May 03 2011
Adios A Maniac
Ding-dong, Osama is dead. Allegedly. Buried at sea somewhere. With fishy pixels to capture his torched visage. So there. QED.
Whatever the truth, the fugitive was girt for much of his time in downtown Abbottabad. Though any crossword fiend could tell you that OSAMA had long been lying low in the phrase mimosa man, or Morocco’s amazing. Or maybe now he’s gone – maybe: Adios, a maniac.
Since that’s this week’s Storm. To pick a famous name – alive or dead or in between – and bury them in a string of words. Surgeon VICTOR CHANG, say, crouches inside the sequence pelvic torch hanging. Another doctor is found up a stiff red hollow sleeve.
For those who have read Puzzled, MARTIN AMIS reclines in the feasible epithet of smart, in a mischievous vein. The best examples will be those phrases that somehow invoke the name you’ve chosen. And failing style, length. The Argentine amazon GABRIELA SABATINI is tucked into the nonsensical string of bring a brie, LA’s a bat in it.
If a person’s full name is too much, then go with surname only, assuming it’s distinctive, and tricky to conceal. No need to identify your choice of name (we’re bound to uncover it). Instead, just give us the enumeration, like a standard clue – minus the definition element, with a hidden indicator optional.
Any other ground rules? Dunno. They may well evolve as we file. Below are two more to tickle your brain. Find the two stowaways, and then let’s see what you’re hiding. (Deadline by Thursday e'en.)
Medico liver’s to need extract (6,5)
Rubber? Think Le Rage! (4,7)
Comments
Boniface — 03 May at 12:11PM
Seat is a bench (if Leyland admits) (3,7)
PRS — 03 May at 12:16PM
Top cop hiding with Rupe, Terry and Fred (5,4)
DA — 03 May at 12:21PM
@PRS - I don't mind the full clue approach, but let's keep things trim. If you turn 'and' into Andy, then Fred can go home.
Let's all aim to cull those redundant words, with the OPTIONS of hidden signpost and/or definition as your extras.
Boniface — 03 May at 12:28PM
Char less turtles? (7,5)
DA — 03 May at 12:33PM
Sauternes, the Ming way (6,9)
Boniface — 03 May at 12:34PM
Evict or trump erstwhile hitter? (6,7)
PRS — 03 May at 12:35PM
@DA - Trying too hard, I guess - using Fred as play on words for cop's id badge.
Sam — 03 May at 12:41PM
Parked in Zanzibar Bar a cart, landrover (7, 8)
Featuring the wan MC Gregorian chanter (4, 8)
RK — 03 May at 12:42PM
Optimal lender (3,5)
Boniface — 03 May at 12:42PM
Norwegian Thor - people's hero (3,6)
JPR — 03 May at 12:51PM
Unusual Arab in Glenfiddich binge
Boniface — 03 May at 12:55PM
Somewhat self-referentially:
Win a pole on Bon, a par tee slice? (8,9)
RV — 03 May at 01:05PM
Gosh, a new Arne!
RV — 03 May at 01:12PM
Lash anew at son (5,6)
SK — 03 May at 01:13PM
Welcome gang alert (5,4)
PRS — 03 May at 01:13PM
AFL is an evil league (4,7)
or, so I can upset everyone
NRL is an evil league (4,7)
Boniface — 03 May at 01:17PM
Volatile bonder, flame thrown back (6,5)
RK — 03 May at 01:19PM
Scantly seen idly on seat (4,5)
RV — 03 May at 01:21PM
Aunts haunt aitches (5,4)
IC — 03 May at 01:26PM
Which way? NE? SW? Anyway? (5,4)
SK — 03 May at 01:31PM
Career reduced to char; lies he encouraged (7,5)
RK — 03 May at 01:31PM
Good one, IC!
DA — 03 May at 01:32PM
Love it, IC - a disoriented treasurer. And of course Boniface had to introduce the backwards hidden, which is fine, with an embedded warning.
