tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88669636544082090772024-03-19T14:20:01.598+11:00PuzzlingA blog for people who love puzzles. With a little indexing and editing on the side.Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16137577463781242181noreply@blogger.comBlogger116125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8866963654408209077.post-37589059017296327742020-04-24T13:52:00.001+10:002020-04-24T13:52:50.182+10:00Hi again<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVzkRUYdBt-WxJifR-1lFop_iAQECz7qp62TZlDH1OfId2S7JAa7hLnSRzimNxpTxWVc8PjlLfk7B07FSd7RJEyeJVE2vPVEGFZiKSj7rWP6qYTLquQUyjuWvYjt4jFMaxeu1P1TJeMKZf/s1600/IMG_4208.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1077" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVzkRUYdBt-WxJifR-1lFop_iAQECz7qp62TZlDH1OfId2S7JAa7hLnSRzimNxpTxWVc8PjlLfk7B07FSd7RJEyeJVE2vPVEGFZiKSj7rWP6qYTLquQUyjuWvYjt4jFMaxeu1P1TJeMKZf/s320/IMG_4208.jpeg" width="215" /></a>Long time no see, folks! I'm dipping my toes back into blogging and social media — pandemic isolation means I have a bit more time, and this is a good way to stay in touch.<br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/denisesutherlandauthor/">My Facebook Page can be found here</a>. Maybe I'll see you over there?<br />
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<br />Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16137577463781242181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8866963654408209077.post-31816306739746474192014-12-24T08:08:00.000+11:002014-12-24T08:10:47.143+11:00Myrrh, Mice, StarsBest wishes for Christmas and and the New Year! May your 2015 be filled with puzzles and conundrums (of the entertaining kind)!<br />
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Here's a great puzzle-y comic from one of my fave webcomics,<a href="http://www.girlswithslingshots.com/"> Girls With Slingshots</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://www.girlswithslingshots.com/comic/gws-1955/"><br />
<img alt="Girls with Slingshots #1955" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglVHhTDW9Q4zzMt-BCdn9V3ayDDyJccnERi7FzAZe1HxcLLdqQ80y5k0Nfp1CtWmcDP_KEp_gILSwhX5yFxJhX-soI_XtO5AAE0aTttqjZpXrI1-tmYkcrLtRnZmayx_7Wyrv6fun0mOP4/s1600/GWS1955.jpg" height="208" title="Girls With Slingshots" width="640" /></a></div>
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PS the title of this post is an anagram, did you figure it out?</div>
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8866963654408209077" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8866963654408209077" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a>Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16137577463781242181noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8866963654408209077.post-85797917576938079632014-11-05T09:44:00.001+11:002014-11-05T09:51:27.608+11:00Crosswords online<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Just in case the plethora of crossword magazines out there isn't enough for you — "More, more!" I hear you cry! — there are vast numbers of online crossword sites. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/crosswords"><b>The Guardian</b></a></span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"> website has a huge collection of cryptic and quick crosswords, from over 30 setters. </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">They have an archive crossword search function, so you can easily locate puzzles by your favourite setter, type, or
publication date. You can also sign up for the crossword editor’s monthly
update email, and participate in discussions about each crossword in comments
below each crossword. You can either solve them online, or download print
versions to do with pencil on paper.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhumqaOnfuTuh-NVw3hfxRFfWfsB4G1GOKvHNruJx0sY2f8UnV0fF0Bsg6lQA1wRTeRID_8fnngOmzaCc_XNGE_a4efQuzPKOd4QLAJAeQlJgwKi0ufiPJh-mY1MzTnvPoTsMbOE2bfAETg/s1600/puzzle-wizard.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhumqaOnfuTuh-NVw3hfxRFfWfsB4G1GOKvHNruJx0sY2f8UnV0fF0Bsg6lQA1wRTeRID_8fnngOmzaCc_XNGE_a4efQuzPKOd4QLAJAeQlJgwKi0ufiPJh-mY1MzTnvPoTsMbOE2bfAETg/s1600/puzzle-wizard.png" height="85" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://puzzlewizard.com.au/"><b><i>The Puzzle Wizard</i></b> </a>series of magazines is </span></span>produced by the excellent independent Australian puzzle writer and publisher, Greg Parker. His<span style="font-family: inherit;"> website includes a bunch of puzzles to solve online. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">There are six crossword themes you can
choose from Straight Crosswords, Movies, AFL, Cricket, Music, and
Television. There are also <a href="http://www.puzzlewizard.com.au/crosswords/genknowledge/previous.html">100 free crosswords</a>. They require a Java plug-in to work, <a href="http://www.java.com/en/download/index.jsp">which can be downloaded here</a>, if you don't have it already.</span></div>
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If you really want to test your mettle, then <a href="http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/puzzles/"><b><i>The Times</i></b></a> is the place to go. This is a subscription service, via their <a href="https://www.crosswordclub.co.uk/auth/login">Crossword Club</a>, and includes the famous (infamous?) Times Cryptic, as well as quick crosswords, codewords, sudoku, and bridge and chess problems.</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><a href="http://www.mirror.co.uk/play/crosswords/"><b>The Mirror Online</b></a></i> is a UK site, with a whole lot of free crosswords. The cryptic is of an easy level, and there are also quick and quiz crosswords to try.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.puzzlerscave.com/"><b><i>Puzzlers’ Cave </i></b></a>has free quick, cryptic and themed crosswords, which are British-style. The site also has free Sudoku puzzles. Puzzles are submitted by Puzzlers’ Cave members (ie amateur setters). Membership is free. You can also use the site’s Crossword Compilation software to create your own crosswords — the basic software is free to download, while the professional edition costs about £25 (Windows only).<br />
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If you like rude cryptics (and who doesn't?), then <a href="http://www.private-eye.co.uk/sections.php?section_link=crossword"><b><i>The Private Eye </i></b>cryptic crossword</a> is for you! This is a very UK-centric cryptic, with plenty of politicians' names etc, you have been warned. My <i>goodness</i> it's rude. This is the link <i>everyone's</i> going to click on, isn't it.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6OZwHlstBG5a3a9wK3Mjrnfc1SLFFX97mgMmfa_QJrp6H99QgCkc5b8_QZwrtnNm8QHytfTXZie-IHZnCOlWYuCgovfU51gHV5Vxk-vClGnRcNXaP1_KsW6sZKb0c_lhuvuSq0rPddBIf/s1600/codeword.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6OZwHlstBG5a3a9wK3Mjrnfc1SLFFX97mgMmfa_QJrp6H99QgCkc5b8_QZwrtnNm8QHytfTXZie-IHZnCOlWYuCgovfU51gHV5Vxk-vClGnRcNXaP1_KsW6sZKb0c_lhuvuSq0rPddBIf/s1600/codeword.png" /></a><b><i><a href="http://cluedetectivepuzzlesonline.com/">The Clue Detective Puzzle Agency</a> </i></b>is an Australian subscription site, with an annual membership fee. There is a huge collection of online puzzles, which can also be printed, or solved on iPads etc. They include trivia quizzes, codewords, regular crosswords, general knowledge crosswords, crosswords for kids, and cryptics (my Nixie ones, only place you can find 'em).</div>
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And if that's not enough for you — "More, more!" I hear you cry! — <b style="font-family: inherit;"><i><a href="http://www.crossword-puzzles.co.uk/">Crossword Puzzles</a></i></b><span style="font-family: inherit;"> has a good (although not exhaustive) collection of links to even <b>more</b> crossword sites and resources. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Now, you can never complain about not having enough puzzles to solve! So there.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D8866963654408209077%23editor%2Ftarget%3Dpost%3BpostID%3D8579791757693807963&media=https%3A%2F%2Fimages-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com%2Fgadgets%2Fproxy%3Furl%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252F2.bp.blogspot.com%252F-TB2fP28NOZo%252FVFlTnVIX0rI%252FAAAAAAAAFa8%252FcYBtIK8PJ9g%252Fs1600%252Feotwm_logo.gif%26container%3Dblogger%26gadget%3Da%26rewriteMime%3Dimage%252F*&xm=h&xv=sa1.35&description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 26px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 378px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D8866963654408209077%23editor%2Ftarget%3Dpost%3BpostID%3D8579791757693807963&media=https%3A%2F%2Fimages-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com%2Fgadgets%2Fproxy%3Furl%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252F2.bp.blogspot.com%252F-TB2fP28NOZo%252FVFlTnVIX0rI%252FAAAAAAAAFa8%252FcYBtIK8PJ9g%252Fs1600%252Feotwm_logo.gif%26container%3Dblogger%26gadget%3Da%26rewriteMime%3Dimage%252F*&xm=h&xv=sa1.35&description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 26px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 378px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D8866963654408209077%23editor%2Ftarget%3Dpost%3BpostID%3D8579791757693807963&media=https%3A%2F%2Fimages-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com%2Fgadgets%2Fproxy%3Furl%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252F2.bp.blogspot.com%252F-TB2fP28NOZo%252FVFlTnVIX0rI%252FAAAAAAAAFa8%252FcYBtIK8PJ9g%252Fs1600%252Feotwm_logo.gif%26container%3Dblogger%26gadget%3Da%26rewriteMime%3Dimage%252F*&xm=h&xv=sa1.35&description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 26px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 378px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D8866963654408209077%23editor%2Ftarget%3Dpost%3BpostID%3D8579791757693807963&media=https%3A%2F%2Fimages-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com%2Fgadgets%2Fproxy%3Furl%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252F2.bp.blogspot.com%252F-TB2fP28NOZo%252FVFlTnVIX0rI%252FAAAAAAAAFa8%252FcYBtIK8PJ9g%252Fs1600%252Feotwm_logo.gif%26container%3Dblogger%26gadget%3Da%26rewriteMime%3Dimage%252F*&xm=h&xv=sa1.35&description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 26px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 378px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a>Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16137577463781242181noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8866963654408209077.post-79330969803905132922014-10-02T12:16:00.000+10:002014-10-02T12:21:35.158+10:00Silly definitions A-MI don't quite know where the last seven weeks disappeared to, seem to have lost my blogging mojo for a bit there.<br />
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Anyway ... I thought it would be fun to share with you some of the very silly definitions from my friend Troy Simpson's book, <a href="http://www.writersandebooks.com/bookshop/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=62"><i>The Funny Dictionary</i></a>. These definitions have come from student essays, which Troy heroically trawled through. I did these few illustrations for the book.<br />
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<b>A la carte</b>: When you can have all the desserts that's on the trolley<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyS_H6CyDbDhDkr0Bza2ZQxDenAMRYEEa9JIqMN2F2-RNZLkNBB0ldbbG5L9Krg74Q2nuw3kv389v33Zer-ayNgriGMVmM4N10C3MCy0dwQa8s_xSn1d7IpobGtgt0z6ETyebPkzlxAiHD/s1600/ampersand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Ampersand illustration" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyS_H6CyDbDhDkr0Bza2ZQxDenAMRYEEa9JIqMN2F2-RNZLkNBB0ldbbG5L9Krg74Q2nuw3kv389v33Zer-ayNgriGMVmM4N10C3MCy0dwQa8s_xSn1d7IpobGtgt0z6ETyebPkzlxAiHD/s1600/ampersand.jpg" height="209" title="Puzzling: The Funny Dictionary A-M" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b style="text-align: start;">Ampersand</b><span style="text-align: start;">: A special kind of sand used in electricity</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Ave Domine</b>: 'Lord, I am a bird.' [my favourite]<br />
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<b>Barber</b>: The opposite of heiress<br />
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<b>Botulism</b>: A close study of plants<br />
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<b>Caterer</b>: Someone who minds your cat<br />
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<b>Circular Argument</b>: Presiding at a board meeting<br />
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<b>Coup de Grâce</b>: A lawn mower<br />
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<b>Cynic</b>: Someone who refuses to believe in fairy tales<br />
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<b>Decimal</b>: A fraction with a point<br />
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<b>Democracy</b>: Government by demons<br />
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<b>Diabolic</b>: Having diabetes<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ja2aTMVxZAQ9mhMtuI7yxRpc-YNGpCAybwWbSgdWpAq0LnoFVOzev5kCaZuYtpXDS78mVX3-JgDz0GQgA7N03DMiknMw7WOyJpnSBaTahu2uTA_6ZAP6zEsklsuBGtvlA0u4O9dED6Kq/s1600/rooster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Banter illustration" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ja2aTMVxZAQ9mhMtuI7yxRpc-YNGpCAybwWbSgdWpAq0LnoFVOzev5kCaZuYtpXDS78mVX3-JgDz0GQgA7N03DMiknMw7WOyJpnSBaTahu2uTA_6ZAP6zEsklsuBGtvlA0u4O9dED6Kq/s1600/rooster.jpg" height="290" title="Puzzling: The Funny Dictionary A-M" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b style="text-align: start;">Banter:</b><span style="text-align: start;"> a small rooster</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Dogma</b>: The mother of puppies<br />
