No 13465, Friday 28 Jan 2022, Vidwan

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   Wavy ‘New Jazz’ gig lacks original jauntiness (6) ZIGZAG {jAZZ+GIG}*

4   Topic for an egotist? (5) THEME {THE ME}

9   Country song about soldiers (7) ARMENIA {AR{MEN}IA}

10 Where vagrants hang out and derelict kids fight (4,3) SKID ROW {KIDS*}{ROW}

12 Oddly costliest brand of a machine (4) OTIS {cOsTlIeSt}

13 Rock star big as lead in U2, supports harmony (4,6) BASS GUITAR {STAR+BIG+AS+U2}* 

15 She waxed eloquently, impressed many VIPs (7) TUSSAUD [CD]

17 Install software on it freely (7) APPOINT {APP}{ON+IT}*

19 Master returns, has bread and some steamy stuff (7) EROTICA {ACE<=} over {ROTI}

21 It flows with energy regularly, in tizzes (7) YANGTZE {YANG}{TiZzEs}

23 Song about old flame in country town (10) ALEXANDRIA {A{L{EX}AND}RIA}

26 Immense desire — not new, not right (4) HUGE HUnGEr

28 One trapped in a blood curdling game (7) DIABOLO {1} in {A+BLOOD}*

29 It is about better management of the races (7) EUGENIC [CD]

30 It is a nightmare! Of course! (5) BOGEY [C&DD]

31 Dull, sickly dog confined in a filthy place (6) STODGY {ST{DOG*}Y}

DOWN

1   Lifeless ones seen on Zoom, expressing nothing! Pricks wasting time! (7) ZOMBIES {ZOoM}{BItES}

2   Nucleotide regularly found in Green Tea (4) GENE {GrEeN+tEa}

3   Posture like a half-Cobra (5) ASANA {AS}{A}{NAja}

5   Japanese work with very few words (5) HAIKU [CD]

6   Myself and Rajinikanth are basically this (almost) (7) MARATHI {My...f}{And}{Ra...h}{Are}{THIs} Semi&lit Presuming Vidwan is a Marathi?

7   How Nadal felt about due process? (3,2,3,4) LAW OF THE LAND*

8   Very boring, say it’s sort of geological equilibrium (8) ISOSTASY  {SO} in {SAY+ITS}*

11 Upwardly mobile, fresh B.Tech men working hard to stay on the sidelines (4,3,5) WARM THE BENCH {RAW<=}{BTECH+MEN}*{H}

14 Racist person? A Zionist? To some extent (4) NAZI [T]

16 Unreasonable time spent for total messaging system in underground (8) DEADDROP {DE(-t+add)DDROP}

18 Unopened bottle and a delinquent (4) PUNK sPUNK

20 Mint gold and silver in one round (7) OREGANO {OR} and {ON{AG}E}<=

22 Collection of sports ties (7) TOURNEY [CD]

24 Promotion and honour for a reader (5) ADOBE {AD}{OBE}

25 Write about boring sex cowboy! (5) INEPT {PEN<=} in {IT}

27 Grey, broken wall’s gone (4) AGED damAGED

Reference List

Old flame = EX, New = N, Right = R, Time = T, Hard = H, Promotion = AD, Sex = IT

No 13464, Thursday 27 Jan 2022, Incognito

Solution to 10A 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   Refuse processing by computer, in short, and dance with nothing on? (4) GIGO {GIG}{0} 

9   Instrument turns tuneful, after peacekeepers left (5) FLUTE TunEFUL*

10 The King of Spades went back south to get slippery creatures (4) E?L? (Addendum - EELS {LEE<=}{S} - See comments)

11 Setter got into automobile with a photographic contraption (6) CAMERA {CA{ME}R}{A}

12 Pods bearing edible seeds for insane people (8) NUTCASES [DD]

13 Escort Argentinian president after tea (8) CHAPERON {CHA}{PERON}

15 Setter using oxygen performed experiment at first, producing salt (6) IODIDE {I}{O}{DID}{Ex...t}

17 Scud toy may become subject matter of divorce case, perhaps (7) CUSTODY*

19 Strained relations between USA and USSR when century old secret service returned (4,3) COLD WAR {C}{OLD}{RAW<=}

22 Good man with a lot of paper makes a flower (6) STREAM {ST}{REAM}

24 Parvenus reconstituted start-ups (8) UPSTARTS*

26 Hat Raman threw at plant (8) AMARANTH*

28 Kodava canine which ate nothing (6) COORGI {CO{O}RGI}

30 See 4 Down

31 Quick communication from Eastern Mali was garbled (5) EMAIL {E}{MALI*}

32 Attract backward (4) DRAW<=

DOWN

1   Visitor permit is included in Virginia (4) VISA {V{IS}A}

2   Designed toy phone device used by spymasters to lure (8) HONEYPOT*

3   Romantic entanglement from Anglo French exhibition (6) AFFAIR {A}{F}{FAIR}

4/30  Spooner’s punning clan’s devious scheme (7,4) CUNNING PLAN (~ punning clan to cunning plan)

