tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47110477071010102972024-03-05T00:26:51.142-05:00National Post Cryptic Crossword ForumA forum for solvers of cryptic crossword puzzles published in the National PostFalconhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07466858757398776500noreply@blogger.comBlogger4156125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4711047707101010297.post-46117887248043317122022-10-29T07:24:00.003-04:002022-10-29T10:41:28.971-04:00Saturday, October 29, 2022 — Turning Off The Lights<div class="bodyFontSize">
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<h2 style="line-height: 150%; padding: 25px 0px 10px;">Falcon has left the building<br /></h2>
After thirteen and a half years, it is time to shutter the windows and lock the door on this forum. Following the move by the <i>National Post</i> to cease publication of cryptic crosswords, I had considered changing the focus of the forum to <i>The Daily Telegraph</i> cryptic crossword. It was the syndicated version of this puzzle that appeared in the <i>National Post</i> on weekdays several months following its publication in the UK.<br /><br />As regular readers will know, I had scaled back the scope of my reviews of weekday puzzles over the summer, intending to resume the full reviews after Thanksgiving. That turned out to be the very moment the <i>National Post</i> dropped the bomb on cryptics. I did review a few <i>Daily Telegraph</i> puzzles in last Saturday's post. The experience of writing that post forced me to come to grips with how much time and effort go into each review. Furthermore, reviewing the DT puzzles on the day they are published in the UK would mean much tighter deadlines. With the syndicated DT puzzle in the <i>National Post</i>, I could be reasonably certain which puzzle would appear on a given date and could prepare the review several days in advance. However, now I would only have access to the puzzle at 7:00 pm the evening before its date of publication (midnight in the UK) when it is posted to the <i>Telegraph Puzzles</i> website. I would then have to solve the puzzle and write the review. While this would be the same process I follow for the reviews I write for <i>Big Dave's Crossword Blog</i>, that commitment is only one review each fortnight – not six days a week, week in and week out.<br /><br />Moreover, the DT puzzle is already well covered by <a href="http://bigdave44.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><i>Big Dave's Crossword Blog</i></a>, an excellent blog regarded by many as the best crossword blog in the world.<br /><br />I also have many other interests competing for my time, most of which have been sadly neglected due to the demands of the blog. I will now have the time to pursue them more fully.<br /><br />In conclusion, I would like to thank you, my loyal readers, for following this blog all these years. I would especially like to thank those who commented on the reviews. It was always a pleasure to read your insights and to answer your questions. Finally, I must extend a special note of appreciation to the blog's resident proof readers, Henry and MG, who diligently kept me on my toes by bringing to my attention the not uncommon errors, omissions and typos that crept into the blog.<br /><br /> Adieu — Falcon</div>Falconhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07466858757398776500noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4711047707101010297.post-65589110097638722812022-10-22T06:00:00.008-04:002022-10-22T22:46:15.861-04:00Saturday, October 22, 2022 — Welcome to the New Forum<div class="bodyFontSize"><h2 style="line-height: 150%; padding: 25px 0px 10px;">
Introduction</h2>
Welcome to the North American Daily Telegraph Cryptic Crossword Forum.<br /><br />Although the <i>National Post</i> has ceased publishing cryptic crosswords, those of us addicted to them can continue to get our daily fix direct from <i>The Daily Telegraph</i>. In addition to various subscription options offered by the newspaper itself (the online edition of the
paper, the <i>Telegraph Puzzles</i> website, as well as Android and Apple apps), <i>The Daily
Telegraph</i> is also available via PressReader which is available not only by subscription but also as a free service provided to members by
many public libraries.<br /><br />In addition to having a new name, the blog will appear once a week on Saturday instead of daily. The format will also change. Rather than review each puzzle in detail, I plan to comment on selected clues focusing on Briticisms that are likely to be unfamiliar to North American solvers. I also invite readers to request explanations for any clues they are struggling with.<br /><br />I didn't manage to include all of this weeks puzzles, running out of time before deadline.<br /><br />Leave a comment to tell what you think of the new direction and format.<br />
<h2 style="line-height: 150%; padding: 25px 0px 10px;">Statement From the <i>National Post</i><br /></h2>I am sure we were all shocked and disappointed by the demise of cryptic crosswords in the <i>National Post</i>. I also did not appreciate the replacement puzzle being described in an article published on October 15 as not "<i>the
diabolical British-style [cryptic] puzzles that include references
to Latin prefixes, obscure nymphs from Greek mythology and lines
from Milton’s Paradise Lost. This is — many will be relieved to hear
— not what is in store with the Universal daily and weekend
puzzles.</i>"
<br /><br />This prompted me to write the following to Rob Roberts, the Editor in Chief:<br /><br /><div style="margin-left: 40px;"><i>Dear Mr. Roberts,
<br />
<br />I have been a subscriber to the National Post since day one, having had
my Financial Post subscription converted to a National Post subscription
when the paper was launched. For many years I have been an avid fan of
the cryptic crosswords carried by the National Post, both the weekday
Daily Telegraph puzzle as well as the weekend Cox and Rathvon puzzle.
<br />
<br />Your decision to discontinue these features is deeply disappointing. To
add insult to injury, I found the gratuitous, disparaging remarks about
cryptic crosswords made in the article published on October 15
introducing the replacement puzzle to be extremely insulting.
<br />
<br />I have therefore cancelled my subscription.
</i><br /></div><p>
to which he replied:</p><p style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><i>Hello, thanks for your note.</i></p><p style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><i>We understand your displeasure. Those features have been very popular among our readers for a very long time, and we’ve heard from a lot of people since this change was made.</i></p><p style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><i>There were a suite of puzzle and comics changes made for financial reasons across the Postmedia Network. Each paper exchanged their own collection of offerings for a unified collection from a single provider. </i></p><p style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><i>It
saved us a lot of money. And as we transition our legacy media company to a leaner, digital-oriented company we need to find any savings we can, especially those that spare us other, more painful cuts. We hope you find new favourites among these new puzzles and features.</i></p><p style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><i>We continue to work very hard to create a newspaper you continue to find worth subscribing to. I hope you change your mind.</i></p><p style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><i> Rob
</i></p><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><i>--<br />
Rob Roberts<br />
Editor in Chief, National Post<br />
365 Bloor Street East, Toronto<br />
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:rroberts@postmedia.com">rroberts@postmedia.com</a></i>
</div>
<h2 style="line-height: 150%; padding: 25px 0px 10px;">Emily and Henry: Not <i>Adieu</i> but <i>Au Revoir</i><br /></h2>
<p>I have also been in touch with Emily and Henry who seem to have been equally blindsided by this move by the <i>National Post</i>. I am sure they will not mind if I share some of their remarks with readers:</p><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><i>We were touched by the comments attached to our last
puzzle. Are Canadians inherently kinder than we Yanks are? It’s often
seemed so to us. Again, we thank you and your readers for all the
amiably thoughtful critiques over the years.</i></div><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><i>Now
that we have some more time on our hands, we should be able to pick up
the pace on launching our own website. You’ll be among the first to hear
when it’s ready to go!</i></div><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><i>All the best,</i></div><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><i>Emily and Henry</i><br /></div><div>
<h2 style="line-height: 150%; padding: 25px 0px 10px;">
What's New At Big Dave's Crossword Blog</h2>We saw the last DT Cryptic published by the <i>National Post</i> in the Friday, October 13, 2022 edition of the paper. It was DT 30005 which had appeared in <i>The Daily Telegraph</i> on Saturday, June 4, 2022. Those of you switching your source of puzzles to <i>The Daily Telegraph</i> will find yourself at DT 30120 which was published by the DT on Monday of this week.<br />
<br />A lot happened at <i>Big Dave's Crossword Blog</i> between June and October. In late August a bit of drama occurred when a reader took exception to the tone of some comments directed toward him by Miffypops. Some senior reviewers supported the reader's position and called out Miffypops resulting in Miffypops deciding to leave the blogging team followed by a few other bloggers in sympathy with him. This occasioned a shakeup in blogging assignments.<br /><br />Expect to find pommers and myself sharing responsibility for Monday reviews, Mr K has moved to Thursday with a new blogger, Twmbarlwm, replacing him, the 2Kiwis retain their Wednesday slot, Senf has replaced Deep Threat on Friday, and crypticsue is now handling the hints on Saturday while continuing to split reviewing duty for that puzzle with Rahmat Ali.<br />
<h2 style="line-height: 150%; padding: 25px 0px 10px;">
Notes on This Week's Puzzles<br /></h2>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small; font-style: italic; line-height: 100%;"><b>The following commentary supplements reviews of these puzzle found on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, to which links are provided in the tables below.</b></span></div>
<br /><br /><table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" frame="box" rules="groups" style="border: 3px solid; color: #274e13; margin: 0px auto; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td colspan="2" style="border-right: 1px solid; text-align: center; width: 40%;">
<div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; text-align: left;">Publication date</div>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="border-right: 1px solid; text-align: center; width: 20%;">
<div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; text-align: left;">Puzzle number</div>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="text-align: center; width: 40%;">
<div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; text-align: left;">Setter</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 3px solid; border-right: 1px solid; text-align: center; width: 40%;"><span style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 110%;"><b>Monday, October 17, 2022</b></span></td>
<td colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 3px solid; border-right: 1px solid; text-align: center; width: 20%;"><span style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 110%;"><b>DT 30120</b></span></td>
<td colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 3px solid; text-align: center; width: 40%;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 110%;"><b>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Campbell (Allan Scott)</span><br />
</b></span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="2" style="border-right: 1px solid; text-align: center; width: 40%;">
<div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; text-align: left;">
Link to review</div>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="border-right: 1px solid; text-align: center; width: 20%;">
<div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; text-align: left;">
Reviewer</div>
</td>
<td colspan="1" style="text-align: center; width: 20%;">
<div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; text-align: left;">
Difficulty</div>
</td>
<td colspan="1" style="text-align: center; width: 20%;">
<div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; text-align: left;">
Enjoyment</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="2" style="border-right: 1px solid; text-align: center; width: 40%;">
<a href="http://bigdave44.com/2022/10/17/dt-30120/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 110%;"><b>DT 30120 – Review</b></span></a>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="border-right: 1px solid; text-align: center; width: 20%;">
<span style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 110%;"><b>Falcon
</b></span>
</td><td colspan="1" style="text-align: center; width: 20%;">
<span style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 110%;"><b>★★★</b></span>
</td>
<td colspan="1" style="text-align: center; width: 20%;">
<span style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 110%;"><b>★★★</b></span>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody><tbody>
</tbody></table>
<br /><br /><b>Across</b><br /><br /> <b>1a <u>Robber</u> /in/ gang, Italian (6)</b><br /><br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">IT for Italian can come from either the abbreviation <b>It.</b> (referring to the Italian language) used to describe the etymology of words in dictionary entries or an informal British name for Italian vermouth <i>"Bartender, I'll have a gin and it"</i>.<br /></div><br /><b>12a <u>Jellyfish</u> // <u>petrifying woman</u> (6)</b><br /><br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">In Greek mythology, the <b>gorgons</b><sup>[<a href="https://www.lexico.com/definition/gorgon" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>5</b></a>]</sup> were three sisters, Stheno, Euryale, and
Medusa, with snakes for hair, who had the power to turn anyone who
looked at them to stone. The only mortal gorgon was <b>Medusa</b><sup>[<a href="https://www.lexico.com/definition/medusa" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>5</b></a>]</sup> whom Perseus killed by cutting off her head.</div><br /><b>21a <u>Tension</u> /caused by/ lover hiding note (6)</b><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>
<table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" frame="box" rules="groups" style="border: 1px solid; color: #274e13; margin: 0px auto; width: 90%;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="padding: 10px;">Some Brits appear to have had trouble with this clue, likely since, in the UK, the anglicized spelling <b>me</b> for this musical note seems to be more prevalent than the Italian spelling <b>mi</b> with which we are familiar in North America.</td> </tr>
</tbody></table><b></b><br /><b>23a Daily, one's mother /makes/ <u>personal appeal</u> (8)</b><br /><br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><b>Daily</b> and <b>char</b> are British terms for a cleaning lady.<br /></div><br /><b>26a <u>Member of the clergy</u>, // American patriot, approaching North Dakota (8)</b><br /><br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><b>Paul Revere</b><sup>[<a href="https://www.dictionary.com/browse/paul-revere#collins-section" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>16B</b></a>]</sup> (1735–1818) was an American patriot and silversmith, best known for his night ride on April 18, 1775, to warn the Massachusetts colonists of the coming of the British troops.<br /></div><br /><b>Down</b><br /><br /><b> 5d Duck taken by each female // <u>thief</u> (3,4)</b><br /><br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><b>Tea leaf</b> is Cockney rhyming slang for thief.<br /></div><br />
<table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" frame="box" rules="groups" style="border: 1px solid; color: #274e13; margin: 0px auto; width: 90%;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="padding: 10px;">The word <b>duck</b> in the wordplay might mislead UK solvers who are
apt to interpret it as a cricket term. In British puzzles, "duck" is
commonly used to
indicate the letter "O" based on the resemblance of the digit "0" to
this letter. In cricket, a <b>duck</b><sup>[<a href="https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/duck" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>5</b></a>]</sup> (<i>short for</i> <b>duck's egg</b>) is a batsman’s score of nought [<i>zero</i>] ⇒<i> <q>he was out for a duck</q></i>. This is similar to the North American expression <b>goose egg</b><sup>[<a href="https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/goose_egg" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>5</b></a>]</sup>
meaning a zero score in a game.</td> </tr>
</tbody></table><b></b><br /><b> 6d <u>Snare</u> // wild ones crossing over (5)</b><br /><br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">More cricket. On cricket scorecards, the abbreviation <b>O</b><sup>[<a href="https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/o" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>5</b></a>]</sup> denotes <b>over(s)</b>, an <b>over</b><sup>[<a href="https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/over" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>5</b></a>]</sup> being a division of play consisting of a sequence of six balls bowled by a bowler from
one end of the pitch, after which another bowler takes over from the
other end.<br /></div><br /><b>15d <u>Performer</u>, // stripper, removing top after short time (3-6)</b><br /><br />
<table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" frame="box" rules="groups" style="border: 1px solid; color: #274e13; margin: 0px auto; width: 90%;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="padding: 10px;">If you peruse the comments on <i>Big Dave's Crossword Blog</i>, you will find that some readers were rather shocked by what happens in the back rooms of strip clubs.</td> </tr>
</tbody></table><b></b><br /><b>17d <u>Object</u> // the Parisian found under lorry (7)</b><br /><br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><b>Lorry</b> is the common British name for a truck. <b>Artic</b><sup>[<a href="https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/artic" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>5</b></a>]</sup> is an informal British name for an <span class="ind"> articulated lorry.</span><br /></div>
<br /><br /><table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" frame="box" rules="groups" style="border: 3px solid; color: #274e13; margin: 0px auto; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td colspan="2" style="border-right: 1px solid; text-align: center; width: 40%;">
<div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; text-align: left;">Publication date</div>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="border-right: 1px solid; text-align: center; width: 20%;">
<div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; text-align: left;">Puzzle number</div>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="text-align: center; width: 40%;">
<div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; text-align: left;">Setter</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 3px solid; border-right: 1px solid; text-align: center; width: 40%;"><span style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 110%;"><b>Tuesday, October 18, 2022</b></span></td>
<td colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 3px solid; border-right: 1px solid; text-align: center; width: 20%;"><span style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 110%;"><b>DT 30121</b></span></td>
<td colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 3px solid; text-align: center; width: 40%;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 110%;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Anthony Plumb (Unconfirmed)</span></b></span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="2" style="border-right: 1px solid; text-align: center; width: 40%;">
<div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; text-align: left;">
Link to review</div>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="border-right: 1px solid; text-align: center; width: 20%;">
<div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; text-align: left;">
Reviewer</div>
</td>
<td colspan="1" style="text-align: center; width: 20%;">
<div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; text-align: left;">
Difficulty</div>
</td>
<td colspan="1" style="text-align: center; width: 20%;">
<div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; text-align: left;">
Enjoyment</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="2" style="border-right: 1px solid; text-align: center; width: 40%;">
<a href="http://bigdave44.com/2022/10/18/dt-30121/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 110%;"><b>DT 30121 – Review</b></span></a>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="border-right: 1px solid; text-align: center; width: 20%;">
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 110%;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Twmbarlwm</span></b></span>
</td><td colspan="1" style="text-align: center; width: 20%;">
<span style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 110%;"><b>★★</b></span>
</td>
<td colspan="1" style="text-align: center; width: 20%;">
<span style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 110%;"><b>★★★★</b></span>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody><tbody>
</tbody></table>
<br /><br />
<b>Across</b><br /><br /><b> 1a <u>Athletes who get the highest</u> // value petrol annoyed with Shell initially (4-8)</b><br /><br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><b>Petrol</b> is the British term for gasoline.<br /></div><br /><b>12a Fool European maiden by holding large // <u>meeting</u> (8)</b><br /><br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">Yet another cricket term. In cricket, a <b>maiden</b><sup>[<a href="https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/maiden" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>5</b></a>]</sup>, also known as a <b>maiden over</b> and denoted on cricket scorecards by the abbreviation <b>m.</b><sup>[<a href="https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/m_1#m_1__5" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>10</b></a>]</sup>, is an <b>over</b> (<i>see Monday 6d above</i>) in which no runs are scored.<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">We also see <b>European</b> cluing the abbreviation <b>E</b> and <b>large</b> cluing <b>L</b>, a symbol designating a size of clothing.<br /></div><br /><b>13a Hard interrupting Italian novelist, editor // <u>reflected</u> (6)</b><br /><br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><b>Umberto Eco</b> (1932–2016) was an Italian novelist.</div>
<br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><b>H</b> is an abbreviation for <b>hard</b> that one would see on pencils designating its grade of lead. <br /></div></div><div><br /><b>15a Egg on sandwiches Mussolini, perhaps, // <u>made</u> (8)</b><br /><br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><b>Il Duce</b> (<i>the leader</i>) was the title assumed by Italian fascist leader Benito Mussolini (1883–1945).<br /></div><b><br />18a <u>Old fogey</u> // ruins a do, dancing (8)</b><br /><br />
<table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" frame="box" rules="groups" style="border: 1px solid; color: #274e13; margin: 0px auto; width: 90%;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="padding: 10px;"><b>Notable quote:</b> "I object most strongly to dinosaurs being equated
with old fogeys. The dinosaurs dominated our planet for some 200
million years and finally disappeared through no fault of their own. I
cannot see the human race getting anywhere near such an achievement."
(Grammarian on <i>Big Dave's Crossword Blog</i>)</td> </tr>
</tbody></table><b></b><br /><b>19a <u>Feature</u> // a page penned by religious school (6)</b><br /><br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
One finds <b>p</b><sup>[<a href="https://www.lexico.com/definition/p" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>5</b></a>]</sup> as an abbreviation for <b>page</b> in textual references ⇒<i> <q>see p 784</q></i>.<br /></div><br /><b>26a This writer is one day behind rear of coconut // <u>shy</u> (5)</b><br /><br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">In the surface reading, <b>coconut shy</b><sup>[<a href="https://chambers.co.uk/search/?query=coconut+shy&title=21st" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>2</b></a>,<a href="https://www.lexico.com/definition/coconut_shy" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>5</b></a>]</sup> is a British term for a fairground stall where people throw balls at coconuts to try to knock them off stands and thereby win a prize. <br /></div><br />
<table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" frame="box" rules="groups" style="border: 1px solid; color: #274e13; margin: 0px auto; width: 90%;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="padding: 10px;"><b>Shy</b><sup>[<a href="https://www.lexico.com/definition/shy" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>5</b></a>]</sup>
is a dated term meaning (<i>as a noun</i>) an act of flinging or throwing
something at a target or (<i>as a verb</i>) to fling or throw (something) at a
target ⇒<i> <q>he tore the spectacles off and shied them at her</q></i>.</td> </tr>
</tbody></table><b><br /></b><b>27d <u>Ford maybe</u> // parking next to hotel guest (9)</b><br /><br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">The symbol <b>P</b> for <b>parking</b> is in common use on street signs.<br /></div><br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><b>Gerald Ford</b>
(1913–2006) was the 38th President of the
US 1974-7.</div><br /><b>Down</b><br /><br /><b> 1d <u>Meaty food</u> -- // this might go on one's crumpet (4,3)</b><br /><br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><b>Crumpet</b> is British slang for the head among other things (as you can see in <a href="https://greensdictofslang.com/entry/for7k4q" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><i>Green's Dictionary of Slang</i></a>). </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
<table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" frame="box" rules="groups" style="border: 1px solid; color: #274e13; margin: 0px auto; width: 90%;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="padding: 10px;">In the surface reading, <b>crumpet</b><sup>[<a href="https://www.dictionary.com/browse/crumpet#collins-section" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>16B</b></a>]</sup> refers to a light soft yeast cake full of small holes on the top side, eaten toasted and buttered which is popular in Britain. They somewhat resemble English muffins but are made from batter rather than dough.<br /></td> </tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">A <b>porkpie</b><sup>[<a href="https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/porkpie" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>10</b></a>]</sup> (<i>or</i> <b>porkpie hat</b><sup>[<a href="https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/porkpie-hat" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>10</b></a>]</sup>) is a hat with a round flat crown and a brim that can be turned up or down.<br /></div><br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">As the solution, a British <b>pork pie</b><sup>[<a href="https://www.lexico.com/definition/pork_pie" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>5</b></a>,<a href="https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/pork-pie#pork-pie__2" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>10</b></a>,<a href="https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/pork-pie" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>14</b></a>]</sup> is a round, tall pie filled with minced seasoned pork, which is typically eaten cold.</div><br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">I have not marked the clue as a double definition as the numeration of the second part does not march that given in the clue.<br /></div><br /><b> 2d Actress, say, removing soft // <u>coat</u> (5)</b><br /><br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><b>Piano</b><sup>[<a href="https://www.thefreedictionary.com/piano" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>3</b></a>,<a href="https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/piano" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>5</b></a>]</sup> (<i>abbreviation</i> <b>p</b><sup>[<a href="https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/p" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>5</b></a>]</sup>), is a musical direction meaning either (<i>as an adjective</i>) soft or quiet or (<i>as an adverb</i>) softly or quietly.<br /></div><br /><b> 4d In jail, guard picked up // <u>something to eat</u> (4)</b><br /><br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">The <b>ugli</b> or <b>ugli fruit</b><sup>[<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ugli_fruit" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>7</b></a>]</sup> is a Jamaican form of tangelo, a citrus fruit created by hybridizing a grapefruit (or pomelo), an orange and a tangerine. The name is a variation of the word "ugly", which
refers to the fruit's unsightly appearance, with rough, wrinkled,
greenish-yellow rind, wrapped loosely around the orange pulpy citrus
inside.<br /></div><br /><b> 5d Tense about a certain // <u>prize</u> (8)</b><br /><br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">One would encounter <b>t.</b><sup>[<a href="https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/t#t__5" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>10</b></a>]</sup> as the abbreviation for <b>tense</b> in the field of grammar.<br /></div><br /><b> 6d Journey around grand // <u>upland area</u> (5)</b><br /><br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">Mainly in US slang, <b>G</b> is a symbol for <b>grand</b> (a thousand <b>dollars</b> or <b>pounds</b>)<sup>[<a href="https://www.thefreedictionary.com/G" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>4</b></a>,<a href="https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/g#g__4" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>10</b></a>]</sup>. Brits would appear to use the term grand in this sense but not the abbreviated version.<br /></div><br /><b>22d <u>Loaded</u> // gun's first removed from convict hideout (5)</b><br /><br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><b>Lag</b><sup>[<a href="https://www.lexico.com/definition/lag" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>5</b></a>]</sup> is an informal British term for a person who has been frequently convicted and sent to prison ⇒<i> <q>both <b>old lags</b> were sentenced to ten years' imprisonment</q>.</i> </span></span><br /></div>
<br /><br /><table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" frame="box" rules="groups" style="border: 3px solid; color: #274e13; margin: 0px auto; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td colspan="2" style="border-right: 1px solid; text-align: center; width: 40%;">
<div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; text-align: left;">Publication date</div>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="border-right: 1px solid; text-align: center; width: 20%;">
<div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; text-align: left;">Puzzle number</div>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="text-align: center; width: 40%;">
<div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; text-align: left;">Setter</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 3px solid; border-right: 1px solid; text-align: center; width: 40%;"><span style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 110%;"><b>Wednesday, October 19, 2022</b></span></td>
<td colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 3px solid; border-right: 1px solid; text-align: center; width: 20%;"><span style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 110%;"><b>DT 30122</b></span></td>
<td colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 3px solid; text-align: center; width: 40%;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Unknown</b></span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="2" style="border-right: 1px solid; text-align: center; width: 40%;">
<div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; text-align: left;">
Link to review</div>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="border-right: 1px solid; text-align: center; width: 20%;">
<div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; text-align: left;">
Reviewer</div>
</td>
<td colspan="1" style="text-align: center; width: 20%;">
<div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; text-align: left;">
Difficulty</div>
</td>
<td colspan="1" style="text-align: center; width: 20%;">
<div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; text-align: left;">
Enjoyment</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="2" style="border-right: 1px solid; text-align: center; width: 40%;"><a href="http://bigdave44.com/2022/10/19/dt-30122/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 110%;"><b>DT 30122 – Review</b></span></a><span style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 110%;"><b></b></span>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="border-right: 1px solid; text-align: center; width: 20%;">
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 110%;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">2Kiwis</span></b></span>
</td><td colspan="1" style="text-align: center; width: 20%;">
<span style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 110%;"><b>★★★</b></span>
</td>
<td colspan="1" style="text-align: center; width: 20%;">
<span style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 110%;"><b>★★★</b></span>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody><tbody>
</tbody></table>
<br /><br /><b>
Across</b><br /><br /><b> 1a <u>Believer</u> // a bit wet? Not the fellow being imprisoned (10)</b><br /><br />
<table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" frame="box" rules="groups" style="border: 1px solid; color: #274e13; margin: 0px auto; width: 90%;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="padding: 10px;"><b>Wet</b><sup>[<a href="https://www.lexico.com/definition/wet" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>5</b></a>]</sup> is an informal British term meaning (<i>as an adjective</i>) showing a lack of forcefulness or strength of character ⇒<i> <q>they thought the cadets were a bit wet</q></i> or (<i>as a noun</i>) a person exhibiting such characteristics ⇒<i> <q>there are sorts who look like gangsters and sorts who look like wets</q></i>.<br /><br />In British political circles, the name <b>wet</b><sup>[<a href="https://www.lexico.com/definition/wet" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>5</b></a>]</sup> is applied to a Conservative with liberal tendencies ⇒<i> <q>the wets favoured a change in economic policy</q></i>.
