Newsgroups: rec.puzzles.crosswords
Path: bryson.demon.co.uk!demon!news!uunet!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!decwrl!adobe!asente
From: asente@adobe.com (A Usenet Pal)
Subject: PCWC 19 results
Message-ID: <1993Sep3.233644.15379@adobe.com>
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Organization: Adobe Systems Incorporated
Date: Fri, 3 Sep 1993 23:36:44 GMT
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Congratulations to Felix Lee, <flee@guardian.cse.psu.edu>, for the winning
clue to PCWC 19:

   Spread freedom: arm a lad, enlist within (9)

This was an extremely close contest, with only half of one percent separating
the top three entries.

Felix will be moderating the next round.

There were 26 clues and 19 voters; maximum total 475.0

Scores:

	Clue	total	 %max	rank	  mean	 st.dev	 median
	----	-----	 ----	----	  ----	 ------	 ------
	  1	194.0	 40.8	 20	 10.21	  6.85	  9.00
	  2	177.5	 37.4	 22	  9.34	  6.27	  8.50
	  3	162.5	 34.2	 23	  8.55	  4.77	  8.50
	  4	358.5	 75.5	  3	 18.87	  5.91	 20.50
	  5	361.0	 76.0	  1	 19.00	  5.35	 20.00
	  6	199.0	 41.9	 19	 10.47	  6.03	  9.00
	  7	121.5	 25.6	 24	  6.39	  4.50	  6.00
	  8	254.5	 53.6	11-12	 13.39	  6.12	 12.50
	  9	295.5	 62.2	  6	 15.55	  7.27	 12.00
	 10	218.5	 46.0	 17	 11.50	  7.06	  9.00
	 11	248.0	 52.2	 13	 13.05	  5.66	 12.50
	 12	206.0	 43.4	 18	 10.84	  3.54	 11.00
	 13	 64.0	 13.5	 26	  3.37	  3.67	  2.00
	 14	307.0	 64.6	  5	 16.16	  5.84	 18.50
	 15	333.0	 70.1	  4	 17.53	  5.47	 19.00
	 16	 78.0	 16.4	 25	  4.11	  5.17	  2.00
	 17	254.5	 53.6	11-12	 13.39	  6.28	 12.50
	 18	359.0	 75.6	  2	 18.89	  5.34	 20.50
	 19	225.5	 47.5	 16	 11.87	  6.44	 12.50
	 20	268.5	 56.5	  9	 14.13	  5.02	 12.50
	 21	294.0	 61.9	  7	 15.47	  5.50	 15.50
	 22	286.0	 60.2	  8	 15.05	  4.78	 14.00
	 23	240.5	 50.6	 14	 12.66	  4.95	 12.00
	 24	234.0	 49.3	 15	 12.32	  4.82	 11.50
	 25	255.5	 53.8	 10	 13.45	  6.24	 13.50
	 26	179.0	 37.7	 21	  9.42	  5.36	  9.00

Vote distribution histograms:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

           4 |                                                   
           3 |             X                                     
           2 |             X           X                X        
           1 |     X       X   XX X  XXX  X    XX  XX   X   X    
Clue #11     |___________________________________________________
                                  1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2
              0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5

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

           4 |                                                   
           3 |X   X                                              
           2 |XXXXX X           X                                
           1 |XXXXX X        X XX     X                          
Clue #13     |___________________________________________________
                                  1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2
              0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5

           4 |                                                   
           3 |                                                   
           2 |                       X              X     X      
           1 |          X  X   X    XXX     XX     XXX XX X   X X
Clue #14     |___________________________________________________
                                  1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2
              0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5

           4 |                                               X   
           3 |                                               X   
           2 |                  X     X             X    X   X   
           1 |                 XX     XX X     X    X X XX   XX  
Clue #15     |___________________________________________________
                                  1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2
              0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5

           4 |    X                                              
           3 |  X X                                              
           2 |X XXX             X                                
           1 |XXXXX XX    X     X     X                 X        
Clue #16     |___________________________________________________
                                  1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2
              0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5

           4 |                                                   
           3 |                         X                         
           2 |                         X     X                  X
           1 |    X    X   XX  XX     XXX X  X      XX  X       X
Clue #17     |___________________________________________________
                                  1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2
              0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5

