Tuesday, December 31, 2013

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Sunday, December 29, 2013 — ST 4566

This entry was posted on Sunday, January 5, 2014 but has been backdated to place it in the proper sequence in the Blog Archive.
Puzzle at a Glance
Puzzle Number in The Sunday Times
ST 4566
Date of Publication in The Sunday Times
Sunday, December 1, 2013
Setter
Dean Mayer (Anax)
Link to Full Review
Times for the Times [ST 4566]
Times for the Times Review Written By
Dave Perry
Dave Perry's Solving Time
★★★★
Date of Publication in the Toronto Star
Saturday, December 21, 2013
Date of Publication in The Vancouver Sun
Saturday, December 28, 2013[Note 2]
Falcon's Experience
┌────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┐
███████████████████████████████████
└────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┘
Legend:
- solved without assistance
- incorrect prior to use of puzzle solving tools
- solved with assistance from puzzle solving tools
- solved with aid of checking letters provided by puzzle solving tools
- unsolved or incorrect prior to visiting Times for the Times
- solved with aid of checking letters provided by solutions from Times for the Times
Notes
[1] This puzzle appears on the Sunday puzzles pages in the Saturday, December 28, 2013 edition of The Ottawa Citizen.

[2] Due to the paywall that has been erected on its web site, I am no longer able to verify the puzzle that is published in the Vancouver Sun.

Introduction

This puzzle was an ordeal, being undoubtedly one of the most difficult Sunday Times puzzles that I have encountered. I worked off and on at it for a week, solving slightly better than a third of the clues. Another day spent on it with the help of my electronic aids resulted in another two fifths or so being solved. At that point, I threw in the towel and resorted to Dave Perry's review at Times for the Times for an explanation of the remaining clues. Despite the puzzle being fiendishly difficult, I rather enjoyed the challenge. It is always immensely satisfying when I finally crack one of Dean Mayer's difficult clues. However, I am thankful his creations appear on a three week rotation — I would certainly not up to such a challenge on a weekly basis.

Notes on Today's Puzzle

This commentary should be read in conjunction with the full review at Times for the Times, to which a link is provided in the table above. The underlined portion of the clue is the definition.

Across


1a   Supremely funny attempts to fill in form (8)

In a similar manner to Dave Perry, I tried to put TRIES into something — in my case, in an effort to create a word meaning extremely hilarious. Unfortunately for me, funny is used in this clue in the sense of strange, rather than hilarious.

In the solution, shy[5] is used in an archaic sense meaning to attempt to do or obtain something have a shy at putting the case to me.

"In form" is fit (i.e., in good physical condition).

5a   Was party host married in this spot? (6)

If someone "was [the] party host", then they "ran [the] do". Dave Perry, in his review, attempts to explain this clue.

10a   Chap caught boxing one on one! (5)

I did get the solution from the wordplay but did not understand the definition.

On cricket scorecards, the abbreviation c[5] denotes caught (by).

I presume that "on one" denoting manic comes from the informal expression off on one[10] which means exhibiting bad temper or ranting.

11a   Hide mirror in shower? (5,4)

12a   French lady consumed by major delivery problem (7)

Alas, I misdirected my efforts to investigating the complications associated with child birth.

13a   I come from America, carrying personal influence (7)

I believe that pet[10] is being used in the sense of particularly cherished or favourite ⇒ a pet theory; a pet hatred.

15a   He will not be worried by Euro being spent elsewhere? (5-3-4)

The American English version (but not the British and World English version) of Oxford Dictionaries Online defines E[6] as the symbol for () euro(s).

Collins English Dictionary lists several meanings for the adjective below-the-line[10] (all involving a financial context). While it is difficult to fathom which one may have been intended by the setter, the one that might seem to apply best to this clue is (of an advertising campaign) employing sales promotions, direct marketing, in-store exhibitions and displays, trade shows, sponsorship, and merchandising that do not involve an advertising agency.

18a   For good measure, sister spanked mother (12)

The anagram indicator is "spanked".

The abbreviation G[10] for good likely relates to its use in rating school assignments or tests.

In printing, an en[5] is a unit of measurement equal to half an em and approximately the average width of typeset characters, used especially for estimating the total amount of space a text will require.

21a   Dogs' home — see a tail wagging outside it (7)

It[5] (usually written in quotation marks, 'it') is an informal term [and, perhaps, euphemism] for sexual intercourse or sex appeal the only thing I knew nothing about was ‘it’.

SA[5] is an informal, dated term for sex appeal.

Alsatia[7] was the name given to an area of London, England that, between the fifteenth and seventeenth centuries, had the privilege of a sanctuary, except against a writ of the Lord Chief Justice or of the Lords of the Privy Council; and as a result it was the refuge of the perpetrators of every grade of crime, debauchery, and offence against the laws. The execution of a warrant there, if at any time practicable, was attended with great danger, as all united in a maintenance in common of the immunity of the place. It was one of the last places of sanctuary used in England, abolished by acts of Parliament in 1697 and 1723.