It is a term that was frequently used by former British Prime Minister Margaret
Thatcher for those to the left of her in the British Conservative Party
[<i>which must have been just about everyone</i>].</td> </tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><b> 6a <u>Desdemona's husband maybe</u> /in/ <u>a desolate place</u> (4)</b><br /><br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><b>Desdemona</b><sup>[<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desdemona" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>7</b></a>]</sup> is a character in William Shakespeare's play Othello. She is a Venetian beauty who enrages and disappoints her father, a Venetian senator, when she elopes with Othello, a Moor.<br /></div><br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><b>Moor</b><sup>[<a href="https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/moor" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">5</a>]</sup> is a chiefly British term for a tract of open uncultivated upland, typically covered with heather.<br /></div><br /><b>15a <u>Saw</u> // agent dressed in brown (6)</b><br /><br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">A <b>trepan</b><sup>[<a href="https://chambers.co.uk/search/?query=trepan&title=21st" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>2</b></a>]</sup> is a type of small cylindrical saw that was formerly used for removing part of a bone, especially part of the skull.<br /></div><br /><b>16a A gee-gee pinned by the German // <u>weapon</u> (6)</b><br /><br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">In German, <i><b>der</b></i><sup>[<a href="https://dictionary.reverso.net/german-english/der" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>8</b></a>]</sup> is one of several forms the definite article may assume.<br /></div><br />
<table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" frame="box" rules="groups" style="border: 1px solid; color: #274e13; margin: 0px auto; width: 90%;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="padding: 10px;"><b>Gee-gee</b><sup>[<a href="https://www.lexico.com/definition/gee-gee" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>5</b></a>]</sup> (<i>in children's use or in racehorse betting</i>) is an informal British term for a horse ⇒<i> (i) <q>Even as the wrapping paper was ripped off, he worried whether his choice of choo-choos over gee-gees was the right one</q>; (ii) <q>Betters can also wager on other major sports, including golf, tennis and rugby, as well as the gee-gees</q></i>.</td> </tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><b>20a <u>Country</u> // almost liberated with introduction of political party? (6)</b><br /><br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">The <b>African National Congress</b><sup>[<a href="https://www.lexico.com/definition/african_national_congress" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>5</b></a>]</sup> (<i>abbreviation</i> <b>ANC</b>)
is a South African political party and black nationalist organization.<br /></div><br /><b>Down</b><br /><br /><b> 1d I am upset, your setter? // <u>I am speechless</u>! (4)</b><br /><br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">When the creator of the puzzle references themself in the clue, one must replace the reference with a first person pronoun (<b>I</b> or <b>ME</b>).<br /></div><br /><b> 2d <u>Heads</u>? // <u>Crazy people</u> (4)</b><br /><br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><b>Nut</b><sup>[<a href="https://www.thefreedictionary.com/nut" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>3</b></a>,<a href="https://www.thefreedictionary.com/nut" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>4</b></a>]</sup> is slang for the human head.</div><br /><b> 4d One using brain is engaged by boffin // <u>who works in the lab</u>? (15)</b><br /><br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><b>Boffin</b><sup>[<a href="https://chambers.co.uk/search/?query=boffin&title=21st" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>2</b></a>]</sup> is a colloquial British term for a scientist engaged in research, especially for the armed forces or the government.<br /></div><br /><b> 7d <u>Like mode of transport</u> // traversing sporting venue? (10)</b><br /><br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">I would say <b>ground</b><sup>[<a href="https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/ground" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>5</b></a>]</sup> is a chiefly term for an area of land, often with associated buildings and structures, used for a particular sport ⇒<i> (i) <q>a football ground</q>; (ii) <q>Liverpool’s new ground is nearing completion</q></i>.<br /></div><br /><b>13d Short period imbibing champagne substitute /that's/ <u>more flavoursome</u>? (7)</b><br /><br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><b>Asti</b><sup>[<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asti_%28wine%29" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>7</b></a>]</sup> (formerly known as <b>Asti Spumante</b>)
is a sparkling white Italian wine.<br /></div><br /><b>14d <u>Guards</u> // so large doing turns (7)</b><br /><br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><b>Gaolor</b><sup>[<a href="https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/gaol#gaol__2" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>10</b></a>]</sup> is a British variant spelling of <b>jailer</b>.<br /></div><br /><b>20d <u>Repair</u> // fine kitchen vessel without its lid (6)</b><br /><br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><b>F</b><sup>[<a href="https://www.lexico.com/definition/f" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>5</b></a>]</sup> is an abbreviation for <b>fine</b>, as used in describing grades of pencil lead.<br /></div><br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">As the definition, <b>repair</b> is used as a noun.<br /></div><br /><b>23d <u>Garment</u> // is taken up for a queen to wear (4)</b><br /><br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">In the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms, during the reign of a queen, <b>Regina</b><sup>[<a href="https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/regina" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>5</b></a>]</sup> (<i>abbreviation</i> <b>R</b><sup>[<a href="https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/r" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>5</b></a>]</sup>) [<i>Latin for </i><b><i>queen</i>]</b> denotes the reigning monarch, used following a name (e.g. <i>Elizabetha Regina</i>, Queen Elizabeth — often shortened to <i>ER</i>) or in the titles of lawsuits (e.g. <i>Regina v. Jones</i>, the Crown versus Jones — often shortened to <i>R. v. Jones</i>).<br /></div><br />
<br /><table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" frame="box" rules="groups" style="border: 3px solid; color: #274e13; margin: 0px auto; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td colspan="2" style="border-right: 1px solid; text-align: center; width: 40%;">
<div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; text-align: left;">Publication date</div>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="border-right: 1px solid; text-align: center; width: 20%;">
<div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; text-align: left;">Puzzle number</div>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="text-align: center; width: 40%;">
<div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; text-align: left;">Setter</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 3px solid; border-right: 1px solid; text-align: center; width: 40%;"><span style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 110%;"><b>Thursday, October 20, 2022</b></span></td>
<td colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 3px solid; border-right: 1px solid; text-align: center; width: 20%;"><span style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 110%;"><b>DT 30123</b></span></td>
<td colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 3px solid; text-align: center; width: 40%;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 110%;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">silvanus</span></b></span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="2" style="border-right: 1px solid; text-align: center; width: 40%;">
<div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; text-align: left;">
Link to review</div>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="border-right: 1px solid; text-align: center; width: 20%;">
<div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; text-align: left;">
Reviewer</div>
</td>
<td colspan="1" style="text-align: center; width: 20%;">
<div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; text-align: left;">
Difficulty</div>
</td>
<td colspan="1" style="text-align: center; width: 20%;">
<div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; text-align: left;">
Enjoyment</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="2" style="border-right: 1px solid; text-align: center; width: 40%;"><a href="http://bigdave44.com/2022/10/19/dt-30122/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 110%;"><b>DT 30123 – Review</b></span></a><span style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 110%;"><b></b></span>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="border-right: 1px solid; text-align: center; width: 20%;">
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 110%;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Mr K</span></b></span>
</td><td colspan="1" style="text-align: center; width: 20%;">
<span style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 110%;"><b>★★★★</b></span>
</td>
<td colspan="1" style="text-align: center; width: 20%;">
<span style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 110%;"><b>★★★★</b></span>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody><tbody>
</tbody></table>
<br /><br /><b>Across</b><br /><br /><b> 9a Airline service cross about // <u>supposedly unmissable target</u>? (4,4)</b><br /><br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">The <b>airline</b> is British Airways (BA) and the <b>service</b> is the Royal Navy (RN).<br /></div><br /><b>10a <u>Skill</u> /of/ primarily kind old doctor in Cumbrian area (4-3)</b><br /><br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><b>Cumbria</b> is a county in NW England.<br /></div><br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><b><i>Doctor Who</i></b> is a British science fiction television program.<br /></div><br /><b>11a Greek character visits second // <u>gravestone, possibly</u> (8)</b><br /><br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><b>Nu</b><sup>[<a href="https://www.lexico.com/definition/nu" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>5</b></a>]</sup> is the thirteenth letter of the Greek alphabet (<b>Ν, ν</b>).</div><br />12 Little old man retired, lacking in desire (6)<br /><br /><b>15a <u>Rum, maybe</u> /from/ Italy, son left half-finished (4)</b><br /><br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">The International Vehicle Registration (IVR) code for <b>Italy</b> is <b>I</b><sup>[<a href="https://www.lexico.com/definition/i" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>5</b></a>]</sup> [from Italian <i>Italia</i>].</div><br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">In genealogies, <b>s</b><sup>[<a href="https://www.lexico.com/definition/s" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>5</b></a>]</sup> is the abbreviation for <b>son(s)</b> ⇒<i> <q>m 1991; one s one d</q></i>.</div><br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><b>Rùm</b><sup>[<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R%C3%B9m" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>7</b></a>]</sup> (a Scottish Gaelic name often anglicised to <b>Rum</b>) is one of the Small Isles of the Inner Hebrides in Scotland.<br /></div><br /><b>16a Entering southern strait, Norman occasionally /is/ <u>sleepy</u> (9)</b><br /><br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">The <b>Solent</b><sup>[<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solent" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>7</b></a>]</sup>is the strait that separates the Isle of Wight (an island on the southern coast of England) from the mainland of England. <br /></div><br /><b>21a <u>Got a load of</u> // fish, we're told (4)</b><br /><br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><b>Ide</b><sup>[<a href="https://www.lexico.com/definition/ide" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>5</b></a>]</sup> is another name for the <b>orfe</b><sup>[<a href="https://www.lexico.com/definition/orfe" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>5</b></a>]</sup>, a silvery freshwater fish of the carp family, which is fished commercially in eastern Europe.</div><br /><b>24a <u>Issue</u> // <u>anaesthetic</u> (6)</b><br /><br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">In the second part of the clue, "<b>number</b>" is used in the whimsical cryptic crossword sense of 'something that numbs'.</div><br /><b>27a Caught golfer /making/ <u>embarrassing error</u> (7)</b><br /><br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">On cricket scorecards, the abbreviation <b>c</b><sup>[<a href="https://www.lexico.com/definition/c" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>5</b></a>]</sup> or <b>c.</b><sup>[<a href="https://chambers.co.uk/search/?query=c&title=21st" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>2</b></a>,<a href="https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/c_1#c_1__5" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>10</b></a>]</sup> denotes <b>caught</b> <b>(by)</b>.<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><b>Bernhard Langer</b><sup>[<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernhard_Langer" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>7</b></a>]</sup>
is a German professional golfer.</div><br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><b>Clanger</b><sup>[<a href="https://www.lexico.com/definition/clanger" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>5</b></a>]</sup> is an informal British term for an absurd or embarrassing blunder ⇒ <q><i>the minister had dropped a massive political clanger</i><sup>*</sup></q>. <br />
<div style="margin-left: 40px;">
<hr />
<sup>*</sup> To <b>drop a clanger</b><sup>[<a href="https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/drop-a-clanger" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>10</b></a>]</sup> means to make a very embarrassing mistake.</div></div><br /><b>28a <u>Took over from</u> // daughter behind console (8)</b><br /><br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">In genealogies, <b>d</b><sup>[<a href="https://www.lexico.com/definition/d" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>5</b></a>]</sup> is the abbreviation for <b>daughter</b> ⇒<i> <q>Henry m. Georgina 1957, 1s 2d</q></i>.</div><br /><b>Down</b><br /><br /><b> 2d <u>Tripe</u> // small number in Essex noshed regularly (8)</b><br /><br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><b>Tripe</b><sup>[<a href="https://www.lexico.com/definition/tripe" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>5</b></a>]</sup>
is an informal term<sup>*</sup> for nonsense or rubbish (<span class="hvr">foolish </span><span class="hvr">words</span> <span class="hvr">or </span><span class="hvr">speech)</span><span class="hvr"></span> ⇒<i> <q>you do talk tripe sometimes</q></i>. <br />
<div style="margin-left: 40px;">
<hr />
<sup>*</sup> "Formally", <b>tripe</b> is the first or second stomach of a cow or other ruminant used as
food.</div></div><br /><b> 5d PM over /in/ Irish county (4)</b><br /><br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><b>Theresa May</b><sup>[<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theresa_May" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>7</b></a>]</sup> was Prime
Minister of the United Kingdom from
2016 to 2019.</div><br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">In cricket, an <b>over</b><sup>[<a href="https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/over" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>5</b></a>]</sup> is a division of play consisting of a sequence of six balls bowled by a bowler from
one end of the pitch, after which another bowler takes over from the
other end.</div><br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><b>Mayo</b><span class="definition"><sup>[<a href="https://www.lexico.com/definition/mayo" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>5</b></a>]</sup></span> is a county in the Republic of Ireland, located in the north-west in the province of Connacht.<br /></div><br /><b> 7d Understands it's stated patient individual /requires/ <u>cosmetic surgery</u> (4,3)</b><br /><br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">In the Bible, <b>Job</b><sup>[<a href="https://www.lexico.com/definition/job" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>5</b></a>]</sup> was <span class="definition">a man </span><span class="definition">whose
patience and piety were tried by undeserved misfortunes. However, in
spite of his bitter lamentations, he remained confident in the goodness
and justice of God. His name has come to epitomise patience </span><span class="definition">⇒</span><span class="definition"><i><q><span class="definition">In dealing with this series of difficult circumstances, she displayed the patience of Job</span></q></i></span>.</div><br /><b>11d <u>City</u> // Spice Girl barely missed (9)</b><br /><br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">The <b>Spice Girls</b><sup>[<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spice_Girls" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>7</b></a>]</sup>
are an English pop girl group formed in 1994. The group comprises
Melanie Brown, also known as Mel B ("Scary Spice"), Melanie Chisholm,
Mel C ("Sporty Spice"), Emma Bunton ("Baby Spice"), Geri Halliwell
("Ginger Spice") and Victoria Beckham ("Posh Spice").</div><br /><b>14d Prime student to limit pressure before American // <u>exam</u> (6-4)</b><br /><br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">The cryptic crossword convention of <b>L</b> meaning <b>learner</b> or <b>student</b> arises from the <b>L-plate</b><sup>[<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newly_licensed_driver_plate" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>7</b></a>]</sup>, a square plate bearing a sans-serif letter <b>L</b>, for <i>learner</i>,
which must be affixed to the front and back of a vehicle in various
jurisdictions (including the UK) if its driver is a learner under
instruction.</div><br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">In physics, <b>p</b><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><sup>[<a href="https://www.lexico.com/definition/p" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">5</a>]</sup> </span></span>is a symbol used to represent <b>pressure</b> in mathematical formulae.<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">The <b>eleven-plus</b><sup>[<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eleven-plus" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>7</b></a>]</sup> (<b>11+</b>) is a standardized examination administered to some students in England and Northern Ireland in their last year of primary education, which governs admission to grammar schools and other secondary schools which use academic selection.<br /></div><br />18 <u>Respectful</u> // First Lady has tear succeeding Republican (8)<br /><br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">In the Bible, <b>Eve</b><sup>[<a href="https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/eve" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>5</b></a>,<a href="https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/eve#eve__3" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>10</b></a>]</sup> is the first woman, <span class="def">mother of the human race, fashioned by God from the rib of Adam, </span>companion of Adam and mother of Cain and Abel<sup>*</sup> [<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+2%3A18-25&version=KJ21" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>Gen 2:18-25</b></a>].<br />
<div style="margin-left: 40px;">
<hr />
<sup>*</sup> <i>not to mention Seth and her other sons and </i><i>daughters</i> [<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Gen+5%3A4&version=KJ21" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>Gen 5:4</b></a>]</div>
</div><br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">A <b>Republican</b><sup>[<a href="https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/republican" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>5</b></a>]</sup> (<i>abbreviation</i> <b>R</b><sup>[<a href="https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/r" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>5</b></a>]</sup>) is a member or supporter of the US Republican Party.</div><br /><b>19d Cook recipe accessed by upper-class // <u>gourmet</u> (7)</b><br /><br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">In Britain, <span style="color: black;"><b>U</b><sup>[<a href="https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/u" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>5</b></a>]</sup>
is used informally as an adjective (in respect to language or social
behaviour) meaning characteristic of or appropriate to the upper social
classes ⇒<i> <q>U manners</q></i>.</span></div><br /><b>20d <u>Play</u> /and/ series of books attracting magazine (7)</b><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"></div>
<div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><span class="definition">In Crosswordland,</span><span class="definition"><span class="definition"> the term</span> </span><span class="definition"><span class="definition">"<b>books</b>"</span></span><span class="definition"><span class="definition"> – </span></span><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><span class="definition">or similar expressions such </span></span><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><span class="definition"><span class="definition">as today's "<b>series of books</b>"</span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="definition"><span class="definition"> – </span></span><span class="definition">is commonly used to clue either the <b>Old Testament (OT)</b> or the <b>New Testament (NT)</b>. Today the setter leaves it up to the solver to figure out which one.<br /></span></div><br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><b><i>Hello!</i></b><sup>[<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hello!_(magazine)?wprov=srpw1_0" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>7</b></a>]</sup>
is a weekly magazine specializing in celebrity news and human-interest
stories, published in the United Kingdom since 1988. It is the United
Kingdom local edition of <b><i>¡Hola!</i></b>, the Spanish weekly magazine. A Canadian version of the magazine, <b><i>Hello! Canada</i></b>, has been published since 2006.</div><br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><i><b>Othello</b></i><sup>[<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Othello_%28character%29" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>7</b></a>]</sup> (<i>in full</i> <i><b>The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice</b></i>) is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1601 and 1604.</div>
<br /><br /><table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" frame="box" rules="groups" style="border: 3px solid; color: #274e13; margin: 0px auto; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td colspan="2" style="border-right: 1px solid; text-align: center; width: 40%;">
<div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; text-align: left;">Publication date</div>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="border-right: 1px solid; text-align: center; width: 20%;">
<div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; text-align: left;">Puzzle number</div>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="text-align: center; width: 40%;">
<div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; text-align: left;">Setter</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 3px solid; border-right: 1px solid; text-align: center; width: 40%;"><span style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 110%;"><b>Friday, October 21, 2022</b></span></td>
<td colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 3px solid; border-right: 1px solid; text-align: center; width: 20%;"><span style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 110%;"><b>DT 30124</b></span></td>
<td colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 3px solid; text-align: center; width: 40%;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 110%;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">proXimal (Steve Bartlett)</span></b></span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="2" style="border-right: 1px solid; text-align: center; width: 40%;">
<div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; text-align: left;">
Link to review</div>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="border-right: 1px solid; text-align: center; width: 20%;">
<div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; text-align: left;">
Reviewer</div>
</td>
<td colspan="1" style="text-align: center; width: 20%;">
<div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; text-align: left;">
Difficulty</div>
</td>
<td colspan="1" style="text-align: center; width: 20%;">
<div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; text-align: left;">
Enjoyment</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="2" style="border-right: 1px solid; text-align: center; width: 40%;"><a href="http://bigdave44.com/2022/10/21/dt-30124/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 110%;"><b>DT 30124 – Review</b></span></a><span style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 110%;"><b></b></span>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="border-right: 1px solid; text-align: center; width: 20%;">
