Thanksgiving Break

Introduction

As I am taking a bit of a break over the Thanksgiving Day long weekend, there will be no blog for the next few days. I am, nevertheless, providing links to the solutions on Big Dave's site for the Daily Telegraph puzzle published today (Thursday) as well as for the one that I expect may be published tomorrow (Friday). However, since the National Post skipped a puzzle today, it's difficult to predict what they might publish tomorrow. Of course, there is no Daily Telegraph puzzle in the National Post on Saturday (when the Post provides a puzzle by Cox and Rathvon) and the Post will likely not publish on Monday, it being a holiday in Canada. I hope to be back on Tuesday with my regular blog.

Daily Links

Thursday, October 8, 2009 (DT 25937)

This puzzle was originally published Monday, May 25, 2009 in The Daily Telegraph

The National Post has skipped DT 25936, which was published Saturday, May 23, 2009 in The Daily Telegraph.

Tilsit's review of today's puzzle may be found at Big Dave's Telegraph Crossword Blog [DT 25937].

Update: Tilsit says, "I presume this is a cryptic definition ... It seems a bit weak to me." Although this is not necessarily a truly great clue, I think his assessment may be a bit harsh. The surface reading is intended to suggest a movement that is distracting. Since one meaning of disperse (defn. 5) is "[in] physics said of particles: to become evenly distributed th[r]oughout a liquid or gas" (which is the opposite of being concentrated), in a cryptic sense "disperse" could be interpreted as "move to break concentration". A similar interpretation could also be applied to the situation where law enforcement officials disperse a crowd (a concentrated gathering of people).

Friday, October 9, 2009 (DT 25938)

This is my expectation of the puzzle to be published; however, since the Post broke with its normal pattern today (Thursday), I could well be wrong in my call.

Update: My crystal ball performed admirably and my forecast proved to be accurate.

This puzzle was originally published Tuesday, May 26, 2009 in The Daily Telegraph

Gazza's review of today's puzzle may be found at Big Dave's Telegraph Crossword Blog [DT 25938].

Signing off for today - Falcon

Wednesday, October 7, 2009 (DT 25935)

This puzzle was originally published Friday, May 22, 2009 in The Daily Telegraph

Introduction

It was a rather schizophrenic puzzle today. I got off to a quick start with a number of short entries having easy clues. However, I soon ran into increasingly more difficult clues that took considerable effort to solve. For the first time in ages, I was unable to complete the puzzle without looking at the hints on Big Dave's site.

Today's Glossary

Some possibly unfamiliar abbreviations, people, places, words and expressions used in today's puzzle

monkey - (noun, defn. 2) a mischievous child

RE - abbrev. Royal Engineers: The Corps of Royal Engineers, one of the corps of the British Army

S - (entry 2, defn. 2) abbrev. Saint

tin - (noun, defn. 6) Brit. slang money

Toc H - Talbot House, British charity founded after World War I, "whose initials, in army telephone jargon, give Toc H its distinctive name"

Today's Links

Libellule's review of today's puzzle may be found at Big Dave's Telegraph Crossword Blog [DT 25935].

Commentary on Today's Puzzle

21a Excellent President not getting in the way of post-war charity (3-5)

While I got the correct solution, I did not comprehend the wordplay. No wonder, "Toc H" (a British charity founded after World War I with a name based on British army telephone jargon) has to be - by far - the most obscure reference that I have ever encountered in a puzzle!!!

22a Mistake admitted by holy English fellow in France? (6)

Before finding the solution to 19d, I suspected that the solution might be MISCUE. However, once I had the solution to 19d (thereby giving me all the checking letters for this clue), the true solution became obvious. The answer is a French man's given name - one that might be said to be rock solid.

2d Darkness descends with the last bit of the puzzle (6)

I solved this clue with the help of Libellule's hint. WordNavigator Crossword Solver failed me by not including EREBUS in its list of words matching the checking letters. I might have solved the clue had I used Chambers Word Wizard, as it does include EREBUS in its results.

