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Thanks for the response, here's the regular blog.
23-7 (4)
ACROSS
1 Makeshift hospital embraced by a physician (2,3) AD HOC {A}{D{H}OC}
4 One with crooked supporters, out eating some breakfast (3-6) BOW-LEGGED {BOWL{EGG}ED}
10 Think exchanging bishop for rook is free? (7) RELIEVE (-b+r)RELIEVE
11 Kitchen area is secure (6) ISLAND {IS}{LAND}
12 Recommends inspiring retired teacher for those needing a guide (8) TOURISTS {TOU{SIR<=}TS}
14 Choke a potty (4) GAGA {GAG}{A}
15 Chief mischief-maker's cryptic grid? Learn about misdirections, essentially (10) RINGLEADER {GRID+LEARN}* over {m...rEc...s}
18 Small charges tend to soar while travelling (10) DETONATORS*
19 Charging device in vehicle died (4) CARD {CAR}{D}
22 Some schools provided retreats—quiet, distant monasteries, basically (4,4) FISH FARM {IF<=}{SH}{FAR}{Mo...s}
24 Tough series India lost for nought (6) STRONG STR(-i+o)ONG
26 One wished vacation in Gulag for vile person (1,3,3) A BAD EGG {A}{BADE}{GulaG}
27 Dignified mournful song abruptly cut off by pest (7) ELEGANT {ELEGy}{ANT}
28 Blasted constant tea breaks spoiled sport for viewer (9) SPECTATOR {C+TEA}* in {SPORT}*
29 About a facial feature somehow, IMO, lacking in enigmatic Mona Lisa (5) NASAL {moNA+LiSA}*
DOWN
1 Alibaba's ingenuity keeps humbling (7) ABASING [T]
2 Oh, sigh, flight has no openings; that creates stress (9) HIGHLIGHT {oH}{sIGH}{fLIGHT}
3 Conservative American houses prohibit cigars (6) CUBANS {C}{U{BAN}S}
6 Blew up grenade accidentally, after consuming a spot of liquor (8) ENLARGED {EN{Li...r}ARGED*}
7 Attendees rising regularly, sure enough (5) GOERS {SuRe+EnOuGh<=}
8 Doctor sees broken middle of arm with hospital assistant (7) DRESSER {DR}{SEES*}{aRm}
13 Entitlement of merriment without male interrupting—brilliant! (10) BIRTHRIGHT {B{mIRTH}RIGHT}
16 Oil and gas refining lines (9) DIAGONALS*
17 Roughly fifteen divided by hundred, basically (2,6) IN EFFECT {FIFTEEN}* over {C}
18 Satisfied all over with nibbles and licks (7) DEFEATS {FED<=}{EATS}
20 Like a country mostly computerised (7) DIGITAL {DIG}{ITALy}
21 Scattered news pieces involving evacuation in Thanjavur (6) STREWN {S{Th...uR}EWN*}
23 Special first-class room (5) SPACE {SP}{ACE}
25 University earnestly restrains student group (4) YEAR [T]
Reference List
1Ac AD HOC – {A}{D{H}OC}
ReplyDelete10Ac RELIEVE – {(-b+R)ELIEVE}
12Ac TOURISTS – {TOU{SIR<=}TS}
1D. Abasing. = Humbling T.
ReplyDeleteKeeps is the T indicator
My first
23A: FISH FARM (IF<--)(SH)(FAR)(M...) - Some schools
ReplyDelete26A: A BAD EGG (A)(BADE)(G(-ula)G) - Vile person
5D: WARMONGERS (WARM)((-L)ONGER)(...S) - Hawks
3D. Cubans= cigarettes( premium brand, handrolled one's)
ReplyDeleteC= conservative
US= american
Ban= prohibit
Houses is containment indicator
C({u(ban)s}
My second
No cigarettes in the clue
DeleteCigars it is. Thanks for the correction..
DeleteSpecial at 4 PM by KKR
ReplyDelete9A. Algebra= study( a discipline of math)
ReplyDeleteA= a
L= large
G= grand
(Z)Ebra= headless animal
My third
9A:algebra=study
ReplyDelete(a)(l)(g)(zebra-z)
2D:highlight=stress
(oh-o)(sigh-s)(flight-f)
6D:enlarged=blew up
ReplyDelete{(grenades)(l)}*
29A - NASAL - Facial feature; {MONA LISA - IMO} anagrid - enigmatic
ReplyDelete7D, Goers=Attendees(def.)
ReplyDeleteHere, rising is Reversal indicator and regularly, means taking alternate letters.
sure enough (Hguone erus)
Taking alternate letters, we get
G O E R S
21 d strewn- scattered news TR*
ReplyDelete16 d diagonals-oil and gas* lines
.
27 a elegant-dignified. mournful song-eleg-y pest -ant elegant
Delete21D anno to be tweaked
Delete(sewn)* around TR
Delete21A, Strewn=scattered(def.)
