Newsgroups: rec.puzzles.crosswords
Subject: C5_2f Results!
Organization: MV Communications, Inc.


Here are the full results of C5, segment F.  The winning entry came
from David Bullock, as follows:

1) Dumb rascals entertain uninvited guests (6)
2) Inert life form is unable to reproduce (9)
3) Occupied the throne and pulled in around a thousand (7)

Runner-up, from Ed Coulson:

1) Mr.USA flexed with biceps, at first in shades  (6)
2) Can't bear to guess Scrabble piece  (9)
3) Chinese leader and British monarch both 
       reflected about one thing they did?  (7)

And third place, from Brian Spollen:

1) Museum brassware kept in areas away from the sun (6)
2) Fancy ceramic floor is sterile (9)
3) Controlled, in a manner of speaking! (7)

David has agreed to moderate the next segment. 



SPOILERS FOLLOW, with comments preceded by "==>".





















------------------------------------------------------------------
1) UMBRAS       [hidden-word]
        Hangers-on when unprotected succumb rasping (6)
        
        Hangers-on = definition (S.O.E.D. - "umbra - 3. An
                        inseparable companion, a hanger-on.")
        when unprotected = hidden word indicator
        succumb rasping = fodder
        
        Surface: Ratzo Rizzo (Dustin Hoffman) in Midnight Cowboy for 
        example.

==>  Good definition.  I question the "cryptic grammar" of your
==>  indicator, though.  "X when unprotected Y" implies that X
==>  is the "protected" (i.e. hidden word fodder) and Y is the
==>  "unprotected" (i.e. revealed definition).
                        
2) INFERTILE    [anagram]
        Administer nitre - life becomes sterile (9)
        
        Administer = anagram indicator
        nitre - life = fodder
        becomes = pointer
        sterile = definition
        
        Surface: Nitre, otherwise known as saltpetre, was rumoured
        to have been added to the food in barracks-type situations
        to (purportedly) prevent sexual arousal - at least that was
        an urban myth of my childhood.

==>  I don't see how "administer" alludes to anagramming.
        
3) REIGNED      [linked-clue/homophone]
        20 reportedly bridled after capturing 16 gold buckles? (7)
        
        20 = reference to 20 across = horseman
        reportedly = homophone indicator
        bridled = reined (to a horseman)
        after capturing 16 (16 across = Rodeo) gold buckles =
        definition by example.
        
        Surface: Read - Horseman reportedly bridled after capturing
        rodeo gold buckles?
        
        In a major rodeo, the winner of each event receives a gold 
        belt buckle as a prize. Most cowboys enter several events, and 
        an overall champion is declared at some venues - such as the 
        Calgary Stampede. Alternatively, this could be read as a cowboy 
        who had won prizes at several different rodeos over his career; 
        either way, the past tense is achieved with the use of the word
        "after".

==>  Interesting and clever concept.  Not very accessible, especially
==>  without the attached explanation.
________________________________________________________________________

UMBRAS  

Mr.USA flexed with biceps, at first in shades  (6)

Mr. USA= anagram fodder
flexed= anagram indicator=> UMRAS
with= container
biceps, at first= B
(in) shades= definition of UM(B)RAS

==>  Nice blend of similarly themed words, though I find the
==>  surface awkward.

INFERTILE  

Can't bear to guess Scrabble piece  (9)

Can't bear= definition
to guess= INFER
Scrabble piece= TILE

==>  Nice definition.  Can't imagine the psychological hang-up that
==>  would cause this problem, though. (Scrabbaguessaphobia?)  :-)

REIGNED 

Chinese leader and British monarch both 
reflected about one thing they did?  (7)

Chinese leader= DENG
British monarch=ER
both reflected= reverse 'em both
about=container
one=I
thing they did= definition of RE(I)GNED

