Monday 8 June 2015

No 11415, Monday 08 Jun 2015, Anon


Monday morning blues! Found it tough going today. I'm lost in the SE corner.

ACROSS
1   These common reserves are subject to market risk? (6,5) MUTUAL FUNDS [GK]
9   Obstructs the baskets (7) HAMPERS [DD]
10 Young salmon at hollow glacier on newly formed isle (6) GRILSE {Gl...eR}{ISLE*}
11 Correct valets caught by returning lawyer (5) AMEND {A{MEN}D<=}
12 Layer of unending cloud originates at mountain (7) STRATUM {STRATUs}{Mo...n}
15 Distress signal for love is neither good nor bad (2-2) SO-SO {SO-S}{O}
16 Appearance of every other wild fit mammoth (10) FORMIDABLE {FORM}{wIlD}{ABLE}
18 Attacks on ship has saint stifling giggle, heading to… (10) ONSLAUGHTS {ON}{S{LAUGH}{To}S}
20 …an end not completely visible (4) (Addendum - OVER OVERt - See comments)
23 A reverie is hilarious (7) AMUSING {A}{MUSING}
24 Sent back cold sponge (5) (Addendum - LOOFA - (-a)LOOF(+a)A See comments)
26 Peg for policeman caught in area (6) SPIGOT {SP{IG}OT}
27 Get back into the central procession (7) CORTEGE {COR{TEG<=}E}
28 Agreement of criminal with one inwardly calm (11) CONSOLE (Addendum - CONSILIENCE {CON}{SIL{I}ENCE} - See comments)

DOWN
2   Overturns arrests, exempts first and last soldiers (6) UPENDS Anno pending (Addendum - sUsPENDS - See comments)
3   One of the bears, it could be major or minor (4) URSA [GK]
4   Authorized section close to losing source of nicotine (10) LEGITIMATE {LEG}{InTIMATE}
5   In fresh tundra, I wear body suits (8) UNITARDS {I in TUNDRA*}{S} 'S' from?
6   Limitless absurdity can be a concern (7) DISTURB aBSURDITy*
7   Poor attempt at jibe (9) CHEAPSHOT {CHEAP}{SHOT}
8   Couple of them, upset, shoot ants (6) EMMETS {thEM}{METS<=}
13 Constitutional model in pleasant surroundings (10) CONGENITAL {CONGENI{T}AL}
14 Contracts to remove wrinkles (9) DECREASES [DD]
17 Travel for aeons on roads (8) PASSAGES {PASS}{AGES}
19 Part-timer extraordinarily improves after losing five (4-3) SEMI-PRO IMPROvES*
21 Suck out nectar initially from harmful flower (6) (Addendum - VIOLET VIOLEnT - See comments)
22 Clergyman, hot-headed, loses even hood (6) (Addendum - CLERIC ChoLERIC - See comments)
25 Start a calamitous mountain expedition to the summit (4) ACME Acrostic

GRID

45 comments:

  1. Overturns arrests, exempts first and last soldiers (6) Perhaps [s]U[s]PENDS, ss being first and last letters of soldiers

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There are three 's' in suspends. Shouldn't the instruction be more precise?

      Delete
  2. 20 …an end not completely visible (4) OVER[-t]

    ReplyDelete
  3. Off topic
    (from yesterday)
    4 Top shooter and I alone (8)
    This pithy clue has come in for praise. While appreciating it, I have a question.
    Is the def 'top' quite accurate?
    I have not gone much into women's garments, but, as far as I know, keeping my distance, a camisole is an inner garment.
    It may be a negligee but I am sure that a woman will never come out wearing just a camisole.
    She would wear some dress over and above it.
    One doesn't wear anything over a top. A top is a top.
    A general question flowing from the above is how vague a setter can be in the def part of the clue.
    Shouldn't we expect the defs.to be precise?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're right Camisole is an undergarment. If the def isn't precise the solver is lost..

      Delete
    2. I suppose since a camisole covers the top half, it should be acceptable

      Delete
    3. As per Wiki

      Historically, camisole referred to jackets of various kinds, including overshirts (worn under a doublet or bodice),women's négligées and sleeved jackets worn by men.

