"Missing Links" - July 10, 2020

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.
Locked
User avatar
SusieG
Posts: 431
Joined: Sat Feb 01, 2020 9:20 pm
Location: Arkansas

#461

Post by SusieG »

I also got hung up on CROATOAN after my son doodled on my crossword and my family named the creature “CROATOAN”. I couldn’t unsee it. Finally had to fold the paper in half so I wouldn’t be distracted! Still took me a while to find the APEs. MAN jumped out quickly after TACOMAN (which also sent me down a rabbit hole).
F11EED67-646C-43B7-B7AA-2B697F365A40.gif
User avatar
Richard
Posts: 348
Joined: Thu Apr 11, 2019 7:06 pm

#462

Post by Richard »

Janet P wrote: Mon Jul 13, 2020 12:21 pm Definitely a KAS 5 for me this week.
Saw parapet/papaeete (never noticing APEs) and linked para-K-eet. Spent too much time trying to devise one-letter links between first and last syllables (stressed or not!) of emanate, rosssea, germane, etc.
Also got really hung up after "linking" taco-bell-man and acted-up-on looking for more like that.
Oh, well. There's always Thursday :)
I did the same thing. There are some that I think are just not my style like last weeks and I would probably never get. This is one I think I should have gotten. Oh well, another one coming up. In my opinion this one was excellent.
User avatar
Hector
Posts: 1297
Joined: Thu Apr 11, 2019 8:15 pm
Location: San Francisco
Contact:

#463

Post by Hector »

Yay for Southern Cross. I enjoy the Kinks' Ape Man except for the ugly use of "voodoo" as part of living like an "ape man".
User avatar
LadyBird
Posts: 872
Joined: Fri Apr 17, 2020 4:20 pm
Location: Chicagoland

#464

Post by LadyBird »

I went with golf first--the words in the left-most column started with PGA and 7D was tee. There were 5 places (Papeete. Oman, Ross sea, Itasca, Epsom) but nothing developed there. Tried to backsolve for BRATS--nope. I also went down the numbers hole.Then I tried to link together the separate groupings of black spaces.

I noticed the 5 instances of MAN fairly early and tried to make new words with them. 14A ICE was right above MAN--although I would have preferred caveman. Then lit was right before man. But that could be a stethoscope. So I abandoned man. Finally, I noticed ape and then it fell into place. Although I googled the definition of nexus just to be sure.
User avatar
BethA
Posts: 624
Joined: Tue Apr 09, 2019 6:44 pm
Location: Beaver, PA

#465

Post by BethA »

Flailed about for awhile, saw golf, but got nowhere. Then shocked at how long it took me to see all of the APEs and all of the MANs. Still wasn’t getting it, now I have 10 things instead of 5! I always like to scribble on a separate blank sheet of paper so I don’t mess up the grid. But decided to take a look back in case positions of things were important. Aha! Click. Very important! It all came together. But on mine, I drew lines from the APE to the MAN - A to M, P to A, E to N, then the middle letters jumped out at me. NEXUS.

I’m not so familiar with the Kinks Apeman video. All I could think of after solving was the Star Trek movie Generations! I think it would have been #7, but they stopped numbering at that point.

I think this puzzle was a work of art - a masterpiece! There are only a few I remember so vividly and am so impressed by. One was a [Edit: Patrick Merrell], a maze of lab RATs in the NYT Sunday. Another was a NYT week-long contest, by the end, I had to cut the puzzle apart and turn it into a die - the answer was “Alea iacta est“, the die is cast! [Edit - I was thinking that was Patrick Berry, just looked it up, and it was.]
Last edited by BethA on Mon Jul 13, 2020 10:20 pm, edited 2 times in total.
User avatar
TPS
Posts: 721
Joined: Sun Mar 15, 2020 2:19 pm
Location: Florida

#466

Post by TPS »