<span style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 110%;"><b>Senf</b></span>
</td><td colspan="1" style="text-align: center; width: 20%;">
<span style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 110%;"><b>★</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 110%;"><b>★★</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 110%;"><b>/★★★★</b></span>
</td>
<td colspan="1" style="text-align: center; width: 20%;">
<span style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 110%;"><b>★</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 110%;"><b>★★</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 110%;"><b>/★★★★</b></span>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody><tbody>
</tbody></table>
<br /><br /><b>Across</b><br /><br /><b> 1a King having // <u>coronation</u> (8)</b><br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><br />The regnal ciphers (monograms) of British monarchs are initials
formed from the Latin version of their first name followed by either <i>Rex</i> or <i>Regina</i> (Latin for king or queen, respectively). Thus, the regnal cipher of King Charles is <span style="color: black;"><b>CR</b></span><sup>[<a href="https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/er" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>5</b></a>]</sup> – from the Latin <i>Carolus Rex</i> if tradition be followed. However, the Royal Mint is issuing coins with the inscription <i>Charles III</i> so perhaps Latin really is a dead language (or half-dead language) and King Charles will be known as <i>Charles Rex</i>.<br />
<div style="margin-left: 40px;">
<hr />
<sup>*</sup> A <b>cipher</b><sup>[<a href="https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/cipher" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>5</b></a>]</sup> (<i>also spelled</i> <b>cypher</b>) is a <b>monogram</b><sup>[<a href="https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/monogram" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>5</b></a>]</sup> or <span class="ind">motif of two or more interwoven letters, typically a person's initials, used to identify a personal possession or as a logo.</span></div></div><br /><b> 5a <u>Decline</u> // accompanying soldiers in retreat (6)</b><br /><br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">The <b>Corps of Royal Engineers</b><sup>[<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Engineers" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>7</b></a>]</sup>, usually just called the <b>Royal Engineers</b> (<i>abbreviation</i> <b>RE</b>), and commonly known as the <b><i>Sappers</i></b><sup>[<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sapper" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>7</b></a>]</sup>,
is a corps of the British Army that provides military engineering and
other technical support to the British Armed Forces.</div><br /><b>11a Superhuman removing leader // <u>of ancient people</u> (5)</b><br /><br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><b>Ionic</b><sup>[<a href="https://www.dictionary.com/browse/ionic#collins-section" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>16B</b></a>]</sup> is an adjective meaning of or relating to Ionia, its inhabitants, or their dialect of Ancient Greek. <b>Ionia</b><b></b><sup>[<a href="https://www.dictionary.com/browse/ionia#collins-section" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>16B</b></a>]</sup> was <span class="one-click-content css-nnyc96 e1q3nk1v1" data-linkid="nn1ov4" data-term="Aegean">an ancient region on the western coast of Asia Minor and on adjacent islands in the Aegean that was colonized by the ancient Greeks.</span></div><br /><b>12a <u>Simple</u> // game with short cue (6)</b><br /><br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
In Crosswordland, a game is apt to be <b>rugby union</b><sup>[<a href="https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/rugby-union#rugby-union__1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>10</b></a>]</sup> (<i>abbreviation</i> <b>RU</b><sup>[<a href="https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/ru" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>5</b></a>]</sup>), <span class="def">a form of rugby football played between teams of 15 players (</span><span class="def"><span class="definition">in contrast to <b>rugby league</b></span></span><span class="def"><span class="definition"><sup>[<a href="https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/rugby_league" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>5</b></a>]</sup>, which is</span><span class="definition"> played in teams of thirteen</span>).</span></div><br /><b>13a <u>Neighbourhood</u> // against chains being put on little space (8)</b><br /><br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><b>Versus</b><sup>[<b>16B</b>]</sup> (<i>abbreviation</i> <b>v</b> <i>or, especially US,</i> <b>vs</b>) is a preposition meaning (especially in a competition or lawsuit) against or in opposition to.<br /></div><br /><b>22a Perhaps Poirot's // <u>man given many tasks</u> (8)</b><br /><br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><b>Hercule Poirot</b><sup>[<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hercule_Poirot" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>7</b></a>]</sup>
is a fictional Belgian detective, created by English writer Agatha Christie (1890–1976).</div><br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">In Greek and Roman mythology, <b>Hercules</b><sup>[<a href="https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/Hercules" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>5</b></a>]</sup> was a hero of superhuman strength and courage who
performed twelve immense tasks or ‘labours’ imposed on him and who after
death was ranked among the gods.</div><br /><b>26a <u>Bung</u> // kid stuck in empty bottle (5)</b><br /><br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><b>Bung</b><sup>[<a href="https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/bung#bung__3" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>10</b></a>]</sup> (<i>noun</i>) is British slang for a bribe.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" frame="box" rules="groups" style="border: 1px solid; color: #274e13; margin: 0px auto; width: 90%;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="padding: 10px;">In the surface reading, <b>bung</b><sup>[<a href="https://www.dictionary.com/browse/bung#collins-section" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>16B</b></a>]</sup> denotes a stopper, especially of cork or rubber, for a cask, piece of laboratory glassware, etc.<br /></td> </tr>
</tbody></table>
</div><br /><b>27a Fellow nurses worn-out // <u>continued at length</u> (7,2)</b><br /><br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">At Oxford and Cambridge universities, a <b>fellow</b><sup>[<a href="https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/fellow#fellow__2" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>10</b></a>]</sup> is a member of the governing body of a college who is usually a member of the teaching staff.</div><br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">A <b>don</b><sup>[<a href="https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/don#don__3" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>10</b></a>]</sup> is a member of the teaching staff at a university or college, especially at Oxford or Cambridge.</div><br /><b>28a <u>Overindulge</u> /in/ Greek island group (6)</b><br /><br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><b>Cos</b> is an alternative spelling of <b>Kos</b><sup>[<a href="https://www.lexico.com/definition/kos" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>5</b></a>]</sup>, a Greek island in the southeastern Aegean, one of the Dodecanese group. It is the home of <b>cos lettuce</b><sup>[<a href="https://www.lexico.com/definition/cos" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">5</a>]</sup> (<i>known to North Americans as</i> <b>romaine</b><sup>[<a href="https://www.lexico.com/definition/romaine" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>5</b></a>]</sup>).</div><br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><b>Indulge</b> means to pamper or spoil someone ⇒<i> <q>My mother indulges the children dreadfully.</q></i> Thus, <b>overindulge</b><sup>[<a href="https://chambers.co.uk/search/?query=indulge&title=21st" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>2</b></a>]</sup> must mean to pamper or spoil someone excessively.</div><br /><b>29a Good man eyed new // <u>moon</u> (8)</b><br /><br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">The abbreviation <b>G</b> for <b>good</b> may come from its use in education as a grade awarded on school assignments or tests<sup>[<a href="https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english-spanish/g" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>a</b></a>]</sup> or in numismatics as a grade of coin<sup>[<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coin_grading" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>7</b></a>]</sup>.<br />
<div style="margin-left: 40px;">
<hr />
<sup>[a]</sup> <i>Collins English to Spanish Dictionary</i></div>
</div><br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><b>Ganymede</b><sup>[<a href="https://www.dictionary.com/browse/ganymede#collins-section" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>16B</b></a>]</sup>
is the brightest and largest of the four Galilean satellites of
Jupiter, and the largest in the solar system (named for a beautiful
Trojan youth in Greek mythology who was abducted by Zeus to Olympus and
made the cupbearer of the gods).<br /></div><br />I will return later with the Down clues.<br /><br />
<br /><table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" frame="box" rules="groups" style="border: 3px solid; color: #274e13; margin: 0px auto; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td colspan="2" style="border-right: 1px solid; text-align: center; width: 40%;">
<div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; text-align: left;">Publication date</div>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="border-right: 1px solid; text-align: center; width: 20%;">
<div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; text-align: left;">Puzzle number</div>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="text-align: center; width: 40%;">
<div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; text-align: left;">Setter</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 3px solid; border-right: 1px solid; text-align: center; width: 40%;"><span style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 110%;"><b>Saturday, October 22, 2022</b></span></td>
<td colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 3px solid; border-right: 1px solid; text-align: center; width: 20%;"><span style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 110%;"><b>DT 30125</b></span></td>
<td colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 3px solid; text-align: center; width: 40%;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 110%;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">{TBD}</span></b></span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="2" style="border-right: 1px solid; text-align: center; width: 40%;">
<div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; text-align: left;">
Link to review</div>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="border-right: 1px solid; text-align: center; width: 20%;">
<div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; text-align: left;">
Reviewer</div>
</td>
<td colspan="1" style="text-align: center; width: 20%;">
<div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; text-align: left;">
Difficulty</div>
</td>
<td colspan="1" style="text-align: center; width: 20%;">
<div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; text-align: left;">
Enjoyment</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="2" style="border-right: 1px solid; text-align: center; width: 40%;"><span style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 110%;"><b>DT 30125 – Hints<br />DT 30125 </b></span><span style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 110%;"><b>– </b></span><span style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 110%;"><b>Review</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 110%;"><b></b></span>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="border-right: 1px solid; text-align: center; width: 20%;">
<span style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 110%;"><b>{TBD}</b></span>
</td><td colspan="1" style="text-align: center; width: 20%;">
<span style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 110%;"><b>{★★★★★}</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 110%;"><b></b></span>
</td>
<td colspan="1" style="text-align: center; width: 20%;">
<span style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 110%;"><b>{★★★★★}</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 110%;"><b></b></span>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody><tbody>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" frame="box" rules="groups" style="border-bottom: 3px solid; border-left: 3px solid; border-right: 3px solid; color: #274e13; margin: 0px auto; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr><td><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Notes</span></div>
</td>
</tr><tr>
<td style="text-align: left; width: 90%;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><div style="padding-left: 10px; padding-right: 10px;"><p><i>As this was a Saturday "Prize Puzzle" in Britain, there are two entries related to it on Big Dave's Crossword Blog — the first, posted on the date of publication, contains hints for selected clues while the second is a full review issued following the entry deadline for the contest. The vast majority of reader comments will generally be found attached to the "hints" posting with a minimal number — if any — accompanying the full review.</i></p></div></span>
</td></tr></tbody></table>
<br />Commentary on the Saturday puzzle will be added later.<br />
<br /><br />
</div></div>
<table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" frame="box" rules="groups" style="border: 3px solid; color: #274e13; margin: 0px auto; width: 90%;">
<tbody>
<tr style="line-height: 200%;"><td colspan="2" style="font-size: x-small; text-align: center;"><b>Symbols and Markup Conventions</b></td></tr>
<tr style="line-height: 100%;"> <td colspan="1" style="font-size: x-small; text-align: left; width: 45%;"><ul><li><b> "*" - anagram</b></li><li><b>"~" - sounds like</b></li><li><b>"<" - indicates the preceding letters are reversed</b></li><li><b>"( )" - encloses contained letters</b></li><li><b>"_" - replaces letters that have been deleted</b></li><li><b> "†" - indicates that the word is present in the clue</b></li></ul>
</td><td colspan="1" style="font-size: x-small; text-align: left;"><ul><li><b>"//" - marks the boundary between wordplay and definition when no link word or link phrase is present</b></li><li><b>"/[link word or phrase]/" - marks the boundary between wordplay and definition when a link word or link phrase is present</b></li><li><b>"<span style="text-decoration: underline 1.25px;">solid underline</span>" - precise definition</b></li><li><b>"<span style="text-decoration: underline 1.25px dotted;">dotted underline</span>" - cryptic definition</b></li><li><b>"<span style="text-decoration: underline 1.25px dashed;">dashed underline</span>" - wordplay</b></li><li><b>"<span style="text-decoration: underline 1.25px wavy;">wavy underline</span>" - whimsical and inferred definitions</b></li></ul>
</td> </tr>
<tr align="center" style="line-height: 100%;"><td colspan="2" style="font-size: x-small; font-style: italic;"><b><a href="https://natpostcryptic.blogspot.com/p/blog-page.html" target="_blank">Click here</a> for further explanation and usage examples of the symbols and markup conventions used on this blog.</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="font-size: x-small; margin-left: 40px;">
<hr />
<div><h2 style="line-height: 150%; padding: 25px 0px 10px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">References</span><br /></h2></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>Sources referenced in the blog are identified by the following reference numbers. The reference numbers themselves are hyperlinks to the entry in the source being referenced. Click on the number to view the source.</i></span><br /><br />
<b>Key to Reference Sources: </b><br />
<br />
<div style="padding-left: 42px; text-indent: -42px;">
<sup>[1]</sup> - <i>The Chambers Dictionary, 11th Edition</i><br />
</div><div style="padding-left: 42px; text-indent: -42px;">
<sup>[<b>2</b>]</sup> - <a href="https://chambers.co.uk/search/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Search Chambers</a> - (<i>Chambers 21st Century Dictionary</i>)<br />
</div><div style="padding-left: 42px; text-indent: -42px;">
<sup>[<b>3</b>]</sup> - <a href="https://www.thefreedictionary.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">TheFreeDictionary.com</a> (<i>American Heritage Dictionary</i>)<br />
</div><div style="padding-left: 42px; text-indent: -42px;">
<sup>[<b>4</b>]</sup> - <a href="https://www.thefreedictionary.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">TheFreeDictionarycom</a> (<i>Collins English Dictionary</i>)<br />
</div><div style="padding-left: 42px; text-indent: -42px;">
<sup>[<b>5</b>]</sup> - Lexico (formerly Oxford Dictionaries Online) (<i>Oxford Dictionary of English</i>)<br />
</div><div style="padding-left: 42px; text-indent: -42px;">
<sup>[<b>6</b>]</sup> - <a href="https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/american_english/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Lexico</a> (formerly Oxford Dictionaries Online) (<i>Oxford Advanced American Dictionary</i>)<br />
</div><div style="padding-left: 42px; text-indent: -42px;">
<sup>[<b>7</b>]</sup> - <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a><br />
</div><div style="padding-left: 42px; text-indent: -42px;">
<sup>[<b>8</b>]</sup> - <a href="https://dictionary.reverso.net/french-english/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Reverso Online Dictionary</a> (<i>Collins French-English Dictionary</i>)<br />
</div><div style="padding-left: 42px; text-indent: -42px;">
<sup>[<b>9</b>]</sup> - <a href="https://www.infoplease.com/dictionary" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Infoplease</a> (<i>Random House Unabridged Dictionary</i>)<br />
</div><div style="padding-left: 42px; text-indent: -42px;">
<sup>[<b>10</b>]</sup> - <a href="https://www.collinsdictionary.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">CollinsDictionary.com</a> (<i>Collins English Dictionary</i>)<br />
</div><div style="padding-left: 42px; text-indent: -42px;">
<sup>[<b>11</b>]</sup> - <a href="https://www.thefreedictionary.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">TheFreeDictionary.com</a> (<i>Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary</i>)<br />
</div><div style="padding-left: 42px; text-indent: -42px;">
<sup>[<b>12</b>]</sup> - <a href="https://www.collinsdictionary.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">CollinsDictionary.com</a> (<i>Webster’s New World College Dictionary</i>)<br />
</div><div style="padding-left: 42px; text-indent: -42px;">
<sup>[13]</sup> - <a href="https://www.macmillandictionary.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">MacmillanDictionary.com</a> (<i>Macmillan Dictionary</i>)<br />
</div><div style="padding-left: 42px; text-indent: -42px;">
<sup>[14]</sup> - <a href="https://www.collinsdictionary.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">CollinsDictionary.com</a> (<i>COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary</i>)
</div><div style="padding-left: 42px; text-indent: -42px;">
<sup>[<b>15</b>]</sup> - <a href="https://www.collinsdictionary.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">CollinsDictionary.com</a> (<i>Penguin Random House LLC/HarperCollins Publishers Ltd </i>)<br />
</div><div style="padding-left: 42px; text-indent: -42px;">
<sup>[16]</sup> - <a href="https://www.dictionary.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Dictionary.com</a> (<i>Random House Unabridged Dictionary</i>)
</div><div style="padding-left: 42px; text-indent: -42px;">
<sup>[16B]</sup> - <a href="https://www.dictionary.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Dictionary.com</a> (<i>Collins English Dictionary</i><i> </i>)
</div>
<br />
<hr />
</div>
<br />
<div class="bodyFontSize">Signing off for today — Falcon</div>Falconhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07466858757398776500noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4711047707101010297.post-11885343386004929522022-10-22T06:00:00.004-04:002022-10-22T07:50:16.451-04:00Hex Cryptic Crossword — NP 221015 (Cox and Rathvon)<div class="bodyFontSize"><div class="bodyFontSize">
<h2 style="line-height: 150%; padding: 25px 0px 10px;">
Introduction</h2><b><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0vNOgc0jAsIHh8KH06c8gJNonPTUHlqxI_bwNBFXRJxSQyYy0wq2YsLmKY-KRMjPXyDyZhKEQIzlOprqeB-i_cgS3_spRUdQg3bwni1-CfhGOI4nzAF1_ab4NNFmYvvu0zXbbv1XunZR_LSRNumAk9KqJ-_6iZBhoDydZWVRHqvGyncwO-_m8zfY0Dg/s1242/NP%20Cryptic%202022-10-15%20Sat%20C&R.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1242" data-original-width="1104" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0vNOgc0jAsIHh8KH06c8gJNonPTUHlqxI_bwNBFXRJxSQyYy0wq2YsLmKY-KRMjPXyDyZhKEQIzlOprqeB-i_cgS3_spRUdQg3bwni1-CfhGOI4nzAF1_ab4NNFmYvvu0zXbbv1XunZR_LSRNumAk9KqJ-_6iZBhoDydZWVRHqvGyncwO-_m8zfY0Dg/s320/NP%20Cryptic%202022-10-15%20Sat%20C&R.jpg" width="284" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Copyright © 2022 Emily Cox and Henry Rathvon,<br />used with permission</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><a href="https://drive.google.com/open?id=12JqV1P_daiJn9x9zscU_3inhOEi-gb1l&authuser=yerpso%40gmail.com&usp=drive_fs" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">This puzzle from Cox & Rathvon</a></b> was published in the <i>National Post</i> on Saturday, October 15, 2022. You can find a full review of the puzzle at <a href="https://natpostcryptic.blogspot.com/2022/10/saturday-october-15-2022-weekly-pre.html?sc=1666102964572#c7775260072997666989" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>Saturday, October 15, 2022 — Halls of Academe (NP 221015)</b></a>.<br />
<h2 style="line-height: 150%; padding: 25px 0px 10px;">Farewell My Friends<br /></h2>
Although this puzzle will no doubt prove to be a challenging exercise for most solvers south of the border, I encourage you to savour it as it will be your last opportunity to do so.<br /><br />The <i>National Post</i> has discontinued publishing cryptic crossword puzzles—both the weekend Cox and Rathvon puzzle as well as the weekday <i>Daily Telegraph</i> Cryptic Crossword. Thus this is the last time I will be posting a blog entry in this series. I will continue to write a weekly post on the <i>Daily Telegraph</i> Cryptic Crossword but it will now deal with the puzzle when it is published in the <i>Daily Telegraph</i> rather than when it appears in syndication sometime later.<br /><br />I hope you have enjoyed this blog and wish you well in your cruciverbal initiatives.<br /><br />
Your comments—whether they be with regard to the puzzle or the blog—are always welcome. However, I suggest you post comments pertaining to the puzzle on the review of the puzzle in order to keep all such comments in one place.<br /><br /><div style="clear: both;"><table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" frame="box" rules="groups" style="border: 3px solid; color: #274e13; margin: 0px auto; width: 90%;"><tbody style="border-bottom: 2px solid;">
<tr><th colspan="2" style="padding: 10px; text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
<b>Accessing the puzzle</b><br /></div>
</th> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="padding: 10px;"><b>How to print the puzzle</b><br /><br />The items in bold text as well as the image of the puzzle are links. You can open either a PDF or JPG version of the puzzle in a browser window by clicking on "<b>This puzzle from Cox & Rathvon</b>" or the puzzle image respectively. Either of these can be printed using your standard browser print controls.<br /><br /><b>Electronic version</b><br /><br />An electronic version of the puzzle in PUZ format may be available on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/74989506065/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>The Puzzler (and other cryptic crosswords)</b></a> Facebook group. A Facebook account is needed to access the file and compatible crossword puzzle software is necessary to display and solve the puzzle.<br /></td> </tr>
</tbody></table></div>
<br />Signing off forever — Falcon</div></div>Falconhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07466858757398776500noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4711047707101010297.post-15042576495063177882022-10-15T06:00:00.022-04:002022-10-16T14:45:27.747-04:00Saturday, October 15, 2022 — Halls of Academe (NP 221015)<div class="bodyFontSize" style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="236" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/G_SixH-y8wI" title="YouTube video player" width="420"></iframe><br /></div><div class="bodyFontSize">
<h2 style="line-height: 150%; padding: 25px 0px 10px;">
Introduction</h2>
Today's <i>National Post</i> Cryptic Crossword from Cox & Rathvon (NP 221015) will no doubt prove to be an educational experience – especially for solvers south of the border.<br />
<br />
The puzzle will be posted on the blog on Saturday, October 22, 2022.<br />
<br />
I invite you to leave a comment to let us know how you fared with the puzzle.
