tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42834919408429871652024-02-07T06:35:29.347-05:00Ottawa Citizen Cryptic Crossword ForumA forum for solvers of The Sunday London Times cryptic crossword puzzle published in the Ottawa CitizenFalconhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07466858757398776500noreply@blogger.comBlogger258125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4283491940842987165.post-30468551081305920682014-06-06T21:49:00.000-04:002014-06-06T21:49:02.165-04:00Signing Off For All Time<style>
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<h2>
Farewell
</h2>
I returned from my recent travels to discover that during my absence the powers-that-be at the <i>Ottawa Citizen</i> had totally revamped the newspaper. Among the changes made was the discontinuance of <i>The Sunday London Times Crossword</i> feature.<br />
<br />
I am sure that the scrapping of this feature has done much to elevate the intellectual level of the paper — not to mention making room for such erudite additions as <i>Love and the Stars</i>. I suppose giving up our weekly crossword puzzle is a small price for us cruciverbalists to pay to ensure that the love lives of the citizens of Ottawa unfold in accordance with the dictates of the stars.</div>
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<br /></div>
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This blog existed for almost exactly five years — the first posting appearing on May 17, 2009. The last entry for which a puzzle actually exists is that of May 18, 2014. The entry for May 25, 2014 forecast the appearance of a puzzle that was not published.</div>
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<br /></div>
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In conclusion, I would like to thank those who have followed this blog, especially those who left comments from time to time.</div>
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<br />Signing off — Falcon
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Falconhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07466858757398776500noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4283491940842987165.post-26717077849745419342014-05-25T09:00:00.000-04:002014-06-06T21:19:16.056-04:00Sunday, May 25, 2014 — ST 4587<style>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">Post Mortem</span></i></b><br />
<br />
<i>I returned from my travels to discover that during my absence the editors of the Ottawa Citizen completely revamped the newspaper — in the process discontinuing The Sunday London Times Crossword. As a consequence, this puzzle never appeared.</i></div>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" style="height: 20px; width: 420px;"><tbody></tbody></table>
<table border="5" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" frame="BOX" rules="GROUPS" style="border-bottom-style: none; color: #274e13; height: 62px; width: 420px;"><tbody>
<tr><th colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="color: red;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Vacation Edition</span> <sup><i>[Note 1]</i></sup></b></span></div>
</th> </tr>
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<tr><th colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 200%;"><b>Puzzle at a Glance</b></span></div>
</th> </tr>
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<table border="5" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" frame="BOX" rules="GROUPS" style="height: 82px; width: 420px;"><tbody>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Puzzle Number in <i>The Sunday Times</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;">ST 4587</span>
</th> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Date of Publication in <i>The Sunday Times</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Sunday, April 27, 2014</b></span>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Setter</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Dean Mayer (Anax) </b></span></td> </tr>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Link to Full Review</span></span></div>
<a href="http://times-xwd-times.livejournal.com/1108030.html"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b><i>Times for the Times</i> [ST 4587]</b></span></a>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i>Times for the Times</i> Review Written By</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>ulaca</b></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>Times for the Times</i> Reviewer's Solving Time</span> </div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>★★★</b></span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Date of Publication in the <i>Toronto Star</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Saturday, May 17, 2014</b><sup><i>[Note 4]</i></sup></span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Date of Publication in <i>The Vancouver Sun</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Saturday, May 24, 2014</b><sup><i>[Note 3]</i></sup></span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Notes</span></div>
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<i><sup>[1]</sup> I am currently on vacation. Today's abbreviated posting was prepared prior to my departure and provides a link to the review at Times for the Times for the puzzle that I expect to be published today. </i></div>
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<i><sup>[2]</sup> This puzzle is forecast to appear on the Sunday puzzles pages in the Saturday, May 24 2014 edition of the Ottawa Citizen.</i></div>
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<i><sup>[3]</sup> Forecast publication date. Post publication, I will be unable to verify the publication date as a paywall bars access to the The Vancouver Sun website. </i></div>
<div style="margin-left: 20px; padding: 5px 5px 10px 5px; text-align: left; text-indent: -20px;">
<i><sup>[4]</sup> Forecast publication date.</i></div>
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Signing off for this week — Falcon
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Falconhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07466858757398776500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4283491940842987165.post-81288773943725704212014-05-18T09:00:00.000-04:002014-05-18T09:00:03.146-04:00Sunday, May 18, 2014 — ST 4586<div>
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<span style="color: red;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Vacation Edition</span> <sup><i>[Note 1]</i></sup></b></span></div>
</th> </tr>
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<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 200%;"><b>Puzzle at a Glance</b></span></div>
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<table border="5" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" frame="BOX" rules="GROUPS" style="height: 82px; width: 420px;"><tbody>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Puzzle Number in <i>The Sunday Times</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;">ST 4586</span>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Date of Publication in <i>The Sunday Times</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Sunday, April 20, 2014</b></span>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Setter</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Jeff Pearce </b></span>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Link to Full Review</span></span></div>
<a href="http://times-xwd-times.livejournal.com/1104029.html"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b><i>Times for the Times</i> [ST 4586]</b></span></a>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i>Times for the Times</i> Review Written By</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>paul_in_london</b></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody>
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<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>Times for the Times</i> Reviewer's Solving Time</span> </div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Not provided </b></span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Date of Publication in the <i>Toronto Star</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Saturday, May 10, 2014</b><sup><i></i></sup></span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Date of Publication in <i>The Vancouver Sun</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Saturday, May 17, 2014</b><sup><i>[Note 3]</i></sup></span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Notes</span></div>
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<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-left: 20px; padding: 5px 5px 10px 5px; text-align: left; text-indent: -20px;">
<i><sup>[1]</sup> I am currently on vacation. Today's abbreviated posting was prepared prior to my departure and provides a link to the review at Times for the Times for the puzzle that I expect to be published today. </i></div>
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<i><sup>[2]</sup> This puzzle is forecast to appear on the Sunday puzzles pages in the Saturday, May 17, 2014 edition of the Ottawa Citizen.</i></div>
<div style="margin-left: 20px; padding: 5px 5px 10px 5px; text-align: left; text-indent: -20px;">
<i><sup>[3]</sup> Forecast publication date. Post publication, I will be unable to verify the publication date as a paywall bars access to the The Vancouver Sun website.</i></div>
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<h2>
Introduction
</h2>
I will be on vacation for a couple of weeks. During my absence, an abbreviated version of the blog will appear containing a link to the review at <i>Times for the Times</i> for the puzzle that I forecast to be published.<br />
<br />
In the blog entry dealing with today's puzzle, <i>Times for the Times</i> reports that the regular reviewer, Dave Perry, has suffered a stroke and "so will obviously be unavailable for blogging duties until further notice".<br />
<br />
I am sure we all wish Dave a speedy recovery.<br />
<br />
Signing off for this week — Falcon
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Falconhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07466858757398776500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4283491940842987165.post-84587686069546838402014-05-11T22:23:00.000-04:002014-05-11T22:23:14.065-04:00Sunday, May 11, 2014 — ST 4585<div>
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<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 200%;"><b>Puzzle at a Glance</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Puzzle Number in <i>The Sunday Times</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;">ST 4585</span>
</th> </tr>
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<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Date of Publication in <i>The Sunday Times</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Sunday, April 13, 2014</b></span>
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<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Setter</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Tim Moorey</b></span></td> </tr>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Link to Full Review</span></span></div>
<a href="http://times-xwd-times.livejournal.com/1099595.html"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b><i>Times for the Times</i> [ST 4585]</b></span></a>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i>Times for the Times</i> Review Written By</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Dave Perry</b></span>
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<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Dave Perry's Solving Time</span> </div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>★★★</b></span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Date of Publication in the <i>Toronto Star</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Saturday, May 3, 2014</b></span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Date of Publication in <i>The Vancouver Sun</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Saturday, May 10, 2014</b><sup><i>[Note 2]</i></sup></span>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Falcon's Experience</span> </div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;">┌────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┐</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;">██████████████████████████████</span><span style="color: cyan;"></span><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"></span><span style="color: #ccddbb;">█████</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">└────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┘</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Legend:</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; margin-left: 18px; padding: 10px 10px 10px 10px; text-align: left; text-indent: -18px;">
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<span style="color: blue;">█</span> - solved without assistance</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: orange;">█</span> - incorrect prior to use of puzzle solving tools</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: cyan;">█</span> - solved with assistance from puzzle solving tools</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;">█</span> - solved with aid of checking letters provided by puzzle solving tools</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;">█</span> - solved but without fully parsing the clue</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: red;">█</span> - unsolved or incorrect prior to visiting <i>Times for the Times</i></div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: #660000;">█</span> - solved with aid of checking letters provided by solutions from <i>Times for the Times</i></div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: magenta;">█</span> - yet to be solved
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Notes</span></div>
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<i><sup>[1]</sup> This puzzle appears on the Sunday puzzles pages in the Saturday, May 10, 2014 edition of the Ottawa Citizen.</i></div>
<div style="margin-left: 20px; padding: 5px 5px 10px 5px; text-align: left; text-indent: -20px;">
<i><sup>[2]</sup> Unverified as a paywall bars access to the The Vancouver Sun website.</i></div>
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<h2>
Introduction
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Today's puzzle was not overly difficult, but provided lots of enjoyment.<br />
<br />
<h2>
Notes on Today's Puzzle
</h2>
<div style="font-size: x-small; text-align: center;">
<b><i>This commentary is intended to serve as a supplement to the review of this puzzle found at Times for the Times, to which a link is provided in the table above.<br />
<br />
Primary indications (definitions) are marked with a solid underline in the clue; subsidiary indications (be they wordplay or other) are marked with a dashed underline in all-in-one (& lit.) clues, semi-all-in-one (semi-& lit.) clues and cryptic definitions.</i></b></div>
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<h3>
Across</h3>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>1a Restrained dog is suffering <u>problems with some chow</u> (6,9)</b></span></div>
<br />
It may appear that "chow" is yet another dog.— but that is not the case.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>9a Do you transport the lady speaking fast in <u>Eastern capital</u>? (7)</b></span></div>
<br />
The effect is more pronounced (pardon the pun) when spoken in a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhotic_and_non-rhotic_accents"><b>non-rhotic</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> British accent. <b>Non-rhotic accents</b> omit the sound <span class="IPA" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">/r/</span> in certain situations, while <b>rhotic accents</b> generally pronounce <span class="IPA" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">/r/</span> in all contexts.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Jakarta"><b>Jakarta</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is the <span class="definition">capital of Indonesia, situated in northwestern Java; population 9,125,000 (est. 2009).</span><span class="definition"> Former name (until 1949) Batavia.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>10a Go by bike, carrying on in <u>lots of wind</u> (7)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>11a <u>Votes in favour of</u> timeless Irish poet (4)</b></span></div>
<br />
<b><a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Yeats-W.-B.">W. B. Yeats</a></b><sup>[5]</sup> <span class="definition"><span class="dateGroup">(<span class="date">1865–1939</span>) was an</span> Irish poet and dramatist; full name William Butler Yeats. His play <em class=""> The Countess Cathleen</em> (1892) and his collection of stories <em class=""> The Celtic Twilight</em> (1893) stimulated Ireland’s theatrical, cultural, and literary revival. Notable poetry: <em class=""> The Tower</em> (1928) and <em class=""> The Winding Stair</em> (1929). Nobel Prize for Literature (1923).</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>12a We hear one after another intended to get <u>detention</u> (10)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>13a <u>Progressive</u> leader of Indian state (2-5)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/go-ahead_2"><b>Go-ahead</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is an adjective meaning w<span class="definition">illing to consider new ideas; in other words, enterprising </span> ⇒ <i><q><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><em class="example">a young and go-ahead managing director</em></span></q></i><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"></span>.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Goa"><b>Goa</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is a <span class="definition">state on the west coast of India; capital,
Panaji. Formerly a Portuguese territory, it was seized by India in 1961.
It formed a Union Territory with Daman and Diu until 1987, when it was
made a state.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>15a <u>Tower</u> viewed in modified telescope company's put out (7)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>17a <u>Did gag</u> that's despicable, wife walking out (7)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>19a <u>Railing</u> about initially cutting standard brain scanning facility (7)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/positron-emission-tomography"><b>Positron emission tomography</b></a><sup>[10]</sup> (<i>abbreviation</i> <a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/pet"><b>PET</b></a><sup>[10]</sup>) is <span class="def">a technique for assessing brain activity and function by recording the emission of
positrons from radioactively labelled substances, such as glucose or dopamine.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>20a <u>Finish</u> sounding like a drunken side-kick! (10)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>22a <u>Stages</u> that go with 11 called out (4)</b></span></div>
<br />
In the game of bingo in the United Kingdom,
callers announcing the numbers have traditionally used nicknames
to refer to particular numbers if they are drawn. The nicknames are
sometimes known by the rhyming phrase 'bingo lingo' and there are rhymes
for each number from 1 to 90, some of which date back many decades. In
some clubs, the 'bingo caller' will say the number, with the assembled
players intoning the rhyme in a call and response manner, in others, the
caller will say the rhyme and the players chant the number.<br />
<br />
The nickname for the number "11" is <b>legs</b> — a reference to the shape of the number resembling a pair of legs, often chicken legs specifically.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-bingohouse_6-0"><span></span><span></span></sup> The players often wolf whistle in response.<br />
<br />
Wikipedia has a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_British_bingo_nicknames"><b>list of British bingo nicknames</b></a><sup>[7]</sup> which you might find of interest — although the overly decorous may wish to avoid looking at "69" and "83".<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>25a Starts to hoover under machines, part of kitchen <u>routine</u> (7)</b></span></div>
<br />
In the UK, <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/Hoover?rskey=AmHim8&result=2#m_en_gb0386130.002"><b>hoover</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> (a genericized version of the trade name Hoover) means<span class="definition"> (as a noun) a vacuum cleaner (from any manufacturer) and (as a verb) </span><span class="definition">to clean (something) with a vacuum cleaner </span>⇒ <i><q><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><em class="example"><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example">he was hoovering the stairs</i></span></em></span></q></i><b>. </b><br />
<br />
<b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hoover_Company">The Hoover Company</a></b><sup>[7]</sup>
started out as an American floor care manufacturer based in North
Canton, Ohio.
It also established a major base in the United Kingdom and for most of
the early-and-mid-20th century, it dominated the electric vacuum cleaner
industry, to the point where the "hoover" brand name became synonymous
with vacuum cleaners and vacuuming in the United Kingdom and Ireland.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/kitchen"><b>Kitchen</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is an informal term for the <span class="definition">percussion section of an orchestra.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>26a Detective hurt and <u>it doesn't look good</u> (7)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/eye"><b>Eye</b></a><sup>[10]</sup> is an informal term for <a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/private-eye#private-eye_1"><b>private eye</b></a><sup>[10]</sup>, which in its own right is an informal term for<span class="def"> a private detective.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>27a <u>Important figures</u> that are expanded by a corporation (5,10)</b></span></div>
<br />
Formally, <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/vital-statistics"><b>vital statistics</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> are <span class="definition">quantitative data concerning the population, such as the number of births, marriages, and deaths. Informally, the term refers to the </span><span class="definition">measurements of a woman’s bust, waist, and hips. While <i>Oxford Dictionaries Online</i> characterises this latter usage as British, I know from personal experience that the term is in wide-spread use far beyond the shores of the UK.</span><br />
<span class="definition"><br /></span>
<span class="definition"><a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/corporation"><b>Corporation</b></a></span><span class="definition"><sup>[5]</sup> is a dated, humorous term for a paunch.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<h3>
Down</h3>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>1d <u>Relish</u> English post, mostly in the Big Apple (5)</b></span></div>
<br />
The <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Big-Apple"><b>Big Apple</b></a><span class="definition"><sup>[5]</sup> </span> is an informal name for New York City.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>2d <u>Pull to pieces</u> what an unemployed actor hopes to do (4,5)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>3d <u>Spy</u> seen in new and old ship (4)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/nark#nark"><b>Nark</b></a><span class="definition"><sup>[5]</sup> </span> is an British slang for a police informer ⇒ <i><q><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><em class="example"><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example"><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><em class="example">I’m not a copper’s nark</em></span></i></span></em></span></q></i>.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/ark"><b>Ark</b></a><span class="definition"><sup>[5]</sup> </span> is an archaic name for a ship or boat. In the Bible, <b>the ark</b> (<i>or</i> <b>Noah's ark</b>) is <span class="definition">the ship built by Noah to save his family and two of every kind of animal from the Flood.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="definition">Even <i>Oxford Dictionaries Online</i> perpetuates the fallacy that Noah took "two of every kind" of animal on the ark. <b><a href="https://www.apologeticspress.org/apcontent.aspx?category=6&article=656">God's instruction to Noah</a></b> actually was </span><span class="definition">“You shall take with you <b>seven </b>each of every clean animal, a male and his female; two each of animals that are unclean, a male and his female; also <b>seven</b> each of birds of the air, male and female, to keep the species alive on the face of all the earth” (Genesis 7:2-3). </span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>4d <u>Tired</u> daughter showered (7)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>5d <u>Bags</u> of pain in street ending in tears (7)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>6d <u>Story-teller</u> working near court (9)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>7d Far Right no longer <u>show feeling</u> (5)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>8d Mint on lamb, for example is <u>a delicacy</u> (9)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/sweet?q=sweet"><b>Sweet</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is the British term for a piece of <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/candy?q=candy"><b>candy</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> ⇒ <i><q><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example">a bag of sweets</i></span></q></i>.<br />
<br />
A <a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/sweetmeat"><b>sweetmeat</b></a><sup>[10]</sup> is <span class="def">a sweetened delicacy, such as a preserve, sweet, or, formerly, a cake or pastry. <i>Oxford Dictionaries Online</i> characterises the term as archaic</span><span class="def"><sup>[<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/sweetmeat"><b>5</b></a>]</sup>. Not to be confused with <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/sweetbread"><b>sweetbread</b></a></span><span class="def"><sup>[5]</sup> — which, despite the name, is meat while a sweetmeat could be bread.</span><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><em class="example"></em></span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>13d <u>Famous Russian</u> composer in new edition of Grove (9)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Bach-Johann-Sebastian"><b>Johann Sebastian Bach</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> <span class="definition"><span class="dateGroup">(<span class="date">1685–1750</span>) was a</span> German composer. </span>An exceptional and prolific baroque composer, he produced a massive body of work — not to mention twenty children.<br />
<br />
In the surface reading, "Grove" is an instance of the name of an author being used as a substitute for the name of his work.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Grove-Sir-George"><b>Sir George Grove</b></a> <span class="definition"><span class="dateGroup">(<span class="date">1820–1900</span>) was an</span> English musicologist. He was the founder and first editor of the multi-volume <em class=""> Dictionary of Music and Musicians</em> (1879–89) and served as the first director of the Royal College of Music (1883–94).</span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Gorbachev-Mikhail"><b>Mikhail Gorbachev</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> <span class="definition"><span class="dateGroup"></span></span> is a <span class="definition">Soviet statesman, General Secretary of the
Communist Party of the USSR 1985–91 and President 1988–91. His foreign policy brought about an end to
the Cold War, while within the USSR he introduced major reforms known
as glasnost and perestroika. Opposition to his policies led to an
attempted coup in 1991, after which he resigned. Nobel Peace Prize
(1990).</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>14d <u>Short-lived</u>, wild maple here (9)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>16d Travelling pioneer keeping very quiet in <u>what may be called a banger</u> (9)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/pianissimo?q=pianissimo"><b>Pianissimo</b></a> (<i>abbreviation</i> <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/pp?q=pp"><b>pp</b></a>)<sup>[5]</sup>
is a direction used in music to mean either (as an adjective) very
soft or very quiet or (as an adverb) very softly or very quietly.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/banger"><b>Banger</b></a><sup>[5]</sup>
is an informal British name for a sausage ⇒ <i><q><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><em class="example">bangers and mash [mashed potato]</em></span></q></i>. <br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>18d Scheduled to include one line over <u>set boundaries</u> (7)</b></span></div>
<br />
The wordplay parses as a reversal (over) of {TIMED (scheduled) containing (to include) {I ([<i>Roman numeral for</i>] one) + L (line)}}.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>19d <u>Most classy</u> lady's into cannabis (7)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>21d Arrive before time in <u>early jet</u> (5)</b></span></div>
<br />
The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Havilland_Comet"><b>de Havilland DH 106 Comet</b></a><span class="definition"><sup>[7]</sup>
</span> was the first production commercial jetliner.
Developed and manufactured by de Havilland at its Hatfield,
Hertfordshire, United Kingdom headquarters, the Comet 1 prototype first
flew on 27 July 1949.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>23d <u>Do</u></b></span><span style="color: white;"><b><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: blue;"><span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed;"><span style="color: white;"><b> they help one to see </b></span></span></span></span><u>what builders are doing?</u> (5)</b></span></div>
<br />
The entire clue is a cryptic definition for <b>specs</b> as an abbreviation for <b>specifications</b> (builders' plans). The portion of the clue with the dashed underlining is a definition for <b>specs</b> as an abbreviation for <b>spectacles</b> (eye glasses).<br />
<br />
One commenter at <i>Times for the Times</i> remarked "I'd have thought architects did SPECS rather than builders ..". True it is architects (and engineers) who draw them up, but it is builders who execute them. Thus if you were to look at the specs, you would have a a better idea of what the builder is doing. Another writer appears to think that the reference is to "building on spec" (that is, on speculation).<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>24d <u>Marries</u> for <u>one day</u>? (4)</b></span></div>
<br />
<b>Wednesday</b> can be abbreviated as either <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Wed."><b>Wed.</b></a><sup>[5]</sup>
or <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Weds."><b>Weds.</b></a><sup>[5]</sup>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Key to Reference Sources: </b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[1] </sup> - <i>The Chambers Dictionary, 11th Edition </i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[2] </sup> - <a href="http://www.chambers.co.uk/search.php"><b>Search Chambers</b></a> - (<i>Chambers 21st Century Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[3] </sup> - <a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/"><b>TheFreeDictionary.com</b></a> (<i>American Heritage Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[4] </sup> - <a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/"><b>TheFreeDictionary.com</b></a> (<i>Collins English Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[5] </sup> - <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/?region=uk"><b>Oxford Dictionaries</b></a> (<i>Oxford Dictionary of English</i>) </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[6] </sup> - <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/?region=us"><b>Oxford Dictionaries</b></a> (<i>Oxford American Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[7] </sup> - <b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page">Wikipedia</a></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[8] </sup> - <a href="http://dictionary.reverso.net/french-english/"><b>Reverso Online Dictionary</b></a> (<i>Collins French-English Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[9] </sup> - <a href="http://dictionary.infoplease.com/"><b>Infoplease</b></a> (<i>Random House Unabridged Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[10]</sup> - <a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/"><b>CollinsDictionary.com</b></a> (<i>Collins English Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[11]</sup> - <a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/"><b>TheFreeDictionary.com</b></a> (<i>Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary</i>)</span></blockquote>
Signing off for this week — Falcon
</div>
Falconhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07466858757398776500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4283491940842987165.post-90875305821892186372014-05-04T20:30:00.000-04:002014-05-04T20:30:35.605-04:00Sunday, May 4, 2014 — ST 4584<div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" style="height: 20px; width: 420px;"><tbody></tbody></table>
<table border="5" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" frame="BOX" rules="GROUPS" style="border-bottom-style: none; color: #274e13; height: 62px; width: 420px;"><tbody>
<tr><th colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 200%;"><b>Puzzle at a Glance</b></span></div>
</th> </tr>
</tbody></table>
<table border="5" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" frame="BOX" rules="GROUPS" style="height: 82px; width: 420px;"><tbody>
<tr><th colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-weight: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Puzzle Number in <i>The Sunday Times</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;">ST 4584</span>
</th> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Date of Publication in <i>The Sunday Times</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Sunday, April 6, 2014</b></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Setter</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Dean Mayer (Anax) </b></span></td> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Link to Full Review</span></span></div>
<a href="http://times-xwd-times.livejournal.com/1096358.html"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b><i>Times for the Times</i> [ST 4584]</b></span></a>
</td> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i>Times for the Times</i> Review Written By</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Dave Perry</b></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Dave Perry's Solving Time</span> </div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Not Provided</b></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Date of Publication in the <i>Toronto Star</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Saturday, April 26, 2014</b></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Date of Publication in <i>The Vancouver Sun</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Saturday, May 3, 2014</b><sup><i>[Note 2]</i></sup></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Falcon's Experience</span> </div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;">┌────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┐</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;">███████████████████████████</span><span style="color: cyan;">█</span><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"></span><span style="color: #a64d79;">█</span><span style="color: red;">█</span><span style="color: #ccddbb;">█████</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;">└────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┘</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Legend:</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; margin-left: 18px; padding: 10px 10px 10px 10px; text-align: left; text-indent: -18px;">
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: blue;">█</span> - solved without assistance</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: orange;">█</span> - incorrect prior to use of puzzle solving tools</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: cyan;">█</span> - solved with assistance from puzzle solving tools</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;">█</span> - solved with aid of checking letters provided by puzzle solving tools</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;">█</span> - solved but without fully parsing the clue</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: red;">█</span> - unsolved or incorrect prior to visiting <i>Times for the Times</i></div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: #660000;">█</span> - solved with aid of checking letters provided by solutions from <i>Times for the Times</i></div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: magenta;">█</span> - yet to be solved
</div>
</div>
</td> </tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Notes</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-left: 20px; padding: 5px 5px 10px 5px; text-align: left; text-indent: -20px;">
<i><sup>[1]</sup> This puzzle appears on the Sunday puzzles pages in the Saturday, May 3, 2014 edition of the Ottawa Citizen.</i></div>
<div style="margin-left: 20px; padding: 5px 5px 10px 5px; text-align: left; text-indent: -20px;">
<i><sup>[2]</sup> Unverified as a paywall bars access to the The Vancouver Sun website.</i></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody>
</table>
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<h2>
Introduction
</h2>
Today, you might say that Anax gets "down and dirty" (3d, 6d) or, perhaps, "dirty in the Downs". This is certainly far from being one his most difficult puzzles, but a good challenge, nevertheless. And, as always, a very enjoyable solve.<br />
<br />
<h2>
Notes on Today's Puzzle
</h2>
<div style="font-size: x-small; text-align: center;">
<b><i>This commentary is intended to serve as a supplement to the review of this puzzle found at Times for the Times, to which a link is provided in the table above.<br />
<br />
Primary indications (definitions) are marked with a solid underline in the clue; subsidiary indications (be they wordplay or other) are marked with a dashed underline in all-in-one (& lit.) clues, semi-all-in-one (semi-& lit.) clues and cryptic definitions.</i></b></div>
<br />
<h3>
Across</h3>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>1a <u>Frozen body</u>? Turn up temperature (5)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>4a Chap is carrying iron to <u>platform</u> (9)</b></span></div>
<br />
The symbol for the chemical element <b>iron</b> is <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/Fe?q=Fe"><b>Fe</b></a><sup>[5]</sup>.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>9a Big girl starts to test <u>seesaw</u> (9)</b></span></div>
<br />
The sizes of clothing that North Americans would describe as <b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plus-size_clothing"><i>plus-size</i></a></b><sup>[7]</sup> (or often <b><i>big and tall</i></b> in the case of men's clothing) would be called <b>outsize</b> (<b><a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/OS">OS</a></b><sup>[5]</sup>) in Britain. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cilla"><b>Cilla</b></a><sup>[7]</sup> is an English female given name, originally the diminutive form of <b>Priscilla</b> and less frequently <b>Drusilla</b>. It first appeared in the 20th Century.<br />
<br />
"Starts" — being plural — is used to clue the first <i><b>two</b></i> letters of <u><b>TE</b></u>st.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>10a Crease new <u>sheets</u> (5)</b></span></div>
<br />
In cricket, a <b>crease</b> is a <b>line</b> — not an area as it is in hockey and lacrosse. In cricket, a <a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/crease?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>crease</b></a><sup>[10]</sup> is <span class="def">any of three lines (bowling crease, popping crease, or return crease) near each wicket marking positions for the bowler or batsman.</span> <span class="xr"><span class="lbl"></span></span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>11a <u>Dicky</u> bird's covering for a swallow? (4,2,3,5)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/dicky"><b>Dicky bird</b></a><span class="definition"><sup>[5]</sup> </span> is an informal <span class="definition"> child’s word for a bird.</span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/dicky#dicky-2"><b>Dicky</b></a><sup>[10]</sup> is an informal British term meaning <span class="def"> in bad condition; shaky, unsteady, or unreliable</span> ⇒ <i><q>I feel a bit dicky today</q></i>.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/down-in-the-mouth"><b>Down in the mouth</b></a><sup>[10]</sup> (<i>or</i> <b>down at the mouth</b>) means in low spirits. <br />
<br />
The "bird's covering" is DOWN and one reason [<i>the question mark indicating that this is but an example</i>] for having it IN THE MOUTH would be that one intended to swallow it.<br />
<br />
In his review, Dave Perry expresses some misgivings about "dicky" as a definition.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: #a64d79; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>13a <u>A handle</u> for jug, all in enamel (8)</b></span></div>
<br />
While I did get the correct solution, I failed to parse the clue.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/nick"><b>Nick</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is an informal British name for <span class="definition">a prison </span>⇒ <i><q><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example">he’ll end up in the nick for the rest of his life</i></span></q></i><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"></span>.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/jug"><b>The jug</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is an informal term for prison ⇒ <i><q><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example"><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example">three months <b>in the jug</b></i></span></i></span></q></i>.<br />
<br />
The phrase "all in enamel" is used to clue NAME,<b> </b>all [<i>the letters</i>] in e<u><b>NAME</b></u>l —<b> </b>omitting the letters that comprise the outside edges of the word.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>15a <u>Cooking fuel</u> behind ring (6)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Sterno"><b>Sterno</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is a US trademarked name for a f<span class="definition">lammable hydrocarbon jelly supplied in cans for use as fuel for cooking stoves. </span><span class="definition">The name comes from that of the manufacturer, Sternau and Co.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>17a <u>Fruit</u> in this is completely sliced by mum (6)</b></span></div>
<br />
The phrase "in this is completely" is used to clue TOTO. The Latin phrase <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/in-toto"><b><i>in toto</i></b></a><sup>[5]</sup> means as a whole or <b>completely</b>.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>18a Mother comes in to sell <u>axe</u> (8)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>20a <u>Made no progress</u>? Perhaps he was forgotten (3,7,4)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>23a In jeopardy, he will hold back <u>a monster</u> (5)</b></span></div>
<br />
In Greek mythology, the <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/hydra#Hydra"><b>Hydra</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> was a <span class="definition">many-headed snake whose heads grew again as they were cut off, eventually killed by Hercules.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>24a Posh boy back in Asian resort in <u>part of Spain</u> (9)</b></span></div>
<br />
<span class="definition"><span class="definition">In Britain, <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/U--3?rskey=lX5Bs0&result=3"><b>U</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is used informally as an adjective (in respect to <span class="definition">language or social behaviour) meaning characteristic of or appropriate to the upper social classes </span></span></span><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><span class="definition">⇒</span><span class="definition"> </span><span class="definition"><i><q><span class="definition"><i>U manners</i></span></q></i>. The term, </span>an abbreviation of <b>upper class</b>, was coined in 1954 by Alan S. C. Ross, professor of linguistics, and popularized by its use in Nancy Mitford's <i>Noblesse Oblige</i> (1956). In Crosswordland, it is frequently clued by words denoting upper class such as <b>posh</b> or <b>superior</b>.</span></span><br />
<br />
As an anagram indicator, "resort" is used in the somewhat whimsical sense of 'to sort again'.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Andalusia"><b>Andalusia</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is the <span class="definition">southernmost region of Spain, bordering on the
Atlantic and the Mediterranean; capital, Seville. The region was under
Moorish rule from 711 to 1492.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>25a <u>One buys</u> tea that officer gulps (9)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/char#char-3"><b>Cha</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> (<i>also</i> <b>chai</b> <i>or</i> <b>char</b>) is an informal British name for tea.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>26a <u>Like a drink?</u> <u>Gin perhaps?</u> (5)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/rummy?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>Rummy</b></a><sup>[10]</sup> is a US and Canadian slang word for drunkard.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/gin"><b>Gin</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> (<i>also</i> <b>gin rummy</b>) is a <span class="definition"> form of the card game rummy in which a player holding cards totalling ten or less may terminate play.</span><br />
<br />
<h3>
Down</h3>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>1d <u>Mix 'n' match</u> decoration, possibly (10)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>2d <u>Bird</u>'s bill penetrating gullet (5)</b></span></div>
<br />
A <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/macaw"><b>macaw</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is a <span class="definition">large long-tailed parrot with brightly coloured plumage, native to Central and South America.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: cyan; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>3d Dirty little hospital nurses recording for <u>broadcast news? No!</u> (4,2,3,2,4)</b></span></div>
<br />
This was a new expression to me. I tried in vain to justify TELL IT NOT IN OATH.<br />
<br />
The expression "<a href="http://english.al/proverb/tell-it-not-in-gath/"><b>tell it not in Gath</b></a>" means don't spread scandal — keep the story to yourself ⇒ <i><q><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example">Tell it not in Gath, but their marriage isn’t turning out too well. There’s good reason to believe …</i></span></q></i>.<br />
<br />
The source is <i><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/1-20.htm"><b>2 Samuel 1:20</b></a></i>. David said when he heard of the death of Jonathan in the war against the Philistines:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Tell <i>it</i> not in Gath, publish <i>it</i> not in the streets of Askelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.</blockquote>
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>4d <u>For now</u>, an expression of self-loathing? (8)</b></span></div>
<br />
Split (2, 4-2), the solution becomes "Me anti-me" — which could be expressed in a more grammatically correct manner as "I am anti-me".<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>5d <u>Missing</u>, as was masseur reportedly (6)</b></span></div>
<br />
Judging by the comments at <i>Times for the Times</i>, it seems that a lot of solvers got misled by thinking that the wordplay is "as was masseur reportedly". In fact, the wordplay is simply "was masseur reportedly" with the word "as" merely serving as a link between the definition and wordplay. Someone who was (a) masseur could be described as someone who kneaded.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>6d Thought one would snarl about dirty <u>supporter</u> (6,9)</b></span></div>
<br />
A <a href="http://www.chambers.co.uk/search.php?query=fellow+traveller&title=21st"><b>fellow traveller</b></a><sup>[2]</sup> is someone who sympathizes with a political party, especially the Communist Party, without actually joining it.<span class="definition"></span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: red; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>7d <u>Hospitals</u> showing arrogance over adopting a security group (9)</b></span></div>
<br />
I managed to come up with a spelling, SANITORIA, that turns out to be a hybrid of the British (<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/sanatorium"><b>sanatoria</b></a><sup>[5]</sup>) and US (<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/sanitarium"><b>sanitaria</b></a><sup>[5]</sup>) spellings.<br />
<br />
This I parsed — not without some reservations, I may add — as {SNIT (arrogance or, possibly, showing arrogance) + O (over; <i>a division of play in cricket</i>)} containing (adopting) A (from the clue) + RIA (security group).<br />
<br />
I assumed the RIA was some hitherto unknown-to-me British counterpart to the CIA. As it turns out, this super-secretive group is unknown to anyone.<br />
<br />
Thankfully, Dave Perry provides the correct solution at <i>Times for the Times</i>.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>8d <u>Farmyard sound</u> in so-so nursing home (4)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>12d <u>Consistent</u> supply prepared by Spooner? (4 6)</b></span></div>
<br />
A <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/spoonerism"><b>spoonerism</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is a <span class="definition">verbal error in which a speaker accidentally
transposes the initial sounds or letters of two or more words, often to
humorous effect, as in the sentence</span><span class="definition"> </span><span class="definition"><i><q><span class="definition"><i>you have hissed the mystery lectures</i></span></q></i>. It is named after </span> the Revd W. A. <i>Spooner</i> (1844–1930), an English scholar who reputedly made such errors in speaking.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>14d About to meet host, call for <u>video equipment</u> (9)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>16d <u>Bullfighter</u> pulled a pole up (8)</b></span></div>
<br />
As a synonym for <b>tear</b>, <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/pull"><b>pull</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> may be used in the sense of to damage <span class="definition"> (a muscle, ligament, etc.) by abnormal strain </span>⇒ <i><q><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example"><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example">he pulled a calf muscle in the first half of the game and had to be replaced</i></span></i></span></q></i><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"></span>. It might also be used in a figurative sense ⇒ <i><q><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example"><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example"><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example">they are pulled in incompatible directions by external factors and their own beliefs</i></span></i></span></i></span></q></i>.<br />
<br />
A <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/toreador"><b>toreador</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is a <span class="definition">bullfighter, especially one on horseback. Initially, only <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/matador"><b>matador</b></a></span><span class="definition"><sup>[5]</sup> (a </span><span class="definition"><span class="definition">bullfighter whose task is to kill the bull</span>) and <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/picador"><b>picador</b></a></span><span class="definition"><sup>[5]</sup> (</span><span class="definition"><span class="definition">a person on horseback who goads the bull with a lance</span>) came to mind.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>19d <u>Athlete's kit</u> is striking — stores energy (6)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/kit"><b>Kit</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is a British term for the <span class="definition">clothing used for an activity such as a sport </span>⇒ <i><q><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example"><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example"><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example"><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example">a football kit</i></span></i></span></i></span></i></span></q></i>. In other words, what would be called a <b>uniform</b> on this side of the pond.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>21d F1 driver turned up for <u>tea</u> (5)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Felipe_Massa"><b>Felipe Massa</b></a><sup>[7]</sup> is a Brazilian Formula One (F1) racing driver. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/assam"><b>Assam</b></a><sup>[10]</sup> is <span class="def">a high-quality black tea grown in the Indian state of Assam.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>22d <u>Fluffy dessert</u> with fruit (4)</b></span></div>
<br />
A <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/whip"><b>whip</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is a <span class="definition">dessert consisting of cream or eggs beaten into a light fluffy mass with fruit, chocolate, or other ingredients.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="definition">A <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/hip#hip-2"><b>hip</b></a></span><span class="definition"><sup>[5]</sup> is the</span><span class="definition"><span class="definition"> fruit of a rose, especially a wild kind.</span> </span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Key to Reference Sources: </b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[1] </sup> - <i>The Chambers Dictionary, 11th Edition </i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[2] </sup> - <a href="http://www.chambers.co.uk/search.php"><b>Search Chambers</b></a> - (<i>Chambers 21st Century Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[3] </sup> - <a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/"><b>TheFreeDictionary.com</b></a> (<i>American Heritage Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[4] </sup> - <a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/"><b>TheFreeDictionary.com</b></a> (<i>Collins English Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[5] </sup> - <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/?region=uk"><b>Oxford Dictionaries</b></a> (<i>Oxford Dictionary of English</i>) </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[6] </sup> - <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/?region=us"><b>Oxford Dictionaries</b></a> (<i>Oxford American Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[7] </sup> - <b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page">Wikipedia</a></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[8] </sup> - <a href="http://dictionary.reverso.net/french-english/"><b>Reverso Online Dictionary</b></a> (<i>Collins French-English Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[9] </sup> - <a href="http://dictionary.infoplease.com/"><b>Infoplease</b></a> (<i>Random House Unabridged Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[10]</sup> - <a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/"><b>CollinsDictionary.com</b></a> (<i>Collins English Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[11]</sup> - <a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/"><b>TheFreeDictionary.com</b></a> (<i>Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary</i>)</span></blockquote>
Signing off for this week — Falcon
</div>
Falconhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07466858757398776500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4283491940842987165.post-2495556000790769242014-04-27T15:02:00.000-04:002014-04-27T15:02:56.855-04:00Sunday, April 27, 2014 — ST 4583<div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" style="height: 20px; width: 420px;"><tbody></tbody></table>
<table border="5" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" frame="BOX" rules="GROUPS" style="border-bottom-style: none; color: #274e13; height: 62px; width: 420px;"><tbody>
<tr><th colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 200%;"><b>Puzzle at a Glance</b></span></div>
</th> </tr>
</tbody></table>
<table border="5" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" frame="BOX" rules="GROUPS" style="height: 82px; width: 420px;"><tbody>
<tr><th colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-weight: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Puzzle Number in <i>The Sunday Times</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;">ST 4583</span>
</th> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Date of Publication in <i>The Sunday Times</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Sunday, March 30, 2014</b></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Setter</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Jeff Pearce </b></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Link to Full Review</span></span></div>
<a href="http://times-xwd-times.livejournal.com/1092810.html"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b><i>Times for the Times</i> [ST 4583]</b></span></a>
</td> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i>Times for the Times</i> Review Written By</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Dave Perry</b></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Dave Perry's Solving Time</span> </div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>★★★ </b></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Date of Publication in the <i>Toronto Star</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Saturday, April 19, 2014</b></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Date of Publication in <i>The Vancouver Sun</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Saturday, April 26, 2014</b><sup><i>[Note 2]</i></sup></span>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Falcon's Experience</span> </div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">┌────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┐</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;">██████████████████████████</span><span style="color: cyan;">█</span><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">█</span><span style="color: #ccddbb;">███████</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">└────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┘</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Legend:</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">█</span> - solved without assistance</div>
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<span style="color: orange;">█</span> - incorrect prior to use of puzzle solving tools</div>
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<span style="color: cyan;">█</span> - solved with assistance from puzzle solving tools</div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc;">█</span> - solved with aid of checking letters provided by puzzle solving tools</div>
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<span style="color: #a64d79;">█</span> - solved but without fully parsing the clue</div>
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<span style="color: red;">█</span> - unsolved or incorrect prior to visiting <i>Times for the Times</i></div>
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<span style="color: #660000;">█</span> - solved with aid of checking letters provided by solutions from <i>Times for the Times</i></div>
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<span style="color: magenta;">█</span> - yet to be solved
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Notes</span></div>
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<i><sup>[1]</sup> This puzzle appears on the Sunday puzzles pages in the Saturday, April 26, 2014 edition of the Ottawa Citizen.</i></div>
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<i><sup>[2]</sup> Unverified as a paywall bars access to the The Vancouver Sun website.</i></div>
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<h2>
Introduction
</h2>
Today, Jeff Pearce turns down the difficulty level a notch or two from what we have experienced in the last few weeks.<br />
<br />
<h2>
Notes on Today's Puzzle
</h2>
<div style="font-size: x-small; text-align: center;">
<b><i>This commentary is intended to serve as a supplement to the review of this puzzle found at Times for the Times, to which a link is provided in the table above.<br />
<br />
Primary indications (definitions) are marked with a solid underline in the clue; subsidiary indications (be they wordplay or other) are marked with a dashed underline in all-in-one (& lit.) clues, semi-all-in-one (semi-& lit.) clues and cryptic definitions.</i></b></div>
<br />
<h3>
Across</h3>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>1a T Blair seen wandering around <u>old part of capital</u> (4,6)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Blair-Tony?q=Tony+Blair"><b>Tony Blair</b></a><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><sup>[5]</sup></span></span></span> is <span class="definition">a former British Labour Prime Minister
(1997–2007).</span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Berlin"><b>Berlin</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is <span class="definition">the capital of Germany; population 3,404,000 (est. 2006). </span><span class="definition">At the end of the Second World War the city was </span><span class="definition"><span class="definition">occupied by the Allies and </span>divided into two parts: <b> West Berlin</b></span><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><b></b>,
comprising the American, British, and French sectors </span>and <b> East Berlin</b>, the
sector of the city occupied by the Soviet Union. The two parts were reunited in 1990.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>6a School on river making <u>racket</u> (4)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/s?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>S.</b></a><sup>[10]</sup> is the abbreviation for <b>school</b>.<br />
<br />
The <a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/cam?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>Cam</b></a><sup>[10]</sup> is a river in eastern England, in Cambridgeshire, flowing through Cambridge to the River Ouse. Length: about 64 km (40 miles).<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>9a <u>Cut</u> from small musical instrument (5)</b></span></div>
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<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>10a <u>One could have made you serve</u> <u>old workers in Fleet Street</u> (5,4)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Fleet-Street?q=Fleet+Street"><b>Fleet Street</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is a <span class="definition">street in central London in which the offices
of national newspapers were located until the mid 1980s (often used as a metonym for the British Press) </span>⇒ <i><q><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example">the hottest story in Fleet Street</i></span></q></i>.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>12a </b></span><span style="color: white;"><span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed;"><span style="color: white;"><b>Standing up for the losers of </b></span></span><b><u>this tuneful party game</u> (7,6)</b></span></div>
<br />
This is a cryptic definition in which the primary indication is provided by the part of the clue with the solid underlining while the portion of the clue with the dashed underlining provides a secondary cryptic indication.<br />
<br />
The phrase "standing up for the losers" needs to be interpreted as "for the losers, their fate is to stand up [<i>... while others sit</i>]".<br />
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<span style="color: white;"><b>14a </b></span><span style="color: white;"><span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed;"><span style="color: white;"><b>Groom Henry and Pat? </b></span></span><b><u>They won't be there!</u> (3,5)</b></span></div>
<br />
While the groom, Henry, and his friend — and, possibly, best man — Pat, will not attend, the bride and her friends certainly will.<br />
<br />
A <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/hen-party"><b>hen party</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is <span class="definition">an informal [<i>almost certainly British</i>] term for a social gathering of women, especially a <b><a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/hen-night">hen night</a></b></span><span class="definition"><sup>[5]</sup>, </span><span class="definition"><span class="definition">an informal British term for a celebration held for a woman who is about to get married, attended only by women</span>.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>15a Bumpy ride to be <u>one in charge of 10?</u> (6)</b></span></div>
<br />
The numeral 10 in the clue is a cross reference indicator directing the
solver to insert the solution to clue 10a in its place to complete
the clue.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>17a Black sheep's first <u>one making thrust</u> (6)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/jet#jet-2"><b>Jet</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is (1) a <span class="definition">hard black semi-precious variety of lignite, capable of being carved and highly polished </span> ⇒ <i><q><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example">jet beads</i></span></q></i><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="transivityStatement"></i><i class="example"></i></span> and (2) <span class="variantGroup">(also <b><span class="variant">jet black</span></b>)</span><span class="definition"> a glossy black colour </span>⇒ <i><q><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example"><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example">her jet-black hair</i></span></i></span></q></i><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"></span>.<br />
<br />
A <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/ramjet"><b>ramjet</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is a <span class="definition">type of jet engine in which the air drawn in for combustion is compressed solely by the forward motion of the aircraft.</span><br />
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<span style="color: white;"><b>19a You have <u>rotisserie</u> but how to get gratuities? (8)</b></span></div>
<br />
This clue constitutes an instance of <b><i>inverse wordplay</i></b>, specifically an <i><b>inverse reversal</b></i>. While many commentators refer to this as <i><b>reverse wordplay</b></i> rather than <i><b>inverse wordplay</b></i>, I prefer the latter term which is analogous to the concept of <i><b>inverse functions</b></i> in mathematics. It also has the added advantage of allowing one to avoid using the awkward phrasing <i><b>reverse reversal</b></i>.<br />
<br />
In <i><b>inverse wordplay</b></i>, the solution to the clue can be interpreted as a bit of wordplay that would produce a result that is found in the clue itself — either directly (<i><b>direct inverse wordplay</b></i>) or indirectly (<i><b>indirect inverse wordplay</b></i>).<br />
<br />
In the current clue, the definition is "rotisserie" for which the solution is TURNSPIT. If one were to split this (4,4), it could be interpreted as a reversal (turn) of SPIT giving the result TIPS (gratuities).<br />
<br />
Had the word "tips" appeared in the clue itself, we would have had a <i><b>direct inverse reversal</b></i>. However, since "tips" is a synonym for the word "gratuities" which actually appears in the clue, this becomes an <i><b>indirect inverse reversal</b></i>.<br />
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<span style="color: white;"><b>21a <u>He might get</u></b></span><span style="color: white;"><b><span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed;"><span style="color: white;"><b> short colonel car park if ordered</b></span></span> (5,8)</b></span></div>
<br />
I certainly haven't been able to make much sense of the surface reading of this clue. It would appear to state that, if ordered to do so, a soldier might fetch (or, perhaps, purchase) a parking lot for his small-statured superior officer.<br />
<br />
I did wonder if "short colonel" might be <b>a</b> British expression akin to the American <a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/light+colonel"><b>light colonel </b></a>(lieutenant colonel), but I found no evidence of this. Had that been the case, the word "get" might have signified "be promoted to". Anyway, it seems to me that one would rarely — if ever — be promoted from lance corporal to any sort of colonel. That explanation would also leave the surface reading for the remainder of the clue inexplicable.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/car-park?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>Car park</b></a><sup>[10]</sup> is the British term for a <b>parking lot</b>.<br />
<br />
From a cryptic perspective, "short" is indicating that we must perform a truncation (remove the final letter from the fodder). I spent a long time supposing that the fodder must be "colonel" from which one would drop the final L. I eventually realized that the fodder is, in fact, "colonel car park" from which one must drop the final K.<br />
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<span style="color: white;"><b>24a Separated chaps with time to see <u>pad</u> (9)</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: white;"><b>25a <u>Relative</u>'s corrupt, abandoning one (5)</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: white;"><b>26a Beer maker dropping brother's <u>jug</u> (4)</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><b>27a <u>Downtown</u> and a way to describe it! (4,6)</b></span></div>
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<h3>
Down</h3>
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<span style="color: white;"><b>1d <u>Different</u> golfer on start of eighteenth (4)</b></span></div>
<br />
"Different golfer" ... yes, for a change, not Tiger Woods!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernie_Els"><b>Ernie Els</b></a><sup>[7]</sup> is a South African professional golfer, who has
been one of the top professional players in the world since the
mid-1990s. <br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>2d <u>Flaky guy</u></b></span><span style="color: white;"><b><span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed;"><span style="color: white;"><b> losing form in heat</b></span></span> (7)</b></span></div>
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<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>3d <u>The ins and outs of domestic finance</u> (4,9)</b></span></div>
<br />
A document which captures the inflows and outflows of household capital.<br />
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<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>4d Backing a typical financial district to display <u>greed</u> (8)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/city?q=city"><b>The City</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is short for the City of London. Take note that the <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/City-of-London"><b>City of London</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is not the same thing as the city of <b>London</b>, but merely the part of London situated within the ancient boundaries and governed by the Lord Mayor and the <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/corporation?q=Corporation"><b>Corporation</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> [<i>in Britain, a group of people elected to govern a city, town, or borough</i>].<br />
<br />
<b>The City</b> is also a metonym for the financial and commercial institutions located in the City of London ⇒<i> (i) </i><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example">the Budget got a stony reception from the City</i></span><i>; (ii)</i><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example"> a City analyst</i></span>.
