Friday 16 June 2017

No 12035, Friday 16 Jun 2017, Aspartame


ACROSS
1   Nun clarifies altered note of contract (4,9) LIFE INSURANCE {NUN+CLARIFIES}*{E}
8   Model image of Christ (4) ICON [CD]
9   Device Pole developed for vehicle (10) VELOCIPEDE*
10 Popular bar procures one supplier (6) PUBLIC {PUB}{LIC}
11 Idol at Uttarakhand's capital got kidnapped by Yankee for art (8) STATUARY Anno pending (Addendum - {ST{AT}{Ut...d}AR}{Y} - See comments)
12 Compromises career holidays (5-4) TRADE-OFFS {TRADE}-{OFFS}
14 I'll cultivate young plant (4) LILY {ILL*}{Y}
15 Step around insect (4) PEST*
16 President's best friend? (5,4) FIRST MATE [CD]
20 Woman rates horrible kiss two out of four being a sport (5,3) WATER SKI {W}{RATES}*{KIss}
21 Error Phantom described as stray (6) ORPHAN [T]
23 Muscle meat suspended on pole (10) HAMSTRINGS {HAM}{STRING}{S}
24 Americans about to invade territory (4) AREA {A}{RE}{A}
25 D-dense tailless aquatic creature needs oxygen to release chromosomes (5,8) HEAVY HYDROGEN {HEAVY} {HYDRa}{OxyGEN}

DOWN
1   State brought up detailed question on resin (7) LACQUER {CAL<=}{QUERy}
2   Definite outcome (5) FINAL [DD]
3   Vicuna moved to zoo ultimately — that's not in the natural environment (2,5) IN VACUO {VICUNA*}{zoO}
4   I and planning leader got killed by scum oddly offering independence (4-11) SELF-SUFFICIENCY {SELF}-{(+ScUm-e)SUFFICIENCY}
5   Ethnic radicals plotted duke's murder (6) RACIAL RAdICALs*
6   United Nations put mine to manufacture radioactive element (9) NEPTUNIUM {UN+PUT+MINE}*
7   The Spanish communist returned to meet extremely lovely senior (7) ELDERLY {EL}{RED<=}{Lo..lY}
13 Butcher said "yes" softly for stomach problem (9) DYSPEPSIA {SAID+YES+PP}*
15 Measure line, say with a ruler (7) PHARAOH {PH}{ARAOH}(~a row)
17 Finance kid's purchase of small plot with gold (7) SPONSOR {S{Plot}ONS}{OR}
18 Exchange vehicle using 50% off deal (5-2) TRADE-IN {TRA{DEal}IN}
19 Remove top handle of waste container that's awry (6) ASTRAY AShTRAY
22 Starts prepping records and notices going for a raid (5) PRANG Acrostic

GRID

15 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Yes.
      I am still struggling with autocorrect of new tablet.

      Delete
  2. Had problem in SW corner, paticularly Dyspepsia.
    Neptunium was good. Got a doubt whether the planet is named after the element or the other way round. Ultimately both are named after Greek Gods- Uranus,Neptune,Pluto...

    ReplyDelete
  3. 23AC: Suspended = String?
    I think that should lead us to strung, right?

    ReplyDelete
  4. Enjoyed doing the nice CW.
    Velocipedes- so many of them! Water ski picture is good.

    ReplyDelete
  5. A quick solve with so many anagrams..biffed most of them...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. usu. BIFD - bunged in from definition

      Delete
    2. Yes Sir, thanks. Commentators in Times for times usually write biffed..but as pointed by you BIFD is correct

      Delete
  6. 11 Idol at Uttarakhand's capital got kidnapped by Yankee for art (8) STATUARY
    24 Americans about to invade territory (4) AREA {A}{RE}{A}
    What is the general opinion about these two clues?
    Is the cryptic instruction logical?
    Or do we have to supply some words mentally in order to be able to solve the clues?
    E.g., the second clue:
    Americans about to invade territory
    The surface reading is excellent.
    SI? Take A A (Americans), RE (about) is to be put in it (invade) and you will get AREA(territory).
    Shouldn't the instructions follow logically without our having to look at disparate elements and doing some operations vaguely?

    ReplyDelete
  7. To explain further,
    let's say "Americans overwhelm engineer" - surface reading
    A(RE)A - we get the SI or cryptic reading quite naturally, logically, step by step
    Am I making myself clear?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I do not have a problem with 11. If I put a comma after idol and one after kidnapped it would be okay.
      I agree with you on 24. It is not a construction I like

      Delete
    2. A setter's job is difficult, isn't it..in a few words you have to make a plausible surface, grammar has to be correct, SI or WP should be imaginative
      In both cases above I found it no problem

      Delete

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