Comments on: Independent 8,000 / Eimrod

By: Salvador Navarro

Salvador Navarro — Sun, 16 Sep 2012 14:18:37 +0000

Big thanks for the crossword. Now, the problem is solving the puzzle before anyone else does.

By: eimi

eimi — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 09:56:35 +0000

Thanks to all for the comments and RR for the blog.

Nimrod suggested collaborating on this puzzle a while ago, but its publication seemed unlikely once the i starting taking the Indy puzzles, as 8000 wouldn’t make much sense in that series.

By: Rorschach

Rorschach — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 09:50:38 +0000

Great puzzle.

“Eight-thousand puzzles so far” is the message of the day – but the corresponding message at the bottom? “See to odalisk independently”?

Nice to see the hosts give each other a pat on the back too!

All in all – lots of fun!

By: Dormouse

Dormouse — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 19:36:53 +0000

Ah yes, I remember an occasion when they first produced a separate sports section on a Monday, they forgot to include the crossword. I guess the sports section thought the crossword was going in the main section and the main section thought it was going in the sports section.

By: Allan_C

Allan_C — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 19:17:40 +0000

As far as the 8000/8004 discrepancy is concerned I can certainly remember one occasion when no crossword appeared and at least one when the previous day’s puzzle was repeated by accident. Can’t remember when they were, though, but I have a vague idea the non-appearance was around Christmas one year.

By: Dormouse

Dormouse — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 18:02:58 +0000

Even I noticed the Ms down the side in time to help with three clues.

I never studied Latin at school or since, but in primary school we were taught the civic arms or my home town which included the motto “Non minima sed maxima petimus” which we were told means “Not the least but the greatest we seek (although Google translate tells me it means “We are not the greatest”). That told me what the Latin for “but” was, and is probably the first time I have ever used this knowledge.

Curious fact I heard about ZZ Top. Two of the group are known for their bushy beards. The third member is called Frank Beard. (As a bearded person myself, I find that amusing.)

I, too, was wondering about the 8000/8004 discrepancy.

By: nmsindy

nmsindy — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 17:32:54 +0000

Re hounddog at#15, I’m pretty sure the 1st ever Indy issue in 1986 also contained the 1st cryptic crossword (set by Marcy). I’m sure someone could amuse themselves for hours (weeks?) trying to reconcile the two figures all the way back to 1986. My guess would be there might have been just the odd hiccup on the way in either set of numbering, appearance of puzzles etc, that might account for the small discrepancy.

By: hounddog

hounddog — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 17:03:32 +0000

I noticed that while this was crossword no 8000 it was issue 8004 of the newspaper. Did it take 4 issues before the crossword started or were there four random issues without one?

By: Tees

Tees — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 16:10:21 +0000

Hear hear. Many thanks to Mike for his wonderful leadership, and to colleagues for showing what’s possible. It’s a great team, and long may it flourish.

By: nmsindy

nmsindy — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 14:14:42 +0000

Yes, this was a pleasing puzzle. Seeing the possibility of 8 Ms when I’d 5 of them helped me to finish. Also suspected something in the centre column so that helped too. Favourite clues REALISM, MIGRAINE, and AIRFARE. Thought you were intended to add the last across entry to the top two rows of across answers to read EIGHT THOUSAND PUZZLES SO FAR “INDEPENDENTLY”.

Many thanks, eimi, and Nimrod and of course RR for another excellent blog. And I’d also be hoping, needless to say, that there will another 8.000.