No 9624, Monday 31 Aug 09, Nita Jaggi

One more to go
ACROSS
 1 - Worker to secretly leave the horned mammal (8) - {ANT}{ELOPE}
 5 - Dishonest scheme firstly surely cons another manager (4) - {S}{C}{A}{M}
 9 - Channel Islands new man is back about with the spice (8) - {CI}{N}{NAM<-}{ON}
10 - Kind of matter added to augment weight (6) - FILLER [CD]
12 - The present fruit (4) - DATE [DD]
13 - Relieved lad, leave it in a different style (10) - ALLEVIATED*
15 - Hand over the short people noticed, dropping hundred named earlier (5-9) - {AB}{OVE(-r)*} {MEN}{TIONED(-c)*} Why 'the' short and what's the connection between AB and HAND?
17 - Giving up almost the red fabric covering the queen is Her Majesty in the capital of Tibet (14) - {RE(-d)}{LIN{QU}{IS}{HM}EN}{T}
21 - Organise initially to spread titans out in a remote area (10) - {O}{UTSTATION*}
22 - Bomb’s first particle (4) - ATOM [DD]
25 - Take at first an hour at tea-time for the tree at last to grow well (5) - {T}{HR}{IV}{E}
26 - Friendly American is in charge of the sailor and the French (8) - {AM}{IC}{AB}{LE}
27 - A narrow way in Louisiana in the north-east (4) - {LA}{NE}
28 - It surely needs to be sealed to be posted (8) - ENVELOPE [CD]
DOWN
 1 - Arrive with the small tree in the passageway (6) - {AR}{CADE}
 2 - Basic belief heartlessly the teen discovers (5) - {T(-he)}{ENET} Impossible annotation
 3 - Weight of the cargo (4) - LOAD [DD]
 4 - Difficult to question student held with money (7) - {PROB{L}E}{M}
 6 - Writers often face such disapprovals (10) - CRITICISMS [CD]
 7 - No ailment to destroy the hormone (9) - MELATONIN*
 8 - Said without one covering the right hand of the musical instrument (5) - SA(-i){RO}D
11 - Position inside a male anatomy (4) - LEAN [T]
14 - Mutually settled the number of events in sequence (6,4) - {EVEN} {STEVEN*}
16 - Liberal at developing two groups (9) - BILATERAL*
18 - Busy with the tax officer following the superior (2,2) - UP {TO}
19 - Quiet woman to dance with an entertainer (7) - {SH}{OWMAN*}
20 - Prevent one member journalist in England (6) - {I}{MP}{ED}{E}
21 - Commander has time to notice a group of eight (5) - {OC}{T}{ET} What's the link between ET and notice?
23 - Mark on a social outcast (5) - TABOO [CD]
24 - Came out to the highest point (4) - ACME*

No 2548, Sunday, 30 Aug 09

ACROSS
1 - Parking by lake in Harrow? (6) – {P}{LOUGH}
4 - Flight impressed head of EasyJet (8) – {STAMPED}{E}
9 - Tries in proper practice session (9) – RE{HEARS}AL
11 - Wading bird, last in this list (5) – {S}{TILT}
12 - Duck on very large lake in capital (4) – {OS}{L}{O}
13 - Colourful chap hiding lad in apartment (10) – FLA{M{BOY}AN}T
15 - Chicken dish ordered is cooked across most of country (5,6,3) – RHODE IS{LAN(-d)}D RED*
17 - Role played with conviction in musical work (6,8) – VIOLIN CONCERTO*
21 - Finished last in row - crew too heavy? (10) – {OVER}{W}{EIGHT}
22 - Notice a pimple (4) – SPOT [DD]
24 - Smart son to bid (5) – {S}{WISH}
25 - Poet's book, 20/- (4,5) – EZRA POUND ? (Addendum - {EZRA} {POUND} see comments below)
26 - Get hold of some and join in (4,4) – {TAKE} {PART}
27 - Amateur substituted by me in game gets treatment (6) – RE(-a+me)MEDY
DOWN
1 - Rex lodged in terrible rooms (8) – PA{R}LOURS Anno pending (Addendum - PARLOU{R}S see comments below)
2 - Literary character visiting brothel, lovelorn (7) – OTHELLO [T]
3 - Made up with good boy (4) – {G}LAD
5 - I don't believe it is what a child could say after a bedtime story (4,2,7) – TELL ME ANOTHER [CD] (Correction - [DD])
6 - Short Girl Guide's bad behaviour (10) – {MIS(-s)}{CONDUCT}
7 - English male meeting one judge in Abu Dhabi? (7) – {E}{M}{I}{RATE}
8 - Plantation close to jungle, say (6) – {E}{STATE}
10 - One providing technical support may show new line with eagerness (5,8) – SALES ENGINEER*
14 - Camaraderie in chap's joint (10) – {FELLOWS}{HIP}
16 - Henry, entertaining German theologian, makes a warming drink (3,5) – H{OT TO}{DD}Y
18 - To kill, you need to choose a murder weapon? (7) – {ICE}{PICK}
19 - Put out in seldom encountered joy (7) – RA{PTU*}RE
20 - County Durham's top store vandalised (6) – {D}ORSET*
23 - Primate drawing in small recess (4) – APSE* (Correction - AP{S}E)

