Monday 2 May 2016

Holiday, Monday 02 May 2016


No CW today in the online and print editions. Presumably due to May Day yesterday. Too late to set up a special for today.

PS: The blog may not appear on 4th and 5th as I am off to Bandipur on a holiday where internet connectivity may not be there as per the advisory given on the website of the resort. I am not asking anyone else to blog on those days as some setters have complained about other setters blogging/commenting on their CWs, which I personally feel is unwarranted.


53 comments:

  1. Absolutely unwarranted. I agree with you Deepak.

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  2. I find no reason for the setters to be offended. If the clue is written badly, the setter should explain/justify it or simply own it. Anyway, it is not in good taste.

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  3. Agree with above views. I don't think there has been any unwarranted comment in any blog.
    Disappointed.

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    Replies
    1. Agree.

      Good luck Col for tiger sighting, in case that is your purpose. You'll need lots of it.

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    2. Good luck for ANIMAL sighting. Even that has become rare at Mudumalai and Bandipur may not be much better.

      In the region perhaps one of the best is BR Hills at Jungle Resorts.

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    3. Thanks, the idea is to cool off for a couple of days. Animals if any sighted will be a bonus.

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    4. I can guess how you'd be cooling off. Hic!

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  4. Here is ET CW for those who are interested:
    http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Gallery.aspx?id=02_05_2016_017_010_002&type=P&artUrl=Crossword-02052016017010&eid=31815

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    Replies
    1. I mentioned that ET is repeating the same given set of crosswords every few years. The above crossword is the same as 5157 in ET (Bng) dated 15-2-2013. We can calculate when its next appearance will be.

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    2. Thanks Padmanabhan for the fodder.
      7D was good

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  5. ...and today's Guardian cryptic- of course not by Rufus!
    https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/cryptic/26873

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  6. Feel sorry to hear your comments Deepak. Ramesh is the only setter who is blogging on Saturdays, and both of you are doing a commendable job. I do not know why any setter should object. Why don't you ask the setter/setters concerned to run the blog for a week and they will know what it takes. What a shame!

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  7. Thanks for bringing the undercurrents into the open, Deepak.

    I, for one believe that everyone, including setters should be free to comment on the crosswords. It is, of course, essential that the comments are not offensive, nor personal. Deepak, as the owner of the blog has ensured that the comments on the blog do not go overboard or offensive to anybody.

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  8. I visited Bandipur few years back. We haven't found any tigers. We stayed overnight in their lodges. There is no power either in the nights. You will perhaps be provided with some gaslights. You may see several deers and bisons. But you should really be lucky to see tigers.
    Of course, you will find on the notice board in the lodge, the date on which tiger was last spotted (It will be always recent date!).
    Have a safe trip!

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    Replies
    1. For those crazy about seeing tigers like me, Ranthambore is the best bet. Assuredly you cannot cool off in 45 C heat.

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    2. But, a tiger like you can be seen in Hyderabad, why go to Ranthambore :-)

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    3. I am confused. A tiger you like or 'a tiger like you?

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    4. Are you in Ranathambore, Raghy

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    5. That should read Raghu.

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    6. Raghu you had written
      Quote
      For those crazy about seeing tigers like me, ...
      Unquote
      hence my remark

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    7. Visited recently, if I remember right.

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    8. Paddy that was Gir for lions. First week of June will be in Ranthambore.

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    9. Col, punctuation makes a lot of difference

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    10. We saw tigers in Pench(MP side not the Maharashtra side). From what I hear, Kanha & Bandhavgarh have the best chances of spotting a tiger.

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    11. Visited Kanha last year. Saw a couple of tigers. My best bet is still Ranthambore.

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    12. Have you been to Sudarbans, Raghu. The only problem there seems to be that the tiger may see you before you see it.

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    13. Yes the mangrove forest makes it tough to spot. Most of them are maneaters

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  9. The very fact the Crossword is in the public domain in a national newspaper, I don't see why any body cannot comment or write a blog on the CW, be it a setter or non-setter. At least he or she is being open about it and not blogging or commenting as 'Unknown' or under a new identity.
    In any case whatever comments are made should be taken as positive criticism and if any setter feels otherwise they ares welcome to put forth their point of view and not take offence. All setters have been doing this in the past.
    Any personal attacks of course are not welcome and will be removed by me without assigning any reason. As regards unsubstantiated comments we have had the same only once and that too in the recent past and that has now been put to rest with the commenter offering reasons.

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  10. I think we, as setters, should stop being so sensitive. Each clue/CW stands on its own merit. Similarly each question about a clue/CW stands on its own merit. It is an open forum, Setters can present their counters to any questions raised from the pulpit or from the comments section. The readers of this blog are capable of making up their minds as to whose argument they favour

    For my part I reviewed my posts & have found nothing that any one should object to (If some one has has an objection, please point out the post & I shall take a closer look at it). Most of the time, I do not seem to be making any comments about the CW as a whole. I shall make an effort to add some more comments to each CW.