<h2 style="line-height: 150%; padding: 25px 0px 10px;">
Is This the Final Curtain?</h2>
The opening lines of the song at the top of the post from the singer appearing in today's puzzle seem to sum up the situation in which we find ourselves. It would appear that this is the final Cox and Rathvon weekend puzzle to appear in the <i>National Post</i> with Friday's <i>Daily Telegraph</i> Cryptic Crossword being the final weekday cryptic to be published.<br /><br />This blog first saw the light of day on Saturday, May 2, 2009 and, naturally, the puzzle that day was an offering from Cox and Rathvon. Looking back, I can clearly see I was more than a little presumptuous to think I could write a cryptic crossword blog, let alone one primarily dealing with British puzzles. Some of my early attempts to explain the Briticisms in the <i>Daily Telegraph</i> Cryptic Crossword widely missed the mark and would have given British readers a good laugh, I am sure. Despite these glaring "bloomers" (as the Brits would say) – or perhaps because of them, I noticed that a few British readers were following the blog even though the puzzles were published in Canada months after they first appeared in the UK.<br /><br />The blog was intended to be a forum where solvers could discuss the puzzles but in the early days there were extremely few comments. In fact, many of the small number of comments were from Brits correcting my faulty explanations of Briticisms. As a result, I was on the verge of pulling the plug when I was contacted by Big Dave, the creator of <i>Big Dave's Crossword Blog</i>, a UK blog covering cryptic crossword puzzles appearing in <i>The Daily Telegraph</i>, who encouraged me to persevere. He eventually asked me to become a contributor to his blog and my first review appeared there on September 15, 2010.<br /><br />In May 2009, I also started the <i>Ottawa Citizen Cryptic Crossword Forum</i> to cover The Sunday London Times Crossword that was published at that time in the <i>Ottawa Citizen</i>. I discontinued that blog in May 2014 when the <i>Citizen</i> stopped publishing the puzzle. At the time, I snidely wrote:<br /><blockquote>I am sure that the scrapping of this feature has done much to elevate
the intellectual level of the paper — not to mention making room for
such erudite additions as <i>Love and the Stars</i>. I suppose giving up
our weekly crossword puzzle is a small price for us cruciverbalists to
pay to ensure that the love lives of the citizens of Ottawa unfold in
accordance with the dictates of the stars.</blockquote>I must say my feelings today are eerily reminiscent of those expressed above.<br /><br />In conclusion, I would like to thank all the readers of the blog for your support over the years especially those who have left comments. It is you who have encouraged me to keep pressing on through thick and thin. I would also like to thank Emily Cox and Henry Rathvon for the immense enjoyment their creations have given us over the years. I especially want to thank them for giving their blessing to the publication of their puzzle on the blog.<br /><br />So this may be farewell but it was fun while it lasted!<br />
<h2 style="line-height: 150%; padding: 25px 0px 10px;">
Solution to Today's Puzzle</h2>
<table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" frame="box" rules="groups" style="border: 3px solid; color: #274e13; margin: 0px auto; width: 90%;">
<tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Falcon's experience</span> </div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">┌────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┐<br /><span style="color: blue;">████████████████████████████████</span><span style="color: cyan;"></span><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"></span><span style="color: #ccddbb;">███</span><br />└────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┘</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Legend:</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; margin-left: 18px; padding: 10px; text-align: left; text-indent: -18px;">
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: blue;">█</span> - solved without assistance</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: orange;">█</span> - incorrect prior to use of puzzle solving tools</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: cyan;">█</span> - solved with assistance from puzzle solving tools</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;">█</span> - solved with aid of checking letters provided by puzzle solving tools</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;">█</span> - solved but without fully parsing the clue</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: magenta;">█</span> - yet to be solved
</div>
</div>
</td> </tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" frame="box" rules="groups" style="border: 3px solid; color: #274e13; margin: 0px auto; width: 90%;">
<tbody>
<tr style="line-height: 200%;"><td colspan="2" style="font-size: x-small; text-align: center;"><b>Symbols and Markup Conventions</b></td></tr>
<tr style="line-height: 100%;"> <td colspan="1" style="font-size: x-small; text-align: left; width: 45%;"><ul>
<li><b> "*" - anagram</b></li>
<li><b>"~" - sounds like</b></li>
<li><b>"<" - indicates the preceding letters are reversed</b></li>
<li><b>"( )" - encloses contained letters</b></li>
<li><b>"_" - replaces letters that have been deleted</b></li>
<li><b> "†" - indicates that the word is present in the clue</b></li>
</ul>
</td><td colspan="1" style="font-size: x-small; text-align: left;"><ul>
<li><b>"//" - marks the boundary between wordplay and definition when no link word or link phrase is present</b></li>
<li><b>"/[link word or phrase]/" - marks the boundary between wordplay and definition when a link word or link phrase is present</b></li>
<li><b>"<span style="text-decoration: underline 1.25px;">solid underline</span>" - precise definition</b></li>
<li><b>"<span style="text-decoration: underline 1.25px dotted;">dotted underline</span>" - cryptic definition</b></li>
<li><b>"<span style="text-decoration: underline 1.25px dashed;">dashed underline</span>" - wordplay</b></li>
<li><b>"<span style="text-decoration: underline 1.25px wavy;">wavy underline</span>" - whimsical and inferred definitions</b></li>
</ul>
</td> </tr>
<tr align="center" style="line-height: 100%;"><td colspan="2" style="font-size: x-small; font-style: italic;"><b><a href="https://natpostcryptic.blogspot.com/p/blog-page.html" target="_blank">Click here</a> for further explanation and usage examples of the symbols and markup conventions used on this blog.</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table><h2 style="line-height: 150%; padding: 25px 0px 10px;">Across</h2>
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>1a</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> <u>School</u> // term scam busted (8)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>MCMASTER</b> — anagram of (<i>busted</i>) TERM SCAM<br />
<br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
<b>McMaster University</b><sup>[<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McMaster_University" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>7</b></a>]</sup> (<b>McMaster</b> or <b>Mac</b>) is a public research university in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. It was established in 1887 and has a current enrolment of about 32,000 students.<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>5a</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> Pole taking interest /in/ <u>ghost</u> (6)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>SP(I)RIT</b> — SPRIT (pole; <i>nautical term</i>) containing (<i>taking</i>) I (interest; <i>in financial equations</i>)<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>9a</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> <u>Worker with stone</u> // mother and
child (5)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>MA|SON</b> — MA (mother) + (<i>and</i>) SON (child)<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>10a</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> Louise had different // <u>school</u> (9)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>DALHOUSIE*</b> — anagram of (<i>different</i>) LOUISE HAD<br />
<br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
<b>Dalhousie University</b><sup>[<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dalhousie_University" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>7</b></a>]</sup> (<b>Dal</b>) is a large public research university in Nova Scotia, Canada, with three campuses in Halifax, Nova Scotia, an agricultural campus in Bible Hill, Nova Scotia, and a second medical school campus in Saint John, New Brunswick. It was established in 1818 and has a current enrolment of about 21,000 students.<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>12a</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> Brief, choice word about a //
<u>museum worker</u> (7)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>CUR(A)T|OR</b> — {CURT (brief) + OR (choice word)} containing (<i>about</i>) A (†)<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>13a</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> Monster // split, covered with
goop (7)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>G(REND)EL</b> — REND (split) contained in (<i>covered with</i>) GEL (goop)<br />
<span class="one-click-content css-nnyc96 e1q3nk1v1" data-linkid="nn1ov4" data-term="hero"><br /></span><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><span class="one-click-content css-nnyc96 e1q3nk1v1" data-linkid="nn1ov4" data-term="hero">In Old English legend, <b>Grendel</b></span><sup>[<a href="https://www.dictionary.com/browse/grendel#collins-section" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>16B</b></a>]</sup> <span class="one-click-content css-nnyc96 e1q3nk1v1" data-linkid="nn1ov4" data-term="hero"> is a man-eating monster defeated by the hero Beowulf.</span><br /></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>14a</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> Stigma attached to // <u>school</u> (7)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>BRAND|ON</b> — BRAND (stigma) + ON (attached to)<br />
<br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
<b>Brandon University</b><sup>[<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brandon_University" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>7</b></a>]</sup> is a university located in the city of Brandon, Manitoba, Canada. It was established in 1890 and has a current enrolment of about 3000 students.<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>16a</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> Fairly good, popular music
// <u>school</u> (5)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>B|ROCK</b> — B (fairly good) + ROCK (popular music)<br />
<br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
<b>Brock University</b><sup>[<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brock_University" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>7</b></a>]</sup> is a public research university in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada. It was established in 1964 and has a current enrolment of about 19,000 students.<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>19a</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> <u>School</u> // run in temporary
shelter (5)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>T(R)ENT</b> — R (run; <i>baseball or cricket term</i>) contained in (<i>in</i>) TENT (temporary shelter)<br />
<br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
<b>Trent University</b><sup>[<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trent_University" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>7</b></a>]</sup> is a public liberal arts university in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada with a satellite campus in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada. It was established in 1964 and has a current enrolment of about 11,000 students.<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>21a</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> Head of boys’ institute markets //
<u>school</u> (7)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>B|I|SHOPS</b> — B (<i>head</i> [<i>initial letter</i>] <i>of</i> <b>B</b>oys) + I (institute; <i>in acronyms of organizations such as RAIC, Royal Architectural Institute of Canada</i>) + SHOPS (markets)<br />
<br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
<b>Bishop's University</b><sup>[<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bishop%27s_University" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>7</b></a>]</sup> is a small English-language liberal arts university in Lennoxville, a borough of Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada. It was established in 1843 and has a current enrolment of about 2,900 students.<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>24a</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> One riding in taxi with clear //
<u>display case</u> (7)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>CAB(I)NET</b> — I ([<i>Roman numeral</i>] one) contained in (<i>riding in</i>) {CAB (taxi) + (<i>with</i>) NET (clear; <i>make as a profit</i>)}<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>26a</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> <u>Experienced sailor</u> // lad lost at
sea (3,4)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>{OLD SALT}*</b> — anagram of (<i>at sea</i>) LAD LOST<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>27a</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> Accordion-playing // <u>school</u> (9)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>CONCORDIA*</b> — anagram of (<i>playing</i>) ACCORDION<br />
<br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
<b>Concordia University</b><sup>[<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concordia_University" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>7</b></a>]</sup> is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Founded in 1974 following the merger of Loyola College (established 1896) and Sir George Williams University (established 1926), Concordia is one of the three universities in Quebec where English is the primary language of instruction (the others being McGill and Bishop's). It has a current enrolment of about 47,000 students.<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>28a</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> Retreating in German // <u>part of
West Africa</u> (5)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>NI|GER</b> — reversal of (<i>retreating</i>) IN + GER (German)<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>29a</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> Ruby receives entertainment
// <u>compensation</u> (6)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>RE(FUN)D</b> — RED (ruby) contains (<i>receives</i>) FUN (entertainment)<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>30a</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> Box outside of the French //
<u>school</u> (8)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>CAR(LE)TON</b> — CARTON (box) containing (<i>outside of</i>) LE (the French; <i>French word meaning 'the'</i>)<br /><br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><b>Carleton University</b><sup>[<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carleton_University" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>7</b></a>]</sup> is an English-language public research university in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. It was established in 1942 and has a current enrolment of about 32,000 students.<br />
</div><h2 style="line-height: 150%; padding: 25px 0px 10px;">Down</h2>
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>1d</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> Microphones capturing 1001 // <u>parrots</u> (6)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>MI(MI)CS</b> — MICS (microphones) containing (<i>capturing</i>) MI ([<i>Roman numeral</i>] 1001)<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>2d</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> <u>Wretched</u> // bears moving in distance (9)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>MI(SERAB*)LE</b> — anagram of (<i>moving</i>) BEARS contained in (<i>in</i>) MILE (distance)<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>3d</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> Artisan turned // <u>singer</u> (7)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>SINATRA*</b> — anagram of (<i>turned</i>) ARTISAN<br />
<br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
<b>Frank Sinatra</b><sup>[<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Sinatra" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>7</b></a>]</sup> (1915–1998) was an American singer and actor.<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>4d</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> <u>Bush</u> // <u>senior</u> (5)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>ELDER</b> — double definition, the former a plant and the latter an old-timer<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" frame="box" rules="groups" style="border: 3px solid; color: #274e13; margin: 0px auto; width: 90%;"><tbody style="border-bottom: 2px solid;">
<tr><th colspan="2" style="padding: 10px; text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
<b>Scratching the Surface</b><br /></div>
</th> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="padding: 10px;">The surface reading is an allusion to former US president George H. W. Bush (1924–2018), father of former US president George W. Bush.<br /></td> </tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>6d</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> <u>Saw</u> // pirate in lead (7)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>P(ROVER)B</b> — ROVER (pirate) contained in (<i>in</i>) PB ([<i>chemical symbol for</i>] lead; <i>from Latin plumbum</i>)<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>7d</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> <u>Patch grass</u> // in pastures, oddly (5)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>_RES|OD_</b> — hidden in (in) pastu<b>RES OD</b>dly<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>8d</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> Biblical priest, in journey east, // <u>branching out, perhaps?</u> (8)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>TRE(ELI)K|E</b> — ELI (biblical priest) contained in (<i>in</i>) TREK (journey) + E(ast)<br /><br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">In the Old Testament, <b>Eli</b><sup>[<a href="https://www.dictionary.com/browse/eli#collins-section" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>16B</b></a>]</sup> is the highest priest at Shiloh and teacher of Samuel (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Samuel+1-3&version=KJ21" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>I Samuel 1–3</b></a>).<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>11d</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> Part of a journey destroys // <u>myths</u> (7)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>LEG|ENDS</b> — LEG (part of a journey) + ENDS (destroys)<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>15d</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> <u>Came out</u> // only in legal document (7)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>DE(BUT)ED</b> — BUT (only; <i>as an adverb, e.g. "There is but one God."</i>) contained in (<i>in</i>) DEED (legal document)<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>17d</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> Not terribly disrupted by small giggle // <u>attack</u> (9)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>{ON(S|LAUGH)T</b>}* — anagram of (<i>terribly</i>) NOT containing (<i>disrupted by</i>) {S (small; <i>clothing size</i>) + LAUGH (giggle)}<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>18d</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> <u>Racer</u> // returned frame with beds (5,3)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>{STOC|K CAR}<</b> — reversal of (<i>returned</i>) {RACK (frame) + (with) COTS (beds)}<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>20d</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> Something sharp about popular // <u>pretender</u> (7)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>T(IN)HORN</b> — THORN (something sharp) containing (<i>about</i>) IN (popular)<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>22d</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> Vocal about racket // <u>indicating numerical rank</u> (7)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>OR(DIN)AL</b> — ORAL (vocal) containing (<i>about</i>) DIN (racket)<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>23d</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> New story by new // <u>novelist</u> (6)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>STYRO*|N_</b> — anagram of (<i>new</i>) STORY + N (new; <i>abbreviation used especially on maps</i>)<br />
<br /><b>William Styron</b><sup>[<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Styron" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>7</b></a>]</sup> (1925–2006) was an American novelist and essayist; major works; <i>Lie Down in Darkness</i> (1951), <i>The Confessions of Nat Turner</i> (1967), <i>Sophie's Choice</i> (1979)<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>25d</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> <u>Alberta park</u> // outlaw with two female companions? (5)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>BAN|F|F</b> — BAN (outlaw) + (<i>with</i>) FF (<i>two</i> [<i>instances of</i>] female)<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>26d</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> <u>Japanese port</u> // operator’s alias (5)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>O|S|AKA</b> — O ([<i>telephone</i>] operator) + S ('s) + AKA (alias)<br />
<br /><b>Osaka</b><sup>[<a href="https://www.dictionary.com/browse/osaka" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>16B</b></a>]</sup>, the third largest city in Japan, is a port located on the southern part of the island of Honshu.<br />
<h2 style="line-height: 150%; padding: 25px 0px 10px;">
Epilogue</h2>The puzzle takes me back to a road trip I made many years ago with my daughter and her friend. The two girls, in their final year of high school, were in the process of selecting which university to attend and we were visiting a number of university campuses on their short list – including two that appear in today's puzzle. The trip also involved some sightseeing diversions, among them visits to the Peterborough Lift Lock and Niagara Falls.<br />
</div>
<br />
<div style="font-size: x-small; margin-left: 40px;">
<hr />
<div><h2 style="line-height: 150%; padding: 25px 0px 10px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">References</span><br /></h2></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>Sources referenced in the blog are identified by the following reference numbers. The reference numbers themselves are hyperlinks to the entry in the source being referenced. Click on the number to view the source.</i></span><br /><br />
<b>Key to Reference Sources: </b><br />
<br />
<div style="padding-left: 42px; text-indent: -42px;">
<sup>[1]</sup> - <i>The Chambers Dictionary, 11th Edition</i><br />
</div><div style="padding-left: 42px; text-indent: -42px;">
<sup>[<b>2</b>]</sup> - <a href="https://chambers.co.uk/search/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Search Chambers</a> - (<i>Chambers 21st Century Dictionary</i>)<br />
</div><div style="padding-left: 42px; text-indent: -42px;">
<sup>[<b>3</b>]</sup> - <a href="https://www.thefreedictionary.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">TheFreeDictionary.com</a> (<i>American Heritage Dictionary</i>)<br />
</div><div style="padding-left: 42px; text-indent: -42px;">
<sup>[<b>4</b>]</sup> - <a href="https://www.thefreedictionary.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">TheFreeDictionarycom</a> (<i>Collins English Dictionary</i>)<br />
</div><div style="padding-left: 42px; text-indent: -42px;">
<sup>[<b>5</b>]</sup> - Lexico (formerly Oxford Dictionaries Online) (<i>Oxford Dictionary of English</i>)<br />
</div><div style="padding-left: 42px; text-indent: -42px;">
<sup>[<b>6</b>]</sup> - <a href="https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/american_english/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Lexico</a> (formerly Oxford Dictionaries Online) (<i>Oxford Advanced American Dictionary</i>)<br />
</div><div style="padding-left: 42px; text-indent: -42px;">
<sup>[<b>7</b>]</sup> - <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a><br />
</div><div style="padding-left: 42px; text-indent: -42px;">
<sup>[<b>8</b>]</sup> - <a href="https://dictionary.reverso.net/french-english/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Reverso Online Dictionary</a> (<i>Collins French-English Dictionary</i>)<br />
</div><div style="padding-left: 42px; text-indent: -42px;">
<sup>[<b>9</b>]</sup> - <a href="https://www.infoplease.com/dictionary" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Infoplease</a> (<i>Random House Unabridged Dictionary</i>)<br />
</div><div style="padding-left: 42px; text-indent: -42px;">
<sup>[<b>10</b>]</sup> - <a href="https://www.collinsdictionary.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">CollinsDictionary.com</a> (<i>Collins English Dictionary</i>)<br />
</div><div style="padding-left: 42px; text-indent: -42px;">
<sup>[<b>11</b>]</sup> - <a href="https://www.thefreedictionary.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">TheFreeDictionary.com</a> (<i>Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary</i>)<br />
</div><div style="padding-left: 42px; text-indent: -42px;">
<sup>[<b>12</b>]</sup> - <a href="https://www.collinsdictionary.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">CollinsDictionary.com</a> (<i>Webster’s New World College Dictionary</i>)<br />
</div><div style="padding-left: 42px; text-indent: -42px;">
<sup>[13]</sup> - <a href="https://www.macmillandictionary.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">MacmillanDictionary.com</a> (<i>Macmillan Dictionary</i>)<br />
</div><div style="padding-left: 42px; text-indent: -42px;">
<sup>[14]</sup> - <a href="https://www.collinsdictionary.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">CollinsDictionary.com</a> (<i>COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary</i>)
</div><div style="padding-left: 42px; text-indent: -42px;">
<sup>[<b>15</b>]</sup> - <a href="https://www.collinsdictionary.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">CollinsDictionary.com</a> (<i>Penguin Random House LLC/HarperCollins Publishers Ltd </i>)<br />
</div><div style="padding-left: 42px; text-indent: -42px;">
<sup>[16]</sup> - <a href="https://www.dictionary.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Dictionary.com</a> (<i>Random House Unabridged Dictionary</i>)
</div><div style="padding-left: 42px; text-indent: -42px;">
<sup>[16B]</sup> - <a href="https://www.dictionary.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Dictionary.com</a> (<i>Collins English Dictionary</i><i> </i>)
</div>
<br />
<hr />
</div>
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<div class="bodyFontSize">Signing off for today (and forever?) — Falcon</div>Falconhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07466858757398776500noreply@blogger.com43tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4711047707101010297.post-40196991813269966672022-10-15T06:00:00.019-04:002022-10-15T06:00:00.181-04:00Hex Cryptic Crossword — NP 221008 (Cox and Rathvon)<div class="bodyFontSize"><div class="bodyFontSize">
<h2 style="line-height: 150%; padding: 25px 0px 10px;">
Introduction</h2><a href="https://drive.google.com/open?id=12Jo37o2HEounguqqH0_gRtOuPRIXzT8I&authuser=yerpso%40gmail.com&usp=drive_fs" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiahdXoRR3R-qw4bKH0NthsY2ioCL2eJRZ6YzqwTW1jjq63B6ZH5tJ70otPJbxemuJx2Mvv6UYPqun0vpgDWV9jkLhcE5sqOqpgMsMw0As07G_46wWcv87a3n5lT5w76e3sZGYygFcCOGu4lOsJtiQf60i16giQ9ksEfOUP-wsFsPduvmp7-4bNq66SWQ/s1242/NP%20Cryptic%202022-10-08%20Sat%20C&R.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1242" data-original-width="1104" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiahdXoRR3R-qw4bKH0NthsY2ioCL2eJRZ6YzqwTW1jjq63B6ZH5tJ70otPJbxemuJx2Mvv6UYPqun0vpgDWV9jkLhcE5sqOqpgMsMw0As07G_46wWcv87a3n5lT5w76e3sZGYygFcCOGu4lOsJtiQf60i16giQ9ksEfOUP-wsFsPduvmp7-4bNq66SWQ/s320/NP%20Cryptic%202022-10-08%20Sat%20C&R.jpg" width="284" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Copyright © 2022 Emily Cox and Henry Rathvon,<br />used with permission</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table>This puzzle from Cox & Rathvon</b></a> was published in the <i>National Post</i> on Saturday, October 8, 2022. You can find a full review of the puzzle at <a href="https://natpostcryptic.blogspot.com/2022/10/saturday-october-8-2022-weekly-pre.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>Saturday, October 8, 2022 — Flavourful (NP 221008)</b></a>.<br />
<br />
Your comments—whether they be with regard to the puzzle or the blog—are always welcome. However, I suggest you post comments pertaining to the puzzle on the review of the puzzle in order to keep all such comments in one place.
<div style="clear: both;"><br />
<table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" frame="box" rules="groups" style="border: 3px solid; color: #274e13; margin: 0px auto; width: 90%;"><tbody style="border-bottom: 2px solid;">
<tr><th colspan="2" style="padding: 10px; text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
<b>Accessing the puzzle</b><br /></div>
</th> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="padding: 10px;"><b>How to print the puzzle</b><br /><br />The items in bold text as well as the image of the puzzle are links. You can open either a PDF or JPG version of the puzzle in a browser window by clicking on "<b>This puzzle from Cox & Rathvon</b>" or the puzzle image respectively. Either of these can be printed using your standard browser print controls.<br /><br /><b>Electronic version</b><br /><br />An electronic version of the puzzle in PUZ format may be available on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/74989506065/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>The Puzzler (and other cryptic crosswords)</b></a> Facebook group. A Facebook account is needed to access the file and compatible crossword puzzle software is necessary to display and solve the puzzle.<br /></td> </tr>
</tbody></table></div>
<br />Signing off for today — Falcon</div></div>Falconhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07466858757398776500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4711047707101010297.post-30674622130279487272022-10-14T11:26:00.002-04:002022-10-14T11:26:17.672-04:00Friday, October 14, 2022 — DT 30006<table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" style="border: 1px none; height: 40px; margin: 0px auto; width: 90%;"><tbody><tr style="line-height: 20px;"><td><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" frame="box" rules="groups" style="border: 3px solid; color: #274e13; margin: 0px auto; width: 90%;">
<tbody>
<tr><th colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 3px solid; text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 300%;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Vacation Edition</span><br /></b></span></div>
</th></tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr><th colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 3px solid; text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 300%;"><b>Puzzle at a Glance</b></span></div>
</th></tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Puzzle number in <i>The Daily Telegraph</i></span></div>
<b><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;">DT </span>30006</b></td></tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Publication date in <i>The Daily Telegraph</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Monday, June 6, 2022</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; text-align: left;">
Setter</div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Campbell (Allan Scott)</b></span><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b><br />
</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Link to full review</span></div>
<a href="http://bigdave44.com/2022/06/06/dt-30006/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><i>Big Dave's Crossword Blog</i> [DT </span>30006<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;">]</span></b></a>
</td></tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>Big Dave's Crossword Blog</i> review written by</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Falcon<br />
</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">BD rating</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="1" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Difficulty - ★★</b></span></td><td colspan="1" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Enjoyment - ★★★★</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Falcon's experience</span> </div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">┌────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┐<br /><span style="color: magenta;">████████████████████████████</span><span style="color: #ccddbb;">███████</span><br />└────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┘</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Legend:</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; padding: 10px; text-align: left;">
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: blue;">█</span> - solved without assistance</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: orange;">█</span> - incorrect prior to use of puzzle solving tools</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: cyan;">█</span> - solved with assistance from puzzle solving tools</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;">█</span> - solved with aid of checking letters provided by puzzle solving tools</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;">█</span> - solved but without fully parsing the clue</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: red;">█</span> - unsolved or incorrect prior to visiting <i>Big Dave's Crossword Blog</i></div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: #660000;">█</span> - solved with aid of checking letters provided by solutions from <i>Big Dave's Crossword Blog</i></div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: green;">█</span> - reviewed by Falcon for <i>Big Dave's Crossword Blog</i></div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: magenta;">█</span> - yet to be solved</div>
</div>
</td> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Notes</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr> <td colspan="2"><div style="padding: 5px; text-align: left;"><div style="padding: 5px; text-align: left;"><i>The National Post has skipped DT 30005 which was published in The Daily Telegraph on Saturday, June 4, 2022.</i></div></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h2 style="line-height: 150%; padding: 25px 0px 10px;">
Introduction</h2>For the
time being, I am taking a break from producing a full review of the
weekday puzzles. I will be posting an abbreviated "Vacation Edition" of
the
blog for these puzzles containing the usual "tombstone" data relating to
the puzzle. These
posts are prepared in advance and assume that the <i>National Post</i>
does not deviate from its expected publication schedule. I will
continue to produce a full review of the Saturday Cox and Rathvon
puzzle.<br /><br />Signing off for today — FalconFalconhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07466858757398776500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4711047707101010297.post-65168645592270973752022-10-13T09:00:00.000-04:002022-10-13T09:00:00.191-04:00Thursday, October 13, 2022 — DT 30004<table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" style="border: 1px none; height: 40px; margin: 0px auto; width: 90%;"><tbody><tr style="line-height: 20px;"><td><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" frame="box" rules="groups" style="border: 3px solid; color: #274e13; margin: 0px auto; width: 90%;">
<tbody>
<tr><th colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 3px solid; text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 300%;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Vacation Edition</span><br /></b></span></div>
</th></tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr><th colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 3px solid; text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 300%;"><b>Puzzle at a Glance</b></span></div>
</th></tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Puzzle number in <i>The Daily Telegraph</i></span></div>
<b><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;">DT </span>30004</b></td></tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Publication date in <i>The Daily Telegraph</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Friday, June 3, 2022</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; text-align: left;">
Setter</div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Zandio<br />
</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Link to full review</span></div>
<a href="http://bigdave44.com/2022/06/03/dt-30004/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><i>Big Dave's Crossword Blog</i> [DT </span>30004<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;">]</span></b></a>
</td></tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>Big Dave's Crossword Blog</i> review written by</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Stephen L<br />
</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">BD rating</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="1" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Difficulty - ★★</b></span></td><td colspan="1" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Enjoyment - ★★★★</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Falcon's experience</span> </div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">┌────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┐<br /><span style="color: magenta;">████████████████████████████</span><span style="color: #ccddbb;">███████</span><br />└────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┘</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Legend:</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; padding: 10px; text-align: left;">
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: blue;">█</span> - solved without assistance</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: orange;">█</span> - incorrect prior to use of puzzle solving tools</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: cyan;">█</span> - solved with assistance from puzzle solving tools</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;">█</span> - solved with aid of checking letters provided by puzzle solving tools</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;">█</span> - solved but without fully parsing the clue</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: red;">█</span> - unsolved or incorrect prior to visiting <i>Big Dave's Crossword Blog</i></div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: #660000;">█</span> - solved with aid of checking letters provided by solutions from <i>Big Dave's Crossword Blog</i></div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: green;">█</span> - reviewed by Falcon for <i>Big Dave's Crossword Blog</i></div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: magenta;">█</span> - yet to be solved</div>
</div>
</td> </tr>
</tbody></table>
<h2 style="line-height: 150%; padding: 25px 0px 10px;">
Introduction</h2>For the
time being, I am taking a break from producing a full review of the
weekday puzzles. I will be posting an abbreviated "Vacation Edition" of
the
blog for these puzzles containing the usual "tombstone" data relating to
the puzzle. These
posts are prepared in advance and assume that the <i>National Post</i>
does not deviate from its expected publication schedule. I will
continue to produce a full review of the Saturday Cox and Rathvon
puzzle.<br /><br />Signing off for today — FalconFalconhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07466858757398776500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4711047707101010297.post-14281016762545988152022-10-12T09:00:00.000-04:002022-10-12T09:00:00.184-04:00Wednesday, October 12, 2022 — DT 30003<table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" style="border: 1px none; height: 40px; margin: 0px auto; width: 90%;"><tbody><tr style="line-height: 20px;"><td><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" frame="box" rules="groups" style="border: 3px solid; color: #274e13; margin: 0px auto; width: 90%;">
<tbody>
<tr><th colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 3px solid; text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 300%;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Vacation Edition</span><br /></b></span></div>
</th></tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr><th colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 3px solid; text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 300%;"><b>Puzzle at a Glance</b></span></div>
</th></tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Puzzle number in <i>The Daily Telegraph</i></span></div>
<b><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;">DT </span>30003</b></td></tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Publication date in <i>The Daily Telegraph</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Thursday, June 2, 2022</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; text-align: left;">
Setter</div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>
Unknown</b></span><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b><br />
</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Link to full review</span></div>
<a href="http://bigdave44.com/2022/06/02/dt-30003/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><i>Big Dave's Crossword Blog</i> [DT </span>300xx<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;">]</span></b>
</a></td></tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>Big Dave's Crossword Blog</i> review written by</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Miffypops<br />
</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">BD rating</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="1" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Difficulty* - ★★★★</b></span></td><td colspan="1" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Enjoyment* - ★★★★</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Falcon's experience</span> </div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">┌────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┐<br /><span style="color: magenta;">████████████████████████████</span><span style="color: #ccddbb;">███████</span><br />└────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┘</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Legend:</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; padding: 10px; text-align: left;">
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: blue;">█</span> - solved without assistance</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: orange;">█</span> - incorrect prior to use of puzzle solving tools</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: cyan;">█</span> - solved with assistance from puzzle solving tools</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;">█</span> - solved with aid of checking letters provided by puzzle solving tools</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;">█</span> - solved but without fully parsing the clue</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: red;">█</span> - unsolved or incorrect prior to visiting <i>Big Dave's Crossword Blog</i></div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: #660000;">█</span> - solved with aid of checking letters provided by solutions from <i>Big Dave's Crossword Blog</i></div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: green;">█</span> - reviewed by Falcon for <i>Big Dave's Crossword Blog</i></div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: magenta;">█</span> - yet to be solved</div>
</div>
</td> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Notes</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr> <td colspan="2"><div style="padding: 5px; text-align: left;"><div style="padding: 5px; text-align: left;"><i>* The BD Rating for this puzzle was provided by Beaver. Miffypops has often stated that he never changes the rating from its
default value (***/***).