This is analogous to the use of the terms Wall Street and Bay Street to
refer to the financial institutions located in New York and Toronto
respectively.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>5d <u>Model</u> fish on a line (.5)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/ide#ide"><b>Ide</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is another name for the <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/orfe"><b>orfe</b></a><sup>[5]</sup>, a <span class="definition">silvery freshwater fish (</span><span class="definition"><i class="">Leuciscus idus</i>) of the carp family, which is fished commercially in eastern Europe.</span><br />
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<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>7d Diagram includes one old <u>vehicle</u> (7)</b></span></div>
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<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>8d <u>Person in court</u> showing mother point made to judge (10)</b></span></div>
<br />
Here "made to" is a charade indicator, with "made" meaning created or written and "to" denoting "pressed against" — as in expressions such as "<i>shoulder to the wheel</i>" or "<i>nose to the grindstone</i>". <br />
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<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>11d Send a rude chef away <u>enjoying his misery?</u> (13)</b></span></div>
<br />
Here, it is the person who is dismissing the chef who is enjoying this poor chap's misery. <a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/schadenfreude?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>Schadenfreude</b></a><sup>[10]</sup> is a German word signifying <span class="def">delight in another's misfortune.</span><br />
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<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>13d <u> Sailors shouldn't be working on this</u> (5,5)</b></span></div>
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<div style="background-color: cyan; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>16d <u>Unconvincing presentation</u></b></span><span style="color: black;"><b><span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed;"><span style="color: black;"><b> that may have strings attached</b></span></span> (8)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/puppetry?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>Puppetry</b></a><sup>[10]</sup> is an <span class="def">unconvincing or specious presentation.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>18d <u>Command</u> chap to be accompanied by boyfriend (7)</b></span></div>
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<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>20d Use rod with whip on <u>beast</u> (7)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/cat#cat"><b>Cat</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is short for <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/cat-o%27-nine-tails"><b>cat-o'-nine-tails</b></a><sup>[5]</sup>, a <span class="definition">rope whip with nine knotted cords, formerly used (especially at sea) to flog offenders.</span><br />
<br />
A <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/polecat"><b>polecat</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is a <span class="definition"> weasel-like Eurasian mammal with mainly dark brown fur and a darker mask across the eyes, noted for its fetid smell. There are three species, </span>in particular the <b> European polecat</b> (<i class=""><i class="">Mustela</i> putorius</i>) which is the probable ancestor of the domestic ferret. In North America [<i>although only in the US, as far as I know</i>], the name is also applied to the <b>skunk</b>.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>22d Old black priest showing <u>signs of doubt</u> (5)</b></span></div>
<br />
In the Bible, <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Eli?q=Eli"><b>Eli</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is <span class="definition">a priest who acted as a teacher to the prophet Samuel (1 Sam. 1-3).</span><br />
<br />
An <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/obelus"><b>obelus</b></a> (<i>plural</i> <b>obeli</b>) can be either (1) a <span class="definition">symbol (†) used as a reference mark in printed matter, or to indicate that a person is deceased</span> or (2) a <span class="definition">mark (- or ÷) used in ancient manuscripts to mark a word or passage as spurious, corrupt or doubtful</span>.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>23d Cost includes tenor for gala (4)</b></span></div>
<br />
A <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/gala"><b>gala</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is a <span class="definition">social occasion with special entertainments or performances </span>⇒ <i><q><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example">a gala performance by the Royal Ballet</i></span></q></i><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"></span>.<br />
<br />
In Britain, a <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/fete"><b>fete</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is <span class="definition">a
public function, typically held outdoors and organized to raise
funds for a charity, including entertainment and the sale of goods and
refreshments </span> ⇒ <i><q><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example">a church fete</i></span></q></i><span class="sentences exampleGroup"></span>.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Key to Reference Sources: </b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[1] </sup> - <i>The Chambers Dictionary, 11th Edition </i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[2] </sup> - <a href="http://www.chambers.co.uk/search.php"><b>Search Chambers</b></a> - (<i>Chambers 21st Century Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[3] </sup> - <a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/"><b>TheFreeDictionary.com</b></a> (<i>American Heritage Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[4] </sup> - <a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/"><b>TheFreeDictionary.com</b></a> (<i>Collins English Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[5] </sup> - <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/?region=uk"><b>Oxford Dictionaries</b></a> (<i>Oxford Dictionary of English</i>) </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[6] </sup> - <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/?region=us"><b>Oxford Dictionaries</b></a> (<i>Oxford American Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[7] </sup> - <b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page">Wikipedia</a></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[8] </sup> - <a href="http://dictionary.reverso.net/french-english/"><b>Reverso Online Dictionary</b></a> (<i>Collins French-English Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[9] </sup> - <a href="http://dictionary.infoplease.com/"><b>Infoplease</b></a> (<i>Random House Unabridged Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[10]</sup> - <a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/"><b>CollinsDictionary.com</b></a> (<i>Collins English Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[11]</sup> - <a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/"><b>TheFreeDictionary.com</b></a> (<i>Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary</i>)</span></blockquote>
Signing off for this week — Falcon
</div>
Falconhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07466858757398776500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4283491940842987165.post-82610576884720123242014-04-20T15:34:00.000-04:002014-04-20T15:34:47.263-04:00Sunday, April 20, 2014 — ST 4582<div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" style="height: 20px; width: 420px;"><tbody></tbody></table>
<table border="5" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" frame="BOX" rules="GROUPS" style="border-bottom-style: none; color: #274e13; height: 62px; width: 420px;"><tbody>
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<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 200%;"><b>Puzzle at a Glance</b></span></div>
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</tbody></table>
<table border="5" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" frame="BOX" rules="GROUPS" style="height: 82px; width: 420px;"><tbody>
<tr><th colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-weight: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Puzzle Number in <i>The Sunday Times</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;">ST 4582</span>
</th> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Date of Publication in <i>The Sunday Times</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Sunday, March 23, 2014</b></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Setter</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Tim Moorey</b></span></td> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Link to Full Review</span></span></div>
<a href="http://times-xwd-times.livejournal.com/1088098.html"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b><i>Times for the Times</i> [ST 4582]</b></span></a>
</td> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i>Times for the Times</i> Review Written By</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Dave Perry</b></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Dave Perry's Solving Time</span> </div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>★★★★★ </b></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Date of Publication in the <i>Toronto Star</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Saturday, April 12, 2014</b></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Date of Publication in <i>The Vancouver Sun</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Saturday, April 19, 2014</b><sup><i>[Note 2]</i></sup></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Falcon's Experience</span> </div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;">┌────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┐</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;">█████████████████████████</span><span style="color: cyan;">█████</span><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">█</span><span style="color: #a64d79;">█</span><span style="color: #ccddbb;">███</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;">└────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┘</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Legend:</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; margin-left: 18px; padding: 10px 10px 10px 10px; text-align: left; text-indent: -18px;">
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: blue;">█</span> - solved without assistance</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: orange;">█</span> - incorrect prior to use of puzzle solving tools</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: cyan;">█</span> - solved with assistance from puzzle solving tools</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;">█</span> - solved with aid of checking letters provided by puzzle solving tools</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;">█</span> - solved but without fully parsing the clue</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: red;">█</span> - unsolved or incorrect prior to visiting <i>Times for the Times</i></div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: #660000;">█</span> - solved with aid of checking letters provided by solutions from <i>Times for the Times</i></div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: magenta;">█</span> - yet to be solved
</div>
</div>
</td> </tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Notes</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-left: 20px; padding: 5px 5px 10px 5px; text-align: left; text-indent: -20px;">
<i><sup>[1]</sup> This puzzle appears on the Sunday puzzles pages in the Saturday, April 19, 2014 edition of the Ottawa Citizen.</i></div>
<div style="margin-left: 20px; padding: 5px 5px 10px 5px; text-align: left; text-indent: -20px;">
<i><sup>[2]</sup> Unverified as a paywall bars access to the The Vancouver Sun website.</i></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
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<div class="bodyFontSize">
<h2>
Introduction
</h2>
It took me a long time to get started on this puzzle, and even once I did my progress was painfully slow, In the end, I did fairly well but needed some electronic help to finish — in particular, in the southwestern corner.<br />
<br />
<h2>
Notes on Today's Puzzle
</h2>
<div style="font-size: x-small; text-align: center;">
<b><i>This commentary is intended to serve as a supplement to the review of this puzzle found at Times for the Times, to which a link is provided in the table above.<br />
<br />
Definitions are underlined in the clue, with subsidiary indications being marked by means of a dashed underline in semi-all-in-one (semi-& lit.) clues and cryptic definitions.</i></b></div>
<br />
<h3>
Across</h3>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>1a <u>Shake</u> breakfast food bowl (8)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>5a Outfit absorbs union <u>coercion</u> (6)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>10a Something fishy about former W Indian batsman — <u>suspect trickery</u> (5,1,3)</b></span></div>
<br />
A <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/smelt#smelt-3"><b>smelt</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is a <span class="definition">small silvery fish which lives in both marine and fresh water and is sometimes fished commercially.</span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Lara"><b>Brian Lara</b></a><sup>[7]</sup> is a former West Indian international cricket player.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-1"></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-2"></sup> He is widely acknowledged as one of the greatest batsmen of his era<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-3"></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-4"></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-5"></sup> and one of the finest ever to have graced the game.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>11a <u>Fast driver</u> in luxury car gets round one (5)</b></span></div>
<br />
In card games, an <a href="http://www.chambers.co.uk/search.php?query=ace&title=21st"><b>ace</b></a><sup>[2]</sup> is the card in each of the four suits with a single symbol on it, having either the highest value or the value one.<br />
<br />
<span class="definition">The monogram <b>RR</b> appears on the grill of a</span> <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/Rolls-Royce?q=Rolls+Royce"><b>Rolls-Royce</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> automobile, <span class="definition">a luxury car produced by the British Rolls-Royce company.</span> <br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>12a <u>Rain god</u> rejected by Richard Nixon? Not entirely (5)</b></span></div>
<br />
<span class="definition"><span class="dateGroup"><a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Nixon-Richard?q=Richard+Nixon"><b>Richard Nixon</b></a></span></span><span class="definition"><span class="dateGroup"><span class="definition"><sup>[5]</sup> <span class="dateGroup"> </span></span> (<span class="date">1913–194</span>) was an</span>
American Republican statesman, 37th President of the US 1969–74. His period of office was overshadowed by
the Vietnam War. Re-elected in 1972, he became the first President to
resign from office, owing to his involvement in the Watergate scandal.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="definition">In Hinduism, <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Indra"><b>Indra</b></a></span><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><span class="dateGroup"><span class="definition"><sup>[5]</sup> </span></span></span> is the </span><span class="definition">warrior king of the heavens, god of war and storm, to whom many of the prayers in the <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Rig-Veda"><b>Rig Veda</b></a></span><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><span class="dateGroup"><span class="definition"><sup>[5]</sup> </span></span></span></span> [<i>the oldest of four collections of Hindu scripture</i>] are addressed.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>13a <u>Brutish type</u> seen in a couple of pubs and in a mess (9)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>14a Erik, say, in profit <u>did harvest</u> (8,2)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Eric-the-Red?q=Eric+the+Red"><b>Eric the Red</b></a><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><span class="dateGroup"><span class="definition"><sup>[5]</sup> </span></span></span></span> <span class="definition"><span class="dateGroup">(<span class="date"><i>circa </i>940-<i>circa </i>1010</span>) was a</span>
Norse explorer. He left Iceland in 982 in search of land to the west,
exploring Greenland and establishing a Norse settlement there in 986.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="definition">Of the several dictionaries that I consulted which had a listing for the explorer, all spelled his name as <b>Eric the Red</b></span><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><span class="dateGroup"><span class="definition"><sup>[<a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Eric+the+Red"><b>3</b></a>,<a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Eric+the+Red"><b>4</b></a>,<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Eric-the-Red"><b>5</b></a>,<a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/eric-the-red?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>10</b></a>,<a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Eric+the+Red"><b>11</b></a>]</sup></span></span></span></span>. Wikipedia is the only reference I looked at which spells the name as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erik_the_Red"><b>Erik the Red</b></a></span><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><span class="dateGroup"><span class="definition"><sup>[7]</sup></span></span></span></span>. </span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>17a <u>What really shouldn't be</u></b></span><span style="color: white;"><b><span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed;"><span style="color: white;"><b> brought back in Aberdeen academy?</b></span></span> (4)</b></span></div>
<br />
I would say that this is a semi-& lit. (semi-all-in-one) clue in which the entire clue provides the definition and a portion of the clue (the part with the dashed underlining) serves as the wordplay.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Aberdeen"><b>Aberdeen</b></a><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><span class="dateGroup"><span class="definition"><sup>[5]</sup> </span></span></span></span> is a <span class="definition">city and seaport in northeastern Scotland; population 166,900 (est. 2009). It is a centre of the offshore North Sea oil industry.</span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caning"><b>Caning</b></a><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><span class="dateGroup"><span class="definition"><sup>[7]</sup> </span></span></span></span> <span class="definition"><span class="dateGroup"></span></span> is a form of corporal punishment
consisting of a
number of hits (known as "strokes" or "cuts") with a single <b>cane</b> usually made of rattan, generally applied to the offender's bare or clothed buttocks or palms of the hands.<br />
<br />
The thin cane generally used for corporal punishment is not to be confused with a walking stick,
sometimes also called (especially in American English) a "cane" but
which is thicker and much more rigid, and more likely to be made of
stronger wood than of cane. <br />
<br />
The western educational use of the cane dates principally to the late nineteenth century, gradually replacing birching—effective
only if applied to the bare bottom—with a form of punishment more
suited to contemporary sensibilities, once it had been discovered that a
flexible rattan cane can provide the offender with a substantial degree
of pain even when delivered through a layer of clothing.<br />
<br />
Caning as a school punishment is strongly associated in the
English-speaking world with England, but it was also used in other
European countries in earlier times, notably Scandinavia, Germany and
the countries of the former Austrian empire.<br />
<br />
In some schools corporal punishment was administered solely by the headmaster,
while in others the task was delegated to other teachers. In many
English and Commonwealth private schools, authority to punish was also
traditionally given to certain senior students (often called prefects). In the early 20th century, such permission for prefects to cane other boys was widespread in British public schools. [<i>Note: In the UK, a <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/public-school?q=public+school"><b>public school</b></a><sup>[5]</sup>
is <span class="definition">a private fee-paying secondary school, especially one for boarders</span></i> <i>— what North Americans would call public
schools are referred to in Britain as <b>state (funded) schools</b></i>].
<br />
<br />
In many state secondary schools in England and Wales caning was in use, mostly for boys, until 1987,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-bbcheadsfight_14-0"></sup> while elsewhere other implements prevailed, such as the Scottish tawse [<i>a strip of leather, with one end split into a number of tails</i>]. The cane was generally administered in a formal ceremony to the seat of the trousers,
typically with the student bending over a desk or chair. Usually there
was a maximum of six strokes (known as "six of the best").<br />
<br />
Schoolgirls were caned much more rarely than boys, and if the punishment
was given by a male teacher, nearly always on the palm of the hand.
Rarely, girls were caned on the clothed bottom, in which case the
punishment would probably be applied by a female teacher. <br />
<br />
In the UK, all corporal punishment in private schools was finally banned in 1999 for England and Wales,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-20"></sup> 2000 in Scotland,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-21"></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-22"></sup> and 2003 in Northern Ireland.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>19a <u>Prepare to swallow</u> Tory cut (4)</b></span></div>
<br />
A <a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Tory"><b>Tory</b></a><sup>[4]</sup>
is a member or supporter of the Conservative Party in Great Britain or
Canada. Historically, a Tory was a member of the English political party
that opposed the exclusion of
James, Duke of York from the royal succession (1679-80). Tory remained
the label for subsequent major conservative interests until they gave
birth to the Conservative Party in the 1830s.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>20a Duff American meets one of his former presidents — <u>nothing</u> comes out (5,5)</b></span></div>
<br />
In the surface reading, <a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/duff?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>duff</b></a><sup>[10]</sup>
is an informal British term meaning <span class="def">bad or useless, as by not working out or not operating correctly</span> ⇒ <i>(i)</i> <i><q><span class="orth">a duff idea</span></q>; (ii)</i> <i><q><span class="orth"><span class="orth">a duff engine</span></span></q></i>.<br />
<br />
In the wordplay, <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/duff#duff-4"><b>duff</b></a><sup>[5]</sup>
is an informal North American term for a <span class="definition">person’s buttocks </span>⇒ <i><q><span class="orth"><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example">I did not get where I am today by sitting on my duff</i></span></span></q></i>. Thus the setter uses the phrase "duff American" to denote 'what duff means in America'.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/fanny"><b>Fanny</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is another informal North American term for a <span class="definition">person’s buttocks. In Britain, <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/fanny"><b>fanny</b></a></span><span class="definition"><sup>[5]</sup> is vulgar slang for a </span><span class="definition">woman’s genitals. <i>Now there is an opportunity ripe for misunderstanding!</i></span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Adams-John"><b>John Adams</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> <span class="definition"><span class="dateGroup">(<span class="date">1735–1826</span>) was the</span> 2nd President of the US 1797–1801;
father of John Quincy Adams. He helped draft the Declaration of
Independence (1776).</span><br />
<br />
<span class="definition"><a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Adams-John-Quincy?q=Adams%2C+John+Quincy"><b>John Quincy Adams</b></a></span><span class="definition"><sup>[5]</sup> <span class="definition"><span class="dateGroup"></span></span> </span><span class="definition"><span class="dateGroup">(<span class="date">1767–1848</span>)</span> was the 6th President of the US 1825-9; eldest son of John Adams. [<i>I wonder if, in his day, he was known as Q — as Bush the younger was known as W.</i>]</span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Fanny%2BAdams"><b>Fanny Adams</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is British slang meaning nothing at all [a euphemism for <i>fuck all</i> and commonly appearing in the phrase <b>sweet Fanny Adams</b>] ⇒ <i><q><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example">I know sweet Fanny Adams about mining</i></span></q></i>.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: cyan; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>23a <u>Nice fellows</u> in Europe captivated by Argentinian footballer and son (9)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Nice?q=Nice"><b>Nice</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is <span class="definition">a resort city on the French Riviera, near the border with Italy; population 348,721 (2007).</span><br />
<br />
<i><span class="definition"><a href="http://dictionary.reverso.net/french-english/messieurs"><b>Messieurs</b></a></span></i><span class="definition"><sup>[8]</sup> (<i>plural of <b>monsieur</b></i>) is a French word meaning <b>gentlemen</b>.</span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lionel_Messi"><b>Lionel Messi</b></a><sup>[7]</sup> is an Argentine footballer [<i>soccer player</i>] who plays as a forward for Spanish club FC Barcelona and the Argentina national team. He serves as the captain of his country's national football team.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>25a <u>Handle</u> small piece with only two tenors (5)</b></span></div>
<br />
A <a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/tittle"><b>tittle</b></a><sup>[3]</sup> — which turns out not to be a Briticism as I had expected — is the tiniest bit or an iota.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>27a A legal action cut short in <u>open courts</u> (S)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>28a Laver's hit out in <u>play</u> (3,6)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Laver-Rod?q=Laver%2C+Rod"><b>Rod Laver</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is an <span class="definition">Australian former professional tennis player. In 1962 he became the second man (after Don Budge in 1938)
to win the four major singles championships (British, American, French,
and Australian) in one year; in 1969 he was the first to repeat this.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="definition"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rivals"><i><b>The Rivals</b></i></a></span><span class="definition"><sup>[7]</sup> is a comedy of manners play by Irish playwright Richard Brinsley Sheridan </span><span class="definition">(1751–1816) in five acts. It was first performed at Covent Garden Theatre on 17 January 1775. </span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: cyan; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>29a There's <u>dope</u> in <u>the republic</u> (6)</b></span></div>
<br />
The term <a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/turkey?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>turkey</b></a><sup>[10]</sup> is slang (mainly US and Canadian) for <span class="def">a stupid, incompetent, or unappealing person.</span><span class="def"></span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/turkey"><b>Turkey</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is a <span class="definition">country comprising the whole of the Anatolian
peninsula in western Asia, with a small enclave in southeastern Europe to the west
of Istanbul; population 76,805,500 (est. 2009); official language,
Turkish; capital, Ankara.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>30a Former PM's wordplay is <u>not sophisticated</u> (8)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Douglas-Home-Sir-Alec"><b>Sir Alec Douglas-Home</b></a><sup>[5]</sup>, <span class="definition">Baron Home of the Hirsel of Coldstream <span class="dateGroup"> (<span class="date">1903–1995</span>)</span> was a
British Conservative statesman, Prime Minister 1963-4. When Douglas-Home became Prime Minister he
relinquished his hereditary peerage.</span><br />
<br />
<h3>
Down</h3>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>1d Could be one with large public transport fleet in <u>street diversion</u> (7)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>2d Advanced study's hard for Rex <u>in front</u> (5)</b></span></div>
<br />
Read the wordplay as A (advanced) + READ (study) has (<i>the <b>'s</b> is a contraction for <b>has</b></i>) H (hard) replacing (for) R (Rex).<br />
<br />
In the UK (with the exception of Scotland), <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/A-level"><b>A level</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> (<b>advanced level</b>) is <span class="definition">a qualification in a specific subject typically taken by school students aged 16-18, at a level above GCSE</span><span class="definition"> (</span><span class="definition">General Certificate of Secondary Education).</span><br />
<br />
<span class="definition">In Britain, to <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/read?q=read"><b>read</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> means to <span class="definition">study (an academic subject) at a university </span>⇒ <span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example">(i) </i></span><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example"><i><q><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example">I’m reading English at Cambridge</i></span></q></i>;</i></span><span class="definition"> </span><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example">(ii) </i></span><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example"><i><q><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example">he went to Manchester to <b>read for</b> a BA in Economics</i></span></q></i></i></span><span class="definition">.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="definition"><span class="definition"><a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/H--2"><b>H</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is the abbreviation for <b>hard</b>, as used in describing grades of pencil lead ⇒ <i><q><i class="example">a 2H pencil</i></q></i>. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="definition"><span class="definition"><a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Rex"><b>Rex</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> (<i>abbreviation</i> <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/R--2"><b>R</b></a><sup>[5]</sup>) [<i>Latin for <b>king</b></i>] denotes the reigning king, used following a name (e.g. <i>Georgius Rex</i>, King George) or in the titles of lawsuits (e.g. <i>Rex v. Jones</i>, the Crown versus Jones — often shortened to <i>R. v. Jones</i>). </span> </span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: cyan; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>3d <u>Middle Eastern leaves, seldom made full of beans?</u> (8)</b></span></div>
<br />
Even having deciphered that this was an anagram and having not only all the letters, but also all the checking letters, I still needed electronic assistance to fill in the blanks.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/dolma"><b>Dolma</b></a><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><sup>[5]</sup> </span></span> (<i>plural</i> <b>dolmas</b> <i>or</i> <b>dolmades</b>) is a <span class="definition">dish consisting of ingredients such as meat and
spiced rice [<i>but, seemingly, not often beans</i>] wrapped in vine or cabbage leaves, popular in the Balkans,
the Caucasus, and the eastern Mediterranean.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>4d <u>Cancel</u> credit in subscription (5)</b></span></div>
<br />
In Britain, <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/sub?q=sub"><b>sub</b></a><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><sup>[5]</sup> </span></span> is an informal short form for <b>subscription</b> ⇒ <i><q><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example">the annual sub for the golf club will be £200</i></span></q></i>.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>6d Republic formerly passed over professional <u>racket</u> (6)</b></span></div>
<br />
The <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/United-Arab-Republic"><b>United Arab Republic</b></a><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><sup>[5]</sup> </span></span> (<i>abbreviation</i> <b>UAR</b>) was a <span class="definition">former political union established by Egypt and
Syria in 1958. It was seen as the first step towards the creation of a
pan-Arab union in the Middle East, but only Yemen entered into loose
association with it (1958–66) and Syria withdrew in 1961. Egypt retained
the name United Arab Republic until 1971.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>7d <u>Mexican dish</u> is a pound in new hacienda (9)</b></span></div>
<br />
<span class="variantGroup">The <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/pound?q=pound"><b>pound</b></a></span><sup>[5]</sup> <span class="variantGroup"> (also <b><span class="variant">pound sterling</span></b>)</span><span class="inflectionGroup"> is</span><span class="definition"> the basic monetary unit of the UK, equal to 100 pence.</span><span class="definition"> While the symbol for pound is <b>£</b>, one often finds it written as <a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/l"><b>L</b></a></span><sup>[10]</sup><span class="definition">.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="definition"><span class="definition">In Spanish-speaking countries or regions, a <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/hacienda?q=hacienda"><b>hacienda</b></a></span><span class="definition"><sup>[5]</sup> is a large estate or plantation with a dwelling house.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="definition"><span class="definition">An <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/enchilada"><b>enchilada</b></a></span></span><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><sup>[5]</sup> is a </span></span><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><span class="definition">tortilla [<i>Mexican flatbread</i>] served with chilli sauce and a filling of meat or cheese.</span></span> </span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>8d A litre having been put away, suppress <u>rum</u> (7)</b></span></div>
<br />
The comma indicates an inversion in the sentence structure of the wordplay. Thus the wordplay can be interpreted as STRANGLE (suppress) [<i>with</i>] a L (litre) deleted (having been put away).<br />
<br />
<a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/rum--2"><b>Rum</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is dated British slang meaning odd or peculiar ⇒ <i><q><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example">it’s a rum business, certainly</i></span></q></i>.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>9d <u>Archer for one</u> has succeeded with novel ratings (4,4)</b></span></div>
<br />
The surface reading is likely an allusion to <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Archer-Jeffrey"><b>Jeffrey Archer</b></a><sup>[5]</sup>, <span class="definition">Baron Archer of Weston-super-Mare who is a
British writer and Conservative politician. He resigned as an MP after
being declared bankrupt, and embarked on a career as a bestselling
novelist. He was deputy chairman of the Conservative Party 1985-6, but
resigned after a libel case; in 2001 he was found to have committed
perjury in that case and was jailed for four years.</span><br />
<span class="definition"><br /></span>
<span class="definition"><a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/archer"><b>The Archer</b></a></span><span class="definition"><sup>[5]</sup> is the </span><span class="definition">zodiacal sign or constellation Sagittarius.</span><br />
<br />
The abbreviation <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/s?q=s"><b>s</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> stands for <b>succeeded</b>, in the sense of to have become the new rightful holder of an office, title, or property ⇒ <i><q>he <b>succeeded to</b> his father’s kingdom</q></i>. It might be seen, for instance, it charts of royal lineages. <br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: cyan; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>15d </b></span><span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed;"><span style="color: black;"><b>Tycoon's capital behind housing firm: </b></span></span><span style="color: black;"><b><u>he should look after it</u> (9)</b></span></div>
<br />
The word "housing" is the containment indicator.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>16d <u>Assess</u> girl with a lute impromptu (8)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>18d <u>Not working a full week</u>, pour out gin put up (4-4)</b></span></div>
<br />
A <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/gin--2#m_en_gb0335570.003"><b>gin</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> (or <b>gin trap</b>) is a British term for a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gin_trap#Foothold_traps"><b>leghold (or foothold) trap</b></a><sup>[7]</sup>.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: #6fa8dc; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>19d <u>What comes initially with CD</u> is <u>a bargain</u> (7)</b></span></div>
<br />
In this clue, there are two interpretations for the wordplay. The intended one (as stated by Peter Biddlecombe, the puzzles editor at <i>The Sunday Times</i>) is "that in CD = 'compact disc', 'what comes initially' is 'compact'".<br />
<br />
The second interpretation, provided by Dave Perry in his review is "'comes initially' is C [<i>i.e., C is the initial letter of <u><b>C</b></u>omes</i>], and the C in CD is Compact".<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: cyan; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>21d Advances <u>unrelated issue</u> (7)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/issue"><b>Issue</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is a formal or legal term for c<span class="definition">hildren of one’s own </span>⇒ <i><q><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example">the earl died without male issue<span id="goog_1999540723"></span><span id="goog_1999540724"></span></i></span></q></i>. Is a stepchild considered to be 'issue'? I was unable to find an answer.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>22d Anger on motorway — <u>you can't believe it</u>! (6)</b></span></div>
<br />
The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M1_motorway"><b>M1</b></a><sup>[7]</sup> is a north–south motorway [<i>controlled access, multi-lane divided highway</i>] in England connecting London to Leeds.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: #a64d79; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>24d <u>Who should have</u></b></span><span style="color: white;"><b><span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed;"><span style="color: white;"><b> notes in the right order?</b></span></span> (5)</b></span></div>
<br />
I solved the clue solely on the basis of the cryptic definition and totally failed to see the anagram.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>26d <u>Walk wearily</u> from vehicle parking (5)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/tram"><b>Tram</b></a><sup>[3]</sup> is a chiefly British term for a streetcar.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Key to Reference Sources: </b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[1] </sup> - <i>The Chambers Dictionary, 11th Edition </i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[2] </sup> - <a href="http://www.chambers.co.uk/search.php"><b>Search Chambers</b></a> - (<i>Chambers 21st Century Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[3] </sup> - <a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/"><b>TheFreeDictionary.com</b></a> (<i>American Heritage Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[4] </sup> - <a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/"><b>TheFreeDictionary.com</b></a> (<i>Collins English Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[5] </sup> - <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/?region=uk"><b>Oxford Dictionaries</b></a> (<i>Oxford Dictionary of English</i>) </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[6] </sup> - <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/?region=us"><b>Oxford Dictionaries</b></a> (<i>Oxford American Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[7] </sup> - <b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page">Wikipedia</a></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[8] </sup> - <a href="http://dictionary.reverso.net/french-english/"><b>Reverso Online Dictionary</b></a> (<i>Collins French-English Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[9] </sup> - <a href="http://dictionary.infoplease.com/"><b>Infoplease</b></a> (<i>Random House Unabridged Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[10]</sup> - <a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/"><b>CollinsDictionary.com</b></a> (<i>Collins English Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[11]</sup> - <a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/"><b>TheFreeDictionary.com</b></a> (<i>Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary</i>)</span></blockquote>
Signing off for this week — Falcon
</div>
Falconhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07466858757398776500noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4283491940842987165.post-70214686314628903082014-04-13T16:36:00.001-04:002014-04-13T16:36:15.555-04:00Sunday, April 13, 2014 — ST 4581<div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" style="height: 20px; width: 420px;"><tbody></tbody></table>
<table border="5" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" frame="BOX" rules="GROUPS" style="border-bottom-style: none; color: #274e13; height: 62px; width: 420px;"><tbody>
<tr><th colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 200%;"><b>Puzzle at a Glance</b></span></div>
</th> </tr>
</tbody></table>
<table border="5" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" frame="BOX" rules="GROUPS" style="height: 82px; width: 420px;"><tbody>
<tr><th colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-weight: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Puzzle Number in <i>The Sunday Times</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;">ST 4581</span>
</th> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Date of Publication in <i>The Sunday Times</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Sunday, March 16, 2014</b></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Setter</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Dean Mayer (Anax) </b></span></td> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Link to Full Review</span></span></div>
<a href="http://times-xwd-times.livejournal.com/1083434.html"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b><i>Times for the Times</i> [ST 4581]</b></span></a>
</td> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i>Times for the Times</i> Review Written By</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Dave Perry</b></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Dave Perry's Solving Time</span> </div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>★★★★</b></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Date of Publication in the <i>Toronto Star</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Saturday, April 5, 2014</b></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Date of Publication in <i>The Vancouver Sun</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Saturday, April 12, 2014</b><sup><i>[Note 2]</i></sup></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Falcon's Experience</span> </div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;">┌────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┐</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;">████████████████████</span><span style="color: cyan;">████</span><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">██</span><span style="color: #a64d79;">█</span><span style="color: red;">█</span><span style="color: #ccddbb;">███████</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;">└────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┘</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Legend:</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; margin-left: 18px; padding: 10px 10px 10px 10px; text-align: left; text-indent: -18px;">
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: blue;">█</span> - solved without assistance</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: orange;">█</span> - incorrect prior to use of puzzle solving tools</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: cyan;">█</span> - solved with assistance from puzzle solving tools</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;">█</span> - solved with aid of checking letters provided by puzzle solving tools</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;">█</span> - solved but without fully parsing the clue</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: red;">█</span> - unsolved or incorrect prior to visiting <i>Times for the Times</i></div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: #660000;">█</span> - solved with aid of checking letters provided by solutions from <i>Times for the Times</i></div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: magenta;">█</span> - yet to be solved
</div>
</div>
</td> </tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Notes</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-left: 20px; padding: 5px 5px 10px 5px; text-align: left; text-indent: -20px;">
<i><sup>[1]</sup> This puzzle appears on the Sunday puzzles pages in the Saturday, April 12, 2014 edition of the Ottawa Citizen.</i></div>
<div style="margin-left: 20px; padding: 5px 5px 10px 5px; text-align: left; text-indent: -20px;">
<i><sup>[2]</sup> Unverified as a paywall bars access to the The Vancouver Sun website.</i></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
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<h2>
Introduction
</h2>
Knowing that today's puzzle would be by Anax, I braced myself for a good challenge — and he certainly delivered. As you can see from the chart above (which resembles a rainbow today), I needed a fair bit of electronic assistance. Even with that help I still failed to solve one clue. While Dave Perry's review revealed the wordplay and the solution for that clue, it did not help me understand the definition. I spent a long time searching for an explanation before the thought occurred to me to check if the answer might lie in Cockney rhyming slang.<br />
<br />
<h2>
Notes on Today's Puzzle
</h2>
<div style="font-size: x-small; text-align: center;">
<b><i>This commentary is intended to serve as a supplement to the review of this puzzle found at Times for the Times, to which a link is provided in the table above.<br />
<br />
Definitions are underlined in the clue, with subsidiary indications being marked by means of a dashed underline in semi-all-in-one (semi-& lit.) clues and cryptic definitions.</i></b></div>
<br />
<h3>
Across</h3>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>1a <u>Stays</u> in charge to interrupt forecast (6)</b></span></div>
<br />
Historically, <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/stay"><b>stays</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> were a corset <span class="definition">made of two pieces laced together and stiffened by strips of whalebone.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="definition">A <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/bodice"><b>bodice</b></a></span><span class="definition"><sup>[5]</sup> is a </span><span class="definition">woman’s sleeveless undergarment, often laced at the front.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>4a Extremely pompous and touchy sort of <u>cow</u> (5,3)</b></span></div>
<br />
<b>Cow</b> is used as a verb.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>10a See parts to flog in <u>stock left after deal</u> (5)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/lo?q=lo"><b>Lo</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is an archaic exclamation <span class="definition">used to draw attention to an interesting or amazing event </span>⇒ <i><q><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example">and lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them</i></span></q></i>.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: #6fa8dc; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>11a <u>Sudden discovery</u> a short time after clumsy warning (3,6)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/aha-moment"><b>Aha moment</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is an informal term for a <span class="definition">moment of sudden insight or discovery </span>⇒ <i><q><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example"><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example">he had an aha moment when looking at my medications past and present</i></span></i></span></q></i><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"></span>.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>12a <u>One using</u></b></span><span style="color: white;"><b><span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed;"><span style="color: white;"><b> special biology terms?</b></span></span><u></u> (12)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: #6fa8dc; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>15a <u>Was singer</u> Romeo's spotted outside dead drunk? (9)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/Romeo?q=romeo"><b>Romeo</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is <span class="definition">a code word representing the letter <b>R</b>, used in radio communication.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: #a64d79; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>17a Criminal's lost in <u>holiday home</u> (5)</b></span></div>
<br />
How did I ever manage not to see the wordplay here?<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>18a Satisfied about religious books and <u>sacred music</u> (5)</b></span></div>
<br />
The word "books" is often used to clue either the Old Testament (OT) or the New Testament (NT). The use of the modifier "religious" makes the intent even more clear.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: cyan; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>19a Gay girl's dancing around daughter's <u>fabulous tree</u> (9)</b></span></div>
<br />
In Scandinavian mythology, <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Yggdrasil"><b>Yggdrasil</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is a <span class="definition">huge ash tree located at the centre of the
earth, with three roots, one extending to Niflheim (the underworld), one
to Jotunheim (land of the giants), and one to Asgard (land of the
gods).</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>20a <u>What</u></b></span><span style="color: white;"><b><span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed;"><span style="color: white;"><b> befits those in trouble, receiving variable quantity?</b></span></span> (3,2,3,4)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/six-of-the-best"><b>Six of the best</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is a chiefly British expression, historical or humorous, denoting a <span class="definition"> caning as a punishment, traditionally with six strokes of the cane </span>⇒ <i><q><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example"><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example"><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example">one prefect would hold you down and the other would give you six of the best</i></span></i></span></i></span></q></i>.<br />
<br />
In some British schools, a <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/prefect"><b>prefect</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is <span class="definition">a senior pupil who is authorized to enforce discipline.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>24a FA support won't start <u>more trouble</u> (9)</b></span></div>
<br />
The intent here is to mislead the solver into thinking that FA stands for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_Association"><b>The Football Association</b></a><sup>[7]</sup>, also known simply as <b>the FA</b>, which is the governing body of football
[<i>soccer</i>] in England. Formed in 1863, it is the oldest football association in
the world and is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the amateur
and professional game in England.<br />
<br />
In reality, <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/FA"><b>FA</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is the abbreviation for <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Fanny%2BAdams"><b>Fanny Adams</b></a><sup>[5]</sup>, a British slang term meaning nothing at all [a euphemism for <i>fuck all</i> and commonly appearing in the phrase <b>sweet Fanny Adams</b>] ⇒ <i><q><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example">I know sweet Fanny Adams about mining</i></span></q></i>.<br />
<br />
I thought the support was a PIER, while Dave Perry opted for BIER. Either works [<i>although the setter does confirm that he intended it to be PIER</i>].<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: red; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>25a Half-inch square piece of cloth (5)</b></span></div>
<br />
It took forever — and many wrong turns — to track down the definition here. I found lots of explanations of the wordplay but the definition is seemingly so familiar to Brits that it merited no explanation whatsoever.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/half-inch"><b>Half-inch</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is Cockney rhyming slang for <b>pinch</b> (in the sense of <b>steal</b>) ⇒ <i><q><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example"><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example">she had her handbag half-inched</i></span></i></span></q></i>.<br />
<br />
<i>The Chambers Dictionary</i> lists <b>S</b><sup>[1]</sup> as an abbreviation for <b>square</b>.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>26a <u>Virgin</u> can, when taken by force (8)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>27a Design an alien <u>world</u> (6)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E.T._the_Extra-Terrestrial"><i><b>E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial</b></i></a><sup>[7]</sup> (often referred to simply as <i><b>E.T.</b></i>)
is a 1982 American science fiction film co-produced and directed by
Steven Spielberg. It tells the story of a lonely boy who befriends an
extraterrestrial,
dubbed "E.T.", who is stranded on Earth. He and his siblings help
the extraterrestrial return home while attempting to keep it hidden from
their mother and the government.<br />
<br />
<h3>
Down</h3>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>1d <u>A pain</u> mostly there in chest? Start to exhale (10)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>2d <u>Think about</u> <u>jail?</u> (10)</b></span></div>
<br />
A double definition with the second being the whimsical invention of the setter.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>3d Couple finishing off fancy <u>sweets</u> (5)</b></span></div>
<br />
What North Americans call <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/candy"><b>candy</b></a><sup>[5]</sup>, the Brits call <b>sweets</b>. In Britain, <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/candy"><b>candy</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is sugar <span class="definition">crystallized by repeated boiling and slow evaporation </span>⇒ <i><q><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example">making candy at home is not difficult—the key is cooking the syrup to the right temperature</i></span></q></i>.<br />
<br />
The clue would seem to use the word "candy" in the North American sense, but that may only be because I'm looking at it from a North American perspective. <br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>5d <u>A funny</u> <u>Scooby Doo episode</u>? (6,3,5)</b></span></div>
<br />
Although I originally saw this as a cryptic definition, I suppose Dave Perry may have somewhat of a point when he identifies it as a double definition.<br />
<br />
A <a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/funny?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>funny</b></a><sup>[10]</sup> is a joke or witticism.<br />
<br />
A <b><a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/shaggy#shaggy__10">shaggy-dog story</a></b><sup>[5]</sup> is a <span class="definition">long, rambling story or joke, typically one that is amusing only because it is absurdly inconsequential or pointless.</span> [from an anecdote of this type, about a shaggy-haired dog (1945)].<br />
<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scooby-Doo"><i><b>Scooby-Doo</b></i></a><sup>[7]</sup> is an American animated cartoon franchise, comprising several animated television series produced from 1969 to the present day. The original series, <i>Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!</i>, featured four teenagers—Fred Jones, Daphne Blake, Velma Dinkley and Norville "Shaggy" Rogers—and their talking brown Great Dane<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-STUEP1_1-0"></sup> dog named Scooby-Doo, who solve mysteries involving supposedly supernatural creatures through a series of antics and missteps.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scooby-Doo#cite_note-ReferenceA-2"></a> <br />
<br />
Scooby-Doo, being a Great Dane, is not particularly shaggy, although the cartoon does feature a human character named Shaggy. Perhaps Scooby-Doo is a "Shaggy dog" because he belongs to Shaggy. Or perhaps we are meant to read it as "a Shaggy/dog story", that is, a story about Shaggy and a dog.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>6d <u>Meeting point</u> where explorer gets into shelter (9)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Ross-Sir-John"><b>Sir John Ross</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> <span class="definition"><span class="dateGroup"></span></span> <span class="definition"><span class="dateGroup">(<span class="date">1777–1856</span>)</span> was a
British explorer. He led an expedition to Baffin Bay in 1818 and
another in search of the North-West Passage between 1829 and 1833.</span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Ross-Sir-James-Clark"><b>Sir James Clark Ross</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> <span class="definition"><span class="dateGroup">(<span class="date">1800–1862</span>) was a </span>
British explorer. He discovered the north magnetic pole in 1831, and
headed an expedition to the Antarctic from 1839 to 1843, in the course
of which he discovered Ross Island, Ross Dependency, and the Ross Sea.