           4 |                                                   
           3 |                                                   
           2 |                  X     X            X         XX  
           1 |                  X     X  X  X      XX  X  XXXXXXX
Clue #18     |___________________________________________________
                                  1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2
              0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5

           4 |                                                   
           3 |                         X                         
           2 |      X           X      X X                       
           1 |X     X    X  X   X    X XXXX        X  X    X    X
Clue #19     |___________________________________________________
                                  1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2
              0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5

           4 |                                                   
           3 |                 XX                                
           2 |                 XX                                
           1 |                 XX   XXXX  X X X    XX XX  X   X  
Clue #20     |___________________________________________________
                                  1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2
              0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5

           4 |                                                   
           3 |                                                   
           2 |                 X       X                         
           1 |           X     XX    XXX X   X XX   X  XXXX  XX  
Clue #21     |___________________________________________________
                                  1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2
              0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5

           4 |                                                   
           3 |                                                   
           2 |                  X    X         X             X   
           1 |                 XX X  XXX XX X  X   XX X   X  X   
Clue #22     |___________________________________________________
                                  1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2
              0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5

           4 |                                                   
           3 |                         X                         
           2 |             X    X      X                         
           1 |             X X XXXX  XXX  X  X     XX     X   X  
Clue #23     |___________________________________________________
                                  1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2
              0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5

           4 |                                                   
           3 |                                                   
           2 |                 XX    X                 X         
           1 |        X    XX  XXX   XXX X   X  X  XX  X         
Clue #24     |___________________________________________________
                                  1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2
              0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5

           4 |                                                   
           3 |                                      X            
           2 |                  X                   X            
           1 |     XXX         XX   X XX XX X       X  XXXX      
Clue #25     |___________________________________________________
                                  1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2
              0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5

           4 |                                                   
           3 |                                                   
           2 |    X            XX     X                          
           1 |X   X     XXXX   XX    XXX  X     X  X X           
Clue #26     |___________________________________________________
                                  1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2
              0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5


And now the clues.  To provide credit, I've included the names of
those in the upper half of the rankings.

First, I take moderator's priviledge and present my own effort:

0) In Spain, sea-sick Frenchman produces sticky orange stuff (9)

	In Spain, sea = MAR
	sick Frenchman = MALADE
	sticky orange stuff = MARMALADE

A truly disgusting image.  Still, I was greatly disappointed that nobody
entered anything with a bilingual play on sea-sick, which was the first thing
that came to my mind when I decided to use MARMALADE.
------------------------------------------------
	Clue	total	 %max	rank	  mean	 st.dev	 median
	----	-----	 ----	----	  ----	 ------	 ------
	  1	194.0	 40.8	 20	 10.21	  6.85	  9.00

1) Armed lama finds himself in a jam (9)

        Armed lama = marmalade
        in a jam = marmalade

"Finds himself" is a wonderful anagram indicator, but too obvious.

No anagram indicator.

I see an anagram; where's the indicator?  (Finds? I don't think so.)

How does 'finds himself' indicate an anagram?

a nice &lit.  Tied for fourth place.

weak surface
------------------------------------------------
	Clue	total	 %max	rank	  mean	 st.dev	 median
	----	-----	 ----	----	  ----	 ------	 ------
	  2	177.5	 37.4	 22	  9.34	  6.27	  8.50

2) First machine gun a child and finish recipe for spread

	First machine =	M
	gun =		ARM
	a =		A
	child =		LAD
	finish recipe =	E

	spread =	MARMALADE

The two clauses in the surface reading don't go with each
other at all, the effect is ghoulish.

Cryptically solid.  Surface-wise, it seems an unlikely sequence of 
events.

I love this clue!  The first reading is excellent, because I think
of something different when I see the phrase "machine gun
a child".  "arm a lad" was used a number of times,
unfortunately, but this was quite a fresh usage!

"First of machine" for M would be cliche -- "first machine" is
simply wrong.  And the surface reading makes little sense.

Very awkward reading

lousy surface, plus contorted construction
------------------------------------------------
	Clue	total	 %max	rank	  mean	 st.dev	 median
	----	-----	 ----	----	  ----	 ------	 ------
	  3	162.5	 34.2	 23	  8.55	  4.77	  8.50

3) I hurt Mom by loading her with a cargo of fruit preserves (9)

	HURT = MAR
	MOM  = MA
	LOAD WITH CARGO = LADE

	Fruit Preserves = Marmalade

The words "I" and "her" don't serve any purpose in the charade.

