The Age Cryptic by LR #20716

New month brings LR back into rotation (Whatever happened to EM?) and he was very kind to us giving us a fair and easy offering. That said I got a bit stuck on 15D which messed up13A for me. What I like about LR puzzles is there's usually some modern entries into the grid. I'd like to see compilers move away from the classic elements and take on more modern ones like instead of using Capone or Gangster to clue AL. Use Yankovic. (I am heavily biased in this regard, being a life-long diehard Weird Al fan.) How will cryptics appeal to younger audiences if they don't speak at the level of that audience? They won't bother to try if compilers don't try first. That said I don't think getting rid of classics completely is the right way either. We all need to know our roots.

The 15D clue I has AT ANY RATE put in first which was hard to erase as it fit most of the cross letters. I just couldn't make 13A fit. I settled on RAPACITY  to be with "greed" as the definition  where "a mean" = PAR "revolted" is a reversal signpost to make RAP, "metropolis" = A CITY. What gave me pause was the A in A CITY. Do I use the A, do I not? It's not actually clued to be an A hem haw hem some more. Couldn't just use some arty punctuation to get it to be "a metropolis of greed" maybe? I know, my confidence isn't tops and things like this throw me. Once I rethought 15D to IN ANY CASE I knew RAPACITY had to be 13A.

19D was a gift clue as I'd seen LR use it on Twitter many weeks ago. It pays to stalk compilers.

The Age/SMH cryptic by DA #20,714

I'm not sure if this puzzle was easier this week or if I'm just having a really great day but I got 3/4 done before hopping into the DA Trippers for a few hints. I was amazed some clues that gave folks trouble were my first ones into the grid. It's neat how everyone gets something different from a puzzle. Since I found this one more straightforward I liked it tons, funny how that works.

I found many answers by definition and several I can't fully parse. Here's my pic:

9A - Stosur decorated in the pacific? (5)

I got that SAM Stosur is who we needed but don't know why "decorated" gets us OA to make SAMOA.

10A - Packed a kitty-scooper, most likely (4,5)

I got this with definition "Packed" thinking of a theatre, and enumeration but I have no idea how the clue is parsed.

14A - Rudimentary creep ate nothing for starters (8)

Rudimentary is the definition and I can get that "creep" = INCH we can use the ATE from the clue and "nothing" = O but how do we know the correct order of the elements and what does "for starters" have to do with this? Is it saying to put the O before ATE?

26A - A crop stuffed by Saddam's ultimate WMD (1-4)

I got this from definition WMD and enumeration. I think it's supposed to be (a crop) (stuffed by saddaM's ultimate) but I don't know why A BOB is a crop to be filled with M to become A-BO(M)B. Is it a word for a whip or a foodstuff? A shortened word for one of those?

27A - Give present (rings, diamonds) after Yule's end (5)

This is a most confusing clue! I think the definition is "Give present" and I got the "after yulE's end" = E being the first letter but I don't know how we get the rest.

2D - Popular protest opposed to second dock (7)

I solved with One Across which let me know "Popular" is the definition but I have no idea how DEMOTIC is the answer.

4D - Bone fairly tender about splinter (3-5)

I got this with definition and cross letters and thinking laterally. I felt "Bone fairly" was the definition to get me to the colour OFF-WHITE but how the clue works I'm not sure. I'd thought for a long time the definition was "splinter" and answer was OFF SHOOT so I'm a blinded to the solution.

7D - A little fool stalks - thus in court (7)

I got the answer from definition and cross letters and I think I figured out the individual bits but I don't know how the clue tells us to put them together. Also SOUPÇON has a French character but no hint of frenchiness in the clue. Would that have made it too easy?

That's a lot of shrugging I dunnos. I should, knowing from past experience, double check those for anagrams or hidden words I've missed...Nope! All clear.