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<b>Dolt</b>: Grown-up person<br />
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<b>Emu</b>: The name of the noise made by a cat<br />
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<b>Equestrian</b>: One who asks questions<br />
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<b>Etymologist</b>: A man who catches butterflies and stuffs them<br />
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<b>Fetish</b>: People who enjoy going to fetes<br />
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<b>Fiction</b>:<b> </b>Those books that are fixed on the shelves and are not to be moved; non-fiction are not fixed and may be moved at will<br />
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<b>Filet Mignon</b>: An opera by Puccini<br />
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<b>Giraffe</b>: The highest form of life<br />
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<b>Grammar</b>: An important part of languish<br />
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<b>Grizzly</b>: A bear that grizzles all day<br />
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<b>H<span style="font-size: xx-small;">2</span>O</b>: H I J K L M N O (this is actually the basis of a famous cryptic clue, too!)<br />
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<b>Hooligan</b>: A polygon with seven sides<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgASP9amxHw1VC1-wh8DVKpcWppltmH3xCnwlmsHyZm3yCjWFlT8N3ahjDZefD83TX5Y2j61lQv7NHS0M3jAMm98PZ9Mc_LTw8vefa_btPP867p_lHv-WVRAynP1_TIxiCo1T8bRFdCujH3/s1600/astronaut.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Argonaut illustration" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgASP9amxHw1VC1-wh8DVKpcWppltmH3xCnwlmsHyZm3yCjWFlT8N3ahjDZefD83TX5Y2j61lQv7NHS0M3jAMm98PZ9Mc_LTw8vefa_btPP867p_lHv-WVRAynP1_TIxiCo1T8bRFdCujH3/s1600/astronaut.jpg" height="320" title="Puzzling: The Funny Dictionary A-M" width="253" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b style="text-align: start;">Argonaut</b><span style="text-align: start;">: A man who goes up in a spaceship</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Himalayas</b>: Very lofty and steep mountains, and about five times the length of Earlsfield Road<br />
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<b>Ignorant</b>: Not knowing what to say when your teacher asks you something silly<br />
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<b>Import</b>: A port very far inland<br />
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<b>Indigo</b>: Like vertigo, only deep blue<br />
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<b>Jigsaws</b>: What people in Japan ride in<br />
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<b>Ladies</b>: The plural possessive of gentlemen<br />
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<b>Lent</b>: A dull time that we deliberately make even duller<br />
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<b>Lunatic</b>: From <i>luna </i>meaning<i> moon, </i>and<i> attic, </i>meaning<i> top story</i><br />
<i></i><br />
<i></i>
<b>Macaroons</b>: A type of sprgety [sic!]<br />
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<b>Mangoes</b>: Wherever woman goes<br />
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<b>Microbe</b>: A robe that mics wear<br />
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<b>Milky Way: </b>The way you feed infants<br />
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<b>Misery</b>: Someone who travels to remote places to convert savages into Christians<br />
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<b>Monotony</b>: Having only one wife or husband<br />
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<b>Mother-in-law</b>: Part of marriage that cannot be escaped, like the bride<br />
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<b>Multitude</b>: What you get when you multiply<br />
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....<br />
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I'll post Part 2 soon!Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16137577463781242181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8866963654408209077.post-1940967879449218242014-08-15T16:20:00.000+10:002014-08-18T14:59:29.012+10:00The Care and Feeding of IndexersWe indexers are a hardy species. We are almost all self-employed, which means we're good at working alone, and are self-motivated and organised. We work long hours when an indexing job comes in, including nights and weekends, to meet publishers' and authors' deadlines. We love our work.<br />
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But despite this hardiness, we do need some care. We are still human. We can't work miracles. The following list addresses frequent grievances, and ways you can look after your indexers better.<br />
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<b>1. We need you now!</b><br />
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Don't contact us for a quote, and then expect us to be available that week. Many of us have work booked in advance, for months. We need advance notice.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8m2MyciqmKLJm-sAMRpteblEqsiCZ-EnwZskqMEBjy2jVdoWbHS80MWcNtyBuO33PTobohO3VhxFEpakp2fPcz21W8tSuvfzVJ85DUWt-tDgfJJD4vY_TRmvATL3GphoE29VB1OWXHCgp/s1600/indexer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="An exasperated indexer" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8m2MyciqmKLJm-sAMRpteblEqsiCZ-EnwZskqMEBjy2jVdoWbHS80MWcNtyBuO33PTobohO3VhxFEpakp2fPcz21W8tSuvfzVJ85DUWt-tDgfJJD4vY_TRmvATL3GphoE29VB1OWXHCgp/s1600/indexer.jpg" height="400" title="Puzzling: The Care and Feeding of Indexers" width="306" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An exasperated indexer (me). We're pretty low key</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>2. It's going to be late ...</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
When you give us a deadline for the delivery of a manuscript, we book it in to our work calendars. We often have many projects coming in, one after the other, and we schedule them accordingly.<br />
<br />
When you run late with delivery, it puts our whole work schedule out, and it affects other indexes, and other things we are committed to, not to mention our stress levels.<br />
<br />
We understand that schedules slip on book projects — we see it all the time, and many of us build a bit of 'slip time' into our schedules. So if your manuscript is running late, <i>pleeeease</i> let us know right away, so we can juggle our other projects (where possible). Don't tell us on the day we're expecting the manuscript to arrive. It makes us stabby.<br />
<br />
<b>3. </b><b>... and we still need the index by the original deadline</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Delivering a manuscript late, but expecting us to deliver by the original deadline, cutting days or weeks off our schedule, is unrealistic and unreasonable.<br />
<br />
When we say an index will take us X number of days, we mean X days of <b>full on</b> intensive work. As an example, when I have an index coming in, I stock up the freezer with meals the week before, because I know I won't have the time or energy to shop or cook while I'm indexing. I eat at my desk. My family fends for itself (a frightening sight).<br />
<br />
We can't suddenly compress that time, and produce a professional index in less time. Indexing is <i>very</i> mentally taxing, and we can't do a good job if we have to index 14 hours straight, for days at a time. Brains start leaking out of ears, which makes a disgusting mess, just for starters.<br />
<br />
If your manuscript is late, ask us if we need extra time to complete the index, and work to squeeze in some flexibility into your publishing schedule — for instance, a submission time of 9 am Monday is not functionally different from 5 pm Friday in terms of office hours, but gives us many more work hours.<br />
<br />
<b>4. Hello? Hello? Is this thing on?</b><br />
<br />
During the indexing process, we will undoubtably have questions for you. On things like name variations, how you want certain topics handled, whether something in the manuscript is a typo or not, and so on. Because we have to work fast, to meet your deadline, we also need to hear back from you quickly. If we have to chase emails, and resend questions, and bug you to get responses, it's just annoying for both parties, and wastes time.<br />
<br />
And when we submit the final index to you for editing, and then the final files, please acknowledge receipt of the files. We don't like to assume that email is working, and that the files got through.<br />
<br />
<b>4. You want what?</b><br />
<br />
Ah, the brief. What you expect, and how much you're prepared to pay for it. These are often unrealistic.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>Money</b></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Expecting a long detailed index for practically no money is just not going to happen. An index can take anywhere from 20 to 50 hours to write. Not joking. Sure, some books may be simpler, and their indexes can be produced quickly. But in general you're looking at at least a few thousand dollars for a professional index. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLytyeei7ywAwspuun1M6a1bm3RraF3Fo1l7bKtytuXiGabJijeo2m0OGjS2R1CFESi_KhyYS8AqScdFr1AfYxJaijRRyzh9bcJMyjI4Ybg9HO-XqdxiOCtnzjMMvaGFUjhqiHKpbbazKJ/s1600/Good-Fast-Cheap.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Fast, Cheap, or Good" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLytyeei7ywAwspuun1M6a1bm3RraF3Fo1l7bKtytuXiGabJijeo2m0OGjS2R1CFESi_KhyYS8AqScdFr1AfYxJaijRRyzh9bcJMyjI4Ybg9HO-XqdxiOCtnzjMMvaGFUjhqiHKpbbazKJ/s1600/Good-Fast-Cheap.png" height="320" title="Puzzling: The Care and Feeding of Indexers" width="311" /></a></div>
We are always happy to adjust what we produce to your budget — a simpler, less detailed index can be written more quickly, for instance. And some indexers will give discounts to self-publishers (something I do), or to non-profit organisations and so on. Be up front about what you can afford, and we'll work out how best to provide an index within your budget. But we are professionals, doing a very skilled task, and this attracts a professional rate of payment. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>Time</b><br />
This comes under points 1 and 2 and 3 above ... but no, we can't produce a good index for a 350 page book in 3 days. Would you like some Unicorn Pie with that?</blockquote>
<br />
<b>5. <i>How</i> many pages?</b><br />
<br />
There's only so much index we can squeeze onto a page, with tiny text and double columns. Not having a reasonable number of pages set aside for the index is a constant issue for us. 'Culling' is a frequent task when editing an index.<br />
<br />
An index in a 'general audience' book needs to be around <b>4%</b> of the book length. An academic book requires up to <b>10–15%</b> of the book.<br />
<br />
So a general audience book that is 300 pages long needs at least 12 pp set aside for the index. An academic book of the same length needs more like 30–45 pages for the index. The more in-depth or "detailed" you want the index to be, the more pages it needs, and more time it takes to write.<br />
<br />
Expecting us to write a detailed index for a 300 page book in only 4 pages is not only a disservice to the book, author, and readers, but a huge headache for us. We will have to leave out all sorts of information in the index, out of necessity.<br />
<br />
In the <b>planning stages </b>of the book, please <i>please</i> <b>PLEASE </b>(bold caps — doesn't get more pleady than that) reserve a decent number of pages for the index. As a rough guide, you need 4% for a general book (4 pages of index for 100 pages of text), and around 10% for an academic title (10 pages of index for 100 pages of text).<br />
<br />
<b>6. Ch-ch-ch-changes</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Tpb7RSU98uxFEq3eX0z1tHwz5B4rWpjr7N-S4PPXlPxrjkSzB0PjpBvcU6oaZnAbVKeKiQ-MGrrp5q8gd-vZv08Q66ROakillqCe7Dh-y19uCgXdEifGemZOQZKQCN4ABNGy9EwK7aBF/s1600/edited-index.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Edited index" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Tpb7RSU98uxFEq3eX0z1tHwz5B4rWpjr7N-S4PPXlPxrjkSzB0PjpBvcU6oaZnAbVKeKiQ-MGrrp5q8gd-vZv08Q66ROakillqCe7Dh-y19uCgXdEifGemZOQZKQCN4ABNGy9EwK7aBF/s1600/edited-index.jpg" height="240" title="Puzzling: The Care and Feeding of Indexers" width="320" /></a></div>
Changes to the manuscript <i>while we're indexing it</i> are a nightmare, especially significant text changes. Adding several paragraphs, or deleting a figure, can cause shifts to where page breaks fall, and fixing this entails tedious editing of hundreds of index entries. (Whole page additions or deletions aren't so bad, as our software can make shifts to page ranges easily.)<br />
<br />
We need to work from set-in-stone <b>final</b> manuscripts. Otherwise we might be forced to<strike> kill you </strike>charge you for extra work.<br />
<br />
