Tuesday 14 April 2020

No 12909, Tuesday 14 Apr 2020, Dr. X

Day 21 of 21 Stay safe at home

HAPPY VISHU TO EVERYONE


ACROSS
Perverts rushed back to host orgy (8) DEPRAVES {DEP{RAVE}S<=}
5  Protest at USA carries importance (6) STATUS [T]
10 Decisive part of proof in a lawsuit (5) FINAL [T]
11 Fine naval officer penning book on latest in warfare (9) ADMIRABLE {ADMIRA{B}L}{w...rE}
12 A bug concealed in parties reveals flings (9) CATAPULTS {C{A}{TAP}ULTS}
13 Women patch up wound (5) WHEAL {W}{HEAL}
14 Intends to smuggle ecstasy in jets (6) PLANES {PLAN{E}S}
15 Mafia boss holds gun angrily against head of enemy in cell (7) DUNGEON {D{GUN*}ON}{En..y}
18 Contacted doctor about tackling ultimately bothersome itch (7) REACHED {DR<=} over {b...mE}{ACHE}
20 Had terrible trouble around plant (6) DAHLIA {HAD*}{AIL<=}
22 Defraud small company (5) SCREW {S}{CREW}
24 Tricky to grip the item used by acrobat (9) TIGHTROPE*
25 Lassitude in Indian state over new introduction of identities (9) INANITION {I}{NA{N}{Id...s}TION}
26 Wife irritates and complains (5) WAILS {W}{AILS}
27 Hate execution of soldiers in atrocity (6) ENMITY ENorMITY
28 Violent act of trainee overwhelmed by low wages (4,4) FOUL PLAY {FOUL}{P{L}AY}

DOWN
1   Mistake to turn traitor (6) DEFECT [DD]
2   Censure couple of amateurs consuming grass in cigar (9) PANATELLA {PAN}{A}{TELL}{A}
3  A mild punishment that might break bangles? (1,4,2,3,5) A SLAP ON THE WRIST [C&DD]
4   Prepares to catch eels swimming around (7) ENABLES {E{NAB}LES*}
6   Argument in fine bar — drag scoundrel outside to admit defeat (5,2,3,5) THROW IN THE TOWEL {TH{ROW}IN}{T}{HE{TOW}EL} Anno reverse engineered
7   Time for conservative guy to propose (5) TABLE (+t-c)TABLE
8   Excellent toss to win! Score many in session (8) STERLING {S{TERm}LING}
9   Entertained by creative influence in advertisement (6) AMUSED {A{MUSE}D}
16 Ideal perhaps to restrain one putting up rubbish in newspaper article (9) EDITORIAL {ED{1}{ROT<=}IAL*}
17 Primitive desire to inhale a joint, wants a bit of weed (8) PRISTINE {P{wRIST}INE}
19 Worried about brouhaha over arrest (6) DETAIN {D{ATE<=}IN}
20 Eat eagerly in party after consuming one drink at bar (3,4) DIG INTO {D{1}{GIN}{T}O}
21 Vivacious one in gala beginning to yodel (6) FEISTY {FE{1}ST}{Yo..l}
23 Raise money to equip with new weapons (5) REARM {REAR}{M}

Reference List
Book = B, Women = W, Ecstasy = E, Small = S, Indian = I, New = N, Wife = W, Soldier = OR, Trainee = L, Amateur = A, Grass = TELL, Bar = T, Time = T, Conservative = C, Many = M, Money = M

Grid same as yesterday

Dr RKE's TalePiece

Thomas Newsman, was at his TABLE at midnight puffing a PANATELLA. He was just finishing the FINAL draft of the EDITORIAL to be carried by 'Sunrise', a daily which had the reputation of being non-partisan. This called for some skilful TIGHTROPE walking and an ADMIRABLE sense of balance on the part of the editor. No wonder, the paper had REACHED its highest circulation under Newsman's editorship.

A FEISTY cub reporter named DAHLIA Andrews, rushed in to his office, with a story of a manufacturing DEFECT in the PLANES of a French military aircraft manufacturer, causing them to be accident-prone. Her own brother, a Flight Lieutenant had been killed in one such accident.  She suspected some FOUL PLAY in the ordering of such faulty planes by the U S Department of Defense. The editor was not AMUSED at first.  He told her that such a story could not be carried without evidence and asked her to DIG INTO the matter further. 

