#651 - "Missing Piece"

An excellent puzzle written by one of the innovators of the meta crossword format. It comes out every Friday at noon and increases in difficulty throughout the month. Available for modest subscription (worth every cent) here: www.xwordcontest.com
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Hector
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#651 - "Missing Piece"

#1

Post by Hector »

This weekโ€™s contest answer is a noted work of art.
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Joe Ross
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#2

Post by Joe Ross »

Excel form available to MGWCC subscribers. Request via PM, please.
Whole blood, platelets, or plasma: Donate 4 in 2024

PLATELET ๐—ฑ๐—ผ๐—ป๐—ผ๐—ฟ๐˜€ ๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ ๐—ฟ๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ.
๐—ง๐—ต๐—ฒ ๐—ป๐—ฒ๐—ฒ๐—ฑ ๐—ถ๐˜€ ENORMOUS ๐—ณ๐—ผ๐—ฟ ๐—ฐ๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ:
๐Ÿฐ๐Ÿฌ% ๐—ฝ๐—ฒ๐—ฑ๐—ถ๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ฟ๐—ถ๐—ฐ,
๐Ÿฏ๐Ÿฌ% ๐—ฒ๐—ฎ๐—ฐ๐—ต, ๐˜๐—ต๐—ฒ ๐˜๐—ฎ๐—ฐ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ฐ,
๐—ณ๐—ผ๐—ฟ ๐—ฐ๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ฐ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ & ๐˜๐—ฟ๐—ฎ๐˜‚๐—บ๐—ฎ. ๐—ฃ๐—Ÿ๐—˜๐—”๐—ฆ๐—˜ ๐—ฆ๐—›๐—”๐—ฅ๐—˜!
unaccustomed
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#3

Post by unaccustomed »

Think I have the first step, but don't know what to do after that.. anyone want to brainstorm?
Big Mac
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#4

Post by Big Mac »

9 correct entries so far has me worried about my prospects for the weekend...
madhatter5
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#5

Post by madhatter5 »

Agreed. This is gonna be a doozy
https://pandorasblocks.org/crosswords-for-cancer
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Joe
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#6

Post by Joe »

It looks like there should be an easy entry point. And then, no there isn't. Don't think I have a lot of hope.
Happy to give nudges. If you notice I've solved, please tell me about avenues you've explored so I can nudge you in the right direction and not off a cliff.
markhr
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#7

Post by markhr »

Matt's Difficulty-O-Meter must be broken again. This does not feel like a week 3 puzzle.
dudeski
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#8

Post by dudeski »

Grid done. Meta will require some mental lubrication, perhaps
7E512558-D6DC-43D5-B1B4-41D23855E0DC.jpeg
Dplass
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#9

Post by Dplass »

I felt the grid was quite doable. I see some things for the meta but no mechanism yet
Laura M
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#10

Post by Laura M »

Grid was unexpectedly easy, meta apparently not so much. I have something that feels very dubious, not submitting yet.
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RPardoe
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#11

Post by RPardoe »

Laura M wrote: โ†‘Fri Nov 20, 2020 8:31 pm Grid was unexpectedly easy, meta apparently not so much. I have something that feels very dubious, not submitting yet.
15 Solves on 22 Submissions - probably wise to be cautious before submitting. That seems like a higher early miss rate than normal.

(For those who wonder how to know how many guesses have been made - look at the Overall Tab. If you submit and are wrong, your name will appear - showing your overall solves for all of MGWCC.)
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Joe Ross
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#12

Post by Joe Ross »

Cannot

stop

staring

at

shiny

object...

I know that it is incorrect, but it's done dented my brain but something awful.
Whole blood, platelets, or plasma: Donate 4 in 2024

PLATELET ๐—ฑ๐—ผ๐—ป๐—ผ๐—ฟ๐˜€ ๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ ๐—ฟ๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ.
๐—ง๐—ต๐—ฒ ๐—ป๐—ฒ๐—ฒ๐—ฑ ๐—ถ๐˜€ ENORMOUS ๐—ณ๐—ผ๐—ฟ ๐—ฐ๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ:
๐Ÿฐ๐Ÿฌ% ๐—ฝ๐—ฒ๐—ฑ๐—ถ๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ฟ๐—ถ๐—ฐ,
๐Ÿฏ๐Ÿฌ% ๐—ฒ๐—ฎ๐—ฐ๐—ต, ๐˜๐—ต๐—ฒ ๐˜๐—ฎ๐—ฐ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ฐ,
๐—ณ๐—ผ๐—ฟ ๐—ฐ๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ฐ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ & ๐˜๐—ฟ๐—ฎ๐˜‚๐—บ๐—ฎ. ๐—ฃ๐—Ÿ๐—˜๐—”๐—ฆ๐—˜ ๐—ฆ๐—›๐—”๐—ฅ๐—˜!
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MikeM000
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#13

Post by MikeM000 »

The grid was at a Mon-Tues NYT level. Superfast. I see one possible lead but have no inkling as to how to use it....
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TMart
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#14

Post by TMart »

I don't see myself putting in the time to solve this one. My first grandchild arrived two weeks ago and my meta mojo has disappeared. I missed my first WSJ in a long time the weekend he was born, and while I look at metas when I think of it between visits, I think it may be time for a break if my MGWCC streak dies here. But somehow, it doesn't really bother me to miss one the way it used to! :)
Sara Dacus
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#15

Post by Sara Dacus »

Congratulations on the new baby. What a blessing.
Sara Dacus
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#16

Post by Sara Dacus »

If anyone has ideas for a first step theyโ€™d like to share, Iโ€™d love to read them. โ˜บ๏ธ
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ChrisKochmanski
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#17

Post by ChrisKochmanski »

TMart wrote: โ†‘Sat Nov 21, 2020 10:37 am My first grandchild arrived two weeks ago and my meta mojo has disappeared.
Congrats! Our first grandbaby, a boy, is due in March. Can't wait!
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oldjudge
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#18

Post by oldjudge »

Yes, congratulations. We just had our third a few weeks ago.
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MajordomoTom
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#19

Post by MajordomoTom »

given this discussion, I'm putting my grid in the recycling bin. Concur that the grid was not bad, but no real clues about where the first step lies.

Those 4 "theme answers" are ... very strange.

Wondering if the last across is a clue about where to go. But that direction ... madness lies.
"Lots of planets have a North", the Ninth Doctor.
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Streroto
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#20

Post by Streroto »

ChrisKochmanski wrote: โ†‘Sat Nov 21, 2020 12:07 pm
TMart wrote: โ†‘Sat Nov 21, 2020 10:37 am My first grandchild arrived two weeks ago and my meta mojo has disappeared.
Congrats! Our first grandbaby, a boy, is due in March. Can't wait!
Enjoy!!! Our first grandchild is about to turn 1 and while weโ€™ve been limited in seeing him in his short life itโ€™s sheer joy when we do. Plus live photos, videos and FaceTime make it so you can โ€œseeโ€ them often even if not get to hold them.

Stay well
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