No 13697, Saturday 29 Oct 2022, Dreamer

ACROSS

8   Tax on goods from Romania entering a day before Gandhi Jayanti (6) OCTROI {RO} in {OCT 1}

9   Soldiers trapped in remote Germany in an area surrounded by homesteads (8) FARMYARD {F{ARMY}AR}{D}

10 Dish made using a slice of veal with popular Indian pulse and eggs (8) VINDALOO {Veal}{IN}{DAL}{00}

11 Separation from second child is source of madness (6) SCHISM {S}{CH}{IX}{Ma...s}

12 Sticky notes ultimately seized by six detectives (6) VISCID {VI}{n..eS}{CID}

13 Tell Rosy to roam in streetcars (8) TROLLEYS*

15 Troublemaker, yet I condemned blasphemy (7) IMPIETY {IMP}{YET+I}*

17 A female pilot embracing sailor in a friendly manner (7) AFFABLY {A}{F}{F{AB}LY}

20 Roll of very small size - discard occasionally (2,3,3) ON AND OFF {NANO<=}{DOFF}

22 Always check before end of day to be happy (6) CHEERY {CH}{EER}{daY}

23 A bomb exploded near Oxygen plant (6) BAMBOO {A+BOMB}*{O}

25 Sibling wants setter to get staple for old maid (8) SPINSTER {S(-i+pin)PINSTER}

26 Good fact about Katrina, for example (3,2,3) ACT OF GOD*

27 New T-shirt is long (6) THIRST*

DOWN

1   Show unionist wearing short skirt backward - it's rare (8) ACTINIUM {ACT}{M{U}INI<=}

2   Inclination to ignore the French forecast (10) PREDICTION PREDIleCTION

3   Upper-class model having sex appeal came first (6) TITLED {T}{IT}{LED}

4   Underwear primarily needed inside frosty building (1-6) Y-FRONTS {YFRO{Ne...d}TS*}

5   Snub shrub (5-3) BRUSH-OFF {SHRUB}* [RA]

6   Legend of Padmanabhaswamy, Thiruvananthapuram (4) MYTH [T]

7   Father is extremely kinky and active (6) FRISKY {FR}{IS}{KinkY}

14 Trained dealers in authority (10) LEADERSHIP {DEALERS*}{HIP}

16 Efficient yet impolite (8) THOROUGH {THO}{ROUGH}

18 Leaseholder mainly receiving Arkansas government grant (8) LARGESSE {L{AR}{G}ESSEe}

19 The part of vehicle furthest from the curb is in an illegal position (7) OFFSIDE {OFF}{SIDE} (Correction - [DD] - See comments

21 Suggestion given by sister outside a church (6) NUANCE {NU{A}N}{CE}

22 Beginning to compose clue on unknown calico from India (6) CHINTZ {Co...e}{HINT}{Z}

24 Forehead's dark for the most part (4) BROW BROWn

Reference List

Germany = D, Second = S, Child = CH, Female = F, Sailor = AB, Check = CH, Unionist = U, The in French = LE, Model = T, Sex appeal = IT, Father = FR, In = HIP, Government = G, Church = CE, Unknown = Z

No 13658, Monday 12 Sep 2022, Dreamer

Solution to 16D has been deliberately left unsolved and is to be answered only by a non-regular / novice commenter, with proper annotation. Those who have answered earlier in the week, please give others a chance.

ACROSS

8 Poor lad is maltreated to some extent (6) DISMAL [T]

9 Top trips? (8) OUTSTRIP {TRIPS}* [RA]

10 An imaginary place of great opportunity located in Chesterfield or Adoni (8) EL DORADO [T]

11 Dismisses energy flow outside cold surfaces, at first (6) EJECTS {E}{JE{C}T}{Su...s}

12 Locality in Virgin Islands — popular in town (8) VICINITY {VI}{C{IN}ITY}

13 Start counter around end of duel (6) BLENCH {B{dueL}ENCH}

14 Faint area outside borders of Yemen (7) SYNCOPE {S{YemeN}COPE}

17 You primarily google "rocks" in study of the Earth (7) GEOLOGY {You+GOOGLE}* 

20 Hot pepper from a raised area of land in Ivory Coast (6) CHILLI {C{HILL}I}

22 Volunteer heartlessly abandoned sweetheart (8) TRUELOVE VOLUnTEER*

25 Move bishop and risk a piece (6) GOBBET {GO}{B}{BET}

26 Tailored grey coat for class (8) CATEGORY*

27 Retake from same user (8) REASSUME*

28 Part with wife at home for the time being (6) WINNOW {W}{IN}{NOW}

DOWN

1   Crime made by very sick American Indian near Yorkshire, originally (8) VILLAINY {V}{ILL}{Am...n}{In...n}{Near}{Yo...e}

