No 13223, Friday 16 Apr 2021, Tribute to Gridman by Incognito

Tribute to Gridman in 'The Hindu' today

RULES FOR POSTING COMMENTS FOR TODAY ONLY

Since this is a tribute to Gridman.  I would like everyone to participate.

Each commenter is requested to post only 1 ANSWER thereby giving others also a chance to participate. You may also post your thoughts on Gridman along with your comment.

Do not take any compensatory answer if your answer is a repeat. Let everyone participate in memory of Gridman.

PLEASE NOTE, SOLUTIONS WITHOUT ATTEMPTING THE ANNOTATIONS WILL BE DELETED

The regular blog will replace the clues at 4 PM.

ACROSS

8   Fantastic teacher for beginners gives uplifting reassurance unerringly (4)

9   Apricots not available in sailing troop carriers? That’s a mistake (5)

10 Rum sale? Drinks! (4)

11 Extraordinary puzzle! Arsenic extracted from powdered magnesia? (6)

12 Went away from earthly life, reportedly ailing (8)

13 Emmer product aliens manufactured around Missouri (8)

15 Latin discussion meetings to bring some uniformity in application documents (6)

17 Look to beat rival company? Favourite with head of enterprise (7)

19 Tell’s fast train (7)

22 Opt out from employment and go to bed (6)

24 Down with longing for one’s familiar environs Eskimo travels around Canada at first after end of lunch (8)

26 European from Down Under losing a student (8)

28 Animal that may be ailing (6)

30 Reddish-orange glowing gas Napoleon made after removal of opal (4)

31 Greco-Roman creature initially coiled in winding road (5)

32 Ripped pieces of cloth regularly adorn gate sides in the beginning (4)

DOWN

1   Ignite British vessel (4)

2   Deep sea vessel (8)

3   Mountain-dwelling person begins to improvise after plane crash (6)

4   A setter grand, I’m crazy about (7)

5   Nailed image posture often made by a gymnast on rings (8)

6   Fete market a Zulu started to arrange in pub (6)

7   Right after His Excellency, start to eat at this place (4)

14 Old deer walked around TN city (5)

16 Microphone carries American melodies, for example (5)

18 A daily, perhaps, organises hide and hunt (3,5)

20 Lariat-bearing cowboys taking stock? (8)

21 Littoral city canine runs around hospital (7)

23 Ordered diet containing a couple of nuts at first? Mean! (6)

25 Friend and guide, perhaps, soldiers to end of career (6)

27 Utilises... Means the same, but with less letters (4)

29 Sailing ship held by supercargoes (4)

No 13015, Saturday 15 Aug 2020, Hypatia

Independence day greetings to all. An Independence Day Special clue acrostic with an Indian theme from Hypatia to celebrate it.

ACROSS

8   Incorporating many things exotic, diverse area overlooking South East (6) VARIED {DIVERse+A*}
9   Nomenclature of multiple beliefs and Gods in place (around 51) (8) RELIGION {RE{LI}GION}
10 Dr. No is oddly disrupting power at this late hour (8) MIDNIGHT {MI{Dr No Is}GHT}
11 Initially, all executive committee members on a plane (6) ABOARD {All}{BOARD}
12 Apparently large warren or mouse burrow (8) ENORMOUS (T)
13 Sluggishness of a desi husband, say? (6) APATHY {~ A PATI}
14 It’s sweet gospel music performed without mischievous imps (7) GLUCOSE {GOspEL+mUSiC*}
17 Netas, essentially encroaching, bust law (7) STATUTE {STATU{neTas}E}
20 Dancing wild — a cherished Indian celebration? (6) DIWALI {WILD+A*} around {I}
22 Emperor’s China jar, a hammer displayed in retrospective (8) MAHARAJA (T<=)
25 “Permit car,” shouted Spooner in travel fatigue (3,3) JET LAG {(-l+J)ET (-j+L)AG}
26 End of the world feeling returns around dead, for instance (8) DOOMSDAY {MOOD<=}{S{D}AY}
27 Novel began describing a princess in playful talk (8) BADINAGE {BEGAN*} around {A}{DI}
28 Dilliwala, say in retirement, backing local clubs (6) INDIAN Anno not clear (Addendum - {IN{AID<=}N - See comments)