Alsatia was named after the ancient [Latin] name for Alsace, Europe, which was itself outside legislative and juridical lines, and, therefore, they were literally places without law.

Alsatian[5] seems to be the preferred British name for the German Shepherd breed of dog.

22a   Gunners find fierce competition (3,4)

Entering WAR GAMES here severely hampered progress in the southeast quadrant.

In the UK, the Royal Regiment of Artillery[7], commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery (RA), is the artillery arm of the British Army.

23a   Welsh town's beauty about to take shape with gold (9)

Dolgellau[7] is a market town in Gwynedd, north-west Wales, lying on the River Wnion, a tributary of the River Mawddach. Dolgellau is the main base for climbers of Cader Idris, a mountain which lies at the southern end of the Snowdonia National Park and one of the most popular spots in Wales for walkers and hikers.

25a   Drummer runs home to beat it (5)

On cricket scorecards, the abbreviation R[5] denotes run(s).

Ringo Starr[5] is an English rock and pop drummer; born Richard Starkey. He replaced Pete Best in the Beatles in 1962.

26a   Budget speech hasn't started (6)

27a   Fire-resistant article worst in emergency! (8)

Worst[5] is a verb meaning to get the better of or defeat this was not the time for a deep discussion—she was tired and she would be worsted.

Best[5] is a verb meaning to outwit or get the better of (someone) she refused to allow herself to be bested.

Down


1d   Suffer hunger following religious sect (6)

You might encounter the abbreviation f.[10] meaning following (page) in the footnotes of an academic work.

The Amish[5] are the members of a strict Mennonite sect founded by the Swiss preacher Jakob Amman (or Amen) (circa 1645-circa 1730). Now living mainly in Pennsylvania and Ohio, the Amish migrated to North America from circa 1720.

2d   Correct use of words — wrong stress, say (6)

While Dave Perry may hold the view that "'sin tax' ... isn't a phrase in its own right", it is certainly a common term in Canada [denoting a tax on such articles as tobacco and alcohol].

3d   Rival in tavern finally shot cowboy (11)

In Britain [and, to some extent, North America], cowboy[5] can mean a dishonest or careless person in business, especially an unqualified one cowboy coach firms are alleged to have flouted safety rules. In North America, the term has more of a connotation of reckless behaviour than of incompetency.

4d   Someone I ring during study, oddly at great speed (14)

I'm afraid that ASTRONOMICALLY was a poor choice and impeded progress for a considerable period of time.

6d   Scottish city in Solway region (3)

Ayr[5] is a port in SW Scotland, on the Firth of Clyde, the administrative centre of South Ayrshire council area; population 45,900 (est. 2009).

Solway would refer to the area around the Solway Firth[7], a firth [bay or inlet] that forms part of the border between England and Scotland, between Cumbria (including the Solway Plain) and Dumfries and Galloway.

In actuality, Ayr, which is located in South Ayrshire (north of Dumfries and Galloway), could only in the loosest sense be considered to be in Solway region.

7d   You must investigate trouble in joint (8)

8d   Farmer is temporarily bagging growing plant material (8)

I failed to recognize that this is a hidden word clue. In any event, the word is new to me.

In botany, meristem[5] denotes a region of plant tissue, found chiefly at the growing tips of roots and shoots and in the cambium, consisting of actively dividing cells forming new tissue the apical meristem of the shoot produces the embryonic seed leaves.

9d   Factions first to prevent progress until disbanded (8,6)

14d   Where Frenchman accommodates various dates? (5-1-5)

With the help of a word finder application, I got the solution from the checking letters. However, I failed to realize that there is more to the clue than the cryptic definition. As Dave Perry explains in his review, the clue is a semi & lit.

A semi & lit. is a clue in which the entire clue is the definition and a portion of the clue (under a different interpretation) constitutes the wordplay.

16d   Mountain resident gets down about climbing mountain (8)

17d   Syllabus, without university permit, stays (8)

Historically, stays[5] are a corset made of two pieces laced together and stiffened by strips of whalebone. Stays being a plural noun — like trousers, pants and drawers — presumably takes a plural verb.

Corselet[5] is a variant spelling of corselette[5], a woman’s foundation garment combining corset and bra.

19d   Glossy mesh in drawer (6)

A glossy[5] is a magazine printed on glossy paper with many colour photographs he’s been touted in some upmarket glossies as the thinking woman’s crumpet.

Drawer being a seemingly whimsical term for something that draws (i.e., attracts).

20d   Watery grave where one's lost (6)

24d   For one love, number one (3)

"For one" meaning 'for example'.