 That was me for this puzzle. I didn't find anything groan-worthy. I did shake my fist at the definition for 15A because I didn't see the trick for ages. Thanks to Ray at DAT for giving me hints on clues in the SE corner otherwise I'd have not finished. It was great to see some of the regulars return and how much the group has grown in the past year. Puzzle people are great.

The Age/SMH cryptic by DA #20,708

We got a fun form of music puzzle. All of the across clues looked like song titles with band names. I wonder how long this took DA to create all those clues. His impressive cleverness that me feel like a putz. Once we can get your minds trained to ignore all the italics and punctuation it becomes a lot easier. This was an easier puzzle than previous weeks in my opinion.

That said I got about 3/4 done on my own and the rest was working definition and cross letters with One Across and working the clues backwards. I found the SE corner the toughest and was stuck on the 22s for ages. I have managed to resolve most of the solutions.

Here's my pic:

19D - Old bloke suggests how to produce uni alumnus? (7)

I got this from the definition "Old bloke" and I can see that "uni alumnus" would be GRAD but how do we know to split that around AND and why AND?

Which is the only one left I haven't figured out from my unknowns. I still don't know why "to recruit" is included for 22D and it's distracting as a possible container signpost. All it's doing is adding on the EL - is that it?

Once this was done I was in the garage getting some painting done. I've never been artistically inclined before and only started painting a week after my mother passed away. It's been helping with my grief even though it's tough to not share this new hobby with her as she was always supportive of anything I did and always told me I was good at things. Life goes on. I've begun to put some pictures of my paintings on Flickr since I'd not used it for photos in a while and have paid for the professional subscription, I may as well use it.

Anyway, me and my short attention span are going to have fun in the sunny Saturday weather. I'm very delighted to see blossoms, sunshine and daffodils. All the signs of Spring are great. Sure I need allergy medicine and eye drops several times a day - small price to pay! Bring on the beach weather, I need beach warmth.

The Age Cryptic by RM #20,704

I'm back after a short vacation where I didn't go very far and I didn't do much except walk a ton of miles, spend too much money and say things like "Wow it's changed a lot since we were last here." which just makes me feel old. We housesat for a friend and took care of their pets which was a treat as we don't have any pets (allergies) and got to spend time in Melbourne which isn't as much fun with a 16 and 11 year old as you'd think it could be. I still haven't finished Friday's DA; I got about seven clues done before everyone woke up.

The RM puzzle was great to sit down to and have a crack at. I got the whole day to myself in an empty house. I got chores done, sang as much as I wanted and managed to solve the whole puzzle. The only clue I'm not 100% about is 6D because I don't know why a "theologian" is A DD. Deacon doctor? I don't know. I put BADDY in 6D and that might be wrong but I like it.

There were a lot of anagrams but some were tricky and I didn't realise they were anagrams until I'd got the answer and had to work it out backwards. Here's my pic:

I've been working on my confidence and doing less scribbling on the paper. I let myself scribble on this one though because I actually prefer to write everything out and I don't that makes me less of a solver. My puzzle my rules.

I think I have everything correct. My last clue in was 25A.

That's all I've got. I had a great Monday, I hope yours was kind to you, too.

The Age Cryptic by DA #20,696

I had a rough week with the puzzles this week. I couldn't finish any until the NS and that one I was down to two clues and then begged help on the CCS to get at least on puzzle done.

Yesterday was nearly a bust as well - well I didn't finish the Da but I don't beat myself up about that because it's so tough anyway. I had a day of forgetfulness, inefficiency and was running back and forth to the same few places until I was done with Friday before elevenses.

This puzzle had a theme based around 6A - Cleaner gull snaffling doughnut (4) which was "gull" = SAP taking in an O to make S(O)AP.  I was stunned to have solved this first (I was also proud of myself for getting the Spooner clue, too). Then I thought are we talking detergents or TV shows? I don't know Aussie soap operas and I barely know all their brands. I get things muddled up between USA/UK and OZ. My mom worked for Proctor and Gamble and all her retirement was tied up in their stocks so I had to buy their stuff or mom would get pissed. Whenever she was flying out we'd have to restock the house with P&G brands so my relationship with branding is looking for the maker.

