Subject: C5-4D Results Date: 12 Jul 1998 01:32:05 GMT From: gail.koontz@quancon.com (Gail Koontz) Organization: CyberGate, Inc. Newsgroups: rec.puzzles.crosswords It's taken me a little longer than I would have liked to get this together because I was away two days last week, but here, finally, are the results. I worked at guaranteeing that reasonable words would fit around the three I added to the puzzle. Unfortunately, my choices turned out to be rather challenging to clue. There were only ten entrants, perhaps for that reason, but there are some fine clues here. It was a hard choice, but the winner is Bruce McKenzie, and he has agreed to moderate C5-4E. Doug Peterson was a very close runner-up, and Theresa Gies' clues earned an honorable mention. (By the way, Theresa said she is getting married this weekend. Best wishes, Theresa!) My comments are preceded by asterisks, as are the clues chosen for the puzzle. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------------- Word 1 - Hostile Muscovite held at 1-0 (8) Hostile - definition - INIMICAL Muscovite - MICA - refers to the mineral muscovite held at - container indicator 1-0 - I-NIL I-NI(MICA)L * This almost works, but not quite. I am assuming that "his * serve" is understood after "held." If so, this makes sense as * a comment on a tennis match. I like the Muscovite = mica * twist. Learn something new every day. Word 2 - Pleasured - I grafted - I dallied (9) Pleasured - definition - GRATIFIED I GRAFTED I - fodder dallied - anagram indicator * "Grafted" in either sense doesn't seem to fit the tone of either * "pleasured" or "dallied." Besides, I don't accept "dallied" as * an anagram indicator. It means "flirted," "toyed," or "dawdled," * none of which seem to do the trick. I could see something like * "toyed with" as an anagram indicator, but "dally" is an intransitive * verb. (There is a transitive "dally," but it's obsolete, and besides * it means "put off," which isn't any help.) Word 3 - Banter is no good at a certain time of life (8) banter - definition - BADINAGE no good - BAD at a certain time of life - IN AGE BAD+IN+AGE * Love this one! I wonder what the certain time of life is and if I've * reached it. Will I be forced to practice solemnity? ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------------- Word 1 - Unfriendly one, Mr. Coolidge, chases skirt in character reversal (8) Unfriendly = definition one = I Mr.Coolidge = CAL chases = placement skirt = MINI in character reversal = reversal indicator ('character' indicates the letters of MINI in the cryptic reading) => INIM/I/CAL * I don't think I'll ever get used to "chase" as an indicator for a * following position, even though it means "follow." If A chases * B, then A should be in front, darn it. However, I accept that it's * used that way and that the form of this clue is perfectly correct. * I found the surface slightly stilted because of the "one." Word 2 - Pleased I'd get fair treatment (9) Pleased = definition of GRATIFIED I'd get fair = anagram fodder treatment = indicator * A very nicely disguised anagram - and the phrase makes perfect * sense. Word 3 - Poor time to take in small talk (8) Poor = BAD time = AGE to take = container indicator in = IN small talk = definition of BAD(IN)AGE * I take the surface to mean that it's difficult for some reason to * understand small talk - the listener must have his mind on * something else. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------------- Word 1 - Outrageous mini with one calorie is unfavorable (8) OUTRAGEOUS - anagram indicator MINI - anagrammed to INIM WITH - link ONE CALORIE - 1 CAL -> ICAL IS - definition link UNFAVORABLE - definition of INIMICAL * My first question is, "Mini what?" "Outrageous" suggests a * miniskirt, but "one calorie" sounds more like a small bottle of * something. I'd vote for some sort of cola, but then I wonder to * whom and for what reason it is unfavorable. I think I'd prefer * "harmful" for the definition. That makes me think of a small bottle * of cola soon to be taken off the market by the FDA. Word 2 - Rhode Island fig-date combo hit the spot (9) RHODE ISLAND FIG-DATE ->RIFIGDATE COMBO - anagram indicator HIT THE SPOT - definition of GRATIFIED * They grow figs and dates in Rhode Island? I like the definition, * but the climate seems wrong. And using "Rhode Island" instead * of "RI or "R.I." makes part of the fodder for the anagram indirect. * I think that's a no-no, even though it's an easy translation. Word 3 - Ill gain in solicited teasing (8) ILL - not another anagram indicator! GAIN -> INAG IN - container indicator SOLICITED = BADE TEASING - definition of BADINAGE * I don't think I've ever heard "ill gain" before. What would one * look like? Don't the two words rather contradict each other? It's * frequently "ill gotten gain," which doesn't suit the purpose. What * would work for me here is "possible gain." I like "solicited teasing." * Young girls often solicit teasing then pretend to be annoyed by it. * (At least they did when I was one.) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------------- Word 1 - Alien joining in one outrageous claim (8) Charade/anagram alien (as an adjective) = definition of INIMICAL joining = charade indicator in = i n one = i outrageous = anagram indicator claim = anagram fodder; thus: in + i + mical * It feels like it should be "aliens joining" or "alien joining X," * where X might be "other exiles" or something similar. Word 2 - Pleased if it turns up in terrible grade (9) Anagram/reverse/container pleased = definition of GRATIFIED if it = container fodder turns up = reverse indicator in = container indicator terrible = anagram indicator grade = anagram fodder; thus: gra (tifi) ed * Would this be a ranking or a slope? Assuming the first, "turns * up" works well for the cryptic reading (since it's a down clue) * but not, I think, for the surface. I don't think that "turns up in" * can replace "results in," and that seems to be what is needed. * Something might turn up in a paper being graded, but not in the * grade itself. (It must be a rival's grade, or why would anyone * be pleased?) Word 3 - Symbol of authority wrapped in a light-hearted conversation (8) Container symbol of authority = badge wrapped = container indicator in a = i n a; thus: bad (ina) ge light-hearted conversation = definition of BADINAGE * I like the construction here, especially since it sneakily suggests * that the symbol of authority is the part being wrapped. I would have * preferred "absorbed" for the indicator. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------------- Word 1 - Unfriendly Cadillac I'm in isn't staying in reverse (8) Unfriendly = def of INIMICAL Cadillac I'm in isn't = hw fodder staying in reverse = rev hw indicator ('staying' as in 'holding') * I love the surface! However, as much as I like the use of "staying" * as a hidden word indicator, the cryptic grammar doesn't seem to * work. It really ought to be "Cadillac I'm in isn't staying unfriendly * in reverse," which doesn't work because the definition ends up in * the middle - and it doesn't make much sense either. Or maybe, "Cadillac * I'm in isn't staying in reverse - unfriendly." That makes more sense, * but provides an awkward cryptic reading, since we have to mentally put * commas or parentheses around "in reverse." Word 2 - A dirge fit to unsettle the contented (9) A dirge fit = fodder to unsettle = anagrind the contented = def of GRATIFIED * I'm not fond of the infinitive here, because it makes an awkward * cryptic reading, and the "the" is extraneous. Word 3 - Gas off in "Time" (8) Gas = def of BADINAGE off = BAD in = IN "Time" = AGE * I couldn't find "gas off" in either of my slang dictionaries, let * alone a "regular" one, but I think I've heard it used to mean "run off * at the mouth," or some such. I think I would have stuck with "Gas off * in time," meaning "Gas [turned] off in time [to prevent a disaster.]" ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------------- Word 1 - Unfriendly author ought to collect shiny mineral (8) unfriendly definition author I, the 'author' of the puzzle or the clue ought NIL ('aught','zero') to collect container signal shiny mineral MICA I + NI(MICA)L charade * Why should he? I don't really like "I" used in this manner, since * by the time I read it, the author is "him" or "her." Word 2 - Delighted to eat frigid bananas (9) delighted definition to link to cryptic eat frigid material to anagram. Hope 'eat' looks like a container. bananas anagram indicator (Frozen bananas are an interesting low-budget dessert.) * I'm delighted too! In fact, I like them better this way than fresh. * Cox and Rathvon have a discussion about the use of "to" as a * connector in _The Random House Guide to Cryptic Crosswords_. * For me it works OK in either direction, but I doubt everyone agrees * with this. Word 3 - Hopper to develop clothing commercial in jest (8) hopper BIN to develop AGE (to mature) clothing 'wrapping around', container signal commercial AD in link to definition jest definition B(AD)IN + AGE charade 'Hopper' in the surface taken as a name, perhaps Edward Hopper (1882-1967), the painter. * Good surface and reasonable construction. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------------- ** Some very nice clues from a close Runner-Up, Doug Peterson. I substituted the second clue for the winner's in the puzzle. Word 1 - Hostile leaders of Indian nations in Mexico invaded California and looted (8) Hostile - INIMICAL (defn) leaders of - acrostic indicator -->first letters = INIMICAL * Well, it certainly sounds like a piece of history. An acrostic * that works nicely. ** Word 2 - Delighted to eat frigid bananas (9) Delighted - GRATIFIED (defn) eat frigid - GRATIFIED (anagram) bananas - anag indicator * And I'm delighted too - again! How often do we get exactly the * same clue twice? Word 3 - Popular pundit loses head after nasty teasing (8) Popular - IN pundit loses head - SAGE loses S - AGE nasty - BAD IN AGE after BAD - BADINAGE teasing - BADINAGE (defn) * A smooth and meaningful surface and impeccable construction. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------------- ** A funny clue and a clever &lit. from the Winner, Bruce McKenzie. ** Word 1 - Damaging skirt returned to one silent president (8) INIM (mini rev.)+ I + CAL (ref. Calvin "Silent Cal" Coolidge) Note: I would prefer "Damaging skirt returned to _a_ speechless president? (8)" but I'm not sure whether A=I is appropriate for c5. It's listed among the permissible letter indicators in Antony Lewis's WordWeb (British), but not in Cox & Rathvon or in Fraser Simpson. And I'm not sure "speechless" isn't a little to tough. What do you think? :-) * I don't like A=I because it requires a double leap. At least * I'm assuming it's something like A=one=I. I would have liked * "speechless" just fine, expecially since the question mark would * have hinted at something a bit out of the ordinary. But if you're * going to use a question mark, why not go all the way and call * him "zipper-lipped" or something equally slangy? In any case, * I think this clue is very funny. I would say topical, but perhaps * the fictional president is actually a transvestite. Word 2 - Pleased if one is in ground (9) GRAT(IF+I)ED * Makes sense, even if we're left wondering "One what?" The surface * is a bit boring, however, and I substituted Doug Peterson's clue for * this one. ** Word 3 - Joshing and a gibe! (8) BADINAGE (and a gibe anag.) * I'll - just barely - accept "joshing" as an anagram indicator. It's * worth it to get such a neat &lit., and "josh" is a transitive verb and * so can take "and a gibe" as its object for the cryptic meaning. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------------- Word 1 - Cross eyed in mini mica layers (8) surface : mineralogist discovered evidence of twinning Cross = syn. of inimical eyed in = hidden word indicator mini mica layers = fodder mINI MICA Layers => INIMICAL * I don't agree that "cross" is a synonym for "inimical." And I * don't really understand what a mini mica layer might be. Word 2 - Movie rating approved content (9) Movie rating = G (General audiences) approved = RATIFIED content = syn. of gratified G + RATIFIED => GRATIFIED * Can a movie rating approve anything? I guess it's shorthand for * "movie rating [showed that someone] approved content." It does * make a neatly put together clue, especially with the clever use of * "content." Word 3 - Jesting isn't good, i.e. about old horse (8) surface : you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make fun of it Jesting = syn. of badinage isn't good = BAD i.e. = I E about = container indicator old horse = NAG BAD + I (NAG) E => BADINAGE * I don't much like "isn't good" for "bad," since I can't substitute * one for the other in a sentence. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------------- ** Theresa Gies gets an Honorable Mention for her fine set of clues. Word 1 - Like the enemy, I'm lying in particular when leaderless (8) For INIMICAL (type = container/deletion) Like the enemy = definition I'm = IM lying in = container indicator particular = fINICAL when leaderless = deletion indicator *I like this clue except for the punctuation. Another comma seems * to be required after "lying." I learned a new word here - I've never * seen "finical" for "finicky." Word 2 - Authorized to support program's core content (9) For GRATIFIED (type = charade) Authorized = RATIFIED to support = positioning indicator proGram's core = G content = definition * The surface seems to be about someone who has the right to * approve or disapprove of an educational TV show. I like "support" * a lot as an indicator for a down clue and, again, the double meaning * of "content." Word 3 - Superb ad in a "Geographic" features playful humor (8) For BADINAGE (type = hidden) SuperB AD IN A GEographic = fodder features = hidden word indicator playful humor = definition * "Badinage" is very well concealed in this excellent hidden * word clue. Gail Koontz Retired in my home state 836 Mallard Rd. . . . and loving it! Cocoa, FL 