He was the nephew of Sir John Ross.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: cyan; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>7d <u>Outstanding</u> work of Pindar read out (4)</b></span></div>
<br />
Judging by comments on <i>Times for the Times</i>, I wasn't the only one to have trouble with this clue.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>8d <u>Film-maker</u>, rubbish one (4)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Tati-Jacques"><b>Jacques Tati</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> <span class="definition"><span class="dateGroup"></span></span> <span class="definition"><span class="dateGroup">(<span class="date">1908–1882</span>) wa a</span> French film director and actor; born Jacques Tatischeff. He introduced the comically inept character Monsieur Hulot in <i class=""> Monsieur Hulot’s Holiday</i> (1953), seen again in films including the Oscar-winning <i class=""> Mon oncle</i> (1958).</span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/tat--2"><b>Tat</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is an informal British term meaning <span class="definition">tasteless or shoddy clothes, jewellery, or ornaments </span><span class="definition">⇒ </span><span class="definition"><i><q><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example"><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example">the place was decorated with all manner of gaudy tat</i></span></i></span></q></i></span><span class="definition">.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: cyan; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>9d <u>Parliamentary process</u> aimed only at heading off Tory revolts (5,3,6)</b></span></div>
<br />
Although the definition and checking letters provided sufficient information to solve the clue with the assistance of a word finder programme, I failed to decipher the wordplay.<br />
<br />
An <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Early_day_motion"><b>early day motion</b></a><sup>[7]</sup> <span class="definition"><span class="dateGroup"></span></span> <span class="definition"><span class="dateGroup"></span></span> (EDM), in the Westminster system of parliamentary government, is a motion, expressed as a single sentence,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-ukp_1-0"></sup> tabled by Members of Parliament
that formally calls for debate "on an early day". In practice, they are
rarely debated in the House and their main purpose is to draw attention
to particular subjects of interest.<br />
<br />
I tried to find an instance where such a motion was used to head off a Tory revolt. In fact, I found the virtually the opposite. The censure motion by which the Labour Government of James Callaghan was ejected had its origin in an early day motion (no. 351 of 1978–79), put down on 22 March 1979, by Conservative Party Leader Margaret Thatcher.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: cyan; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>13d Good law easing supply for <u>Scot</u> (10)</b></span></div>
<br />
<span class="definition">I never seem to remember that <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/supple"><b>supply</b></a></span><span class="definition"><sup>[5]</sup>, used as an adverb meaning in a supple way, can be an anagram indicator.</span><br />
<br />
A <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Glaswegian"><b>Glaswegian</b></a><span class="definition"><sup>[5]</sup></span> is a native of Glasgow, Scotland.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>14d <u>US financial interests</u> briefly spread into personal money supply (4,6)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Wall-Street"><b>Wall Street</b></a><span class="definition"><sup>[5]</sup></span> is a <span class="definition">street at the south end of Manhattan, where the
New York Stock Exchange and other leading American financial
institutions are located. The name is used </span><span class="definition">allusively to refer to the American money market or financial interests. The street was named </span>after a wooden stockade which was built in 1653 around the original Dutch settlement of New Amsterdam.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>16d A sensible person knocked <u>senseless</u>? (3,4,2)</b></span></div>
<br />
The term twit seems to have a bit of a different connotation in the UK than it does on this side of the pond. North American dictionaries define <a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/twit"><b>twit</b></a> as a foolishly annoying person<span class="definition"><sup>[3]</sup></span> or an insignificant or bothersome person<span class="definition"><sup>[11]</sup></span>. In Britain, a <a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/twit"><b>twit</b></a><span class="definition"><sup>[4]</sup></span> is a foolish or stupid person; or, in other words, an idiot.<br />
<br />
Thus "a sensible person" would be NO TWIT. <br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>21d <u>Stand</u> in line, slowly move ahead (5)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>22d <u>Take a photo</u> and <u>lose it</u> (4)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>23d <u>Muslim</u> provided American backing (4)</b></span></div>
<br />
A <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Sufi"><b>Sufi</b></a><span class="definition"><sup>[5]</sup></span> is a <span class="definition">Muslim ascetic and mystic.</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Key to Reference Sources: </b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[1] </sup> - <i>The Chambers Dictionary, 11th Edition </i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[2] </sup> - <a href="http://www.chambers.co.uk/search.php"><b>Search Chambers</b></a> - (<i>Chambers 21st Century Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[3] </sup> - <a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/"><b>TheFreeDictionary.com</b></a> (<i>American Heritage Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[4] </sup> - <a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/"><b>TheFreeDictionary.com</b></a> (<i>Collins English Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[5] </sup> - <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/?region=uk"><b>Oxford Dictionaries</b></a> (<i>Oxford Dictionary of English</i>) </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[6] </sup> - <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/?region=us"><b>Oxford Dictionaries</b></a> (<i>Oxford American Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[7] </sup> - <b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page">Wikipedia</a></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[8] </sup> - <a href="http://dictionary.reverso.net/french-english/"><b>Reverso Online Dictionary</b></a> (<i>Collins French-English Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[9] </sup> - <a href="http://dictionary.infoplease.com/"><b>Infoplease</b></a> (<i>Random House Unabridged Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[10]</sup> - <a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/"><b>CollinsDictionary.com</b></a> (<i>Collins English Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[11]</sup> - <a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/"><b>TheFreeDictionary.com</b></a> (<i>Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary</i>)</span></blockquote>
Signing off for this week — Falcon
</div>
Falconhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07466858757398776500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4283491940842987165.post-40994105904377649632014-04-06T16:20:00.000-04:002014-04-06T16:20:38.786-04:00Sunday, April 6, 2014 — ST 4580<div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" style="height: 20px; width: 420px;"><tbody></tbody></table>
<table border="5" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" frame="BOX" rules="GROUPS" style="border-bottom-style: none; color: #274e13; height: 62px; width: 420px;"><tbody>
<tr><th colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 200%;"><b>Puzzle at a Glance</b></span></div>
</th> </tr>
</tbody></table>
<table border="5" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" frame="BOX" rules="GROUPS" style="height: 82px; width: 420px;"><tbody>
<tr><th colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-weight: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Puzzle Number in <i>The Sunday Times</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;">ST 4580</span>
</th> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Date of Publication in <i>The Sunday Times</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Sunday, March 9, 2014</b></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Setter</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Jeff Pearce </b></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Link to Full Review</span></span></div>
<a href="http://times-xwd-times.livejournal.com/1080393.html"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b><i>Times for the Times</i> [ST 4580]</b></span></a>
</td> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i>Times for the Times</i> Review Written By</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Dave Perry</b></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Dave Perry's Solving Time</span> </div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>★★★★</b></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Date of Publication in the <i>Toronto Star</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Saturday, March 29, 2014</b></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Date of Publication in <i>The Vancouver Sun</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Saturday, April 5, 2014</b><sup><i>[Note 2]</i></sup></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Falcon's Experience</span> </div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;">┌────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┐</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;">███████████████████████████</span><span style="color: cyan;"></span><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"></span><span style="color: #a64d79;">██</span><span style="color: red;">█</span><span style="color: #ccddbb;">█████</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;">└────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┘</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Legend:</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; margin-left: 18px; padding: 10px 10px 10px 10px; text-align: left; text-indent: -18px;">
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: blue;">█</span> - solved without assistance</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: orange;">█</span> - incorrect prior to use of puzzle solving tools</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: cyan;">█</span> - solved with assistance from puzzle solving tools</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;">█</span> - solved with aid of checking letters provided by puzzle solving tools</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;">█</span> - solved but without fully parsing the clue</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: red;">█</span> - unsolved or incorrect prior to visiting <i>Times for the Times</i></div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: #660000;">█</span> - solved with aid of checking letters provided by solutions from <i>Times for the Times</i></div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: magenta;">█</span> - yet to be solved
</div>
</div>
</td> </tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Notes</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-left: 20px; padding: 5px 5px 10px 5px; text-align: left; text-indent: -20px;">
<i><sup>[1]</sup> This puzzle appears on the Sunday puzzles pages in the Saturday, April 5, 2014 edition of the Ottawa Citizen.</i></div>
<div style="margin-left: 20px; padding: 5px 5px 10px 5px; text-align: left; text-indent: -20px;">
<i><sup>[2]</sup> Unverified as a paywall bars access to the The Vancouver Sun website.</i></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
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<div class="bodyFontSize">
<h2>
Introduction
</h2>
This puzzle put up a stiff challenge virtually from the word go. In the end, I threw in the towel and consulted Dave Perry's review with one clue unsolved and a couple of other clues for which the parsing was a mystery.<br />
<br />
<h2>
Notes on Today's Puzzle
</h2>
<div style="font-size: x-small; text-align: center;">
<b><i>This commentary is intended to serve as a supplement to the review of this puzzle found at Times for the Times, to which a link is provided in the table above.<br />
<br />
Definitions are underlined in the clue, with subsidiary indications being marked by means of a dashed underline in semi-all-in-one (semi-& lit.) clues and cryptic definitions.</i></b></div>
<br />
<h3>
Across</h3>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>1a This writer's second drink leads to <u>ruin</u> (4-2)</b></span></div>
<br />
It is a common cryptic crossword convention for the creator of the puzzle to
use terms such as <b>compiler</b>, <b>setter</b>, <b>(this) author</b>, <b>(this) writer</b>, or <b>this person</b> to refer to himself or herself. To solve such a clue, one must
generally substitute a first person pronoun (<b>I</b> or <b>me</b>) for
whichever of these terms has been used in the clue.<br />
<br />
The wordplay in this clue parses as ME (this writer) + ('s; <i>contraction for 'has</i>') S (second) + SUP (drink).<br />
<br />
In the surface reading the <b>'s</b> is indicating possession. However, in the cryptic reading, it becomes a contraction for 'has' — and thus a charade indicator. <br />
<br />
The phrase "leads to" is a link between the wordplay and the definition. The general structure of the clue is '<b><i>wordplay</i></b> produces (leads to) <i><b>definition</b></i>'.<br />
<br />
As a verb, <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/sup?rskey=vKrO7O&result=1#m_en_gb0829990"><b>sup</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is a dated or Northern English term meaning to take (drink or liquid food) by sips or spoonfuls ⇒ <i>(i) </i><i><q><i>she <b>supped up</b> her soup delightedly</i></q></i><i>; </i><i><i>(ii)</i> </i><i><i><q><i>h</i><i>e was supping straight from the bottle</i></q></i></i>. As a noun, it means (1) a sip of liquid ⇒ <i><q><i>he took another sup of wine</i></q></i> or (2) in Northern England or Ireland, an alcoholic drink ⇒ <i><q><i>the latest sup from those blokes at the brewery</i></q></i>. <br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: red; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>5a <u>Racecourse</u> favourite leaving route that may lead to prizes (6)</b></span></div>
<br />
I was at a total loss here, not having heard of this English seaside resort — never mind its racecourse. However, after a bit of research, I discover that I was within about 25 miles of it when I visited Whitby this past year.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redcar_Racecourse"><b>Redcar Racecourse</b></a><sup>[7]</sup> is a thoroughbred horse racing venue located in Redcar, North Yorkshire, England.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redcar_Racecourse#cite_note-BRR-203-1"></a><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>9a <u>University</u> not about to pursue one with royal connections (9)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Princeton_University"><b>Princeton University</b></a><sup>[7]</sup> is a private Ivy League research university in Princeton, New Jersey.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b><span style="color: white;"><b>10a </b></span>Oddly pear tree provides <u>spread</u> (4)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>11a Old crib <u>made of bone</u> (6)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/crib?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>Crib</b></a><sup>[10]</sup> means <span class="def">to steal (another's writings or thoughts).</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>12a <u>Feature of Whitehall</u> not cheap to wander around (8)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whitehall"><b>Whitehall</b></a><sup>[7]</sup> is a road in the City of Westminster, in central London<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chelsea,_London" title="Chelsea, London"></a>. Recognised as the centre of Her Majesty's Government, the street is lined with government departments and ministries; the name "Whitehall" is thus also frequently used as a metonym for overall British governmental administration, as well as being a geographic name for the surrounding area. The name is taken from the vast <b>Palace of Whitehall</b> that used to occupy the area but which was largely destroyed by fire in
1698. Whitehall is also widely known for a number of memorial statues and monuments, including Britain's primary war memorial, the <b>Cenotaph</b>.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: #a64d79; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>14a One bird returned without a nose and <u>tongue</u> (8)</b></span></div>
<br />
While I managed to find the solution with a bit of electronic help, I failed to parse the clue. My sense of failure was somewhat mitigated by seeing that Dave Perry did not fare much better at it.<br />
<br />
The solution is GUJARATI and the wordplay parses as a reversal (returned) of {I ([<i>Roman numeral for</i>] one) + JUG (bird)} containing (without) {A (from the clue) + RAT (nose)}.<br />
<br />
In British slang, <a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/bird?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>bird</b></a><sup>[10]</sup> means <span class="def">prison or a term in prison (especially in the phrase <b>do bird</b>; shortened from <i class="hi">birdlime</i>, rhyming slang for <i class="hi">time</i>).</span> <a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/jug?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>Jug</b></a><sup>[10]</sup> is a slang word for jail.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/nose"><b>Nose</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is an informal [<i>presumably British</i>] term for a <span class="definition">police informer </span>⇒ <i><q><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example">he knew that CID men are allowed to drink on duty as much of their time is spent with noses</i></span></q></i><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"></span>. <a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/rat?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>Rat</b></a><sup>[10]</sup> is (mainly US) slang for an informer or stool pigeon.<br />
<br />
<span class="definition">The <b>Criminal Investigation Department</b> (seemingly better known by its abbreviation <a href="http://www.chambers.co.uk/search.php?query=CID&title=21st"><b>CID</b></a><sup>[2]</sup>) is the detective branch of the British police force. </span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Gujarati?q=Gujarati"><b>Gugarati</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is the <span class="definition">Indic language of Gujarat, spoken by about 40 million people. <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Gujarat?q=Gujarat"><b>Gujarat</b></a></span><span class="definition"><sup>[5]</sup> is a </span><span class="definition">state in western India, with an extensive
coastline on the Arabian Sea; capital, Gandhinagar. Formed in 1960 from
the northern and western parts of the former state of Bombay, it is one
of the most industrialized parts of the country.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>16a <u>Left</u> open but unfinished (4)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>18a <u>Kit</u> to boast about (4)</b></span></div>
<br />
<span class="def"><a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/kit?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>Kit</b></a></span><span class="def"><span class="definition"><sup>[10]</sup></span> may mean (1)</span><span class="def"> clothing and other personal effects, especially those of a traveller or soldier</span> ⇒<i> (i) <span class="orth"><q>safari kit</q></span>; (ii) <span class="orth"><q>battle kit</q></span></i> or (2) <span class="def"> clothing in general (especially in the phrase <b>get one's kit off</b> [<i>get naked</i>]).</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>19a <u>Getting</u> short model a cocktail of gin (8)</b></span></div>
<br />
Surely, Dave Perry has mistyped his explanation of the clue.<br />
<br />
The wordplay parses as TWIGG (short model; <i>TWIGG[<strike><b>Y</b></strike>] with the final letter deleted</i>) + ING {an anagram of (a cocktail [<i>mixture</i>] of) GIN}.<br />
<br />
<b>Lesley Lawson</b> (née <b>Hornby</b>), widely known by the nickname <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twiggy"><b>Twiggy</b></a><span class="def"><span class="definition"><sup>[7]</sup></span></span>, is an English model, actress and singer. In the mid-1960s she became a prominent British teenage model of swinging sixties London. Twiggy was initially known for her thin build (thus her nickname) and her androgynous look consisting of large eyes, long eyelashes, and short hair.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-hbtwig_2-0"></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-3"></sup> In 1966, she was named "The Face of 1966" by Britain's <i>Daily Express</i><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-twigofficialsite_4-0"></sup> newspaper and voted British Woman of the Year.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>21a Rest around river and <u>go down</u> (8)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/rest?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>Rest</b></a><span class="def"><span class="definition"><sup>[10]</sup></span></span> is <span class="def">death regarded as repose</span> ⇒ <i><q>eternal rest</q></i>. As a noun, <a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/decease?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>decease</b></a><span class="def"><span class="definition"><sup>[10]</sup></span></span> is <span class="xr"><span class="lbl">a more formal word for</span> <span class="xr_ref"><b>death</b> and, as a verb, it is </span></span><span class="xr"><span class="lbl">a more formal word for</span> <span class="xr_ref"><b>die</b>.</span></span><br />
<span class="orth"></span><br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>22a <u>Detest</u> old Turner being placed outside (6)</b></span></div>
<br />
The surface reading alludes to English painter <b><a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Turner-J.-M.-W.">J. M. W. Turner</a></b><span class="def"><span class="definition"><sup>[5]</sup></span></span> <span class="definition"><span class="dateGroup">(<span class="date">1775–1851</span>)</span>; full name Joseph Mallord William Turner. He made his
name with landscapes and stormy seascapes, becoming increasingly
concerned with depicting the power of light by the use of primary
colours, often arranged in a swirling vortex. Notable works: <i class=""> Rain, Steam, Speed</i> (1844); <i class=""> The Fighting Téméraire</i> (1838).</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>24a Party returned to middle of Pacific <u>island</u> (4)</b></span></div>
<br />
The <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Labour-Party?q=Labour+Party"><b>Labour Party</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> in Britain (<i>abbreviation</i> <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Lab."><b>Lab.</b></a><sup>[5]</sup>) is <span class="definition">a left-of-centre political party formed to
represent the interests of ordinary working people that since the Second World War has been in power
1945–51, 1964–70, 1974-9, and 1997–2010. Arising from the trade union
movement at the end of the 19th century, it replaced the Liberals as the
country’s second party after the First World War.</span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Bali?q=Bali"><b>Bali</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is <span class="definition">a mountainous island of Indonesia, to the east of Java; chief city, Denpasar; population 3,470,700 (est. 2009).</span><br />
<br />
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<span style="color: white;"><b>26a Cutters go round tense <u>swimmers</u> (9)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>27a <u>Belittle</u> Derbyshire opening pair's average (6)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Derbyshire"><b>Derbyshire</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is a <span class="definition">county of north central England; county town, Matlock.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>28a <u>Asian city</u> new to a canvasser (6)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Nagoya?q=Nagoya"><b>Nagoya</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is a <span class="definition">city in central Japan, on the south coast of the island of Honshu, capital of Chubu region; population 2,154,287 (2007).</span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Goya?q=Goya"><b>Goya</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> <span class="definition"><span class="dateGroup">(<span class="date">1746–1828</span>)</span> was a
Spanish painter and etcher; full name Francisco José de Goya y
Lucientes. He is famous for his works treating the French occupation of
Spain (1808–14), including <i class=""> The Shootings of May 3rd 1808</i> (painting, 1814) and <i class=""> The Disasters of War</i> (etchings, 1810–14), depicting the cruelty and horror of war.</span><br />
<br />
<h3>
Down</h3>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>2d <u>Reason</u> old mate departed gripping job at uni? (11)</b></span></div>
<br />
In Britain, <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/mate"><b>mate</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is an informal term (1) for <span class="definition">a friend or companion </span>⇒ <i><q><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example">my best mate Steve</i></span></q></i><span class="definition"> or (2) used as a friendly form of address between men or boys </span>⇒ <i><q><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example">‘See you then, mate.’</i></span></q></i>.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/uni"><b>Uni</b></a><span class="definition"><sup>[5]</sup> </span> is an informal [<i>seemingly British</i>] term for university ⇒ <i><q><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example">he planned to go to uni</i></span></q></i>.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/expostulate?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>Expostulate</b></a><sup>[10]</sup> (<i>usually followed by</i> <b>with</b>) means to <span class="def">argue or reason (with), especially in order to dissuade from an action or intention.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>3d/17</b></span><span style="color: white;"><b><span style="color: white;"><b>d </b></span>One speaking in a funny way about press is <u>a comedian</u> (5,8)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/mill?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>Mill</b></a><sup>[10]</sup>, as a noun, can mean <span class="def">any of various processing or manufacturing machines, especially one that grinds, presses,
or rolls and, as a verb, </span><span class="def">to grind, press, or pulverize in or as if in a mill.</span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Milligan-Spike"><b>Spike Milligan</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> <span class="definition"><span class="dateGroup">(<span class="date">1918–2002</span>)</span> was an Irish comedian and writer who was born in India; born Terence Alan Milligan. He came to prominence in the British cult radio programme <i class=""> The Goon Show</i> (1951-9).</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>4d After being poorly I clear up <u>sick</u> (8)</b></span></div>
<br />
In Britain, <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/poorly?q=poorly"><b>poorly</b></a><span class="definition"><sup>[5]</sup></span> is not only used as an adverb, but also as an adjective meaning unwell ⇒ <i><q><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example"><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example">she looked poorly</i></span></i></span></q></i>.<br />
<br />
The wordplay is an anagram of I CLEAR UP leading to a the solution PECULIAR. <br />
<br />
I initially thought that the anagram indicator must be "sick"; however, after a great deal of deliberation, I have concluded that it has to be "after being poorly".<br />
<br />
I suppose peculiar means sick as in ⇒ <i><q><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example">Having had too many beers the night before, I awoke feeling peculiar</i></span></q></i>.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>5d <u>Arguments</u> with son following arrest (3-3)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>6d <u>What's central part of amoeba?</u> (9)</b></span></div>
<br />
From a typographical perspective, a <a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/diphthong?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>diphthong</b></a><span class="definition"><sup>[10]</sup></span> is <span class="def">a digraph or ligature representing a composite vowel. From what I can decipher, the <i>ae</i> in C<i>ae</i>sar is a digraph, while the <i class="hi">æ</i> in <i class="hi">Cæsar</i></span> is a ligature.<br />
<br />
<span class="definition">Perhaps the clue might better have been written thus:</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span class="definition">6d What's central part of amœba? (9)</span></li>
</ul>
Despite "<span class="definition">œ</span>" here being a diphthong from a typographical perspective, I was unable to find any evidence that it is a diphthong from the phonetical point of view in which <span class="def">a</span><span class="def"> <a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/diphthong?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>diphthong</b></a><span class="definition"><sup>[10]</sup></span> is defined as a vowel sound, occupying a single syllable, during the articulation of which the tongue
moves from one position to another, causing a continual change in vowel quality, as
in the pronunciation of <i class="hi">a</i> in English <i class="hi">late,</i> during which the tongue moves from the position of (e) towards (<span class="pron">(ɪ)</span>)</span>.<br />
<br />
Although spelled differently, the word <b>amoeba</b> (<i>US</i> <b>ameba</b>) appears to be pronounced identically in the UK (<span class="pron">əˈmiːbə</span>) and US <span class="pron">(ə-mē′bə)</span> with the digraph oe taking a "long e" sound in both cases.<br />
<br />
Thus, I am led to conclude that a phonetical diphthong — such as the <i>a</i> in <i>late</i> — can be represented typographically by a single letter, while a typographical diphthong — such as the <span class="definition">œ</span> in am<span class="definition">œ</span>ba — may not be a diphthong at all from a phonetical perspective.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: #a64d79; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>7d Front of boat? That's not right! (3)</b></span></div>
<br />
This is another instance where I failed to fully parse the clue. I did realize that the clue is indicating that we need to concern ourselves with the stern of the boat rather than its front — which was sufficient information to determine the solution.<br />
<br />
Since this is an & lit. (all-in-one) clue, it can be read one way as the definition and a second way as wordplay. However, I find myself unable to rigorously explain either reading.<br />
<br />
I have to suppose that in the second interpretation we are expected to parse the clue as [<strike><b>R</b></strike>]AFT (boat) that has ('s) not R (right) at the front. The 's is a contraction for 'is' in one reading and a contraction for 'has' in the other.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>8d Thick dustmen start to irritate silly <u>old fogey</u> (5-2-3-3)</b></span></div>
<br />
In Britain, a <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/dustman?q=dustman"><b>dustman</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is a <span class="definition">man employed to remove household refuse from dustbins (the British name for <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/garbage-can"><b>garbage cans</b></a></span><span class="definition"><sup>[5]</sup>).</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>13d <u>Castle in Spain</u> or elevated cottage? (3,2,3,3)</b></span></div>
<br />
The expression '<a href="http://www.vocabulary.com/definition/castle%20in%20Spain"><b>castle in Spain</b></a>'
(usually seen as part of the phrase 'building castles in Spain')
means to daydream (an equivalent expression being 'building castles in
the air'). An article on "<a href="http://viva-spain.com/blog/2008/06/30/castles-in-spain/"><b>Castles in Spain</b></a>" has this to say: <br />
<blockquote>
Nowadays, ‘castles in Spain’ means something splendid but
non-existent. “Fashionable adventurers in France used to impose on the
credulous and get money and social advantages out of them by telling
tales of their ‘castles in Spain’, which, needless to say, they did not
possess,” is the explanation of Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and
Fable.</blockquote>
The expression appears to have entered the English language from French where the expression is "bâtir Châteaux en Espagne".<br />
Of course, another means of saying the same thing is <a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/pie-in-the-sky?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>pie in the sky</b></a><sup>[10]</sup>, <span class="def"> illusory hope or promise of some future good; in other words, false optimism</span>.<br />
<br />
In Britain, <a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/cottage-pie?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>cottage pie</b></a><sup>[10]</sup> is another name for shepherd's pie.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>15d Ben and I argue about <u>an ingredient of moussaka</u> (9)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/moussaka"><b>Moussaka</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is a <span class="definition">Greek dish made of minced lamb, aubergines, and tomatoes, with cheese sauce on top.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="definition"><a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/aubergine?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>Aubergine</b></a></span><span class="definition"><sup>[10]</sup> is the British name for eggplant. </span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>17d See 3d</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>20d <u>Fruit</u> and nuts served up by boy (6)</b></span></div>
<br />
The <a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/damson"><b>damson</b></a><sup>[3]</sup> (<i>also</i> <b>damson plum</b>) is a Eurasian plum tree <i>(Prunus insititia)</i> cultivated since ancient times for its edible fruit or the oval, bluish-black, juicy plum of this tree.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>23d <u>By</u> a pine (5)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>25d Place to leave fruit for <u>parrot</u> (3)</b></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Key to Reference Sources: </b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[1] </sup> - <i>The Chambers Dictionary, 11th Edition </i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[2] </sup> - <a href="http://www.chambers.co.uk/search.php"><b>Search Chambers</b></a> - (<i>Chambers 21st Century Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[3] </sup> - <a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/"><b>TheFreeDictionary.com</b></a> (<i>American Heritage Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[4] </sup> - <a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/"><b>TheFreeDictionary.com</b></a> (<i>Collins English Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[5] </sup> - <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/?region=uk"><b>Oxford Dictionaries</b></a> (<i>Oxford Dictionary of English</i>) </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[6] </sup> - <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/?region=us"><b>Oxford Dictionaries</b></a> (<i>Oxford American Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[7] </sup> - <b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page">Wikipedia</a></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[8] </sup> - <a href="http://dictionary.reverso.net/french-english/"><b>Reverso Online Dictionary</b></a> (<i>Collins French-English Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[9] </sup> - <a href="http://dictionary.infoplease.com/"><b>Infoplease</b></a> (<i>Random House Unabridged Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[10]</sup> - <a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/"><b>CollinsDictionary.com</b></a> (<i>Collins English Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[11]</sup> - <a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/"><b>TheFreeDictionary.com</b></a> (<i>Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary</i>)</span></blockquote>
Signing off for this week — Falcon
</div>
Falconhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07466858757398776500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4283491940842987165.post-76251632633999960992014-03-30T16:40:00.000-04:002014-03-30T16:40:30.700-04:00Sunday, March 30, 2014 — ST 4579<div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" style="height: 20px; width: 420px;"><tbody></tbody></table>
<table border="5" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" frame="BOX" rules="GROUPS" style="border-bottom-style: none; color: #274e13; height: 62px; width: 420px;"><tbody>
<tr><th colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 200%;"><b>Puzzle at a Glance</b></span></div>
</th> </tr>
</tbody></table>
<table border="5" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" frame="BOX" rules="GROUPS" style="height: 82px; width: 420px;"><tbody>
<tr><th colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-weight: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Puzzle Number in <i>The Sunday Times</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;">ST 4579</span>
</th> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Date of Publication in <i>The Sunday Times</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Sunday, March 2, 2014</b></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Setter</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Tim Moorey</b></span></td> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Link to Full Review</span></span></div>
<a href="http://times-xwd-times.livejournal.com/1076451.html"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b><i>Times for the Times</i> [ST 4579]</b></span></a>
</td> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i>Times for the Times</i> Review Written By</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Dave Perry</b></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Dave Perry's Solving Time</span> </div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>★★★★</b></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Date of Publication in the <i>Toronto Star</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Saturday, March 22, 2014</b></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Date of Publication in <i>The Vancouver Sun</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Saturday, March 29, 2014</b><sup><i>[Note 2]</i></sup></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Falcon's Experience</span> </div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;">┌────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┐</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;">█████████████████████████████</span><span style="color: cyan;">█</span><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">█</span><span style="color: #ccddbb;">████</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;">└────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┘</span></div>
</td> </tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Notes</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-left: 20px; padding: 5px 5px 10px 5px; text-align: left; text-indent: -20px;">
<i><sup>[1]</sup> This puzzle appears on the Sunday puzzles pages in the Saturday, March 29, 2014 edition of the Ottawa Citizen.</i></div>
<div style="margin-left: 20px; padding: 5px 5px 10px 5px; text-align: left; text-indent: -20px;">
<i><sup>[2]</sup> Unverified as a paywall bars access to the The Vancouver Sun website.</i></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
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<h2>
Introduction
</h2>
This puzzle opened on a Canadian note. While I was able to solve several clues on my first pass through, my progress soon slowed to a crawl as the remainder of the clues proved more of a challenge. I was pleased at having been able to work out several heretofore unheard of words based on the wordplay.<br />
<br />
<h2>
Notes on Today's Puzzle
</h2>
<div style="font-size: x-small; text-align: center;">
<b><i>This commentary is intended to serve as a supplement to the review of this puzzle found at Times for the Times, to which a link is provided in the table above.<br />
<br />
Definitions are underlined in the clue, with subsidiary indications being marked by means of a dashed underline in semi-all-in-one (semi-& lit.) clues and cryptic definitions.</i></b></div>
<br />
<h3>
Across</h3>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>1a <u>On a bay. perhaps</u> in <u>a Canadian constituency</u> (6)</b></span></div>
<br />
It's always feels good to get the solution to the first clue right off the top. In Canadian politics, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riding_%28division%29#Canada"><b>riding</b></a><sup>[7]</sup> is a colloquial term for a constituency or electoral district. Officially, "electoral district" is generally used, although government documents sometimes use the colloquial term.<br />
<br />
Historically, in England, the word "riding" denoted a third part of something, especially a county. As alluded to by Dave Perry, the three former administrative divisions of the English county of Yorkshire were <b>North Riding</b>, <b>East Riding</b> and <b>West Riding</b>.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>5a Pointed remarks brought about trouble for <u>the island</u> (8)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>9a One lofty newspaper <u>never failing to appear</u> (2,3,5)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Times"><i><b>The Times</b></i></a><sup>[7]</sup> is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title <i>The Daily Universal Register</i> (it became <i>The Times</i> on 1 January 1788). <i>The Times</i> and its sister paper <i>The Sunday Times</i>
(founded in 1821) are published by Times Newspapers, since 1981 a
subsidiary of News UK, itself wholly owned by the News Corp group headed
by Rupert Murdoch. <i>The Times</i> and <i>The Sunday Times</i> do not share editorial staff, were founded independently and have only had common ownership since 1967. <br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>10a New eatery with no starter <u>lacking taste</u> (4)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/caff"><b>Caff</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is an informal British name for a cafe.<br />
<br />
<b><a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/naff-2">Naff</a></b><sup>[5]</sup> is an informal British term meaning lacking <span class="definition">taste or style </span>⇒ <i><q><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example">he always went for the most obvious melody he could get, no matter how naff it sounded</i></span></q></i><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"></span>.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>11a Leave leaders in battle ie <u>desert</u> (4)</b></span></div>
<br />
The <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Gobi-Desert"><b>Gobi Desert</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is <span class="definition">a barren plateau of southern Mongolia and northern China.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>12a <u>Duke</u>'s with another Duke (10)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Wellington,-1st-Duke-of"><b>Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> <span class="definition"><span class="dateGroup">(<span class="date">1769–1852</span>) was a</span>
British soldier and Tory statesman who served as Prime Minister from
1828–30 and again in 1834. Known as the Iron Duke, he served as
commander
of the British forces in the Peninsular War (1808–14) and in 1815
defeated Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo, so ending the Napoleonic
Wars.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="definition"><a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Ellington,-Duke"><b>Duke Ellington</b></a></span><sup>[5]</sup> <span class="definition"> </span><span class="definition"><span class="dateGroup">(<span class="date">1899–1974</span>)</span> was an
American jazz pianist, composer, and bandleader; born Edward Kennedy
Ellington. Coming to fame in the early 1930s, Ellington wrote over 900
compositions and was one of the first popular musicians to write
extended pieces. Notable works: <i> Mood Indigo</i> (1930).</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>14a <u>AB</u> and C is where I'm said to be at (6)</b></span></div>
<br />
In the Royal Navy, <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/able-seaman"><b>able seaman</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> (<i>abbreviation</i> <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/ab#AB-2"><b>AB</b></a><sup>[5]</sup>), is <span class="definition">a rank of sailor above ordinary seaman and below leading seaman.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>16a No good a Conservative embracing Unionist <u>of little worth</u> (8)</b></span></div>
<br />
A <a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Tory"><b>Tory</b></a><sup>[4]</sup> is a member or supporter of the Conservative Party in Great Britain or Canada. Historically, a Tory was a member of the English political party that opposed the exclusion of
James, Duke of York from the royal succession (1679-80). Tory remained
the label for subsequent major conservative interests until they gave
birth to the Conservative Party in the 1830s.<br />
<br />
Prior to Irish independence in 1920, a <a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Unionist"><b>Unionist</b></a><sup>[4]</sup> was a supporter of the union of all Ireland and Great Britain. Since 1920, the term signifies a supporter of union between Britain and Northern Ireland.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>18a Get seats prepared as <u>play ready to start</u> (5,3)</b></span></div>
<br />
If the play is ready to start, then clearly the stage has been set.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>20a <u>Ministers</u> cut about 500 by beginning of September (6)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/D"><b>D</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is the <span class="definition">Roman numeral for 500.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: cyan; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>22a Heather is embraced by William in <u>Essex town</u> (10)</b></span></div>
<br />
Like Dave Perry, I wanted to incorporate LING in the solution. While I needed to scour the atlas to find the Essex town, not knowing of its existence is likely excusable for someone who grew up some 3000 miles away from it.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/erica"><b>Erica</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is a <span class="definition">plant of the genus <i class="">Erica</i> (family <i class="">Ericaceae</i>), especially (in gardening) heather.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="definition"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billericay"><b>Billericay</b></a></span><span class="definition"><sup>[7]</sup> is a town and civil parish in Essex, England. It is a commuter town located 28 miles (45 km) east of central London with</span><span class="definition"><span class="definition"> a population of around 36,338 (2011 census)<sup class="Template-Fact" style="white-space: nowrap;"><i><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources. (April 2013)"></span></i></sup>,</span> </span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>24a <u>Collars</u> seen over in Brisbane (4)</b></span></div>
<br />
<b><a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Brisbane">Brisbane</a></b><sup>[5]</sup> is the <span class="definition">capital of Queensland, Australia; population 1,945,639 (est. 2008). It was founded in 1824 as a penal colony.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>26a <u>Network</u> provided in organisation for ladies (4)</b></span></div>
<br />
The <b><a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Women%27s-Institute?q=Women%27s+Institute">Women's Institute</a></b> (<a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/WI?q=WI"><b>WI</b></a>)<sup>[5]</sup> is <span class="definition">an
organization of women, especially in rural
areas, who meet regularly and participate in crafts, cultural
activities, and social work. Now worldwide, it was first set up in
Ontario, Canada, in 1897, and in Britain in 1915.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>27a Junior male swamped by lowest voice in <u>choral work</u> (1,5,4)</b></span></div>
<br />
The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_in_B_minor"><b>Mass in B minor</b></a><sup>[7]</sup> (<b>BWV 232</b>) by German composer Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750) is a musical setting of the complete Latin Mass. The work was one of Bach's last compositions, not completed until 1749, the year before his death.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>29a Young woman going around SW1? Actually it's <u>W4</u> (8)</b></span></div>
<br />
SW1 and W4 refer to postcodes within the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_postal_district"><b>London postal district</b></a><sup>[7]</sup> . <b>Postcode</b> is the British equivalent to <b>postal code</b> (Canada) or <b>ZIP code</b> (US).<br />
<br />
The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SW_postcode_area#SW1"><b>SW1 postcode district</b></a><sup>[7]</sup> includes such prestigious addresses as Buckingham Palace, the House of Commons and the House of Lords, and 10 Downing Street (the residence and office of the British Prime Minister).<br />
<br />
The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W_postcode_area"><b>W4 postcode district</b></a><sup>[7]</sup> covers <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiswick"><b>Chiswick</b></a><sup>[7]</sup>, a district of west London, England, and part of the London Borough of Hounslow.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>30a <u>Meat Loaf</u> song at first adopted by robust tenor (6)</b></span></div>
<br />
<b>Michael Lee Aday</b> (born <b>Marvin Lee Aday</b>) is an American musician and actor best known by his stage name <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meat_Loaf"><b>Meat Loaf</b></a><sup>[7]</sup>.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/haslet?q=haslet"><b>Haslet</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is a chiefly British term for a <span class="definition">cold meat consisting of chopped or minced pork offal compressed into a loaf before being cooked.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<h3>
Down</h3>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>2d Ravel trio including new <u>opening</u> (5)</b></span></div>
<br />
The surface reading may be a reference to <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Ravel-Maurice"><b>Maurice Ravel</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> <span class="definition"><span class="dateGroup">(<span class="date">1875–1937</span>)</span>, a French composer whose works are
somewhat impressionistic in style, employing colourful orchestration and
unresolved dissonances. Notable works: the ballets <i class=""> Daphnis and Chloë</i> (1912) and <i class=""> Boléro</i> (1928) and the orchestral work <i class=""> La Valse</i> (1920).</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>3d First wife getting left out of testaments brings <u>animosity</u> (3,4)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>4d Enter into conflict with police officer and <u>head for</u> ... (2,7)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/ds?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>DS</b></a><sup>[10]</sup> is the abbreviation for <span class="def">Detective Sergeant.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>5d ... <u>bad</u> jolt, losing position initially (3)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>6d <u>Sage</u> used in supper is hit (5)</b></span></div>
<br />
A <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/rishi?q=rishi"><b>rishi</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is a <span class="definition">Hindu sage or saint.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>7d One's drunk around noon and <u>in the evening</u> (2,5)</b></span></div>
<br />
I had to search through three dictionaries, but I was eventually able to find one which listed the abbreviation for <b>noon</b> as <a href="http://www.chambers.co.uk/search.php?query=n&title=21st"><b>n</b></a><sup>[2]</sup>.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>8d <u>Drifting</u> naturally around France (3-6)</b></span></div>
<br />
<span class="definition"><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak">The International Vehicle Registration (IVR) code for France is <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/F--2"><b>F</b></a><sup>[5]</sup>. </span></span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: #6fa8dc; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>13d <u>Type of fringe</u> for <u>the nut</u> (7)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>15d I air things dubiously but not good to be <u>racist</u> (4-5)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>17d <u>Yacht</u> so mighty close to mishap at sea (5,4)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gipsy_Moth_IV"><i><b>Gipsy Moth IV</b></i></a><span class="definition"><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><sup>[7]</sup></span></span> is a 54 ft (16 m) ketch that Sir Francis Chichester commissioned specifically to sail single-handed around the globe, racing against the times set by the clipper ships of the 19th century. The name, the fourth boat in his series, all named <i>Gipsy Moth,</i> originated from the de Havilland Gipsy Moth aircraft in which Chichester completed pioneering work in aerial navigation techniques.<br />
<br />
On 27 August 1966 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Chichester"><b>Chichester</b></a><span class="definition"><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><sup>[7]</sup></span></span> sailed his yawl <i>Gipsy Moth IV</i> from Plymouth in the United Kingdom and returned there after 226 days of sailing on 28 May 1967, having circumnavigated the globe, with one stop (in Sydney, Australia). By doing so, he became the first person to achieve a true circumnavigation of the world solo from West to East via the great Capes.
The voyage was also a race against the clock, as Chichester wanted to
better the typical times achieved by the fastest fully crewed clipper ships
during the heyday of commercial sail in the 19th century.<br />
<br />
The first
recorded solo circumnavigation of the globe was achieved by the Nova Scotian born, naturalised American <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joshua_Slocum"><b>Joshua Slocum</b></a><span class="definition"><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><sup>[7]</sup></span></span>,
in 1898 but it took him three years with numerous stops – Slocum also
took up the harder challenge of sailing east to west, against the
prevailing wind. <br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>19d After a change of direction, young women become <u>hunting types</u> (7)</b></span></div>
<br />
In Scotland, a <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/gillie"><b>gillie</b></a><span class="definition"><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><sup>[5]</sup></span></span> is <span class="definition">a man or boy who attends someone on a hunting or fishing expedition.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>21d Parties engaging a lot of upright, <u>highly energetic people</u> (7)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>23d Mostly poor performer on the field is <u>a teacher</u> (5)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/rabbit"><b>Rabbit</b></a><span class="definition"><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><sup>[5]</sup></span></span> is an informal term for a <span class="definition">poor performer in a sport or game, in particular (in cricket) a poor batsman </span>⇒ <i><q><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example">he was a total rabbit with the bat</i></span></q></i><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"></span>.<br />
<br />
A <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/rabbi"><b>rabbi</b></a><span class="definition"><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><sup>[5]</sup></span></span> may be (1) a <span class="definition">Jewish scholar or teacher, especially one who studies or teaches Jewish law</span> or (2) a <span class="definition">person appointed as a Jewish religious leader</span>.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>25d <u>Beat</u> time in fleet HQ (5)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>28d <u>Bug</u> found in church no end of a shock at first (3)</b></span></div>
<br />
In Scottish and Northern English dialects, <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/kirk"><b>kirk</b></a><span class="definition"><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><sup>[5]</sup></span></span> means church.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Key to Reference Sources: </b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[1] </sup> - <i>The Chambers Dictionary, 11th Edition </i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[2] </sup> - <a href="http://www.chambers.co.uk/search.php"><b>Search Chambers</b></a> - (<i>Chambers 21st Century Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[3] </sup> - <a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/"><b>TheFreeDictionary.com</b></a> (<i>American Heritage Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[4] </sup> - <a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/"><b>TheFreeDictionary.com</b></a> (<i>Collins English Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[5] </sup> - <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/?region=uk"><b>Oxford Dictionaries</b></a> (<i>Oxford Dictionary of English</i>) </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[6] </sup> - <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/?region=us"><b>Oxford Dictionaries</b></a> (<i>Oxford American Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[7] </sup> - <b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page">Wikipedia</a></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[8] </sup> - <a href="http://dictionary.reverso.net/french-english/"><b>Reverso Online Dictionary</b></a> (<i>Collins French-English Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[9] </sup> - <a href="http://dictionary.infoplease.com/"><b>Infoplease</b></a> (<i>Random House Unabridged Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[10]</sup> - <a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/"><b>CollinsDictionary.com</b></a> (<i>Collins English Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[11]</sup> - <a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/"><b>TheFreeDictionary.com</b></a> (<i>Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary</i>)</span></blockquote>
Signing off for this week — Falcon
</div>
Falconhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07466858757398776500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4283491940842987165.post-64822833846351343852014-03-24T20:49:00.001-04:002014-03-24T20:49:43.586-04:00Sunday, March 23, 2014 — ST 4578<div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" style="height: 20px; width: 420px;"><tbody></tbody></table>
<table border="5" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" frame="BOX" rules="GROUPS" style="border-bottom-style: none; color: #274e13; height: 62px; width: 420px;"><tbody>
<tr><th colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 200%;"><b>Puzzle at a Glance</b></span></div>
</th> </tr>
</tbody></table>
<table border="5" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" frame="BOX" rules="GROUPS" style="height: 82px; width: 420px;"><tbody>
<tr><th colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-weight: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Puzzle Number in <i>The Sunday Times</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;">ST 4578</span>
</th> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Date of Publication in <i>The Sunday Times</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Sunday, February 23, 2014</b></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Setter</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Dean Mayer (Anax) </b></span></td> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Link to Full Review</span></span></div>
<a href="http://times-xwd-times.livejournal.com/1073713.html"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b><i>Times for the Times</i> [ST 4578]</b></span></a>
</td> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i>Times for the Times</i> Review Written By</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Dave Perry</b></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Dave Perry's Solving Time</span> </div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>★★★ </b></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Date of Publication in the <i>Toronto Star</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Saturday, March 15, 2014</b></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Date of Publication in <i>The Vancouver Sun</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Saturday, March 22, 2014</b><sup><i>[Note 2]</i></sup></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Falcon's Experience</span> </div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;">┌────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┐</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;">█████████████████████</span><span style="color: cyan;">████</span><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">█</span><span style="color: #a64d79;">█</span><span style="color: #ccddbb;">████████</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;">└────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┘</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Legend:</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; margin-left: 18px; padding: 10px 10px 10px 10px; text-align: left; text-indent: -18px;">
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: blue;">█</span> - solved without assistance</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: orange;">█</span> - incorrect prior to use of puzzle solving tools</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: cyan;">█</span> - solved with assistance from puzzle solving tools</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;">█</span> - solved with aid of checking letters provided by puzzle solving tools</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;">█</span> - solved but without fully parsing the clue</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: red;">█</span> - unsolved or incorrect prior to visiting <i>Times for the Times</i></div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: #660000;">█</span> - solved with aid of checking letters provided by solutions from <i>Times for the Times</i></div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: magenta;">█</span> - yet to be solved
</div>
</div>
</td> </tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Notes</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-left: 20px; padding: 5px 5px 10px 5px; text-align: left; text-indent: -20px;">
<i><sup>[1]</sup> This puzzle appears on the Sunday puzzles pages in the Saturday, March 22, 2014 edition of the Ottawa Citizen.</i></div>
<div style="margin-left: 20px; padding: 5px 5px 10px 5px; text-align: left; text-indent: -20px;">
<i><sup>[2]</sup> Unverified as a paywall bars access to the The Vancouver Sun website.</i></div>
<div style="margin-left: 20px; padding: 5px 5px 10px 5px; text-align: left; text-indent: -20px;">
<i><sup>[3]</sup> Unverified as there is no posting on the Saturday Star Cryptic Forum for March 15, 2014.</i></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
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<br />
<h2>
Introduction
</h2>
While this puzzle provided a satisfying challenge, it was certainly less formidable than some that he has produced recently.<br />
<h2>
Notes on Today's Puzzle
</h2>
<div style="font-size: x-small; text-align: center;">
<b><i>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.</i></b></div>
<br />
<h3>
Across</h3>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>1a Dancing helps, to female
<u>adult</u> (3-5)</b></span></div>
<br />
In Britain, <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/top-shelf"><b>top-shelf</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> (said of magazine) means pornographic while, in North America, the term denotes of a high quality or excellent ⇒ <i><q><i>some top-shelf cars are shipped overseas</i></q></i>.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>6a <u>Skirt</u> or skirts for boy? I
don't know (6)</b></span></div>
<br />
One might say <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/pass?q=pass"><b>pass</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> <span class="definition">when one does not know the answer to a question, for example in a quiz.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>9a I rest in Greek character's
<u>location</u> (6)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/mu?q=mu"><b>Mu</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is <span class="definition">the twelfth letter of the Greek alphabet (<b>Μ</b>, <b>μ</b>).</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>10a Stagger around in said
<u>gunfight location</u> (2,6)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>11a Doctor to pay those
providing <u>treatment</u>? (10)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: cyan; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>12a One thousand and one
<u>staff</u> (4)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>13a <u>S P A D E could
be represented thus</u> (6-6)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>17a <u>A film</u> is not what the answer is (7,1,4)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Without_a_Clue"><i><b>Without a Clue</b></i></a><sup>[7]</sup> is a 1988 British comedy film directed by Thom Eberhardt and starring Michael Caine and Ben Kingsley.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>19anbsp; <u>What fun</u>, being left out of circle (4)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: #6fa8dc; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>
20a <u>Reduced</u> demonstrating in Lincoln (1,3,6)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Lincoln?q=Lincoln"><b>Lincoln</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is <span class="definition">a city in eastern England, the county town of
Lincolnshire; population 86,800 (est. 2009). It was founded by the
Romans as Lindum Colonia.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="definition"><span class="definition"><span class="dateGroup"><a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Lincoln-Abraham"><b>Abraham Lincoln</b></a></span></span></span><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><span class="dateGroup"><sup>[5]</sup> (<span class="date">1809–1865</span>)</span> was an
American Republican statesman, 16th President of the US 1861-5. His
election as President on an anti-slavery platform helped precipitate the
American Civil War; he was assassinated shortly after the war ended.