In cases like today where the BD Rating on his reviews is other than the default
value, it has almost certainly been supplied by someone else.</i>
</div></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h2 style="line-height: 150%; padding: 25px 0px 10px;">
Introduction</h2>For the
time being, I am taking a break from producing a full review of the
weekday puzzles. I will be posting an abbreviated "Vacation Edition" of
the
blog for these puzzles containing the usual "tombstone" data relating to
the puzzle. These
posts are prepared in advance and assume that the <i>National Post</i>
does not deviate from its expected publication schedule. I will
continue to produce a full review of the Saturday Cox and Rathvon
puzzle.<br /><br />Signing off for today — FalconFalconhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07466858757398776500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4711047707101010297.post-76747442398808054452022-10-11T09:00:00.000-04:002022-10-11T09:00:00.199-04:00Tuesday, October 11, 2022 — DT 30002<table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" style="border: 1px none; height: 40px; margin: 0px auto; width: 90%;"><tbody><tr style="line-height: 20px;"><td><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" frame="box" rules="groups" style="border: 3px solid; color: #274e13; margin: 0px auto; width: 90%;">
<tbody>
<tr><th colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 3px solid; text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 300%;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Vacation Edition</span><br /></b></span></div>
</th></tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr><th colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 3px solid; text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 300%;"><b>Puzzle at a Glance</b></span></div>
</th></tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Puzzle number in <i>The Daily Telegraph</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>DT 30002</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Publication date in <i>The Daily Telegraph</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Wednesday, June 1, 2022</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; text-align: left;">
Setter</div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Jay (Jeremy Mutch)<br />
</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Link to full review</span></div>
<a href="http://bigdave44.com/2022/06/01/dt-30002/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b><i>Big Dave's Crossword Blog</i> [DT 30002]</b></span></a>
</td></tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>Big Dave's Crossword Blog</i> review written by</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>2Kiwis<br />
</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">BD rating</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="1" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Difficulty - ★★★</b></span></td><td colspan="1" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Enjoyment - ★★★★</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Falcon's experience</span> </div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">┌────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┐<br /><span style="color: magenta;">██████████████████████████████</span><span style="color: #ccddbb;">█████</span><br />└────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┘</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Legend:</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; padding: 10px; text-align: left;">
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: blue;">█</span> - solved without assistance</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: orange;">█</span> - incorrect prior to use of puzzle solving tools</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: cyan;">█</span> - solved with assistance from puzzle solving tools</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;">█</span> - solved with aid of checking letters provided by puzzle solving tools</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;">█</span> - solved but without fully parsing the clue</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: red;">█</span> - unsolved or incorrect prior to visiting <i>Big Dave's Crossword Blog</i></div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: #660000;">█</span> - solved with aid of checking letters provided by solutions from <i>Big Dave's Crossword Blog</i></div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: green;">█</span> - reviewed by Falcon for <i>Big Dave's Crossword Blog</i></div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: magenta;">█</span> - yet to be solved</div>
</div>
</td> </tr>
</tbody></table>
<h2 style="line-height: 150%; padding: 25px 0px 10px;">
Introduction</h2>For the
time being, I am taking a break from producing a full review of the
weekday puzzles. I will be posting an abbreviated "Vacation Edition" of
the
blog for these puzzles containing the usual "tombstone" data relating to
the puzzle. These
posts are prepared in advance and assume that the <i>National Post</i>
does not deviate from its expected publication schedule. I will
continue to produce a full review of the Saturday Cox and Rathvon
puzzle.<br /><br />Signing off for today — FalconFalconhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07466858757398776500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4711047707101010297.post-68273868332272587872022-10-10T09:00:00.000-04:002022-10-10T09:00:00.187-04:00Monday, October 10, 2022 — DT 30001<table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" style="border: 1px none; height: 40px; margin: 0px auto; width: 90%;"><tbody><tr style="line-height: 20px;"><td><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" frame="box" rules="groups" style="border: 3px solid; color: #274e13; margin: 0px auto; width: 90%;">
<tbody>
<tr><th colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 3px solid; text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 300%;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Vacation Edition</span><br /></b></span></div>
</th></tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr><th colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 3px solid; text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 300%;"><b>Puzzle at a Glance</b></span></div>
</th></tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Puzzle number in <i>The Daily Telegraph</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>DT 30001</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Publication date in <i>The Daily Telegraph</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Tuesday, May 31, 2022</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; text-align: left;">
Setter</div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>X-Type<br />
</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Link to full review</span></div>
<a href="http://bigdave44.com/2022/05/31/dt-30001/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b><i>Big Dave's Crossword Blog</i> [DT 30001]</b></span></a>
</td></tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>Big Dave's Crossword Blog</i> review written by</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Mr K<br />
</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">BD rating</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="1" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Difficulty - ★★</b></span></td><td colspan="1" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Enjoyment - ★★★</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Falcon's experience</span> </div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">┌────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┐<br /><span style="color: magenta;">████████████████████████████</span><span style="color: #ccddbb;">███████</span><br />└────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┘</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Legend:</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; padding: 10px; text-align: left;">
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: blue;">█</span> - solved without assistance</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: orange;">█</span> - incorrect prior to use of puzzle solving tools</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: cyan;">█</span> - solved with assistance from puzzle solving tools</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;">█</span> - solved with aid of checking letters provided by puzzle solving tools</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;">█</span> - solved but without fully parsing the clue</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: red;">█</span> - unsolved or incorrect prior to visiting <i>Big Dave's Crossword Blog</i></div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: #660000;">█</span> - solved with aid of checking letters provided by solutions from <i>Big Dave's Crossword Blog</i></div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: green;">█</span> - reviewed by Falcon for <i>Big Dave's Crossword Blog</i></div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: magenta;">█</span> - yet to be solved</div>
</div>
</td> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Notes</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr> <td colspan="2"><div style="padding: 5px; text-align: left;">
<p><i>This puzzle appears on the Monday Diversions page in the Saturday,</i><i> October 8, 2022 edition of the National Post.</i></p></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h2 style="line-height: 150%; padding: 25px 0px 10px;">
Introduction</h2>For the
time being, I am taking a break from producing a full review of the
weekday puzzles. I will be posting an abbreviated "Vacation Edition" of
the
blog for these puzzles containing the usual "tombstone" data relating to
the puzzle. These
posts are prepared in advance and assume that the <i>National Post</i>
does not deviate from its expected publication schedule. I will
continue to produce a full review of the Saturday Cox and Rathvon
puzzle.<br /><br />Signing off for today — FalconFalconhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07466858757398776500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4711047707101010297.post-13220193600370030752022-10-08T06:00:00.003-04:002022-10-14T21:32:02.298-04:00Saturday, October 8, 2022 — Flavourful (NP 221008)<div class="bodyFontSize" style="text-align: left;"><h2 style="line-height: 150%; padding: 25px 0px 10px;">
Introduction</h2>
Today's <i>National Post</i> Cryptic Crossword from Cox & Rathvon (NP 221008) presents us with four of the five recognized fundamental flavours.<br />
<br />
The puzzle will be posted on the blog on Saturday, October 15, 2022.<br />
<br />
I invite you to leave a comment to let us know how you fared with the puzzle.
<h2 style="line-height: 150%; padding: 25px 0px 10px;">
Solution to Today's Puzzle</h2>
<table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" frame="box" rules="groups" style="border: 3px solid; color: #274e13; margin: 0px auto; width: 90%;">
<tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Falcon's experience</span> </div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">┌────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┐<br /><span style="color: blue;">██████████████████████████████</span><span style="color: cyan;"></span><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"></span><span style="color: #ccddbb;">█████</span><br />└────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┘</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Legend:</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; margin-left: 18px; padding: 10px; text-align: left; text-indent: -18px;">
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: blue;">█</span> - solved without assistance</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: orange;">█</span> - incorrect prior to use of puzzle solving tools</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: cyan;">█</span> - solved with assistance from puzzle solving tools</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;">█</span> - solved with aid of checking letters provided by puzzle solving tools</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;">█</span> - solved but without fully parsing the clue</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: magenta;">█</span> - yet to be solved
</div>
</div>
</td> </tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" frame="box" rules="groups" style="border: 3px solid; color: #274e13; margin: 0px auto; width: 90%;">
<tbody>
<tr style="line-height: 200%;"><td colspan="2" style="font-size: x-small; text-align: center;"><b>Symbols and Markup Conventions</b></td></tr>
<tr style="line-height: 100%;"> <td colspan="1" style="font-size: x-small; text-align: left; width: 45%;"><ul>
<li><b> "*" - anagram</b></li>
<li><b>"~" - sounds like</b></li>
<li><b>"<" - indicates the preceding letters are reversed</b></li>
<li><b>"( )" - encloses contained letters</b></li>
<li><b>"_" - replaces letters that have been deleted</b></li>
<li><b> "†" - indicates that the word is present in the clue</b></li>
</ul>
</td><td colspan="1" style="font-size: x-small; text-align: left;"><ul>
<li><b>"//" - marks the boundary between wordplay and definition when no link word or link phrase is present</b></li>
<li><b>"/[link word or phrase]/" - marks the boundary between wordplay and definition when a link word or link phrase is present</b></li>
<li><b>"<span style="text-decoration: underline 1.25px;">solid underline</span>" - precise definition</b></li>
<li><b>"<span style="text-decoration: underline 1.25px dotted;">dotted underline</span>" - cryptic definition</b></li>
<li><b>"<span style="text-decoration: underline 1.25px dashed;">dashed underline</span>" - wordplay</b></li>
<li><b>"<span style="text-decoration: underline 1.25px wavy;">wavy underline</span>" - whimsical and inferred definitions</b></li>
</ul>
</td> </tr>
<tr align="center" style="line-height: 100%;"><td colspan="2" style="font-size: x-small; font-style: italic;"><b><a href="https://natpostcryptic.blogspot.com/p/blog-page.html" target="_blank">Click here</a> for further explanation and usage examples of the symbols and markup conventions used on this blog.</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table><h2 style="line-height: 150%; padding: 25px 0px 10px;">Across</h2>
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>1a</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> Big success involving our // <u>whisky</u> (4,4)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>S(OUR) MASH</b> — SMASH (big success) containing (<i>involving</i>) OUR (†)<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>5a</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> Church celebration provided // <u>rocky prominence</u> (6)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>MASS|IF</b> — MASS (church celebration) + IF (provided)<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>9a</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> Chinese book about true // <u>yearning</u> (7)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>I(T)CHING</b> — {I CHING (Chinese book)} containing (<i>about</i>) T(rue)<br />
<br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
The <b>I Ching</b><sup>[<a href="https://www.dictionary.com/browse/i-ching#collins-section" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>16B</b></a>]</sup> (<i>also called</i> <b>Book of Changes</b>) is an ancient Chinese book of divination and a source of Confucian and Taoist philosophy. Answers to questions and advice may be obtained by referring to the text accompanying one of 64 hexagrams, selected at random.<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>10a</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> Yonder’s a // <u>name for a woman</u> (7)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>THERESA</b> — THERE (yonder) + S ('s) + A (†)<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>11a</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> Spinning plate, // <u>jumped</u> (5)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>LEAPT*</b> — anagram of (<i>spinning</i>) PLATE<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>12a</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> Taking little time, pursue // <u>flattery</u> (5,4)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>S(WEE|T) TALK</b> — STALK (pursue) containing (<i>taking</i>) {WEE (little) + T(ime)}<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>13a</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> In return, a great many help // <u>girl with a milk pail</u> (9)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>{DAIRY M}<|AID</b> — reversal of (<i>in return</i>) MYRIAD (a great many) + AID (help)<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>15a</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> <u>Like the twilight</u> // of the French firmament (5)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>DU|SKY</b> — DU (of the French; <i>French word meaning 'of the'</i>) + SKY (firmament)<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>17a</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> Embrace halfway through Oslo // <u>sci-fi awards</u> (5)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>HUG|OS_</b> — HUG (embrace) + OS (<i>halfway through</i> Oslo; <i>initial half of the word 'Oslo'</i>)<br />
<br /><div style="margin-left: 40px;">The <b>Hugo Award</b><sup>[<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugo_Award" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>7</b></a>]</sup> (widely considered the premier award in science fiction) is an annual literary award for the best science fiction or fantasy works and achievements of the previous year, given at the World Science Fiction Convention and chosen by its members.<br />
</div><div style="margin-left: 80px;">
<hr />
<b>Origin:</b> named after Hugo Gernsback, the founder of the pioneering science fiction magazine <i>Amazing Stories</i></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>19a</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> <u>Get out of bed late</u>, // breaking up love spree (9)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>OVERSLEEP*</b> — anagram of (breaking up) LOVE SPREE<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>21a</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> <u>Brewpub’s offering</u> // bite later, after mixing (6,3)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>{BITTER ALE}*</b> — anagram of (<i>after mixing</i>) BITE LATER<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>24a</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> <u>Caterpillar, e.g.</u>, // right inside volcanic rock (5)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>LA(R)VA</b> — R(ight) contained in (<i>inside</i>) LAVA (volcanic rock)<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>25a</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> Fancy car included in whatever // <u>divorce payment</u> (7)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>A(LIMO)NY</b> — LIMO (fancy car) contained in (<i>included in</i>) ANY (whatever)<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>26a</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> <u>Libyan port</u> // said to be very wide? (7)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>TRIPOLI~</b> — sounds like (<i>said to be</i>) TRIPLE E (very wide; <i>EEE, a very wide shoe size</i>)<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>27a</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> Significant other covers // <u>figures in geometry</u> (6)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>SO|LIDS</b> — SO (significant other; <i>in Twitterspeak, perhaps</i>) + LIDS (covers)<br />
<br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
In geometry, a <b>solid</b><sup>[<a href="https://www.dictionary.com/browse/solid#collins-section" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>16B</b></a>]</sup> is (a) a closed surface in three-dimensional space or (b) such a surface together with the volume enclosed by it.<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>28a</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> <u>Cocktail</u> // got sadly ruined (5,3)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>{SALTY DOG}*</b> — anagram of (<i>ruined</i>) GOT SADLY<br />
<br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
A <b>salty dog</b><sup>[<a href="https://www.dictionary.com/browse/salty-dog" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>16</b></a>]</sup> is a cocktail of gin or vodka and grapefruit juice, traditionally served in a salt-rimmed glass.<br />
</div><h2 style="line-height: 150%; padding: 25px 0px 10px;">Down</h2>
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>1d</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> In debt, a helpless bum // <u>gave up secrets</u> (7,3,5)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>{SPILLED THE BEANS}*</b> — anagram of (<i>bum</i>) IN DEBT A HELPLESS<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>2d</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> <u>Continuous</u> // error in opening (9)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>UNC(E)ASING</b> — E (error; <i>abbreviation used in baseball</i>) contained in (in) UNCASING (opening; <i>unwrapping</i>)<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>3d</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> Largely covering one // <u>with a little dampness</u> (7)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>MO(I)STLY</b> — MOSTLY (largely) containing (<i>covering</i>) I ([<i>Roman numeral</i>] one)<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>4d</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> Droop in the middle, like // <u>long yarns</u> (5)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>SAG|AS</b> — SAG (droop in the middle) + AS (like)<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>6d</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> <u>Helped</u> // Ms. Midler in commercial (7)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>A(BETTE)D</b> — BETTE (Ms. Midler; <i>American singer <b>Bette Midler</b></i><sup>[<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bette_Midler" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>7</b></a>]</sup>) contained in (<i>in</i>) AD (commercial)<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>7d</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> <u>Tuscan town</u> // processed anise (5)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>SIENA*</b> — anagram of (<i>processed</i>) ANISE<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>8d</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> <u>To be honest</u>, // pilot’s in top form, holding level (7,8)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>F(RANK)LY| S|PEAKING</b> — {FLY (pilot; <i>control an aircraft</i>) + S ('s) + PEAKING (in top form)} containing (<i>holding</i>) RANK (level)<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>10d</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> Engineer altered // <u>foot device</u> (7)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>TREADLE*</b> — anagram of (<i>engineer</i>) ALTERED<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>14d</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> For the audience, an Amelie // <u>oddity</u> (7)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>ANOMALY~</b> — sounds like (<i>for the audience</i>) AN AMELIE<br />
<br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
This homophone may work for some but is pretty dubious in my books – but I'll let you be the judge.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="236" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/6pQMYCAcpXg?controls=0" title="YouTube video player" width="420"></iframe><br /></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>16d</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> <u>Curse</u> // blade catching clothes (5,4)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>S(WEAR)WORD</b> — SWORD (blade) containing (<i>catching</i>) WEAR (clothes; <i>used as a noun as in 'sportswear'</i>)<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>18d</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> New editors // <u>banned drug for many athletes</u> (7)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>STEROID*</b> — anagram of (<i>new</i>) EDITORS<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>20d</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> Lois grabbed by tosspot // <u>musician in the spotlight</u> (7)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>SO(LOIS)T</b> — LOIS (†) contained in (<i>grabbed by</i>) SOT (tosspot)<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>22d</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> Tailor’s foremost desire: // <u>weave</u> (5)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>T|WILL</b> — T (<b>T</b>ailor's <i>foremost</i> [<i>initial letter</i>]) + WILL (desire)<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>23d</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> <u>Bit player</u> // in Sussex tragedy (5)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>_EX|TRA_</b> — hidden in (<i>in</i>) Suss<b>EX TRA</b>gedy<br />
<h2 style="line-height: 150%; padding: 25px 0px 10px;">
Epilogue</h2>According to Wikipedia "Taste receptors in the mouth sense the five taste modalities: sweetness, sourness, saltiness, bitterness, and savoriness (also known as savory or <i>umami</i>)."<br />
<br />
</div>
<div style="font-size: x-small; margin-left: 40px;">
<hr />
<div><h2 style="line-height: 150%; padding: 25px 0px 10px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">References</span><br /></h2></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>Sources referenced in the blog are identified by the following reference numbers. The reference numbers themselves are hyperlinks to the entry in the source being referenced. Click on the number to view the source.</i></span><br /><br />
<b>Key to Reference Sources: </b><br />
<br />
<div style="padding-left: 42px; text-indent: -42px;">
<sup>[1]</sup> - <i>The Chambers Dictionary, 11th Edition</i><br />
</div><div style="padding-left: 42px; text-indent: -42px;">
<sup>[<b>2</b>]</sup> - <a href="https://chambers.co.uk/search/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Search Chambers</a> - (<i>Chambers 21st Century Dictionary</i>)<br />
</div><div style="padding-left: 42px; text-indent: -42px;">
<sup>[<b>3</b>]</sup> - <a href="https://www.thefreedictionary.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">TheFreeDictionary.com</a> (<i>American Heritage Dictionary</i>)<br />
</div><div style="padding-left: 42px; text-indent: -42px;">
<sup>[<b>4</b>]</sup> - <a href="https://www.thefreedictionary.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">TheFreeDictionarycom</a> (<i>Collins English Dictionary</i>)<br />
</div><div style="padding-left: 42px; text-indent: -42px;">
<sup>[<b>5</b>]</sup> - Lexico (formerly Oxford Dictionaries Online) (<i>Oxford Dictionary of English</i>)<br />
</div><div style="padding-left: 42px; text-indent: -42px;">
<sup>[<b>6</b>]</sup> - <a href="https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/american_english/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Lexico</a> (formerly Oxford Dictionaries Online) (<i>Oxford Advanced American Dictionary</i>)<br />
</div><div style="padding-left: 42px; text-indent: -42px;">
<sup>[<b>7</b>]</sup> - <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a><br />
</div><div style="padding-left: 42px; text-indent: -42px;">
<sup>[<b>8</b>]</sup> - <a href="https://dictionary.reverso.net/french-english/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Reverso Online Dictionary</a> (<i>Collins French-English Dictionary</i>)<br />
</div><div style="padding-left: 42px; text-indent: -42px;">
<sup>[<b>9</b>]</sup> - <a href="https://www.infoplease.com/dictionary" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Infoplease</a> (<i>Random House Unabridged Dictionary</i>)<br />
</div><div style="padding-left: 42px; text-indent: -42px;">
<sup>[<b>10</b>]</sup> - <a href="https://www.collinsdictionary.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">CollinsDictionary.com</a> (<i>Collins English Dictionary</i>)<br />
</div><div style="padding-left: 42px; text-indent: -42px;">
<sup>[<b>11</b>]</sup> - <a href="https://www.thefreedictionary.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">TheFreeDictionary.com</a> (<i>Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary</i>)<br />
</div><div style="padding-left: 42px; text-indent: -42px;">
<sup>[<b>12</b>]</sup> - <a href="https://www.collinsdictionary.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">CollinsDictionary.com</a> (<i>Webster’s New World College Dictionary</i>)<br />
</div><div style="padding-left: 42px; text-indent: -42px;">
<sup>[13]</sup> - <a href="https://www.macmillandictionary.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">MacmillanDictionary.com</a> (<i>Macmillan Dictionary</i>)<br />
</div><div style="padding-left: 42px; text-indent: -42px;">
<sup>[14]</sup> - <a href="https://www.collinsdictionary.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">CollinsDictionary.com</a> (<i>COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary</i>)
</div><div style="padding-left: 42px; text-indent: -42px;">
<sup>[<b>15</b>]</sup> - <a href="https://www.collinsdictionary.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">CollinsDictionary.com</a> (<i>Penguin Random House LLC/HarperCollins Publishers Ltd </i>)<br />
</div><div style="padding-left: 42px; text-indent: -42px;">
<sup>[16]</sup> - <a href="https://www.dictionary.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Dictionary.com</a> (<i>Random House Unabridged Dictionary</i>)
</div><div style="padding-left: 42px; text-indent: -42px;">
<sup>[16B]</sup> - <a href="https://www.dictionary.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Dictionary.com</a> (<i>Collins English Dictionary</i><i> </i>)
</div>
<br />
<hr />
</div>
<br />
<div class="bodyFontSize">Signing off for today — Falcon</div>Falconhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07466858757398776500noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4711047707101010297.post-43817694906763201452022-10-08T06:00:00.002-04:002022-10-08T06:00:00.225-04:00 Hex Cryptic Crossword — NP 221001 (Cox and Rathvon)<div class="bodyFontSize"><div class="bodyFontSize">
<h2 style="line-height: 150%; padding: 25px 0px 10px;">
Introduction</h2><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oOoc1Mcuml0CMfbdh8-hgMb59Cm-vTjr/view?usp=sharing" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgaq9l1wI1tqjbj_HIqm9XbophEmbVfc7VW7v9KG65-9bnG5vS1fB05ugSefMGaJMTpkaM5l7X0VMi-0paSWBkZdgNbWkcgbITN5DC4fjeJYb0E-VJUzF0IF5iCqOtBgjo4sjUsxMoVKqfzhzRyNGXe7-yRqBa_LRHRuNJAj_ClEfwqz6qcTv3JOu2PA/s1242/NP%20Cryptic%202022-10-01%20Sat%20C&R.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1242" data-original-width="1104" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgaq9l1wI1tqjbj_HIqm9XbophEmbVfc7VW7v9KG65-9bnG5vS1fB05ugSefMGaJMTpkaM5l7X0VMi-0paSWBkZdgNbWkcgbITN5DC4fjeJYb0E-VJUzF0IF5iCqOtBgjo4sjUsxMoVKqfzhzRyNGXe7-yRqBa_LRHRuNJAj_ClEfwqz6qcTv3JOu2PA/s320/NP%20Cryptic%202022-10-01%20Sat%20C&R.jpg" width="284" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Copyright © 2022 Emily Cox and Henry Rathvon,<br />used with permission</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table>This puzzle from Cox & Rathvon</b></a> was published in the <i>National Post</i> on Saturday, September xx, 2022. You can find a full review of the puzzle at <a href="https://natpostcryptic.blogspot.com/2022/10/saturday-october-1-2022-weekly-pre.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>Saturday, October 1, 2022 — The Roaring Game (NP 221001)</b></a>.<br />
<br />
Your comments—whether they be with regard to the puzzle or the blog—are always welcome. However, I suggest you post comments pertaining to the puzzle on the review of the puzzle in order to keep all such comments in one place.