I had so many underlined questions as the main guys who give hints on the DA Trippers have left the group and that makes me sad. I love the hints, the vaguer the better. I still want to feel like I've done most of the solving and just need a nudge in the right direction. I hope they're just on vacations someplace warm and bright and will come back again. Here's my pic and I'll list the questionables below:

9A - 7- down army cadre in Bronte fashion? (5,4)

7-down was ALERT and with cross letters I could get ALARM BELL but have no idea how we get this or what the cheeky question mark was hinting.

13A - Twin extras see you (3-3)

I guessed the definition was "See you" and that "Twin" meant something was doubled and got the answer BYE-BYE but I don't know why "extras" = BYE.

1D - Stacks almost worry after exposure campaign (6)

I got this from One Across with the cross letters and a guess that "campaign" meant a bombing campaign but how we get there I can't see.

15D - Saves Sepp's record, eclipsed by felon (7)

"Saves" is the definition and I think this is supposed to be "S(-ep for record)PS is "eclipsed" or goes around a word for "felon" = CRIM but there's notion to say remove the EP so I wasn't sure. Something like "scratched record" would've been understandable for me.

16D - Contrary greens spoils pirate's punishment (8)

"Pirate's punishment" is the definition and I got it with that and cross letters. I don't know how we get KEELHAUL from the rest.

20D - He avoids Lorraine from Domain, using any stunt? (4,3)

I have no idea. I had all the cross letters and even a hint from @Mr_Indigo that it's a "is a somewhat obscure reference to a book popular in the 1980s." Didn't help me out.

24D - Dialogue writer books party needing lift (5)

"Dialogue writer" is our definition and the answer is PLATO but again, I don't know how we get the answer from the clue.

That was Friday. No offence to DA, in fact his puzzle, may have saved me from walking into the bight but I'm glad to see the back of the 14th.  Let's all hope for a better weekend. Spread the good vibes.

The Age Cryptic by LR #20,686

Monday again but an LR puzzle makes it a brighter prospect. Not too easy, not too hard but I do have a couple I can't parse (No, I'm good! Got them). I did find the down clues easier than the across clues and I had the bottom finished ages before the top got sorted out.

I liked the 28A/1,2,3D mix of clues. Three types of vices was very neat. Here's my pic:

1A - Idiot to ring spy agency to send back alien workmate (9)

"Workmate," is our definition and an "idiot" = ASS, "ring" = O, "spy agency" = CIA and "send back alien" = ET reversed to TE to make ASSOCIATE. This took me  while as I thought "ring" was being a container signpost.

6A - Marriage gutted worker as intended (5)

"Intended," is our definition and "M(-arriag)E gutted" = ME with "worker" = ANT for MEANT.

9A - C'mon! Love-fifty got a medal for tennis player (9)

"Tennis player," is who we're looking for and "C'mon!" = GO, "love-fifty" = OL for zero and roman numeral, "A medal" = A GONG to make Gloria GOOLAGONG. Evonne! Sorry it's Evonne. I don't know why I thought Gloria. I have this thing about alliteration; sorry.

10A - Give nanna tea (5)

"Give," is our definition and "nanna" = GRAN plus "tea" = T for a GRANT.

11A - Injury from persisting?! (1,1,1)

"Injury," is our definition and this is a hidden word clue with "from peRSIting" for RSI or repetitive strain injury. Is it &lit? I just now realised the injury is from "persistent" activities like typing. I really need to get better at spotting these.

12A - How a talented musician might go with the flow? (4,2,2,3)

Cryptic definition: PLAY IT BY EAR.

