Comments on: Guardian Cryptic 25707 Rufus

By: Paul B

Paul B — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 06:52:05 +0000

Whilst not being particularly interested in them, I quite like scchua’s quirky ‘extras’: how do these related items detract from the blog, I wonder?

By: scchua

scchua — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 01:43:13 +0000

Brendan(not that one)@19: But I have separated the “quiz”. The pictures are at the bottom, separated by a line of double-dashes, and any comments on them are separated by double-brackets. So when you come across either of these, please scroll past and/or avert your eyes. If you have any ideas to make what you like more “accessible”, I’d be glad to consider them (having 2 blogs is a non-starter). I too would like to have something that could be customised to every taste. What if someone doesn’t like/isn’t interested in the asides, nor the illustrations, nor particular threads in the responses, etc. – notwithstanding that they’re all part and parcel of the blog and related to the puzzle. But unless some fantastic technology comes along, that remains as only an ideal.

[[ToniL@20: That was just a hint that you would have to go back over 40 years ago for the answers (the most recent, the film Fiddler on the Roof is from 1971). It's all relatively speaking - not archaelogical time of course, but not so recent either. ]]

By: ToniL

ToniL — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 00:06:16 +0000

Only just read that ‘going back quite a bit in time’ at the top!!

And exactly what’s that supposed to mean…..

By: jvector

jvector — Mon, 06 Aug 2012 22:01:47 +0000

Trailman @ 13 I had the same thought, said so on the G page – bit surprised no one else found it not-quite-right.

18d, 23a were really just a bit too poor even for a Monday though.

But overall some very nice clues – thanks to Rufus & to scchua; I have conscientiously avoided looking at the answer to 17 but don’t know if I can hold out much longer.

By: Brendan (not that one)

Brendan (not that one) — Mon, 06 Aug 2012 21:16:17 +0000

Sorry to be a grump but am I the only one who finds Rufus a bit dull?

Far too many DDs and CDs. Not enough interest or humour for me I’m afraid.

To be honest my heart sinks when I see it’s another “Rufus Monday”. Why the almost complete monopoly?

Grump no 2!

Thanks SSCHUA for the blog but couldn’t you separate your “quiz” from the blog to make it more accessible. The blog that is. I personally am not interested in these extras!

By: chas

chas — Mon, 06 Aug 2012 19:05:47 +0000

Thanks to ToniL

By: ToniL

ToniL — Mon, 06 Aug 2012 17:27:54 +0000

Below the pics, above the ‘Responses’

By: chas

chas — Mon, 06 Aug 2012 17:22:09 +0000

[[Where is the link mentioned by scchua?]]

By: scchua

scchua — Mon, 06 Aug 2012 16:57:37 +0000

Thanks for all your comments.
[[Seeing the late hour (mine), I've posted a link to the answer of pic#4. The rest have already been answered by ToniL and Ian Payn, viz. The lead singer of Emile Ford and the CHECKMATEs; Zero Mostel (pic#2) and Topol (pic#5) in the stage and movie versions resp. of Fiddler on the ROOF; the Drifters with their hit song Up on the ROOF; and Beryl Reid in the movie The Killing of Sister GEORGE.]]

By: Trailman

Trailman — Mon, 06 Aug 2012 14:40:14 +0000

Had my usual Rufus struggle, just like Gervase does. Didn’t know the Narcissus ‘chestnut’ but will file it away for later use.
A note on 6d. In Elgar’s famous work, the Enigma is not a variation, but the original theme on which they are based. So strictly the def bit should be Theme not Variation. But that would perhaps have been wilfully obscure …