Comments on: Independent 8155 by Rorschach

By: Rorschach

Rorschach — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 11:30:18 +0000

Oh and for posterity’s sake:

6dn is a double definition with a reference to the movie Ray about the pianist (player) Ray Charles…

By: Dormouse

Dormouse — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 09:24:38 +0000

This one totally floored me. Got maybe a dozen answers before giving up and reading a book instead. Put it out of my mind so much that I forgot to check here last night and only remembered to look this morning.

Thought about “abrade” for 2dn but didn’t think it meant “shave”. Chambers says “to wear down or of” which doesn’t suggest it to me, but as a beardie, what do I know of shaving?

By: Rorschach

Rorschach — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 00:49:32 +0000

Oh and K’s Dad – loved your turn of phrase here:

“Anyway, the broodmare is impregnated, so perhaps Rorschach’s next Indy puzzle will be themed on that. Not.”

Quite right. The natural processes of the human reproduction system will get enough coverage in the papers without my nina-ing it…

By: Rorschach

Rorschach — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 00:41:52 +0000

Sorry for the late arrival all. Many thanks for your kind words and NealH for a fantastic blog.

The criticism was all helpful and is taken on board!

By: Sil van den Hoek

Sil van den Hoek — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 22:34:34 +0000

Apparently I wasn’t the only one to get into it rather slowly.
But after I uncovered the SW, 25d gave me 4d, then 10ac – rolling the ball.

When I tackle a crossword I always read through the clues first.
Today all these references, music and films and Subway – unlike others I found them very inviting, almost thrilling.

I agree with NealH (thx) about 18/21 [but what a great idea - unfortunately, at the moment, I cannot think of a songstress that fits the clue better than CBR] and 17d (it’s really The Edge).

But in 1ac Rorschach is so precise (telling us to split up Subway). As he is in 28ac using ‘definitely’ to tell us not to use ‘the’.
There are a lot of setters that are less conscientious, IMO.

And if we accept the ‘Abba finish’ (for A) or ‘Russian leader’ (for R), 26ac (LEVIS) should be seen as the ‘starts’ (plural!) of Elvis being adjusted to get ‘jeans’. As one who accepts this, I am perfectly happy with the clue.

I didn’t get 11ac (UNDER-SEXED) – never heard of the word, not in my vocabulary ( ). Also unhyphenated in Chambers and Oxford. Not the best clue today.

Clear pluses for AFROS (9ac), STATUS (1d) [hidden in such a natural way] and 13d (TARANTELLA) [again, a device (hom ind) embedded in the surface in such a natural way].

And what about 3d (ABRADE)? Yes, simple clue, but sooo smooth!!

A few drawbacks couldn’t prevent me from saying: “this was an exciting puzzle”.
For me, Rorschach has the X-factor.

A setter to treasure.

By: Tramp

Tramp — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 19:55:47 +0000

Another great puzzle from Rorschach.

By: Jim T

Jim T — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 18:57:39 +0000

Great puzzle with fresh, original clues. Pop culture references not a problem for a young (at heart) person like myself.

Agree about BOOBY TRAP.

By: Eileen

Eileen — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 17:31:59 +0000

Pelham Barton and K’s D

The order of the phrase ‘starts to adjust jeans’ for me rules out applying the adjustment to LEVIS. I dislike these ambiguous reversals, etc, as much as anyone and usually comment on them but, as I said, I just didn’t see one here.

By: Kathryn's Dad

Kathryn's Dad — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 17:23:57 +0000

I’m glad Pelham has raised the ELVIS/LEVIS debate, because I put The King in as my answer and had to revise it later when I realised it wouldn’t fit. For me, the clue works either way; maybe that’s just the way my brain works, because when this has come up before, other contributors generally haven’t seemed bothered.

Anyway, the broodmare is impregnated, so perhaps Rorschach’s next Indy puzzle will be themed on that. Not.

By: Pelham Barton

Pelham Barton — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 17:09:04 +0000

Eileen @10 re 26dn:

While it is more natural to take the modifier “starts to adjust” as applied to “Rock star” rather than “jeans”, it is possible within the conventions of cryptic crosswords that it could apply the other way round. Compare with 8dn. The natural reading of this is to apply the modifier “strung-up” to “sergeant”, but in fact it applies to “half dead”.