When we submit the final draft index to you for comments, that is not the time we want to hear things like "Oh, we want to treat all names like <i>this</i> ... with no first names, just initials." That's something we'd really rather be hearing at the <i>start</i> of indexing. We needn't have typed in all those names, and double checked their spelling. Editing them all out at the end is a waste of time, not to mention annoying.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT68yz7qzsx_HIluqUBdoNZLDzoFQQuBvzpOLj6Ts-4agbuw8o82dUYdClSUJKGcUmEl9DMmIfMx9TpOIIkACmVrbYUL-dWushUDvfSFgxTxHAV9LqivNFHpvedGQ-kgDjgVFyve-4HCOC/s1600/ASI-DTTF-index.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A sample of ebook index code" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT68yz7qzsx_HIluqUBdoNZLDzoFQQuBvzpOLj6Ts-4agbuw8o82dUYdClSUJKGcUmEl9DMmIfMx9TpOIIkACmVrbYUL-dWushUDvfSFgxTxHAV9LqivNFHpvedGQ-kgDjgVFyve-4HCOC/s1600/ASI-DTTF-index.png" height="320" title="Puzzling: The Care and Feeding of Indexers" width="315" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Code for an ebook index, from <a href="http://www.asindexing.org/wp-content/uploads/legacy/files/DTTF/ASI_DTTF_sample_index_XHTML.htm">ASI DTTF</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Please let us know your standard forms for names of people and institutions, and anything else of import, and the way you want things done, when we <i>get</i> the manuscript. There are many different standards in indexing, and lots of ways of approaching things. Don't assume we know what you're thinking.<br />
<br />
<b>7. Just no.</b><br />
<div>
<br />
Please don't give us lists of 'words to include in the index' (unless we specifically ask for them). For some indexers, this gets you black listed quick smart. We are professionals. We know what we're doing. And we know how to pick up topics and terms in a text.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>8. Ebook indexes, don't they just get generated automatically?</b><br />
<br />
No. Interactive ebook indexes are created quite differently from paper-based indexes. There is different software involved, just for starters, not to mention a different indexing process. So if you are single-sourcing to print and ebook, please talk to your indexer at the start of layout! We're all over that shit.<br />
<br />
So, if you deliver your manuscript on time, give us enough pages for the index, and enough time to write it without being in a panic, are clear in your expectations and communication, are prompt with feedback, and trust us to do a professional job, we will love you forever! And if you give us a credit on the imprint page, and send us a copy of the book once it's published, we'll even wash your dishes.<br />
<br /></div>
Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16137577463781242181noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8866963654408209077.post-16169642244835022842014-08-04T09:29:00.000+10:002014-08-08T09:15:33.354+10:00Born Bad — a wicked index<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHuxVxgn3mFkxDvj9qW0eie-U20lk5_BzzVr4_oALCIfa-SLi3ST9EA36RS-2RWACWov6fpSbJRr1XAawbjcROhtCJ-C6fljN2up03MRtAeUJI5c8hHJB5YY2U0eJTcXvVryUcH5D-zeiC/s1600/Born-Bad-cover-(print).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cover of 'Born Bad' by James Boyce" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHuxVxgn3mFkxDvj9qW0eie-U20lk5_BzzVr4_oALCIfa-SLi3ST9EA36RS-2RWACWov6fpSbJRr1XAawbjcROhtCJ-C6fljN2up03MRtAeUJI5c8hHJB5YY2U0eJTcXvVryUcH5D-zeiC/s1600/Born-Bad-cover-(print).jpg" height="320" title="Puzzling: Born Bad — a wicked index" width="208" /></a>The latest book I've indexed is <a href="http://www.blackincbooks.com/books/born-bad">Born Bad, by James Boyce</a> (Black Inc. Publishing). This is a <i>fascinating</i> book, tracing the history and impact of the idea of original sin, from its origin from St Augustine in the late 4th century, to the modern day. I highly recommend it!<br />
<br />
There were several points to make decisions about in this index (well, every index is a <i>constant</i> process of decision making, to be honest).<br />
<br />
Firstly were a bunch of medieval names, how are these treated? And the names of saints and popes?<br />
<br />
With names such as <b>Friedrich the Wise</b>, I used direct order for the entry (ie written as is, 'Friedrich the Wise'), not inverted (Wise, Friedrich the), as 'Wise' isn't a surname. The same goes for names such as <b>Julian of Norwich</b> ... 'Norwich' isn't a surname, so he appears in the index under J for Julian.<br />
<br />
With popes and saints, the way I treated these names (as there were a lot of them mentioned) was under their 'holy' names, with a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interlinear_gloss">gloss</a> after the name. For example, <b>Pope John XXII</b> becomes<b> John XXII (pope)</b>, in the index. And <b>St. Francis of Assisi</b> is indexed as <b>Francis of Assisi (saint)</b>.<br />
<br />
There is a lot of discussion in the book about the spiritual nature of babies, whether they are born sinful, or good. My favourite index entry, which highlights the absurdity of assuming that babies are evil, is <b>vipers: less hateful than
babies, 123</b> (I always try to include at least one or two cheeky entries in my indexes, if I can get away with it!)<br />
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<br /></div>
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(This points to a quote from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonathan_Edwards_(theologian)">Jonathan Edwards</a>, the influential American Congregationalist cleric)</div>
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<br /></div>
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With entries from<b> evil, sex and sexual desire, 'eaves children',</b> and <b>runaway nuns</b>, to <b>social media, guilt, free market </b>and<b> de Botton, Alain, </b>I think many people will enjoy reading this book, and learning how the idea that we were 'born bad' has influenced the development of Western civilisation over the millennia. It makes me wonder what society would be like today if Western Christianity had decided, way back in the 5th century, that we were all born <i>good?</i></div>
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Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16137577463781242181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8866963654408209077.post-6923979348488425642014-07-23T12:12:00.000+10:002014-07-23T12:28:25.767+10:00Gemini 7043Time for another Gemini analysis. This is for the Gemini cryptic #7043, which was published in <i>The Canberra Times </i>on 15 July 2014.<br />
<br />
A usual, the definition part of the clue is underlined, except for double definition and cryptic definition clues.<br />
<br />
<h3>
<b>ACROSS</b></h3>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7lIAu_RSgExydrOZA-2AhqkE3U_yCcwEW2JOYIAtq7UFw_QNJjGVn-2SZEH8-_-ne2xDbMisXJhRfl4zuPlaVFbo7_SW1w9D-zZMzO54o4tTXSd1sMY7mMMfB_sTBeqfLEdmV1_aaViex/s1600/7101749345_92dc2ae612.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Scrambled eggs" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7lIAu_RSgExydrOZA-2AhqkE3U_yCcwEW2JOYIAtq7UFw_QNJjGVn-2SZEH8-_-ne2xDbMisXJhRfl4zuPlaVFbo7_SW1w9D-zZMzO54o4tTXSd1sMY7mMMfB_sTBeqfLEdmV1_aaViex/s1600/7101749345_92dc2ae612.jpg" height="240" title="Puzzling: Gemini 7043" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="text-align: start;">Photo By </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64754510@N05/7101749345/" style="text-align: start;" target="_blank">Great British Chefs Team</a><span style="text-align: start;"> via </span><a href="http://imagefinder.co/" style="text-align: start;" target="_blank">http://imagefinder.co/</a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
1. <i><u>Eggs</u> it's nice to scramble</i> (7) = INCITES<br />
The definition is a nice confusion here — it's a verb, as in <i>egging on</i> someone, not a noun! Anagram indicated by <i>scramble</i> of <i>it's nice. </i>Ignore that apostrophe.<br />
<br />
4. <i>It's mean to the players</i> (5) = MEZZO<br />
Cryptic definition. MEZZO is a musical term meaning 'middle'. <i>Mean </i>is an average, or the middle. So MEZZO is a term that means 'middle' to musicians (<i>players</i>).<br />
<br />
7. <i><u>A stake</u> in a buoyant economy</i> (4) = ANTE<br />
Hidden word clue, indicated by <i>in. </i>You can see it in buoy<b><span style="color: #cc0000;">ant e</span></b>conomy.<br />
<br />
8. <i><u>On the edge</u> and somewhat alarming</i> (8) = MARGINAL<br />
Anagram, indicated by <i>somewhat</i>, of <i>alarming.</i><br />
<br />
10. <i><u>He draws</u> actors into trouble</i> (10) = CARTOONIST<br />
Anagram clue. <i>Actors into</i> is the anagram fodder, <i>trouble</i> is the anagram indicator. The definition is pretty broad – a lot of other people draw too!<br />
<br />
12. <i>Mafia activity produces terrible row</i> (6) = RACKET<br />
Double definition. The two definitions are <i>Mafia activity</i> and <i>terrible row </i>(as in noise).<br />
<br />
13. <i>Reason to stop flying</i> (6) = GROUND<br />
Cryptic definition — the ground is definitely a good reason to stop flying!<br />
<br />
15. <i>Agree on a definition of 24 hours and finish work</i> (4,2,1,3) = CALL IT A DAY<br />
Double definition. The definitions are separated by <i>and.</i><br />
<br />
18. <i>A collection of letters</i> (8) = ALPHABET<br />
Cryptic(ish) definition.<br />
<br />
19. <i>A mother for one who was motherless</i> (4) = ADAM<br />
Biblical cryptic definition. Refers to Eve being created from Adam's rib.<br />
<br />
20. <i>Not an irreversible belief</i> (5) = TENET<br />
Palindromic cryptic definition. Nice double negative in there —<i>not an irreversible</i> means that it <b>is</b> reversible! Could be &lit, I think ... as a TENET is a main principle, so I think it would be fair to say it's <i>not an irreversible belief</i>, as the definition. Reading the clue again literally provides the definition, in addition to reading it as wordplay.<br />
<br />
21. <i>Review on thug's <u>weapon</u></i> (7) = SHOTGUN<br />
Anagram of <i>on thug's</i>, indicated by <i>review.</i><br />
<br />
<h3>
<b>DOWN</b></h3>
<br />
1. <i>Is a short account for <u>a patriarch</u></i> (5) = ISAAC<br />
Charade clue. <i>Is a</i>= IS A (in the clear!) + AC (<i>short account</i>). You need a little Biblical knowledge to get this one.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVs74_UhHgWsaG-YCZHtnHqbJw1jpnjSURnP_eRDPzMtXvjYtDNJdfe7LkhzXVRWvJclY40zFwPm6Yomqn254dOUn6wpU5o8T-mO-BO6a3Syfxr9LD5G4gk3HMzb20M5rvidsgXpoM5_Tb/s1600/14583344953_5a341c475e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVs74_UhHgWsaG-YCZHtnHqbJw1jpnjSURnP_eRDPzMtXvjYtDNJdfe7LkhzXVRWvJclY40zFwPm6Yomqn254dOUn6wpU5o8T-mO-BO6a3Syfxr9LD5G4gk3HMzb20M5rvidsgXpoM5_Tb/s1600/14583344953_5a341c475e.jpg" height="202" title="Puzzling: Gemini 7043" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo By <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/117574016@N08/14583344953/" target="_blank">Dina Eric</a> via <a href="http://imagefinder.co/" target="_blank">http://imagefinder.co/</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
2. <i>Producer of thick spray that reduces visibilit</i>y (8) = CATARACT<br />
Double definition — a cataract is a waterfall (which produces water spray), and an eye condition that reduces visibility.<br />
<br />
3. <i><u>Yields</u> a chessman on board</i> (6) = SPAWNS<br />
Container clue. <i>A chessman</i> = PAWN is put <i>on</i> (inside) of SS (<i>on board</i> a ship).<br />
<br />
4.<i> One who is just sitting on a bench</i> (10) = MAGISTRATE<br />
Cryptic definition. <i>Just </i>means fair / objective here, and the <i>bench</i> refers to the law court.<br />
<br />
5. <i>Something final to any <u>buffoon</u></i> (4) = ZANY<br />
Charade clue. <i>Something final</i>= Z (the final letter of the alphabet) + <i>any</i>(in the clear). A <i>buffoon</i> is a noun, and modern usage of ZANY is as an adjective. But there is a historical definition of zany meaning a zany person. So it's an unusual definition.<br />
<br />
6. <i>Did favours when compelled?</i> (7) = OBLIGED<br />
Double definition, with very similar definitions, so I think this is a poor clue. These two definitions come under the same headword and have the same etymology.<br />
<br />
9. <i>Very different from divorces in Warsaw?</i> (5,5) = POLES APART<br />
Double definition, with a coined meaning from <i>divorces in Warsaw.</i><br />
<br />
11. <i>An animal looking for his master</i> (5,3) = GUIDE DOG<br />
Clever cryptic definition! Actual meaning is an animal <i>seeing</i> for his master.<br />
<br />
12. <i>Run into some of the <u>defence</u></i> (7) = RAMPART<br />
Charade clue. <i>Run into </i>= RAM + <i>some of</i> = PART<br />
<br />
14. <i>Is inactive in retirement?</i> (6) = SLEEPS<br />
Cryptic definition. Retiring for the night, not retiring from work.<br />
<br />
16. <i>Potential enemy <u>country</u></i> (5) = YEMEN<br />
Anagram of <i>enemy, </i>indicated by <i>potential.</i><br />
<br />
17. <i><u>Twisted</u> point to a witticism</i> (4) = SPUN<br />
A charade clue. <i>Point </i>= S (south) + <i>a witticism</i> = PUN.Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16137577463781242181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8866963654408209077.post-58092102483157881422014-07-09T12:30:00.000+10:002014-07-09T12:30:34.104+10:00The Guardian interview<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyvEGiIfEkt2f9z35lv2OVBNrC07NBz0TZTNEDaTROeEUXBwz_m6P51czI8HCemrOKodOQZHRBgIT_hDFcwrPlCFY3t3AhEgJrkYQiWGN0jAJoHI_lfLpNckv17i_gHiZWPWIXK2F2xvq4/s1600/Guardian-Crossword-Blog.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Screen shot of The Guardian Crossword Blog" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyvEGiIfEkt2f9z35lv2OVBNrC07NBz0TZTNEDaTROeEUXBwz_m6P51czI8HCemrOKodOQZHRBgIT_hDFcwrPlCFY3t3AhEgJrkYQiWGN0jAJoHI_lfLpNckv17i_gHiZWPWIXK2F2xvq4/s1600/Guardian-Crossword-Blog.png" height="400" title="Puzzling: Guardian Crossword Blog interview" width="383" /></a></div>
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I'm very excited to announce <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/crossword-blog/2014/jul/07/cryptic-crossword-app-blog-iphone">my interview with Alan Connor,</a> from <i>The Guardian</i>'s Crossword blog. You may recall that <a href="http://alwayspuzzling.blogspot.com.au/2013/09/two-girls-one-on-each-knee.html">I indexed Alan's book, <i>Two Girls, One on Each Knee</i>, last year</a>. </div>