DOWN
1   Exchanging rupee for primary needs is reasonable, countrywide (8) NATIONAL {(-r+Needs)ATIONAL
2   No loser changed to new model in this season (6) WINNER {WIN(-t+N)ER}
3   Commercial silver outlets to increase online, slowly (6) ADAGIO {AD}{AG}{Increase}{Online}
4   English baron wearing Indian shirt (7) BRITISH {B}{I+SHIRT*}
5   Delightful worker in farm bordering lake (8) PLEASANT {P}L}EASANT}
6   Ascending soldier met soldier below — neither partner was unacquainted (8) IGNORANT {GI<=}{NOR}{ANT}
7   Yelled out to one in quarters (6) FOURTH {~FORTH}
15 Silent comedian captivates a minister (8) CHAPLAIN {CHAPL{A}IN}
16 Part of wandering stream moved below fish (8) STINGRAY {ST{-ray}ING(+RAY)}
18 Excited jam at hall closing before memorial (3,5) TAJ MAHAL {JAM+AT+HALl*}
19 Counter name say, fades a little bit (7) SMIDGEN {N}{EG}{DIMS}<=
21 It melts from peaks of intensely cold environs, chiefly at poles (3,3) ICE CAP (Acrostic)
23 Asked question about Islamic festival for clothing covering head (6) HOODIE {~WHO}{EID<=}
24 Live tour entertains best, essentially (6) RESIDE {R{bESt}IDE}

Reference List

Area=A, South East=SE, 51=LI, Indian=I, Dead=D, Princess=Di, Rupee=R, New=N, Model=T, Commercial=AD, Silver=Ag, Baron=I, Lake=L, Soldier=GI, Soldier=Ant

Colour/Font Scheme

Definition, Solution, Component letters, Embedded links, Theme word,  Anagram Indicator, C/C indicator, Reversal Indicator, Hidden word Indicator, Letter Pick indicator, Deletion Indicator, Homophone Indicator, Movement Indicator, Positional Indicator, Substitution, Indicator, Opposite indicator, Link/Connector, Extraneous

Dr RKE's TalePiece

“Long years ago, we made a tryst with destiny…At the stroke of the MIDNIGHT hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom” said Jawaharlal Nehru addressing the Constituent Assembly on the eve of India’s independence. The BRITISH Union Jack was lowered and the INDIAN Tricolour hoisted at the Red Fort as the ENORMOUS crowd rapturously roared “Bharat Mata ki Jai”. People of VARIED RELIGIONS and communities came together in a true NATIONAL spirit to celebrate the festival, bigger than any DIWALI.

In the days that followed some MAHARAJAs voluntarily gave up their kingdoms and joined the Indian Union, while others were forced by public opinion or gently  pressured by Sardar Patel; those who still had APATHY in coming ABOARD had to be arm twisted. Of course, there were some Englishmen who made DOOMSDAY predictions about a free India and others who felt that the rule of the STATUTE would never prevail when the Englishman quits India. The supercilious ones among them were IGNORANT enough to think that the TAJ MAHAL was just a over-hyped marble grave and that all the literature and lore of the Orient was only a SMIDGEN compared to the knowledge and majesty contained in a single row of books that RESIDE in a British Library shelf (Macaulay). Gandhi, known for his PLEASANT BADINAGE, puckish humour and gift of the repartee had effectively countered such boastful thinking earlier. Once when asked “what do you think of Western civilization”, Gandhi had replied “I think that would be a good idea”. Gandhi held that making the right diagnosis is three-FOURTHs of the treatment. Successive generations of leaders have followed this prescription to rid the society of the many ills that plagued it in 1947.

If 74 years down the line India has always come out the WINNER, it is because of the GLUCOSE of the national spirit that was infused by its great leaders at the time of its birth. We salute them all on this eventful day. Jai Hind.

No 11440, Tuesday 07 Jul 2015, Incognito

ACROSS
8   I left corn labyrinth (4) MAZE MAiZE
9   This author (Mary Pollock) might be let in by Don (4,6) ENID BLYTON {LET+IN+BY+DON}*
10 Saif returned before company's ruin (6) FIASCO {FIAS<=}{CO}
11 It is a type of table — made from fall foliage (4-4)  DROP-LEAF {DROP}-{LEAF}

12 No tirade follows senior policeman lacking knowledge (8) IGNORANT {IG}{NO}{RANT}
14 “Containerised tree is good for the French”, said endlessly (6) BONSAI {BON}{sAId} Correction - {BON}{SAId}

16 Outlandish wolf's bird (4) FOWL*
17 Grand improvised explosive device, in the beginning, has unknown composite (5) MIXED {M}{I{X}ED} 'in the beginning' is superfluous as IED is a recognised abvn
18 Nun's cap's made mostly from coir by female (4) COIF {COIr}{F}

