http://www.cassowarycrossing.com.au Just another WordPress weblog Thu, 11 Mar 2010 22:10:55 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Eight Huhs this week, two clues each from four different crosswords. Does that mean these puzzles were doubly hard, or I was being twice the dope? Help me decide. Any explanations/theories welcome. In most of these head-scratchers, I get the gist, but can't determine what role some stray words (rubbing? plump?) are ... http://www.cassowarycrossing.com.au/2010/03/12/huh-17-pairs/ Fifi Trixibelle Geldof has a name only slightly more bizarre than her sister, Peaches. And dare we mention Sage Moonblood Stallone or Kal-El Cage? Meanwhile Dweezil Zappa is still cranking out rock riffs, almost twenty years after losing his dad, Frank. Though lately Zowie Bowie directs films (including the recent Moon) ... http://www.cassowarycrossing.com.au/2010/03/09/celebabes/ You have three weeks and counting if you want to crack the Meanjin puzzle(s) I crafted for Meanjin last month. A cryptic and a quick, both sets of clues embedded in dashes of flippant literature. This second heads-up is due to the good souls of Grattan Street posting the puzzles, and entry ... http://www.cassowarycrossing.com.au/2010/03/09/meanjin-muse/ All twelve clues lead to a word or phrase that rhymes with hi-fi. You ready? Let’s hope the answer mimcs Mr Sparrow: AYE-AYE. 1) Rum cocktail  2) Kids’ game 3) Rot! 4) 2005 Disney flick 5) Gibson genre 6) Desert 7) Loyalty point 8] Hippie pattern 9) Supremes single 10) Lure 11) Hooroo SOLUTION NEXT WEEK BB247 SOLUTION: With your harmonies through the week, ... http://www.cassowarycrossing.com.au/2010/03/07/why-why-bb248/ You lot found ‘1000 uses’ for those famous Greek girls. Puns. Hiddens. Anagrams. Sandwiches. Every recipe the tenth Muse (Cryptica) murmured in your ear. So now it boils down to who did what best with which sister, and the aftermath looks like this: CALLIOPE = Howl at the moon sport [AS] (DG went ... http://www.cassowarycrossing.com.au/2010/03/06/muse-news/ Love this last bunch. In the space of seven exquisite clues, we flit from Hercules to Andy Warhol, via a spot of wolf-dancing on the second fairway. Perhaps easier than the last two lots, only cryptic powerhouses will unravel full list. Feel free to speculate in the post section, or go all-out ... http://www.cassowarycrossing.com.au/2010/03/04/clues-of-repute-summer-edition-c/ Two months ago, we did reindeers. This time round, going up a brow or two, we turn our focus to another notable nine – the Muses. You know these inspiring sisters by heart, I’m sure: Calliope, the Muse of epic poetry Clio, history Erato, lyric poetry (as opposed to net porn) Euterpe, music Melpomene, tragedy Polyhymnia, ... http://www.cassowarycrossing.com.au/2010/03/02/we-are-mused/ At the risk of sounding a tad K-Tel, here are the next sizzlers of summer. With an Aussie flavour too. Not just the first clue, but Styx is the alias of David Stickley, a name familiar to homegrown solvers for his regular Stickler puzzle in the Telegraph, as well as the ... http://www.cassowarycrossing.com.au/2010/03/01/clues-of-repute-summer-edition-b/ Homophones – such as PRIZE and PRISE – typically share more than a few letters. Yet what SIX separate homophone pairs reveal not a single letter shared by either partner? Award yourself a prize for naming four pairs at least. SOLUTION NEXT WEEK BB246 SOLUTION: In top to bottom order: rest, acne, SHIN, ... http://www.cassowarycrossing.com.au/2010/02/28/homophonica-bb247/ ‘You buggers don’t make it a picnic to choose three winners,’ the judge appraised. Our Gifted Gabs drew the biggest load of posts in storm history, and most of this swag was worth a mention, if not a Certificate of Merit. Since the ex- prefix was so popular, I decided to ... http://www.cassowarycrossing.com.au/2010/02/28/gab-giftware/