Newsgroups: rec.puzzles.crosswords
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From: tomd@bali.amd.com (Tom Deneau)
Subject: PCWC3 Results
Message-ID: <1992Nov4.175031.27880@dvorak.amd.com>
Sender: usenet@dvorak.amd.com (Usenet News)
Organization: Advanced Micro Devices, Austin TX
Date: Wed, 4 Nov 92 17:50:31 GMT
Lines: 495

     PEOPLE'S CLUE WRITING COMPETITION NUMBER 3 RESULTS

The best-loved clue for the word SCAPEGOAT was submitted by
Mark S. Manasse:

    10) One truly not at fault when a pact goes awry (9)


Mark gained over 80% of the maximum points, and he is hereby invited
to moderate PCWC 4.  Congratulations, Mark.

Second place goes to M. T. Raghunath for:

    13) Unjustly accused person sat holding hat and self-esteem (9)

And third place to Mark Brader for:

    4) Cape's back to front--kid's the one to blame (9)

The other clues with above-average finishes were:

   1) Angelenos start in rioting--initially Chief of Police
      Gates is the one who takes all the blame (9)
      (by Guy Jacobson)
      (This clue also had the largest standard deviation)

   6) Got a space free for fall, guy? (9)
      (by Ralph Kennedy)

   2) Avoid attempt at blame (9)
      (by Alan Waldock)

   3) Blame him for damage to packages with loss of $1000 (9)
      (by Ilana Stern)

Thanks to all the participants.  It was curious
that all of the entrants and all but 2 of the voters
were from North America (or at least it looked that way
from the e-mail addresses).

In PCWC1 and PCWC2, there had been a statement to the effect
that voter's comments would be forwarded to individual clue
authors.  I was warned that this turned out to be a moderator's
nightmare so I left that paragraph out.  Two of the voters
did include comments on the various clues and I've simply
appended those comments to the end of this mail.  Future moderators
may wish to handle this differently.


Here are the full PCWC3 results:
 
There were 13 clues and 18 voters; maximum total 216.0

Scores:

	Clue	total	 %max	rank	  mean	 st.dev	 median
	----	-----	 ----	----	  ----	 ------	 ------
	  1	135.0	 62.5	  4	  7.50	  3.44	  6.50
	  2	118.0	 54.6	  6	  6.56	  2.50	  6.50
	  3	117.0	 54.2	  7	  6.50	  3.14	  6.25
	  4	144.0	 66.7	  3	  8.00	  2.22	  8.75
	  5	 84.5	 39.1	  9	  4.69	  3.38	  4.00
	  6	131.5	 60.9	  5	  7.31	  3.03	  8.00
	  7	 59.5	 27.5	 12	  3.31	  1.68	  3.25
	  8	 38.0	 17.6	 13	  2.11	  2.16	  1.00
	  9	102.5	 47.5	  8	  5.69	  2.99	  6.00
	 10	174.5	 80.8	  1	  9.69	  2.23	 10.25
	 11	 83.0	 38.4	 10	  4.61	  2.14	  5.00
	 12	 62.0	 28.7	 11	  3.44	  3.04	  2.25
	 13	154.5	 71.5	  2	  8.58	  2.49	  8.50

Vote distribution histograms:

           4 |                        X
           3 |             X          X
           2 |        X   XX          X
           1 |  X   X X X XXX   X   XXX
Clue #1      |_________________________
                                  1 1 1
              0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2

           4 |                         
           3 |          X              
           2 |      X X X   X  XX      
           1 |      X XXX X XX XX X   X
Clue #2      |_________________________
                                  1 1 1
              0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2

           4 |                         
           3 |          X              
           2 |    X   X X       X X    
           1 |  X X   X X XXX   XXXX X 
Clue #3      |_________________________
                                  1 1 1
              0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2

           4 |                  X      
           3 |               X  X X    
           2 |          X    X  X X    
           1 |     X    X X XX XXXX   X
Clue #4      |_________________________
                                  1 1 1
              0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2

           4 |                         
           3 |                         
           2 | XX     X   X      X     
           1 | XXXX XXX X X X   XX   X 
Clue #5      |_________________________
                                  1 1 1
              0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2

           4 |                         
           3 |                  X   X  
           2 |          X X     X X X  
           1 |    XX XX X X X   X XXX  
Clue #6      |_________________________
                                  1 1 1
              0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2

