Friday 12 August 2022

No 13633, Friday 12 Aug 2022, Gussalufz

RULES FOR POSTING COMMENTS ON FRIDAYS ONLY

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PLEASE NOTE, SOLUTIONS WITHOUT ATTEMPTING THE ANNOTATIONS WILL BE DELETED

Each commenter is requested to post only 5 answers thereby giving others also a chance to participate. Please provide all your answers in one comment.

Regular solvers/Veterans can post 1 answer each, but after 11 AM only.

Thanks for the response, here's the regular blog.

ACROSS
1  Flight delay over a short twisted wire (8) STAIRWAY {ST{A}{WIRe}*AY}
6   Mineral's amount of liquid: unknown (6) QUARTZ {QUART}{Z}
9   This servant is to turn older on the second of April (4) PAGE {AGE}<=>{April}
10 Possibility: do magic tricks including juggling etc. (10) CONJECTURE {CONJ{ETC*}URE}
11 Insect circled place repeatedly (6) TSETSE (+t)TSETSE(-t) (Correction - {(+t)TSE(-t)}{(+t)TSE(-t)} - See comments)
12 Beginner in swimming class frequently eyepool's end that's shallow (4-4) SKIN-DEEP {Sw...g}{KIND}{EyEd}{Pool}
13 Reactive effects of oxygen seen in crumbling Iron Cross (10) CORROSIONS {O} in {IRON+CROSS}*
15 TV ratings governing India's fall (4) TRIP {TR{I}P}
17 New and Old Testament, finally coming up! (4) NEXT {N}{EX}{t...nT}
18 Grow excited over fiction featuring female space traveller in the lead (4,2,4) COME TO LIFE {O}{LI{F}E}<=>{COMET}
20 The Reverend's computer cover is a medium of expression for a graffiti artist (5,3) SPRAY CAN (~ cray span)
22 Toxic husband dumped — no more could one bear! (6) ARMFUL hARMFUL
24 Someone offering quick deliveries of fresh flowers at around Bengaluru's western tip (4,6) FAST BOWLER {FLOWERS+AT}* over {Be...u}
26 This queen revolutionised nation (4) RANI {IRAN}*
27 Fast hero, very English (6) STARVE {STAR}{V}{E}
28 Set my calendar — am somehow going to do some laundry work (3-5) DRY-CLEAN {mY+CaLENDAR}*

DOWN
2   Switch off rants and sit! (9) TRANSPOSE {RANTS*}{POSE}
3   Partially upturned ballpoint pen iuseless (5) INEPT [T<=]
4   With entry passes, crossed at entrance gates (7) WICKETS {W}{tICKETS}
5   Desire happy ending after taking clothes off (3) YEN {h..pY+ENd..g}
6   Queen takes queen, that is Magnus's end! Doubts? (7) QUERIES {QU}{ER}{IE}{m...uS}
7   Toad-tail concoction (containing a hint of nutmeg) having curative properties (9) ANTIDOTAL {TOAD+TAIL}* over {Nu...g}
8   Every now and then, we hear that uplifting number (5) THREE {wE+hEaR+tHaT}<=
12 Statue that can melt monster's heart right away, wow! (7) SNOWMAN {monSter}{NOW}{MAN}
14 Terror act injured muscle (9) RETRACTOR*
16 Fanzine edited after receiving oddly loucomplaint (9) INFLUENZA {INF{LoUd}ENZA*}
18 City evacuated on the double for storm (7) CYCLONE {CitY}{CLONE}
19 Beverage delivery platform's free treat: samples of Armenian yorsh (3,4) TEA TRAY {TREAT*{Ar...n}{Yo..h}}
21 Position of Jupiter, perhaps overlooking east (5) PLANT PLANeT
23 A betrayal, ultimately, after a drink is raised? The Last Supper, maybe! (5) MURAL {A}{b...aL}<=>{RUM<=}
25 Followed the personnel's backs? On the contrary! (3) LED Tail Acrostic<=

Reference List
Unknown = Z, TV ratings = TRP, India = I, New = N, Over = O,  female = F, Husband = H, Very = V, English = E, With = W, Queen = QU, ER, East = E

z

71 comments:

  1. 1A STAIRWAY {STA{WIR*}{A}Y}
    Delay=Stay. Short Wire=WIR. Twisted to IRW. Over A.
    Flight=Stairway
    9A PAGE {P{AGE}}
    Second of April=P. Turn older=Age.
    Servant=Page
    17A NEXT {N{EX}T}
    New Testament=NT. Old=EX.
    Comin up=Next
    22A ARMFUL {ARMFUL}
    Toxic=Harmful. Husband=H
    No more could one bear=Armful
    24A FAST BOWLER {FLOWERS}{AT}{B}*
    Someone offering quick deliveries=Fast Bowler

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 1a needs a tweak
      17a not correct. Relook
      24a not a total anagram

      Delete
    2. 17a {N}{EX}{T}
      New=N
      Old=Ex
      Testament finally=T

      Delete
  2. Not related to this grid but wanted to share in this forum.

