Comments on: The Guardian No 25,573 by Orlando

By: Sil van den Hoek

Sil van den Hoek — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 18:10:39 +0000

This post is quite a late one, but I just wanted to say something to Davy in particular.
And because this might go off topic, I redirect it to General Discussion.

By: ernie

ernie — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 08:49:48 +0000

WAG = e.g. Denry Machin = The CARD by Arnold Bennett.
LEMMA can = some kind of mathematical theorem.
Thanks Stella and Orlando. I like an ‘easy’(?) xword.

By: harhop

harhop — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 18:07:30 +0000

@rcw – your comparison of Michael Johnson and Roger Black is perfectly correct, especially when we think of then as individual runners. But I’d like to add that Roger Black also anchored many GB 4×400 relay teams which ran above thier individual merits with great courage and brought home some unexpected golds. One of the glories of British athletics at that time.

By: RCWhiting

RCWhiting — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 15:04:24 +0000

Since you seem to have resorted to rudeness again I shall sadly re-terminate our conversations.

By: Davy

Davy — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 09:28:17 +0000

RCW…28

Of course you have a right to your opinion which I would never deny as we live in a free country…allegedly. However, it’s the way that you express your opiniions that is the problem. You don’t criticise as such but simply dismiss a crossword usually with a short comment. Of course, I don’t need to say (but I will) that your comments are usually at variance to others.
Also, I wish you’d stop banging on about the price of the paper as it the complete package you are paying for, not just the puzzle which is a very small part.

As to your name, real or otherwise, I don’t give two hoots (to be polite) what it is. I’m sure others would agree that RCWhiting sounds like a real name. Why have a pseodonym that sounds like a real name ?. Will the real RCWhiting please stand up…I’m sure you remember that old quiz show !.

It is re-assuring to find that you have at least one vice ie smoking. Maybe you have others too but do I care – no.

By: RCWhiting

RCWhiting — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 02:35:53 +0000

I do see your point Sil.It’s just that my view is different.
Each day I read with no understanding all the ‘wonderful surface’ and ‘this raised a laugh’ comments.
Here is an excellent comparison: Michael Johnson and Roger Black.
The latter tall, long-legged with an elegant stride; the former with the ugliest upright and laboured style ever seen in a world class athlete. Who won the gold medals and set the world records – the one I admired and delighted in watching.

By: Sil van den Hoek

Sil van den Hoek — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 01:39:46 +0000

On Thursday we had a crossword in which Paul, as Eileen made clear, was on the very top of his form. Today, Orlando presented one of his very best.

Some of you mentioned 1ac as Clue of the Day, but we thought the one at the bottom (27ac) was another contender. The combination “nobody/perfect” is just brilliant here.
Orlando is a master in writing splendid surfaces, it all seems to be so effortless.

I really do see where RCW is coming from in his criticism re this puzzle [during solving, I actually warned my PinC that this might happen today] – this puzzle is not that difficult or perhaps not challenging enough for some.

But I look at crosswords in a different way.
I see writing clues as a piece of art.
For me the quality of cluing as such is more important than the effort it takes to find the solution.
It is so satisfying to see a clue that reads well and/or makes use of the English in a clever way.

For me (my PinC agrees), it is Orlando who is the ‘Big O’ today !

Thanks, Stella.

By: RCWhiting

RCWhiting — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 23:08:10 +0000

Davy, I do not understand the prevailing attitude on this MB.
Everyday I find in newspapers,on TV and radio people called critics.
They criticise films,restaurants, novels, music of all kinds, dance, TV and radio programmes and nobody blinks an eye.
So just why is it considered by some posters here (notably you) so unacceptable for me to criticise a crossword.
Note that, a crossword, not a person. You can give all the credit you wish, with my blessing, to Orlando (whoever he or she might be), I am not interested; my interest is in only their work which is offered to me in return for a monetary contribution. Tonight I paid a cinema to allow me watch a film, it is no different.
Each morning around 10 am (it is great being retired) I collect my G. from the doormat,having paid £1.30 for it. With a coffee and cigarette I settle down to read it through until I get to the back where I tackle the crossword. How diappointed I am when I find myself writing in solutions with little thought or struggle and how satisfied when one like yesterday’s entertains me for a reasonable time.
Without being too unkind I do think your view of a MB is rather naive, too personal maybe. You illustrate this by your query about my ‘name’ – we use nicknames – they might, and often do, bear no relation to our real names.
No hard feelings, especially to an admirer of the Big ‘O’.

By: Davy

Davy — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 21:31:25 +0000

RCW, maybe we have some commonality after all. I was pleased and maybe surprised that you are a fan of Roy Orbison. Yes he did have a very tragic life but still remains one of the great singers. I remember asking for Only the Lonely way back in 1960 (along with Del Shannon’s Runaway) and getting a blank look.

You have gone up in my estimation RCW because I adore music in whatever form it takes. Is your name Roger or Robert or something more esoteric ?. Please let us fans know.

I just wish RCW that you would give Orlando some credit because he is really very good.

By: amulk

amulk — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 18:09:13 +0000

An enjoyable puzzle with some very nice clues, although not too difficult. Needed to come here for an explanation of 8ac. Talking of “In Dreams”, I recently saw a David Lynch movie called “Blue Velvet” which features this song, and thanks to the twisted imagination of Mr. Lynch, this song now leaves me in cold sweat!