Puzzles, posts, news and general word-chat.

Diabolically Arcane

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Mad Week

29 March, 2016

If Easter is a time of rest and reflection, then I can't wait for the furlough to start. Oh wait, that was Easter? Forgive me for forgetting - this week is one big whirlwind. 

From 2am > 6pm across this week I'm hosting the Overnights slot on ABC local radio. While I can't urge you to stave off sleep to catch the chat, I can recommend this bizarro encounter with Monash linguist, Kate Burridge. Just for the callers alone you have to sample this piece of audio, where Kate and I explore secret languages. 

(And while talking audio, try to find a spare 20 minutes to hear LR - alias Liam Runnalls - talk about his cruciverbal grandfather and the great spoonerism stigma in Rhett Bartlett's cool podcast.)

As for that whirlwind, please excuse a break in normal services at DA Central. When not sitting in the graveyard seat, I'll be hosting a Wordburger Powwow at Melbourne's Wheeler, and later  on Saturday: rabbiting about happiness in Sydney. Sorry, that's rabbiting in Sydney about happiness. Let's be clear.

The subsequent videos should be worth a peek, as one puzzle-maker's happiness may be another's pine shape. Have fun while I lie low from e-admin, and gyrate. Keep happy.

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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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101 Weird Words (and 3 Fakes)

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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Recent Comments

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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