Comments on: Enigmatic Variations 938: Worse than Swine Flu by Syd Lexis

By: Dave Hennings

Dave Hennings — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 13:41:28 +0000

PS The preamble states: “5 and 32dn (four words) plus a further hidden word (six letters — to be shaded) …”. In my opionion, this requires, in addition to the first line as required earlier, only POSIES to be shaded in the completed grid, and not A POCKET (5) and FULL OF (32dn). However, the solution states: “The first line and POCKET FULL OF POSIES were to be highlighted.” Who knows?!

By: Dave Hennings

Dave Hennings — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 10:05:00 +0000

Mike, thanks for your comment … and concern. This blog probably took twice as long to write as the puzzle did to solve, a record for me. As nms says, lack of comment may just mean nobody has anything earth-shattering to say. (I rarely post a comment which basically says ‘I agree with him’.) I’m looking forward to writing a blog for a puzzle that I have failed to solve completely (EV935 Naughty Boy by Mynot, which I mentioned above, nearly stumped me). That might provoke a few comments.

Musing further on the publication of difficulty ratings, I guess that if you have looked at barred thematics and have decided they generally take too much time or are not your thing, then you are unlikely to be swayed by the occasional ‘this one is easy’ tag. Fair enough. I have a similar view of Magpie puzzles above rating C! Not that that stops me marvelling at their ingenuity and trying to unravel the solution … time permitting!

Thinking more on your comment, Mike, I take it on board with regard to my commenting on other puzzles!

Dave.

By: nmsindy

nmsindy — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 09:07:12 +0000

I’d say, Mike, it’s just because Dave’s explained everything so comprehensively in the blog in relation to a puzzle that did not give rise to any ‘issues’.

While ratings are fine in the specialized world of the Magpie which has puzzles even harder than the Listener, I think it’s right to avoid them in the dailies/Sundays firstly as they are subjective so could be wrong and secondly saying a puzzle was difficult could put solvers off even more IMHO.

By: Mike Laws

Mike Laws — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 02:40:51 +0000

Dave put a lot of effort into his blog.

No comment?