Spectator 1794

[ulysses100]

Has anybody had a go at this week's tricky Dumpynose ?
I've completed the grid other than 3 squares, but several of the clues I am at a loss to explain :
Can they puncture vanity in detention centre ? (7 two words) ---- I think that the answer is POW camp ; vanity is pomp , but what is "wca" ?
Hooked fish (large) skinned with delicacy (6) Why "uncate" ?
Jack's little lad boarding Barking train (9) I have "tarpaulin". Anagram of train with Paul inside but I can't see this as a definition of jack.
Hollow instruments : person toots one of bone (7) The answer is ischial ; hollow instruments = is, but where does chial come from ?
The link is duck soup which means a piece of cake which lateral thinking brings me to easy-peasy and thus EC and PC (11dn). Or are the links just with PC ? And, if so, what are they ? (Two begin with"U" and two with"S")

[Dinkypuzzled]

Jack Tar - this article may explain.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Tar

[ulysses100]

Thankyou dinkypuzzled ---- at least that explains one of the answers.

[kayakamina]

Uncate....Skin Tuna = UN = Cate ( a dainty delicacy)

[kayakamina]

ulysses the = should have been +

Un +cate

[ulysses100]

Thankyou k -- another mystery solved.
Dumpynose uses a lot of obscure words but he has excelled himself this time.

[Dinkypuzzled]

re. POW camp, I believe WCA may refer to Working Class Acupuncture.

[ulysses100]

Thankyou dinkypuzzled.. I'm pleased to think that somebody out there is still trying to work out the rationale of these clues. However, WCA as an abbreviation is a trifle obscure isn't it ? I cannot find it in Chambers. I've found the Welsh Canoeing (and Cycling and Cricket) Associations and a wealth of other acronyms but nothing to do with acupuncturists !!!!
My thanks nonetheless -- keep up the good work.

[gco2005]

Tarpaulin is a colloquial word for sailor hence Jack

[cruciverbals]

I am also down to final three.
I cannot understand, if I am right why 1 across is satisfactory
41 across is upperclass?
23 down universal, 24 across sudan or sedan.
Is 11 down postcard?
Hav'nt the faintest on 32 down?es or 8 down ?nam
i suppose 42 across is apse?

Interested in your thoughts Ulysees.

PS: Have had a gander at the Chrissie crossword.Good Luck!

[ulysses100]

Thanks cruciverbals.
It looks as if you are in exactly the same position (except for one letter - see below).
On crossword sites the only word that fits 1ac is satisfactory; 41ac is upper class ; 24ac is sedan or Sudan ;
11dn is postcard, which when condensed gives PC -- is this "poltically correct" or "personal computer" of half of EC PC (piece of cake) as I have surmised ?
32dn is _ES and 8dn can be FOAM, LOAM or ROAM (as 12as is Pelmatozoa ) ; and, finally I agree that 42ac is apse.
Where do we go from here ? This is the first Dumpynose that I haven't completed in ages.
As to the Christmas one I haven't even got my copy yet !

[cruciverbals]

I have looked at the film Duck soup in Halliwell's and the credits such as Rufus Firefly do not seem to be relevant so I think we can forget about the film.Tried anagrams(soups) of some ducks and soups-another dead end.Have twiidled with the theory that duck may be a cricket out for a duck.still working on that one.

[ulysses100]

I did the same with the film as well but to no avail.
And what has the title of the puzzle to do with it because it is usually another clue.
Duck soup means something very easy, a cinch, someone very easy to handle, a pushover.