"I" and "her" seem extraneous to the cryptic part, and, surface-wise,
Mom might be crushed by the cargo, but "loading" her doesn't sound 
quite right.

I liked it, except that 'loading her with cargo' led me to think
of 'lading' and not simply 'lade'.

"I" and "her" don't fit in the cryptic reading, and "loading with cargo"
would be "lading", not "lade".

mechanical construction ('her'?), vague surface reading

"Loading her with cargo" isn't same as LADE.  Maybe LADING. 
------------------------------------------------
	Clue	total	 %max	rank	  mean	 st.dev	 median
	----	-----	 ----	----	  ----	 ------	 ------
	  4	358.5	 75.5	  3	 18.87	  5.91	 20.50
	From: bcs@sc.harris.com (Brian Spollen)

4) Oranges, when jarred, made alarm go off (9)

        "Oranges, when jarred" = marmalade ("jarred"
        in the sense of preserving in jars)
        
        "made alarm" anagrammed = marmalade
        "go off" = anagram indicator

Very nice; "jarred" misdirects as an anagram indicator.  "Oranges when
jarred" is a wonderful straight definition.

I find no evidence that "jarred" is equivalent to "canned" (it makes
certain sense, but there's no support in any dictionary I've looked at.

Nice literal reading, and a fresh definition as well.  Normally,
I don't like anagram clues, but this one worked for me!

The double meaning of "jarred" for the surface reading is nice!
However, in the cryptic, "go off" is the wrong tense.

good surface reading, good pun 'jarred'

The misdirection in the use of "jarred" makes this clue hard without
being overly indirect.  Good!
------------------------------------------------
	Clue	total	 %max	rank	  mean	 st.dev	 median
	----	-----	 ----	----	  ----	 ------	 ------
	  5	361.0	 76.0	  1	 19.00	  5.35	 20.00
	From: Felix Lee <flee@guardian.cse.psu.edu>

5) Spread freedom: arm a lad, enlist within (9)

	spread = definition
	freedoM ARM A LAD Enlist within = hidden word

Problems with the surface reading.  The person being asked to
"arm a lad" should be arranging for the lad to enlist rather
than enlisting himself.

Deceptive --- I started out thinking that this was an anagram indicated
by "freedom"; decent surface meaning.

Smooth surface reading and nice cryptic construction.  Tied for fourth.

I liked this clue, though the "within" makes for contrived 
surface reading

surface reading a bit awkward ('within'?)
----------------
	Clue	total	 %max	rank	  mean	 st.dev	 median
	----	-----	 ----	----	  ----	 ------	 ------
	  6	199.0	 41.9	 19	 10.47	  6.03	  9.00

6) Jam the first half of marred Malayan's debt (9)

	jam = MARMALADE
	
	the first half of = indicates take the first half of each
	remaining word

        =  MARred MALAyan's DEbt  = MARMALADE

Cryptically solid, but no surface meaning

Surface reading makes no sense.

Cryptically, it would be more proper to use "halves" instead of "half";
just what does it mean to "jar...debt"?

Another excellent clue.  I liked the use of the first half of the
words!

The surface reading makes no sense, and in the cryptic, "first half"
should be "first halves" (or "left sides" or something) since several
words are being individually halved.

lousy surface, plus contorted construction
------------------------------------------------
	Clue	total	 %max	rank	  mean	 st.dev	 median
	----	-----	 ----	----	  ----	 ------	 ------
	  7	121.5	 25.6	 24	  6.39	  4.50	  6.00

7) The boy and his mother were found in a bit of a jam inside the horse (9)

	boy = lad
	mother = ma
	horse = mare
	marmalade = mar - ma - lad  - e
	marmalade = a bit of a jam

The definition can't invade the charade like this.  Points off
for having "ma" and "lad" in the wrong order.

Ordering problems: you've put the jam before the horse; it should
have been the other way around (I considered a variation of this myself;
it started with "Mother and child borne by horse...").

A little long, but other than that it's OK.

