Comments on: Guardian 25,446 – Arachne

By: Paul B

Paul B — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 21:34:46 +0000

Yes, well there it is. I can’t get the Guardian yardstick though: why would that clue not be allowed when certain others, complained about mercilessly passim, have been? It … is … a … mystery .. to … me.

By: RCWhiting

RCWhiting — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 17:51:25 +0000

Brilliant – you know you should have.
Then it would have been smelling salts out and swoons all over the board.

By: Arachne

Arachne — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 01:12:00 +0000

I expect by now everyone’s left the building, but FWIW “shampooers” were originally “Hairdressers taking unnecessary toilet breaks”.
Nighty night.

By: Paul B

Paul B — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 23:56:00 +0000

Well yes Geoff, I know the Guardian is sometimes a bit lax, but this certainly doesn’t seem to me to be one for the pedants. I’d have left my eyelids to bat themselves had there been a question-mark on the end at 2D, as the clueing-context (your semi-&lit-ness) supports the idea of a junior hairdresser well: but in the absence of same, we have to take the def as strictly synonymous, which of course it isn’t.

But I for one would still like to know whether or not we were nearly treated to some Arachnidan sham pooers (victims of IBS they are, you’re sure).

By: Geoff

Geoff — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 22:30:22 +0000

I took a while to get 2d, but when the penny eventually dropped I was perfectly satisfied with the result. In strictly Ximenean terms the clue is ‘definition-defective’, but in the hairdressing salon context ‘juniors’ = SHAMPOOERS is a perfectly valid ‘semi &lit’ definition. This is the Guardian, after all, where the Inquisition does not hold sway, fortunately for those of us who enjoy some judicious pushing at the boundaries. I thought it was an excellent clue.

Of course, a clue which consists solely of a single cryptic definition is not Ximenean either, but few commentators seem to object to Rufus for this (except sometimes for the number of such clues which can appear in his crosswords!)

By: Sil van den Hoek

Sil van den Hoek — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 21:57:55 +0000

When yesterday, just after midnight, I saw that Andrew’s blog was already there, I thought: How the &*^%$ did he do thát?
Then the preamble made clear that he rattled through it, suggesting that this might be a very easy crossword.

While it was indeed less tricky than some previous Arachnes, it was also one of her most consistent – very evenly clued with great surfaces [very important to Arachne], a lot of wit and some clues that really stood out [like the much mentioned CHASTITY, HIPPODROME (one of these, as Eileen said, lift-and-separate clues) and that Dog With Two Heads in 20ac].

2d was in its current form also very good.
“I don’t want to think too much about the alternative clue for 2dn … ” (@19). Well, K’s D, Hugh Stephenson didn’t want to think about it too much either apparently. It’s a sensitive world, isn’t it? However, I have an idea that the original clue wasn’t as ‘smutty’ as some might think ….
And, btw, what would become of Paul when the blue pencil would take over.
Anyway.

There were also some clues that we didn’t like: 12ac (LAP OF HONOUR) and TRAP (7d). The latter only after seeing the solution from Andrew’s fine blog (thx again), because just like RC Whiting we didn’t get that one in combination with 5ac.
So today’s the day I had something in common with RCW ….

Oh, and I forgot to say that 17ac (ALKALOIDS) is worth a special mentioning too! As is 11d. And 1ac.

Nice, sunny puzzle.
Thank you, Arachne, and have fun at your Bottle Party!

By: Paul B

Paul B — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 18:16:38 +0000

They may well, but as published the clue is definition-defective.

By: RCWhiting

RCWhiting — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 17:40:50 +0000

Thanks all
Some great clues (23d, 9ac, 13d,2d).
I failed to get ‘Bertha’ and hence ‘trap’. I was aware of the Obama controversy but had not heard the imbeciles referred to as birthers.
The wonderful (and much maligned) MF’s wife denied absolutely that it was a ‘donkey jacket’ and further that she had very carefully chosen it for the occasion.
I think 2d is an indication of the subtle but ever-present sexism in crosswords which we males do not notice since the compilers are overwhelmingly male. Ask many women what the word ‘junior’ means and they will think of their frequent contacts with the hairdressing world.

By: Geoff

Geoff — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 17:07:16 +0000

Thanks for finding the picture, Andrew. Did you notice Geoffrey Howe lurking in the background, looking as if he’s about to give Mrs T a wedgie?

By: Kathryn's Dad

Kathryn's Dad — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 15:58:24 +0000

Thanks Andrew for the picture – you’re right, Foot was one of the most brilliant intellects and orators of his generation, but just a war zone appearance-wise. He’s even managed to get his wreath to droop …