Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30755
A full review by Rahmat Ali
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
This puzzle was published on 26th October 2024
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
Greetings from Kolkata. A really straightforward and lovely Saturday puzzle from NYDK that I enjoyed solving and thereafter writing a review of the same for your kind perusal and valuable comments.
After solving the puzzle, I took to the net to have a glimpse of the history of Rice Krispies, the answer to the clue of 11a and 3d and learnt that it is also known as Rice Bubbles in Australia and New Zealand. Rice Krispies, made of crisped rice, was released to the public by the Kellogg Company in 1928. The ingredients comprise rice, sugar, salt, malt flavouring, iron, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), alpha tocopherol acetate (vitamin E), niacinamide, vitamin A palmitate, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), riboflavin (vitamin B2), thiamine hydrochloride (vitamin B1), folic acid, vitamin B12 (as cyanocobalamin) and vitamin D. The breakfast cereal is produced by WK Kellogg Co for the United States, Canadian and Caribbean markets and by Kellanova for the rest of the world. The rice used in the US version of the cereal is grown in the states of Louisiana and Arkansas. The original patent called for using partially dried grain, which could be whole or broken, that would have 15-30% moisture which could then be shaped by existing processes for cereal production that include rolling, flaking, shredding etc. After being processed to the desired shape the grain is dried to around 5-14% moisture content at which stage the grain will expand when subjected to a high temperature creating a light, low-density product that is crisp and easy to chew. When milk is added to the cereal the crisped rice tends to collapse, creating the characteristic “snap, crackle and pop” sounds. Rice Krispies cereal has a long advertising history with the elf cartoon characters Snap, Crackle and Pop touting the brand. The ‘Snap, Crackle and Pop’ slogan was in use by 1939 when the cereal was advertised as staying ‘crackly crisp in milk or cream…not mushy!’ with claims that the cereal would remain floating, without sinking to the bottom of the bowl, even after 2 hours in milk. They were not a shredded or flaked cereal type, but were instead created by a patented process that Kellogg’s called ‘oven-popping’.
Please leave a comment telling us what you thought.
Across
4a Music with strong beat – piano work (3)
POP: The definition of a modern popular music, usually with a strong beat, created with electrical or electronic equipment, and easy to listen to and remember is achieved from a charade of P (piano) as an abbreviation for piano in a piece of music, denoting an instruction to play quietly and OP (work) as the abbreviation for opus that refers to work, especially a musical composition in which one is numbered in order of publication
8a Cast iron case for storyline? (8)
SCENARIO: An anagram (cast) of IRON CASE leads to the definition of a noun meaning a storyline, outline, sketch or summary
9a European flower festival (6)
EASTER: A charade of E (European) as the abbreviation for European as EU in European Union and ASTER (flower) as a garden flower that is usually white to lilac-blue or purple, with many long, thin petals guides to the definition of the most important festival of the Christian Church, commemorating the Resurrection of Christ
10a Limit in accepting love and kindness (10)
COMPASSION: COMPASS (limit) as a noun denoting the enclosing limits of an area followed by IN from the clue taking inside (accepting) O (love) as love or the score of zero in a game of tennis takes to the definition of an adjective meaning kindness, pity, mercy or tender-heartedness
11a and 3 Down Altered recipe is risk – but it has 2, 20 & 4 Across! (4,8)
RICE KRISPIES: An anagram (altered) of RECIPE IS RISK yields the definition of a well-known brand of breakfast cereal of small pieces of crisp rice and usually eaten with milk and sugar and marketed by Kellogg’s and its successor companies that has Snap, Crackle and Pop, the answers to the clues of 2d, 20d and 4a respectively, as its cartoon mascots
12a Base? Those last seen in Nevada will think Area 51! (6)
ALKALI: The definition of a base that dissolves in water and produces hydroxyl ions is arrived at from the last or terminal letters (those last) noticed in the words (seen in) [NEVAD]A [WIL]L [THIN]K followed by A (Area) as the abbreviation for area and LI (51) as the Roman numeral for fifty-one
14a Given praise, lover no longer rang (8)
