Comments on: Guardian 25,287 – Rufus

By: Huw Powell

Huw Powell — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 19:33:28 +0000

More on PILOT… we have “He flies a good deal.”

“He flies” is obviously the literal meaning.

“(a) good deal” means “lot” to me. “deal” doesn’t.

Leaving me frustrated in that “PI” is simply not in the clue as far as I can tell. A word like “constant” could easily have fit in to complete the clue, although would have made the surface clunkier. “Irrational good deal in/for the flier” would have been nice, too.

By: Huw Powell

Huw Powell — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 19:27:17 +0000

Some nice light misdirection here, but often leading less to an “aha” than a groan. UPKEEP went in last, as an example of one. I spent much time with on, off, open, closed, etc., but once I had _P_E_P I went lateral on it and thought, “well, most people probably wrote that it without any checked letters.”

I liked 23 a lot – not difficult, but very pretty and witty.

As far as 14 I would have been happier with “Puts order, disorder, into projects.” But even with a “weak” anagrind, it wasn’t hard to solve.

Hey, it’s Monday though, and the week is supposed to start off gently, right?

Oh, and how does “pi” = “good” (I didn’t bother to do any research on it, hmmm, come to think of it I finished the whole puzzle with no resort to any aids, pre- or post-solving)?

Thanks for the blog, Andrew, and for a gentle Monday outing, Rufus!

By: tupu

tupu — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 22:14:08 +0000

Hi carrots
Nice to see you back! I’ve had a mouthful of tooth troubles myself recently so know how you feel. Don’t forget to put the molar under your pillow tomorrow in case the tooth fairy’s around!

By: Carrots

Carrots — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 21:51:21 +0000

Having waged war (and lost!) on a bit of crab shell during my recent French forage, I face the prospect of having the whole, dislodged MOLAR removed tomorrow morning. After a week of miserable drizzle, holed up in an hotel with toothache and melting plasticards, I`m back as my grumpy old self. I was, however, relieved that most of The Usual Suspects are still warm and breathing, venting terminalogical exactitudes on poor old Rufus…who hasn`t a malign thought in his head. I can`t tell you how good it was to see him chunter out of my printer.

By: tupu

tupu — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 21:14:16 +0000

Hi robi
I personally don’t think so. The main contrast seems to be between mental concentration and more physical forms.

By: Dave Ellison

Dave Ellison — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 21:00:12 +0000

Thanks Stella, Robi, Tupu and Angstony. Several explanations – does that not indicate a loose clue?

By: Martin H

Martin H — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 14:54:51 +0000

Sorry tupu – I’d already done most of the puzzle before I got out 1d, and charity was wearing a bit thin by then.

By: yogdaws

yogdaws — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 14:05:58 +0000

Thanks Andrew…

Think a lot of you out there are being a bit hard of the Rufster. It’s Monday after all. And how many of us could match him for output and consistency?

Yes, there were some crusty ones, but some nice ones too. EG 9a and 6d. Lightly, wittily misdirecting.

By: tupu

tupu — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 13:37:21 +0000

Hi Martin

I suppose a healthy gum must help a little in the holding, and at least in my part of the north thay unfortunately don’t say ‘Ee bah periodontal ligament and cementum!’, adding ‘Well I’ll go to our ‘ouse!’- though it might catch on. I know you are right but it is a lovely surface that deserved charitable forgiveness.

By: Stella Heath

Stella Heath — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 13:33:23 +0000

Ok, Martin, after all, (remaining) teeth subsist in a skeleton long after any flesh has gone

Re 14d., we could read it as ‘into’ = ‘>’; thus: ‘puts order’ > PROTRUDES