Solution to 9D has been deliberately left unsolved and is to be answered only by a non-regular / novice commenter, with proper annotation. Those who have answered earlier in the week, please give others a chance.
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| Rangoli by Gowri |
ACROSS
1 He grabs all four bananas, that’s really funny (6,2,6) BARREL OF LAUGHS*
10 A handicap gets recognition (5) AWARD {A}{WARD<=}
11 Furious about a politician running riot (9) RAMPAGING {R{A}{MP}AGING}
12 Way to cut meat with tongue (7) FLEMISH {FLE{M1}SH}
14 Maidenly manifestation, mangoes for harvest (5) YIELD maIDEnLY*
16 Tin hat is a novelty for these islanders (9) TAHITIANS*
19 To cross border, get into many a marriage (9) MATRIMONY {MA{T{RIM}O}NY}
20 Feeling sorry for the half hearted verdict (5) RUING RUlING
22 One time settlement — left undecided about public sector unit (4,3) LUMP SUM {L}{UM{PSU}M}
25 Systematic plan to downsize fighting unit (7) REGIMEN REGIMENt
27 Cleans for relocating those who train fliers (9) FALCONERS*
28 Nerve of characters to swap places on top of the moon (5) ULNAR L<=>UNAR
29 Franchisee gets some allowance, and paired in the middle (14) CONCESSIONAIRE {CONCESSION}{pAIREd}
DOWN
2 Degradation of a structure (9) ABASEMENT {A}{BASEMENT}
3 Starts recording all direct investments — if they’re all coming from the same source (5) RADII Acrostic
5 I’m in fashion and quite well known (5) FAMED {FA{ME}D}
7 Forces block free networks (5) GRIDS {G{RID}S}
8 Pips align properly within seconds (7) SIGNALS {S}{ALIGN*}{S}
9 Happy to have defense forces leading from front — or is it an irritant? (6) ?A?F?Y (Addendum - GADFLY {GA{De...e}{Fo...s}{Le...g}Y} - See comments)
19 Capital if returned could start becoming bad (7) MALEFIC {MALE}{IF<=}{Co..d}
21 They have the money and information, subject to law (6) GENTRY {GEN}{TRY}
23 Fashion — capital partly raised in a limited way (5) MILAN [T<=]
24 Looks for one in the loo (5) MIENS {M{1}ENS}
26 Rearing a dog, feeding top quality cheese (5) GOUDA {A DOG}<= over {U}
Reference List
Way = M1, Left = L, Force = G, Second = S, Top quality = U
LEARNING HER LESSON
ReplyDeleteSHAKTHI was a Genetic scientist working in a private Research lab in Bengaluru. Currently she was working on developing markers for determining Age structures in LOBSTERS. This involved study of the LOBSTER DNA through its life cycle including the INSTAR phases when molting occurs. She had discovered that the pattern of CYTOSINE changes with increasing age in LOBSTERS. The intent was to genetically speed up the slow growth of the species, so they can be fattened while still fresh & exported Live.
Her earlier Research on ETRUSCAN Shrews had won her a lot of International acclaim. Thus her name had been enough to ATTRACT sponsors for the current research program.
LOBSTER Farming is relatively new in India & this research was aimed at INCREASING the YIELDS of fresh LOBSTERS, which have a huge global demand. Their main sponsor was after the lab to release their results soon, so they could be used commercially. OTHERS were behind them for patent of their generic results.
Shakthi, who was at the helm of the project, knew that they were far from concluding their research. INHERENTLY cautious & diligent by nature, she was very careful about having conclusive & definitive data, before sharing her results with the media or the public.
When Shakthi heard that they were going to be visited by Mr. Galileo, the CEO of the Company which owned the Lab, she smelt trouble. Exactly as she feared, Mr. Galileo minced no words. Next month, in the major Marine Expo being held at JAIPUR, she was expected to make a presentation, revealing her latest finds. The Company felt, they couldn't have ASPIRED for a better platform. All the commercial giants would be there.
When she tried to voice her misgivings, she was summarily dismissed. Promising to share the AGENDA of the event, in the next 2 days, Mr. Galileo, stepped into his SEDAN & left without even a cursory Goodbye.
Shakthi was really DISGUSTED. She wondered who ELECTED JAIPUR, the desert, as the venue for a Marine Expo event? She couldn't imagine SUPPLANTING her data with false figures. But she knew, if she dithered, she would be PHASED OUT of this project & her upcoming contract would not get renewed. Feeling her strength LEACHING out of her, she decided to take a short holiday.
