"Simon Says" - August 9, 2019

A place to discuss the weekly Wall Street Journal Crossword Puzzle Contest, starting every Thursday around 4:00 p.m. Eastern time. Please do not post any answers or hints before the contest deadline which is midnight Sunday Eastern time.
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Gwyneth_S
Posts: 25
Joined: Sun Apr 28, 2019 4:17 pm

#161

Post by Gwyneth_S »

Safely ashore without even stepping into the ship’s bar. Sorry, Isaac!
I agree with others that the grid was tough, but mostly due to all the different ways a brain can think about clues. The meta, however, was quite fun.
Good luck to everyone on the crowded shore. Mug odds are steadily increasing.
CandyB
Posts: 26
Joined: Fri Apr 12, 2019 12:55 pm

#162

Post by CandyB »

On shore in Nags Head, NC. Enjoyable meta - tough grid
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CPJohnson
Posts: 1078
Joined: Tue Apr 09, 2019 1:38 pm
Location: Kingsport, TN

#163

Post by CPJohnson »

Bob cruise director wrote: Sat Aug 10, 2019 11:56 am Good Saturday morning to our very crowded shore. We have 120 on the shore and one person keeping Isaac company so if I missed anyone, let me know and I will correct things. By the way, our record for the shore is 137 set February 1 of this year so we might break that record.

First a warm welcome to our two newest muggles
iblinked has joined us here
and Daniel Finn joined us on the WSJ page

by the way, now I have three songs rattling around in my head: the answer, songs by Peter and Gordon and now thanks to Ed Strong that song which will be named only after midnight tomorrow but you know what I mean.


Keeping Isaac company is Joe Ross unless he slipped ashore and I missed it.

On the very crowded shore are
Al
inca
Hector
Meg
ky-mike
mheberlingx100
Tmart
Beth T
Frankie
docison
31 Down
tim1217
STL-D
OGuyDave
Jin and Anita
Alan H
troysail
Heidi
Mark L
Cindy
Les
Janet
Laura
Doug M
Steve B
mary F
Anita
ImOnToo
drabble
gamera13
PeterLee1a
Diana
Jeremy Smith
Guy
Barry
Tony
Barbara K
Scott M
Jack
scooby
Trey and Marion
David K
ALS
Julie O
Beth A
Toby
Brian Mac
Jimmyjam
Deb
Richard
Paul D (not sure if we have heard from your son)
Your humble cruise director
Bird Lives
Brian
Frank H
Eric P
Tom S
Bill T
Fred
William Koslosky
Michael Silverman
Diane
Jean
William D
Emily K
Jeffrey G
Steve A
Glenn G
Janet P
Chris
streroto
Kay
Commodore
oldjudge
Jeff S
Anthony Sarnicola
Doug C
SewYoung
JPMalone
Paul
Rita
John B
DBMiller
Geoduck
Bunella
Gerry
sharkicicles
Jennifer
Nalugirl
Cbakerriver
Howard H
LLinNC
Patty
Darryl
Stim100986
joequavis
darthdriessen
noneedforaname
Susan G
Natalie
Rad26
Ann P
David R
Juliet
Leslie
Bill H
martimeryard
MaineMarge
Bill K from London (I wonder how many countries we have had muggles comment from)
the Thurman8er
CO Johnson
Beth C
Dr. Tom
Susan F
iblinked
Ed Strong
Russ
Laurence
Daniel F
and Emily

Good luck winning the mug
Hi, Bob, I posted “solved”.... I’m CP Johnson on this blog; Cynthia J on the old one. There’s a CO Johnson on your list here; maybe that’s me. Thanks for keeping up with us.
Cynthia
Tina
Posts: 391
Joined: Tue Apr 09, 2019 5:56 pm

#164

Post by Tina »

On shore! Late check-in this week, as we were vacationing overseas. Solved this in the airport in Newark (code EWR -- good to know for crosswords). Loved the a-ha moment as this is one of my all-time favorite songs!
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Bob cruise director
Cruise Director
Posts: 4512
Joined: Thu Apr 11, 2019 2:38 pm
Location: Any golf course within 500 miles of Littleton MA

#165

Post by Bob cruise director »

CPJohnson wrote: Sun Aug 11, 2019 10:23 am
Bob cruise director wrote: Sat Aug 10, 2019 11:56 am Good Saturday morning to our very crowded shore. We have 120 on the shore and one person keeping Isaac company so if I missed anyone, let me know and I will correct things. By the way, our record for the shore is 137 set February 1 of this year so we might break that record.