==>  Ex-leader now, eh?  This clue opens a point of discussion
==>  regarding definitions.  This is not an &lit clue (nor does
==>  it claim to be), but the definition ("thing they did") 
==>  is dependent on the earlier part of the clue to define
==>  who "they" are.  It certainly smudges that "line" that
==>  separates the cryptic part from the definition, and while
==>  I am not prepared to call it "wrong", I'd be lying if I
==>  said it didn't nag at the purist in me.  I would welcome
==>  an open discussion on this concept after the results have
==>  been posted.  The '?' certainly helps.
----------------------------------------------------
UMBRAS
~~~~~~

   Parasols with less than 45 inches of material provide shade (6)

parasols               = UMBRELLAS 
with less than         = subtraction indicator 
45 inches of material  = ELL 
shade                  = defn.
                             UMBR{ELL}AS

==>  I like this clue.  My only quibble is with your deletion 
==>  indicator.  "With less than" does not indicate subtraction
==>  to me.  Something like "Forty-five inches of material cut
==>  from parasols provide shade (6)" would, I think, work better.

INFERTILE
~~~~~~~~~

   Conclude that skinned reptiles can't reproduce (9)

conclude that   = INFER
skinned         = indicator to remove letters from around word 
reptiles        = fodder = (rep)TILE(s)
can't reproduce = defn.
                       INFER+TILE

==>  "Skinned" is a bit too vague an indicator for what you
==>  you are asking it to indicate.  I would buy it for removing
==>  the first and last letters, and maybe even the first two
==>  and last two (for a thick-skinned creature <g>); but I see
==>  no logic to interpreting it asymmetrically.

