Comments on: Inquisitor 157: Subtitle by Ikela

By: Hihoba

Hihoba — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 07:11:45 +0000

I know this is a bit late, but I would like to register my thoughts on the “hat/capacity” definition. I don’t like the definition at all because the equivalents are “WEAR a hat” = “ACT in a capacity”. To me this does not imply that a hat is a capacity. The phrases are equivalent not the words. Does it also follow that “act” can be used as a definition for “wear”? I rationalised the clue by the thought that a hatful was enough to fill a hat, but I still think this is sloppy. There were other definitions that would have done a better job, e.g. cap!

By: Mike Laws

Mike Laws — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 02:58:07 +0000

In spite of what has appeared in print for 157 and 1107, and will be doing for 1108 in the morning, entries have been, and will be accepted within the usual time-frame.

And Ken, when I phoned about the acceptability of entries not on the original newsprint, the magazine editor said “I don’t suppose anyone will give a …” before he was stuck for a word. I leave you to speculate what it might have been!

By: nmsindy

nmsindy — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 18:04:54 +0000

I’ve not gone back to check, but I think Mike Laws commented earlier on this issue explaining that it was a mistake.

By: RayFolwell

RayFolwell — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 18:01:58 +0000

The closing date of this was given as 31 December. i.e 5 days after publication, rather than the usual 12. Similarly, last week’s Inquisitor gave 7 January as the closing date. Is this a change in policy or an oversight?
We usually tackle these at leisure over a few days, it’s a bit of a rush to get it in the post that quickly.

By: Mike Laws

Mike Laws — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 12:08:19 +0000

Sorry, HolyGhost, you key in quicker than me!

By: Mike Laws

Mike Laws — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 12:05:22 +0000

HAT = capacity.

Chambers gives: “wear several hats, wear another hat, etc – to act in several capacities, another capacity, etc.”

Eg, a solver who also sets might say “I’d never use this sort of clue myself, but in my solver’s hat, I find it perfectly acceptable.”

By: HolyGhost

HolyGhost — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 11:56:22 +0000

HAT for 'capacity' was the last definition that I confirmed. Chambers has "wear several hats, wear another hat, etc to act in several capacities, another capacity, etc."