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Listener 4138: The X-factor by IOA
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I looked down the list of letters thinking: no clue lengths, no clue numbers, no idea which is across or even, 26 numbers to choose from. Aargh! Luckily, once it gets going, things speed up and to a nice aesthetic finish. A debut in the sense that I have not solved either of IOA'a previous two Listeners (last in 2004), but this one I enjoyed - probably because it had a conversion and PDM to look forward to. Thanks IOA
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Thankyou Jack, that's a kind offer, but I'd rather not post an e-mail address. I'm still slightly confused that a question/answer forum doesn't like posting answers about one crossword (People that don't want spoliers surely wouldn't look at the thread) but is happy to post answers about another (Times Jumbo cryptic for example). So, if I may respectfully ask what is the purpose of this thread? Is it just to say that you have completed it?
Please understand that I'm not being rude, I merely want to understand.
Please understand that I'm not being rude, I merely want to understand.
Hah! You're into deep water there, DaveThe Hat! You're absolutely right that Answerbank isn't really the right place for this particular bunch of people to have this particular conversation, but it's convenient and old habits die hard. I guess the number of people likely to want to chat about the Listener is so small that the thread can be largely self-policing (I'm sure if you read it regularly you'll know it doesn't always work perfectly). So, in summary, people try to stick to giving hints here rather than outright answers, particularly ones that are significant in completing the puzzle. And with this puzzle, the next few steps from where you are currently is pretty much the most important part of the whole thing!
No problem - if it's still doing your head in, drop me a line on [email protected]
DaveTheHat - The current situation on this thread was born in the heat of battle some four years ago. It makes interesting reading if you can access the archives.
Basically some setters and others connected with the Listener Crossword were outraged that blatant answers were being given to the world's hardest crossword.
Maybe thousands of people could give you answers to Jumbo crosswords, but that comes down to hundreds for the Listener and possibly just a couple of dozen who post to Answerbank. As Jack said those few have now settled for gentle hints only and it seems to work to most peoples satisfaction.
Basically some setters and others connected with the Listener Crossword were outraged that blatant answers were being given to the world's hardest crossword.
Maybe thousands of people could give you answers to Jumbo crosswords, but that comes down to hundreds for the Listener and possibly just a couple of dozen who post to Answerbank. As Jack said those few have now settled for gentle hints only and it seems to work to most peoples satisfaction.
I thought this was an excellent puzzle. A bit tricky to find the start point, then a straightforward but interesting grid fill, which required a number of different approaches to whittle down the options. This was topped with an amusing finish. It also caused me to look up what X-Factor really meant and I thought it was just a TV show. Perhaps there should be an X-Word-Factor to compensate solvers for the disruptions to life from trying to do the Listener each week. From the minority that enjoys and looks forward to the numerics - thanks IOA.
Brian from the magic roundabout here late to the party as usual.
I echo the sentiments of Clamzy and AndrewG-S.
When I first looked at the title I also wondered if Mr Cowell would be making an appearance somewhere. Although I was glad it was logic rather than mega quadratic / simultaneous equations or strange mathematical terms. Nice change. Back to the hard wordy stuff next week .... oooh er!
I echo the sentiments of Clamzy and AndrewG-S.
When I first looked at the title I also wondered if Mr Cowell would be making an appearance somewhere. Although I was glad it was logic rather than mega quadratic / simultaneous equations or strange mathematical terms. Nice change. Back to the hard wordy stuff next week .... oooh er!
Message for JackLeCrow - please help me get started as offered. Email address [email protected]
As usual, finished it much later than wordies, simply because I only do Listeners in short (20 minute) bursts, and a lot of the time is taken going over previous logic. But this does mean I get a lot more pleasant brain exercise in numerical weeks.
Belated congratulations to Bellabee - I bet you can't wait for the next numbers now!
Belated congratulations to Bellabee - I bet you can't wait for the next numbers now!
sorry to disappoint philoctetes but the 'smiley' was in response to speravi's very funny [i thought] joke - it was the 'smiley' itself that i'd 'never done...before.' i've done 3 maths ones in about 20yrs of listener solving 2 were right [amazingly] and my third solution didn't have a single correct number in it somehow! - oh, and that 4th one 'the doughnut' - found the return of clever wordplay a joy today but i'm having a bit of a rest from the bank for a while - just had to set the record straight. sorry for the confusion and best wishes bb.
Hello to all from a lurker for the past 14 months. Encouraged by the comments here, and a previous run of 4 puzzles solved (a personal best), I persevered, and have cracked my first numerical. I like the fact that one can see here that the puzzle has been solved by others, without the danger of overt hints and answers spoiling the satisfaction of lesser mortals. Thank you, IOA, for the most enjoyable logic sequence I have ever done.
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