Arden has some awesome clues today, specially 1A and 8D.
ACROSS
1 Moving to Algiers when they offer something to drink (8,5) WATERING HOLES*
10 Some prefer Michael to Enrico, perhaps (5) FERMI [T]
11 Tough on Scotsman — no letter came back (9) DRACONIAN
12 Come from Nigeria to represent (9) ORIGINATE*
13 It turns as servomotor moves — moves away (5) ROTOR
14 Before I got it he was in retreat (7) EREMITE {ERE}{M{IT}E}
16 Entering difficult, resigns (7) INGRESS*
18 Place outside Indian city revisited, will keep mobs away (4,3) TEAR GAS {TE{AR GA}S}<=
20 Next holy book released is enough for illustration (7) EXAMPLE {
22 Bad write-ups no use to the fool (5) TWIRP WRIT
24 Extremely mischievous of the French, to sneak through the gate (9) WICKEDEST {WICKE{DES}T}
26 End of a British prime minister's retirement — make it an extended retirement (9) OVERSLEEP {OVER}{S'LEEP<=}
27 An advantage once more (5) AGAIN {A}{GAIN}
28 GATT is clearly designed keeping one's interest in mind (13) STRATEGICALLY*
DOWN
2 Cockney's crack about travel enterprise (7) 'AIRLINE
3 Evoking the prophet by quoting (9) ELICITING {ELI}{CITING}
4 Do you find I am covering the country? (5) INDIA [T]
5 Gossip is a crime in given difficult circumstances (9) GRAPEVINE {G{RAPE}VINE*}
6 Quality that's old and joyless (5) ODOUR {O}{DOUR}
7 Letter written with ease, holding unloaded gun (7) EPISTLE {E{PIST
8 A place gets another offer to plant trees (13) AFFORESTATION {A}{OFFER*}{STATION}
9 Reflecting on the army — suspending operations without checking (13) INTROSPECTING {IN{TRO
15 Wheels turned before, but in some other place (9) ELSEWHERE {WHEELS*}{ERE}
17 Note presence in an island, in the manner of a country (9) GUATEMALA {GUA{TE}M}{A'LA}
21 Pressure on a damaged liver will persist (7) PREVAIL {P}{A+LIVER}*
23 Something to eat — not before one (5) PASTA {PAST}{A}
25 Island's partly unpredictable (5) CAPRI CAPRI
GRID
I must first admit I haven't solved this puzzle.
ReplyDeleteI suppose any solver can comment on the basis of the clue and answer provided, can't s/he?
Re 8a.
AFFORESTATION is n. '"[to]plant trees" is v.
Is there a mismatch in part of speech?
Craving your indulgence,
CV
Verb form is AFFOREST.
Delete11 Tough on Scotsman — no letter came back (9) DRACONIAN {DRAC<=}{ON}{IAN}
ReplyDeleteIs it Card = postcard/ letter? I feel the anno is: DRAC ON<= (IAN)?
Yes that's right, I overlooked the came back part
DeleteOn Saturday and Sunday two suggestions were made regarding THCC
ReplyDeleteThe first suggestion was to postpone the publication of the blog timing to 12 Noon from 8:30 AM and the second suggestion was to post only the clue sheet and permit the commenters to submit 2/3/4 solutions in the comments section (with annotations of course) as is being done for the Sunday Specials however Ramesh clarified that what he meant it was for Sunday specials where the commenters should paste all the clues with their answers minus the clues already solved (as was being done on the Orkut page)
For the first suggestion no body commented on change in timings accordingly I presume no one is for it, nor am I. The idea of posting the answers at 8:30 AM was that those who are working or going to school/college may not get time after that till they return in the evening by which time they would be too tired to tackle the CW again so I felt that 8:30 would be a good time to look at all the answers and put in a couple of comments before proceeding to work/study.
As regards the second suggestion, entering all the clues again in the comments section will make the blog too bulky therefore I feel just entering the answers as per the laid down quota is sufficient, in any case around 12 or so I generally put up the list of unsolved clues. If this suggestion is for the daily CW then those who are interested can drop in at Mrs PP's HUB (the link is there on the Left Hand Side of this page) where you can put in your quota of answers (5 at present, participation there is only from Mrs PP, Sandhya, LV and self at the moment, if participation there increases the quota will be reduced accordingly) At the HUB Mrs PP does not insist on the annotations. I generally post the blank clue sheet at the hub with a link to the grid, between 6:15 and 6:30 AM subject to my waking up on time :-).
By postponing the blog timing to 12 noon will further reduce the number of comments. Very few join in after say 11 or 12. As it is I think there's a a drastic fall in number of comments throughout the day.
DeleteThanks for consideration of my views and the informed and well-thought-out response.
DeleteMy Comment followed a previous one after I jumped to a conclusion. though I did express a reservation as well.
The blog owner's decision is always final and binding on us even as we exercise our freedom of speech where no ideologue can intervene and try to curb!
Here is what I had in mind for the Sunday special.
DeleteIf today's CW was posted as the Sunday special. The first comment would look like
[Begin First Comment]
Unsolved Clues
Across 1,10,11,12,13,14,16,18,20,22,24,26,27,28
Down 2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,15,17,19,21,23,25
[End First Comment]
The Second Comment could be
[Begin Second Comment]
2D Cockney's crack about travel enterprise (7) 'AIRLINE hAIRLINE
3D Evoking the prophet by quoting (9) ELICITING {ELI}{CITING}
4D Do you find I am covering the country? (5) INDIA [T]
Unsolved Clues
Across 1,10,11,12,13,14,16,18,20,22,24,26,27,28
Down 5,6,7,8,9,15,17,19,21,23,25
[End Second Comment]
And so on. So each solver Cuts & Pastes the previous Unsolved clues and removes his ( CVji please note ;) ) clues before posting.
The extra load added is three lines per comment. A little extra work is need by the solver ( and sometimes clean up if two solvers post at the same time ).
People like Ajeesh who post using phones as well as others using tabs, I think, will find the cut and paste procedure cumbersome
DeleteWe do not do this on Sunday special. It is up to the poster to avoid duplication. But sometimes there may be one (due to posting at the same time) In other words, we may follow Sunday routine, which will invite wider participation.
DeleteI go with Col. for continuing to post with answers at 8.30 as is being done. I find the discussion after this, say between 8.30 and 10 am, as interesting as solving the CW. Not many comments after 10 am till the evening.
ReplyDeleteBut giving an opportunities for solvers to chip in with their answers before 8.30 should be fine. As for pasting the clues all over again- Col. is right. But do we need it? We don't do it on Sunday specials. No harm if a few clues are repeated or those posting can check up earlier posts. Maybe, Monday is not the time for discussion as we have very few bloggers.
Very interesting and enjoyable CW today. happy I was able to get 9D after introspecting a long time, but failed with 8D trying to fit in reforestation.
Should be within checking or checking without ?
DeleteI Am Happy With The Way Things Are Now! I go with Col Sir. :)
DeleteI echo Raghu's view expressed @ 8:54 AM.
ReplyDelete7 Letter written with ease, holding unloaded gun (7) EPISTLE {E{PISToL}E} A round is unloaded from the gun :-)
ReplyDeleteI think two Es in the anno are taken from Ease=Es=EE. Somebody to confirm pl.
I think you are right. E's with unloaded pistol.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Paddy!
DeleteThat is right. No 'rounds'.
DeleteEnjoyed today's x'ie.Clues were just ardently awesome.11a- Really a tough nut to crack. 5d- sordid content in given container. wow.On the whole, an entertaining type of puzzle. We relished to the core. Thank you Arden.
ReplyDelete