Comments on: Independent 7214 by Anax – Saturday Prize Puzzle 28 November 2009

By: eimi

eimi — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 14:35:52 +0000

I’d like to add my appreciation for Duncan’s highly detailed blog(s). I’ve never analysed my mean word lengths, but I’ve checked and my next is 8.85 – no match for Anax’s 9.67, though I have one, as yet unclued, weighing in at 9.9. I think if you got much higher than this some people would complain that there were too few clues.

I agree that the format Anax suggests would be helpful, with the advantage of not acting as a spoiler for someone checking one puzzle here before tackling another. If it’s not possible to do in the main blog area, perhaps it could be achieved by the blogger including the answers as the first comment?

By: anax

anax — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 12:40:24 +0000

Just before this one disappears, many thanks for the superbly presented blog Duncan – I feel somewhat humbled by the effort you’ve put into it. It’s a shame that the glut of blogs usually appearing on Fridays means this (and the others) vanish from sight so rapidly.

Liz: I’m delighted that you enjoyed the CID “thing” as I was bit nervous about using what is effectively a Rebus clue.

On the subject of these blogs in general, I’m guessing that the design is such that it’s not possible to use a “Read more…” format, where that wording could appear after perhaps a brief intro, with the list of answers and explanations only appearing after you click the “Read more” link. It would be great were this possible, since more blogs could be accessed from each page.

By: Liz Wesson

Liz Wesson — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 11:30:49 +0000

Thank you for putting me out of my misery. If I’d got ossia correctly, but impossible without knowledge of Italan, I would have been well on the way to cruciverbalist even though I’ve never come across the term. Still it’s nice to know what I am. The killer was CID but so clever.

By: Paul B

Paul B — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 01:49:44 +0000

I think you are right, NMS. Thanks to Duncan too for a superb blog, and to Anax for another really splendid puzzle. Let there be more!

By: nmsindy

nmsindy — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 16:42:59 +0000

Thanks for the blog, Duncan. I’m sure you’re right about SEMICIRCLE, I did not understand that. Favourite clue, DEMOCRATISATION. I wonder if in FORM, it is order = form rather than a reference to an order form.

By: Allan_C

Allan_C — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 09:22:23 +0000

Thanks for the explanation of ‘semicircle’. It had to be that, but I couldn’t figure out why. Also, I’d forgotten the origin of ‘Joe Soap’ (a lot of people use it as an alternative to ‘Joe Bloggs’ meaning anybody) so I didn’t understand all the clue.