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Diabolically Arcane

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DA-LI

9 November, 2012

Two rappers – Scarface and Big Pun – share their birthdays today. And two local prima donnas – Jana Pittman and Delta Goodrem. And one puzzle-monger – DA. As for the perfect ‘prezzie’, that came in the shape of the Guardian blog’s profile of Aussie crosswords. Check it out. Web host Alan Connor called Puzzled a “cracking read”.

Naturally I’d love to deny the fact that I’m 51, but the growth rings don’t lie. So what say we play a game called 51 Denial? All you have to do is drop LI from one word to make another, conjuring a clue for the pair. POSH POLISH, say, could be Hoity-toity Kiwi? While Hot sound of spring = BOILING BOING.

As you can see, the LI word can first or second. See if you can LIck these six, and add to the LIst, using your byLIne and clue number. And thanks in advance for all your seasonal sledges…

  1. Club spite (6,4)
  2. Firm toerag (5,3)
  3. Free carpet (8,6)
  4. Regiphilia? (4,6)
  5. Starfish cull? (4,6)
  6. Splint spree (7,5)

Post your answers, and new denials, here.

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Rewording The Brain

Focus & memory, lateral leaps & logic - every aspect of cognitive health is lit in Rewording The Brain, a book revelling in how puzzles boost your brain. Part 2 equips your brain to conquer any twisty clue, plus the wild crossword finale. Pop science meets neural gameplay, Rewording is rewarding, and out now.

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Rewording The Brain

Care to renew your noodle? Rewording The Brain explores the latest neural studies, seeing how puzzles (and twisty clues) boost your neurons. Part 2 helps you crack such clues, and prep the grey matter for the crossword showcase to finish. More here

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From Ambidextrous to Zugwang, this mini-dictionary teems with rare or alluring words, plus bonus riddles, puzzles and fun word-facts. Dictionary detective will also nab the collection's three fakes. Ideal for late primary schoolers, or word-nuts in general.

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Gargantuan Book of Words

Sneeze words. Fake pasta. Viking slang. Gargantuan is a jumbo jumble of puzzles & games, mazes & quizzes, tailor-made for that wordy wonderkid in your life. Or anyone in love with letters, secret codes, puns, rhymes, emoji & all things languagey. More here 

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Riddledom Rave

If you missed my riddle chat with Richard Fidler, then feel free to slurp the podcast at http://ab.co/1I9t1x5

Text-speak is creeping into Scrabble. Where do you sit?
OBVS I'm fine with it
Entrenched stuff - like LOL and OMG - but no more.
Words With Friends, maybe. Scrabble, no
Let the 'real' dictionaries decide first
Just the handy stuff, like FAQ and EUW
I mean, WTF?! No way
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