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That was for half cut apes, of course!

I feel like I've really been through the wringer! Very clever, but I agree with drxx that it's quite mathematical. Concepts there that are actually logical, yet they also call for a mathematical brain.

On the subject of drxx, I can see where Norah is coming from, although she might have recognised (from history if not from the 90% cold solve) that drxx is one of the best solvers on this forum. At the same time, drxx nailed his(?) colours to the mast some time ago, so his(?) reaction to this puzzle was understandable. And I, too, tried to wade through that (wrong) Wikipedia page. It's impenetrable.

I got caned in public for my comments on the last number puzzle, and that was totally fair. My disappointment around the current issue is that those who were upset complained off-line and not on the forum. That's cowardly.

This is a great forum, and I thank all contributors. Just as much, I thank Norah for what she does. Sometimes, she wouldn't have to step in at all if people behaved more sensibly.

I've probably upset someone, so I apologise for that.

Back to the puzzle: I do think that too much of a mathematical brain is called for, but I very much enjoyed cracking it.

To add my thoughts to Drxx's posting style...it invariably makes me laugh and this week was no exception. I also find Drxx one of the most generous responders to queries and this forum would be lesser without that support.

I do offer two comments though. Firstly - if we live by the sword we die by it. Surely, a poster who says something is 'a heap of...' must expect others to tell them there post is 'a heap of...' :).

Secondly, we are all surely erudite enough to set a mutual standard of self-censorship. Honest feedback about how we found the puzzle, yes - ad hominem arguments directed at setters, posters, newbies, administrators and mothers-in-law, no?

I have banned drxx from the Forum and removed his two offensive posts.

I run the Forum and am not prepared to tolerate his language any longer, this is not the first incident concerning drxx but, as far as I am concerned, this is the last. I’m also not prepared to tolerate his questioning of the way in which I run the Forum.

I’m certainly not prepared to go back to the bad old days when there were constant arguments and derogatory posts.

Drxx should remember that belonging to the forum is a privilege, not a right.

It is not fair to the setters to be abused in this manner and it will not be tolerated. This is just one comment I received by email but there are more.

“I know of at least one other setter who got severely depressed over receiving such abuse”

Disappointing decision

I’m making slow but steady progress on cold solving Set B. Still stuck on a few. A hint for the first one, Autistic female’s … would be most helpful. Also, can’t work out Russian boasts …., I think have the misprints for both.

Until the cancellation of drxx is reversed try the Answerbank thread which has become sadly depleted recently.

numbskull - the 'Autistic female' clue's answer is a very ordinary foreign-looking word. The word-play is (to me) an obscure meaning of a 4-letter word for 'unrepentant nature' (think Genesis) which is reversed; followed by a 2-letter reversal of a usual abbreviation of 'them'.

The 'Russian' clue's wordplay is 3 +3. A word for 'declared' missing a letter + a word for 'empty talk'. I had the wrong misprint here for a while!

Thanks woodlouse. I stopped going there ages ago when it got a little testy with some very fragile egos. I shall just bail out of here for a few weeks and hope that common sense prevails. I shan't even lurk!!

Thank you jbird