Lincoln was noted for his succinct, eloquent speeches, including the
Gettysburg Address of 1863.</span> </span><br />
<br />
The phrase <a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/a-bon-marche?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>à bon marché</b></a><sup>[10]</sup> is French for <span class="def">at a bargain price.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>22a Perfect, catching
ambassador <u>with trousers
down</u>? (2,3,3)</b></span></div>
<br />
<span class="definition"><a href="http://www.chambersharrap.co.uk/chambers/features/chref/chref.py/main?query=HE&title=21st"><b><span class="hwd">HE</span></b></a><sup>[2]</sup> <span class="psa">is the abbreviation for</span> His or Her Excellency, where <a href="http://www.chambersharrap.co.uk/chambers/features/chref/chref.py/main?query=excellency&title=21st"><b><span class="hwd">Excellency</span></b></a><sup>[2]</sup> <span class="psa"></span>(<i>usually</i> <b>His</b>, <b>Her</b> or <b>Your Excellency</b> or <b>Your</b> or <b>Their Excellencies</b>) is a title of honour given to certain people of high rank, e.g. ambassadors.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: cyan; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>23a <u>Expel</u> from <u>class</u> (6)</b></span></div>
<br />
In certain <span class="lbl geo">British</span><span class="def"> schools, a <a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/remove?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>remove</b></a></span><span class="def"><span class="definition"><sup>[10]</sup> </span> is a class or form [<i>grade</i>], especially one for children of about 14 years, designed to introduce them to the greater responsibilities of a more senior position in the school.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>24a Somebody's gutted by
support <u>network</u> (6)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>25a Short skirts are straining
<u>the church</u> (8)</b></span></div>
<br />
<h3>
Down</h3>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>2d <u>Gap</u> over 25 (8)</b></span></div>
<br />
The numeral 25 is a cross reference indicator directing the
solver to insert the solution to clue 25a in its place to complete
the clue.<br />
<br />
<span class="definition">In cricket, an</span><span class="definition"> <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/over"><b>over</b></a></span><sup>[5]</sup> <span class="definition"> (<i>abbreviation</i> <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/O-2"><b>O</b></a></span><span class="definition"><sup>[5]</sup>) is a division of play consisting of </span><span class="definition">a sequence of six balls bowled by a bowler from
one end of the pitch, after which another bowler takes over from the
other end</span>. <br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: cyan; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>3d <u>Lace</u>, one that may be found
on running shoe (5)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>4d Crack troops in alien
<u>gear</u> (9)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E.T._the_Extra-Terrestrial"><i><b>E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial</b></i></a><sup>[7]</sup> (often referred to simply as <i><b>E.T.</b></i>)
is a 1982 American science fiction film co-produced and directed by
Steven Spielberg. It tells the story of a lonely boy who befriends an
extraterrestrial,
dubbed "E.T.", who is stranded on Earth. He and his siblings help
the extraterrestrial return home while attempting to keep it hidden from
their mother and the government.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>5d <u>Absolutely</u> unique as this
grid entry? (4,3,2,6)</b></span></div>
<br />
The definition certainly is "absolutely". As for the wordplay, I interpret it to indicate that what sets this clue apart is the fact that its solution runs "from top to bottom" in the grid.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>6d Bill has to cut through
<u>weed</u> (5)</b></span></div>
<br />
The wordplay is ACC (bill; <i>account</i>) contained in (has to cut) BY (through; <i>by means of</i>).<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/baccy"><b>Baccy</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is an <span class="definition">informal British term for tobacco.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>7d Adam Price shot <u>first
aider</u> (9)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Price"><b>Adam Price</b></a><sup>[7]</sup> is a politician in Wales, and a former Member of the UK Parliament.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: cyan; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>8d Bag that's square, of
course (6)</b></span></div>
<br />
Apparently <b>s</b> is an abbreviation for <b>square</b>, although I failed to find it listed as such in any of my dictionaries.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>14d Wife opening a brothel
around <u>Derby</u> (6,3)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/derby"><b>Derby</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is <span class="definition">a city in the Midlands of England, on the River Derwent; population 244,700 (est. 2009).</span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/bowler--2"><b>Bowler</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> [<i>known in North America as a <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Derby--2"><b>derby</b></a><sup>[5]</sup></i>] is a chiefly British name for <span class="definition">a man’s hard felt hat with a round dome-shaped crown.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>15d <u>Boat</u> is able to cross a
river (9)</b></span></div>
<br />
The <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Tamar"><b>Tamar</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is a <span class="definition">river in southwestern England which rises in northwest Devon
and flows 98 km (60 miles) generally southwards, forming the boundary
between Devon and Cornwall and emptying into the English Channel through
Plymouth Sound.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: #a64d79; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>16d No challenge? Gulp! (8)</b></span></div>
<br />
I have to admit that I failed to see the wordplay here. This is an inverse wordplay style clue — one in which an element of the clue could be produced by wordplay found in the solution. Thus, in this clue, the definition is "no challenge" for which the solution is PUSHOVER. The word "gulp" could be an anagram (OVER) of PUSH (plug; <i>promote through advertising</i>).<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>18</b></span><span style="color: white;"><b><b><b>d I will not head to your <u>shed</u> (6)</b></b></b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>20d Winged Messenger's initial
<u>warning</u> (5)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>21d River bird's <u>one raised by
wolf</u> (5)</b></span></div>
<br />
In Roman mythology, <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Remus"><b>Remus</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is one <span class="definition">of the traditional founders of Rome, with
his twin brother </span><span class="definition"><a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Romulus"><b><span class="definition">Romulus</span></b></a></span><span class="definition"><sup>[5]</sup>. The twin sons of Mars by a Vestal Virgin, Romulus and
Remus were abandoned at birth but were found and suckled by a she-wolf
and brought up by a shepherd family. Remus is said to have been killed
by Romulus during an argument about the new city.</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Key to Reference Sources: </b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[1] </sup> - <i>The Chambers Dictionary, 11th Edition </i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[2] </sup> - <a href="http://www.chambers.co.uk/search.php"><b>Search Chambers</b></a> - (<i>Chambers 21st Century Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[3] </sup> - <a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/"><b>TheFreeDictionary.com</b></a> (<i>American Heritage Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[4] </sup> - <a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/"><b>TheFreeDictionary.com</b></a> (<i>Collins English Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[5] </sup> - <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/?region=uk"><b>Oxford Dictionaries</b></a> (<i>Oxford Dictionary of English</i>) </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[6] </sup> - <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/?region=us"><b>Oxford Dictionaries</b></a> (<i>Oxford American Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[7] </sup> - <b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page">Wikipedia</a></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[8] </sup> - <a href="http://dictionary.reverso.net/french-english/"><b>Reverso Online Dictionary</b></a> (<i>Collins French-English Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[9] </sup> - <a href="http://dictionary.infoplease.com/"><b>Infoplease</b></a> (<i>Random House Unabridged Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[10]</sup> - <a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/"><b>CollinsDictionary.com</b></a> (<i>Collins English Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[11]</sup> - <a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/"><b>TheFreeDictionary.com</b></a> (<i>Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary</i>)</span></blockquote>
Signing off for this week — Falcon
</div>
Falconhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07466858757398776500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4283491940842987165.post-92179456610845223792014-03-16T21:46:00.000-04:002014-03-16T21:47:53.201-04:00Sunday, March 16, 2014 — ST 4577<div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" style="height: 20px; width: 420px;"><tbody></tbody></table>
<table border="5" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" frame="BOX" rules="GROUPS" style="border-bottom-style: none; color: #274e13; height: 62px; width: 420px;"><tbody>
<tr><th colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 200%;"><b>Puzzle at a Glance</b></span></div>
</th> </tr>
</tbody></table>
<table border="5" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" frame="BOX" rules="GROUPS" style="height: 82px; width: 420px;"><tbody>
<tr><th colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-weight: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Puzzle Number in <i>The Sunday Times</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;">ST 4577</span>
</th> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Date of Publication in <i>The Sunday Times</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Sunday, February 16, 2014</b></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Setter</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Jeff Pearce </b></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Link to Full Review</span></span></div>
<a href="http://times-xwd-times.livejournal.com/1071262.html"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b><i>Times for the Times</i> [ST 4577]</b></span></a>
</td> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i>Times for the Times</i> Review Written By</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Dave Perry</b></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Dave Perry's Solving Time</span> </div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>★★★</b></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Date of Publication in the <i>Toronto Star</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Saturday, March 8, 201</b></span><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>4</b><sup><i>[Note 3]</i></sup></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Date of Publication in <i>The Vancouver Sun</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Saturday, March 15, 2014</b><sup><i>[Note 2]</i></sup></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Falcon's Experience</span> </div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;">┌────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┐</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;">███████████████████████████</span><span style="color: cyan;">████</span><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">█</span><span style="color: #ccddbb;">███</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;">└────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┘</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Legend:</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; margin-left: 18px; padding: 10px 10px 10px 10px; text-align: left; text-indent: -18px;">
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: blue;">█</span> - solved without assistance</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: orange;">█</span> - incorrect prior to use of puzzle solving tools</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: cyan;">█</span> - solved with assistance from puzzle solving tools</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;">█</span> - solved with aid of checking letters provided by puzzle solving tools</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;">█</span> - solved but without fully parsing the clue</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: red;">█</span> - unsolved or incorrect prior to visiting <i>Times for the Times</i></div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: #660000;">█</span> - solved with aid of checking letters provided by solutions from <i>Times for the Times</i></div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: magenta;">█</span> - yet to be solved
</div>
</div>
</td> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Notes</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-left: 20px; padding: 10px 5px 5px 5px; text-align: left; text-indent: -20px;">
<i><sup>[1]</sup> This puzzle appears on the Sunday puzzles pages in the Saturday, March 15, 2014 edition of the Ottawa Citizen.</i></div>
<div style="margin-left: 20px; padding: 5px 5px 10px 5px; text-align: left; text-indent: -20px;">
<i><sup>[2]</sup> Unverified as a paywall bars access to the The Vancouver Sun website.</i>
</div>
<div style="margin-left: 20px; padding: 5px 5px 10px 5px; text-align: left; text-indent: -20px;">
<i><sup>[3]</sup> Unverified as there is no posting on the Saturday Star Cryptic Forum for March 8, 2014.</i></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
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<br />
<h2>
Introduction
</h2>
As Sunday Times crosswords go, I would say that this one was not overly difficult. Consequently, my electronic reinforcements saw only limited action today.<br />
<h2>
Notes on Today's Puzzle
</h2>
<div style="font-size: x-small; text-align: center;">
<b><i>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.</i></b></div>
<br />
<h3>
Across</h3>
<br />
<div style="background-color: cyan; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>1a Drivers on-board ship, in <u>private accommodation</u> (7)</b></span></div>
<br />
The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Automobile_Club"><b>Royal Automobile Club</b></a><sup>[7]</sup>
(RAC) is a British private club. Founded in 1897 with the aim of encouraging the development of motoring
in Britain, today the Royal Automobile Club is one of London’s finest
private members' clubs. Like many other "gentlemen's clubs"
in London today, the Royal Automobile Club now has women as well as men
as members.<br />
<br />
The club is not to be confused with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAC_Limited"><b>RAC Limited</b></a><sup>[7]</sup> [<i>a competitor of the AA (Automobile Association), the British counterpart to the CAA (Canadian Automobile Assocication) or AAA (American Automobile Association)</i>], an automotive services company which the club formerly owned, whose principal services are roadside assistance and general insurance.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>5a <u> Rodent</u> emerges from River Thames in a storm (7)</b></span></div>
<br />
The <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Thames"><b>Thames</b></a><sup>[7]</sup>
is a <span class="definition">river of southern England, flowing 338 km (210
miles) eastwards from the Cotswolds in Gloucestershire through London to
the North Sea.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>9a <u>Fare</u> rises with changes in structure (5,4)</b></span></div>
<br />
A appropriate meal on the eve of St Patrick's Day.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>10a <u>Robot</u> made from lots of metal this writer backed (5)</b></span></div>
<br />
It is a common cryptic crossword convention for the creator of the puzzle to
use terms such as <b>compiler</b>, <b>setter</b>, <b>(this) author</b>, <b>(this) writer</b>, or <b>this person</b> to refer to himself or herself. To solve such a clue, one must
generally substitute a first person pronoun (<b>I</b> or <b>me</b>) for
whichever of these terms has been used in the clue.<br />
<br />
In Jewish legend, a <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/golem?q=golem"><b>golem</b></a><sup>[5]</sup>
is <span class="definition">a clay figure brought to life by magic. The word is given the additional meaning of <b>robot</b> in both <i>Oxford Dictionaries Online</i></span><span class="definition"><sup>[<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/golem"><b>5</b></a>]</sup>
and <i>The Chambers Dictionary</i></span><span class="definition"><sup>[1]</sup>. </span><br />
<span class="definition"><br /></span>
<span class="definition">In a discussion of the "hubris theme" in the golem tradition, Wikipedia says "</span><span class="definition">The theme also manifests itself in <i>R.U.R. (Rossum's Universal Robots)</i>, Karel Čapek's 1921 play which coined the term robot; ... while Čapek denied that he modeled
the robot after the Golem, there are many similarities in the plot.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golem#cite_note-38"></a>"</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: cyan; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>11a Introduction taken from story <u>like "The Fields"</u>? (6)</b></span></div>
<br />
The title of the book may possibly be a convenient invention by the setter. However, there is actually a novel by that name. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fields_%28novel%29"><i><b>The Fields</b></i></a><sup>[7]</sup>
is the second work in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Awakening_Land_trilogy"><i><b>The Awakening Land</b></i></a><sup>[7]</sup>
trilogy by American novelist Conrad Richter (1890–1968). The series, which traces the lives of a frontier family in the early 19th-century Ohio Valley, includes <i>The Trees</i> (1940), <i>The Fields</i> (1946), and <i>The Town</i> (1950) — the latter work winning the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1951.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>12a Medicine put outside is returned in <u>case</u> (8)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/case?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>Case</b></a><sup>[10]</sup>
is used in the sense of <span class="def">a specific condition or state of affairs; or, in other words, situation</span><span class="definition"></span>.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>14a Person dies suffering <u>mental anguish</u> (10)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>16a Turn back, about to discover <u>monster</u> (4)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.chambers.co.uk/search.php?query=turn&title=21st"><b>Turn</b></a><sup>[2]</sup>
is used in the sense of an opportunity or duty that comes to each of several people in rotation or succession ⇒ <i><q><i>her turn to bat</i></q></i>. <br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>18a Return of Friends is <u>a hit</u> (4)</b></span></div>
<br />
The American television sitcom <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friends#International"><i><b>Friends</b></i></a><sup>[7]</sup>
did air in the UK, so Brits would undoubtedly by familiar with the programme.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: cyan; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>19a <u>Cut</u> <u>high crime rate here</u> (10)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/tenderloin?q=tenderloin"><b>Tenderloin</b></a><sup>[5]</sup>
is an informal North American term for a <span class="definition">district of a city where vice and corruption are prominent. It was </span>originally a term applied to a district of New York, seen as a ‘choice’
assignment by police because of the bribes offered to them to turn a
blind eye [<i>an allusion to <b>tenderloin</b>, a choice cut of meat which officers on the take could well afford to eat</i>].<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>22a <u>Upsets</u> a soldier with son outside the gallery (8)</b></span></div>
<br />
A <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/GI"><b>GI</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is <span class="definition">a private soldier in the US army </span>⇒ <i><q><span class="illustration"><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example">she went off with a GI during the war</i></span></span></q></i>. Contrary to popular belief, the term apparently is not an abbreviation for <i><b>general infantryman</b></i>, but rather of <b><i>government</i></b> (or <i><b>general</b></i>) <i><b>issue</b></i> (originally denoting equipment supplied to US forces).<br />
<br />
The <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/Tate-Gallery"><b>Tate Gallery</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> (commonly known simply as <b>the Tate</b>) is <span class="definition">a national museum of art in London, England founded in 1897 by the sugar manufacturer <span class="name mentionName">Sir Henry Tate</span>
(1819–1899) to house his collection of modern British paintings, as a
nucleus for a permanent national collection of modern art. It was
renamed Tate Britain in 2000, when the new Tate Modern gallery opened</span>.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>23a Starter of boiled egg on rare <u>meat</u>? (6)</b></span></div>
<br />
In the surface reading, <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/starter?q=starter"><b>starter</b></a><span class="definition"><sup>[5]</sup></span> is a chiefly British term [<i>but one not entirely foreign to Canada</i>] meaning <span class="definition">the first course of a meal.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>26a <u>Duck</u> died by river (5)</b></span></div>
<br />
The <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/Ouse?q=River+Ouse"><b>River Ouse</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is a river of northeastern England, formed at the confluence of the Ure
and Swale in
North Yorkshire and flowing 92 km (57 miles) south-eastwards through
York to the Humber estuary. As well, several other English rivers share the name (or variations of it).<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>27a A eulogy about tenor's <u>quality</u> (9)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>26a <u>Run</u> <u>to work</u> (7)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.chambers.co.uk/search.php?query=run&title=21st"><b>Run</b></a><sup>[2]</sup> is used in the sense of to organize, manage or be in control of something ⇒ <i><q><i><i><i>runs her own business</i></i></i></q></i>. I would say that this double definition is somewhat compromised by the fact that <b>run</b> can also mean (with respect to machines, etc.) to operate or function ⇒ <i><q><i><i>The presses ran all night</i></i></q></i> [<i>which is precisely the sense in which <b>work</b> is being used in the second definition</i>].<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>29a Meeting to talk about sulphur <u>plant</u> (7)</b></span></div>
<br />
<span class="definition">The symbol for the chemical element <b>sulphur</b> is <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/S--2"><b>S</b></a><sup>[5]</sup>.</span><br />
<br />
<h3>
Down</h3>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>1d Group hiding Twist <u>the thief</u> (7)</b></span></div>
<br />
In his review, Dave Perry focuses on twist being a verb — which was also my inclination. However, in the course of my research, I stumbled upon some British meanings that suggest that it might more appropriately be considered to be a noun.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/twist"><b>Twist</b></a><span class="definition"><sup>[5]</sup></span> is British slang for a swindle, while <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/rig"><b>rig</b></a><span class="definition"><sup>[5]</sup></span> is an archaic term for a <span class="definition">trick or swindle.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="definition">Although the protagonist was not himself a thief, could the clue be a reference to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oliver_Twist"><i><b>Oliver Twist</b></i></a></span><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><sup>[7]</sup></span>, subtitled <i><b>The Parish Boy's Progress</b></i>, the second novel by English author Charles Dickens (</span><span class="definition">1812–1870), published in 1838? The story is about an orphan, Oliver Twist, who escapes from a miserable existence and travels to London where he meets the Artful Dodger, leader of a gang of juvenile pickpockets, who takes him to the lair of the group's elderly criminal trainer Fagin. </span><span class="definition">Ensnared, Oliver lives with Fagin and his gang of juvenile pickpockets in their lair at Saffron Hill for some time, unaware of their criminal </span><span class="definition"><span class="definition">activities</span>. </span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>2d Girl carrying a <u>dish in the curry house</u> (5)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/raita"><b>Raita</b></a><span class="definition"><sup>[5]</sup></span> is an <span class="definition">Indian side dish of yogurt containing chopped cucumber or other vegetables, and spices.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>3d Top pilots welcoming top racing driver as <u>hero</u> (8)</b></span></div>
<br />
In Greek mythology, <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Achilles"><b>Achilles</b></a><span class="definition"><sup>[5]</sup></span> was a <span class="definition">hero of the Trojan War, son of Peleus and
Thetis. During his infancy his mother plunged him in the Styx, thus
making his body invulnerable except for the heel by which she held him.
During the Trojan War Achilles killed Hector but was later wounded in
the heel by an arrow shot by Paris and died.</span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Hill-Graham"><b>Graham Hill</b></a><span class="definition"><sup>[5]</sup></span> <span class="definition"><span class="dateGroup">(<span class="date">1929–1975</span>) was an</span> English motor-racing driver who won the Formula One world championship in 1962 and 1975. </span>He died in an aeroplane crash when his son, Damon Hill, was 15.<br />
<br />
<span class="definition">His son followed in his footsteps — or, should I say, tyre tracks. </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damon_Hill"><b>Damon Hill</b></a> is a retired English motor-racing driver who won the <span class="definition">Formula One world championship in 1996.</span> He is the son of the late Graham Hill, and is the only son of a world champion to win the title. <br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: #6fa8dc; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>4d Luggage goes on rear part of the <u>aeroplane</u> (4)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/aeroplane"><b>Aeroplane</b></a><span class="definition"><sup>[5]</sup> </span> is a chiefly British variant spelling of airplane.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/kit?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>Kit</b></a><span class="definition"><sup>[10]</sup> </span> might refer to the container used to hold <span class="def">a set of tools, supplies, construction materials, etc, for use together or for a purpose.</span><br />
<br />
On the other hand, <b>kit</b> might be a shortened version of <a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/kitbag?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>kitbag</b></a><span class="definition"><sup>[10]</sup></span>, <span class="def">a canvas or other bag for a serviceman's kit. A <a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/kit?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>kit</b></a></span><span class="def"><span class="definition"><sup>10]</sup></span> is</span><span class="def"> clothing and other personal effects, especially those of a traveller or soldier</span> ⇒<i> (i) <span class="orth"><q>safari kit</q></span>; (ii) <span class="orth"><q>battle kit</q></span>.</i><span class="orth"></span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/kite?q=kite"><b>Kite</b></a><span class="definition"><sup>[5]</sup></span> is an informal, dated British term for an aircraft.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>5d <u>Welcome</u> <u>a difficult situation</u> (3-2-3-2)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>8d Politician gathers silver — <u>that's just what he might do!</u>(6)</b></span></div>
<br />
The setter employs the pronoun "that" to effectively use the phrase "gathers silver" twice in the clue. Read the definition as "that (i.e., gather silver) is just what he might do".<br />
<br />
I thought this was a reference to the bird — and I suppose, indirectly, it is. <a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/magpie?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>Magpie</b></a><span class="definition"><sup>[10]</sup></span> is a British term for <span class="def">a person who hoards small objects.</span><span class="definition"></span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>7d The northern man interrupting singer's <u>lecture</u> (7,2)</b></span></div>
<br />
In northern English dialects, the definite article "the" is pronounced <b>t'</b>.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>8d Demolish manor, church and <u>court</u> (7)</b></span></div>
<br />
The <b><a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/church-of-england?showCookiePolicy=true">Church of England</a></b><sup>[10]</sup> (<i>abbreviation</i> <b><a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/ce?showCookiePolicy=true">CE</a></b><sup>[10]</sup>) is the reformed established state Church in England, Catholic in order
and basic doctrine, with the Sovereign as its temporal head.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>13d When having break stir tea and <u>declare</u> (10)</b></span></div>
<br />
This is first time that I have never encountered this word. While I did manage to construct it from the wordplay, I nearly rejected it without checking to see if it actually existed. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/asseveration"><b>Asseverate</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> means to make a <span class="definition">solemn or emphatic declaration or statement of something </span>⇒ <i><q><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example">I fear that you offer only unsupported asseveration</i></span></q></i><i></i>.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>15d Play, on piano, <u>overused phrase</u> (9)</b></span></div>
<br />
<b>Piano</b><sup>[<a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/piano"><b>3</b></a>,<a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/piano--2"><b>5</b></a>]</sup> (<i>abbreviation</i> <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/p"><b>p</b></a><sup>[5]</sup>), is a musical direction meaning either (as an adjective) soft or quiet or (as an adverb) softly or quietly. <br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>17d <u>You'll see one shuffling to work in Vegas?</u> (8)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>18d <u>Difficult character</u></b><b><span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed;"><b>'s neither good nor bad?</b></span> (2-3-2)</b></span></div>
<br />
This clue is a bit difficult to explain. It is a cryptic definition that relies on a play on words involving two expressions.<br />
<br />
The definition, <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/so-and-so"><b>so-and-so</b></a><sup>[5]</sup>, is an informal term for a <span class="definition">person who is disliked or is considered to have a particular characteristic, typically an unfavourable one </span>⇒ <i><q><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example">nosy old so-and-so!</i></span></q></i><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"></span>.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/so-so"><b>So-so</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is an adjective meaning <span class="definition">neither very good nor very bad </span>⇒<span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"> <i class="example">(i) </i></span><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example"></i></span><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example"><i><q><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example">a happy ending to a so-so season</i></span></q></i></i></span><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example">; (ii)</i></span><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example"><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example"> </i></span><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example"></i></span><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example"></i></span></i></span><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example"><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example"><i><q><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example"><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example">‘How are you?’ ‘So-so.’</i></span></i></span></q></i></i></span></i></span>.<br />
<br />
The expression "so-so" could be described as consisting of the words 'so and so'. <br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: cyan; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>20d Harbour's extremely risky for a <u>cannon</u> (7)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/harbour"><b>Harbour</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is used in the sense of to keep <span class="definition">(a thought or feeling, typically a negative one) in one’s mind, especially secretly </span>⇒ <i><q><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example">she started to harbour doubts about the wisdom of their journey</i></span></q></i><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"></span>.<br />
<br />
In billiards and snooker, <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/cannon"><b>cannon</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is the British term for <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/carom"><b>carom</b></a><sup>[5]</sup>, a <span class="definition">stroke in which the cue ball strikes two balls successively. A <a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/nursery?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>nursery</b></a></span><span class="definition"><sup>[10]</sup> (also called <b>nursery cannon</b>) is </span><span class="def">a series of cannons with the three balls adjacent to a cushion, especially near a corner
pocket.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>21d A Scottish valley without a <u>mineral</u> (6)</b></span></div>
<br />
Be very careful how you interpret this clue. The wordplay parses as if it were written "A; Scottish valley without; a". That is, you start with A (from the clue), then you place GLEN (Scottish valley) around it (without), and finally you append the second A from the clue.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/galena"><b>Galena</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is a <span class="definition">bluish, grey, or black mineral of metallic appearance, consisting of lead sulphide. It is the chief ore of lead.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>24d Young's last game against the Spanish is <u>sloppy fare</u> (5)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/rugby-union?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>Rugby union</b></a><sup>[10]</sup> (<i>abbreviation</i> <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/RU?q=RU"><b>RU</b></a><sup>[5]</sup>) is <span class="def">a form of rugby football played between teams of 15 players.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="def">In Spanish, <i><a href="http://dictionary.reverso.net/spanish-english/el"><b>el</b></a></i><sup>[8]</sup> is the masculine singular form of the definite article. </span><span class="definition"></span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>25d Engaged in work <u>at the highest level</u> (4)</b></span></div>
<br />
In music, <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Op."><b>Op.</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> (also <b>op.</b>) is an abbreviation meaning <i>opus</i> (work). It is used before a number given to each work of a particular composer, usually indicating the order of publication.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Key to Reference Sources: </b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[1] </sup> - <i>The Chambers Dictionary, 11th Edition </i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[2] </sup> - <a href="http://www.chambers.co.uk/search.php"><b>Search Chambers</b></a> - (<i>Chambers 21st Century Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[3] </sup> - <a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/"><b>TheFreeDictionary.com</b></a> (<i>American Heritage Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[4] </sup> - <a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/"><b>TheFreeDictionary.com</b></a> (<i>Collins English Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[5] </sup> - <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/?region=uk"><b>Oxford Dictionaries</b></a> (<i>Oxford Dictionary of English</i>) </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[6] </sup> - <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/?region=us"><b>Oxford Dictionaries</b></a> (<i>Oxford American Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[7] </sup> - <b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page">Wikipedia</a></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[8] </sup> - <a href="http://dictionary.reverso.net/french-english/"><b>Reverso Online Dictionary</b></a> (<i>Collins French-English Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[9] </sup> - <a href="http://dictionary.infoplease.com/"><b>Infoplease</b></a> (<i>Random House Unabridged Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[10]</sup> - <a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/"><b>CollinsDictionary.com</b></a> (<i>Collins English Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[11]</sup> - <a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/"><b>TheFreeDictionary.com</b></a> (<i>Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary</i>)</span></blockquote>
Signing off for this week — Falcon
</div>
Falconhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07466858757398776500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4283491940842987165.post-58626131156504608722014-03-09T17:56:00.002-04:002014-03-09T17:56:46.057-04:00Sunday, March 9, 2014 — ST 4576<div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" style="height: 20px; width: 420px;"><tbody></tbody></table>
<table border="5" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" frame="BOX" rules="GROUPS" style="border-bottom-style: none; color: #274e13; height: 62px; width: 420px;"><tbody>
<tr><th colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 200%;"><b>Puzzle at a Glance</b></span></div>
</th> </tr>
</tbody></table>
<table border="5" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" frame="BOX" rules="GROUPS" style="height: 82px; width: 420px;"><tbody>
<tr><th colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-weight: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Puzzle Number in <i>The Sunday Times</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;">ST 4576</span>
</th> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Date of Publication in <i>The Sunday Times</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Sunday, February 9, 2014</b></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Setter</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Tim Moorey</b></span></td> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Link to Full Review</span></span></div>
<a href="http://times-xwd-times.livejournal.com/1069182.html"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b><i>Times for the Times</i> [ST 4576]</b></span></a>
</td> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i>Times for the Times</i> Review Written By</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Dave Perry</b></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Dave Perry's Solving Time</span> </div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>★★★★★</b></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Date of Publication in the <i>Toronto Star</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Saturday, March 1, 2014</b></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Date of Publication in <i>The Vancouver Sun</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Saturday, March 8, 2014</b><sup><i>[Note 2]</i></sup></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Falcon's Experience</span> </div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;">┌────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┐</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;">████████████████</span><span style="color: orange;">█</span><span style="color: cyan;">██████</span><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">████</span><span style="color: red;">██</span><span style="color: #ccddbb;">██████</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;">└────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┘</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Legend:</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; padding: 10px 0px 0px 0px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: blue;">█</span> - solved without assistance</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: orange;">█</span> - incorrect prior to use of puzzle solving tools</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: cyan;">█</span> - solved with assistance from puzzle solving tools</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">█</span> - solved with aid of checking letters provided by puzzle solving tools</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #a64d79;">█</span> - solved but without fully parsing the clue</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: red;">█</span> - unsolved or incorrect prior to visiting <i>Times for the Times</i></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #660000;">█</span> - solved with aid of checking letters provided by solutions from <i>Times for the Times</i></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; padding: 0px 0px 10px 0px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: magenta;">█</span> - yet to be solved</span></div>
</td> </tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Notes</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="padding: 10px 5px 5px 5px; text-align: left;">
<i>[1] This puzzle appears on the Sunday puzzles pages in the Saturday, March 8, 2014 edition of the Ottawa Citizen.</i></div>
<div style="padding: 5px 5px 10px 5px; text-align: left;">
<i>[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.</i></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
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<h2>
Introduction
</h2>
I got off to a quick today, but became completely stymied after solving roughly half the puzzle. From that point onward, my electronic assistants received heavy usage. I eventually threw in the towel and resorted to Dave Perry's review to understand a couple of clues.<br />
<br />
<h2>
Note to Readers
</h2>
My aim in writing this blog is to supplement the information provided by Dave Perry in his review at <i>Times for the Times</i>. To that end, I provide a link to his review in the table above. In my review, I try to provide explanations for any particularly British references in the puzzle — or in Dave Perry's review — as well as for a wide variety of specialized terms and uncommon abbreviations and symbols. Sometimes these bits of information are essential to solving the clue and sometimes they are merely meant to help one appreciate the surface reading of the clue.<br />
<br />
If you still have unanswered questions about a clue after reading my review and that of Dave Perry, I invite you to leave a comment and I would be pleased to provide further explanation on the clue.<br />
<br />
<h2>
Notes on Today's Puzzle
</h2>
<div style="font-size: x-small; text-align: center;">
<b><i>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.</i></b></div>
<br />
<h3>
Across</h3>
<br />
<div style="background-color: #6fa8dc; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>1a <u>Fleet</u> Street I'd call shocking, leaking time and time again (10)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Fleet-Street?q=Fleet+Street"><b>Fleet Street</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is a <span class="definition">street in central London in which the offices
of national newspapers were located until the mid 1980s (often used as a metonym for the British Press) </span>⇒ <i><q><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example">the hottest story in Fleet Street</i></span></q></i><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"></span>.<br />
<br />
An <a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/escadrille?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>escadrille</b></a><sup>[10]</sup> [<i>from a French word meaning flotilla</i>] is is <span class="def">a small squadron of ships.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>7a Help, biting cold is <u>bitter</u>! (4)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: cyan; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>9a Penniless former German kingdom in <u>a state</u> (6)</b></span></div>
<br />
I<span class="definition"><span style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt;">n Britain's current decimal currency system, a <b><a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/penny?rskey=DEoPz3&result=5">penny</a></b><sup>[5]</sup> is <span class="definition">a bronze [<i>coloured</i>] coin and monetary unit equal to one hundredth of a pound (and is abbreviated <b>p</b>).</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<b><span class="definition"><span style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt;"><span class="definition"><a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Prussia?q=Prussia">Prussia</a></span></span></span></b><span class="definition"><span style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt;"><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><span style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt;"><sup>[5]</sup> </span></span> is a </span></span></span><span class="definition">former kingdom of Germany. Originally a small
country on the southeastern shores of the Baltic, under Frederick the Great it
became a major European power covering much of modern northeastern Germany and
Poland. After the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1 it became the centre of
Bismarck’s new German Empire, but following Germany’s defeat in the
First World War the Prussian monarchy was abolished.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: cyan; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>10a <u>Struggling</u> learner fills in (8)</b></span></div>
<br />
<span class="definition">The cryptic crossword convention of <b>L</b> meaning <b>learner</b> or <b>student</b> arises from the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L-plate"><b>L-plate</b></a><sup>[7]</sup>, a square plate bearing a sans-serif letter L, for <i>learner</i>,
which must be affixed to the front and back of a vehicle in various
countries (including the UK) if its driver is a learner under instruction. </span><br />
<br />
<span class="definition">In cricket, <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/in?q=in"><b>in</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> means batting ⇒ <i><q><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example">which side [team] is in?</i></span></q></i>. </span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: orange; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>11a Theatrical A list mostly showing this lady (4)</b></span></div>
<br />
I got the gist of the wordplay, but figured that the lady must be LISA. This choice was disproved when I solved 2d. There seemed to be only one other possible arrangement of the letters, although it took some research to confirm that.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isla_%28given_name%29"><b>Isla</b></a><span class="definition"><sup>[7]</sup> </span> is a feminine given name of primarily Scottish usage, derived from "Islay", which is the name of an island off the west coast of Scotland. It was the fifth most popular name for baby girls born in Scotland in 2010. <br />
<br />
Perhaps if I had read the <i>Harry Potter</i> series, I would know the name. <b>Isla Hitchens</b> (<i>née</i> Black), is a fictional character in British novelist J. K. Rowling's <i>Harry Potter</i> series<br />
<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isla_Phillips#Marriage_and_children"><b>Isla Elizabeth Phillips</b></a><span class="definition"><sup>[7]</sup></span> (born 29 March 2012), daughter of Peter Phillips and the former Autumn Kelly [<i>a Canadian</i>], granddaughter of Princess Anne and Mark Phillips, and great-granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth, is fourteenth in line for the British throne.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>12a <u>Equal to</u> current growth roughly, less good around Californian wine valley (2,1,3,4)</b></span></div>
<br />
In physics, <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/I-3"><b>I</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is the symbol for electric current.<br />
<br />
The abbreviation <a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/g?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>G</b></a><sup>[10]</sup> for <b>good</b> likely comes from its use in rating school assignments or tests. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Napa_Valley_AVA"><b>Napa Valley AVA</b></a><span class="definition"><sup>[7]</sup></span> is an American Viticultural Area located in Napa County, California, United States.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: cyan; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>15a <u>Walk</u> <u>in line with country code</u> (14)</b></span></div>
<br />
Being a telecommunications engineer by profession, to me <b>country code</b> meant the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_country_calling_codes"><b>country calling codes</b></a><span class="definition"><sup>[7]</sup></span> used in dialling international telephone calls or various <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Country_code"><b>other short alphabetic or numeric geographical codes (geocodes)</b></a><span class="definition"><sup>[7]</sup></span> developed to represent countries and dependent areas, for use in data processing and communications.<br />
<br />
In Britain, however, <a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/country-code?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>country code</b></a><span class="definition"><sup>[10]</sup></span> refers to <span class="def">a code of good practice recommended to those who use the countryside for recreational
purposes. At least, that explains the surface reading. In the cryptic reading, the setter uses this term to mean </span><span class="def">the fundamental political principles on which a state is governed.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: cyan; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>17a <u>Petty officers</u> get the hang of sharing accommodation (14)</b></span></div>
<br />
I was not familiar with the usage of the term <a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/quartermaster"><b>quartermaster</b></a><span class="definition"><sup>[10]</sup></span> in the navy, where it refers to <span class="def">a petty officer with particular responsibility for
steering a ship and other navigational duties.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>20a Display by head of Continental during standstills in <u>flights</u> (10)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continental_Airlines"><b>Continental Airlines</b></a><span class="definition"><sup>[7]</sup></span> was a major U.S. airline, founded in 1934 and headquartered in Houston, Texas. In 2010, the airline merged with UAL Corporation, the parent company of United Airlines.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Peterson_2-1"></sup> All flights of the combined airline operate under the United banner.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/stasis?q=stases#stasis__6"><b>Stasis</b></a><span class="definition"><sup>[5]</sup></span> (<i>plural</i> <b>stases</b>) is a formal or technical term meaning a <span class="definition">period or state of inactivity or equilibrium </span><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example"></i></span><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example">⇒</i></span><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"> <i class="example">(i)</i></span><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example"> </i></span><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example"><i><q><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example">long periods of stasis</i></span></q></i>; (ii)</i></span><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example"></i></span><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example"> </i></span><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example"><i><q><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example"><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example">creative stasis</i></span></i></span></q></i></i></span>.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>22a One caught between two Kings shows <u>strain</u> (4)</b></span></div>
<br />
On cricket scorecards, the abbreviation <b><a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/c?q=c">c</a></b><sup>[5]</sup> denotes <b>caught (by)</b>.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Rex?q=rex"><b>Rex</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> (Latin for king, <i>abbreviation</i> <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/R--2"><b>R</b></a><sup>[5]</sup>) — Latin for <b>king —</b> denotes the reigning king, used following a name (e.g. <i>Georgius Rex</i>, King George) or in the titles of lawsuits (e.g. <i>Rex v. Jones</i>, the Crown versus Jones — often shortened to <i>R. v. Jones</i>). <br />
<br />
<a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/K--2"><b>K</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is an abbreviation for <b>king</b> that is <span class="definition">used especially in describing play in card games and recording moves in chess.</span> <br />
<br />
A <a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/rick?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>rick</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is <span class="def">a wrench or sprain, as of the back.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>23a Something done about exam <u>not at all popular</u> (8)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>26a Murdoch, for example takes a question for <u>Middle Easterners</u> (6)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Murdoch-Dame-Iris?q=Iris+Murdoch"><b>Dame Iris Murdoch</b></a><span class="definition"><sup>[5]</sup> </span> <span class="definition"><span class="dateGroup">(<span class="date">1919–1999</span>) was a</span>
British novelist and philosopher, born in Ireland. She is primarily known for her novels, many of which
explore complex sexual relationships and spiritual life. Notable novels:
<i> The Sandcastle</i> (1957) and <i> The Sea, The Sea</i> (Booker Prize, 1978).</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: red; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>27a One brief quote's cut after latest from Port Vale (2-2)</b></span></div>
<br />
The rather complicated wordplay is A (one) + TA[<strike><b>G</b></strike>] (brief quote) with the final letter deleted ('s [<i>is</i>] cut) following (after) T (latest [<b>last letter</b>] from Por<u><b>T</b></u>).<br />
<br />
In Britain, <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/ta--ta?q=ta-ta"><b>ta-ta</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is an informal way to say <span class="definition">goodbye </span>⇒ <i><q><span class="illustration"><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example">well, I’ll say ta-ta, love</i></span></span></q></i>.<br />
<br />
A <a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/tag?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>tag</b></a><sup>[10]</sup> is<span class="def"> a brief quotation, especially one in a foreign language</span> ⇒ <i><span class="orth"><q>his speech was interlarded with Horatian tags</q></span></i>.<br />
<br />
<b><a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/vale?q=vale#vale-2">Vale</a></b><sup>[5]</sup> is an archaic term for a <span class="definition">written or spoken farewell.</span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_Vale_F.C."><b>Port Vale Football Club</b></a><span class="definition"><sup>[7]</sup> </span> is an English association football [<i>soccer</i>] club that plays in Football League One, the third tier in the English football league system. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire, one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>28a <u>Watch component</u> being <u>used</u> (6-4)</b></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<h3>
Down</h3>
<br />
<div style="background-color: #6fa8dc; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>2d Soft drink on bar in <u>games area</u> (6,5)</b></span></div>
<br />
In Britain, <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/squash?q=squash"><b>squash</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is a <span class="definition">concentrated liquid made from fruit juice and sugar, which is diluted to make a drink </span>⇒ <i><q><span class="illustration"><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example"><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example">orange squash</i></span></i></span></span></q></i><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"></span>.<br />
<br />
Following a long search, I eventually found <a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/bar?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>bar</b></a><sup>[10]</sup> defined as <span class="def">a particular court of law.</span> <br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: cyan; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>3d A book on English composer <u>John Bull's not for me</u> (9)</b></span></div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b5/John_Bull_-_World_War_I_recruiting_poster.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b5/John_Bull_-_World_War_I_recruiting_poster.jpeg" height="320" width="214" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">John Bull</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
While hardly germane to this clue, <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/John-Bull?q=John+Bull"><b>John Bull</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is a <span class="definition">personification of England or the typical Englishman, represented as a stout red-faced farmer in a top hat and high boots [<i>from a character in a 1712 work by Scottish satirist John Arbuthnot</i>].</span><br />
<br />
<span class="definition">The clue actually plays on a couple of other meanings associated with the name. </span><br />
<br />
<span class="definition"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Bull_%28composer%29"><b>John Bull</b></a></span><span class="definition"><sup>[5]</sup> (1562 or 1563 – 1628) was an English composer, musician and organ builder. He was a renowned keyboard performer of the virginalist school and most of his compositions were written for this medium.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="definition"><b>John Bull Bitter</b></span><span class="definition"><span class="definition"> </span> was a beer produced by the now defunct <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Brewery"><b>Star Brewery</b></a></span><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><sup>[7]</sup> </span> in Romford, England. The brewery closed in 1993.</span><br />
<span class="definition"><br /></span>
<span class="definition"><a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Stainer-Sir-John?q=Stainer%2C+Sir+John"><b>Sir John Stainer</b></a></span><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><sup>[5]</sup> </span></span> </span><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><span class="dateGroup">(<span class="date">1840–1901</span>)</span> was an English composer. He is remembered for his church music, including hymns, cantatas, and the oratorio <i class=""> Crucifixion</i> (1887)</span>.</span><br />
<br clear="all" />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>4d Choose after study <u>to select candidate again</u> (7)</b></span></div>
<br />
In Britain, to <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/read?q=read"><b>read</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> means to <span class="definition">study (an academic subject) at a university </span>⇒ <span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example">(i) </i></span><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example"><i><q><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example">I’m reading English at Cambridge</i></span></q></i>;</i></span><span class="definition"> </span><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example">(ii) </i></span><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example"><i><q><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example">he went to Manchester to <b>read for</b> a BA in Economics</i></span></q></i></i></span><span class="definition">.</span><br />
<br />
In the UK — although I did not find a specific dictionary reference to validate it — the term <b>readopt</b>
is clearly used (with respect to a political candidate) in the sense of
renominate. Here are a couple of instances of this usage:<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Seymour_Blackstone"><b>William Seymour Blackstone</b></a><sup>[7]</sup>
(1809–1881) was an English Conservative MP. Elected in 1832, he served
until 1852, when the constituency refused to re-adopt him.</li>
<li><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Lockwood">James Lockwood</a></b><sup>[7]</sup> (1888–1972)<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-1"></sup>
was a British Conservative Party MP who was elected at a by-election in
November 1930 following the death of the sitting Labour MP.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-craig1918-1949_2-0"></sup>
He was re-elected at the 1931 general election, but the local
Conservative Association did not re-adopt him as their candidate for the
1935 election.</li>
</ul>
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>5d <u>Loft</u> accessed by leaving vestibule (3)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: #6fa8dc; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>6d <u>Cutting</u> more starts to cheer Treasury (7)</b></span></div>
<br />
In Britain, a <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/cutting?q=cutting"><b>cutting</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is an <span class="definition">article or other piece cut from a newspaper or periodical </span>⇒<span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example"> </i></span><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example"><i><q><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example"><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example">an archive of newspaper cuttings</i></span></i></span></q></i></i></span>. I expected <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/clipping?q=clipping"><b>clipping</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> to be defined as the North American term for cutting, but it would seem that both terms may be used in Britain.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>7d <u>Grant</u> is uncultivated, not a little loud (5)</b></span></div>
<br />
The setter uses the phrase "a little loud" to mean 'abbreviation for [<i>a musical direction meaning</i>] loud".<br />
<br />
<a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/forte--2"><b>Forte</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> (<i>abbreviation</i> <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/f?q=f"><b>f</b></a><sup>[5]</sup>) is a musical direction meaning (as an adjective) loud or (as an adverb) loudly.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>8d Said to be fashionable <u>place to stay</u> (3)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: #6fa8dc; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>13d <u>Where some journalists work</u> <u>now and again</u> (2,5)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Times"><i><b>The Times</b></i></a><sup>[7]</sup> is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title <i>The Daily Universal Register</i> (it became <i>The Times</i> on 1 January 1788). <i>The Times</i> and its sister paper <i>The Sunday Times</i>
(founded in 1821) are published by Times Newspapers, since 1981 a
subsidiary of News UK, itself wholly owned by the News Corp group headed
by Rupert Murdoch. <i>The Times</i> and <i>The Sunday Times</i> do not share editorial staff, were founded independently and have only had common ownership since 1967. [<i>Of course, the latter publication is where this puzzle originally appeared.</i>]<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: cyan; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>14d Labour constraint to restrict a <u>deal</u> (11)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>16d Above on a church, <u>stretch too far on a ladder?</u> (9)</b></span></div>
<br />
The wordplay is OVER (above) + RE (on [<i>the subject of</i>]) + A (from the clue) + CH (church).<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>18d <u>Kindles</u> said to show previous Internet locations (7)</b></span></div>
<br />
The surface reading is surely intended to evoke the image of an Amazon eReader.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>19d <u>Hearing</u> conventional remarks about Sweden taken up (7)</b></span></div>
<br />