2   Doctor enthralled by sources of excess organic lipids in blood clots (6) EMBOLI {MB} in {Ex...s}{Or...c}{Li...s}{In}

3   Aluminium, potassium and the greatest soluble base (6) ALKALI {AL}{K}{ALI}

4   "Mopy town" — possibly not weak for name of a place (7) TOPONYM {MOPY+TOwN}*

5   A man breaks piping in a shaking state (8) ATREMBLE {A}{TRE{M}BLE}

6   Spiritual English gangster hides in that place (8) ETHEREAL {E}{THERE}{AL}

7   Computer program tackles independent chip relating to living organisms (6) BIOTIC {B{I}OT}{IC}

15 College graduate sadly smuggles crown of hazel tree (8) CALABASH {C}{ALA{BA}S}{Ha..l}

16 Hard copy obtained from top rut? (8) P?I?T?U? (Addendum - PRINTOUT {PR} in {TOUT}={TO{P R}UT} - See comments)

18 Regulator with extra plugs? Ignore after unwrapping (8) GOVERNOR {iG{OVER}NORe}

19 Industrious person using small watch (7) STICKER {S}{TICKER}

21 Violent young person and editor having half closed heavy eyelids (6) HOODED {HOOD}{ED}

23 "Now! Put crackers in residential area in city!" (6) UPTOWN*

24 Stop following member's story (6) LEGEND {END}<=>{LEG}

Reference List

Energy = E, Cold = C, Popular = IN, Bishop = B, Wife = W, At home = IN, Very = V, The greatest = ALI, Weak = W, Man = M, English = E, Gangster = AL, Independent = I, Chip = IC, College = C, Small = S, Editor = ED

No 13622, Saturday 30 Jul 2022, Dreamer

ACROSS

8   Scold a boring group of stars (6) VIRAGO {VIR{A}GO}

9   Unrealistic nationalist movement by the travelling people (8) ROMANTIC {TIC}<=>{ROMAN} I thought travelling people are ROMANI? (Addendum - {N}{TIC}<=>{ROMA} - See comments)

10 Ace setter surprisingly avoids latest in crosswords and the like (2,6) ET CETERA {AcE+SETTER}* (Correction - {ACE+sETTER}* - See comments)

11 Unknown vehicle introduced in books is a vehicle pulled by animals, say (6) OXCART {X}{CAR} in {OT}

12 Possibly refer to parking zone that charges no tax on goods, for example (4,4) FREE PORT {REFER+TO+P}*

13 Centre for Biotechnology, Cuba developed soft cover used on the wheel of a vehicle (6) HUBCAP {b...cHn...y}{CUBA*}{P}

14 Order from workroom and atelier (7) MANDATE [T]

17 It makes the eyes smart with a great sulphur compound (4,3) TEAR GAS {A+GREAT+S}*

20 Is petitioner a legal entity that sells securities? (6) ISSUER {IS}{SUER}

22 Pennsylvania politician Henry gave permission to make brochure (8) PAMPHLET {PA}{MP}{H}{LET}

25 Swimmer reviewed system with automated computer program (6) TURBOT {RUT<=}{BOT}

26 Careless Curie in isolation (8) SOLITUDE  SOLIciTUDE

27 Model I hit is essentially consuming an Italian dessert (8) TIRAMISU {T}{I}{RAM}{IS}{c..sUm..g}

28 Angry son punched, biting face of Robert Bailey in the end (6) SHIRTY {S}{HI{Ro...t}T}{b...eY}

DOWN

1   British queen and Roman goddess (8) VICTORIA [DD]

2   Prepared note in cell (6) GAMETE {GAME}{TE}

3   Do without minimum of food at a US state, for the most part (6) FOREGO {Food}{OREGOn}

4   Hint about depth and width (7) BREADTH {BREA{D}TH}

5   Vessel mainly transports controversial energy drink (8) SMOOTHIE {S{MOOT}HIp}{E}

6   Rob keeps a piece of nougat and cake in buffet (5,3) SNACK BAR {S{N}ACK}{BAR}

7   I make a mistake in South American mountain range (6) SIERRA {S{I}ERR}A}

15 Tattoo of stupid European crossing river with a bar (8) DRUMBEAT {D{R}UMB}{E}{A}{T}

16 Run away from ultrathin building, deserting husband (4,4) TURN TAIL ULTRAThIN*

18 An English company framing director Lawrence's sketch (8) ANECDOTE {AN}{E}{C{D}O}{TE}

19 Without using recipe, ultimately prepared some soup for marsupial (7) OPOSSUM {SOMe+SOUP}*

21 Brainless princess deposits after retirement (6) STUPID {DI}{PUTS}<=

23 Attack secret agent and saint (6) MOLEST {MOLE}{ST}

24 Old Trafford primarily entertained by Mane's empty talk (3,3) HOT AIR {H{O}{T}AIR}

Reference List

Movement = TIC, Unknown = X, Books = OT, Parking = P, Soft = P, Petitioner = SUER, Politician = MP, Henry = H, System = RUT, Curie = CI,  Model = T, Son = S