5   I turn one berserk and get a particle (8) NEUTRINO*

6/16  This is used to send money and order conscription. Would you call this a DD? (6,5) DEMAND DRAFT {DEMAND}{DRAFT} 

7   This, for example, was a clew in days of yore (4) CLUE Definition by example

14 Search around a frequented place (5) HAUNT {H{A}UNT}

16 See 6

18 Spotted tiles used as examples of collapse (8) DOMINOES [CD]

20 Princess gets nuts after removing last bit of shell and stones, perhaps (8) DIAMONDS {DI}{AlMONDS}

21 Aborigine, found by male, hiding behind shrub (7) BUSHMAN {MAN}<=>{BUSH}

23 Making a mistake by beheading a fish (6) ERRING hERRING

25 Agricultural implement obtained by dropping hammer from communist symbol (6) SICKLE {hammer and SICKLE}

27 “Shopping complex,” heard a gangster’s arm candy (4) MOLL (~mall)

29 Great! Butter results in little weight! (4) GRAM {G}{RAM}

Reference List

Peacekeepers = UN, South = S, Century = C, Good man = ST, Eastern = E, Virginia = VA, Anglo French = AF, Princess = DI, Great = G

No 13463, Wednesday 26 Jan 2022, Incognito

REPUBLIC DAY GREETINGS

Artwork by Prasanna

Rangoli by Gowri

Solution to 17A 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   Eric cooked food (4) RICE*

9   Perhaps, Sam’s pawnbroker (5) UNCLE [DD]

10 Violent anger, without a hint of nastiness, is still anger (4) RAGE AnGER*

11 That man, Arthur, gets head of state’s suit (6) HEARTS {HE}{ART}{St...s}

12 Transplant pea early for 12 months (including an extra day) (4,4) LEAP YEAR*

13 Awful! China jails people’s representative hugging love supporter (8) CHAMPION {CHINA}* over {MP} and {0}

15 Rant wildly about South Africa’s feral child brought up by apes (6) TARZAN {TAR{ZA}N*}

17 Forger’s workshop’s located next to the track (7) ?O?N?R? (Addendum - FOUNDRY {FOUND}{RY} - See comments)

19 Manhunt procedure could be result of misconstrued danger coupled with some timidity (7) DRAGNET {DANGER}*{Ti...y}

22 Italian family gangs found involved in Bahama fiasco (6) MAFIAS [T]

24 Playground equipment includes a short distance for natation (8) SWIMMING {SW{1 MM}ING}

26 Mulish Bob turns somersaults (8) STUBBORN*

28 Second-in-command’s responsibility to hold the record (6) DEPUTY {D{EP}UTY}

30 Ms Austen’s first part of Emma’s written after a month (4) JANE {Emma}<=>{JAN}

31 In short, he takes down a dictator’s notes — perhaps notes wrongly (5) STENO*

32 Imitates animal producing extraordinary sounds for starters (4) APES Acrostic

DOWN

1   Engineer collects one thousand for two wheeler (4) BIKE {B{1 K}E}

2   Iron rail's initially carried by railway employee to river transport operator (8) FERRYMAN {FE}{Rail}{RY}{MAN}

3   Setter goes after wandering mules to get breakfast food (6) MUESLI {I}<=>MULES}*

4   Daniel gets cold when travelling around country (7) ICELAND {I{C}ELAND*}

5   Wild tamer having flatulence becomes celebrity performer (8) MEGASTAR {ME{GAS}TAR*}

6   Disbursing cashier accepts right appeal (6) PRAYER {{P{R}AYER}

7   Turkish leader residing in Accra, Ghana (4) AGHA [T]

14 Shout endlessly with a laughing sound resulting in noisy fuss (3-2) HOO-HA {HOOt}{HA}

16 Worried aunties dropped us and dined at home (3,2) ATE IN AuNTIEs*

18 Scrambled egg consumed by Spenser begets reaction (8) RESPONSE {RESP{O}NSE*}

20 E.g., napalm deployment strategy worked out in advance (4,4) GAME PLAN*

21 Apart, like beneath (7) ASUNDER {AS}{UNDER}

23 Hide uniform in bed after I’m drenched (6) IMBUED {I'M}{B{U}ED}

25 Indian gold, including ring, within building (6) INDOOR {IND}{OR} over (O)

27 Sailor carries boy in ski lift (1-3) T-BAR {T{B}AR}

29 Lower tips arising from commencement of taxation on exotic starters (4) TOES Acrostic

Reference List

South Africa = ZA, Record = EP(Extended Play), Engineer = BE, Thousand = K, Railway = RY, Cold = C, Right = R, Uniform = U, Gold = OR, Sailor = TAR, Boy = B

Special, Sunday 19 Mar 2017, Amrita

Three answers per commenter till 6 PM as usual (Annotations compulsory)
Please provide all your answers in one comment.

