Comments on: Independent 7,531 by Tyrus (Saturday Prize Puzzle, 04/12/10)

By: Graham Pellen

Graham Pellen — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 13:03:57 +0000

5D is EE in LEGGINGS minus one of the “G”s – “tight leggings not good”.

By: Jake

Jake — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 07:16:04 +0000

Once again,

nice one Tyrus!

By: Quixote

Quixote — Sun, 12 Dec 2010 15:49:00 +0000

The trouble is that unless you are into blogs etc., perimetric ninas are something you won’t know about because they are not clued. If you were to say (to compensate for underchecking) that the perimeter spells out a special message, you might spoil the fun for us insiders but you would make the diagram fairer for solvers who have no reason to suspect extra help. I once used an unfair Telegraph grid to point up my father’s centenary, but I’ve felt rather worried about the device since then. We may want to break new ground with themes, but in a normal crossword the _A_E_ syndrome isn’t to be encouraged for the sake of a them. I just feel that there is a danger that we are justifying poor diagrams for the sake of themes. My old-fashioned Ximenean view, I suppose but I doubt if I’m alone. But (hey!) we talk crosswords on this website and not about student grants, as on the Crossword Centre website — good!!

By: Tyrus

Tyrus — Sun, 12 Dec 2010 14:47:10 +0000

Thanks for the blog and comments.

Re Don’s comment at 3, why should crosswords be set chiefly for the benefit of (possible) solvers unfamiliar with the paper’s style? What about people who like ninas – shouldn’t they also be catered for?

By: Jan

Jan — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 17:30:43 +0000

Thank you for the blog, Simon. I saw your mention of the Nina on the opening page and decided to give the crossword a go. I didn’t have much time to spare so made good use of the Reveal buttons.

It was very enjoyable and brought good memories of the brilliant sketch which left us helpless with laughter when it was first shown.

This is the first time that I’ve tried the Indy puzzle. It was not easy scrolling up and down on the small screen of my otherwise lovely new netbook – the big computer and monitor are in the coldest room of the house!

By: Allan_C

Allan_C — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 17:22:26 +0000

When I got 5dn I wondered if one ought to fill in the grid in lower-case letters – as in the style of some of Cummings’ poetry. But although often referred to in print as e e cummings, apparently this was an affectation of others, not used by him. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E._E._Cummings

Enjoyed the puzzle though it took a while before the theme suddenly occurred to me. Even then I didn’t realise immediately that the second half of the nina was the homophone of the first and was trying to think of other sketches by the 2 Rs.

By: Quixote

Quixote — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 14:44:24 +0000

What still worries me is the phonomenon of five-letter word with only second and fourth letters checked for solvers who simply don’t know about ninas (and why should they if unlike us they aren’t in the in-club)? I relied on looking at the birthday list in The Indy and then reading around the perimeter. For me (as an insider) that was fine and I sort of enjoyed the puzzle, but for a new reader/solver used to The Telegraph or times, say? I’m not so sure.

By: nmsindy

nmsindy — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 12:02:46 +0000

Thanks for the blog, Simon, and Tyrus for the puzzle. Had heard of RC of course but did not know the sketch. Nonetheless saw the words emerging in the perimeter and that helped me to finish the puzzle. RC’s birthday info with a picture appeared in the Indy’s birthday section on the day. By coincidence there was a discussion on ‘national treasure’ in relation to Phi’s Indy puzzle of yesterday.

By: jmac

jmac — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 10:38:04 +0000

Thanks for the blog Simon. I also thought this might prove difficult, but solving the northwest quadrant first revealed enough to see and get the nina. I think re 15 down, pol is short for poll. A very entertaining puzzle, thanks Tyrus.