Prepared = GAME, Note = TE, Hint = BREATH, Depth = D, Controversial = MOOT, Energy = E, Rob = SACK, Cake = BAR, Make a mistake = ERR, South American = SA, European = E, River = R, Bar = T, Husband = H, English = E, Company = CO, Director = D, Princess = DI, Secret agent = MOLE, Saint = ST, Mane = HAIR

Colour/Font Scheme

Definition, Solution, Component letters, Embedded links, Theme word,  Reference list 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

No 13596, Thursday 30 Jun 2022, Dreamer

Solution to 11A has been deliberately left unsolved and is to be answered only by a non-regular / novice commenter, with proper annotation. Those who have answered earlier in the week, please give others a chance.

ACROSS

8   Sit oddly before old sound system (6) STEREO {SiT}{ERE}{O}

9   Old viral poem about lost love (8) PRIMEVAL {VIRAL+PoEM}*

10 Better attendant? (8) CROUPIER [CD]

11 Tie note encircling employee's original resume (6) R?O?E? (Addendum - REOPEN {R{Em...r}OPE}{N}

12 Beef sausage? Nope. Ripe bananas! (8) PEPERONI*

13 Lawrence has arm pain (6) TWINGE {T{WING}E}

14 Son on vacation provided short name for brandy glass (7) SNIFTER {SoN}{IF}{TERm}

17 Company backing narrative about source of liquid fuel (4,3) COAL GAS {CO}{SAG{Li...d}A<=}

20 Son went to get a little ornate instrument used in vehicles (6) SPEEDO {S}{PEED}{Or...e}

22 Are terms amended to produce new version of old recording? (8) REMASTER*

25 Stylish mark covering main part of the cloth (6) INSEAM {IN}{SEA}{M}

26 Poem by retired salesman is ill-natured (8) PERVERSE {VERSE}<=>{REP<=}

27 Dismiss beautiful woman without sex appeal and talent, primarily (8) BELITTLE {BEL{IT}{Ta...t}LE}

28 Somehow worry about onset of anthracnose in plant (6) YARROW {Y{An...e}RRPOW*}

DOWN

1  Physician gets a piece of tailless fish (8) STURGEON {S{Ta...s}URGEON}

2   Champion of the people ignoring principle of "Blessed Trinity" (6) TRIUNE TRIbUNE

3   Dutch man at home wearing spectacles and a loose cloak with wide sleeves (6) DOMINO {D}{O{M}{IN}O}

4   Condemn attack by Britain after leaders of Ukraine pressurised (7) UPBRAID {B}{RAID}<=>{Uk...e}{Pr...d}

5   Title Rob used for book containing words of Opera? (8) LIBRETTO*

6   Monument spread over Bank of Missouri (8) MEMORIAL {ME{M or I}AL}

7   Request Bill to interrupt German person who is dishonest (3,3) BAD EGG {B{AD}EG}{G}

15 Wild democratic movement to acquire dominance at the centre (8) FRENETIC {FRE{d..iNa..e}E}{TIC}

16 Crime novel by Christie accepted by English town, needing no introduction (8) ENORMITY {E}{N or M}{cITY}

18 Dislike American style (8) AVERSION {A}{VERSION}

19 Outing permitted for a group of three (7) TRIPLET {TRIP}{LET}

21 Hand tool price changed around beginning of November (6) PINCER {PI{No...r}CER*}

23 Injure newcomer endlessly and put to death (6) MARTYR {MAR}{TYRo}

24 Sad to invite that man without originally offering a drink (6) SHERRY {So{HE}RRY}

Reference List

Before = ERE, Old = O, Note = N, Lawrence = TE, Went = PEED, Son = S, Stylish = IN, Mark = M, Sex appeal = IT, Dutch = D, Man = M, Spectacles = OO, Britain = B, Bill = AD, German = G, English = E, American = A 

No 13552, Tuesday 10 May 2022, Dreamer

Solution to 28A has been deliberately left unsolved and is to be answered only by a non-regular / novice commenter, with proper annotation. Those who have answered earlier in the week, please give others a chance.