<span class="definition"><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/noise?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>Noises</b></a></span></span><span class="definition"><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><span class="definition"><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><sup>[10]</sup></span></span> are </span></span><span class="def">conventional comments or sounds conveying a reaction, attitude, feeling, etc</span>. ⇒ <i><span class="orth"><q>she made sympathetic noises</q></span>.</i><br />
<br />
<span class="definition"><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak">The <span class="definition">International Vehicle Registration (IVR) code for Sweden </span></span></span>is <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/s?q=S#S"><b>S</b></a><span class="definition"><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><sup>[5]</sup>.</span></span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: red; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>21d Girl hearing spending limits is upset (5)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>24d <u>Letter from Doris</u> and others left out (3)</b></span></div>
<br />
In ancient Greece, <a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/doris?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>Doris</b></a><span class="definition"><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><span class="definition"><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><sup>[10]</sup></span></span> </span></span> was <span class="def">a small landlocked area north of the Gulf of Corinth. Traditionally regarded as the
home of the Dorians, it was perhaps settled by some of them during their southward
migration.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>25d <u>Fox perhaps</u> is Conservative supporting the party (3)</b></span></div>
<br />
Who is Dr. Fox? Dave Perry offers a couple of suggestions:<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liam_Fox"><b>Dr. Liam Fox</b></a><span class="definition"><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><span class="definition"><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><sup>[7]</sup></span></span> </span></span> is a British Conservative politician, Member of Parliament for North Somerset, and former Secretary of State for Defence. Fox studied medicine at the University of Glasgow and worked as a GP and Civilian Army Medical Officer<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-1"></sup> before being elected as an MP in 1992.</li>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_Fox_%28broadcaster%29"><b>Neil Fox</b></a><span class="definition"><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><span class="definition"><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><sup>[7]</sup></span></span> </span></span> is an English DJ and TV presenter [<i>host</i>], known for many years as <b>Dr. Fox</b> before he became "<b>Foxy</b>" in the 2000s. He is now known simply as <b>Neil Fox</b>. </li>
</ul>
However, I would like to think that it might be the mythical doctor from whom the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dr._Fox_effect"><b>Dr. Fox effect</b></a><span class="definition"><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><span class="definition"><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><sup>[7]</sup></span></span> </span></span> derived its name. In a psychology experiment conducted in 1970, an actor delivered lectures to groups of students under the guise of "Dr. Myron
L. Fox": "The experimenters created a meaningless lecture on
'Mathematical Game Theory as Applied to Physician Education,' and
coached the actor to deliver it 'with an excessive use of double talk,
neologisms, non sequiturs, and contradictory statements.' At the same
time, the researchers encouraged the actor to adopt a lively demeanor,
convey warmth toward his audience, and intersperse his nonsensical
comments with humor. ... The actor fooled not just one, but three
separate audiences of professional and graduate students. Despite the
emptiness of his lecture, fifty-five psychiatrists, psychologists,
educators, graduate students, and other professionals produced
evaluations of Dr. Fox that were overwhelmingly positive. ... The
disturbing feature of the Dr. Fox study, as the experimenters noted, is
that Fox’s nonverbal behaviors so completely masked a meaningless,
jargon-filled, and confused presentation."<br />
<br />
A study, I am sure, that has not been lost on our politicians!<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Key to Reference Sources: </b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[1] </sup> - <i>The Chambers Dictionary, 11th Edition </i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[2] </sup> - <a href="http://www.chambers.co.uk/search.php"><b>Search Chambers</b></a> - (<i>Chambers 21st Century Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[3] </sup> - <a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/"><b>TheFreeDictionary.com</b></a> (<i>American Heritage Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[4] </sup> - <a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/"><b>TheFreeDictionary.com</b></a> (<i>Collins English Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[5] </sup> - <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/?region=uk"><b>Oxford Dictionaries</b></a> (<i>Oxford Dictionary of English</i>) </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[6] </sup> - <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/?region=us"><b>Oxford Dictionaries</b></a> (<i>Oxford American Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[7] </sup> - <b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page">Wikipedia</a></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[8] </sup> - <a href="http://dictionary.reverso.net/french-english/"><b>Reverso Online Dictionary</b></a> (<i>Collins French-English Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[9] </sup> - <a href="http://dictionary.infoplease.com/"><b>Infoplease</b></a> (<i>Random House Unabridged Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[10]</sup> - <a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/"><b>CollinsDictionary.com</b></a> (<i>Collins English Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[11]</sup> - <a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/"><b>TheFreeDictionary.com</b></a> (<i>Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary</i>)</span></blockquote>
Signing off for this week — Falcon
</div>
Falconhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07466858757398776500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4283491940842987165.post-34690650767059475752014-03-02T14:41:00.000-05:002014-03-02T14:51:15.938-05:00Sunday, March 2, 2014 — ST 4575<div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" style="height: 20px; width: 420px;"><tbody></tbody></table>
<table border="5" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" frame="BOX" rules="GROUPS" style="border-bottom-style: none; color: #274e13; height: 62px; width: 420px;"><tbody>
<tr><th colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 200%;"><b>Puzzle at a Glance</b></span></div>
</th> </tr>
</tbody></table>
<table border="5" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" frame="BOX" rules="GROUPS" style="height: 82px; width: 420px;"><tbody>
<tr><th colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-weight: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Puzzle Number in <i>The Sunday Times</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;">ST 4575</span>
</th> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Date of Publication in <i>The Sunday Times</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Sunday, February 2, 2014</b></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Setter</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Dean Mayer (Anax)</b></span> </td> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Link to Full Review</span></span></div>
<a href="http://times-xwd-times.livejournal.com/1066637.html"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b><i>Times for the Times</i> [ST 4575]</b></span></a>
</td> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i>Times for the Times</i> Review Written By</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Dave Perry</b></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Dave Perry's Solving Time</span> </div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>★★★★★</b></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Date of Publication in the <i>Toronto Star</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Saturday, February 22, 2014</b></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Date of Publication in <i>The Vancouver Sun</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Saturday, March 1, 2014</b><sup><i>[Note 2]</i></sup></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Falcon's Experience</span> </div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;">┌────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┐</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;">█</span><span style="color: cyan;">███</span><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">████████████████████████</span><span style="color: #ccddbb;">███████</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;">└────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┘</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Legend:</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; padding: 10px 0px 0px 0px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: blue;">█</span> - solved without assistance</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: orange;">█</span> - incorrect prior to use of puzzle solving tools</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: cyan;">█</span> - solved with assistance from puzzle solving tools</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">█</span> - solved with aid of checking letters provided by puzzle solving tools</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #a64d79;">█</span> - solved but without fully parsing the clue</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: red;">█</span> - unsolved or incorrect prior to visiting <i>Times for the Times</i></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #660000;">█</span> - solved with aid of checking letters provided by solutions from <i>Times for the Times</i></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; padding: 0px 0px 10px 0px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: magenta;">█</span> - yet to be solved</span></div>
</td> </tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Notes</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="padding: 5px; text-align: left;">
<i>[1] This puzzle appears on the Sunday puzzles pages in the Saturday, March 1, 2014 edition of the Ottawa Citizen.</i></div>
<div style="padding: 5px; text-align: left;">
<i>[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.</i></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
<div style="font-size: small;">
<br />
<h2>
Introduction
</h2>
Judging by my experience, if you love a good, stiff challenge then this puzzle should be right up your alley. Yes, it is a bit of a struggle — but a thoroughly enjoyable one, not to mention the immense feeling of satisfaction one gets when the puzzle is finally completed.<br />
<br />
I read through all the clues without solving a single one until I got to the very last clue. A second and third read through failed to advance my progress one iota. At that point, I did some research on York and discovered its Roman name. That was enough of a push to get me started and I slowly but surely worked my way through the remainder of the grid. I did call upon my electronic assistants on a couple of other occasions, once to flesh out the name of the English soccer team (I had figured out the second part, but needed the name of city where they are based) and again for the LSD clue. I must admit that I didn't keep very good records, but I don't recall using electronic aids at any other time — other than to find explanations for some of my answers. Having resorted to the use of electronic help so early in the solving process, it was virtually inevitable that every clue solved after that relied on checking letters that could be attributed directly or indirectly to that use of electronic aid.<br />
<br />
<h2>
Notes on Today's Puzzle
</h2>
<div style="font-size: x-small; text-align: center;">
<b><i>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.</i></b></div>
<br />
<h3>
Across</h3>
<br />
<div style="background-color: #6fa8dc; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>1a Rock band keeps supporting <u>change</u> (6)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R.E.M."><b>R.E.M.</b></a><sup>[7]</sup>
was an American rock band from Athens, Georgia, formed in 1980 by
singer Michael Stipe, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills, and
drummer Bill Berry. The group disbanded amicably in September 2011,
announcing the split on its website.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: cyan; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>4a East wind, and also <u>old name for York</u> (8)</b></span></div>
<br />
The <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/bora?q=bora"><b>bora</b></a><sup>[5]</sup>
is a <span class="definition">strong, cold, dry northeast wind blowing in the upper Adriatic </span><span class="definition">⇒ </span><span class="definition"><i><q>After the Bora blows into town, there's always a story in the paper
about someone getting hit with a flying roadsign or a flowerbox that was
ripped from a windowsill.</q></i>.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="definition">The phrase "and also" is used to clue CUM, <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/cum?q=cum"><b>cum</b></a></span><span class="definition"><sup>[5]</sup>
being a preposition meaning </span><span class="definition">combined with or also used as (used to describe things with a dual nature or function) </span>⇒ <i><q><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example">a study-cum-bedroom</i></span></q></i><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"></span>.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Eboracum?q=Eboracum"><b>Eboracum</b></a><sup>[5]</sup>
was the Roman name for York. <br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: #6fa8dc; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>10a Judge mostly superior and trendy <u>artist</u> (7)</b></span></div>
<br />
<span class="definition"><span class="definition">In Britain, <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/U--3?rskey=lX5Bs0&result=3"><b>U</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is used informally as an adjective (in respect to <span class="definition">language or social behaviour) meaning characteristic of or appropriate to the upper social classes </span></span></span><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><span class="definition">⇒</span><span class="definition"> </span><span class="definition"><i><q><span class="definition"><i>U manners</i></span></q></i>. The term, </span>an abbreviation of <b>upper class</b>, was coined in 1954 by Alan S. C. Ross, professor of linguistics, and popularized by its use in Nancy Mitford's <i>Noblesse Oblige</i> (1956). In Crosswordland, it is frequently clued by words such as <b>posh</b> or <b>superior</b>.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="definition"><span class="definition"><a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Gauguin-Paul?q=Gauguin%2C+Paul"><b>Paul Gauguin</b></a></span></span><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><sup>[5]</sup> </span></span> </span></span><span class="definition"><span class="dateGroup">(<span class="date">1848–1903</span>)</span> was a
French painter. From 1891 he
lived mainly in Tahiti, painting in a post-impressionist style that was
influenced by primitive art. Notable works: <i class=""> The Vision after the Sermon</i> (1888) and <i class=""> Faa Iheihe</i> (1898).</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: #6fa8dc; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>11a <u>Singer</u> having clothes on (7)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Robeson-Paul?q=Robeson%2C+Paul"><b>Paul Robeson</b></a><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><sup>[5]</sup> </span></span> </span></span><span class="definition"><span class="dateGroup"></span></span> <span class="definition"><span class="dateGroup">(<span class="date">1898–1976</span>) was an</span> American singer and actor. His singing of <i class=""> ‘Ol’ Man River'</i> in the musical <i class=""> Showboat</i> (1927) established his international reputation. His black activism and Communist sympathies led to ostracism in the 1950s.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: #6fa8dc; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>12a <u>Although</u> clever, too absorbed by nights out (15)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: #6fa8dc; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>13a <u>Rake</u> made snail wriggle (6,3)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: #6fa8dc; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>15a <u>Smoke</u> from wheels? One thousand parts (5)</b></span></div>
<br />
The wordplay is {I ([<i>Roman numeral for</i>] one) + G (thousand; <i>grand</i>)} containing (parts; <i>divides, as Moses parted the Red Sea</i>) CAR (wheels; <i>slang term for an automobile</i>).<br />
<br />
One must read this type of clue as if it were a recipe:<br />
<ul>
<li>Step 1: [<i>Take a synonym for</i>] wheels;</li>
<li>Step 2: one thousand parts [<i>the result from Step 1</i>]</li>
</ul>
<div style="background-color: #6fa8dc; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>16a <u>Not even</u> a tramp will get pity without it (5)</b></span></div>
<br />
"Not even" is used in the sense of uneven.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: #6fa8dc; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>17a <u>Deprived of rest</u> home, I'm on potty, opening bladder? (9)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: cyan; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>19a Reason TV records useless <u>football team</u> (9,6)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doncaster_Rovers_F.C."><b>Doncaster Rovers Football Club</b></a><span class="definition"><sup>[7]</sup> </span> is an English professional association football [<i>soccer</i>] club based in Doncaster, South Yorkshire that plays in the Football League Championship (the second tier in the English
football league system), having been promoted from Football League One
(the third tier of English football) at the end of the 2012-13 season.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: #6fa8dc; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>22a <u>View</u> over wing (7)</b></span></div>
<br />
<span class="definition">In cricket, an</span><span class="definition"> <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/over"><b>over</b></a></span><sup>[5]</sup> <span class="definition"> (<i>abbreviation</i> <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/O-2"><b>O</b></a></span><span class="definition"><sup>[5]</sup>) is a division of play consisting of </span><span class="definition">a sequence of six balls bowled by a bowler from
one end of the pitch, after which another bowler takes over from the
other end</span>.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: #6fa8dc; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>23a <u>One with doubts</u> about being eaten by pussy? (7)</b></span></div>
<br />
Pussy is being used in the sense of full of pus.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: cyan; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>24a Artist given a line <u>of LSD?</u> (8)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Monet-Claude?q=Monet%2C+Claude"><b>Claude Monet</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> <span class="definition"><span class="dateGroup">(<span class="date">1840–1926</span>) was a</span>
French painter. A founder member of the impressionists, his fascination
with the play of light on objects led him to produce series of
paintings of single subjects painted at different times of the day and
under different weather conditions, such as the <i class=""> Water-lilies</i> sequence (1899–1906; 1916 onwards).</span><br />
<br />
<span class="definition"><a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Ry?q=ry"><b>Ry</b></a></span><span class="definition"><sup>[5]</sup> is the abbreviation for <b>railway</b>. </span><br />
<br />
Of course, the setter intends for us to be misdirected into thinking that <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/LSD?q=L.S.D."><b>LSD</b></a><span class="definition"><sup>[5]</sup> </span> is a reference to the powerful <span class="definition">hallucinogenic drug, </span><span class="definition">lysergic acid diethylamide. In reality, it actually relates to a now disused system of British currency.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="definition">In Britain, especially formerly, <b>L.S.D.</b> (<i>or</i> <b>£.s.d.</b> <i>or</i> <b>l.s.d.</b>) stood for </span><span class="def"><i>librae</i>, <i>solidi</i>, <i>denarii</i> [Latin for pounds, shillings, and pence] </span>— the principal monetary units used in the UK prior to the introduction of decimal
currency in 1971.<br />
<br />
<span class="variantGroup">The <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/pound?q=pound"><b>pound</b></a></span><sup>[5]</sup> <span class="variantGroup"> (also <b><span class="variant">pound sterling</span></b>)</span><span class="inflectionGroup"> was</span><span class="definition"> — and continues to be — the basic monetary unit of the UK.</span><span class="definition"> While the symbol for pound is <b>£</b>, one often finds it written as <a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/l"><b>L</b></a></span><sup>[10]</sup><span class="definition"> (L coming from Latin, <i>libra</i> [plural <i>librae</i>]). </span><span class="definition"><span style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt;"><span class="definition">In the system used </span></span></span>prior to the introduction of decimal currency in 1971<span class="definition"><span style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt;"><span class="definition">, a pound was subdivided into shillings and pence [<i>the plural of penny in the sense of monetary value</i>]. A penny </span><span class="definition">[<i>commonly referred to as an "old penny" to distinguish it from a post-decimalisation "new penny"</i>] was a monetary unit and coin equal to one twelfth of a shilling or 240th of a pound (and was abbreviated <b>d</b>, for <i>denarius</i> [plural <i>denarii</i>]). </span></span></span>A <a href="http://www.chambers.co.uk/search.php?query=shilling&title=21st"><b>shilling</b></a><sup>[2]</sup> (abbreviated <a href="http://www.chambers.co.uk/search.php?query=s&title=21st"><b>s</b></a><sup>[2]</sup>, for <i>solidus</i> [plural <i>solidi</i>]) was a monetary unit and coin worth one twentieth of a pound or 12 old pence.<br />
<br />
<span class="definition">The definition is "of LSD?", with the question mark indicating that this is a definition by example. The definition could equally well have been "of dollars?" or "of yen?", as we need a solution that is an adjective meaning relating to money or currency.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: #6fa8dc; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>25a <u>Actress</u> and, primarily, film director (6)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Farrow-Mia?q=Mia+Farrow"><b>Mia Farrow</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> <span class="variantGroup"> </span> is a <span class="definition">US actress; daughter of Maureen O’Sullivan. She starred in <i class=""> Rosemary’s Baby</i> (1968), <i class=""> The Great Gatsby</i> (1974), <i class=""> Hannah and Her Sisters</i> (1986), and <i class=""> Husbands and Wives</i> (1992).</span><br />
<br />
<span class="definition">Director is used in a somewhat whimsical sense to indicate "something which provides direction". </span><br />
<br />
<h3>
Down</h3>
<br />
<div style="background-color: #6fa8dc; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>1d <u>Queenly</u> tipple in authentic container (7)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/reginal?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>Reginal</b></a><sup>[10]</sup> is an adjective meaning <span class="def">relating to a queen, queenly, or having the characteristics of a queen.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: #6fa8dc; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>2d I'm comic in funnier mood this <u>time</u> (6,9)</b></span></div>
<br />
The rather unusual anagram indicator is "I'm comic in". Initially, I surmised that the rationale for this usage might relate to the fact that something hilariously funny would cause one to "crack up". Thus "I'm comic in" might be interpreted as "I cause a crack up in". However, I later discovered that this meaning of <a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/crack-up?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>crack up</b></a><sup>[10]</sup> is a North American expression, so I'm left with no plausible explanation for this anagram indicator.<br />
<br />
The term <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/fourth-dimension?q=fourth+dimension"><b>fourth dimension</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is a reference to time <span class="definition">regarded as analogous to linear dimensions.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: #6fa8dc; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>3d See defeat <u>in typical fashion</u> (9)</b></span></div>
<br />
A <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/see?q=see#see-2"><b>see</b></a><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><sup>[5]</sup> </span></span> is <span class="definition">the place in which a cathedral church stands, identified as the seat of authority of a bishop or archbishop.</span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Ely?q=Ely"><b>Ely</b></a><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><sup>[5]</sup> </span></span> is a <span class="definition">cathedral city in the fenland of Cambridgeshire, eastern England, on the River Ouse; population 15,600 (est. 2009).</span><br />
<br />
<span class="definition">The setter whimsically uses "see defeat" to clue "rout in Ely" (as this could also be described as an "Ely rout"). </span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: #6fa8dc; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>5d Drug's no use for black <u>singers</u> (9)</b></span></div>
<br />
Although the solution could hardly be anything other than what it is, tracking down the explanation for the wordplay proved to be a chore.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/barbitone?q=barbitone"><b>Barbitone</b></a><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><sup>[6]</sup></span></span> is the British name for <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/american_english/barbital"><b>barbital</b></a><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><sup>[6]</sup></span></span>, a <span class="definition">long-acting sedative and sleep-inducing drug of the barbiturate type.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: #6fa8dc; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>6d Failure to catch middle management <u>stress</u> (3,2)</b></span></div>
<br />
The use of <b>B</b> as being symbolic of middle management comes from the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NRS_social_grade"><b>NRS social grades</b></a><sup>[7]</sup>, a system of demographic classification used in the United Kingdom. The
categories were originally developed by the National Readership Survey
to classify readers, but are now used by many other organisations for
wider applications and have become a standard for market research. They
were developed over 50 years ago and achieved widespread usage in 20th
Century Britain. The classifications, which are based on the occupation
of the head of the household, are shown in the following table.<br />
<br />
<table border="1" class="wikitable" style="width: 100%;"><tbody>
<tr>
<th scope="col">Grade</th>
<th scope="col">Social class</th>
<th scope="col">Chief income earner's occupation</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">A</th>
<td>upper middle class</td>
<td>Higher managerial, administrative or professional</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">B</th>
<td>middle class</td>
<td>Intermediate managerial, administrative or professional</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">C1</th>
<td>lower middle class</td>
<td>Supervisory or clerical and junior managerial, administrative or professional</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">C2</th>
<td>skilled working class</td>
<td>Skilled manual workers</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">D</th>
<td>working class</td>
<td>Semi and unskilled manual workers</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">E</th>
<td>Those at the lowest levels of subsistence</td>
<td>Casual or lowest grade workers, pensioners and others who depend on the welfare state for their income</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="background-color: #6fa8dc; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>7d <u>Film executive</u> caught performer burying fiddle next to grave (7,8)</b></span></div>
<br />
On cricket scorecards, the abbreviation <b><a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/c?q=c">c</a></b><sup>[5]</sup> denotes <b>caught (by)</b>.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/fiddle?q=fiddle"><b>Fiddle</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is an informal and chiefly British term meaning an <span class="definition">act of defrauding, cheating, or falsifying </span>⇒ <i><q><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example">a major mortgage fiddle</i></span></q></i>.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/sting?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>Sting</b></a><sup>[10]</sup> is slang for <span class="def">a swindle or fraud.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: #6fa8dc; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>8d Trough containing a <u>suit</u>? (7)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/suit?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>Suit</b></a><sup>[10]</sup> is slang for <span class="def">a business executive or white-collar manager.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: #6fa8dc; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>9d <u>Edge</u> of mountain chain (4)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: #6fa8dc; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>14d Man raised cattle to consume new <u>sort of cream</u> (9)</b></span></div>
<br />
The <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/Isle-of-Man"><b>Isle of Man</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> (<i>abbreviation</i> <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/IOM?q=IOM"><b>IOM</b></a><sup>[5]</sup>) is an island in the Irish Sea that is a British Crown dependency. <br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: #6fa8dc; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>15d <u>In Christian times</u>, admits remarkable person (6,3)</b></span></div>
<br />
<span class="definition"></span><span class="definition">There is an adage associated with cryptic crosswords that says that solvers should ignore punctuation — except, of course, when it can't be ignored. This is one of those exceptional clues where punctuation absolutely cannot be ignored.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="definition">If you overlooked a key element of the clue, try saying the clue aloud as you would if dictating to a stenographer.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="definition">The wordplay is COMMA (,) containing (admits) ONER (remarkable person).</span><br />
<br />
The <b><a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Common-Era?q=Common+Era">Common Era</a></b><sup>[5]</sup> is another name for the <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Christian-era"><b>Christian era</b></a><sup>[5]</sup>, the <span class="definition">period of time which begins with the traditional date of Christ’s birth.</span><br />
<span class="definition"></span><br />
<span class="definition"><a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/oner?q=oner"><b>Oner</b></a></span><span class="definition"><sup>[5]</sup> is an informal and archaic British term meaning a </span><span class="definition">remarkable person or thing</span>.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: #6fa8dc; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>16d Balls found in cleaner <u>chamber</u> (7)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ed_Balls"><b>Ed Balls</b></a><span class="definition"><sup>[7]</sup> </span> is a British Labour Party and Co-operative Party<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Co-op1_2-0"></sup> [<i>see following</i>] politician, who is the current Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer [<i>Opposition Critic for the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the British equivalent to the Minister of Finance (Canada) or the Secretary of the Treasury (US)</i>].<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Co-operative_Party"><b>Co-operative Party</b></a><span class="definition"><sup>[7]</sup> </span> is a political party in the United Kingdom committed to supporting and representing co-operative principles. The party does not put up candidates for UK elections, instead, Co-operative candidates stand jointly with the Labour Party as "Labour and Co-operative Party"
candidates. Whilst Co-operative Party members may join the Labour
Party, they are not permitted to be members of any other political party
in the UK, and the Co-operative Party is legally a separate political
organisation. </blockquote>
<div style="background-color: #6fa8dc; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>18d <u>Source of higher (or lower?) profits</u> (4,3)</b></span></div>
<br />
Financially speaking, the solution would be considered a source of higher profits. To a dairy farmer, on the other hand, it might be a source of "lower" profits.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: #6fa8dc; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>20d Not all material is this <u>desirable</u> (1-4)</b></span></div>
<br />
To accord with the definition (desirable), <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/A-list?q=A-list"><b>A-list</b></a><span class="definition"><sup>[7]</sup> would be</span> a noun used as a modifier (adjective) ⇒ <i><q>an A-list celebrity</q></i>.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>21d <u>Flood</u> from river equally hard (4)</b></span></div>
<br />
As I mentioned in the introduction, this was the only clue that I managed to solve prior to calling in my electronic reinforcements. Well, at least it wasn't a shutout!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/H--2"><b>H</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is the abbreviation for <b>hard</b>, as used in describing grades of pencil lead ⇒ <i><q><i class="example">a 2H pencil</i></q></i>. <br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Key to Reference Sources: </b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[1] </sup> - <i>The Chambers Dictionary, 11th Edition </i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[2] </sup> - <a href="http://www.chambers.co.uk/search.php"><b>Search Chambers</b></a> - (<i>Chambers 21st Century Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[3] </sup> - <a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/"><b>TheFreeDictionary.com</b></a> (<i>American Heritage Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[4] </sup> - <a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/"><b>TheFreeDictionary.com</b></a> (<i>Collins English Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[5] </sup> - <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/?region=uk"><b>Oxford Dictionaries</b></a> (<i>Oxford Dictionary of English</i>) </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[6] </sup> - <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/?region=us"><b>Oxford Dictionaries</b></a> (<i>Oxford American Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[7] </sup> - <b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page">Wikipedia</a></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[8] </sup> - <a href="http://dictionary.reverso.net/french-english/"><b>Reverso Online Dictionary</b></a> (<i>Collins French-English Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[9] </sup> - <a href="http://dictionary.infoplease.com/"><b>Infoplease</b></a> (<i>Random House Unabridged Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[10]</sup> - <a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/"><b>CollinsDictionary.com</b></a> (<i>Collins English Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[11]</sup> - <a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/"><b>TheFreeDictionary.com</b></a> (<i>Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary</i>)</span></blockquote>
Signing off for this week — Falcon
</div>
Falconhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07466858757398776500noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4283491940842987165.post-43734852624403630672014-02-23T17:49:00.000-05:002014-02-23T17:52:22.783-05:00Sunday, February 23, 2014 — ST 4574<div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" style="height: 20px; width: 420px;"><tbody></tbody></table>
<table border="5" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" frame="BOX" rules="GROUPS" style="border-bottom-style: none; color: #274e13; height: 62px; width: 420px;"><tbody>
<tr><th colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 200%;"><b>Puzzle at a Glance</b></span></div>
</th> </tr>
</tbody></table>
<table border="5" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" frame="BOX" rules="GROUPS" style="height: 82px; width: 420px;"><tbody>
<tr><th colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-weight: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Puzzle Number in <i>The Sunday Times</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;">ST 4574</span>
</th> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Date of Publication in <i>The Sunday Times</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Sunday, January 26, 2014</b></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Setter</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Jeff Pearce </b></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Link to Full Review</span></span></div>
<a href="http://times-xwd-times.livejournal.com/1064560.html"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b><i>Times for the Times</i> [ST 4574]</b></span></a>
</td> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i>Times for the Times</i> Review Written By</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Dave Perry</b></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Dave Perry's Solving Time</span> </div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>★★★ </b></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Date of Publication in the <i>Toronto Star</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Saturday, February 15, 2014</b></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Date of Publication in <i>The Vancouver Sun</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Saturday, February 22, 2014</b><sup><i>[Note 2]</i></sup></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Falcon's Experience</span> </div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;">┌────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┐</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;">██████████████████████████</span><span style="color: cyan;">██</span><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"></span><span style="color: #ccddbb;">███████</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;">└────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┘</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Legend:</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: blue;">█</span> - solved without assistance</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: orange;">█</span> - incorrect prior to use of puzzle solving tools</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: cyan;">█</span> - solved with assistance from puzzle solving tools</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">█</span> - solved with aid of checking letters provided by puzzle solving tools</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #a64d79;">█</span> - solved but without fully parsing the clue</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: red;">█</span> - unsolved or incorrect prior to visiting <i>Times for the Times</i></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #660000;">█</span> - solved with aid of checking letters provided by solutions from <i>Times for the Times</i></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: magenta;">█</span> - yet to be solved</span></div>
</td> </tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Notes</span></div>
<div>
<i>[1] This puzzle appears on the Sunday puzzles pages in the Saturday, February 22, 2014 edition of the Ottawa Citizen.</i><br />
<i>[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.</i></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
<div>
<br />
<h2>
Introduction
</h2>
Today's offering from Jeff Pearce is relatively gentle. However, I expect a much tougher challenge next week from Anax.<br />
<h2>
Notes on Today's Puzzle
</h2>
<div style="font-size: x-small; text-align: center;">
<b><i>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.</i></b></div>
<br />
<h3>
Across</h3>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>1a <u>Copy</u> funny strip cartoon but leave out the ducks (10)</b></span></div>
<br />
In cricket, a <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/duck--5"><b>duck</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is a batsman’s score of nought [<i>zero</i>] ⇒ <i><q><i><i>he was out for a duck</i></i></q></i>. This is similar to the North American expression <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/goose-egg?q=goose+egg"><b>goose egg</b></a><sup>[5]</sup>
meaning a zero score in a game. In British puzzles, duck is used to
indicate the letter "O" based on the resemblance of the digit "0" to
this letter.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>6a Hibiscus conceals <u>bird</u> (4)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>9a Loot left for <u>nark</u> (10)</b></span></div>
<br />
In Australia and New Zealand, <a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/nark?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>nark</b></a><sup>[10]</sup> is another name for a spoilsport.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>10a <u>Smear</u> Tory cut short by runs (4)</b></span></div>
<br />
In Britain, <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/blue?q=blue"><b>blue</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is <span class="definition">an informal term for a supporter of the Conservative Party.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="definition"><span class="definition">In the UK [<i>as is also the case in Canada</i>], a <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Tory?q=Tory"><b>Tory</b></a><span class="definition"><sup>[5]</sup> </span> is <span class="definition"> a member or supporter of the Conservative Party.</span></span></span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="definition"><span class="definition"><span class="definition">Originally, the term Tory referred to </span><span class="definition">a member of the English political party
opposing the exclusion of James II from the succession. It remained the
name for members of the English, later British, parliamentary party
supporting the established religious and political order until the
emergence of the Conservative Party in the 1830s.</span></span> </span></blockquote>
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>12a Use key and take off <u>bolt</u> (6)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>13a <u>Bitterness</u> from grub at the club (8)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/wormwood?q=wormwood"><b>Wormwood</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is <span class="definition">a woody shrub with a bitter aromatic taste, used as an ingredient of vermouth and absinthe and in medicine. The term can also mean </span><span class="definition">a state or source of bitterness or grief </span><span class="definition">⇒ </span><span class="definition"><i><q>The survivors of the 1996 election were relegated to a kind of mute
opposition, forced to sip wormwood from the cup of their own brewing.</q></i></span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>15a <u>Cool</u> fire eater dancing with Romanian girl initially (11)</b></span></div>
<br />
<span class="definition"><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak">The <span class="definition">International Vehicle Registration (IVR) code for Romania </span></span></span>is <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/r?q=R#R-2"><b>R</b></a><span class="definition"><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><sup>[5]</sup>. However, I would say that this is not how the setter has chosen to clue R in this clue. Since the clue contains the word "Romanian" (rather than "Romania"), the wordplay would seem to be an anagram (dancing) of {FIRE EATER + (with) the initial letters of <u><b>R</b></u>omanian and <u><b>G</b></u>irl (Romanian girl initially)}.</span></span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>18a <u>Detain</u> judge after driving, perhaps, to church (11)</b></span></div>
<br />
The wordplay is RATE (judge) following (after) {IN CAR (driving, perhaps) + (to) CE (church; <i>Church of England</i>}.<br />
<br />
As a charade indicator, the word "<b>to</b>" is used in the sense
of "pressed against" — as in expressions such as "<i>shoulder to the wheel</i>" or "<i>nose to the grindstone</i>". <br />
<br />
The <b><a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/church-of-england?showCookiePolicy=true">Church of England</a></b><sup>[10]</sup> (<i>abbreviation</i> <b><a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/ce?showCookiePolicy=true">CE</a></b><sup>[10]</sup>) is the reformed established state Church in England, Catholic in order
and basic doctrine, with the Sovereign as its temporal head.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>21a Nobleman that's, by the way, <u>first</u> (8)</b></span></div>
<br />
An <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/earl?q=earl"><b>earl</b></a><span class="definition"><sup>[5]</sup> </span> is <span class="definition">a British nobleman ranking above a viscount and below a marquess</span> [<i>the third highest of the five ranks of nobility — </i><span class="definition"><i>duke, marquess, earl, viscount, and baron</i>]</span>.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>22a <u>Secret</u> about to be concealed by composer (6)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Arne-Thomas?q=Arne%2C+Thomas">Thomas Arne</a><span class="definition"><sup>[5]</sup> </span> <span class="definition"><span class="dateGroup">(<span class="date">1710–1778</span>)</span> was an
English composer noted for ‘Rule, Britannia’ (whose words are
attributed to James Thomson) and for his settings of Shakespearean
songs.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>24a <u>Like</u> a royal but not grand (4)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>25a Cooked kebabs and Egyptian <u>food campers might have</u> (5,5)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/e?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>E</b></a><span class="definition"><sup>[10]</sup> </span> <span class="definition"><span class="dateGroup"></span></span> is the symbol for Egypt or Egyptian.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>26a Stretch of water? Not so <u>fast</u>! (4)</b></span></div>
<br />
The <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Solent?q=solent"><b>Solent</b></a><span class="definition"><sup>[5]</sup> </span> is <span class="definition">a channel between the northwest coast of the Isle of Wight and the mainland of southern England.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>27a Yank in one ripping <u>novel making one sad</u> (10)</b></span></div>
<br />
<h3>
Down</h3>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>1d <u>Quality assurance worker</u> finally left plant (6)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>2d Cold remedy includes it <u>now</u>! (2,4)</b></span></div>
<br />
To see the wordplay, read it as "cold, remedy includes it".<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>3d <u>Picture</u> with airports left out (4-8)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>4d <u>Ready</u> for gym after bible studies (4)</b></span></div>
<br />
<span class="definition"><a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/PE?q=PE"><b>PE</b></a></span><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><sup>[5]</sup></span></span> is the abbreviation for <b>physical education</b> (or <b>Phys Ed</b>, as it would </span><span class="definition"><span class="definition">likely </span>be called by most school kids).</span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/religious-instruction?showCookiePolicy=true"><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><b>Religious instruction</b></span></span></a><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><sup>[10]</sup></span></span> </span> (<i>abbreviation</i> <a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/ri?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>RI</b></a></span></span><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/religious-instruction?showCookiePolicy=true"><span class="definition"><span class="definition"></span></span></a><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><sup>[10]</sup></span></span></span></span></span>) is another name for <a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/religious-education#religious-education_1"><b>religious education</b></a></span></span><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><sup>[10]</sup></span></span> </span></span></span> </span></span><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><span class="definition">(<i>abbreviation</i> <a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/re?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>RE</b></a></span><span class="definition"><sup>[10]</sup>)</span></span>.</span></span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="definition"><span class="definition">According to Wikipedia, "In secular usage, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religious_education"><b>religious education</b></a><sup>[7]</sup> </span><span class="definition">is the teaching of a particular religion (although in England the term <b>religious instruction</b> would refer to the teaching of a particular religion, with <b>religious education</b>
referring to teaching about religions in general [<i>as a school subject</i>]) and its varied
aspects — its beliefs, doctrines, rituals, customs, rites, and personal
roles." </span> </span></blockquote>
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>5d Fan copied rail <u>magazine</u> (10)</b></span></div>
<br />
As an anagram indicator, <a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/fan?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>fan</b></a><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><sup>[10]</sup></span></span> </span> would be used in the sense of <span class="def">to agitate or move (air, smoke, etc) with or as if with a fan.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: cyan;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>7d Graduate left with just <u>a shoe and hat</u> (8)</b></span></div>
<br />
Having never heard of either the shoe or the hat, I didn't feel to bad about failing to solve this without the help of my electronic assistants.<br />
<br />
A <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/balmoral?q=balmoral"><b>balmoral</b></a><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><sup>[5]</sup></span></span> </span> can be either (1) <span class="definition">a round brimless hat with a cockade or ribbons attached, worn by certain Scottish regiments or (2) </span><span class="definition"><span class="definition">a heavy laced leather walking boot</span>.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>8d Mum's more embarrassed as <u>destroyer of confidential material</u> (8)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>11d Fresh pine tree balm is <u>thick</u> (12)</b></span></div>
<br />
As an anagram indicator, <a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/fresh?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>fresh</b></a><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><sup>[10]</sup></span></span> </span>would be used in the sense of novel or original ⇒ <i><q><span class="orth">a fresh outlook</span></q></i>.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: cyan;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>14d <u>Fragrance</u> from sweet drink (10)</b></span></div>
<br />
Although I forgave myself for missing 7d, I kicked myself for not solving this one without help from my electronic assistants.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/have?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>Have</b></a><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><sup>[10]</sup></span></span> </span> is used in the sense of to to eat, drink, or partake of ⇒<i><q>to have a good meal</q></i>.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>16d <u>Lively person</u>'s flash dance (8)</b></span></div>
<br />
One definition of <a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/fire?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>fire</b></a><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><sup>[10]</sup></span></span> </span> is <span class="def">a flash or spark of or as if of fire.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>17d Expert turned over twig without seeing <u>creature</u> (8)</b></span></div>
<br />
A <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/scion?q=scion"><b>scion</b></a><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><sup>[5]</sup></span></span> </span> is <span class="definition">a young shoot or twig of a plant, especially one cut for grafting or rooting.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>19d <u>Fabric</u>'s first for dress then a cloak (6)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>20d Take a little time and relax with paper's last <u>puzzle</u> (6)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>23d <u>European guy</u> and Henry make a mistake (4)</b></span></div>
<br />
The <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/henry"><b>henry</b></a><span class="def"><sup>[5]</sup></span> (<i>abbreviation</i> <b>H</b>) is <span class="definition">the
SI unit of inductance, equal to an
electromotive force of one volt in a closed circuit with a uniform rate
of change of current of one ampere per second.</span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Herr?q=herr"><b>Herr</b></a><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><sup>[5]</sup></span></span> </span> is (1) <span class="definition">a title or form of address used of or to a German-speaking man, corresponding to <i>Mr</i> and also used before a rank or occupation </span><span class="definition">⇒ <i>(i)</i></span><span class="definition"><i> </i></span><span class="definition"><i><i><q><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example">good morning, Herr Weber</i></span></q></i>; (ii)</i></span><span class="definition"><i> </i></span><span class="definition"><i><i><q><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example">my trip with the Herr Doktor was postponed</i></span></q></i></i> or (2) </span><span class="definition"><span class="definition">a German man</span>.</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Key to Reference Sources: </b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[1] </sup> - <i>The Chambers Dictionary, 11th Edition </i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[2] </sup> - <a href="http://www.chambers.co.uk/search.php"><b>Search Chambers</b></a> - (<i>Chambers 21st Century Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[3] </sup> - <a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/"><b>TheFreeDictionary.com</b></a> (<i>American Heritage Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[4] </sup> - <a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/"><b>TheFreeDictionary.com</b></a> (<i>Collins English Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[5] </sup> - <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/?region=uk"><b>Oxford Dictionaries</b></a> (<i>Oxford Dictionary of English</i>) </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[6] </sup> - <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/?region=us"><b>Oxford Dictionaries</b></a> (<i>Oxford American Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[7] </sup> - <b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page">Wikipedia</a></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[8] </sup> - <a href="http://dictionary.reverso.net/french-english/"><b>Reverso Online Dictionary</b></a> (<i>Collins French-English Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[9] </sup> - <a href="http://dictionary.infoplease.com/"><b>Infoplease</b></a> (<i>Random House Unabridged Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[10]</sup> - <a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/"><b>CollinsDictionary.com</b></a> (<i>Collins English Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[11]</sup> - <a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/"><b>TheFreeDictionary.com</b></a> (<i>Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary</i>)</span></blockquote>
Signing off for this week — Falcon
</div>
Falconhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07466858757398776500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4283491940842987165.post-29802811088420828022014-02-16T16:25:00.000-05:002014-02-16T16:25:30.865-05:00Sunday, February 16, 2014 — ST 4573<div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" style="height: 20px; width: 420px;"><tbody></tbody></table>
<table border="5" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" frame="BOX" rules="GROUPS" style="border-bottom-style: none; color: #274e13; height: 62px; width: 420px;"><tbody>
<tr><th colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 200%;"><b>Puzzle at a Glance</b></span></div>
</th> </tr>
</tbody></table>
<table border="5" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" frame="BOX" rules="GROUPS" style="height: 82px; width: 420px;"><tbody>
<tr><th colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-weight: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Puzzle Number in <i>The Sunday Times</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;">ST 4573</span>
</th> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Date of Publication in <i>The Sunday Times</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Sunday, January 19, 2014</b></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Setter</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Tim Moorey</b></span></td> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Link to Full Review</span></span></div>
<a href="http://times-xwd-times.livejournal.com/1061938.html"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b><i>Times for the Times</i> [ST 4573]</b></span></a>
</td> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i>Times for the Times</i> Review Written By</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Dave Perry</b></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Dave Perry's Solving Time</span> </div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>★★★★</b></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Date of Publication in the <i>Toronto Star</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Saturday, February 8, 2014</b></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Date of Publication in <i>The Vancouver Sun</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Saturday, February 15, 2014</b><sup><i>[Note 2]</i></sup></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Falcon's Experience</span> </div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;">┌────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┐</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;">███████████████████████████████</span><span style="color: cyan;"></span><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"></span><span style="color: #a64d79;">█</span><span style="color: #ccddbb;">███</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;">└────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┘</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Legend:</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: blue;">█</span> - solved without assistance</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: orange;">█</span> - incorrect prior to use of puzzle solving tools</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: cyan;">█</span> - solved with assistance from puzzle solving tools</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">█</span> - solved with aid of checking letters provided by puzzle solving tools</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #a64d79;">█</span> - solved but without fully parsing the clue</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: red;">█</span> - unsolved or incorrect prior to visiting <i>Times for the Times</i></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #660000;">█</span> - solved with aid of checking letters provided by solutions from <i>Times for the Times</i></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: magenta;">█</span> - yet to be solved</span></div>
</td> </tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Notes</span></div>
<div>
<i>[1] This puzzle appears on the Sunday puzzles pages in the Saturday, February 15, 2014 edition of the Ottawa Citizen.</i><br />
<i>[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.</i></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
<br />
<h2>
Introduction
</h2>
I found today's puzzle to be a good — but certainly not daunting — challenge. Now, if only I had been better briefed on French opera ...<br />
<br />
<h2>
Notes on Today's Puzzle
</h2>
<div style="font-size: x-small; text-align: center;">
<b><i>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.</i></b></div>
<h3>
<br />
Across</h3>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>1a <u>Not entirely sure this fellow fitted for clubbing – not with it!</u> (7,5)</b></span></div>
<br />
This is an & lit. (all-in-one) clue. In accordance with one reading, the entire clue is the definition, while under a different interpretation, it constitutes the wordplay.<br />
<br />
The clue parses as an anagram (for clubbing; <i>getting beaten into shape?</i>) of {SUR_ (not entirely SUR[<strike><b>E</b></strike>]; <i>with the final letter deleted</i>) + THIS (from the clue) + F (fellow; <i>member of a society</i>) + F__TED (F[<strike><b>IT</b></strike>]TED not with IT; <i>with IT deleted</i>).<br />
<br />
In the surface reading, <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/club?q=clubbing#club__11"><b>clubbing</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> denotes going out to nightclubs ⇒ <i><q><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example">she enjoys <b>going clubbing</b> in Oxford</i></span></q></i>.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>8a Back packs fail to be <u>more immediately available</u> (7)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>9a <u>Star</u> is able to get work (7)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Canopus?q=canopus"><b>Canopus</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is <span class="definition">the second-brightest star in the sky, and the
brightest in the constellation Carina. It is a supergiant, visible only
to observers in the southern hemisphere.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="definition">In music, an <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/opus?q=opus"><b>opus</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is a separate composition or set of compositions. </span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: #a64d79;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>11a No room for French opera in <u>city over there</u> (4)</b></span></div>
<br />
It is obvious that my knowledge of geography surpasses my familiarity with opera. I had little trouble identifying the French city, but the French opera failed to leap to mind.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Caen?q=Caen"><b>Caen</b></a><span id="goog_591917769"></span><span id="goog_591917770"></span><sup>[5]</sup> is <span class="definition">an industrial city and river port in Normandy
in northern France, on the River Orne, capital of the region of
Basse-Normandie; population 113,249 (2006).</span><br />
<br />
<span class="definition"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carmen"><i><b>Carmen</b></i></a></span><span class="definition"><sup>[7]</sup> is an opera by the French composer Georges Bizet (</span><span class="definition">1838–1875). The opera was first performed at the Opéra-Comique
in Paris, on 3 March 1875, and at first was not particularly
successful. Its initial run extended to 36 performances, before the
conclusion of which Bizet died suddenly, and thus knew nothing of the
opera's later celebrity. </span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>12a <u>Blonde</u> vacuous type bores US agent (4-6)</b></span></div>
<br />
In the US. a <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/fed?q=fed"><b>Fed</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is <span class="definition"> a federal agent or official, especially a member of the FBI [<i>Federal Bureau of Investigation</i>] </span>⇒ <i><q><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example"><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example">I don’t think he has any friends since he grassed to the Feds</i></span></i></span></q></i><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example"></i></span>.<br />
<br />
I have to say that the usage example above is a bit bizarre — certainly not a statement that one would expect to hear from a US hood. <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/grass?q=grass"><b>Grass</b></a><sup>[5]</sup>
is British slang
meaning to inform the police of someone’s criminal activities or plans ⇒
<q><i>someone had <b>grassed on</b> the thieves</i></q>. This expression may derive from rhyming slang (grasshopper = copper).<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>13a <u>Mix-up</u>, for example remains of 19 (7)</b></span></div>
<br />
