#642 - "We're Surrounded!"

[Jacksull]

Submitted my answer and held my breath. Beam me up!

[smashburn]

Second the hint request. My father and I are stumped by this one for a second day.

[spotter]

Beam me up. Not the strongest meta I've ever seen, but I'm confident in my answer. I'm looking forward to the writeup to see if I'm missing something that makes it better.

[HoldThatThought]

I'm normally averse to hints, I love to puzzle these out, but I'm particularly flummoxed that I must be missing something horribly obvious, and it's making me grouchy. The tiniest nudge would get my week off to a better start. I appreciate you.

[Bird Lives]

I started writing a PM to send to someone who had solved it (not sure who that would be), a letter detailing the dead ends and false leads I’d been pursuing. And as I was typing the clues and entries that were perplexing me and explaining why, I suddenly saw what I’d been not-seeing for two days. I feel about this one the way I felt about Will’s Anatomy answer. Or as I commented at MGWCC, though it’s not much of a Talkin’ ’bout my generation — Not!.

Matt hasn’t updated in six hours, but I’m sure I’ve got it even though I just wonder how much of a stickler he’s going to be about the answer.

[bhamren]

On board with this one. Not on Matt's board since he hasn't updated for over 9 hours, but it is a sure thing. Once I got the first rabbit hole I guessed the correct answer and just had to justify it with further work. Nice puzzle. I think I know what others think would make this better.

[Jeremy Smith]

On the board. There wasn’t a strong aha moment with this one. While I’m certainly glad that I submitted the correct answer, I still don’t see what wraps this up with a bow.

[SusieG]

After getting excited thinking I had a path twice, I’m now lost. If anyone is willing to give a hint I’d appreciate it.

Edit: thanks for the hint. Solved with a wonderful guide!

[Joe Ross]

Offered a tiny bit of help & was paid back tenfold. Not a solo solve, due to someone else's brilliance. Beam me up, never-the-less!

[unaccustomed]

hello, would really appreciate a hint i have a similarity for all the long entries but don't know what to do beyond that

[Prozach]

hello, would really appreciate a hint i have a similarity for all the long entries but don't know what to do beyond that

i could use one too. my page is burnt from my stares....

[802puzzler]

I'm so close but can't crack the final step. Can I run my roadblock by someone?

[802puzzler]

I'm so close but can't crack the final step. Can I run my roadblock by someone?

All set - thank you!

[DrTom]

Woo Hoo - made it to the shore after an inspirational message from one of the masters (see #29)! OK, streak of one on both WSJCC and MDWCC - too late now but tomorrow at 5 PM - CELEBRATION!! (and I do not mean a trip to a town near Disney World)

[Laura M]

On the board. There wasn’t a strong aha moment with this one. While I’m certainly glad that I submitted the correct answer, I still don’t see what wraps this up with a bow.

I think I agree; I was 100% on my answer, but I feel like there may have been an extra touch went over my head! Looking forward to the reveal.

[DrTom]

On the board. There wasn’t a strong aha moment with this one. While I’m certainly glad that I submitted the correct answer, I still don’t see what wraps this up with a bow.

Agree, and I know that I'm correct but it seems like one of those where it is "well if A=B and B=C then A=C", and when I do that I usually get burned. I mean in hindsight it could not have been anything else but it certainly is not one where where I would not even have to look to know that I submitted the correct answer. However, since I really kind of stumbled on the mechanism I might just have missed the cute little bow. I mean on the whole Matt packages these such that you look and say DAMN, how does he do that?

[Joe Ross]

SEP 22, 2020 AT 2:42 AM

Deadline for MGWCC #642 is *Wednesday* at noon ET!

Dear MGWCC Solver,

D'oh! I did it again. Forgot to mention that due to the delayed puzzle, this week's deadline is Wednesday at noon ET instead of the usual Tuesday.

--Matt

[hashbrown]

Been stuck over Sunday and Monday so a small nudge via PM would be very much appreciated for this week's puzzle

EDIT: Beam me up! (after a couple of nudges from some kind Muggles)

[Prozach]

hello, would really appreciate a hint i have a similarity for all the long entries but don't know what to do beyond that

i could use one too. my page is burnt from my stares....

I finally got it after staring at the page for a long time. In hindsight, I had most of the components written on my page already. I just went a little too far and complex.
So:

Step 1 - was a check.
Step 2 - I took a far bigger step than I needed.

Thanks to those who helped.

[CrossedPurposes]

If anyone still needs a hint before the extended deadline, feel free to shoot me a dm.