Today we celebrate the anniversary of the founding of The Royal Airforce, The Canadian Royal Airforce and The Mumbai Fire Brigade. But putting all of those events in the shade is the anniversary of the birth in 1775 of a most influential and until last year an unknown woman (pictured).
Hopefully some non-mathematicians will have heard of a Poisson distribution discovered by the prolific French mathematician Simeon Poisson (1781-1840).Papers found recently in France have revealled that Simeon had a sister Avril who, because of the way women were treated in those times, published her work in her brother’s name. It is no longer clear how much of Simeon’s output was really work done by Avril.
In 1794 she married an unknown eccentric Swedish astronomer Olaf Proil which led her to study the planets. There is evidence that the theoretical proof of the Jupiter-Neptune combined gravity theory (which suggests that a perfect alignment of the Earth, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune slightly alters the Earth’s tilt) was her work. This theory is today being studied by climatologists as a possible explanation for the radical change in our weather patterns.
Of interest to music lovers will be her long affair with Beethoven who to preserve her anonymity called her his “immortal beloved” and referred to her by the pet name of Elise. Letters from him amongst her papers illustrate his extensive use of her theory of discordant harmonics in his compositions and his devistation when she died in 1813.
Across | |
---|---|
1 | LOWBROW – LOW-B-ROW; |
5 | SHOTGUN – bun in the oven clue; |
9 | MAT – MAT(e); “e” from (roll)E(r); |
10 | GO,TO,THE,DOGS – the UK if the mooted sale of the Red Arrows to a Russian industrialist goes ahead; |
11 | ABOVE,ALL – A-BO(VEAL)L; BOL as in Spag-Bol; |
12 | BROWSE – B-ROWS-(offic)E; |
15 | ALTO – ALTO(get-her); |
16 | UNEARTHING – U-NEAR-THING; |
18 | HEART’SEASE – HEART-sounds like “sieze”; today’s flower; |
19 | HEAR – HE(A)R(o); women can much better now bra-wire is insulated to prevent interference with mobile phone reception; |
22 | BEL,AIR – BE-LAIR; posh end of LA; |
23 | JOE,LOUIS – JO(b)-(seoul I)*; the brown bomber; |
25 | COUNTERPART – COUNTER-PART(y); |
27 | SAD – S(h)AD; the news that the new Crossword Editor is trying to ban crossword blogs appearing on the day of the puzzle; |
28 | IGNORED – (grid one)*; the coming European Directive on passive drinking I suspect; |
29 | ENDGAME – END-GAME; where chess grand masters come into their own; |
Down | |
1 | LAMBADA – LAM(BAD)A; not suitable for the Tea Dance that I run; |
2 | WITHOUT,FAIL – WITHOUT-FAIL; blow it=slang for cock it up; |
3 | REGRET – RE-GRET(a); |
4 | WET,BLANKET – W-ET-BLANKET; |
5 | SITE – Pisa perhaps where in 1173 they started to build a tower soon after Pope Alexander the Third decreed on April 1st that in future the ratio pi (3.1) would be taken to be 3.0 exactly to better reflect the Christian Trinity; |
6 | OVERRATE – OVER-RATE; a missed opportunity for a cricket clue; |
7 | GOO – GOO(d); |
8 | NEST,EGG – G(GETS)EN all reversed; |
13 | WHITE,RUSSIA – Belarus; avoid the White Russian cocktail if want to stay sane; |
14 | PASSIONATE – PAS(S-IONA)TE; Avril and Ludwig; |
17 | STRICTER – (critters)*; |
18 | HIBACHI – HI-BACH-I; Japenese barbecue where the use of homogenised Flora P-Oil (dihydrogen monoxide) is recommended; |
20 | RESIDUE – RESID(U)E; |
21 | SLATED – Royal Society scheme to decimalise time based on 100 ticks to the tock and 20 tocks to the day; |
24 | ARID – A(R)ID; |
26 | URN – sounds like “earn” – basis of old schoolboy joke; |
While I moaned that yesterday’s was too hard, I felt that today’s was too easy, and finished it all up in 25 mins or so. DNK: S(H)AD, HIBACHI, but easily gettable. Never happy, eh?
