PCWC 70 is complete.

I think the experimental rule allowing multiple entries from one
person was worth trying, but I also think it was a failure.  The
contest attracted 48 clues from 20 entrants, as I said before; of
these 39 were placed on the ballot, with a limit of 3 per entrant
imposed.

The ballot was evidently a daunting one: only 10 people voted on it.
My appreciation goes to them for keeping this from being a total flop.
(I apologize for not thinking of extending the voting period; it was
not suggested in time for an announced extension to propagate if I
had done so.  I could not have extended it by more than 2 days anyway.)

The voters' opinions were widely varied, with almost every clue
receiving at least two good and two bad ratings out of ten.


THE WINNER, and upcoming moderator of PCWC 71, is Jake Bergmann for
his fine little charade:

	Lead after second period (4)

Not far behind were Brian Spollen with a risque double definition:

	Cut off part of an organ (4)

And Ed Coulson with this smoothly finished reversal:

	Container's mirror-like finish (4)

Ed shares with David McKeegan the honor of having multiple entries
*all* of which finished in the top 1/3 of the field.  Ed took 3rd
and 9th places with just two entries; David took 4th, 6th, and 11th.
No other entrant had more than one entry in the top 1/3.

My thanks to all the entrants and, once again, to the voters.  If I
ever get *another* chance to moderate one of these things, I think
I'll leave the rules alone.
 
-------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Overall Comments on the Contest

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

Comments that are marked (jb) below are mine -- Jake Bergmann.
For an easy word like this, I deducted a small amount for
anagram and acrostic clues.

I think the format of this competition would only work with a word
like this. Even so there was a lot of repetition of form.[pvr]

Since it was so easy to produce a solid definition for STOP, I
downgraded severely those that had defective ones. In addition,
since there were so many clues, I had to penalize obvious cryptic
constructions, and reward highly those who found uncommon, but 
sound cryptic elements.
   This is the first ballot where I felt compelled to assemble the
clues by type of construction before voting to keep myself consistent.

Hidden-word clues in which the word "stop" couldn't be 
be heard when reading aloud were given preferential treatement.

The word had a lot of possibilities, and a LOT of great clues were
on the list making my own efforts seem unworthy by comparison. 

six days to rate thirty-nine clues -- forgive me if my comments are a
bit brief.  many obvious (but not necessarily bad) clues as suspected;
i'm sure that the moderator's decision to allow multiple entries
aggravated this.  for several reasons, i consider this experiment a
failure.  no bust on mark intended.  :-)  given the number of hidden-word
clues with the inelegancy of having the target word sounded in the fodder,
i'll use the acronym "twsif" to inidicate this.

PWM: Continuing to prepend comments with my initials.  As a
result of the sheer number of clues, I'm afraid my comments
will sparser than normal (not an unwelcome thought to some,
maybe... <g>).  There were many clues here that, for me,
had nothing inherently wrong, but were just missing that
certain something that my top finishers had.  I was hard on
clues that I felt were virtually unsolvable (i.e. ones that
weren't clear even knowing the answer ahead of time).  An open 
note to moderators...with 40+ clues to sift through, a bit more
time might be in order.  - Pete Mitchell (pwm@mv.mv.com)

It was nice to have a short word to clue. The downside of this was 
that there was a surfeit of hidden-word clues, which began to grate 
eventually. The multiple-entry rule was worth a try, but it didn't 
work for a couple of reasons. Firstly, there were still bonus clues 
which were far superior to many of the main entries - it is now 
clear that this will *always* be the case. Secondly, there were far 
too many entries to consider, making voting and commenting on them 
all a bit of a chore (especially after the 8th hidden-word clue). 
I'll sign my comments, because I think it's fair. (dmck)

I think the number of entries had more to do with the easy
word than with the rule modification.

Fun contest.  I challenged myself by seeing how many clues I could
come up with while using no common elements.  The variety of definitions
for STOP came in handy.  
   Since I do most of my cryptics in airports, I prefer clues that
can be solved without a shelf full of reference material.  I found 
that my judging for this contest was a lot more arbitrary than for 
previous.  Many many clues were technically perfect, with smooth
and meaningful surfaces.  My rankings were mostly a matter of taste.
Some surfaces are cooler than others; and I prefer certain types of
clues to others.  
   I, Karen Lingel, will be marking all of my comments with the sign 
of the penguin:  -k-



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

Results of the Voting

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

1st place (score 76.68%) - clue 36
From Jake Bergmann <jbergmann@domaincorp.com>

    Lead after second period (4)

Votes (normalized): 15 62 78 78 82 86 90 100 100

fair S+TOP clue. [pvr]

The best of the four straight charades, but still below average for
the competition.  Good surface, but somewhat arbitrary second=S.
[**Moderator's note: in SI metric measure, "s" for "second" is
standard symbology.**]

Good clue all-around; vaguely sports oriented (?).

Great clue.  Co-winner with (2).

a fine clue.

PWM: Nice clue; nice surface.  First place.

Good clue. Reads nicely.(dmck)

This one tickles me.

Very nice.  All parts are perfect and the surface is great. 
I ranked this clue 4th after:  "mirror-like", "Faust opera", and
"cut off organ". -k-

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

2nd place (score 74.47%) - clue 32
From Brian Spollen <bcs@harriseda.com>

    Cut off part of an organ (4)

Votes (normalized): 20 63 67 71 80 82 92 95 100

Tied for second place.  (My money is on this one to win.) (jb)

My favourite! Brilliant double definition [pvr]

Solid dbl def clue, but surface is unlikely.