ACROSS

8   Say, hole in the back part of gun barrel (6) BREECH (~breach)

9   Set apart wet substance drawn directly from faucet, for example (3,5) TAP WATER* 

10 Killer of two donkeys and one panda, essentially (8) ASSASSIN {ASS}{ASS}{1}{paNda}

11 English guide carries marijuana cigarette (6) REEFER {RE{E}FER}

12 Don killed Eastern saints near Massachusetts to get official record (3,5) PRO FORMA {PROFessOR}{MA}

13 Struggle to understand secondary school laboratory experiments, for starters (6) TUSSLE Acrostic

14 Upset Alexander angered to some extent (7) DERANGE [T]

17 Person serving coffee is a brat, possibly (7) BARISTA*

20 After initiation of operation, Italian young woman rotated apparatus used in drilling (3,3) OIL RIG {O}{{I}{GIRL<=}

22 State detains a worthless person — it’s no time to work, maybe (8) SATURDAY {S{A}{TURD}AY}

25 Ducks having a new cluster of genes (6) OPERON {O{PER}O}{N}

26 Talk tediously about early signs of regeneration in money plant (8) PRIMROSE {P{Re...n}{In}{Mo..y}ROSE}

27 American soldier introduces high tariff for decorations on the wall (8) GRAFFITI {G{TARRIFF*}I}

28 Rock salt ultimately given to aquatic animal (6) T?T?E? (Addendum - TOTTER {salT}{OTTER} - See comments)

DOWN

1   Can somehow reverse page? (8) PRESERVE {REVERSE+P}*

2   Interest and fine irritated able husband earlier (6) BEHALF {F}<=>{ABLE+H}*

3   Some maniac has eradicated pursuer (6) CHASER [T]

4   David Cameron, say, reformed European nation (7) ETONIAN* {E+NATION}*

5   Excited to repeat light dramatic work (8) OPERETTA*

6   Ask/write about a sporting equipment (5,3) WATER SKI*

7   Breakfast food and periodical for audience (6) CEREAL (~serial)

15 Plane model found under river in Africa, mysteriously (8) AIRCRAFT {T}<=>{R+AFRICA}*

16 Great presentation by old clown (8) GIGANTIC {GIG}{ANTIC} 

18 Schools wanting international umpire after retirement to bring a change (8) TRANSFER {TRAiNS}{REF<=}

19 A doubter avoids source of contamination in the beginning to be medically clean (7) ASEPTIC {A}{ScEPTIC}

21 Bring in Dreamer’s wine (6) IMPORT {I'M}{PORT}

23 A number of dehydrated students originally pulled out (6) THIRTY THIRsTY

24 Find a little reassurance and relief after leaving church (6) RARITY {Re...e}{chARITY}

Reference List

Eastern = E, Saint = S, Italian = I, New = N, Page = P, Fine = F, Husband = H, European = E, Model = T, River = R, International = I, Umpire = REF, Church = CH

No 13527, Monday 11 Apr 2022, Dreamer

I am surprised to see the kind of foreword posted by the Crossword desk on today's crossword in the online edition, while other third rate crosswords are put up shamelessly without any comments whatsoever, I am sure all of you know whom I mean without giving names. Most disgusting. I wonder if the other third rate crossword being passed is by some relative from the team at the the Crossword desk. 

Update as at 12:15 PM: The Foreword has since been removed from the Online edition.

Update as at 1:15 PM: The Foreword has been reworded as an apology and posted again and in addition the earlier Foreword has been put on the Crossword by WrdPlougher on 09 Apr. 

Solution to 18D has been deliberately left unsolved and is to be answered only by a non-regular / novice commenter, with proper annotation. Those who have answered earlier in the week, please give others a chance.

