From: msm@src.dec.com (Mark S. Manasse)
Subject: ACC #12 (all clues) (SPOILER!!)
Organization: DEC Systems Research Center
Date: Fri, 6 Nov 92 01:15:00 GMT


The word being clued admits lots of anagrams, and that's mostly what 
we got.  That leaves us with surface readings and definitions as 
the main basis for judgment.


Here are all of the clues submitted this time, in the order I received 
them, with the explanations supplied by the submitter, and my comments: 

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Twelve hours around abstainers gives you twenty-four hours off (3,6,3)

Explanation: twelve hours = ALL DAY, abstainers = SAINTS;
twenty-four hours off = holiday = ALL SAINTS DAY
(I hope it is a holiday someplace)

I don't find the definition specific enough, and the cryptic's cluing 
seems a bit too close to to the standard parsing to do much for me.

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Sadist anally abused date after night of wicked fun  (3,5,3)
------------- ------ ------------------------------
SADIST ANALLY  anag =   def. (day after Halloween) 

Sadly, an 'A' list (if twisted) entry.  Great, if somewhat distasteful 
clue, marred only by the miscount of the length of the second word, 
with a terrific definition.  Almost a winner.

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Silly Santa ad dispersed after Halloween.

Silly Santa ad  anagram for All Saints Day
after Halloween = definition

Silly data's an aggravation!  A fine straightforward clue, but the 
surface reading isn't quite clear enough for me; I think 'dispersed' 
is being asked to do a bit much. 

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	Satan's idyll?  A corruption!  (3,6,3)
	    (SATAN'S IDYLL A anagram &lit.)

Santa's dally?  I get confused by all these anagrams, and the definition 
doesn't quite work for me; 'misconconception' might have found better 
favor here.  Extra points for getting the apostrophe into the anagram.

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 Lad's sanity restored after a long holiday (3,6,3)

    A + L [a long] +  L SAINTS' DAY [lad's sanity restored] =
          holiday = ALL SAINTS' DAY

A sly lad sat in a stew, because I don't think the definition portion 
is strong enough to make this a great clue.  The surface reading 
is aces.  The apostrophe's even here.  Our winner this time!

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Fifty-four days before reaching Christmas Island: a salty typhoon (3,6,3)

	December 25 less 54 days is November 1 (defn.)
	"typhoon": anagram indicator for the letters "Island a salty"
	Christmas Island is a real place in the South Pacific

I land last, say, astorm, to say that I like this clue, but I might 
be annoyed when solving it to work out exactly what the date was 
that was 54 days before Christmas.  Near the top.

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 Sadly, Sal ain't mistaken on this church festival (3,5,3)

   [anag. "Sadly Sal ain't"; church festival = All Saints' Day]

A silly stand, a befuddled look, a mistaken count, the use of a random 
proper name to form an anagram (when there are so many available), 
a so-so surface reading, amount to a clue I'm not wild about.  The 
apostrophe does help some.

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Turkey, eg, in the USA, is stuffed with nuts and sits.  A special day in November (3,6,3).

    [ ALLY (Turkey in the USA) with AND SITS A anag. inside]

I like the idea of this clue; especially the linkage of Turkey to 
November, which starts on off on the wrong foot.  BUT, Turkey is 
an ally *to* the USA, not *in* it, and 'and sits' doesn't do much 
for me.  An alternate selection.



Bonus clues

Some people submitted more than one clue.  I didn't count these clues 
in the judging, but I thought you might enjoy them anyhow:

11/1 odds Alan's a little ditsy (crazy even)

def. = [ALANSA] in odd positions, [L(ittle) SITDY {"ditsy crazy}] in even

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November begins in a lady's last cruise (3,6,3)

	"November begins" -  defn.
	"cruise": anagram indicator for the letters "in a lady's last"
	It scans, too! ..............................................]
asis for judgement.


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