No.10893, Wed 02 Oct 2013, Vulcan

ACROSS

1 Good to live in country’s capital (5) LAGOS (G in LAOS)

4 A cocktail place in NYC (9) MANHATTAN 2

9 Graceful, gentle and first of all, composed (7) ELEGANT (GENTLE All)*

10 In what situation, mostly a child makes a piercing cry (7) WHIMPER (IMP in WHERe)

11 Opposition rioting in Patna; normalcy ultimately hit (9) ANTIPATHY (PATNA Y HIT)*

12 Vessel from China or Taiwan (5) AORTA (T)

13 Draw an outline (5) DRAFT 2

15 Closing stage (6) PERIOD as in ".", a closing. DD

18 Foreign elements primarily hazardous — toxic (6) EXOTIC (E TOXIC*)

19 University over in Massachusetts making loss (5) MINUS (UNI< in MS),  I thought it was MA or Mass. Maybe my anno is wrong

23 Pressure on America and European Union to spend (3,2) USE UP (P on US EU)

25 Best one in medical department BTW (2,7) EN PASSANT (PASS AN in ENT) 

          In the passing, this is familar to chess players

27 Soreness in poor rat’s windpipe (7) TRACHEA (ACHE in RAT*)

28 Fortune, eventually, is hers, perhaps (7) HEIRESS (E IS HERS)* & LIT

29 Man’s option to get around a question — one of no practical value (4,5) MOOT POINT (M OPTION TO)*

30 Seek proof (5) ESSAY 2

DOWN

1 Pull fish back in the direction of current (7) LEEWARD (DRAW EEL)<

2 Wagging cat’s tail angered a dog (5,4) GREAT DANE (T ANGERED)*

3 Paddled on top of polluted bog (5) SWAMP (SWAM P)

4 Army silent about change (6) MUTATE (MUTE about TA)

5 Groomed not too long ago (8) NEWLYWED (CD)

6 A simian mammal extremely violent — trait typical of a beast (9) ANIMALISM (A SIMIAN ML)*

7 Slash recording with Adler finally (5) TAPER (TAPE R)

          Reminded me of Schloss Adler - Where Eagles Dare

8 Typical Roman building — large (6) NORMAL (ROMAN* L)

14 Hop outside old butcher shop with a vessel (9) TROOPSHIP (TRIP outside O SHOP*)

16 Guard seen roaming in overalls (9) DUNGAREES (GUARD SEEN)*

17 Celebrities not having a good time with scholarly types (8) LITERATI (gLITtERATI)

20 Please answer! (7) SATISFY 2

21 Trade practice (6) CUSTOM 2

22 State elections finally over; sensational outcome (6) UPSHOT (UP S HOT)

24 A day to muse (5) ERATO (ERA TO)

26 Train’s lovely we’re told (5) SUITE (~SWEET)

Standing in for the Colonel, I am unable to offer more comments at present, as I have to go and pay my last respects to a loved and respected relative who passed away this morning.

E&OE

No 10892, Tuesday 01 Oct 2013, Lightning

Enjoyable offering from Lightning.

ACROSS

1   Medium ale brewed is heavenly (8) ETHEREAL {ETHER}{ALE*}

5   Muscle therapist of old following incomplete art of healing (6) PHYSIO {PHYSIc}{O}

9   Cheat and secure fortune finally at card game (8) CRIBBAGE {CRIB}{BAG}{E}

10 Missing blood type dispatched (6) ABSENT {AB}{SENT}

12 Stay back at southern wastelands (5) MOORS {MOOR<=}{S}

13 Translate one book with hesitation before end of contest (9) INTERPRET {1}{NT}{ER}{PRE}{T}

14 Sad weaver enters the borders of Gooty (6) GLOOMY {Go{LOOM}otY}

16 Foretell the German wind (7) MEANDER {MEAN}{DER}

19 Tighten damaged fist, freezing every nerve for starters (7) STIFFEN {FIST}*{F}{E}{N}

21 Image is materially demonstrating a form of prejudice (6) AGEISM [T]

23 Peacekeepers in booth to set things up? Quite the opposite (9) UNINSTALL {UN}{IN}{STALL}

25 Article thanks Greek character (5) THETA {THE}{TA}

26 Acknowledgment of a promise by gangster (6) AVOWAL {A}{VOW}{AL}

27 Empower half a dozen to break in causing resentment (8) ENVIABLE {EN{VI}ABLE}

28 Followed measure to prosecute Democrat (6) ENSUED {EN}{SUE}{D}

29 Madness exhibited by shy, irate doctor (8) HYSTERIA*

DOWN

1   Settle in a tent in Spanish party (6) ENCAMP {EN}{CAMP} Camp & Party are not exactly synonymous are they? See comments.

2   U.S. state set up one election, essentially wooing the common people (3,6) HOI POLLOI {HO<={1}{POLL}woOIng}

3   Visual puzzle about transportation vehicle (5) REBUS {RE}{BUS}

4   Furiously destroy gray line for the most part (7) ANGRILY {GRAY+LINe}*

6   Nervous? Breathe in and be dormant (9) HIBERNATE*

7   Son to exhibit promise (5) SWEAR {S}{WEAR}

8   Surpass another at gazing, resulting in tears (8) OUTSTARE {OUT}{TEARS*}

11 First half of the English alphabet — is it ‘indivisible’? (4) ATOM {A to M}

15 A soft cube designed to confuse (9) OBFUSCATE*

17 Amputate lady’s arm (9) DISMEMBER {DI'S}{MEMBER}

18 Kiss ace Lotus engineer (8) OSCULATE*

20 Disheartened Indian writer gets food item (4) NAAN NA{?}AN Couldn't think of the Indian writer! Is it Nanjil Nadan ? (Addendum - NArayAN - See comments)

21 Plant developing around eastern border of Bellary in abundance (7) APLENTY {APL{E}NT*}{Y}

22 Recording device in which discussions remain private? (6) CAMERA [C&DD]

24 Driving aids, that could be wooden too (5) IRONS [CD]

25 Shade around a spot (5) TAINT {T{A}INT}