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<br />Alan raised the idea of interviewing me about my CrypticGuide app when I was writing his index — and it has finally come to fruition.<br />
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<a href="http://sutherland-studios.com.au/apps/crypticguide/">CrypticGuide</a> is an app that my husband and I developed over a year — it is a 'slender' cryptic dictionary, with around 7,000 cryptic definitions, abbreviations, indicator words, and homophones. It also includes an anagram solver and wildcard search.<br />
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It is very much a work in progress, with new cryptic definitions being added to the app over time. If you come across any cryptic terms in your puzzle solving, which aren't in the app, please let me know, so we can include them in future releases!<br />
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<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/artist/denise-sutherland/id568724648">CrypticGuide is available on the App Store</a>. It works on iPhones, iPods, and iPads. Unfortunately, at the moment it is only available for iOS, as an Android version involves rewriting the entire app, from massive database up ... possibly a task for later on, once my <strike>pet code monkey</strike> husband has retired from his day job?</div>
Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16137577463781242181noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8866963654408209077.post-20082658012106176902014-07-05T10:04:00.000+10:002014-07-05T10:04:00.193+10:00Code talkers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/c5/ChoctawCoders.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Navaho code talkers" border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/c5/ChoctawCoders.jpg" height="286" title="Puzzling: Code talkers" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://time.com/2823322/navajo-code-talkers/">On 4th June this year, Chester Nez (93) died</a>. He was the last of the Navaho code talkers.<br />
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In all the reading I've done on cryptography, codes, and ciphers, the story of the American Indian code talkers is my favourite.<br />
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Before we delve into their fascinating story, I need to be explain the difference between a code and a cipher.<br />
<h3>
</h3>
<h3>
Codes</h3>
A code is a mapping of a word, a short phrase, or even a whole sentence, to a single collection of symbols (words, numbers, or other symbols). They are almost impossible to break through analysis. However, unless it's a very brief code (which can be memorised), a code requires a codebook. There is simply no way to remember all of the substitutions accurately (unless you have a photographic memory!). The existence of this codebook is a security hazard, though. If the enemy gets a copy, you've had it.<br />
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Some examples of codes are:<br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">@! = the contract has been signed</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">pancake = come at once, bring syrup</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">169 = the plan is proceeding as set</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">whittle = all is lost, flee!</span><br />
<h3>
</h3>
<h3>
Ciphers</h3>
A cipher operates on individual symbols. It is an algorithm, and once the algorithm has been set, there is no need for a codebook, which is definitely a plus. But they are more prone to being cracked.<br />
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The simplest ciphers are substitution ciphers. <span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">A=1, B=2, C=3</span>, or even <span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">A=?, B=%, C=@</span>. This sort of cipher is easy to crack using <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frequency_analysis">letter frequency analysis</a> — the knowledge that in English, E is the most common letter, THE and AND and the most common 3-letter words, and so on. These ciphers are the base of most <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryptogram">cryptogram puzzles.</a><br />
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More complex ciphers have been developed, naturally, with all sorts of horrendously complicated tricks and turns. There is a whole <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryptography">cryptography</a> field, after all. But in essence, a cipher is potentially crackable.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fb/SIGABA-patent.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Diagram of the SIGABA machine" border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fb/SIGABA-patent.png" height="238" title="Puzzling: Code Talkers" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SIGABA machine</td></tr>
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The machine ciphers of the World War II were particularly difficult to crack, but with luck and the incredible skill of code breakers, it did happen. The German <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enigma_machine">Enigma machines</a> were just one type of many. The complex British <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Typex">Typex</a> and American <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sigaba">SIGABA</a> cipher machines remained unbroken throughout the war.<br />
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<h3>
Code talkers</h3>
Transmitting secure military messages during wartime, without the other side listening in, was (and still is) a major concern.<br />
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Native American languages were impenetrable to outsiders, as they had no Asian or European connections. This feature was turned into a 'codebook-free' code by the military. The invisible codebook resided in the Native Americans' native tongues. <a href="http://www.thewildwest.org/component/content/article/28.html">Code talking was pioneered by a handful of Cherokee and Choctaw Indians during WWI.</a><br />
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Many Indian tribes were recruited during both world wars — six tribal groups in WWI and 13 in WWII. The Navahos in WWII were by far the biggest group, with around 420 code talkers. The Navaho were preferred partially because no German students had infiltrated their culture after WWI, under the guise of studying their culture (as they had done with many other Indian tribes) – and therefore no outsiders had knowledge of their language.<br />
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The code talkers needed to memorise quite a lot of code words, but they would only need to memorise that A = Ant, Battleship = Whale, September = Half, and so on — because the hardest part, translating each of the code words into their native tongue, was second nature for them!<br />
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<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Navaho-enlistment-letter-page01.jpg/598px-Navaho-enlistment-letter-page01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="1942 letter about code talkers" border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Navaho-enlistment-letter-page01.jpg/598px-Navaho-enlistment-letter-page01.jpg" height="400" title="Puzzling: Code talkers" width="311" /></a><br />
Before trusting American military secrets to the Navaho code talkers, they were trialled through Navy Intelligence, to see if the top American code breakers could decipher any of the messages. They reported that the Navaho language was 'a weird succession of gutteral, nasal, tongue-twisting sounds ... we couldn't even transcribe it, much less crack it.' <span style="font-size: x-small;">(<i>The Code Book</i>, Singh, pg 196) </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
An alphabet was developed, from A for Ant in Navaho (WOL-LA-CHEE), to Z for Zinc (BESH-DO-TLIZ). There were up to three variations for the commonly used letters too — so Oil, Onion and Owl all encoded the letter O. This was instituted to stop the Japanese from being able to use frequency analysis if they realised some words were being spelt out. By cycling through variations on these common letters, any frequency analysis would be foiled.<br />
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Plenty of the words had direct translation into Navaho — so the English word 'dawn' was translated directly into the Navaho word for 'dawn' (<span style="background-color: white;">HA-YELI-KAHN). </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;">However, many terms didn't have equivalences in Navaho. To save time in spelling each word out, memorable phrases in Navaho were used instead:</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Cemetery = among devils (</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">JISH-CHA)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Tank destroyer = tortoise killer (<span style="background-color: white;">CHAY-DA-GAHI-NAIL-TSAIDI)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Subordinate = helping each other (<span style="background-color: white;">AL-KHI-NAL-DZL)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><span style="background-color: white;">Farm = fox arm (</span><span style="background-color: white;">MAI-BE-HE-AHGAN)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><span style="background-color: white;">Dispatch = dog is patch (</span><span style="background-color: white;">LA-CHAI-EN-SEIS-BE-JAY)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span>
There were special names for all the various military craft and personnel.<br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Dive Bomber = Chicken Hawk (GINI)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Battleship = Whale (LO-TSO)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Colonel = Silver Eagle (<span style="background-color: white;">ATSAH-BESH-LE-GAI)</span></span><br />
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And countries:<br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Japan = Slant Eye <span style="background-color: white;">BEH-NA-ALI-TSOSIE</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><span style="background-color: white;">Australia = Rolled Hat (after the hats worn by our Diggers) (</span><span style="background-color: white;">CHA-YES-DESI)</span></span><br />
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While their radio messages were intercepted by the enemy, they were never deciphered. A great rarity! "Lieutenant General Seizo Arisue, the Japanese chief of intelligence, admitted that, although they had broken the American Air Force code, they had failed to make any impact on the Navaho code." <span style="font-size: x-small;">(<i>The Code Book,</i> Singh, pg 201)</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.defense.gov/specials/nativeamerican01/dictionary.html">You can see the full list of the code talker's dictionary here</a> — information the Japanese and Germans would have literally killed for once upon a time! And this video is just one of many that tells more of their story:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/5rSvm3m8ZUA?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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There is a great discussion about Navaho code talkers in <a href="http://simonsingh.net/books/the-code-book/"><i>The Code Book</i> by Simon Singh</a>, if you want to discover more, and learn more about cryptography in general. There are also several books dedicated to the subject, including <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Code-Talker-Memoir-Original-Talkers/dp/0425247856">Chester Nez's personal account</a>.<br />
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<br />Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16137577463781242181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8866963654408209077.post-88692725808737573342014-07-02T09:16:00.000+10:002015-10-25T11:11:42.172+11:0025 Worst Spelling Words<!DOCTYPE html><br />
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</html>Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16137577463781242181noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8866963654408209077.post-23803628204096887502014-06-30T10:32:00.000+10:002014-06-30T10:32:00.214+10:00Nixie Clues #4 - Answers<div style="text-align: left;">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And now for the big reveal — answers, with explanations, for the latest set of clues. The definitions are underlined.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">1. Shame about poison for </span><u style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">humans</u><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> (4,7) = HOMO SAPIENS. Anagram (indicated by about) of SHAME + POISON.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">2. Row of bushes missing first <u>side</u> (4) = EDGE. This is a deletion clue. <i>Row of bushes</i> = HEDGE. <i>Missing first</i> = remove the first letter (H). Which leaves you EDGE.</span><br />
<u style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></u>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">3. </span><u style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Citrus</u><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> Mole misbehaving in post office (6) = POMELO. An anagram, indicated by </span><i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">misbehaving</i><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">. The fodder is MOLE + PO (for </span><i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">post office</i><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">). </span><br />
