Posted by Admin on December 26th, 2010
This page is where you can provide feedback relating to Fifteensquared or raise issues regarding the website itself.
This entry was posted on Sunday, December 26th, 2010 at 2:36 pm and is filed under Archive.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.
April 10th, 2012 at 8:26 pm
Thanks, good idea, especially as I have two screens anyway!
May 6th, 2012 at 6:08 pm
Hi Gaufrid
Did the blogger for the latest Genius forget to post, or is there another reason this has not been put up. It is normally the day after the close, as I’m sure you know.
Best wishes
Gordon
May 6th, 2012 at 6:41 pm
Hi Gordon
I’m checking to see what the situation is. As the Genius blogger rotation means one blog every six months it’s easy for someone to forget that it’s his/her turn.
May 7th, 2012 at 8:50 pm
Hi Gaufrid
Thanks for the explanation. I see you also did it 6 and 18 months ago too, presumably for the same person. Perhaps you should just take over that rotation!
If you are stuck in getting anything published, I can supply the answers and explanations if you like [say via you] but I don’t have the experience to write the blog itself.
Gordon
May 26th, 2012 at 7:33 pm
With Joshua Kosman, I co-set the cryptic crossword in The Nation (a US weekly). We also co-edited the collection National Puzzlers’ League Cryptic Crosswords, available for free download at http://www.puzzlers.org.
The purpose of this message is to ask you to add Word Salad, our cryptic crossword blog, to your links page. The URL is
http://www.thenation.com/blogs/word-salad
We already link to 15^2.
Thanks in advance!
–Henri Picciotto
May 31st, 2012 at 11:56 pm
Is there a good reason not to provide a link to where the crossword is published as part of the standard introduction to an article?
I presume you expect that people will usually come here after solving the crossword (or trying to), which seems fair enough, but surely there are plenty of people who don’t solve all that you cover and may want to visit a puzzle they like the sound of.
Or is the link hidden somewhere I have not noticed?
June 4th, 2012 at 1:13 am
Hi Gaufrid
Did this month’s blogger for the Genius also forget? The cut-off was Saturday at midnight for entries, despite the site stating June 3rd. Hugh accepted the date should have been 2nd June for entries.
I can see you ending up doing this one as well!
I’m looking forward to the blog as I thought the crossword was great.
Best wishes
Gordon
June 11th, 2012 at 4:13 pm
I’ve started doing the Crossword in “The Week”, set by Tim Morley. It might not be quite up to the level of other puzzles but it’s suitably challenging. Any chance of someone blogging it? I fear I’m not good enough yet ….
June 12th, 2012 at 6:16 pm
My apologies for the delay in replying to the last three comments but my health is not good at the moment and, until now, I’ve not felt up to composing a response.
Patrick @106
This would probably work for the Guardian but the Indy and FT appear to have a clear out every now and then so the result would be a lot of broken links in older blogs. The puzzles are easy enough to find, just follow the appropriate link on the Links page.
Gordon @107
No, the blogger didn’t forget. He had scheduled his post to appear on the Monday morning.
timon @108
I’m not aware of this puzzle, is it available on-line? I don’t know anyone who does this puzzle and who would be willing to blog it. Just at the moment I am not in a position to say that I will do so myself (assuming it is available on-line) but if/when my health improves (this could take several months) I will reconsider. However, I’m not sure how many people, other than yourself, would be interested in it so I wonder if the time/effort expended is justified by the potential readership.
June 22nd, 2012 at 11:37 am
Gaufrid,
The Week is a news digest magazine launched in 1995 (by Jolyon Connell, ex Sunday Telegraph) so could roughly fit in same category as Spectator, Economist, Private Eye. The latest circulation figure I could find (easily) is for second quarter 2011 and is 187,000 per edition (weekly, of course). Not sure about on-line (http://www.theweek.co.uk/) but they have just launched an iPad version. The compiler of the puzzle is Tim Morley, so my guess is that the quality of the puzzle and the number of solvers would be on a par with the other titles covered by Fifteensquared.
That said, I quite understand that everyone associated with 15^2 gives their time free and it’s impossible to cover everything. I simply ask that it be considered as possible addition.
Thank you for your efforts and hoping your health improves soon.
June 26th, 2012 at 9:08 pm
Hi Gaufrid,
I’ve been waiting all day for the blog for today’s, FT, PHSSTHPOK puzzle – sheesh, that took some typing!
Is it me? – or my computer?