No 9623, Saturday, 29 Aug 09, Nita Jaggi

ACROSS
 8 - Surprising but true to give a false impression of voter into a mess (7,2,2,3) - {BELIE}{VE IT OR NOT*}
 9 - Put things in order in a careless way without new points initially (4,2) - {TIDY U(-n)*}{P}
10 - Comes up from behind to catch you unawares (8) - ATTACKER [CD]
11 - Insect on a woman in prison (8) - LADYBIRD [CD]
13 - Vertical measure for one? (6) - HEIGHT [CD]
14 - Escapes to feel hundreds alternately (6) - {E}{L}{U}{D}{E}{S}
16 - Short time managed by the Church of England in a stunned condition (6) - {T}{RAN}{CE}
19 - Defect in the reproductive structure (6) - STIGMA [CD]
21 - Provided the westbound American tightly lipped (8) - {SU<-}{PPLIED*}
23 - I too rest somehow with the slow mover (8) - TORTOISE*
24 - Isolated pal at last on the Spanish end of the bay (6) - {L}{ON}{EL}{Y}
26 - Islander checks the character of the writer (7,7) - CHARLES DICKENS*
DOWN
 1 - Bind the round, tangible form dropping an unknown number (8) - {O}{BLIGATE(-n)*}
 2 - Drama exercise (4) - PLAY [DD]
 3 - Capital city covering the park in the Greek town (6) - DEL{P}HI
 4 - Standard way to end a letter (7) - REGARDS [CD]
 5 - Garment maker is on the way with a torn chit for the queen (8) - {ST}{ITCH*}{ER}
 6 - Very small French performance for one countable every second (10) - {FR}{ACT}{I}{O}{N}{A}{L} For a change I liked this clue
 7 - American soldier captures his local carpenter (6) - JOSEPH Anno pending
12 - Minors you name gets around the Rajya Sabha (10) - {YOU}{N}{GSTE*}{RS}
15 - Probes the eleven seamen thoroughly (8) - E{X}AM{I}NES*
17 - See gays left the lens (8) - EYEG{L}ASS*
18 - Comes up when caught in the last bits (7) - {AS}{C}{ENDS}
20 - Oh! try hard to hold the copper medal (6) - TRO{P}HY* 'Hard' - anagrind !!
22 - Poll endlessly for one caught by the English force (6) - {POL(-l)}{I}{C}{E}
25 - Name the point to measure the plant (4) - {N}{E}{EM}

No9622, Friday, 28 Aug 09, Nita Jaggi

ACROSS
7 - Scot pair to cut the fruit (8) - APRICOTS* Reminds me of a response we used at school. When somebody said 'What' we would reply 'Apricot lick a basin full of snot' !
9 - Emotion covering again the leader of the Democrats (6) - {HAT}{RE}{D}
11 - Bird lover, in the morning has it smuggled on the sailboat (9) - {CAT}{AM}A{RAN} One extra A 'ran' in !!
12 - Start to take the bird on track (5) - {T}{RAIL}
13 - Coverings on explosives (6) - SHELLS [DD]
14 - To talk back about the jokes surrounding the English suitcases (8) - {BAG<-}{GAG{E}S}
17 - It is but an omission in a set of rules (9) - EXCEPTION [CD]
22 - Make an effort to follow the strips of fabric (8) - {TAPES}{TRY}
23 - Tangible account of the tradesmen is with Albert (6) - {AC}{TU}{AL}
25 - Masculine male — Henry in coma is disturbed (5) - MAC{H}O*
27 - One above criticism was back holding the credit code broken (6, 3) - SA{CR}{ED CO*}W <- )
28 - Caught the housekeeper and an alien with the red wine (6) - {C}LAR{ET} LAR and housekeeper ?
29 - Telling the valuation without the articles (8) - APPR(-a)ISAL
DOWN
1 - Body in the vehicle is roughly on the ship (7) - CA{RCA*}{SS} ?
2 - Restrict the movement without time of the creature (7) - CRITTER(-s)*
3 - Strong wind on the way round the borders of Ratlam (5) - {ST}{O}{R(-atla)M}
4 - Old man is not disheartened by a short intake of breath (4) - {PA}{N(-o)T}
5 - Put in proper order (7) - ARRANGE [E]
6 - To admire a lot, one English holding the solid form (7) - I{DOLIS*}E
8 - Commander has an endless word puzzle for seven in the groups of buildings (9) - {COM}{PLEXE(-r)}{S}
10 - A new colour shown-up on the round tree (7) - {A}{N}{NAT<-}{O} (Correction {A}{N}{NAT<-}T{O} - see comments below)
15 - Merrymaking in high spirits (4, 5) - GOOD CHEER [CD]
16 - Cause to drop the garment around Elizabeth softly (7) - D{E}{P}RESS
18 - So match the parts of an organ (7) - STOMACH*
19 - Sarpanch has an epic edited for almost all (7) - {S}{PECI*}{AL(-l)} This must be a special(sic) for CW's 'A clue without a definition' if my answer is correct. Or is it the famous Printers Devil of THE HINDU at work?
20 - He is the one not allowed to perform the rituals (7) - OUTCAST [CD]
21 - Dislike the distressing attitude (3, 4) - ILL WILL [CD]
24 - The range of a magnifier (5) - SCOPE [DD]
26 - Finished in a controversy (4) - OVER [T]