In tennis, squash, and some other sports, love[5] is a score of zero or nil ⇒ love fifteen. The resemblance of a zero written as a numeral (0) to the letter O leads to the cryptic crossword convention of the word "love" being used to clue this letter.

Ego[5] is a person’s sense of self-esteem or self-importance he needed a boost to his ego.

Number one[5] is a way of referring to oneself ⇒ you must look after number one. I think the connotation of this phrase is that, from your own personal perspective, you are the most important person and this is, therefore, an expression of self-importance (or ego).
Key to Reference Sources: 

[1]   - The Chambers Dictionary, 11th Edition
[2]   - Search Chambers - (Chambers 21st Century Dictionary)
[3]   - TheFreeDictionary.com (American Heritage Dictionary)
[4]   - TheFreeDictionary.com (Collins English Dictionary)
[5]   - Oxford Dictionaries (Oxford Dictionary of English)
[6]   - Oxford Dictionaries (Oxford American Dictionary)
[7]   - Wikipedia
[8]   - Reverso Online Dictionary (Collins French-English Dictionary)
[9]   - Infoplease (Random House Unabridged Dictionary)
[10] - CollinsDictionary.com (Collins English Dictionary)
[11] - TheFreeDictionary.com (Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary)
Signing off for this week — Falcon 

Sunday, December 22, 2013

Sunday, December 22, 2013 — ST 4565

Puzzle at a Glance
Puzzle Number in The Sunday Times
ST 4565
Date of Publication in The Sunday Times
Sunday, November 24, 2013[Note 3]
Setter
Jeff Pearce 
Link to Full Review
Times for the Times [ST 4565]
Times for the Times Review Written By
Dave Perry
Dave Perry's Solving Time
★★★
Date of Publication in the Toronto Star
Saturday, December 14, 2013
Date of Publication in The Vancouver Sun
Saturday, December 21, 2013[Note 2]
Falcon's Experience
┌────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┐
███████████████████████████████████
└────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┘
Legend:
- solved without assistance
- incorrect prior to use of puzzle solving tools
- solved with assistance from puzzle solving tools
- solved with aid of checking letters provided by puzzle solving tools
- unsolved or incorrect prior to visiting Times for the Times
- solved with aid of checking letters provided by solutions from Times for the Times
Notes
[1] This puzzle appears on the Sunday puzzles pages in the Saturday, December 21, 2013 edition of The Ottawa Citizen.

[2] Due to the paywall that has been erected on its web site, I am no longer able to verify the puzzle that is published in the Vancouver Sun.

[3] Dave Perry, in his review at Times for the Times, mistakenly shows the date of publication in the Sunday Times as being November 25, 2013.

Introduction

Today's puzzle has a varied mix of clues — some are very straight-forward, while others are very tricky employing, for instance, some rather imaginative anagram indicators.

Notes on Today's Puzzle

This commentary should be read in conjunction with the full review at Times for the Times, to which a link is provided in the table above. The underlined portion of the clue is the definition.

Across


1a   Fat boy swallowing last of burger (4)

4a   Reptile got policeman on the toilet (10)

A head[5] is a toilet on a ship or boat they were cleaning out the heads.

9a   Leave coin for the Australian resident (6)

An anna[5] is a former monetary unit of India and Pakistan, equal to one sixteenth of a rupee.

Goanna[5] is an Australian name for the monitor[5] (also known as the monitor lizard) a large tropical Old World lizard with a long neck, narrow head, forked tongue, strong claws, and a short body. Monitors were formerly believed to give warning of crocodiles.

10a   Cameron is nervous with answer being filmed (2,6)

David Cameron[5] is a British Conservative politician who has been Prime Minister of the UK since 2010 (in coalition with the Liberal Democrats).

11a   Junk beats our destroyer (8)

In the surface reading, junk[2] refers to a flat-bottomed square-sailed boat, with high forecastle and poop, from the Far East.

As an anagram indicator, junk may be a bit weak. The word would seem to have the connotation of to discard or abandon rather than to break up or smash. Perhaps its use can be justified based on it meaning "to throw out" as 'out' is a common anagram indicator.

13a   Skill displayed by man camping? (6)

The man is named AL and he can be found in TENT (camping implying "in tent").

14a   Threw unsold pens out (10)

16a   Jump with guitar at end of recital (4)

An axel[5] is a jump in figure skating from the forward outside edge of one skate to the backward outside edge of the other, with one (or more) and a half turns in the air. The move was named after
Norwegian skater Axel R. Paulsen (1885–1938).

17a   Blinking tough cause? (4)

I think the idea behind the clue is that a stye would cause blinking to be difficult (tough).

In the surface reading, blinking[5] takes the role of an intensifier, used in informal British English, to express annoyance ⇒ (i) computers can be a blinking nuisance to operators; (ii) I’ll sign off however I blinking well like.

