Comments on: Guardian 25,086 – Arachne

By: MarcoPolo

MarcoPolo — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 15:26:23 +0000

A minor point that doesn’t seem to have been raised re 8ac: “harp on” is not quite the same as BELABOUR, it needs to be “harp on about”; leaving “Barking” as the (topically chosen) anagrind.

By: Barnaby Page

Barnaby Page — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 15:11:10 +0000

I thought the holy man in 22ac might have been a reference to Cardinal SIN, but on reflection that would leave the “backing” indicator in the wrong part of the clue.

By: Scarpia

Scarpia — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 22:33:05 +0000

Thanks manehi.
Super puzzle from Arachne,very inventive clueing with some clever misdirections.
Re. 8 and 13 across; whichever way you view them,with or without “the political comment”,they are both very good clues.Made even better,in my view by the added dimension.
CD at 3 down was excellent(made me laugh).
Other favourites 15 and 22 across and 6 down.

By: Sylvia

Sylvia — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 22:12:21 +0000

I originally had ‘Sadhus’ for 22a before getting 6 and 7d

By: Little Dutch Girl

Little Dutch Girl — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 21:39:36 +0000

We did today’s crossword this evening.

I wasn’t expecting to see the discussion about Foreign Aid (although this is the Guardian crossword and one expects/isn’t surprised that the readership to be/is politically aware). To me the expression “Foreign Aid” jars. It is now more common to refer to Development Assistance – although Pakistan might be about to receive Emergency Aid. The nuance is that assistance has long term (hopefully beneficial) effects. Aid has the nuance of sticking plaster – to solve the immediate problem but not address the underlying issues – which is why recipient countries prefer the term “Assistance”.

I was surprised that no one commented on the use again of “S” for saint – or did we exhaust that discussion last week?!

Thanks for the blog manehi.

By: Sil van den Hoek

Sil van den Hoek — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 21:09:27 +0000

“Otherwise pretty dull fare with a few nice clues but I dont like this grid at all” ?

Well, as we are all different, this really was my cup of tea.
Intelligent, adventurous and thoughtful clueing.

High Quality!
[nothing more to add, since the only clue that I found weak has been upgraded by the Barking connection]

By: stiofain

stiofain — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 20:22:17 +0000

Im sorry if people think I bang on about these things after yesterdays ni/Ulster messages but I really must say that pat or paddy (18ac)is considered a racist term with negative connotations by me and other Irish people.Otherwise pretty dull fare with a few nice clues but I dont like this grid at all.

By: tupu

tupu — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 19:19:53 +0000

Hi Myrvin.

Oh dear! Sorry. I just happened to know about them.

By: tupu

tupu — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 19:18:16 +0000

Hi Eileen
Many thanks as usual for your patience!

By: Myrvin

Myrvin — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 18:58:07 +0000

Stella. Don’t mention the tutsis. I did it once but I think I got away with it.