                      CWC65:  Final results

All the clues have been received and judged.  The winning clues were:

    Recap facts: disturbance causes vessel to leave orbit (10)

by James Lundon, and 

    The cry of agony's the best part. (6)

by Andrew Okun.

I have asked James Lundon to moderate CWC66.
 
Judging was based mostly on clever cryptic construction and superior 
surface meaning, so the clues were subject to my preferences in that 
regard.  My apologies if your preferences differed.  A few clues
were downgraded on the basis of various technical infractions, mostly
of a relatively minor nature.

The complete list of clues, in their unexplained/uncommented state,
in the order that I received them; followed by (grouped according
to "clue form") the clues with authors' explanations, and my comments 
(prefixed with a ">") for CWC65.  Winners designated with **, runners-up 
with *:


The clues for the word SPACECRAFT:

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Starship's second speed is cunning. (10)

Shuttle art's companion past keyboard bar? (10)
         
UFO looks like inverted Mickey Mouse hats next to Tyrannosaur's head. (10)
           
Sunday Times includes returning cover story on Apollo 17, for example. (10)

For example, Apollo's profession after hiatus. (10)

Skill following first staggering step could be out of this world ! (10)

Waving capes, many on vessel signal UFO.   (10)

Shuttle program accepts bringing aboard Britsh flight team (10)

Enterprise is one kind of bar work.  (10)

Capsule notes: travel by water from resort (10)
                  
Mr. Spock accepts far more confusion for his journeys. (10)

Discovery of out-of-this-world macaroni and cheese, perhaps (10)

Riot after SPCA initially condemns planetary explorer. (10)
    
  pottery saucer! (10)

Enterprise doubles last investment; a travesty limits returns (10)

Recap facts: disturbance causes vessel to leave orbit (10)


The clues for the word SCREAM:

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Hilarious yell. (6)

Shout "Get Lost!" around natural log base? (6)
         
Careless careful sadomasochistic command! (6)
         
Shout "Get out of here!" around middle of Wednesday. (6)

The cry of agony's the best part. (6)

Call for a comedian (6)

Shriek about inside confidence scheme.     (6)

Almost cry, splitting a seam from hilarious situation (6)

Cry 'Stop' (literally). (6)

Shriek from mollusc, reamed inside! (6)

A sound as comes out from a disordered massacre. (6)

Yell "Get outta here!" with energy (6)

Southern lotion is a joke (6)

Cry from South Africa escaping the chaos of massacre. (6)
   
"Ice cream!" you hear us cry. (6)

Shout about con operation outside (6)

Cry from leader of Safety Council: "Start again in the morning"

Penetrating noise caused by internals of disc reamer (6)




The clues, explanations, and comments for the word SPACECRAFT:

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> SPACE and CRAFT:
> "Spacecraft" is a compound noun; a superior clue would avoid building
> its components "space" and "craft" (or their synonyms) in the cryptic 
> construction of the clue.  While this is not as disturbing as, say, 
> an indirect anagram, it's still cause for considering this to be a 
> less desirable clue form.  This first group of clues falls either
> partially or fully into this category.
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Starship's second speed is cunning. (10)

Starship:  syn.
Second:  S
speed: PACE
cunning: CRAFT

> How can a "speed" be "cunning"?  Accordingly, the surface reading
> isn't really good.  Also, "is" interrupts the cryptic construction
> without contributing anything.
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For example, Apollo's profession after hiatus. (10)

	SPACECRAFT

	For example, Apollo	= the definition
	's			= is (just filler)
	profession		= CRAFT
	after			= put CRAFT after next part
	hiatus			= SPACE (hiatus can be gap in space or time)
	
> The most straightforward reading of "Apollo", lacking some indication
> otherwise, is that of the Sun God, yielding the strange and unappealing
> (to this clue judge) image of a Greek deity in a business suit.  To 
> the clue's credit, the definition is properly indicated in the "example" 
> form.
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Shuttle art's companion past keyboard bar? (10)
|  1   |       2       | 3  |      4     |

1= definition. 
2= suggests craft, not crafts (arts and crafts) because of apostrophe placement
   also suggests man's name
3= past denotes craft will follow space in answer
4= suggests "space" (space bar). also, bar is syn. for tavern.