Splitting the cryptic part into two sections is hard to do well, and
certainly doesn't work here.

too long ('bit of a');  and 'inside the horse' doesn't read well

Can't have definition in middle of clue.  Weird surface reading.
------------------------------------------------
	Clue	total	 %max	rank	  mean	 st.dev	 median
	----	-----	 ----	----	  ----	 ------	 ------
	  8	254.5	 53.6	11-12	 13.39	  6.12	 12.50
	From: jose@math.duke.edu (Greg Lawler)

8) Leading man hurt without a commercial spread (9)

        Leading man hurt =  Leading man, hurt
                         =  MAR leading MALE
        without a commercial = without AD
        spread = defn        

I know I've seen this usage before, but I still can't swallow
"without" being used as a preposition the way "within" might be.

This would have sat better if it was ordered as "Hurt leading man...";
pretty good surface meaning.

I liked this, except that I tend to think about deleting letters
when I see the word 'without', not put one word around
another.  Perhaps the use of 'without' in this clue is British?

Good one!  Third place.

don't particularly like surface reading, but clue is solid
---------------------------------------------
	Clue	total	 %max	rank	  mean	 st.dev	 median
	----	-----	 ----	----	  ----	 ------	 ------
	  9	295.5	 62.2	  6	 15.55	  7.27	 12.00
	From: tomd@cayman.amd.com (Tom Deneau)

9) Old lady and young boy horse around in toasty cover? (9)

        MA+LAD inside MARE; toasty cover = defn.

"Toasty cover" is a great "straight" definition!

Why aren't they horsing around _under_ the cover?

Better treatment of the mare-ma-lad form used in number 7 --- a really
good surface meaning; the straight definition is a little crooked, but
that's properly indicated by the question mark.

Why does 'Ma' have to be old?

Excellent.  Flawless construction; smooth and amusing surface reading;
and a nice double meaning on "toasty".  In fact, I think I'll have some
toast (without marmalade) now.  Tied for first place with clue 18.

Good clue, but "toasty" cover implies a cover that contains
bits of toast

'toasty cover' is weak;  otherwise very good
------------------------------------------------
	Clue	total	 %max	rank	  mean	 st.dev	 median
	----	-----	 ----	----	  ----	 ------	 ------
	 10	218.5	 46.0	 17	 11.50	  7.06	  9.00

10) Lame drama ripped to shreds (9)

        Lame drama = anagram
        ripped     = anagram indicator
        to         = becomes
        shreds     = definition

Far too easy

"Shreds" = "marmalade"?  Very weak.  

How does 'shreds' indicate 'marmalade'?

Not bad, but the definition seems a bit stretched [if not shredded :-)].

doubts about 'shreds' as ok defn

Shreds=marmalade?
--------------------------------------------------------------
	Clue	total	 %max	rank	  mean	 st.dev	 median
	----	-----	 ----	----	  ----	 ------	 ------
	 11	248.0	 52.2	 13	 13.05	  5.66	 12.50
	From: ilana@niwot.scd.ucar.EDU (Ilana Stern)

11) Strange dream about opening of Malaysian preserve (9)

	MARDE (anag. dream) about (around) MALA (opening of MALAysian)
	MAR(MALA)DE = preserve

I like the use of the beginnings of the words

One can't tell how many letters of Malaysian to use.

Not bad surface, but my preference for "opening" is to indicate only
the first letter, not some indefinite first (n) letters, of a word.
Also, "preserves" would be more commonly used as the straight definition.

Good, except that I wouldn't think 'mala' for 'opening of
Malaysian'.  'M' comes to mind first.

A fine all-around clue, than which there simply happen to be several better
ones in this batch.

"opening of" = arbitrary # of letters?  not good enough surface
-----------------------------------
	Clue	total	 %max	rank	  mean	 st.dev	 median
	----	-----	 ----	----	  ----	 ------	 ------
	 12	206.0	 43.4	 18	 10.84	  3.54	 11.00

12) Spoil mother before bad deal is spread over toast (9)

        Spoil mother = mar ma
        bad deal = anagram of deal = lade
        spread over toast = marmalade

The surface reading doesn't mean anything.

I'm unconvinced that I'd ever want to spread a bad deal on my toast,
and I don't buy "spread" as the equivalent of "honored" if "toast"
is used in the sense of "drinking ceremony".