<div style="clear: both;"><br />
<table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" frame="box" rules="groups" style="border: 3px solid; color: #274e13; margin: 0px auto; width: 90%;"><tbody style="border-bottom: 2px solid;">
<tr><th colspan="2" style="padding: 10px; text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
<b>Accessing the puzzle</b><br /></div>
</th> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="padding: 10px;"><b>How to print the puzzle</b><br /><br />The items in bold text as well as the image of the puzzle are links. You can open either a PDF or JPG version of the puzzle in a browser window by clicking on "<b>This puzzle from Cox & Rathvon</b>" or the puzzle image respectively. Either of these can be printed using your standard browser print controls.<br /><br /><b>Electronic version</b><br /><br />An electronic version of the puzzle in PUZ format may be available on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/74989506065/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>The Puzzler (and other cryptic crosswords)</b></a> Facebook group. A Facebook account is needed to access the file and compatible crossword puzzle software is necessary to display and solve the puzzle.<br /></td> </tr>
</tbody></table></div>
<br />Signing off for today — Falcon</div></div>Falconhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07466858757398776500noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4711047707101010297.post-7233962879879548522022-10-07T09:00:00.006-04:002022-10-07T15:34:27.633-04:00Friday, October 7, 2022 — DT 30000<table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" style="border: 1px none; height: 40px; margin: 0px auto; width: 90%;"><tbody><tr style="line-height: 20px;"><td><br />
<table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" frame="box" rules="groups" style="border: 3px solid; color: #274e13; margin: 0px auto; width: 90%;">
<tbody>
<tr><th colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 3px solid; text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 300%;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Vacation Edition</span><br /></b></span></div>
</th></tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr><th colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 3px solid; text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 300%;"><b>Puzzle at a Glance</b></span></div>
</th></tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Puzzle number in <i>The Daily Telegraph</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>DT 30000</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Publication date in <i>The Daily Telegraph</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Monday, May 30, 2022</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; text-align: left;">
Setter</div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Campbell (Allan Scott)</b></span><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b><br />
</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Link to full review</span></div>
<a href="http://bigdave44.com/2022/05/30/dt-30000/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b><i>Big Dave's Crossword Blog</i> [DT 30000]</b></span></a>
</td></tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>Big Dave's Crossword Blog</i> review written by</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>pommers<br />
</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">BD rating</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="1" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Difficulty - ★★</b></span></td><td colspan="1" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Enjoyment - ★★★★★</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Falcon's experience</span> </div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">┌────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┐<br /><span style="color: magenta;">████████████████████████████</span><span style="color: #ccddbb;">███████</span><br />└────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┘</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Legend:</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; padding: 10px; text-align: left;">
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: blue;">█</span> - solved without assistance</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: orange;">█</span> - incorrect prior to use of puzzle solving tools</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: cyan;">█</span> - solved with assistance from puzzle solving tools</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;">█</span> - solved with aid of checking letters provided by puzzle solving tools</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;">█</span> - solved but without fully parsing the clue</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: red;">█</span> - unsolved or incorrect prior to visiting <i>Big Dave's Crossword Blog</i></div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: #660000;">█</span> - solved with aid of checking letters provided by solutions from <i>Big Dave's Crossword Blog</i></div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: green;">█</span> - reviewed by Falcon for <i>Big Dave's Crossword Blog</i></div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: magenta;">█</span> - yet to be solved</div>
</div>
</td> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Notes</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr> <td colspan="2"><div style="padding: 5px; text-align: left;"><div style="padding: 5px; text-align: left;">
<p><i>The National Post has skipped DT 29999 which was published in The Daily Telegraph on Saturday, May 28, 2022.</i></p></div></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h2 style="line-height: 150%; padding: 25px 0px 10px;">
Introduction</h2>For the
time being, I am taking a break from producing a full review of the
weekday puzzles. I will be posting an abbreviated "Vacation Edition" of
the
blog for these puzzles containing the usual "tombstone" data relating to
the puzzle. These
posts are prepared in advance and assume that the <i>National Post</i>
does not deviate from its expected publication schedule. I will
continue to produce a full review of the Saturday Cox and Rathvon
puzzle.<br /><br />Signing off for today — Falcon</td></tr></tbody></table>Falconhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07466858757398776500noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4711047707101010297.post-54866419221612708582022-10-06T09:00:00.002-04:002022-10-06T09:00:00.199-04:00Thursday, October 6, 2022 — DT 29998<table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" style="border: 1px none; height: 40px; margin: 0px auto; width: 90%;"><tbody><tr style="line-height: 20px;"><td><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" frame="box" rules="groups" style="border: 3px solid; color: #274e13; margin: 0px auto; width: 90%;">
<tbody>
<tr><th colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 3px solid; text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 300%;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Vacation Edition</span><br /></b></span></div>
</th></tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr><th colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 3px solid; text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 300%;"><b>Puzzle at a Glance</b></span></div>
</th></tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Puzzle number in <i>The Daily Telegraph</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>DT 29998</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Publication date in <i>The Daily Telegraph</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Friday, May 27, 2022</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; text-align: left;">
Setter</div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>silvanus<br />
</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Link to full review</span></div>
<a href="http://bigdave44.com/2022/05/27/dt-29998/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b><i>Big Dave's Crossword Blog</i> [DT 29998]</b></span></a>
</td></tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>Big Dave's Crossword Blog</i> review written by</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Miffypops<br />
</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">BD rating</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="1" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Difficulty* - ★★★</b></span></td><td colspan="1" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Enjoyment* - ★★★</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Falcon's experience</span> </div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">┌────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┐<br /><span style="color: magenta;">█████████████████████████████</span><span style="color: #ccddbb;">██████</span><br />└────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┘</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Legend:</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; padding: 10px; text-align: left;">
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: blue;">█</span> - solved without assistance</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: orange;">█</span> - incorrect prior to use of puzzle solving tools</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: cyan;">█</span> - solved with assistance from puzzle solving tools</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;">█</span> - solved with aid of checking letters provided by puzzle solving tools</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;">█</span> - solved but without fully parsing the clue</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: red;">█</span> - unsolved or incorrect prior to visiting <i>Big Dave's Crossword Blog</i></div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: #660000;">█</span> - solved with aid of checking letters provided by solutions from <i>Big Dave's Crossword Blog</i></div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: green;">█</span> - reviewed by Falcon for <i>Big Dave's Crossword Blog</i></div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: magenta;">█</span> - yet to be solved</div>
</div>
</td> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Notes</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr> <td colspan="2"><div style="padding: 5px; text-align: left;"><div style="padding: 5px; text-align: left;"><i>* I would not attribute much significance to the BD Rating as
Miffypops has repeatedly stated that he never changes it from its
default value (***/***).
In cases where the BD Rating on his reviews is other than the default
value, it has likely been set by someone else.</i>
</div></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h2 style="line-height: 150%; padding: 25px 0px 10px;">
Introduction</h2>For the
time being, I am taking a break from producing a full review of the
weekday puzzles. I will be posting an abbreviated "Vacation Edition" of
the
blog for these puzzles containing the usual "tombstone" data relating to
the puzzle. These
posts are prepared in advance and assume that the <i>National Post</i>
does not deviate from its expected publication schedule. I will
continue to produce a full review of the Saturday Cox and Rathvon
puzzle.<br /><br />Signing off for today — FalconFalconhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07466858757398776500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4711047707101010297.post-46945519499300447602022-10-05T09:00:00.002-04:002022-10-05T09:00:00.220-04:00Wednesday, October 5, 2022 — DT 29997<table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" style="border: 1px none; height: 40px; margin: 0px auto; width: 90%;"><tbody><tr style="line-height: 20px;"><td><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" frame="box" rules="groups" style="border: 3px solid; color: #274e13; margin: 0px auto; width: 90%;">
<tbody>
<tr><th colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 3px solid; text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 300%;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Vacation Edition</span><br /></b></span></div>
</th></tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr><th colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 3px solid; text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 300%;"><b>Puzzle at a Glance</b></span></div>
</th></tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Puzzle number in <i>The Daily Telegraph</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>DT 29997</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Publication date in <i>The Daily Telegraph</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Thursday, May 26, 2022</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; text-align: left;">
Setter</div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>RayT (Ray Terrell)<br />
</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Link to full review</span></div>
<a href="http://bigdave44.com/2022/05/26/dt-29997a/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b><i>Big Dave's Crossword Blog</i> [DT 29997]</b></span></a>
</td></tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>Big Dave's Crossword Blog</i> review written by</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>StephenL<br />
</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">BD rating</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="1" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Difficulty - ★★</b></span></td><td colspan="1" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Enjoyment - ★★★</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Falcon's experience</span> </div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">┌────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┐<br /><span style="color: magenta;">████████████████████████████</span><span style="color: #ccddbb;">███████</span><br />└────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┘</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Legend:</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; padding: 10px; text-align: left;">
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: blue;">█</span> - solved without assistance</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: orange;">█</span> - incorrect prior to use of puzzle solving tools</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: cyan;">█</span> - solved with assistance from puzzle solving tools</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;">█</span> - solved with aid of checking letters provided by puzzle solving tools</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;">█</span> - solved but without fully parsing the clue</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: red;">█</span> - unsolved or incorrect prior to visiting <i>Big Dave's Crossword Blog</i></div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: #660000;">█</span> - solved with aid of checking letters provided by solutions from <i>Big Dave's Crossword Blog</i></div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: green;">█</span> - reviewed by Falcon for <i>Big Dave's Crossword Blog</i></div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: magenta;">█</span> - yet to be solved</div>
</div>
</td> </tr>
</tbody></table>
<h2 style="line-height: 150%; padding: 25px 0px 10px;">
Introduction</h2>For the
time being, I am taking a break from producing a full review of the
weekday puzzles. I will be posting an abbreviated "Vacation Edition" of
the
blog for these puzzles containing the usual "tombstone" data relating to
the puzzle. These
posts are prepared in advance and assume that the <i>National Post</i>
does not deviate from its expected publication schedule. I will
continue to produce a full review of the Saturday Cox and Rathvon
puzzle.<br /><br />Signing off for today — FalconFalconhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07466858757398776500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4711047707101010297.post-88674794270469118242022-10-04T09:00:00.002-04:002022-10-04T09:00:00.211-04:00Tuesday, October 4, 2022 — DT 29996<table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" style="border: 1px none; height: 40px; margin: 0px auto; width: 90%;"><tbody><tr style="line-height: 20px;"><td><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" frame="box" rules="groups" style="border: 3px solid; color: #274e13; margin: 0px auto; width: 90%;">
<tbody>
<tr><th colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 3px solid; text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 300%;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Vacation Edition</span><br /></b></span></div>
</th></tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr><th colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 3px solid; text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 300%;"><b>Puzzle at a Glance</b></span></div>
</th></tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Puzzle number in <i>The Daily Telegraph</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>DT 29996</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Publication date in <i>The Daily Telegraph</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Wednesday, May 25, 2022</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; text-align: left;">
Setter</div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>
Unconfirmed but many educated guesses point to</b></span><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b><br />NY Doorknob aka Donnybrook</b></span> (Paul Bringloe)<br />
</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Link to full review</span></div>
<a href="http://bigdave44.com/2022/05/25/dt-29996/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b><i>Big Dave's Crossword Blog</i> [DT 29996]</b></span></a>
</td></tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>Big Dave's Crossword Blog</i> review written by</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>KiwiColin<br />
</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">BD rating</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="1" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Difficulty - ★★★</b></span></td><td colspan="1" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Enjoyment - ★★★★</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Falcon's experience</span> </div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">┌────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┐<br /><span style="color: magenta;">████████████████████████████████</span><span style="color: #ccddbb;">███</span><br />└────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┘</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Legend:</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; padding: 10px; text-align: left;">
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: blue;">█</span> - solved without assistance</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: orange;">█</span> - incorrect prior to use of puzzle solving tools</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: cyan;">█</span> - solved with assistance from puzzle solving tools</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;">█</span> - solved with aid of checking letters provided by puzzle solving tools</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;">█</span> - solved but without fully parsing the clue</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: red;">█</span> - unsolved or incorrect prior to visiting <i>Big Dave's Crossword Blog</i></div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: #660000;">█</span> - solved with aid of checking letters provided by solutions from <i>Big Dave's Crossword Blog</i></div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: green;">█</span> - reviewed by Falcon for <i>Big Dave's Crossword Blog</i></div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: magenta;">█</span> - yet to be solved</div>
</div>
</td> </tr>
</tbody></table>
<h2 style="line-height: 150%; padding: 25px 0px 10px;">
Introduction</h2>For the
time being, I am taking a break from producing a full review of the
weekday puzzles. I will be posting an abbreviated "Vacation Edition" of
the
blog for these puzzles containing the usual "tombstone" data relating to
the puzzle. These
posts are prepared in advance and assume that the <i>National Post</i>
does not deviate from its expected publication schedule. I will
continue to produce a full review of the Saturday Cox and Rathvon
puzzle.<br /><br />Signing off for today — FalconFalconhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07466858757398776500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4711047707101010297.post-73106194646706693962022-10-03T09:00:00.003-04:002022-10-03T09:00:00.201-04:00Monday, October 3, 2022 — DT 29995 (Published Saturday, October 1, 2022)<table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" style="border: 1px none; height: 40px; margin: 0px auto; width: 90%;"><tbody><tr style="line-height: 20px;"><td><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" frame="box" rules="groups" style="border: 3px solid; color: #274e13; margin: 0px auto; width: 90%;">
<tbody>
<tr><th colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 3px solid; text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 300%;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Vacation Edition</span><br /></b></span></div>
</th></tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr><th colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 3px solid; text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 300%;"><b>Puzzle at a Glance</b></span></div>
</th></tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Puzzle number in <i>The Daily Telegraph</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>DT 29995</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Publication date in <i>The Daily Telegraph</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Tuesday, May 24, 2022</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; text-align: left;">
Setter</div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>
Unknown</b></span><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b><br />
</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Link to full review</span></div>
<a href="http://bigdave44.com/2022/05/24/dt-29995/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b><i>Big Dave's Crossword Blog</i> [DT 29995]</b></span></a>
</td></tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>Big Dave's Crossword Blog</i> review written by</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Mr K<br />
</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">BD rating</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="1" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Difficulty - ★★</b></span></td><td colspan="1" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Enjoyment - ★★★★</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Falcon's experience</span> </div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">┌────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┐<br /><span style="color: magenta;">██████████████████████████████</span><span style="color: #ccddbb;">█████</span><br />└────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┘</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Legend:</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; padding: 10px; text-align: left;">
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: blue;">█</span> - solved without assistance</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: orange;">█</span> - incorrect prior to use of puzzle solving tools</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: cyan;">█</span> - solved with assistance from puzzle solving tools</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;">█</span> - solved with aid of checking letters provided by puzzle solving tools</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;">█</span> - solved but without fully parsing the clue</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: red;">█</span> - unsolved or incorrect prior to visiting <i>Big Dave's Crossword Blog</i></div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: #660000;">█</span> - solved with aid of checking letters provided by solutions from <i>Big Dave's Crossword Blog</i></div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: green;">█</span> - reviewed by Falcon for <i>Big Dave's Crossword Blog</i></div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: magenta;">█</span> - yet to be solved</div>
</div>
</td> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Notes</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr> <td colspan="2"><div style="padding: 5px; text-align: left;"><div style="padding: 5px; text-align: left;">
<p><i>This puzzle appears on the Monday Diversions page in the Saturday,</i><i> October 1, 2022 edition of the National Post.</i></p></div></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h2 style="line-height: 150%; padding: 25px 0px 10px;">
Introduction</h2>For the
time being, I am taking a break from producing a full review of the
weekday puzzles. I will be posting an abbreviated "Vacation Edition" of
the
blog for these puzzles containing the usual "tombstone" data relating to
the puzzle. These
posts are prepared in advance and assume that the <i>National Post</i>
does not deviate from its expected publication schedule. I will
continue to produce a full review of the Saturday Cox and Rathvon
puzzle.<br /><br />Signing off for today — FalconFalconhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07466858757398776500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4711047707101010297.post-76557589679103592392022-10-01T06:00:00.004-04:002022-10-06T16:20:09.858-04:00Saturday, October 1, 2022 — The Roaring Game (NP 221001)<div class="bodyFontSize" style="text-align: left;"><h2 style="line-height: 150%; padding: 25px 0px 10px;">
Introduction</h2>
Today's <i>National Post</i> Cryptic Crossword from Cox & Rathvon (NP 221001) features a winter sport that is likely second only to hockey in Canada.<br />
<br />
The puzzle will be posted on the blog on Saturday, October 8, 2022.<br />
<br />
I invite you to leave a comment to let us know how you fared with the puzzle.
