Listener No. 4401: Literal Spling By Waterloo

[AHearer]

That was fun -- quite a quick solve, but I liked the idea. The one slight niggle I have is that the literal spling has not been 100% carried out -- unless I've made mistakes in at least two entries. Thanks, Waterloo.

[Ruthrobin]

In at least two entries? You are joking. This has me seriously worried. I am not sure whether I am smiling or weeping.

[Contrarian]

Yes, mildly amusing. Some VERY simple clues though.

[Contrarian]

AHearer, I didn't think that there were dubious cases, but I suppose it might depend on which part of the country you're from.

[starwalker]

I'm embarrassed by how long the penny took to drop. Some simple clues, but I'm left with a slight feeling of dismay at the end of it all. I think that this will bear a review in the cold light of day (tomorrow). Thanks, Waterloo, it's probably not your fault.

[scooterbug]

Is the answer length correct for 46d (4 letters in my version)? I also wonder whether the theme was consistently applied througout. Thanks.

[Ruthrobin]

Yes, indeed, Contrarian. I feel that there is a definite southern bias in this one and for those of us from the north or the far north, there is a serious problem.

[Encota]

Very gentle. I made it two 'not as Splinged as they could be', perhaps similar to AHearer. There could be some regional challenges here, though? Thanks Waterloo for a nice idea well executed. 29a and 7d got double ticks from me.

[Hagen]

I was very grateful for a gentle puzzle after Dysart's brain-pounder last week. I didn't notice any pronunciation issues (but then I'm a southerner what speaks proper like, innit) though I was rather thrown by 29 across, which was the only one with the same enumeration as entry length. I suspected a misprint for quite a while.

I suspect that many here will have found this rather trivial but I'm always chuffed when we thickos are given a break!

[perseverer]

The Chambers Dictionary is the primary reference .........

[aldanna]

Entertainingly silly. I realised immediately what to do, so it was a quick gridfill, but I also felt there was inconsistency in the splinging - 17a seemed wrong to me, unless I have misinterpreted something.

[AndrewG-S]

I have some real issues on some of the unches. I don't think I am giving much away to say that I could make a case for either A or R.

[Philoctetes]

If I have the right unches, Andrew, we should remember that we are dealing with a universally named set of elements, using the names and not the way they are handled (and even our American friends cannot complain). OK, the treatment is not consistently applied, but that doesn't spoil the fun too much.

[satori]

Aldanna, I think there is a good reason why 17a appears as it does, that is consistent with the theme. However, I agree with those who have commented on other inconsistencies, which makes deciding on the intended entry for the cell shared by 35 and 39 particularly tricky, with reference to Chambers.

[upsetter]

We must not be ungrateful to any setter, but.........
BTW where were the regulars last week, RR & Co?

[Ruthrobin]

Travelling, Upsetter - but enjoyed Dysart's and had no real trouble doing a speedy solve, on the move, as the theme leapt out at me immediately (two of us have, sadly, used the same theme fairly recently - no plagiarism or poaching as, as you know, setters submit their puzzles years before they appear).

[satori]

I have reviewed all my answers and my grid, and I'm now pretty sure that there are no inconsistencies or ambiguities. If you understand the theme properly it has been consistently applied throughout. I think that solvers who think the system has not been 100% carried out have not understood the theme and its application. I cannot say any more without giving the game away.

[icynorth]

Nice variation, thanks Waterloo. It's good to stretch the brain slightly differently. I agree that the regional differences should be resolved by Chambers.

And now I can send two puzzles with one stamp :-)

[AHearer]

I agree with you, satori, and with the comments about regional differences. Perseverer's comment is apposite (though, of course, BRB can't resolve one of my two).

[olichant]

I liked the idea too. Thanks, Waterloo - cheered me up after finding out I'd joined the dots wrongly (idiotically) on Mountain Ledges' Jeu de Paume.

[petefoxes]

I think I've been consistent but I'll be unsurprised / annoyed if I've slipped up. Easy to do on a puzzle like this, but an interesting idea and thankfully much easier than last week's beast.