Newsgroups: rec.puzzles.crosswords
Subject: C5_2h Results (SPOILERS)
Organization: MV Communications, Inc.


This was a tough contest to judge. There were many excellent clues but,
IMHO, no really excellent or even flawless entry.  If I could cull my 
favorites for each word I think we would have a superb set.  

Having said that, the winning entry is from Gail Koontz 
<gail.koontz@quancon.com>:

   Disgustingly lemony, so I stirred (9)
   Shelled meadow in rodent decimation initiative (8)
   Fencing tool buried upside down in deep excavation (4)

Runner-up goes to Ed Coulson <fyj@psu.edu>:

   Oil money's dispersed in an obnoxious manner (9)
   Fifty-fifty split of Seagram's bottle considered, then thrown out (8)
   Weapon displayed by retreating zookeeper (4)

Third place goes to Brian C. Spollen <bcs@harriseda.com>:

   Disgustingly oily men; so revolting (9)
   In part, rude yell "Overthrow!" escalated into exchanged shots (8)
   Roof removed from Indian's home and used for fencing (4)

Gail predeclined moderating the next segment, so the honor (and 
associated benevolence point) goes to Ed.


All the clues, with explanations and comments (preceded by "==>")
follow:

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

Money Lois get's leaves a bad taste in the mouth.

   Get's = Anagram Indicator (Money Lois)
   Leaves a bad taste in the mouth = Definition

==>  First, a general comment on all three clues:  the
==>  proper format of a cryptic includes an enumeration
==>  (i.e. how many letters in the answer) and does not
==>  normally include terminating punctuation unless it
==>  is a '?' or '!', each of which has special meaning.
==>  This first clue is a nice concept, but has some
==>  flaws.  "Gets", even without the apostrophe, is
==>  not much of an anagram indicator.  Also, "noisomely"
==>  is an adverb; "leaves a bad taste..." is a verb
==>  phrase. 

After this Tennis play did Mcenroe run off at
the mouth with a succession of oaths.

   Tennis play leads to Volley(ed)
   Succession of oaths= Volleyed .

==>  There are many words in the clue that are unaccounted
==>  for in your explanation.  Clueing the noun "volley" is
==>  not the same as the past tense verb "volleyed".

These weapons would not have pleased  Les Trois
Mousquetaires .

   The word Epee is French for sword,
   Hence the French Les Trois Mousquettaires. 
   Epee is a blunted sword used in fencing.

==>  "These weapons" would be "epees".  Where is the cryptic
==>  part of the clue, and how does "pleasing" come into play?
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Oil money's dispersed in an obnoxious manner (9)

Oil money's = fodder
dispersed = anagram indicator
in an obnoxious manner = definition of NOISOMELY

==>  Very nice anagram, with fodder playing well into
==>  a meaningful surface.

Fifty-fifty split of Seagram's bottle considered, then thrown out (8)

Fifty-fifty = LL
Seagram's bottle=VO
considered=EYED
LL then is a split of VO and EYED to constructed VO(LL)EYED, 
i.e. "thrown out".

==>  Clever charade/container.  I'm not crazy about "thrown out"
==>  as a definition.

Weapon displayed by retreating zookeeper (4)

Hidden reversal in zookEEPEr. 

==>  I think "held" or "wielded" would have been more appropriate
==>  than "displayed", but still a sound clue.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Unquiet surrounding," the French doctor wrote back, "in a manner 
injurious to health." (9)

Unquiet surrounding - NOIS()Y
the French + doctor - LE+MO
wrote back          => OM+EL
                    => NOIS(OM+EL)Y
in a manner etc     - definition NOISOMELY

==>  Decent concept, though I don't like MO for doctor (I assume
==>  you mean Medical Officer?).  Also, something about the 
==>  surface feels awkward; I think it's that the sentence is
==>  trying to apply an adverbial phrase ("in a manner...") to
==>  a noun ("Unquiet surrounding").