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  11. Thanks to everyone for all the supportive comments

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  12. I am fine with any setter or non-setter blogging/commenting on my clues/puzzles

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  13. Colonel, I'm willing to blog the puzzles on 4th and 5th unless the setters on those days have any specific objection.

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    Replies
    1. What about 3rd i.e., tomorrow?

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    2. Yes I will blog on 3rd. I have accepted the offer from Bhavan and he will be blogging on 4th and 5th so there will be no break in the blog

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    3. ...and the sad part of it is, I will be at Nellore on those days with no inter-net connectivity!

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    4. ...hence thanking Buzzer in advance!

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  14. It's sad to note this. As one of the younger setters, I have always looked forward to these comments and have actually felt disappointed when the the number of comments drops (irrespective of whether positive or otherwise). I think it motivates setters to improve. And more importantly highlight a perspective that might not have occurred to the setter while setting. Glad to see from the comments above that this is just an aberration and not the majority opinion.

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    Replies
    1. Attaboy ! Sri-santahnam ! That's the spirit !
      Deepak: There was a time in Kenya, when I used to visit the game parks, herds of elephants were seen facing us and moving forward. Alas, after much deforestation and eco-damages, drought etc, you would be lucky to see even one ! I always used to quip with my guests taken there, that there is always one elephant that would be produced by the rangers as an official of the reserve who would greet us and other tourists to whet the appetite for game-viewing !

      Any way, Happy holidays, chill off literally with a few of the best, to liven up the 'spirits '.

      As for protests by fellow setters, isn't it a national pastime these days to be an 'intolerant'contrarian? Democrazy, whither thy future?



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  15. Also, has this absence of Crossword happened before? On a day when the newspaper was delivered? I've seen the newspaper itself absent, but this is a first for me.

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  16. It has happened before, even very recently when Col. came up with a special. You can't put it past TH for anything these days. At least they could have inserted a small note of regret or an announcement about the reason ( like holiday announcement). I think, as readers, we deserve this basic courtesy.

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  17. Col. I feel you may accept Bhavan's offer to blog on the 2 days in view of the vociferous universal support.

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  18. I thought setters were above all this !! Anyway vote +1 for continuation. Any 'constructive' criticism should be ok i guess and 'destructive'/abuse can anyway be ignored. Echoing the sentiments of the above - nothing new - but wanted to write this anyway. The blog and the comments is/are FAB.

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  19. Copy of mail sent to me by VP
    Quote
    Col,
    Saw your blog post from this morning. As per TH cycle, my puzzle may appear on one of the days. If it does, just wanted to reiterate I have no issues with anyone commenting/blogging about it. THCC is the only forum where I get feedback about the puzzle, so I personally welcome all comments.

    Hope things are great at your end. Wishing you have a good time in Bandipur.
    Regards,
    -VP
    Unquote

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  20. Once again thanks to each and everyone of you for your comments and supposrt

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  21. I have been following this blog for the last 6 years & for me it is one of the most wonderful blogs...whatever i have learnt about cryptics is through this blog....& all comments especially by the bloggers are positive & never ever otherwise...hence most astonished by some setter expressing reservations..

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  22. I am a setter and I have absolutely no problem in any setter/reader blogging on my crossword and commenting and writing critiques of my clues.
    In all these years I have always apologised if a mistake that was pointed out was indeed a mistake. The crossword goes through multiple checks esp because we setters don't have the luxury of a 'test solver'. However, on rare occasions. despite multiple checks a mistake might get into print. This happens even in UK newspapers where there is a so-called 'crossword editor'. When I read somewhere about the functions of this person, I was surprised because he does not solve the grids or vet the clues for errors. As for the danger of the same individual (setter) repeatedly checking his work, here's what Pasquale (Don Manley) said recently under a blog on his crossword: "Of course you can check your clues again and again and still miss the obvious. Sorry for the confusion."
    As a follower of this blog from Day One, I don't think anyone has objected to critical remarks on the crosswords. THC is in the public domain and whatever is out there can be subjected to scrutiny. I don't think any THC setter would have problem with that.
    I wonder if there was any misunderstanding somewhere. We need not know or go into which setter did not want other setters commenting on his puzzles and where this complaint was made, but I as a reader will not hold back any Comment that I think I should make but that will be with full sense of responsibility.
    Even in the latest Sun Spl I commented about a deletion component. If a criticism that I make turns out to be invalid, I will not hesitate to apologise.

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    Replies
    1. +1. All valid points and echo my own sentiments.

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