No 9621, Thursday, 27 Aug 09, Nita Jaggi

ACROSS
1 - Dancers at last desire to be fashionable (5) - {S}{WISH}
4 - Rice tub is a mixture of the mineral (7) - BRUCITE*
10 - Strangely, spookily (6) - EERILY [DD]
11 - Alien is about to cut short the hairstyle (4,4) - {ET}{ON} CROP
13 - Exerting powers on governmental bureaus (8) - AGENCIES [DD]
14 - The German is around to somehow hit in an agitated state (6) - D{ITH*}ER
16 - Destiny of an overweight Asian (4) - FAT{E}
17 - What tax-payers show at the end of the year? (10) - STATEMENTS [E]
20 - Guffaw at the chessman and the French expressing an aversion (5,5) - HORSE {LA}{UGH}
21 - European boy is at the end of the bridge (4) - {DAN}{E}
24 - A doctor is fit to wander off course (6) - {A}{DR}{IFT*}
26 - This happens when it becomes second-hand (4,4) - GETS USED [CD]
28 - Inappropriate for one to remove money the other way round (8) - {UN}{TO}{WARD<-} )
29 - Bit of grass on the Niger damages the plant (6) - {G}{INGER*}
30 - A Hindu caste (7) - VAISHYA [E]
31 - Stone age outside the boundaries of the district (5) - AG{AT}E District and AT ?
DOWN
2 - Cathedral city has a different watercourse without a turn (9) - WORCESTER(-au)*
3 - Pick out his exclusive group of people (6) - SELECT [DD]
5 - List of names and duties for the Catholic tribunal (4) - ROTA [E]
6 - Truly admits to swindle companies (8) - {CON}{FIRMS}
7 - Mountain chief has a burning stick (5) - {TOR}{CH}
8 - In place of the second point of one of two equal parts (6) - {B}{E}{HALF}
9 - Extra things to pass around to the soldiers surrounded (6) - SPA{RE}S*
12 - Inhuman to live on the street for one in Albania (7) - {BE}{ST}{I}{AL}
15 - Uneven gait of an animal in half of Germany (7) - {STAG}{GER}
18 - Not being able to see far off unruly gatherings without the man (4,5) - NEAR SIGHT(-g)*
19 - Few opals are removed by birds (8) - PEAFOWLS*
20 - A gap in the house is covering initially all the units (6) - H{I{A}{T}{U}S}
22 - Go through the final part of the river (6) - {END}{URE}
23 - Requesting a southern ruler (6) - {A}{S}{KING}
25 - Anatomical networks touching the tribal regularly (5) - {RE}{T}{I}{A}
27 - Weight system in an ancient city (4) - TROY [DD]

No 9620, Wednesday, 26 Aug 09, Nita Jaggi

ACROSS
1 - Sclera infection causes this inflammation! (9,4) - BLOODSHOT EYES [CD]
8 - International restaurant bill of the journalist is not controlled (9) - {UN}{CHECK}{ED}
9 - Emperor is regularly back in the room (5) - {A}{K}{BAR}
10 - Morning ideas developed for an enzyme (7) - {AM}{IDASE*}
12 - Way one starts to sell the rock pieces (6) - {ST}{ONE}{S}
14 - A light coverlet (5) - THROW [E]
16 - Opinion found in to misguide actions (4) - IDEA [T]
19 - Regular retreats in periods of time (4) - ERAS
20 - Disperse the orange mob with a curved missile (9) - BOOMERANG*
21 - In the modern age, go back to work on the carpentry stria (4) - {DA<-}{DO}
22 - Studies the star character (4) - ARTS*
25 - Closely follow the result (5) - ENSUE [CD]
27 - Separated an old man on the road from the detective going back (6) - {PA}{R}{TED<-} )
29 - Speak incessantly (7) - PRATTLE [E]
32 - Important person returning the books to a key player (5) - {PIV<-}{OT}
33 - False appearances of a President to wrongly screen an alien held (9) - {P}R{ET}ENCES*
34 - It is recited late in the afternoon, as in the church (7,6) - EVENING PRAYER [CD]
DOWN
2 - Hundred thousand almost hid in the north-east city (7) - LAC{HI(-d)}{NE}
3 - Function without the note in the theatre (5) - OPERA(-te)
4 - Upset sheikh disowns the house covering a water wheel (6) - {S{A}KIEH(-h)*}
5 - They are predicted as advantages in a competition (4) - ODDS [E]
6 - Claim as due the correct amount (5) - EXACT [DD]
7 - Extra component of art papers are in a different style (5,4) - SPARE PART*
8 - Branch of medicine in the United Nations for an Iranian leader (5) - {UN}{AN}{I}
11 - Not erected around the doorstep without resistance (7) - STOOPED(-r)*
12 - Waste the kind of her headless garment (7) - {SWEAT*}{(-h)ER}
13 - The end of Greek alphabet (5) - OMEGA [CD]
15 - Animal comes up to the small plants (5) - REEDS<- (Correction {REED<-}{S} See comments)
17 - Add details to a misrated function (9) - DRAMATISE*
18 - Sailor has an alternative time to terminate (5) - {AB}{OR}{T}
23 - Let rice out on the network of lines (7) - RETICLE*
24 - Gets rid of the buildings (5) - SHEDS [DD]
26 - Maintenance to safeguard information in court (6) - UPKEEP [DD?]
28 - Somehow a teen has taken in food (5) - EATEN*
30 - Field of subject entered by sportsmen ultimately (5) - ARE{N}A
31 - Does not close the round enclosure (4) - {O}{PEN}

No 9619, Tuesday, 25 Aug 09, Nita Jaggi

ACROSS
1 - Expert is at odds to note the secret service on the record (10) - {S}PE{CIA}{LIST} PE from?
9 - Element of the sound covering the priest (6) - H{ELI}UM
10 - Support the assets I can collect (10) - ASSISTANCE*
11 - Essential for the queen to have a gathering of the military personnel (6) - MUST{ER}
12 - Pies lay in a mess in a colourful pattern (7) - PAISLEY*
16 - Terrible situation for a boy not having oxygen on the ship (5) - A{B(-o)Y}{SS}
17 - Upswing in an old style of work (4) - O{PU<-}S
18 - King’s god is in Jamaica in temples at last (5) - {RA}{JA}{S}
19 - Reported to be eager to pretend something (5) - FEIGN ?
20 - Typical pattern of refusal of an old Irish magistrate (4) - {NO}{RM}
21 - Off-white colour of the dentine (5) - IVORY [DD]
22 - Embarrassed by a party for an editor (7) - {A}{BASH}{ED}
27 - Very sad reacting about the lack of an English name (6) - TRAGIC(-an)*
29 - Protection given to the unionist around Los Angeles is in order (10) - INSU{LA}TION
30 - Gently pushed an unidentified chief executive on Edward (6) - NU{DG}{ED}
31 - Greeting the upset Sultan holding cast-iron evenly (10) - SALUT{(-c)A(-s)T(-t)I(-r)O(-n)}N*
DOWN
2 - Permit to enter with a free ticket (4) - PASS [DD]
3 - King is on an island in a difficult situation (6) - C{R}ISIS Anno beats me
4 - Busy in a performance, four start to exit (6) - {ACT}{IV}{E}
5 - Captain Nero holds it from within (5) - INNER [T]
6 - Subject of the first person (5) - {THE}{ME}
7 - Very wealthy to steal around thirty characters without time (6,4) - FIL{THY RI(-t)*}CH
8 - I sped minor by accident in captivity (10) - IMPRISIONED*
12 - For each sibling endlessly the scriptures are continuously existing (10) - {PER}{SISTE(-r)}{NT}
13 - Enjoy rapid ways to be at risk (2,8) - IN JEOPARDY*
14 - Regularly synonymous of toys (2-3) - {Y}{O}-{Y}{O}{S}
15 - You are to measure in the corners of the burqa in an Asian country (5) - B{U}{R}{M}A
23 - Graduate is liberal to allow the form of dance (6) - {BA}{L}{LET}
24 - Seven performers have a steep way out in Troy (6) - SEPTE*{T}
25 - Sour substances for the chief held in the outskirts of Arkansas (5) - A{CID}S
26 - Plant is taken up to South Africa in a short time (5) - {SI<-}{SA}{L}
28 - Disapproved of the number round the shirt (2,2) - {NO} T{O}

