ACROSS
1 Video conference or phone displaying a cat or dog's rendering? (8) ZOOMORPH {ZOOM}{OR}{PH}
6 Angel, he's back penning hip-hop! (6) SERAPH {HES<=} over {RAP}
9 To an extent, get along with others (2,2) ET AL [T]
10 Beverage in bar with name and class (10) BUTTERMILK {BUT}{TERM}{ILK}
11 Baby, it's irrational with ultimately increasing rent (6) PIGLET {PI}{i...nG}{LET}
12 Opportunities for extra tips at bar, after evicting a rowdy (3,5) BIT PARTS {TIPS+AT+BaR}*
13 Husband in spicy frolicking with partner, involving body (10) PHYSICALLY {P{H}YSIC*}{ALLY}
15 Supported by voucher company's left (4) UPON coUPON
17 Bag "Best Music," ignoring the odds (4) ETUI {bEsT+mUsIc}
18 Perhaps bike to where we played around back in school? (3-7) TWO-WHEELER {TO+WHERE+WE}* over {s...oL}
20 Flutter while flying north, for a change in direction (4,4) LEFT TURN {FLUTTER}*{N}
22 Groups of molluscs preferring America to India (6) SQUADS SQU(-i+a)ADS
24 Setter and date in close scare (10) INTIMIDATE {INTIM{I}{D}ATE}
26 Fly's bite repelled (4) GNAT<=
27 Extremely sweet insect chutney (6) NICEST*
28 Head of state quietly eliminated citizen (8) RESIDENT pRESIDENT
DOWN
2 Show me everything post-intro, you idiot box (3,4,2) OUT WITH IT {yOU}{TWIT}{HIT}
3 Zero Lactobacillus acidophilus initially found in milk oddly containing 58.44 grams salt per kilogram, say (5) MOLAL {0}{La,,,s}{Ac...s} in {MiLk}
4 Stiff resistance to biosynthesised cocaine (7) ROBOTIC {R}{TO+BIO}*{C}
5 Alluring party-thrower kills guests at the end (3) HOT HOsT
6 Small-time criminal finally caught by exhausted security using charm (7) SWEETLY {WEE}{T}{c...aL} in {Se...tY}
7 Gauge again malfunctioning? A mere surge?? No good! (9) REMEASURE {A+MERE+SURgE}*
8 TV show episode storyline captivates one (5) PILOT {P{1}LOT}
12 Bear eating a bit of lunch with honey, essentially to become bigger (7) BALLOON {BA{Lu..h}LOO}{hoNey}
14 Isn't Kali bubbling with energy and angelic! (9) SAINTLIKE {ISNT+KALI}*{E}
18 "Also, hand joint," said tripping person (7) TOURIST (~too wrist)
19 Winslet so humbly rejected guards, accommodations (7) HOSTELS [T<=]
21 Low interest EMI's terms ensnare poor nun (5) ENNUI {Em{NUN*}I}
23 After taking top off, cleaned and pressed (5) URGED pURGED
25 State-owned radio broadcast (3) AIR [DD]
Reference List
Phone = PH, Irrational = PI, Husband = H, Company = CO, North = N, America = A, India = I, Date = D, Quietly = P, Resistance = R, Cocaine = C, Time = T, Good = G, Bear = BALOO, Energy = E
21D. EMI.. where is the indicator to ignore M?
ReplyDeleteTerms
DeleteSorry to persist, Colonel. How terms remove E,I from EMI ?.I am still at the learning curve..
DeleteTerms = terminals?
DeleteTermini
DeleteHmmm
Delete"term" as in "end" or "limit." I do agree that it's not a great indicator, especially as "...'s terms" indicating "both ends of ...," but I went with it as imo it does work (even if not great) and it fits nicely in the surface and I think the clue is not too difficult to solve.
DeleteGot it. Thank you.
DeleteI only saw Airplane and balloon.
ReplyDeleteBaloo the bear!