Why would a deal be spread over toast?

surface reading is weak
-----------------------------------------------------
	Clue	total	 %max	rank	  mean	 st.dev	 median
	----	-----	 ----	----	  ----	 ------	 ------
	 13	 64.0	 13.5	 26	  3.37	  3.67	  2.00

13) famous great dane's head blocks confused deal

	famous great dane:  MARMADUKE  
	head (of MARMADUKE): MARMA

	blocks = jams  - definition

	confused DEAL = LADE

Like the use of Marmaduke, but hate everything else

Let me just hit the high points.  The definition section 
[blocks = jams ?= jam = marmalade] is supposed to be straight, not
cryptic, and is not supposed to appear in the middle of the
charade.  This is a worldwide newsgroup, so comic book characters
that are unlikely to be universally known are not good choices.
Keep reading the newsgroup and try again soon.

My least-favorite clue:  "head" should indicate the first letter, not
some indefinite number of letters; "confused deal" should come before
the straight definition; worst of all, the straight definition is 
supposed to directly correspond to the word being clued (i.e. "jam"
is okay; "block" is not).  Beside's that, some quibbles:  "great dane"
should have been capitalized; I'm not sure just how "famous" Marmaduke
is; you should have appended the letter count to the clue.  (Whew!)

Marmaduke seems too arcane for me, even though I've heard
of him.  I also didn't like the use of 'blocks' for the key word,
even when it was explained.

First, the comic strip dog Marmaduke is probably not all THAT famous.
Then, the indirect definition is ridiculous.  And the cryptic definition
is awkwardly split into two parts.  And on top of THAT, the surface
reading makes little sense.  Last place.

"Marma" for head of Marmaduke is too difficult to get;
also, "blocks" as a definition is slanted at best 

indirect plain defn ('blocks') is unacceptable;  
straight reading is too confused

Can't have definition in middle of clue, and can't have the
definition indirect.  Yeah, block=jam, but block<>marmalade!
-----------------------------------
	Clue	total	 %max	rank	  mean	 st.dev	 median
	----	-----	 ----	----	  ----	 ------	 ------
	 14	307.0	 64.6	  5	 16.16	  5.84	 18.50
	From: clayton@austin.ibm.com (Clayton Colwell)

14) Spread thick and oversweet: a melodrama without love thwarted (9)

	SPREAD THICK AND OVERSWEET     defn. (try a comma between
                                              the 1st and 2nd words)
        A MELODRAMA                    to be anagrammed
        WITHOUT LOVE                   remove O from A MELODRAMA
        THWARTED                       anagram indicator

I love "thwarted" as an anagram indicator.  A great clue.

This is not a convincing surface reading, and I have doubts about
"thwarted" as an anagram indicator.

A pretty good clue, although I regard "thwart" as a bit of a stretch
as an anagram indicator.

I loved this clue!  It has an excellent literal read, and having
to remove the 'o' before the anagram is a nice touch.

Not all that bad, but how could a melodrama be thwarted?

great surface reading, and not too contorted
--------------------------------------------------------------------
	Clue	total	 %max	rank	  mean	 st.dev	 median
	----	-----	 ----	----	  ----	 ------	 ------
	 15	333.0	 70.1	  4	 17.53	  5.47	 19.00
	From: tovah@shallot.salad.mssm.edu (Tovah E. Hollander)

15) Fortify a youth in Maine preserve (9)

	fortify a youth = arm a lad
	Maine = ME
	... M[armalad]E
	preserve = definition

Wonderful clue, nice and concise, with a misleading definition.  Great!

Very solid cryptically, and a surface which makes sense.  A relatively
minor defect:  "preserve" would more commonly be "preserves" as a 
straight definition.

Another very good clue.  It has a good literal read, as well as
good formation of the word.  But would British solvers know
ME as the postal abbreviation for Maine?

A better word than "fortify" might have been found for "arm".
Some overseas readers will probably object to ME, but this is
the sort of abbreviation I think all cryptic solvers should know.

good surface, solid clue, good pun;  maybe too easy
--------------------------------------------
	Clue	total	 %max	rank	  mean	 st.dev	 median
	----	-----	 ----	----	  ----	 ------	 ------
	 16	 78.0	 16.4	 25	  4.11	  5.17	  2.00

16) Limb consumed by French illness (9)
        
        "Limb" = ARM
        "consumed by" = contained within
        "French illness" = MALADE
        MARMALADE = M(ARM)ALADE

You forgot to include a definition.  And correct me if I'm wrong,
but I think malade = ill = ill person, whereas mal = illness.

Is there a straight definition somewhere that I missed (something that
actually means "marmalade")?  Also, in using non-English words, you risk
encountering ignorance on the part of the judge (like me, in this case).

