Monthly Archives: December 2011

The Last DA Confusions of 2011

Posted on December 30, 2011 by AS| 89 Comments

Here be where you sort out your confusions.

Deconfuse now.

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Posted in DA Confusion

The Last DA of 2011

Posted on December 30, 2011 by AS| 9 Comments

Here we go with the last DA of the year.

Enjoy.

Update: And here it is:

If DA ever had a coat of arms, surely the coypu would be on there.

Only got halfway through this one – more through laziness than anything else.

 

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Posted in DA Reports

Christmas DA Confusion, 2011

Posted on December 22, 2011 by AS| 138 Comments

It’s a themed one this week, and I’m sure any of your confusions will be answered here by the DA Trippers faithful.

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Posted in DA Confusion

Christmas DA, 2011

Posted on December 22, 2011 by AS| 14 Comments

DA has already stated this week’s features a theme — which usually means something special is in store.

Merry Christmas, and I bet DA will make things especially fun.

Update: A great one:

A joy to behold — and I was only a silly mistake away from a Poolroom moment (I had VENUS for VENUE, which bamboozled me with PROMOTE, and I cheated rather than work through the impasse).

Not quite Noel standard from two years ago for me, but an absolute cracker nonetheless.

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Posted in DA Reports

See the World

Posted on December 22, 2011 by AS| Leave a comment

This adorns my wall:

It’s from here: http://www.bytelevel.com/eyechart/.

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Posted in General Cryptic Talk

Rupert’s Cryptic

Posted on December 20, 2011 by AS| 13 Comments

Frequent contributor Rupert is also a frequent compiler over at his own blog.

Rupert’s latest has a special theme — and is one well worth doing.

Enjoy.

 

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Posted in General Cryptic Talk

The Not-DA Compilers in the Fairfax Network

Posted on December 20, 2011 by AS| 2 Comments

Every so often, the question of ranking the other Fairfax cryptic crossword compilers crops up. It’s been discussed twice before, here and here, and prompted by an email be frequent contributor Robin, I ask the question again: how do you rate the other Fairfax compilers?

Robin’s ratings seem to concur with the general impression:

1. DA – say no more…

<  Insert daylight here >

2. DS (Saturday) but agree about the lack of DA’s wicked sense of humour
3 and 4. DP (Wednesday) and NS (Thursday) – comments from previous posts still apply. DP is all puns usually!
5. DH (Tuesday) comments from previous posts still apply. Only ranked 5 as many odd topics are thrown up but it’s all research I find.
6. RM or EP (Monday) Only on a Monday can I match Rupert’s PBs for DA.

Is there some heretofore unnoticed genius in other setters? Or does the general impression still stand?

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Posted in General Cryptic Talk

DA Confusion for the 16/17th of December, 2011

Posted on December 15, 2011 by AS| 142 Comments

When DA says it’s going to be a thematic doozie, I expect there to be plenty of confusion.

Ask your questions here and have the Trippers sort them out.

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Posted in DA Confusion

DA for the 16/17th of December, 2011

Posted on December 15, 2011 by AS| 17 Comments

DA himself has already put out the warning: this week’s (and next week’s) crosswords are doozies.

The festive season is looking decidedly fun, especially if DA can pull off another Christmas special like he did two years ago.

No spoilers on this particular thread until Monday.

Update: A lot of fun:

RC and I combined forces for some good DA fun.

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Posted in DA Reports

Your DA Poolroom Moment

Posted on December 11, 2011 by AS| 3 Comments

The DA Poolroom was inaugurated not too long ago when RC completed his first unassisted DA, just he, the pen, the paper and DA.

I’ve noticed that a few of you have clocked in personal bests for this week’s DA, so I figure RC shouldn’t be the only one to have his efforts recorded for posterity: if you’ve got a PB, share the thrill among people who know the feeling.

You can comment about your exploits here; or, better yet, you can email me a photo or scan of your hard-fought efforts with DA and I’ll post it on the blog for the DA faithful to marvel at.

The address to email me at is in the sidebar to your right. If it’s a personal best, whatever it is — the time you got past halfway; the time you completed the DA and only cheated twice; the time you vanquished DA tag team with a friend; the time you completed the DA solo; the time you finished the DA in under thirty minutes –  just send it through to the DA Poolroom and your efforts shall be immortalised.

Update: I’ve just got to post my crossword of victory:

It’s been a long while since I’ve completed a solo vanquishing, and I needed to immortalise it here. Although RC didn’t help me directly with clues, I couldn’t have done it without his moral support on the Sunday when I was just about willing to throw in the towel.

Also on the sheet is the scorecard of my victory against my dad in πινάκ, which is a Greek version of Rummy. It was a big weekend.

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Posted in The DA Poolroom