Comments on: Independent – 7503 by Morph

By: flashling

flashling — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 22:51:12 +0000

Simon, must admit I miss themes regularly and latin phrases (thanks Phi) throw me completely. Still thanks Morph, that was fun, just glad (ala 24d) early on that I saw what was going on. Nice to see that themed Tuesday continues even with Virgilius’s departure. Not that we wouldn’t like to see him back. No ninas for a while…

By: Jake

Jake — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 22:00:05 +0000

Great stuff Morph.

Just what I needed to wake my brain this morning. Favourite clue has to be 11ac I think. Brilliant!

By: Simon Harris

Simon Harris — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 19:31:41 +0000

It’s a good job I wasn’t blogging today: I’d look a right plonker, as I completely missed the theme (which only spoilt things in that it made 24d unfathomable). Looking at the grid now, it’s deeply impressive how many references are in there, and how much of a dunce I must be not to have spotted it. So bravo Morph, and thanks to flashling for the blog.

By: Kathryn's Dad

Kathryn's Dad — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 18:09:48 +0000

Locks bolted? Gosh! Add an anagrind of choice and away you go. Good option to resist that temptation, though, Morph. We Indy solvers are of a delicate disposition.

By: flashling

flashling — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 17:36:20 +0000

The Mutt’s Nuts then Morph? did think initially of the cat’s whiskers as well.

By: Morph

Morph — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 17:32:23 +0000

Thanks for the blog, Flashling, and all the comments. I didn’t really think of Pompeii or hunting as thematic – though as has been pointed out, both have feline/canine links.
A couple of people have observed separately that there is a more direct canine phrase that corresponds to 9dn. I resisted that temptation.

By: scchua

scchua — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 16:49:14 +0000

Thanks PeterO#7 and NealH@6. Yes, it did trip me up.

By: Colin Blackburn

Colin Blackburn — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 16:31:13 +0000

I’d've had HUNTING down as related to (a type of) dog but it’s on the wrong side of the grid.

Nice puzzle. Lots of good clues A lot of overlap in favourites with everyone else..

By: flashling

flashling — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 15:56:46 +0000

Ah I knew I’d miss at least one, thanks Stella, I’ll update for that.

K’s D I did look for black among the cats but no such luck to console you.

By: Stella Heath

Stella Heath — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 15:50:01 +0000

Thanks for the blog, flashling, and to Morph for a great puzzle.

For once I noticed the theme, but not till the end. It surprises me no-one has mentioned that Sirius is the Dog Star, though perhaps it goes without saying .