... "remains" is an ANAGRAM of "seminars" ([<i>the solution to clue</i>] 19).<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>15a Thought about lives being <u>wasted</u> (7)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>18a Ministry studies <u>the latest stuff at home</u> (3,4)</b></span></div>
<br />
<span class="definition">In the UK, <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/mod?q=MOD#MOD"><b>MOD</b></a></span><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><sup>[5]</sup></span></span> </span> stands for </span><span class="definition">Ministry of Defence.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="definition"><a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/con--4"><b>Con</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is an archaic term meaning to study attentively or learn by heart (a piece of writing) ⇒ <i><q><i>the girls conned their pages with a great show of industry</i></q></i>.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="definition">In Britain. the term <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/mod-cons?q=mod+cons"><b>mod cons</b></a></span><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><sup>[5]</sup> </span> refers to </span><span class="definition">the amenities and appliances characteristic of a
well-equipped modern house that contribute to an easier and more
comfortable way of life </span><span class="definition">⇒ <i><q></q></i></span><span class="definition"><i><q><i><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example">the property has <b>all mod cons</b></i></span></i></q></i></span><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example"><b></b></i></span>. Presumably, it is an shortened version of <i>modern conveniences</i>.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>20a <u>Cameron could be refreshed here?</u> (7)</b></span></div>
<br />
The is likely intended to be a reference to <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Cameron%2C-David?q=David+Cameron"><b>David Cameron</b></a><sup>[5]</sup>, <span class="definition">a British Conservative politician who has been Prime Minister
of the UK since 2010 (in coalition with the Liberal Democrats).</span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Menorca?q=Menorca"><b>Menorca</b></a><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><sup>[5]</sup> </span></span> is the Spanish name for <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Minorca"><b>Minorca</b></a><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><sup>[5]</sup></span></span>, <span class="definition">the most easterly and second-largest of the Balearic Islands [<i>an archipelago in the Mediterranean Sea off the eastern coast of Spain</i>]; population 92,434 (2008); capital, Mahón.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>21a <u>What's furthest down</u>
flask in bag? (10)</b></span></div>
<br />
"Bag" is used as a verb meaning to capture.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>23a Endless platform <u>for men</u> (4)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>25a One <u>aquatic bird</u> pecked another (7)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>26a Great worry about very short time <u>surrounded by</u> ... (7)</b></span></div>
<br />
In the UK, <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/mo?rskey=SoMWWA&result=3"><b>mo</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> [<i>abbreviation for</i> <b>moment</b>] is an informal term for <span class="definition">a short period of time </span>⇒ <i><q><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example">hang on a mo!</i></span></q></i>. <br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>27a ... <u>narrow-minded attitude</u>? It's Americans at fault (12)</b></span></div>
<br />
It took quite a while to realize that my first attempt, CARTESIANISM<sup>[<a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/cartesianism?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>10</b></a>]</sup>, was incorrect.<br />
<br />
<h3>
Down</h3>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>1d <u>Employee who shouldn't be in the limelight?</u> (9)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>2d Not appropriate to drop female in <u>one</u> (4)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>3d <u>Colt perhaps</u> and mare gambolling under a tree (7)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>4d Not harming the environment in Scottish ridge shows <u>good behaviour</u> (7)</b></span></div>
<br />
In Scottish and Irish dialects, a <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/drum?q=drum#drum-2"><b>drum</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is <span class="definition">a long, narrow hill, especially one separating two parallel valleys.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>5d <u>Entourage</u> in hot French town working (7-2)</b></span></div>
<br />
Contrary to the indication in the review at <i>Times for the Times</i>, this is a charade and not a container type clue. The wordplay is H (hot) + ANGERS (French town) + ON (working).<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Angers?q=Angers"><b>Angers</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is a <span class="definition">town in western France, capital of the former province of Anjou; population 156,965 (2006).</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>6d <u>Quick</u> attack capturing pawn (5)</b></span></div>
<br />
In chess, <a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/p?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>P</b></a><sup>[10]</sup> is the symbol for pawn.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>7d Roma clip spoilt <u>broadcast</u> (8)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/roma?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>Roma</b></a><sup>[10]</sup> is another name for Gypsy.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>10d The German turned up in <u>blue</u> (3)</b></span></div>
<br />
In German, <i><a href="http://dictionary.reverso.net/german-english/das"><b>das</b></a></i><sup>[8]</sup> is one of several variants of the definite article. <br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>14d <u>Famous politician</u> involved with lover's toe (9)</b></span></div>
<br />
This clue could refer to either of two former US presidents (one from either major party):<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Roosevelt-Franklin-D.?q=Roosevelt%2C+Franklin+D."><b>Franklin D. Roosevelt</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> <span class="definition"><span class="dateGroup">(<span class="date">1882–1945</span>) was an</span>
American Democratic statesman, 32nd President of the US 1933–45; full
name Franklin Delano Roosevelt; known as FDR. His New Deal of 1933
helped to lift the US out of the Great Depression, and he played an
important part in Allied policy during the Second World War. In 1940 he
became the first American President to be elected for a third term in
office and he subsequently secured a fourth term.</span></li>
<br />
<li><a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Roosevelt-Theodore?q=Roosevelt%2C+Theodore"><b>Theodore Roosevelt</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> <span class="definition"><span class="dateGroup">(<span class="date">1858–1919</span>) was an</span>
American Republican statesman, 26th President of the US 1901-9; known
as Teddy Roosevelt. He was noted for his antitrust laws and
successfully engineered the American bid to build the Panama Canal
(1904–14). He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1906 for negotiating the end
of the Russo-Japanese War. </span>
</li>
</ul>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>16d Huge flans served up – that's <u>the plan</u> (9)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>17d <u>Game</u> plans on the radio (8)</b></span></div>
<br />
In the UK, the board game <a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/chequers?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>chequers</b></a><sup>[10]</sup> [<i>spelled <b>checkers</b> in the US</i>] also goes by the name <a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/draughts#draughts_1"><b>draughts</b></a><sup>[10]</sup>.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>19d <u>Meeting</u> house not available, right? (7)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>20d Mum's blemish needs a <u>cosmetic</u> (7)</b></span></div>
<br />
In the cryptic reading, the <b>'s</b> is to be interpreted as a contraction for <b>has</b>, making the wordplay MA (mum) + ('s; <i>has</i>) SCAR (blemish) + (needs) A (from the clue).<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>21d Roll up for <u>the essential part</u> (3)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>22d <u>Tax once levied</u> on fruit? It helped to some extent (5)</b></span></div>
<br />
A <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/tithe?q=tithe"><b>tithe</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is <span class="definition">one tenth of annual produce or earnings, <b><i>formerly taken as a tax</i></b> for the support of the Church and clergy.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>24d <u>Centres</u> supposing that holding company held up (4)</b></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Key to Reference Sources: </b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[1] </sup> - <i>The Chambers Dictionary, 11th Edition </i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[2] </sup> - <a href="http://www.chambers.co.uk/search.php"><b>Search Chambers</b></a> - (<i>Chambers 21st Century Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[3] </sup> - <a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/"><b>TheFreeDictionary.com</b></a> (<i>American Heritage Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[4] </sup> - <a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/"><b>TheFreeDictionary.com</b></a> (<i>Collins English Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[5] </sup> - <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/?region=uk"><b>Oxford Dictionaries</b></a> (<i>Oxford Dictionary of English</i>) </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[6] </sup> - <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/?region=us"><b>Oxford Dictionaries</b></a> (<i>Oxford American Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[7] </sup> - <b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page">Wikipedia</a></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[8] </sup> - <a href="http://dictionary.reverso.net/french-english/"><b>Reverso Online Dictionary</b></a> (<i>Collins French-English Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[9] </sup> - <a href="http://dictionary.infoplease.com/"><b>Infoplease</b></a> (<i>Random House Unabridged Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[10]</sup> - <a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/"><b>CollinsDictionary.com</b></a> (<i>Collins English Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[11]</sup> - <a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/"><b>TheFreeDictionary.com</b></a> (<i>Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary</i>)</span></blockquote>
Signing off for this week — Falcon
Falconhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07466858757398776500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4283491940842987165.post-24245082959799602402014-02-09T21:37:00.002-05:002014-02-09T21:37:59.453-05:00Sunday, February 9, 2014 — ST 4572<div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" style="height: 20px; width: 420px;"><tbody></tbody></table>
<table border="5" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" frame="BOX" rules="GROUPS" style="border-bottom-style: none; color: #274e13; height: 62px; width: 420px;"><tbody>
<tr><th colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 200%;"><b>Puzzle at a Glance</b></span></div>
</th> </tr>
</tbody></table>
<table border="5" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" frame="BOX" rules="GROUPS" style="height: 82px; width: 420px;"><tbody>
<tr><th colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-weight: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Puzzle Number in <i>The Sunday Times</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;">ST 4572</span>
</th> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Date of Publication in <i>The Sunday Times</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Sunday, January 12, 2014</b></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Setter</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Dean Mayer (Anax) </b></span></td> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Link to Full Review</span></span></div>
<a href="http://times-xwd-times.livejournal.com/1058838.html"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b><i>Times for the Times</i> [ST 4572]</b></span></a>
</td> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i>Times for the Times</i> Review Written By</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Dave Perry</b></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Dave Perry's Solving Time</span> </div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>★★★★ </b></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Date of Publication in the <i>Toronto Star</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Saturday, February 1, 2014</b></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Date of Publication in <i>The Vancouver Sun</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Saturday, February 8, 2014</b><sup><i>[Note 2]</i></sup></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Falcon's Experience</span> </div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;">┌────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┐</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;">████████</span><span style="color: cyan;">███████████████</span><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">█████</span><span style="color: #ccddbb;">███████</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;">└────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┘</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Legend:</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: blue;">█</span> - solved without assistance</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: orange;">█</span> - incorrect prior to use of puzzle solving tools</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: cyan;">█</span> - solved with assistance from puzzle solving tools</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">█</span> - solved with aid of checking letters provided by puzzle solving tools</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #a64d79;">█</span> - solved but without fully parsing the clue</span> </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: red;">█</span> - unsolved or incorrect prior to visiting <i>Times for the Times</i></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #660000;">█</span> - solved with aid of checking letters provided by solutions from <i>Times for the Times</i></span></div>
</td> </tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Notes</span></div>
<div>
<i>[1] This puzzle appears on the Sunday puzzles pages in the Saturday, February 8, 2014 edition of the Ottawa Citizen.</i><br />
<i>[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.</i></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
<div>
<br />
<h2>
Introduction
</h2>
Knowing that the duty roster would have Anax in the setter's chair today, I was prepared for a workout — and he certainly didn't disappoint. As you will see from the chart above, my electronic assistants were called into action early and often today. However, with their support, I did complete the puzzle.<br />
<br />
<h2>
Notes on Today's Puzzle
</h2>
<div style="font-size: x-small; text-align: center;">
<b><i>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.</i></b></div>
<h3>
Across</h3>
<br />
<div style="background-color: cyan;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>1a Said to include part <u>like M25</u>? (7)</b></span></div>
<br />
The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M25_motorway"><b>M25 motorway</b></a><sup>[7]</sup> or <b>London Orbital motorway</b> is a 117-mile (188 km) motorway that almost encircles Greater London, England, in the United Kingdom. <br />
<br />
In Britain, a <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/motorway?q=motorway"><b>motorway</b></a><span class="definition"><sup>[5]</sup> </span> is <span class="definition">a dual-carriageway road [<i>divided highway</i>] designed for fast traffic, with relatively few places for joining or leaving [<i>controlled access</i>].</span><br />
<br />
<span class="definition">In British English, <a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/orbital?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>orbital</b></a></span><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><sup>[10]</sup> </span> is another name for an <a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/orbital-road?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>orbital road</b></a></span><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><sup>[10]</sup></span></span>,</span><span class="def"> a highway that circles a metropolitan area; in other words, a ring road</span> ⇒ <i><span class="orth"><q>a new orbital road round Paris</q></span></i>.<br />
<br />
This is an example of an adjective being transformed into a noun. Although I definitely believe this practice to be more prevalent in the UK than in North America, it is not entirely absent here. For instance the Trans-Canada Highway is commonly called the Trans-Canada and, similarly, Americans often refer to an interstate highway simply as an interstate. <br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: cyan;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>5a <u>College</u> party — left after one round (7)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balliol_College,_Oxford"><b>Balliol College</b></a><sup>[7]</sup>, founded in 1263,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-OxFlier_2-0"></sup> is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: cyan;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>9a <u>Hound</u> by itself, adorable (9)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: #6fa8dc;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>10a <u>Perhaps bent</u> <u>copper may rely on him</u>? (5)</b></span></div>
<br />
A "copper", of course, is a police officer. In the surface reading, <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/bent?q=bent"><b>bent</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is used in an informal British sense meaning <span class="definition">dishonest or </span><span class="definition">corrupt [<i>in North America, one would undoubtedly say crooked</i>] </span>⇒ <i><q><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example">a bent cop</i></span></q></i><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"></span>.<br />
<br />
In the UK, <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/grass?q=grass"><b>grass</b></a><sup>[5]</sup>
is used informally as a noun to mean a police informer and as a verb
meaning to inform the police of someone’s criminal activities or plans ⇒
<q><i>someone had <b>grassed on</b> the thieves</i></q>. This expression may derive from rhyming slang (grasshopper = copper). <br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: cyan;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>11a <u>Technical term for "booby"?</u> (12)</b></span></div>
<br />
In his review, Dave Perry considers this "Something of a weak clue ...". I might add, a rather unexplainable clue from my perspective. However, I will make an attempt.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/solecistical?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>Solecistical</b></a><sup>[10]</sup> is another word for <b>solecistic</b>, an adjective that can be either (1) a grammatical term that means<span class="def"> relating to the nonstandard use of a grammatical construction </span>or (2) a formal term that denotes <span class="def">relating to any mistake, incongruity, or absurdity</span>.<br />
<br />
I was unable to find any evidence of <b>booby</b> being used as an adjective. However, in the UK, <a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/boob?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>boob</b></a><sup>[10]</sup> means <span class="def">an embarrassing mistake or blunder. Consequently, I suppose that <b>booby</b> might conceivably be used as adjective; for instance, "a booby performance" being one riddled with boobs.</span><br />
<span class="def"><br /></span>
<span class="def">As another possibility, <b>booby</b> might be another term for <b>boob</b> (in the sense of a mistake). In which case, perhaps we should interpret the clue as though it were phrased "technical term that might be applied to a 'booby'".</span><br />
<br />
By the way, does Dave Perry make a Freudian slip when he refers to "booby" as a "breast" (when I think he intended to say "breach")?<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: #6fa8dc;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>14a Half of country hampered by present <u>decline</u> (8)</b></span></div>
<br />
I arrived at a different explanation than did Dave Perry — one which I believe is also valid.<br />
<br />
Since "hampered" means "held back", it is both a containment indicator (held) and a reversal indicator (back). On this basis, I parsed the clue as GNA {a reversal (hampered) of ANG (half of ANG[OLA])} contained in (hampered) STATE (present).<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: cyan;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>15a <u>Chain</u> that Romeo is not after (6)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/Romeo?q=romeo"><b>Romeo</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is <span class="definition">a code word representing the letter R, used in radio communication.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="definition">Of course, it comes before — not after:</span><br />
<br />
<span class="definition"><a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/sierra?q=sierra"><b>Sierra</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is <span class="definition">a code word representing the letter S, used in radio communication.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="definition"><span class="definition"><span class="definition">Especially in Spanish-speaking countries or the western US, <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/sierra?q=sierra"><b>sierra</b></a></span></span></span><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><sup>[5]</sup> </span> is a name for a long jagged mountain chain.</span> </span> </span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>17a <u>I</u> shout about lunch? (6)</b></span></div>
<br />
In Britain, <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/oi?q=oi"><b>oi</b></a><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><span class="definition"></span></span></span><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><sup>[5]</sup> </span></span></span></span> (also <b>oy</b>) is an informal expression <span class="definition">used to attract someone’s attention, especially in a rough or angry way </span><span class="definition">⇒ <i>(i)</i></span><i> </i><span class="definition"></span><span class="definition"><i><q><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example">oi, don’t lean out</i></span></q></i></span><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"></span><i>; (ii)</i><span class="definition"></span><i> </i><span class="definition"></span><span class="definition"><i><q><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example"><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example">oi, taxi!</i></span></i></span></q></i></span>.<br />
<br />
<span class="definition">The symbol for the chemical element <b>iodine</b> is <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/I--3"><b>I</b></a></span><span class="definition"><sup>[5]</sup>.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: cyan;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>18a <u>Bunker</u> is a mountain around second tee (8)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/ben?q=ben"><b>Ben</b></a><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><span class="definition"></span></span></span><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><sup>[5]</sup> </span></span></span></span> is a Scottish term (used <span class="definition">especially in place names</span>) for <span class="definition">a high mountain or mountain peak </span><span class="definition">⇒ </span><span class="definition"></span><span class="definition"><i><q><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example"><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example"><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example">Ben Nevis</i></span></i></span></i></span></q></i></span><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"></span>. By the way, <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Ben-Nevis?q=Ben+Nevis"><b>Ben Nevis</b></a><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><span class="definition"></span></span></span><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><sup>[5]</sup> </span></span></span></span> is <span class="definition">a mountain in western Scotland. Rising to 1,343 m (4,406 ft), it is the highest mountain in the British Isles.</span><br />
<br />
In Britain, <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/bunk?q=bunk#bunk-3"><b>bunk</b><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><span class="definition"></span></span></span></a><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><sup>[5]</sup> </span></span></span></span> (usually <b>bunk off</b>) means to <span class="definition">abscond or play truant from school or work </span><span class="definition">⇒ </span><i></i><span class="definition"></span><span class="definition"><i><q><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example"><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example">he bunked off school all week</i></span></i></span></q></i></span><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"></span>.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: #a64d79;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>20a <u>How first letters appear, for example</u> (12)</b></span></div>
<br />
Although I did solve the clue, I didn't understand the significance of the word "first" until I read Dave Perry's review.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>23a Username one changed to "<u>bonehead</u>" (5)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: cyan;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>24a Reduced temperature in putting on <u>pepper</u> (9)</b></span></div>
<br />
<b>Pepper</b> is an example of a <b>stimulant</b>, thus Dave Perry's reference to "DBE" (definition by example).<br />
<br />
The wordplay is T (reduced [<i>first letter of</i>] <u><b>T</b></u>emperature) contained in (in) SIMULANT (putting on).<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/simulant?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>Simulant</b></a><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><sup>[5]</sup> </span></span></span></span> is an adjective meaning <b>simulating</b> — which I assume is a present participle used as an adjective. I must say that I at a total loss as to how one might use "simulating" as an adjective.<br />
<br />
While "putting on" and "simulating" are synonymous as verbs, I can't fathom that "putting on" could possibly be used as an adjective — but, then, I also questioned "simulating".<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>25a Rejected song for one home <u>nation</u> (7)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: cyan;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>26a <u>Was annoyance</u> driven by desire? (7)</b></span></div>
<br />
<h3>
Down</h3>
<br />
<div style="background-color: #6fa8dc;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>1d Huge houses work? <u>I'm wrong</u> (4)</b></span></div>
<br />
The wordplay is OS (huge) containing (houses) OP (work).<br />
<br />
The sizes of clothing that North Americans would describe as <b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plus-size_clothing"><i>plus-size</i></a></b><sup>[7]</sup> (or often <b><i>big and tall</i></b> in the case of men's clothing) would be called <b>outsize</b> (<b><a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/OS?q=OS">OS</a></b><sup>[5]</sup>) in Britain.<br />
<br />
In music, <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Op."><b>Op.</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> (also <b>op.</b>) is an abbreviation meaning <i>opus</i> (work). It is used before a number given to each work of a particular composer, usually indicating the order of publication. <br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: cyan;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>2d <u>No fun</u> being <u>carried</u> (4)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>3d Hairy Hen, term for giant <u>hangover</u> (3,7,5)</b></span></div>
<br />
I could find no evidence that "Hairy Hen" refers to anything in particular.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: #6fa8dc;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>4d A river with new crossing? <u>I'm honoured</u> (8)</b></span></div>
<br />
The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_Ure"><b>River Ure</b></a><sup>[7]</sup>
is a stream in North Yorkshire, England, approximately 74 miles (119 km)
long from its source to the point where it changes name to the River
Ouse.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: cyan;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>5d Potion is <u>northern broth</u> (6)</b></span></div>
<br />
In various dialects (Northern English in particular, as well as Canadian and US), <a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/brewis?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>brewis</b></a><sup>[10]</sup>
(or <b>brevis</b>) means a <span class="def">thickened broth.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: cyan;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>6d <u>Easy reading</u>, I agree, till truth comes out (5,10)</b></span></div>
<br />
Although I did not find the term "light literature" in any dictionary, I did find a couple of examples of its use.<br />
<br />
An article in Wikipedia on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Fancourt"><b>Samuel Fancourt</b></a><sup>[7]</sup>, who established the first circulating library in London in the mid-eighteenth century, states "The library contained two or three thousand bound volumes and about the
same number of pamphlets; from a third to a half of the books and
pamphlets consisted of theology and ecclesiastical history and
controversy, and only about a tenth of it was ‘light’ literature."<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/light-literature"><b>Goodreads</b></a>, self-proclaimed as "the world’s largest site for readers and book
recommendations", has a "Light Literature" category.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: cyan;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>7d Is it OK for me to turn clergyman <u>out</u>? (10)</b></span></div>
<br />
The wordplay is a reversal (to turn) of CAN I (is it OK for me) + CURATE (clergyman).<br />
<br />
A <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/curate"><b>curate</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is <span class="definition">a member of the clergy engaged as assistant to a vicar, rector, or parish priest.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: #6fa8dc;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>8d Joe and what he was — <u>a real bargain</u> (4,6)</b></span></div>
<br />
<b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Loss">Joe Loss</a></b><sup>[7]</sup><b> </b>(1909–1990) was a British musician popular during the British dance band era, and was founder [<i>and leader</i>] of the Joe Loss Orchestra.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>12d Energy — I'm in place to make <u>a guess</u> (10)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: cyan;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>13d Health & Safety call about papa's <u>tumble</u> (10)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/papa?q=papa"><b>Papa</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is <span class="definition">a code word representing the letter P, used in radio communication.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>16d <u>Glass bottle may be in this</u> bin as I do juggling (8)</b></span></div>
<br />
I interpret the definition to mean "glass bottle may be [<i>made from</i>] this [<i>material</i>]".<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/obsidian?q=obsidian"><b>Obsidian</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is <span class="definition">a hard, dark, glass-like volcanic rock formed by the rapid solidification of lava without crystallization.</span> According to <a href="http://web.prm.ox.ac.uk/bodyarts/index.php/temporary-body-arts/toiletries/53-makeshift-razors.html"><b>an article</b></a> on the website of The Pitt Rivers Museum at the University of Oxford, "When knapped finely using a
bone or antler pressure-flaker, its crystalline structure produces an
edge that is just as sharp as metal. For this reason it has been used
for tools and weapons for thousands of years." However, it is hard to imagine this material being used to make bottles — other than in fantasy role-playing games such as <a href="http://wiki.fallensword.com/index.php/Obsidian_Bottle"><b><i>Fallen Sword</i></b></a>.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: cyan;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>19d <u>Old country</u>, a country that was unfinished (6)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Siam?q=Siam"><b>Siam</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> was the <span class="definition">former name (until 1939) for Thailand.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: cyan;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>21d "Am I bovvered?", Lauren's first <u>communication</u> (4)</b></span></div>
<br />
"Am I bovvered?" is the catchphrase of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lauren_Cooper"><b>Lauren Cooper</b></a><sup>[7]</sup>, a fictional character created by English comedian <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catherine_Tate"><b>Catherine Tate</b></a><sup>[7]</sup>. The replacement of "th" by "v" (or, in this case, "vv" — presumably done to preserve the short "o" sound) is a characteristic of the Cockney dialect (among others).<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>22d <u>Boss</u> sees work unfinished (4)</b></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Key to Reference Sources: </b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[1] </sup> - <i>The Chambers Dictionary, 11th Edition </i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[2] </sup> - <a href="http://www.chambers.co.uk/search.php"><b>Search Chambers</b></a> - (<i>Chambers 21st Century Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[3] </sup> - <a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/"><b>TheFreeDictionary.com</b></a> (<i>American Heritage Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[4] </sup> - <a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/"><b>TheFreeDictionary.com</b></a> (<i>Collins English Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[5] </sup> - <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/?region=uk"><b>Oxford Dictionaries</b></a> (<i>Oxford Dictionary of English</i>) </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[6] </sup> - <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/?region=us"><b>Oxford Dictionaries</b></a> (<i>Oxford American Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[7] </sup> - <b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page">Wikipedia</a></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[8] </sup> - <a href="http://dictionary.reverso.net/french-english/"><b>Reverso Online Dictionary</b></a> (<i>Collins French-English Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[9] </sup> - <a href="http://dictionary.infoplease.com/"><b>Infoplease</b></a> (<i>Random House Unabridged Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[10]</sup> - <a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/"><b>CollinsDictionary.com</b></a> (<i>Collins English Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[11]</sup> - <a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/"><b>TheFreeDictionary.com</b></a> (<i>Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary</i>)</span></blockquote>
Signing off for this week — Falcon
</div>
Falconhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07466858757398776500noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4283491940842987165.post-45604987998854006142014-02-02T15:23:00.000-05:002014-02-02T15:23:23.633-05:00Sunday, February 2, 2014 — ST 4571<div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" style="height: 20px; width: 420px;"><tbody></tbody></table>
<table border="5" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" frame="BOX" rules="GROUPS" style="border-bottom-style: none; color: #274e13; height: 62px; width: 420px;"><tbody>
<tr><th colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 200%;"><b>Puzzle at a Glance</b></span></div>
</th> </tr>
</tbody></table>
<table border="5" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" frame="BOX" rules="GROUPS" style="height: 82px; width: 420px;"><tbody>
<tr><th colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-weight: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Puzzle Number in <i>The Sunday Times</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;">ST 4571</span>
</th> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Date of Publication in <i>The Sunday Times</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Sunday, January 5, 2014</b></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Setter</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Jeff Pearce </b></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Link to Full Review</span></span></div>
<a href="http://times-xwd-times.livejournal.com/1057428.html"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b><i>Times for the Times</i> [ST 4571]</b></span></a>
</td> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i>Times for the Times</i> Review Written By</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Dave Perry</b></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Dave Perry's Solving Time</span> </div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>★★★★</b></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Date of Publication in the <i>Toronto Star</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Saturday, January 25, 2014</b></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Date of Publication in <i>The Vancouver Sun</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Saturday, February 1, 2014</b><i><sup>[Note 2]</sup></i></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Falcon's Experience</span> </div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;">┌────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┐</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;">██████████████████████</span><span style="color: cyan;">███████</span><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">█</span><span style="color: #ccddbb;">█████</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;">└────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┘</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Legend:</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: blue;">█</span> - solved without assistance</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: orange;">█</span> - incorrect prior to use of puzzle solving tools</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: cyan;">█</span> - solved with assistance from puzzle solving tools</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">█</span> - solved with aid of checking letters provided by puzzle solving tools</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: red;">█</span> - unsolved or incorrect prior to visiting <i>Times for the Times</i></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #ea9999;">█</span> - solved with aid of checking letters provided by solutions from <i>Times for the Times</i></span></div>
</td> </tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Notes</span></div>
<div>
<br />
<i>[1] This puzzle appears on the Sunday puzzles pages in the Saturday, February 1, 2014 edition of the Ottawa Citizen.</i><br />
<br />
<i>[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.</i></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
<div>
<br />
<h2>
Introduction
</h2>
In this puzzle, I hit a wall just past the two thirds mark. In hindsight, I should have been able to solve a few more clues without the help of my electronic assistants. Perhaps I would have, if I had set the puzzle aside for a while. However, I was anxious to get on with writing the blog and other tasks that were awaiting my attention.<br />
<br />
<h2>
Notes on Today's Puzzle
</h2>
<div style="font-size: x-small; text-align: center;">
<b><i>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.</i></b></div>
<br />
<h3>
Across</h3>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>1a <u>Being against</u> <u>the bar</u> (7)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>5a <u>When you buy them crabs might be</u> <u>curried</u> (7)</b></span></div>
<br />
In the former definition, <a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/dress?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>dress</b></a><sup>[10]</sup> is used in the sense of <span class="def">to prepare (food, esp fowl and fish) for cooking or serving by cleaning, trimming,
gutting, etc. In the latter, it means to </span><span class="def"> to convert (tanned hides) into leather.</span><br />
<span class="def"><br /></span>
<span class="def"><a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/curry?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>Curry</b></a></span><span class="def"><sup>[10]</sup> means to </span><span class="def">to dress and finish (leather) after it has been tanned to make it strong, flexible,
and waterproof.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>9a English politician fixes <u>drains</u> (7)</b></span></div>
<br />
<span class="definition">In many Commonwealth countries (including Britain and Canada), <span class="def">a member of the House of Commons or similar legislative body</span> is known as a <a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/member-of-parliament?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>Member of Parliament</b></a><sup>[10]</sup> (or <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/MP?q=MP"><b>MP</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> for short). </span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>10a Extremely beautiful introduction without <u>question</u> (7)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: cyan;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>11a Cricket captain introduces fast drivers and <u>scorer</u> (7,8)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Vaughan"><b>Michael Vaughan</b></a><sup>[7]</sup> is a retired cricketer who represented Yorkshire and England<sup>[Note 1]</sup>. Vaughan captained England in 51 Tests<sup>[Note 2]</sup> between 2003 and 2008, winning 26
(a national record) and losing 11; England won all seven home Tests of
the 2004 summer under Vaughan, and the pinnacle of his captaincy career
came with a 2–1 victory in the 2005 Ashes<sup>[Note 3]</sup>, eighteen years after England had last won the trophy.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
[Note 1] England refers to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/England_cricket_team"><b>England cricket team</b></a><sup>[7]</sup>, the team that represents England and Wales (and until 1992 also Scotland) in international cricket.<br />
<br />
[Note 2] A <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/test?q=Test"><b>Test</b></a> (short for <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Test+match"><b>Test match</b></a>)<sup>[5]</sup> is <span class="definition">an international cricket or rugby match, typically one of a series, played between teams representing two different countries</span>.<br />
<br />
[Note 3] <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/ash"><b>The Ashes</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> <span class="definition">is a trophy for the winner of a series of Test matches [<i>which are also commonly referred to as the Ashes</i>] in a cricket season between England and Australia. The name arises from </span>a mock obituary notice published in the <i>Sporting Times</i>
(2 September 1882), with reference to the symbolical remains of English
cricket being taken to Australia after a sensational victory by the
Australians at the Oval [<i>an international cricket
ground in Kennington, in the London Borough of Lambeth</i>].</blockquote>
The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Williams_F1"><b>Williams F1 Team</b></a><sup>[7]</sup> (popularly known simply as <b>Williams</b>) is is a British Formula One motor racing team.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Vaughan-Williams-Ralph?q=Vaughan+Williams"><b>Vaughan Williams</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> (1872–1958) was an <span class="definition">English composer. His strongly melodic music
frequently reflects his interest in Tudor composers and English folk
songs. Notable works: <em class=""> Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis</em> (1910), <em class=""> A London Symphony</em> (1914), and the Mass in G minor (1922).</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: cyan;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>12a Kid with crone's <u>odds and sods</u> (6)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>14a <u>Girl</u> put bolt on sty (8)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: cyan;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>17a Faddish diet in Swiss town <u>that causes revolt</u> (8)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sion,_Switzerland"><b>Sion</b></a><sup>[7]</sup> is the capital of the Swiss canton of Valais. As of December 2012 it had a population of 31,207.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>18a Starts to struggle with long <u>herringbone</u>? (6)</b></span></div>
<br />
In this clue, "starts" is an initialism indicator — an indicator that tells us to select the initial letter(s) from a portion of the fodder. Since the indicator is in the plural, it could signify that we need the first letter from each of multiple words in the fodder or that we need multiple letters (usually two, which is the smallest number to satisfy the criterion) from a single word in the fodder. In this case, the correct choice turns out to be the latter.<br />
<br />
The wordplay parses as ST (starts to [<i>first letters of</i>] <u><b>ST</b></u>ruggle) + (with) ITCH (long).<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/herringbone?q=herringbone+stitch#herringbone__5"><b>Herringbone</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> <span class="variantGroup">(also <b><span class="variant">herringbone stitch</span></b>)</span><span class="definition"> is a cross-stitch with a pattern resembling herringbone, used in embroidery or for securing an edge.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>21a <u>Citronella, say</u>, I sell with ten percent off (6,9)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>24a Might bad map readers <u>beat it</u>? (3,4)</b></span></div>
<br />
Dave Perry characterises this clue as a double definition, and I suppose that he may be correct. Certainly, if the clue were phrased as a statement rather than a question, I would have no hesitation in agreeing. That is, if the clue were:<br />
<ul>
<li><u><b>Bad map readers might</b></u> <b><u>beat it</u> </b>(3,4)</li>
</ul>
then "bad map readers might" could well lead to the result 'get lost'.<br />
<br />
However, when posed as a question, the phrase "might bad map readers" does not seem to stand on its own as a definition. Perhaps those who view the clue as a double definition might argue that the inclusion of the question mark excuses the awkwardness in the first definition.<br />
<br />
I may be wrong, but I would prefer to characterise the phrase "might bad map readers" as a subsidiary indication.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>25a <u>Denier</u> abandoned Christ after start of ordeal (7)</b></span></div>
<br />
As an anagram indicator, <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/abandon?q=abandon"><b>abandon</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is used in the sense of <span class="definition">complete lack of inhibition or restraint </span>⇒ <i><q><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example">she sings and sways with total abandon</i></span></q></i> or, as <i>The Chambers Dictionary</i> defines <b>abandon</b><sup>[1]</sup>, careless freedom of action.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>26a <u>Rouse</u> swimmer found in drink (5,2)</b></span></div>
<br />
As a verb, <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/sup?rskey=vKrO7O&result=1#m_en_gb0829990"><b>sup</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is a dated or Northern English term meaning to take (drink or liquid food) by sips or spoonfuls ⇒ <i>(i) </i><i><q><i>she <b>supped up</b> her soup delightedly</i></q></i><i>; </i><i><i>(ii)</i> </i><i><i><q><i>h</i><i>e was supping straight from the bottle</i></q></i></i>. As a noun, it means (1) a sip of liquid ⇒ <i><q><i>he took another sup of wine</i></q></i> or (2) in Northern England or Ireland, an alcoholic drink ⇒ <i><q><i>the latest sup from those blokes at the brewery</i></q></i>. <br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>27a <u>Cunning</u> actress grabbed by The Saint (7)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Leigh-Vivien?q=Leigh%2C+Vivien"><b>Vivien Leigh</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> <span class="definition"><span class="dateGroup">(<span class="date">1913–1967</span>) was a</span> British actress, born in India; born Vivian Mary Hartley. She won Oscars for her performances in <em class=""> Gone with the Wind</em> (1939) and <em class=""> A Streetcar Named Desire</em> (1951). She was married to Laurence Olivier from 1940 to 1961.</span><br />
<br />
<b><a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Leigh-Janet?q=Janet+Leigh">Janet Leigh</a></b><sup>[5]</sup> <span class="definition"><span class="dateGroup">(<span class="date">1927–2004</span>)</span> was a US actress. Best known for her role in Alfred Hitchcock’s <em class=""> Psycho</em> (1960), she appeared in more than fifty other films, including <em class=""> Little Women</em> (1949) and <em class=""> The Manchurian Candidate</em> (1962).</span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_Templar"><b>Simon Templar</b></a><sup>[7]</sup> is a British fictional character known as <b>The Saint</b>. He featured in a long-running series of books by Singapore-born, British-American author Leslie Charteris
(1907–1993) published between 1928 and 1963. After that date, other authors
collaborated with Charteris on books until 1983; two additional works
produced without Charteris’s participation were published in 1997. The
character has also been portrayed in motion pictures, radio dramas, comic strips, comic books and three television series.<br />
<br />
<h3>
Down</h3>
<br />
<div style="background-color: #6fa8dc;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>1d Expert carrying a <u>19</u> (7)</b></span></div>
<br />
The number "19" is a cross-reference indicator, signifying that the solution to clue 19d must be inserted here to complete the clue. The solution to 19d is, in fact, the definition in this clue.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: cyan;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>2d <u>Acoustic</u> number promoted by union (9)</b></span></div>
<br />
I can't explain why I didn't solve this clue without help — especially since I had the first two checking letters.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: cyan;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>3d <u>A joint</u> gets you stoned after a short time (5)</b></span></div>
<br />
A <a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/joint?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>joint</b></a><sup>[10]</sup> is <span class="def">one of the parts into which a carcass of meat is cut by the butcher, especially for roasting.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>4d <u>Feel bitter</u> about being posted again (6)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>5d Perv died being tortured and <u>stripped</u> (8)</b></span></div>
<br />
A <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/perv?q=perv"><b>perv</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is an informal term for a <span class="definition">a sexual pervert.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>6d Lemon tile designed to be <u>soothing</u> (9)</b></span></div>
<br />
Note that the solution is an adjective, not a noun.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>7d Girl's a <u>saucy dish</u> (5)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>8d <u>Large estate</u> seemed strange round London's East End (7)</b></span></div>
<br />
A <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/demesne?q=demesne"><b>demesne</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is <span class="definition">a piece of land attached to a manor and retained by the owner for their own use </span>⇒ <i><q><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"> <em class="example">because labour was cheap, there were ample advantages in cultivating the demesne</em></span></q></i><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"></span>.<br />
<br />
The <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/East-End?q=East+End"><b>East End</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is <span class="definition">the part of London east of the City</span><span class="definition"><sup>[Note 1]</sup> as far as the River Lea, including the Docklands. </span>Note that the the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_End_of_London"><b>East End</b></a><span class="definition"><sup>[7]</sup> </span> is part of — and not to be confused with — <b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_London" title="East London">East London</a></b><span class="definition"><sup>[7]</sup></span>, which covers a much wider area. <br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
[Note 1] Here, <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/city?q=city"><b>the City</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is short for the City of London. Note, however, that the <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/City+of+London?region=uk"><b>City of London</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is not the same thing as the city of <b>London</b>, but merely the part of London situated within the ancient boundaries and governed by the Lord Mayor and the <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/corporation?q=Corporation"><b>Corporation</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> [in Britain, a group of people elected to govern a city, town, or borough ⇒ <i><q><i>the City of London Corporation</i></q></i>].</blockquote>
<div style="background-color: cyan;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>13d Design detailed necklace about one <u>plant</u> (9)</b></span></div>
<br />
"Detailed" is a curtailment indicator, signifying the removal of the final letter of a word (removal of tail, or de-tailing).<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>15d Old collection of books – making use of 19 <u>in flight</u>? (2,3,4)</b></span></div>
<br />
The word "books" (in this case, "collection of books") is often used to clue either the Old Testament (OT) or the New Testament (NT).<br />
<br />
Once again, the number "19" is a cross reference indicator [see comment for 1d].<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: cyan;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>16d Dogs, say, cross over for <u>chunk of bread</u> (8)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/doorstep?q=doorstep"><b>Doorstep</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is an informal British term for <span class="definition">a thick slice of bread </span>⇒ <i><q><i><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><em class="example">doorstep sandwiches</em></span></i></q></i><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><em class="transivityStatement"></em></span>.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>17d Sot with gins reordered <u>drinks</u> (7)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/stingo?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>Stingo</b></a><span class="definition"><sup>[10]</sup> </span> is slang for <span class="def">a strong, sharp alcoholic beverage or old beer. <i>The Chambers Dictionary</i> defines <b>stingo</b></span><span class="def"><span class="definition"><sup>[1]</sup> </span> as obsolete slang for strong malt liquor. I found the word in only one other source, <i>Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary</i> (1913) which defines <a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/stingo"><b>stingo</b></a> as </span>(1)old beer or (2) sharp or strong liquor ⇒ <i><q><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example">Shall I set a cup of old <span class="myself">stingo</span> at your elbow?</i></span></q></i> - Addison [<i>presumably English writer Joseph Addison (1672–1719)</i>].<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>19d <u>Weapon buried to cease fighting</u> (7)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>20d Sailing ships capsized by <u>winds</u> (6)</b></span></div>
<br />
As a definition, winds is a verb.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>22d South left out of extreme <u>Indian rule</u> (5)</b></span></div>
<br />
A <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/sutra?q=sutra"><b>sutra</b></a><span class="definition"><sup>[5]</sup> </span> is <span class="definition">a rule or aphorism in Sanskrit literature, or a set of these on grammar or Hindu law or philosophy.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>23d Second short <u>coffee</u> (5)</b></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Key to Reference Sources: </b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[1] </sup> - <i>The Chambers Dictionary, 11th Edition </i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[2] </sup> - <a href="http://www.chambers.co.uk/search.php"><b>Search Chambers</b></a> - (<i>Chambers 21st Century Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[3] </sup> - <a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/"><b>TheFreeDictionary.com</b></a> (<i>American Heritage Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[4] </sup> - <a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/"><b>TheFreeDictionary.com</b></a> (<i>Collins English Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[5] </sup> - <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/?region=uk"><b>Oxford Dictionaries</b></a> (<i>Oxford Dictionary of English</i>) </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[6] </sup> - <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/?region=us"><b>Oxford Dictionaries</b></a> (<i>Oxford American Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[7] </sup> - <b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page">Wikipedia</a></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[8] </sup> - <a href="http://dictionary.reverso.net/french-english/"><b>Reverso Online Dictionary</b></a> (<i>Collins French-English Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[9] </sup> - <a href="http://dictionary.infoplease.com/"><b>Infoplease</b></a> (<i>Random House Unabridged Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[10]</sup> - <a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/"><b>CollinsDictionary.com</b></a> (<i>Collins English Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[11]</sup> - <a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/"><b>TheFreeDictionary.com</b></a> (<i>Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary</i>)</span></blockquote>
Signing off for this week — Falcon
</div>
Falconhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07466858757398776500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4283491940842987165.post-30288229299051733562014-01-26T16:07:00.000-05:002014-01-26T16:07:01.339-05:00Sunday, January 26, 2014 — ST 4570<div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" style="height: 20px; width: 420px;"><tbody></tbody></table>
<table border="5" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" frame="BOX" rules="GROUPS" style="border-bottom-style: none; color: #274e13; height: 62px; width: 420px;"><tbody>
<tr><th colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 200%;"><b>Puzzle at a Glance</b></span></div>
</th> </tr>
</tbody></table>
<table border="5" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" frame="BOX" rules="GROUPS" style="height: 82px; width: 420px;"><tbody>
<tr><th colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-weight: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Puzzle Number in <i>The Sunday Times</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;">ST 4570</span>
</th> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Date of Publication in <i>The Sunday Times</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Sunday, December 29, 2013</b></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Setter</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Tim Moorey</b></span></td> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Link to Full Review</span></span></div>
<a href="http://times-xwd-times.livejournal.com/1054506.html"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b><i>Times for the Times</i> [ST 4570]</b></span></a>
</td> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i>Times for the Times</i> Review Written By</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Dave Perry</b></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Dave Perry's Solving Time</span> </div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>★★</b></span><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b></b><sup>[<i>Note 2</i>]</sup></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Date of Publication in the <i>Toronto Star</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Saturday, January 18, 2014</b></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Date of Publication in <i>The Vancouver Sun</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Saturday, January 25, 2014</b><sup>[<i>Note 2</i>]</sup></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Falcon's Experience</span> </div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;">┌────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┐</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;">████████████████████████████</span><span style="color: cyan;">█</span><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">█</span><span style="color: #ccddbb;">█████</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;">└────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┘</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Legend:</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: blue;">█</span> - solved without assistance</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: orange;">█</span> - incorrect prior to use of puzzle solving tools</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: cyan;">█</span> - solved with assistance from puzzle solving tools</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">█</span> - solved with aid of checking letters provided by puzzle solving tools</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #d5a6bd;">█</span> - solved but without being able to fully parse the clue</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: red;">█</span> - unsolved or incorrect prior to visiting <i>Times for the Times</i></span></div>
</td> </tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Notes</span></div>
<div>
<i>[1] This puzzle appears on the Sunday puzzles pages in the Saturday, January 25, 2014 edition of the Ottawa Citizen.</i><br />
<br />
<i>[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.</i><br />
<br />
<i><i>[3] Excludes additional parsing time. In his review, Dave Perry states "</i></i><i><i>Solving time: About 25 minutes to solve, but much longer to parse."</i> </i></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
<div>
<br />
<h2>
Introduction
</h2>
This is a puzzle where I often arrived at the solution without having parsed the clue — and where it frequently took longer to parse the clue than than to find the solution, and longer yet to research and compose the blog entry.<br />
<br />
<h2>
Notes on Today's Puzzle
</h2>
<div style="font-size: x-small; text-align: center;">
<b><i>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.</i></b></div>
<br />
<h3>
Across</h3>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>1a Midshipman before leaving is <u>relaxed</u> (4-5)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr_Midshipman_Easy"><i><b>Mr. Midshipman Easy</b></i></a><sup>[7]</sup>
is an 1836 novel by British author Frederick Marryat (1792–1848), a
retired captain in the 19th century Royal Navy. The novel is set during
the Napoleonic Wars, in which Marryat himself served with distinction.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: #d5a6bd;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>6a <u>Nag</u> man to adopt a change of direction (4)</b></span></div>
<br />
I was so obsessed with the idea that the final letter must signify "east" that I failed to notice the other directional indicator.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/nag?q=nag#nag-2"><b>Nag</b></a><sup>[5]</sup>
is used in the sense of <span class="definition">a horse, especially one that is old or in poor health.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>8a <u>Eastern language</u> that's secure reportedly (3)</b></span></div>
<br />
According to <i>Collins English Dictionary</i>, <a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/tai?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>Tai</b></a><sup>[10]</sup>
is a variant spelling of <b>Thai</b>. However, <i>Oxford Dictionaries Online</i> states that <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/tai?q=Tai#Tai"><b>Tai</b></a><sup>[5]</sup>
is an adjective <span class="definition">relating to or denoting a family of tonal southeast
Asian languages, including Thai and Lao, of uncertain affinity to other
language groups (sometimes being linked with the Sino-Tibetan family).</span><br />
<br />
<span class="definition">As one comment on <i>Times for the Times</i> puts it:</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="definition">... </span><span class="definition">for completeness' sake: "Tai" is not another way of spelling "Thai".
