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"A force for good", David Astle (DA)

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Author: RC

More DAction shots

Posted on 30 Mar 2014 by RC
Like uncle, like niece
Like uncle, like niece

Having a crack at DA with RS
Having a crack at DA with RS
Sobrinha com cruzigrama
Sobrinha com cruzigrama

 

Posted in DAction shotsLeave a comment

Wont somebody think of DA children?

Posted on 13 Oct 201313 Oct 2013 by RC
It's too hot and DA is too hard!
“It’s too hot and DA is too hard!”

Parents!  Please keep DA out of reach of children, at least during build-up.

Posted in DAction shots, General Cryptic Talk3 Comments

RS takes on LR

Posted on 4 Oct 20135 Oct 2013 by RC
Rosa crossie
RS makes short work of her first LR. (See TT, she can use the pen)

Feel free to send in your own DAction shots!

Posted in DAction shots, General Cryptic Talk, LR: The New Kid on the Block9 Comments

DAction shots

Posted on 21 Sep 20134 Oct 2013 by RC
IMG_0263
AS about to impress the ladies of Fitzroy by pulling out DA at a party.

 

They start them young in the NT.  RC and niece.
They start them young in the NT. RC and RS…& LC
RC and EC showing the Darwin Ski Club a good time.
RC and EC showing the Darwin Ski Club a good time.
AS puzzles over an &lit at RC's housecooling party.
AS puzzles over an &lit at RC’s housecooling party.

 

 

 

Posted in DAction shots, General Cryptic Talk2 Comments

DATrippers go political

Posted on 3 Sep 20133 Sep 2013 by RC

In keeping with the shallow self interest that has dominated recent Australian politics, we feel it is time for the cryptic crossword community to flex our political muscle.  We must campaign for policies and leaders that will promote the setting and solving of cryptics!!

We are, after all, the engine room of the Australian economy – crosswords hone our brains, driving innovation and productivity in the knowledge-based economy of the 21st century.  Not only do we provide employment to tens of compilers and editors, but we drive job creation in downstream industries, such as cafes and newsagents.  

We are also a cornerstone of Australian society. Without cryptics, working families would have to resort to other forms of entertainment, like the pokies. The crossword community protects vulnerable pedants from complete despair at the state of public language and stops them turning to non-grape-based substance abuse.

Imagine how many boat people would swamp us if they didn’t feel intimidated by our language’s unique attribute – the cryptic crossword.  Assessing asylum claims on applicants’ ability to complete DA would be a far more effective in deterring asylum seekers than turning back the boats.  In fact, people who cant get at least a handful of clues from NS or RM are un-Australian!

Unfortunately, a little searching reveals that no Australian politicians claim cryptic skills.  No wonder the country is in the state it is in.

It’s too late to start our own party for this election and to get DA into The Lodge, but at least we should direct our votes towards candidates with names that make the most amusing acronyms.  My efforts so far to work out who to vote for on this basis consist of:

DIVE DRUNK

NOT BY T-BOAT

CRAP, EVIL ELM

B-BOAT TREK

RE LICHEN IN MIST

No clear winner here, can anyone do better and guide the preferences of Australia’s newest lobby group?

Posted in General Cryptic Talk8 Comments

New poolroom for TT’s first DA smackdown

Posted on 28 Jul 2013 by RC

Ladies and gentlemen, one of our newest cruciverbalists has stormed onto the scene, as she and I put in a near-perfect performance.  TT, take a bow.  This poolroom’s for you!!

She kicked it off by getting the theme, unassisted.  I did have to chip in with a few 007 references, as she grew up without the disturbing influence of TV, but took the honours again with some of our final clues.  Unfortunately there is no one known as JIMMY COCKBAR, but it hardly matters!

Feel free to comment here about your own DA moments that need to go straight to the poolroom!!

Posted in The DA Poolroom2 Comments

DA Bullshit from 6-7 July 2012

Posted on 8 Jul 2012 by RC

13a.  Salmon No 6? (4)

PARR

Now that I’ve posted nice things in the DA Gold post, I can get on with my chest beating!  WTF?  PARR = Salmon?  I’ve eaten it, fished for it, I know how to say it in 4 languages and I have never heard of parr.  Wikipedia lists parr as 11th of 16 alternative names for Atlantic Salmon.

As for No 6?  Come on!  In  mid 16th century England, this might have been an acceptable definition (Catherine Parr (1512-1548) was the 6th wife of Henry VIII) but in 21C Oz, it is downright BULLSHIT!!!!

Surely something like “Henry’s 6th sounds ordinary” would have been more acceptable.

 

1d Her outline in verse inclined characters to welcome NSW pusher, maybe (5,10)

VITAL STATISTICS

Sometimes DA puts in a very stretched definition and it works.  Somewhere in the archives is “He manipulates triumphantly” cluing “Muralitheran”.  Stretching it, but great (because I got it!).  But here, “Her outline” for vital statistics, I’m just not going to stand for!  Even if you accept Vital statistics = bust, waist, hips measurements (whats the dial-a-feminist hotline number?) surely these are three points on a woman’s outline and not the outline itself!

v= verse      ok, I suppose

inclined characters = italics     fine

NSW pusher = statist    WTF?  Again, maybe in pre federation Australia, one pushing for NSW to become a state in a federation, maybe even a proud Territorian in our day and age, but NSW pusher…..BULLSHIT!!!!

Also worth a quick mention in bullshit, in this otherwise great crossword, was 8a leave bath = climb out.  A bit weak, but considering the other great down clues, we’ll let it slide.

What did everyone else think?  Am I just whining?

Posted in DA Bullshit8 Comments

DA Gold from 6-7 July 2012

Posted on 8 Jul 2012 by RC

3d. [campanologist] produces this water pipe. (4)

BONG  (double meaning, sound produced by a campanologist (bell ringer) and a water pipe).  Confirming for us that DA wasn’t always as clean cut as he seems on the TV!!!

 

10a. Slash [campanologist] action (6)  TINKLE 

TINKLE  (double meaning, slang to urinate and an action a campanologist might take).  OK, so I like toilet humour.

Posted in DA Gold1 Comment

DA trippers: The DAocumentary

Posted on 17 Nov 201117 Nov 2011 by RC

Were you unable to make it to the DA Trippers Tripleversary Powwow?    Is this week’s DA cryptic just too far away to bear? Do you have trouble getting through the day until Letters and Numbers starts?

A salve to these irritations might be looking at the short doco that a team from RMIT made about DA and his fans, featuring interviews with DA, AS, RC and scenes from the powwow!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4GurqnVAF4

Should a documentary about cryptic tragics be a “crocumentary”?

Spoiler warning: you may find out what we look like, leading to great disappointment.

Posted in General Cryptic Talk8 Comments

The DA Poolroom

Posted on 19 Jun 2011 by RC

Ladies, gentlemen, and DA,

I am very excited to announce my first ever solo, unassisted, no-dictionaries, no-internet, no nothing, just me, DA and the pen, letter-perfect completion.  What with AS away for the past few weeks, I came close several times, but today victory is mine.  I have popped the pinada!

In celebration, I thought I would start this post, under which anyone with a DA-related achievement is welcome to boast, gloat and be lauded.  Did you get your first DA clue?  Crack your first theme?  Finish the whole thing on the Friday/Saturday morning ferry/tram?  Were you blindfolded and solved it all by smell?  Whatever the case, crow about it here!

Well done in advance,

RC

Posted in The DA Poolroom47 Comments

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