           4 |                         
           3 |        X                
           2 |  X  XX X X              
           1 | XXXXXXXXXX XX           
Clue #7      |_________________________
                                  1 1 1
              0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2

           4 |XX                       
           3 |XX                       
           2 |XXX       X X            
           1 |XXX XXX  XX X            
Clue #8      |_________________________
                                  1 1 1
              0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2

           4 |                         
           3 |    X                    
           2 |    X       X X   X      
           1 |  X XX X XX XXX  XX X X  
Clue #9      |_________________________
                                  1 1 1
              0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2

           4 |                      X  
           3 |                    X X X
           2 |          X        XX X X
           1 |          X X  X   XXXXXX
Clue #10     |_________________________
                                  1 1 1
              0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2

           4 |             X           
           3 |             X           
           2 |          X XX           
           1 |X X XXXXXXX XXXX         
Clue #11     |_________________________
                                  1 1 1
              0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2

           4 |                         
           3 |  X X                    
           2 |  XXX X               X  
           1 | XXXXXXX XX X         X  
Clue #12     |_________________________
                                  1 1 1
              0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2

           4 |                        X
           3 |                        X
           2 |          X XXX   X     X
           1 |          X XXX X X XXX X
Clue #13     |_________________________
                                  1 1 1
              0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2


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

Here are the voter's comments on the individual clues:

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

 1) Angelenos start in rioting--initially Chief of Police
    Gates is the one who takes all the blame (9)

        A(nglenos) inside anag. [C(hief) O(f) P(olice) GATES] = def.

        Note for people outside the U.S. and U.S. residents who have been
        in a coma recently:  this topical clue is a (more-or-less) true
        statement about L.A. Police Chief Daryl Gates and the recent riots
        there.  Angeleno is a common term for a denizen of Los Angeles.

Too long, but all the less flawed clues are a bit boring ;-)
------------------------------------------------

 2) Avoid attempt at blame (9)

        SCAPE = escape = avoid
        GO    = attempt (noun)
        AT    = at (!)
        SCAPEGOAT = blame (verb transitive, according to Webster)

Very short and makes sense.  I don't like the fact that the clue
breaks up SCAPEGOAT into SCAPE + <other stuff> because SCAPEGOAT is a
compound word (SCAPE + GOAT), and it is (in my book, anyway) a cop-out
to dissect compound words into their original component pieces in
charades.  This is not a fatal flaw, though.
------------------------------------------------

 3) Blame him for damage to packages with loss of $1000 (9)

	Blame him = scapegoat (verb), also indicates him = scapegoat (noun)
	damage to packages = anagram TO PACKAGES
	with loss of $1000 = without K --> anagram TO PACAGES = SCAPEGOAT

Makes reasonably good sense.  A small nit -- I don't feel that using K
for $1000 is quite right.  The abreviation G for $1000 (short for
Grand) has been in use for a long time, and I don't really mind the
nerdy use of K for 1000, but the dollar sign isn't justified.
------------------------------------------------

 4) Cape's back to front--kid's the one to blame (9)

        Move back letter (S) of CAPES to front
        kid = GOAT
        (i)s links cryptic part to straight clue
	the one to blame = SCAPEGOAT

Pretty good, although the use of KID for GOAT goes against the idea of
not breaking up a compound word into its proper pieces for clueing
puposes.  The use of "kid" here is sufficiently misleading that I don't
really mind.
---------------------------------------------------------

 5) Confused California death squad is blamed (9)

        Confused --> anagram
        California death squad --> Ca gestapo
        is blamed --> indicates scapegoat

This clue uses the no-no of an indirect anagram.  These are to be
avoided because they usually make it too difficult to solve the clue.
Also, "is blamed" is not a good definition for SCAPEGOAT; it should be
more like "the one who is blamed".
---------------------------------------------------------

 6) Got a space free for fall, guy? (9)

        [Got a space] free (anag.) = scapegoat = fall guy

Nice and short, and it reads well (although I'm not sure what it might
mean).  While I like the misleading use of "fall guy" in the
definition, the presence of the internal comma is a definite flaw, in my book.
------------------------------------------------------------------

 7) He accepts rap---sounds like jazz vocals engulfing
    a female organist's lead (9) 