32926 gail.koontz@quancon.com Team OS/2 From - Sat Nov 21 17:14:03 1998 Received: from dsc001.dscie.com (mail.dsc.ie [194.125.37.252]) by irwell.zetnet.co.uk (8.8.7/8.8.5) with ESMTP id QAA20822 for ; Wed, 7 Oct 1998 16:34:06 +0100 Received: by DSC001 with Internet Mail Service (5.5.1960.3) id <4NR8AVBN>; Wed, 7 Oct 1998 16:26:40 +0100 Message-ID: From: "Lundon, James" To: Subject: CCC (306): C5-4g results Date: Wed, 7 Oct 1998 16:26:37 +0100 MIME-Version: 1.0 X-Mailer: Internet Mail Service (5.5.1960.3) Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" X-Mozilla-Status: 2001 Thanks to fyj for a copy of the results. James. ++ =================================================== Sorry this is a bit late.... There were eight entries in C5-4g and there were a number of solid clue sets. The winner is Bob Rosenberg for his fine (non-anagram) set. Doug Peterson gets the runnerup prize and a clue in the puzzle, and Jake Bergmann receives honorable mention. Thanks to all the entrants. You'll be hearing from Bob about segment h after I get the template ready. =============================================== 1. BUDGET Make a move to start a system of expenditure control (6) Charade Make a move = BUDGE to start = T (start of to) system of expenditure control = BUDGET (definition) > Blase surface which seems the fault of the very lengthy definition. 2. GREENLAND Arrive, envious at first, in northern country (9) charade arrive = LAND envious = GREEN at first = position indicator northern country = GREENLAND (definition) > Greenland isn't formally a country, but that's not critical. > Neither is using GREEN+LAND an automatic disquali- > fication. But the surface isn't superb. 3. EMINENCE Theorem in encephalitis study holds great distinction (8) Hidden word clue TheorEM IN ENCEphalitis study = hidden word container holds = hidden word indicator great distinction = EMINENCE (definition) surface: comment on a particular piece of medical research. > Medical research usually contains theories, not theorems. In any > case the extra word in the hidden word fodder spoils the clue. ================================================================ Budget Low-cost beer retrieval? (6) Charade low-cost = def. beer = Bud (as in "this Bud's for you!") retrieval = get (as in tennis); thus: bud + get > I'm not fond of 'retrieval' for 'get'. The use seems pretty limited > to me. I feel less strongly about 'beer' for 'bud' but this too > pushes the envelope. ---------------- Greenland Big island's legend ran amok (9) Anagram big island = def. 's = connector legend ran = fodder amok = anagram indicator > Nice construction --------------------- Eminence Awfully nice men acquire excellent stature (8) Anagram/charade awfully = anagram indicator nice men = fodder acquire = charade indicator excellent = e stature = def. > Adverb indicators probably should go behind the fodder, and >adjectives in front. See below for better takes on the NICEMEN+E > construction. =================================================== Mac to receive available funds? (6) 'Mac' as in 'Bud','Buster','Pal', etc. "?" for the less-than-common usage. Surface is possibly a reference to the ATM network. BUD + GET > Bud may not translate outside of the US but since I'm >inside the US it's ok with me. Word 2 Grenade explosion claims Netherlands' frozen island (9) Netherlands NL on automobile plates GREE(NL)AND (GRENADE anagram) > One little grenade sinks a whole island? Still, the construction is > unique and careful. I think on the whole that noun anagram indicators > are fair game. Word 3 Christie's latest enclosure supplies source of gold crown (8) enclosure -- 'Enc.', as in a business letter supplies -- 'fills up'; container signal source of gold = MINE Christie's is a New York art auction firm E + MIN(ENC)E > I like ENC which is common usage but I've never seen it used in a > cryptic before. The straight definition seems a bit obscure, though > possible. >A fine set and honorable mention to Jake Bergmann. ============================================================ BUDGET: Get after pal to earmark funds (6) GET after BUD (= pal) to earmark funds (= BUDGET) >Fair and succinct, if you buy the BUD=PAL bit (see above). GREENLAND: One type of fish in a thousand around northern island (9) One type of fish = EEL a thousand = GRAND northern = N so GR (EE (N) L) AND >'island' isn't a sufficient definition, but getting 'northern' > in there helps the solver out. The construction is > a double container (always a favorite of mine). The surface is > a tiny bit off; one usually says "one out of a thousand"... EMINENCE: Priority: without fail, fence to surround explosive device (8) Priority = EMINENCE without fail, fence = FENCE - F = ENCE explosive device = MINE so E (MINE) NCE > The surface is very clunky. >This set contains no anagrams which, given the clue preferences, was >nice to see. While the third word will be replaced with an >anagram after all, this is the winning entry, from Bob Rosenberg. ============================================== Complicated debug and retest ultimately less expensive (6) [charade with anagram] Complicated - anagram indicator debug - anagram fodder for BUDGE and retest ultimately - T less expensive - definition of BUDGET > Is debug a noun? Otherwise this is fine. Eric the Red's discovery perhaps, legend ran (9) [anagram] Eric the Red's discovery - definition of GREENLAND perhaps - anagram indicator legend ran - anagram fodder for GREENLAND > 'Perhaps' is a long-standing anagram indicator, but on that > account, a bit too obvious. I never understood why it was > considered a good indicator anyway. Finally taste wealth once, with no love for high position (8) [charade] Finally taste - E wealth - MINE once, with no love - NCE for - connector high position - EMINENCE > To my ear, this adverb indicator seems to belong behind the fodder too. > Complicated construction. ========================================================== --------------------------------------------- Estimate of cost and time following move (6) Estimate of cost definition time T following placement indicator move (v.) BUDGE > This is fine. --------------------------------------------- Core, keenly held, great Norse discovery (9) Core (of) "keenly" EENL held (by) container indicator great GRAND Norse discovery definition > There's a big difference between 'held' and 'held by' that is > rather skirted here. And then there's the missing 'of' --------------------------------------------- Rise to fame (8) Double definition ("rise" as a noun - as a raised bit of land) > I might be wrong about this, but whereas 'eminence' does have > 'a lofty place' (I'm paraphrasing my dictionary) as a definition > it doesn't seem to me to be referring to an actual geographic entity > like a rise of land. The place in this context is metaphorical, > like the American presidency. OK, bad example... ============================================= WORD 1 Provision parcel (6) Double definition Provision - a financial limit, a budget parcel - a budget. > A double definition, but the word meanings are for all practical > purposes identical, which doesn't make for much of a clue. WORD 2 Naive touch down here? (9) Naive = Green touch down = land (as in airplane) here? = indicates place. hence GREENLAND > I said above that 'island' was too vague a definition. Imagine > my feelings here. WORD 3 Measure odd number before church distinction (8) Measure = EM odd number = anagram of NINE = INEN before = position indicator church = CE distinction = defn. hence, EM-INEN-CE > A very indirect anagram. And the surface is baffling. ======================= BUDGET Plan to move before the end of August (6) Plan = BUDGET (defn) move = BUDGE the end of August = T BUDGE 'before' T = BUDGET >Flawless construction and surface. Plan is a very vague > for a definition. EMINENCE Reputation of nice men ruined by error (8) Reputation = EMINENCE (defn) nice men ruined = EMINENC (anagram) error = E EMINENC 'by' E = EMINENCE > Very nice. This goes in the puzzle. GREENLAND Eric the Red found this almost legendary stranger around tip of Norway (9) Eric the Red found this = GREENLAND (defn) almost legendary = LEGENDAR LEGENDAR stranger = GREENLAD (anagram) tip of Norway = N GREENLAD 'around' N = GREENLAND >I like it. >A fine entry, but it's got two anagrams in it, so it gets the runner-up award >for Doug Peterson. ================================================== Large island's central area taken up by Merry England (9) G(aREa)ENLAND (England anag) >'central area' doesn't indicate RE, as it lacks possession. Even if > it did, 'taken up' would indicate a reversal of the letters. Could > have used 'captured' to good effect here. Market ultimately follows move in economy (6) BUDGE+T > Like this very much. One of the best of the BUDGET clues. Surprisingly, nice men finally achieve high standing (8) EMINENC (nice men anag.) + E > There's that adverb indicator going before the fodder again--twice. It works > the first time, but not the second; 'finally achieve' lacks possession of the > 'E'. > A fine entry from Bruce McKenzie. ================================================ -- James A. Lundon, DSC, Ballybrit Business Park, Ballybrit, Galway, Ireland. mailto: james dot lundon at dscie dot com. phoneto: 353+91+760541. All opinions expressed here are my own, unless otherwise mis-stated. "As I've said before, it's all going to