June 27th, 2012 at 12:15 pm
I’ve experienced a few problems accessing the site on a mobile device (an iPhone). For example, it’s not possible to see comments (clicking the comments link doesn’t work); it’s not possible to add a comment (when you submit the comment it reports an error); and the mobile theme on/off switch doesn’t work. Hope this doesn’t sound like a whinge as I love the site — I’m just accessing it more frequently on a mobile these days and these niggles are frustrating.
October 11th, 2012 at 10:53 pm
Dear 225,
I am a relatively new compiler and am keen to get some of my crosswords out into the public domain and get some feedback. I have a growing portfolio (so far 5 grids ready for public consumption – I’m aiming to have 10 in the full portfolio), but I don’t yet have a website.
Would it be acceptable to distribute my work via fifteen squared in order to get feedback? And if so, what is the best medium to do it (for example, could I forward the pdfs to a site admin who could put it up for members to download or something like that)?
Thanks in advance for your help!
Trademark
October 17th, 2012 at 11:38 am
Thank you all so much for setting up and running Fifteensquared so beautifully. It’s invaluable to me.
Only one thing missing really for me. Coming to the homepage, and a one-sentence ‘this is what we are and what our mission is’ so visitors get it immediately.
I get the people will be finding it from Google, recommendation etc, but there is nothing to cearly say what it is on arrival at the Homepage.
‘Never knowingly undersolved’ is totally brilliant, but for me should appear SECONDLY, after a ‘what Fifteensquared is and provides’ line….
For such a clear, beautifully presented site, I strongly feel this is a missing.
Many thanks again, and love to all.
John (Paul)
October 17th, 2012 at 5:02 pm
Hi John
Thanks for your feedback and kind comments.
The WordPress theme that we currently use does not permit changes to the header other than the site name and the sub-title. I’m not sure how long the latter can be so will have to have a play in our sandbox to find out. I don’t wish to change the theme to one that has a customisable header (or multiple headers) because, as you say, the present appearance and layout is “… clear, beautifully presented …”.
The information you suggest regarding who we are and what we do is given at the beginning of the ‘About Fifteensquared’ page which is linked to on the bar immediately below the header.
According to the site stats, the vast majority of visitors come directly or via links on other crossword related sites, very few each day have been referred by Google and its ilk. I would have thought that most new visitors would initially look at the pages on the navigation bar, particularly the ‘About Fifteensquared’ page (and hopefully also the ‘Site Policy’ one).
October 27th, 2012 at 5:24 am
no blog for guardian 25766??
October 27th, 2012 at 7:35 am
Hi Ilippu @116
The blog for this puzzle was published on 20th October, see:
http://fifteensquared.net/2012/10/20/guardian-prize-25766-tramp/
December 12th, 2012 at 8:23 pm
I’m reporting a problem with your site. Twice tonight, whilst in the midst of reading Guardian blogs, the screen has abruptly cleared itself, leaving me with a grey background and a set of site links at the top of the page. Clicking page return simply takes me to the previous site I’ve been on, clicking the relevany history link takes me only to the blank page. My only escape is to click on the fifteensquared link to the homepage, then return manually to the blog in question.
I am using Firefox, up-to-date.
Curiously, the history link gives me the blog I want, correctly, if I open a new window.
This is my first visit since your change of server.
December 12th, 2012 at 9:29 pm
Hi mbc1955
Thanks for your feedback. This is the first adverse comment I have received since the transfer to a new server. I cannot explain the problem since it hasn’t arisen before, or at least not reported. Please let me know if it happens again and I will investigate further.
January 3rd, 2013 at 2:00 am
Hi,
Was looking for Guardian Prize crossword 25,826, Araucaria, 22nd Dec, as I have two or three empty spaces I was curious about, in a slightly OC sort of a way. Guess it slipped through the Christmas crack?
No big deal, but it would be nice to see if its available.
January 3rd, 2013 at 7:54 am
Hi Jim
No, not overlooked. This was a prize puzzle and the closing date for entries is today so the blog will be published tomorrow.
January 19th, 2013 at 11:49 am
Dear Gaufrid,
The success of your recent fund raising for 15 squared made me wonder whether it would be possible for Araucaria fans to show their appreciation by sending a fiver-or more- to the charity that he supported by ‘riding and striding’ or ask him who he would like it to go to. I thought it would be nice for him to be able to name a charity and, hopefully see the money delivered before he dies. I wonder also whether you have any contacts with The Guardian or other crossword websites who may like to help? I realise that this is a bit of a bloody cheek but I wouldn’t know where to start with a thing like this. I would obviously be glad to help in any way I could but, unfortunately, my computer skills are pretty poor.