13A - Concurs with a party ousting Newton (6)

"Concurs," is our definition and I think this is "A party" = A GREENS that is "ousting Newton" = -N for AGREES. I kept trying to think of bigger words that had Burt or Wayne removed but no, much simpler.

15A - 1971 Oscar-winner cut over rejection of Vietnam (7)

"1971 Oscar-winner," is who we are looking for with "cut" = HACK and "rejection of Vietnam" = NAM reversed to MAN for Gene HACKMAN. The movie was released in 1971 but Hackman won the Oscar in 1972. A bit confusing there but all sorted in the end. Thanks to Jeff Stein on Twitter for putting me right on how we get the MAN part as I wasn't confident.

17A - A week with exotic snake arouses (7)

"Arouses," is our definition and "A Week" = A W with "exotic SNAKE" being anagrind and partial fodder to make AWAKENS.

20A - Go through dad's Saab removing battery...why? (4,2)

"Go through," is our definition with "dad's S(-aa)B removing battery" means to remove the double-A from Saab to make PA'S SB plus "why" = Y for PASS BY.

23A - Army negates war with old country (4,7)

"Old country," is what we're looking for and "ARMY NEGATES war" is fodder and anagrind to make EAST GERMANY.

25A - Sister to finally join United Nations (3)

"Sister," is our definition and "finally joiN" = N with "United Nations" = UN for a NUN.

26A - Tight vocals in shelters (5)

"Shelters," is our definition and "tight vocals" where vocals is a homophone signpost we get TENSE/ TENTS.

27A - Leap to row craft in aquatic sport (5,4)

"Aquatic sport," is what we need and "LEAP TO ROW craft" is fodder and anagrind for WATER POLO.

28A - 1, 2 and 3-down state two points?(5)

"1, 2 and 3-down," is the definition and "state" = VIC with "two points" = ES for VICES which is a nice hint for when we hit the down clues. I only had 1D in when I solved this and spent too much time looking at VPs.

29A - Standard cart rolled over twig (9)

"Standard," is our definition and the one meaning the basis by which all others are measured against. "Cart rolled over" = DRAY reversed to YARD and "twig" = STICK for a YARDSTICK.

1D - US politician from drunk.org/ale (2,4)

"US politician," is who we need from "drunk ORGALE" is anagrind and fodder cleverly disguised which makes AL GORE a former "vice" president

2D - Sexy plagiarism OK in grammar section (7)

"Sexy," is our definition and I spent far too long trying to figure this clue out until I had all the cross letters in and curses! It's a hidden word clue. "plagiariSM OK IN Grammar" which is a "vice" but sexy isn't so it was hard finding synonyms. I just had to think of The Mask.

3D - Carbon light tool (5)

"Tool," is our definition and "carbon" = C and "light" = LAMP to make the "vice" CLAMP.

4D - Coats paint on evenly with the right guns (7)

"Coats," is our definition and "pAiNt On evenly" = ANO with "right" = R and "guns" = AKS as in AK47s to make ANORAKS.

5D - Is initially horrified after Glen's bad language (7)

"Language," is what we need with "IS initially Horrified" = ISH going "after GLEN's bad" is partial fodder and anagrind to make ENGLISH.

6D - Lots of cash for wild game deer (9)

"Lots of cash," is the definition with "wild GAME" as anagrind and partial fodder going with "deer" = BUCKS for MEGABUCKS.

7D - Man I hate stupidly spending time in this city (7)

"City," is what we need and "MAN I HAtE stupidly" is fodder an anagrind but we have too many letters so "spending Time" means to remove the excess T leaving letters for ANAHEIM.

8D - Teaching pharaoh duck call (8)

"Teaching," is our definition and "pharaoh" = TUT, "duck" = O and to "call" = RING to make TUTORING.

14D - Motivates greenies bothered by sulphur (9)

"Motivates," is the definition and "GREENIES bothered" is partial fodder and anagrind needing "sulphur" = S to mix and make ENERGISES.

