Thursday, 22 March 2018

No 12271, Thursday 22 Mar 2018, Gridman


Answer and annotation for 23A left for a first-time commenter till 10 AM.

ACROSS
1   Passed on that I am section editor (8) IMPARTED {I'M}{PART}{ED}
5   Female and boy despondent and uncultivated (6) FALLOW {F}{AL}{LOW}
10 The best possible plot unveiled about doctors' organisation (7) OPTIMAL {OPT{IMA}L*}
11 Every ogre driven off at brisk speed (7) ALLEGRO {ALL}{OGRE*}
12 Makes improvements with half of them taking bits (6) EMENDS {thEM}{ENDS}
13 Son’s getting comfy — learner leaving and moving very fast (8) SCUDDING {S}{CUDDlING}
15 We're told: "Lift beams" (4) RAYS (~raise)
16 Grecian den releasing member of family (10) GRANDNIECE*
18 Thug with history to make a public statement (2,2,6) GO ON RECORD {GOON} {RECORD}
20 Court's dead carpentry material (4) WOOD {WOO}{D}
23 Cover with a piece of cloth on extremely large arm (8) T?N?A?L? (Addendum - TENTACLE {TENT}{A}{Cloth}{LargE} - See comments)
24 Cunning hag and daughter (6) SHREWD {SHREW}{D}
26 Unfriendly quality here in France — Sen's in confusion (7) ICINESS {ICI}{SENS}*
27 Cultivation is up to date (7) TILLAGE {TILL AGE}
28 Carefully read and absorb a magazine (6) DIGEST [DD]
29 He led, we cooked up endless sweet-talks (8) WHEEDLES {HE+LED+WE}*{lesS}*

DOWN
1   How even a Leftist might be balanced (2,4,5,4) IN ONES RIGHT MIND [CD]
2   Product of a man of clay? (7) POTTERY [CD]
3   Cure: mere exercise — daily at start and end (6) REMEDY {MERE*}{DailY}
4   Thinks female abandoned slippery customers (4) EELS fEELS
6   Referring to mythical king imprisoned in a plant (8) ALLUDING {A}{L{LUD}ING}
7   On support, desi goes wild (3,4) LEG SIDE {LEG} {DESI}*
8   Deranged, she's now displaying perversity (15) WRONGHEADEDNESS*
9   Joint ownership of cane stock in block (9) PARCENARY {PAR{CANE*}RY}
14 No way — such an area cannot progress (9) TRACKLESS {TRACK}{LESS}
17 Lubricators are great, helpful persons (8) GREASERS {GR}{EASERS}
19 Joker out to fall in with ruler making beastly noises (7) OINKING {jOIN}{KING}
21 Considering everything, old girl accepts fifty-fifty (7) OVERALL {O}{VERA}{LL}
22 Put away quietly for themselves in part (6) SHELVE {SH}{t...sELVEs}
25 At last, you have reversed role in US State (4) UTAH {yoU}{HAT<=}

GRID

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68 comments:

  1. Kolluru Koteswara Rao22 March 2018 at 08:38

    As always, great entertainment. Thanks Gridman!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kolluru Koteswara Rao22 March 2018 at 08:41

      Incidentally, 10AC OPTIMAL appeared in Guardian Quick Crossword today!

      Delete
    2. Padmanabhan22 March 2018 at 09:00

      Had enough time to do that as well?

      Delete
  2. Padmanabhan22 March 2018 at 08:45

    Smoothy! Feeling happy & great.
    Parcenary was new to me and could not get.
    Strange- Got legside, but could not spot 'ON' as the def.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Srinivas Gopal22 March 2018 at 08:51

    23d tent a c(loth) l(arg)e

    ReplyDelete
  4. Srinivas Gopal22 March 2018 at 08:52

    Sorry 23a

    ReplyDelete
  5. C.G. BHARGAV22 March 2018 at 09:24

    TRACKLESS in politics, thespians enter the fray.
    IN ONES RIGHT MIND anyone would like to do so. He may feel that he is the one REMEDY to wipe out all the ills in society and give OPTIMAL governance.
    But when they actually make up their mind, the GREASERS come into the picture!
    The TENTACLE of money power shows its ugly face and WRONGHEADEDNESS grows!
    You can easily DIGEST this scenario. It has been happening for ages.
    The newly elected, like EELS will slip out of the public scene with ease.
    The OINKINGS will continue. But is there going to be someone who will make EMENDS?
    OVERALL no rosy future seems to be in sight.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Vasant22 March 2018 at 09:35

    Gridman starts this run with the last of his grids-the 15 letter grid. High entertainment!
    17 minutes for this one with more than 7 minutes taken up for Parcenary-the LOI.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Padmanabhan22 March 2018 at 09:40

    8 minutes for all the rest is pretty fast,if I may say so.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Vasant22 March 2018 at 09:53

      I have started timing myself. The practice is getting ingrained after reading the blog Times for Times where the blogger and most of the commenters give their timings. The Times puzzle lists a leaderboard for their daily puzzles with incredible speeds ranginging from 5 to 10 minutes for the leaders

      Delete
  8. C.G. BHARGAV22 March 2018 at 09:50

    Pretty fast? That is jet speed. Superb Vasant. I remember seeing Parcenery in some legal documents many years ago...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Vasant22 March 2018 at 10:04

      I don't think it is that fast sir. The super solvers would have sub 10 minute speed for this puzzle.