end in tears." J.A.L. From - Sat Nov 21 17:17:46 1998 Received: from dsc001.dscie.com (mail.dsc.ie [194.125.37.252]) by irwell.zetnet.co.uk (8.8.7/8.8.5) with ESMTP id QAA20822 for ; Wed, 7 Oct 1998 16:34:06 +0100 Received: by DSC001 with Internet Mail Service (5.5.1960.3) id <4NR8AVBN>; Wed, 7 Oct 1998 16:26:40 +0100 Message-ID: From: "Lundon, James" To: Subject: CCC (306): C5-4g results Date: Wed, 7 Oct 1998 16:26:37 +0100 MIME-Version: 1.0 X-Mailer: Internet Mail Service (5.5.1960.3) Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" X-Mozilla-Status: 2001 Thanks to fyj for a copy of the results. James. ++ =================================================== Sorry this is a bit late.... There were eight entries in C5-4g and there were a number of solid clue sets. The winner is Bob Rosenberg for his fine (non-anagram) set. Doug Peterson gets the runnerup prize and a clue in the puzzle, and Jake Bergmann receives honorable mention. Thanks to all the entrants. You'll be hearing from Bob about segment h after I get the template ready. =============================================== 1. BUDGET Make a move to start a system of expenditure control (6) Charade Make a move = BUDGE to start = T (start of to) system of expenditure control = BUDGET (definition) > Blase surface which seems the fault of the very lengthy definition. 2. GREENLAND Arrive, envious at first, in northern country (9) charade arrive = LAND envious = GREEN at first = position indicator northern country = GREENLAND (definition) > Greenland isn't formally a country, but that's not critical. > Neither is using GREEN+LAND an automatic disquali- > fication. But the surface isn't superb. 3. EMINENCE Theorem in encephalitis study holds great distinction (8) Hidden word clue TheorEM IN ENCEphalitis study = hidden word container holds = hidden word indicator great distinction = EMINENCE (definition) surface: comment on a particular piece of medical research. > Medical research usually contains theories, not theorems. In any > case the extra word in the hidden word fodder spoils the clue. ================================================================ Budget Low-cost beer retrieval? (6) Charade low-cost = def. beer = Bud (as in "this Bud's for you!") retrieval = get (as in tennis); thus: bud + get > I'm not fond of 'retrieval' for 'get'. The use seems pretty limited > to me. I feel less strongly about 'beer' for 'bud' but this too > pushes the envelope. ---------------- Greenland Big island's legend ran amok (9) Anagram big island = def. 's = connector legend ran = fodder amok = anagram indicator > Nice construction --------------------- Eminence Awfully nice men acquire excellent stature (8) Anagram/charade awfully = anagram indicator nice men = fodder acquire = charade indicator excellent = e stature = def. > Adverb indicators probably should go behind the fodder, and >adjectives in front. See below for better takes on the NICEMEN+E > construction. =================================================== Mac to receive available funds? (6) 'Mac' as in 'Bud','Buster','Pal', etc. "?" for the less-than-common usage. Surface is possibly a reference to the ATM network. BUD + GET > Bud may not translate outside of the US but since I'm >inside the US it's ok with me. Word 2 Grenade explosion claims Netherlands' frozen island (9) Netherlands NL on automobile plates GREE(NL)AND (GRENADE anagram) > One little grenade sinks a whole island? Still, the construction is > unique and careful. I think on the whole that noun anagram indicators > are fair game. Word 3 Christie's latest enclosure supplies source of gold crown (8) enclosure -- 'Enc.', as in a business letter supplies -- 'fills up'; container signal source of gold = MINE Christie's is a New York art auction firm E + MIN(ENC)E > I like ENC which is common usage but I've never seen it used in a > cryptic before. The straight definition seems a bit obscure, though > possible. >A fine set and honorable mention to Jake Bergmann. ============================================================ BUDGET: Get after pal to earmark funds (6) GET after BUD (= pal) to earmark funds (= BUDGET) >Fair and succinct, if you buy the BUD=PAL bit (see above). GREENLAND: One type of fish in a thousand around northern island (9) One type of fish = EEL a thousand = GRAND northern = N so GR (EE (N) L) AND >'island' isn't a sufficient definition, but getting 'northern' > in there helps the solver out. The construction is > a double container (always a favorite of mine). The surface is > a tiny bit off; one usually says "one out of a thousand"... EMINENCE: Priority: without fail, fence to surround explosive device (8) Priority = EMINENCE without fail, fence = FENCE - F = ENCE