News Clues

Sorry Julia:

1. Crimson hag to snap over credit fiasco.

Apparently the good Colonel is an anagram of Faecal Doodling, which needs little comment.

GADDAFI: Fly, demented idiot -- leader (not)!

3. One firing thousands downrange at romantic novelist (4,5,5)

Out go failed Lybian leader and co.

That was #2, in case anyone was confused.

2. Out go failed Lybian leader and co.

4. Heard MP was using DNA testing to win bid for first place

2 So-called nut, grotesque leader - and one given flick

Bah! Someone can't spell Libyan.

2. Out go failed Libyan leader and co.

1. Wayward groin acquires upset stomach pain

3. Mirrors Zoolander pose around Mallee Scrub, we hear.

I got in trouble elsewhere for this, but I need to slightly amend my clue to show a stronger definition:

3. Mirrors Zoolander pose around 'Mallee Scrubber', we hear.

2. The wicked despot Galinda: cold foe melted.

3. Ratten's boys manage alloy? Or an alloy company?

2: Centre reportedly gives a fig about total of 42 years in power

Though technically should that be 'a fig gives'?

1. Car might soon explode, prompting police investigation

1. Car might soon implode, prompting police investigation

Sorry all, not sure what happened there. First post for (1) is the keeper.

I meant despot as in take spots off. Am I allowed a hyphen?

Sneaky trick, RobT, the old 'de-spot'...I'd say a perhaps, or a question mark at least, should alert the solver to the ruse.

And Em - beware clueing steel as steel in your wordplay 'element'. Better off with:

'Ratten's boys manage Nick, say...' or something separate from the actual meaning in the solution. This trap is charmingly known as Hookworm Syndrome, as fleshed out in Puzzled.

Blockhead Apollo missends final 2 letters surrounding agitated Wanda.

Better: Blockhead Apollo missends final 2 letters about agitated Wanda.

Better: Blockhead Apollo missends final 2 letters about agitated Wanda.

1. Alleged brothel client makes chatroom sing out.

4. Block victors from crushing lazy old pawn (5,3,3)

Memories of Berlin-

4. They bagged block in zany "Wall" podcast

3. Dictator: 'The Spanish Fly' initially denying any further involvement (7,7)

Depending on where the clue appears:
2.
(in the Friday SMH)
If a dwarf holds me & Dale over left 180, is he trapped in Tripoli ?
(otherwise)
If a dwarf holds puzzled author & Dale over left 180, is he trapped in Tripoli ?

Nice one there SK

2. Fugitive: Costa Rican tender wetback with freak back condition.

3. They sacked officers over argument about telescopes (9,5)

Or-

3. They sacked officers in Navy for misuse of telescopes (9,5)

I'm loving Mr X's Thomson at the very least. A super-sly anagram.

And RobT, that's amazing. Oor main Craig combines GROIN and STOMACH. Brilliant find.

Subtle def in your BlueScope too, SK.

PS Rob - mind if I run with that groin/stomach wonder as a Wordwit on Monday, Sept 19? Giving you due fanfare and credit, natch.

4: Sounds like Craig Thomson, possibly with matey 'Rabbit' Home, scored a winner on the block.

1. For an MP to cheat it's considered a shortcoming (5,7)

LikeD the fall of the Berlin wall, SK.

Coarse DA!

3. NSW deals with duck, it's reported they'll axe 1000.

Thanks DA - appreciate the feedback. Back to the drawing board. And back to Puzzled!

3: X-rated vision? Rip-off sounds? Like metalhead company?

3. Ratten's boys manage Sidebottom? Quite a time for executive bonuses!

Tidy stuff, Em. And in case you haven't twigged to my football vein of puzzles, then try the link below. (And make sure you cover the answers when scrolling the backlist!)

http://footyalmanac.com.au/?cat=1074

3. NSWRL bug Moray faction.

Better:

3. NSWRL bug Parramatta Roadkill?

Maybe "Roadkill merchants" would be better...

Nice concept Rob T. Can I suggest a variation on your theme?

NSWRL curse Parramatta player for producing a lack of mettle at home, we hear

sK i like it. I have a habit of finishing too early....

Wicked Sepo elects rough trade supplier.

