Comments on: Independent 6677 - Glow-worm Time of the month? http://fifteensquared.net/2008/03/11/independent-6677-glow-worm-time-of-the-month/ Never knowingly undersolved. Thu, 08 Jan 2009 17:29:04 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Testy http://fifteensquared.net/2008/03/11/independent-6677-glow-worm-time-of-the-month/#comment-16852 Testy Sat, 15 Mar 2008 08:49:44 +0000 http://fifteensquared.net/2008/03/11/independent-6677-glow-worm-time-of-the-month/#comment-16852 Timbo: I don't think that 1A was obscure at all. "Barnet", meaning hair, is surely pretty well known (even to a far northerner like myself). (Cockney) Rhyming slang is rife throughout all crosswords and has been for a long time. The Independent doesn't use it any more than any of the other papers (with the possible exception of the FT due to its more international audience). Timbo:

I don’t think that 1A was obscure at all. “Barnet”, meaning hair, is surely pretty well known (even to a far northerner like myself). (Cockney) Rhyming slang is rife throughout all crosswords and has been for a long time. The Independent doesn’t use it any more than any of the other papers (with the possible exception of the FT due to its more international audience).

]]> By: timbo http://fifteensquared.net/2008/03/11/independent-6677-glow-worm-time-of-the-month/#comment-16815 timbo Fri, 14 Mar 2008 18:16:58 +0000 http://fifteensquared.net/2008/03/11/independent-6677-glow-worm-time-of-the-month/#comment-16815 I found this puzzle really annoying. I am surprised that the editor allows use of such obscure slang expressions in a clue - let alone a clue (1A) that is so central to the the entire puzzle. I couldn't have got 1A to save my life. I suppose it is a reflection of the metropolitan bias that saturates the independent. How I long for the old Independent - it was so much better in the Whitham-Smith days. I found this puzzle really annoying. I am surprised that the editor allows use of such obscure slang expressions in a clue - let alone a clue (1A) that is so central to the the entire puzzle.
I couldn’t have got 1A to save my life. I suppose it is a reflection of the metropolitan bias that saturates the independent. How I long for the old Independent - it was so much
better in the Whitham-Smith days.

]]> By: Wil Ransome http://fifteensquared.net/2008/03/11/independent-6677-glow-worm-time-of-the-month/#comment-16738 Wil Ransome Thu, 13 Mar 2008 13:44:18 +0000 http://fifteensquared.net/2008/03/11/independent-6677-glow-worm-time-of-the-month/#comment-16738 OK Paul, I suppose "of" is OK as an a.i., for the reasons you give. It seems inadequate to me - Azed never seems to use it or to allow this device to get through in the clues he quotes in his slip, but he's not the only setter around and perhaps one shouldn't stick to his ideas too religiously. I'd be interested to see exactly why he eschews it - perhaps someone knows where, in his slips, which are available on the net, he has done so? OK Paul, I suppose “of” is OK as an a.i., for the reasons you give. It seems inadequate to me - Azed never seems to use it or to allow this device to get through in the clues he quotes in his slip, but he’s not the only setter around and perhaps one shouldn’t stick to his ideas too religiously. I’d be interested to see exactly why he eschews it - perhaps someone knows where, in his slips, which are available on the net, he has done so?

]]> By: Paul B http://fifteensquared.net/2008/03/11/independent-6677-glow-worm-time-of-the-month/#comment-16707 Paul B Thu, 13 Mar 2008 00:52:00 +0000 http://fifteensquared.net/2008/03/11/independent-6677-glow-worm-time-of-the-month/#comment-16707 This kind of economy I picked up from Guardian compilers, with hidden indicators such as 'from' and 'of', and the ultraslim 'Apostrophe S' technique for a simple possessive: we might see something like Eric Atkin's whip (3) ... although it is really late, and we might like to see something better! This kind of economy I picked up from Guardian compilers, with hidden indicators such as ‘from’ and ‘of’, and the ultraslim ‘Apostrophe S’ technique for a simple possessive: we might see something like

Eric Atkin’s whip (3)

… although it is really late, and we might like to see something better!

]]> By: nmsindy http://fifteensquared.net/2008/03/11/independent-6677-glow-worm-time-of-the-month/#comment-16699 nmsindy Wed, 12 Mar 2008 21:51:07 +0000 http://fifteensquared.net/2008/03/11/independent-6677-glow-worm-time-of-the-month/#comment-16699 Dictionary definitions of OF can be a bit abstract, but I'd have no difficulty with it as a hidden indicator in the sense 'part of' or 'from'. I think it's in quite common usage, too. Dictionary definitions of OF can be a bit abstract, but I’d have no difficulty with it as a hidden indicator in the sense ‘part of’ or ‘from’.