19d Monkey in old city - possibly a prominent feature (6)

Despite suspecting that the "old city" might be UR and even considering URCHIN as a possible solution, I (foolishly, as it turns out) rejected it as I was unable to decipher the wordplay. It did not occur to me that monkey could mean "mischievous child".

20d Have a wager on man, 26 (6)

After two consecutive days with false cross-references, we have a real one. In this clue, "26" is a cross-reference to clue 26a. The wordplay is BET (wager) plus RAY (man) and the definition is BETRAY (sell, the solution to 26a).

Signing off for today - Falcon

Tuesday, October 6, 2009 (DT 25934)

This puzzle was originally published Thursday, May 21, 2009 in The Daily Telegraph

Introduction

Although I enjoyed today's puzzle, I found it to be quite challenging. I did complete the puzzle, but it took longer than I would have thought necessary. In hindsight, some of the clues that gave me trouble should really not have been that difficult - but, as Big Dave often says, it seems that I was just not on the same wavelength as the setter of today's puzzle.

Today's Glossary

Some possibly unfamiliar abbreviations, people, places, words and expressions used in today's puzzle

ticket tout - Brit. a person who buys up tickets for an event to resell them at a profit (or, in North American lingo, a scalper)

Today's Links

Gazza's review of today's puzzle may be found at Big Dave's Telegraph Crossword Blog [DT 25934].

Commentary on Today's Puzzle

11a Break provided in case of riot (4)

I recognized that "case of riot" refers to the first and last letters of riot, or RT. However, my initial stab at a solution was REST. Thereafter, I made little headway in the north-east quadrant until I discovered my mistake.

18a Understanding sailing course includes temporary accommodation (7)

In this clue, "sailing course" refers to a three-character compass bearing - not the location of a sailing race. But which of the eight possibilities should one choose?

25a Start soundly, saving some salary? (10)

This is one of those clues where I feel certain that I have overlooked some nuance. The clue is obviously an example of alliteration, but beyond that I could see no significance to most of the wordplay (i.e., "starting some salary"). However, as Gazza explains, that is exactly what the wordplay is intended to be - an example of alliteration.

5d Staying away from sailor since 10 got lost (10)

Again, as was the case in yesterday's puzzle, "10" is not a cross-reference to another clue, but merely "ten". Interestingly, if Gazza has transcribed the clue correctly in his review, the clue appeared in the Daily Telegraph with "ten" spelled out, rather than being written in numerals. Having seen this, I was prompted to go back and check 22d in yesterday's puzzle, and I see that (according to Big Dave's review) the word "ten" was also spelled out in the Daily Telegraph rather than being written in numerals.

Signing off for today - Falcon

Monday, October 5, 2009 (DT 25933)

This puzzle was originally published Wednesday, May 20, 2009 in The Daily Telegraph

Introduction

Today's puzzle started off rather easily, and I initially made fairly rapid progress. However, the last few clues did pose somewhat more of a challenge. As I have come to expect, Big Dave seems to have quite a different opinion of this puzzle; though, I do agree that there are more than a few questionable aspects to the clues in today's puzzle.

Today's Glossary

Some possibly unfamiliar abbreviations, people, places, words and expressions used in today's puzzle

egency - need

Note: I figure that if the only source for a word is "The Phrontistery - A Dictionary of Obscure Words", then it easily qualifies for inclusion on this list.

grig - Brit. a small or young eel

lag - Brit. a habitual convict

pall - (noun, defn. 7) Archaic a garment, esp. a robe, cloak, or the like

Scotland Yard - headquarters of the Metropolitan Police Service, responsible for law enforcement in Greater London, excluding the City of London

U - in the UK, upper class (therefore, acceptable) in reference to English usage (ironically, in the United States, U designates an unsatisfactory grade in some educational institutions)

Today's Links

Big Dave's review of today's puzzle may be found at Big Dave's Telegraph Crossword Blog [DT 25933].

Commentary on Today's Puzzle

22a Study of wood by three unknown characters about to behold a plank (8)

The three unknown characters (from algebra) are XYY which are put around (about) LO (behold) and LOG (plank), to form XYLOLOGY - the study of wood. This clue contains one of my pet peeves, the redundant article "a" before plank.

25a Careless work of hit and run merchant (8)

Okay, I see where SLAP (hit) and DASH (run) come from; however, what is the purpose of "work" and "merchant" in the clue. If you ask me, the whole clue seems to be a rather slapdash affair; but, maybe that is the intent - perhaps it's intended to be an &lit clue ;-)

5d Joins Confederates (6)

This is another of my pet peeves, double definitions where the two definitions given in the clue are synonyms. To my way of thinking, the solution should be a synonym to each definition without the definitions themselves being synonyms. I admit that this instance is not as objectionable as some that I have seen, as the verb "confederates" is posing as a noun in the surface reading.

6d Mercifully discharged (3,3)

I puzzled over this solution (LET OFF) for quite some time. I think the idea is that the expression "let off" suggests that mercy has been shown and the perpetrator has not been held to account for their transgression.

10d Took off cloak in disgusted condition (8)

Supposedly, "took off" is APED. However, I searched in vain through a number of dictionaries and was only able to find "take off" listed as a noun, not a verb. I also had to conduct a fairly rigorous search to discover that "pall" has an archaic meaning of "cloak".

22d Short celebration for those with 10 degrees (4)

Is "10" a cross-reference to clue number 10d? No, in this case, "10" is just plain old (Roman) ten.

Signing off for today - Falcon

Saturday, October 3, 2009 - Cartoon Characters

Introduction

Today's puzzle, a fairly typical Cox and Rathvon creation, takes us to the cinema - where we are treated to a couple of animated features.










Solution to Today's Puzzle

Legend:	"CD" Cryptic Definition; "DD" Double Definition
	"*" anagram; "~" sounds like; "<" letters reversed
	"( )" letters inserted; "_" letters deleted

Across

1a H(A|BIT)AT - somewhat (A BIT) framed by (insertion) cap (HAT)

5a CLAMMER~ - sounds like (heard) CLAMOUR (ruckus)

9a ROD|IN - bar (ROD) + popular (IN)

10a M(ORATOR|I)A - speaker (ORATOR) and I involved in (insertion) Massachusetts (MA)

11a FI(N)ANCE - husband-to-be (FIANCE) about (around) name (N)

12a DAM<|AGED - returned (reversal) angry (MAD), old (AGED)

13a {ROGER RABBIT}* - corrected {BIG TAB ERROR}

18a {THE LION KING}* - {LIKE NOTHING} else

21a P(O|THE)AD - love (O) article (THE) found in (insertion) apartment (PAD)

23a HE|A|VE TO - the guy (HE) with (plus) a rejection (A VETO)

25a CLOUD OVER - screen (COVER) outside (around) gaudy (LOUD)

26a L|HAS|A - Liberal (L) owns (HAS) A

27a DREA(ME)D - myself (ME) in (insertion) apprehension (DREAD)

28a DOWN PAT - fluff (DOWN) by (plus) Patrick (PAT)

Down

1d HEREFORD - present (HERE) FOR drive (D)

2d BAD(IN|A)GE - what an officer wears (BADGE) engaging (surrounding) IN A

3d TEN|ON - decade (TEN) running (ON)

4d TEMPERATE* - {MET PETER A} radical

5d CORED - sounds like (heard) CHORD (group of notes)

6d A|U(TOMATO)N - salad ingredient (TOMATO) picked up by (surrounded by) A UN

7d MIR(AG)E - silver (AG) in (insertion) swampy ground (MIRE)

8d RWANDA* - {WAR AND} changes

14d ROTTER|DAM - cad (ROTTER) going in front of (before) mother (DAM)

15d B(RIGHT) RED - raised (BRED) around (surrounding) conservative (RIGHT)

16d {TIME (W)ARP}* - work (W) grasped by (surrounded by) strange (anagram) PRIMATE

17d _IGNORANT_ - in (hidden word) desIGN OR ANTiques

19d S|PACED - head of (first letter of) state (S) walked back and forth (PACED)

20d ST(R)OVE - piece of (first letter of) roast (R) in (insertion) cooker (STOVE)

22d D|AVID - poor [grade] (D) with (plus) eager (AVID) following (at the end)

24d ALLOW - everything (ALL) that hurts (OW) [exclamation of pain]

Signing off for today - Falcon

Friday, October 2, 2009 (DT 25932)

This puzzle was originally published Tuesday, May 19, 2009 in The Daily Telegraph

Introduction

Like the Brits, I had the most difficulty with the lower right-hand corner. After completing the other three quadrants unaided, I needed to make extensive use of the solving aids in my Tool Chest to finish the puzzle.

Today's Glossary

Some possibly unfamiliar abbreviations, people, places, words and expressions used in today's puzzle

Desperate Dan - a character in the British comic strip The Dandy

fag - Brit. a cigarette (a term that at one time was also common in Canada but seems to have fallen into disuse - supplanted by another meaning)

Today's Links

Gazza's review of today's puzzle may be found at Big Dave's Telegraph Crossword Blog [DT 25932].

Commentary on Today's Puzzle

13a Grand tipping back beer (5)

It is clear that the wordplay contains a reversal, but the trick is to decide which is the definition ("grand" or "beer"). One could interpret the clue as:

13a Grand (REGAL) /\ tipping back beer (LAGER) (5)

or

13a Grand (REGAL) tipping back /\ beer (LAGER) (5)

14a Turn over - it's not working (4)

Before reading Gazza's review, I was puzzled by the wordplay in this clue, having missed the automotive allusion in "turn over".

21d More thoughtless gossip (7)

I originally tried BLATHER as a solution, but this proved to be erroneous.

Signing off for today - Falcon

Thursday, October 1, 2009 (DT 25931)

This puzzle was originally published Monday, May 18, 2009 in The Daily Telegraph

Introduction

I found this puzzle to be moderately challenging, which provides a nice sense of satisfaction on completing it. It has a fair amount of clever wordplay - and a couple of pretty convoluted clues.

Today's Glossary

Some possibly unfamiliar abbreviations, people, places, words and expressions used in today's puzzle

Number 10 - 10 Downing Street: address of the office and residence of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom

Today's Links

Tilsit's review of today's puzzle may be found at Big Dave's Telegraph Crossword Blog [DT 25931].

Commentary on Today's Puzzle

4d An arm put round pretty girl in a game (9)

I found this clue to have a rather convoluted construction - but one that seems to crop up fairly often in crossword clues. It would initially appear (at least to me) that the meaning of the wordplay is "An arm; put it round pretty girl" (i.e., take a phrase meaning 'an arm' and put it around a word meaning 'pretty girl'). However, one must actually interpret the clue as "An arm; put round it pretty girl" (i.e., take a phrase meaning 'an arm' and put around it a word meaning 'pretty girl'). Notice that merely changing the position of the pronoun "it" (which is implicit in the clue itself) produces a totally opposite result.

22d It is in fact a point of view (5)

Another clue with a seemingly convoluted construction. Here, "it" represents the solution, so the meaning of the wordplay is "The solution is in fact a point" or, in other words, put a (cardinal) point (E for East) inside "fact" to get FACET (a view). Perhaps the construction only seems convoluted because one is misled by the surface reading. I doubt that few would consider the following sentence to be convoluted "Put in the bowl a cup of flour and a teaspoon of salt" which I believe has a construction similar to that of this clue.

Signing off for today - Falcon