> I don't buy part 2, as there is no phrase "art and craft", and it only
> suggests a man's name when capitalized (which, in my opinion, should
> have been done); "keyboard bar" would never suggest a tavern to me,
> unless capitalized, and then it would stick out, since it was no
> actual drinking joint that I'm familiar with.   "Shuttle" certainly 
> doesn't point overly obviously to the word at hand, but it's slightly 
> too general --- a shuttle need not be a spacecraft; it's okay as a 
> definition, but not great.
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Skill following first staggering step could be out of this world ! (10)

        (SKILL=CRAFT) following (S)=(first staggering) (PACE=STEP) etc

> To me, the "!" is reserved for &lit constructions, and this just 
> isn't one, in my opinion.  The surface reads impressionistically; 
> I get a vague idea without a clear image.  The straight definition
> is acceptable, if not quite, um, definitive.
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Enterprise is one kind of bar work.  (10)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ----------- ====
definition        on a typewriter
                              synonym for craft   

> The surface doesn't do much for me:  as far as I'm concerned,
> "tending" is one kind of bar work, "washing glasses" is one kind
> of bar work.  "Enterprise" is not.
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Discovery of out-of-this-world macaroni and cheese, perhaps (10)
=========    ----------------------------------------------

====	Definition of SPACECRAFT
----	wordplay (space Kraft)

> "Discovery" is only an example of a spacecraft, not a definition.  
> I don't accept "Kraft" = "craft" without some indication that the 
> spelling isn't exactly the same.  The surface reading is good,
> though.
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  pottery saucer! (10)

[space] + [pottery == craft] = [(flying) saucer: defn.]
The initial spacing is vital for my first clue.  I'm not sure if the word
"flying" should precede "saucer", or not.  

> Although leaving a empty area to mean "space" is imaginative, it 
> doesn't really appeal to me.  And, yes, "saucer" by itself just 
> doesn't sufficiently connote "spacecraft".  I can't say as I 
> understand the "!", as this doesn't seem to be an &lit.

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> Turning the space program on its ear:
> One popular way to attack this word was by inversion of "farce"
> and "cap(s)"
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UFO looks like inverted Mickey Mouse hats next to Tyrannosaur's head. (10)
===            -------- ~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~ ------- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

SPACECRAFT                  FARCE    CAPS               T


UFO          = SPACECRAFT (definition)
looks like   = incidental divider between definition and word play constructs
inverted     = indicates the following words are backwards
Mickey Mouse = FARCE, synonymous with silly, rediculous, etc.
hats         = CAPS
next to      = indicates not quite finished yet
Tyrannosaurus' head = T

> Interesting surface and the cryptic construction is mostly very good.
> I'm not overly fond of "Mickey Mouse = farce" because "Mickey Mouse"
> connotes (to me, anyway) "unimportant" rather than "silly", and "farce"
> is only very obscurely synonymous with "trivial" --- the danger of
> relying on slang:  sometimes it works; sometimes not.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Sunday Times includes returning cover story on Apollo 17, for example. (10)

Sunday Times = S.T.
includes = position indicator
returning = reversal indicator for:
  Cover = CAP
  story = FARCE
so that "returning cover story" = PACECRAF
S(PACECRAF)T

> Sorry, but "Sunday Times" just doesn't mean "ST" to me, and "story =
> farce" is a real stretch.  The "returning cover story" seems a little
> funny surface-wise, and cryptically, returning followed by a semi-
> charade should reverse the whole thing at once instead singly, so 
> your reversal should have yielded ECRAFPAC instead of PACECRAF.
> The clue properly indicated the "example" nature of the definition.

