Sunday 6 September 2015

Special, Sunday 06 Sep 2015, Bombadil


Three answers per commenter (annotations compulsory) till 6 PM.
Please provide all your answers in one comment as far as possible.

DOUBLE TROUBLE


ACROSS
7   Details that go well with good suits? (8)
9   Perfect way to be sincere (6)
10 Leave droppings (4)
11 Beers and foods all over the place? Life isn’t this (3,2,5)
12 He provided an attractive explanation for why earth sucks (6)
14 A grandmaster’s work? A spar over pieces (8)
15 Surface with extremely dirty humour (6)
16 Filed I.T. returns, was late (6)
19 Spooner’s opening space to cover the present (4-4)
21 City is too good, but lacks railway (6)
23 Anti-scrota operation? (10)
24 So, coming back as a troll? (4)
25 Go over dancing routine (6)
26 Double-crosses? (3-5)

DOWN
1   Fellowship of the ring (6)
2   Succeeding means getting ten in ten possibly (4)
3   Leg-breaks teased and got torn to shreds (8)
4   They can be worthless guys (6)
5   Pub cheers new measure (10)
6   A chemical compound for a heavenly body (8)
8   Kudos! You ultimately solved the puzzle (6)
13 This Satan employs to test Man at pain! (10)
15 Nobility of church to lead away from struggle (8)
17 Designer home with passage for air and a gate (8)
18 A device to set middle of bones in fracture (6)
20 Visionary’s head chopped off with cutting tool (6)
22 Speed Post? (6)
24 If love had no boundaries, I would be a poet (4)

Across Lite version can be accessed at BOMBADIL 2

Enjoy.

65 comments:

  1. 14A. KASPAROV (hidden)
    24D. (-l)OV(-E) ID
    12A. NEWTON (CD)

    ReplyDelete
  2. 11 Beers and foods all over the place? Life isn’t this (3,2,5) BED OF ROSES* (Beers foods)*

    DOWN
    6 A chemical compound for a heavenly body (8) A/STEROID
    8 Kudos! You ultimately solved the puzzle (6) SUDOKU*

    ReplyDelete
  3. 2a Succeeding means getting ten in ten possibly (4) NEXT - X in NET (anag. of 'ten')
    22d Speed Post? (6) CAREER (DD)

    ReplyDelete
  4. 21 City is too good, but lacks railway (6) - VENICE (Very nice - RY)
    15 Nobility of church to lead away from struggle (8) - CHIVALRY {CH}{RIVALRY -R} (lead away is deletion indicator)
    17 Designer home with passage for air and a gate (8) - INVENTOR {IN}{VENT}{OR} (OR as in Or gate in electronics)

    ReplyDelete
  5. 4D They can be worthless guys (6)

    should ideally be:

    4D They can be worthless, small guys (6)

    It doesn't make much difference, but I'd corrected this in the AcrossLite version. By my oversight alone, this remained unedited in the DOC version I sent to the good Colonel. Mea Culpa!

    ReplyDelete
  6. 23A : CASTRATION {ANTI-SCROTA}*
    25A : GROOVE {GO OVER}*
    20D : REAMER {dREAMER}

    ReplyDelete
  7. If clues outed elsewhere - say FB or message boards - by a clue-writer are used in a crossword that is published later, there is a sense of 'already seen' for solvers, some of thema t least.. I think that setters who publish crosswords on public forums should not have used the clues previously on public forums.
    Does the fact that the groups have limited audience render this observation of mine ridiculous? Also when a setter himself may occasionally repeat his clues - however much spaced out they are - render this observation of mine ridiculous?
    Can a setter who has written clues in place like CCS compose a puzzle entirely of his own creations and publish it elsewhere as after all he is the holder of copyright of his creations?
    These observations are general and intended to provoke discussion.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. "I think that setters who publish crosswords on public forums should not have used the clues previously on public forums."
      My answer would be "Yes and no". Majority of the setters featured in THC Sunday Special are those, who, after setting stand alone clues get into forming a grid with a set of clues. As time progresses one would believe they will let out the clues elsewhere after the grid, since as you say he/she is "the holder of copyright of his/her creations".

      Delete
    2. CV Sir

      For some people, as you say, it would be like hearing the same song again. But I feel such audience is quite limited... and why not share the jollies with a new audience? Personally speaking, I have made thousands of clues in CCS, and I have indeed made grids completely out of them (selecting the better ones). Even Rufus repeats clues. Considering he has written millions, I think that's bound to happen. And as you rightly said, copyright is the setter's only... So what's the big deal? As long as the clue's worthy of sharing, why not? We may post some clues in a forum like CCS and get feedback on it, and then a better version might find its way to a place like the Colonel's excellent blog. It's all good, in my opinion. I saw no problems with it, till now. Now that you've said it, I will think about it a little more.

      Delete
    3. Let me not be misunderstood.
      I have great respect for the new crop of young setters. They are doing very well.
      All that I am sayiing is that after having written some good clues and having received some approbation, let us go on to write other good clues instead of hugging to the exposed ones.

      Delete
    4. I appreciate your sentiment, CV Sir. If I were setting for a broadsheet, I will not repeat a clue earlier published by me in a public forum, in my grid. For a blog, I think I can relax my norms a little bit. Correct me if I am mistaken in my conscience.

      Delete
    5. It is all right.
      I never meant to say any setter has done something wrong.But what struck me I raised as a topic for debate.
      With vast technological developments. life has become difficult for setters. Solvers can use search facility to pinpoint every instance of the appearance of a clue.
      I perfectly understand the situation.