Her main assistant, Pushkaran, was from a small sea side village off Kochi. He arranged for her to have a weekend sabbatical there. Arriving at the picturesque village, she found that her mind was still at the Lab. Neither the ADAGIO of the slow lapping waves at her feet, nor the sight of the soaring EAGLES overhead, could lift her spirits.
10a draw<=!
ReplyDeleteHandicap=drawback.
Delete10A - Regarding handicap I guess that the condition of being unable to perform as a consequence of physical unfitness. still I couldn't get the reverse indicator DRAW <----
Delete
ReplyDeleteDuring lunch at Pushkaran's house, she met his uncle who was a PREACHER at the local church. His calming personality & gentle voice led to Shakthi discussing her problem with him. Uncle Paulson listened calmly to her & offered to take her to a local Lobster farm in the evening. Not knowing the purpose behind the visit, she sceptically accompanied him.
It was a small farm, with about 300 lobsters, run with technical guidance from a Government Fisheries Research Institute. She was really surprised to see the healthy & happy state of lobsters there. During the course of her research, she had visited many aquaculture farms. But here, the environment seemed special. Further, as she bit into the Lobster roasted over open FIREWOOD, she realised, it was the tastiest that she had ever eaten.
When she met Mr. Tovino, the middle aged owner of the farm, she requested ACCESS to his secrets - of how he bred his lobsters. His answer was simple. Clean water, healthy place, good food - the same criteria as for any other living species. He further added, no modification of their natural lifestyle - genetically or environmentally. Lobsters are living creatures, like any other & have their role & space in the overall Ecosystem. While we can farm & harvest them, for commercial purposes, it can't be at the cost of harming the species as a whole. Not knowing who she is or the nature of her work, he simply elaborated - all genetic studies should be aimed at conservation & protection. Not altering any living species - especially biologically, for commercial reasons. This would be like opening a Pandora's box & no one will be able to control the after effects.
Shakthi felt as though this trip was the ODYSSEY of her life. Thanking Tovino, Uncle Paulson & the others, as she left for Bengaluru, she knew what she had to do.
The next week saw a huge uproar in the media, when an accident in a well known Lab, completely destroyed an ongoing Research project on Lobsters & the leader of the team Dr. Shakthi accepted responsibility for the mishap & resigned from her post at the Lab.
9D Happy: Gay; have: Containment indicator;
ReplyDeleteDefence forces leading from the front: DFL (first letters);
GA{DFL}Y - A nuisance (irritant)
Gowri- nice tale piece.. and of course, beautiful rangoli of Ganapathi!
ReplyDeleteThank u Veena
DeleteV L A D I M I R
ReplyDeleteFAMED for proposing MATRIMONY
But soon into AWARDING alimony,
All around Sheffield
None to YIELD
And was left RUING in parsimony!
Super!
DeleteGood one CG sir. we like it.
Delete20A- I filled ruing alright. But parsing? I looked in here eagerly but still no clue.
ReplyDeleteAny help?
Verdict - Ruling - L (half hearted) - RUING
DeleteI thought this is the simple explanation. Am I missing something?
DeleteActually simple. But the crux is 'half-hearted' Normally, heart of RULING should select LI. But it is half-hearted, so only L goes.
DeletePaddy, 'half-hearted' is used to indicate one of the letters in the middle two is missing.
DeleteSometimes 'heartless' is u8sed to indicate the middle letter(s) are missing.
Hope it is clear now.
Yes and thanks for the clarification. 👍
DeleteThank you Arden for the prompt clarification. Clear now.
DeleteThough a little tricky,my attempt was probably half-hearted!
Thank you Dr.RKE and Gowri for your engaging tales. They liven up my day
ReplyDeleteThank u.
DeleteRanger,
ReplyDeleteI did your CW published as Sunday cryptic (Thanks to MB) and enjoyed it immensely. Thank you.
Me too. Was thrilled at completing it in under 30 mins. Thanx.
Deletevery nice Paddy sir & Gowri.
DeleteLate in doing the CW and reading Gowri's story- the best so far,IMO. Very well written and what a natural and logical end- so beautifully described. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteYes,it is an ongoing dialogue- pros & cons of genetic modification. My personal feeling is that it may be a success for the researchers- more yield,but may be at the cost of quality ( or ecology as described here)
Paddy - Thank u. That was nice. 😊
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeletewell Gowri. finally you end up with good spirit for Shakthi. story really touches my heart due to her struggle through out in the lab.
ReplyDeleteBTW, Rangoli hits top. very nice.
Thank u. The artist in u is evident - by the way u appreciate my Rangolis. 😊
DeleteArden - That was a super CW.
ReplyDeleteI finished in 40 mins.
Thanx.
By the way Capital is MALE??
Kindly clarify.
Oh!!! You mean Male - capital of Maldives. 😊
ReplyDelete