ACROSS
1   Empty Apartment (4)
4   Soft grass (maybe edible) covers a side (10)
9    A regular beet / devil's tongue cooked ain't no good to taste, for example (6,9)
10 Alternative fuel vehicle goes ahead extremely laboriously and cautiously (9)
12 Pick second vehicle, not the Audi at the front but the SUV from the middle (5)
15 A dress fits evenly and looks like a dream? (6)
16 Guide and preach on reforms (8)
17 Say, shoes exchange counter (8)
18 Not acceptable to sing-along around bar - that would be a way to fight? (6)
20 Fresh crackers - not one is broken (5)
23 Work upon grim areas to form ties (9)
24 Perhaps, a half and a quarter of oral anti-inflammatory pain killers (8,7)
25 Shocked by the first lapse on flip side (10)
26 Corner retreat full of odd lime trees (4)

DOWN
2   Animal suit model took off for party top (7)
3   Sharp tools to stab evil Ken, perhaps (5,6)
4   Peter on vacation, rose hurriedly on receiving dog's signals (10)
5   Spirit of a company besieged by an issue (5)
6   A temple perhaps, found in central Mugello (Tuscany) (5)
7   Quietly stripped varnish spread on alloy (5)
8   Menial worker should be Brown, perhaps says Spooner (7)
11 A navy bordered lace used to design a kind of butterfly (7)
13 The introductory note given before a tour? (3,8)
14  Stage set for second base (10)
17 Twisted laughter, a backstabber's hidden act (7)
19 Principle of other variable measurement (7)
21 Cover up in winters (5)
22 City of Tokyo remodelled (5)
23 Highways seen outside a metropolis (5)

Across Lite version can be accessed at AMRITA 1

Enjoy.

The Sunday Crossword, Sunday 19 Mar 2017

ACROSS
1   Lizard with energy grabbing bite, not quietly (5) GECKO {pECK} in {GO} One creature that gives me the creeps!!

4   List containing tips from epigram and poem, for example (4,5) ROLE-MODEL {Ep...aM}{ODE} in {ROLL}
9   Soul accepting falsehood, very trusting (9) BELIEVING {BE{LIE}{V}ING}
10 Rotten part of frivolous yarn (5) LOUSY [T]
11 Malevolent creature concealed in flower (6) ORCHID {ORC}{HID}

12 Perfectionist beginning to sob, heart broken by learner (8) STICKLER {Sob}{TICK{L}ER}
14 Singer, sober, moon in sky affected (6,8) SMOKEY ROBINSON*
16 Anxiety about half of work, obscure, with a line lacking depth (3-11) TWO-DIMENSIONAL {T{WOrk}-{DIM}ENSION}{A}{L}
20 Confirmed time established in arrangement of date (8) ATTESTED {T}{EST} in {DATE}*
21 Piece of jewellery I love in artist's workroom (6) STUDIO {STUD}{I}{O}
23 One surrounded by cheers, sun god in crown (5) TIARA {T{1}A}{RA}
24 Engine with extremes of power breaking bad robot up (9) TURBOPROP {PoweR} in {ROBOT+UP}*
25 Silly aim oddly receiving resistance in like manner (9) SIMILARLY {R} in {SILLY+AIM}*
26 Treacherous person lacking wide support (5) EASEL wEASEL

DOWN
1   Great upset over book about ape (6) GIBBON {GI{B}B<=}{ON}

2   Fellow in fantastic form, calm doctor in comic novel (4,7,4) COLD COMFORT FARM {F} in {FORM+CALM+DOCTOR}*
3   Honour large venture, right away creating monument (7) OBELISK {OBE}{L}{rISK}
4   Bar protest (4) RAIL [DD]
5   Guide for sailors with happy hearts on river (10) LIGHTHOUSE {LIGHT}{H}{OUSE}
6   Prophet in endless pain in country (7) MALACHI {MAL{ACHe}I}
7   Rules applied unfairly in tennis match perhaps restricting quality (6,9) DOUBLE STANDARDS {DOUBLE {STANDARD}S}
8   Los Angeles group engaging you for hairdresser's work? (8) LAYERING {LA}{YE}{RING}
13 Pretty tense, in a mess without new compositor (10) TYPESETTER {PRETTY+TEnSE}*
15 Opponent disrupting last broadcast in lost land (8) ATLANTIS {ANTI} in {LAST}*
17 Position during delay (7) INSTALL {IN}{STALL}
18 Result revealed approach (7) OUTCOME {OUT}{COME}
19 Politician inhibited by sign about rising force (6) COMPEL {MP} in {LEO}{C}<=
22 Become strained and fight (4) FRAY [DD]