explosive device = MINE so E (MINE) NCE > The surface is very clunky. >This set contains no anagrams which, given the clue preferences, was >nice to see. While the third word will be replaced with an >anagram after all, this is the winning entry, from Bob Rosenberg. ============================================== Complicated debug and retest ultimately less expensive (6) [charade with anagram] Complicated - anagram indicator debug - anagram fodder for BUDGE and retest ultimately - T less expensive - definition of BUDGET > Is debug a noun? Otherwise this is fine. Eric the Red's discovery perhaps, legend ran (9) [anagram] Eric the Red's discovery - definition of GREENLAND perhaps - anagram indicator legend ran - anagram fodder for GREENLAND > 'Perhaps' is a long-standing anagram indicator, but on that > account, a bit too obvious. I never understood why it was > considered a good indicator anyway. Finally taste wealth once, with no love for high position (8) [charade] Finally taste - E wealth - MINE once, with no love - NCE for - connector high position - EMINENCE > To my ear, this adverb indicator seems to belong behind the fodder too. > Complicated construction. ========================================================== --------------------------------------------- Estimate of cost and time following move (6) Estimate of cost definition time T following placement indicator move (v.) BUDGE > This is fine. --------------------------------------------- Core, keenly held, great Norse discovery (9) Core (of) "keenly" EENL held (by) container indicator great GRAND Norse discovery definition > There's a big difference between 'held' and 'held by' that is > rather skirted here. And then there's the missing 'of' --------------------------------------------- Rise to fame (8) Double definition ("rise" as a noun - as a raised bit of land) > I might be wrong about this, but whereas 'eminence' does have > 'a lofty place' (I'm paraphrasing my dictionary) as a definition > it doesn't seem to me to be referring to an actual geographic entity > like a rise of land. The place in this context is metaphorical, > like the American presidency. OK, bad example... ============================================= WORD 1 Provision parcel (6) Double definition Provision - a financial limit, a budget parcel - a budget. > A double definition, but the word meanings are for all practical > purposes identical, which doesn't make for much of a clue. WORD 2 Naive touch down here? (9) Naive = Green touch down = land (as in airplane) here? = indicates place. hence GREENLAND > I said above that 'island' was too vague a definition. Imagine > my feelings here. WORD 3 Measure odd number before church distinction (8) Measure = EM odd number = anagram of NINE = INEN before = position indicator church = CE distinction = defn. hence, EM-INEN-CE > A very indirect anagram. And the surface is baffling. ======================= BUDGET Plan to move before the end of August (6) Plan = BUDGET (defn) move = BUDGE the end of August = T BUDGE 'before' T = BUDGET >Flawless construction and surface. Plan is a very vague > for a definition. EMINENCE Reputation of nice men ruined by error (8) Reputation = EMINENCE (defn) nice men ruined = EMINENC (anagram) error = E EMINENC 'by' E = EMINENCE > Very nice. This goes in the puzzle. GREENLAND Eric the Red found this almost legendary stranger around tip of Norway (9) Eric the Red found this = GREENLAND (defn) almost legendary = LEGENDAR LEGENDAR stranger = GREENLAD (anagram) tip of Norway = N GREENLAD 'around' N = GREENLAND >I like it. >A fine entry, but it's got two anagrams in it, so it gets the runner-up award >for Doug Peterson. ================================================== Large island's central area taken up by Merry England (9) G(aREa)ENLAND (England anag) >'central area' doesn't indicate RE, as it lacks possession. Even if > it did, 'taken up' would indicate a reversal of the letters. Could > have used 'captured' to good effect here. Market ultimately follows move in economy (6) BUDGE+T > Like this very much. One of the best of the BUDGET clues. Surprisingly, nice men finally achieve high standing (8) EMINENC (nice men anag.) + E > There's that adverb indicator going before the fodder again--twice. It works > the first time, but not the second; 'finally achieve' lacks possession of the > 'E'. > A fine entry from Bruce McKenzie. ================================================ -- James A. Lundon, DSC, Ballybrit Business Park, Ballybrit, Galway, Ireland. mailto: james dot lundon at dscie dot com. phoneto: 353+91+760541. All opinions expressed here are my own, unless otherwise mis-stated. "As I've said before, it's all going to end in tears." J.A.L.