XWord Muggles Forum

This week's contest is AP Chemistry by Pete Muller and Milo Beckman

The answer is something you might find in a chemistry class (if it was my wife's chemistry class the answer might be a fire)

Good luck to everyone

As much as we all love the puzzles by Mike Shenk and Matt Gaffney, I always enjoy when the WSJ mixes it up by featuring different constructors. For those who may not be familiar, Pete Muller runs a monthly music-themed meta crossword on his website Muller Monthly Music Meta, which is also available in the Washington Post on the first Tuesday of each month. There is a section of this forum devoted to this contest located here. He has also had 18 puzzles published in the New York Times.

Milo Beckman is also an accomplished constructor, with 9 puzzles published in the New York Times. He is notable for being one of the youngest NYT constructors, with his first puzzle published at age 15! He is also, as far as I can tell, the only NYT constructor named Milo.

Well I submitted an answer. It's conceivable that there's another step to it, but what I found is pretty definite. Fun & not too tricky.

I believe Pete (according to his website) is a professional quantitative investment manager and amateur (or semi-pro) musician...

Got this one very quickly. Liked this one a lot!

Solved! A nice job by the new puzzle constructors.

Happy to be 10D!

And after a couple years of doing Pete’s puzzles on MMMM, I’m very pleased to see one here.

Doh! The last step took me way too long!

Nice meta and happy to see a friendly face in the first part of 41A!

Count me on shore, although I think I may have missed a confirming step. I'm a big fan of MMMM.

I’m on shore. Nicely constructed! A 100%er.

Seeing lots of rabbit holes, but no rabbit yet. I'm on the right track I believe. (Heidi)

I am treading water near the shore. Not quite there, yet. I definitely see something, but have one little thing that doesn't quite fit, and even if it did, I would be afraid that there was another step that I have not yet discovered. I will sleep on it tonight before submitting what I have in mind.

solved on paper at work and saw the first hole. Second hole (AHA!!) occurred as I was driving home. My apologies to my fellow motorists. Hopefully, done and done.

Lovin' it here on shore, having thoroughly enjoyed this puzzle. Welcome, Pete and Milo, to the WSJCC family of constructors!

On the beach! 🏖

Nice one! Also appreciate the variety in puzzle constructors!

Tina wrote: ↑Thu Jul 11, 2019 5:17 pm Count me on shore, although I think I may have missed a confirming step. I'm a big fan of MMMM.

I saw what the answer had to be before I figured out exactly how the last bit worked.

Ashore! I will say I was struggling to stay afloat even though I knew I was in the right direction. I think I remember they ran one similar to this many moons ago.

On shore, and - like many others here - a fan of the MMMM (even if I sometimes fail to catch the tour bus).

Printed, but won’t look at it until at least tomorrow.
Celebrating 32nd wedding anniversary today!
Original scan gives me a hint. But, I can tell that this grid will use different “solving muscles”.

billkatz wrote: ↑Thu Jul 11, 2019 4:42 pm I believe Pete (according to his website) is a professional quantitative investment manager and amateur (or semi-pro) musician...

Oops, thanks for letting me know. My apologies to Pete and I will edit the post.