Monday, 24 Aug 09

Yesterday being a holiday for 'Ganesh Chaturthi', no newspapers today, so no morning fix for the cruciverbalists.

No 2547, Sunday, 23 Aug 09

ACROSS
1 - Start of melodious song, one from West Side Story (5) – {M}{ARIA}
4 - What could make row? Estate car, maybe (3-6) – TWO SEATER*
9 - Order soldiers to board plane abroad, heading for terrible place housing convicts (5,10) – PENAL* {SETTLE}{MEN}{T}
10 - An unwise act giving cheek about king (10) – IMP{R}UDENCE
11 - Small pale bird (4) – {S}WAN
13 - Soldiers diving into English river in flood (7) – T{OR}RENT
15 - Some poplin in gaberdine for padding (6) – LINING [T]
17 - Paint firm to left of us (6) – {CO}{L}{OUR}
18 - Manage to survive in US city, on beer? (4,3) – {LA}{ST OUT}
20 - Primate's cross and crown (4) – {APE}{X}
21 - Very loud American I've accommodated in Ely, lavishly (10) – E{FF}{US}{IVE}LY
24 - A starter, perhaps - phone cousin for mixture around noon (6,5,4) – FRENCH O{N}ION SOUP*
25 - Robot making car chap's getting round to (9) – {AUTO}{MA{TO}N}
26 - Lived with flipping obscene transvestite initially (5) – {DWEL<-}{T}
DOWN
1 - This poem unsettled the devil (8) – MEPHISTO*
2 - Approach ladder ahead (3-2) – RUN UP [CD]
3/4 - No cowboy films in the pipeline? Here's one about war (3,5,2,3,7,5) – ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT [CD]
5 - One can't really see it being a trick (7,8) – OPTICAL ILLUSION [CD]
6 - PM from East End, surprisingly (4) – EDEN*
7 - Martial art dan we took out (3,4,2) – TAE KWON DO*
8 - This helps one to see girl after note's written (6) – {RE}{TINA}
12 - Not appointed, girl's cross with editor (10) – {UNAS}{SIGN}{ED}
14 - Resolve to put out US president (9) – ROOSEVELT*
16 - Remains with Scottish banker on board express (5,3) – {S{TAY}S} PUT
19 - Fibre shown in service by one based in Florida (6) – {RAF}{F{I}A}
22 - Run away with girl after writer is ditched (5) – (-pen){ELOPE}
23 - Caught in South Africa with millions from dishonest scheme (4) – {S{C}A}{M}

No 9618, Saturday, 22 Aug 09, Nita Jaggi

Today is a real OMG day
ACROSS
4 - "Man in Lead Breakdowns” for instance (8) - H{EADL*}ONG ? H{EADL*}AND ?
8 - Half dry an uneven container (6) - {(-t)T}{ROUGH}
9 - Run on gas at the large apes in distress (10) - ORANGUTANS* Terrible
10 - Norwegian leader is at ease with the day’s first requirement (4) - {N}{EE}{D}
11 - Experienced the fabric (4) - FELT [DD]
13 - Tired British king at the end of the day (6) - {B}{LEAR}{Y}
15 - Religious teacher is cautious to be in the borders of Asia (7) - {A{CHARY}(-si)A}
17 - Terribly vile! (4) - EVIL*
18 - Something very hard to hang on to! (4) - NAIL [CD]
19 - Start to write about a painting of a house having at last a wild animal (7) - {W}{ART}{H}OG OG from!
21 - A problem with the written works (6) - MATTER [DD]
22 - A short introductory passage (4) - VAMP ?
25 - It ends with the bowling of six consecutive balls (4) - OVER [DD]
26 - By mistake it is a carbon copy of one impression of a lake (10) - {A}{CC}{I}{DENT}{A}{L}
27 - Signal for a mural to be shifted (6) - ALARUM*
28 - Statistically adjusted the partnership with eight around the leader of the Democrats (8) - {WE}{IGHTE*}{D}
DOWN
1 - Second sound of pain (5) - {S}{TING}
2 - Softer type of woodland (6) - FOREST*
3 - Hand in the main thing of the job (5) - C{H}ORE
4 - A vital organ (5) - HEART [E]
5 - Topic of maths for almost all five in a Great Britain academy (7) - {AL(-l)}{G{E}B}{RA}
6 - Piece of writing for the French race, is making a mistake not including the queen (9) - {LE}{TT}E{(-er)RING} I see an extra E, unless NJ means just R for Queen instead of the standard ER!
7 - Basis on which charitable institutions run (3,6) - NON PROFIT [E]
12 - Dog in the sacred city (5) - LHASA [DD]
14 - A large quantity of the heavy snowfall (9) - AVALANCHE [E] Terrible
15 - Assigning a share of everything got in order around the tin (9) - {ALL}{OT{TIN}G*}
16 - Pilgrimage at the end of July is accepted to be eternal regularly (5) - {Y}A{T}{R}{A} Extra A from?
19 - Most affectionate master following the woman (7) - {W}{ARMEST*} Anagram indicator?
20 - Come back in the castle with the first lady on the right (6) - {R}{EVE}{RT}
22 - Expressed an opinion for the Village Officer to note the date (5) - {VO}{TE}{D}
23 - Grinder tooth made initially in an oral form (5) - {M}{OLAR*}
24 - First in importance lacking common factors (5) - PRIME [CD]

