Saturday 8 March 2014

No 11027, Saturday 08 Mar 2014, Gridman


ACROSS
1   Insults Air Force groups (8) AFFRONTS {AF}{FRONTS}
5   Makes a scene: “Book' s top” (4,2) ACTS UP {ACT'S} {UP}
9   They put to the proof a small old thriller writer (8) ASSAYERS {A}{S}{SAYERS}
10 More ethereal nest’s at right (6) AERIER {AERIE}{R}
12 Declare in cavern (4) AVER [T]
13 A fish’s escape from governor’s assistant (4-2-4) AIDE-DE-CAMP {A}{IDE}-{DE-CAMP}
15 Makes sense out of dad’s meteoric raise (4,2) ADDS UP {DADS}* {UP}
17 More clever female’s left out of gossip (5) ABLER fABLER
20 Muscle man found almost finally (5) ATLAS {AT LASt}
21 Cold in a lake? Fine! (6) AMERCE {A}{MER{C}E} Thanks to Gita at Orkut. New word for me.
24 Benevolent one is hugged by key farmer (10) ALTRUISTIC {ALT}{RU{1}STIC}
27 In addition, take heads of appropriate Lok Sabha offices (4) ALSO {A}{L}{S}{O}
29 A shot gangster makes at the top (6) APICAL {A}{PIC}{AL}
30 Pat ASEAN trotted out for part of verse (8) ANAPAEST*
31 Specialised vocabularies right out of garrots analysed (6) ARGOTS GARrOTS*
32 A company style altered for liturgical helpers (8) ACOLYTES {A}{CO}{STYLE*}

DOWN
1   Saga Ma recreated from ancient scriptures (6) AGAMAS*
2   Emulated Izaak Walton-female national’s up, having caught head of haddock (6) FISHED {F}{IS{H}ED<=}
3   New youth leader breaking chest (not black) for gem (4) ONYX {bO{N}{Y}X}
4   Eminence is back for parts of statues (5) TORSI {TOR}{SI<=}
6   Salesman cutting church material (5) CREPE {C{REP}E}
7   Tell imaginative tales to friend on how some analgesics may be administered (8) SPINALLY {SPIN}{ALLY}
Analyse with 23D (If not clear send mail to the cartoonist)
8   Sweat over each church feature (8) PERSPIRE {PER}{SPIRE}
11 Small, good, eastern tearjerker (6) WEEPIE {WEE}{PI}{E}
14 Poems held in good esteem (4) ODES [T]
16 Not-so-common head of school to analyse sentence (6) SPARSE {S}{PARSE}
17 Clever finds — finds stolen away (4) ARCH seARCHes
18 Many a rejig around a hard originally antiquarian Buddhism school (8) MAHAYANA {M{A}{H}AYAN*}{A}
19 Absorbing Google competitor taking many on time (8) BLOTTING {B{LOT}{T}ING}
22 Least fresh odes Lieutenant recast (6) OLDEST {ODES+LT}*
23 Union firm has appeal for you and me (6) COITUS {CO}{IT}{US}
25 Accustomed to American worker (5) USANT {US}{ANT}
26 Greek leader back in charge (5) IONIC {1ON<=}{IC}
28 Work on a large stone (4) OPAL {OP}{A}{L}

90 comments:

  1. AFFRONTS, AIDE-DE-CAMP, ACOLYTES, AVER, ALSO, OPAL, ODES and some others fell at first look. ANAPAEST was a new word. 'A' appears in large number, it appears.

    Did Kishore disappoint anyone by not drawing a certain cartoon? ;-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. He didn't. He linked it up elsewhere!!

      Delete
    2. To continue my earlier point, all Across answers are 'A'lliterative!.

      I got AGAMAS after some cerebration. Maybe an Indian indicator is missing?

      Delete
    3. Raghu, read my 8:30 post and the Col's response.

      Delete
    4. You will all recall the Sheik's peer, I think!

      Delete
  2. Deepak, remember IXL's Back number by Gridman?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Kishore,

    Congress's union makes an appearance.

    ReplyDelete
  4. 28D Work on a large stone (4) OPAL {OP}{A}{L}

    While working abroad, I had taken part in a treasure-hunt on wheels.

    One of the stopover points was the Opal car showroom. The clue given was A 'gem' of a spelling error.

    I found it really brilliant and creative. The person who wrote the clues was a talented lady of Tamil origin from Bangalore. I faintly remember her name as Sushi Natraj.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sorry, it should be Opel car showroom.

      Delete
    2. Intentional gem of a spelling error?!

      Delete
    3. Freudian slip. Now don't laterally see through the second word, for Goodness' sake!

