Comments on: Guardian 24,624 – Auster

By: Paul B

Paul B — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 22:10:13 +0000

On this page alone, 60 comments in the Guardian Chat Room versus 5 in the other puzzles.

I’m sure it doesn’t mean – already – that serious-minded solvers, observers and commenters are finding better things to do than witness the antics of a (bunch of) spoiler(s). On the contrary, it’s just a Monday, and there’s a lot of catching up for most of us to do at work.

By: BrisBella

BrisBella — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 21:40:35 +0000

Today’s crossword was the easiest I have done in the last couple of years. My aunie still calls it eggfruit & I remember lianas from Saturday matinees when I was a kid – all those jungle serials! The “staff” part of the clue I suspect is just a red herring tossed in to tie up with employer.

I have to say that what we say here hardly qualifies as chit-chat. I once ventured into a chat room, was totally horrified & quickly tiptoed out. It is very nice to meet like minded people (crossword-wise, if I may be permitted) as now that I am retired and at home most of the time there is no one with whom to share the joy of a brilliant clue and its solution.

By: stiofain_x

stiofain_x — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 20:22:29 +0000

Not many complaints about this but agree the repetition of bomb in clue and answer is beyond the pale.
As for Aussie slang id say ratbag definitely qualifies there.
Chit chat hmmmm I think a balance has to be struck no one wants to trawl through a load of irrelevant messages to get to something about the crossword but on the other hand insisting on all postings being strictly on the daily puzzle would be off putting for newbies, many of whom say they find first posting here daunting, and spoil the flow of the forum.
Personally I think 15/2ed strikes just the right balance and doesnt need any more rules imposed.
Stiofain

By: Ian

Ian — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 19:58:21 +0000

I too inserted eggplant!!

By: Derek Lazenby

Derek Lazenby — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 17:34:26 +0000

I tried again anyway

By: Derek Lazenby

Derek Lazenby — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 17:11:03 +0000

Neil – The one for blogging at fifteensquared dot net?

By: Brian Harris

Brian Harris — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 16:55:28 +0000

Wasn’t too impressed today, to be honest. Surely, it’s against the unwritten conventions of anagram setting to include an entire string like “bomb” in both clue and definition?!

By: neildubya

neildubya — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 14:27:57 +0000

Derek: could you resend your email? I don’t seem to have received anything from you…

By: Sil van den Hoek

Sil van den Hoek — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 13:42:22 +0000

Thank you.
I realised C was probably C[irca] after I submitted my comment.

By: Eileen

Eileen — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 13:34:22 +0000

Pipped again, Ciaran!