No 9617, Friday, 21 Aug 09, Nita Jaggi

ACROSS
 1 - Hindu Goddess (4) - KALI [E]
 9 - Beheld panelists somehow disclosed the secrets (7,3,5) - SPILLED THE BEANS*
10 - Initially screen the outdoor works put away (4) - {S}{T}{O}{W}
11 - Couple of students following the three alternating sounds (5) - {TRI}{LL}
12 - A small recess (4) - NOOK [E]
13 - Corrects the complicated diets (5) - EDITS*
14 - A partnership whatsoever is very impressive (7) - {A}{WE}{SOME}
16 - Shout in protest in the military quarters (7) - BARRACK [DD]
18 - Set for the second competition (5) - {B}{RACE}
22 - Comment about the bees around a river (4) - B{A}{R}B
23 - God of rain and thunder (5) - INDRA [E]
24 - Defeat the crowd of people (4) - ROUT [E]
25 - Achieved through success — this one has a high standing (15) - PRESTIGIOUSNESS [CD] WOW!!
26 - Cut design in the street church (4) - ETCH [T]
DOWN
 2 - Permitted everybody around on Wednesday (7) - ALL{O}{WED}
 3 - Mental state is the same of a specialist upset in city after commencement of the crisis (8,6) - {ID}{ENT}{ITY C*}{(-c)RISIS} Annotation anyone?
 4 - Recognises the places of entertainment (5) - SPOTS [DD]
 5 - Try hard removing the rare mark (5) - ST(-r)AIN
 6 - Somehow few locate ruler being one of the same kind (6,8) - FELLOW CREATURE*
 7 - Game for nine to play inside the boundaries of the terraces (6) - T{ENNI*}S
 8 - Tells the school groups to succeed at home (7) - {IN}{FORMS}
15 - Mounted troops on an island covering five sailors regularly (7) - CA{V}{ALR}Y
17 - Not weak to steal an American in Thailand (6) - {ROB}{US}{T}
19 - Long-standing record without the French (7) - CHRONIC(-le)
20 - Own and grant access to (5) - ADMIT [DD]
21 - Follow to turn out the reward money (5) - PURS(-u)E

No 9616, Thursday, 20 Aug 09, Nita Jaggi

ACROSS
2 - Device held by the woman choreographer (6) - ANCHOR [T]
7 - Friend holds the corner of the casket covering (4) - {PAL}{L}
9 - Accepted an extra large English member (4) - A{XL}{E}
10 - Kind of connection one has with an ancestor (5,8) - BLOOD RELATION [CD]
12 - Preset option for the flu date is given out (7) - DEFAULT*
13 - Tribe will exist in the same union regularly (7) - {BE}{DO}{U}{I}{N} BE DO will exist !!
15 - Secular poem for a chieftain (4) - {LAI}{C}
17 - Alternately chain an old English boat (5) - {C}{A}{N}{O}{E}
18 - Father, for instance is back with an attendant (4) - {PA}{GE<-} )
19 - A horse-drawn military vehicle (7) - CAISSON [E]
21 - Labourer in Peru partly has antiques (7) - {PE}{ASANT}
23 - Clued robotics in the form of a word game (6,7) - DOUBLE CROSTIC*
27 - Have supper back in town (4) - ENID<- )
28 - Old boy has an old Etonian instrument (4) - {OB}{O}{E}
29 - Is heartless pal at ease born with a bad temper? (6) - {S}{P(-a)L}{EEN<-} )
DOWN
1 - Play in water with an expert lawyer in the capital of Egypt (6) - {DA}{BBL}{E} ?
2 - So, can we somehow follow all the permits? (10) - {ALL}OWANCES*
3 - Small paper found in each advertisement (4) - CHAD [T] New word for me
4 - Gradually pass the messy substance (4) - OOZE [CD]
5 - Father is learning a language (4) - {PA}{L}{I}
6 - Second, inexperienced driver is in making noise at midnight about the dazzling light (8) - {B}{L}{IN}{DIN}{G}
8 - Sign of a tiny quantity (5) - PEACE (~piece) (Second thoughts - Maybe TRACE also)
11 - Teach new skills on the rough terrain (7) - RETRAIN*
13 - Circuit point inside the bridge is a mistake (7) - B{LOOP}{E}R
14 - Party put up against the one in power (10) - OPPOSITION [DD]
16 - Giving off a prize to a child playing at the beginning of a game (8) - {A}{WARD}{IN}{G}
20 - Worker in the cargo ship (5) - OILER [DD]
22 - No cash distributed for the chips (6) - NACHOS*
24 - Language of the camp, literally (4) - URDU [CD]
25 - Fragment of a wooden float (4) - CHIP [CD]
26 - River around America is in the East (4) - {O}{US}{E}