Oh that hurts.  Which part of which organ??  Not as good as (2) 
but all right.

adequate.

PWM: Good solid clue.  Among my top five or six.

A fine double def clue.(dmck)

Ouch!

Loreena Bobbitt is submitting clues?  This is a great double 
definition. I ranked this clue third, behind "Faust opera" and
"mirror-like" (it got bonus points for double-definition) -k-

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

3rd place (score 74.43%) - clue 20
From Ed Coulson <fyj@psu.edu>

    Container's mirror-like finish (4)

Votes (normalized): 29 33 71 75 78 85 100 100 100

First place.  Perfect surface and no flaws.  I have no
objection at all to the elision of the apostrophe.  (jb)

Hon. Mention. Lovely construction, good surface, definition
used with different meaning from the surface. [pvr]

Nice indicator puts this one above similar #13.

Pretty good clue, especially in the deceptive use of 
"finish"; "container" seems a little bland (to quibble about
it).

Abstain from my clue.  

good surface; poor ind.

PWM: Good clue.

Nice. Minor quibble with mirror-like as reverse indicator (P would 
be 9 and S would be unwritable in ascii).(dmck)

I like the dual-use of "finish", but I don't care for "Container's".
Even "Containers'" would be better.

Oooh, good one.  The "mirror-like" and the "finish" blend so well. 
I ranked this clue tied for first with the "Faust opera" clue. -k- 

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

4th place (score 73.11%) - clue 8
From David McKeegan <d@mckeegan.u-net.com>

    Prevent the passage of returning vessels (4)

Votes (normalized): 30 62 67 71 77 80 88 89 95

Pretty good.  Add my voice to the chorus kvetching, "definition
is too wordy" (jb)

Fair reverse word charade [pvr]

Excellent reversal construction with solid definition and some
nice misdirection.

Nice approach to what I rejected as a "too-easy" way to clue
this word; one of the better "pots" clues, I thought.

Nice, precise straight definition

only complaints are that the clue is a bit easy, and it clues both
"pots" and "stop", which is forgivable if in the context of a xword.

PWM: Good blend of concept into surface.  Second place.

One of mine. Sound but dull.(dmck)

Normally, I wouldn't favor such indirection (VESSELS -> POTS -> STOP),
but this clue is simple enough that it works for me.

Nice relation between the "prevent passage" definition and "vessels".
POTS isn't the first thing I would think of for "vessels" but 
it is fair. -k-

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

5th place (score 70.12%) - clue 2
From Mike Wilkinson <mike@oldbrook.powernet.co.uk>

    Faust opera contains small part for organ (4)

Votes (normalized): 26 46 56 65 67 77 80 86 100 100

Good clue, would have been somewhat better if you'd
worked in an operatic composer rather than the name
of the protagonist (jb)

I don't like the definition but it is probably OK. Neither marked 
it down nor up as a fair hidden word clue [pvr]

First of nine hidden word clues and second best, primarily 
for the sensible surface. 

Nicely ties the cryptic and definition up in a thematic
package; perhaps a little too much on the easy side.

A beauty.  The co-winner with (36)

twsif.

PWM: Good solid clue.  Among my top five or six.

One of the better hw clues.(dmck)

Excellent!

This is fantastic.  Excellent surface, and perfect (if easy) cryptic.
I'm glad someone found a good use for the "organ" definition for 
STOP.  I ranked this clue tied for first with the "mirror-finish"
clue.  -k-

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

6th place (score 65.38%) - clue 10
From David McKeegan <d@mckeegan.u-net.com>

    Arrest heads of state trying out pot (4)

Votes (normalized): 45 50 57 60 60 62 77 78 100

Good acrostic, that doesn't scream at you [pvr]

One of my two winners. Clintonesque surface is great, and acronym
indicator is cleverly concealed.  Great clue!

Pretty good acrostic, although without "for" before "trying", 
it still scans a little oddly to me.

The use of POT is too suggestive of the letters in the 
answer.  Consider 'peyote' or even 'paraphenalia'.

not a perfect clue, but my fave here.  love the mischievious "arrest".

PWM: Decent clue.

Not bad!

Nice surface, simple acrostic. -k-

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

7th place (score 60.46%) - clue 4
From Robin Hosie <robin@cs.curtin.edu.au>

    Organ part extracted during chest operation (4)

Votes (normalized): 22 28 45 54 70 71 75 77 78 86

Better construction than 2 [pvr]

The best hidden word of the nine submitted, with a solid
surface and a great indicator.

Very nice surgical surface.  I'll gripe --- a little --- that 
"extracted during" doesn't quite gel for me as an indicator
("extracted from" or "discovered during" would have, perhaps
at the cost of the surface reading).

Not as good as number 2, but still a fine score.

twsif.  unsatisfactory surface and indicator.

PWM: Decent clue.

Good surface. Not sure about the hw indicator though.(dmck)

Very nice.

Another good use of the "organ" definition, and well-disguised in
the surface.  I am not sure I am crazy about "extracted during" as
the hidden indicator. -k-

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

8th place (score 59.50%) - clue 13
From Karen Lingel <kll@lns598.lns.cornell.edu>

    Pans left and close up (4)

Votes (normalized): 13 15 54 57 60 77 78 82 100

The 'and' in the surface lacks parallelism; you wouldn't
'pan close up', would you? (jb)

Good surface and a well-masked definition - ie hidden
in the surface reading but accurate with a different pronounciation [pvr]

OK, but how can a clue this dull expect to do well?

Took me a moment to realize that this was a description of
one action by the cinematographer and not two; a superior
clue.

Pots and pans are very distinct objects.

for an across clue, i like it, except there appear to be two tenses
in the surface.