2. Troubled lad of genocidal tendencies?! (7,7)

3. Manage depression first to prepare onself for cutting company

2. Forced to step down after 42 years: broken leg plus a back condition (7,7)

Hey I'm not sure if this is an improvement on an earlier idea, or whether simpler is better-

4. Millions saw them carry off block in zany "Wall" podcast (5,3,3)

And I love Bon's opening shot at our fearless leader

4. Optimist without an aged bottom was, reportedly, won by default on telly.

As DA is now a veteran celeb of the Archibalds, here's a tribute to an earlier scandal-

1. The face of Dobell's controversial work claims- "Archi-morons got agitated, or quit" (5,7)

1 Dobell's rep is rapt, smooching all over the place

A variation on an earlier idea, with a different sort of "colon"-

2. After 42 years he has split intestine, broken leg, plus a back condition (7,7)

@Peta, I think you have a surplus "p" in your fodder. The dishonorable Member for Dobell is peeless.

3. Carlton police nearly favour Liberal company

Thanks SK - Smooching art dumbfounded Dobell's rep

Combining two earlier ideas into one, keeping the Archibald theme for misdirection-

1. A shortcoming exposed in Dobell's representation? (5,7)

This is the first clue I've ever posted. Does it work?

1. Right on! Height of chaos goes haywire about politician brothel creeper

Hi KM, and welcome to the addiction!

I'm not quite getting your wordplay...guessing it's an anagram with the fodder sitting in "right on height of chaos". The closest I can get is the letters of "right on" + "chaos - h" ( = "height off"?) surrounding MP ("about politician"). Is this what you are aiming at? (I'm guessing the "politician" signals MP, as I can't see any other way to get an "M" from the wordplay....but remember that he is a Thomson not a Thompson...)

Am I on the right track, or missing it completely?

SK, you're on the right track and I'm not. I had him as a Thompson.

The word play was "right on" + "chaos - h" (= "height of chaos goes") surrounding MP ("about politician"). And of course "haywire" is the anagram indicator.

Oh well... back to the clueing board.

How about:

1. Right on! Height of chaos goes haywire about male john sitter

Thomson [Thompson? Thomsen?] is one of those names. But now that I know he's groin/stomach, the two paths to a bloke's heart, I'll never bungle his spelling again.

And welcome, KM

Or:

1. Scathing room punished dishonest pollie

Or:

1. Minor gotchas destroyed naughty member

Thanks, DA. Great to be onboard.

3. Close-up beetles bug metal plant (9,5)

Minor gotchas is massive. Brilliant clue, on the money as a story, and the definition is a louche kicker.

Ditto...love the minor gotchas. Nice clue KM!

The naughty MP is a goldmine of anagram fodder...

Naughty pollie identifies a shortcoming.

I am a Thomson so i never got it wrong. Can't wait for the release of Tintin in December!

@RobT - another astounding anagram - A SHORTCOMING. Though your anagind needs adjusting. Not sure about 'identified' as a cue to mix. What about:

A shortcoming plagued naughty pollie

(Or turn 'naughty pollie' into a pleasing 11-letter def that could act as a false anagram, the signpost planted in the clue's centre.)

Tricky...ok.

How's about:

Nary wary nor chary: to vary moots chagrin.

Tricky...ok.

How's about:

Nary wary nor chary: vary moots chagrin.

A shortcoming plagued a politely hung fool?

3. Libyan dictator: Aided flag demise

Tweaking an earlier clue-

3. After four decades of tyranny he has split intestine, broken leg, plus a back condition (7,7)

3. Acid on gold leaf drugged loony despot

Good one, Boniface for coming up with an anagram of the Block couple.

A shortcoming plagued credited card.

Can't count:

A shortcoming plagued 'Yes' Minister.

3. Dictator’s rank adventure gets our host cluer over endless fit

So many good clues, hard to keep up. Liked your "credited card", RobT.

Old gaol fancied tossing Green Book author

Cheers Criseyde et al.

Some funny clues in this lot.

I loved seeing that you could clue Colonel as :el

Yeah, liked your El G, too, Boniface. Wasn't lost on me.

One for you too guys (I hope you don't mind):

"China"s get a room, each removing and fumbling for a credit card mislayer.

hi there macauley this is the web address info ,ring them for advice ,say Howard leston put you on