h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hi Icy

I hope that you don't mind me dropping in. I didn't want to derail the 'Cryptic Clues' thread, so I thought I'd enquire here.

After you mentioned that there was a 'directional' aspect, I took a quick look on the interwebs but I didn't immediately find anything to suggest that. As I mentioned, my knowledge of football is almost zero and I fully expect to be incorrect in this matter, so I was wondering if you could kindly explain to me what your thoughts are pertaining to the direction element?

W!ki states: "A goal kick is awarded to the defending team when the ball goes out of the field of play by crossing the goal line (either on the ground or in the air) when the last person to touch the ball was from the attacking team".

From here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goal_kick

The Free Dictionary also states: "A free kick in soccer that is awarded to a defensive team when the ball has been driven out of bounds over the goal line by an opponent".

In summary, I read it that if the attacking side overshoot as a result of a long kick and miss the defending goal, then a goal kick is awarded to the defending side. If that's the case, then I think the cryptic I gave was probably correct.

If you get a chance, I'd be grateful to hear your thoughts.

Hi DDD

Look, it's probably just me being picky about the meaning of the word 'overshoot'. I figured that you'd have to be off direction to incur a goal kick, as otherwise the ball would be nestling in the back of the net. 'Overshoot' seems to me to be a length thing. You might overshoot in bowls, or curling, or golf, say?

Aha! Yes I see where you are coming from. If I understand correctly, you are suggesting that a missed-goal is the result of being off-target - in which case direction certainly applies.

I was thinking more along the lines of being on-target (having judged for wind, gravity, etc) but giving the ball just a little too much wellie, so it sails over the crossbar, rather than dropping nicely below it.

I suppose it all depends on definition.

I hope you guys don't mind my popping in.

I thought 'overshoot' was fair enough....... the hyphen did throw me, though.

[Actually, before DDD gave us the first two letters, I was almost confident that 'lost away' would be the solution (hyphen aside). ]

Arggh! Hyphen.

That should *never* have been there - I can't believe I never spotted it. Apologies.

No probs. It saved me the embarrassment of posting 'lost away'

In fact, most of the dictionaries here: http://www.onelook.com/?w=+goal+kick&ls=a slap a hyphen between 'goal' and 'kick' - I usually check with Oxford before posting.

I saw something this morning that made me squirm. The word 'prepend', meaning to add something in front of a word (i.e. the opposite of 'append')

I looked it up in the OED (no entry).

I figured it must be the Americans to blame, so I looked it up in Webster (again, no entry).

Eventually I found it on Wiktionary. It's IT slang.

Why they can't just say 'prefix', I'll never know

<>

I suggested 'Sachet' and Recumbentman suggested 'Pocket' (which was far more appropriate and, indeed, correct).

My reasoning was that 'sac' can mean a cyst, which in turn can mean a 'spot'. Using 'alien' to signify an anagram of 'the', I ended up with 'sachet'.

Unfortunately, (by convention) the game-thread doesn't easily allow discussions of players reasonings without distorting the flow of the game. Is there anywhere that these discussions take place that I'm not aware of? If not, what are your thoughts on starting a thread to achieve this? I'm genuinely interested in hearing explanations of why others offer the suggestions that they do.

It may also be nice to have a little friendly banter outside of the main game.

Yes, why not a Cryptic Clues discussion thread? OK, I'll create one in the Games Room forum, and come back here with the link.

You're right that the Cryptic clues thread is often quite fast moving, and so people may not always appreciate gossip - it makes it difficult to locate the current clue. It's a bit different on the Printers Devilry thread. I think I may have solved one today that was posted in March

Oh, and now you've explained it, I think your answer's much better than the one I had in mind

Icy

The discussion thread is at F2137311?thread=8278190

Icy

Thank you Icy - top stuff!

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That's one I've never seen *or* heard of. Would you have a handy link that I can add to my 'subbed' list?

OK, here's the Printers Devilry thread - Beware: it's probably the most difficult game on site...

F2137311?thread=7699285

Why, thank you.

I'm now marked.

I'll have a read at more sensible hours!

Hi Icy

Would you mind if I subscribed to your journal/PS? I've just seen the latest via the <./>Info</.> page; you always seem to manage to offer-up the most interesting of subjects.

I ask, as I always do, as a matter of courtesy. I'd never 'add a friend' unless they are in agreement.

Be my guest! I'll waive the usual Criminal Records Bureau check in your case, but you might need to complete an aptitude test