Fired together when taxed dole levy (8)

Fired together      - definition VOLLEYED
when taxed          - anagram indicator
dole levy           - fodder => VOLLEYED

==>  "Taxed" is a bit of a stretch for an anagram indicator.
==>  I don't understand the surface.

Blade buttoned in crepe ensemble (4)

Blade buttoned (mock Shakespearean for 'buttoned blade') - definition EPEE
   (in the surface BLADE has the meaning 'fop')
in                 - hidden word indicator
crEPE Ensemble     - fodder

==>  I actually like the surface, but I never would have gotten there
==>  without being led.  I think "blade" implies a broader, flatter
==>  sword than an epee.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Disgustingly, I lose my composure following a negative reaction (9)

    Disgustingly = defn.
    I lose my = fodder  (ISOMELY)
    composure = anagram indicator
    a negative reaction = NO
                          NO+(ISOMELY) 

==>  MW9 does not list a definition of "composure" that indicates
==>  "the act of composing"; only "calmness", which does not
==>  make for a good anagram indicator.  Otherwise, not bad for
==>  a partial anagram.

Five dolls were stripped, inspected then thrown out quickly (8)

    Five = V
    dolls were stripped = (d)OLL(s)
    inspected = EYED
    thrown out quickly = defn.  
                          V+OLL+EYED

==>  I don't like "thrown out" (whether quickly or not) as a 
==>  definition.  I do like the charade, and the surface is
==>  decent.                  

Some points lodged about soft type of foil (4)

     some points = EEE
     lodged about = placement indicator
     soft = P
     type of foil = defn.(foil = fencing sword in defn but aluminum 
        foil in surface) 

==>  I'm missing something on the surface reading.  What do you mean 
==>  by "points lodged"?  The cryptic construction is fine.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

  Disgustingly oily men; so revolting (9)
  
    "disgustingly" = def.
    "oily men so" anagrammed = "noisomely"
    "revolting" = anagram indicator

==>  A fine anagram clue.  Concise with good surface reading.

   In part, rude yell "Overthrow!" escalated into exchanged shots (8)

    "in part" = hidden word indicator
    "ruDE YELL OVerthrow" = phrase hiding reversed hidden word
    "escalated" = down-clue reversal indicator
    "exchanged shots" = def.

==>  Decent clue.  A bit awkward in the surface, but meaningful.
==>  I like the way the definition appears as a noun plural in the
==>  surface, even though it's a verb as a definition.

  Roof removed from Indian's home and used for fencing (4)

    "roof removed from Indian's home" = "tepee" without its "roof" = "epee"
    "used for fencing" = def.

==>  Excellent concept.  Flawed because "used for fencing" is a verb
==>  and, as such, not a proper definition.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Initial stages of neuroses often imitate symptoms of monomania,
eventually leaving you in a bad way (9)

Initial stages of = first letter indicator
neuroses [...] you = first letter fodder
in a bad way = noisomely (bad = harmful)

==>  An aggressive acronym, not as wordy as one might expect for
==>  a nine-letter word.  I think that "in a bad way" falls a bit
==>  short for a definition.

Cry about stuffing slain dove, shot in mid-flight (8)

Cry = yell
about = reverse indicator = lley
stuffing = inside indicator
slain = anagram indicator ('violently destroyed')
dove = anagram fodder
shot in mid-flight = volleyed (like a soccer ball)

==>  Not bad, for a partial-anagram reversal container.
==>  Decent surface; difficult cryptic combination.

Remove top of portable shelter with fencer's tool (4)

Remove top of = delete 1st letter
portable shelter = (t)epee
with = connector
fencer's tool = epee

==>  Good solid deletion clue.  Nice surface.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Disgustingly lemony, so I stirred (9)

	anagram
	Disgustingly - definition of NOISOMELY
	lemony, so I - anagram fodder for NOISOMELY
	stirred - anagram indicator 

==>  Good anagram.  Clever surface.