She did a background check on the Deputy Secretary of Defense who had signed the contract and traced the registration of a luxury yacht in his name close on the heels of finalizing the deal. Newsman was now convinced of the complicity of the official and so ran the story.  The official, who had built a STERLING reputation, now stood exposed - his PRISTINE record sullied. 

It was now up to the FBI to DETAIN the errant official for questioning and to turn the SCREW tighter. The heat turned on by 'Sunrise' was not just A SLAP IN THE WRIST for the official, it actually caused him to THROW IN THE TOWEL. As if that was not enough, the more extreme newspapers wanted him to be confined in a DUNGEON for his misdeeds. His WAILS that Ms. Dahlia Andrews had developed an ENMITY towards him because of the death of her brother, were not heeded by the media. The incident CATAPULTed the cub reporter to a celebrity STATUS.

36 comments:

  1. Happy Vishu and Happy Tamil New Year.

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  2. Never knew there was a Corona Cigar. Thanks Col. for the variety of Cigars.
    Thanks Dr. X for a very enjoyable puzzle.

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    Replies
    1. +1
      Coronas seem to be everywhere including cigars! We did not know them all these days.

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    2. I have often seen The term in English novels, esp. US novels.

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    3. Moral of the story: Corona, in whatever form, it kills

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    4. There is even a star trek novel titled corona.
      KKR many might differ on that esp the spirited ones!

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    5. Hi all! Had to go to hospital to assist a colleague for emergency surgery early morn. Just got back. The world on the streets and in the hospital seems like a dystopian fantasy! Truly hope normalcy returns at the earliest.

      Thanks all for solving and thanks for the well-scripted talepiece Doc.🙏

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    6. finally Dr X revelaed about corona cigar.....

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  3. Happy vishu to ye-all. May tomorrow and the days to follow get better and better and bring peace and calm to the world.

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  4. Quite a few 'nearly there' for me.
    Got the table to propose but did not get the guy (cable)
    Filled in 'tightrope' and threw in the towel in getting the 2 anagrams. Can they be concealed so well?!

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  5. Col.,
    A typo in 11A anno. One A is extra.

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  6. A nice scoop By Dahlia and RKE.

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  7. இதயங்கனிந்த இனிய தமிழ்ப் புத்தாண்டு நல்வாழ்த்துக்கள்
    Hearty Happy Tamil New Year Greetings

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  8. Happy Vishu and Tamil new Year.surprised to know the variety of cigars. classic examples. I have a small doubt about this 'Panatella' usually long slender cigar. but its kind of 'suruttu' usually called in tamil?
    Both the doctors are rocking day-by-day. Dr. X simply substitute the same grid with different puzzles. really amazing. RKE's story we have privileged. similarly our col's presentation was incredible.special thanks to TRIO once again.

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    Replies
    1. Yes, cigar is suruttu in Tamil. But it may not be one of those shown- maybe it is a simple/crude version.

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    2. It is called 'suruttu' since it is nothing but rolled tobacco leaves.

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    3. The English word "cheroot" comes from "suruttu".

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  9. we hats off to both doctors for their dedicated service towards Nation and protecting us from COVID-19.

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  10. Happy Vishu and Tamil New Year to all.

    Good start to the year - easier than yesterday’s as the long ones were easy. Liked 24A, 7D the most

    Excellent talepiece as usual

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    Replies
    1. Wish you too SSv. Thanks for the feedback.

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  11. Happy Tamil new year & Vishu to all 😊

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  12. Enjoyed this! Thank you Dr X. I didn't get 13A: WHEAL. I knew that "wound" is "weal" but not this spelling.

    Happy new year to all!

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  13. And, as always, Dr X's puzzles have a super-smooth surface! Very slippery! I liked the use of "penning" in 11A.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Amita 😀. Makes the effort worth it.

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  14. Dear Satyen, I just replied to your explanation for yesterday's clue. Thanks for taking the trouble to answer!

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    Replies
    1. I have responded to it. Thanks for the feedback indeed Amita.

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