"Risky Business" - December 11, 2020
- Billy M
- Posts: 52
- Joined: Sun Dec 13, 2020 5:23 pm
- Location: Virginia
One of the interesting rabbit holes I fell down (and stayed in for far too long) was as follows: I kept looking at 10D - "clue heading" as the word "ACROSS" arranged vertically seemed bizarre to me, and taking "clue heading" and "across" together, I started looking at the across clues for the puzzle. The first letters of 21A, 24A, 42A, 59A, and 62A spell "RISKY." I thought for sure I was on the right path here, but couldn't make "BUSINESS" anywhere despite far too many [not elegant] attempts.
- Joepickett
- Posts: 405
- Joined: Sat May 09, 2020 5:38 pm
- Location: Virginia
So next puzzle I will google "MGWCC subprime (or whatever I am looking for)"
My shortcut to catch up on my meta experience.
My shortcut to catch up on my meta experience.
- Bob cruise director
- Cruise Director
- Posts: 4541
- Joined: Thu Apr 11, 2019 2:38 pm
- Location: Any golf course within 500 miles of Littleton MA
Yeah - I went down the across rabbit hole also but it went nowhereBilly M wrote: ↑Mon Dec 14, 2020 12:51 pm One of the interesting rabbit holes I fell down (and stayed in for far too long) was as follows: I kept looking at 10D - "clue heading" as the word "ACROSS" arranged vertically seemed bizarre to me, and taking "clue heading" and "across" together, I started looking at the across clues for the puzzle. The first letters of 21A, 24A, 42A, 59A, and 62A spell "RISKY." I thought for sure I was on the right path here, but couldn't make "BUSINESS" anywhere despite far too many [not elegant] attempts.
Lots of rabbit holes this week for our pleasure
Bob Stevens
Cruise Director
Cruise Director
-
- Posts: 298
- Joined: Sun Apr 05, 2020 5:12 pm
My rabbit hole was that I thought of the correct path early on, but then misapplied it: In checking out its viability by eye, I somehow skipped over 5 being prime, and so my letter string started out as LIEONB... which I thought was clearly incorrect, so I shelved that idea and tried a bunch of other things (similar to various rabbit holes already mentioned). It was only after two days of frustration that I came back and more carefully re-tried the correct idea, and finally the light bulb went on.
By the way, for those of you who are truly masochistic/addicted to metas, and who also subscribe to the Sunday NY Times print edition (it's not available electronically anywhere as far as I know), yesterday was their annual "Super Mega" crossword, a 50 by 51 meta crossword by Peter Gordon. Filling in such a large grid is exhausting - I found it to be fairly difficult, maybe Wednesday NYT difficulty? The meta used a mechanism I don't recall seeing before; I found it to be pretty easy once I had solved the grid. Solve and enter and maybe you can win $1000!
By the way, for those of you who are truly masochistic/addicted to metas, and who also subscribe to the Sunday NY Times print edition (it's not available electronically anywhere as far as I know), yesterday was their annual "Super Mega" crossword, a 50 by 51 meta crossword by Peter Gordon. Filling in such a large grid is exhausting - I found it to be fairly difficult, maybe Wednesday NYT difficulty? The meta used a mechanism I don't recall seeing before; I found it to be pretty easy once I had solved the grid. Solve and enter and maybe you can win $1000!
- DrTom
- Posts: 3779
- Joined: Sat Apr 20, 2019 6:46 pm
- Location: Jacksonville, FL
I gave it a thumbs up on the superintendent instead...
NUDGES!I am always willing to give nudges where needed; metas should be about fun, not frustration. Send me what you have done so far because often you are closer than you think!
- DrTom
- Posts: 3779
- Joined: Sat Apr 20, 2019 6:46 pm
- Location: Jacksonville, FL
Well then, let me Roc your world!Kris Zacharias wrote: ↑Mon Dec 14, 2020 10:58 amPuns! I'd like to see even moa.DrTom wrote: ↑Sun Dec 13, 2020 11:19 pmWell I agree on bad puns (assuming there is actually anything like a 'bad" pun) and that ostrich sometimes to make one work. I get caught up in the tasmania of it all and turn into a little devil, but that is because I keep trying to make the grade instead of being a punning wallaby since no matter how fast I am there is always someone quokka. Instead I'll just wait for my favorite Month (March) because on the 15th Ides like to look back on the day before and instead of pie I honor the day and make MAR soupial, I don't know if I am odd or just stubborn, perhaps that is why I am considered a kooky burro? Well, if you'll excuse me I have to go to the potoroo....