ReplyDelete(sewn)* + Tr( Thanjavur)
(s+(tr)+ewn)*
News pieces, anagram indicator
involving, insertion indicator
Evacuation in Thanjavur means
T hanjavu R (TR)
21D
Deleteyes, thanks for correction.
DeleteILO 9A
ReplyDelete18A:detonators=small charges
{tend)((to)(soar)}*
28A, Spectator=viewer(Def.)
ReplyDeleteC(constant)+tea+sport
Cteasport gives (spectator)*
Blasted is anagram indicator
Breaks, spoiled also serve as indicators
13D: entitlement = birthright
ReplyDeleteMerriment is mirth with (-m)
Brilliant is bright
Hence, ((b(irth)right)
Sathia
4A: one with crooked supporters = bow legged
ReplyDeleteOut is bowled
Some breakfast is egg
(Bowl(egg)Ed)
Sathia
ReplyDelete19a. CARD. - Charging device
CAR. - Vehicle
D. - Died
24a. STRONG. - Tough
STR(-I)+O+NG
String - Series I replaced by O per India lost for Nought
20d. DIGITAL. - Computerised
DIG. - Like
ITAL(-y) Country mistly
Sorry typo, mostly not as above
Delete17D: basically = in effect
ReplyDelete(Fifteen)* roughly is anagrind
Hundred is C
Hence, (in effe(c)t)
Sathia
16D- Diagonals- Lines- (Oil and gas)*
ReplyDelete9A- Algebra- Study- A L G (Zebra- Z)
ReplyDeleteLarge- L, Grand- G, Headless animal=Zebra- Z
A good clue
My 3rd-
ReplyDelete15A- Ringleader- Chief mischief maker
(Grid learn e)*
E - misdirEctions essentially
2D HIGHLIGHT = stress { oH, sIGH, fLIGHT , first letters omitted}
ReplyDelete18D DEFEATES = licks { satisfied FED << DEF + EATS nibbles}
4D BOAR = swine { stole BOA + R, last part of dinneR}
8d. DRESSER...DR..doctor
ReplyDeleteDR( sees)*
Middle of arm..R
25d. YEAR..T
ReplyDelete23d. SPACE...SP( ecial ) ACE..first class
ReplyDelete8d: dresser = hospital assistant.
ReplyDeleteDr-doctor, sees and middle of aRm.
14a: gaga = potty.
Choke-gag + a.
i can see Sharma, chawla, hired in the grid- any relation to National space Day today-23rd august ?
ReplyDelete11A yet to be solved
ReplyDelete11A-island= kitchen area; is+ land(secure)
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteIsland is a type of kitchen layout
ReplyDeleteI believe a centrally placed kitchen table ( with access from all sides) is called a kitchen island. I had to check on this.
ReplyDeleteThanks, folks!
ReplyDeleteThe theme has been more or less identified, but a couple more ninas remain. Also, the title can be deciphered...
Space goers -4
DeleteSharma, chawla, gagarin, armstrong!
They are all firsts?
DeleteYes, Sree Sree!
DeleteTitle-
ReplyDelete23/ 7- Space Goers
Yes!
DeleteNice to have this show up on National Space Day, good placement by TH!
ReplyDeleteHere are my notes:
Notes
The numbers "23-7" in the title can be deciphered using the solutions to 23d and 7d, as "SPACE-GOERS." The "(4)" in the title looks like an enum but it isn't: it refers to the fact that there are four space-goers (astronauts) hidden in the grid. These pioneers are (only the surnames are hidden in the grid):
Rakesh SHARMA (unchecked cells in the fourth row from the top).
Yuri GAGARIN (straddling 14a and 15a).
Neil ARMSTRONG (straddling 22a and 24a).
Kalpana CHAWLA (unchecked cells in the second row from the bottom).
Personal notes
On Sunday, July 26, 2026, I did run the San Francisco Half Marathon, despite recent calf troubles. Actually, thanks to a lot of care, the calf troubles seem to be behind me. But, in a silly plot twist, I twisted my foot while just walking in my kitchen, just a week before the race. Luckily, it was not a major sprain, and I managed to make it through a week of icing and compression.
It's been an annual family tradition for the last few years for us to do a nice little hotel "stay-cation" in San Francisco around race day. Many of the hotel staff now know us, and our dog Oona knows where the hotel lift is and where her "relief area" outside the hotel is.
Talking of relief area-
ReplyDeleteI was pleasantly surprised during my first visit to U.S. to note every park/ walkway had disposable polythene bags at a few places to collect dog waste and take it to the nearest trash (and not leave it on the road for someone to clean) if they are not available, those who walk their pets take a few with them. Compare and contrast with our practice here- less said the better.
But how does he use the lift is?
ReplyDeleteVery nice cw. Thrilled to finish and spot all the NINAS.
ReplyDeleteMy fav
BIRTHRIGHT, BOW LEGGED, SPECTATOR.
Thanx!