      Delete
    4. The definition is fine.
      Camisoles can be outer garments too. They get called cami tops or camis nowadays.
      [Bonus fashion tip: Camis with nautical prints are in this season.]

      Delete
  4. 21 Suck out nectar initially from harmful flower (6) VIOLE[-n]T

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thanks everyone. So 24A will be LOOFA though Anno is not clear

    ReplyDelete
  6. 24 Sent back cold sponge (5) [-a]LOOF(+A)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The anno does not fit the clue. Something's missing in the clue. Probably 'a'.

      Delete
    2. 24 Sent back "a" cold sponge (5) [-a]LOOF(+A)

      Delete
    3. Definitely an 'a' missing. Easy to put down as a 'printo'. But, is it?

      Delete
  7. 24A LOOFA from Aloof but anno not clear

    ReplyDelete
  8. 6D Limitless absurdity can be a concern (7) DISTURB aBSURDITy*

    'a concern' give the impression that one has to look for a noun where as the solution 'Disturb' is a verb.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Right. Similarly:

      20 …an end not completely visible (4) (Addendum - OVER OVERt - See comments)

      It's just 'end' and not 'an end'.

      Delete
    2. 'a concern' gives the impression that one has to look for a noun where as the solution 'Disturb' is a verb.

      Delete
  9. Quite a few less known variants of better known words-
    Unitards- leotards
    Consilience- consonance

    ReplyDelete
  10. Except CHEAPSHOT, got all. Could not anno Loofa as you all observed above.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Any problem with 18A clue ?

    I took 14 D as De-creases ..wrinkles = creases

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, that is DD, since contracts also means decreases.

      Delete
    2. What I meant is it is not a direct DD. Second part is a cryptic play on de -- wrinkles(creases) and contracts is definition.

      Delete
    3. Not DD. Decreases does not mean remove wrinkles in normal parlance. It is only so on crytic reading

      Delete
  12. 18A- as per anno given by Col. there is no need for saint in the clue- SS for ship & 'heading to' for T.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Off track-
    There is an article in today's Chennai edition about an inscription found in Sri parthasarathy Swamy temple here. They have used the word 'estampage' in the article. I am not able to get its meaning. Could it be a coined word- e stampage, may be something like e preservation? But then there is no 'stamping' also. Could any archaeologist help?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/estampage

      Delete
    2. Thank you Ramesh. But your link is taking me to a page asking for an annual subscription- no free trial. Can you just get me the meaning. Sorry for troubling you.

      Delete
    3. es·tam·page
      \ˌeˌstämˈpäzh\noun

      -s

      :an impression of an inscription made on inked paper

      Origin

      F, fr. estamper to stamp, pound (influenced in form by It stampareto stamp; F, fr. OF, of Gmc origin; akin to OHG stampfōn to crush, pound, stamp) + -age — more atstamp

      Delete
  14. Thank you Ajeesh. So kind of you. Fits in perfectly to the context.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I was able to get the definition from the above link via mobile without any problem. But with desktop getting the same issue. It is asking for subscription or free trial (with credit card). :(

      Delete
    2. Moral of the story- Be smart & get smart phones!

      Delete
    3. Use search engines. All these sites that ask for subscription, allow search engine users to come in without subscription. So choose an appropriate search engine query to accomplish the bypassing of this subscriptions. Same trick works for Newspapers also :)

      Delete
  15. Hi all, Spritzer here. Many thanks for the feedback!
    Also, Gridman sir: Very much an Indian, Sout of the Vindhyas too!
    Once again, many thanks to the Col and everyone! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That is nice to hear.
      I wish you all the best in all your future endeavours.
      I was just thinking of suggesting to the paper that while on all weekdays THC may be by enlisted setters, the last weekday may be kept open to one-time/occasional setter whose submission would be vetted and published.
      Not sure how well it go down with powers that be.
      If only a crossword editor is appointed and a free hand is given to him, much can be done.

      Delete
    2. That rings a bell. From IIT Madras?

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    3. Indeed sir. The very same! :)

      Delete
  16. Nice of you and thank you for the enjoyable CW. Nicer still to know you as Nirmal.

    ReplyDelete

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