      Delete
    4. Is Freudian slip available in any auction, just as the slips and other underwear of actresses that were used in film shoots?

      Delete
    5. Is the slip under your kilt?! :-)

      Massachusetts court has just conformed legality of 'upskirt' photos.

      http://edition.cnn.com/2014/03/05/us/massachusetts-upskirt-photography/

      which was immediately followed by a change in law

      http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2014/03/06/286690512/read-it-and-rate-it-court-rules-upskirt-photos-are-legal


      Wish our legislators moved this fast !

      Delete
    6. CV, might have been available if old Sigmund did any drag roles ...

      Delete
    7. Also, sometimes one can't flaunt one's assets (acquired through the said auction) in public. Makes me think, if the dress in which MM sang "Happy Birthday, Mr President" was purchased through auction, the buyer would have to get it stitched on like she did (slip or no slip) and hence the container would get re-modeled in line with the contents ...

      Delete
    8. Here's the clip featuring the 'late' 'late Marilyn Monroe':

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqolSvoWNck&feature=kp

      Delete
    9. Once a buxom Tamil actress was the chief guest at a book release. Known to wear mini skirts (and admonished by people for having come dressed inappropriately to a public function when a former Chief Minister was the chief guest) , she came dressed thus that day. And members of the audience occasionally had an upskirt view when she uncrossed her legs.

      Deepak: I write my messages very carefully. But if you find I am overstepping, please do delete any such post.

      Delete
    10. To avoid such issues, many organisers shove a table in front of those on the dais ...

      Delete
    11. The question is, was she dressed inappropriately or were the guys tempted to look at her in that manner? Well, former's about freedom of choice and latter's about being pervy. So even members of the audience had a choice - not just the actress.

      And LOL Kishore.

      Delete
  5. As Richard has noted, all the across lights start with the letter A. Now, what term can we use for this device? Why, he himself has suggested: All Across Answers Alliterative.
    News: Just as The Guardian has a weekly quiptic besides the weekday Cryptic, The Times is launching a quick cryptic tomorrow.
    But The Times is accessible only with a paid-for subscription.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Time for DG to open a new tag?

      Delete
    2. All clues beginning with the same letter, Buzzer has done, hasn't he?

      Delete
    3. Yes, but not all Across Lites I think!

      Delete
    4. This AAAA - A was by design.

      In this context I remember something from the past. A crossword set by Sankalak (it may have been when his puzzles were published anonymously) had many answers beginning with A. I had noted it and Sankalak, with whom I was having a telecon, mentioned it too. He didn't design it that way, it just happened. For it was not AAAA - A.
      He also told me that occasionally his wife used to do gridfills for him to write the clues. Whether Mrs Sankalak ever puzzled him with a stumper, I don't know!

      Delete
  6. All you 'incorrigibly naughty boys', be prepared for a stern admonition anytime!

    ReplyDelete
  7. But, of course, we aways earn it

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Let's raise our invisible hats to these ladies on Women's Day!

      Delete
    2. Happy women's day to all the ladies here and elsewhere too

      Delete
    3. My 10.19 in response to Kishore's "We always earn it".

      Delete
    4. ...or we always for yearn for 'it' ? ;-)

      Delete
    5. My post in response to Paddy @ 10:20

      Delete
    6. :-) Too yearly to decide.

      Delete
    7. Typo : pl omit 1st 'for' in my post @ 11:19.

      Delete
  8. A few hats were visible yesterday.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Does one day in a year being designated as 'Women's day' mean that other days are not?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Today they are mere women. On the remaining days they are ministering angels!

      Delete
  10. Oh dear, how come we woke up so late to the fact? Let's all give a standing ovation to all the women in the world. But for them, where would we have been?

    ReplyDelete
  11. Happy Women's Day to all our lady bloggers and silent viewers ! :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Does that mean that all the silent viewers are women?

      Delete
    2. Deepak 10:47 - a good question or a leading question?

      Delete
    3. I better make a comment, then

      Delete
  12. Thanks for the wishes, guys!

    ReplyDelete
  13. If there be angels on earth, it is they, it is they, it is they!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aptly put, aptly put, aptly put...

      By the way, was Sandhya the only one who heard all this?

      Delete
    2. Fervent in spirit! The phrase it reminds one of is Angels and -----. The novel by Dan Brown was made into a movie directed by Ron Howard.

      Delete
  14. No offence please.

    A professor was asked to speak on the Women's Day about women:

    He began, 'Well, friends, women are, generally speaking......' and he was interrupted by a long, loud round of applause.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Women's day- an occasion to freak out or an opportunity not wasted?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Paddy 11:59 - occasion or opportunity for whom?