First a warm welcome to our two newest muggles
iblinked has joined us here
and Daniel Finn joined us on the WSJ page

by the way, now I have three songs rattling around in my head: the answer, songs by Peter and Gordon and now thanks to Ed Strong that song which will be named only after midnight tomorrow but you know what I mean.


Keeping Isaac company is Joe Ross unless he slipped ashore and I missed it.

On the very crowded shore are
Al
inca
Hector
Meg
ky-mike
mheberlingx100
Tmart
Beth T
Frankie
docison
31 Down
tim1217
STL-D
OGuyDave
Jin and Anita
Alan H
troysail
Heidi
Mark L
Cindy
Les
Janet
Laura
Doug M
Steve B
mary F
Anita
ImOnToo
drabble
gamera13
PeterLee1a
Diana
Jeremy Smith
Guy
Barry
Tony
Barbara K
Scott M
Jack
scooby
Trey and Marion
David K
ALS
Julie O
Beth A
Toby
Brian Mac
Jimmyjam
Deb
Richard
Paul D (not sure if we have heard from your son)
Your humble cruise director
Bird Lives
Brian
Frank H
Eric P
Tom S
Bill T
Fred
William Koslosky
Michael Silverman
Diane
Jean
William D
Emily K
Jeffrey G
Steve A
Glenn G
Janet P
Chris
streroto
Kay
Commodore
oldjudge
Jeff S
Anthony Sarnicola
Doug C
SewYoung
JPMalone
Paul
Rita
John B
DBMiller
Geoduck
Bunella
Gerry
sharkicicles
Jennifer
Nalugirl
Cbakerriver
Howard H
LLinNC
Patty
Darryl
Stim100986
joequavis
darthdriessen
noneedforaname
Susan G
Natalie
Rad26
Ann P
David R
Juliet
Leslie
Bill H
martimeryard
MaineMarge
Bill K from London (I wonder how many countries we have had muggles comment from)
the Thurman8er
CO Johnson
Beth C
Dr. Tom
Susan F
iblinked
Ed Strong
Russ
Laurence
Daniel F
and Emily

Good luck winning the mug
Hi, Bob, I posted “solved”.... I’m CP Johnson on this blog; Cynthia J on the old one. There’s a CO Johnson on your list here; maybe that’s me. Thanks for keeping up with us.
Cynthia - that is indeed you. A typo in my entry. Thanks
Bob Stevens
Cruise Director
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Bob cruise director
Cruise Director
Posts: 4512
Joined: Thu Apr 11, 2019 2:38 pm
Location: Any golf course within 500 miles of Littleton MA

#166

Post by Bob cruise director »

Good Sunday morning muggles

We are closing in on the record of 137 but not there yet. We have 132 on the shore. Isaac has closed the ship's bar, watered MaineMarge's garden and has taken the week off.

Since yesterday we have had these 12 muggles get to the shore including our newest Muggles bobbydeee here and Mathew Moravec on the WSJ site

Our latest muggles struggling to get to the tiki bar are
Dennis
bobbydeee
Kris Z
Phofer
Joe Ross
Gwyneth
Susan H
John D
Candy B
Matthew L
Tina
and Matthew B
Bob Stevens
Cruise Director
BillKos
Posts: 4
Joined: Fri Aug 02, 2019 11:16 am

#167

Post by BillKos »

Time to develop a rating system for crossword puzzles.

A quick Web search mentions only how difficulty is related to the day of the week ala NYTimes.

My greatest joy is discovering a clever clue for a well-known word. These should be rated on a 1 to 10 scale in the post analysis. The meta can be rated similarly.

Considering my experience with the WSJ metas over these past two weeks (foolishly simple meta solutions), I'll no longer do a puzzle unless it is highly rated in some manner.

I use the same approach to film, books, etc.

BTW, thanks to the person who mentioned Vonnegut"s "Player Piano." I just finished reading " Brave New World" and "1984," so I picked this up from the library to serve my current post-apocalyptic appetite.
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Patty
Posts: 84
Joined: Sat May 11, 2019 12:33 pm
Location: Basel

#168

Post by Patty »

billkatz wrote: Sat Aug 10, 2019 9:03 am I'm safely on shore - albeit physically in London.
Me too! 😊
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Natalie
Posts: 82
Joined: Sat Apr 13, 2019 12:48 pm

#169

Post by Natalie »

BillKos wrote: Sun Aug 11, 2019 12:02 pm ... to serve my current post-apocalyptic appetite...
If your appetite lends itself to desert southwest literary cuisine and you'd like something post- a slightly different kind of apocalypse -- try Rebecca Roanhorse's "Trail of Lightening." It's a bit of a coming of age story with a Mad Max / Thunderdome feel to it. I read it in two sittings and have been waiting to recommend it! She's a Nebula and Hugo award winning author and an incredible new voice.
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Streroto
Posts: 772
Joined: Thu Jul 04, 2019 4:24 pm
Location: Newtown Square, PA

#170

Post by Streroto »

Muggle family, I have a question for you. Can the mug be won twice? Or does winning one preclude you from future mugs? Not being greedy mind you, just an interesting thought to ponder.