      Delete
    2. Kolluru Koteswara Rao22 March 2018 at 10:47

      I learnt about parceners while reading about HUF(hindu undivided families)under IT law

      Delete
  9. Deepak Gopinath22 March 2018 at 11:11

    Found this in the Guardian Cryptic today.

    Internet mob organisation (6)

    Solve and let me know if it's acceptable

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. sree_sree22 March 2018 at 11:31

      dont know acceptability but brilliant cryptic.

      Delete
    2. Vasant22 March 2018 at 12:20

      The elission fairness debate always comes up whenever we come across such brilliant clues!
      I think fair and acceptable.
      Entomb...with internet to be read as inter net..

      Delete
    3. Raghunath22 March 2018 at 12:34

      Not fair when the def is part of the wp. Have seen this type in THC I think sometimes and did not like those.

      Delete
  10. Chaturvasi22 March 2018 at 12:10

    It goes against not one but more than one convention in cryptic clue writing. Don't want to go into them Solve and forget. Can't list it as a top clue.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Vasant22 March 2018 at 12:25

      It is quite akin to Gridman's clue for Brooklyn, isn't it?

      Delete
    2. Vasant22 March 2018 at 12:28

      THC 10279: Streamline New York's backward borough?(8)
      With streamline to be read as stream line

      Delete
    3. sree_sree22 March 2018 at 12:36

      is stream the def here?

      Delete
    4. Raghunath22 March 2018 at 12:38

      Here the def is separate from the rest of the clue. I think the only problem here is can BROOKLYN be generalised as borough? Don't think so.

      Delete
    5. Chaturvasi22 March 2018 at 12:47

      As I said these clues are written occasionally when in a sudden flash a rule is deliberately broken with the wink of an eye. The solver sees it and solves. Can't be graded as brilliant. And it should not be overdone.

      Delete
    6. Vasant22 March 2018 at 13:11

      Prasad: defintion is borough
      Stream=Brook
      Line=L
      New York backward=YN<

      Delete
    7. Vasant22 March 2018 at 13:21

      Raghu: since Brooklyn is a suburb of New York the clue is semi & Litish and can be considered as borough of New York

      Delete
    8. Raghunath22 March 2018 at 13:44

      Still it has to be world famous as a suburb. If it was the argument holds

      Delete
    9. sree_sree22 March 2018 at 13:56

      Vasant ji, My point was abt def and wp together. otherwise we have "endless" kind of cluing all the time. internet is the first time i have seen in my limited hobby of THC.

      Delete
    10. Vasant22 March 2018 at 21:31

      Prasad:I think elission applies to definition inclusive of wp..or def and wp

      Delete
  11. Hypatia22 March 2018 at 12:22

    Seems quite easy although it certainly merits a question mark

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Vasant22 March 2018 at 13:17

      +1

      Delete
    2. Satyen Nabar22 March 2018 at 22:11

      Unconventional clues, once in a while are, I think definitely welcome. Key being "once in a while". The question mark should certainly have succeeded this clue. Not that it is tough at all in any way, but still should have been there to indicate to solver that something different is being done.

      Delete
    3. Vasant22 March 2018 at 22:41

      Would love to see some "unconventional" clues from Dr. X

      Delete
    4. Vasant22 March 2018 at 22:55

      I think most setters in THC follow Ximeanian principles..as do most in the Times..only in Guardian we see Libertarian clues ( rarely in THC.
      .Brooklyn being a rare clue)

      Delete
  12. raju umamaheswar22 March 2018 at 13:19

    Can our deletions- additions expert formulate a clue to give an answer as MERCENARY from PARCENARY? The two words are not ordinary but anything but complimentary !

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Vasant22 March 2018 at 13:23

      Grasping setter takes over dad as co-owner (9)

      Delete
    2. sree_sree22 March 2018 at 14:07

      I throw out dad from joint ownership to get merc, perhaps.

      Delete
  13. raju umamaheswar22 March 2018 at 14:36

    well done,vasant & sree_sree. I'd like some more! Where are the veterans and greenhorns?