18a   Cut out alcohol and start to forestall beastly complaint (5,5)

The use of "out" as a containment indicator seems a bit of a stretch. Perhaps it is based on out[5] (as a preposition) being a non-standard contraction of out of he ran out the door. More likely, though, the setter may expect us to insert some missing punctuation into the clue, reading the wordplay as "cut out; alcohol and start to forestall".

Swine fever[5] is an intestinal viral disease of pigs.

20a   Rip off  a jacket (6)

Fleece — in addition to being a fabric — may also be a jacket or top made from such a fabric[4] or a garment made or lined with such a fabric[11].

21a   Meticulous member of the clergy on a cycle (8)

A curate[5] is a member of the clergy engaged as assistant to a vicar, rector, or parish priest.

The abbreviation c[10] stands for cycle.

23a   Beef put on butter is prime bit (8)

Past[10], as an adverb, can mean on or onwards ⇒ I greeted him but he just walked past.

I interpreted the clue in a similar manner to Dave Perry with "is prime bit" signifying the first letter of the word "Is".

Thus the wordplay is PAST (on) + RAM (butter; male goat or sheep) + I (Is prime bit).

I presume that "put" is employed as an explicit instruction to the solver, being the first in series of operations (with the others being implicit). This "put" PAST [as the first element of the charade]; [then add] RAM; [then finally add] I.

Pastrami[5] (a word of Yiddish origin — not Italian as I had always imagined) is highly seasoned smoked beef, typically served in thin slices.

24a   Attack from male hiding in a woody plant (6)

26a   Comfortably Numb melody is pure metal! (10)

Here is another instance of an anagram indicator (which Dave Perry refers to as an anagrind) that, depending on one's point of view, might be described as variously questionable or imaginative — or, in the words of Peter Biddlecombe, puzzle editor at The Sunday Times, "novel". I suppose getting comfortable implies a transformation. As one commenter says on Times for the Times, "I thought 'comfortably' = 'loosely' might cover it".

"Comfortably Numb[7]" is a song by the English rock band Pink Floyd, which first appears on the 1979 double album, The Wall. It was also released as a single in 1980 with "Hey You" as the B-side.

Molybdenum[5] (symbol: Mo) is the chemical element of atomic number 42, a brittle silver-grey metal of the transition series, used in some alloy steels.

27a   Petition against introduction of toxic fat (4)

Down


2d   Stir caldron regularly (3)

3d   Scavenger beginning to drag short bar (5)

A dingo[5] (Canis dingo) is a wild or half-domesticated dog with a sandy-coloured coat, found in Australia.

4d   Gas and water required to live in French manor (7)

In French, the word for water is eau[8]. There may also be a play on the term eau de vie[10] meaning brandy or other spirits (which, in French, means 'water of life').

5d   Dilly-dallying drawn in a strip cartoon (15)

As a anagram indicator, draw[5] would be interpreted in the sense to pull or move (something) in a specified direction.

6d   Thrilled to have gone out without cold (7)

7d   After touring Haiti mule is put down (9)

As an anagram indicator, touring would be interpreted in the sense of  'moving about'.

8d   A perfect example with note used in thorough contract (11)

The solution to the clue is ARRANGEMENT. However, the clue is flawed (as Peter Biddlecombe, the puzzle editor at The Sunday Times, admits in a comment at Times for the Times). The wordplay is intended to parse as {AN (a) + GEM (perfect example) + E ([musical] note)} contained in (used in) ARRANT (thorough). However, this produces ARRA(AN|GEM|E)NT — with one too many As.

Even had this wordplay produced the correct result, I would take issue with substituting "an gem" for "a perfect example". It is fine to substitute "an eagle" for "a bird", or vice versa, but I think that the indefinite article should accord with the noun it accompanies.

12d   In short, work with a cook to get booze (11)

While I managed to determine the type of booze using a word finder program, I did not comprehend the wordplay until I read Dave Perry's explanation.

Amontillado[5] is a medium dry sherry, named after Montilla, a town in southern Spain where the original wine was produced.

15d   Soon object to being in work (9)

18d   Caretaker takes note into small room with patients (7)

Te[5] is the British spelling of ti which (in tonic sol-fa) is the seventh note of a major scale.

19d   One in test about carbon left to cry (7)

The symbol for the chemical element carbon is C[5].

22d   On public transport a puzzle's the answer! (5)

25d   Second explosive novel (3)

HE[5] is the abbreviation for high explosive.

