Comments on: Independent 6476/Scorpion – Eric and Ernie

By: neildubya

neildubya — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 18:04:11 +0000

Well, an easier Scorpion still isn't easy! Maybe I was properly tuned in yesterday.

By: petebiddlecombe

petebiddlecombe — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 12:23:14 +0000

I found it as tough as many other Scorpions too (but fair). With this kind of puzzle, just a few right or wrong ideas can make a huge difference to your time.

By: nmsindy

nmsindy — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 11:48:13 +0000

You must really be coming on, Neildubya, if you can use any form of the word “easy” in relation to this puzzle.

By: neildubya

neildubya — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 10:41:57 +0000

Great puzzle. A shade easier than previous Scorpions I thought.

By: Quixote

Quixote — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 05:53:29 +0000

Yes, sorry, agreed, BECKER!

By: rightback

rightback — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 03:52:49 +0000

If I remember rightly I’ve found some of the clues in Scorpion’s previous Indie crosswords a bit too contrived, but I thought this whole puzzle was really good. Gave up on BAEDEKER after about 20 mins.

I agree with Nmsindy about BECKER.

By: nmsindy

nmsindy — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 22:50:17 +0000

Don’t want to argue with the experts, but I saw the BECKER/BEAKER possibilities but thought “about to knock out adult” gave it unambiguously (c for a). Hope I won’t be proved wrong tomorrow!

By: Quixote

Quixote — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 21:56:58 +0000

I found it hard too, Ben. As to BEAKER/BECKER : I think that the grammar could lead to either

By: nmsindy

nmsindy — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 21:38:16 +0000

Yes, this was tough but I got there in the end. Fave clue: MOUTHY

18 across reminded me of an article I read many years ago about a reporter, who, like many, started in a provincial paper. This was I think in the 1960s somewhere in Wales. One August he was in the office, when a phone call came through. Someone wanted to speak with whoever was responsible for the crossword.

Nobody had ever done this before but the reporter was responsible in that puzzles were sent down from London – he put them in and printed the solution the next day.

The caller said “I was down enjoying the sun on the beach and now I’ve come up to a phone box here” (no mobiles then) “Do you know what it says in that crossword today?” “What does it say?” “Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all our readers”