Already looking forward to Thursday afternoon!!!!!
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Bob cruise director
Cruise Director
Posts: 4512
Joined: Thu Apr 11, 2019 2:38 pm
Location: Any golf course within 500 miles of Littleton MA

#171

Post by Bob cruise director »

Streroto wrote: Sun Aug 11, 2019 7:17 pm Muggle family, I have a question for you. Can the mug be won twice? Or does winning one preclude you from future mugs? Not being greedy mind you, just an interesting thought to ponder.

Already looking forward to Thursday afternoon!!!!!
The mug can be won multiple times. A random drawing is made each week by the WSJ from the correct answers. I believe that one person has won it three times.
Bob Stevens
Cruise Director
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Bob cruise director
Cruise Director
Posts: 4512
Joined: Thu Apr 11, 2019 2:38 pm
Location: Any golf course within 500 miles of Littleton MA

#172

Post by Bob cruise director »

Progress to the shore has stopped with 133 muggles on the shore.

Good luck in winning the mug.
Bob Stevens
Cruise Director
Ann
Posts: 192
Joined: Sat Apr 13, 2019 11:03 am

#173

Post by Ann »

Solved!
Ann
Posts: 192
Joined: Sat Apr 13, 2019 11:03 am

#174

Post by Ann »

Solved!
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Colin
Posts: 546
Joined: Sat Apr 13, 2019 11:57 pm

#175

Post by Colin »

Made it to shore at 11th hour, but only started at 11pm!
One world. One planet. One future.
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Eric Porter
Posts: 466
Joined: Sun May 05, 2019 2:19 am
Location: Nashville, TN

#176

Post by Eric Porter »

As most everyone here knows, the answer is "50 Ways To Leave Your Lover" by Paul Simon. Jack, Stan, Roy, Gus, and Lee are at the end of the theme answers and appear in the song. The song is a little older than me, but I am surprised I didn't know it.

At first I was thinking it was American Pie. Jester is in its lyrics and in the grid. Jack is also in both places. James Dean is mentioned in the song and St. James is in the grid.
darthdriessen
Posts: 31
Joined: Thu Apr 11, 2019 6:00 pm

#177

Post by darthdriessen »

At first glance, figured it might involve either Paul or Carly Simon.
Took a day and a fresh look to get it. Every time I don't see the answer in 15 minutes after solving the puzzle, it becomes a cat-5 in my mind. Appreciate the puzzle-maker and the Muggles, (mug-less) for keeping me sane and sharp!
GlennG
Posts: 88
Joined: Thu Aug 08, 2019 12:48 am

#178

Post by GlennG »

It's worth posting at this point. Like was said, the answer is "50 Ways To Leave Your Lover" by Paul Simon. The lyrics that derive the ends of the theme answers are below (which is the chorus of the song):
You just slip out the back, Jack
Make a new plan, Stan
You don't need to be coy, Roy
Just get yourself free
Hop on the bus, Gus
You don't need to discuss much
Just drop off the key, Lee
And get yourself free
And if you want to listen to it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTiyLuZOs1A
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Meg
Posts: 2137
Joined: Tue Apr 09, 2019 1:41 pm
Location: St. Petersburg, FL

#179

Post by Meg »

The first song that popped into my head was "You can Call me Al". Maybe I was thinking of just names or maybe Al Sisti. Fortunately, I checked it out. It’s always a good idea to check out your meta before submitting. Everybody should check out Laura"s review on the Crossword Fiend.
Check out and support http://CrosswordsForCancer.com.
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Stukmn
Posts: 45
Joined: Fri Apr 26, 2019 10:15 pm
Location: Cincinnati

#180

Post by Stukmn »

I forgot to post my status this week. Safely on shore with the majority though I had to google the song. I assumed it was “Call Me Al” like Meg since that is one of the only Paul Simon solo songs I could think of. He’s definitely before my time but I do appreciate the classics. 😍
Don’t bother me until I’ve had my coffee and done the crossword.
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