She[7], subtitled A History of Adventure, is a novel by English writer Henry Rider Haggard (1856–1925), first serialized in The Graphic magazine from October 1886 to January 1887. She is one of the classics of imaginative literature, and as of 1965 with over 83 million copies sold in 44 different languages, one of the best-selling books of all time. Extraordinarily popular upon its release, She has never been out of print.
Key to Reference Sources: 

[1]   - The Chambers Dictionary, 11th Edition
[2]   - Search Chambers - (Chambers 21st Century Dictionary)
[3]   - TheFreeDictionary.com (American Heritage Dictionary)
[4]   - TheFreeDictionary.com (Collins English Dictionary)
[5]   - Oxford Dictionaries (Oxford Dictionary of English)
[6]   - Oxford Dictionaries (Oxford American Dictionary)
[7]   - Wikipedia
[8]   - Reverso Online Dictionary (Collins French-English Dictionary)
[9]   - Infoplease (Random House Unabridged Dictionary)
[10] - CollinsDictionary.com (Collins English Dictionary)
[11] - TheFreeDictionary.com (Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary)
Signing off for this week — Falcon

Sunday, December 15, 2013

Sunday, December 15, 2013 — ST 4564

Puzzle at a Glance
Puzzle Number in The Sunday Times
ST 4564
Date of Publication in The Sunday Times
Sunday, November 17, 2013
Setter
Tim Moorey
Link to Full Review
Times for the Times [ST 4564]
Times for the Times Review Written By
Dave Perry
Dave Perry's Solving Time
★★
Date of Publication in the Toronto Star
Saturday, December 7, 2013
Date of Publication in The Vancouver Sun
Saturday, December 14, 2013[Note 2]
Falcon's Experience
┌────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┐
███████████████████████████████████
└────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┘
Legend:
- solved without assistance
- incorrect prior to use of puzzle solving tools
- solved with assistance from puzzle solving tools
- solved with aid of checking letters provided by puzzle solving tools
- unsolved or incorrect prior to visiting Times for the Times
- solved with aid of checking letters provided by solutions from Times for the Times
Notes
[1] This puzzle appears on the Sunday puzzles pages in the Saturday, December 14, 2013 edition of The Ottawa Citizen.

[2] Due to the paywall that has been erected on its web site, I am no longer able to verify the puzzle that is published in the Vancouver Sun.

Introduction

After last week's very strenuous workout from Anax, we are given the chance to catch our breath with this gentler offering from Tim Moorey.

Notes on Today's Puzzle

This commentary should be read in conjunction with the full review at Times for the Times, to which a link is provided in the table above. The underlined portion of the clue is the definition.

Across


1a   Pap in this broadcast makes a most popular show! (5,3)

The setter starts us off with a rather mischievous construction — MASH (pap) contained in (in) SHIT {anagram (broadcast) of THIS}.

6a   English country property (6)

9a   Highest point of great inspiring mass? (4)

In physics, m[5] is the symbol for mass ⇒ E = mc2. Ace[3], as an adjective, means top-notch or first-rate.

10a   A count's seen in places showing heavenly bodies (10)

Tell[5] has an archaic sense meaning to count (the members of a group)the shepherd had told all his sheep.

11a   Theatrical rarities losing it in the end? The opposite (7-7)

As Dave Perry tells us, this is a semi & lit. (semi-all-in-one) clue — a type of clue in which the definition is provided by the entire clue, while a portion of the clue constitutes the wordplay. My interpretation of the definition is that it is referring to a scenario where "theatrical rarities" (perhaps,on the one hand, highly acclaimed performers or, on the other, maybe persons who rarely appear on stage) lose it (become unable to control their temper or emotions) at the end of a performance. However, this is just one example of how a performance may end — and it is the end of the performance, rather than the circumstances surrounding this specific performance, that we need to focus on. The final part of the clue ("The opposite") tells us that it is not the end of the performance that is needed, but the start of the performance.

Curtains[5] is an informal expression denoting a disastrous outcome it looked like curtains for me.

A curtain-raiser[5] is an entertainment or other event happening just before a longer or more important one Bach’s Sinfonia in B flat was an ideal curtain-raiser to Mozart’s last piano concerto.

13a   Accountant spies flowering tree (6)

ACA[7] is the abbreviation for Associate Chartered Accountant, a designation accorded to members of The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW).

CIA[5] is the abbreviation for Central Intelligence Agency[5], a federal agency in the US responsible for coordinating government intelligence activities. Established in 1947 and originally intended to operate only overseas, it has since also operated in the US.

15a   Furniture for theatre assistants (8)

While the distinction does not factor into this clue, a dresser in the UK is quite a different piece of furniture than what we know as a dresser on this side of the Atlantic. In Britain, a dresser[5] is a sideboard with shelves above for storing and displaying plates and kitchen utensils, while in North America it is a chest of drawers.

16a   Politicians are not distracted in empty speeches (8)

19a   Country of war and dancing (6)

21a   Product of Shanghai light industry? (7,7)

23a   In general, heard how golfers may bet (2,3,5)

25a   Century for fellow on quick pitch (4)

The wordplay is FAST (quick) with C (century) replacing (for) F (fellow).

