Wednesday, March 9, 2011 (DT 26418)

Puzzle at a Glance

Daily Telegraph Puzzle Number DT 26418
Publication Date in The Daily Telegraph Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Setter Jay
Link to Full Review Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 26418]
Big Dave's Review Written By Falcon
Big Dave's Rating
Difficulty - ***	Enjoyment - ***
Falcon's Performance ┌────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┐ Not applicable └────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┘ Legend: █ - solved without assistance █ - solved with assistance from puzzle solving tools █ - unsolved or incorrect prior to visiting Big Dave's blog

Introduction

I quickly realized that this puzzle had a very familiar feel - it being one that I had reviewed for Big Dave back in early December. While I was able to complete it unassisted, a few of the clues did require a bit of thought (even on the second time around).

While the clues may have looked familiar, my review at Big Dave's site certainly looked somewhat different. It seems that Big Dave must have inserted some illustrations after I had last looked at it (note his reply "Maybe later" in response to my comment "I can’t wait to see what illustrations Big Dave will insert into this review"). The story behind this exchange is that, in my previous review, Big Dave had inserted some illustrations - including one, in particular, that provoked a strong reaction from certain readers (who may or may not have realized that it was he who was responsible for the illustration rather than myself). I suppose I could avoid having him choose the illustrations by inserting my own. However, by the time I finish the review it is the wee hours of the morning, and I am hardly in any condition to go searching for illustrations - and therefore am quite content to be surprised by whatever he may select.

Today's Glossary

Selected abbreviations, people, places, words and expressions appearing in today's puzzle.

[Items marked with an asterisk are from a Cumulative Glossary of entries appearing, since the beginning of this year, in either this blog or its companion blog, the Ottawa Citizen Cryptic Crossword Forum.]

Appearing in Clues:

The meanings listed in this section may reflect how the word is used in the surface reading of the clue. Of course, that meaning may be contributing to the misdirection that the setter is attempting to create.

carpet - verb 2 British informal reprimand severely: the Chancellor of the Exchequer carpeted the bank bosses

Doctor Who - British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC that is listed in Guinness World Records as the longest-running science fiction television show in the world, and as the "most successful" science fiction series of all time, in terms of its overall broadcast ratings, DVD and book sales, iTunes traffic, and "illegal downloads".

one-way - adjective 4 North American, especially US said of a ticket: valid for travel in one direction only

Appearing in Solutions:

*Cu - Symbol the chemical element copper

dress - verb 4 Military [with object] draw up (troops) in the proper alignment; [no object] (of troops) come into proper alignment

du - French from the [masculine singular]

*MP - noun a Member of Parliament: more than 80 MPs have signed the Commons motion

*nous - noun 1 British informal common sense; practical intelligence: if he had any nous at all, he'd sell the film rights

*p³ - [American Heritage Dictionary] abbreviation 1. piano² adverb & adjective Music in a soft or quiet tone (used chiefly as a direction)

rue - French road [or, more precisely, street]

si - Spanish yes

single - noun 1 [4^th entry] British a ticket that is valid only for an outward journey

*tip² - noun 1 British a place where rubbish is left [Note: In Canada, rubbish would more likely be called garbage and a tip would definitely be a dump. However, the dump might charge a tipping fee to deposit garbage there.]

Commentary on Today's Puzzle

This commentary should be read in conjunction with the review at Big Dave's Crossword Blog, to which a link is provided in the table above.

11a   Depressed by putting in order for carpeting (8,4)

When I wrote the review for Big Dave's site in December, I thought DRESSING (putting in order) might refer to "arranging a display in a shop window". However, I now suspect that it is more likely to have a military connotation, i.e., to 'draw up (troops) in the proper alignment'..

16a   A Spaniard's positive answer from a large part of the world (4)

It appears that I must have put more thought into analyzing this clue back in December than I could muster up today as I again fell into the same trap as I initially did back then, thinking that "from" must be a charade indicator in the clue. However, this time I did not manage to extricate myself from the trap - only to have my error explained to me by my own review posted on Big Dave's site! Eerie - but wasn't there a mention of Doctor Who in this puzzle!!!

Signing off for today - Falcon