<h2 style="line-height: 150%; padding: 25px 0px 10px;">
Solution to Today's Puzzle</h2>
<table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" frame="box" rules="groups" style="border: 3px solid; color: #274e13; margin: 0px auto; width: 90%;">
<tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Falcon's experience</span> </div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">┌────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┐<br /><span style="color: blue;">████████████████████████████</span><span style="color: cyan;"></span><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"></span><span style="color: #ccddbb;">███████</span><br />└────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┘</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Legend:</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; margin-left: 18px; padding: 10px; text-align: left; text-indent: -18px;">
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: blue;">█</span> - solved without assistance</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: orange;">█</span> - incorrect prior to use of puzzle solving tools</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: cyan;">█</span> - solved with assistance from puzzle solving tools</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;">█</span> - solved with aid of checking letters provided by puzzle solving tools</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;">█</span> - solved but without fully parsing the clue</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: magenta;">█</span> - yet to be solved
</div>
</div>
</td> </tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" frame="box" rules="groups" style="border: 3px solid; color: #274e13; margin: 0px auto; width: 90%;">
<tbody>
<tr style="line-height: 200%;"><td colspan="2" style="font-size: x-small; text-align: center;"><b>Symbols and Markup Conventions</b></td></tr>
<tr style="line-height: 100%;"> <td colspan="1" style="font-size: x-small; text-align: left; width: 45%;"><ul><li><b> "*" - anagram</b></li><li><b>"~" - sounds like</b></li><li><b>"<" - indicates the preceding letters are reversed</b></li><li><b>"( )" - encloses contained letters</b></li><li><b>"_" - replaces letters that have been deleted</b></li><li><b> "†" - indicates that the word is present in the clue</b></li></ul>
</td><td colspan="1" style="font-size: x-small; text-align: left;"><ul><li><b>"//" - marks the boundary between wordplay and definition when no link word or link phrase is present</b></li><li><b>"/[link word or phrase]/" - marks the boundary between wordplay and definition when a link word or link phrase is present</b></li><li><b>"<span style="text-decoration: underline 1.25px;">solid underline</span>" - precise definition</b></li><li><b>"<span style="text-decoration: underline 1.25px dotted;">dotted underline</span>" - cryptic definition</b></li><li><b>"<span style="text-decoration: underline 1.25px dashed;">dashed underline</span>" - wordplay</b></li><li><b>"<span style="text-decoration: underline 1.25px wavy;">wavy underline</span>" - whimsical and inferred definitions</b></li></ul>
</td> </tr>
<tr align="center" style="line-height: 100%;"><td colspan="2" style="font-size: x-small; font-style: italic;"><b><a href="https://natpostcryptic.blogspot.com/p/blog-page.html" target="_blank">Click here</a> for further explanation and usage examples of the symbols and markup conventions used on this blog.</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table><h2 style="line-height: 150%; padding: 25px 0px 10px;">Across</h2>
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>1a</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> <u>Wave-making device</u> // girl tossed together with unicorn (7,4)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>{CURLING IRON}*</b> — anagram of (<i>tossed</i>) {GIRL + (<i>together with</i>) UNICORN}<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>7a</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> I’m into stick // <u>sport for recreation</u> (7)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>PAST(IM)E</b> — IM (I'm) contained in (<i>into</i>) PASTE (stick)<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>8a</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> On the way back, look for no // <u>US citizens</u> (7)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>{YAN|KEES}<</b> — reversal of (<i>on the way back</i>) {SEEK (look for) + (NAY (no)}<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>10a</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> Dell user upset about one // <u>calculation tool</u> (5,4)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>{SL(I)DE RULE}*</b> — anagram of (<i>upset</i>) DELL USER containing (<i>about</i>) I ([<i>Roman numeral</i>] one)<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>11a</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> Volume inserted in only // <u>crack</u> (5)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>SOL(V)E</b> — V (volume; <i>physics symbol</i>) contained in (<i>inserted in</i>) SOLE (only)<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>12a</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> <u>Dress</u> // prohibition 500 years old? (7)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>BAN|D|AGE</b> — BAN (prohibition) + D ([<i>Roman numeral</i>] 500) + AGE (years old)<br />
<br /><div style="margin-left: 40px;">
In the comments, the equivalence of "age" and "years old" is questioned. I think they are equivalent in the following sentences:<br /></div><ul style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><li>She is age 100. <br /></li><li>She is 100 years old. <br /></li></ul><div style="margin-left: 40px;">If
I have my grammar correct, in the first example the adverb "100" comes
after the adjective "age" (postpositive) while in the second it precedes
the adjectival phrase "years old" (prepositive).<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>13a</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> Puck has busted // <u>chops</u> (5,2)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>{HACKS UP}*</b> — anagram of (<i>busted</i>) PUCK HAS<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>15a</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> <u>Shellac</u> // new counter (7)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>TROUNCE*</b> — anagram of (<i>new</i>) COUNTER<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>18a</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> Old Egyptian keeping yellow California // <u>parrot</u> (7)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>COP(Y|CA)T</b> — COPT (old Egyptian) containing (<i>keeping</i>) {Y (yellow) + CA (California; <i>postal abbreviation</i>)}<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>20a</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> Single American League // <u>star in the NBA once</u> (5)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>O'NE|AL</b> — ONE (single) + AL (American League; <i>one of the two leagues forming Major League Baseball</i>)<br />
<br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
<b>Shaquille O'Neal</b><sup>[<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaquille_O%27Neal" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>7</b></a>]</sup>
is an American former professional basketball player who played for
six teams over his 19-year career in the National Basketball Association
(NBA) and is a four-time NBA champion.<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>22a</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> Stitch hoop in sixty minutes before first of kitchen // <u>chores</u> (9)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>HOUSEWORK</b> — {SEW (stitch) + O ([<i>letter that looks like a</i>] hoop)} contained in (<i>in</i>) HOUR (sixty minutes) preceding (<i>before</i>) K (<i>first</i> [<i>letter</i>] <i>of </i><b>K</b>itchen)<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>23a</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> <u>Band member</u> // called and is returning (7)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>{SI|DEMAN}<</b> — reversal of (<i>is returning</i>) {NAMED (called) + (<i>and</i>) IS (†)}<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>24a</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> Added remark about enraged // <u>outlaws</u> (7)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>P(IRATE)S</b> — PS (added remark; <i>postscript</i>) containing (<i>about</i>) IRATE (enraged)<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>25a</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> <u>Short distance</u> // to home in quiet street (6,5)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>S(TO|NE'S T)H|ROW</b> — {TO (†) + NEST (home)} contained in (<i>in</i>) SH ([<i>admonition to be</i>] quiet) + ROW (street)<br />
<br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
<b>Row</b><sup>[<a href="https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/row#row__4" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>10</b></a>]</sup> is a mainly British term for a street, especially a narrow one lined with identical houses.<br /></div>
<h2 style="line-height: 150%; padding: 25px 0px 10px;">Down</h2>
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>1d</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> <u>Sea</u> // snake and myself in vessel (7)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>C(ASP|I)AN</b> — {ASP (snake) + (<i>and</i>) I (myself)} contained in (<i>in</i>) CAN (vessel)<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>2d</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> Canaries I disturbed // <u>make a fuss</u> (5,4)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>{RAISE CAIN}*</b> — anagram of (<i>disturbed</i>) CANARIES I<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>3d</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> <u>Rapper</u> // pitches “Crud” beer, ignoring the odds (3,4)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>||I||C||E|| C||U||B||E||</b> — the even letters from (<i>ignoring the odds</i>) p<b>I</b>t<b>C</b>h<b>E</b>s <b>C</b>r<b>U</b>d <b>B</b>e<b>E</b>r<br />
<b><br /></b><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><b>Ice Cube</b><sup>[<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_Cube" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>7</b></a>]</sup> is the professional name of American rapper
O'Shea Jackson Sr.<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>4d</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> Ultimately, painting by Wyeth acquires new // <u>woman’s name</u> (7)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>G|WY(N)ETH</b> — G (ultimately, painting; <i>final letter of paintin<b>G</b></i>) + WYETH (†) containing (<i>acquires</i>) N (new; <i>abbreviation used in places names on maps</i>)<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" frame="box" rules="groups" style="border: 3px solid; color: #274e13; margin: 0px auto; width: 90%;"><tbody style="border-bottom: 2px solid;">
<tr><th colspan="2" style="padding: 10px; text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
<b>Scratching the Surface</b><br /></div>
</th> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="padding: 10px;"><b>Andrew Wyeth</b><sup>[<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Wyeth" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>7</b></a>]</sup>
(1917–2009) was an American visual artist, primarily a realist
painter, working predominantly in a regionalist style. He was one of the
best-known U.S. artists of the middle 20th century.</td> </tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>5d</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> Player ultimately endorses // <u>skating venue</u>s (5)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>R|INKS</b> — R (player ultimately; <i>final letter of playe<b>R</b></i>) + INKS (endorses)<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>6d</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> <u>Sharp objects</u> // having no point, mostly (7)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>NEEDLES_</b> — NEEDLES[<strike>S</strike>] (having no point) discarding the final letter (<i>mostly</i>)<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>7d</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> <u>Switches</u> // spun hot tubs mistakenly (4,7)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>{PUSH BUTTONS}*</b> — anagram (<i>mistakenly</i>) SPUN HOT TUBS<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>9d</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> Soprano cries and wins
// <u>contest</u> (11)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>S|WEEPS|TAKES</b> — S (soprano) + WEEPS (cries) + (<i>and</i>) TAKES (wins)<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>14d</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> <u>Wine server</u> // prepared
crab puree (9)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>CUPBEARER*</b> — anagram of (<i>prepared</i>) CRAB PUREE<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>16d</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> Iroquois people found among Shoshone,
I’d assume (7)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>_ONE|ID|AS_</b> — hidden in (<i>found among</i>) Shosh<b>ONE ID AS</b>sume<br />
<br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
The <b>Oneida people</b><sup>[<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oneida_people" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>7</b></a>]</sup>
are a Native American tribe and First Nations band. They are one of
the five founding nations of the Iroquois Confederacy in the area of
upstate New York, particularly near the Great Lakes. Today the Oneida
are found mainly in New York, Wisconsin, and Ontario.<br /></div> <br />
<table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" frame="box" rules="groups" style="border: 3px solid; color: #274e13; margin: 0px auto; width: 90%;"><tbody style="border-bottom: 2px solid;">
<tr><th colspan="2" style="padding: 10px; text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
<b>Scratching the Surface</b><br /></div>
</th> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="padding: 10px;">The <b>Shoshone</b><sup>[<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shoshone" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>7</b></a>]</sup> (<i>or</i> <b>Shoshoni</b>) are a Native American tribe living in the western United States.<br /></td> </tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>17d</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> <u>Better</u> // men chance individually losing face (7)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>_EN|_HANCE</b> — discard the initial letters from (individually losing face) [<strike>M</strike>]EN [<strike>C</strike>]HANCE<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>18d</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> Cold booze and favourite // <u>snack with tea</u> (7)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>C|RUM|PET</b> — C (cold; <i>symbol on water taps</i>) + RUM (booze) + (<i>and</i>) PET (favourite)<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>19d</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> <u>Oklahoma tribe</u> // reordered
cat chow (7)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>CHOCTAW*</b> — anagram of (<i>reordered</i>) CAT CHOW<br />
<br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
The <b>Choctaw</b><sup>[<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Choctaw" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>7</b></a>]</sup>
are a Native American people originally based in the Southeastern
Woodlands, in what is now Alabama and Mississippi. Today, the Choctaw
are found mainly in Oklahoma, Mississippi, and Louisiana.<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>21d</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> <u>Purgatory</u> // <u>dance</u> (5)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>LIMBO</b> — double definition<br />
<h2 style="line-height: 150%; padding: 25px 0px 10px;">
Epilogue</h2>The vocabulary of the sport of CURLING [1a] features
prominently in today's puzzle including SLIDE [10a], HACK [13a], HOUSE
[22a], STONE and THROW [25a], RAISE [2d], ICE [3d], RINK [5d], BUTTON
[7d], and SWEEP [9d].<br /><br /></div><div>
<div style="font-size: x-small; margin-left: 40px;">
<hr />
<div><h2 style="line-height: 150%; padding: 25px 0px 10px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">References</span><br /></h2></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>Sources
referenced in the blog are identified by the following reference
numbers. The reference numbers themselves are hyperlinks to the entry in
the source being referenced. Click on the number to view the source.</i></span><br /><br />
<b>Key to Reference Sources: </b><br />
<br />
<div style="padding-left: 42px; text-indent: -42px;">
<sup>[1]</sup> - <i>The Chambers Dictionary, 11th Edition</i><br />
</div><div style="padding-left: 42px; text-indent: -42px;">
<sup>[<b>2</b>]</sup> - <a href="https://chambers.co.uk/search/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Search Chambers</a> - (<i>Chambers 21st Century Dictionary</i>)<br />
</div><div style="padding-left: 42px; text-indent: -42px;">
<sup>[<b>3</b>]</sup> - <a href="https://www.thefreedictionary.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">TheFreeDictionary.com</a> (<i>American Heritage Dictionary</i>)<br />
</div><div style="padding-left: 42px; text-indent: -42px;">
<sup>[<b>4</b>]</sup> - <a href="https://www.thefreedictionary.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">TheFreeDictionarycom</a> (<i>Collins English Dictionary</i>)<br />
</div><div style="padding-left: 42px; text-indent: -42px;">
<sup>[<b>5</b>]</sup> - Lexico (formerly Oxford Dictionaries Online) (<i>Oxford Dictionary of English</i>)<br />
</div><div style="padding-left: 42px; text-indent: -42px;">
<sup>[<b>6</b>]</sup> - <a href="https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/american_english/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Lexico</a> (formerly Oxford Dictionaries Online) (<i>Oxford Advanced American Dictionary</i>)<br />
</div><div style="padding-left: 42px; text-indent: -42px;">
<sup>[<b>7</b>]</sup> - <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a><br />
</div><div style="padding-left: 42px; text-indent: -42px;">
<sup>[<b>8</b>]</sup> - <a href="https://dictionary.reverso.net/french-english/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Reverso Online Dictionary</a> (<i>Collins French-English Dictionary</i>)<br />
</div><div style="padding-left: 42px; text-indent: -42px;">
<sup>[<b>9</b>]</sup> - <a href="https://www.infoplease.com/dictionary" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Infoplease</a> (<i>Random House Unabridged Dictionary</i>)<br />
</div><div style="padding-left: 42px; text-indent: -42px;">
<sup>[<b>10</b>]</sup> - <a href="https://www.collinsdictionary.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">CollinsDictionary.com</a> (<i>Collins English Dictionary</i>)<br />
</div><div style="padding-left: 42px; text-indent: -42px;">
<sup>[<b>11</b>]</sup> - <a href="https://www.thefreedictionary.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">TheFreeDictionary.com</a> (<i>Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary</i>)<br />
</div><div style="padding-left: 42px; text-indent: -42px;">
<sup>[<b>12</b>]</sup> - <a href="https://www.collinsdictionary.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">CollinsDictionary.com</a> (<i>Webster’s New World College Dictionary</i>)<br />
</div><div style="padding-left: 42px; text-indent: -42px;">
<sup>[13]</sup> - <a href="https://www.macmillandictionary.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">MacmillanDictionary.com</a> (<i>Macmillan Dictionary</i>)<br />
</div><div style="padding-left: 42px; text-indent: -42px;">
<sup>[14]</sup> - <a href="https://www.collinsdictionary.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">CollinsDictionary.com</a> (<i>COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary</i>)
</div><div style="padding-left: 42px; text-indent: -42px;">
<sup>[<b>15</b>]</sup> - <a href="https://www.collinsdictionary.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">CollinsDictionary.com</a> (<i>Penguin Random House LLC/HarperCollins Publishers Ltd </i>)<br />
</div><div style="padding-left: 42px; text-indent: -42px;">
<sup>[16]</sup> - <a href="https://www.dictionary.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Dictionary.com</a> (<i>Random House Unabridged Dictionary</i>)
</div><div style="padding-left: 42px; text-indent: -42px;">
<sup>[16B]</sup> - <a href="https://www.dictionary.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Dictionary.com</a> (<i>Collins English Dictionary</i><i> </i>)
</div>
<br />
<hr />
</div>
<br />
<div class="bodyFontSize">Signing off for today — Falcon</div></div>Falconhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07466858757398776500noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4711047707101010297.post-53196223277625168702022-10-01T06:00:00.003-04:002022-10-01T06:00:00.200-04:00Hex Cryptic Crossword — NP 220924 (Cox and Rathvon)<div class="bodyFontSize"><div class="bodyFontSize">
<h2 style="line-height: 150%; padding: 25px 0px 10px;">
Introduction</h2><a href="https://drive.google.com/open?id=12DcFwanvHfwiqWGzdWSeckOi34s14rcJ&authuser=yerpso%40gmail.com&usp=drive_fs" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8OleAptLxvqd8vvDTxJ9RrFg62TyTOq1599zy0kn6dcKVrOKp25yNqEBWTPOrWf5enoeWRCHYEd6PdQP5N_pgQhUvOmAVZZWkBe5x0AjF2Csjzzlq64JWVgHcD4GotDphK_0tpaWd67s9JKCzVQ8h2yv1GVQs2G2sVKFvzB-lYotf-mtEQcUSz4-vkw/s1242/NP%20Cryptic%202022-09-24%20Sat%20C&R.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1242" data-original-width="1104" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8OleAptLxvqd8vvDTxJ9RrFg62TyTOq1599zy0kn6dcKVrOKp25yNqEBWTPOrWf5enoeWRCHYEd6PdQP5N_pgQhUvOmAVZZWkBe5x0AjF2Csjzzlq64JWVgHcD4GotDphK_0tpaWd67s9JKCzVQ8h2yv1GVQs2G2sVKFvzB-lYotf-mtEQcUSz4-vkw/s320/NP%20Cryptic%202022-09-24%20Sat%20C&R.jpg" width="284" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Copyright © 2022 Emily Cox and Henry Rathvon,<br />used with permission</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table>This puzzle from Cox & Rathvon</b></a> was published in the <i>National Post</i> on Saturday, September 24, 2022. You can find a full review of the puzzle at <a href="https://natpostcryptic.blogspot.com/2022/09/saturday-september-24-2022-weekly-pre.html?sc=1664030441766#c3433912872002600646" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>Saturday, September 24, 2022 — Down on the Farm (NP 220924)</b></a>.<br />
<br />
Your comments—whether they be with regard to the puzzle or the blog—are always welcome. However, I suggest you post comments pertaining to the puzzle on the review of the puzzle in order to keep all such comments in one place.
<div style="clear: both;"><br />
<table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" frame="box" rules="groups" style="border: 3px solid; color: #274e13; margin: 0px auto; width: 90%;"><tbody style="border-bottom: 2px solid;">
<tr><th colspan="2" style="padding: 10px; text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
<b>Accessing the puzzle</b><br /></div>
</th> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="padding: 10px;"><b>How to print the puzzle</b><br /><br />The items in bold text as well as the image of the puzzle are links. You can open either a PDF or JPG version of the puzzle in a browser window by clicking on "<b>This puzzle from Cox & Rathvon</b>" or the puzzle image respectively. Either of these can be printed using your standard browser print controls.<br /><br /><b>Electronic version</b><br /><br />An electronic version of the puzzle in PUZ format may be available on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/74989506065/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>The Puzzler (and other cryptic crosswords)</b></a> Facebook group. A Facebook account is needed to access the file and compatible crossword puzzle software is necessary to display and solve the puzzle.<br /></td> </tr>
</tbody></table></div>
<br />Signing off for today — Falcon</div></div>Falconhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07466858757398776500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4711047707101010297.post-22616765433265942772022-09-30T09:00:00.002-04:002022-09-30T09:00:00.180-04:00Friday, September 30, 2022 — DT 29994<table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" style="border: 1px none; height: 40px; margin: 0px auto; width: 90%;"><tbody><tr style="line-height: 20px;"><td><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" frame="box" rules="groups" style="border: 3px solid; color: #274e13; margin: 0px auto; width: 90%;">
<tbody>
<tr><th colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 3px solid; text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 300%;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Vacation Edition</span><br /></b></span></div>
</th></tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr><th colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 3px solid; text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 300%;"><b>Puzzle at a Glance</b></span></div>
</th></tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Puzzle number in <i>The Daily Telegraph</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>DT 29994</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Publication date in <i>The Daily Telegraph</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Monday, May 23, 2022</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; text-align: left;">
Setter</div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Campbell (Allan Scott)</b></span><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b><br />
</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Link to full review</span></div>
<a href="http://bigdave44.com/2022/05/23/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b><i>Big Dave's Crossword Blog</i> [DT 29994]</b></span></a>
</td></tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>Big Dave's Crossword Blog</i> review written by</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>pommers<br />
</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">BD rating</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="1" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Difficulty - ★★★</b></span></td><td colspan="1" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Enjoyment - ★★★★</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Falcon's experience</span> </div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">┌────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┐<br /><span style="color: magenta;">████████████████████████████</span><span style="color: #ccddbb;">███████</span><br />└────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┘</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Legend:</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; padding: 10px; text-align: left;">
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: blue;">█</span> - solved without assistance</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: orange;">█</span> - incorrect prior to use of puzzle solving tools</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: cyan;">█</span> - solved with assistance from puzzle solving tools</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;">█</span> - solved with aid of checking letters provided by puzzle solving tools</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;">█</span> - solved but without fully parsing the clue</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: red;">█</span> - unsolved or incorrect prior to visiting <i>Big Dave's Crossword Blog</i></div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: #660000;">█</span> - solved with aid of checking letters provided by solutions from <i>Big Dave's Crossword Blog</i></div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: green;">█</span> - reviewed by Falcon for <i>Big Dave's Crossword Blog</i></div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: magenta;">█</span> - yet to be solved</div>
</div>
</td> </tr>
</tbody></table>
<h2 style="line-height: 150%; padding: 25px 0px 10px;">
Introduction</h2>For the
time being, I am taking a break from producing a full review of the
weekday puzzles. I will be posting an abbreviated "Vacation Edition" of
the
blog for these puzzles containing the usual "tombstone" data relating to
the puzzle. These
posts are prepared in advance and assume that the <i>National Post</i>
does not deviate from its expected publication schedule. I will
continue to produce a full review of the Saturday Cox and Rathvon
puzzle.<br /><br />Signing off for today — FalconFalconhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07466858757398776500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4711047707101010297.post-74463893613106240232022-09-29T09:00:00.002-04:002022-09-29T10:46:29.106-04:00Thursday, September 29, 2022 — DT 29993<table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" style="border: 1px none; height: 40px; margin: 0px auto; width: 90%;"><tbody><tr style="line-height: 20px;"><td><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" frame="box" rules="groups" style="border: 3px solid; color: #274e13; margin: 0px auto; width: 90%;">
<tbody>
<tr><th colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 3px solid; text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 300%;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Vacation Edition</span><br /></b></span></div>
</th></tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr><th colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 3px solid; text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 300%;"><b>Puzzle at a Glance</b></span></div>
</th></tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Puzzle number in <i>The Daily Telegraph</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>DT 29993</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Publication date in <i>The Daily Telegraph</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Saturday, May 21, 2022</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; text-align: left;">
Setter</div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Cephas (Peter Chamberlain)</b></span><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b><br />
</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Link to full review</span></div>
<a href="http://bigdave44.com/2022/05/21/dt-29993-hints/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b><i>Big Dave's Crossword Blog</i> [DT 29993 – Hints]</b></span></a><br />
<a href="http://bigdave44.com/2022/05/27/dt-29993/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b><i>Big Dave's Crossword Blog</i> [DT 29993 – Review]</b></span></a>
</td></tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>Big Dave's Crossword Blog</i> review written by</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Tilsit (Hints)<br />
</b></span></b></span><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Rahmat Ali (Review)</b></span><br />
</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">BD rating</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="1" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Difficulty - ★★</b></span></td><td colspan="1" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Enjoyment - ★★★★</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Falcon's experience</span> </div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">┌────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┐<br /><span style="color: magenta;">████████████████████████████</span><span style="color: #ccddbb;">███████</span><br />└────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┘</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Legend:</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; padding: 10px; text-align: left;">
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: blue;">█</span> - solved without assistance</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: orange;">█</span> - incorrect prior to use of puzzle solving tools</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: cyan;">█</span> - solved with assistance from puzzle solving tools</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;">█</span> - solved with aid of checking letters provided by puzzle solving tools</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;">█</span> - solved but without fully parsing the clue</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: red;">█</span> - unsolved or incorrect prior to visiting <i>Big Dave's Crossword Blog</i></div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: #660000;">█</span> - solved with aid of checking letters provided by solutions from <i>Big Dave's Crossword Blog</i></div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: green;">█</span> - reviewed by Falcon for <i>Big Dave's Crossword Blog</i></div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: magenta;">█</span> - yet to be solved</div>
</div>
</td> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Notes</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr> <td colspan="2"><div style="padding: 5px; text-align: left;"><div style="padding: 5px; text-align: left;"><i>As this was a Saturday "Prize Puzzle" in Britain, there are two
entries related to it on Big Dave's Crossword Blog — the first, posted
on the date of publication, contains hints for selected clues while the
second is a full review issued following the entry deadline for the
contest. The vast majority of reader comments will generally be found
attached to the "hints" posting with a minimal number — if any —
accompanying the full review.</i></div></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h2 style="line-height: 150%; padding: 25px 0px 10px;">
Introduction</h2>For the
time being, I am taking a break from producing a full review of the
weekday puzzles. I will be posting an abbreviated "Vacation Edition" of
the
blog for these puzzles containing the usual "tombstone" data relating to
the puzzle. These
posts are prepared in advance and assume that the <i>National Post</i>
does not deviate from its expected publication schedule. I will
continue to produce a full review of the Saturday Cox and Rathvon
puzzle.<br /><br />Signing off for today — FalconFalconhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07466858757398776500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4711047707101010297.post-73267853995464958862022-09-28T20:48:00.001-04:002022-09-29T10:46:51.811-04:00Wednesday, September 28, 2022 — DT 29992<table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" style="border: 1px none; height: 40px; margin: 0px auto; width: 90%;"><tbody><tr style="line-height: 20px;"><td><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" frame="box" rules="groups" style="border: 3px solid; color: #274e13; margin: 0px auto; width: 90%;">
<tbody>
<tr><th colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 3px solid; text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 300%;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Vacation Edition</span><br /></b></span></div>
</th></tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr><th colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 3px solid; text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 300%;"><b>Puzzle at a Glance</b></span></div>
</th></tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Puzzle number in <i>The Daily Telegraph</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>DT 29992</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Publication date in <i>The Daily Telegraph</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Friday, May 20, 2022</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; text-align: left;">
Setter</div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Zandio<br />
</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Link to full review</span></div>
<a href="http://bigdave44.com/2022/05/20/dt-29992/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b><i>Big Dave's Crossword Blog</i> [DT 29992]</b></span></a>
</td></tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>Big Dave's Crossword Blog</i> review written by</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Sloop John Bee<br />
</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">BD rating</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="1" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Difficulty - ★★★</b></span></td><td colspan="1" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Enjoyment - ★★★</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Falcon's experience</span> </div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">┌────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┐<br /><span style="color: magenta;">████████████████████████████</span><span style="color: #ccddbb;">███████</span><br />└────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┘</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Legend:</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; padding: 10px; text-align: left;">
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: blue;">█</span> - solved without assistance</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: orange;">█</span> - incorrect prior to use of puzzle solving tools</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: cyan;">█</span> - solved with assistance from puzzle solving tools</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;">█</span> - solved with aid of checking letters provided by puzzle solving tools</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;">█</span> - solved but without fully parsing the clue</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: red;">█</span> - unsolved or incorrect prior to visiting <i>Big Dave's Crossword Blog</i></div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: #660000;">█</span> - solved with aid of checking letters provided by solutions from <i>Big Dave's Crossword Blog</i></div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: green;">█</span> - reviewed by Falcon for <i>Big Dave's Crossword Blog</i></div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: magenta;">█</span> - yet to be solved</div>
</div>
</td> </tr>
</tbody></table>
<h2 style="line-height: 150%; padding: 25px 0px 10px;">
Introduction</h2>For the
time being, I am taking a break from producing a full review of the
weekday puzzles. I will be posting an abbreviated "Vacation Edition" of
the
blog for these puzzles containing the usual "tombstone" data relating to
the puzzle. These
posts are prepared in advance and assume that the <i>National Post</i>
does not deviate from its expected publication schedule. I will
continue to produce a full review of the Saturday Cox and Rathvon
puzzle.<br /><br />Signing off for today — FalconFalconhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07466858757398776500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4711047707101010297.post-87401696849424809712022-09-27T09:00:00.002-04:002022-09-29T10:47:09.343-04:00Tuesday, September 27, 2022 — DT 29991<table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" style="border: 1px none; height: 40px; margin: 0px auto; width: 90%;"><tbody><tr style="line-height: 20px;"><td><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" frame="box" rules="groups" style="border: 3px solid; color: #274e13; margin: 0px auto; width: 90%;">
<tbody>
<tr><th colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 3px solid; text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 300%;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Vacation Edition</span><br /></b></span></div>
</th></tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr><th colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 3px solid; text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 300%;"><b>Puzzle at a Glance</b></span></div>
</th></tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Puzzle number in <i>The Daily Telegraph</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>DT 29991</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Publication date in <i>The Daily Telegraph</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Thursday, May 19, 2022</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; text-align: left;">
Setter</div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>NY Doorknob aka Donnybrook (Paul Bringloe)<br />
</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Link to full review</span></div>
<a href="https://bigdave44.com/2022/05/19/dt-29991/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b><i>Big Dave's Crossword Blog</i> [DT 29991]</b></span></a>
</td></tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>Big Dave's Crossword Blog</i> review written by</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Miffypops<br />
</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">BD rating</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="1" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Difficulty* - ★★★</b></span></td><td colspan="1" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Enjoyment* - ★★★</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Falcon's experience</span> </div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">┌────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┐<br /><span style="color: magenta;">████████████████████████████████</span><span style="color: #ccddbb;">███</span><br />└────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┘</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Legend:</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; padding: 10px; text-align: left;">
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: blue;">█</span> - solved without assistance</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: orange;">█</span> - incorrect prior to use of puzzle solving tools</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: cyan;">█</span> - solved with assistance from puzzle solving tools</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;">█</span> - solved with aid of checking letters provided by puzzle solving tools</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;">█</span> - solved but without fully parsing the clue</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: red;">█</span> - unsolved or incorrect prior to visiting <i>Big Dave's Crossword Blog</i></div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: #660000;">█</span> - solved with aid of checking letters provided by solutions from <i>Big Dave's Crossword Blog</i></div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: green;">█</span> - reviewed by Falcon for <i>Big Dave's Crossword Blog</i></div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: magenta;">█</span> - yet to be solved</div>
</div>
</td> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Notes</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr> <td colspan="2"><div style="padding: 5px; text-align: left;"><div style="padding: 5px; text-align: left;"><i>* I would not attribute much significance to the BD Rating as Miffypops has repeatedly stated that he never changes it from its default value (***/***).