PWM: Good clue, though I'm not convinced that pots and pans 
are one and the same.

This sounds really good. Like the misleading def. One of the 
best.(dmck)

I like the "close/cloze" trick, but I don't care for "PANS->POTS->STOP".

My clue.  I liked the "camera" link between "pans" and "close up",
and how they have totally different meanings (and pronunciation!)
in the cryptic.  -k-

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

9th place (score 57.33%) - clue 24
From Ed Coulson <fyj@psu.edu>

    During last operational period (4)

Votes (normalized): 13 33 41 50 55 62 78 85 100

Well worked out, but dull-sounding (jb)

Fair hidden word construction and a good unusual definition 

Clue is really a phrase without a meaning on its own.

Nice cryptic and tricky definition, but the surface is
dry reading.

My clue.  I don't like it much anymore, but perhaps you
will feel differently.

twsif.  weak (yet acceptable) ind.  prefer sentences to phrases.

PWM: Okay.

Excellent!

Lovely cryptic.  The clues I ranked higher had more polished surfaces.
-k-

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

10th place (score 57.04%) - clue 12
From Gail Koontz <gail.koontz@quancon.com>

    Visit Post Exchange (4)

Votes (normalized): 8 14 31 44 59 75 77 80 89 94

I suppose this is the intransitive form of 'visit', OK, I
guess.  Excellent clue otherwise. (jb)

Sorry what's a Post Exchange? [pvr]

Didn't like "exchange" as an anagram indicator. 

Nice, concise clue; anagram indicator beautfully integrated
into the clue's surface.  Does the army still call them this?

Terrific clue.  Some might question the definition but
I think it works.

i find your ind. to be too indirect.

PWM: Good solid clue.  Among my top five or six.

I don't know what a "Post Exchange" is.  I *think* I know what a
"Postal Exchange" is, but I'm not even sure of that.

Concise, perfect cryptic.  I've never heard of a "Post Exchange"
but it sounds plausible. -k-

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

11th place (score 56.71%) - clue 25
From David McKeegan <d@mckeegan.u-net.com>

    Stonework block (4)

Votes (normalized): 5 10 15 50 71 81 85 92 100

Tie for second place in this enormous assemblage.  In a
short clue, I can accept the otherwise touchy ploy of
dividing the compound word. (jb)

Good attempt at this construction, but fails to come off through
the nature of both charade elements as abbreviations. (And
the parochial nature of 'st.' - is it only used in the UK?)

No abbreviation indicators for very indirect clue.

My usual aversion to compounding the elements of a charade is
overridden by my admiration of the spare beauty of this clue
and the way its pieces fit together so well.

I love the compounding, though others will hate it, I think.

once "stonework" is split up into its components, i like this clue.
that first step, however, seems a bit unfair for a charade.

PWM: A bit too obscure, especially when expected to parse
a compound word into two clue parts.

One if mine. Will it lose points for being a single word 
charade?(dmck)

I think this is a bit of a cheat, but it's cute.

I like the simplicity of this clue, also the nice connection between
wordplay and definition.  You don't see "stone" much around here, but
I'll allow it.  Also, I think it is fair (even clever) to merge the 
two parts of the wordplay into one word. -k-

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

12th place (score 56.46%) - clue 22
From Roy Thearle <roy@cant.ac.uk>

    Mephistopheles' middle or end (4)

Votes (normalized): 20 31 43 47 50 65 67 77 78 88

Well done if easy clue (jb)

Surface lacks it - [pvr]

Cute indicators, but surface doesn't mean much and word is hidden 
solely by being contained in a single clue word. 

This might have impressed me more if I knew of a major 
musical or literary work named "Mephistopheles"; as it 
stands, I can only imagine we're talking about the demon's 
torso and buttocks.  Despite there being a single word to
conceal the word being clued, the ph "f" sound helps to
make it overly obvious.

Right on target with 'middle'.  

a fine clue, even if the surface is a bit puzzling.

PWM: Okay.

Kind-of obvious, but at least it's unusual.

I like the "middle or end"; I also love saying the word "Mephistopheles".
However, Meph. as a character doesn't have a middle or end.  There 
needs to be a book or opera or something titled "Meph.." for the
surface to work out.  Maybe there is such a thing.  I'll assume there
is. -k- 

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

13th place (score 55.75%) - clue 34
From Philip Rose <phil.rose@zetnet.co.uk>

    Opts out of prohibition

Votes (normalized): 10 33 50 59 62 67 70 71 80

Damn, damn and thrice damn - my best clue and I left the
enumeration off. Serves me right for not checking, I deserve
to come bottom for this <g> [pvr] [**Moderator's note: Blame me.
I fixed this defect in other clues, since I don't consider it
a part of the competition and wanted to conceal anything tending
to show which clues were from the same author; but I managed to
miss this one.  Sorry, Philip. ***]

"of" connector spoils clue in attempt to create a surface meaning.

Solid clue, but no great "zing" to it.  "Out", while often
a middling indicator, is well-paired with "opts" here.

I don't think prohibitions are things you can opt out of.

not my fave anagram ind.  "of" way extraneous.  don't quite buy the def.

PWM: Decent clue.

Surface reads well, but can stop mean prohibition?(dmck)

Nice anagram.

You get a choice?  Perfectly lovely clue.  -k-

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

14th place (score 55.07%) - clue 38

    Period pieces to play, in part (4)

Votes (normalized): 13 29 41 50 55 61 62 75 77 89

Can't see what 'in part' is doing in the surface.  What
else are you doing besides playing them?  I do like
the three-word-spanning Hidden style (liked #17 too) (jb)

Fair hidden word clue, but a bit period language [pvr]

Only a hint of a surface meaning. 