Sincerely,John
January 19th, 2013 at 11:52 am
An example of my IT skills is that I couldn’t find your email address!
January 19th, 2013 at 12:08 pm
Hi Anio/John
The Admin email address is given on the ‘About Fifteensquared’ page.
With regard to your suggestion, I think this would be best organised by someone who knows and is in touch with the good Reverend, particularly as there is a new article about him on the Guardian’s crossword page ( http://www.guardian.co.uk/crosswords ). The crossword editor’s (Hugh Stephenson) email address is also on this page.
If someone does set this up, I will be happy to post an appropriate announcement on 15².
January 19th, 2013 at 3:42 pm
Thanks Gaufrid, I’ll give it a go.
February 14th, 2013 at 10:48 pm
was hoping to find some answers to Telegraph Toughie here
February 15th, 2013 at 1:41 am
Hi Matt
Try http://bigdave44.com/ for Telegraph blogs.
February 22nd, 2013 at 4:13 pm
What does COD stand for?
February 22nd, 2013 at 4:20 pm
Hi Helen
Under other circumstances I would say ‘cash on delivery’ but on this site you need to read it as ‘clue of the day’.
February 28th, 2013 at 9:51 am
About 3 weeks ago, the mobile version of fifteensquared.net appeared to change – it now offers a Captcha screen on accessing it, but there is no submit button to get past it!
Using Opera mini browser on an HTC Android Desire-S phone.
Certainly got me puzzled
February 28th, 2013 at 10:37 am
Hi IanJ
Thanks for the feedback. I’ve not heard of this problem before. The WPtouch plug-in which converts the site to a mobile friendy format was updated at the end of last month but I doubt that this is the cause of the problem.
One possibility is that your IP address has been picked out by CloudFlare as being a possible source of a spambot (or worse) and is therefore asking you to prove that you are human.
What sort of Captcha are you seeing, the usual distorted text or a numeric one similar to that which we use for comments? This might help me to narrow down the cause but without a means of replicating the problem (no smart phone) I don’t know what I can do about the missing submit button.
February 28th, 2013 at 11:20 am
Hi Gaufrid
I’m seeing a row of national flags along the top right of the screen
on the next line a message “One more step to access”
on the next line “www.fifteensquared.net”
Then the CAPTCHA box with two words in it and a text entry box, so not the style you are using. To the right of the captcha box is a large orange triangle with an exclamation mark in it which does appear to be a button, but pressing it merely causes the redisplay of the same captcha text.
Below the Captcha box is another text entry box headed “Optional message for site owner (100 characters max)
Hope this helps
Thanks
Ian
February 28th, 2013 at 11:36 am
Hi Ian
Thanks for the further info. You are definitely being picked out by CloudFlare as a potential threat or spambot.
It would appear from your IP address that your ISP is BT. In which case, your address is probably not static so I am unlikely to be able to resolve the problem by adding your address to the ‘allow’ list (though I will try doing so anyway after I have posted this comment).
I will also investigate the lack of a submit button now that I know that the captcha is CloudFlare’s.
February 28th, 2013 at 11:47 am
Ian
I have added the first half of your IP address to the CloudFlare ‘trusted’ list. Please let me know if this stops the captcha from appearing.
February 28th, 2013 at 11:51 am
Well – that’s worked, I’m on now without the Captcha screen appearing!
But as you say, I’m with BT and I don’t have a static IP address so if we reboot our router or the lease on the address expires, or I access the site through another gateway then I guess I might see the same again?
Thanks for your help
Ian
February 28th, 2013 at 12:10 pm
Ian
“Well – that’s worked, I’m on now without the Captcha screen appearing!”
Good! I have put all 81.151.*.* addresses in the ‘trusted’ list so there is a good chance that you will not see the captcha again unless you change your ISP. However, so far I have been unable to find any explanation for the lack of a submit button.
If you want more information on why you started seeing the captcha visit here:
https://support.cloudflare.com/entries/22041872-Why-do-I-see-an-Access-Restricted-CloudFlare-Challenge-Page-
February 28th, 2013 at 12:17 pm
Many thanks – I suspect there may be an issue using the Opera Mini Browser – I believe that in some way, Opera intercept all site access requests and then compress the data, giving a reduced volume and hence increased performance on mobile devices, effectively like having a proxy server in the loop – but it’s normally completely transparent to the user.
