CCCCC-1G: RESULTS AND COMMENTS

I received seven entries of a very high standard, as might be 
expected from this group of participants.  My procedure was to group 
the clues for each word, then rank them from 1-7 and calculate a 
total for each entrant.  The winner was the one with the highest 
total - sorry, I couldn't face scaling.

The winner was Paula Tanous who is unable to host the next segment.  
Second place went to Clay Colwell, who has also declined.  Third 
place, and the next host by default, goes to Brian Spollen - thanks 
Brian.

Clues and comments follow: (in order received)

From: bcs@sc.harris.com (Brian Spollen)

MIEN:

One's appearance amongst humans! (4)

"one" = I (Roman numeral)
"appearance amongst" = inclusion indicator
"humans" = "men"
def. = &lit

> A nice clue, but I had some problem with the word order.

STRAITS:

Orchestra, it seems, covers some passages without much breadth (7)

"orcheSTRA IT Seems" = phrase holding hidden word
"covers" = hidden-word indicator
"some passages without much breadth" = def.

> The winning clue for this word - lovely surface.

ENSURE:

Make certain criticism's without foundation (6)

"make certain" = def.
"criticism" = "censure"
"without foundation" = first-letter removal indicator

> "Foundation could mean either end, although only one is possible 
> when you get to "censure".

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From: "paula10s@ix.netcom.com" <paula10s@ix.netcom.com>

MIEN

Look for initial mannerisms indicating emotional nature? (4)

I think it's an &lit.  but, if you don't...then it's an acrostic!

Initial = Acrostic indicator
Mannerisms /Indicating /Emotional /Nature = M I E N
look = definition

> Very nice - I think it's an acrostic!

BONUS CLUE #1   MIEN

Reported miserly appearance (4)

reported= homophone indicator
miserly= mean
appearance = definition

> I would have taken this one in preference!

STRAITS

First and last synopsis includes characteristic passages (7)

First and last synopsis = S ----- S
includes= container indicator
characteristic = trait
passages = definition of (S)trait(s)

> I liked this a lot - best of the "traits".

BONUS CLUE #2  STRAITS

Sexy beginning features certain passages (7)

Sexy beginning = S
Features = traits
certain passages = straits definition

> Very good, but uncertain surface.

ENSURE

Clever ruse in French guarantee (6)

Clever = anagram indicator
ruse in French = anagram fodder: ruse = en (French for in)
guarantee = definition

> Dynamite clue, the winner for this word!
------------------------------------------------------------------

From: jbergman@bbn.com (Jacob Bergmann)

======  for definition
------  for charade elements
^^^^^^  for signals

MIEN

Vile sounding expression (4)
---- ^^^^^^^^ ==========

vile = MEAN; homophone clue.

> Very nice double meaning of "expression", simple (not in the sense 
> of easy) and elegant - the winner for this word.

STRAITS

Difficulty with raise begins when I get involved (7)
==========      ^^^^^ ------ ^^^^ - ^^^^^^^^^^^^

difficulty = definition, inasmuch as "in straits"
means "in difficulty"; with = connective;
raise = reversal signal; begins = STARTS;
when I get involved = insert "I".

Transatlantic/pacific note: raise(n.), a pay increase,
same as RISE in the U.K.

STRA(I)TS; reversal charade.

> Nice, but surface leaves a little to be desired; I had no problem 
> with "raise".

ENSURE

Make certain to follow clothing retailer's tip (6)
============ --------- ^^^^^^^^ --------   ^^^

to follow = ENSUE; clothing = container signal;
retailer's tip = R (whether you believe TIP signals
the first letter or the last, it works!)
ENSU(R)E; container charade.

> Surface is not very evocative.
------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Gail Koontz <gail.koontz@quancon.com>

MIEN 

Port is camouflaged Commie nest (4)     

Port - definition of MIEN
camouflaged - hidden word indicator
ComMIE Nest - the hiding place

> Not bad, an obscure but legal definition.

STRAITS

Channel hot water (7)

Channel - definition of STRAITS
hot water - definition of STRAITS

> Yes, a beautiful double definition.

ENSURE

Em, half crazy, rues making guarantee (6)

Em half - EN (in printing, half the width of an em)
crazy - anagram indicator
rues - SURE
making - connector
guarantee - definition of ENSURE

> Ok, but it doesn't grab me.
---------------------------------------------------------------------


From: Philip Rose <phil.rose@zetnet.co.uk>

MIEN

Bearing base sounds (4)

Basic, maybe rather base, homophone. Bearing = MIEN: Base = MEAN.

> Surface meaning escapes me.

STRAITS

Begins to encompass unity - return to Hormuz, perhaps (7)

Begins = STARTS about unity = I => ST(I)ARTS
return => STRA(I)TS
Refers to the Straits of Hormuz as definition by example.

> I like the idea, but again I have trouble with the surface.

ENSURE

Make safe when surely content (6)

Make safe = definition: 
content => container (but as adjective = satisfied in surface)
whEN SUREly.

> Good, solid clue.
---------------------------------------------------------------------

From: sailorjn@nyc.pipeline.com (Sailor John)
 
MIEN

Only one in a group of males displayed posture (4) 

"only one" = I 
"in" = container indicator 
"a group of males" = MEN; M[I]EN 
"posture" = definition of MIEN 
 
> I must be hung up on surface - but I warned y'all!


STRAITS

Retreat commences around one, with difficulty (7) 

"Retreat" = reversal indicator 
"commences" = STARTS 
"around" = container indicator 
"one" = I 
STARTS around I = ST[I]ARTS, reversed is STRAITS 
"difficulty" = definition of STRAITS 
 
> Nice construction, but it doesn't stir the soul.


ENSURE

Guarantee criticism--miss commencement (6) 

"Guarantee" = definition of ENSURE 
"criticism" = CENSURE 
"miss commencement" = beheading instruction 
   
> Missing Commencement (with a capital C) would guarantee criticism 
> for this academic!
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From: Clay Colwell <eris@bga.com>

MIEN

Am I entirely saving face? (4)

Hidden word (aM I ENtirely); SAVING is the indicator
FACE is the defn.  I hated to use the '?' because that
normally indicates a punny defn., but the surface would 
have died without it.

> Excellent clue, the winner for this word.  There has been a lot of 
> talk about ? and ! - to me, clues require punctuation for 
> grammatical not cryptic reasons.  If a clue is an exclamation, it 
> needs an exclamation mark, if a question, it needs a question 
> mark.  It is quite OK to turn a statement into a query by adding 
> a question mark.

STRAITS

Difficulties with small features (7)

Charade (S+TRAITS)
small = S
features = TRAITS

> Very nice.

ENSURE

Verify the complaint missed a lot (6)

Deletion (CENSURE - C)
complaint -- CENSURE
a lot -- C
missed -- deletion indicator
verify -- defn.

> Not sure I'm crazy about the definition.
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-

Thanks to all who participated, especially to those who told me what 
the construction was supposed to be!

David W. Bullock                               Tel: 64 3 325-3803
Centre for Molecular Biology                   Fax: 64 3 325-3851
Lincoln University                      E-mail: BULLOCK@lincoln.ac.nz
PO Box 84                           "Language is the greatest barrier
Canterbury, New Zealand              to communication"