Oh, and I'll bet you cannula hold the line on me, unless it gets late on a Sunday evening and I find I have to punt. Those are the days that I just cede the ride to shore and sit down with a book by my favorite author, Willa Catheter.
If your ears are bleeding don't blame me, I wasn't the one who told me how I'd roo the day! Bad puns indeed....
crack_bad_puns_0.jpg
NUDGES!I am always willing to give nudges where needed; metas should be about fun, not frustration. Send me what you have done so far because often you are closer than you think!
- Joe Ross
- Moderator
- Posts: 5069
- Joined: Fri Apr 12, 2019 4:46 am
- Location: Cincinnati
Would that be the eleventh?
I mean, if none intendent, you're saying there are more that deserve it?
Whole blood, platelets, or plasma: Donate 4 in 2024
PLATELET 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗿𝗮𝗿𝗲.
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝘀 ENORMOUS 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲:
𝟰𝟬% 𝗽𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰,
𝟯𝟬% 𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰,
𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿 & 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘂𝗺𝗮. 𝗣𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗘 𝗦𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗘!
PLATELET 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗿𝗮𝗿𝗲.
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝘀 ENORMOUS 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲:
𝟰𝟬% 𝗽𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰,
𝟯𝟬% 𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰,
𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿 & 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘂𝗺𝗮. 𝗣𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗘 𝗦𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗘!
- DrTom
- Posts: 3779
- Joined: Sat Apr 20, 2019 6:46 pm
- Location: Jacksonville, FL
Oh, the Blame Game eh...
Tommy Tommy To Tommy, Banana Panna Quite Balmy, Fee Fie Foe Fommy - opps sorry wrong game.
Gosh, laying all the blame on me - doesn't that just take the cake, I guess I'll take the bundt of the punishment as long as I don't get iced for it!
I'm thinking of doing a talking/singing presentation where every stanza consists of beatboxing and word plays. Know what I'm going to call myself...Rap Punzel of course!
NUDGES!I am always willing to give nudges where needed; metas should be about fun, not frustration. Send me what you have done so far because often you are closer than you think!
- DrTom
- Posts: 3779
- Joined: Sat Apr 20, 2019 6:46 pm
- Location: Jacksonville, FL
Well maybe he should tell twelve puns then, that's an apostleble solution?Joe Ross wrote: ↑Mon Dec 14, 2020 11:41 amOh, I thought is was funny enough, if a little overused, but - given the pun - there's no way I'm laughing at it, or giving it a thumb's up.
Blaming DrTom for anything is easy and 99 & 64/100ths effective.
Oh, and blaming me has a much higher percentage of success than that - like Ivory I'm so pure I float!
(By the way, you know that is how one can tell the sex of an ant right? Through it in water and if it floats its a bouyant!)
NUDGES!I am always willing to give nudges where needed; metas should be about fun, not frustration. Send me what you have done so far because often you are closer than you think!
- Bob cruise director
- Cruise Director
- Posts: 4541
- Joined: Thu Apr 11, 2019 2:38 pm
- Location: Any golf course within 500 miles of Littleton MA
The prosecution restsDrTom wrote: ↑Mon Dec 14, 2020 2:22 pmOh, the Blame Game eh...
Tommy Tommy To Tommy, Banana Panna Quite Balmy, Fee Fie Foe Fommy - opps sorry wrong game.
Gosh, laying all the blame on me - doesn't that just take the cake, I guess I'll take the bundt of the punishment as long as I don't get iced for it!
I'm thinking of doing a talking/singing presentation where every stanza consists of beatboxing and word plays. Know what I'm going to call myself...Rap Punzel of course!
Bob Stevens
Cruise Director
Cruise Director
-
- Posts: 562
- Joined: Wed Nov 04, 2020 7:33 am
2 weeks now that I haven't made it to shore but I continue to be impressed at how all of your minds work. I'll continue fighting on and hopefully make it next week. Luckily I enjoy being out on the water.
- Wendy Walker
- Posts: 1718
- Joined: Thu Apr 11, 2019 7:44 pm
- Location: Unionville, PA
You are doing everything right: just keep trying!mwickham@nyc.rr.com wrote: ↑Mon Dec 14, 2020 2:37 pm 2 weeks now that I haven't made it to shore but I continue to be impressed at how all of your minds work. I'll continue fighting on and hopefully make it next week. Luckily I enjoy being out on the water.