Also DNK about the new editor’s plans to ban the blogs. Agree, that would be very sad.
Thanks for the history lesson, Jim, always happy to learn something new. Can’t guarantee to remember it all…
A nice gentle one today as you say, but I still managed to mess it up! I completely missed the numeration at 11ac and looked for an 8-letter word. AVOWEDLY seemed to fit the definition although of course I couldn’t parse it!
Besides such talent, my own paltry cruciverbal achievements appear mere foolishness. 30 minutes.
as above
Fascinating blog, Jimbo, thanks. Strangely I can find no trace of this fishy character on Wiki…
White Russians always remind me of The Big Lebowski, one of my favourite films. I have tried drinking them to make myself more like the dude but they’re really not very nice.
Edited at 2014-04-01 07:50 am (UTC)
The definition at 29ac refers to the play by Samuel Beckett.
I hadn’t heard about the new editor’s plans. I’d be interested to know how a ban would be to his advantage.
Might I suggest a separate thread on this topic, perhaps a sticky?
Edited at 2014-04-01 08:02 am (UTC)
Good to see the proposal for banning same day blogging vanishing at the first whiff of grapeshot, for which read as soon as I posted on the sticky version.
In truth (for once) this one felt like an easy puzzle that I made heavy weather of. It seems I wasn’t the only one to have PASSIONATE among my LOsI. UNEARTHING was also a late entry for me, as I thought uranium already gave the U without any need for “originally” and decided too soon that “call” signalled RING. I had also left OVERR— clear on the feeble grounds that if something is overrated I don’t expect anything much of it. A part of me was mentally complaining that Belarus (and its dozens of historical variations) translates exactly as “White Russia” and is more of a distinct “region” now than it ever was.
I didn’t know viola as the genus, but did know HEARTSEASE was a plant of some kind.
Should I be pleased or ashamed that my knowledge of BEL AIR comes from the Fresh Prince?
Today is also the feast day of Saints Victor and Steven, jointly commemorated as martyrs. On this first weekday of legal gay marriage, perhaps they should become its patron saints. I’m sure the non-judgemental Francis wouldn’t mind.
Edited at 2014-04-01 09:32 am (UTC)
Edited at 2014-04-01 09:36 am (UTC)
Edited at 2014-04-01 09:38 am (UTC)
Like some others, I would very much regret any action by the Crossword Editor to make this blog unavailable on the day of publication of crosswords. I’m still in the dnf category, but enjoy learning from others. Thank you to all who contribute regularly to the blog.
As far as an employee of the Times trying to ban independent same-day blogs is concerned I would say that it is utter foolishness.
Thanks for the history lesson Jimbo.
No time – I received an lengthy, unduckable phone call mid-solve, but I’m certain it was less than 10 minutes of solving. In fact, I was half-way to a ‘clean sweep’ when the phone rang. Of course, Avril would have dusted off the clean sweep while chatting on the phone, but I’m not in her league.
I had always thought Hibachi was a brand name. No wonder my television keeps catching fire.
Edited at 2014-04-01 10:09 am (UTC)
Interesting story on page 9 of The Times today about a ninety-year-old German duke laying claim to the Scottish throne if the Scots vote for independence in the referendum.
Edited at 2014-04-01 10:47 am (UTC)
Worth coming here just for dj’s blog. Very entertaining, erudite and witty.
Thanks for the blog – I’ll admit to being suckered. I did wonder if the mention of Bolognese in 11A was inspired by the infamous Spaghetti Tree.
It’s taking me quite a while to finish.
Eleanor
31 minutes with hangover.
Cheers
Chris Gregory (logged out).
Certainly had me fooled for a while….