Really quite good hidden word clue:  hangs together fairly
well in theme; with "to", avoids the homophonic parroting of
the word within the clue.

Very nice but not quite up with the winners.

fine hidden-word clue, if a bit lacking in surface quality.

PWM: Okay.

Kind of an ass-backward surface.

I like the connection between "period" and "pieces".  A good solid
clue, but a less polished surface than clues I ranked higher. -k-

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

15th place (score 53.57%) - clue 33

    Postoperative admits cease (4)

Votes (normalized): 3 15 38 53 67 71 72 75 88

Post-operatively, you must first be discharged before
you can be readmitted (jb)

This clue could have been re-worked avoiding the hospital
jargon  [pvr]

Totally meaningless surface

A clue for the hospital newsletter?  Even then, it doesn't
make complete sense to me:  haven't most postoperative 
patients already been admitted?

Very nice.  A real sentence.

twsif.  success of clue depends on solver's knowledge of "admits"
=> "admissions".  surface may need tweaking?

PWM: Good clue.

Solid.

My clue.  No comment. -k-

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

16th place (score 52.73%) - clue 23

    Most operas contain a finale (4)

Votes (normalized): 22 25 25 35 38 60 67 70 85 100

Well, they certainly do.  Nearly the winner but for it being
a bit too easy. (jb)

I think 'have' would have worked better than 'contain' in this clue

Nice hidden word surface

Pretty good clue, though "contain" works less well as an
indicator than "contains" or "contained" does (disregarding
the ill effects that would have on the surface, of course).

Unclear to me that finale and stop are reasonable synonyms.

twsif.  "a" way extraneous.  the fodder *contains* the target.

PWM: Decent clue.

OK hw. Lost points for def.(dmck)

Very good!

Simple hidden; with excellent surface.  Again, I don't think 
that the noun STOP is the same as the noun "finale".  However, 
someone might say: "I'll put a finale to that!"
I'll let it squeak by. -k-

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

17th place (score 52.38%) - clue 30

    Give up and abase yourself having lost love (4)

Votes (normalized): 10 25 43 46 50 56 70 78 94

Why 'yourself' rather than 'oneself'? (jb)

Well it mightn't be the only STOOP-O clue but it's mine! [pvr]

Solid removal construction, but surface is wordy and artificial.

Remarkably similar to 29 in overall construction, but its
more abstract surface impressed me less.

The straight definition is weak, and so is 'abase yourself' as an
indicator for 'stoop'

odd surface; fine crypt.

PWM: Okay.

Lovely. My runner-up.(dmck)

Kind-of indirect for my tastes.

I like all the pieces here, especially "abase yourself" = stoop, and
love = 0.  The surface is not as nice as clues I rated higher. -k-

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

18th place (score 52.14%) - clue 37

    Red light quarter unsurpassed (4)

Votes (normalized): 5 20 22 29 50 69 69 80 88 89

Because I like this clue I'll accept STOP (light) = 'red light'
cf. STOP SIGN above - it's getting towards the end of the list [pvr]

Points only for the great definition and how it was used in the clue.

Nice (if racy) surface, indeed.  And very well-done cryptic.
Definition?  "Red light" signifies "stop", but does it
it qualify as a definition?

Spoiled because it's always called the 'red light district'.

didn't like indirect def. or "quarter" => "s".  
surface begs the question "in what?"

PWM: Good solid clue.  Among my top five or six.

Lovely surface. Third place. Not overly keen on quarter = S, 
although I know it's common.(dmck)

Well, the surface is fine, but I don't like QUARTER->S.

Very interesting and surreal surface.  I like "red light" = STOP.
I dislike "quarter" = south. -k-

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

19th place (score 51.92%) - clue 29

    Check out blood type from front steps (4)

Votes (normalized): 10 20 31 43 50 54 76 89 94

As a v.t. 'out' doesn't mean 'remove' - sure, it does as a v.i. [pvr]

For indicator to work, "out" should follow "blood type",
not precede it.

Inventive construction and image-laden (in a public-health
sort of way) surface.

Yo.

"check out" is devilish, and i also love the cryptic.  second place;
would've been first except i can't quite embrace the surface.

PWM: Abstain.

Hard but nice.(dmck)

Kind-of indirect for my tastes.  Nice surface, though.

I like all the pieces here: check = STOP, "out-from"= deletion 
indicator, etc.  But the surface escapes me.  Do the front steps
have a blood type, or can you see someone's blood type from the
steps? -k-

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

20th place (score 51.52%) - clue 9

    Fill up the containers (4)

Votes (normalized): 5 13 31 44 53 57 70 78 80 85

Happy to be instructed on U.K. dental terminology.  Is this a
prefixed 'up' signal as in 'up periscope'?  Good clue. (jb)

Another definition I think is a tad obscure [pvr]

Didn't like "up" as indicator outside of a DOWN clue

I'm a bit uncomfortable with "up the" preceding "containers"
as the reversal indicator, but extra points awarded to an
unconventional but very legal definition.

Read it carefully, it's a clue for POTS, not STOP

generally, i find filling and stopping to be two different things;
perhaps they are interchangeable in certain contexts (such as the one
you cite).  extraneous "the" hurt an already plain jane cryptic.

PWM: Decent clue. Indicator is dependent on its 
being a down clue.

Sound surface. Unnecessary *the*.(dmck)

Normally, I wouldn't favor such indirection (CONTAINERS -> POTS -> STOP),
but this clue is simple enough that it works for me.