No 9615, Wednesday, 19 Aug 09, Sankalak

It's going to be OMG OMG NJ from tomorrow
ACROSS
1 - A gem that has no right to glisten (7) - SPARKLE(-r)
5 - Sea creature permitted to arrest little devil (6) - L{IMP}ET
11 - Records made by primates after time (5) - {T}APES
12 - MP left in dubious action evokes accusation (9) - CO{MP}{L}AINT*
13 - At home, reportedly boring man is permissive (9) - {IN}DUL(~dull){GENT}
14 - Small tablet that can light a fire (5) - {S}PILL
15 - For a one-time partner, it is a way out (4) - {EX}IT
17 - The chorus to avoid (7) - REFRAIN [DD]
21 - Sportsman who has to cross many obstacles (7) - HURDLER [E]
22 - In which one can see what one may eat (4) - MENU [E]
26 - In Latin, it is about … (5) - CIRCA [E]
27 - … powerlessness of pet mice on treatment (9) - IMPOTENCE*
29 - Distressed by fact, I fled unceremoniously (9) - AFFLICTED*
30 - Wild creature that can make a racket and leave (5) - {DIN}{GO}
31 - Measure of a large English article, almost (6) - {L}{ENG}{TH(-e)}
32 - Prisoners may have them, so may women (7) - ESCORTS [DD]
DOWN
2 - The kind of music that may be on tap? (5) - PIPED [CD]
3 - Outcome eagerly awaited by students, say (6) - RESULT [E]
4 - Servant who may be in need of the old backing (6) - LACK{EY<-} )
6 - Deceptive is our silly spell (8) - ILLUSORY*
7 - Underdeveloped painter of an old era (9) - PRIMITIVE [CD]
8 - Tell a story about Ping Pong (6) - TA{TT}LE
9 - Tarnished, like some glass windows? (7) - STAINED [DD]
10 - Left out, like gloves in the Oxford English Dictionary (7) - O{MITT}ED
16 - Medicine for pain and inflammation up for being (almost) reformulated (9) - IBUPROFEN(-g)*
18 - Visionary who got a perfect first (8) - IDEAL{IST}
19 - A new beginning, result of karma! (7) - REBIRTH [CD]
20 - An Xmas record, foundation for fire (4,3) - YULE LOG [CD]
23 - Scribbled words describing fish in empty shell (6) - S{CRAW}(-hel)L
24 - A suit found in the deck (6) - SPADES [E]
25 - It is where scenes may be made (6) - STUDIO [E]
28 - Nobody is on time for this bit of music (5) - NONE{T}

No 9614, Tuesday, 18 Aug 09, Sankalak

Literal cake-walk today. Took precisely 5 minutes to complete the CW!!
ACROSS
1 - What a diver, coming up, has to go through (13) - DECOMPRESSION [E]
10 - Practical joke on a girl of the month, dunce (5,4) - APRIL FOOL [CD]
11 - Way to go if one is to progress (5) - AHEAD [E]
12 - Ivanovic arrived escorting a minister (5) - VICAR [T]
13 - He may not hear you but can make out what you say (3-6) - LIP-READER [E]
14 - A macaque that sent ushers running (6) - RHESUS*
16 - Swimmer beginning to yell is somewhat questionable (5) - FISH{Y}
19 - Put up with an attempt to obtain something eastern (5) - {A}{BID}{E}
20 - Plunder of war brings discredit around start of peace (6) - S{P}OILS
25 - Vehicle for a big slob: he travels (9) - BOBSLEIGH*
26 - Munch on a slice of meat including a bit of mutton (5) - CHO{M}P
27 - Art that makes a Greek character no end ill (5) - {MU}SIC(-k)
28 - Quarantine is a tool in disguise (9) - ISOLATION*
29 - Is that how an assassin would be groomed (7,2,4) - DRESSED TO KILL [E]
DOWN
2 - Following directions, wealthy editor is made wealthier (8) - {E}{N}{RICH}{ED}
3 - Going back, the Spanish in a South American port find a tanker (5) - OI{LE}R <- )
4 - Pet dog, one from Warsaw perhaps, consumes overdose (6) - PO{OD}LE
5 - Oval in shape (8) - ELLIPTIC [E]
6 - In which you might travel a great deal and perhaps see stars! (9) - SPACESHIP [E]
7 - Go too far in undercover doings (6) - OVERDO [T]
8 - Ointment right in a tray (6) - SALVE{R}
9 - Embellish a party supported by British sailors (5) - {A}{DO}{RN}
15 - The point of a mother’s attachment to her child (9) - UMBILICUS [E]
17 - The lead in petrol, for example (8) - ADDITIVE [E]
18 - I’m on bail, suffering, having two names (8) - BINOMIAL*
21 - Lying down to drink in the east (6) - {SUP}{IN}{E}
22 - Deadly WMD, not just a weapon (1-4) - A-BOMB
23 - One who ill-treats a born drug-taker (6) - {A}{B}{USER}
24 - Gold is found back in that part of the body (6) - TH{RO<-}AT
26 - Cheese? Quite another thing (5) - CHALK [E]

No 9613, Monday, 17 Aug 09, Sankalak

ACROSS
1 - A small role, baronet accepts it quietly (3-4) - B{IT}-{P}ART
5 - Flower that was a waste in half of Mumbai of old (7) - B{LOSS}OM(-bay)
9 - Security device that needs a head for numbers perhaps (11,4) - COMBINATION LOCK [CD]
10 - Pettifogger going into a revamped anthology (6) - PEDANT [T]
11 - A bad-tempered woman — is Rani, hard to change (8) - HARRIDAN*
13 - Sailing last in convoy, playing a part around harbour (8) - {Y}{AC{H}TING}
15 - Money, in a reversal, makes for hatred (6) - {A}{NI}{MUS}<- )
18 - Nudity turns messy (6) - UNTIDY*
19 - An American prosecutor holds a prisoner, a snake (8) - {AN{A}{CON}DA}
22 - Allowance, a pound, is based on logic (8) - {RATION}{A}{L}
24 - People known to all (6) - PUBLIC [DD]
27 - Occurring in the same time is a monster on cue, wandering around post office (15) - CONTEM{PO}RANEOUS
28 - Old Roman senator, one involved in diplomacy (American) (7) - TAC{I}T{US}
29 - Appeased everyone? Yes, Penny (7) - {ALL}{AYE}{D}
DOWN
1 - Salary in arrears (4,3) - BACK PAY [E]
2 - Swollen stomach — girl upset (5) - {TUM}{ID<-} )
3 - Turned off by a foreign date failing (9) - ALIEN{ATED*}
4 - Refreshing drink, large, for a duck (4) - {TEA}{L}
5 - Powerful Turcoman, born in the morning, gulped air (6) - {B}{AIR}{AM}
6 - He has something to call his (5) - OWNER [E]
7 - One who wields a weapon with a singular expression, small chap (9) - {S}{WORD}{S}{MAN}
8 - The things needed for producing blended gin? Ask master (7) - {M}AKINGS*
12 - A city in America, no matter which (3) - {A}{NY}
14 - In a stupor, Tom gets a medicine (9) - {CAT}{A}{TONIC}
16 - Carbon become aluminium? After negative start? Happening in the night? (9) - {NO}{C}{TURN}{AL}
17 - Number dear to an egoist (3) - ONE [CD]
18 - Place in Europe that distorted truth about EC (7) - UTR{EC}HT*
20 - One in the dock (7) - ACCUSED [E]
21 - Grassy plains in South America (6) - PAMPAS [E]
23 - Unconcealed and finished on time (5) - OVER{T}
25 - Crazy old ploy thwarted (5) - L{O}OPY*
26 - Fertilizer from a secure agricultural facility (4) - UREA [T]