March 25th, 2013 at 1:53 pm
Dear Gaufrid,
Is it too early for me to alert you that there is no Blog for todays Rufus. Please tell me to get lost if I am ahead of myself/
David
March 25th, 2013 at 2:13 pm
Hi coltrane
Yes, I am aware of the lack of a blog for today’s Rufus (I visit the site regularly throughout the day and check for such things). As bridgesong has pointed out elsewhere, a blogger may be unable to post for any number of reasons: domestic/work commitments, illness, pc failure, power failure etc or just plain forgetfulness.
If a blog hasn’t appeared by early afternoon I either seek a volunteer to write one or, more usually, prepare one myself. I was in the process of so doing when you posted your comment and it will appear shortly.
March 25th, 2013 at 2:35 pm
Gaufrid @139
I have apologised to birdsong elsewhere for my impatience, please accept my apologies here as well!!! As I also mentioned to birdsong I am immensely grateful to the site for all it provides. I recognise the level of commitment shown by you all and would like, here, to formally thank you!!
I note that RCW is still not posting and assume that there is no further word of his well-being?
David
March 31st, 2013 at 4:03 pm
Hi 15squared,
I don’t know if this is the best way to contact you but I thought you might like to check out my new site:
http://crypticwelly.weebly.com/
…. and add to your links if you like it?
Much ta.
May 10th, 2013 at 10:22 pm
Message for Gaufrid
Thanks for your advice re WordWeb and an electronic version of Chambers.
I’ve been looking for ages for something but the sites for Chambers and SOED are pretty useless. Even more worrying are the doubts that what they actually do offer wont run on 64 bit Windows!
I was even more pleased to see that I can get the SOED with word web as this is my dictionary of choice. (My old version won’t run under Windows 7 which is most inconvenient.)
You’ve made two people very happy as this also gets my wife off my back now that she has something to buy me for my upcoming birthday.
Thanks again.
May 10th, 2013 at 10:43 pm
Hi Brendan
You are more than welcome. I have been using WordWeb for several years, with just the Chambers dictionary addition. The ability to do a wildcard search is most useful, particularly with puzzles like the Listener. I can assure you that it works under Win7 (64-bit).
May 12th, 2013 at 11:56 am
Appearance of this site has changed (for the worse) – w.e.f. (Guardian cryptic) solutions & comments dated Thursday 18/4/13
Solutions before this date are still fully readable, but now in a reduced central column & with pictures.
For 18/4/13 on, all change. The comments, when selected, are more than full width – the comment numbers are no longer visible on the LHS.
Are there any settings that I can change to get a better view, please? (I’m using Firefox 20.0.1 under Windows 7.)
May 12th, 2013 at 12:31 pm
Hi MickBee
I’m sorry to hear that you are having problems viewing the site. Is this something that you have only noticed recently (and have gone back through Guardian blogs until you saw a difference between the 17th and 18th) or was it happening back in April? I ask because there were no software changes on or around 18 April but I did add a plug-in five days ago that caches all the posts to reduce the server resource load.
Over 20% of the site’s visitors use Firefox and I’ve not heard from anyone else who is having a similar problem so it is most likely to be an issue with your browser (I have checked and all posts are displaying correctly in IE10). I am not sure what settings can be changed in Firefox but your fist step must be to clear the browser’s cache in case this has become corrupted. In IE this is done by selecting ‘delete browsing history’ in the ‘Tools’ menu and Firefox will have something similar.
May 18th, 2013 at 7:41 am
Normally the blog for the Guardian prize crossword goes up on 15² soon after midnight on the following Friday. It is now 0740 and it has not appeared. When can we expect to see it?
May 18th, 2013 at 8:06 am
Hi chas
I am aware of the situation and have emailed the scheduled bloggers (the Indy post hasn’t appeared either). A blog will be published later today, even if I have to write one myself.
May 18th, 2013 at 8:23 am
Gaufrid thanks for that.
May 22nd, 2013 at 12:47 pm
Hi Gaufrid,
Tiny problem – over the last couple of days the “Preview Comment” button has not been working – is this local to me or has anyone else reported similar?
Thanks.
May 22nd, 2013 at 1:18 pm
Hi Mitz
Thanks for the feedback. This is the first I have heard about a problem with the Preview Comment option. I have just tried it on this comment (now a couple of times) with no problems.
If your situation continues, please let me know, along with details of your browser, and I will look into the matter further.