Comments on: Guardian Genius 108 / Brummie

By: Paul B

Paul B — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 01:02:35 +0000

‘Valid word’ is the term used. What is a valid word? Heuristically programmed ALgorithmic computer is a word I know very well, as is Hal for Prince Harry in 2H4.

By: Gordon

Gordon — Sun, 01 Jul 2012 23:45:28 +0000

By the way Gaufrid is HAL a word? The crossword preamble says that all grid entries are real words. Apart from HAL being a shortened name does it mean anything else?

Nice blog by the way.

By: Mr Beaver

Mr Beaver — Sun, 01 Jul 2012 19:46:10 +0000

I had the same difficulty as Norman with 4d/26a, so concluded 26a and 26d must link, consequently failing to solve either.
Likewise failed on 1d, not being on first-name terms with Sibelius..

Frustrating, as Gaufrid says, much of it had gone in fairly quickly up til then

By: Norman L in France

Norman L in France — Sun, 01 Jul 2012 18:37:59 +0000

This wasn’t too hard, except that I was held up for a bit trying to pair the last two words off (SE corner, I seem to recall), until I realised that RATIONS went with LACE. It actually parsed satisfactorily on its own, with RATIONS meaning CUTS.

By: Gordon

Gordon — Sun, 01 Jul 2012 15:51:17 +0000

Although it was fun to do, I did not enjoy this as much as some of the other Geniuses recently.

I think it was, as Trebor says, that there was no link between the six special clues, as far as I can make out.

A small gripe is that I thought Oncer was the nickname for a pound, not Oner.

My main gripe is that as I have a long background in IT, I was disappointed that 12A actually mentioned ‘New Technology’ in the clue. The T in IT refers to Technology obviously, so is a strange direct word for word clue/answer as well, that I don’t recall seeing in any Guardian crossword before. And as far as I know New Technology refers not to IT generally but simply to the old Windows Product of Windows NT, an IBM/HAL play on the DEC VMS system. [I can explain more if anyone is interested - which I suspect not!].

Anyhow it was fun, but not his best effort.

I actually find many of his regular crosswords harder than this.

An excellent setter, in my opinion, who I expected more from.

By: Trebor

Trebor — Sun, 01 Jul 2012 11:01:02 +0000

Really enjoyed Twitcher and Grindstone. Surprised there was no connection between the unclued words?