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Diabolically Arcane

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Seeded Clues

17 January, 2012

Tennis anyone? Hard to resist, with so much grunt and groan on the plasma. But what say we aim to compile a clue, enlisting a seeded player, to create a tennis-flavoured answer? Can we do that? Yes we can, with a slice of Tomic grit, and a shot of Stosur stamina.

Click here to see the wealth of surnames at your fingertips, the likes of Tipsarevic and Dolgopolov among the boys, or Kanepi and Pavlyuchenkova in the gals. (Of course, Nadal and Li Na can be kinder on the wordplay – but see how you fare.)

A few practice swings:

Stosur suffered upsets = ROUSTS

Leading, Shuai Peng is needing influence on the ball = SPIN

On losing first, third and fourth, Granollers has to create a level playing field? = ROLLERS

Early days, but I’m sure as the tourney unfurls, we’ll execute some premium strokes. Enjoy your clueing – and your grunty groaning. (I’m taking the daughter’s posse on Thursday for a look-see.)

So is this a Storm? Not officially. Just a bit of January jollies, with no set deadline or podium. Though we could make it funner by numbering your clues (and withholding answers), creating a solving challenge as well as a clue workshop. Thwack. Your shot.

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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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