Comments on: Independent 7788 by Monk (Sat 01-Oct 2011) http://www.fifteensquared.net/2011/10/08/independent-7788-by-monk-sat-01-oct-2011/ Never knowingly undersolved. Tue, 18 Jun 2013 23:52:41 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 By: Graham Pellen http://www.fifteensquared.net/2011/10/08/independent-7788-by-monk-sat-01-oct-2011/#comment-172527 Graham Pellen Sun, 23 Oct 2011 06:09:38 +0000 http://fifteensquared.net/?p=35242#comment-172527 15A is U = universal, then CODE reversed.

]]> By: Allan_C http://www.fifteensquared.net/2011/10/08/independent-7788-by-monk-sat-01-oct-2011/#comment-171769 Allan_C Wed, 12 Oct 2011 13:56:47 +0000 http://fifteensquared.net/?p=35242#comment-171769 Interesting point, Monk. Might be a topic for discussion at a Sloggers and Betters meet. Any chance of dropping in to the Midlands one in November?

]]> By: Monk http://www.fifteensquared.net/2011/10/08/independent-7788-by-monk-sat-01-oct-2011/#comment-171616 Monk Mon, 10 Oct 2011 18:52:57 +0000 http://fifteensquared.net/?p=35242#comment-171616 This is so long after the appearance of 7788 that I suspect nobody will read it; but I hope it does initiate some feedback and/or debate, if only to answer a question that has plagued me for years.

First, many thanks to Beermagnet for a great blog and to the above solvers for their comments. I was surprised to see the double pangram eliciting any form of comment following Tees’ recent tour de force of the triple pangram (Independent 7756) that appeared after 7788 was submitted.

The triple seemed vaguely possible as 7788 took shape, but fell short by {BJQZ}; a puzzle set for MM-C many years ago fell short by {JQX}. By “fell short“, I mean that I was constrained by a standard (Times, I think) grid with 28 lights and an average word length of 7.71, whereas the bespoke grid for 7756 had 34 lights and and a.w.l. of 6.29.

All this is not to pour cold water on Tees’ super coup, but rather to introduce my enduring question, to wit: is a triple pangram possible in a standard grid with an a.w.l. of greater than 7 using, to quote Beermagnet, only “interesting but mostly accessible words”? I can’t help thinking that the late Mike Laws may have done this on the QT.

]]> By: Thomas99 http://www.fifteensquared.net/2011/10/08/independent-7788-by-monk-sat-01-oct-2011/#comment-171474 Thomas99 Sat, 08 Oct 2011 09:35:27 +0000 http://fifteensquared.net/?p=35242#comment-171474 My last in was MEOW too. So it doesn’t just mean a camp comment (“Ooh meow! Get her!”)?

Re 27 – Losing/lost battle I know but I only use Wykehamist to mean a pupil of Win. Coll., and Old Wykehamist to mean one of the old boys. So by my definition your daughter has a very young husband. I know the other usage is everywhere (including in Evelyn Waugh, Betjeman et al.) but you’ll humour a pedantic old Wok, I hope… And Monk used it my way. (But it’s a school, Monk, not a college; College is a house etc. etc…)

There is an argument of course that we should actively avoid the prescribed usage for such shamefully backward and unjust institutions…

]]> By: Polly http://www.fifteensquared.net/2011/10/08/independent-7788-by-monk-sat-01-oct-2011/#comment-171473 Polly Sat, 08 Oct 2011 09:32:07 +0000 http://fifteensquared.net/?p=35242#comment-171473 Apologies for repeating what Allan_C @3 says about model T: I spent too long composing my comment…

]]> By: Polly http://www.fifteensquared.net/2011/10/08/independent-7788-by-monk-sat-01-oct-2011/#comment-171472 Polly Sat, 08 Oct 2011 09:29:53 +0000 http://fifteensquared.net/?p=35242#comment-171472 MEOW was my last entry too, mainly because I first put SNOWQUAKES (a type of cookie which my convoluted reasoning persuaded me could be one of Maria von Trapp’s favourite things) for 1a. As I struggled with 22d (my penultimate blank) I was hoping, without much conviction, that it would contain a Z to complete the double pangram. Respect to Monk: a wonderful puzzle.

Best piece of misdirection for me was Mondeo rather than the usual T for the Ford model in 8 down.

]]> By: Allan_C http://www.fifteensquared.net/2011/10/08/independent-7788-by-monk-sat-01-oct-2011/#comment-171470 Allan_C Sat, 08 Oct 2011 09:22:11 +0000 http://fifteensquared.net/?p=35242#comment-171470 Re 8dn, why is Mondeo and OLD Ford model? To the best of my knowledge it’s still a current model, or does Monk know something we don’t? Nice bit of misdirection, though, looking for T as the old model.

Sidey @ 1, you mean 12, not 14. TECHNOJUNKIE was my last one in, once I’d spotted ECH[t] it had to start TECHNO….. so I guessed it then found confirmation in Chambers.

]]> By: nmsindy http://www.fifteensquared.net/2011/10/08/independent-7788-by-monk-sat-01-oct-2011/#comment-171458 nmsindy Sat, 08 Oct 2011 06:46:36 +0000 http://fifteensquared.net/?p=35242#comment-171458 Thanks, beermagnet, and Monk. The double pangram helped me to finish what was a really difficult and challenging puzzle but all became clear in the end. V suitable for a weekend. MEOW was my last answer too – some great misdirection throughout the puzzle.
Dicts confirm wick = strip.

]]> By: sidey http://www.fifteensquared.net/2011/10/08/independent-7788-by-monk-sat-01-oct-2011/#comment-171455 sidey Sat, 08 Oct 2011 05:42:11 +0000 http://fifteensquared.net/?p=35242#comment-171455 ECH[t] is the mostly genuine bit of 14, never heard of the answer so one I didn’t get. I’d spotted the pangram early but I refuse to use the device to help solve a daily puzzle, he said curmudgeonly.

1d is pushing fairness surely as you have to find a synonym, abbreviate it and then muck about with it. Strip for wick is a bit odd too.

Apart from that, enjoyable. Some excellent misdirection going on.

]]>