ACROSS

8   Escort company’s representatives, essentially (6) CONVOY {CO}{eNVOYs}

9   Target Pique and Hazard (8) ENDANGER {END}{ANGER}

10 Actor suspiciously follows editor and university teacher (8) EDUCATOR {ACTOR}*<=>{ED}{U}

11 Smooth stretch at ocean (6) LEGATO {LEG}{AT}{O}

12 Peaks of Everest erupted by cracks (8) VERTEXES {VERTE{X}ES*}

13 It’s appropriate ultimately that setter gets married at a cathedral city (6) TIMELY {thaT}{I}{M}{ELY}

14 Despise, deceive and tease men, heartlessly (7) CONTEMN {CON}{TeasE}{MeN}

17 Problem announced by Irish king is exasperating (7) IRKSOME {(~sum)SOME}<=>{IR}{K}

20 Trainee from Egypt avoiding cyberspace (6) INTERN INTERNet

22 Our son kept failing in a movement towards higher position (8) UPSTROKE {OUR+S+KEPT}*

25 Father and mother touring Portugal, Sweden and grassy plains of South America (6) PAMPAS {PA}{M{P}A}{S}

26 Release English girl before no one returns (8) EMISSION {E}{MISS}{NO 1<=}

27 Some jobless youngster’s response to expulsion of air, perhaps (5,3) BLESS YOU [T]

28 Arrest that woman outside India (6) HINDER {H{IND}ER}

DOWN

1   Goodbye to old lion in party (6-2) TOODLE-OO {TO}{O}{D{LEO}O}

2   Bird found in a muddy cove near Thailand (6) AVOCET {A}{COVE*}{T}

3   Reported crime rate to make a set of rules (6) SYNTAX {(~sinSYN}{TAX}

4   Closest shelter admits every abandoned refugee, primarily (7) NEAREST {N{Every}{Ab...d}{Re...e}EST}

5   I perform next for a devotee (8) IDOLATER {I}{DO}{LATER}

6   Society supports sick aged men in final stages (8) ENDGAMES {S}<=>{AGED+MEN}*

7   Merry fellow and others parted by closure of business (6) FESTAL {F}{E{b...eS}TAL}

15 Lock health club to stop unlawful entry (8) TRESPASS {TRES{SPA}S}

16 Maybe I need my special imagination! (5,3) MINDS EYE {I+NEED+MY+S}*

18 Casually remove caps from kitchen appliances for renovation (8) M?K?O?E?  (Addendum - MAKEOVER - {REMOVE+Ki...n+Ap...s}* - See comments)

19 Engineer used to upload in the beginning, being obedient (7) DUTEOUS {USED+TO+Up...d}*

21 Almost new opening (6) NEARLY {N}{EARLY}

23 Insignificant deception, say (6) SLIGHT (~sleight)

24 Dislike leaderless state (6) RESENT pRESENT

Reference List

University = U, Ocean = O, Married = M, Irish = IR, King = K, Egypt = ET, Son = S, Portugal = P, Sweden = S, English = E, Old = O, Party = DO, Thailand = T, Society = S, Fellow = F, Special = S, New = N

The Hindu Cryptic on Sunday #73, Sunday 06 Mar 2022, Dreamer

The Hindu Cryptic on Sunday can be accessed at the link given below. You need to register and sign in using an email ID and password, subscription may or may not be required.

The crossword is not being blogged as the annotations are provided in the interactive version itself which can be seen if you click on 'Show a hint' under the 'reveal' tab on the top.

The same will be posted on every Sunday at 6 AM.

Link to the Crossword

Enjoy.

No 13475, Wednesday 09 Feb 2022, Dreamer

Solution to 25A has been deliberately left unsolved and is to be answered only by a non-regular / novice commenter, with proper annotation. Those who have answered earlier in the week, please give others a chance.

ACROSS

1   Chop bird outside dilapidated old vehicle (6) JALOPY {JA{LOP}Y}

4   Present king left for distant part of the sea (6) OFFING OFFerING

8   Campaign by politicians to introduce uniform for preparatory activities (4-3) WARM-UPS {WAR}{M{U}PS}

9   Looked after a child in club, overcoming calamity, briefly (7) BABYSAT {B{ABYSs}AT}

11 Key ancestors of humans primarily transformed mechanism used in timepieces (10) ESCAPEMENT {ESC}{APEMEN}{Tr...d}

12 Place for hiding withdrawn currency of Oman (4) LAIR<=

13 Shot violent ordinary dogs pitilessly in the beginning (5) PHOTO {HOT}{O}<=>{Pi...y}

14 Charlie discarding old mobile angrily over frozen water? Put back! (8) IMBECILE {MoBILE}* over {ICE<=}

16 Engineer made tiny explosive (8) DYNAMITE*

18 State manipulates demands (5) NEEDS (~kneads)

20 Leaders from women are reliable, motivated and enthusiastic (4) WARM Acrostic

21 Conquering rocky hill in dangerous surroundings (10) VICTORIOUS {VIC{TOR}IOUS}

23 Importance of old city in country? (7) STATURE {STAT{UR}E}

24 A very small living thing found in rodents bites Rob (7) MICROBE {MIC{ROB}E}

25 Bank backs artist infrequently (6) R?R?L?  (Addendum - {RELY}<=>{RA} - See comments)

26 “Introduction to poems” by a mediocre poet becomes an elementary textbook for children (6) PRIMER {Po..s}{RIMER}

DOWN

1   Tailor Raj needs to get rid of red trousers (5) JEANS {rAJ+NEedS}*

2   Lower back pain resulting from powerless slap on back... (7) LUMBAGO {pLUMB}{AGO}

3   ... very quietly consumes a slice of eggplant with Italian beer and sausage of beef and pork (9) PEPPERONI {P{Eg...t}P}{PERONI}

5   Spread ironlike metal, essentially (5) FEAST {FE}{AS}{meTal}

6   Masala idli with drained chutney and a piece of laddu? That’s heavenly! (7) IDYLLIC {IDLI+Ch...eY}+Laddu}*

7   Gardener’s first kid promises to pay around end of April for flowering plant (9) GLADIOLUS {Ga...r}{LAD}{IO{a..iL}US}