    ReplyDelete
  14. C.G. BHARGAV22 March 2018 at 16:32

    Father outgoing paves way to Master of Engineering a soldier of fortune (9)

    ReplyDelete
  15. Padmanabhan22 March 2018 at 16:38

    Clue in today's ET CW-
    May afternoon,briefly (5,9)

    ReplyDelete
  16. Padmanabhan22 March 2018 at 17:44

    There you are!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Vasant22 March 2018 at 21:35

      Didn't solve today being a particular hectic day..my day starts eith THC..and Guardian next..if I get time, Independent & ET..on a really good day(read free)..FT also...reading fifteen squared & Times for Times is compulsory.

      Delete
    2. Vasant22 March 2018 at 21:39

      Of course I didn't mention this blog of which we are an integral part. There you are...my commitment to cryptic crosswords.

      Delete
    3. Vasant22 March 2018 at 21:45

      There is also FB group:1Across, CCS & CCS Devnagri. In particular 1 Across which publishes some great puzzles and clues.

      Delete
    4. Vasant22 March 2018 at 21:47

      CCS:Cryptic Crossword Society

      Delete
  17. Vasant22 March 2018 at 21:50

    Which crosswords you solve?Which blogs/fb groups you read?

    ReplyDelete
  18. Padmanabhan22 March 2018 at 21:58

    Blog- Only THCC and occasionally 1 across
    CW- THC,a couple of quick CW(Guardian and DC) ET- I miss a few days, but I try to do it.
    I am more into reading books, nowadays a bit of Tamil as well.
    I miss CW unclued mails.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Vasant22 March 2018 at 22:09

      Great Paddy. Your plate is full. I think you should have a look into Times for Times & if time permits Fifteen Squared.

      Delete
    2. Vasant22 March 2018 at 22:10

      Which Tamil books are you reading?

      Delete
    3. Vasant22 March 2018 at 22:12

      I am learning Tamil..learning reading..quite difficult..but what a language!

      Delete
    4. Vasant22 March 2018 at 22:15

      Of course we do miss crossword unclued's regular posts..Schuchi are you listening?

      Delete
    5. Padmanabhan22 March 2018 at 22:23

      I read a wide variety of Tamil books- some religious, Some from a lending library- various authors like Sujatha, some passed on to me by CV ( really choice ones)
      The religious reading is more of poems with commentary- most enjoyable. I feel sorry that my children also miss the pleasure of reading Tamil poems, educative as well as enjoyable.

      Delete
    6. Vasant22 March 2018 at 22:39

      That is very nice to read. My target for this year to read Tamil literature..a wish my late father who passed away recently(he was a student of Tamil literature) desired.

      Delete
    7. Vasant22 March 2018 at 22:48

      I recently read CV Sir's transalation of a Tamil story..a beautiful..beautiful story..

      Delete
    8. Padmanabhan22 March 2018 at 23:01

      I read the Tamil original as well (given by CV) and one more by the same author. The translation was a tough job, but was done exceedingly well. I mean, it was as good as reading the original.

      Delete
  19. Padmanabhan22 March 2018 at 22:26

    You may remember Srinivasan (DS) who was a fairly regular visitor to our blog some time back. He is very much interested in Tamil literature and keeps forwarding to me whatever he finds interesting incl. old Tamil poems, some very rare.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Dr. Krishnamoorthy. A, Vellore23 March 2018 at 13:08

    1a: dipolomat – diploma(award)+t(model)
    2a: rookie – rook(bird)+ie
    9a: jailbird – j(a̷i̷l̷)+(alibi*)+ r(o̷a̷)d
    10a: stoner – (onset*)+r(i̷o̷u̷t̷u̷s̷)
    12a: cast(dd)
    13a: penologist – pen(write)+o(l̷d̷)+logist(one …..science)
    15a: fabler – f(i̷n̷e̷)+abler(mo…..nt)
    17a: bosun – bo(-n+s)u(-s+n), bonus (with poles n&s switched)
    20a: crook – c(a̷s̷t̷l̷e̷)+rook(castle in chess)
    24a: camera team – came(arrived)+{ar(tist)<=}+(mate*)
    27a: iota (T<=)
    29a: escape – esc(key)+ape(animal)
    30a: stripper – s(o̷u̷t̷h̷e̷r̷n̷)+tripper(hol……er)
    31a: malady – mala(d)y
    32a: brakeman: {banker + ma(n)}*

    1d: deject – de+j(u̷v̷e̷n̷i̷l̷)e+ct
    3d: orbs(acronym)
    6d: outdo – out(away) + do (party)
    8d: - earn tons – (resonant)*
    14d: dark – d + ark(boat)
    16d: locate – (col<=)+at+(f̷e̷n̷c̷)e
    17d: brim(cd)
    18d: ice cream – ice(~eye – I)+scream(yell)
    19d: cosmical – {co(s)mical}, zany – comical
    23d: matron – {tr(on)am*}
    25d: rapid – (r+paid*)
    26d: actor – (factor – f)
    28d: sink (dd)

    ReplyDelete

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