        "He accepts rap"  = scapegoat
         "Sounds like jazz vocals" =
            SCAT (sounds like SKAT)
          engulfing   A + PEG + O 

While I like this clue as a whole, the "sounds like" part shouldn't be
there, because the correct spelling for the way Ella sings is SCAT, I
think. (SKAT is a weird card game from Germany).  The deceptive
definition "He accepts rap" is fine indeed, and I am also pleased
with the musical theme.  I don't particularly care for "female" for
PEG, but it's kosher enough.
------------------------------------------------

 8) He picked up the ruffled toga in the hills (9)

        picked up - akin to took on -- def.
        ruffled - hint at anagram
        toga -> goat
        hills - reference to landscape
        So, goat + landscape -> scapegoat

Huh?  How is "He picked up" a definition for SCAPEGOAT?  And how are
we supposed to know to throw away the LAND from LANDSCAPE?  I don't
like the definition "hills" for LANDSCAPE, anyway.
-------------------------------------------------------------------

 9) Massachusetts's cod goes on a tear initially following
    Salem's first victim of blame (9)

        S-cape-g.o.a.t. =  scapegoat

Humorous image of a rampaging fish.  A bit long, but I like it. A nit:
I'm not crazy about "Massachusetts's cod" for CAPE, funny and
deceptive though it may be, because the "Cod" should be capitialized.
You could have used "Cod of Massachusetts...." to avoid this problem.
---------------------------------------------------------------

10) One truly not at fault when a pact goes awry (9)

        "A pact goes" anagrams to "scapegoat".
        "One truly not at fault" is a scapegoat.
        "at fault" might lead someone to anagram
        "truly not", and put an I or A in front, 
        before they see the light.

A well-constructed anagram.  It's not too exciting, but it reads quite
well.  Maybe others don't share my views, but I don't feel that having
other attractive cryptic parsings makes a clue any better.
-------------------------------------------------------

11) Short conclusion: Egghead put a hole in Roscoe, the fall guy. (9)

        S + CAP + E + G(O)AT; "gat" and "roscoe" are both slang
        for "handgun".
	"fall guy" = defn.

Has a nice "gangstery" feel to it.  A bit complex, but I don't mind
that.  I'm not too fond of "conclusion" for CAP, because the two words
aren't quite close enough in any sense that I can think of, but it
isn't terrible.
----------------------------------------

12) Truman passed this illegally for someone who took an
    undeserved fall (9)

	anag. "Capote gas"

This is deceptive, reads pretty well, and the explanation conjurs up a
humorous image in my mind of Truman Capote farting, but it violates
the taboo against using indirect anagrams.  I (and many other people)
don't like indirect anagrams, because it can be too hard to see the
connection between the clue and the answer.
------------------------------------------------

13) Unjustly accused person sat holding hat and self-esteem (9)

        -- definition -- SAT around  CAP  &   EGO

A creditable charade. Perhaps the definition is a bit obvious, and
anyway, how can you sit holding your self-esteem?
--------------------------------------------------------------

 1) Angelenos start in rioting--initially Chief of Police
    Gates is the one who takes all the blame (9)

        A(nglenos) inside anag. [C(hief) O(f) P(olice) GATES] = def.

        Note for people outside the U.S. and U.S. residents who have been
        in a coma recently:  this topical clue is a (more-or-less) true
        statement about L.A. Police Chief Daryl Gates and the recent riots
        there.  Angeleno is a common term for a denizen of Los Angeles.

It is not clear what "initially" refers to (ie. C? Co? Cop?
Copg?).  Normally this is acceptable, but when you throw
in the anagram factor it is not, in my opinion.
------------------------------------------------
 2) Avoid attempt at blame (9)

        SCAPE = escape = avoid
        GO    = attempt (noun)
        AT    = at (!)
        SCAPEGOAT = blame (verb transitive, according to Webster)

Assuming scapegoat is a verb (it's not in *my* Webster's,
but I'll assume I have a cheap dictionary), I still don't
get the surface meaning.  I could understand "avoid
attempted blaming" or  "avoid attempt at being blamed",
but I don't understand "avoid attempt at blame".  Nice
cryptic, though.
------------------------------------------------
 3) Blame him for damage to packages with loss of $1000 (9)