ReplyDelete9A- Is with part of def.?
ReplyDeleteet al is usually 'and others' . Here it us with.
+1
DeleteYes, "with others" is intended to be the def.
DeleteIn the community crossword earlier this year :
DeleteI set.... 'pair(NS) of others(ET AL)' ....
Col edited it perfectly to 'partners and others'
Zoomorph was new to me. Thanks to Col. for the link.
ReplyDeleteAwaiting your notes.
ReplyDelete12a, Baloo the bear is a Rudyard Kipling fiction character and imo it is fair to the solver to at least mention Bear, say.
ReplyDeleteI agree that it is a difficult clue. But "Baloo" is a particular "bear" (yes, fictional). One needs "say"/"perhaps"/etc. to indicate a definition by example, not the other way around. If I had used "Baloo" in the clue to indicate BEAR, then I would have needed to qualify it with "say"
DeleteSame with video conference in 1a. I thought Zoom was an app.
DeleteSame/similar response :-) -- "Zoom" is an example of a "video conference"
DeleteStalwarts have to think of ways by which opportunities are given for solvers to solve. Lest they get away from the exercise. For as many words there are in the dictionary a setter can always have his 'n' types of grids Without any reference to your puzzle but in general this may kindly be considered by all setters. A humble view of a guy who is still a novice
DeleteThanks for your feedback, RR, acknowledged and appreciated! While I don't deliberately try to set hard/easy/medium crosswords in general, I do recognize that most of the time my puzzles are on the harder side for solvers. I have deliberately tried to set "easy" THC crosswords too (with some complaints :-)) in the past, and will try again, perhaps for my May crossword (the April one is nearly ready already).
DeleteViresh, thanks for your kind responses.
DeleteWell said @RR (I think the third sentence is actually two sentences, didn't have a '.' between grids and Without.).
DeleteNice response from @Gussalufz.👍
Yes, Rao. The full stop was missed. Have a problem with my mobile keys.
Delete👍
DeleteThanks, as always, for the blog, Col., and many thanks to all solvers for solving and feedback.
ReplyDeleteHere are my notes for this crossword.
**Notes**
*Things that can fly* would be a good response to the question posed in the title, and that's the theme of this crossword.
ZEPPELIN can be seen as a nina running down the first column. The entries in 5D, 25D, and 12D (running down the middle column, with just a slight change in order) from HOT AIR BALLOON. AIRPLANE is another thematic nina, running down the 13th column.
The following three entries are thematic too, being things that can fly: 6A (SERAPH), 8D (PILOT), and 26A (GNAT). The surface of 20A is slightly thematic too.
Continuing on from the last couple of months, this third THC crossword of mine for 2024 also uses exactly 24 letters in the grid.
**Personal notes**
I'm really happy right now as my daughter has just been accepted into a PhD program in neuroscience that she has been very keen on (Boston University). My own PhD years were immensely satisfying, and I think times spent pursuing your passions are absolutely the best times.
PhD neuroscience, wow, congrats.
Delete+1
DeleteViresh, Hearty congratulations to your daughter. Pray for her successful performance.
DeleteIs she pursuing doctorate after medicine?
ReplyDeleteOr is it doctorate after post graduation in sciences?]
ReplyDeleteI am sure she will excel in the program. Best wishes.
ReplyDeleteCongrats Viresh! Both to ur daughter & the proud parent! 🙂
ReplyDeleteAs always - a slightly tough grid but finished. Clues that brought a smile on solving
ReplyDelete- BUTTERMILK, TWO WHEELER, BIT PARTS, ZOOMORPH.
Thanx Viresh!
Congrats to your daughter Viresh!
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed the crossword - BUTTERMILK, TWO-WHEELER (my COD), OVERDRAWN, BIT PARTS, URGED were a few favs. Got the ninas too (for a change!) ZOOMORPH was the last one in.
ROBOTIC with the tricky wordplay could have had a "?" IMHO.