Good luck, fellow Muggles!
- mheberlingx100
- Posts: 526
- Joined: Sun Jul 14, 2019 11:39 am
Agree! I didn't get it this week, but after seeing the mechanism of the solution I feel I'll have a better shot down the line. To me it's a matter of mostly experience and maybe a tiny bit of luck, and sometimes you just can't see it.Wendy Walker wrote: ↑Mon Dec 14, 2020 3:36 pmYou are doing everything right: just keep trying!mwickham@nyc.rr.com wrote: ↑Mon Dec 14, 2020 2:37 pm 2 weeks now that I haven't made it to shore but I continue to be impressed at how all of your minds work. I'll continue fighting on and hopefully make it next week. Luckily I enjoy being out on the water.
-
- Posts: 75
- Joined: Sat Jun 06, 2020 8:06 pm
Indeed, and Sunday River says it has fresh manmade as of this morning!Bob cruise director wrote: ↑Mon Dec 14, 2020 9:39 am
And as a minor distraction, Risky Business is a ski trail at Sunday River in Maine.
I never reported in but I was LAS this weekend...did the grid saw no quick solution to the meta so set it aside and never took is up again.
- DrTom
- Posts: 3779
- Joined: Sat Apr 20, 2019 6:46 pm
- Location: Jacksonville, FL
Well they are never going to win that way, if they are going to keep resting. Typical, they say something and then rest on their orals.Bob cruise director wrote: ↑Mon Dec 14, 2020 2:34 pmThe prosecution restsDrTom wrote: ↑Mon Dec 14, 2020 2:22 pmOh, the Blame Game eh...
Tommy Tommy To Tommy, Banana Panna Quite Balmy, Fee Fie Foe Fommy - opps sorry wrong game.
Gosh, laying all the blame on me - doesn't that just take the cake, I guess I'll take the bundt of the punishment as long as I don't get iced for it!
I'm thinking of doing a talking/singing presentation where every stanza consists of beatboxing and word plays. Know what I'm going to call myself...Rap Punzel of course!
NUDGES!I am always willing to give nudges where needed; metas should be about fun, not frustration. Send me what you have done so far because often you are closer than you think!
- HunterX
- Posts: 1180
- Joined: Fri Dec 04, 2020 9:17 pm
- Location: Philadelphia, PA
This came up when I was working on the meta over zoom with my 20-something kids. While they were gabbing, I thought of the mechanism, but didn't really want to do the work alone. (Usually, I figure out the answer, proudly announcing that I solved it first, then let them keep trying to figure it out until they ask the old man for a hint.) My older one started with "1." My younger one is a math major in college and corrected with the rule stated by lbray53, above. A minor argument ensued (instead of just trying it out and seeing what happens). I broke the logjam with "I side with the math major."Bob cruise director wrote: ↑Mon Dec 14, 2020 9:39 amI started out with including 1 and immediately got OLIVE but when I moved on to the next letters it became obvious that 1 was not a prime. My senior moment problem was that after I did the first 10 or I included the number in the box so It one point I had Live on Bo (some gibberish)ed Time. Minor course correction.lbray53 wrote: ↑Mon Dec 14, 2020 9:07 amThe strict definition of a prime number is that it must have exactly two factors, namely 1 and itself. The number 1 has one factor. Kudos to the constructor for getting this right.
BTW, I know this mainly because I learned it the hard way long ago. It cost me a grade getting it wrong.
(....)
and I agree with not including 1 as it falls in a special category called a "unit" (special for muggle nerds)
Between them, it's more important to be right on principle than accomplish their shared goal. Reminds me of a poem my father used to recite: "Here lies the body of Jonathan Gray / He died defending his right of way / He was right, "Dead right!", as he sped along / But he's just as dead as if he were wrong."
-
- Posts: 249
- Joined: Fri Sep 18, 2020 11:48 am
- Location: Palo Alto, California
The rabbit hole that swallowed up my mind was trying to make something from the eight two-word alliterative clues (e.g. salon substances and buzzy bodies -- I counted carnival city as well) since they stood out distinctly from the others and because buzzy body and salon substances seemed especially odd. Spent virtual ages trying to discern anything in the clues and their answers. Otherwise, RI and SKY took away my mind. The lesson I've got to learn in a real and practical way (not just as a mental statement or a checklist entry) is that if something is going nowhere then it is likely not the answer. Did a lot of SUBbing, subtracting letters, substituting letters. Made, in essence, a prime fool of myself.