    Earlier this week, the National inter-collegiate crossword championship event NICE
    (sponsored by AICTE) was conducted in Delhi. I had set 3 full crossword grids for the competition and was also the chief arbiter - had fun interacting with the young college students who are becoming experts in solving crossword puzzles!

    DD News had a 30 min program on the event yesterday, which included a brief interview with me too. You can watch it at the YouTube link below.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kc6jxbchAiU

    They made me Ramkee Krishnan :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Was fun to watch—good show, Ramkee! :-)

      Delete
    2. Thank you for shari g Ramki. Will watch.

      Delete
    3. Suggest share these with Col.so that we can enjoy them as Sundayspecials.

      Delete
    4. It was a pleasure to watch the programme. It was nice to see youngsters taking interest in crosswords. Any mind game wii do a lot of good at their age ( at any age for that matter) and NICE 22 was nice to say the least.
      Thanks Ramki for sharing.

      Delete
  3. Very enjoyable grid with many chuckle-worthy clues - 1A, 10A, 24A, 2D to name a few. For a change I got the nina and theme too (I think!)
    Thanks Gussalufz!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The vocalist and guitarist and the heaven!

      Delete
    2. Such clever and fun surfaces and the cryptic grammar seems to work too!

      Delete
    3. Only those three are Led zep related clues?

      Delete
    4. Thanks, folks! There's one more (mild) connection—a distinctive word in one surface.

      Delete
  4. 2d. TRANSPOSE.. RANTS* POSE.. pose is sit
    14d. RETRACTOR.. TERROR ACT.. combined anag
    21d. PLANT.. PLAN( E) T
    23d. MURAL.. RUM<=A ( b..a) L
    18d. CYCLONE.. C( it) Y... CLONE.. clone is double

    ReplyDelete
  5. 27a starve hero-star and Very English

    ReplyDelete
  6. 13a CORROSIONS {oxygen(o) in (iron+cross)*}
    15a TRIP {TRP = tv ratings, india = I}
    16d INFLUENZA { oddly loud = lu. lu in (fanzine)* }
    28a DRY CLEAN { my calendar - am } *
    7d ANTIDOTAL { (toad tail)* containing (n) }

    ReplyDelete
  7. 3d inept- useless poinTPEN Is upturned

    ReplyDelete
  8. 5d yen - desire from happY ENding

    ReplyDelete
  9. 9A. Page. Second of April= p.getting old= age
    11A. Tsetse. Place= set .repratedly setset. Circled anagrind= tsetse
    26A. Iran from Rani
    3D.ninept ball po(int pe)n.partially upturned
    22A. Armful= plenty, no more one could bear.Toxix= harmful. Husband dumped. (H)armful

    ReplyDelete
  10. 11a tsetse from Set-place, circled twice

    ReplyDelete
  11. A correction. 3D. inept ball po(int pe)n.partially upturned

    ReplyDelete
  12. 13a CORROSSION anagram of O from oxygen and iron cross

    ReplyDelete
  13. 6a QUARTZ - mineral from liquid measure Quart and z unknown

    ReplyDelete
  14. 11.a beginner in swimming....s
    Class....kin
    Frequently eyed....dee
    Pool....p at end ....deep
    Skin deep

    ReplyDelete
  15. 5.a happ_y en_ding
    Taking clothes off
    Desire...yen.

    ReplyDelete
  16. 6D - QUERIES {QU}{ER}{IE}{S}
    Queen takes queen: QU ER
    That is: IE
    Magnus's end: S
    Definition: Doubts

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 8D - THREE
      Every now and then : indication to remove letters regularly
      We hear that: (-w)E (-h)E(-a)R (-t)H(-a)T} = EERHT
      Uplifting: Reversing to become THREE

      Delete
    2. 20A - SPRAY CAN (Spoonerism of ~Cray Span, Cray being a computer company and span being cover)
      Definition: medium of expression for graffiti artist

      Delete
  17. 4.a.entry passess.....tickets
    With....w
    Crossed at entrance..t replaced by w
    Wickets....gates

    ReplyDelete
  18. A correction for 13a CORROSIONS

    ReplyDelete
  19. 19.a
    Free treat.....tea tr
    Samples of armenian Yorsh...... a y
    Beverage delivery platform...tea tray.

    ReplyDelete
  20. 10A: Possibility = CONJECTURE. Do magic tricks = CONJURE, including anagram (juggling) of ETC
    8D. Number = THREE. Reversed alternative letters from "we hear that"
    9D. Statue that can melt = SNOWMAN. Monster's hear = S. Right away = NOW. Wow = MAN!
    14D: Muscle = RETRACTOR. Anagram of (injured) "terror act"
    18A. Grow excited = COME TO LIFE. Space traveller = COMET. Over = O. Fiction (LIE) featuring (including) female = F

    ReplyDelete
  21. 14.a retractor also means surgical instrument to retractor tissues.