For hepcats:
Asbestos - carpeters only (5,8)
Sam — 03 May at 01:32PM
Two co-stars:
Reuben Edict cumber batches smuggling (8, 11)
Partly outsmart in free manhunt (6, 7)
Boniface — 03 May at 01:34PM
Cracker-barrel ham vat suggests backward composer (6,6)
SK — 03 May at 01:38PM
Plonk any ewes together (5,4)
Anthony Douglas — 03 May at 01:57PM
I confess I started with the other one, but...
Mad on nativity (7)
Anthony Douglas — 03 May at 01:57PM
I confess I started with the other one, but...
Mad on nativity (7)
SK — 03 May at 01:57PM
On flotsam, ant has to survive (8,7)
Sam — 03 May at 02:21PM
Traveling A1, Omar Sharif onboard (5,5)
Boniface — 03 May at 02:21PM
Condoleezza dies, Mithras emerges (5,6)
Boniface — 03 May at 02:23PM
Whoops make that last one of mine (5,5)
DA — 03 May at 02:29PM
Impressive Z-use, Bon.
Waste view on derelict (6,6)
RK — 03 May at 02:30PM
Damn it DA, I was working on Stevie.
DC — 03 May at 02:43PM
Entomb a kernel
Whilst playing around with that, I discovered the existence of an artist called Tom Block.
And DA's spiel put me in mind of this quote from the Guardian today:
Prior to becoming Osama bin Laden's venue of death, Abbottabad was known for being the subject of perhaps the worst poem in the English language.
Boniface — 03 May at 02:50PM
Wit, her Spoonerisms on display (11)
Boniface — 03 May at 02:57PM
Zero glaciers return (2,4)
Boniface — 03 May at 03:02PM
Exchange lamer kelpie for German Shepherd? (6,6)
RK — 03 May at 03:13PM
DA's logie?
Locked away until DA's win tonight (5,7)
Sam — 03 May at 03:37PM
Number toe connecting section (7, 3)
Billycan dreg identified within (5, 4)
DC — 03 May at 03:44PM
Titanic and iceberg engaged (7, 6)
JPR — 03 May at 03:48PM
In Israel, a "Rabin Glee Club" conceals star
JPR — 03 May at 04:20PM
Find in "Abba Bar" a cussed Mr T (1,1,7)
IC — 03 May at 04:24PM
I pity the fool who thought that one up!
JPR — 03 May at 04:29PM
Crooner Crosby popular: "A Bing Less Ordinary" displays star
JPR — 03 May at 04:36PM
Cheat! He ate a Mars bar and hid (3,1-4)
JPR — 03 May at 04:42PM
Off his face, man-peck at Logies concealed Templeton (7,4) [no I didnt know that was his name either]
IC — 03 May at 04:44PM
Love it JPR! What next? The Dukes of Hazzard maybe?
DA — 03 May at 04:48PM
Crimean War, sad attempt (5,5)
IC — 03 May at 04:52PM
Recluse found in state of arousal in Germany (8)
SK — 03 May at 05:20PM
Models some, takes back others (4,4)
Are pooh allergies contracted from the rear? (4,6)
DA — 03 May at 05:21PM
Your tribute to Killing Heidi, SK, kills.
SK — 03 May at 05:24PM
Thanks DA. I recall doing a couple of hidden reversals for lady singers in an earlier storm, but no recycling eh?
I love DC's Candice.
Sam — 03 May at 05:28PM
Some chutzpa, tricks way zestier! (7, 6)
DA — 03 May at 05:35PM
Sam, if not chutzpa [sp?], then maybe grandpa, or even grappa. A great smuggle job though.
