No 11216, Thursday 16 Oct 2014, Anitya

Thanks to Anitya for making it short, concise and easy. Thanks to everyone for yesterday's 'get well soon' wishes, I'm fighting fit again.

ACROSS
7   Ecstasy absent in leading lady's smack (6) HEROIN HEROINe
8   Boy preparing for war is frightful (8) ALARMING {AL}{ARMING}
9   Follow male — a jerk — asserting positively (8) DOGMATIC {DOG}{M}{A}{TIC} I'm reminded of

10 Entertained a master — nothing new (6) AMUSED {A}{M}{USED}
11 Meal-taker eats a starter (8) LAUNCHER {L{A}UNCHER}
12 Popular child gets nothing completely (2,4) IN TOTO {IN} {TOT}{O]
13 Cruel men cane colt in hiding (11) CONCEALMENT*
18 A silly fellow returns small sponges (6) LOOFAS {LOOF}{A}<={S}
20 Mark NASA's strange greeting (8) NAMASKAR*
22 Section in SA for old Greek city (6) SPARTA {S{PART}A}
23 One stretches former care-giver (8) EXTENDER {EX}{TENDER}
24 Standard tirade is gross (8) FLAGRANT {FLAG}{RANT} This was glaringly offensive just yesterday!
25 To make certain, run and see around (6) ENSURE*

DOWN
1    Fellow adores silly hats (7) FEDORAS {F}{ADORES*}
2    Soldier's call: “Order” (8) COMMANDO {COMMAND}{O}
3    Bit from small, awful chant (6) SNATCH {S}{CHANT*}
4    Resignation of obese boy's mother (8) FATALISM {FAT}{ALI'S}{M}

5    A horse's bulk (6) AMOUNT {A}{MOUNT}
6    Intends to change orders (7) INDENTS*
8    Finding when some people begin tempting (13) ASCERTAINMENT {AS}{CERTAIN}{MEN}{Te...g}
14 Accountant and saint gone missing (8) CASTAWAY {CA}{ST}{AWAY}
15 Curiosity of one not taking part in clamour (8) NOSINESS NOiSINESS
16 Put together comrade's hoard (7) COMPILE {COM}{PILE}
17 Progresses rapidly in courses (7) CAREERS [DD]
19 Dig for a long time (6) FORAGE {FOR}{AGE}
21 She's very many, not all the same (6) MOTHER {M}{OTHER}

GRID

No 11215, Wednesday 15 Oct 2014, Mac

Suresh and Vijaylakshmi up in Vizag, we hope all's well.
Here I'm feeling a bit under the weather due to a stressed out stomach, so I'm going back under the blanket.

ACROSS
1   Gopi, uninitiated, consumed a narcotic (6) OPIATE {gOPI}{ATE}
5   Craziest act draws support finally, taking time (8) (Addendum - DOTTIEST - {DO}{T}{TIES}{T} - See comments)
9   Glaringly offensive and loud tirade following delay (8) FLAGRANT {FLAG}{RANT}
10 Beginners in analytical statistics are taken in by random test samples (6) TASTES {T{An...l}{St...s}TES*}
11 Lost? Steering aimlessly? Look out for a board indicating driving directions! (6,4) STREET SIGN {loST STEERING}*
12 Doper at ease, having consumed speed (4) RATE [T]
13 The ridiculous rates for cinemas! (8) THEATRES {THE}{RATES*}
16 Guides for cryptic setters short of time (6) STEERS SETtERS*
17 Rants about assistance not being available for large families (6) TRIBES diaTRIBES
19 Rich and fit to party (4-2-2) WELL-TO-DO {WELL}-{TO}-{DO}
21 Gandhi marched for this last struggle (4) SALT*
22 Old horse-drawn four-wheeler transport — it's so cheap! (4-6) POST-CHAISE*

25 Leisurely walk past rollicking exhibit (6) STROLL [T]
26 A drug's a heavenly thing (8) ASTEROID {A}{STEROID}
27 A secular representation of a pause in a verse (8) CAESURAL*
28 Mafioso had to give away money to charity (6) DONATE {DON}{ATE}

DOWN
2   Storyline about one TV show's first episode (5) PILOT {P{1}LOT}
3   Director's detailed perspective (5) ANGLE ANGLEr (Correction - ANG LEe - See comments)
4   He collects tax money from former thespian (7) EXACTOR {EX}{ACTOR}
5   Imprisons revolutionary, instead (7) DETAINS*
6   Regularly treat pain, nurse ailment (7) TETANUS {TrEaT}{pAiN}{nUrSe}
7   Rebel stirred up unrest in and around German capital (9) INSURGENT {INSUR{G}ENT*}
8   Ground the elders shielded from bad weather (9) SHELTERED*
14 The woman set a table for a drink (6,3) HERBAL TEA {HER}{BAL TEA*}
15 Three under a large bird (9) ALBATROSS [DD]
18 Vendor loses top item, becomes more flexible! (7) SUPPLER SUPPLiER
19 Drink with mug (7) WASSAIL {W}{ASSAIL}
20 Found officer returning on wrong date (7) LOCATED {LOC<=}{DATE*}
23 Professional article about protective wear (5) APRON {A[PRO}N}
24 Key move (5) SHIFT [DD]

GRID