<u style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></u>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">4. </span><u style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">American city</u><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">’s sample of tomahawks (5) = OMAHA. A hidden word clue, indicated by </span><i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">sample of</i><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">. It's in clear view, inside t</span><b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">omaha</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">wks.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">5. Khan plays test in</span><u style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> Uzbek capital</u><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> (8) = TASHKENT. An anagram (indicated by </span><i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">plays</i><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">) of</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">KHAN</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> + </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">TEST</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">.</span><br />
<u style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></u>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">6. </span><u style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Adhesive</u><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> from grated tapes (5) = PASTE. An anagram (</span><i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">grated</i><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">) of </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">TAPES</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">.</span><br />
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How did you get on?<br />
Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16137577463781242181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8866963654408209077.post-6994413444681193502014-06-27T09:03:00.000+10:002014-06-27T10:03:54.643+10:00Nixie Clues #4<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYUq6QZA7PfzHSQliYZKGLxPLTs7fUsd3DOQistUVzO1fEWrGjYWn-hj4JvTzNc68oVLKCYfBgS0wUpaewyow4rv_Hi2jOlxn4aVfz2l7H88Czur5xRZbA7DmyHZtct2ua0bbW9LtDb8UL/s1600/foggy-dawn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Cold foggy morning" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYUq6QZA7PfzHSQliYZKGLxPLTs7fUsd3DOQistUVzO1fEWrGjYWn-hj4JvTzNc68oVLKCYfBgS0wUpaewyow4rv_Hi2jOlxn4aVfz2l7H88Czur5xRZbA7DmyHZtct2ua0bbW9LtDb8UL/s1600/foggy-dawn.jpg" height="266" title="Puzzling: Nixie Cryptic Clues #4" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image courtesy of dan | FreeDigitalPhotos.net</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">I've finally got a new set of (easy) cryptic clues for you to solve. Just the thing for a chilly winter's day. So get a cup of hot <insert favourite hot beverage name here>, and a pen, and let me know how you get on!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
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<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Shame about poison for humans (4,7)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Row of bushes missing first side (4)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Citrus Mole misbehaving in post office (6)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">American city’s sample of tomahawks (5)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Khan plays test in Uzbek capital (8)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Adhesive from grated tapes (5)</span></li>
</ol>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I will post the answers, with explanations, on Monday morning. Please don't give away the answers in your comments, just say 'I got it!' or similar — thanks :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16137577463781242181noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8866963654408209077.post-57257391206983974522014-06-23T15:11:00.001+10:002020-04-24T14:17:05.492+10:00The dawn of jigsaw puzzles<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEuviUE1wiP3ZBYIe9O1pnHa0RiL5XfgES0yPcWsZM377t6UgyGwjoC72VisAtPSHuwl0eIFShWwS9JVdnNAAy1AFtktqCxJ7V30X_Yy58JDhsJBla1jxNg0aDrxpWpagFvF31B5-pdeq5/s1600/jigsaw-puzzle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Jigsaw puzzle pieces" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEuviUE1wiP3ZBYIe9O1pnHa0RiL5XfgES0yPcWsZM377t6UgyGwjoC72VisAtPSHuwl0eIFShWwS9JVdnNAAy1AFtktqCxJ7V30X_Yy58JDhsJBla1jxNg0aDrxpWpagFvF31B5-pdeq5/s1600/jigsaw-puzzle.jpg" title="Puzzling: The dawn of jigsaw puzzles" width="400" /></a></div>
I don't know about you — but there's only so many words I can take. I wrote <i>Word Searches For Dummies</i> on a challenging deadline. (Actually — let's face it, <i>all</i> my Dummies books were written on 'challenging deadlines'. Hmmm.) My brain was getting a bit melty from all the words ... but jigsaws saved me. I kept a jigsaw next to my computer, and took regular short breaks to work on it.<br />
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It got me out of my chair, away from the screen, and thinking of something other than word searches. A bit of visual fun and thinking, rather than endless wordy stuff. I got through at least three large jigsaws while writing the book, including an almost impossible one of <a href="http://www.mcescher.com/gallery/back-in-holland/relativity/">Escher's <i>Relativity</i> drawing</a>.<br />
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Nowadays there are squillions (it is <i>so</i> a word) of jigsaws. They may have a few simple pieces or <a href="http://www.worldslargestpuzzle.com/">multi-thousand pieces</a>. 3D shaped puzzles. Jigsaws without straight edge pieces. Jigsaws with 'extra pieces'. Double sided jigsaws. Online jigsaws. <a href="https://mymodernmet.com/all-white-jigsaw-puzzle/">All white jigsaws</a>! How did we get to this alarming point?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc3rLGT611eOPNOdHgd_ScH6fFLkqR1eCBT-RiQ7V8yDuIRlGzljNzMe_CDmIjRD4hFvXbLMkdbrDZA2lpvyWs52kxj1bDeMXpVLwQjfj4prccd4mx4BmpngOiYAWLn8y_8009mL2NX3a3/s1600/jigsaw-lg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="First jigsaw puzzle, of the British Empire. 1766" border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc3rLGT611eOPNOdHgd_ScH6fFLkqR1eCBT-RiQ7V8yDuIRlGzljNzMe_CDmIjRD4hFvXbLMkdbrDZA2lpvyWs52kxj1bDeMXpVLwQjfj4prccd4mx4BmpngOiYAWLn8y_8009mL2NX3a3/s320/jigsaw-lg.jpg" title="Puzzling: The dawn of jigsaw puzzles" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The first jigsaw puzzle<br />
by John Spilsbury 1766<br />
<a href="https://www.bl.uk/collection-items/jigsaw-puzzle-map-of-europe">British Library</a><br />
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People have, naturally, been playing around with images for thousands of years, and mosaic art could possibly be seen as a type of early jigsaw.<br />
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But the first true jigsaw, where a picture is cut up with the intention of being put back together, is credited to engraver and map maker <a href="http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/search_the_collection_database/term_details.aspx?bioId=106807">John Spilsbury</a>. He started with his 'dissected map' of the British Empire around 1766. He quickly moved on to include maps of other regions. The maps were glued to wood, and pieces were cut around the shapes of the countries. These dissections were used as a teaching aid for the children from wealthy families. <a href="https://www.bl.uk/collection-items/jigsaw-puzzle-map-of-europe">You can find out more about the first jigsaw on the British Library website.</a><br />
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Sadly John died young, so his idea passed on to others to develop. The popularity of dissections grew in the 1800s. They were mostly maps, cut along country borders, with an educational focus. After 1820, the subject of dissections also moved on to religious and moral teaching for children. And around this time some more daring types started to make non-educational (<i>gasp</i>) puzzles, with scenes from fairy takes and nursery rhymes. For fun (<i>gasp</i> again).<br />
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In 1880 the treadle saw invented, and the puzzles then came to be known as jigsaws, rather than dissections. Which was admittedly a pretty uninspiring name ...<br />
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Initially all jigsaws were wooden, but eventually cardboard was used, by the late 1800s. Cardboard was a popular material once die cutters were developed (like large, complicated and excessively sharp cookie cutters). With the move to cardboard, jigsaws became more affordable to all and sundry, the 'target age' was expanded to include everyone, not just kids, and their popularity exploded:<br />
<br />
<i>New York Times</i> headline from May 1908 warns:<br />
<b><br /></b>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><a href="http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9D04E6D8143EE233A25757C2A9639C946997D6CF#"><b>NEW PUZZLE MENACES THE CITY'S SANITY</b></a>; Young and Old, Rich and Poor, All Hard at Work Fitting Cut-Up Pictures Together. SOLITAIRE IS FORGOTTEN Two Clergymen, a Supreme Court Justice, and a Noted Financier Among the Latest Converts to the Craze.</span><br />
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A lady writing to <i>The Australiasian, </i>from London in 1909 wrote "I do not fancy that the "Jigsaw" will have a lengthy life. Doubtless, it will soon be banished to the limbo of departed games, as "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabolo">diabolo</a>" was banished."<span style="font-size: x-small;">1</span><br />
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Even royalty got in on the act. The Queensland paper, <i>The Warwick Examiner and Times</i> (July 1910) reported that "The late King Edward was bitten by the craze, and was admitted to be one of the speediest puzzle solvers in England, having beaten all records by producing a complicated picture in the space of five minutes. At every house-party to which he went, the hostess made a point of having a good supply of Jig-Saws for his especial benefit."<span style="font-size: x-small;">2</span><br />
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The Golden Age of jigsaws was during the 1920s and 1930s. They were especially popular during the Depression, proving to be an inexpensive entertainment for families, that could be done by many people, pulled apart once completed, passed around, reused and shared.<br />
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In the mid-1930s manufacturers started to include a picture of the finished puzzle on the cover of the box. Jigsaw 'loaning libraries' were set up, and jigsaw parties, with prizes for the fasting solving times, were popular.<br />
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Over time, the designs of what we now think of as the 'classic' jigsaw pieces were developed. There are many sorts of puzzle shapes, though, from colour line cutting (cutting along the edges of a shape, like with the dissected maps, cutting along the edges of countries) to special figure pieces (which can be shaped like animals, people, letters, numbers, and so on). <a href="http://www.oldpuzzles.com/history-techniques-styles/earliest-use-special-techniques-making-adult-jigsaw-puzzles">This article goes into detail about the cutting techniques on old jigsaws.</a><br />
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And nowadays there are so many new designs and ways of doing jigsaws ... but that's a story for another time! But it's clear that the Lady who wrote from London in 1909, predicting a short life for these enjoyable puzzles, was way off!<br />
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If you are really into jigsaws, I can recommend reading the book <i><a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/Jigsaw-Puzzle-Anne-Williams/9780425198209">The Jigsaw Puzzle: Piecing Together a History</a></i>, by Anne D. Williams.<br />
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<h2>
<span style="font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;">1 A LADY'S LETTER FROM LONDON. (1909, May 15). The Australasian (Melbourne, Vic. : 1864 - 1946), p. 47. Retrieved June 20, 2014, from <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article139693344">http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article139693344</a></span></h2>
<h2>
<span style="font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;">
2 "JIG-SAW" PUZZLES. (1910, July 2). Warwick Examiner and Times (Qld. : 1867 - 1919), p. 2. Retrieved June 20, 2014, from <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article82296732a">http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article82296732a</a></span></h2>
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<i>Updated: 24 April 2020</i></div>