10 Religious education wing at new church house (9) RESIDENCE {RE}{SIDE}{N}{CE}

13 Team prays desperately for officer in charge of managing wages (9) PAYMASTER*

15 Used black lead and iron to make cartridge belt (9) BANDOLIER {B+LEAD+IRON}*

17 Instrument for measuring current and amplitude modulation encountered base resistance (7) AMMETER {AM}{MET}{E}{R}

19 Saw European hog with a male sheep (7) EPIGRAM {E}{PIG}{RAM}

21 Kohli gives up captaincy in Tests for Rahul at last, becomes an Internet sensation (5) VIRAL VIRA(-t+l)L

22 Finally, you can grab sofa cover and open (5) UNBAR Tail Acrostic

Reference List

King = ER, Uniform = U, Ordinary = O, Old = O, Old city = UR, Power = P, Quietly = P, Religious education = RE, New = N, Church = CE, Black = B, Amplitude Modulation = AM, Base = E, Resistance = R, European = E 

No 13448, Friday 07 Jan 2022, Dreamer

RULES FOR POSTING COMMENTS ON FRIDAYS ONLY

All those who are not regular commenters but who are rookie commenters or silent followers of the blog are requested to post answers with annotations in the comments section. In your own interest please avoid looking up the answers from the interactive version. Don't hesitate to post your annotations, in case you make a mistake in the annotation someone will correct it with the right annotation.

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

Rangoli by Gowri

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

ACROSS

8   Spies checking people around movie theatre (6) CINEMA {CI{MEN<=}A}

9   Open film set regularly beyond regular working hours (8) OVERTIME {OVERT}{fIlM+sEt}

10 Doctor lies about discharged patient’s heart for sure (8) ABSOLUTE {LiES+ABOUT}*

11 Spirited Paraguay welcomes good fortune (6) PLUCKY {P{LUCK}Y}

12 Leave out track for aircraft used in snowfield (8) SKIPLANE {SKIP}{LANE}

13 Quietly searches, crossing fast-flowing part of the river (6) RAPIDS {RA{P}IDS}

14 Emergence of wolf? (7) OUTFLOW {WOLF}* [RA]

17 Engineer ignored real fact about railroad vehicle (7) FLATCAR {ReAL+FACT}*

20 I split affected part of the flower (6) PISTIL*

22 Without hesitation, girls hosting father’s last game (8) DRAUGHTS {D{f...eR}AUGHTerS}

25 Son left capital of Ukraine around third month of civil year in Jewish calendar (6) KISLEV {KI{S}{L}EV}

26 Bottle, bags, medium black spectacles and footwear (8) GUMBOOTS {GU{M}{B}{OO}TS}

27 Flush out old towel (4-2-2) WELL-TO-DO*

28 Ask theologian about withdrawal of celebrity (6) DEMAND {D{NAME<=}D}

DOWN

1   Man, however, keeps potassium and uranium in a faraway place (8) TIMBUKTU {TIM}{BU{K}T}{U}

2   Compensate future couples, partly! (6) RECOUP [T]

3   Empty space disfigured entrance of Ulverston Canal (6) LACUNA {Ul...n+CANAL}*

4   Predict cost to smuggle minerals (7) FORESEE {F{ORES}EE}

5   Essentially attempts examination to become secular (8) TEMPORAL {atTEMPts}{ORAL}

6   Camp follower decided to entertain former US President (8) STRUMPET {S{TRUMP}ET}

7   Fumed second kid abandoned college education (6) SMOKED {S}{MOcK}ED}

15 Fully tie rocks in an unproductive manner (8) FUTILELY*

16 Neglect violin damaged by old boy (8) OBLIVION {VIOLIN}*<=>{OB}

18 At a ceremony outside home (8) ASTATINE {A}{STAT{IN}E}

19 Notice a good type of mobile software to make musical compositions in a slow tempo? (7) ADAGIOS {AD}{A}{G}{IOS}

21 Current US President ultimately isolated millions in the same place (6) IBIDEM {I}{BIDEn}{M}

23 A fleet of warships found in Vohemar, Madagascar (6) ARMADA [T]

24 Dejected John Abraham finally visits Germany on vacation (6) GLOOMY {LOO}{a...aM} in {Ge...nY}

Reference List

Quietly = P, Engineer = E, Son = S, Left = L, Medium = M, Black = B, Spectacles OO, Theologian = DD, Second = S, College = C, Education = ED, Old Boy = OB, Notice = AD, Good = G, Current = I, Millions = M, John = LOO

No 13424, Friday 10 Dec 2021, Dreamer

RULES FOR POSTING COMMENTS ON FRIDAYS ONLY

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PLEASE NOTE, SOLUTIONS WITHOUT ATTEMPTING THE ANNOTATIONS WILL BE DELETED