- HunterX
- Posts: 1180
- Joined: Fri Dec 04, 2020 9:17 pm
- Location: Philadelphia, PA
Bob - If Tiger King taught me anything, it's to never stick your hand in the cage. And for god sake don't taunt them. You may think you're playing and having fun. But that's how you'll lose an arm.DrTom wrote: ↑Mon Dec 14, 2020 5:27 pmWell they are never going to win that way, if they are going to keep resting. Typical, they say something and then rest on their orals.Bob cruise director wrote: ↑Mon Dec 14, 2020 2:34 pmThe prosecution restsDrTom wrote: ↑Mon Dec 14, 2020 2:22 pm
Oh, the Blame Game eh...
Tommy Tommy To Tommy, Banana Panna Quite Balmy, Fee Fie Foe Fommy - opps sorry wrong game.
Gosh, laying all the blame on me - doesn't that just take the cake, I guess I'll take the bundt of the punishment as long as I don't get iced for it!
I'm thinking of doing a talking/singing presentation where every stanza consists of beatboxing and word plays. Know what I'm going to call myself...Rap Punzel of course!
Or be subjected to more puns. You'll sigh, sip some beer, and the sigh-beerian will pounce!
- mpmanning
- Posts: 84
- Joined: Fri Nov 06, 2020 10:02 am
- Location: Nahant, MA
The WSJ is still having a problem printing their solution. I wonder if it’s because they found my solution –
Grab Repos – to be simpler, more elegant, and possibly more precarious. The meta solution focuses on noticing that there are many two-word, alliterative clues both across and down with answers as follows:
Salon substances Gels
Small stream Rill
Britten bit Aria
Buzzy body Bee
Carnival city Rio
Counts’ counterparts Earls
Domino’s delivery Pie
High hunter Orion
Paltry pencil Stub
The first letters of the grid entries clearly spell out GRAB REPOS. Your local bank will be able to tell you how precarious a job this may be if you tell them you are looking for employment. They should be able to explain how irate their customers (armed or not) may be as you come to repossess their cars because they are a few payments in arrears on their subprime loan.
Grab Repos – to be simpler, more elegant, and possibly more precarious. The meta solution focuses on noticing that there are many two-word, alliterative clues both across and down with answers as follows:
Salon substances Gels
Small stream Rill
Britten bit Aria
Buzzy body Bee
Carnival city Rio
Counts’ counterparts Earls
Domino’s delivery Pie
High hunter Orion
Paltry pencil Stub
The first letters of the grid entries clearly spell out GRAB REPOS. Your local bank will be able to tell you how precarious a job this may be if you tell them you are looking for employment. They should be able to explain how irate their customers (armed or not) may be as you come to repossess their cars because they are a few payments in arrears on their subprime loan.
- mpmanning
- Posts: 84
- Joined: Fri Nov 06, 2020 10:02 am
- Location: Nahant, MA
The WSJ is still having a problem printing their solution. I wonder if it’s because they found my solution –
Grab Repos – to be simpler, more elegant, and possibly more precarious. The meta solution focuses on noticing that there are many two-word, alliterative clues both across and down with answers as follows:
Salon substances Gels
Small stream Rill
Britten bit Aria
Buzzy body Bee
Carnival city Rio
Counts’ counterparts Earls
Domino’s delivery Pie
High hunter Orion
Paltry pencil Stub
The first letters of the grid entries clearly spell out GRAB REPOS. Your local bank will be able to tell you how precarious a job this may be if you tell them you are looking for employment. They should be able to explain how irate their customers (armed or not) may be as you come to repossess their cars because they are a few payments in arrears on their subprime loan.
Grab Repos – to be simpler, more elegant, and possibly more precarious. The meta solution focuses on noticing that there are many two-word, alliterative clues both across and down with answers as follows:
Salon substances Gels
Small stream Rill
Britten bit Aria
Buzzy body Bee
Carnival city Rio
Counts’ counterparts Earls
Domino’s delivery Pie
High hunter Orion
Paltry pencil Stub
The first letters of the grid entries clearly spell out GRAB REPOS. Your local bank will be able to tell you how precarious a job this may be if you tell them you are looking for employment. They should be able to explain how irate their customers (armed or not) may be as you come to repossess their cars because they are a few payments in arrears on their subprime loan.