Comments on: FINANCIAL TIMES 12,865 by SLEUTH

By: NewssyLee

NewssyLee — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 19:42:34 +0000

Thanks to you

By: nmsindy

nmsindy — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 15:40:20 +0000

Pleasing puzzle, on the easy side, and yes, I did enter POLICE CAR first.

By: Gaufrid

Gaufrid — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 14:58:53 +0000

Because one of the definitions for ‘so’ in Chambers is ‘very good’ not simply ‘very’.

By: agentzero

agentzero — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 13:49:59 +0000

Gaufrid,

Thanks.

The General Lee was, of course, named after General Lee, so they’re really the same.

And Roald Dahl was, of course, the British “sex spy” tasked with seducing various highly placed American women in the effort to persuade the US to enter the war (per the fascinating recent article in the Telegraph). Yes, the same as the children’s author!

More seriously, why is it appropriate to clue “so” as “very good” rather than simply “very” in 19d?

By: Gaufrid

Gaufrid — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 11:04:33 +0000

Thanks for educating me Octofem. I won’t go into my religious beliefs (or rather lack of them). Suffice to say that, apart from the occasional wedding or funeral, it has been 40+ years since I have been in a church, yet alone attended a carol service.

By: Octofem

Octofem — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 10:48:09 +0000

26a – cf the Christmas hymn : ‘Unto us a child is born.’
One verse reads-
‘A prince’ he said , ‘in Jewry.’
All the little boys he killed
In Bethlehem in his fury.’
Thank you for Heyerdahl – he had me stuck.