      Delete
  16. Good question- I thought there was only one answer!

    ReplyDelete
  17. 2D : Emulated Izaak Walton-female national’s up, having caught head of haddock (6) FISHED {F}{IS{H}ED<=}

    I've gone through the link 'Izaak Walton' but am not able to link it with the Anno. ISED = DESI part also not clear. Can anybody help me please ?

    ReplyDelete
  18. "up' is the reversal indicator and it includes H. Walton is an angler- so emulating him is 'fished'. 'f' for female

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Paddy ! Could guess 'desi' for 'national' and reversal part too but I had thought 'desi' was linked to Izaak Walton. Hence all the confusion.

      Delete
  19. Thanks, for the wishes, friends! Earning compliments with hard work!!! Yearning for it too! Proving the incorrigibly naughtiness!!! lol. Let me share a women's day greetings:
    “WOMEN have strengths that amazes man.. she can handle trouble & carry heavy burdens.. she holds happiness, love & opinions..she smiles when feeling like screaming..”
    You know why Women start with “W”? B’coz all Questions start with “W”…
    Who?
    Why?
    What?
    When?
    Which?
    Whom?
    Where?
    &
    Finally…Wife… WOW…
    A woman is like a tea bag -
    you never know how strong she is until she gets in hot water.Happy Women’s Day
    We are cute daughters, we are sweet sisters, we are lovely lovers, we are darling wives, we are adorable mothers, we are source of strength, we are WOMEN! Happy Women’s Day!
    U can get her love in the form of Sister, Friend, Beloved, Wife, in the form of Mother & in the form of Grandmother…..so,…..Respect HER….She is a Woman! Happy Women’s Day!

    ReplyDelete
  20. W for 'wonderful',madam. All your querulous Ws reminded me of

    http://allpoetry.com/poem/8444911-I-Keep-Six-Honest-Serving-Men-by-Rudyard-Kipling

    Of course, the person small he refers to was a formidable lady too ...

    ReplyDelete
  21. .she smiles when feeling like screaming..

    Now I am worried! My wife smiles all the time ...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Don't you know how much we women love to keep you guessing, to keep you on tenterhooks, always? lol

      Delete
    2. Crypticness, thy name is woman!

      Apologies to Shakespeare once more ...

      Delete
    3. (My reply to PP Ma'am 1.10 comment :) )

      Delete
    4. @ 1:10 - ...women love to keep you guessing, to keep you on tenterhooks

      When women do that men might even enjoy the agonizing pleasure...

      Delete
    5. The secret charm of the never-ending Venus-Mars tug-of-war! The axis on which the world rotates!

      Delete
  22. Thanks for making me grin with pleasure! A really happy women's day to me!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Last year this day, I started a series, " Women who have influenced me". I have 5 drafts on different people at present. I added a sixth person yesterday. More info later ...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Is the home minister in the know of things?

      Delete
    2. Of course, being one of them ...

      Delete
    3. Now you know why she keeps smiling, instead of scr...

      Delete
  24. PP's comment was long yearned for and has produced the desired result! Nicely written.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Happy Women's Day. May the remaining days be for the men.

    ReplyDelete
  26. HAPPY WOMEN"S DAY to ye-all women from WE-all MEN in this blog !! ( So long as no woes are caused to men !!! )

    ReplyDelete
  27. Here's a tribute to Women on Women's day sung by Ernest Ignatius. Do watch it. :-)

    http://youtu.be/QnZb5rlfo48

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for posting this link, Deepak. It brought back the old memories.

      Other hits of those days included, Bambai meri hai, Lily the pink, Oh, to be in England all of south Asian origin., heard over Radio Ceylon, later Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation.

      I always thought Ernest Ignatius was from Mumbai. One of his relatives has commented that he was born in Hubli in Karnataka, later trained as an actor in Madras.

      This information was given by a niece of his currently living in Canada.

      Delete
    2. Here is more information about this song, its singer and the Sri Lankan musician who catapulted him to popularity charts.

      Delete
    3. Corrigendum: 'Lily the Pink' mentioned in 9:05 pm above was not of South Asian origin, but by The Scaffold, a group from Liverpool, England.

      Delete
  28. Could somebody explain 5A please? I guessed it but don't know what "Book's" has to do with "acts."
    And, thanks for the women's day wishes. As I told many of my friends, If women are treated fairly every day of the year, they wouldn't need a "Woman's Day." Of course, my husband gave a puzzled look and said, "Today is woman's day, is it?" :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 'Acts of the Apostles', or just Acts in short, is a part of the Bible, hence, the Book.

      In crosswords, OT for Old Testament, NT for New Testament are also commonly used.

      Delete

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