      Delete
  8. My 3
    9A - {NICE}{ST}
    10A - SCAT [DD]
    15A - {COME}{D(-irt)Y}

    ReplyDelete
  9. 7 a : NICE TIES
    1 d: CIRCLE (DD)
    5 d: INN OVATIONS

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 5D: Just the singular Bhargav Sir. "Ovation" is a collective noun for "cheers" :)

      Delete
  10. 19A GIFT WRAP~ RIFT GAP
    24A OGRE ERGO←
    25A GROOVE (GO OVER)*

    Thanks Bombadil...

    ReplyDelete
  11. 16a I.T. returns IT<=; was late DIED Defn: Filed (TI<=)(DIED)
    23a Anti-scrota operation? CASTRATION* &lit
    18d middle of boNes - N in fracture SPLIT SPLI(N)T &lit

    ReplyDelete
  12. Replacement for 23a already solved by MB
    26a Double-crosses? TWO-TIMES (CD) XX

    ReplyDelete
  13. 11A- Bed of Roses- (Beers foods)*
    26A- Two timed- CD

    ReplyDelete
  14. Sorry, it should be 'Two times'.

    ReplyDelete
  15. 24D- Ovid
    Def.- Poet
    If love had no boundaries- L(OV)E
    I would- I'D

    ReplyDelete
  16. Nice and tricky puzzle. Enjoyed solving it. My COD : 26a : TWO TIMES. Keep them coming, bombarding Bombadil. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks MB Sir. That one is my favorite clue too in this puzzle :)

      Delete
  17. Replacement for 26A-
    6D- Asteroid
    Heavenly body- Def.
    A-A
    Chemical compound- Dteroid

    ReplyDelete
  18. 1 D Fellowship of the ring (6) CIRCLE [2]
    3 D Leg-breaks teased and got torn to shreds (8) RIBB(ON)ED
    4 D They can be worthless guys (6)CHAFFS [2] ?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, Double definition CHAFFS, guys (verb) = chaffs (=ridicules)
      Please also see my comment at the top of the comment board.

      Delete
  19. 1 D Fellowship of the ring (6) CIRCLE [2]
    3 D Leg-breaks teased and got torn to shreds (8) RIBB(ON)ED
    4 D They can be worthless guys (6)CHAFFS [2] ?

    ReplyDelete
  20. 1 D Fellowship of the ring (6) CIRCLE [2]
    3 D Leg-breaks teased and got torn to shreds (8) RIBB(ON)ED
    4 D They can be worthless guys (6)CHAFFS [2] ?

    ReplyDelete
  21. 1D CIRCLE has already been solved by CGB @ 11:32 a.m . Raghu to have one more go ... 13Dn is still available!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Yes, 13d needs to be solved as yet. Apart from the clue for CIRCLE other clues.too have been solved two/three times. Not a problem, just recording.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. What the policy here on giving hints? 13D is a rare type of clue not usually seen around.

      Delete
    2. To repeat my Comment elsewhere, I have the anno now.The clue-type has been used occasionally in THC.

      Delete
  23. For 13d I have the answer. But the anno is not forthcoming immediately.

    ReplyDelete
  24. 13d TEMPTATION (to test man +I)* not sure how the I comes from pain.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well, I got the anno now.
      That clue type has been used occasionally in THC.

      Delete
    2. Anno has been given or hinted strongly at by Bomb... But what is the '3' doing in the Acrosslite version?

      Satan+temptaton anag gives to test man at pain.

      Delete
  25. The significance of the title to the crossword needs to be sussed out.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Second crossie here, a little heavy on "Double" definitions, also highlighting the "Double crosses" clue - that's all :)

      Delete
  26. Hi DG and everyone. Just in case not many have noticed, the 3-million page-view landmark of this blog will be hit at any time. I know it would not be very accurate.

    ReplyDelete
  27. CA. (TO TEST MAIN AT PAIN (-) SATAN) *

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Correct - Composite anagram &lit it is. (Satan + TEMPTATION)* = (to test man at pain)*
      "This" is the placeholder. Well done Bhargav Sir.

      Delete
  28. THIS // (SATAN) EMPLOYS (TO TEST MAN AT PAIN)

    ReplyDelete
  29. To put it more clearly, the clue-type is known as compound anagram.

    In this type,the clue will carry a number of words that are an anagram of the solution (TEMPTATION in this instance) and a word or a number of words in the clue (SATAN here). In this instance EMPLOYS is the anag signal.

    SATAN with TEMPTATION when anagramed gives TO TEST MAN AT PAIN.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Is my term 'compound anagram' correct? I have to check. I may have misremembered.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Composite Anagram / Compound Anagram / Combined Anagram are all valid terms for this. Azed uses comp. anag. in his reports, so one of the first two refers to those. Peter Biddlecombe is OK with both these terms. The third one is used by some members at Anax's clue-writing forum where also we rub shoulders :)

      Delete
  31. I think all clues are done. Feedback most welcome. Thanks for your time, ladies and gentlemen. :)

    ReplyDelete
  32. Extremely good clues, pithy and tricky. Keep them coming. 13 D must have been difficult clue to write. Good one that.

    Is 'at' pain all right, in this clue?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. "AT" in the sense: I will test you at grammar, I will test her at dinner, I will test him at Lord's etc.

      Delete
    2. 'at pain' sentence is incomplete. Maybe 'pain tolerance' or something like that, like CV has explained below.

      Delete
  33. Yes, but I don't think 'test someone at pain' is quite idiomatic.
    I am at pains to explain.

    ReplyDelete
  34. Richard @ 12:56,
    That mark should take another two or three days

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kudos for the upcoming landmark and thanks for today's opportunity, DG Sir.

      Delete
  35. Came late to see that all clues have been solved; solved before coming to see the Comments section.
    Lovely Puzzle.

    ReplyDelete

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