BethA wrote: Mon Jul 13, 2020 10:02 pm All I could think of after solving was the Star Trek movie Generations!
Yep - that would be 7 where Picard and Kirk get stuck in the Nexus by Soran.
User avatar
Joe Ross
Moderator
Posts: 5001
Joined: Fri Apr 12, 2019 4:46 am
Location: Cincinnati

#467

Post by Joe Ross »

SusieG wrote: Mon Jul 13, 2020 7:55 pm
my son doodled on my crossword

Image
I nominate this for your xword-muggles avatar. Looks like Master Peanut.
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!
User avatar
BarbaraK
Posts: 2592
Joined: Tue Apr 09, 2019 2:37 pm
Location: Virginia

#468

Post by BarbaraK »

I don't remember whether I saw the MANs or the APEs first; they were pretty much the same time.

I'm curious about how different people saw them linked though. On my sheet, it's a diagonal line between the P in APE and the A in MAN. In the newspaper, it looks like a stairstep from the the end of one to the beginning of the other.
User avatar
Joe Ross
Moderator
Posts: 5001
Joined: Fri Apr 12, 2019 4:46 am
Location: Cincinnati

#469

Post by Joe Ross »

BarbaraK wrote: Mon Jul 13, 2020 10:55 pm I don't remember whether I saw the MANs or the APEs first; they were pretty much the same time.

I'm curious about how different people saw them linked though. On my sheet, it's a diagonal line between the P in APE and the A in MAN. In the newspaper, it looks like a stairstep from the the end of one to the beginning of the other.
I saw them as the only two letters in each that aligned vertically.

20200710 WSJCC Missing Links solution.gif
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!
User avatar
Jacksull
Posts: 283
Joined: Wed Apr 10, 2019 1:23 pm
Location: Scottsdale AZ

#470

Post by Jacksull »

BarbaraK wrote: Mon Jul 13, 2020 10:55 pm I don't remember whether I saw the MANs or the APEs first; they were pretty much the same time.

I'm curious about how different people saw them linked though. On my sheet, it's a diagonal line between the P in APE and the A in MAN. In the newspaper, it looks like a stairstep from the the end of one to the beginning of the other.
I saw MAN first. But then I saw that the letters MANE appeared as Tetris-like pieces in five places. MANE, MEAN, NAME, AMEN. It took four more looks at the grid before I was able to connect MAN and APE. I saw the letters that linked APE and MAN but I didn’t see the diagonal.
Jack Sullivan
MaineMarge
Posts: 1597
Joined: Tue Apr 09, 2019 9:57 pm

#471

Post by MaineMarge »

Joe Ross wrote: Mon Jul 13, 2020 11:02 pm
I saw them as the only two letters in each that aligned vertically.

Exactly, Joe. I was blown away when I saw this.
Pretty lucky for him things worked out this way, huh? If I could get my hands on Mike Shenk, I’d award him a very big HUG this week. 👏🏻
Hidden in 3D
Posts: 379
Joined: Sun Nov 17, 2019 11:42 pm

#472

Post by Hidden in 3D »

spotter wrote: Mon Jul 13, 2020 1:40 pm I must have just gotten lucky to spot it so quickly!
Well, after all, you are THE SPOTTER! :lol:
Sara
User avatar
DrTom
Posts: 3765
Joined: Sat Apr 20, 2019 6:46 pm
Location: Jacksonville, FL

#473

Post by DrTom »

Joe Ross wrote: Mon Jul 13, 2020 11:02 pm
BarbaraK wrote: Mon Jul 13, 2020 10:55 pm I don't remember whether I saw the MANs or the APEs first; they were pretty much the same time.

