Wednesday 9 October 2019

No 12750, Wednesday 09 October 2019, Dr. X

ACROSS
1 A container with coating of first-class metal (8) PLATINUM [A TIN inside PLUM]
5 Model in distress starting to raise kid (6) BANTER [T inside BANE + Raise]
10 Ruby inhales fresh joint (7) RELATED [RED outside LATE]
11 Stuffed with enthusiasm, fellow goes in for spot of vodka in party on retirement (7) OVERFED [VERVE with Fellow for Vodka inside DO<=]
12 Alcoholic beverage — iced cocktail with a bit of rum (5) CIDER [ICED* + Rum]
 13 Friends from America start to dominate in matches (9) COMPADRES [Dominate inside COMPARES]
14 Slandering oriental group after petty fight in venture (12) BESPATTERING [SPAT inside BET + E + RING]
18 What a film director might do to be in command? (4,3,5) CALL THE SHOTS [DD]
21 Impatient friend beginning to manifest a greed for money (5,4) ITCHY PALM [ITCHY + PAL + Manifest]
23 United by wise tradition (5) USAGE [United + SAGE]
24 Intrigue in Tehran planned by moles at Centre (7) ENTHRAL [TEHRAN* + moLes]
25 Argue about girl going out to trap ghastly revolutionary in the dark (7) UNAWARE [ARgUE* outside WAN<=]
26 Start to thrash and rob religious person (6) THEIST [Thrash + HEIST]
27 Bully in party grabs hot date leaving joint (8) THREATEN [TREAT outside Hot + dEN]

DOWN
1 Fast to catch one hacker’s latest infringement (6) PIRACY [PACY outside 1 + hackeR]
2 Imply mate regularly provides shelter to tiresome revolutionary (6) ALLUDE [mAtE outside DULL<=]
3 Reckless cartel killing a trainee in clumsy ambush (9) INTERCEPT [CaRTEl* inside INEPT]
4 Journalist about to interrupt unbalanced Republican — he’s impossible to understand (14) UNDECIPHERABLE [ED<= inside REPUBLICAN HE*]
6 Insane radical arrested around sports venue (5) ARENA [T<=]
7 Guard on ship upset after sailor grabs couple of females (8) TAFFRAIL [TAR outside F F + AIL]
8 Give up consuming dope on vacation! Plan afresh (8) REDESIGN [RESIGN outside DopE]
9 What a person having epileptic fit might do to become very angry? (4,2,3,5) FOAM AT THE MOUTH [DD]
15 Escort rogue out in anger (9) ENTOURAGE [OUT* inside ENRAGE]
16 Misadventure by one director in stress (8) ACCIDENT [1 + Director inside ACCENT]
17 Bond pursuing British miss in formal evening dress (5,3) BLACK TIE [British + LACK + TIE]
19 Empty container in tank (6) VACANT [CAN inside VAT]
20 Belittle head of faculty stifling workforce endlessly (6) DEMEAN [DEAN outside MEn]
22 Stories speak about inspiring sailors (5) YARNS [SAY<= outside RN]

31 comments:

  1. A very distressing state of affairs in The Hindu. I am a subscriber to the print edition (Hyderabad) in which it was holiday for the paper on 8th and 9th October.
    I am surprised to see Dr.X crossword in the online version. But I am not allowed access as it asks for online subscription.
    How can they include it in their online version when it is a holiday for the print edition?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Today there is indeed a print edition in Chennai and other centres. So the crossword in it has been uploaded. If Hyderabad does not have a print edition today, it may be because yesterday was a holiday for printing facility. Chennai missed edition yesterday because the day before yesterday was a holiday for the offices including printing facility. Holidays now differ from city to city depending upon local customs.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Vasi Sir.
      We are all aware of this problem of holidays in various regions. It shows the importance the paper attaches to the crossword.
      I would like to wait till tomorrow and comment on this as I am not sure whether I will see the new grid tomorrow or this grid and don't know how long I will be lagging behind in the grid numbers! Probably, I will miss this grid in tomorrow's paper and join you all.

      Delete
  3. There is a print edition here in Chennai. Holiday only on 7th. It has happened before also when there is a print edition in one of the centres. That is how TH works.

    ReplyDelete
  4. 15D- I could not get anger= enrage. I did not know 'anger' is alos used as a verb.
    17D- Nice misleading surface. When Bond is there, you think only of a different British miss!

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  5. Thank you Doc. for a nice enjoyable CW and Bhavan for blogging nicely.
    Feels like old times. Hope it continues.

    ReplyDelete
  6. col.sir....Glad to noticed the inside\outside annotation introduced by Dr.X....one of you please correct me about 1A.(A container with coating of first-class metal)...A1 can be substitute for First - class. I could not get the anno for PLUM.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Plum is for first class- as in a PLUM job.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I am able to log in to the e paper based on the 30 days free trial (it is now 7 days!) and open the CW. But it is not interactive- just the grid and clues.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. interactive version seems to be paid services..Rs 249 PM....i too tried.

      Delete
  9. Subscribed to THepaper. On my tablet I could download pdf CWd page on which there is a pen sign;clicking it enables to fill the squares but I am not able to move along squares easily. On the laptop even this is not possible.
    I have taken a printout and doing the CWd on paper.
    Can someone help.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If you get pdf version and you have a printer, what's the problem? Pen on paper is the best way, I believe.

      Delete
    2. My point is I am paying for the digital version(epaper) and I should be able to work out CW digitally without additional payment.
      Taking a hard copy is not a prmanent option, I believe.

      Delete
    3. Thanks Raoji,
      I was thinking of opting online subscription. Looking at this situation, I feel it is better to get the print edition. I don't have to again look for internet connection, printer etc, right?

      Delete
  10. I feel a subscription to the epaper should give access to the intteractive CWd. I don't know.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Thanks Doc for the wonderful grid/drug. It killed my pain caused by the print edition today!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I had over Doze 12AC...by the by solving puzzles with printed edition gives more pleasure..I enjoined it.

      Delete
    2. You are most welcome KKR.. Glad to alleviate your pain!

      Delete
  12. Thanks to all of you who participated in yesterday's session. Had posted a message in yesterday's blog - just letting readers know in case they may not have checked.

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  13. Another beauty from Dr.X. Favourites were Call The Shots and Foam at the mouth.

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  14. Thanks Vasant. I managed to complete in the format you sent by opening it as a pdf. But I had to punch in with my stylus one block by block. That shows our perseverance and diehard commitment to do this Doc’s crossies which is getting tougher and tougher! Thanks Doc. I still am lost for words to admire your adroitness in coining long phrases.

    Are better days to come ?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I always do in Excel when there is no interactive version.. Now I have grids of TH setters, The Times grid, The Sunday Times, London grid, TQC grid, The Sunday Times Of India grids and The ET grids. All I need to do is copy the clues and paste beside appropriate grid and solve. If there is an image, just cut the image through snipping tool and paste beside Excel grid.
      Raju I would advice you to get a system with Windows and MS Office. You can solve anytime, anywhere.

      Delete
    2. Of course waiting for the day when Prasad develops his interactive software.
      But then I am no good with softwares.

      Delete
    3. Raju, your passion for solving crosswords is unparalleled. Thank you and Vasant for your efforts to solve the crossword. And thanks for your kind words :)

      Delete
  15. All of us look forward to solving your puzzles Doc.
    Fortunately I have been getting the print version and will continue to solve with pen & paper. What I will miss is the discussion here- if we are not able to continue blogging,

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Just saw this now! Will try my best always Paddy.

      Delete

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