In cases where the BD Rating on his reviews is other than the default
value, it has likely been set by someone else.</i>
</div></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h2 style="line-height: 150%; padding: 25px 0px 10px;">
Introduction</h2>For the
time being, I am taking a break from producing a full review of the
weekday puzzles. I will be posting an abbreviated "Vacation Edition" of
the
blog for these puzzles containing the usual "tombstone" data relating to
the puzzle. These
posts are prepared in advance and assume that the <i>National Post</i>
does not deviate from its expected publication schedule. I will
continue to produce a full review of the Saturday Cox and Rathvon
puzzle.<br /><br />Signing off for today — FalconFalconhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07466858757398776500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4711047707101010297.post-29200497625022780342022-09-26T06:00:00.002-04:002022-09-29T10:47:29.392-04:00Monday, September 26, 2022 — DT 29990 (Published Saturday, September 24, 2022)<table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" style="border: 1px none; height: 40px; margin: 0px auto; width: 90%;"><tbody><tr style="line-height: 20px;"><td><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" frame="box" rules="groups" style="border: 3px solid; color: #274e13; margin: 0px auto; width: 90%;">
<tbody>
<tr><th colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 3px solid; text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 300%;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Vacation Edition</span><br /></b></span></div>
</th></tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr><th colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 3px solid; text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 300%;"><b>Puzzle at a Glance</b></span></div>
</th></tr>
</tbody>
<tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Puzzle number in <i>The Daily Telegraph</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>DT 29990</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Publication date in <i>The Daily Telegraph</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Wednesday, May 18, 2022</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; text-align: left;">
Setter</div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Jay (Jeremy Mutch)<br />
</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Link to full review</span></div>
<a href="https://bigdave44.com/2022/05/18/dt-29990/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b><i>Big Dave's Crossword Blog</i> [DT 29990]</b></span></a>
</td></tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>Big Dave's Crossword Blog</i> review written by</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>2Kiwis<br />
</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">BD rating</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="1" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Difficulty - ★★</b></span></td><td colspan="1" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 200%;"><b>Enjoyment - ★★★★</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Falcon's experience</span> </div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">┌────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┐<br /><span style="color: magenta;">████████████████████████████</span><span style="color: #ccddbb;">███████</span><br />└────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┘</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Legend:</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; padding: 10px; text-align: left;">
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: blue;">█</span> - solved without assistance</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: orange;">█</span> - incorrect prior to use of puzzle solving tools</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: cyan;">█</span> - solved with assistance from puzzle solving tools</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;">█</span> - solved with aid of checking letters provided by puzzle solving tools</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;">█</span> - solved but without fully parsing the clue</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: red;">█</span> - unsolved or incorrect prior to visiting <i>Big Dave's Crossword Blog</i></div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: #660000;">█</span> - solved with aid of checking letters provided by solutions from <i>Big Dave's Crossword Blog</i></div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: green;">█</span> - reviewed by Falcon for <i>Big Dave's Crossword Blog</i></div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: magenta;">█</span> - yet to be solved</div>
</div>
</td> </tr>
</tbody><tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Notes</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr> <td colspan="2"><div style="padding: 5px; text-align: left;"><div style="padding: 5px; text-align: left;">
<p><i>This puzzle appears on the Monday Diversions page in the Saturday,</i><i> September 24, 2022 edition of the National Post.</i></p></div></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h2 style="line-height: 150%; padding: 25px 0px 10px;">
Introduction</h2>For the
time being, I am taking a break from producing a full review of the
weekday puzzles. I will be posting an abbreviated "Vacation Edition" of
the
blog for these puzzles containing the usual "tombstone" data relating to
the puzzle. These
posts are prepared in advance and assume that the <i>National Post</i>
does not deviate from its expected publication schedule. I will
continue to produce a full review of the Saturday Cox and Rathvon
puzzle.<br /><br />Signing off for today — FalconFalconhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07466858757398776500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4711047707101010297.post-39644029664171613172022-09-24T06:00:00.005-04:002022-10-02T21:33:34.835-04:00Saturday, September 24, 2022 — Down on the Farm (NP 220924)<div class="bodyFontSize"><h2 style="line-height: 150%; padding: 25px 0px 10px;">
Introduction</h2>
Perhaps today's <i>National Post</i> Cryptic Crossword from Cox &
Rathvon (NP 220924) pays homage to the fall agricultural fairs which are
being held at this time of year.<br /><br />It has been quite a while since I have posted a review on the day of publication. The seasons change. Sadly, the camping season has come to an end for another year. Hockey season has begun and we came close to having a frost last night in Ottawa. <br /><br />
The puzzle will be posted on the blog on Saturday, October 1, 2022.<br />
<br />
I invite you to leave a comment to let us know how you fared with the puzzle.
<h2 style="line-height: 150%; padding: 25px 0px 10px;">
Solution to Today's Puzzle</h2>
<table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" frame="box" rules="groups" style="border: 3px solid; color: #274e13; margin: 0px auto; width: 90%;">
<tbody>
<tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Falcon's experience</span> </div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">┌────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┐<br /><span style="color: blue;">███████████████████████████</span><span style="color: cyan;"></span><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"></span><span style="color: #ccddbb;">████████</span><br />└────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┘</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Legend:</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "verdana", sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; margin-left: 18px; padding: 10px; text-align: left; text-indent: -18px;">
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: blue;">█</span> - solved without assistance</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: orange;">█</span> - incorrect prior to use of puzzle solving tools</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: cyan;">█</span> - solved with assistance from puzzle solving tools</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;">█</span> - solved with aid of checking letters provided by puzzle solving tools</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: #a64d79;">█</span> - solved but without fully parsing the clue</div>
<div style="margin-left: 18px; text-indent: -18px;">
<span style="color: magenta;">█</span> - yet to be solved
</div>
</div>
</td> </tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" frame="box" rules="groups" style="border: 3px solid; color: #274e13; margin: 0px auto; width: 90%;">
<tbody>
<tr style="line-height: 200%;"><td colspan="2" style="font-size: x-small; text-align: center;"><b>Symbols and Markup Conventions</b></td></tr>
<tr style="line-height: 100%;"> <td colspan="1" style="font-size: x-small; text-align: left; width: 45%;"><ul><li><b> "*" - anagram</b></li><li><b>"~" - sounds like</b></li><li><b>"<" - indicates the preceding letters are reversed</b></li><li><b>"( )" - encloses contained letters</b></li><li><b>"_" - replaces letters that have been deleted</b></li><li><b> "†" - indicates that the word is present in the clue</b></li></ul>
</td><td colspan="1" style="font-size: x-small; text-align: left;"><ul><li><b>"//" - marks the boundary between wordplay and definition when no link word or link phrase is present</b></li><li><b>"/[link word or phrase]/" - marks the boundary between wordplay and definition when a link word or link phrase is present</b></li><li><b>"<span style="text-decoration: underline 1.25px;">solid underline</span>" - precise definition</b></li><li><b>"<span style="text-decoration: underline 1.25px dotted;">dotted underline</span>" - cryptic definition</b></li><li><b>"<span style="text-decoration: underline 1.25px dashed;">dashed underline</span>" - wordplay</b></li><li><b>"<span style="text-decoration: underline 1.25px wavy;">wavy underline</span>" - whimsical and inferred definitions</b></li></ul>
</td> </tr>
<tr align="center" style="line-height: 100%;"><td colspan="2" style="font-size: x-small; font-style: italic;"><b><a href="https://natpostcryptic.blogspot.com/p/blog-page.html" target="_blank">Click here</a> for further explanation and usage examples of the symbols and markup conventions used on this blog.</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table><h2 style="line-height: 150%; padding: 25px 0px 10px;">Across</h2>
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>1a</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> <u>Rodent</u>, // gobbler, and sheep coming back (6)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>{MAR|MOT}<</b> — reversal of (<i>coming back</i>) {TOM (gobbler; <i>turkey</i>) + (<i>and</i>) RAM (sheep)}<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>5a</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> In conversation, someone good at explaining // <u>historian</u> (8)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>ANNALIST~</b> — sounds like (<i>in conversation</i>) ANALYST (someone good at explaining)<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>9a</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> <u>Indian city</u> // was familiar with food store by hearsay (3,5)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>{NEW DELHI}~</b> — sounds like (<i>by hearsay</i>) {KNEW (was familiar with) + DELI (food store)}<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>10a</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> <u>Season</u> // <u>total calculator</u> (6)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>SUMMER</b> — double definition<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>11a</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> Straightened out damn odd local // <u>farmer</u> (3,9)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>{OLD MACDONALD}*</b> — anagram of (<i>straightened out</i>) DAMN ODD LOCAL<br />
<br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
"<b>Old MacDonald Had a Farm</b>"<sup>[<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_MacDonald_Had_a_Farm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>7</b></a>]</sup> (sometimes shortened to <b>Old MacDonald</b>) is a traditional children's song and nursery rhyme about a farmer and the various animals he keeps.<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>13a</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> Prohibition including restricted // <u>cereal product</u> (4)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>B(R)AN</b> — BAN (prohibition) containing (<i>including</i>) R (restricted; <i>film classification</i>)<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>14a</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> <u>Freak</u> // breaking each vow about answer (4,1,3)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>{HAVE (A) COW}*</b> — anagram of (<i>breaking</i>) EACH VOW containing (<i>about</i>) A(nswer)<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>17a</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> Actress Arthur pens // <u>critters</u> (8)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>BEA|STIES</b> — BEA (actress Arthur; <i>American actress <b>Beatrice Arthur</b></i><sup>[<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bea_Arthur" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>7</b></a>]</sup>) + STIES (pens)}<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>18a</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> <u>Only</u> // 50 + 1 (4)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>L|ONE</b> — L ([<i>Roman numeral</i>] 50) + (†) one (1)<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>20a</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> <u>Making deals</u>, // bum ignored trash (5-7)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>{HORSE TRADING}*</b> — anagram of (bum) IGNORED TRASH<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>23a</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> <u>Tax</u> // <u>ancestral line</u> (6)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>STRAIN</b> — double definition<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>24a</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> Make country // <u>voluntary gift</u> (8)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>DO|NATION</b> — DO (make) + NATION (country)<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>25a</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> Dickens’s Barnaby in plain // <u>monotonous work</u> (8)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>D(RUDGE)RY</b> — RUDGE (Dickens's Barnaby) contained in (<i>in</i>) DRY (plain)<br />
<br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><b><i>Barnaby Rudge: A Tale of the Riots of Eighty</i></b><sup>[<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barnaby_Rudge" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>7</b></a>]</sup> (commonly known as <i><b>Barnaby Rudge</b></i>) is a historical novel by English writer Charles Dickens (1812–1870).<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>26a</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> Caught in squeeze, I // <u>work for an electrician</u> (6)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>W(I)RING</b> — I (†) contained in (<i>caught in</i>) WARING (squeeze)<br />
<h2 style="line-height: 150%; padding: 25px 0px 10px;">Down</h2>
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>2d</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> <u>Last word</u>, // one about yours truly (4)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>A(ME)N</b> — AN (one) containing (<i>about</i>) ME (yours truly)<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>3d</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> <u>Halfway spots</u> // strange pod in mist (9)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>MIDPOINTS*</b> — anagram of (<i>strange</i>) POD IN MIST<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>4d</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> <u>Spanish city</u> // also getting presided over (6)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>TO(LED)O</b> — TOO (also) containing (getting) LED (presided over)<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>5d</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> <u>Raising livestock</u> // in a marshland, buy ground (6,9)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>{ANIMAL HUSBANDRY)*</b> — anagram of (<i>ground</i> [<i>transformed, like grain or coffee</i>]) IN A MARSHLAND BUY<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>6d</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> No sedative missing at // <u>precipitous decline</u> (4-4)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>NOSE D||IVE</b> — NO SED[<strike>AT</strike>]IVE with AT discarded (<i>missing</i>)<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>7d</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> Trotsky eats half of my // <u>fruit</u> (5)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>LE(M)ON</b> — LEON (Trotsky; <i>Russian-Ukrainian Marxist revolutionary <b>Leon Trotsky</b></i><sup>[<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leon_Trotsky" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>7</b></a>]</sup>) containing (<i>eats</i>) M ([<i>initial</i>] <i>half of</i> MY)<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>8d</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> <u>Mesmerized</u>, // recite “J-U-M-P”? (10)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>SPELL|BOUND</b> — SPELL (recite) + BOUND (jump)<br />
<br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
The wordplay is most effective when read as an entire phrase with "recite 'J-U-M-P'" equating to "spell bound".<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>12d</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> <u>Pirate</u> // shifting beer to fore (10)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>FREEBOOTER*</b> — anagram of (<i>shifting</i>) BEER TO FORE<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>15d</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> <u>Reptile</u> // mad at gorilla (9)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>ALLIGATOR*</b> — anagram of (<i>mad</i>) AT GORILLA<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>16d</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> <u>Remove</u> // gambling equipment surrounding Stanley (8)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>DI(STAN)CE</b> — DICE (gambling equipment) containing (surrounding) STAN ([<i>diminutive of</i>] Stanley)<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>19d</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> <u>Small fry</u> // cut the grass around tavern (6)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>M(INN)OW</b> — MOW (cut the grass) containing (<i>around</i>) INN (tavern)<br />
<br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
<b>Fry</b><sup>[<a href="https://chambers.co.uk/search/?query=fry&title=21st" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>2</b></a>]</sup> is used in the sense of a young or newly spawned fish.<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>21d</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> <u>Turf</u> // pulls back (5)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>SWARD<</b> — reversal of (<i>back</i>) DRAWS (pulls)<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: blue; line-height: 200%;"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: text-top; width: 3em;"><span style="color: white;"><b>22d</b></span></td><td><span style="color: white;"><b> <u>Blue</u> // <u>feathers</u> (4)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />
<b>DOWN</b> — double definition (the first in the sense of sad)<br />
<h2 style="line-height: 150%; padding: 25px 0px 10px;">
Epilogue</h2><div style="margin-left: 80px; text-align: left;"><i>Old MacDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O,<br />And on that farm he had some beasties, E-I-E-I-O<br /></i></div><br /><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">... including a <b>cow</b> and a <b>horse</b>, not to mention a <b>marmot</b>, <b>turkey</b>, <b>sheep</b>, <b>minnow</b>, <b>alligator</b> and <b>gorilla</b> -- all penned in a grid that is very apropos to an agriculturally-themed puzzle. As Henry has pointed out in a comment below, the grid displays a series of 4 instances of the letter H arrayed across it which we can take as an allusion to the international <b>4-H movement</b><sup>[<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4-H" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>7</b></a>]</sup>.<br /><br /></div></div>
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<div><h2 style="line-height: 150%; padding: 25px 0px 10px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">References</span><br /></h2></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>Sources
referenced in the blog are identified by the following reference
numbers. The reference numbers themselves are hyperlinks to the entry in
the source being referenced. Click on the number to view the source.</i></span><br /><br />
<b>Key to Reference Sources: </b><br />
<br />
<div style="padding-left: 42px; text-indent: -42px;">
<sup>[1]</sup> - <i>The Chambers Dictionary, 11th Edition</i><br />
</div><div style="padding-left: 42px; text-indent: -42px;">
<sup>[<b>2</b>]</sup> - <a href="https://chambers.co.uk/search/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Search Chambers</a> - (<i>Chambers 21st Century Dictionary</i>)<br />
</div><div style="padding-left: 42px; text-indent: -42px;">
<sup>[<b>3</b>]</sup> - <a href="https://www.thefreedictionary.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">TheFreeDictionary.com</a> (<i>American Heritage Dictionary</i>)<br />
</div><div style="padding-left: 42px; text-indent: -42px;">
<sup>[<b>4</b>]</sup> - <a href="https://www.thefreedictionary.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">TheFreeDictionarycom</a> (<i>Collins English Dictionary</i>)<br />
</div><div style="padding-left: 42px; text-indent: -42px;">
<sup>[<b>5</b>]</sup> - Lexico (formerly Oxford Dictionaries Online) (<i>Oxford Dictionary of English</i>)<br />
</div><div style="padding-left: 42px; text-indent: -42px;">
<sup>[<b>6</b>]</sup> - <a href="https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/american_english/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Lexico</a> (formerly Oxford Dictionaries Online) (<i>Oxford Advanced American Dictionary</i>)<br />
</div><div style="padding-left: 42px; text-indent: -42px;">
<sup>[<b>7</b>]</sup> - <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a><br />
</div><div style="padding-left: 42px; text-indent: -42px;">
<sup>[<b>8</b>]</sup> - <a href="https://dictionary.reverso.net/french-english/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Reverso Online Dictionary</a> (<i>Collins French-English Dictionary</i>)<br />
</div><div style="padding-left: 42px; text-indent: -42px;">
<sup>[<b>9</b>]</sup> - <a href="https://www.infoplease.com/dictionary" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Infoplease</a> (<i>Random House Unabridged Dictionary</i>)<br />
</div><div style="padding-left: 42px; text-indent: -42px;">
<sup>[<b>10</b>]</sup> - <a href="https://www.collinsdictionary.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">CollinsDictionary.com</a> (<i>Collins English Dictionary</i>)<br />
</div><div style="padding-left: 42px; text-indent: -42px;">
<sup>[<b>11</b>]</sup> - <a href="https://www.thefreedictionary.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">TheFreeDictionary.com</a> (<i>Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary</i>)<br />
</div><div style="padding-left: 42px; text-indent: -42px;">
<sup>[<b>12</b>]</sup> - <a href="https://www.collinsdictionary.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">CollinsDictionary.com</a> (<i>Webster’s New World College Dictionary</i>)<br />
</div><div style="padding-left: 42px; text-indent: -42px;">
<sup>[13]</sup> - <a href="https://www.macmillandictionary.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">MacmillanDictionary.com</a> (<i>Macmillan Dictionary</i>)<br />
</div><div style="padding-left: 42px; text-indent: -42px;">
<sup>[14]</sup> - <a href="https://www.collinsdictionary.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">CollinsDictionary.com</a> (<i>COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary</i>)
</div><div style="padding-left: 42px; text-indent: -42px;">
<sup>[<b>15</b>]</sup> - <a href="https://www.collinsdictionary.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">CollinsDictionary.com</a> (<i>Penguin Random House LLC/HarperCollins Publishers Ltd </i>)<br />
</div><div style="padding-left: 42px; text-indent: -42px;">
<sup>[16]</sup> - <a href="https://www.dictionary.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Dictionary.com</a> (<i>Random House Unabridged Dictionary</i>)
</div><div style="padding-left: 42px; text-indent: -42px;">
<sup>[16B]</sup> - <a href="https://www.dictionary.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Dictionary.com</a> (<i>Collins English Dictionary</i><i> </i>)
</div>
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</div>
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<div class="bodyFontSize">Signing off for today — Falcon</div></div>Falconhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07466858757398776500noreply@blogger.com19