RK — 03 May at 05:39PM
Found lying back in resort tub at Ibiza
RK — 03 May at 05:39PM
Sorry, that's (3,8)
AK — 03 May at 05:58PM
Inner phantom, my wise austere talent (5, 6)
Sam — 03 May at 06:01PM
Should have an 'h' shouldn't it? Grandpa works though, thanks DA
Dwells in Euro berth, ugh, escape (6, 6)
RV — 03 May at 06:04PM
"Had avid go", were his motto (5,5)
Of an ilk 'umbled by success (4,6)
Him rank handily (5,4)
Semi-keg at tin greedily (4,7)
AK — 03 May at 06:13PM
Part-bulimic? Ha! Elk limber! (7, 4)
AK — 03 May at 06:26PM
Sorry, no ! at the end in my last one.
Coach, I'll escape (8)
DA — 03 May at 06:42PM
Extract of Mann I take, a tin god (6,7)
Great Ita, RK. You kept the Balearic breeze blowing from the start.
Rupert — 03 May at 07:15PM
Included in trial by not rising for PM.
Rupert — 03 May at 07:16PM
Included in trial by not rising for PM (4, 5)
just in case.
Simon L — 03 May at 07:20PM
Real cap on extortion group (2,6)
Sam — 03 May at 07:28PM
Letters from your Yank, want envelopes? (4, 7)
Simon L — 03 May at 08:01PM
Drank, ate. Wind, soreness the result. (4,7)
— 03 May at 08:25PM
Demon, "I case less nowadays". (6,5)
RV — 03 May at 08:25PM
sorry, that was me.
Simon L — 03 May at 08:41PM
Sauternes them Ming wayfarers drank. (6,10)
Simon L — 03 May at 08:54PM
Runaway Nero one yellow emperor (5,6)
RK — 03 May at 09:17PM
Australian name - a resilient example (4,6)
AK — 03 May at 09:30PM
Usurped leader in odd urn, "I've keeled over" (5, 4)
Boniface — 03 May at 09:37PM
Bizarre big oystercatcher running west (4,5)
DA — 03 May at 09:44PM
Your yellow Nero is striking, Simon L. While the newlywed is a gem: sounds like an after-party aftermath.
Two surreal samples:
Tabouli on elbow end (6,5)
Orinoco marsh a rift (4,6)
RV — 03 May at 10:28PM
Watch rise vertiginously (5,5)
Sam — 03 May at 10:31PM
Some juju did enchant (4, 5)
Concealing negligee, nada visible (5, 5)
DC — 03 May at 11:43PM
Two related ones, but how?
Hide on a kata
Go reverb in ski
Not really a fair question -- I wouldn't have picked it without reference material -- but amusing, I think.
Also, I googled and discovered my iceberg one is hardly original, but eh.
ML — 04 May at 12:02AM
Felt sad - Iva Davies left.
Simon L — 04 May at 02:11AM
Major owl in genre books? (2,7)
(Yes sort of cheating with the first name shortening...)
Rupert — 04 May at 06:52AM
@Simon L: I've heard her referred to by that name by people who've worked with her, so probably fair.
Hide drug or don brown trousers (6, 5)
SK — 04 May at 07:08AM
Was at Fashion Week last night. There was a lot of this happening-
Kiss ass, and bid enthusiastically (4,3,4)
RK — 04 May at 07:31AM
Gives them art in a missive (6,4)
DA — 04 May at 09:01AM
Anybody crack SK's clue? Wave the flag? Peck the rear? What's he up to?
Meanwhile:
Series of TV indies elate actor (3,6)
Bali: CIA, key espionage (6,5)
RK — 04 May at 09:06AM
Hailed back in Dakar, a bum in Soho (5,7)
Boniface — 04 May at 09:14AM
SK's is Sass and Bide
RK — 04 May at 09:32AM
Seen in Kiev, a bra unhooked (3,5)
DA — 04 May at 09:35AM
Shows what I know about fashion. Thought Scally & Trombone was an X-Files spoof.
Boniface — 04 May at 10:34AM
Hehe. God only knows what you made of Abercrombie & Fitch...
DC — 04 May at 10:40AM
Tsunami afar, rowing for life (3, 6)
DA — 04 May at 10:46AM
Keeping things damp DC (a nice one by the way):
Island re-wettings? Ha! Use nothing (6,13)
SK — 04 May at 10:48AM
How's this work for you, DA?