    ReplyDelete
  22. 28 a dry clean
    Anagram of my calendar - am

    ReplyDelete
  23. 20a SPRAY CAN for graffiti artist
    Reverend is SANford includes
    a medium of expression is PRAY
    Computer cover ic C
    S PRAY C AN

    ReplyDelete
  24. 21d PLANT is position
    Jupiter is PLANET. E overlooked

    ReplyDelete
  25. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Correction in 20 a in 4th line is 'is' not 'ic'

    ReplyDelete
  27. Followed is trailing .contrary is LED. personnel is to be backed (removed) from a synonym of followed if i am correct

    ReplyDelete
  28. 26A RANI - queen
    nation - Iran
    Revolutionised - I moved to end

    ReplyDelete
  29. I think all the solutions are in. I'll post my notes for this crossword shortly...

    Random aside: I think there is a reasonably standard way of providing succinct annos (* for anagram, << for reversal, parentheses for containers, etc.). I wish there were a standardized way of providing *detailed* annos too. I know this blog has a pretty good scheme. I have my own take, as do other setters/solvers. There are similarities across these schemes, and yet, there are lots of differences too. I see a few annos above that struggle to provide details clearly or are slightly incomplete/incorrect. A uniform system might help with this situation.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Think all done
    AC 11,12 and 24 annos need fine tune.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 11a TSETSE - insect
      place repeatedly - set+set
      circled - last 't' coming to the front

      Delete
    2. 24a FAST BOWLER
      {flowers at}* around {b}

      Delete
  31. I can spot ZEPPELIN in the last column. Any connection to the crossword?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes! See comment by sree sree replying to Ramki earlier. I'll spell out the details shortly.

      Delete
  32. Here are my notes for this crossword. Many thanks to all solvers for giving it a go!

    Notes

    Running down the unchecked cells in the last column, you can spot the word ZEPPELIN. Together with 25d., it forms the name of a famous rock music group as the nina: LED ZEPPELIN. Band members Robert PLANT and Jimmy PAGE appear as solutions to 21d. and 9a., respectively.

    STAIRWAY, at 1a., is the first word from the title of Led Zeppelin's most famous song, Stairway to Heaven. The word "graffiti" used in the surface of 20a. is the second half of the name of the album, Physical Graffiti, by the group.

    Aside: the surface of 9a. is autobiographically accurate.

    This crossword uses a new grid design, that will replace the one that I used in my THC crossword #13591, as that grid had a few minor issues. I have taken the opportunity to include two three-letter lights in this new grid. Three-letter lights are not there in any other THC grid of mine, so this also opens up some unexplored territory for me. A minor celebration of that is seen in the solution to 8d., which is THREE.

    The crossword landed on a prime number (13633) again, but thankfully not a third palindromic prime in a row, as that would have been a bit too uncanny :-). I had a bit more spare time during my vacations last month, so I have another THC crossword waiting in line this month. Let's see what number it gets!

    This puzzle is a pangram.

    Personal notes

    Good news on the finch front: it turns out that having lost a nest, one of the finch families regrouped and built a new nest in an even more hidden corner of my house's facade. And they succeeded—a few beautiful and adorably demanding finch chicks appeared in that nest! All have flown away now, hopefully leading fun-filled finch lives.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Such detailed notes! IMO, this CWP is "na bhootho, na bhavishyathi" . 🙏

      Delete
    2. It's a toss up- which is more interesting, the CW or the notes.
      Birds are always lovely to watch. Fledglings are incomparable in their beauty.
      They leave the nest pretty soon.

      Delete
  33. It is with deep regret that I announce the passing away of Cdr Ganapathi ( Guns). He was the seniormost follower of this blog. Pasted below is the message I received from his son Sriram.

    Dear Sir,

    This is Sriram the son of Cdr R Ganapathi.
    With great sadness I wish to inform you that my father passed away this morning following a brief illness. He was 93.
    He really enjoyed the online Hindu Sunday Xword corner and the bonhomie you all shared.
    Our family thanks you and the other solvers and setters for bringing so much more joy and excitement in the life of 'Guns'

    The warmest regards to you and your family Sir!
    Sriram
    --
    Sriram Ganapathi

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is a sad news for all of us. I express my condolences to Mr. Sriram Ganapathi and the other members of his family.
      The Cdr was active in the blog and set a few Sunday specials also. May his soul rest in peace

      Delete
    2. Yes. It was inspiring and asssuring in someways to have Cdr sir around. May his soul rest in peace.

      Delete
    3. Om shanti. Cdr Ganpathi was a keen follower, solved and enjoyed appreciating the setters. We will miss him here. Condolences to the family.

      Delete
  34. 11a i thght, set cycled tse repeatedly tse tse

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is not cycled but circled. T coming to the front is more appropriate for this than merely as a anagrind for set.

      Delete
    2. Circled and cycled same effect. Set to tse.

      Delete
  35. Sad to hear about the passing away of Cdr.Ganapathy. It is always very sad to miss any of our bloggers, esp.the senior most and a very active one at that.
    Col.
    Please pass on our collective condolences to his son Sriram. So nice of him to keep us informed. May his soul rest in peace.

    ReplyDelete
  36. Sorry to hear this news. Om Shanthi

    ReplyDelete

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