Comments on: Independent 8021/Phi

By: Wil Ransome

Wil Ransome — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 11:06:06 +0000

Km = Kilometre

By: redddevil

redddevil — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 08:44:25 +0000

In 8D is KM really a metric ‘quantity’ or am I missing something?

By: Phi

Phi — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 22:00:22 +0000

This was the puzzle that prompted the discussion. When I submitted it, I mused that no-one would notice so slight an asymmetry. Or care much if they did.

For what it’s worth, the asymmetry came about because I wanted five down central, a down only light and singular. Mirror symmetry was too limiting, so I settled on the slight tweak. (I’m not going to abandon symmetry that much.)

For some reason my tablet won’t let me type digits in this box – odd. Anyway, on long weekend in wine-making country, so no more from me!

By: Dormouse

Dormouse — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 21:09:46 +0000

Well, I never noticed.

By: nmsindy

nmsindy — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 21:08:22 +0000

I can hold my hand up and say I did not notice the absence of symmetry which I was unaware of till the comment at #8 above. Enjoyed the puzzle as always from Phi and thanks, John, for the blog.

By: John

John — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 20:49:37 +0000

There was recently a discussion on the Crossword Centre Message Board on whether or not it mattered that grids were symmetrical. Someone pointed out that probably most people don’t notice. I was sceptical, but the fact that nobody has pointed out that this grid is not symmetrical suggests that perhaps I was wrong. I did notice this immediately but only because I always look at the grid for this kind of thing before starting, and I suspect it is a weird and unusual thing to do. Then when it came to writing the blog I quite forgot to mention it.

5dn, which is equidistant from the LHS and the RHS, doesn’t go from top to bottom. If the block below it were swapped with the square on its left then the grid would have the usual rotational symmetry.

By: Dormouse

Dormouse — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 17:54:06 +0000

5dn was the first clue I solved – got it straight away – which helped a bit, but I’m not too familiar with breeds of dog. Got fairly stuck around the bottom left although 4dn gave me a bit of trouble. Kept on seeing “Handelian”, and going through all the composers I could think of beginning with H I came up with Henze, Handel and Humperdinck. Don’t know why I didn’t think of Hindemith.

And not only is Gilgamesh a book I’ve read – more than once – it’s the subject of an oratorio by Martinu who turned up in Phi’s offering last week. Again, should have got that one earlier.

I did like 15dn. Never heard of it but once I saw the letters to play with it seemed an obvious word.

By: Kathryn's Dad

Kathryn's Dad — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 14:58:48 +0000

Thank you, John.

I got the gateway clue straight away today, but I do agree with John: puzzles like these can be a bit of an anticlimax since you’re just looking for a list of dogs. And I don’t like dogs, so this was never going to be my favourite Phi. GILGAMESH was beyond me, and I struggled with the last few, by which time I’d lost enthusiasm and gave up.

I’m also feeling a bit themed out at the minute – seems like we’ve had a very high proportion of ninas and themes these last few weeks.

Anyway, thanks to Phi for a puzzle that I’m sure others enjoyed.

By: Conrad Cork

Conrad Cork — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 14:57:19 +0000

OTOH Ganesh is a deity beneath whose image I had my lunch today.

By: Conrad Cork

Conrad Cork — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 14:55:12 +0000

Outstanding I thought.

FWIW the protagonist in Philip Roth’s ‘The Great American Novel’ is called Gil Gamesh, who says ‘I’m an immortal, whether you like it or not’.