Comments on: Independent 7622 by Mordred

By: Mordred

Mordred — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 11:40:23 +0000

Thanks for the blog, flashling. There is in fact a theme here, but it is very obscure and not essential for solving. Before explaining it I would like to say that, although I do hope interested solvers will spot themes, they are largely, for me, a way of getting started on a blank grid. Naturally I hope they will add to solvers’ satisfaction and pleasure, but regard them as a non-essential bonus.

9Ac was chosen because the girls’ names happen to be the same as two makers of 20Acs. I discovered this on reading a history of music. This was not something I already knew, but I’m always on the lookout for ideas when reading or watching anything. Their surnames also end in the same letter so I hid them in the diagonals which meet under the middle letter of the (plural) first names.

Collins was the reference for EAST INDIAN.

By: scchua

scchua — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 11:03:58 +0000

In defence of Mordred, granted that in the clue for 13D, “US” might be superfluous, I think it does link up with the next part, “native American”, misdirecting one to think of a US region with native Americans, which it might not, if it were “…from region, native American.”

TokyoColin@11, I think Collins does give Inca as an alternative for Quechua.

By: Allan_C

Allan_C — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 10:30:38 +0000

Definitely a curate’s egg, with some great clues (INAMORATA, OFFICIAL, ITERATES) but also, imho, some less than satisfactory ones (EAST INDIAN, NELSONS).

By: Colin Blackburn

Colin Blackburn — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 10:13:05 +0000

I found this easy for 80% and then ground to a halt. I too was not entirely convinced by EAST being a US region. I realise this worked for the surface but don’t think there is a particularly strong association, certainly no stronger than any other country having an East.

But there was still plenty to like here.

By: TokyoColin

TokyoColin — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 05:14:40 +0000

Thanks Flashling. This helped me understand a couple. I was pleased to see the (F)INCA explanation which redeemed the clue somewhat. But the result should be a language. The Inca people spoke Quechua and their descendants in the Peruvian Andes still do.

By: scchua

scchua — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 03:28:38 +0000

Re EAST INDIAN: For the doubters among you, here’s a reference, from no less than the national archives of a Caribbean state:

http://www.natt.gov.tt/features.aspx?id=85

The derivation of the phrase is not too difficult to fathom: just think, Caribbean, that is.

By: flashling

flashling — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 23:26:15 +0000

@lenny as per blog it’s dire wrecked as it were and hom of rect. Too tired now, hope Mordred will explain east indian. Thanks to DinP I don’t speak spanish.

By: Lenny

Lenny — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 23:16:03 +0000

Just found Elsie as a diminutive of Alice in the appendix to Chambers. Don’t really believe it though.

By: Lenny

Lenny — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 23:09:20 +0000

I finished this but I did not like it. My last three were Official, Nelsons and Imminent on the basis that they were the only three words that would fit together.Can anyone give a reference for East Indian meaning a Caribbean immigrant? Besides, East defined as a US region is feeble. Also, can anyone give a reference for Elsie as a diminutive of Alice? Other obscurities were the NEL in nelsons and Finca. I also did not like the way that dire turned up in Redirect as well as being anagram fodder. I liked the clue for violin.

By: ele

ele — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 20:52:31 +0000

This seemed at first to be relatively easy but there were some hidden depth charges. Failed to get GOBY. Got caught by West Indian too until it was obvious 12ac wasn’t going anywhere. Agree with NealH that NEL is the publisher – I’ve got some old paperbacks too. Liked QUATREFOIL and OFFICIAL and was grateful for the easy SAN ANDREAS FAULT as it gives lots of letters. Thanks to Mordred, who I’m sure is not at all like his treacherous alter ego, and to flashling for the blog.