26. Father Figures
- MikeyG
- Posts: 1442
- Joined: Wed Dec 30, 2020 2:52 pm
- Location: Chicago
- Contact:
26. Father Figures
PDF and PUZ
Crosshare
1. Puzzle #25 recap
Puzzle #25 answer: FAIR
Correct entries: 22 (maybe not as fair as I would have liked!)
A lot of these puzzles for the Summer of Solves were written for the summer, but some I just had the backburner and wanted to try to clean up and use. I also typically like to have one "mini-meta" a month, where the grid is less than 15-by-15.
My suspected logic was to note the central spanner with the simple clue of "Four" (matching the title), which would allude to the fact that we're looking for two-by-two squares (whose area is also four). And these squares can't just be random, of course; there has to be rhyme and reason to them.
And what better rhyme or reason (so I thought) to have the two-by-two squares spell out words that complete the phrase "SQUARE ___." Yes, SQUARE AWAY is a bit of a stretch, but I had to for the meta and this wasn't random. Our family says that a lot, especially in regard to IOUs, haha. (Also, it's worth noting here that SQUARE AWAY beats out two of the other three in terms of commonness.)
The initial four entries spell out FAIR, the answer to the meta, and - of course - this alludes to FAIR AND SQUARE, so the meta answer is not completely random!
The main "problem" is that pesky MEAL that appears almost right in the center of the grid. Granted, this shouldn't be here, and I take responsibility for that (note its "order" doesn't match the other either). However, it's worth nothing that a few solvers this helped them continue the hunt and get the answer! So, c'est la meta vie, I suppose.
2. We have this meta just in time for Father's Day, and it'll be interesting to see if this is any harder, though I think it's likely going to be a tad easier than the last one. We'll put it again at Level 2 or 2.5.
New Rule: Solving before Nudge Wednesday gets a bonus 3 points; all other rules are still in play.
26. Father Figures
The answer to the meta is a father figure.
Good luck, and may all your solves be beautiful!
Mikey G
Crosshare
1. Puzzle #25 recap
Puzzle #25 answer: FAIR
Correct entries: 22 (maybe not as fair as I would have liked!)
A lot of these puzzles for the Summer of Solves were written for the summer, but some I just had the backburner and wanted to try to clean up and use. I also typically like to have one "mini-meta" a month, where the grid is less than 15-by-15.
My suspected logic was to note the central spanner with the simple clue of "Four" (matching the title), which would allude to the fact that we're looking for two-by-two squares (whose area is also four). And these squares can't just be random, of course; there has to be rhyme and reason to them.
And what better rhyme or reason (so I thought) to have the two-by-two squares spell out words that complete the phrase "SQUARE ___." Yes, SQUARE AWAY is a bit of a stretch, but I had to for the meta and this wasn't random. Our family says that a lot, especially in regard to IOUs, haha. (Also, it's worth noting here that SQUARE AWAY beats out two of the other three in terms of commonness.)
The initial four entries spell out FAIR, the answer to the meta, and - of course - this alludes to FAIR AND SQUARE, so the meta answer is not completely random!
The main "problem" is that pesky MEAL that appears almost right in the center of the grid. Granted, this shouldn't be here, and I take responsibility for that (note its "order" doesn't match the other either). However, it's worth nothing that a few solvers this helped them continue the hunt and get the answer! So, c'est la meta vie, I suppose.
2. We have this meta just in time for Father's Day, and it'll be interesting to see if this is any harder, though I think it's likely going to be a tad easier than the last one. We'll put it again at Level 2 or 2.5.
New Rule: Solving before Nudge Wednesday gets a bonus 3 points; all other rules are still in play.
26. Father Figures
The answer to the meta is a father figure.
Good luck, and may all your solves be beautiful!
Mikey G
- whimsy
- Posts: 2856
- Joined: Sun Jun 21, 2020 9:51 am
- Location: Hopkinton MA
(Haven't solved yet, but) I like this. One for MOM a few weeks ago and now Dad. FAIR is FAIR!
- benchen71
- Posts: 2536
- Joined: Thu Jul 22, 2021 8:50 pm
- Location: Melbourne, Australia
- Contact:
Loved this one. Good puzzle, Mikey!
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!
- boharr
- Moderator
- Posts: 3248
- Joined: Fri Sep 06, 2019 8:57 am
- Location: Westchester, NY
- oldjudge
- Posts: 1648
- Joined: Fri Apr 19, 2019 4:16 am
- Location: Pasadena, CA
- Darth
- Posts: 776
- Joined: Sat May 15, 2021 6:51 pm
- Location: Champaign, IL
- Meg
- Posts: 2199
- Joined: Tue Apr 09, 2019 1:41 pm
- Location: St. Petersburg, FL
- whimsy
- Posts: 2856
- Joined: Sun Jun 21, 2020 9:51 am
- Location: Hopkinton MA
Finally! Found the path to get this to be what I wanted it to be from the start!
I like it!
I like it!
- lbray53
- Posts: 1260
- Joined: Fri May 08, 2020 8:34 am
- Location: Elkhorn, WI
Solved. Fun.
My avatar proves that it is sometimes better to be lucky than good!
-
- Posts: 481
- Joined: Thu May 09, 2019 11:02 pm
- Location: Yakima, WA
- MikeyG
- Posts: 1442
- Joined: Wed Dec 30, 2020 2:52 pm
- Location: Chicago
- Contact:
Had an early start at work, but now I'm here for Nudge Wednesday! In order of "increasing blatancy," to quote @benchen71!
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Mikey G
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Mikey G
- MikeyG
- Posts: 1442
- Joined: Wed Dec 30, 2020 2:52 pm
- Location: Chicago
- Contact:
I also chuckled while writing this one, which shows my level of humor, haha.
- KayW
- Moderator
- Posts: 3471
- Joined: Wed Apr 10, 2019 12:10 am
- Location: Chicago
Good one! Got to this one late, and I confess: I was lazy enough to read the first nudge before trying very hard. I can resist anything except temptation.
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.
- Cinny
- Posts: 836
- Joined: Mon Sep 21, 2020 2:53 pm
- Location: Minoa, NY
- Contact:
I had the answer the other day, but forgot to submit it. Just another of my senior moments. Great puzzle, Mikey!
Cindy Heisler
-
- Posts: 1739
- Joined: Sat Dec 28, 2019 10:09 am
- jhseeman
- Posts: 499
- Joined: Sun Dec 13, 2020 3:33 pm
- Location: Charleston, SC
Was traveling so got a really late start...got it w/o any of the nudges.
Cool puzzle.
Cool puzzle.
- Joe
- Posts: 567
- Joined: Sat May 11, 2019 12:45 pm
- Location: New Hampshire
Love it. I can relate.
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.
- MikeyG
- Posts: 1442
- Joined: Wed Dec 30, 2020 2:52 pm
- Location: Chicago
- Contact: