Category Archives: General Cryptic Talk

When RC, an original DA Tripper, isn’t smashing cryptics, he’s smashing dodgy economic assessments of mining projects for Fairfax:

http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/facts-and-fiction-from-the-mining-proponents-20130109-2cgmk.html

So I’ve just finished writing a letter to The Age editor urging them to give LR the Monday slot permanently.

You should too.

LR is easily the best compiler of the non-DA Fairfax week and shouldn’t have to share Monday with anybody. Make Monday LR’s and have the cryptic joy spread.

And if you missed it, here’s Monday’s LR for some cryptic fun that should have you writing to your Fairfax editor quick smart:

Rupert will have a book sent to him very shortly thanks to his polyglot word story.

Congratulations Rupert — send through an address and I’ll mail it to you across the pond.

DA’s gotten busy and put together another book to delight cruciverbalists and non-cruciverbalists alike.

In Puzzles and Words, DA focusses on general word puzzles and word stories, especially those of an etymological bent (most surprising word story I’ve come across: emu comes from Portuguese, which has the word ema to denote any large, ostrich-like bird).

There’s more information on the book at DA’s own website as well as his publisher’s, Allen & Unwin.

Now, the kind folk at Allen & Unwin have kindly sent me a copy of the book to give away, and give it away I shall with a little contest.

Word stories are always fun, so whoever submits what I (AS) and RC judge to be the most surprising, interesting and enchanting word story wins the book. Please try and limit yourself to two stories, although if stumbling across something particularly enchanting has you submitting a third story, it’s unlikely we’ll strike it from the record. And take note: RC and I particularly like anything that’s polyglot, and especially anything that’s not written with the Roman script.

Get cracking, and I’ll announce the winner Tuesday next week (the 20th of November).

Happy days for anyone who wants to meet the master in the flesh.

DA is doing a cryptic crossword session at the Fitzroy Town Hall on the 3rd December, between 7-8pm.

More details here: http://www.yarracity.vic.gov.au/Events/Events-calendar/puzzles-and-words-an-evening-with-david-astle/

An LR will be published in Monday’s Fairfax paper. Should be another fun one.

His next appearance will be in a few weeks.

I can never keep track of when The Age will publish an LR on a Monday (I think it’s every fourth week), so it’s always an especially good surprise to luck out and find one, like I did today.

This is only the third LR I’ve attempted, but they’re easily the pick of the non-DA week.

Clever clues, a wide range of tricks and some great wordplay. They’re pretty easy (I assume they have to be for a Monday publication),  but they’re pretty fun.

Pick one up if you have the time for a jolly romp through a cryptic. Definitely recommended as an entree to a DA as well.

Looks like we’ll be made redundant soon enough, although brute-force solving with words that fit is kinda cheating:

http://bostonglobe.com/ideas/2012/03/11/rise-crossword-robots/xK4TRBW2MfhqAwnj6tMv3H/story.html?camp

Megan Garrett-Jones has asked for an experienced cruciverbalist, which I would say everyone here could be counted as, to make a presentation in Sydney on cryptics.

In her own words:

I am urgently looking for a Sydney-based ‘expert’ (self-confessed of otherwise) to lead a short presentation on cryptic crossword solving at the Surry Hills Library this Thursday (1st March). Format is open – can be the practical basics, or about their personal passion.

It is for the final installation in a series called ‘Your Better Life’, organised by a group of artists called ‘Bake Sale’ in associated with the City of Sydney and the Surry Hills Library’s ‘Late Night at the Library’ program. Past events have been courses on LOVE, CULTURE, ENTERTAINING, and this one will be SMARTS. It is a 20 minute presentation at 9pm preceding a demonstration from some dapper fashion aficionados. The remuneration is $200 and an extreme amount of gratitude for the presenter’s time and wisdom.

Anyone interested should contact Megan megan.garrett.jones[at]gmail.com

If you’re willing to join in on what looks to be a lot of fun, contact her directly.