Comments on: Independent 6881/Radian

By: mhl

mhl — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 19:49:29 +0000

Thanks for your reply, Eimi – I quite see the problem.

By: eimi

eimi — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 17:58:29 +0000

Thanks for your kind comments, Mhl. I have no say in whether the crosswords are available in a different format. I was able to respond to requests to put the setter’s name and number in the puzzle, but that was only achieved by hijacking the “Across” line.

I don’t think it’s a secret that the Independent has the lowest circulation of all the ‘quality’ papers and in a difficult financial environment I’m sure they’d lose more paper sales by making the crossword available in an easily printable format. Perhaps it might be possible to go along the subscription route of the Times and Telegraph.

The best advice I can give is to ask those responsible for making the decisions. If they are aware of the demand something may be done.

By: Ali

Ali — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 17:38:47 +0000

Had to be a USA08 themed puzzle really, so I guessed it would be Radian (or Virgilius). Found some of it pretty tough going though, I must admit.

If you’ve never seen it, today is as good a day as any to revisit one of the all-time puzzle classics:

http://barelybad.com/xwdthemes_110596.htm

By: mhl

mhl — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 16:50:12 +0000

Eimi, is there any chance that there will be an easily printable version on the website in the near future? I’m sure many of us would really appreciate it. Thanks for all your work in making the Independent crossword so consistently enjoyable.

By: Colin Blackburn

Colin Blackburn — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 15:11:52 +0000

Thanks for the explanation Eimi. I get the same when people submit stuff for my running club website except it usually shoes up as an easily spotted symbol. I blame Microsoft.

By: eimi

eimi — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 15:07:03 +0000

The online version has now been fixed. It’s all to do with curly apostrophes. Some setters provide copy containing these, but they disappear in the web versions. I change these to straight apostrophes, but in this case Radian supplied a few amended clues which I cut and pasted in, complete with curly apostrophes.

By: mhl

mhl — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 13:26:01 +0000

neildubya: there’s a small typo in 19a (“-c” for “-e”)

It’s great to have this topical theme

I was enjoying the puzzle enormously until two clues before end accidentally navigating away from the page and losing everything, which probably happens once every three or four times I use the applet instead of buying the paper. At least this is easy to fix…

By: nmsindy

nmsindy — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 12:59:56 +0000

Minor point: I thought in UNI TED STATES, it was not an anagram but TEST and DATES overlapping.

By: Geoff Moss

Geoff Moss — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 12:02:12 +0000

18d The eleventh-century pope was Leo IX which, ‘using words’, becomes LEO NINE.

By: Colin Blackburn

Colin Blackburn — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 11:43:09 +0000

25d DICK is slang for detective and so a member of the FBI. I think you are right with the Dick Cheney part.