XWord Muggles Forum

I got lucky in two ways.

First, I started by solving around 36A so I could know the theme and think about it while I solved. Once I saw that answer, the grid started to look like a compass to me and I was originally looking for 4 states - thinking one in each quadrant - to surround another state. Having just spent the summer in Maine, Palermo and Verona in the NE quadrant started me down one rabbit hole until...

Secondly, I had also just solved another puzzle in my local paper with KLUDGE in it. In that puzzle, my initial answer was KLUDGY (the way I always heard it), and I had to edit back then as that grid came into focus swapping the Y for an E. So I started with E here and when 6D came into focus and I updated back to KLUDGY. That, with the compass perspective, triggered KY in my head, and I knew there was already a VeronA over in the "northeast." The rest fell into place from there...

I was thinking "borders" was the nudge I would have shared, so I am glad to hear that's in line with the suggestions above. I also get the "tell me what you know" approach. I like that. Thank you.

probably my favorite to date of his puzzles - the elegance of the construction (and the black squares in the corners, which violate almost all the rules of crossword construction, but which were needed to have 8 sets of 6 letter words around the perimeter) ... fantastic.

Wendy Walker wrote: ↑Mon Sep 28, 2020 2:38 pm Thank you, Brian Mac, for shrinking me so I could share! Note the authentic footwear.

Wendy
I trust that you will have that attire on for the Zoom call tonight!!!!

bskptkl wrote: ↑Sat Sep 26, 2020 6:01 pm Ok - I submitted, but not super confident even though my answer makes sense.

I looked at the grid and saw a cross formed by 36A and 25D that was surrounded by the rest of the puzzle.
31A - Cross inscription clue said INRI - voila; Rhode Island (except bothered by the IN which could be Indiana).

Wrong!

I had previously marked up my grid with all the 2 letter state abbreviations and made a mess.

Fell down the biggest rabbit hole to date with the USS military and ship references. My biggest frustration is that I flew across the country to NC from CA for four days to visit family and the entire time on the planes never once opened the inflight magazine which would have included a map of the states. It may or may not have helped however. That was a great puzzle. On to the next one...

Bob cruise director wrote: ↑Tue Sep 29, 2020 1:12 pm

Wendy Walker wrote: ↑Mon Sep 28, 2020 2:38 pm Thank you, Brian Mac, for shrinking me so I could share! Note the authentic footwear.

Wendy
I trust that you will have that attire on for the Zoom call tonight!!!!

I second that!! Show us!

I can't make it again, but the zoom muggle meetup is on as always! https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89184367093
And BTW I was hanging with Issac. So frustrating, I knew to look for state abbreviations, but I didn't look in those farflung corners...

Meg wrote: ↑Tue Sep 29, 2020 2:35 pm

Bob cruise director wrote: ↑Tue Sep 29, 2020 1:12 pm

Wendy Walker wrote: ↑Mon Sep 28, 2020 2:38 pm Thank you, Brian Mac, for shrinking me so I could share! Note the authentic footwear.

Wendy
I trust that you will have that attire on for the Zoom call tonight!!!!

I second that!! Show us!

And Meg will have her cabana boy serving drinks

yourpalsal wrote: ↑Tue Sep 29, 2020 2:44 pm I can't make it again, but the zoom muggle meetup is on as always! https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89184367093
And BTW I was hanging with Issac. So frustrating, I knew to look for state abbreviations, but I didn't look in those farflung corners...

We will miss you!

Tripod wrote: ↑Mon Sep 28, 2020 9:00 pm As a still new solver who was fortunate to get to shore early this week, can I ask what kind of nudges some of you more experienced solvers would use on this puzzle?

I was reluctant to stick my nose into that part of the game for fear of being wrong on one hand, or "too" helpful on the other.

Also - it is best to send a PM to request a nudge. In Come Aboard/FAQ-Community/Solving Resources, there are several thoughts on nudges.

Meg wrote: ↑Tue Sep 29, 2020 3:17 pm

yourpalsal wrote: ↑Tue Sep 29, 2020 2:44 pm I can't make it again, but the zoom muggle meetup is on as always! https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89184367093
And BTW I was hanging with Issac. So frustrating, I knew to look for state abbreviations, but I didn't look in those farflung corners...

We will miss you!

I was right there with you,Sal. Found many abbrevaitions; just not the right ones.
We missed you last week and had a new member that you need to meet. Will miss you again tonight and hope to see you next week.

No meeting tonight?

yourpalsal wrote: ↑Tue Sep 29, 2020 2:44 pm I can't make it again, but the zoom muggle meetup is on as always! https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89184367093
And BTW I was hanging with Issac. So frustrating, I knew to look for state abbreviations, but I didn't look in those farflung corners...

Who is hosting the meeting?

TPS wrote: ↑Tue Sep 29, 2020 7:32 pmNo meeting tonight?

It's not coming up for me, either. It says "Please wait for the host to start the meeting." I will keep waiting.

yes same here

I know that Sal's Accidental Talmudist broadcast was earlier in the day because of the debates ...

SewYoung wrote: ↑Tue Sep 29, 2020 7:34 pm

TPS wrote: ↑Tue Sep 29, 2020 7:32 pmNo meeting tonight?

It's not coming up for me, either. It says "Please wait for the host to start the meeting." I will keep waiting.

Practice for Thursday at 4:00 then 4:01......

Do you want me to set up a different meeting?

SewYoung wrote: ↑Tue Sep 29, 2020 7:34 pm

TPS wrote: ↑Tue Sep 29, 2020 7:32 pmNo meeting tonight?

It's not coming up for me, either. It says "Please wait for the host to start the meeting." I will keep waiting.

I'm getting the same Please Wait message. I guess there's no way to have a meeting without a host. But we did it some other time when Sal was not there. How?

Bob cruise director wrote: ↑Tue Sep 29, 2020 7:37 pm Do you want me to set up a different meeting?

Sure, give it a try. Hopefully people will look here when they can't get the meeting to start.