Comments on: Independent 7627 / Phi

By: Allan_C

Allan_C — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 07:48:34 +0000

For Janá?ek read Janácek – the system obviously doesn’t like the diacritic on the ‘c’

By: Allan_C

Allan_C — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 07:46:02 +0000

Just in case anyone’s still reading this after 3 days (I’m still catching up with the papers after a long weekend away) Taras Bulba is also the title of a symphonic poem – inspired by the book – by Leoš Janá?ek. I guess that may be what Phi was thinking of originally before cluing 1dn with reference to the book.

By: Ian

Ian — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 22:00:33 +0000

Thanks Gaufrid.

An excellent Phi with much to admire, esp SATELLITE DISH and CLOISONNÉ. A very nice contrast to the less exacting Rufus in The Guardian as was a rather spiky Obtrox cryptic ( i.44) in the Indy’s companion newspaper which took some solving, having to cope with NACELLE, SHAKO and UNLOOSE not to mention some clever, devious cluing.

By: flashling

flashling — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 20:22:51 +0000

Phi on a monday!? Good grief, the end of the world? No that was Tees last week! Nice little crossword except 1d – not heard of the book. As friday’s due blogger I now wonder what Eimi has planned for me/us.
Thanks Gaufrid for explaining 1d and Phi for the fun.

By: Gaufrid

Gaufrid — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 18:44:44 +0000

Hi malc95
I’m sorry but Phi’s definition is correct, lip-synch is miming according to the three usual references:

Chambers: “the synchronization of lip movements with already recorded sound, esp by singers making television appearances”

Collins: “to mouth (prerecorded words) on television or film”

COED: “(of a singer) move the lips silently in synchronization with a pre-recorded soundtrack”

By: malc95

malc95 — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 18:28:11 +0000

Call me pedantic if you like, but I’m not happy with 17d -
“lip-synch” occurs when audio and video signals are in synchronisation, which they frequently are not. Nothing to do with miming, although I see where the confusion may arise.

By: spb

spb — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 15:40:14 +0000

The naughty step is, in fact, the bottom step in a staircase where naughty children are sent to sit (rather than stand) by way of punishment. It is the current and socially acceptable alternative to smacking. Expect a massive surge in deliquents from bungalows in a few years time. Goggle-eyed was my favourite.

By: walruss

walruss — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 13:47:32 +0000

I’ve certainly been IN THE CORNER and ON THE MAT. But that’s it!

By: scchua

scchua — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 13:06:24 +0000

Thanks Gaufrid, and Phi.

All straightforward and cleanly clued. Favourites were 4A CLOISONNE, 21A ASSET STRIPPER, and the &lit 5 7 ON THE NAUGHTY STEP.

By: Rishi

Rishi — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 11:38:17 +0000

Ah, I saw the Yul Brynner film ‘Taras Bulba’ at a cinema here in Chennai. In those decades there was a time-lag of a couple of years before the reels made their way to India.