Shelled meadow in rodent decimation initiative (8)

	container
	Shelled - definition of VOLLEYED
	meadow - LEY
	in - container indicator
	rodent - VOLE
	decimation initiative - D
		VOL(LEY)E-D

==>  A tough combination.  I think there is a difference,
==>  though, between "shelled" and "volleyed".  Both are
==>  transitive verbs, but "shelled" refers to the target
==>  while "volleyed" refers to the ammunition.

Fencing tool buried upside down in deep excavation (4)

	hidden, reversal
	Fencing tool - definition of EPEE
	buried ___ in - hidden word indicator
	upside down - reversal indicator
	deep excavation - hiding place for EPEE in reverse

==>  Another solid clue.  Good job.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Giving Lois money in an offensive way (9)

    Giving: anagram indicator (in the sense of breaking down)
    Lois money: anagram fodder
    in an offensive way: NOISOMELY

==>  Nice surface, but I think the indicator is weak at best.

Fired librarian initially studied small tome's preface (8)

    VOL + L + EYED

    Fired: VOLLEYED
    librarian initially: L
    studied: EYED
    small tome: VOL (small indicates word is abbreviated; 
                     tome = volume)
    's preface: is (the) preface (to the letters clued so far)

    Notes: My dictionary defines preface as "something written
    as introductory to a book or other composition," and in this
    clue VOL is written as introductory to the composition L + EYED,
    thus the use of the word preface seems appropriate for the
    cryptic meaning.  Also, my dictionary's first definition of a
    tome is "a volume forming part of a larger work," giving no
    restriction on size; thus a small tome is not necessarily
    an oxymoron.

==>  I think the cryptic elements and surface are sound, though 
==>  there is little doubt that this is a difficult clue to solve.

Arm the troop while battle lasts (4)

    Arm (meaning weapon): EPEE
    the troop while battle lasts: last letters spell EPEE

==>  I really like this clue.  Clever and tough, yet clear
==>  once seen (which is, IMO, the definition of a good clue).
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Start of nasty part: fracturing, slippery and with an odor (9)

   start of nasty        N
   part                  SOME
   fracturing            insertion signal
   slippery              OILY
   with an odor          definition

   N + OI(SOME)LY container charade

==>  Strange surface, but an okay clue.

During V-E Day, cowardly majority returned-- very quickly returned (8)

   during                container signal
   V-E                   VE
   Day                   D
   cowardly              YELLOW
   majority              truncation signal : YELLO
   returned              reversal signal
   very quickly returned   definition

   V(OLLEY)ED reversal-container charade

==>  Pretty complex:  a deletion-reversal container charade.
==>  Solid conceptually, with a decent surface.

A blade, in the end, gave up more advantage (4)

   a blade       definition
   in the end    take last letters of:
   gavE uP morE advantagE

==>  I don't like "blade" as a definition, as I feel it implies a
==>  flat implement with a cutting edge, which an epee is not.
==>  The surface meaning escapes me.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Offensively loose, in my rambling (9)

	offensively = definition
	LOOSE IN MY = anagram fodder
	rambling = anagram indicator

==>  Nice anagram clue.

Agitated peacenik held back scream, then let loose (8)

	peacenik = DOVE; anagram fodder
	agitated =anagram indicator --> VO-ED
	held = contained
	back scream = YELL, reversed --> LLEY
	then = connector
	let loose = definition

==>  "Peacenik" -> "dove" -> "vo-ed" is a classic example of
==>  an indirect anagram which, as a cryptic device, is 
==>  generally considered unfair.  Anagram fodder wants to
==>  be found directly within the clue.  Otherwise, an okay
==>  clue, with a decent construction and surface.

One finds a need for fencing in plan to keep eels (4)

	a need for fencing = definition
	one finds . . . in = hidden word indicator
	plan to keEP EEls = hidden word fodder

==>  The definition in a cryptic needs to be either first or
==>  last, not in the middle.  Also, hidden word fodder should
==>  ideally have no extraneous words.  I like the surface.

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