19 I, in Germany, followed soldiers with Indian martial art technique (3,3) TAI CHI {TA}{I CH}{I}
21 Triumph over peak after some usual mistakes initially (8) SURMOUNT {Some}{Usual}{R}{MOUNT} Source of  R not clear. Seems to be an error as 'mistakes' has no role in the clue.
23 “Oh-di-lay-ee-ay, di-lay-dee-oh, de-lay-ee,” sings he, “Howler around full moon day” (8) YODELLER {Y{O}{D}ELLER}
26 So, remove the air-conditioner! Truth remains truth! (6) VERITY VERacITY
27 Fiat's in intersection (10) INJUNCTION {IN}{JUNCTION}
28 Instrument has ring before open end, for starters (4) OBOE {O}{B}{O}{E}

DOWN
1   First bachelor, and then monarch takes aerated water to make sodium bicarbonate (6,4) BAKING SODA {BA}{KING} {SODA}
2   Tax on water body's store of sewage (8) CESSPOOL {CESS}{POOL}
3   It is a hat made of iron by artists after party (6) FEDORA {FE}{DO}{RA}

4   Equable mother-in-law and daughter (4) MILD {M-I-L}{D}
5   Taken in by sailors or engineer before commencement of dinner (8) ABSORBED {ABS}{OR}{BE}{Di...r}
6   Half of yellow matter found in half-minced matter is nerve insulation (6) MYELIN {M{YELlow}INced}
7   Considerably small quantity, like “I” to a Greek? (4) IOTA {I}{TO+A}* &lit
13 Reassessment of taxes in American state (5) TEXAS*
15 Outer space creature hovers over leaderless country leading to estrangement (10) ALIENATION {ALIEN}{nATION}
17 Spread oil in a mica construction to make some pottery (8) MAIOLICA {OIL}* in {A+MICA}*

Cartoon by Bhargav

18 Singer, perhaps, is friend of one royal lad (8) CHOIRBOY {CH}{O}{1}{R}{BOY} O for of? Source of CH was explained by Incognito in the comments yesterday.
20 What?! Spanish revolutionary went ahead and got a monetary instrument?! (6) CHEQUE {CHE}{QUE}
22 Old god's creeper's canyon (6) RAVINE {RA}{VINE}
24 Round 1: New King's pig's sound (4) OINK {O}{1}{N}{K}
25 Drops from the sky in Naraingarh (4) RAIN [T]

Reference list

Grand = M, Soldiers = TA(Territorial Army), Day = D, Ring = O, Artists = RA, Party = DO, Daughter = D, Sailor = AB, Engineer = BE, Of = O?, Royal = R, King = K

GRID

No 11334, Thursday 05 Mar 2014, Afterdark

It's A-D all the way today

ACROSS
1   Approximately by end of June, certain to get foodgrain... (6) CEREAL {C}{junE}{REAL}
4   ...announces politician (not individual) (6) STATES STATESman
9   A book you reportedly hid inside for a relative (4) AUNT {A}{U(~you)}{NT}
10 Agitated schoolteacher discarded her sweets (10) CHOCOLATES SCHOOLTEACher*
11 Appoint guerrilla to capture pair with son (6) CHOOSE {CH{OO}{S}E}
12 Assisted earl to survive outside at Germany after queen's retreat (8) RELIEVED {RE<=}{LI{E}VE}{D}
13 Assert about Dutch ties wrongly to publicize (9) ADVERTISE {A{D}VER}{TIES*}
15 Acts against spends without latitude (5) PLAYS {P{L}AYS}
16 A smaller number, in passion to get a wife, desert Vatican (5) FEWER FE(-v+w)WER
18 Approved cheat's business and ended without substance (9) CONFIRMED {CON}{FIRM}{EndeD}
22 Accepted Bond's advance inside (8) WELCOMED {WEL{COME}D}
23 Avoid adventure without, say a condition (6) ESCAPE ESCAPad(~add)E
25 Asked to send quote, I disposed (10) QUESTIONED*
26 A single item auntie stripped without a point (4) UNIT aUNTIe*
27 Arise awkwardly after taking drug, get more relaxed (6) EASIER {E}{ARISE*}
28 Am about to follow one girl with extremely envious thoughts (6) IMAGES {1}{MA<=}{G}{En...uS}