EXTOLLED: The definition of a verb meaning glorified, honoured or given praise is reached from a charade of EX (lover no longer) as a colloquial term for someone who is no longer what he or she was, for example a person’s former lover or espouse and TOLLED (rang) as a verb in the past tense meaning rang or caused to ring slowly and recurrently
15a One to examine canine depression first? (7)
DENTIST: The definition of a specialist in the care of the teeth and gums and the treatment or oral disease and decay is obtained from a charade of DENT (depression) as a depression in a surface made by pressure or a blow and IST (first) as representing the ordinal number ‘first’ in which I symbolises the Roman numeral for one
17a Jockey taking very good gee-gee over the top? (7)
PIGGOTT: The definition of the surname of an English professional jockey and trainer who died in 2022 and whose full name was Lester Keith Piggott is arrived at from PI (very good) as an informal term meaning very good or pious in a sanctimonious way, followed by GG (gee-gee) as referring to two Gs, that is gee-gee that is an informal term for a horse, used especially by children for horse racing or generally in racehorse betting and OTT (over the top) as an abbreviation for Over The Top
21a Ford saloon’s horizontal post? (8)
CROSSBAR: A charade of CROSS (ford) as to pass from one side to the other, especially of an area or stretch of water, an example of which is to ford as to cross a river or stream at a shallow place and BAR (saloon) as a saloon, tavern or pub guides to the definition of a horizontal post between the two upright posts of a goal in football, rugby, hockey etc
23a Minute liver perhaps seen in journalist? (6)
MORGAN: A charade of M (minute) as the abbreviation for minute and ORGAN (liver perhaps) as a functional element in the body, an example of which is liver that removes toxins from the body’s blood supply, maintains healthy blood sugar levels and regulates blood clotting that takes to the definition of the name of an English journalist who is also a broadcaster, writer and media personality and whose full name is Piers Stefan Pughe-Morgan
25a Stylish welcome received in clubs twice (4)
CHIC: HI (welcome) as an interjection used as calling attention of or when welcoming someone taken inside (received in) CC (clubs twice) as the cryptic formation of the plural of C that serves as an abbreviation of clubs that represent the playing cards leads to the definition of an adjective denoting stylish, smart or elegant
26a Her contact mistaken for Whitehall scientist (10)
TECHNOCRAT: An anagram (mistaken) of HER CONTACT takes to the definition of a person with a lot of scientific or technical knowledge who has an important position in government, an example of which is a Whitehall scientist; Whitehall being a metonym for the UK Civil Service and so just meaning ‘the Government’
28a Attack wise man defending Authorised Version (6)
SAVAGE: The definition of a verb meaning to attack without restraint or pity is arrived at from SAGE (wise man) as a profoundly wise man, especially in ancient history or legend taking care of or holding inside (defending) AV (Authorised Version) as the abbreviation for Authorised Version
29a Garments hang on one end of line (8)
LINGERIE: The definition of women’s undergarments or sleepwear, especially when designed to be visually or sexually alluring is obtained from LINGER (hang on) as a verb meaning to hang on, cling to life or survive followed by I (one) as the Roman numeral for one and the ending or last letter (end) of [LIN]E
30a Old English port or whisky? (3)
RYE: Double nounal definition; the second being a type of whisky made from fermented mash of grain that takes to the first a seaport that was incorporated in 1289 and became a full member of the Cinque Ports, that is a confederation of English Channel ports, about 1350
Down
1d Second husband captured by wicked group (6)
SCHOOL: S (second) as the abbreviation for second followed by H (husband) as the genealogical abbreviation for husband placed inside (captured by ) COOL (wicked) as an adjective meaning excellent, first-rate or wicked produces the definition of a group of people distinguished by similar manners, customs or opinions or a large group of aquatic animals, especially fish, swimming together
2d Biscuit containers overturned (4)
SNAP: The definition of a crisp sweet biscuit, rolled into a cylinder after baking and often filled with whipped cream is reached from PANS (containers) as the plural of a shallow, wide, open container, used for holding liquids, cooking and other domestic purposes turned upside down or seen going upwards (overturned) as a reversal in the down clue
3d See 11 Across
4d Parasites in Hull controlled (7)
POLICED: LICE (parasites) as the plural of any of numerous small, flat-bodied, wingless biting or sucking insects of the order Phthiraptera, which live as external parasites on birds and mammals, including humans placed inside (in) POD (Hull) as a noun meaning shell, case or hull guides to the definition of a verb in the past tense meaning regulated, controlled or kept in order by means of a force
