Comments on: Independent on Sunday 1149: Poins

By: jetdoc

jetdoc — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 20:07:33 +0000

I don’t have a problem with ‘Rubbish bandleader dismissed’, given that three of five letters are checked. Though it is, of course, very much on the libertarian side.

But, for me, ‘girl without foundation’ for DE is way too loose and, dare I say it, rather lazy — unless, of course, Poins or someone else can alert us to a subtlety we have all missed.

By: nmsindy

nmsindy — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 20:07:14 +0000

Re #11, I read it as DEB = debutante, rather than the name of a particular girl.

By: Sil van den Hoek

Sil van den Hoek — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 19:48:41 +0000

“Rubbish bandleader dismissed’ is VERY libertarian, and I am shocked and disgusted”
Isn’t that a bit over the top, Paul?
In another place (starting with a G), a thing like this happens over and over again.
Even our beloved Araucaria uses his pair of scissors every now and then.
I think we should accept that this has become a new kind of device.
I admit, a year ago these things infuriated me, but nowadays I am more or less happy with them.
Life goes on, as do crosswords.

By: Paul B

Paul B — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 19:22:13 +0000

Concur, using Deb = Deborah. Which is … okay. I guess. Jetdoc?

In other news I confess I’m not sure whether to indicate in that fashion (‘foundation’) just because the clue is down: there’s nothing wrong with doing it that way, but is it needed? And if not, is it justified in some other way? I think we should be told.

Anyway ‘Rubbish bandleader dismissed’ is VERY libertarian, and I am shocked and disgusted.

Apart from that, a jolly romp, excellent Sunday fare, etc.

By: nmsindy

nmsindy — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 18:09:39 +0000

Thanks, Poins, and Jetdoc. I also read it as DEB less its final letter B esp as it was a down clue.

By: Gaufrid

Gaufrid — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 17:58:29 +0000

Having looked at the clue for 6dn, I’m inclined to go with Miche’s explanation @5 but with ‘deb’ as the informal form of débutante rather than a shortened girl’s name.

By: jetdoc

jetdoc — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 17:02:59 +0000

I suppose it is. But it’s still a poor way to clue DE, in my opinion (unless we’ve all missed something).

By: Simon Gosden

Simon Gosden — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 14:33:28 +0000

I thought a “bra” was a foundation garment

By: jetdoc

jetdoc — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 13:44:56 +0000

But maybe Simon’s explanation is wittier. I don’t like ‘girl’, ‘boy’ etc to indicate given names, especially abbreviations thereof.

By: Miche

Miche — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 13:40:00 +0000

Thanks, jetdoc.

I took “girl without foundation” to be DE[B] – i.e. a girl’s name without the lowest (in a down clue) letter.