DOWN
1   Demolished compact disc in hurry at Spain (7) CRUSHED {C{RUSH}{E}D}
2   Duration in which to find relationship (5) RATIO [T]
3   Damaged container with missing gold is antique (7) ANCIENT CoNTAINEr*
5   Draw co-ordinate for a tram, maybe (6) TROLLY {TROLL}{Y}
6   Drifter is a cashier concealing a bit of rands, australs and vatus (9) TRAVELLER {T{R}{A}{V}ELLER}
7   Drafted screenplay with new pal out of backdrop (7) SCENERY SCREENplaY*
8   Drug taken by an Irish band at watering hole’s gin cocktail equivalent (13) CORRESPONDING {CORR{E}S}{POND}{GIN*}
14 Disturbs board member to take side in stock exchange scandal initially (9) EXERCISES {EXE{R}C}{In}{S...k}{Ex...e}{Sc...s}
17 Deliver English sweet late? No earlier (7) EXECUTE {EX}<=>{E}{CUTE}
19 Doctor returned after agent secured king's release (7) FREEDOM {F{RE}ED}{MO<=}
20 Devoid of alternative, Tories follow English politician's issues (7) EMPTIES {E}{MP}{TorIES}
21 Domain of peer I'm readjusting is... (6) EMPIRE*
24 ...defended by one hundred and fifty peacekeepers going on thousand (5) CLUNG {CL}{UN}{G}

GRID

No.11306, Saturday 31 Jan 15, Spinner

A variety of clue types in both clues and answers from Spinner in a typically neat puzzle.

ACROSS
1 A country of war and destruction (6) RWANDA [WAR AND]*
4 Naughty actor is standing by ultimately comic procession formed by taking tops off (8) ACROSTIC [ACTOR IS]* + comiC
10 Analyze Generation Next’s first expert (7) VETERAN [analyze=VET + generation=ERA + Next]
11 Tea, a red liquid? Farce! (7) CHARADE [tea=CHA + A + RED*]
12 Tips from reputed engineer constructing ship’s seat (8) RECLINER [Reputed Engineer Constructing + ship=LINER]
13 Exterminator’s successful soldier (6) HITMAN [successful=HIT + soldier=MAN]
15 Mitigates by giving away hundred to charity (4) ALMS [mitigates=cALMS]
17 Poor inmate sat like a flower with no feminity (9) STAMINATE [INMATE SAT]*
20 The elderly ultimately vote in rigged op-ed poll (3,6) OLD PEOPLE [votE inside OP-ED POLL*]
21 Territory to the east, like Indonesia’s borders (4) ASIA [like=AS + IndonesiA]
24 Obtained original scotch behind Indian bars (6) INGOTS [INdian + obtained=GOT + Scotch]
25 Trains be ordered as support for a flight (8) BANISTER [TRAINS BE]*
28 Yesteryear boxer bound by commitment to couple (7) DUALITY [boxer=ALI inside commitment=DUTY]
29 Partly Asian ragman rearranged jumbled letters (7) ANAGRAM [Asian + RAGMAN*]
30 Endorsing officers have new book to sign (8) NOTARIES [New + book=OT + sign=ARIES]
31 Conquered exhausted, leaderless men (6) BEATEN [exhausted=BEAT + mEN]

DOWN
1 Loss of forever saluted characters (8) REVERSAL [T]
2 Unruly cat in funny act (5) ANTIC [CAT IN]*
3 Every other idle area will go off track (6) DERAIL [iDlE aReA wIlL]
5 Sundial initially leverages absent rooster (4) COCK [sundial=ClOCK]
6 Food’s after chief officers’ speeches (8) ORATIONS [Officer + food=RATION + S]
7 Operators on the same side? (9) TEAMMATES [CD]
8 Rinses vessels with lemon extract, primarily (6) CLEANS [vessels=CANS outside Lemon Extract]
9 Charge after ground rent is fitting (9) INSERTION [RENT IS* + charge=ION]
14 Learners interrupting a master’s dance with doubt (5,1,3) SMELL A RAT [learners=LL inside A MASTER*]
16 Unite with worker after initial meeting becoming hostile (9) MALIGNANT [Meeting + unite=ALIGN + worker=ANT]
18 Eye level is more erratic (8) SPOTTIER [eye=SPOT + level=TIER]
19 They milk the extremely endowed cheerful people (8) DAIRYMEN [endoweD + cheerful=AIRY + people=MEN]
22 Yardman essentially covered in leather and centrally buried (6) HIDDEN [yarDman inside leather=HIDE + aNd]
23 Penalty taking, a basic lesson in the end (6) FINALE [penalty=FINE outside A + Lesson]
26 Exhibit a Rotaract member card (5) TAROT [T]
27 Some soothingly resonating instrument (4) LYRE [T]