Rather, Thai is one of several Tai languages. To avoid confusion,
"Siamese" is still favoured in some circles to refer to the Thai
language. </span></blockquote>
However, while the definition in the <i>Chambers 21st Century Dictionary</i><sup>[<a href="http://www.chambers.co.uk/search.php?query=Tai&title=21st"><b>2</b></a>]</sup>
corresponds to that in <i>Collins</i>, American dictionaries (<i>The American Heritage Dictionary</i> and <i>Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary</i>) list both meanings<sup>[<b><a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Tai">3,11</a></b>]</sup>.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>9a <u>What a commercial fisherman takes home?</u> (3,8)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>11a <u>Rod</u>'s <u>game</u> (5)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>12a <u>Novel</u> joke named as a winner (9)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/nap?q=nap#nap-3"><b>Nap</b></a><sup>[5]</sup>
is a British term meaning to <span class="definition">name (a horse or greyhound) as a probable winner of a race </span>⇒ <i><q><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example">Harbinger is napped to win the Novices' Hurdle</i></span></q></i><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"></span>.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kidnapped_%28novel%29"><i><b>Kidnapped</b></i></a><sup>[7]</sup>
is a historical fiction adventure novel by Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson (1850–1894). <br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>13a No quiet idle chats, <u>they're noisy</u> (7)</b></span></div>
<br />
<b>Piano</b><sup>[<a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/piano"><b>3</b></a>,<a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/piano--2"><b>5</b></a>]</sup> (<i>abbreviation</i> <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/p"><b>p</b></a><sup>[5]</sup>), is a musical direction meaning either (as an adjective) soft or quiet or (as an adverb) softly or quietly. <br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>14a <u>Traditional clothing</u> worn in minaret (7)</b></span></div>
<br />
The anagram indicator in this clue, "worn in", is one of many of several found in this puzzle that are — shall we say — thought provoking. Although I did not the term in any dictionary, I presume that "wear in" is synonymous with "break in" — something you might need to do, for instance, with a pair of new shoes before they feel comfortable.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/raiment?q=raiment"><b>Raiment</b></a><sup>[5]</sup>
is an archaic or literary term for clothing ⇒ <i><q><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example"><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example">ladies clothed in raiment bedecked with jewels</i></span></i></span></q></i>. The use of the adjective "traditional" in the clue alludes to the fact that the solution is an archaic word.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>16a Get Gale under the table? <u>One's there already!</u> (4-3)</b></span></div>
<br />
As an anagram indicator, <a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/under-the-table?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>under the table</b></a><sup>[10]</sup> is used in the sense of drunk rather than <span class="def">done illicitly and secretly.</span><br />
<br />
A <a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/gate-leg-table?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>gate-leg table</b></a><sup>[10]</sup> is a table with one or two drop leaves that are supported when in use by a hinged leg [<i>gate-leg</i>] swung out from the frame.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>18a Loud recorded <u>beat</u> (7)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/forte--2"><b>Forte</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> (<i>abbreviation</i> <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/f?q=f"><b>f</b></a><sup>[5]</sup>) is a musical direction meaning (as an adjective) loud or (as an adverb) loudly.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>19a Fastidious, having not a bit of pepper <u>on the joint</u> (9)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>21a <u>Horses</u> groomed in Basra (5)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>23a School grant in time <u>ending</u> (ll)</b></span></div>
<br />
As an anagram indicator, <b>school</b> is used as a verb meaning to train.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>24a <u>Bachelor's last words almost</u> in language designed for everyone (3)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ido_%28language%29"><b>Ido</b></a><sup>[7]</sup> is a language created to be a universal second language for speakers of
diverse backgrounds. Ido was specifically designed to be grammatically, orthographically, and lexicographically regular, and above all easy to learn and use. In this sense, Ido is classified as a constructed international auxiliary language. Ido was created in 1907 out of a desire to reform perceived flaws in Esperanto, a language that had been created for the same purpose 20 years earlier.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: #d5a6bd;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>25a England's opening bowler disheartened <u>in a short time</u> (4)</b></span></div>
<br />
I was able to decipher the overall intent of the setter, but didn't identify the specific cricketer referenced by the clue.<br />
<br />
England refers to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/England_cricket_team"><b>England cricket team</b></a><sup>[7]</sup>, the team that represents England and Wales (and until 1992 also Scotland) in international cricket.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Anderson_%28cricketer%29"><b>Jimmy Anderson</b></a><sup>[7]</sup> is an English cricketer who plays first-class cricket for Lancashire
and has also represented England in
over 80 Test matches and over 160 One Day Internationals.<br />
<br />
A <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/test?q=Test"><b>Test</b></a> (short for <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Test+match"><b>Test match</b></a>)<sup>[5]</sup> is <span class="definition">an international cricket or rugby match, typically one of a series, played between teams representing two different countries </span>⇒ <i><q><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example">the Test match between Pakistan and the West Indies</i></span></q></i>. <br />
<br />
I am really not sure why Anderson is referred to as "England's opening bowler". On occasion, especially earlier in his career, he seems to have been an opening bowler (one of the two bowlers who start a match) but I could find no evidence that he continues to regularly fill this role. Of course, he may well do so — as my knowledge of cricket is rather rudimentary and my investigation was rather cursory.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>26a <u>With which a deer sees what's happened?</u> (9)</b></span></div>
<br />
A <a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/hind?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>hind</b></a><sup>[10]</sup> is <span class="def">the female of the deer, especially the red deer when aged three years or more.</span><br />
<br />
<h3>
Down</h3>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>1d Most excellent father starts to drop off in <u>bar</u> (5)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/estop?q=estop"><b>Estop</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> (usually found in the phrase <b>be estopped from</b>) is a legal term meaning to <span class="definition">bar or preclude by estoppel </span>⇒ <i><q><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example"><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example">the company may be estopped from denying either statement</i></span></i></span></q></i><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example"></i></span>. In his review, Dave Perry indicates that "in bar" may suggest that this is a legal term — although the word does, in fact, mean "bar".<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/estoppel?q=estoppel"><b>Estoppel</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is the legal principle <span class="definition">which precludes a person from asserting
something contrary to what is implied by a previous action or statement
of that person or by a previous pertinent judicial determination:</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>2d <u>Don't give up</u> a despicable person after criticism (5,2,2)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/tit?q=tit#tit-2"><b>Tit</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is British slang for <span class="definition"> a foolish or ineffectual person.</span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/stick?q=stick#stick-2"><span class="definition"><b>Stick</b></span></a><span class="definition"><sup>[5]</sup> is an informal British term for </span><span class="definition">severe criticism or treatment </span>⇒ <i><q><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example"><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example"><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example">I <b>took a lot of stick</b> from the press</i></span></i></span></i></span></q></i><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"></span>.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>3d <u>Poll</u> tree in fall, for example, once fine leaves lost (7,8)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>4d How directors make a film for <u>new recruits</u> (7)</b></span></div>
<br />
An <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/intake?q=intake"><b>intake</b></a><a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/stick?q=stick#stick-2"><span class="definition"></span></a><span class="definition"><sup>[5]</sup> </span> is <span class="definition">the people taken into an organization at a particular time </span>⇒ <i><q><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example"><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example"><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example"><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example">the new intake of MPs</i></span></i></span></i></span></i></span></q></i><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"></span>.<br />
<br />
An <b>intake</b> is not "a new recruit" but, rather, all the new recruits considered collectively. The word might be used in the plural when comparing the intake in one year to that of another year <span class="definition"></span>⇒ <i><q><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example"><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example"><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example"><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example">intakes since 2005 have had a larger representation of women than was the case in previous years</i></span></i></span></i></span></i></span></q></i>. <br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>5d You get <u>more contented</u> in summer after good half-century (7)</b></span></div>
<br />
<b>Summer</b> is used in the whimsical sense of someone who sums up numbers.<br />
<br />
The abbreviation <a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/g?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>G</b></a><sup>[10]</sup> for <b>good</b> likely comes from its use in rating school assignments or tests.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: cyan;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>6d <u>Fruit</u> for Sir Humphrey? (8,7)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humphrey_Appleby"><b>Sir Humphrey Appleby</b></a><sup>[7]</sup>, GCB, KBE, MVO, MA (Oxon), is a fictional character from the British television series <i>Yes Minister</i> and <i>Yes, Prime Minister</i>. In <i>Yes Minister</i>, he is the Permanent Secretary for the Department of Administrative Affairs (a fictional department of the British government). In the last episode of <i>Yes Minister</i>, he becomes Cabinet Secretary, the position he retains during <i>Yes, Prime Minister</i>.<br />
<br />
A <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/mandarin?q=mandarin"><b>mandarin</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is <span class="definition">a powerful official or senior bureaucrat, especially one perceived as reactionary and secretive </span>⇒ <i><q><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example"><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example"><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example"><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example"><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example">a civil service mandarin</i></span></i></span></i></span></i></span></i></span></q></i><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"></span>.<br />
<br />
By the way, this clue seems to have garnered a lot of criticism in the UK, being characterised as "very weak" and "feeble in the extreme". Nevertheless, I rather liked it.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>Initially a grand short, called for <u>significant rise</u> (3-2)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>10d Sitting around Land's End, <u>calmed down</u> (7)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Land%27s-End?q=Land%27s+End"><b>Land's End</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is <span class="definition">a rocky promontory in southwest Cornwall, which forms
the westernmost point of England. The approximate distance by road from
Land’s End to <b><a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/John-o%27Groats?q=John+o%27Groats">John o’Groats</a></b></span><span class="definition"><sup>[5]</sup> (</span><span class="definition"><span class="definition">a village at the extreme northeast point of the Scottish mainland</span>) is 1,400 km (876 miles) — <i>about the same distance as from Ottawa to Halifax</i>.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>13d What's <u>prevalent</u> in the club? Going topless (7)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/regnant?q=regnant"><b>Regnant</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> means <span class="definition">currently having the greatest influence; in other words, dominant </span>⇒ <i><q><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example"><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example"><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example"><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example"><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example"><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example">the regnant belief</i></span></i></span></i></span></i></span></i></span></i></span></q></i><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"></span>.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/club?q=in+the+club#club__20"><b>In the club</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> (or <b>the pudding club</b>) is an informal British expression meaning pregnant.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>15d Engineer's overlooking wild <u>artwork</u> (9)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>17d <u>Giant</u> mystic rock fan to contain trouble coming up (7)</b></span></div>
<br />
In the Bible, <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Goliath?q=Goliath"><b>Goliath</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is <span class="definition">a Philistine giant, according to one tradition
slain by David (1 Sam. 17), but according to another slain by Elhanan (2
Sam. 21:19). The name has come to signify </span><span class="definition">a person or thing of enormous size or strength </span>⇒ <i><q><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example"><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example"><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example"><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example"><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example"><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example"><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example">the two unassuming hippies took on a corporate Goliath</i></span></i></span></i></span></i></span></i></span></i></span></i></span></q></i><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"></span>.<br />
<br />
A <a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/goth"><b>Goth</b></a><sup>[4]</sup> (sometimes <b>goth</b>) is an aficionado of <b>Goth music</b>, a style of guitar-based rock with some similarities to heavy metal and
punk and usually characterized by depressing or mournful lyrics.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>18d Forefinger wagging ref expressed as <u>not appropriate</u> (7)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>20d Current cuts change <u>Italian city</u> (5)</b></span></div>
<br />
In physics, <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/I-3"><b>I</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is the symbol for electric current.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Turin?q=Turin"><b>Turin</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is <span class="definition">a city in northwest Italy on the River Po, capital of
Piedmont region; population 908,825 (2008). Turin was the capital of the
kingdom of Sardinia from 1720 and became the first capital of a unified
Italy (1861-4).</span> <span class="definition">In Italian, it is known as Torino.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>22d <u>Neat</u> and kind engaging husband (5)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/short?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>Short</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is an adjective denoting <span class="def">(of a drink of spirits) undiluted or neat. This may be a British usage, as I found it only in <i>Collins English Dictionary</i> and <i>Chambers 21st Century Dictionary</i>.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="def">In another </span><span class="def">British usage, as a noun, a <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/short?q=short"><b>short</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is <span class="definition">a drink of spirits served in a small measure or, as <i>Collins English Dictionary</i> puts it, </span><span class="definition"><span class="def">a drink of spirits as opposed to a long drink such as beer</span></span><span class="definition"><sup>[<a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/short?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>10</b></a>]</sup>.</span> </span>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Key to Reference Sources: </b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[1] </sup> - <i>The Chambers Dictionary, 11th Edition </i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[2] </sup> - <a href="http://www.chambers.co.uk/search.php"><b>Search Chambers</b></a> - (<i>Chambers 21st Century Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[3] </sup> - <a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/"><b>TheFreeDictionary.com</b></a> (<i>American Heritage Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[4] </sup> - <a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/"><b>TheFreeDictionary.com</b></a> (<i>Collins English Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[5] </sup> - <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/?region=uk"><b>Oxford Dictionaries</b></a> (<i>Oxford Dictionary of English</i>) </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[6] </sup> - <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/?region=us"><b>Oxford Dictionaries</b></a> (<i>Oxford American Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[7] </sup> - <b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page">Wikipedia</a></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[8] </sup> - <a href="http://dictionary.reverso.net/french-english/"><b>Reverso Online Dictionary</b></a> (<i>Collins French-English Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[9] </sup> - <a href="http://dictionary.infoplease.com/"><b>Infoplease</b></a> (<i>Random House Unabridged Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[10]</sup> - <a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/"><b>CollinsDictionary.com</b></a> (<i>Collins English Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[11]</sup> - <a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/"><b>TheFreeDictionary.com</b></a> (<i>Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary</i>)</span></blockquote>
Signing off for this week — Falcon
</div>
Falconhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07466858757398776500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4283491940842987165.post-56037916950738936762014-01-19T15:12:00.000-05:002014-01-20T09:03:42.494-05:00Sunday, January 19, 2014 — ST 4253<div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" style="height: 20px; width: 420px;"><tbody></tbody></table>
<table border="5" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" frame="BOX" rules="GROUPS" style="border-bottom-style: none; color: #274e13; height: 62px; width: 420px;"><tbody>
<tr><th colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 200%;"><b>Puzzle at a Glance</b></span></div>
</th> </tr>
</tbody></table>
<table border="5" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" frame="BOX" rules="GROUPS" style="height: 82px; width: 420px;"><tbody>
<tr><th colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-weight: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Puzzle Number in <i>The Sunday Times</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;">ST 4253</span>
</th> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Date of Publication in <i>The Sunday Times</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Sunday, December 2, 2007</b></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Setter</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Unknown</b></span></td> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Link to Full Review</span></span></div>
<a href="http://times-xwd-times.livejournal.com/162356.html"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b><i>Times for the Times</i> [ST 4253]</b></span></a>
</td> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i>Times for the Times</i> Review Written By</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Peter Biddlecombe</b></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Peter Biddlecombe's Solving Time</span> </div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>★</b></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Date of Publication in the <i>Toronto Star</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Not published</b></span><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><sup>[<i>Note 3</i>]</sup></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Date of Publication in <i>The Vancouver Sun</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Saturday, January 18, 2014</b><sup>[<i>Note 2</i>]</sup></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Falcon's Experience</span> </div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;">┌────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┐</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;">████████████████████████████</span><span style="color: cyan;">██</span><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"></span><span style="color: #ccddbb;">█████</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;">└────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┘</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Legend:</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: blue;">█</span> - solved without assistance</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: orange;">█</span> - incorrect prior to use of puzzle solving tools</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: cyan;">█</span> - solved with assistance from puzzle solving tools</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">█</span> - solved with aid of checking letters provided by puzzle solving tools</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: red;">█</span> - unsolved or incorrect prior to visiting <i>Times for the Times</i></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #ea9999;">█</span> - solved with aid of checking letters provided by solutions from <i>Times for the Times</i></span></div>
</td> </tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Notes</span></div>
<div>
<i>[1] This puzzle appears on the Sunday puzzles pages in the Saturday, January 18, 2014 edition of the Ottawa Citizen.</i><br />
<br />
<i>[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.</i><br />
<br />
<i><i>[3] On Saturday, January 11, 2014, the Toronto Star published ST 4569, a Christmas-themed puzzle that first appeared in the Sunday, December 22, 2013 edition of The Sunday Times.</i> </i></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
<div>
<br />
<h2>
Introduction
</h2>
Today, as is the annual practice, the editors at the <i>Ottawa Citizen</i> dip into the archives for a puzzle to replace the seasonally-themed puzzle that appeared in the UK just prior to Christmas. They have come up with ST 4253, a puzzle that was first published in <i>The Sunday Times</i> on December 2, 2007. This puzzle would likely have been carried by the <i>Citizen</i> sometime in January 2008 — before the inception of my blog.<br />
<br />
The <i>Toronto Star</i> usually follows this same practice by replacing the Christmas-themed puzzle with a substitute, although — if memory serves me correctly — not necessarily with the same one chosen by the <i>Ottawa Citizen</i>. However, this year, the Star has chosen to publish the Christmas-themed puzzle — on Saturday, January 11, 2014. It is a giant puzzle having a 23x23 grid (rather than the normal 15x15 grid).<br />
<br />
It is interesting to note that the <i>Toronto Star</i> appears to have made a substitution the previous week (Saturday, January 4, 2014), running an unknown puzzle in place of ST 4568. Perhaps, the editors got a bit over-anxious and sent the sub in a week early!<br />
<br />
I have no real way of knowing whether the substitution of puzzles is done by editors at the <i>Sunday Times</i> which distributes the syndicated puzzle or by editors of the papers in which it is published. However, the fact that the <i>Ottawa Citizen</i> and <i>Toronto Star</i> carry different puzzles suggests that the decision is made locally. Perhaps if it had been the editors at the <i>Sunday Times</i> who made the selection, they would not have chosen a puzzle exhibiting the warts seen in this one (as evidenced by 23d).<br />
<br />
Nevertheless, this change does give us a bit of a breather from the very challenging series of puzzles that were pitched at us during the previous three weekends.<br />
<br />
As a final note, Peter Biddlecombe's review at <i>Times for the Times</i> gives no solution for several of the clues in this puzzle. There are so many missing solutions, in fact, that I suspect the omissions may have been deliberate. Perhaps, Peter considered those clues to be so easy that they did not merit being included in the review.<br />
<br />
<h2>
Notes on Today's Puzzle
</h2>
<div style="font-size: x-small; text-align: center;">
<b><i>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.</i></b></div>
<br />
<h3>
Across</h3>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>1a <u>Not a direct flight</u> coming out of Alsace airstrips (6,9)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: cyan;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>9a <u>Rattle perhaps</u>, in <u>car</u> (7)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Rattle-Sir-Simon?q=Simon+Rattle"><b>Sir Simon Rattle</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is an <span class="definition">English conductor. Principal conductor with the City of Birmingham Symphony
Orchestra 1980–91, he became chief conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic
Orchestra in 2000 and its artistic director in 2002.</span><br />
<br />
The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maestro_%28car%29"><b>Austin Maestro</b></a><sup>[7]</sup> is a compact five-door hatchback car (and two-door van derivative) that was produced from 1983 to 1995, first by the Austin Rover subsidiary of British Leyland (BL), and from 1988 by its successor, Rover Group. It was first sold as an Austin and a MG. Later models have sometimes been referred to as the Rover Maestro, but the model never wore the Rover badge. Descendants of the Maestro are still being produced in China.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>10a Vehicle contest date that is rejected (7)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>11a <u>School</u> managed without pressure (4)</b></span></div>
<br />
In North America, a <a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/coed?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>co-ed</b></a><sup>[10]</sup> (spelled <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/coed?q=coed"><b>coed</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> by <i>Oxford Dictionaries Online</i>) is a female student at a co-educational institution. However, in Britain, the term refers to <span class="def">a school or college providing coeducation. I suspect that this is but one more instance of the British propensity to convert adjectives into nouns. Thus <b>co-ed school</b> becomes shortened to <b>co-ed</b> in the same manner that an </span><b>Indian restaurant</b> becomes simply an <b>Indian</b> and an <b>estate car</b> [<i>the British name for a <b>station wagon</b></i>] is known commonly as an <b>estate</b>.<br />
<br />
In physics, the symbol for pressure is <a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/p?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>p</b></a><sup>[10]</sup>.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>12a Wise person includes time to teach <u>diligence</u>? (10)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/diligence?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>Diligence</b></a><sup>[10]</sup> is a historical term for a stagecoach. The name is a shortened form of the French expression <i class="hi">carosse de diligence,</i> which translates literally as 'coach of speed'.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>13a Two of us (according to Eastenders) <u>wander about</u> (7)</b></span></div>
<br />
An <a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/east-ender?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>East Ender</b></a><sup>[10]</sup> is <span class="def">a native or inhabitant of the East End of London, an area whose residents are also referred to as <b>cockneys</b>. </span>A <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/cockney?q=Cockney"><b>cockney</b></a><sup>[5]</sup>
is <span class="definition">a native of East London<b> </b>[<i>specifically the East End</i>], traditionally one born within hearing of Bow Bells (the bells of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bow_Bells"><b>St Mary-le-Bow</b></a></span><span class="definition"><sup>[7]</sup> church). <b>Cockney</b> is also the name of </span><span class="definition">the
dialect or accent typical of cockneys, which is characterised by dropping the H from the beginning of words and the use of</span> <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/rhyming%2Bslang?q=rhyming+slang"><b>rhyming slang</b></a><sup>[5]</sup>.<br />
<br />
Thus a cockney lad would refer to himself and his girlfriend as "me and 'er". <br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>15a <u>Continues to travel</u> in Laos moving around south (5,2)</b></span></div>
<br />
Peter seems to have skipped over this clue in his review. The solution is SAILS ON, which is an anagram (moving) of IN LAOS containing (around) S (south).<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>17a Nag's Head, for instance, accommodates awfully true <u>characters</u> (7)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>19a Could be jokers catching a number with <u>unfounded stories</u> (7)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>20a Engineer vacates pit <u>entrances</u> (10)</b></span></div>
<br />
And Peter skips yet another clue. The solution is CAPTIVATES with the wordplay being an anagram (engineer) of VACATES PIT. In this clue, "entrances" plays the role of a verb, not a noun.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>22a <u>Girl</u> over in US restaurant getting bottom pinched (4)</b></span></div>
<br />
The setter employs the phrase "US restaurant" as the term clued by it is apparently not used in the UK. <i>Oxford Dictionaries Online</i> defines <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/diner?q=diner"><b>diner</b></a><sup>[5]</sup>
as a North American term for <span class="definition">a small roadside restaurant with a long counter and booths.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>25a Stop without proper gear <u>on the warpath</u>? (7)</b></span></div>
<br />
The use of "proper" as an anagram indicator did spark a question in my mind. I presume that the rationale behind its use is that the letters making up the word GEAR must be rearranged in order to be "suitable or appropriate" for use in the solution.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>26a <u>Calm</u> prisoner alone (7)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>27a <u>Approach</u> training with careful consideration (6,2,7)</b></span></div>
<br />
In his review, Peter Biddlecombe questions "training" being used as a synonym for "training". I would say that <b>school</b> may be intended in the sense of <span class="def">a place or sphere of activity that instructs </span><span class="def">⇒ </span><span class="def"><i><q><span class="orth">the school of hard knocks</span></q></i>. I think the equivalence works better when the two phrases are considered in their entirety, with "school of thought" being viewed as a cryptic definition of "training with careful consideration".</span><br />
<br />
<h3>
Down</h3>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>1d <u>French novelist</u> climbing in tree (5)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Camus"><b>Albert Camus</b></a><sup>[7]</sup> (1913–1960) was a French author, journalist, and key philosopher of the 20th century.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>2d <u>Gauche</u> line sadly taken on say. worker (9)</b></span></div>
<br />
According to longstanding custom, much of the work in Crosswordland is accomplished by ants.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>3d <u>Singer</u> in the nude, get her off! (4)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: cyan;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>4d "<u>Observer</u>" featuring the inventor of Gamesmanship briefly (7)</b></span></div>
<br />
The surface reading is an allusion to <span class="definition"><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Observer"><i><b>The Observer</b></i></a><sup>[7]</sup>, the world's oldest Sunday newspaper. A sister paper to the daily <b><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Guardian" title="The Guardian">The Guardian</a></i></b><sup>[7]</sup>, it takes a similar liberal or social democratic line on most issues.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="definition"><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gamesmanship"><b>Gamesmanship</b></a></span></span></span><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><sup>[7]</sup></span></span></span> is the use of dubious (although not technically
illegal) methods to win or gain a serious advantage in a game or sport. It may be inferred that the
term derives from the idea of playing for the game (i.e., to win at any
cost) as opposed to sportsmanship, which derives from the idea of playing for sport. The term originates from a humorous 1947 book by British author <b>Stephen Potter</b> </span></span></span><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><span class="definition">(1900–1969) entitled <i>The Theory and Practice of Gamesmanship (or the Art of Winning Games without Actually Cheating)</i>.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="definition"><span class="definition"><span class="definition">The name of the originator (inventor) of the term Gamesmanship might be briefly expressed as S. Potter. </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>5d <u>Delegates</u> behind arresting banner (7)</b></span></div>
<br />
Ass is another North American term, although the setter does not make note of this fact as he did in 22a.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/ass"><b>Ass</b></a><sup>[3,4,11</sup><sup>]</sup><b> </b> is the North American term for the part of the body that is known in Britain as the <a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/arse"><b>arse</b></a><sup>[3,4,11]</sup>.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
This word is clearly considered to be less vulgar in the UK
than it is on this side of the Atlantic. With respect to the use of the
word <b>arse</b>, <i>Collins English Dictionary</i> says: <br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Dating back at least a thousand years, and taboo till around the middle
of the 20th century, this venerable "Anglo-Saxon" word now seems
unlikely to cause offence in all but the most formal contexts. Its
acceptability has possibly been helped by such useful verb formations as "to arse about'' and "I can't be arsed''.</blockquote>
The dropping of <i>r</i> before <i>s</i> seems to be a common fixture in North American English. In addition to the formation of <b>ass</b> from <b>arse</b>, we find <a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/cuss"><b>cuss</b></a><sup>[3,4,11</sup><sup>]</sup><b> </b> having been formed from <b>curse</b> in the same manner as well as <a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/passel"><b>passel</b></a><sup>[3,4,11</sup><sup>]</sup><b> </b> from <b>parcel</b>.</blockquote>
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>6d <u>Editing a work</u> on origin of Dada movement (9)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/dada?q=Dada#Dada"><b>Dada</b></a><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><sup>[5]</sup></span></span></span> is <span class="definition">an early 20th-century movement in art,
literature, music, and film, repudiating and mocking artistic and social
conventions and emphasizing the illogical and absurd. </span>Dada was launched in Zurich in 1916 by Tristan Tzara and others, soon
merging with a similar group in New York. It favoured montage, collage,
and the ready-made. Leading figures: Jean Arp, André Breton, Max Ernst,
Man Ray, and Marcel Duchamp.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>7d Some maniac cracked in <u>capital</u> (5)</b></span></div>
<br />
This makes three clues that Peter has skipped in his review. The solution is hidden (some) in mani<u><b>AC CRA</b></u>cked.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/accra?q=Accra#Accra"><b>Accra</b></a><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><sup>[5]</sup></span></span></span> is <span class="definition">the capital of Ghana, a port on the Gulf of Guinea; population 1,970,400 (est. 2005).</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>8d <u>Hears? Nope, when sporting these</u> (9)</b></span></div>
<br />
I would say that this is a semi-& lit. clue. The entire clue serves as the definition, while the first part of the clue (in fact, all except the final word) constitutes the wordplay.<br />
<br />
As an anagram indicator, <b>sport</b> is used as a verb meaning to <span class="definition">play in a lively, energetic way</span><span class="definition"><sup>[<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/sport?q=sport"><b>5</b></a>]</sup>
or frolic</span><span class="definition"><sup>[<a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/sport"><b>3</b></a>]</sup></span><span class="definition"> </span>⇒ <i><q><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example">the children sported in the water</i></span></q></i>.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>13d <u>Handles</u> detractors around N Ireland (9)</b></span></div>
<br />
Skipped clue number four — and counting.<br />
<br />
The solution is MONICKERS with the wordplay being MOCKERS (detractors) containing (around) NI (N Ireland).<br />
<br />
<span class="definition"><span class="definition"><a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Northern%2BIreland?q=Northern+Ireland"><b>Northern Ireland</b></a><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><sup>[5]</sup> </span> </span> (<i>abbreviation</i> <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/NI?q=NI"><b>NI</b></a><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><sup>[5]</sup></span></span>) is <span class="definition">a <b>province</b> of the United Kingdom occupying the northeast part of Ireland; population 1,775,000 (est. 2008); capital, Belfast.</span></span> </span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>14d <u>Brave actions</u> going wrong in Democratic party (7-2)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>16d Alert child good with <u>alluring music</u> (5.4)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/siren?q=siren+song#siren__8"><b>Siren song</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> (or <b>siren call</b>) is a phrase used in reference to the appeal of something that is alluring but also potentially harmful or dangerous ⇒ <i><q><i>a mountaineer who hears the siren song of K2 [the second highest mountain in the world, located in the Karakoram Range on the border between Pakistan and China]</i></q></i>.<br />
<br />
The expression is an allusion to the <b>sirens</b> of Greek mythology <span class="definition">whose singing lured unwary sailors on to rocks.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>18d Two notes from <u>awkward customer</u> (2-3-2)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.chambers.co.uk/search.php?query=awkward+customer&title=21st"><b>Awkward</b></a><sup>[2]</sup> is used in the sense of difficult or inconvenient to deal with ⇒ <i><q><i>an awkward customer</i></q></i>.<br />
<br />
I found British dictionaries to be rather more polite in their definitions of <b>so-and-so</b> than are American dictionaries.<sup><b> </b></sup><br />
<ul>
<li><i>Oxford Dictionaries Online</i>: <i>informal</i> <span class="definition"> a person who is disliked or is considered to have a particular characteristic, typically an unfavourable one</span> ⇒ <i><q><i><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example">nosy old so-and-so!</i></span></i></q></i><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><sup>[<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/so-and-so?q=so-and-so"><b>5</b></a>]</sup> </span></span></span></span> </li>
<li><i>Collins English Dictionary</i>: (<i><span class="lbl register">euphemistic</span></i>)<span class="def"> a person or thing regarded as unpleasant or difficult</span> ⇒ <i><q><i><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example"><span class="orth">which so-and-so broke my razor?</span></i></span></i></q></i><sup>[<a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/so-and-so?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>10</b></a>]</sup> </li>
<li><i>Chambers 21st Century Dictionary</i>: a word in place of a vulgar word or oath ⇒ <i><q><i><i>You crafty little so-and-so!</i></i></q></i><sup>[<a href="http://www.chambers.co.uk/search.php?query=so-and-so&title=21st"><b>2</b></a>]</sup> </li>
<li><i>American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language</i>: <i>Informal</i> A son of a gun<sup>[<a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/so-and-so"><b>3</b></a>]</sup> </li>
<li><i>Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary</i>: a bastard (used as a euphemism)<sup>[<a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/so-and-so"><b>11</b></a>]</sup></li>
</ul>
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>19d <u>Hairstyle</u> for the team? (4,3)</b></span></div>
<br />
This is likely an instance of the origin of term having become lost with time resulting in a definition appearing to be cryptic when, in fact, it is not. As Peter Biddlecombe alludes to in his review, the term <a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/crew+cut"><b>crew cut</b></a><sup>[4]</sup> comes from from the style of haircut worn by the boat crews at Harvard and Yale Universities.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>21d <u>Measure</u> of <u>freshwater fish</u> (5)</b></span></div>
<br />
We finally arrive at the last of the skipped clues.<br />
<br />
This is a double definition in which the first definition is an obscure unit of measure and the second definition is a (presumably) well-known freshwater fish.<br />
<br />
A <b>perch</b> is a historical unit of measure that was once used in Britain. A <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/view/entry/m_en_gb0618840#dws-m_en_gb-m-en_gb-msdict-00002%E2%80%93050709"><b>perch</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> (also called a <b>pole</b> or a <b>rod</b>) is a measure of length, especially for land, equal to a quarter of a [<i>surveyor's</i>] chain<br />
or 5½ yards.<br />
<br />
A <a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/chain"><b>chain</b></a><sup>[3,4]</sup>
(<i>abbreviation</i> <a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/ch?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>ch.</b></a><span id="goog_316038832"></span><span id="goog_316038833"></span><sup>[10]</sup>) is either of two units of
length. In surveying, it is a unit of 66 feet (<b>Gunter's chain</b>) while, in engineering, it is a unit of 100 feet (<b>engineer's chain</b>).<br />
<br />
To further confuse matters, a <b>perch</b> (also known as a <b>square perch</b>, <b>pole</b>, <b>square pole</b>, <b>rod</b>, or <b>square rod</b>) is a measure of area, especially for land, equal to 160th of an acre or 30¼ square yards.<br />
<br />
<span class="definition">All of which goes a long way to explaining why we needed the metric system!</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>23d <u>A house</u> in Germany you and I left empty (5)</b></span></div>
<br />
I spent considerable time trying to discover why "house" would mean "dwelt". Apparently, judging by the very strong remarks of Peter Biddlecombe in his review, there is no explanation. The clue is just plain incorrect. <br />
<br />
<span class="definition">The International Vehicle Registration (IVR) code for Germany is <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/D--2"><b>D</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> [from German <i>Deutschland</i>].</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>24d <u>Gen</u>'s pregnant. Al's gone missing! (4)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/gen?q=gen"><b>Gen</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is British slang for<span class="definition"> information ⇒ <i><q><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example">you’ve got more gen on him than we have</i></span></q></i></span>.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Key to Reference Sources: </b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[1] </sup> - <i>The Chambers Dictionary, 11th Edition </i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[2] </sup> - <a href="http://www.chambers.co.uk/search.php"><b>Search Chambers</b></a> - (<i>Chambers 21st Century Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[3] </sup> - <a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/"><b>TheFreeDictionary.com</b></a> (<i>American Heritage Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[4] </sup> - <a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/"><b>TheFreeDictionary.com</b></a> (<i>Collins English Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[5] </sup> - <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/?region=uk"><b>Oxford Dictionaries</b></a> (<i>Oxford Dictionary of English</i>) </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[6] </sup> - <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/?region=us"><b>Oxford Dictionaries</b></a> (<i>Oxford American Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[7] </sup> - <b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page">Wikipedia</a></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[8] </sup> - <a href="http://dictionary.reverso.net/french-english/"><b>Reverso Online Dictionary</b></a> (<i>Collins French-English Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[9] </sup> - <a href="http://dictionary.infoplease.com/"><b>Infoplease</b></a> (<i>Random House Unabridged Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[10]</sup> - <a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/"><b>CollinsDictionary.com</b></a> (<i>Collins English Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[11]</sup> - <a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/"><b>TheFreeDictionary.com</b></a> (<i>Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary</i>)</span></blockquote>
Signing off for this week — Falcon
</div>
Falconhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07466858757398776500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4283491940842987165.post-29642983238112136742014-01-18T21:57:00.001-05:002014-01-18T22:13:33.083-05:00Sunday, January 12, 2014 — ST 4568<div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" style="height: 20px; width: 420px;"><tbody></tbody></table>
<table border="5" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" frame="BOX" rules="GROUPS" style="border-bottom-style: none; color: #274e13; height: 62px; width: 420px;"><tbody>
<tr><th colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 200%;"><b>Puzzle at a Glance</b></span></div>
</th> </tr>
</tbody></table>
<table border="5" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" frame="BOX" rules="GROUPS" style="height: 82px; width: 420px;"><tbody>
<tr><th colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-weight: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Puzzle Number in <i>The Sunday Times</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;">ST 4568</span>
</th> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Date of Publication in <i>The Sunday Times</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Sunday, December 15, 2013</b></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Setter</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Jeff Pearce </b></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Link to Full Review</span></span></div>
<a href="http://times-xwd-times.livejournal.com/1049333.html"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b><i>Times for the Times</i> [ST 4568]</b></span></a>
</td> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i>Times for the Times</i> Review Written By</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Dave Perry</b></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Dave Perry's Solving Time</span> </div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>★★★★★</b></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Date of Publication in the <i>Toronto Star</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Not published</b></span><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b></b><sup>[<i>Note 3</i>]</sup></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Date of Publication in <i>The Vancouver Sun</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Saturday, January 11, 2014</b><sup>[<i>Note 2</i>]</sup></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Falcon's Experience</span> </div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;">┌────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┐</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;">██████████████████</span><span style="color: cyan;">█████</span><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">█████</span><span style="color: #ccddbb;">███████</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;">└────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┘</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Legend:</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: blue;">█</span> - solved without assistance</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: orange;">█</span> - incorrect prior to use of puzzle solving tools</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: cyan;">█</span> - solved with assistance from puzzle solving tools</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">█</span> - solved with aid of checking letters provided by puzzle solving tools</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: red;">█</span> - unsolved or incorrect prior to visiting <i>Times for the Times</i></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #ea9999;">█</span> - solved with aid of checking letters provided by solutions from <i>Times for the Times</i></span></div>
</td> </tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Notes</span></div>
<div>
<i>[1] This puzzle appears on the Sunday puzzles pages in the Saturday, January 11, 2014 edition of The Ottawa Citizen.</i><br />
<br />
<i>[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.</i><br />
<br />
<i><i>[3] The Saturday Star Cryptic Forum shows that the Toronto Star published a different puzzle on January 4, 2013.</i> </i></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
<div>
<br />
<h2>
Introduction
</h2>
It would appear that the setters are attempting to outdo each other in raising the difficulty level of the puzzles. I worked at this one off-and-on all week. It was somewhat of a relief to see that the Brits also found this puzzle challenging.<br />
<h2>
Notes on Today's Puzzle
</h2>
<div style="font-size: x-small; text-align: center;">
<b><i>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.</i></b></div>
<br />
<h3>
Across</h3>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>1a Outside old church Mormon destroyed Egyptian <u>work of art</u> (10)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/e?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>E</b></a><sup>[10]</sup> is the symbol for Egypt or Egyptian.<br />
<br />
A <a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/monochrome?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>monochrome</b></a><sup>[10]</sup> is <span class="def">a painting, drawing, etc, done in a range of tones of a single colour.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>6a A crowd leaves Python show for <u>food</u> (4)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spamalot"><i><b>Monty Python's Spamalot</b></i></a><sup>[7]</sup> is a musical comedy "lovingly ripped off from" the 1975 film <i>Monty Python and the Holy Grail</i>. Like the film, it is a highly irreverent parody of the Arthurian Legend, although it differs from the film in many ways. The title comes comes from a line in the movie which goes: "we eat ham, and jam and Spam a lot." The original 2005 Broadway production won three Tony Awards, including the Tony Award for Best Musical of the 2004–2005 season and received 14 Tony Award nominations. Although Dave Perry identifies it as "a West End musical", the show actually originated in the US with the British production following later. <br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: cyan;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>9a Rips up the greatest possible <u>fabric</u> (10)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/tattersall?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>Tattersall</b></a><sup>[10]</sup> is <span class="def">a fabric, sometimes brightly coloured, having stripes or bars in a checked or squared
pattern.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>10a <u>Legendary Scandinavian</u> sculptor beheaded (4)</b></span></div>
<br />
In Norse mythology, <a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/odin?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>Odin</b></a><sup>[10]</sup> was <span class="def"> the supreme creator god; the divinity of wisdom, culture, war, and the dead.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="def"><a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/rodin?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>Auguste Rodin</b></a></span><span class="def"><sup>[10]</sup> </span><span class="def">(1840–1917) was a French sculptor, noted for his portrayal of the human form. His
works include <i class="hi">The Kiss</i> (1886), <i class="hi">The Burghers of Calais</i> (1896), and <i class="hi">The Thinker</i> (1905).</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: #6fa8dc;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>12a It's <u>only</u> right to leave scrap (6)</b></span></div>
<br />
Even after figuring out the solution, it took some digging to explain the definition. One must interpret <a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/only?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>only</b></a><sup>[10]</sup> as a sentence connector <span class="def">used to introduce an exception or condition</span> ⇒ <i><q><span class="orth">play outside: only don't go into the street</span></q></i>.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>13a <u>Set on eating this?</u> (2,6)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>15a Cycle along with extremely loathsome bear -- <u>did it do for Dr Black</u>? (11)</b></span></div>
<br />
Dave Perry may have been able to "write this one straight in from the definition and enumeration alone" but, prior to some extensive research, I hadn't a <b>clue</b> what this was about.<br />
<br />
<b>Dr. Black</b> is the perpetual victim in the British version of the board game <b>Clue</b> (known in the UK as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cluedo"><b>Cluedo</b></a><sup>[7]</sup>). In the North American version of the game, the victim's name is <b>Mr. Boddy</b>. A <b>candlestick</b> is one of the six possible murder weapons that may have <b>done</b> him in.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/do-for?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>Do for</b></a><sup>[10]</sup> [<i>which, it would appear, might be a British usage</i>] means <span class="def">to cause the ruin, death, or defeat of</span> ⇒ <i><q><span class="orth"><span class="orth">the last punch did for him</span></span></q></i>.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/stick?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>Stick</b></a><sup>[10]</sup> is chiefly British slang meaning to tolerate or abide ⇒ <i><q>I can't stick that man</q></i>.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: cyan;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>18a <u>Novice</u> backing baritone is worried (11)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: #6fa8dc;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>21a Tramp in cinema entertaining a <u>member of the clergy</u> (8)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Chaplin-Charlie?q=Chaplin%2C+Charlie"><b>Charlie Chaplin</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> <span class="definition"><span class="dateGroup">(<span class="date">1889–1977</span>)</span> was an
English film actor and director. He directed and starred in many short silent comedies, mostly
playing a bowler-hatted tramp, a character which was his trademark for
more than twenty-five years. Notable films: <i class=""> The Kid</i> (1921) and <i class=""> The Gold Rush</i> (1925).</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>22a <u>Hood</u> and hat carried with emblem at the front (6)</b></span></div>
<br />
<span class="definition"><a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Capone%2C%2BAl?q=Al+Capone"><b>Al Capone</b></a><sup>[5]</sup>
<span class="definition"><span class="dateGroup">(<span class="date">1899–1947</span>) was an</span>
American gangster, of Italian descent. He
dominated organized crime in Chicago in the 1920s and was indirectly
responsible for many murders, including the St Valentine’s Day Massacre.</span> </span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>24a <u>Spirit</u> shown by city after start of blitz (4)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>25a Not as healthy after wound -- being without a <u>source of relief</u>? (10)</b></span></div>
<br />
Two explanations have been advanced with respect to this clue. The version that most people have arrived at (including Dave Perry as well as myself) is:<br />
<ul>
<li>ILLER (not as healthy) following (after) PINK (wound) containing (without) A</li>
</ul>
while the alternative explanation put forward by a couple of individuals in comments on <i>Times for the Times</i> is:<br />
<ul>
<li>ILLER (not as healthy) following (after) {PAIN (wound) + K[<strike><b>A</b></strike>] (being) with the A deleted (without A)}</li>
</ul>
<a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/pink?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>Pink</b></a><span class="definition"><sup>[10]</sup>
</span> means to <span class="def">to prick lightly with a sword or rapier.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="def">In ancient Egypt, it was believed that <a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/ka?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>ka</b></a></span><span class="def"><span class="definition"><sup>[10]</sup>
</span> was </span><span class="def">an attendant spirit dwelling as a vital force in a man
or statue.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: cyan;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>26a <u>Foul and disgusting</u> <u>fare might be found here</u> (4)</b></span></div>
<br />
In Britain, a <a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/rank?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>rank</b></a><span class="definition"><sup>[10]</sup>
</span> is <span class="def">a place where taxis wait to be hired.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>27a In hollow at end of lake, there's small area of water that's <u>blue</u> (10)</b></span></div>
<br />
<h3>
Down</h3>
<br />
<div style="background-color: #6fa8dc;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>1d Mare, dead carp, grouse and beef (6)</b></span></div>
<br />
The abbreviation for mare is <b><a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/m?showCookiePolicy=true">m.</a></b><span class="definition"><sup>[10]</sup></span> [<i>I presume this may arise from a horse breeding or racing context.</i>]<br />
<br />
One must interpret <a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/dead?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>dead</b></a><span class="definition"><sup>[10]</sup></span> as being an intensifier ⇒ <i>(i)</i><i><i><q><span class="orth">a dead stop</span></q></i> ; (ii)</i><i><i><q><span class="orth">a dead loss</span></q></i></i>. <i>Collins English Dictionary</i> offers a list of synonyms for this sense of the word, including <b>total</b>, <b>complete</b>, and <b>utter</b>.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/mutter?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>Mutter</b></a><span class="definition"><sup>[10]</sup></span> is used in the sense of <span class="def"> to grumble or complain [<i>or, in other words, to <b>carp</b>, <b>grouse</b>, or <b>beef</b></i>].</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: cyan;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>2d <u>Bill</u>'s unpleasant -- heartless (6)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: cyan;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>3d <u>Little creature</u> from horrible borough near Gatwick on the radio (6-6)</b></span></div>
<br />
I think I may be overly harsh in charging myself with having used outside assistance on this clue. I pored over a map of England until I located <b>Crawley</b> just south of <b>Gatwick</b>. As soon as I saw the name, the solution popped to mind.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crawley"><b>Crawley</b></a><span class="definition"><sup>[7]</sup></span> is a town in West Sussex, England. It is 28 miles (45 km) south of Charing Cross [<i>considered to mark the centre of London</i>], and had a population of 106,597 at the time of the 2011 Census. <b>Gatwick Airport</b>, one of Britain's busiest international airports, is situated on the edge of the town.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>4d <u>Adjourned</u> for <u>some wine</u> (4)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>5d <u>Bitter</u> lemon valet prepared (10)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>7d Fan painted Celtic <u>quibbling</u> (8)</b></span></div>
<br />
As an anagram indicator, <a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/fan?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>fan</b></a><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><sup>[10]</sup></span></span> </span> would be used in the sense of <span class="def">to agitate or move (air, smoke, etc) with or as if with a fan.</span><br />
<br />
Among other possibilities, the abbreviation <a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/c?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>C.</b></a><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><sup>[10]</sup></span></span> </span> may stand for<span class="def"> <b>Celtic</b><b></b>.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>8d Explorer goes south of isle for <u>medicinal plant</u> (8)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Drake-Sir-Francis?q=Francis+Drake"><b>Sir Francis Drake</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> <span class="definition"><span class="dateGroup">(<span class="date"><i>circa </i>1540–96</span>) was an</span> English sailor and explorer.</span><br />
<br />
The <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/Isle-of-Man"><b>Isle of Man</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> (<i>abbreviation</i> <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/IOM?q=IOM"><b>IOM</b></a><sup>[5]</sup>), an island in the Irish Sea, is a British Crown dependency.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/mandrake?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>Mandrake</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> (<span class="def"><i class="hi">Mandragora officinarum</i></span>) is <span class="def">a Eurasian solanaceous plant<i class="hi"></i> with purplish flowers and a forked root. It was formerly thought to have magic powers
and a narcotic was prepared from its root.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>11d Show contempt and tear into awful <u>thesis</u> (12)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>14d One dollar hidden in china <u>cow</u> (10)</b></span></div>
<br />
The abbreviation <a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/d?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>d.</b></a><sup>[10]</sup> stands for <b>dollar</b> or <b>dollars</b>.<br />
<br />
In Britain, <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/china?q=china"><b>china</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is an informal term for a friend (or, as the Brits would say, a <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/mate?q=mate"><b>mate</b></a><sup>[5]</sup>). This comes from Cockney rhyming slang, where <i>china</i> is the shortened form of <i>china plate</i> which rhymes with 'mate'.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: #6fa8dc;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>16d <u>Key</u> opening hostelry (5,3)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/hostelry?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>Hostelry</b></a><sup>[10]</sup> is an archaic or facetious name for an inn.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: #6fa8dc;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>17d Imitate all the people <u>present</u> (8)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/do?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>Do</b></a><sup>[10]</sup> means <span class="def">to act like or imitate </span>⇒ <i><q><span class="orth">he's a good mimic – he can do all his friends well</span></q></i>.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>19d Miner trimmed <u>dog</u> (6)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>20d About to enter camp <u>hidden from general view</u> (6)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>23d <u>Cut</u> and scratch from a vegetable (4)</b></span></div>