Although not as poorly written as other clues, there is a fatal
flaw: the French word for 'sickness' is not 'malade', but
'maladie'.

There is no straight definition, nor is the clue of the sort that
can get by without one.  And the cryptic definition is wrong:
"malade" means "ill" or "ill person"; "illness" would be "maladie".

Where's the definition?

where's the straight defn?  mediocre straight reading

I see no definition here!

There is no secondary meaning to this clue; one would
never know if they had the correct answer.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
	Clue	total	 %max	rank	  mean	 st.dev	 median
	----	-----	 ----	----	  ----	 ------	 ------
	 17	254.5	 53.6	11-12	 13.39	  6.28	 12.50
	From: hudelson@math.washington.edu

17) Jam formed around injured L.A. Ram (9)

        Jam = def'n.  "formed"=MADE, "injured"=anag. indicator,
                      MA(RMALA)DE, "injured L.A. Ram"=RMALA

A very nice clue.  I like "formed" since it misdirects as (the wrong)
anagram indicator.

Concise and makes sense, good work.

Reasonable cryptic, although proper nouns almost invariably lead to 
anagrams; surface-wise, I first envisioned a football player curiously
covered with jelly.

'Injured' is a good word to go with 'L. A. Ram'.

Passable, but putting an abbreviation in the clue for use as its
letters is a sign of desperation.

I hate anagrams of initials;  but surface reading is plausible

"formed" = MADE is stretching it a bit, especially when
formed can be used as an indicator
-------------------------------------------------------------------
	Clue	total	 %max	rank	  mean	 st.dev	 median
	----	-----	 ----	----	  ----	 ------	 ------
	 18	359.0	 75.6	  2	 18.89	  5.34	 20.50
	From: Kevin W Tschetter-1 <tsch0011@gold.tc.umn.edu>

18) Real madam jiggled sweet stuff in the morning (9)

        "Jiggled" indicates anagram of "real madam"
	"Sweet stuff in the morning" = definition

Your imagination can work overtime thinking about this surface
reading.  No flaws in the construction.

Good surface, pretty good cryptic, and a non-obvious but reasonable
straight definition.  Can't go wrong with this one.

Another one that is fun and flawless.  It's a nice change for the
straight definition to be the longer part of the clue, too.
Tied for first place with clue 9.

Very nice clue; good surface reading.

attempt at "sweet stuff" pun is lame 
------------------------------------------------------
	Clue	total	 %max	rank	  mean	 st.dev	 median
	----	-----	 ----	----	  ----	 ------	 ------
	 19	225.5	 47.5	 16	 11.87	  6.44	 12.50

19) Monday starts, alarm goes off, takes a drink, gets in a jam (9)

        "Monday starts" = first letter of Monday = M;
        "alarm goes off" = anagram alarm = ARMAL;
        "takes a drink" = add "ADE";
        "gets in a" = makes up a word meaning...;
        "jam" = definition

Pretty good, would be better without "in a".

A little long-winded, a little choppy, "in a" seems extraneous (quibble).

The surface reading is poor -- is it the Monday or the alarm that takes
a drink?  The cryptic reading uses what my unabridged dictionary says is
a nonword, and uses the awkward "Monday starts" for "start of Monday".
And why "in a"?

weak surface, mechanical clue

"Takes a drink" implies that ADE is in middle of word.
------------------------------------------------
	Clue	total	 %max	rank	  mean	 st.dev	 median
	----	-----	 ----	----	  ----	 ------	 ------
	 20	268.5	 56.5	  9	 14.13	  5.02	 12.50
	From: msb@sq.com (Mark Brader)

20) Lame drama rewritten -- it's for good taste (9)

        LAME DRAMA rewritten (anagrammed) -> MARMALADE
 
Not too bad, although the straight definition is too indefinite.

good pun 'good taste'
------------------------------------------------
	Clue	total	 %max	rank	  mean	 st.dev	 median
	----	-----	 ----	----	  ----	 ------	 ------
	 21	294.0	 61.9	  7	 15.47	  5.50	 15.50
	From: agertner@linc.cis.upenn.edu (Abigail Gertner)

21) Trapped by schoolmarm, a lad expects a jam. (9)

	"trapped by" indicates container for
		schoolMARM A LAD Expects.
	a jam = defn.

I don't think you "expect a jam".  You can expect to be in one.

An okay clue.  I think it might be somewhat too easy, since "marm" is
not broken up within the hidden portion.

