Puzzles, posts, news and general word-chat.

Diabolically Arcane

Bingo. You’ve reached David Astle dot com, a carnival of words, puzzles and more words. Welcome aboard, and have fun.

Loading tweet...

Viz Biz Wiz

11 May, 2013

With a chance of stardust up for grabs, our Storm went cyclonic, all players trying to craft clues with a strong visual element. Despite my threats, I didn’t enter, as I was happy to see new auteurs rise.

While I can’t guarantee the winning clue/s will earn a place in a new short film, rest assured your podium bling won’t hurt. (The mystery director – to be revealed – will certainly have a close look at the talent on show, and the cutting room floor.)

Let’s parade the A-listers. First in the Letter Category:

ZEROEmperor’s cardinal keels over making love [NERO takes a tumble in Fritz Lang’s toga de force, earning a 9 point/5 vote plaudit.]

PUPWhippersnapper taking a dip between the flags [Spielberg shows vivid concern for safe swimming, with a ripper 12/5 reply.]

Word Category

BEDLooks like you could sleep in this [Alan Smithee spots a lower-case loveliness in ‘bed’, getting Vegemite on toast, and 6/2.]

ILLFeeling unwell after seven-hundred and seventy-one 180° turns [Still in bed, Buster Keaton does a number trick to get Lily Serna’s lawyers noticing. This time the yield was 6/3.]

HIAWATHAMohawk is no different in the mirror [Spielberg scalps his opponents, displaying the marvel of a vertical HIAWATHA on glass doesn’t budge as reflection. Box office record ensues: 12/5]

So thanks all directors. As CL points out, the cutting room floor was littered in equal wonders. For the record, the Oscar tally was Truffaut 5, Woody 6, Baz 6, Smithee 6, Hitchcock 7, Lumiere 9, Fritz 14 and Mr ET himself a soaring 24.

Will let you know more about the cloak-and-dagger celluloid as pre-production hots up. Well played, academy. Till next sequel.

"
comments powered by Disqus

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.

Medal

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

read more +

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.

read more +

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 

read more +

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
See Results