Comments on: Everyman 3384 / 7 August 2011

By: Wolfie

Wolfie — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 19:18:10 +0000

Hi Bamberger – thanks for the friendly advice!

I have completed Cyclops once or twice – last time when I found an old copy of the Eye in my dentist’s waiting room. Can’t say I was particularly impressed, though I am pleased to report that I did not succumb to a fit of the vapours!

I suppose one difference between Private Eye and the Guardian/Observer is that the latter newspapers have an editorial code that urges jounalists and other contributors to avoid the use of derogatory or offensive language in relation to people with mental illness.

By: Bamberger

Bamberger — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 18:53:09 +0000

Wolfie @7. I suggest you keep well way from Cyclops in Private Eye then -you’d have a fit of the vapours.

By: Wolfie

Wolfie — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 15:08:53 +0000

Thanks Pierre.

I agree with RichWA about the construction of 16ac, though I was less concerned by the parsing of the clue than by Everyman’s use of extremely derogatory terms for people with mental illness in both the clue and the solution.

By: Davy

Davy — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 11:49:55 +0000

Thanks Pierre,

Another excellent offering from Everyman. I particularly liked SARGENT, STUDIO AUDIENCE and the brilliant NORTH AND SOUTH (such economy of words in the clue).

By: Stella Heath

Stella Heath — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 09:24:55 +0000

Thanks Pierre, especially for the parsing of 5d.

I seem to remember this being a little tougher than the usual Everyman. Scrupulously fair, as usual, though; many thanks to the setter.

By: Robi

Robi — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 09:08:27 +0000

Nice one; a bit more difficult than some.

Thanks, Pierre; like RichWA I parsed nut=head as a slang term.

By: Pierre

Pierre — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 07:35:29 +0000

Thanks, Andrew. I thought I knew my apples and pears and Bristol Cities, but that’s a new one on me.

RichWA, I’ve no doubt you’re right! (But I think my way works too …)

By: RichWA

RichWA — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 06:52:36 +0000

Thanks for that, Pierre. I think you’re making 16ac more complicated than it really is – I read it as “case” brought against(ie placed next to) “nut” (slang for “head”)

By: Andrew

Andrew — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 23:58:44 +0000

Thanks Pierre. In 9ac, “drum” is slang for a flat or house – probably cockney rhyming slang: drum’n'bass = place.