"Go With The Flow" - October 11, 2019

[Trey]

Marion and I are on shore forks in hand..........good one and we're on a roll. Luck to all!

[Inca]

Yum!
I got it...but I feel that my meta mojo has left me. I first looked at this and looked at it and saw nothing. It's like I feel resigned right at the start. I don't know why that happened. It was only after I came here and saw muggle after muggle declaring how easy it was that I decided I should be able to do it, and then I got it.

[Sean]

On shore!

[FrankH]

On shore.

[Bill Harts]

On shore. Easy peasy. Expect the beach will be pretty crowded this week.

[Deb F]

Enjoyed this one. On shore.

[Wendy Walker]

Wasn't there an earlier puzzle with a similar gimmick? How else would I have known so quickly how to interpret the clue that unlocks the meta?
(I also wonder if Matt originally had the idea of using a Braves pitcher but then had to give it up for a less subtle entry.)

Yes, there was, in summer 2017, but if I said more it would be a spoiler. I thought the same thing -- about the gimmick, that is; I know nothing about whatever sport it is that involves a pitcher.

[Wendy Walker]

Ashore. Definitely an easy one, or at least I happened to grok it right away. Way less than ten minutes for the grid, and less than a minute for the meta. Good one though. This would be a good one to show beginners I think.

"Grok"! We must be of the same vintage age-wise, WDunbar!

[KayW]

Yum!
I got it...but I feel that my meta mojo has left me. I first looked at this and looked at it and saw nothing. It's like I feel resigned right at the start. I don't know why that happened. It was only after I came here and saw muggle after muggle declaring how easy it was that I decided I should be able to do it, and then I got it.

I won't say "I see nothing", but so far all the bunny tracks I see are leading nowhere.
So I'm keeping Isaac company - even though he's never heard of a reverse Guinness. But I took an envious peek at the happy and rapidly growing crowd on shore, so I'm not giving up just yet!

[gamera13]

First time ever to solve the meta before completing the puzzle. Yay! On shore.

[JPMalone]

Liked this one, needed some of Mr. G's advice, but safely ashore.

[Bird Lives]

<sniip>
(I also wonder if Matt originally had the idea of using a Braves pitcher but then had to give it up for a less subtle entry.)

<snip> I know nothing about whatever sport it is that involves a pitcher.

You mean that Warren Spahn and Phil Niekro are not household words in the Walker household?

[Joe Ross]

Ashore.

Fun puzzle! Followed some interesting rabbit holes and allowed a couple of other distractions after the AHA! moment.

I'll have two ibuprofen, please, with a Guinness chaser.

[Bob cruise director]

<sniip>
(I also wonder if Matt originally had the idea of using a Braves pitcher but then had to give it up for a less subtle entry.)

<snip> I know nothing about whatever sport it is that involves a pitcher.

You mean that Warren Spahn and Phil Niekro are not household words in the Walker household?

Then Wendy would probably not know Lew Burdette = from the Boston and Milwaukee Braves

[Bird Lives]

<snip> I know nothing about whatever sport it is that involves a pitcher.

You mean that Warren Spahn and Phil Niekro are not household words in the Walker household?

Then Wendy would probably not know Lew Burdette = from the Boston and Milwaukee Braves

I remember listening on the radio to the game where Harvey Haddix pitched 12 perfect innings (1.33 perfect games) for the Pirates and lost to Burdette and the Braves. (I was young at the time, lying in my bed in the dark with Bob Prince's voice from the radio on my night stand.)

[Inca]

Wasn't there an earlier puzzle with a similar gimmick? How else would I have known so quickly how to interpret the clue that unlocks the meta?
(I also wonder if Matt originally had the idea of using a Braves pitcher but then had to give it up for a less subtle entry.)

Yes, there was, in summer 2017, but if I said more it would be a spoiler. I thought the same thing -- about the gimmick, that is; I know nothing about whatever sport it is that involves a pitcher.

This is just one of the (many) reasons, that although my track record with the metas is pretty good, I'll never be up there with the greats. I have no recollection of all the previous gimmicks; it's done and kind of forgotten (unless someone brings it back for me.) I use no strategies. I fill the grid quickly so I often fail to realize the "obvious" words of direction in the grid or in the clues. I just kind of look at the puzzle and either it strikes me or not. I guess it's mostly my subconscious mind that sees the connections and sometimes decides to bring them forth.

[Inca]

Yum!
I got it...but I feel that my meta mojo has left me. I first looked at this and looked at it and saw nothing. It's like I feel resigned right at the start. I don't know why that happened. It was only after I came here and saw muggle after muggle declaring how easy it was that I decided I should be able to do it, and then I got it.

I won't say "I see nothing", but so far all the bunny tracks I see are leading nowhere.
So I'm keeping Isaac company - even though he's never heard of a reverse Guinness. But I took an envious peek at the happy and rapidly growing crowd on shore, so I'm not giving up just yet!

I'm confident you'll get it.

[Bob cruise director]

Good Friday morning muggles.

As recent weeks go, this has been a normal first 16 hours with one on the ship and 68 on the shore.

Good luck to all in getting the meta and hopefully we will have another muggle win the coveted WSJ mug.

[bobbydeee]

On shore! Clever construction by Matt!

[pddigi]

Ashore - no help from Dom, and I beat him to the beach! I will let you know if and when he joins the party.