I'm curious about how different people saw them linked though. On my sheet, it's a diagonal line between the P in APE and the A in MAN. In the newspaper, it looks like a stairstep from the the end of one to the beginning of the other.
I saw them as the only two letters in each that aligned vertically.
Same here - I actually had to look a bit to see the diagonal thing and that it works each time. I guess because it was supposed to be the link of one to the other (end of one beginning of other) I did Ape - > Man. Thankfully either way worked. Incredible that the two M's are able to get these things to work, I cannot imagine the mental acuity combined with a vocabulary list that would probably stun most of us.
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!
User avatar
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

#474

Post by Bob cruise director »

Because we have had so much discussion, it was several pages back that Sal published the link to the zoom discussion so here it is again. The show starts at 7:30pm EST. All are welcome.

Also several years ago, we had the opportunity to visit Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania on our way to the Serengeti. They had moldings of the footprints of some of our ancestors. It is still active but I give the Leakey's credit for digging in the wilderness for 30 years.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89184367093
Bob Stevens
Cruise Director
User avatar
FrankieHeck
Posts: 839
Joined: Tue Apr 09, 2019 8:57 pm
Location: West Virginia

#475

Post by FrankieHeck »

I saw all the MANs before I saw any of the APEs
User avatar
boharr
Moderator
Posts: 3182
Joined: Fri Sep 06, 2019 8:57 am
Location: Westchester, NY

#476

Post by boharr »

FrankieHeck wrote: Tue Jul 14, 2020 9:00 am I saw all the MANs before I saw any of the APEs
Ditto
Hidden in 3D
Posts: 379
Joined: Sun Nov 17, 2019 11:42 pm

#477

Post by Hidden in 3D »

BarbaraK wrote: Mon Jul 13, 2020 10:55 pm I don't remember whether I saw the MANs or the APEs first; they were pretty much the same time.

I'm curious about how different people saw them linked though. On my sheet, it's a diagonal line between the P in APE and the A in MAN. In the newspaper, it looks like a stairstep from the the end of one to the beginning of the other.
I saw the MANs long before I saw the APEs. And I never even thought about the other possible meanings of "links" (even though my golf-obsessed husband would be ashamed of me). I saw 26D as a hint from Mike. Like you, Barbara, I also saw the diagonal lines or "stairsteps" and interpreted these as the steps in the evolutionary chain between ape and man. Somewhere in the back of my mind I remembered a drawing that showed life forms evolving from amoeba (top left corner) to human (bottom right corner). When I googled "missing links evolution" this drawing (Ernst Haeckel's Chain of The Animal Ancestors of Man) was staring me in the face! I noted the similar format in Mr. Shenk's construction and considered it brilliant.
Joe Ross wrote: Mon Jul 13, 2020 11:02 pm I saw them as the only two letters in each that aligned vertically.
This makes the "stairsteps" even more obvious. Thanks, Joe!
Sara
User avatar
Meg
Posts: 2137
Joined: Tue Apr 09, 2019 1:41 pm
Location: St. Petersburg, FL

#478

Post by Meg »

boharr wrote: Tue Jul 14, 2020 9:27 am
FrankieHeck wrote: Tue Jul 14, 2020 9:00 am I saw all the MANs before I saw any of the APEs
Ditto
Me too
Check out and support http://CrosswordsForCancer.com.
User avatar
Joe Ross
Moderator
Posts: 5001
Joined: Fri Apr 12, 2019 4:46 am
Location: Cincinnati

#479

Post by Joe Ross »

Hidden in 3D wrote: Tue Jul 14, 2020 9:36 am Like you, Barbara, I also saw the diagonal lines or "stairsteps" and interpreted these as the steps in the evolutionary chain between ape and man. Somewhere in the back of my mind I remembered a drawing that showed life forms evolving from amoeba (top left corner) to human (bottom right corner). When I googled "missing links evolution" this drawing (Ernst Haeckel's Chain of The Animal Ancestors of Man) was staring me in the face! I noted the similar format in Mr. Shenk's construction and considered it brilliant.
Image
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!
User avatar
cbarbee002
Posts: 591
Joined: Fri Apr 24, 2020 6:02 pm
Location: Philly Area

#480

Post by cbarbee002 »

KAS 5?
Locked