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</span> Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16137577463781242181noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8866963654408209077.post-34745956290428855462014-06-18T08:28:00.000+10:002014-07-01T09:08:33.064+10:00Gemini Cryptic 7014Here is my analysis of the Gemini Cryptic Crossword from Monday 16 June edition of <i>The Canberra Times</i>. The definition is underlined (except in cryptic definition and double definition clues).<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6UEk3IWVwpF9MNaJmOfU_Sp4Qz1pbL2ukB_FMA4RU0Ft5sSymA2PAR7t7cESn2R37MzmckN0u_VL_MTUccb7x5AJM_WSXo5nb0wIyzegnvf7aOLS0_cyjpZqJMhvMA-NKh8xniGTEinsQ/s640/blogger-image-1725615703.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cryptic crossword" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6UEk3IWVwpF9MNaJmOfU_Sp4Qz1pbL2ukB_FMA4RU0Ft5sSymA2PAR7t7cESn2R37MzmckN0u_VL_MTUccb7x5AJM_WSXo5nb0wIyzegnvf7aOLS0_cyjpZqJMhvMA-NKh8xniGTEinsQ/s640/blogger-image-1725615703.jpg" title="Gemini cryptic crossword" /></a><b>ACROSS</b><br />
<br />
1. <i>Philanthropists throwing coins in the water?</i> (4-7) WELL-WISHERS<br />
Cryptic definition.<br />
<br />
9. <i>A support this returned is <u>appropriate</u></i> (7) = APROPOS<br />
A charade clue with a reversal — A + PROP (<i>support</i>) + OS (<i>this returned</i> = SO reversed).<br />
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10. <i>A moss-strewn <u>island of Greece</u></i> (5) = SAMOS<br />
Anagram (<i>strewn</i>) of <i>a moss.</i><br />
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11. <i>Misfortunes we keep well away from</i> (4) = ILLS<br />
Cryptic definition. We keep well by staying away from ills!<br />
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12. <i><u>Agreeable</u> countryman about fifty</i> (8) = PLEASANT<br />
Container clue — PEASANT (<i>countryman</i>) gets put <i>about</i> (or around) L (<i>fifty, </i>in Roman numerals).<br />
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14. <i><u>Take</u> some back to quarters</i> (6) = ENTRAP<br />
Reversal and charade. <i>Some</i> (PART) goes <i>back</i> to become TRAP. And it also goes on the <i>back</i> of <i>quarters</i> = EN (east and north).<br />
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16. <i>Very much the opposite</i> (6) = LITTLE<br />
Cryptic definition. The opposite of <i>very much.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
18. <i>Agree to fight the <u>case</u></i> (8) = MATCHBOX<br />
Charade. <i>Agree</i> can be a verb meaning MATCH, and <i>fight</i> = BOX (also as a verb).<br />
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19. <i>Prune spruce</i> (4) = TRIM<br />
Double definition. They're not really completely different meanings of the word, though.<br />
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22. <i><u>Find answer to</u> love's torment</i> (5) = SOLVE<br />
Anagram of <i>loves</i>, indicated by <i>torment.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
23. <i>Little Sarah always gets in <u>a few</u></i> (7) = SEVERAL<br />
Container. A <i>little</i> or short version of <i>Sarah</i> = SAL (although I don't know of any Sarahs who use Sal as a nickname — I've always thought Sal as a short version of Sally. Anyway. I'm sure they exist somewhere!) So, <i>always gets in</i> means EVER is put inside SAL. SEVERAL.<br />
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24. <i>Giveaway merchants who don't want custom?</i> (4,7) = FREE TRADERS<br />
Cryptic definition.<br />
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<br />
<b>DOWN</b><br />
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2. <i>Record membership</i> (5) = ENROL<br />
Double definition, of sorts.<br />
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3. <i>They may part with a smile</i> (4) = LIPS<br />
Cryptic definition.<br />
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4. <i><u>Offence</u> committed in sunlit setting</i> (6) = INSULT<br />
Anagram of <i>sunlit</i>, indicated by <i>setting.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
5. <i>I can ship out <u>from Spain</u></i> (8) = HISPANIC<br />
Anagram of <i>I can ship</i>, indicated by <i>out.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
6. <i><u>Fierce</u> sheep starts to breathe heavily</i> (7) = RAMPANT<br />
Charade. RAM = <i>sheep</i>, and PANT = <i>starts to breathe heavily.</i><br />
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7. <i>For him it's mostly filling in time at work</i> (11) = TAXIDERMIST<br />
Cryptic definition. These can be hard to get until you have more letters filled in, in the grid.<br />
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8. <i>Mother sails out in <u>signs of similar weather</u></i> (11) = ISOTHERMALS<br />
Anagram of <i>mother sails</i>, indicated by <i>out.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
13. <i><u>Fabric</u> obtained for ready money only</i> (8) = CASHMERE<br />
Charade. CASH (<i>ready money</i>) + MERE (<i>only</i>).<br />
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15. <i>In France you change later for <u>protection</u></i> (7) = TUTELAR<br />
Charade + anagram. <i>You, in France</i> = TU. An anagram of <i>later</i> (indicated by <i>change</i>) = TELAR. I wasn't familiar with this word: TUTELAR is an adjective meaning 'serving as a protector, guardian or patron'. I'm not sure the form of the word <i>protection</i> is strictly correct here, as that's the noun form, and strictly speaking, it ought to be an adjective, the same as the answer.<br />
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17. <i><u>Cat</u> lands us in more trouble</i> (6) = MOUSER<br />
Container + anagram. Put <i>us</i> inside (<i>in</i>) an anagram (<i>trouble</i>) of <i>more</i>.<br />
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20. <i>Two kings embracing are <u>not seen so often</u></i> (5) = RARER<br />
Container<i>. Two kings</i> indicates two abbreviations for kings, R (Latin for king = Rex), in this case. And they're <i>embracing</i>, or going around, <i>are</i>, which is in the clear = R(ARE)R.<br />
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21. <i><u>Keen</u> to upset a singer</i> (4) = AVID<br />
Reversal. A <i>singer</i> might be a DIVA. And when <i>upset</i>, or reversed, this gives us AVID.<br />
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How did you get on?<br />
<br />Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16137577463781242181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8866963654408209077.post-47826148684981187982014-06-17T11:45:00.001+10:002014-06-18T15:15:29.073+10:00Train wreck?<br />
Well, moving house (no we haven't unpacked all the boxes yet, shut up), followed by two indexing jobs (<a href="http://www.palgrave.com/Products/title.aspx?pid=758835"><i>Income Contingent Loans</i></a>, and <i><a href="http://www.blackincbooks.com/books/born-bad">Born Bad</a></i>) in close succession kind of occupied all my attention and energy for a few months there. My apologies!<br />
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I had a train trip to Sydney in April, and was amused by this crossword in the 'in train' magazine, <i>The Link</i>.<br />
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1 Across is supposedly a 4 letter word for 'leap' ... except in the grid it's 1 Down, and there isn't a 1 Across ... and so on. I'm sure the setter was well and truly pissed off to find out the designer put the wrong grid in with the clues (or vice versa)!Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16137577463781242181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8866963654408209077.post-78900740654140129472014-03-10T08:32:00.001+11:002014-03-10T08:33:54.624+11:00Moving<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg07Tmw-5ui0Z415daIvuJVmnivBMQsuZRSqNEls8-AsX1m_ATB9Z1fnwMsPXz5wc6Pav7AcXKMoAoBIjauI5qlLkd8Nhp7vnA-WPksriyfLW377wxYrxu4enDqwGszzO0_KLs7jPD6xw9-/s1600/Petal-packed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg07Tmw-5ui0Z415daIvuJVmnivBMQsuZRSqNEls8-AsX1m_ATB9Z1fnwMsPXz5wc6Pav7AcXKMoAoBIjauI5qlLkd8Nhp7vnA-WPksriyfLW377wxYrxu4enDqwGszzO0_KLs7jPD6xw9-/s1600/Petal-packed.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
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We're in the midst of moving house, I will be back on deck eventually!</div>
Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16137577463781242181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8866963654408209077.post-19845268452056174602014-01-15T11:34:00.000+11:002014-06-18T15:16:13.002+10:00Gemini Cryptic 6860<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />It's been a while since I dissected a Gemini Cryptic; here's the first one for 2014 ...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This one appeared in the Monday 13 January issue of <i>The Canberra Times.</i> The Gemini Cryptic is a British cryptic, set by two people. <a href="http://alwayspuzzling.blogspot.com.au/2012/04/gemini-cryptic-crossword.html">More detail here.</a> </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">As ever, the definition is underlined (except in double and cryptic definition clues). </span><br />
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<h3>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9WxBG4Sag_CggK2V1wzaRnOCGfvylNVtjdRY0nCp3dqYLNKxKuehTfLNlQb8V5fZbqBaEhPHtoPpPUb-4Ug4DO4ZJGPRfIR2TflT10XaQXY-ZM6lqV5WBro8xgR3Ui3rzbhfOxrQZcAEF/s640/blogger-image--672290539.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9WxBG4Sag_CggK2V1wzaRnOCGfvylNVtjdRY0nCp3dqYLNKxKuehTfLNlQb8V5fZbqBaEhPHtoPpPUb-4Ug4DO4ZJGPRfIR2TflT10XaQXY-ZM6lqV5WBro8xgR3Ui3rzbhfOxrQZcAEF/s640/blogger-image--672290539.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><b>ACROSS</b></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">1) <i>He requires staff for the spring</i> (4-7) = POLE-VAULTER</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Cryptic definition. Nothing to do with hiring people, this guy needs a pole to spring up with!</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">9) <i><u>Vindication</u> of French miscreant</i> (7) = DEFENCE</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Charade clue. <i>Of French</i> = DE ('of' in French) + FENCE (a miscreant, as in someone who received stolen goods).</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">10) <i><u>Cool courage</u> is never shattered</i> (5) = NERVE</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Anagram (<i>shattered</i>) of <i>never.</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 17.36111068725586px;">11) <i>She's not improved by the golden touch</i> (4) = LILY</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 17.36111068725586px;">Cryptic definition. Reference to 'gild the lily' and a girl's name.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 17.36111068725586px;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 17.36111068725586px;">12) <i>In use can turn into <u>a problem</u></i><u> </u>(8) = NUISANCE</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 17.36111068725586px;">Anagram (<i>turn into</i>) of <i>in use can.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 17.36111068725586px;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 17.36111068725586px;">14) <i>A ship wreck holds nothing for <u>her</u></i> (5) = SOPHIA</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 17.36111068725586px;">Anagram (<i>wreck</i>) of <i>a ship</i> + O (<i>nothing</i>). <i>Her</i> is the definition, indicating (a little unfairly) any girl's name.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 17.36111068725586px;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 17.36111068725586px;">16) <i>It checks the growth of population</i> (6) = CENSUS</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 17.36111068725586px;">Cryptic definition. Nothing to do with prophylactics or population control, but <i>checking</i> as in recording!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 17.36111068725586px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 17.36111068725586px;">18) <i><u>Sense</u> there's agreement among rowing men</i> (8) = EYESIGHT</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 17.36111068725586px;">Container clue. </span><span style="line-height: 17.36111068725586px;">You need some knowledge of rowing as a sport to get this one! </span><span style="line-height: 17.36111068725586px;"><i>Agreement</i> inside (<i>among</i>) <i>rowing men</i> = YES in EIGHT. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 17.36111068725586px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 17.36111068725586px;">19) <i>Call used in boxing</i> (4) = RING</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 17.36111068725586px;">Double definition. Call someone on the phone, or <i>ring</i> them. And a boxing <i>ring</i>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 17.36111068725586px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 17.36111068725586px;">22) <i><u>Oft repeated</u> ceremony on the third of October</i> (5) = TRITE</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 17.36111068725586px;"><i>The third of October = </i>T. The third letter of Oc<b><span style="color: #990000;">t</span></b>ober, get it? With RITE (<i>ceremony</i>) tacked on.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 17.36111068725586px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 17.36111068725586px;">23) <i><u>Royal symbols</u> from Algeria</i> (7) = REGALIA</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 17.36111068725586px;">Anagram of <i>Algeria. </i>This clue is unfair, as there is no anagram indicator. A fairer version would be something like <i>Royal symbols from Algeria in disarray.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 17.36111068725586px;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 17.36111068725586px;">24) <i>Order for weapons now</i> (7,4) = PRESENT ARMS</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 17.36111068725586px;">Cryptic definition.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 17.36111068725586px;"><b>DOWN</b></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 17.36111068725586px;">2) <i>Refuse organic food?