The surface reading is an allusion to cricket. A century[5] is a score of a hundred in a sporting event, especially a batsman’s score of a hundred runs in cricket he scored the only century of the tour.

The abbreviation c[5] (or c.) stands for century or centuries ⇒ a watch case, 19th c.

F[2] is the abbreviation for Fellow (of a society, etc). For instance, it is found in professional designations such as FRAIC (Fellow of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada).


26a   Money boxes useless for a relative (6)

The abbreviation U/S[10] stands for useless or unserviceable.

27a   Final courses flipping tense (8)

Down


2d   Obama cautiously partly contributing to region of China (5)

3d   Corps to stop honking tank? One's doubtful (7)

Among other things, the abbreviation C.[10] may stand for Corps.

In British and Australian slang, honk[10] means (as a noun) a bad smell and (as a verb) to have a bad smell. Thus the present participle honking could be used as an adjective meaning stinking.

4d   Whimsical name for ship (3,8)

As Dave Perry points out, this clue is an & lit. — a type of clue in which, according to one interpretation, the entire clue is the definition and, under a second interpretation, the entire clue becomes the wordplay.

The definition is a reference to the fictional ship from H.M.S. Pinafore[7], an 1878 comic opera in two acts, with music by English composer Arthur Sullivan (1842–1900) and a libretto by English writer W. S. Gilbert (1836–1911).

5d   Was coach route accidentally entering borders of Thailand? (7)

6d   Evasive type seen in Chelsea flat regularly (3)

"Regularly" is an indication to select a regular sequence of letters from the fodder. Usually one would take every second letter (either the odd-numbered letters or the even-numbered letters). However, today, it is every third letter that is required.

Chelsea[5] is a residential district of London, on the north bank of the River Thames.

7d   Heads try TS Eliot (7)

A head[5] is a toilet on a ship or boat they were cleaning out the heads.

T. S. Eliot[5] (1888–1965) was an American-born British poet, critic, and dramatist; full name Thomas Stearns Eliot. Associated with the rise of literary modernism, he was established as the voice of a disillusioned generation by The Waste Land (1922). Four Quartets (1943) revealed his increasing involvement with Christianity. Nobel Prize for Literature (1948).

8d   Valued of course in walk (9)

12d   They serve to reduce tension in ships (11)

14d   Increasing noise in rowing clubs censored (9)

I think that the rationale for rowing to be an anagram indicator is that row[10] is being used in the sense of to cause a noisy disturbance.

17d   Touches down in burning sun (7)

18d   Editor's zonked by potentially illegal drug (7)

20d   Reported traffic jam from device in TV studio (7)

Autocue[5] is the British name for a teleprompter[5], a device which projects an enlarged image of a script on to a clear glass screen in front of a person speaking on television or in public, so enabling the speaker to read their speech while appearing to be looking at the viewers or audience.

22d   Set up stunning weapon and did test again (5)

Resit[5] is a British term which, as a verb, means to take (an examination) again after failing it  ⇒ she is resitting her maths GCSE [General Certificate of Secondary Education] and, as a noun, denotes an examination that is resat ⇒ the system allows the office to timetable all resits in a single block.

24d   Eastern currency  succeeded (3)

The won[5] is the basic monetary unit of North and South Korea, equal to 100 jun in North Korea and 100 jeon in South Korea.
Key to Reference Sources: 

[1]   - The Chambers Dictionary, 11th Edition
[2]   - Search Chambers - (Chambers 21st Century Dictionary)
[3]   - TheFreeDictionary.com (American Heritage Dictionary)
[4]   - TheFreeDictionary.com (Collins English Dictionary)
[5]   - Oxford Dictionaries (Oxford Dictionary of English)
[6]   - Oxford Dictionaries (Oxford American Dictionary)
[7]   - Wikipedia
[8]   - Reverso Online Dictionary (Collins French-English Dictionary)
[9]   - Infoplease (Random House Unabridged Dictionary)
[10] - CollinsDictionary.com (Collins English Dictionary)
[11] - TheFreeDictionary.com (Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary)
Signing off for this week — Falcon

Sunday, December 8, 2013

Sunday, December 8, 2013 — ST 4563

Puzzle at a Glance
Puzzle Number in The Sunday Times
ST 4563
Date of Publication in The Sunday Times
Sunday, November 10, 2013
Setter
Dean Mayer (Anax)
Link to Full Review
Times for the Times [ST 4563]
Times for the Times Review Written By
Dave Perry
Dave Perry's Solving Time
★★★★★★★★
Date of Publication in the Toronto Star
Saturday, November 30, 2013
Date of Publication in The Vancouver Sun
Saturday, December 7, 2013[Note 2]
Falcon's Experience
┌────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┐
███████████████████████████████████
└────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┘
Legend:
- solved without assistance
- incorrect prior to use of puzzle solving tools
- solved with assistance from puzzle solving tools
- solved with aid of checking letters provided by puzzle solving tools
- unsolved or incorrect prior to visiting Times for the Times
- solved with aid of checking letters provided by solutions from Times for the Times
Notes
[1] This puzzle appears on the Sunday puzzles pages in the Saturday, December 7, 2013 edition of The Ottawa Citizen.
[2] Due to the paywall that has been erected on its web site, I am no longer able to verify the puzzle that is published in the Vancouver Sun.