No.11240, Friday 14 Nov 2014, Gridman

A Children's Day Special from Gridman !!!
A terrific and nice crossword. Gridman has sprung another surprise at us after the feline that was prematurely released on 1.11.14 instead of Fourteen-Eleven-Fourteen

Thought for the Day

THE SOUL IS HEALED BY BEING WITH CHILDREN

- Fyodor Dostoevsky

Gather ye rosebuds while ye may

ACROSS
1   Take place subsequently — be certain to skip right (5) ENSUE (ENSUrE)
4   Have a malfunction of this and you may become a laughing stock (8) WARDROBE (CD)
9   Enjoy having a topless dress (3) OWN (gOWN)

10 Sere — like some wit (3) DRY (2)
11 Of an insect with a desire to smother snake (7) WASPISH (ASP in WISH)
12 Utter a clamorous shout — its value is little (4) HOOT (2)
          One may care two hoots for something, but that is better than caring one hoot for it
13 Leader of India to talk endlessly, getting an industrial action modified internally (10) JAWAHARLAL (JAW A HAR(-t+L)AL)

15 I must be embraced by French maidservant or lady gangster (6) BONNIE (I in BONNE)
16 Some dog gets woman's garment hidden by boy and men (8) LABRADOR (BRA in LAD, OR)
          Solved this during my walk when I met one (actually three)

17 Here inmates do little to recover (4,4) REST HOME (CD)
20 Extract, retrieved from song, is needed for naval officer (6) ENSIGN (T<)
23 Abroad, one hears these unpleasant facts about oneself (4,6) HOME TRUTHS (CD)
24 Lively lamentation? (4) KEEN (2)
           Like this?
27 E-bola, for one, porter intended to declare (7) AILMENT (~ALE MEANT)
28 Dove's cry not soft in bird cage (3) COO (COOp)

29 Bonfire remnant has disintegrated (3) ASH (HAS)*
30 Yalta tec breeds “queen of orchids” (8) CATTLEYA (YALTA TEC)* New word for me

31 Bitter and odd haul by Hindu mystic (5) SADHU (SAD HaUl)

DOWN
1   Extended period to cope, somehow, with Hindu leader (5) EPOCH (COPE* H)
2   Inseminated around hillock with MO away in the evening (7) SUNDOWN (SOWN around moUND)
3   Nelson __: American singer (4) EDDY (FIB/GK) Had to Google for this
4   Gate — place to intercept unexpectedly (6) WAYLAY (WAY LAY)

5   Wet behind ears, lawyer at odds with unanalyzed information (3,4) RAW DATA (RAW DA AT*)
6   Inn where nature and arts strive to give one hospitality (10) RESTAURANT (NATURE ARTS)*
7   Took initiative following short wife and kept control (7) BRIDLED (BRIDe LED)
8   Hinder somewhat about fifty going after Catholic minors (8) CHILDREN (HINDER* about L after C)

14 City's hub — far up, by the way (4,6) HIGH STREET (HIGH STREET)
15 Happy occasion — maybe third in recess (8) BIRTHDAY (THIRD* in BAY)
18 Is Alamo the place you're looking for? No, an African nation (7) SOMALIA (IS ALAMO)*
19 Lawman of Canada to have doctor free (7) MOUNTIE (MO UNTIE)
21 Darn lie about Limerick's place (7) IRELAND (DARN LIE)*
22 Rumba relative fetches Indian uncle (6) CHACHA (2)
25 Eh! Run madly for children's favourite leader (5) NEHRU (EH RUN)*
26 No vital employees — but they have teeth! (4) COGS (CD,DD) DOGS fits too!
          Here are some dogs at Nehru Maidan in Mangalore

Beautiful initial letter acrostic from Gridman

GRID
MAN 

Note by CV: I am reminded of an old cartoon by Shanker.

In the present  context the two sides may differ. I will leave it at that, as the TV anchors say before they close a debate.

No.11086, Friday 16 May 2014, Spinner

Well, Spinner spins this pangram well, weaving in a possible Trichy theme (I am sure there is a college, some cricket, possibly a reed-organ in T, maybe even a clock-tower, but I ain't been there for over 50 years)

ACROSS
1 Fanatics with right companions (7) FRIENDS (R in FIENDS)
      Those who participated in the S&B at my res. may remember this...
5 Organised files, taking time to check (6) STIFLE (FLIES* taking T)
11 Upset fortune-teller inhales thousand smells (5) REEKS (SEER< inhales K)
12 Revenge’s no good! To arrest cheat, call everyone together again! (9) RECONVENE (REVENgE- arresting CON)
13 You finally entered set with small boxes (6) CLOUTS (U in CLOT S)
14 Expeditious games on plant-hedge (8) QUICKSET (QUICK SET)
16 A milk product not harmed by a spiritual practice (4) YOGA (YOGhurt A)
17 Record, wet or otherwise! It’s high time! (5,5) CLOCK TOWER (CLOCK (WET OR)*)

