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Diabolically Arcane

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Merino Ergo Sum [June 27 - July 2]

27 June, 2011

Let me be on record that I loved Times 9039, better known as last Saturday’s puzzle, despite not fully getting one clue, and entering a wrong solution for another. Three of the clues were Hall of Famers, I reckon. Namely:

Wounded under fire, finally survive = ENDURE

Parking in lashing rain behind road hazard? = HAIRPIN BEND

Pop group I sample – that’s stealing = BANDITRY

A trio supremo, in my book. The clue that flummoxed involved a stew I never knew – DAUBE – while my wrong solution, I’m prepared to argue, is an alternative answer. See what you think:

Go over to Rome in haste for coat? = FLEECE (and my bid, MERINO)

Was I wrong to think merino – yes or no? For more wordy chats and conundrums like these, join the solving ranks as we battle to knock off the coming week of Times crosswords, appeairing in The Australian. Though today’s puzzle – 9040 – has a hard act to follow.

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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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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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