Comments on: Independent 8065 by Quixote

By: Wil Ransome

Wil Ransome — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 21:41:25 +0000

Excellent as always. I don’t quite see why it’s an irrelevant typo, NeilW, since the word is tonicity not tonacity. Not that I had heard of the right one — just guessed and happened to be right.

Agree that this seemed to be on the hard side for Quixote. Had not heard of Airy but it was obviously (?) that, and now that Dormouse mentions it I remember John Hurt playing Rich in A Man for All Seasons, can remember thinking how young he was, and I was quite young then myself.

By: Dormouse

Dormouse — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 17:56:50 +0000

I. too, found this a bit of a struggle, but I was definitely feeling slow this afternoon. I did finish it without any electronic aids, but I did use Chambers to look up 25ac (which I’d never heard of) and 5dn.

There were several answers I couldn’t parse, but this too must have been me today, as they were so obvious when pointed out – 15dn and 26 ac for instance – so thanks for that.

I had heard of George Airy, but couldn’t remember what he was famous for. His part in not finding Neptune is quite well known in astronomy geek circles. And I guessed Rich but do remember, now it’s pointed out, John Hurt playing him in the film A Man for All Seasons.

By: nmsindy

nmsindy — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 15:25:37 +0000

I might have been lucky in that I finished this quite quickly, guessing AIRY without having heard of him. Favourite clue ASHY. Thanks NealH and Quixote.

By: twencelas

twencelas — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 14:32:22 +0000

Am I the only one who found 8 down ambiguous – a sounds and a hear in the same homonym-type clue. Otherwise a nice starter for the week.

By: 4across

4across — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 13:32:11 +0000

took a while to get in tune, but then it fell into place. Well clued, I liked 1, and am greatful for the ‘heartless’ explanation. thanks all

By: crypticsue

crypticsue — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 11:42:51 +0000

Always a relief when the blogger and commenters say that this was a slightly xxx than usual as I did wonder whether it was just me taking time to get on the Quixote wavelength. Thanks to setter and blogger too.

By: Al Dente

Al Dente — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 09:18:28 +0000

Thanks NealH for the blog and for the superb link in to the astronomer. Although I’d heard of the Airy Crater on Mars I did not know of the lunar Airy Crater nor the fact that they were named in his honour. Agree entirely with Kathryn’s Dad at 2 regarding cryptics; so thanks to you also.

By: Kathryn's Dad

Kathryn's Dad — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 08:47:21 +0000

Thanks, Neal.

Perhaps a little trickier than normal for a Quixote, as you say, but it was all there if you went looking for it. I too liked ETIQUETTE and HEARTLESS. RICH I guessed, and AIRY couldn’t be anything else; but on following your link to the latter, I find that he did one of his famous experiments in a coal mine in my home town, which I never knew. So a slight increase in my knowledge today, which is partly what cryptics are about, I suppose.

By: NeilW

NeilW — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 08:41:46 +0000

Thanks, NealH.

I think, if the party were at your neighbour’s, you might be quite glad when the row (noise) dies down…

There’s an irrelevant typo, by the way, in 5: TONICITY.