REIGNED
~~~~~~~

   Ruled in greed (7)

Ruled    = defn
in greed = anagram of REIGNED

NB:  I've noticed in published cryptics that often anagram indicators are
     omitted from short clues, however I haven't noticed anyone taking that
     liberty in the competions run through rec.puzzles.crosswords.  Therefore,
     I hope the above clue is acceptable without one - it's surely quite 
     solvable, and (IMHO) better without one.

==>  For me, it violates the essence of cryptics -- namely, that the
==>  clue (however well disguised) instructs the solver on how to
==>  arrive at the answer.  Call me a purist, but I just don't like it.
======================================================================

UMBRAS:

  Museum brassware kept in areas away from the sun (6)
 
     HIDDEN WORD CLUE
     "museUM BRASsware" = hidden-word fodder
     "kept in" = hidden work indicator
     "areas away from the sun" = def.

==>  Nice surface and good concept.  But there is a difference between
==>  "X kept in Y" and "X kept Y".  In the first, Y is the keeper (fodder)
==>  and X is the hidden word.  In the second, it is the other way 
==>  around.  "Museum brassware kept away from the sun (6)" would
==>  work better (with a possible '?', if one felt "away from the sun"
==>  was not a direct enough definition).

INFERTILE:

  Fancy ceramic floor is sterile (9)
  
     CHARADE CLUE
     "fancy" (verb) = "infer" (verb)
     "ceramic floor" = "tile"
     "is" = connector
     "sterile" = def.

==>  Tough use of the word "fancy", but it works.

REIGNED:

  Controlled, in a manner of speaking! (7)

     HOMOPHONE CLUE
     "controlled" = "reined"
     "in a manner of speaking" = homophone indicator
     def. = &lit

==>  Very nice!

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

1) Shadows from a medium brassiere (6)

Container: mediUM BRASsiere
shadows - UMBRAS

==>  Cute.  :-)  But brassieres don't come in small, medium, and
==>  large, do they?

2) Draw conclusion? Mah-jjong piece is not productive (9)

2-part charade:
Draw conclusion - INFER
Mah-jjong piece - TILE
not productive  - INFERTILE

==>  The pieces are there, but the surface is a bit lacking for me.

3) Of mixed gender, I held court (7)

Anagram: GENDER I
held court - REIGNED

==>  Again, surface is strained.  I don't know it supposed to mean.

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


Ghosts from chromium-brass interior (6)

             chromiUMBRASs Hidden clue.  "from .... interior" is intended
             as a Hidden indicator.  The surface might occur in a very modern
             and expensive mausoleum.

==>  Well, it's a stretch on the surface meaning...


Backing _The_Shining_, official interrupts (in English) 
    "Won't re-produce" (9)

             backing the        wordy reversal signal
             shining            LIT
             official           REF
             interrupts         container signal
             in                 IN
             English            E
             won't reproduce    definition

              IN(FERTIL)E (LIT REF rev.)

==>  This clue seems very strained, both in its cryptic construction
==>  and its surface.  Especially for a word that has so many other
==>  possibilities.


 Wielded power and dripped from the mouth (7)

             wielded power --  definition    dripped = rained
             from the mouth -- homophone signal

==>  Do the two relate?  :-)


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

UMBRAS

Parts of shadow dances: take three steps to the right (6)

parts of shadow = definition
dances = rumbas (I hope that this is OK)
take = R
three steps to the right = move the R in RUMBAS three places to the
right

(I seem to remember the Bee Gees having a hit called Shadow Dancing -
probably from Saturday Night Fever)

==>  Clever concept, but I'm lost as to why "take = R".  Am I missing
==>  something so obvious that it doesn't require explanation?  If so,
==>  I apologize in advance.

INFERTILE

I rent Life, badly wanting ability to create it (9)

I rent life = anagram fodder
badly = anagram indicator
wanting ability to create (life) = definition (wanting = lacking)
The reference is to Life magazine

==>  You rent magazines?  :-)  Aside from the maddeningly ambiguous
==>  ways one can read this surface, we again hit the discussion of
==>  a definition being dependent on the surface context of the
==>  "non-definition" part.  In this case, "wanting ability to 
==>  create it" is meaningless on its own.  Again, I'm not
==>  sure I would call it "wrong", but it does bother me.
==>  EXCELLENT use of "wanting"!!  Love that kind of "Oh yeah"
==>  misdirection!

REIGNED

Threw in one's hand - losing spades were King and Queen (7)

Threw in one's hand = RESIGNED
losing spades = subtract S (S = spades)
were King and Queen = definition
Surface reading refers to a bridge hand (opponents had the Ace)

==>  Nice deletion.  Clever definition.

=========================================================

CLUE #1:  UMBRAS  (Adjective of Umbra)

Descriptive of shadows an arms length away from created them.

EXPLANATION:  Umbr(ELL)as - Deletion

Delete ELL (Varying measure originally taken from the arm- Chambers)
from UMBRELLAS( rain or sun shades) by inference they create shadows

==>  MW9 says the adjective is "Umbral".  Have to do some further
==>  checking on that.  I'm assuming there's a word missing here,
