Comments on: Guardian 25,505 / Arachne

By: Huw Powell

Huw Powell — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 00:25:15 +0000

I can’t remember how long this took me, but I thoroughly enjoyed it, especially once the theme was noticed (after maybe 4 or five solutions). I marked the grid as I went with squares for answers involving science and circles where there was at least some science in the clue.

This wasn’t just themed, *every single entry* is science-related in the clue or answer (or both). And done without any clumsy disasters to “make the last couple work” that I could see.

Needed the blog to parse ADAMANT and BEAM. Thanks Eileen and the rest of you for that, and special thanks to Arachne for this delightful “right up my alley” treat!

By: Graham H

Graham H — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 23:15:59 +0000

Well, I’m a little late to the party, but just to say I loved this puzzle – and it was one of those which just clicked for me… One of my faster solves (which isn’t saying that much!)

By: apple granny

apple granny — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 11:09:10 +0000

We didn’t do this until today (family birthday yesterday) and it is so reassuring to find that all the “pros” like you Eileen, got stuck on the reasoning behind 17a, 21d and 3d as we did. We loved the challenge, and correctly guessed the 3 solutions which thanks to everyone, we now understand. Now must tackle Tramp!

By: tupu

tupu — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 10:58:49 +0000

Hi Eileen et al

I see no problem with 17a. The word mantis originally meant a prophet and means the insect named after its ‘likeness’ to a prophet in prayer. As you say the term praying mantis is also used. Whichever way we look at it the mantis is ‘a prayer’ and without its final ‘is’ it is ‘mant’.

By: Eileen

Eileen — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 08:51:09 +0000

Apologies for the redundancy at the end: I forgot to remove the original ‘cut and paste’ – how ironical!

By: Eileen

Eileen — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 08:46:13 +0000

Hi chainsawpete @53 and 55, if you’re still there

I take your point about RAS syndrome [Redundant Acronym Syndrome Syndrome {sic}]as I discovered it’s called when it was discussed here before.

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

However, there was no misparsing here: Gaufrid’s comment @2 was:
“17ac is ADA MANT[is] (as in the insect)”

[Chambers and Collins, however, both say that the insect, MANTIS, is also known as the 'praying mantis' - but that will be reflecting usage, I suppose.]

17ac is ADA MANT[is] (as in the insect)

By: RCWhiting

RCWhiting — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 02:57:27 +0000

I would guess that they made mechanical duplicators.

By: Derek Lazenby

Derek Lazenby — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 00:18:09 +0000

RCW, back in the 70s I used to work for the MEL Equipment Company Ltd. Want to guess what the EL stood for? Your last post is a clue.

By: RCWhiting

RCWhiting — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 23:51:29 +0000

chain
Back in the 60s I was quite illogically annoyed by the frequent use of “UDI declaration”.

By: Arachne

Arachne — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 23:26:22 +0000

Just back from a special showing of Nick Broomfield’s new film ‘Sarah Palin: You Betcha!’ with the wonderful Mr Broomfield himself, and I can only shudder at the prospect of a retreat from/rejection of science. Many thanks, again, for kind comments, apologies for mistakes, and next time – if there is a next time – I’ll work harder on the dratted surfaces. Nighty night, Arachne x