16D - All the best in the labyrinth with laptop to victory (5,3)

"All the best," is what we're looking for and a "labyrinth" = MAZE with "Laptop" = L and "TO Victory" = TOV for MAZEL TOV the Jewish phrase for congratulations.

18D - North Carolina imprisons one chasing bum with poison (7)

"Poison," is our definition and "North Carolina imprisons one" = N(I)C which is "chasing" or going after "bum" = ARSE to make ARSENIC.

19D - Slim moves cars to western New York (7)

"Slim," is our definition and "moves CARS" is anagrind and partial fodder going with "Western New York" = WNY to make SCRAWNY.

20D - Quiet little flower for wall covering (7)

"Wall covering," is our definition and "quiet" = P for piano, "little" = L - does little always make L? with "flower" = ASTER for PLASTER.

21D - Rock star Derek from New Jersey on disc six (3,4)

"Rock star," is who we're after and "Derek" = BO the actress, "from New Jersey" = NJ, "disc" = O and "six" = VI to make BON JOVI who is from New Jersey which is kind of neat. You know who isn't from NJ? Bon Iver which is who I'd had in place for this because I'm ridiculous.

22D - Open wine for uncoordinated Middle Earth king (6)

"Open wine," is our definition and "uncoordinated" = UNCO in Aussie slang although not listed in the How To Speak Australian video,  I know I checked, with "middle eaRth King" = RK to make UNCORK. I never find corked wine over here, everything's a screwcap.

24D - Why cockney damages tents (5)

"Tents," is what we needs and "why" = Y and "cockney damage" = (-h)URTS for YURTS.

And we are done. Great mental workout, shake it off. Grab a drink and chill out with some shit telly for a bit and rest up those exhausted neurons. If you've got questions or alternate solutions please add them in the comments. Comments are great, everyone likes nice comments. Mean comments not so much. Have a good night.

The Age Cryptic by DA #20,684

Rather difficult this week - well that's not unusual. This took me most of the day, off and on. I then had to go to D.A. Trippers to get some help with 14A, a few random clues and the SW corner. I also used One Across(dot)com on many. Definitely needed a bit more help to get through this one.

I got off to a great start in the NW corner and had most of it done in my first hour before the puzzle became a walk through hip deep snow. For me 17D "Faint ray, possibly extinguished (5,3)" where the answer is FLAKE OUT this my be a difference in how the phrase is used as I've always used it as someone who has a brain fart, too much sugar maybe and just can't get their focus. I'm not sure how "ray possibly" get us FLAKE unless it's the fish - do we eat rays and do we call them flake?

I think 19D was terribly tricky for just three words. I used one across for that and still thought "cut" was the definition over "dodge" but it is "Dodge" as the definition and "ESC" for the key and "HEW" for cut. I flipped on this clue so many times - way to mess with my mind.

23D was tough because the definition was quite vague. I don't know enough about wine to know Macon is related. I relied on the DATs for that one

I liked 7D "Difficult bend executed by Yankee (6) which is (-c)ORNER + Y and sent to memories of Yosemite Sam.

My favourite clue was 6D "Discharge integral to transport goal?! (6,8) and I got this just a logical answer so I'm not sure of clue type - it is an &lit?  I do enjoy when politics can slip seamlessly into a clue.

Two clues I don't know how to parse:

22A - Meat & Drink Summit consuming salt, suffering heart collapse (4,5)

Answer is RUMP STEAK so I get "Meat" is the definition and "drink" = RUM "Summit" = PEAK and "consuming salt" = P(S)EAK but how do we get the T from the rest?

20D - Wine agent function on square - no closer (6)

"Wine agent" is the definition and I got this from crosses and definition. I figured we needed a 7 letter word and the last letter being dropped so is it TANNIN(-g) and how does that work? Is it a math clue?

Let me know if you have alternate solutions in comments and have yourselves a great weekend.