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ACROSS

8   Unusual name saves unintelligent person from the east (6) EXOTIC {CIT{OX}E}<=

9   For the most part, Spanish city hosts free game of football (8) GRIDIRON {G{RID}IRONa}

10 Situation of South American wrestler near Brazilian city (8) SCENARIO {S}{CENA}{RIO}

11 Encrypt conservative poem by nurse (6) ENCODE {C}{ODE}<=>{EN}

12 Chaotic mind will move like a wheel (8) WINDMILL*

13 Adjust old payment incorporating interest, primarily (6) ORIENT {O}{R{In...t}ENT}

14 Try to break bad items for self-interest (7) EGOTISM {E{GO}TISM*}

17 Greedy sister and husband adopt a mischievous child (7) SELFISH {S{ELF}IS}{H}

20 Rice dish made by father and girl (6) PAELLA {PA}{ELLA}

22 Mixing hard rock with pop? It may not be kosher for some people! (4,4) PORK CHOP {H+ROCK+POP}*

25 Revises morning targets (6) AMENDS {AM}{ENDS}

26 An increase in the wavelength of light found in space around plastic shed (3,5) RED SHIFT {R{SHED*}IFT}

27 Forsaken soldiers hiding in food shop adjacent to court (8) DERELICT {DE{RE}LI}{CT}

28 Last piece of tofu added to very rare frozen dessert (6) SORBET {BE}{Tofu}<=>{SO}{R}

DOWN

1   Praising college instead of student? That’s harsh! (8) EXACTING EXA(-l+c)CTING

2   Drunk son united with daughter outside bar (6) STONED {S}{ONE}{D} over {T}

3   A tax on certain goods entering a town in Romania during first day of last quarter (6) OCTROI {RO} in {OCT 1}

4   Insignificant gunmen leaving base (7) IGNOBLE IGNOraBLE 

5   Mountain in America, say, endlessly emits rocks and unknown source of oxygen and neon (4,4) TIME ZONE {EMITs}*{Z}{Ox...n}{NE} I feel definition is inadequate

6   Cook around lunch time following Frenchman’s pranks (8) MISCHIEF {CH{1}EF}<=>{M IS}

7   Ground adjoining meeting place becomes wet (6) SODDEN {SOD}{DEN}

15 Brilliant story — celebrated without a hint of objection (8) TALENTED {TALE}{NoTED}

16 Fur sale’s managed by people (8) SEALSKIN {SALES*}{KIN}

18 Safe cots, maybe! (4-4) SCOT-FREE {COTS}* [RA]

19 Talk about training and work (7) OPERATE {O{PE}RATE}

21 Rent a room at the entrance for a band (6) ARMLET {LET}<=>{A}{RM}

23 Essentially wrap food and vegetable (6) RADISH {wRAp}{DISH}

24 Division of company wanting to expel head of sales (6) COHORT {CO}{sHORT}

Reference List

South = S, Conservative = C, Nurse = EN(Enrolled Nurse), Old = O, Husband = H, Hard = H, Soldiers = RE(Royal Engineers), Rare = R, College = C, Student = L, Son = S, Daughter = D, Bar = T,  Romania = RO, Gunmen = RA(Royal Artillery), Unknown = Z, Frenchman = M, Training = PE, Room = RM, Company = CO

TalePiece

By Dr RKE

TELL-TALE BAND

Dr. Amanda Davison was the only woman in the COHORT of 5 new residents who had joined the very EXACTING abdominal surgery residency at the McGill University hospital, Toronto. The Chief was Prof. Matt Bernstein, a TALENTED surgeon, who was reputed to OPERATE as dexterously with the left hand as he did with the right. Naturally with such talent comes a streak of EGOTISM. Need I say, he was a tough taskmaster, who would not let any resident go SCOT FREE without completing all the paperwork- never mind that the resident had not slept for 36 hours. He would select one resident for roasting every week but he was gracious enough to make AMENDS by inviting that resident for a weekend dinner at his house with delicacies such as juicy PORK CHOPS and RADISH on the side, PAELLA and SORBET.

On one SODDEN snowy night in December, Amanda was called to the ER at 4 am. It was hard for her to ORIENT herself when she was rudely awakened by the phone in the duty resident’s room, as she had hit the sack just 10 minutes earlier. It was the usual harried SCENARIO in the ER, with STONED hypothermic IGNOBLE DERELICTS from the streets brought in by the cops and accident victims. But Amanda was called in to see a thirtyish woman in a SEALSKIN jacket, complaining of sudden severe pain in the right lower part of the abdomen and vomiting. The patient was shivering and so without taking off the jacket fully, Amanda opened only the front zipper, to examine the abdomen. She found the rebound tenderness so classical of acute appendicitis. For all the advancements in the medical field, appendicitis remains a clinical diagnosis and no investigation can conclusively rule in or out appendicitis. Amanda ordered the routine blood work-up instructed the nurse to shift the patient to the OR for emergency appendectomy. On her way to the OR in the elevator, she was mentally rehearsing the steps of the operation- make a GRIDIRON lower quadrant abdominal incision perpendicular to one-third the way on the line from the iliac spine to the umbilicus… etc. These steps of the surgery get ENCODEd in the brains of residents after a few years but in the beginning, one has to make an effort to do a mental revision.