I've never heard of a dentist stopping a tooth, but I can see how
fill = plug = stop.  The "the" is superfluous, and doesn't necessarily
even improve the surface. -k-

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

21st place (score 49.47%) - clue 17

    Visit from Cannes to Paris (4)

Votes (normalized): 16 43 45 47 50 55 61 62 67

Not thrilled with the equation of 'visit' and 'stop'.  And
'visit' is also a little weird in the surface; you don't
visit 'to Paris'.  But not really so bad. (jb)

Mine. This was the weakest of my 3 and it shows! [pvr]

Dull surface.

"Visit" doesn't sound very natural in the surface here 
("travel" would, but obviously doesn't fit the definition 
bill); the long-u sound of "to" helps to hide the word well.

weak (but acceptable) ind.  rare hidden-word here that doesn't sound
the target in the surface.

PWM: Decent clue.

Surface makes up for over-simplicity.

The cryptic is perfect, but surface-wise you would visit Paris and/or
visit Cannes, and you would "travel" from Cannes to Paris, or "tour",
or "make visits" from Cannes to Paris. -k-

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

22nd place (score 47.43%) - clue 31

    Out-post station (4)

Votes (normalized): 14 22 23 31 45 57 60 63 78 82

Poor surface, but fair anagram [pvr]

But what does it mean?

Pretty good clue, despite the hyphen which is mandated by
the cryptic but is a curiosity to the surface.

Hyphenating 'outpost' might be correct cryptically, but not 
orthographically and it spoils the clue a bit.

not my fave anagram ind.

PWM: Don't like the hyphen; nice concept.

Close to perfection. But unexciting.(dmck)

I think I'd prefer "Outpost" (no hyphen) in such a short clue.

Simple, elegant.  However, "outpost station" (I don't know what
else "out-post" would mean) is redundant. -k-

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

23rd place (score 46.15%) - clue 14

    Arrest Tory leader caught in routine practice (4)

Votes (normalized): 10 15 29 44 45 50 53 56 75 85

Well done.  Feel slightly the lack of an abbreviation
indicator. (jb)

Sorry cannot work out what the acronym SOP stands for - an 
explanation would have helped. The Tory leader is a bit
obvious, but then he is in a bit of a pickle at the moment. [pvr]

One of my two winners. Solid def, construction and a surface
making a political comment as well.

There are some who say that there's a "possessiveness" fault
here (that "Tories' leader" or "leader of Tories" would be
the more proper form).  I assume "SOP" is an abbreviation
for "standard operating procedure", but I think it's a tad
on the obscure/parochial side.

This clue has a Major problem, get it? Actually though
it's quite good.

i like the use of "arrest", but "sop"?  sorry if you were penalized
for my ignorance.

PWM: Okay.

Routine practice of accepting bribes and lying to Parliament?(dmck)

First pot smoking, now this!

The surface is very satisfying, but I've never heard of S.O.P. = 
routine practice. -k-

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

24th place (score 43.86%) - clue 26

    Christopher has a period (4)

Votes (normalized): 0 13 20 28 38 57 76 78 85

Hon. Mention. A very good hidden word clue. 

A medical first! Points primarily for the funny, quirky surface.

I hope Christopher is an unconventionally-named female, or
we have some interesting medical news!  Decent clue; another
one-word hider improved by the "f" sound formed by "ph".

Has Christopher been to Amsterdam?

what does it mean?  (wait a sec -- don't answer that.)

PWM: Abstain.

Doesn't this deserve an exclamation mark for biological 
impossibility (or onomastic improbablity)? Definitely the most 
interesting of all the hw's.(dmck)

The surface just sort-of... stopped.

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

25th place (score 42.80%) - clue 16

    Halt initial self test on powerup (4)

Votes (normalized): 13 22 23 31 38 43 47 67 70 75

The single word version of 'power up' is ugly and this
computer stuff in general reminds me too much of work. (jb)

Surface is iffy, even though I am in the business [pvr]

Decent acronym, but surface requires context explanation.

Good computer-geeky surface; "initial" passable as an 
indicator, but not great (technically should be something
like "initials of", though that would wreck the surface,
of course).

"Halt initial" refers to the letter H, not to *several*
words' initials that follow.

inadequate ind.  seems a bit easy.

PWM: Decent clue.

I wouldn't say "turn it off", but perhaps use some alternate boot-up.

Simple acrostic, nice meaningful surface.  -k-

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26th place (score 42.09%) - clue 19

    Ideal scientific conditions with no end (4)

Votes (normalized): 10 15 20 29 38 54 57 67 89

Didn't get it.  You mean 'with no end in sight' or
'with no purpose'? (jb)

Is STP 'ideal'? Maybe idealistic or normal (in the scientific sense)
perhaps, but not ideal after all - 1 atmosphere and 0C?
Also 'with' is a poor container indicator [pvr]

STP is better known to me is an oil additive used in racing.

The STP thing takes me back a ways, and it's a bit of jargon
that not all will appreciate, I'd imagine; good cryptic, yet
"with no end" sounds incongruous in the surface with what
appears to be a science experiment.

Ideal scientific conditions?  That would be a huge
grant and lots of assistants to do the work.

my third fave.  odd surface, but cool cryptic.  the "no end" was
devilishly misleading.

PWM: Too esoteric for my taste.

STP too obscure for me. No = o is also dodgy.(dmck)

A likely story.