Gandolf
Two missing today – Heartsease (which I think I’ve seen before but had forgotten) and Passionate. Found the rest pretty straightforward with only the unknown Hibachi causing some head scratching
Edited at 2014-04-01 01:22 pm (UTC)
Edited at 2014-04-01 02:14 pm (UTC)
1 Priest describing immoral dance (7)
2 Always lacking – blow it (7,4)
3 Be disappointed about Garbo skipping ending (6)
4 Misery caused by western film, overall (3,7)
5 Place rest on edge of table (4)
6 Expect too much of remaining judge (8)
7 Daughter lacking in virtuous sentiment (3)
8 Gathers in information over savings (4,3)
13 Uncomfortable, waiter with sushi, in the old region (5,6)
14 Most eager to stick around South Island (10)
17 More rigorous slaughtering of critters (8)
18 Greeting composer, one leaving barbecue (7)
20 Remainder live around university (7)
21 Satisfied about Liberal being censured (6)
24 Help involving river becoming dry (4)
26 Vase to take home, reportedly (3)
Been through today’s copy, can’t spot the spoof story unless it’s the one about women MPs from a certain region threatening to strip naked in central Nairobi and then marching to the House in protest at some offensive remark made by a male MP. The problems is that sort of thing is entirely possible in this country!
Nairobi Wallah
The founding of the RAF, RCAF and the Mumbai Fire Brigade are all true as are Simeon Poisson and his distribution.
Avril Poisson is an invention from the French Poisson D’Avril which means April Fool; Olaf Proil is an anagram; the stuff about planets, Beethoven and discordant harmonics is all made up. The lady in the picture is a colleague of Charles Babbage, Ada Lovelace who is credited with being the first computer programmer.
At 10A we are not selling the Red arrows; at 19A the insulation is invented; at 27A the Editor is not trying to ban crossword blogs; at 28A there is no such thing as “passive drinking”; at 5D the Pope never did any such thing; at 18D Flora P-Oil is an anagram and dihydrogen monoxide is HOH which is water; at 21D even the RS isn’t that daft!
Well done Jimbo. Regards to all.
Re. ENDGAME – went to see it on the basis that it had Michael Gambon in it, then realized I should probably have done a little more research before shelling out for the tickets. If I were to say “rivetting”, it would have to be followed by ” ‘s more fun.” It may be a great play, but that’s seven hours of my life I’ll never get back.
Waste of time, and, as I only buy the horrible Murdoch paper for the crossword, a waste of money too.
Many thanks for the entertaining blog: I needed something to cheer me up.
Letter to the editor called for.
I got the bottom half but struggling with the top:
1. Uxxxx
4. xxBxTxRx
8. BARE ESSENTIALS
10.ExxxxxxxD
11. SHOVE
12. LxPxxx
14. DRABBEST
17. PxRxxxIx (portrait?)
18. CRUSOE
20. NAAFI
22. SOAP OPERA
24. COUNTERSIGNING
25. SNOWED IN
26. SCARF
DOWN
1. UMBRELLA PINE
2. xxRxx
3. xxExxxxxx
4. xxSxxx
5. BENIDORM
6. TWINS
7. ROLLOVERS
9. GET THE HANG OF
13. PORTADOWN
15. BURROUGHS
16. AIRSPEED
19. KANSAN
21. I KNOW
23. EVITA
Did anyone get 2,3 & 4 Down?
cheers, Tim
2. Proceeds with one leg below caught by trap (5)
3. Leaving clothes hanging in bathroom initially, men shower (9)
4. World leader’s departed from game, standing up king (6)
Any thoughts?
Tim
3. EXHIBITOR – EXIT around H(anging) I(n) B(athroom), + OR (men)
4. ARTHUR – (e)ARTH (World leader’s departed from) + RU reversed (game standing up).
Looks like you have some refactoring to do!
I put a guess in for 6d. Which must have been wrong.
Clue was:
Seeds not exactly doubles outsiders at the outset (5)
Late at night I put in TWINS; my train of thought being coloured by the comment from the new crossword editor’s interview that he liked a misdirecting literal here and there.
Working with your BLOW HOT AND COLD suggestion that would need to fit xxCxS.
Any thoughts?
cheers, Tim
I hope the wretched and stupid ENDGAME doesn’t entirely put people off Beckett – Krapp’s Last Tape is intensely moving.