No 2546, Sunday, 16 Aug 09

Tough one today with a lot of obscure references. Some annotations are not clear to me.

ACROSS
1 - VIPs sent back prize money (3,5) - {TOP<-} BRASS
5 - Slang for a variety of zircon (6) - JARGON [DD]
9 - Girl, pretty small type (5) - {P}EARL ? Anno not clear
10 - Preoccupation of old boy before meeting (9) - {OB}{SESSION}
12 - Film director affected one acting (7) - {CAMP}{I}{ON}
13 - Seriousness shown by boy hugging adult (7) - E{A}RNEST
14 - Chess ending overwhelmed friend (9,4) - SMOTHERED MATE [CD]
17 - Train – direct, say (6,7) - ORIENT EXPRESS [CD]
21 - Spanish boy in queer comic (7) - ENRIQUE*
22 - Short girl on a keyboard instrument (7) - CELEST(-e){A}
24 - Body of water, in a desert, he polluted (3,3,3) - THE RED SEA*
25 - Place to meet briefly with sun goddess (5) - VENU(-e){S}
26 - Artificial, some flowers at zoo (6) - ERSATZ [T]
27 - Fish – vet catching tons (8) - S{T}URGEON A vet is not necessarily a surgeon
DOWN
1 - Predictable? In part, yes?(8) - TYPECAST Anno not clear
2 - Song prize split by son (5) - P{S}ALM
3 - Courtier and a girl he aroused (7) - RALEIGH *
4 - Crack on sale by river vexes some upper-class young ladies (6,7) - SLOANE* {R}{ANGERS} New term for me had to Google search this
6 - A small country in an ancient kingdom (7) - {A}{S}SYRIA
7 - Piece about one girl about to become a legendary paramour (9) - {GU{I}N}{EVE}{RE}
8 - Joe perhaps, quite an age(6) - NINETY [CD] Google searched this
11 - Drug dealer, one not hanging about? (5,8) - SPEED MERCHANT [DD]
15 - Sold roués bubbly without a distinctive smell (9) - ODOURLESS *
16 - Hit man, for instance, on cheek, at home (8) - {AS}{SASS}{IN}
18 - In pursuance of an investigation (7) - {IN}{QUEST}
19 - Bother a tennis star after end of championship (7) - {P}{A}{LAVER}
20 - Heart and clubs put down,reportedly (6) - {C}{ENTRE(~enter)}
23 - One-way ticket left out for char (5) - SING(-l)E

No 9612, Saturday, 15 Aug 09, Sankalak

INDEPENDENCE DAY GREETINGS TO ALL
ACROSS
 1 - Archer’s “propeller” (9) - BOWSTRING [CD]
 5 - Look for something in a secluded elver colony (5) - DELVE [T]
 8 - Unearth wrongdoing in a tried out environment (8) - DI{SIN}TER
 9 - An air force man to encourage movement to the pinnacle (6) - {A}PO{GEE} Air Force man and PO ?
11 - One side of paper showing poetry, substituting love for the east (5) - VERS(-e+o)O
12 - Roca happy about a part of the Old Testament (9) - APOCRYPHA*
13 - General consuming chewy stuff in plant… (6) - LE{GUM}E
14 - … criticized for duping me unusually (8) - IMPUGNED*
16 - Resounding tirade smothers English boy (8) - R{E}{SON}ANT
18 - Spoilt pet, no end sick, is infected (6) - S{EPT*}IC(-k)
22 - Tool for keeping the garden in good trim (9) - LAWNMOWER [E]
23 - What divides Britain and America? (5) - OCEAN [E]
24 - Get your bearings where the sun rises (6) - ORIENT [DD]
25 - Part of building which makes the appearance show signs of getting old (8) - {FRONT}{AGE}
26 - Bone in the leg, a part in incidental use (5) - TALUS [T]
27 - A fish in the basket, gone rotten (6,3) - C{ONGE*}R EEL
DOWN
 1 - Engineer lived, in retrospect, to cause trouble (7) - {BE}{DEVIL<-} )
 2 - Face cloth that was hard — worn, torn material (7) - {WAS}{H}{RAG}
 3 - Divine rules for a good life (3,12) - TEN COMMANDMENTS [E]
 4 - Viewers, say, improve on what may be seen on the Everest (6) - {~eyes){ICE}{CAP}
 5 - Where one may relax before flying (9,6) - DEPARTURE LOUNGE [E]
 6 - A delivery to make a member turn round (3,4) - LEG SPIN [CD]
 7 - Precious thing that a master-dealer destroyed (7) - E{M}ERALD*
10 - The doctrine to plague mother (5) - {DOG}{MA}
15 - Widely recognised at present in the outskirts of Kumaon (5) - K{NOW}(-umao)N
16 - What one might do to the red carpet (4,3) - ROLL OUT [CD]
17 - Timber cutting unit that witnessed millions halved (7) - {SAW}{MILL}(-ions)
19 - Time of life when an agent wanders around borders of Europe (7) - T{E(-urop)E}NAGE*
20 - Freeze a party briefly supported by every acclaimed loyalist initially (7) - CONG{E}{A}{L}
21 - Practice for a thirsty trip (3,3) - DRY RUN [CD]