A warm X-terminal, a cold diet Coke, and ideal scientific conditions
without end --  ahhh Nirvana.  My clue. -k-

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27th place (score 41.50%) - clue 35

    Close up store when it's time for holiday (4)

Votes (normalized): 10 14 18 22 23 38 60 89 100

Clutching at a straw a bit, especially with 'H' for 'holiday' [pvr]

Nice substitution charade with a meaningful surface.

Very meaningful surface, fiendishly clever cryptic 
(although H seems a little arbitrary as an abbreviation,
calendar explanation notwithstanding).

Would be pretty good but the H for holiday is too much to 
bear.  

i love "switcheroo" clues, but they require a proper ind
(i.e., *not* "when it's.. for").  holiday => "h"?

PWM: Clever concept.  Nice surface and unique cryptic
elements, though probably pretty tough to solve.

This is very nice. Perfect surface. The only *substitution* clue. I 
can't find h meaning holiday in my dictionaries, but I'm willing to 
believe it. My winner.(dmck)

Holiday -> H for use as fodder is too indirect for me.

I like the "close up" - "store" connection, but I dislike substitution
clues.  Sorry. -k-

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28th place (score 41.37%) - clue 39

    Fret about troublesome leader, bribe (4)

Votes (normalized): 3 20 35 40 43 44 50 54 56 69

In my dictionary, 'to fret' does not mean 'place finger
on a fret', and the noun senses are no help either.
The surface would be helped by a less distracting
word than 'troublesome' -- perhaps 'Taiwanese'. (jb)

Good masked definition, spoilt a tad by the poor surface [pvr]

"Fret" is a great definition, used cunningly in the clue. Too
bad the clue was in such clumsy reverse order.

The "about ... ," cryptic form serves the cryptic construction
to the detriment of the surface smoothness.  As with another
"leader" clue (technically), it's "troublesome's leader" or
"leader of troublesome" which would more properly designate
the "t".

Construction is a bit sticky, but nice straight definition.

surface scans awkwardly.  couldn't find def. of "fret" that supports
supports your usage (?)  cryptic is fine and original among this batch.

PWM: Okay concept.  The indicator is in an awkward spot.

I like the double meaning of "fret", but is a fret the same as a stop?
I know little about music (I'd never heard of UT before!), but I was
under the impression frets were for string instruments and stops 
were for wind instruments.  -k-

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29th place (score 41.08%) - clue 28

    Bar that is full for a period (4)

Votes (normalized): 0 0 0 22 31 50 71 71 77 89

I liked this idea.  'that which is' or 'what is' provides
the indirect definition a little more clearly, though (jb)

The indirection is unnecessary - both 'stop' and 'full stop'
are used for the punctuation mark [pvr]

Both of these double definitions are the same.

Nice clue, even if it doesn't fit neatly into a particular
clue category (and even if "full stop" has always seemed 
like a term George Carlin would pick on --- is there a 
"partial stop" that doesn't really stop but just keeps going
only slower?).

It's a good try but the wording could be improved to straighten
out the second definition.  

didn't like the second half of the clue.

PWM: Either I'm dense or your explanation wasn't convincing
(or both).

I like this. It has a cunning cryptic part. The only problem is 
that stop can mean period without the *full* in front.(dmck) 

I'm not really thrilled with these amorphous sorts of clues; this one
seems to be a punny kind of double definition.  I might have accepted
"it's a period when it's full" sorts of things.  -k-

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30th place (score 37.20%) - clue 3

    Hold back the dope on Seve, initially (4)

Votes (normalized): 18 23 25 33 38 40 41 43 55 56

Is this someone prominent in the news?  If so, a note in the
explanation would help out clueless people like me (jb)

Obvious charade element for 'S'. The construction implies TOPS rather
than STOP [pvr]

Did you mean "Steve", which would have been less obvious fodder.

An okay but ho-hum clue in my book:  without supplemental
information (a golf theme, perhaps?), "Seve" is too arbitrary.

It's hard to see how this works.  And why Seve, for crying
out loud? It's not like it's a common name even in Spain. 

not the best def, imo.  inelegancies: extraneous "the" and prop. noun.

PWM: Why "Seve"?

Not much surface, and proper names are best avoided.

Is the "Seve" part supposed to mean something?  I don't get it. 
I didn't deduct points for it, I just didn't get it.  -k-

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31st place (score 34.04%) - clue 27

    Scorpio, Taurus or Pisces: in brief, it's a sign (4)

Votes (normalized): 0 0 13 20 24 33 46 57 70 78

A pretty cheesy acrostic indicator (jb)

A very obvious acrostic. Also as you say it's an indirect
definition. Pity it's not accurate. A stop is not a sign:
a stop sign is a sign [pvr]

Don't buy "sign" as definition of STOP.

The definition is a little too spare for my taste.  It would
have been so much nicer to have used a definition alluding
to STOP controlling your driving while fitting in with 
astrological signs "controlling" your destiny.

cute attempt.  imo, the ind. is inadequate, and i didn't like

the indirect def (purist i).

PWM: Clever concept.  Decent clue.

Nice acronym.

The "it's a sign" definition is cute, but I don't like "in brief"
to mean initials. -k-

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32nd place (score 33.72%) - clue 15

    Fleet policeman briefly constrained to halt (4)

Votes (normalized): 0 5 14 18 20 23 33 47 77 100

I can understand halting briefly, less easily being 'briefly
constrained'.  Good pun on 'fleet'. (jb)

The surface lacks something. Also I'm not happy about
the construction. [pvr]

The "SP" abbreviation is quite indirect, although not unknown.

The determined cop waits impatiently for the nuns to get off
the crosswalk while the "perp" gets away?  Nicely constructed 
cryptic; clever use of "fleet".

