Comments on: Guardian 25,816 by Brendan

By: RCWhiting

RCWhiting — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 00:37:48 +0000

Take as long as you want, flash, I am rarely up before 9.30 am.

By: flashling

flashling — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 20:32:45 +0000

All I’ll say is I get 25 mins to solve, 30 or so to write it up, I’ll miss stuff – it’s your chance to shine. Flash

By: Derek Lazenby

Derek Lazenby — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 19:39:44 +0000

Re @39 Why type all that here when, as also confirmed by that Wiki entry, there is no reliable evidence to support the claim. I’m confused now.

By: Brendan (that one)

Brendan (that one) — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 19:14:38 +0000

… and again.

For 12 across, at Rugby (school), there is inscribed in stone (see Wikpedia entry on William Webb Ellis) the following:

THIS STONE
COMMEMORATES THE EXPLOIT OF
WILLIAM WEBB ELLIS
WHO WITH A FINE DISREGARD FOR THE RULES OF FOOTBALL
AS PLAYED IN HIS TIME
FIRST TOOK THE BALL IN HIS ARMS AND RAN WITH IT
THUS ORIGINATING THE DISTINCTIVE FEATURE OF
THE RUGBY GAME
A.D. 1823

By: Brendan (that one)

Brendan (that one) — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 19:10:38 +0000

Me again.

In 17 across, “in a way” is appropriate since something could be charged in various ways. In 3D, “say” is appropriate since things other than information may be fished for. In both cases, crossword cliches are suggested — S***T and homophone. I’m not sure when it became wrong in a cryptic crossword to (a) make a definition precise, (b) offer ambiguity.

By: Brendan (that one)

Brendan (that one) — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 17:14:18 +0000

My new copy of Chambers defines “fish” as “to seek information, compliments etc. by indirect means”. So “say” indicates that it’s not only information that can be fished (for). My old copy of Chambers has one of those Chambers jokes: ” to catch or try to catch or obtain fish, or anything that may be likened to a fish (such as seals, sponges, coral, compliments, information or husbands”.

By: Paul B

Paul B — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 19:40:20 +0000

Rho is Betty.

By: rhotician

rhotician — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 02:09:48 +0000

RC, I have no right to expect anything of you. I’m pleased you don’t use IMO (or worse).

“I cannot rate a clue highly if it fails to puzzle me” is less pompous. And quicker to type.

By: stiofain

stiofain — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 01:24:58 +0000

But the rho for rhotician abbreviation is OK RCW iyho?

By: RCWhiting

RCWhiting — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 00:44:36 +0000

rho
Surely you do not expect me to use that utterly pointless abbreviation IMO (or worse IMHO).
Whose else could it possibly be?