                                                                                           Cartoon by Rishi

20 Scam unearthed, reporter stunned (10) CONFOUNDED (CON FOUND ED)
21 Outhouse for Pole & Pole (4) BARN (BAR N)
         Nice use of two Poles
24 Furnace for burning men I kill (4,4) LIME KILN (MEN I KILL)*
         Remember the Tandoor murder where the victim was dismembered ...
26 Fearless woman’s love — Spinner’s charmed, initially (6) HEROIC (HER O I C)
28 Upset confidences if out when settled (9) ENSCONCED (CONfiDENCES)* Does if* require an anind?
29 Never-ending articles about one model dish (5) RAITA (R A(I T)A)
30 Former flame’s call to arouse (6) EXCITE (EX CITE)
31 Right after hundred, pointless dismissal in the game (7) CRICKET (R after C wICKET)

DOWN
2 Instrument manufactured a green rod (4,5) REED ORGAN (A GREEN ROD)*
3 Energy Tzars circulated was artificial (6) ERSATZ (E TZARS*)
4 Northward drive to small town (4) DORP (PROD<)
6 Determination to capture back a metropolis (8) TENACITY (NET< A CITY)
7 Supports daughter with payments (5) FEEDS (D in FEES)
8 A person who sends you out, with or without right! (7) EJECTOR (CD) (rEJECTOR)  See comments
9 Not rich, yet owning a place in Tamil Nadu (6) TRICHY (T)
10 Dewberries finally crushed and squeezed (9) SCRUNCHED (S CRUNCHED)
15 Mechanism in arms of flight carrying fabric (9) FLINTLOCK (LINT in FLOCK)
18 Equip with arms to wipe a nose properly (9) WEAPONISE (WIPE A NOSE)*
19 Monument that’s foundation for Tiruchirappalli’s origin? (8) ROCKFORT (ROCK FOR T) &LIT? I am not sure if Trichy started with this fort ...

20 Oddly, Michelangelo left him an organised institution (7) COLLEGE (MICHELANGELO-(HIM AN*))*
22 React drunkenly following a little nip of divine liquid (6) NECTAR (REACT* after N)
23 Item sent up around end of November, originally conforms to standard of measurement (6) METRIC (ITEM< around R C)
25 Eleventh of hemidemisemiquavers followed by Ukulele’s lead? That’s how it appears in melody (5) MUSIC (M U SIC)
        Met Ric IN 23d and Melody in 25d! Where's the Mrs., Ric?
27 Sixth month for a Jew among Jemadars (4) ADAR (T)  Had to confirm through Google ...

For those who missed it, he says FOUR YEARS OF FUN FRIENDS AND MEMORIES in a clue acrostic, though he does say FRIENDS STIFLE in the first row across ;-) (to his credit, if you take the first words in the first and last rows, he says FRIENDS EXCITE). Since it is not 4 years here, has he just finished a 4 years course (possibly Engineering) in Trichy, mebbe at NIT ?

No 11021, Saturday 01 Mar 2014, Sunnet

I suppose only the parents will see this, those appearing will have no time to see it? In any case all the best from all of us as well.

ACROSS
1   A tight fitting garment to warm oneself reportedly (6) BASQUE (~bask)
4   L ink a petty officer, say, to a disbeliever (8) APOSTATE {A}{PO}{STATE}
10 L avoisier’s field test followed revolutionary methods including synthesis at first (9) CHEMISTRY {CHE}{M}{I}{S}{TRY}
11 T oo much of a French entitlement (5) (Addendum - UNDUE {UN}{DUE} - See comments)
12 H andily trounced initially in the middle of tricky play (5) APTLY {AP{T}LY*}
13 E dge near pit of sulphur (9) BRIMSTONE {BRIM}{STONE}
14 B ygone days of a man, a British conservative (7) HISTORY {HIS}{TORY}
16 E xperience dizziness of a dip (4) SWIM [DD]
19 S tale food at the beginning of the season kills (4) OFFS {OF}{F}{S} Anno pending (Addendum - {OFF}{S} - See comments)
21 T he islanders that you need to understand to solve this (7) (Addendum - ENGLISH [DD] - See comments)
24 F ast deer in reserve, without duck, on the other side of a waterhole (9) SPRINGBOK {SPRING}{BOoK}