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> The ever-popular anagram
--------------------------------------------------------------------
* Waving capes, many on vessel signal UFO.   (10)

WAVING          : anagram indicator
CAPES           : anagrammed = SPACE
MANY            : C (Roman numeral for 100)
on              : indicator to combine previous result with following
VESSEL          : RAFT, SPACE + C + RAFT = SPACECRAFT
SIGNAL          : = COMMUNICATE, pointer to definition
UFO             : definition

> A pretty good clue, although "waving" is a stretch as a good
> anagram indicator ("fluttering" would be better --- it implies 
> just a little more action).  Some would regard "many" as not specific
> enough to indicate "C", but I've seen it used in too many 
> published puzzles to be bothered by it.  Clever use of "signal";
> really good surface reading.  Runner-up from Mark Wilson.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Mr. Spock accepts far more confusion for his journeys. (10)

 This is a straightforward anagram for spacecraft - accepts far, in more
confusion. I presume that American popular culture in the form of "Star Trek"
has achieved sufficient world-wide circulation to justify the connection.

> The "more" really isn't necessary, cryptically.  I'm struggling to
> find the straight definition in all this --- am I supposed to 
> link "Mr. Spock" with "for his journeys" to come up with it?  If
> so, I don't much like it; as a matter of fact, I'm not overly keen
> on clues where the cryptic interrupts the straight definition.
> As for "Star Trek" popularity, you needn't impress a worldwide
> audience in this contest, just me.  And I'm familiar enough with
> Star Trek matters.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Riot after SPCA initially condemns planetary explorer. (10)

Riot = anag indicator
initially = indicates c(ondemns)
after SPCA c = anagram
planetary explorer = definition

> A almost-really good clue --- no wasted words, a clever definition,
> an understandable surface reading.  "Riot" cryptically must be
> as a verb, though, which doesn't quite work (it's intransitive;
> technically, something may riot, but I don't believe that you can 
> "riot" something).  Honorable mention goes to David Bullock.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
** Recap facts: disturbance causes vessel to leave orbit (10)

recap facts = spacecraft
disturbance = anagram indicator
vessel to leave orbit = space craft

> Very good clue, all around:  anagram fodder that doesn't shout
> out its true nature; a nice, image-laden surface; a non-boring
> and accurate (although not deceptive) definition.   The ethereal
> winner, from James Lundon.

--------------------------------------------------------------------
> Miscellaneous charades and inclusions
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Shuttle program accepts bringing aboard Britsh flight team (10)

Shuttle = definition = SPACEC(RAF)T
Program = anagram indicator
Accepts = SPACECT
Bringing aboard = containment indicator
British flight team = RAF

> Again, "shuttle" doesn't unambiguously mean "spacecraft", so it's
> an adequate, but not great, definition.  I don't think "program" 
> has enough "strength" to use as an anagram indicator.  Otherwise, 
> the surface is good, as is the cryptic use of "RAF".
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Capsule notes: travel by water from resort (10)

		capsule = definition
		notes = C + E + C (music)
		travel by water = RAFT (verb)
		from = resequencing indicator
		resort = SPA

> "Capsule", like "shuttle", is an adequate if not unambiguous
> definition.  "Travel by water" is nice, but "notes" is a little
> too arbitrary (cryptically, anyway; surface-wise, it fits nicely 
> enough with "capsule").  The cryptic use of "from" is a little 
> shaky in my book, but not completely unacceptable.
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* Enterprise doubles last investment; a travesty limits returns (10)
==================               T     FARCE    CAPS  -------
     defn.                                            reversal
("Enterprise" here indicates a space                  indicator
shuttle or the Star Trek Enterprise)

> Good cryptic and very nice surface.  It took me a bit of thought
> to realize that "doubles" --- unexplained in the author's
> explanation --- existed in the straight definition to mean 
> "look-alikes", and that you were using "spacecraft" as a
> plural form (making the moderator actually THINK is sometimes
> a risky proposition --- I could have missed that meaning and
> downgraded the clue).  Runner-up for this clue by Clay Colwell.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

The clues, explanations, and comments for the word SCREAM:

--------------------------------------------------------------------
> Double definitions
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Hilarious yell. (6)

Hilarious:   something hilarious is a SCREAM
Yell:   syn SCREAM.

> Well, not exactly.  You see, "hilarious" is an adjective in my
> book, whereas "scream" is a noun (when using it in the sense of
> "hilarious person or thing").  Otherwise, the clue is okay.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Call for a comedian (6)
 
        (SCREAM=CALL) (SCREAM=COMEDIAN - as in "He's a scream!")
 
