Comments on: Independent 7,797/Dac

By: Allan_C

Allan_C — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 06:16:54 +0000

26a and 7d came quite easily, not that I’ve read or seen film of 7d. If you haven’t either, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Four_Feathers.

By: Wil Ransome

Wil Ransome — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 22:22:03 +0000

Thanks nms. Of course, how weak of me. I often make that mistake, failing to notice that ‘s can mean both has and is.

I’m simply used to there being no Ninas in a Dac. Better, Flashling@10? I don’t think that word applies: it’s just what he does.

By: flashling

flashling — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 21:45:21 +0000

Very enjoyable and a quick finish for me, the qualms of others largely passed me by as they often do when I’m purely solving not blogging, seeing the answer and just putting in the answer. OK I guessed correctly that it was four feathers but couldn’t really be anything else as per PB @4. Still thanks Ali for the blogand Dac as ever for the impeccable clues and surfaces. Hmm does Dac not do themes, ninas etc (well most of the time) just for the surfaces, clues and well known answers.

Which is the better style? As per Harry Hill, there’s only one way to find out! Fight!

OK which do you prefer?

By: nmsindy

nmsindy — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 21:42:27 +0000

Wil at #8, I read it as state has invested. Thanks Dac for the puzzle, which I thought was on the easier side, and Ali for the blog.

By: Wil Ransome

Wil Ransome — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 20:12:03 +0000

The excellence goes without saying, but I couldn’t understand 24ac: it’s I then (appropriate l) in NY, but the clue is ‘I purloin pounds state’s invested unwisely?’, and I can’t see how that puts the state around something else when it says that the state is invested.

By: Paul B

Paul B — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 19:34:36 +0000

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oscar_Peterson

By: Bamberger

Bamberger — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 18:17:38 +0000

“Quite a tough bottom half” -agreed got most of the top out but got nowhere in the SE . Hardest Dac for sometime.
Didn’t like 26a – is he supposed to be well known?

By: Paul B

Paul B — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 16:11:34 +0000

(Sorry about ‘calamituous’ btw.)

By: Paul B

Paul B — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 16:10:34 +0000

FATE can be ‘a calamituous result’ as Collins confirms, and ‘wanting’ seems fine too. It’s no more than a link word, but it’s clear that what the answer ‘wants’ is the subsidiary indication the clue goes on to provide: we find Dac adding words quite legitimately to assist his surfaces on several occasions passim (e.g. ‘later’ in 16D). 7 I see as d&cd where only four feathers, as opposed to all of them, might be ‘a bit down’. Excellent puzzle.

By: NealH

NealH — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 14:45:55 +0000

I wasn’t sure why fate in 15 down was calamitous result. Other than that, it was fairly straightforward. I remember seeing film adaptations of the Four Feathers many years ago, so got that quite easily.