25 O ddly almost the same incomplete course that’s studied in school (5) MATHS Anno pending (Addendum - {THe+SAMe}* - See comments)
26 R estlessness shown by leaders of European nations negotiating union incentives (5) ENNUI {E}{N}{N}{U}{I}
27 T hen Emma cooked some lovely cheese (9) EMMENTHAL {THEN+EMMA}*{Lovely} There's an additional 'H' in the spelling of the cheese. See comments
28 H alf the pretzels taken by old poet Eliot for the sake of appearances (8) PRETEXTS {PRETzels}{EX}{TS}
29 E lectrocuted quiet prince is in terrible daze (6) ZAPPED {ZA{P}{P}ED*}

DOWN
1   B achelor’s stash with a kilo added, results in pain (8) BACKACHE {BA}{C{K}ACHE}
2   O rdered tests that held Murugan’s weapon to be the slimmest (8) SVELTEST {S{VEL}TEST*}
3   A malgamation of an unknown entity at first (5) UNITY {UNIT}{Y}
5   R emedies in natural science (7) PHYSICS [DD]
6   D isallowing the start of Satyagraha at first leads to crushing… (9) (Addendum - SQUASHING {S}{QUASHING} - See comments)
7   E lectronic gate that is most certainly (3,3) AND NOR ? (Addendum - AND HOW {AND} {HOW} - See comments)
8   X enon found trapped in deformed tree in a historical city in England (6) EXETER {E{XE}TER*}
9   A tail, beside, is short & bristly (6) STUBBY {STUB}{BY}
15 M ilitary campaign’s objectionable (9) OFFENSIVE [DD]
17 I nherent ability to buy for a specialty store (4,4) (Addendum - GIFT SHOP {GIFT} {SHOP} - See comments)
18 N ibble lived around the edge of a silo and emitted sharp sounds (8) WHISTLED {WHI{S}T}{LED}
20 A national topic (7) SUBJECT [DD]
21 T undra resident from east almost glides near a hole (6) ESKIMO {E}{SKIMs}{O}
22 I n dreamland, although old British Prime Minister was upset (6) ASLEEP {AS}{LEEP<=}
23 O ldest alloy in Britain’s forging zone (6) BRONZE {BR}{ZONE*}
25 N estled among jamun, jacaranda is an Asiatic grass (5) MUNJA [T]

No 11020, Friday 28 Feb 2014, Afterdark

Happiness day I presume for all those who wanted it that way ;-)