Introduction

Knowing that the duty rotation would produce an Anax puzzle today, I was expecting a challenge — but perhaps not quite as much of a challenge as he delivered. Despite the best efforts of my electronic assistants, I threw in the towel with two clues left unsolved. However, when I saw Dave Perry's solving time, I felt much better about my own performance, even though I did need help from his review to understand the wordplay in the case of a couple of clues.

The puzzle was very controversial when it appeared in the UK, generating not only a higher volume of comments than I recall ever having seen, but comments that are also far more verbose than usual.

Notes on Today's Puzzle

This commentary should be read in conjunction with the full review at Times for the Times, to which a link is provided in the table above. The underlined portion of the clue is the definition.

Across


1a   I'm fabulous on purpose (6)

In cricket, the on[5] (also known as the on side) is another name for the leg side [of the field]. The leg side[5] (also called simply the leg) is the half of the field (as divided lengthways through the pitch) away from which the batsman's feet are pointed when standing to receive the ball. Naturally, the other side of the field is called the off[5] (also known as the off side).

4a   Furious about stopping to lob change, as one might here (8)

As one must glean from the context of the clue, the implied definition is "one might [lob change] here".

In the UK, tolbooth[5] is a variant spelling of tollbooth. While I also found tolbooth[3,11] in American dictionaries, it was only in the archaic Scottish sense of a town hall or town jail.

9a   Without purpose, taking hold (5)

10a   Talk about topless girl providing help for skiers (9)

11a   Give a cheer in an ecstatic state (9)

12a   Loss of breath starts to alarm person not easily alarmed (5)

13a   Doctor met a fool and he's a burden (3,3,2,3,3)

In Greek mythology, the Old Man of the Sea[7] was a primordial figure who could be identified as any of several water-gods. He is the father of Thetis (the mother of Achilles).

Sinbad the Sailor encountered the monstrous Old Man of the Sea on his fifth voyage. The Old Man of the Sea in the Sinbad tales was said to trick a traveller into letting him ride on his shoulders while the traveller transported him across a stream. However, the Old Man would then not release his grip, forcing his victim to transport him wherever he pleased and allowing his victim little rest. The Old Man's victims all eventually died of this miserable treatment, but Sinbad, after having got the Old Man drunk with wine, was able to shake him off and kill him.

16a   A month after rep, cousin lost theatre part (10,4)

A proscenium arch[5] is an arch framing the opening between the stage and the auditorium in some theatres.

20a   Clamour surrounding a good politician (5)

William Hague[7] is a British politician who has been the First Secretary of State and the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs since 2010. He previously served as Leader of the Conservative Party and Leader of the Opposition from 1997 to 2001, and he has been a Member of Parliament (MP) since 1989.

21a   Racing driver put down crew dressed in gold (5,4)

The symbol for the chemical element gold is Au[5] (from Latin aurum).

Alain Menu[7] is a Swiss racing driver. He was one of the most successful touring car drivers of the 1990s, winning the prestigious British Touring Car Championship twice (the only driver during the series' 1991–2000 Super Touring era to do so). He drove for Chevrolet in the World Touring Car Championship between 2005 and 2012 with a best finish of second in 2012. As of 2013 Menu is racing in the Porsche Supercup for his own team.

23a   Fish hidden by subtle variegated colour (5,4)

24a   The country's crowded (5)

In various dialects, the article "the"is replaced by "t'". See item 7 at How to Speak With a Yorkshire Accent.
All use of "the" and "to" is replaced with "t'", which is pronounced by replacing the vowel sound with a half-audible "uh" noise, the kind you might make if you were lifting something unexpectedly heavy. EG: "I'm going into the woods"/Ah'm goin' int'[uh noise] woods" (note: the g at the end of "ing" is also dropped.)
25a   Insurer's rejected increase — wow! (8)

I needed Dave Perry's explanation of the wordplay related to "insurer's". I failed to realize that the S in the solution came from the 's in the clue. However, even had I recognized this, I'm not sure that I would have been able to figure out the rest. Apparently, Pru is used as a short form for Prudential (the insurance company) — at least by those who write newspaper headlines (see Pru pounces on investment rival, BBC News ).

Prudential plc[7] is a British multinational life insurance and financial services company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. The company is unrelated to the American insurance company with a similar name. Prudential Financial, Inc.[7], also known by its primary subsidiary The Prudential Insurance Company of America, is a Fortune Global 500 and Fortune 500 company whose subsidiaries provide insurance, investment management, and other financial products and services to both retail and institutional customers throughout the United States and in over 30 other countries.

