Tuesday, 31 December 2019

No 12820, Tuesday 31 Dec 2019, Gussalufz


Welcome, Gussalufz, to the band of THC setters.

ACROSS
1   Partial blockade at harbour ending (5) DEATH [T]
4   Superb, finally I have our set working! (9) BEHAVIOUR {s...rB}{I+HAVE+OUR}*
9   Fools nation, initiates trade wars, intimidates truth-tellers, silences leaders (7) NITWITS Acrostic
10 Order some upma when in bad temper (7) PERMUTE {Upma} in {TEMPER}*
11 Observe the storm (6) SEETHE {SEE}{THE}
12 Harsh step, heartlessly taken upon reflection (8) STRIDENT {STRIDE}{TakeN<=}
14 A legend still followed by one? (4) YETI {YET}{1}
15 Salary covers accidental illness without any problems (10) PAINLESSLY {PA{ILLNESS*}Y}
18 Crying aloud: feel no shame (10) LACHRYMOSE (~lack remorse}
19 Anger, perhaps without an end? (4) RAGE AnGER* Semi&lit
22 Dancing is sin? Dad rejects! (8) DISDAINS*
24 Gussalufz is back, oddly brandishing one rhythmic line of verse (6) IAMBIC {I AM} and {BaCk} over {1}
26 Still, egalitarianism is partly prohibited by law (7)  ILLEGAL [T]
27 Data discovered with a fresh X-ray provides peace of mind (7) ATARAXY {dATA}{XRAY*}
28 Absolve old lover (a judge!) (9) EXONERATE {EX}{ONE}{RATE}
29 Go through valued gifts regularly (5) AUDIT {vAlUeD+gIfTs}

DOWN
1   Extremely dreary and awful line of rulers (7) DYNASTY {DrearY}{NASTY}
2   Pure gold, at that time, traded in coins, initially (9) AUTHENTIC {AU}{THEN}{Tr...d}{In}{Co..s}
3   Husband takes the lead from wife in bulk, stature (6) HEIGHT (-w+h)HEIGHT
4   Evil seen rising in communities abroad (4) BASE [T<=]
5   A dominant edge in the right kind of 17? (10) HYPOTENUSE [CD]
6   Extraordinary service winning essential match points (8) VERTICES {SERVICE}* over {maTch}
7   You said, "In love...," twirling a piece of a flower (5) OVULE {(~you){U} in {LOVE}*
8   When coming back finally, Moon vehicle manoeuvre or attempt? (7) REENTRY [CD] (Addendum - {mooN}{v...lE}{m...rE}{oR}<={TRY} - See comments)
13 Bacteria developed on all meals (10) SALMONELLA*
16 Pub had stock for the Reverend, right? (9) STARBOARD (~bar stored)
17 Figure resulting from indefinite integral (8) TRIANGLE*
18 Broken dud embraced by the upper class? That's a non-starter for one rejecting technology (7) LUDDITE {eL{DUD*}ITE}
20 Scramble eggs; never cook red yams; preheat tavas... (top tips) (7) ENCRYPT Acrostic
21 A large handkerchief with a hole in the middle showing a fruit (6) BANANA BANdANA
23 Burst from colossal volcano (5) SALVO [T]
25 Built a puzzle that requires replacing the last letter with a bit of devilry (4) MADE MA(-z+d)DE

Reference List
Husband = H, Wife = W


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46 comments:

  1. sree_sree31 December 2019 at 08:36

    8d (moo)N (vehicl)E (manoeuvr)E oR <= TRY

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    Replies
    1. Viresh Ratnakar31 December 2019 at 15:21

      Yes, + the intent was for the whole clue to be an extended def...

      Delete
    2. raju umamaheswar31 December 2019 at 16:38

      Re -entry with a hyphen or ????.

      Delete
  2. Suresh31 December 2019 at 08:37

    Enjoyable crossword. Could get ataraxy only by using cheating sites. First the word was unknown and second I could not decipher the hidden meaning of'discover'

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  3. RKE31 December 2019 at 08:41

    An auspicious start to Gussalfuz's THC career with DEATH in 1A☹️. Well, we can EXONERATE the setter as we could go through this grid PAINLESSLY or becoming LACHRYMOSE. For after all what we are left with at the end of solving is ATARAXY. We hope this setter makes many a REENTRY.
    By the way, yesterday it was gonococci and today it is salmonella. I wonder what species of bacteria are in store for 2020.
    Wishing you all a very happy new year and decade

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  4. Vasant31 December 2019 at 08:42

    Welcome Gussalufz! Nice thematic puzzle to begin with!
    Word of the day: Ataraxy.
    COD: Lachrymose

    ReplyDelete
  5. Chaturvasi31 December 2019 at 08:43

    How do we pronounce the setter's pseudonym? Please give me a guide in international phonetic script or point to me a sound dictionary where I can hear it.

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    Replies
    1. Vasant31 December 2019 at 08:52

      Sir It is Hindi and Urdu(or Persian)
      Gussa- meaning angry in Hindi ( cross)
      Lufz- Persian for word ( Luf + zzzz)
      Hence Crossword.

      Delete
    2. sree_sree31 December 2019 at 08:56

      i took it as hp of guess a lafz.