==>  and that it should read "...from WHAT created them".  And I
==>  think that the implication is too vague for "umbrellas".  Also,
==>  lose the period and add an enumeration at the end (this goes
==>  for all three clues, but I'll just mention it the once).


CLUE #2: INFERTILE

Barren desert before irrigation.

EXPLANATION:   - Double definition

Barren = infertile
desert before irrigation = infertile

==>  Double definitions require that a word have two 
==>  separate meanings.  Both definitions here are 
==>  indicative of the same root meaning of the word.


CLUE #3: REIGNED

Ruled that it results from greed in change.

EXPLANATION:   - Anagram

Ruled = Reigned (Definition)
 that it results from (greed in) change = Anagram indicator
greed in = Anagram fodder

==>  "That it results from" are a lot of extraneous words
==>  (half the clue).  Surface is a bit lacking.

=========================================================

Word # 1
Phantoms torpedo submarine - one naval engineer lost (6)

Anagram with deletion
phantoms = def
torpedo = indicator
submar(ine) = fodder 
one naval engineer = ine (Random House gives NE as abbr. for naval engineer)
lost = deletion indicator

==>  The "NE" abbreviation is certainly not common; I couldn't find
==>  it in MW9, Chambers, or Websters Unabridged, but it's not totally
==>  unreasonable to expect someone to figure it out.  It certainly
==>  makes a clue more difficult when the anagram fodder is not
==>  sitting in a word (or phrase) of the correct length.  Nice
==>  surface.

Word # 2
Failing to produce high silk hat after appearance of judge (9)

Charade
failing to produce = def
high silk hat = tile
after appearance of = indicates order of charade parts
judge = infer

==>  Decent charade, though the surface doesn't excite me.

Word # 3
Ruled, abdicated - without a hint of scandal (7)

Deletion
Ruled = def
abdicated - without a hint of scandal = re(s)igned

==>  Good deletion.

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

Underneath, moons block reflection and shadows! (6)
  definition (of a planet with multiple moons, and therefore
    a possibility of simultaneous eclipses)
  Acronym

==>  Where's the indicator?

Impregnable inlet, fire away! (9)
  Impregnable = defn.
  inlet, fire = fodder
  away        = anagram indicator

  (note: if you don't like the !, which improves the reading, delete it

==>  I agree that the '!' improves the reading; the question is, is
==>  it unfair to suggest that a clue is an &lit when it is not?
==>  The purist in me says yes, though I don't think this clue is
==>  unsolvable in its present form.

Stormed, shouted, and ruled (7)
  Stormed = RAINED
  shouted = homophone indicator
  ruled   = defn.

==>  There's something about these three verbs together that just
==>  doesn't seem to fit, but I'm having a hard time putting my
==>  finger on it.  Perhaps it's that ruling seems to cover a
==>  different time span than the other two (either much longer,
==>  in the case of being a ruler, or virtually instantaneous
==>  in the case of pronouncing a ruling).

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

Eclipse phenomena panic S. Burma (6)
	Eclipse phenomena - definition of UMBRAS
	panic - anagram indicator
	S. Burma - anagram fodder for UMBRAS

==>  Is there an "S. Burma"?  Pretty blatant anagram fodder.
==>  Clever definition and surface concept.

Unproductive to speculate until mid-September (9)
	Unproductive - definition of INFERTILE
	to - connector
	speculate - INFER
	until - TIL
	mid-September - E

==>  MW9 lists TILL, not TIL, as meaning "until" (Chambers and Websters
==>  Unabridged concur).  I suppose it could be 'TIL, but I think that 
==>  would warrant an indicator like "poetically" or "for short".  
==>  Nice surface.

Gin, stirred up and imbibed by retreating moose, held sway (7)
	Gin - anagram fodder for IGN
	stirred up - anagram indicator
	and imbibed by - container indicator
	retreating moose - DEER backwards > REED
		so:  RE(IGN)ED
	held sway - definition of REIGNED

==>  I can't seem to get a handle on the surface.  The moose is
==>  running away while drinking stirred up, ruling gin?  
==>  Construction is okay, though I think this particular word
==>  offered enough interesting possibilities that one needn't
==>  have resorted to a partial anagram.  Nice definition.

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

UMBRAS

Dumb rascals entertain uninvited guests (6)

dUMB RAScals = hidden word
entertain = indicator
uninvited guests = definition (COED)

==>  Good clue, though "dumb rascals" is unusual enough to
==>  stand out as fodder.

INFERTILE

Inert life form is unable to reproduce (9)

Inert life = anagram fodder
form = anag indicator
unable to reproduce = definition

==>  Another good one, with a more viable surface.

REIGNED

Occupied the throne and pulled in around a thousand (7)

Charade/container
Occupied the throne = definition
pulled in = REINED (as in riding a horse)
around = container indicator
a thousand = G (REI(G)NED)

==>  A bit weaker than the other two, but not a bad clue.
==>  I find the "pulled in around a thousand" to be somewhat
==>  unfulfilling in the surface reading.  It would seem to
==>  imply money (a thousand pounds or dollars), and yet
==>  it's doesn't seem to be enough money (for an occupier
==>  of the throne) to be "pulling in".  It's just awkward
==>  enough to be bothersome.

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