The SP is unknown to me and the clue is not so terrific 
that it is worth the obscurity.  "Constrained to halt",
what does that mean? You mean they can't shoot people or
something?

don't know the shore patrol; surface needs tweaking.

PWM: Too obscure.

A rather obscure way of getting SP.(dmck)

Surface needs work.

I've led such a sheltered life!  I've never heard of 
shore patrol, much less the abbreviation SP.  I am not sure I 
like "constrained to halt" -- it seems redundant. -k-

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33rd place (score 32.83%) - clue 21

    Betting about to cease (4)

Votes (normalized): 0 6 10 14 25 33 46 56 62 76

U.K. O.K., but are Starting Prices really the same as 'betting'? (jb)

Fair charade - however the betting must have stopped for the
odds to be the SP [pvr]

Obscure SP definition certainly unknown to me.

Really nice clue whose SP element is competely lost on
this American --- and is "betting" truly synonymous with
"starting prices"?

If you are talking about horse racing, it's called the
morning line in the US.  But surely SP can't be clued by
'betting' can it? "Early betting" at least.

i haven't heard of "starting prices", so i certainly cannot judge the
validity of the acronym.  however, going with what you've given me,
i see no way that "betting" can define "starting prices"; they appear
to be merely related.

PWM: SP too obscure for me.

Well, I didn't know "SP", but I'd also argue that even if I did,
it isn't really "Betting".

SP = betting is not in my dictionary.  (SP = childless is!?!?!)
I am also not sure that betting = starting prices anyway. -k-

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34th place (score 32.78%) - clue 7

    Foolishly opts for death (4)

Votes (normalized): 0 0 15 31 38 43 44 54 71

Death may be 'end' or 'stopping' but not easily 'stop' (jb)

Another remote definition. Fair anagram though [pvr]

Best of the five anagram clues, but still below average for the
competition. OPTS and STOP are the only possibilities, so one would
expect anagram clues to go for a really great surface.  This is
the only clue of the five to even come close to that criterion.

I can't see 'death' as a proper definition.  Parts of speech
don't match.

even though "stop" and "death" both define "end", i have a hard time
connecting the two directly.  obvious crytpic.

PWM: I don't see "death" and "stop" as synonyms.

Great surface reading. Not too sure about the accuracy of the def 
though.(dmck)

I like this, except for "death" as a clue for "stop".

Simple and concise.  However, I dispute that death=stop.  I would
accept dead=stopped, but I have not found any sentence where the 
noun forms can be interchanged. -k-

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35th place (score 31.68%) - clue 5

    S-R-Q-P, wait! (4)

Votes (normalized): 0 5 11 15 25 25 29 44 70 92

Runner-up in my view, though I doubt it will get much favour over 
yonder [pvr]

I wasn't sure how to rate this clue; finally decided it was
quite worthy, despite not being a standard cryptic construction.

Interesting cryptic technicque, but the backwards alphabetic
sequence, and the surface in general, just did nothing for me.
If this was supposed to be someone halting to correct  
themselves in abbreviating Senatus Populusque Romanus, it
wasn't anywhere near a first impression for me.

Reading the alphabet backwards is not my idea of a natural
surface.

too easy; meaningless surface.

PWM: Tough, but clever.

Quite clever, but utterly meaningless to me.(dmck)

Shouldn't that be "S-R-Q-P? Wait!" or something like that?

Yeah, it's a cute pun, but the surface doesn't mean anything to me. -k-

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36th place (score 31.52%) - clue 1

    Suspension ousts bar from range peak (4)

Votes (normalized): 8 10 23 29 30 35 38 38 39 67

'bar' is not really 'veto', and 'suspension' in the
surface is less than convincing (jb)

Weak surface otherwise a fair but convoluted charade for a 
4-letter word [pvr]

Excellent and innovative removal charade suffers only from 
slightly quirky surface.

Rather problemmatical surface for me, because "oust" applies
more naturally to a bar's patron than the bar itself.  Tough
cryptic, but not unfairly so; I'll note that "range" itself
could conceivably signify "stovetop", making for what I thought
was a more interesting cryptic:  "... moving bar out of range".

The surface doesn't make a lot of sense.  The cryptic
construction is interesting in a way, since it takes
an ordinary word, STOVETOP, and gives it a cryptic
rendering ('range peak') and then modifies it cryptically
to get the answer.  Rather indirect. 

in general, i don't equate suspending something with stopping it.
i found the clever cryptic a tad too indirect for my tastes.

PWM: Too oblique.

Don't really understand the surface, but the cryptic's pretty 
clever.(dmck)

I'm not a big fan of this kind of indirection.  BAR->VETO, which
gets removed seems tough to me.  Also, I don't care for BAR as a
clue for VETO.

Good surface and technically correct deletion clue, but my preference
is for less complicated clues. -k-

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37th place (score 31.41%) - clue 6

    Golf club missing from improvised loading area (4)

Votes (normalized): 6 14 20 28 31 38 38 44 45 50

That STOP is a part of the composite word STOPGAP is a fairly
serious flaw for me... If you're going to leave your golf club
in such an unlikely place, you shouldn't be surprised it turns
up missing... (jb)

Not the only PGA clue which may be jargon. I don't like the definition
either as it requires a double step to get from loading area to 
bus stop to stop [pvr]

"Golf club" = PGA is a bit of a stretch, but otherwise a solid
removal clue extracting more than the usual single letter.

Pretty good surface, but little qualms about other parts of 
this clue add up to points lost, I'm afraid:  don't like the 
definition; "stopgap" derives from the word being clued; the 
PGA isn't really a "club", as far as I'm concerned.

is the pga a "club"?  indirection not as bad as clue 1, but the fact
that "stop" already appears at the beginning of the fodder is a huge
inelegancy, imo.

