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A Foregone Conclusion

Hmm – I was going to say I had spotted a gremlin in the maxi clueword of no 72 Holiday clueword but I did do some research and find you are correct. To me forego (the across clue at the 7th level below the MAXI caption) has always meant “to go without” (to forego [more…]

Star Grazing — Starhunts celebrities (Issue 54)

» Code Cracker Starhunts Issue No.54 – on sale February 17! (SPECIAL OFFER: 3 x FREE ISSUES WHEN YOU SUBSCRIBE DURING MARCH ’10 More info)

To learn more about celebrities featured in this bi-monthly issue of Code Cracker Starhunts, please make a selection:

Alice Cooper
Amanda Peet

Robert Duvall
James Franco

Thandie Newton
 

» Alice Cooper

Born Vincent Furnier, Alice Cooper is an American [more…]

Latest win is a Stinker!

I would just like to say thank you for the various prizes I have won over the years, the latest being for winning the Stinker competition in Colossus 217. The Stinker, the Demon and the cryptics are my favourite competitions. I always look forward to the crossword books coming through my letter box and [more…]

Wordygig’s Waboom

Thank you for the Wordygig tester “WABOOM” – ’twas hard to find the correct definition.

Well done.

But, I can’t stop laughing at your third option – “An underground explosion in an Australian iron ore mine.” Can you imagine it – “WA-BOOOMMM” – yes, I suppose you can.

Also, I’ve wanted to ask this for [more…]

Give the team a ‘high five’

Thank you for the years of enjoyment and challenge your crosswords give me. When I first started I couldn’t finish a simple one, now the first puzzle I turn to is the cryptic – they are fun and funny. I must admit,I find the Baffler more difficult than the Stinker, but I eventually get [more…]

Hello – March 2010

Have you ever seen how much muscle is lost after a broken bone has been in a cast for several weeks due to lack of use? Similarly our brains need to be exercised to stay in tip top condition.

Countless research studies tell us that our minds need to remain mentally active to avoid the [more…]

Demon Aficionados – Jan BIG Contests

AFICIONADO comes from the Spanish for ‘arouse affection’ and means an enthusiast or ‘Ardent devotee’ (Demon 22dn).

Most of you Demon aficionados had no trouble with this answer but a few of the less canny crossworders had AFICIANADO, AVICIANADO or even OFFICINADO. The latter caused more problems in across clues, ’Slipstream’ (21ac), which was WAKE [more…]

FREE Puzzle Sample — New Lotus Logic

Download a free sample of Lotus Logic, the new grid on the block, which features in our bi-monthly Lovatts Handy BrainTrainers magazine.

To solve these puzzles, apply the same principles of logic you’d use for Sudoku, but in a roundabout way (check out the grid – you’ll see what we mean!).

Lotus Logic is pure [more…]

Keep it challenging!

In reference to The Judge Sums Up BIG FEB. relating to Goliathon Dec.’09 , I considered ‘two-by two craft’ as one of the easier clues.
What is the purpose of a crossword , such as The Demon or Goliathon , without a challenge?
Christine , I also feel you have been too lenient in increasing the [more…]