> Here's the correct use of "scream", as a noun.  Good surface,
> but I think "call" is a little weak as a synonym of "scream";
> this clue would have improved with the addition of an adverb
> (such as "loudly") that "strengthened" the straight definition.

--------------------------------------------------------------------
> Go on, beat it!
> A number of entrants noticed that putting "e" in "scram" would
> work cryptically, inspiring a spate of dismissive inclusions
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Shout "Get Lost!" around natural log base? (6)
| 1  |     2    |  3    |      4          |
        scram                 e            =  SCR e AM


1= definition of scream
2= definition of "SCRAM"
3= suggests answer to clue part 4 will appear inside that of clue part 2.
4= definition of the number e, (equal to 2.718 or something like that)

> Cryptically it works.  I get the impression that the surface you
> were trying to achieve is that someone's being loud in the vicinity
> of a military installation composed of unprocessed wood.  But it
> scans just awkwardly enough to give away the cryptic interpretation
> of the "e".  Having an engineering background, I have no problem with
> the cryptic "natural log base", although I don't know if that would
> sit well with everyone.  However, this may be why I think it's too
> obvious.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Shout "Get out of here!" around middle of Wednesday. (6)
 
Shout = definition
"Get out of here!" = scram
around = position indicator
middle of Wednesday = e
SCR(E)AM
 
> This one scans better than the "natural log" one, I believe.
> Solid cryptic construction, and reasonable surface reading.
> Honorable mention for this one by Ken Bays.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Yell "Get outta here!" with energy (6)
==== ----------------  <<<<<<<<<<<
 
====    Definition of SCREAM
----    SCRAM
<<<<    put E in SCRAM = SCREAM
 
> This, too, is a solid clue, very much like the previous one; 
> honorable mention for Eric Burke.

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> The cream of the crop?
> Yet another cluster of entrants separated the cream...
--------------------------------------------------------------------
** The cry of agony's the best part. (6)
 
        SCREAM
        
        Cry of agony    = the definition
        's              = S
        the best part   = CREAM
 
> Interesting and imaginative use of the "s", cryptically.  No
> wasted words, and a good, understandable surface --- one perhaps 
> suitable for the sadomasochist.  A complete purist might gripe
> about where that apostrophe went, but I won't object much.
> The screaming winner, by Andrew Okun.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Cry 'Stop' (literally). (6)
^^^  -===  ~~~~~~~~~~
def  S top=cream  ^pointer that the letters matter
 
> I plead unfamiliarity with the use of "literally" here.  I have
> to say that, "literally" or not, as a solver I wouldn't like having
> to somehow know that I'm to separate the "top" and use its synonym.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Southern lotion is a joke (6)
-------- ------ ----------
 S        CREAM  IS A SCREAM

> Good cyptical and definition; the surface is okay, although it
> leaves (for me) questions unanswered --- what's a "Southern lotion"; 
> is it a joke by virtue of it being Southern, or there some other 
> reason?

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> The Royal Scam?
> Still another group saw the possibilities of an inclusion involving
> "scam".
--------------------------------------------------------------------
* Shriek about inside confidence scheme.     (6)
 
SHRIEK           : definition
ABOUT            : = RE
INSIDE           : pointer to include previous result inside following
CONFIDENCE SCHEME: SCAM
                 : thus, SC(RE)AM
 
> Very nice.  Adequate definition and really quite good cryptic.
> Surface-wise, the "inside confidence scheme" is ever-so-slightly
> stilted.  Runner-up to this one from Mark Wilson.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Shout about con operation outside (6)
=====   RE    SCAM        construction: SC(RE)AM
defn.
 
> Are repetitious clue forms the sign of the moderator picking a good
> tough word?  At any rate, "outside" scans naturally, but "con
> operation" sounds a little awkward to me ("con game" seems like a
> preferable term).  Honorable mention to Clay Colwell.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
> Other miscellaneous inclusions...
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Careless careful sadomasochistic command! (6)
-------- ~~~~--- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ =======
	 CREA         SM         SCREAM

Careless        = anagram indicator
care-           = anagram "care" to get CREA
-ful            = container indicates the following is "full" of the preceding
sadomasochistic = SM
command!        = SCREAM (definition) as in "screaming orders" which might
		  also be a *sadomasochistic* command, or the result of one!

