Comments on: Financial Times 14,071 by Monk

By: Monk

Monk — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 18:58:34 +0000

Many thanks to PeeDee for super blog and to all for +ve comments. PeeDee, Rishi #1 and Sil #2: it would be remiss of me not to apologise for my error (there, it's writ large) at 22a. Indeed, Chambers has tabulate = with tabluae, so the definition should have at least indicated with altar frontal(s), rather than simply altar frontal, which would have demanded a different clue. I think this is one of those (thankfully very) rare mistakes induced by a final pre-submission clue polish. "Shall I prepare the guest room for Mr. Cockup, my lord?" As a childhood reader of DC comics, (Mr) Mxyzptlk was well known to me. But I paired him with Superman in the nina (Nina?) because his "xyz" jumped out in a Tea search, and this very chain appears to have caused the intended red herring today. "So that's all good."

By: flashling

flashling — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 16:00:30 +0000

Well you live and learn, I’d never have guessed that was a nina, but suspected something to match superman, suprt tough puzzle to thanks Monk & PD

By: PeeDee

PeeDee — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 15:46:52 +0000

Thanks Wanderer, I knew there must be more to it.

By: Sil van den Hoek

Sil van den Hoek — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 15:30:09 +0000

Thanks, Wanderer, that’s quite unbelievable (but true it is)!

By: Wanderer

Wanderer — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 15:17:31 +0000

Improbable though it may seem, the string of letters down the left perimeter is indeed part of the Nina. See here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mxyzptlk

Many thanks to Monk and PeeDee

By: rowland

rowland — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 12:34:59 +0000

Managed about half of this before setting aside for later, but the clues I solved were, if complex, really solid and well-wrought, I think. LOMOND was a favourite, evoking the old song that brings back memories of happy times for me!

Many thanks
Rowly.

By: Sil van den Hoek

Sil van den Hoek — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 12:00:08 +0000

Thanks PeeDee for an excellent blog of an equally excellent crossword.
I fear I cannot help you with TABULATE, but perhaps others can. And in case there is, as it looks to me, something missing here, Monk will probably turn up himself today.

For once, I did spot the Nina on the right.
Then I looked to the left, only to find there was nothing there (apart from XYZ).

Thank you for explaining 2d and 9ac which defeated me.

On the whole a very satisfying puzzle!

By: Rishi

Rishi — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 11:54:52 +0000

Chambers has "'tabulate' adj 'having tabulae'" ['tabulae' being pl. of 'tabula'] Whether the adjectival form is properly indicated or not by the def given in the clue is a different matter. I won't go into that.