</i> (5) = OFFAL</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 17.36111068725586px;">Cryptic definition. <i>Refuse</i> is a noun here, meaning stuff that's thrown away, rather than the verb.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 17.36111068725586px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 17.36111068725586px;">3) <i><u>Bird</u> from another nest</i> (4) = ERNE</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 17.36111068725586px;">Hidden word, in anoth<b><span style="color: #990000;">er ne</span></b>st. A bird that mainly resides in crosswords nowadays, ERNE is a literary term for the sea eagle.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 17.36111068725586px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 17.36111068725586px;">4) <i>Place to meet after a <u>drive</u></i> (6) = AVENUE</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 17.36111068725586px;">Charade clue. VENUE (<i>place to meet</i>) after A.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 17.36111068725586px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 17.36111068725586px;">5) <i>They call out at court?</i> (8) = LINESMEN</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 17.36111068725586px;">An apt clue to appear during the Australian Open ... cryptic definition, referring to the tennis <i>court</i>, not a legal court!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 17.36111068725586px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 17.36111068725586px;">6) Jobs for the boys? (7) = ERRANDS</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 17.36111068725586px;">Another cryptic definition. Errands being small jobs you might get boys to run for you (if you're lucky!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 17.36111068725586px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 17.36111068725586px;">7) <i><u>Young people</u> arranged to see Scotland </i>(11) = ADOLESCENTS</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 17.36111068725586px;">Anagram (<i>arranged</i>) of <i>see Scotland</i>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 17.36111068725586px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 17.36111068725586px;">8) <i>It's selected by a backer</i> (7,4) = REVERSE GEAR</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 17.36111068725586px;">Cryptic definition. Not a financial backer, but someone who is driving backwards!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 17.36111068725586px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 17.36111068725586px;">13) <i>They share an item in a geometry set</i> (8) = DIVIDERS</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 17.36111068725586px;">Double definition. People who <i>share</i> are those who divide things up. And dividers are a measuring compass, often seen in <i>geometry sets</i> at school.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 17.36111068725586px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 17.36111068725586px;">15) <i><u>PM</u> has about a thousand in support </i>(7) = PREMIER</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 17.36111068725586px;">Container clue. Put RE (<i>about</i>) + M (<i>thousand</i>) <i>in</i> PIER (<i>support</i>).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 17.36111068725586px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 17.36111068725586px;">17) <i>Greek ferry operator</i> (6) = CHARON</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 17.36111068725586px;">Slightly cryptic definition. Greek mythology. Refers to Charon, the old man who ferried souls into Hades, across the Rivers Styx and Acheron.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 17.36111068725586px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 17.36111068725586px;">20) <i>Mails sorted out for <u>the Muslim world</u></i> (5) = ISLAM</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 17.36111068725586px;">Anagram (<i>sorted out</i>) of <i>mails</i>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 17.36111068725586px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 17.36111068725586px;">21) <i><u>Site of beautiful marble mausoleum</u> in Panama graveyard</i> (4) = AGRA</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 17.36111068725586px;">This clue gets the 'longest definition' prize for this crossword! Hidden word clue, the answer is in Panam<b><span style="color: #990000;">a gra</span></b>veyard. Agra is where the Taj Mahal is located.</span></div>
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Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16137577463781242181noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8866963654408209077.post-90846250023266504052014-01-04T11:36:00.000+11:002014-01-04T11:36:54.475+11:00Centennial Winners<br />
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Happy New Year all!</h2>
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I'm pleased to announce the winners of the last cryptic clue writing competition, for the word CENTENNIAL.<br />
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<b>First prize:</b> For the hundredth time Len, nice tan job (GrizNHeph) — A lovely concise clue, with LEN NICE TAN as the anagram fodder, and <i>job</i> as the anagram indicator.<br />
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<b>Second prize:</b> Celebrate one hundred years by shaking 50 Romans in canteen (sandbox74)— an anagram of 50 Romans (L) with IN CANTEEN, indicated by <i>shaking.</i><br />
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<b>Third prize:</b> CNN late in e-broadcast, spoil 100th year anniversary (Asuquo) — an anagram of CNN LATE IN E. <i>Broadcast </i>and <i>spoil</i> could be the anagram indicators (although only one is needed).<br />
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I know that sandbox74 and Asuquo are both outside of the regions where I can gift apps, sorry people ... but you can have that peaceful inner glow and smugness of knowing you did good ;)<br />
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GrizNHeph, <a href="mailto:denise@sutherland-studios.com.au">drop me an email </a>to let me know where you live, and hopefully I can send an app to you!Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16137577463781242181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8866963654408209077.post-81264816508438158402013-12-21T14:25:00.001+11:002013-12-23T15:12:09.129+11:00Crossword Centenary!<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
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</span><b><span style="color: #990000;"><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">Today's the day!</span> </i></span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
One hundred years ago, on 21 December 1913, Arthur Wynne published the first crossword (<a href="http://alwayspuzzling.blogspot.com.au/2013/08/the-first-crossword.html">you can try solving it here</a>!). He called it 'Wordcross' ... But a few weeks later, a typesetter made a mistake and wrote Crossword ... And we've called them that ever since! This puzzle has grown in that time to be one of the most popular puzzles around, worldwide.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4w6XK68E1I-ALZ6XMNrxhvaQyS4pkojGStCcovOkqsYlqjPRfShGnA_B_6kWZFZSJbggFMr2rMfmfW36X4_1fKLPARyLi-CribgNhd4E9fbuMslWqDu9OCSI-6He7L1G8z0Czb_oEjT6J/s1600/crossword-cake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4w6XK68E1I-ALZ6XMNrxhvaQyS4pkojGStCcovOkqsYlqjPRfShGnA_B_6kWZFZSJbggFMr2rMfmfW36X4_1fKLPARyLi-CribgNhd4E9fbuMslWqDu9OCSI-6He7L1G8z0Czb_oEjT6J/s640/crossword-cake.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
To celebrate this special occasion, Google and famous American setter Merle Reagle got together and created this <a href="https://www.google.com/logos/2013/crossword/crossword13.html">interactive crossword</a>. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And from me, here is a new cryptic clue competition for you all to enter!</span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Rule Thingies</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
1) <b>Write an anagram clue for the word CENTENNIAL</b>. Your clue has to contain a definition for CENTENNIAL, an anagram indictor, and the anagram fodder (an exact anagram of CENTENNIAL). See below for more information.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
2) Submit your clue as a comment on this post. <b>Please sign your clue with your first name or alias</b> (especially important for those of you posting Anonymously!).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
3) Submissions are limited to <b>one clue per person</b>.</span><br />
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4) Entries close on <b>Friday 3rd January 2014, at 12 pm</b> (local Canberra time, +11 GMT).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">5) The judges' decision is final.</span><br />
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<b><span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">Prizes!</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />1st, 2nd, and 3rd winners will win their choice of <a href="http://sutherland-studios.com.au/apps/index.php">one of my apps</a> ... There are limited countries I can gift these from (Apple has region restrictions on App store gifting), so I can send prizes to people in Australia, USA, and the UK. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">If you live outside these areas, you are of course welcome to enter, but I can't award prizes (apart from the everlasting fame and glory, naturally), sorry.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
<b><span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">Help for writing your anagram clue</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 18px;">Your cryptic clue will need:</span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 18px;">1) </span><b style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 18px;">A definition</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 18px;"> for CENTENNIAL — this can be as simple, as oblique, or as silly as you like. The definition needs to be at the start or end of the clue (not stuck in the middle). </span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 18px;">2) </span><b style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 18px;">An anagram (fodder)</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 18px;"> — this needs to be an exact anagram of the word CENTENNIAL — for example, 'ace lent inn' or 'nil canteen'. There are a fair few of possibilities, and it can run over 2 or 3 or even 4 words. You can use up to one abbreviation for one or two letters (so 'north' or 'noon' could = N, for example). This is called the </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 18px;">anagram fodder</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 18px;">.</span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 18px;">3) </span><b style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 18px;">An anagram indicator</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 18px;"> — this is a word that tells the reader to mix up the letters of the fodder. This can be a word like </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 18px;">doctored, edited, nervous, </i><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 18px;">or</span><i style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 18px;"> weaving.</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 18px;"> There are thousands of possibilities! Look for a word (or two or three) that matches well, and makes sense, with your fodder.</span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;" /><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">NB: </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 18px;">The anagram indicator isn't allowed to do 'double duty' - so you must</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 18px;"> </span><b style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 18px;">not</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 18px;">use your definition for</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 18px;"> </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 18px;">centennial </i><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 18px;">as the anagram indicator. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 18px;">Your clue needs to read well, like a mini phrase or sentence (not just a random assortment of words stuck together). It can be funny, surreal, or serious, whatever you like. Creativity and clue accuracy are what I will be looking for.</span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 18px;">Remember that the basic anatomy of a cryptic clue is:</span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 18px;">Wordplay + Definition = Answer</span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 18px;">or</span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 18px;">Definition + Wordplay = Answer</span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 18px;">So, the definition can't be stuck in the middle of the wordplay. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 18px;">The definition has to sit at the start or end of the clue, and not be interrupted by the wordplay.</span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 18px;">In an anagram clue, the Wordplay = the <i>fodder</i> + the anagram <i>indicator</i> (or <i>indicator + fodder</i>, or <i>some fodder + indicator + rest of the fodder</i>).</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>More help:</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
