Comments on: Independent 6989 by Dac

By: Allan_C

Allan_C — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 08:33:48 +0000

Great clue for 17d. ‘Wrong’ as both anagram indicator and saying a botanist is not into bats – would have to be a zoologist to be that.

By: Colin Blackburn

Colin Blackburn — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 07:38:28 +0000

I agree with everyone else on the quality of the puzzle and with Barbara on halva (the spelling I would tend to use). TANG was the last one to go in for me since I didn’t have the T until the very end, despite how easy CONTRACT was with hindsight, and so thought there too many potential dynasties given my inability to think of a synonym for trace.

By: Wil Ransome

Wil Ransome — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 23:35:52 +0000

Excellent as usual of course, but I felt it was a bit demeaning to call Noel Coward an entertainer. He was, I suppose, but was a bit more.

By: Paul B

Paul B — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 16:43:38 +0000

A gentleman in Canada feeds orphaned baby bears on it to great effect, I am told. And though not remotely in such dire need of calorific bolstering, I am not exactly loth to feed me on it. But I digress.

Agree with you NMS – more consistency and excellence in the cluing dept from Dac. Here’s a writer with a genuine understanding of, and concomitant aptitude within, the sub-surface mirk.

By: Barbara

Barbara — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 14:11:18 +0000

For those of you who have never tasted halvah, let me rave about it a little. It’s one of my favorite treats. It’s formed into a firm cake or loaf from ground and pressed sesame seeds plus some sort of oil and a little vanilla flavoring. Then I cut off a small slice, take one bite and experience a moment of ecstasy. A little goes a long way.
It’s one of those things that one either loves passionately, or not at all.