In Britain, an increase in salary or wages is called a rise[5] — rather than a raise[5], as it would be in North America.

26a   What TV has for TV investor (6)

In Britain, TV[4] is used as an abbreviation for transvestite. Note that this usage is absent from the two American dictionaries found at the foregoing link.

Dragons' Den[7] is a series of reality television programmes featuring entrepreneurs pitching their business ideas in order to secure investment finance from a panel of venture capitalists [known as the dragons]. The show originated in Japan. Dragons' Den series have been produced in numerous different countries including the UK and Canada. Apart from in Japan (where the show debuted) the show names, structures, and styles are based upon the UK version.

Down


1d   Spot cream with calcium ingredient (8)

The symbol for the chemical element calcium is Ca[5].

2d   Small amount of drink coating base of beer pump (5)

A gill[5] is a unit of liquid measure, equal to a quarter of a pint.

3d   Look for one in climbing country (7)

5d   One initially looks great in a shift, being "mature" (2,1,7,3)

The plural noun looks[5] refers to a person’s facial appearance considered aesthetically he had charm, good looks, and an amusing insouciance. I think that face can have a similar meaning, as in the expression fair of face.

6d   Widow's conduct on replacing husband (7)

I didn't entirely get the wordplay here until it was explained by Dave Perry.

7d   Soldiers, single file, protecting European navigator? (9)

In the British armed forces, the term other ranks[5] (abbreviation OR[5]) refers to all those who are not commissioned officers.

An orienteer[4] is a person who takes part in [the sport of] orienteering[11], a sport in which competitors navigate unfamiliar terrain and locate checkpoints with the aid of a map and compass.

8d   Hospital radio show's new offer? (6)

My attempts to decipher this clue were an exercise in futility.

It's That Man Again[7] (or, commonly, ITMA) was a BBC radio comedy programme which ran from 1939 to 1949. The title refers to a contemporary phrase concerning the ever more frequent news-stories about Hitler in the lead-up to World War II. ITMA is believed to have played a major role in sustaining morale on the UK's "home front" during World War II.

Here the definition is "offer", a word — seemingly invented by the setter — denoting a member of the underworld who "offs" people.

10d   "Support" suggests furniture against wall (7,6)

A console table[3] is (1) A table supported by decorative consoles fixed to a wall or (2) a small table, often with curved legs resembling consoles, designed to be set against a wall. A console[3] is an often scroll-shaped bracket used for decoration or for supporting a projecting member, such as a cornice or shelf.

14d   Proper regret over following useless guide across river (2,7)

The adjective de rigueur[5] ( a term adopted from French) means required by etiquette or current fashion it was de rigueur for bands to grow their hair long.

15d   Not a word published — knowledge wasted (8)

17d   Senior nurses recognise a boss! (7)

As used here, boss[3,4,11] is slang for first-rate, topnotch, fine, or excellent.

18d   Police car hems suspect in (7)

Motor[5] is an informal British term for a car ⇒ we drove out in my motor. This is seemingly a shortened form of "motor car" and yet another example of the Brits referring to something by an adjective rather than the noun which the adjective modifies. Other examples are 'estate' for 'estate car' (British name for a station wagon) and 'Indian' for 'Indian restaurant'.

The wordplay is MOTOR (car) containing (hems) an anagram (suspect) of IN. My first thought was that the clue does not really work as it is "hem in" which means to confine, not "hem". However, I guess I will have to give Anax the benefit of the doubt as Collins English Dictionary defines hem[10] (usually followed by in, around, or about) as meaning to enclose or confine. [Note the qualification "usually"].

19d   Specific articles are reduced to singular essay (6)

22d   Dallas family's European branch (5)

Dallas[7] is a long-running American prime time television soap opera that aired from 1978 to 1991 on CBS. The series revolves around the Ewing clan, a wealthy and feuding Texan family who own the independent oil company Ewing Oil and the cattle-ranching land of Southfork.
Key to Reference Sources: 

[1]   - The Chambers Dictionary, 11th Edition
[2]   - Search Chambers - (Chambers 21st Century Dictionary)
[3]   - TheFreeDictionary.com (American Heritage Dictionary)
[4]   - TheFreeDictionary.com (Collins English Dictionary)
[5]   - Oxford Dictionaries (Oxford Dictionary of English)
[6]   - Oxford Dictionaries (Oxford American Dictionary)
[7]   - Wikipedia
[8]   - Reverso Online Dictionary (Collins French-English Dictionary)
[9]   - Infoplease (Random House Unabridged Dictionary)
[10] - CollinsDictionary.com (Collins English Dictionary)
[11] - TheFreeDictionary.com (Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary)
Signing off for this week — Falcon