Comments on: Independent on Sunday 1,124 by Crosophile

By: Crosophile

Crosophile — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 07:05:00 +0000

Thanks, everyone, for the helpful and pleasing feedback.
Re the nina, if I remember rightly I went with ‘nitrogen narcosis’ because, as (8,8) it fitted the grid nicely and had potential as a hidden theme. In the event, disappointingly, the ‘bends’ and ‘divers’ or whatever couldn’t easily be worked in though ‘rapture’ and ‘deep’ made it to the cut.

By: flashling

flashling — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 18:00:11 +0000

As scheduled blogger for glowworm I can only apologise, I forgot and the paper has long since been recycled. Sorry it had been a busy weekend (or 2 or 3).

Flashling/Phil

By: scchua

scchua — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 14:25:25 +0000

Thanks Simon and Crosophile.

This Sunday’s, as well as last Sunday’s, were enjoyable puzzles, and, as I said on the Site Feedback, as good in challenge and quality as the average weekday Indy. Thanks Glowworm for last Sunday’s.

I spotted the NITROGEN NARCOSIS, which is also called RAPTURE of the DEEP. I assume Crosophile has an interest in diving.

Favourites were 9A IN VITRO, last one in, taking some time to twig that “one down” = clue 1D; 29A RUPEE, and the &lit 6D EGESTA.

If I might add, I think 26A RAPTURE is a homophone “some might say” of “wrapped’cha” with the “cha” as in “gotcha”. Also, since it’s not a familiar sense of the word, in 14A THEATRICAL, “elect” = “saved” in the religious sense.

By: superkiwigirl

superkiwigirl — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 14:22:49 +0000

Many thanks for your usual fine blog, Simon, and for a very entertaining puzzle, Crosophile.

I agree that this was somewhat more difficult than we often get on a Sunday, but I’m with Wanderer in finding this no bad thing. I managed to get quite a few solutions fairly easily, but then slowed right down and had to struggle with the last ones in.

Interestingly, several solvers (me included) found Crosophile’s puzzle on Wednesday quite tough (though again, it was a very enjoyable challenge). If I remember correctly, Crosophile joined the blog to explain that he is still trying the gauge the level of difficulty which Indy solvers prefer. My own view is that, goldilocks style, the level displayed in these last two puzzles is “just right”.

I’m afraid that I also missed NITROGEN NARCOSIS, and whilst I can see a “slightly watery” connection with words like DEEP, NESS and FIGUREHEAD I don’t see a full blown nina here (or is there more to this?)

By: Wanderer

Wanderer — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 12:16:00 +0000

I don’t have enough experience of Crosophile’s work to know whether this was a step up in difficulty for the setter; but I entirely agree that it was much more difficult than we’re used to on a Sunday, and very welcome indeed for it. I guess many people have more free time at weekends than during the week, and I needed plenty of time for this one!

Lots of favourites here. The UNINVITED/IN VITRO cross was excellent, SUPERMODEL took me a lot of working out, CEDILLA, DESKTOP and THEATRICAL also pleased. Sadly I failed to spot NITROGEN NARCOSIS, and I fear I can add nothing to what it’s doing there.

Many thanks Simon for the blog, and to Crosophile for an unexpectedly tough and hugely enjoyable puzzle.

By: Gaufrid

Gaufrid — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 10:53:05 +0000

Hi Glow-worm
It was pointed out to me earlier today that there has not been a blog posted for 1123 and I have emailed the scheduled blogger to find out why.

By: Glow-worm

Glow-worm — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 10:47:08 +0000

Forgive my butting in, but could anyone enlighten me as to whether there was a review of my puzzle for August 21st — IoS 1123 — and if so where it is? It’s always a pleasure to read the 15 Squared comments and I feel quite bereft. No Ninas in it, though…

Regards to all

Geoff Oxley