59. Prime Directive

Puzzles! Puns! The occasional crosswordese! Solve a new meta at the end of each of month at https://punofakind.blogspot.com/
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MikeyG
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59. Prime Directive

#1

Post by MikeyG »

PDF and PUZ

Crosshare

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I obviously couldn't post that picture last week! Little to say here today, except I'm off to watch the Cubs in the London baseball classic! (And catch up on a bunch of other metas.)

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1. Puzzle #58 answer: SOLSTICE

Correct entries: 47

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(Thanks, @BrennerTJ!)

Shortest explanation: Five clues contain "summer," and those five clues also start with a musical note. Append the musical note to the answer (i.e., Do + UGH = DOUGH), and find an alternate clue to define the new word (i.e. "Moolah"). Note the new answer to that (i.e., CASH). Take those five initial letters in grid order to get STICE, and then append one piece of the metanism again: the only 3-letter musical note "sol" to give us SOLSTICE, the 8-letter meta answer. (The fact that that took a bit to get out, even in the shortest explanation, likely confirms it's more of a Level 3.5 or 4!).

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2. Leaderboard:

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3. This puzzle is a Week 4 in the month, but it will likelier trend a bit downward to Week 3.5 (gives you more time to chew on the MGWCC and WSJ and all the others!). Thanks to @Abide, @BrennerTJ, @DrTom, and @oldjudge for their puzzling insights!

59. Prime Directive

The answer to the meta is a numerical expression.

Deadline is Sunday, July 1 at 1 pm ET.

Good luck, and may all your solves be beautiful!

Mikey G
Less cross words, more crosswords.

Solve my latest "Pun of a Kind" Meta!: 96. Interstate Travel
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oldjudge
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#2

Post by oldjudge »

Wonderful puzzle by Mikey! Good luck to the Cubs (I've given up on the Yankees this year)
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markhr
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#3

Post by markhr »

Weird, but fun. Nice one, Mikey!
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whimsy
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#4

Post by whimsy »

Untitledzzhaha.png
Got to be one of my funnest AHAs!
Thanks, Mikey!
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boharr
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#5

Post by boharr »

Got it! Thanks, Mikey. HaHa.
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MikeyG
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#6

Post by MikeyG »

whimsy wrote: ↑Sat Jun 24, 2023 3:15 pm Got to be one of my funnest AHAs!
Thanks, Mikey!
Now we just have to finish the WSJ, right?? I saw you cried "Uncle!" and I might be not too far off from that!
Less cross words, more crosswords.

Solve my latest "Pun of a Kind" Meta!: 96. Interstate Travel
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BarbaraK
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#7

Post by BarbaraK »

Fun grid. As for the meta, hmm. I see something that has to mean something but no idea what.
If you want help with a meta, feel free to PM me. The more specific you are about what you have and what you want, the more likely I can help without spoiling.

(And if I help you win a mug, I’ll be especially delighted.)
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KayW
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#8

Post by KayW »

I agree with @whimsy - I always chuckle while solving your grids but this time I literally laughed out loud when I solved the meta. Thanks for a fun and solvable puzzle! (A rarity for me this week)
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Contest Crosswords Combating Cancer (CCCC) is a bundle of 16 metapuzzles created to help raise money for cancer-related charities. It is available at CrosswordsForCancer.com.
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benchen71
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#9

Post by benchen71 »

I loved this one! Very clever, @MikeyG.
Check out "The MOAT MEOW Mashup Pack" here. US$10 for 14 metas that don't always abide by the "rules" of the game: asymmetry, 2-letter words, uncrossed letters, who knows. And this time there's a mega-meta! :shock:
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ChrisKochmanski
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#10

Post by ChrisKochmanski »

Loved it! Mikey, you’re getting GOOD at this!
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rjy
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#11

Post by rjy »

Fun one, Mikey!

…and like others, a welcome break from noodling the WSJ 😬
Ray
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CPJohnson
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#12

Post by CPJohnson »

I got it! A great puzzle, Mikey!
Cynthia
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BarbaraK
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#13

Post by BarbaraK »

And I finally figured out what to do with what I was looking at. Very clever, Mikey!
If you want help with a meta, feel free to PM me. The more specific you are about what you have and what you want, the more likely I can help without spoiling.

(And if I help you win a mug, I’ll be especially delighted.)
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jhseeman
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#14

Post by jhseeman »

worked through the grid, always fun with the puns and such...but was also challenging, did learn some things.

Put it down for a bit and when I came back it hit me right away. Well constructed meta.

Thanks for the puzzles.
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lbray53
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#15

Post by lbray53 »

I loved this one. Very inventive.
My avatar proves that it is sometimes better to be lucky than good!
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Cinny
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#16

Post by Cinny »

Solved. Loved the clues. Very nice. Thanks, Mikey!
Cindy Heisler
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hcbirker
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#17

Post by hcbirker »

Finally saw what I needed to see. Nice one Mikey!
Heidi
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MikeyG
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#18

Post by MikeyG »

IT'S NUDGE TIME WOW

1. When you think of the title adjective, there's probably one thing that follows that you'll immediately think of...

2. ...at least if you're like this mathematician!

3. Nothing immediate jumps out as a themer, but there are prime numbers in any crossword grid, after all.

4. Once you get all the letters you'll need, you'll be clued into two 3-letter words that concatenate to a 6-letter word.

5. What numerical expression does that evoke? Google if necessary!
Less cross words, more crosswords.

Solve my latest "Pun of a Kind" Meta!: 96. Interstate Travel
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ReB
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#19

Post by ReB »

Nudges got me home - with skinned knees from my multiple stumbles on the way. Still it was enjoyable and quite a work of construction.
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Dow Jones
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#20

Post by Dow Jones »

Nudged across the finish line. Outstanding construction, Mikey. Another masterpiece. Thanks for the fun.
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