PWM: Even knowing the answer, the one is hard to come by.

Didn't like anything about this one.(dmck)

The PGA isn't really a "club" in either sense of the word (as
applied to golfing.  Also, the surface of this clue doesn't work.

I also used the STOPGAP - PGA construction for one of my bonus clues.
I was not happy with it because getting STOP from STOPGAP is kind of 
iffy.  -k-

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

38th place (score 19.56%) - clue 11

    Opts to halt (4)

Votes (normalized): 0 0 0 0 10 13 14 31 59 69

No I think 'to' is not an adequate anagram indicator [pvr]

"to" is NOT an anagram indicator. Dull surface.

Well, given my aversion to "latent" indicators, it couldn't.
I'd almost have preferred that you didn't try to pass off
"to" as an indicator at all.

I do think that the anagram indicator doesn't work, and
anyway it's boring.

[cluer] opts to omit proper indicator.  [judge] opts to give low score.

PWM: Sorry, "to" just doesn't make it as an indicator.

Didn't work for me.

I understand the anagram indicator, but I don't buy it. -k-

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39th place (score 17.36%) - clue 18

    Forbid final repast before starting great work (4)

Votes (normalized): 0 0 0 5 11 13 20 23 35 67

Why need an opus be 'great'?  Magnum opus, maybe.  And
if I am denied my breakfast as final repast, then last
night's dinner was, so how can it be forbidden? (jb)

'Final' and 'starting' usually refer to single letters. Surface is
poor - everyone's entitled to a last meal! [pvr]

"final repast" is T, not ST; "starting opus" is O, not OP.

I like "final" reserved as an indicator of the *last* letter, 
not some arbritrary, who-know-how-many-besides-the-first 
letter.

"Starting" is unnecessary since OP is a recognized 
abbreviation.  What kills this clue is using final to 
indicate the last two letters of the following word, when
it can only mean the last single letter of the preceding 
(typically) word. 

inadequate ind. for "st" and "op".  "op" was also too indirect, unless
you *omitted* the "starting"!

PWM: "Starting" and "final" indicate single letters,
not pairs.

Isn't final repast just t ?(dmck)

Whoa!  If "repast" is en claire, then "great work" -> OPUS is
verboten (how's that for a sentence with borrowed phrases?)

I dislike using indicators like "final" and "starting" where
people have to guess how much of the ending and beginning you need.
It probably works out OK for a short, simple word like STOP. -k-

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

Comments on the Bonus Clues

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

Bonus clue -1

    Pause on the way to work (4)

Nice surface (stop and smell the roses?); I think "way" 
has become a little too overused in my experience.

Very nice clue. Would have been a top-fiver.(dmck)

Yeah, this works. -k-

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

Bonus clue -2

    Street work sign (4)

I'm not overly satisfied with with "sign" or the whole clue
as definition; if regarded as an &lit, then "sign" is
extraneous in the cryptic interpretation.

I would say this is a partial &lit because the "sign" doesn't
participate in the cryptic.  A good effort. -k-

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

Bonus clue -3

    Lunatic opts to quit (4) 

Must have a better job than mine!   :-)

imo, best of the bonus clues.  better than average among all clues, if
more than a bit easy-to-solve.

Another fine clue.(dmck)

I think this is the best of the "opts" clues.  It's mine. -k-

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

Bonus clue -4

    Temporary measure: remove golf club block (4)

Excellent construction, same as #6, but surface falls short.

The first draft of clue 6?  Similar complaints, plus worse
surface.

Mine.  I am not terribly happy with the STOPGAP - PGA construction.
But I love the "club" ambiguity.  -k-

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

Bonus clue -5

    Prevent the Russians ultimately having a Summit (4)

Wordy (jb)

Okay clue; nothing to write home about.

This clue works OK.  The surface needs a little polishing. -k-

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

Bonus clue -6

    Cork covered by this topsoil (4)

Solid clue; surface seems not-too-imaginative.

In hindsight, it appears I submitted a lot of crap to this contest. -k-

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

Bonus clue -7

    Go no further than second highest (4)

Great, but for the 'than' (jb)


Nice "imperative" clue --- but, as explained, "than" is
unneeded (I imagine it *could* be considered part of the def.

Excellent surface, nice tricky pieces.  However, "go no further" isn't
the best definition we've seen.

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

Bonus clue -8

    When it is full one has to make a fresh start (4)

I don't understand the first explanation line,
'A fresh start after a STOP'.  How does this relate
to the clue, which doesn't mention anything being
'before' or 'after'?  I go on at this length mainly
for my own edification, because this might be the
sort of 'British' clue that I would understand better
if I saw more published examples ... (jb)

Not much of a clue, in my book.  And who's to say that a
full stop can't be the end of something with no subsequent
start at all?

I really like this. Had it made it into the main batch it would 
have been in the top 2. I love this kind of cryptic def. Why are 
there so few of them in these comps?(dmck)

I don't like these amorphous clues. -k-

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

Bonus clue -9

    Hold back crockery (4)

One imagines an army of ceramic marching against the 
valiant humans defending the kitchen!

Adequate, but not the best of the "pots" clues. -k-

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

That's it, then.  See you next time, if applicable.
-- 
Mark Brader             |  "I like to think of [this] as self-explanatory."
msb@sq.com              |  "I hope *I* think of [it] that way."
SoftQuad Inc., Toronto  |             -- Donald Westlake: "Trust Me On This"

My text in this article is in the public domain.