      Delete
    3. Vasant31 December 2019 at 08:57

      You can get the pronounciation of lufz through this song:
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=waeAGdCvJd8
      (A bit of Italian too in the song)

      Delete
    4. Chaturvasi31 December 2019 at 09:10

      Thanks. I do know 'gussa' means anger but that's all. Had no clue to the pseudonym's origin.

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    5. Deepak Gopinath31 December 2019 at 09:10

      Gussa and Lufz

      Delete
    6. Deepak Gopinath31 December 2019 at 09:13

      Links included in the words above for pronunciation

      Delete
    7. Chaturvasi31 December 2019 at 09:17

      Thanks.

      Delete
  6. Chaturvasi31 December 2019 at 09:16

    US synonymic crossword may not have DEATH. They avoid words relating to gloomy aspects of life. But UK/Indian crosswords don't have any such inhibitions or misgivings. They take everything good or bad in their stride. Life cannot be all hunky-dory. It has its ups and downs. Be prepared.

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    Replies
    1. raju umamaheswar31 December 2019 at 16:27

      Good advice, CV ! But mistimed on New Year's eve,! Zindagi ek safari hai Suhana!
      Enjoy every moment as a gift from God. Wishing ye-all here in this blog a very Happy New year. God bless ye-all !

      Delete
  7. RKE31 December 2019 at 09:26

    What is Reverend doing in 16D? ~PUB STORED gives RIGHT (side of ship), is that not enough?

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    Replies
    1. Deepak Gopinath31 December 2019 at 09:48

      How does 'PUB STORED' give you RIGHT?

      Delete
    2. Chaturvasi31 December 2019 at 10:45

      See below. He has corrected it to BAR STORED. See also further Comments after that.

      Delete
  8. RKE31 December 2019 at 09:27

    Sorry BAR STORED

    ReplyDelete
  9. Chaturvasi31 December 2019 at 09:38

    Reverend is Dr Spooner. It is a signal for transposition of initial sounds. BAR (pub) STORED (had stock) becomes STARBOARD.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Viresh Ratnakar31 December 2019 at 11:24

    Many thanks for the warm welcome, Col. Gopinath and all other blog regulars! I'm really looking forward to setting for TH. My main theme will be to try and entertain. Apologies in advance for the mistakes that I'll inevitably make along the way. I would also like to thank Dr. X, Hypatia, and Gridman for their support and encouragement!

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  11. Viresh Ratnakar31 December 2019 at 11:27

    There's one minor thematic aspect yet to be discovered/uncovered :-) by the solvers...

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    Replies
    1. Vinayak31 December 2019 at 16:30

      Good puzzle Gussalufz. I guess the sub-theme is Pythagorean triple ( Right angled triangle) with the words and their clue numbers. (Base)2 + (height)2 = (Hypotenuse)2 ; 4^2 + 3^2 = 5^2

      Delete
    2. Viresh Ratnakar1 January 2020 at 02:27

      Yes, that's it, thanks!

      Delete
  12. Ramki Krishnan31 December 2019 at 12:04

    Welcome Gussalufz! Enjoyed the crossword and could get even ATARAXY (new word!) thanks to the clean wordplay. Many favourites - PAINLESSLY, RAGE, ATARAXY, AUTHENTIC, VERTICES to name a few.

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    Replies
    1. Viresh Ratnakar31 December 2019 at 12:23

      Thanks! I came across ATARAXY as a word-of-the-day from one of the dictionary apps a couple of months back and loved the word immediately, so had to get it in :-)

      Delete
  13. Amita Baviskar31 December 2019 at 12:10

    Enjoyed this, Gussalufz. It was easy going, except for 27A. Thank you. One question: in 28A why is lover=ONE?

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    Replies
    1. Ramki Krishnan31 December 2019 at 12:12

      The wordplay is
      Old lover (EX) + a (ONE) + judge (RATE)

      Delete
    2. Viresh Ratnakar31 December 2019 at 12:26

      Thanks!

      Ramki has clarified the lover situation already :-)

      Delete
  14. Ramki Krishnan31 December 2019 at 16:34

    The sub-theme (thanks to the hint given by Gussalufz in FB)
    The clue numbers for BASE, HEIGHT and HYPOTENUSE (3,4,5) actually form the base, height and hypotenuse of a right triangle! Nice touch Gussalufz :)

    ReplyDelete
  15. raju umamaheswar31 December 2019 at 16:49

    Welcome to the New Year THC series, Gussalufz. No Gussa but plenty of LUTF ,you have given by this unusual grid for today and more lutf to look forward to in 2020!

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    Replies
    1. Viresh Ratnakar31 December 2019 at 16:54

      Thanks, Raju U.! I'll strive to entertain indeed, in 2020!

      Delete
  16. Viresh Ratnakar31 December 2019 at 16:53

    Yay, thanks, Ramki!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Rita Mathur31 December 2019 at 23:42

    Welcome Gussalufz! Enjoyed the crossword, but Ataraxy had me fixed.
    A very happy New Year to fellow solvers!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Rita Mathur31 December 2019 at 23:43

    Had me foxed. Not fixed.

    ReplyDelete

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