5d Gym enthusiast without a pulse (6)
PEANUT: PE (gym) as the abbreviation for physical education that is sometimes informally referred to as a gym class, or simply gym and NUT (enthusiast) as an enthusiast or someone who is excessively interested in a particular activity or subject going around (without) A from the clue produces the definition of an oval seed of a tropical plant, often roasted and salted and eaten as a snack, an example of which is the pulse that is the edible seed of a leguminous plant including a chickpea, lentil or bean
6d Seething realtors go for expert on houses? (10)
ASTROLOGER: An anagram (seething) of REALTORS GO leads to the definition of someone who predicts the future by the positions of the planets, sun and moon that are placed in various houses in their calculation chart
7d Hurt in match – leaves boxing? (3,5)
TEA CHEST: ACHE (hurt) as to hurt or be in pain placed inside (in) TEST (match) as referring to a test match in some sports, especially cricket takes to the definition of a light metal-lined wooden box in which tea is transported, that is a boxing or casing for tea leaves
12d Female domestic needing no male help (3)
AID: [M]AID (female domestic) as a female domestic or a female house servant or attendant devoid of (needing no) M (male) as the abbreviation for male yields the definition of a noun meaning help, assistance or support
13d Worker is on old spies list at first withdrawn (10)
ANTISOCIAL: A combo of ANT (worker) as a social insect working together in groups and IS from the clue placed upon (on) O (old) as the abbreviation for old as OT in Old Testament in the down clue followed by CIA (spies) as the abbreviation for Central Intelligence Agency that is a civilian foreign intelligence service of the federal government of the United States involved in gathering, processing and analysing national security information from around the world and the first or initial letter (at first) of L[IST] leads to the definition of an adjective meaning unsociable, reserved or withdrawn
16d Potentially harm an ET? He’s from this planet! (8)
EARTHMAN: An anagram (potentially) of HARM AN ET takes to the definition of an inhabitant or native of our planet earth, especially in science fiction
18d This writer’s books around store due soon (8)
IMMINENT: This writer’s book, i.e., books of this writer or NT (books) as a collection of Christian texts comprising 27 books of I’M (this writer) as a contraction of ‘I am’ that is referring to the setter or writer of this puzzle, that is NT of I’M or, precisely, I’M NT placed about (around) MINE (store) as a store or storehouse or abundant source of something leads to the definition of an adjective meaning about to occur any time now or due soon
19d Sunbathing’s end in Punta Negra? (3)
TAN: The definition of a noun meaning a browning of the skin resulting from exposure to the rays of the sun, an example of which is sunbathing that is the activity of sitting or lying in the sun, especially to tan the skin is reached from part of or hidden inside (in) [PUN]TA N[EGRA]
20d Laugh raucously about Republican making noise (7)
CRACKLE: CACKLE (laugh) as to laugh uproariously or raucously placed around R (Republican) as an abbreviation for Republican as in the States guides to the definition of a noise or sound of any kind
22d Flattery from British State? (6)
BUTTER: The definition of a noun meaning flattery or excessive and insincere praise is arrived at from a charade of B (British) as an abbreviation for British and UTTER (State) as a verb meaning to state, say or tell
24d Excellent returns after accounts shown in plant (6)
ACACIA: AI (excellent) as first-rate, first class or excellent taking a backward direction by going up (returns) as a reversal in the down clue coming after or preceded by (after) ACAC (accounts) as the cryptic formation of the plural of AC that is an abbreviation for account takes to the definition of a tree or shrub of warm climates which bears spikes or clusters of yellow or white flowers and is typically thorny
27d Champ, caught, fell (4)
CHEW: The definition of a verb meaning to champ, masticate or munch food enthusiastically or noisily is obtained from a charade of C (caught) as an abbreviation for caught by as in cricket and HEW (fell) as to fell or cut down a tree with an axe, sword or any sharp instrument
Some of the clues that I liked in this puzzle were 11a/3d, 12a, 17a, 2d/20d/4a, 4d, 5d and 7d; 11a/3d being the best of the lot. My prayers to the Almighty for the eternal rest and peace of BD and my thanks to NYDK for the entertainment and to Gazza for the assistance. Looking forward to being here again. Have a pleasant day.