind .
I do not how to react to the above Comment.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all I am unable to decide on which side Raju is.
Is he for observance of certain rules?
Or is he for 'my way, highway'; try solving, if not go your way'.
As far as I am concerned, there MUST BE some rules, to begin with.
These rules can be bent occasionally as the clue-writer thinks fit.
"[C]ritiques written need not be patronising " - I don't know what to make of this for the simple reason that context is lacking.
Raju
ReplyDeleteYou will note that while I was writing about rules, I have passed 11a, saying the clue writer must be given certain leeway to bend rules - as long as he has the judgement as to how far he can go.
Here he has not crossed any limit.
This CWD, as some preceding ones, has many excellent clues,
If UK papers/syndicates are not looking for talent in India, it is because that must be super abundant in that country.
9A : Glaringly offensive and loud tirade following delay (8) FLAGRANT {FLAG}{RANT}
ReplyDeleteMy take on Anno was {F}{LAG}{RANT}
Get well soon Col Sir.
How do you explain F LAG going before RANT?
DeleteMy interpretation was echoed by Ram below @ 6:25 pm
DeleteLoud = F, Tirade = Rant following Lag =Delay. F LAG RANT
Loud - F, delay - lag, tirade - rant is the way, I think, MB interpreted
ReplyDeleteLooks OK. Flag is actually lying limp with no energy, not exacly delay. Lag is delay like lagging behind. But F for loud is new to me (Force?)
DeleteYou're right. MB is indeed correct.
DeleteSorry, didn't notice this post! Hence my reply @ 6:52 pm. below yours @ 6:18.
DeletePaddy, F comes from fortissimo, = loud as used in musical instruction. Its opposite is pianissimo, = softly. Both, instructions are written as single letters f and p respectively, and are also used thus in cwds
DeleteOf course, fortissimo comes from strongly/forcefully, so force is also correct. Besides, kgf is ised to say kilo gram force
DeleteRaju,
ReplyDeleteI also fail to see your point. Here we get ,let us say, more than a dozen clues for the same word which means almost half a normal CW. If one cannot see variety in this where else can we go? I have sent in a couple of clues and now thanks to CV, analysis (I should be thankful for his time) I know where I have to improve. How else do we get so many new setters in TH? Just by observing,practicing and trying to improve. Col. has also provided a platform with Sunday specials and the interesting discussions thereafter. I fail to see what is wrong in this.
Also, this is absolutely voluntary and those who do not want their comments to be analysed (that is what we are doing in the blog daily) he/ she can stay away. I am sure those who are participating are doing so willingly and are thankful for the analysis which gives us ways to improve. But for following the blog for so long and taking occasional clue writing I would not have dared to publish my clue here. Now I know where the problem lies and how I can inmprove.
All of us wholeheartedly welcome this- only if CV is ready to take the time and trouble and we cherish his analysis.
+1
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
Delete+2. I do cherish his analysis. But I dare not set a clue because I know my limitations in English language! :(
Delete+1. I am thankful for CV ji for his analysis & views. It has helped me improve ( I think so, hopefully the solvers think so too ). Ignorance of how clues are constructed is ok for a solver, but not for a setter.
Delete+1
DeleteTypo-
ReplyDeleteIn stead of "...do not want their comments...", it should read "...do not want their clues..."
Raju,
ReplyDeleteAre you talking about today's discussion on 11A or the clue writing contest? It looked as though you were talking about clue writing. Today's discussion on 11 A is all about following rules or being as close to it. There seems to be nothing wrong with it.
CV & PADDY :
ReplyDeleteI merely opened up my own thoughts on this subject. I have no sides to take nor was I aimimg my gun at any one in particular. I just want to enjoy and agree that everyday in every way, we all keep learning. Don't ye-all read anything more or less into my comments.
I really wonder , havoing said this, where was the need to take on NJ?