No 9611, Friday, 14 Aug 09, Sankalak

A commendale set of clues put together by Sankalak
ACROSS
 1 - Garment for poor Tosca; it was unfinished (9) - WAISTCOAT*
 5 - Guys’ partners in Brando movie (5) - DOLLS [E]
 8 - Like a ball struck into the air frequently, guided all around (6) - L{OFT}ED
 9 - Belief, as spelt out, is capable of being achieved (8) - FEASIBLE*
11 - Vegetable that is all right with artist (4) - OK{RA}
12 - Conservative worker with a magnifying glass finds a melon (10) - {C}{ANT}{A}{LOUPE}
14 - Help a girl, one beginning to love (5) - {AVA}{I}{L}
15 - Give evidence at trial, on condition that youth leader follows… (7) - {TEST}{IF}{Y}
16 - …in a nervous manner, but somehow tidily consuming minutes (7) - TI{M}IDLY
17 - Feel sorry about losing head for a bird (5) - (-r)EGRET
19 - Burn completely the entire Inca construction (10) - INCINERATE*
20 - A little old money provided by a wannabe (4) - ANNA [T]
22 - In which two people (not necessarily clones) can retire? (4,4) - TWIN BEDS [CD]
23 - Ending orgy in a bit of indulgence and escaping (6) - FL{Y}ING
24 - A bird, note, female first (5) - {RE}{EVE}
25 - Capable at work in effect, I suspect (9) - EFFICIENT*
DOWN
 1 - The stuff of a cricketer’s club (6) - WILLOW [E] These trees are a beautiful sight in the Kashmir valley, especially the weeping willows.
 2 - Cocteau’s work, one alien Frenchman’s strange explosive device (8,7) - {I}NFERNAL MACHINE*
 3 - Attached to a sudden trend in the market reportedly (4) - TIED (~tide)
 4 - Two-score kind of normal vision (6-6) - TWENTY-TWENTY [CD] Follow the link to see an explanation of 20/20 and 6/6
 5 - Revelation of record certain to include fifty per cent loss (10) - {DISC}{LO(-ss)}{SURE}
 6 - Such industry depends more on manpower but puts abuser in violent spasm (6-9) - LABOUR INTENSIVE*
 7 - A subject for the landscape artist (7) - SCENERY [E]
10 - Temporary facility for crossing a river, perhaps, that can be big, readily assembled (6,6) - BAILEY BRIDGE* Have launched a number of these during my career in the Army
13 - A moral story about the head of a criminal gang can be excused (10) - {PAR}{DON}{ABLE} (Correction - {PAR{DON}ABLE} See Satya's comments below)
16 - Windstorm causes distortion over Emergency Room (7) - {TWIST}{ER}
18 - Useful device projected in a big ad gets noticed (6) - GADGET [T]
21 - International group that could cause endless obstruction (4) - BLOC(-k)

No 9610, Thursday, 13 Aug 09, Sankalak

ACROSS
 1 - A catholic remark about funny Phil’s notable performance (14) - {A}{C}COM{PLISH*}MENT
 8 - Portray one caught in a small department (6) - DEP{I}{C}T
 9 - Bike or horse, a dear sort, new (8) - ROADSTER*
11 - Lawyer, good man, surrounded by obstruction (9) - BARRI{ST}ER
12 - Give up, put back Polynesian garland in empty dinghy (5) - {Y{IEL<-}(-hgni)D<-} )
13 - An lowa event ruined by artlessness (7) - N{AI*}VETE*
15 - Territory surrounded by another, like Valence? Wrong (7) - ENCLAVE*
17 - Such justice might as well be denied (7) - DELAYED [CD]
19 - Say, look at small piece of Dunaliella, a marine product (7) - (~see){SEA}{WEED} (Correction - (~see){SEA}{WEE}{D} See comments below)
21 - A dope, in retrospect, is distant and cold (5) - {A}{LOOF<-} )
23 - Fabled lion-tamer (9) - ANDROCLES [E]
25 - "Never do today what can be put off till __” (Punch) (8) - TOMORROW [E]
26 - Kind of dress to show some informality? Not at all (6) - FORMAL [T]
27 - Age-old chronicle, not news any more (7,7) - ANCIENT HISTORY [CD]
DOWN
 1 - American bird specialist who developed a bond with two universities (7) - A{U}D{U}BON*
 2 - Account reversed by means of a dubious scheme (5) - {CA<-}{PER}
 3 - The wherewithal for industrial output? (9) - MACHINERY [E]
 4 - Business engulfed by mass movement, a cause of great suffering (7) - S{CO}URGE
 5 - A measure of beer at 12 noon without a trace of alcohol (5) - MIDD(-a)Y
 6 - Name of famous cathedral in France, remote and unusual (5,4) - NOTRE DAME*
 7 - From where to snatch too young a life partner (6) - CRADLE [CD]
10 - Swelling on the eyelid, a bit of a nasty eruption (4) - STYE [T]
14 - Part of the U.K., insular, but does not mean to bar women! (4,2,3) - ISLE OF MAN [CD]
16 - Offensively loud leaders in class, inclined to display love (9) - {CL}AMOROUS
17 - Scarceness of a costly, unfinished article (6) - {DEAR}TH(-e)
18 - Soldier who would continue (to speak, maybe) for a long time about love (7) - DRAG{O}ON
19 - Fizzy stuff used in dosa mix (4) - SODA*
20 - Girl’s sport — a show of talent (7) - {DIS}{PLAY}
22 - Is British military wing upset by language? (5) - {FAR<-}{SI*}
24 - State of uncertainty that gets a member nought (5) - LIMB{O}