Financial Times 16,275 by AARDVARK

12 comments on “Financial Times 16,275 by AARDVARK”

1. Slight error in 23a. The short recording is VIDE(o). It’s also a pangram.

   Thanks both.

2. I think that in 6d “about” is meant to indicate LE instead of EL.

3. Thanks for the corrections, as always.  Fixed now.

4. I am a bit uncomfortable with ‘z’ being used as any number. In maths any letter or symbol can indicate an unknown number. Perhaps typically ‘x’ or ‘n’ might be used but really anything would work. Using ‘z’ in this way seems a bit arbitrary. That said, I really enjoyed the crossword. It was challenging but accurate.

5. diagacht@4. I think z is fine. I take the point that almost any letter or symbol or … can be used but z is the most common for an unknown complex number. Also polynomials in several variables often use x then y then z then w then who knows.

   As a side issue, those who did Hamilton’s crossword yesterday may not have seen his comment on his ghost theme. Worth another look if you missed it.

6. Bah! My only error was TIZWAS for TIZWAS .I googled TIZWAS and it’s a synonym for ‘tizzy'(*TISWAS, sorry)

7. hovis@5. Thanks for the memory of polynominals from algebra class — I can still see the x, y, and z from my textbook problems. I did see Hamilton’s comment on yesterday’s blog — quite impressive. (As an aside, Hamilton’s on the US $10 bill!) Thanks Aardvark for the pangram — I suspected one early with QUACK and knowing I needed a “J” helped me with JUNTA.

8. Hovis – good point about z being the traditional name used for complex numbers, I had forgotten that.  Regardless, z for number is one of those devices that have been used for so long that they are now part of the furniture, whether they are  justifiable or not.

9. Thanks Aardvark and PeeDee. I got ADVENT not by parsing but as a cryptic definition. Present-opening time (Christmas) comes after Advent!

10. jeff@usa – I like it!  I don’t know if Aardvark had this in mind but it is great explanation.

    If Aardvark had left off “period” then it would have been an &lit: “Present opening is after this (6)”

11. Lovely puzzle with a pangram for icing.

    Thanks Aardvark and  PeeDee

12. Thanks Aardvark and PeeDee

    A lot of charade type clues which were fun to piece together.  Spent way too long looking for that rare fish species, the UNAT, until eventually closer reading put the T in the right spot.

    A couple of new terms – never come across TISWAS and the term to ‘wrap up’ meaning to request someone to shut up was also unknown.

    I wondered which Donald he was really thinking of when he composed 18a.

    Finished with SCHNAUZER, BLITZ and that TISWAS.

Comments are closed.