<br />
<b>Scratch</b> is used in the sense of 'the required standard' as in the phrase <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/up-to-scratch?q=up+to+scratch"><b>up to scratch</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> ⇒ <i><q><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example">her German was not up to scratch</i></span></q></i>.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Key to Reference Sources: </b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[1] </sup> - <i>The Chambers Dictionary, 11th Edition </i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[2] </sup> - <a href="http://www.chambers.co.uk/search.php"><b>Search Chambers</b></a> - (<i>Chambers 21st Century Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[3] </sup> - <a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/"><b>TheFreeDictionary.com</b></a> (<i>American Heritage Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[4] </sup> - <a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/"><b>TheFreeDictionary.com</b></a> (<i>Collins English Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[5] </sup> - <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/?region=uk"><b>Oxford Dictionaries</b></a> (<i>Oxford Dictionary of English</i>) </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[6] </sup> - <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/?region=us"><b>Oxford Dictionaries</b></a> (<i>Oxford American Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[7] </sup> - <b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page">Wikipedia</a></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[8] </sup> - <a href="http://dictionary.reverso.net/french-english/"><b>Reverso Online Dictionary</b></a> (<i>Collins French-English Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[9] </sup> - <a href="http://dictionary.infoplease.com/"><b>Infoplease</b></a> (<i>Random House Unabridged Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[10]</sup> - <a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/"><b>CollinsDictionary.com</b></a> (<i>Collins English Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[11]</sup> - <a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/"><b>TheFreeDictionary.com</b></a> (<i>Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary</i>)</span></blockquote>
Signing off for this week — Falcon
</div>
Falconhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07466858757398776500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4283491940842987165.post-36734509687017509852014-01-12T16:43:00.000-05:002014-01-12T16:43:08.365-05:00Sunday, January 5, 2014 — ST 4567<div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" style="height: 20px; width: 420px;"><tbody></tbody></table>
<table border="5" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" frame="BOX" rules="GROUPS" style="border-bottom-style: none; color: #274e13; height: 62px; width: 420px;"><tbody>
<tr><th colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 200%;"><b>Puzzle at a Glance</b></span></div>
</th> </tr>
</tbody></table>
<table border="5" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" frame="BOX" rules="GROUPS" style="height: 82px; width: 420px;"><tbody>
<tr><th colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-weight: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Puzzle Number in <i>The Sunday Times</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;">ST 4567</span>
</th> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Date of Publication in <i>The Sunday Times</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Sunday, December 8, 2013</b></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Setter</span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Tim Moorey</b></span></td> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Link to Full Review</span></span></div>
<a href="http://times-xwd-times.livejournal.com/1046574.html"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b><i>Times for the Times</i> [ST 4567]</b></span></a>
</td> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i>Times for the Times</i> Review Written By</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Dave Perry</b></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Dave Perry's Solving Time</span> </div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>★★★★</b></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Date of Publication in the <i>Toronto Star</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Saturday, December 28, 2013</b></span><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><sup>[<i>Note 3</i>]</sup></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Date of Publication in <i>The Vancouver Sun</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Saturday, January 4, 2014</b><sup>[<i>Note 2</i>]</sup></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Falcon's Experience</span> </div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;">┌────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┐</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;">█████████████████████████</span><span style="color: cyan;">███</span><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"></span><span style="color: #ccddbb;">███████</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;">└────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┘</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Legend:</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: blue;">█</span> - solved without assistance</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: orange;">█</span> - incorrect prior to use of puzzle solving tools</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: cyan;">█</span> - solved with assistance from puzzle solving tools</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">█</span> - solved with aid of checking letters provided by puzzle solving tools</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: red;">█</span> - unsolved or incorrect prior to visiting <i>Times for the Times</i></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #ea9999;">█</span> - solved with aid of checking letters provided by solutions from <i>Times for the Times</i></span></div>
</td> </tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Notes</span></div>
<div>
<i>[1] This puzzle appears on the Sunday puzzles pages in the Saturday, January 4, 2014 edition of The Ottawa Citizen.</i><br />
<br />
<i>[2] This information is unconfirmed as a paywall on its web site precludes verification of the puzzle published in the Vancouver Sun.</i><br />
<br />
<i><i>[3] This information is unconfirmed as there is no entry on the Saturday Star Cryptic Forum for Saturday, December 28, 2013.</i> </i></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
<div>
<br />
<h2>
Introduction
</h2>
As seems to be the norm recently, I solved this puzzle during several sittings spread over a week. Of course, by the time I sat down to write the blog, I had forgotten most of the clues that had been solved a week previously. It was, therefore, a bit eerie to look at the solution to the first clue and realize that I was listening at that very moment to a Billie Holiday album. Was it a coincidence that I had chosen to put that selection on or was it my subconscious at work?<br />
<br />
<h2>
Notes on Today's Puzzle
</h2>
<div style="font-size: x-small; text-align: center;">
<b><i>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.</i></b></div>
<br />
<h3>
Across</h3>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>1a Leave to the end tab that's for <u>an American singer</u> (6,7)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Holiday-Billie?q=Billie+Holiday"><b>Billie Holiday</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> <span class="definition"><span class="dateGroup">(<span class="date">1915–1959</span>)</span> was an
American jazz singer; born Eleanora Fagan. She began her recording
career with Benny Goodman’s band in 1933, going on to perform with many
small jazz groups.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>8a Seamen with daughter <u>run for it</u> (7)</b></span></div>
<br />
In the Royal Navy, <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/able-seaman"><b>able seaman</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> (abbreviation <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/AB--2"><b>AB</b></a><sup>[5]</sup>), is <span class="definition">a rank of sailor above ordinary seaman and below leading seaman. [<i>Note that, in the clue, the plural is used</i>.]</span><br />
<span class="definition"><br /></span>
<span class="definition">In Spanish, <i><a href="http://dictionary.reverso.net/spanish-english/con"><b>con</b></a></i></span><span class="definition"><sup>[8]</sup> is a preposition meaning <b>with</b> </span><span class="definition">⇒ </span><span class="definition"><i><q><em><em>chile con carne</em> (chilli pepper with meat)</em></q></i></span><span class="definition">.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>9a No smooth backing in <u>structure on bottom of ship</u> (7)</b></span></div>
<br />
A <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/keelson?q=keelson"><b>keelson</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is <span class="definition">a structure running the length of a ship and fastening the timbers or plates of the floor to its keel.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>11a <u>Notable</u> <u>Mousetrap attraction!</u> (3,6)</b></span></div>
<br />
The capitalization of "Mousetrap" is likely intended to suggest the stage production of that name.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mousetrap"><i><b>The Mousetrap</b></i></a><sup>[7]</sup> is a murder mystery play by Agatha Christie. <i>The Mousetrap</i> opened in the West End of London
in 1952, and has been running continuously since then. It has the
longest initial run of any play in history, with its 25,000th
performance taking place on 18 November 2012.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>12a <u>Eastern inn</u> used by lesser airline (5)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>13a <u>Rogue</u> to be announced in tabloid (6)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>14a Indeed so flipping <u>unfair</u> (3-5)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/ratbag?q=ratbag"><b>Ratbag</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is British slang for <span class="definition">an unpleasant or disliked person </span><span class="definition">⇒ <i>(i)</i> </span><span class="definition"><i><q><em><em><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><em class="example">she’s a snobby old ratbag</em></span></em></em></q></i></span> <i>(ii) </i><span class="definition"> </span><span class="definition"><i><q><em><em><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><em class="example"><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><em class="example">they blamed the ratbag photographer</em></span></em></span></em></em></q></i></span>.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>17a <u>They could be shifting in the chase</u> (8)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: cyan;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>19a Very new head of administration set about at <u>work</u> (6)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>22a <u>Slightly wet</u> Chinese communist article discounted (5)</b></span></div>
<br />
A <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Maoism?q=Maoist#Maoism__4"><b>Maoist</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is an adherent of <span class="definition">the communist doctrines of Mao Zedong as
formerly practised in China, having as a central idea permanent
revolution and stressing the importance of the peasantry, small-scale
industry, and agricultural collectivization.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: cyan;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>24a <u>Forty-five</u> right for second tenor in Italian musical foursome (7,2)</b></span></div>
<br />
Are "fory-five" and "quarter to" really synonymous? Yes, <i><b>twelve forty-five</b></i> is <i><b>a quarter to one</b></i> — but the terms are used in relation to two different points in time.<br />
<br />
The abbreviation for tenor is <a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/t?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>t.</b></a><sup>[10]</sup>.<br />
<br />
In Italian, <a href="http://dictionary.reverso.net/italian-english/quartetto"><i><b>quartetto</b></i></a><sup>[8]</sup> means <b>quartet</b>. <br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>25a A cracking lodge in <u>US city</u> (7)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: cyan;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>26a One terribly boring fat <u>man</u> (7)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>27a <u>Reformatory man to charm head of State, ER</u> (6,7)</b></span></div>
<br />
As an anagram indicator, <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/reformatory?q=reformatory"><b>reformatory</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is used as an adjective meaning <span class="definition">tending or intended to produce reform.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="definition">The
regnal ciphers (monograms) of British monarchs are initials formed from
the Latin version of their first name followed by either <i>Rex</i> or <i>Regina</i> (Latin for king or queen, respectively). Thus, the regnal cipher of King Edward wa</span>s <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/ER?region=us&q=ER"><b>ER</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> — from<span class="definition"> the Latin <em>Edwardus Rex</em>.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="definition"><a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Cranmer-Thomas?q=Thomas+Cranmer"><b>Thomas Cranmer</b></a></span><span class="definition"><sup>[5]</sup> </span><span class="definition"><span class="dateGroup">(<span class="date">1489–1556</span>)</span> was an
English Protestant cleric and martyr. After helping to negotiate Henry
VIII’s divorce from Catherine of Aragon, he was appointed the first
Protestant Archbishop of Canterbury in 1532. He was responsible for
liturgical reform and the compilation of the Book of Common Prayer
(1549). In the reign of Mary Tudor Cranmer was tried for treason and
heresy and burnt at the stake.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="definition">For the benefit of those whose knowledge of 16th century <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_English_monarchs"><b>English monarchs</b></a></span><span class="definition"><sup>[7]</sup> might be a bit rusty, Henry VIII ruled from 1509-1547. He was succeeded by his son, the "boy king" Edward VI who ruled from 1547 until his death at the age of 15 in 1553. His period on the throne was followed by the disputed reign of Lady Jane Grey (a Protestant </span><span class="definition">great-granddaughter of Henry VII) who ruled for nine days (July 10-19, 1553) before being displaced by Mary I (the Catholic daughter of Henry VIII and half-sister to Edward VI).</span><br />
<span class="definition"><br /></span>
<h3>
Down</h3>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>2d <u>Clear understanding</u> in place for auditors (7)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>3d Latrine hard work? Nothing in it with <u>say, Ajax</u> (9)</b></span></div>
<br />
The surface reading may suggest a well-known brand of toilet bowl cleanser.<br />
<br />
In Greek mythology, <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Ajax?q=Ajax"><b>Ajax</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> was either (1) <span class="definition">a Greek hero of the Trojan war, son of Telamon, king of Salamis. He was proverbial for his size and strength or (2) </span><span class="definition"><span class="definition">a Greek hero, son of Oileus, king of Locris.</span>.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>4d Gutted England side unexpectedly <u>goes down the plughole</u> (6)</b></span></div>
<br />
In the surface reading, "England side" refers to a sports team (side) representing England in international competition.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/plughole?q=plughole"><b>Plughole</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is the British name for the drain in a bath, basin or sink.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/ash"><b>The Ashes</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> <span class="definition">is a trophy for the winner of a series of Test matches [<i>also commonly referred to as the Ashes</i>] in a cricket season between England and Australia. The name arises from </span>a mock obituary notice published in the <em>Sporting Times</em>
(2 September 1882), with reference to the symbolical remains of English
cricket being taken to Australia after a sensational victory by the
Australians at the Oval [<i>an international cricket
ground in Kennington, in the London Borough of Lambeth</i>].<br />
<br />
In his comments, Dave Perry is referring to the 2013-14 Ashes series played in Australia in December 2013 and January 2014. At the time that he wrote his remarks, Australia had already scored decisive victories in the first two matches and were very likely leading in the third match as well (which they eventually won by a margin of 218 runs). Australia went on to defeat England in the final two matches of the series to hand England a 5-0 drubbing in the series.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>5d Forsaken wild <u>plants</u> (3,5)</b></span></div>
<br />
The <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/oak-fern?q=oak+fern"><b>oak fern</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> <span class="definition"></span> is <span class="definition">a delicate fern of woods and damp places in the uplands of northern Eurasia and North America.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>6d <u>Thoughts</u> of top team as getting relegated (5)</b></span></div>
<br />
In the surface reading, <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/relegate?q=relegate"><b>relegate</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is used in the sense to <span class="definition">transfer (a sports team) to a lower division of a league </span>⇒ <i><q><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><em class="example">United were relegated to division two</em></span></q></i>. However, in the cryptic reading, it is likely used in the more general sense of to <span class="definition">assign an inferior rank or position to </span>⇒ <i><q><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><em class="example"><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><em class="example">they aim to prevent women from being <strong>relegated to</strong> a secondary role</em></span></em></span></q></i>.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>7d Charlie got better opener out <u>without doubt</u> (7)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/charlie?q=Charlie"><b>Charlie</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is British slang for a fool ⇒ <i><q><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><em class="example"><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><em class="example"><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><em class="example">what a bunch of charlies</em></span></em></span></em></span></q></i>.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>8d Absurd but clear aims I put out as <u>a writer</u> (6,5)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Camus"><b>Albert Camus</b></a><sup>[7]</sup> (1913–1960) was a French author, journalist, and key philosopher of the 20th century.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>10d Nothing inspires English rock <u>singer</u> (4,7)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Diamond-Neil?q=Diamond%2C+Neil"><b>Neil Diamond</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is a <span class="definition">US pop songwriter and singer. Among his many
hits are “Cherry, Cherry” (1966), “Sweet Caroline” (1969), “You Don’t
Bring Me Flowers” (1978, a duet with Barbra Streisand), and “Hello
Again” (1980).</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>15d <u>Defeat</u> appeared to restrict Old Testament study (5,4)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/do?q=do"><b>Do</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is used in the sense of to learn or study ⇒ <i><q><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><em class="example"><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><em class="example"><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><em class="example"><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><em class="example">I’m doing English, German, and History</em></span></em></span></em></span></em></span></q></i>.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>16d <u>Major retreat in the past, for example</u> in <u>board game</u> (8)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/chequers?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>Chequers</b></a><sup>[10]</sup> is the British spelling of the board game <a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/checkers?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>checkers</b></a><sup>[10]</sup> — which is also known as <a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/draughts#draughts_1"><b>draughts</b></a><sup>[10]</sup> in the UK.<br />
<br />
<b>Chequers</b><sup>[<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Chequers?q=chequers"><b>5</b></a>,<a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/chequers?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>10</b></a>]</sup> is <span class="definition">a Tudor mansion in Buckinghamshire, England which serves as </span><span class="definition"><span class="def">the official
country residence of the British prime minister</span> [<i>the British equivalent of Camp David (US) or Harrington Lake (Canada)</i>].</span><br />
<br />
<span class="definition"><a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Major-Sir-John?q=John+Major"><b>Sir John Major</b></a></span><span class="definition"><sup>[5]</sup> is a </span><span class="definition">British Conservative statesman who was Prime Minister of the UK from 1990 to 1997.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>18d <u>Commemoration</u>: mine's in messy heap (7)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>20d <u>Start of crop area, for example could be represented as this</u> (7)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>21d Standard clothing lines on order primarily showing <u>whiteness</u> (6)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>23d <u>Sort of pole</u> to carry with difficulty on motorway (5)</b></span></div>
<br />
In Britain, a <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/motorway?q=motorway"><b>motorway</b></a><span class="definition"><sup>[5]</sup> </span> is <span class="definition">a dual-carriageway road [<i>divided highway</i>] designed for fast traffic, with relatively few places for joining or leaving [<i>controlled access</i>].</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Key to Reference Sources: </b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[1] </sup> - <i>The Chambers Dictionary, 11th Edition </i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[2] </sup> - <a href="http://www.chambers.co.uk/search.php"><b>Search Chambers</b></a> - (<i>Chambers 21st Century Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[3] </sup> - <a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/"><b>TheFreeDictionary.com</b></a> (<i>American Heritage Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[4] </sup> - <a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/"><b>TheFreeDictionary.com</b></a> (<i>Collins English Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[5] </sup> - <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/?region=uk"><b>Oxford Dictionaries</b></a> (<i>Oxford Dictionary of English</i>) </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[6] </sup> - <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/?region=us"><b>Oxford Dictionaries</b></a> (<i>Oxford American Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[7] </sup> - <b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page">Wikipedia</a></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[8] </sup> - <a href="http://dictionary.reverso.net/french-english/"><b>Reverso Online Dictionary</b></a> (<i>Collins French-English Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[9] </sup> - <a href="http://dictionary.infoplease.com/"><b>Infoplease</b></a> (<i>Random House Unabridged Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[10]</sup> - <a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/"><b>CollinsDictionary.com</b></a> (<i>Collins English Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[11]</sup> - <a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/"><b>TheFreeDictionary.com</b></a> (<i>Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary</i>)</span></blockquote>
Signing off for this week — Falcon
</div>
Falconhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07466858757398776500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4283491940842987165.post-62706614597220988452013-12-31T23:59:00.001-05:002014-04-23T09:13:12.738-04:00google-site-verification: googlefa5d165c71288fd6.htmlFalconhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07466858757398776500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4283491940842987165.post-22943074593453077432013-12-31T23:59:00.000-05:002014-01-19T15:18:56.561-05:00Sunday, December 29, 2013 — ST 4566<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>This entry was posted on Sunday, January 5, 2014 but has been backdated to place it in the proper sequence in the Blog Archive.</i></div>
<div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" style="height: 20px; width: 420px;"><tbody></tbody></table>
<table border="5" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" frame="BOX" rules="GROUPS" style="border-bottom-style: none; color: #274e13; height: 62px; width: 420px;"><tbody>
<tr><th colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 200%;"><b>Puzzle at a Glance</b></span></div>
</th> </tr>
</tbody></table>
<table border="5" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" frame="BOX" rules="GROUPS" style="height: 82px; width: 420px;"><tbody>
<tr><th colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-weight: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Puzzle Number in <i>The Sunday Times</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;">ST 4566</span>
</th> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Date of Publication in <i>The Sunday Times</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Sunday, December 1, 2013</b></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Setter</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Dean Mayer (Anax) </b></span></td> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Link to Full Review</span></span></div>
<a href="http://times-xwd-times.livejournal.com/1044478.html"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b><i>Times for the Times</i> [ST 4566]</b></span></a>
</td> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i>Times for the Times</i> Review Written By</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Dave Perry</b></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Dave Perry's Solving Time</span> </div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>★★★★ </b></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Date of Publication in the <i>Toronto Star</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Saturday, December 21, 2013</b></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Date of Publication in <i>The Vancouver Sun</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Saturday, December 28, 2013</b><sup>[<i>Note 2</i>]</sup></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Falcon's Experience</span> </div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;">┌────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┐</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;">██████████</span><span style="color: cyan;">██████████</span><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">██</span><span style="color: red;">██████</span><span style="color: #ccddbb;">███████</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;">└────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┘</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Legend:</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: blue;">█</span> - solved without assistance</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: orange;">█</span> - incorrect prior to use of puzzle solving tools</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: cyan;">█</span> - solved with assistance from puzzle solving tools</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">█</span> - solved with aid of checking letters provided by puzzle solving tools</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: red;">█</span> - unsolved or incorrect prior to visiting <i>Times for the Times</i></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #ea9999;">█</span> - solved with aid of checking letters provided by solutions from <i>Times for the Times</i></span></div>
</td> </tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Notes</span></div>
<div>
<i>[1] This puzzle appears on the Sunday puzzles pages in the Saturday, December 28, 2013 edition of The Ottawa Citizen.</i><br />
<br />
<i>[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.</i></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
<div>
<br />
<h2>
Introduction
</h2>
This puzzle was an ordeal, being undoubtedly one of the most difficult <i>Sunday Times</i> 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 <i>Times for the Times</i> 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. <br />
<br />
<h2>
Notes on Today's Puzzle
</h2>
<div style="font-size: x-small; text-align: center;">
<b><i>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.</i></b></div>
<br />
<h3>
Across</h3>
<br />
<div style="background-color: red;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>1a <u>Supremely funny</u> attempts to fill in form (8)</b></span></div>
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
In the solution, <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/shy-2"><b>shy</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is used in an archaic sense meaning <span class="definition">to attempt to do or obtain something </span>⇒ <i><q><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example">have a shy at putting the case to me</i></span></q></i>.<br />
<br />
"In form" is <b>fit</b> (i.e., in good physical condition). <br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: red;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>5a Was party host married in this <u>spot</u>? (6)</b></span></div>
<br />
If someone "was [<i>the</i>] party host", then they "ran [<i>the</i>] do". Dave Perry, in his review, attempts to explain this clue.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>10a Chap caught boxing one <u>on one</u>! (5)</b></span></div>
<br />
I did get the solution from the wordplay but did not understand the definition.<br />
<br />
On cricket scorecards, the abbreviation <b><a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/c?q=c">c</a></b><sup>[5]</sup> denotes <b>caught (by)</b>.<br />
<br />
I presume that "on one" denoting <b>manic</b> comes from the informal expression <a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/off-on-one#off-on-one_1"><b>off on one</b></a><sup>[10]</sup> which means <span class="def">exhibiting bad temper or ranting.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: #6fa8dc;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>11a <u>Hide</u> mirror in shower? (5,4)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: red;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>12a French lady consumed by major <u>delivery problem</u> (7)</b></span></div>
<br />
Alas, I misdirected my efforts to investigating the complications associated with child birth.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>13a I come from America, carrying personal <u>influence</u> (7)</b></span></div>
<br />
I believe that <a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/pet?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>pet</b></a><sup>[10]</sup> is being used in the sense of particularly cherished or favourite ⇒ <i><q>a pet theory</q>;</i> <i><q>a pet hatred</q></i>.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>15a He will not be worried by Euro being <u>spent elsewhere</u>? (5-3-4)</b></span></div>
<br />
The American English version (but not the British and World English version) of <i>Oxford Dictionaries Online</i> defines <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/american_english/E-3"><b>E</b></a><sup>[6]</sup> as the symbol for (<b class="wordForm">€</b>)<span class="definition"> euro(s).</span><br />
<br />
<i>Collins English Dictionary</i> lists several meanings for the adjective <a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/below-the-line?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>below-the-line</b></a><sup>[10]</sup> (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 <span class="def">(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. </span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: cyan;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>18a For good measure, sister spanked <u>mother</u> (12)</b></span></div>
<br />
The anagram indicator is "spanked".<br />
<br />
The abbreviation <a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/g?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>G</b></a><sup>[10]</sup> for <b>good</b> likely relates to its use in rating school assignments or tests.<br />
<br />
In printing, an <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/en?q=en"><b>en</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is <span class="definition">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.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: cyan;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>21a <u>Dogs' home</u> — see a tail wagging outside it (7)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/it"><b>It</b></a><span class="definition"><sup>[5]</sup> </span> (usually written in quotation marks, <b>'it'</b>) is an informal term [<i>and, perhaps, euphemism</i>] for <span class="definition">sexual intercourse or sex appeal </span> ⇒ <i><q><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example">the only thing I knew nothing about was ‘it’</i></span></q></i>.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/SA?q=sa"><b>SA</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is an informal, dated term for sex appeal.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alsatia"><b>Alsatia</b></a><sup>[7]</sup> 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. <br />
<br />
Alsatia was named after the ancient [<i>Latin</i>] name for Alsace, Europe, which was itself outside legislative and juridical lines, and, therefore, they were literally places without law.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Alsatian?q=Alsatian"><b>Alsatian</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> seems to be the preferred British name for the German Shepherd breed of dog. <br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: cyan;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>22a Gunners find <u>fierce competition</u> (3,4)</b></span></div>
<br />
Entering WAR GAMES here severely hampered progress in the southeast quadrant.<br />
<br />
In the UK, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Artillery"><b>Royal Regiment of Artillery</b></a><sup>[7]</sup>, commonly referred to as the <b>Royal Artillery</b> (<b>RA</b>), is the artillery arm of the British Army. <br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: cyan;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>23a <u>Welsh town</u>'s beauty about to take shape with gold (9)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolgellau"><b>Dolgellau</b></a><sup>[7]</sup> 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.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>25a <u>Drummer</u> runs home to beat it (5)</b></span></div>
<br />
On cricket scorecards, the abbreviation <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/R--2"><b>R</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> denotes <b>run(s)</b>.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Starr-Ringo?q=Ringo+Starr"><b>Ringo Starr</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is <span class="definition">an English rock and pop drummer; born Richard Starkey. He replaced Pete Best in the Beatles in 1962.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>26a <u>Budget</u> speech hasn't started (6)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>27a <u>Fire-resistant article</u> worst in emergency! (8)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/worst?q=worst"><b>Worst</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is a verb meaning to <span class="definition">get the better of or defeat </span>⇒ <i><q><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example">this was not the time for a deep discussion—she was tired and she would be worsted</i></span></q></i>.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/best?q=best"><b>Best</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is a verb meaning to <span class="definition">outwit or get the better of (someone) </span><span class="definition">⇒ </span><span class="definition"><i><q><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example"><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example">she refused to allow herself to be bested</i></span></i></span></q></i>.</span><br />
<br />
<h3>
Down</h3>
<br />
<div style="background-color: red;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>1d <u>Suffer hunger</u> following religious sect (6)</b></span></div>
<br />
You might encounter the abbreviation <a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/f?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>f.</b></a><span class="definition"><sup>[10]</sup> </span> meaning <b>following (page)</b> in the footnotes of an academic work.<br />
<br />
The <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Amish?q=Amish"><b>Amish</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> are <span class="definition">the members of a strict Mennonite sect founded by the Swiss preacher Jakob Amman (or Amen) (<i>circa </i>1645-<i>circa </i>1730). Now living mainly in Pennsylvania and Ohio, the Amish migrated to North America from <i>circa </i>1720.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>2d <u>Correct use of words</u> — wrong stress, say (6)</b></span></div>
<br />
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 [<i>denoting a tax on such articles as tobacco and alcohol</i>].<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: red;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>3d Rival in tavern finally shot <u>cowboy</u> (11)</b></span></div>
<br />
In Britain [<i>and, to some extent, North America</i>], <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/cowboy?q=cowboy"><b>cowboy</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> can mean <span class="definition">a dishonest or careless person in business, especially an unqualified one </span>⇒ <i><q><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example">cowboy coach firms are alleged to have flouted safety rules</i></span></q></i><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i></i></span>. In North America, the term has more of a connotation of reckless behaviour than of incompetency.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: cyan;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>4d Someone I ring during study, oddly <u>at great speed</u> (14)</b></span></div>
<br />
I'm afraid that ASTRONOMICALLY was a poor choice and impeded progress for a considerable period of time.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>6d <u>Scottish city</u> in Solway region (3)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Ayr?q=Ayr"><b>Ayr</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is <span class="definition">a port in SW Scotland, on the Firth of Clyde,
the administrative centre of South Ayrshire council area; population
45,900 (est. 2009).</span><br />
<br />
<b>Solway</b> would refer to the area around the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solway_Firth"><b>Solway Firth</b></a><sup>[7]</sup>, a firth [<i>bay or inlet</i>] that forms part of the border between England and Scotland, between Cumbria (including the Solway Plain) and Dumfries and Galloway.<br />
<br />
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. <br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: #6fa8dc;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>7d You must investigate trouble in <u>joint</u> (8)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: red;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>8d Farmer is temporarily bagging <u>growing plant material</u> (8)</b></span></div>
<br />
I failed to recognize that this is a hidden word clue. In any event, the word is new to me.<br />
<br />
In botany, <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/meristem?q=meristem"><b>meristem</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> denotes <span class="definition">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 </span>⇒ <i><q><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example">the <b>apical meristem</b> of the shoot produces the embryonic seed leaves</i></span></q></i><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example"></i></span>.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: cyan;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>9d <u>Factions</u> first to prevent progress until disbanded (8,6)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: cyan;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>14d <u>Where Frenchman accommodates various dates?</u> (5-1-5)</b></span></div>
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: cyan;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>16d <u>Mountain resident</u> gets down about climbing mountain (8)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: cyan;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>17d Syllabus, without university permit, <u>stays</u> (8)</b></span></div>
<br />
Historically, <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/stay?q=stays"><b>stays</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> are <span class="definition">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.</span><br />
<span class="definition"><br /></span>
<b><span class="definition"><a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/corselet?q=corselet">Corselet</a></span></b><span class="definition"><sup>[5]</sup> is a variant spelling of <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/corselette"><b>corselette</b></a></span><span class="definition"><sup>[5]</sup>, </span><span class="definition">a woman’s foundation garment combining corset and bra.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>19d Glossy mesh in <u>drawer</u> (6)</b></span></div>
<br />
A <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/glossy?q=glossy"><b>glossy</b></a><span class="definition"><sup>[5]</sup> </span> is <span class="definition">a magazine printed on glossy paper with many colour photographs </span>⇒ <i><q><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example">he’s been touted in some upmarket glossies as the thinking woman’s crumpet</i></span></q></i>.<br />
<br />
<b>Drawer</b> being a seemingly whimsical term for something that draws (i.e., attracts).<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>20d <u>Watery</u> grave where one's lost (6)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: cyan;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>24d For one love, <u>number one</u> (3)</b></span></div>
<br />
"For one" meaning 'for example'.<br />
<br />
In tennis, squash, and some other sports, <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/love?q=love"><b>love</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is a score of zero or nil ⇒ <i><q><i>love fifteen</i></q></i>.
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.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/ego?q=ego"><b>Ego</b></a><span class="definition"><sup>[5]</sup> </span> is <span class="definition">a person’s sense of self-esteem or self-importance </span>⇒ <i><q><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example"><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example">he needed a boost to his ego</i></span></i></span></q></i>.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/number-one?q=number+one"><b>Number one</b></a><span class="definition"><sup>[5]</sup> </span> is a way of referring to oneself ⇒ <i><q><i><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example">you must <b>look after number one</b></i></span></i></q></i><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example"><b></b></i></span>. I think the connotation of this phrase is that, from your own personal perspective, <i>you</i> are the most important person and this is, therefore, an expression of self-importance (or <b>ego</b>).<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Key to Reference Sources: </b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[1] </sup> - <i>The Chambers Dictionary, 11th Edition </i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[2] </sup> - <a href="http://www.chambers.co.uk/search.php"><b>Search Chambers</b></a> - (<i>Chambers 21st Century Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[3] </sup> - <a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/"><b>TheFreeDictionary.com</b></a> (<i>American Heritage Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[4] </sup> - <a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/"><b>TheFreeDictionary.com</b></a> (<i>Collins English Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[5] </sup> - <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/?region=uk"><b>Oxford Dictionaries</b></a> (<i>Oxford Dictionary of English</i>) </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[6] </sup> - <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/?region=us"><b>Oxford Dictionaries</b></a> (<i>Oxford American Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[7] </sup> - <b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page">Wikipedia</a></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[8] </sup> - <a href="http://dictionary.reverso.net/french-english/"><b>Reverso Online Dictionary</b></a> (<i>Collins French-English Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[9] </sup> - <a href="http://dictionary.infoplease.com/"><b>Infoplease</b></a> (<i>Random House Unabridged Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[10]</sup> - <a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/"><b>CollinsDictionary.com</b></a> (<i>Collins English Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[11]</sup> - <a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/"><b>TheFreeDictionary.com</b></a> (<i>Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary</i>)</span></blockquote>
Signing off for this week — Falcon </div>
<div>
</div>
Falconhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07466858757398776500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4283491940842987165.post-16350093730041145512013-12-22T12:44:00.000-05:002013-12-22T12:44:10.844-05:00Sunday, December 22, 2013 — ST 4565<div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" style="height: 20px; width: 420px;"><tbody></tbody></table>
<table border="5" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" frame="BOX" rules="GROUPS" style="border-bottom-style: none; color: #274e13; height: 62px; width: 420px;"><tbody>
<tr><th colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 200%;"><b>Puzzle at a Glance</b></span></div>
</th> </tr>
</tbody></table>
<table border="5" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" frame="BOX" rules="GROUPS" style="height: 82px; width: 420px;"><tbody>
<tr><th colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-weight: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Puzzle Number in <i>The Sunday Times</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;">ST 4565</span>
</th> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Date of Publication in <i>The Sunday Times</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Sunday, November 24, 201</b></span><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>3</b><sup>[<i>Note 3</i>]</sup></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Setter</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Jeff Pearce </b></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Link to Full Review</span></span></div>
<a href="http://times-xwd-times.livejournal.com/1042138.html"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b><i>Times for the Times</i> [ST 4565]</b></span></a>
</td> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i>Times for the Times</i> Review Written By</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Dave Perry</b></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Dave Perry's Solving Time</span> </div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>★★★</b></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Date of Publication in the <i>Toronto Star</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Saturday, December 14, 2013</b></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Date of Publication in <i>The Vancouver Sun</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Saturday, December 21, 2013</b><sup>[<i>Note 2</i>]</sup></span>
</td> </tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Falcon's Experience</span> </div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;">┌────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┐</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;">██████████████████████████</span><span style="color: cyan;">███</span><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"></span><span style="color: #ccddbb;">██████</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;">└────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┘</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Legend:</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: blue;">█</span> - solved without assistance</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: orange;">█</span> - incorrect prior to use of puzzle solving tools</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: cyan;">█</span> - solved with assistance from puzzle solving tools</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">█</span> - solved with aid of checking letters provided by puzzle solving tools</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: red;">█</span> - unsolved or incorrect prior to visiting <i>Times for the Times</i></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #ea9999;">█</span> - solved with aid of checking letters provided by solutions from <i>Times for the Times</i></span></div>
</td> </tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Notes</span></div>
<div>
<i>[1] This puzzle appears on the Sunday puzzles pages in the Saturday, December 21, 2013 edition of The Ottawa Citizen.</i><br />
<br />
<i>[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.</i><br />
<br />
<i>[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.</i><i> </i></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
<div>
<br />
<h2>
Introduction
</h2>
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.<br />
<br />
<h2>
Notes on Today's Puzzle
</h2>
<div style="font-size: x-small; text-align: center;">
<b><i>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.</i></b></div>
<br />
<h3>
Across</h3>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>1a <u>Fat</u> boy swallowing last of burger (4)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>4a <u>Reptile</u> got policeman on the toilet (10)</b></span></div>
<br />
A <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/head?q=head"><b>head</b></a><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><sup>[5]</sup></span></span></span> is <span class="definition">a toilet on a ship or boat </span>⇒ <i><q><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example"><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example"><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example"><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example"><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example"><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example">they were cleaning out the heads</i></span></i></span></i></span></i></span></i></span></i></span></q></i>.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: cyan;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>9a Leave coin for <u>the Australian resident</u> (6)</b></span></div>
<br />
An <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/anna?q=anna"><b>anna</b></a><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><sup>[5]</sup></span></span></span> is <span class="definition">a former monetary unit of India and Pakistan, equal to one sixteenth of a rupee.</span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/goanna"><b>Goanna</b></a><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><sup>[5]</sup></span></span></span> is an Australian name for the <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/monitor#monitor__14"><b>monitor</b></a><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><sup>[5]</sup></span></span></span> <span class="variantGroup">(also <span class="variant">known as the <b>monitor lizard</b></span>)</span><span class="definition">
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.</span> <br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>10a Cameron is nervous with answer <u>being filmed</u> (2,6)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Cameron%2C-David?q=David+Cameron"><b>David Cameron</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is <span class="definition">a British Conservative politician who has been Prime Minister
of the UK since 2010 (in coalition with the Liberal Democrats).</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>11a Junk beats our <u>destroyer</u> (8)</b></span></div>
<br />
In the surface reading, <a href="http://www.chambers.co.uk/search.php?query=junk&title=21st"><b>junk</b></a><sup>[2]</sup> refers to a flat-bottomed square-sailed boat, with high forecastle and poop, from the Far East. <span class="definition"></span><br />
<br />
<span class="definition">As an anagram indicator, <b>junk</b> may be a bit weak. The word would seem to have the connotation of to discard or abandon </span><span class="definition">rather than to break up or smash. </span><span class="definition"><span class="definition"></span>Perhaps its use can be justified based on it meaning "to throw out" as 'out' is a common anagram indicator.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>13a <u>Skill</u> displayed by man camping? (6)</b></span></div>
<br />
The man is named AL and he can be found in TENT (camping implying "in tent").<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>14a <u>Threw</u> unsold pens out (10)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>16a <u>Jump</u> with guitar at end of recital (4)</b></span></div>
<br />
An <b><a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/axel?q=axel">axel</a></b><sup>[5]</sup> is <span class="definition">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 </span><br />
Norwegian skater Axel R. Paulsen (1885–1938).<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>17a <u>Blinking tough cause?</u> (4)</b></span></div>
<br />
I think the idea behind the clue is that a stye would cause blinking to be difficult (tough).<br />
<br />
In the surface reading, <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/blinking?q=blinking"><b>blinking</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> takes the role of an intensifier, used in informal British English, to express annoyance ⇒<i> (i) </i><i><q><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example">computers can be a blinking nuisance to operators</i></span></q>; (ii) </i><i><q><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example">I’ll sign off however I blinking well like</i></span></q></i>.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>18a Cut out alcohol and start to forestall <u>beastly complaint</u> (5,5)</b></span></div>
<br />
The use of "out" as a containment indicator seems a bit of a stretch. Perhaps it is based on <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/out?q=out"><b>out</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> (as a preposition) being a <span class="definition">non-standard contraction of <i>out of</i> </span><span class="definition">⇒ </span><span class="definition"><i><q><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak"><i class="example">he ran out the door</i></span></q></i></span>. 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".<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/swine-fever?q=swine+fever"><b>Swine fever</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is <span class="definition">an intestinal viral disease of pigs.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: cyan;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>20a <u>Rip off</u> <u>a jacket</u> (6)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/fleece"><b>Fleece</b></a> — in addition to being a fabric — may also be a jacket or top made from such a fabric<sup>[4]</sup> or a garment made or lined with such a fabric<sup>[11]</sup>.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>21a <u>Meticulous</u> member of the clergy on a cycle (8)</b></span></div>
<br />
A <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/curate"><b>curate</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is <span class="definition">a member of the clergy engaged as assistant to a vicar, rector, or parish priest.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="definition">The abbreviation <a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/c?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>c</b></a></span><span class="definition"><sup>[10]</sup> stands for cycle. </span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>23a <u>Beef</u> put on butter is prime bit (8)</b></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/past?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>Past</b></a><sup>[10]</sup>, as an adverb, can mean on or onwards ⇒ <i><q>I greeted him but he just walked past</q></i>.<br />
<br />
I interpreted the clue in a similar manner to Dave Perry with "is prime bit" signifying the first letter of the word "<u><b>I</b></u>s".<br />
<br />
Thus the wordplay is PAST (on) + RAM (butter; <i>male goat or sheep</i>) + I (<b><u>I</u></b>s prime bit).<br />
<br />
I presume that "put" is employed as an <b><i>explicit</i></b> instruction to the solver, being the first in series of operations (with the others being <i><b>implicit</b></i>). This "put" PAST [<i>as the first element of the charade</i>]; [<i>then add</i>] RAM; [<i>then finally add</i>] I.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/pastrami?q=pastrami"><b>Pastrami</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> (a word of Yiddish origin — not Italian as I had always imagined) is <span class="definition">highly seasoned smoked beef, typically served in thin slices.</span><br />
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<span style="color: white;"><b>24a <u>Attack</u> from male hiding in a woody plant (6)</b></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: white;"><b>26a Comfortably Numb melody is <u>pure metal</u>! (10)</b></span></div>
<br />
Here is another instance of an <b>anagr</b>am <b>ind</b>icator (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 <i>The Sunday Times</i>, "novel". I suppose getting comfortable implies a transformation. As one commenter says on <i>Times for the Times</i>, "I thought 'comfortably' = 'loosely' might cover it".<br />
<br />
"<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comfortably_Numb"><b>Comfortably Numb</b></a><sup>[7]</sup>" is a song by the English rock band Pink Floyd, which first appears on the 1979 double album, <i>The Wall</i>. It was also released as a single in 1980 with "Hey You" as the B-side.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/molybdenum?q=molybdenum"><b>Molybdenum</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> <span class="variantGroup"> (symbol: <b><span class="variant">Mo</span></b>)</span> is <span class="definition">the chemical element of atomic number 42, a brittle silver-grey metal of the transition series, used in some alloy steels.</span><span class="variantGroup"></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="color: white;"><b>27a Petition against introduction of toxic <u>fat</u> (4)</b></span></div>
<br />
<h3>
Down</h3>
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<span style="color: white;"><b>2d <u>Stir</u> caldron regularly (3)</b></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: white;"><b>3d <u>Scavenger</u> beginning to drag short bar (5)</b></span></div>
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A <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/dingo?q=dingo"><b>dingo</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> (<i>Canis dingo</i>) is <span class="definition">a wild or half-domesticated dog with a sandy-coloured coat, found in Australia.</span><br />
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<span style="color: white;"><b>4d Gas and water required to live in <u>French manor</u> (7)</b></span></div>
<br />
In French, the word for water is <a href="http://dictionary.reverso.net/french-english/eau"><b>eau</b></a><sup>[8]</sup>. There may also be a play on the term <a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/eau-de-vie?showCookiePolicy=true"><b>eau de vie</b></a><sup>[10]</sup> meaning brandy or other spirits (which, in French, means 'water of life').<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>5d <u>Dilly-dallying</u> drawn in a strip cartoon (15)</b></span></div>
<br />
As a anagram indicator, <a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/draw?q=draw"><b>draw</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> would be interpreted in the sense to <span class="definition">pull or move (something) in a specified direction.</span><br />
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<span style="color: white;"><b>6d <u>Thrilled</u> to have gone out without cold (7)</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: white;"><b>7d After touring Haiti mule is <u>put down</u> (9)</b></span></div>
<br />
As an anagram indicator, <b>touring</b> would be interpreted in the sense of 'moving about'.<br />
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<span style="color: white;"><b>8d A perfect example with note used in thorough <u>contract</u> (11)</b></span></div>
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The solution to the clue is ARRANGEMENT. However, the clue is flawed (as Peter Biddlecombe, the puzzle editor at <i>The Sunday Times</i>, admits in a comment at <i>Times for the Times</i>). The wordplay is intended to parse as {AN (a) + GEM (perfect example) + E ([<i>musical</i>] note)} contained in (used in) ARRANT (thorough). However, this produces ARRA(AN|GEM|E)NT — with one too many As.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: cyan;">
<span style="color: black;"><b>12d In short, work with a cook to get <u>booze</u> (11)</b></span></div>
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/amontillado?q=amontillado"><b>Amontillado</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is <span class="definition">a medium dry sherry, named after </span>Montilla, a town in southern Spain where the original wine was produced.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>15d <u>Soon</u> object to being in work (9)</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: white;"><b>18d <u>Caretaker</u> takes note into small room with patients (7)</b></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/te"><b>Te</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is the British spelling of <b>ti</b> which <span class="definition">(in tonic sol-fa) is the seventh note of a major scale.</span><br />
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<span style="color: white;"><b>19d One in test about carbon left <u>to cry</u> (7)</b></span></div>
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The symbol for the chemical element <b>carbon</b> is <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/C--2"><b>C</b></a><sup>[5]</sup>.<br />
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<span style="color: white;"><b>22d On public transport <u>a puzzle's the answer!</u> (5)</b></span></div>
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<div style="background-color: blue;">
<span style="color: white;"><b>25d Second explosive <u>novel</u> (3)</b></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/HE?q=HE"><b>HE</b></a><sup>[5]</sup> is the abbreviation for <b>high explosive</b>.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/She:_A_History_of_Adventure"><i><b>She</b></i></a><sup>[7]</sup>, subtitled <i>A History of Adventure</i>, is a novel by English writer Henry Rider Haggard <span class="definition"><span class="dateGroup">(<span class="date">1856–1925</span>)</span></span>, first serialized in <i>The Graphic</i> magazine from October 1886 to January 1887. <i>She</i>
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, <i>She</i> has never been out of print.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Key to Reference Sources: </b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[1] </sup> - <i>The Chambers Dictionary, 11th Edition </i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[2] </sup> - <a href="http://www.chambers.co.uk/search.php"><b>Search Chambers</b></a> - (<i>Chambers 21st Century Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[3] </sup> - <a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/"><b>TheFreeDictionary.com</b></a> (<i>American Heritage Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[4] </sup> - <a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/"><b>TheFreeDictionary.com</b></a> (<i>Collins English Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[5] </sup> - <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/?region=uk"><b>Oxford Dictionaries</b></a> (<i>Oxford Dictionary of English</i>) </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[6] </sup> - <a href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/?region=us"><b>Oxford Dictionaries</b></a> (<i>Oxford American Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[7] </sup> - <b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page">Wikipedia</a></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[8] </sup> - <a href="http://dictionary.reverso.net/french-english/"><b>Reverso Online Dictionary</b></a> (<i>Collins French-English Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[9] </sup> - <a href="http://dictionary.infoplease.com/"><b>Infoplease</b></a> (<i>Random House Unabridged Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[10]</sup> - <a href="http://www.collinsdictionary.com/"><b>CollinsDictionary.com</b></a> (<i>Collins English Dictionary</i>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>[11]</sup> - <a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/"><b>TheFreeDictionary.com</b></a> (<i>Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary</i>)</span></blockquote>
Signing off for this week — Falcon
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Falconhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07466858757398776500noreply@blogger.com0