Poncho has ill-designed back (4,2)
Visit Corpus Christi, and I organise tour (9,4)
Desal "Vat 0"...refer rag a monumental disaster (9,9)
Such a pity about Gianni Versace...almost celebrated the perfect anniversary.
DC — 04 May at 10:55AM
Gazebo bell is to the left (3,5)
— 04 May at 11:47AM
Draw? Oh no, read back. (3,6)
Carried on at Elloughton. (8)
Graph Aelfric's work. (7)
Enliven us demi-lovers (5,2,4)
Caput? (5)
Kalif, add a glare, Mau Mau Uprising? (6,2-7)
^ A down clue, with apparently endless spelling liberties taken.
Nib — 04 May at 11:51AM
^ Me above.
And curse you DC, I was like 'Bob Ezag can't be a name and doesn't have a 5 letter surna- OH." :P
DA — 04 May at 12:32PM
G'day Nib, thought this Storm would be up your Tornado Alley.
Here's a clue that seems to refer to the whole Osama imbroglio:
Along the line, even US will (I am sure) figure in court (5,8)
RK — 04 May at 01:02PM
Nib inspired this one:
Poem in emphatic setting (6)
RK — 04 May at 01:19PM
No need for a surname:
Whoop! Rah! Search within (5)
DA — 04 May at 01:55PM
In filmin' I'm excised? (4-2)
Peta — 04 May at 02:10PM
Returned his raw rat sandwich. (4,4) (May the 4th be with you)
Boniface — 04 May at 02:30PM
@ RK Harpo? :)
RK — 04 May at 02:37PM
Excellent Bon. Two for the price of one.
Boniface — 04 May at 02:58PM
Running backwards in Sulawesi, well raced (4,5)
Sam — 04 May at 03:02PM
Could be making up a word here - can you have a mitigator?
Do not rub mitigator the wrong way, providing… (3, 6)
SK — 04 May at 04:40PM
At Warragamba, dams pen certain water reserves (4,7)
Alec Ihm — 04 May at 06:00PM
Type, "Terry Anderson" (5,4)
AK — 04 May at 08:19PM
Sam, maybe "Do not rub Mitchell ..."? Hmm, surely there are other mit- words that fit the context. Mittens? Mithril?
I like your misleading, Alec Ihm.
In bad AV, "I do ... Doh!" Er, typical comedian (5, 1'7)
Simon L — 04 May at 08:39PM
Gelati man at a hungry gathering. (6,4)
Sam — 04 May at 11:32PM
I like the idea of mithril AK - makes me think of hobbits neglecting domestic duties!
DA — 05 May at 08:56AM
She features in Hindi rag, and history! (6,6)
El Pez — 05 May at 10:15AM
JPR already nabbed my first target, which I would rephrase as:
Musical Arab in 'Glee' (4,6)
Here's another:
Texan, a nag (US ma) offers hugs (6,6)
JD — 05 May at 11:23AM
Archangel in a Joliet cell. (8,5)
IC — 05 May at 11:48AM
He asked for more Stoli Vert, wistfully.
RK — 05 May at 11:48AM
Madagascar lab run in secret (5,5)
Venom is an instrument turned within (4,6)
Strings attached? Or is Les single? (5,7)
DC — 05 May at 11:51AM
My theme continues
Sea nastiness for hobbit (4, 5)
IC — 05 May at 11:57AM
"Yes, I'm on call - owing to a ham sandwich!" (6,6)
Boniface — 05 May at 12:12PM
Coming from the East, find Sebastopol let, so Crete prospers (5,8)
Boniface — 05 May at 12:13PM
Or:
Heading West, find Sebastopol let, so Crete passes (5,8)
DC — 05 May at 03:06PM
Taste ale on it? (3,5)
DA — 12 May at 11:05AM
I know the carnival is over, but I stumbled on another Hidden 'celeb' this morning:
Era's Putin? (8)