What a let down was it then for Amanda to find an absolutely healthy-looking appendix at surgery! Her first thought was “Chief is going to tear me to pieces in the morning” and with a rising fear she closed the abdomen. Exhausted, she dropped off in the surgeons’ lounge in the OR. Precisely at 7am Bernstein walked into the OR lounge and asked “Amanda, what MISCHIEF have you been up to, why on earth did you operate on Mrs. Logan?” Amanda braced herself for a week of roasting…..

If only Amanda had taken off the sealskin jacket of Mrs.Logan fully, she would  have seen the medical info ARMLET worn by her that declared she had AIP. Mrs. Logan was known to have an EXOTIC disease called acute intermittent porphyria (AIP), that presents repeatedly with abdominal pain mimicking acute appendicitis. This disease needs only medicines and surgery is contraindicated. As per routine hospital practice, the ER nurse had removed everything that Logan wore before changing her into the OR gown and the tired, overworked Dr.Amanda was oblivious of that tell-tale band. Thus, she learnt a doctor’s life-lesson the hard way- “if you don’t strip the patient, your license may be stripped” 

Note: This is based on a true incident. Names and places changed. 

No 13400, Friday 12 Nov 2021, Dreamer

RULES FOR POSTING COMMENTS ON FRIDAYS ONLY

All those who are not regular commenters but who are rookie commenters or silent followers of the blog are requested to post answers with annotations in the comments section. In your own interest please avoid looking up the answers from the interactive version. Don't hesitate to post your annotations, in case you make a mistake in the annotation someone will correct it with the right annotation.

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   Belittle study about mechanical engineering advancements, at first (6) DEMEAN {DE{Me...l}{En...g}{Ad...s}N}

4   Player needs casual pants (6) SLACKS {S}{LACKS}

8   Heard boy made rotating instrument that indicates time of day (7) SUNDIAL (~son){SUN}{LAID<=}

9   A set of books having information about onset of illness and substance that causes an immune response (7) ANTIGEN {A}{NT}{GEN} over {Il...s}

11 Band’s program ma viewed without hesitation (6,4) MEDIUM WAVE {MA+VIEWED}* over {UM}

12 Unrest in spot around Ohio (2-2) TO-DO {DOT<=}{O}

13 Find time to be with family (5) TRACE {T}{RACE}

14 Shop for food and liquor around lunchtime in a state of uncontrolled excitement (8) DELIRIUM {DELI}{R{1}UM}

16 Like Spring comes back around March, mostly? (8) PARALLEL {PA{RALLy}{EL<=}

18 Flag Day parade starting late (5) DROOP {D}{tROOP}

20 Worker quietly making a warning sound (4) BEEP {BEE}{P}

21 Kelvin desires to elaborate a method involved in swimming (10) SIDESTROKE {K+DESIRES+TO}*

23 New driver in vehicle is primarily operating a trumpet (7) CLARION {C{L}AR}{Is}{ON}

24 It helps to unearth and supply coal near hill (7) LOCATOR {COAL*}{TOR}

25 Widow again left India around end of August (6) RELICT {RE}{L}{I}{C}{a...sT}

26 Comprehend unknown article for African national (6) KENYAN {KEN}{Y}{AN}

DOWN

1   Reason second daughter dropped a playing card? (5) DEUCE DEdUCE

2   Wine manufactured by Irish army, originally (7) MADEIRA {MADE}{IR}{Army}

3   Absent left wing students receiving last warning (5,4) ALARM BELL {A}{L}{ARM} {LL} over {BE}

5   Essentially looked for weapon? (5) LANCE gLANCEd

6   Catholic fellow left some food for domestic animal (7) CRITTER {C}{fRITTER}

7   Sleeping policeman from Sweden urinated behind park (5,4) SPEED BUMP {S}{PEED}{BUM}{P}

10 Son, I’d end all struggles with an overwhelming electoral victory (9) LANDSLIDE*

13 Salesman’s unending rant bored bank employee (9) TRAVELLER {T{RAVe}ELLER}

15 Long poem by Old Bob has quality that attracts (9) LODESTONE {L}{ODE}{S}{TONE}

17 Pages are wearing extremely awful clothes (7) APPAREL {Awf{P}{P}{ARE}uL}

19 Mary made a loud cry to get rid of Charlie (3,4) OUR LADY {A+LOUD+cRY}*

21 Small issue disheartened patient (5) STOIC {S}{TOpIC}

22 Famous king oddly hides currently (5) KNOWN {Ki{NOW}Ng}

Reference List

Player = S(South in Bridge), Set of books = NT(New Testament), Time = T, Day = D, Quietly = P, Kelvin = K, New driver = L, Again = RE, Left = L, India = I, Around = CA, Unknown = Y, Daughter = D, Irish = IR, Absent = A, Student = L, Catholic = C, Fellow = F, Sweden = S, Park = P, Long = L, Old Bob = S(Shilling), Page = P, Charlie = C, Small = S