ACROSS

1   T uber in a vessel at examination (6) POTATO {POT}{AT}{O}

4   H unts the wayward actress who lost direction (6) TRACES ACTRESs* Mistake needs to be TRACED !

9   E xcitable calibre man has? No, just the opposite (4) CALM {CAL}{M}

10 T he braless served up in suspense (10) BREATHLESS*

11 W ell-organised Reich with love can become chivalrous (6) HEROIC {REICH+O}*

12 E nforces exodus at El Salvador to capture the darling (8) EXECUTES {EX}{E{CUTE}S}

13 N o end for sloppy chances to get fungi (9) MUSHROOMS {MUSHy}{ROOMS}

15 T rousers police sergeant wore had insect inside (5) PANTS {P{ANT}S} Imagine a policeman with ants in his pants!!

16 Y ou enter pub from back entrance with nothing outside and take over (3,2) BUY UP {B{UoY} UP}<=

18 F ree peacekeepers by bay accosting communists (9) UNCOVERED {UN}{COVE}{RED}

22 I mmoral fellows at the bar found in the cellar (8) BASEMENT {BASE}{MEN}{T}

23 F ullness seen in outside practice specialist has (6) PLENTY {PL{ENT}Y}

25 T rains via Ohio derail on departures (10) VARIATIONS {TRAINS+VIA+O}* O for Ohio?

26 H ummed a saying unknown setter left outside (4) SANG SAyiNG

27 G ives Evelyn a facelift symmetrically (6) EVENLY*

28 R eformed slut follows condition of grown-ups (6) ADULTS {AD}{SLUT*} What condition is AD? See comments

DOWN

1   I llustration on gold table (7) PLATEAU {PLATE}{AU}

2   D ischarged upset pilot officer on time (5) TEMPO {TEM<=}{PO}

3   T o nearly withdraw Commanding Officer with cigarette? (7) TOBACCO {TO}{BACk}{CO} Is injurious to health

5   H arassed marathoner left riotous Oman by preference (6) RATHER maRATHonER*

6   A cute call made to plan (9) CALCULATE*

7   N ew timidness I’m taking out from protest (7) DISSENT TimIDNESS*

8   K iller instinct seen from French end (13) DETERMINATION {DE}{TERMINATION}

14 S pouse to store sewing items perhaps? (9) HOUSEWIFE [DD]

17 F lummoxed warehouseman misses dilapidated homes in the dark (7) UNAWARE WAREhoUsemAN*

19 O bstructed work submitted (7) OPPOSED {OP}{POSED}

20 L engthens former spouse’s care on Sunday (7) EXTENDS {EX}{TEND}{S}

21 K inky lad hugs specialist of teeth (6) DENTAL {D{ENT}AL*}

24 S ee Los Angeles differently through a frame (5) EASEL {SEE+LA}*

No.10992, Monday 27 Jan 2014, Spinner

Spinner's bowling spell goes well. Apart from themed words in the pangram grid, a few season the clues as well.

ACROSS

1 P uddle around first Peruvian mammal (6) POTTER (P OTTER)

4 S omalian neighbour’s spell breaks into two after original Disarming Jinx (8) DJIBOUTI (D J BOUT in II)

10 I nterchanges beheaded enchantresses (7) WITCHES (sWITCHES)

11 S eeds protect returning valuable spices (7) NUTMEGS (NUTS around GEM<)

12 O utside of the law, politician pushes out rookie — That’s unstated (8) IMPLICIT (MP in place of L in ILLICIT)
          "Politician pushes out rookie" Ahem, ahem!

13 L asso that lass’s bottom (6) NETHER (NET HER)

15 E rase erotic content from the fortuneteller (4) SEER (T)

17 M agical game brings money with abandon (9) QUIDDITCH (QUID DITCH)

         

20 N asty hog enters; Wets the kennels (9) DOGHOUSES (HOG* in DOUSES)

21 L ow, lacking energy, but has right to dazzle (4) BLUR (BLUe R)

24 Y ard divided by 36, with unlimited beds moved in gradually (6) INCHED (INCH bEDs)

25 S cented root that covered green headgear (5,3) STRAW HAT (RAW in S THAT)

28 W rongdoer flees one country for another (7) AUSTRIA (AUSTRALIA - AL (Capone))

29 E xit messy petrol station forgetting teapot (7) NOSTRIL (PETROL STATION-TEAPOT)*

30 A grees to come down in cheat’s absence and comes down (8) DESCENDS (conDESCENDS)

31 R agged debate with editor (6) FRAYED (FRAY ED)

DOWN

1 T raining to cover ground is weak, but most cunning (8) PAWKIEST (PT around (IS WEAK)*)

2 H arry Potter, without hesitation, to include Umbridge’s head to total (3,2) TOT UP (POTTer U)*

          Nice to see Harry as an anagrind. My only grouse was that Harry and Potter are both in the answers too.

          But what the heck, it is a themed crossie, innit ...

3 A lien’s chin broke by native (6) ETHNIC (ET CHIN*)

5 T en to pursue Chinese dynasty’s curse (4) JINX (JIN X)

6 I n-charge follows the time after graduate becomes sentimental (8) BATHETIC (BA THE T IC)

7 M orally wrong manipulation of a hint/clue (9) UNETHICAL (A HINT CLUE)*

8 (U) Rather inure to collecting first special cover (6) INSURE (S in INURE)

          Reminded me of the days in the '70s when I used to regularly queue up at the GPO at the end of Abid Road 

          in Hyderabad for those special first day covers

9 P ersevering fool finds one couple — You and me (9) ASSIDUOUS (ASS I DUO US)

14 T urn away specialist with daughter’s alert (9) ADVERTENT (AVERT ENT with D)

16 O verwhelmers of the demons live with limitless force and top strength (9) EXORCISTS (EXIST around fORCe S)

18 N on-functioning footwear kept in shape by this (8) SHOETREE (E)

          I don't know about shoetrees, but we have some garbage-bag trees near our house. They regularly sprout garbage bags.

19 O riginally, Parseltongues made noise and spoke pointlessly (8) PRATTLED (P RATTLED)

22 G enius from zone with unlimited size (6) WIZARD (WARD with sIZe)

23 O ld Trafford’s second most selfless footballer? (6) PASSER (PASSE R)

          Rarely gets credit ... Kya set up hai!

26 O verheard whiskered badger (5) HARRY (~HAIRY)

27 D irection with magic stick (4) WAND (W AND)
          Reminded me of Wanda Witch

Some general words like Prattled and Passer are not included in the theme. Despite the 'magical' nature of Exorcists, I am told by expert HP adviser that it may not be part of the theme.