I admit this one scans rather oddly, but for some reason, I like it.

> I too will admit this one scans rather oddly.  I'm not nearly as 
> impressed with it, I'm afraid.  I think the problem is the "careless 
> careful" part --- maybe it makes sense to a sadomasochist, but not to 
> me.  The "-ful" containment indicator bothered me at first, but I 
> ultimately convinced myself it was legal.  Interesting observations 
> about how many ways "command" might be related to "scream".
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Almost cry, splitting a seam from hilarious situation (6)

Almost cry = CR
Splitting = containment indicator
Seam = SEAM
Hilarious situation = definition = S(CR)EAM

> Another really good inclusion clue, although it's a little too
> literal --- you have both "cry" and "seam" explicitly in the
> clue, although it's necessitated by the surface.  The "a" is
> an extraneous interruption within the cryptic part.

--------------------------------------------------------------------
> A few massacres, and other anagram-based clues.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
A sound as comes out from a disordered massacre. (6)

  Another simple anagram: remove "as" from "massacre".

> I think "sound" isn't a really good definition; it's not specific
> enough.  The "disordered" sticks out a bit, too --- "disorderly"
> would probably have seemed a little more natural in the surface
> and worked just as well (for me, anyway) in the cryptic.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
* Cry from South Africa escaping the chaos of massacre. (6)

Cry = definition
South Africa = SA
the chaos of = anag indicator
SA escaping MASSACRE = MASCRE (anagram)

> Another "massacre" clue, rather better its definition, and with
> a compelling surface reading.  Runner-up for David Bullock.

--------------------------------------------------------------------
> A hodgepodge of other clue types
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Shriek from mollusc, reamed inside! (6)
 
        inside = contained word indicator for molluSC REAMed
        shriek = definition; also partial &lit.
 
> Pretty good.  I pictured a howling clam on a skewer.  I'll
> quibble that, although "mollusc" is legitimate, "mollusk" is the
> spelling more familiar to me, so that part of the clue immediately
> said "I'm the cryptic" to me.  An honorable mention goes to Mark
> Brader for this one.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Penetrating noise caused by internals of disc reamer (6)

Penetrating noise = scream
internal = hidden word indicator
diSC REAMer = scream

> Silly me, thinking "scream" was fairly hidden word proof.  Anther
> good clue, with a good defintion.  Surface-wise, I'm not quite
> sure what a "disc reamer" is, but I'd certainly not like to 
> experience the noise one makes first-hand.  The use of "disc" and
> "reamer" maintain the same sounds made by the word "scream", making
> the hidden word somewhat too easy to detect (true also of the 
> previous hidden-word entry).  Honorable mention for James Lundon.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
"Ice cream!" you hear us cry. (6)

["Ice cream!" you hear (audible clue) => "I scream"] == [cry: defn.]

> Well, what I hear is "I scream", and I can't figure out where the
> "I" gets subtracted to produce just scream.  It would seem to be
> secondarily pointed at by conjuring up a rallying cry from my
> childhood:  "I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream!"
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Cry from leader of Safety Council: "Start again in the morning"
+++      ---------------- =============== ----- ==============
defn            S              C           RE 

> Cryptically unimpeachable, a decent straight definition.
> The surface reading is unoffensive, though somewhat ordinary;
> it leaves me wondering what Council business is being suspended
> for the day.  Also, the leader's quote sounds less like a "cry"
> than a resigned grumble.  Honorable mention for Chistopher Burke.

--------------------------------------------------------------------
BONUS CLUES FOR SCREAM:
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Shout "Get out of here!" around three, according to upside-down digital
clock.

Same as above, except "e" is now "three, according to upside-down digital
clock."  (A digital 3 looks like "E" when upside-down.)
(From Ken Bays)


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Yours, in moderation
Brian Spollen