I think it’s in quite common usage, too.

]]> By: Testy http://fifteensquared.net/2008/03/11/independent-6677-glow-worm-time-of-the-month/#comment-16692 Testy Wed, 12 Mar 2008 18:53:42 +0000 http://fifteensquared.net/2008/03/11/independent-6677-glow-worm-time-of-the-month/#comment-16692 No offence to Wil but I think the fact that Chambers, COED (first definition "expressing the relationship between a part and a whole") et al would justify it is enough for me. No offence to Wil but I think the fact that Chambers, COED (first definition “expressing the relationship between a part and a whole”) et al would justify it is enough for me.

]]> By: Paul B http://fifteensquared.net/2008/03/11/independent-6677-glow-worm-time-of-the-month/#comment-16681 Paul B Wed, 12 Mar 2008 16:07:19 +0000 http://fifteensquared.net/2008/03/11/independent-6677-glow-worm-time-of-the-month/#comment-16681 I'd like to stand up for 'of' as a hidden indicator on the grounds that Chambers, even in its decimanted Reference Online format (sense six), offers us 'belonging to or FORMING A PART OF SOMETHING'. However, I like Wil's forthright accusations, and if he can say why the grammar for this contraption is unsound, I will be grateful - and I for one will refrain from using this indicator! I’d like to stand up for ‘of’ as a hidden indicator on the grounds that Chambers, even in its decimanted Reference Online format (sense six), offers us ‘belonging to or FORMING A PART OF SOMETHING’.

However, I like Wil’s forthright accusations, and if he can say why the grammar for this contraption is unsound, I will be grateful - and I for one will refrain from using this indicator!

]]> By: Testy http://fifteensquared.net/2008/03/11/independent-6677-glow-worm-time-of-the-month/#comment-16670 Testy Wed, 12 Mar 2008 13:43:04 +0000 http://fifteensquared.net/2008/03/11/independent-6677-glow-worm-time-of-the-month/#comment-16670 Wil: 1D I'd say "all" is there to indicate that we are talking about a quantity of information 8D I agree that "to acquire" only seems to be there to help the surface 13D I think that the definition is "one in wood" (i.e. a tree that you would find in a wood) rather than just "wood" Wil:

1D I’d say “all” is there to indicate that we are talking about a quantity of information
8D I agree that “to acquire” only seems to be there to help the surface
13D I think that the definition is “one in wood” (i.e. a tree that you would find in a wood) rather than just “wood”

]]> By: eimi http://fifteensquared.net/2008/03/11/independent-6677-glow-worm-time-of-the-month/#comment-16663 eimi Wed, 12 Mar 2008 12:46:58 +0000 http://fifteensquared.net/2008/03/11/independent-6677-glow-worm-time-of-the-month/#comment-16663 I'd like to expand the Indy online puzzles, but obviously a printable version would have a much greater effect on paper sales. At the moment my main concern is trying to stop them putting the live prize puzzles on the site with reveal buttons. I may have to treat them like naughty children and refuse to send the files until after the closing date. I’d like to expand the Indy online puzzles, but obviously a printable version would have a much greater effect on paper sales. At the moment my main concern is trying to stop them putting the live prize puzzles on the site with reveal buttons. I may have to treat them like naughty children and refuse to send the files until after the closing date.

]]> By: Wil Ransome http://fifteensquared.net/2008/03/11/independent-6677-glow-worm-time-of-the-month/#comment-16662 Wil Ransome Wed, 12 Mar 2008 12:43:19 +0000 http://fifteensquared.net/2008/03/11/independent-6677-glow-worm-time-of-the-month/#comment-16662 Testy: You're quite right about 10/29 - I got it wrong - apologies to Glow-worm. 1D: "Ms Ryan's somewhat taken by all this information" - MEGABIT 8D: "Easy to acquire infection near hospital department" - FLUENT 13D: "Whisky barrel - last available one in wood?" - SCOTCH PINE. Is "of" used "extremely frequently" as a hidden indicator? Very rarely, I'd say, and in my opinion unsoundly. I doubt whether the Indy will let you print the crossword, for fear of losing sales of the paper. They probably think this on-screen thing won't reduce them too much. Testy:

You’re quite right about 10/29 - I got it wrong - apologies to Glow-worm.

1D: “Ms Ryan’s somewhat taken by all this information” - MEGABIT
8D: “Easy to acquire infection near hospital department” - FLUENT
13D: “Whisky barrel - last available one in wood?” - SCOTCH PINE.

Is “of” used “extremely frequently” as a hidden indicator? Very rarely, I’d say, and in my opinion unsoundly.

I doubt whether the Indy will let you print the crossword, for fear of losing sales of the paper. They probably think this on-screen thing won’t reduce them too much.

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