	Blame him = scapegoat (verb), also indicates him = scapegoat (noun)
	damage to packages = anagram TO PACKAGES
	with loss of $1000 = without K --> anagram TO PACAGES = SCAPEGOAT

The him doesn't really work.  Given that scapegoat is
a transitive verb, blame him = scapegoat him, not scapegoat.
And sorry, K does not equal $1000.
------------------------------------------------
 4) Cape's back to front--kid's the one to blame (9)

        Move back letter (S) of CAPES to front
        kid = GOAT
        (i)s links cryptic part to straight clue
	the one to blame = SCAPEGOAT

Pretty good.  "Kid's" sounds a bit funny without
"the".  And of course no one really says "back to
front" instead of "on backwards".  Still, quite the
clever little clue.  First place.
---------------------------------------------------------

 5) Confused California death squad is blamed (9)

        Confused --> anagram
        California death squad --> Ca gestapo
        is blamed --> indicates scapegoat

Indirect anagram.  Flunk.  Tied for last.
---------------------------------------------------------
 6) Got a space free for fall, guy? (9)

        [Got a space] free (anag.) = scapegoat = fall guy

Good clue; reads very well, if a little on the simple side.
I do like the way "fall" and "guy" combine to mean different
things on the surface and in the cryptic.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
 7) He accepts rap---sounds like jazz vocals engulfing
    a female organist's lead (9) 



        "He accepts rap"  = scapegoat
         "Sounds like jazz vocals" =
            SCAT (sounds like SKAT)
          engulfing   A + PEG + O 

The surface reading doesn't make sense.  And I don't
buy PEG for FEMALE.  I'm not sure I go for skat, either.
------------------------------------------------
 8) He picked up the ruffled toga in the hills (9)

        picked up - akin to took on -- def.
        ruffled - hint at anagram
        toga -> goat
        hills - reference to landscape
        So, goat + landscape -> scapegoat

I don't understand the definition at all.  Somebody
flunks, either you or me.  Even if it's me, you still
flunk on landscape.  Sorry, tied for last place.
-------------------------------------------------------------------

 9) Massachusetts's cod goes on a tear initially following
    Salem's first victim of blame (9)

        S-cape-g.o.a.t. =  scapegoat

A nice cryptic, except sorry, on the surface level I'm afraid
cods do not go on tears.  Still, better than most submitted.
---------------------------------------------------------------
10) One truly not at fault when a pact goes awry (9)

        "A pact goes" anagrams to "scapegoat".
        "One truly not at fault" is a scapegoat.
        "at fault" might lead someone to anagram
        "truly not", and put an I or A in front, 
        before they see the light.

Your definition is a little weak.  There's more to being
a scapegoat than just innocence.  You also need to be
blamed.  I would have much preferred "Someone to blame
when a pact goes awry (9)".  Since your clue is so easily
fixed, you still get a good vote.
-------------------------------------------------------
11) Short conclusion: Egghead put a hole in Roscoe, the fall guy. (9)

        S + CAP + E + G(O)AT; "gat" and "roscoe" are both slang
        for "handgun".
	"fall guy" = defn.

This clue has many weaknesses, which while minor in themselves,
in summation add up to a lot.  Just what is a "short" conclusion?
Never heard of one.  Cap for conclusion is weak.  The "gat" and
"roscoe" bit is weak.  You use the convention that in the absence
of any indicators, just take the first letter of the word.  All of
this put together is asking an awful lot of the solver.  This
*would* be a good clue for people who like exasperatingly difficult
clues.  There's got to be a happy medium between this and a clue
that's too easy.
----------------------------------------

12) Truman passed this illegally for someone who took an
    undeserved fall (9)

	anag. "Capote gas"

Indirect anagram.  Clue doesn't work anyway.  Flunk.
Tied for last place.
------------------------------------------------
13) Unjustly accused person sat holding hat and self-esteem (9)

        -- definition -- SAT around  CAP  &   EGO

Your definition is weak.  Scapegoat means something different.
If a policeman busts you without probable cause you have
been unjustly accused, but you are not a scapegoat.  And
you can't really hold self-esteem in your hands.


-----------------------------------------------------------------
 Tom Deneau                    {uunet, cs.utexas.edu!ames}!amdcad!cayman!tomd
 Advanced Micro Devices, Austin TX     +1 512 462 4952     tom.deneau@AMD.COM