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<ul style="color: #444444; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;">
<li style="border: none; color: black; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0.25em 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You can <a href="http://www.easypeasy.com/anagrams/input.php?name=" style="color: #4d469c; text-decoration: none;">use this anagram engine</a> or <a href="http://wordsmith.org/anagram/anagram.cgi?anagram=christmas&t=1000&a=n" style="color: #4d469c; text-decoration: none;">this one</a> to help find some good ways of breaking up the word "Centennial".</span></li>
<li style="border: none; color: black; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0.25em 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There is<a href="http://sutherland-studios.com.au/puzzles/cryptic-indicators.php" style="color: #3f316d; text-decoration: none;"> a short list of anagram indicators</a> on my website.</span></li>
<li style="border: none; color: black; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0.25em 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There is <a href="http://sutherland-studios.com.au/puzzles/cryptic-abbreviations.php" style="color: #3f316d; text-decoration: none;">a short list of cryptic abbreviations</a> here, too.</span></li>
<li style="border: none; color: black; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0.25em 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This <a href="http://alwayspuzzling.blogspot.com.au/2012/04/lesson-2-anagrams.html" style="color: #4d469c; text-decoration: none;">post from this blog</a> explains the mechanics of anagram clues.</span></li>
<li style="border: none; color: black; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0.25em 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And <a href="http://alwayspuzzling.blogspot.com.au/2012/04/cryptic-clue-anatomy.html" style="color: #4d469c; text-decoration: none;">this post</a> goes into the details of how cryptic clues work in general.</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Off you go! I look forward to seeing your submissions :)
</span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
</div>
Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16137577463781242181noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8866963654408209077.post-19700887761659732552013-12-16T10:47:00.003+11:002014-06-23T15:46:42.297+10:00Murdoch is Evil Puzzle<br />
<br />
<br />
If you live in Australia, you may have noticed a bit of a media flurry in the last week about the message MURDOCH IS EVIL running backwards through a word search puzzle for kids. It appeared in the <i>Sunday Telegraph</i> — a Murdoch-owned paper! Oh my!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS4nvy1kPIrJyUkp7G7Kj0viHgu3iLsNeZennop7WB0RTc1GqOhpccWbCGdcvNSp9A_TL51leiXzkhftvAfbB70zukPUfnu_9cpTsIkcfU0nGOY39n1JwFmtoSarLMI_wUF8yzZqTzyX-D/s1600/murdochevil.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="The offending word search, in the Sunday Telegraph" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS4nvy1kPIrJyUkp7G7Kj0viHgu3iLsNeZennop7WB0RTc1GqOhpccWbCGdcvNSp9A_TL51leiXzkhftvAfbB70zukPUfnu_9cpTsIkcfU0nGOY39n1JwFmtoSarLMI_wUF8yzZqTzyX-D/s640/murdochevil.jpg" height="315" title="Puzzling: Murdoch is Evil puzzle" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image source: <a href="http://gawker.com/puzzle-writer-sneaks-murdoch-is-evil-into-murdoch-own-1480255577">Gawker.com</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This caused rather a <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=murdoch%20is%20evil&src=typd">storm on Twitter</a> and online.<br />
<br />
So — this is the big question : is this one of those accidentally created messages, like the faux pas we saw with the <a href="http://alwayspuzzling.blogspot.com.au/2013/10/unexpected-problems.html">Woolies word search a few months ago</a>?<br />
<br />
The short answer: NO.<br />
<br />
The long answer:<br />
<br />
This hidden message was put there intentionally by the setter (and personally, I'd give them a medal). Yes, it's possible for words to be accidentally created in any grid of random letters — but these are almost exclusively 3, 4, and 5 letter words (and the 5 letter words are rare, at that). This is why swear words — those infamously 'four letter words' – can easily be accidentally created in a word search grid.<br />
<br />
For a short phrase like MURDOCH IS EVIL to occur by accident, the chances are roughly 26 (number of letters in the alphabet) to the power of 13 (how many letters are in the phrase).<br />
<br />
So:<br />
<br />
1 in 26<sup>13</sup> = 1 in 2,481,152,873,203,736,576<br />
<br />
That's one chance in roughly 2.5 QUINTILLION (or TRILLION, depending on where you live).<br />
<br />
(This is a rough calculation, I've not taken into account things like the higher distribution of vowels etc, but regardless, it's basically impossible that this message would have occurred by chance.)<br />
<br />
So no. This message was <b>not</b> created accidentally! It harkens back to the <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/media/2011/jul/11/news-of-the-world-crossword">crossword lashing of Rebekah Brooks by the <i>News of the World</i> setter</a>.<br />
<br />
Subversive puzzle setters of the world unite! Well done, mate.Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16137577463781242181noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8866963654408209077.post-44158196404268730742013-12-13T14:25:00.001+11:002013-12-13T14:26:15.525+11:00Nixie Clues #3<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
<br />
<br />
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<!--StartFragment-->A new set of cryptic clues for you to try out.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><ol>
<li>Dithering
about narration topics (15)</li>
<li>Wound’s
nasty to the German editor (9)</li>
<li>Frond
cut short for meadow (3)</li>
<li>Shallots
regularly stuffed with seasoning (4)</li>
<li>One
who escapes north in ripped brocades (9)</li>
</ol>
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Let me know if you got them!</span>Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16137577463781242181noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8866963654408209077.post-21552813430235394292013-11-27T18:13:00.001+11:002013-11-27T18:18:43.054+11:00Husky Holidays<br />
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I don't have much to write about puzzle-wise today, but I'm just back from a very enjoyable week's holiday with my husband at Huskisson, a little town in <a href="http://www.jervisbaytourism.com.au/">Jervis Bay</a>. We stayed at our<a href="http://www.huskissonbnb.com.au/"> favourite B&B</a>, run by our friends Kate and Steve.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4escKUuNczagWf22Z2oMfLL4RhiKMUAb54GltVwHjKO6uu9bY0nelPdg9dA-NwhYQkS7aRS_pka5p4i8Pm_rNPbOqT46UQJ0nCX9vOfWXCWKcj2P_EO34hI_PA4xp7Pi3ff2fE994xAtz/s1600/P1030856.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4escKUuNczagWf22Z2oMfLL4RhiKMUAb54GltVwHjKO6uu9bY0nelPdg9dA-NwhYQkS7aRS_pka5p4i8Pm_rNPbOqT46UQJ0nCX9vOfWXCWKcj2P_EO34hI_PA4xp7Pi3ff2fE994xAtz/s320/P1030856.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Shark Net Beach at Huskisson is delightful, good rock pools and a great place to swim. Fossils, too!</div>
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Moona Moona Creek is one of my favourite places, wonderful padding place for kids and ridiculously timid people who don't like snorkelling in deep water (me)!</div>
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The only reason I could get this photo was the crab was dead. </div>
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<i>Zoooombieeee Crraaaaab!</i></div>
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There were, of course, many noms.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6d-4SReUueCKfq69u6PHlAdPiAA_kg7hTRePwiw9yXO9ea02KrUa5A4PVuMVbTkEGePotFpPzWy9IzXXArQyRsYQEpOv5rkTYchKb2FQQxO5L45VYBQFhvzj7O9IUKPLEtm_SQVU3JT0E/s1600/IMG_2991.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6d-4SReUueCKfq69u6PHlAdPiAA_kg7hTRePwiw9yXO9ea02KrUa5A4PVuMVbTkEGePotFpPzWy9IzXXArQyRsYQEpOv5rkTYchKb2FQQxO5L45VYBQFhvzj7O9IUKPLEtm_SQVU3JT0E/s320/IMG_2991.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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We highly recommend the Huskisson Bakery ...</div>
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One day we went out on a <a href="http://www.dolphinwatch.com.au/">Dolphin Watch cruise</a> on the bay, and saw dolphins, funnily enough! This one was riding the bow wave with the boat, fabulous to see so close up.</div>
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And the mangrove boardwalk at the <a href="http://www.ladydenman.asn.au/">Lady Denman Maritime Museum</a> was a pleasant place to wander, looking for little red-clawed crabs, and watching the birds.</div>
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And I didn't write or solve a single cryptic clue, the whole week! Although there is still some mystery surrounding the disappearance of some <a href="http://kangaroovalleyfudge.com.au/">Kangaroo Valley fudge</a> ...<br />
<br />Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16137577463781242181noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8866963654408209077.post-4120527073561314432013-11-17T17:30:00.000+11:002013-11-17T17:30:27.465+11:00Puzzle Comp<div>
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My buddy Catherine over at <a href="http://cluedetective.com/">The Clue Detective Puzzle Agency</a> runs a weekly puzzle competition via her free weekly newsletter. The prize is an annual membership, so it's well worth your while <a href="http://cluedetective.com/">heading over there and subscribing</a>. No strings attached — you've got nothing to lose!<div>
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The Clue Detective site is the only place in the world where you can access my latest Nixie cryptics regularly.</div>
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I'm heading off on a week's holiday at the coast, so will catch you all when I get back :)</div>
Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16137577463781242181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8866963654408209077.post-29998781064014376612013-11-11T08:41:00.000+11:002013-11-11T08:43:40.009+11:00Answers to Nixie Clues #2<span style="font-family: "Avenir Book"; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Answers to that last lot of clues ...</span><br />
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1) Following Albert to the side (7) = LATERAL</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Following</i> = LATER + <i>Albert</i> = AL</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />2) Romeo left weird herbalists’ institute (9) = ESTABLISH</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Romeo</i>= R. Remove R from <i>herbalists, </i>and jumble up these letters (indicated by <i>weird). Institute</i>, the definition, is a verb, not a noun.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />3) Greek character is against red Italian wine (7) = CHIANTI</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Greek character = </i>CHI + <i>is against</i> = ANTI</span><br />
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4) Flower occurs randomly (6) = CROCUS</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Anagram of <i>occurs</i></span><br />
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5) Beyond a minor role (5) = EXTRA</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Double definition clue, <i>beyond</i> what you need is extra, and an extra is someone who plays a <i>minor role</i> in a drama.</span><br />
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6) Clever and dynamic<u> </u>mediator heads off (6) = ADROIT</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Anagram with a deletion. Take the <i>heads off</i> the word <i>mediator = </i>DIATOR. Jumbled them up (in a <i>dynamic</i>) way, to get the answer!</span><br />
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How did you get on?</span>Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16137577463781242181noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8866963654408209077.post-82193906314708440982013-11-08T09:00:00.000+11:002013-11-11T08:43:25.011+11:00Nixie Clues #2<span style="font-family: "Avenir Book"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"><br /></span>
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<!--StartFragment--><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Some new clues for you to try!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1) Following Albert to the
side (7)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">2) Romeo left weird herbalists’
institute (9)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">3) Greek character is against
red Italian wine (7)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">4) Flower occurs randomly (6)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">5) Beyond a minor role (5)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">6) Clever and dynamic<u> </u>mediator
heads off (6)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />
If you'd like to get my Nixie cryptics on a regular basis, I publish a new cryptic every fortnight (2 weeks) over at the <a href="http://cluedetective.com/">Clue Detective Puzzle Agency</a>. There's a special deal on at the moment, use the code NIXIE in checkout to get a 10% discount on membership.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<!--StartFragment--><!--EndFragment-->Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16137577463781242181noreply@blogger.com4