Comments on: Independent 7796/Eimi

By: Allan_C

Allan_C — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 07:21:29 +0000

Well, I can’t comment on the 1a of the dead tree version having just switched to the i; but as far as downloading is concerned (I still like to do crosswords in hard copy form) I can confirm ele’s comment that the Crossword Solver download works OK.

And if it’s not off topic, are the cryptics in the i recycled from the Indy? I understood that they are, but I don’t recall having previously seen/solved the ones encountered so far.

By: ele

ele — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 23:15:38 +0000

The Crossword Solver download seems to be working OK. I used it yesterday.

By: flashling

flashling — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 22:18:22 +0000

@kd and ref Eimi #15 are you referring to getting the puzzle from the the indy’s web site or trying a backdoor? I used to have problems with the indy’s site but they’re now solved in IE9

By: eimi

eimi — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 21:47:28 +0000

Thanks to all for comments and John for the blog. I’m afraid I haven’t ever worked out how to download the puzzle, so I’ll have to rely on others to answer K’s D’s query.

My first concern for the redesign is for the crossword and I’m very happy that it has a much more legible font and that the setters’ names are more obvious.

As for the rest, I don’t like the front page (too bitty), but I like the new redtop masthead. I also approve of the increased use of colour pics. The paper had become very dull, possibly to accentuate the difference between the Indy and the i. Like Richard, I used to separate my viewspapers and have a stash of them in my bathroom, whereas the news section gets recycled more quickly. And I think it’s the features and comment sections that will ensure the survival of print newspapers, not the news parts which are already out of date as soon as the paper comes off the presses with so most people having so many alternative means of getting the latest news.

So two cheers for the 1 Across from me.

By: flashling

flashling — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 21:11:08 +0000

@13 Don, never thought of you as an agony uncle (well except when you broke a finger playing cricket )
Thanks for the fun Eimi, still think a nina last friday would have been fitting even if you hadn’t done today’s 1ac.
My first reaction was “is the weekly order changing again?” we’ll see perhaps. My feelings about the redesign, hmm makes the Indy going downmarket from the front becoming a red-top which will disappoint those looking for the Sun.

Thanks for the blog John to confirm Klimts as I only solved it through the wordplay.

By: Quixote

Quixote — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 19:46:41 +0000

I too enjoyed the puzzle much more than the paper. (How good to have a decent grid too to help us along!) I notice that Virginia Ironside’s column has been severely reduced. Having won a lot of wine by offering advice as an agony uncle, I think I’ll be lucky to repeat my success with only two readers contributing!

By: Kathryn's Dad

Kathryn's Dad — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 14:48:40 +0000

If it’s not too off-topic, and since eimi’s around, can I just ask if anyone else has had problems downloading the Indy puzzle from the site in recent days? I keep getting error messages.

By: Kathryn's Dad

Kathryn's Dad — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 14:46:51 +0000

I was thinking myself that we hadn’t had an eimi for a bit. I really enjoyed this one – the long anagrams were very clever, and as usual with this setter, a good variety of subject areas on show.

The only one I didn’t get was KLIMTS, neither knowing the artist or being capable of figuring out the wordplay. I agree with nms about SACHIN TENDULKAR – simply that the anagram fodder is ‘one short’, ie without an ‘a’.

Thanks for blogging, John.

By: Pelham Barton

Pelham Barton — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 14:41:28 +0000

15ac: Is not the “one short” the indicator to remove one of the three As from the anagram fodder?

By: Paul B

Paul B — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 12:29:39 +0000

Hear hear, and proof positive that puzzles don’t *have* to be themed to good or interesting. But hell, it can be tempting …