What exactly does it mean to "expect a jam"?  Otherwise nice.

good pun 'trapped', pretty good surface reading, slightly weak pun 'jam'
------------------------------------------------
	Clue	total	 %max	rank	  mean	 st.dev	 median
	----	-----	 ----	----	  ----	 ------	 ------
	 22	286.0	 60.2	  8	 15.05	  4.78	 14.00
	From: AMITAI HALEVI <CHR04HA@vmsa.technion.ac.il>

22) Badly made alarm causes jam (9)

        Badly (anag. ind.) made alarm -> MARMALADE; jam (def.)  

Okay cryptic, bland surface.

And how does a badly made alarm cause a jam?  Well, I can sort of
see this, but it's still an awkward surface reading to me.

surface reading is uninspired;  otherwise solid
--------------------------------------------------------------
	Clue	total	 %max	rank	  mean	 st.dev	 median
	----	-----	 ----	----	  ----	 ------	 ------
	 23	240.5	 50.6	 14	 12.66	  4.95	 12.00

23) Jelly made Lamar drunk (9)

        Jelly = MARMALADE (defn)
        made Lamar = MARMALADE (anag)
        drunk = anagram indicator

Some points off for the proper name.

An unlikely surface meaning (wine jelly, perhaps?), and proper nouns
are overused in anagrams.

Plain and simple, but downgraded for the use of a proper name.

forced anagram, weak surface reading
--------------------------------------------------------------------
	Clue	total	 %max	rank	  mean	 st.dev	 median
	----	-----	 ----	----	  ----	 ------	 ------
	 24	234.0	 49.3	 15	 12.32	  4.82	 11.50

24) Preserve gnarled Ramada elm (9)

	  Preserve = def.
	   gnarled = anagram
	Ramada elm = marmalade

Very easy, but nice surface reading.  However, might be incomprehensible
to people not from the Southwest US.

Does this variety of elm really exist?  If so, nice find.
I have to quibble about "preserve" not = "preserves", and other
clues did this too.

Another proper noun in an anagram (sigh), and "preserves" would be more
commonly used as a straight definition.  The good surface meaning 
partially redeems this clue.

'Ramada elm' sounds too contrived to me.

And I complained about the proper name in the previous one!
"Ramada elm"?  Sheesh.

surface reading is uninspired
------------------------------------------------
	Clue	total	 %max	rank	  mean	 st.dev	 median
	----	-----	 ----	----	  ----	 ------	 ------
	 25	255.5	 53.8	 10	 13.45	  6.24	 13.50
	From: Uday Rajan <urajan@leland.Stanford.EDU>

25) A lame dram somehow may improve a toast! (9)

	"A lame dram somehow" indicates
	      anagram of "a lame dram"
        "may improve a toast" = definition

A good clue, and a great straight definition, but loses points big time for
the exclamation point.

You need a more noun-like object as a definition.  Also, usual
U S practice is to reserve "!" for &lit clues.

An &lit attempt; okay, but "a lame dram" is anagram fodder --- it just
parses too unnaturally; marmalade would improve "toast" rather than
"a toast" in the straight definition.

Good anagram indicator, as well as good definition of the word.

Another good double meaning of "toast", but the clue seems pretty lame
generally.

'lame' is weak as adjective; surface reading is otherwise perfect

"may improve a toast" is too deceptive: no one refers to a piece
of toast as "a toast".  "improve a toast" can only refer to the
drink-clinking type of toast.
------------------------------------------------
	Clue	total	 %max	rank	  mean	 st.dev	 median
	----	-----	 ----	----	  ----	 ------	 ------
	 26	179.0	 37.7	 21	  9.42	  5.36	  9.00

26) In front of sick Frenchman, damage fruit concotion (9)

        MAR (damage) + ('in front of') MALADE (Fr.: 'sick person') =
        MARMALADE (fruit concoction)

Finally someone who knows what "malade" means.

"damage" is not really good in the surface reading, can you
break a fruit concoction?

Another ailing foreigner.  Pardon my French, which doesn't include  
"malade"; you lose lots of points on this one.

An interesting definition, although not too good.  How much
foreign language should a cryptic solver be expected to know?

Ah, someone who knows what "malade" means.  The spelling error is
unfortunate, but I think it may be considered incidental.  I'll
rank this one fairly high.

weak surface reading
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