MGWCC #748 - “Crack the Code”
- Joe Ross
- Moderator
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- Location: Cincinnati
MGWCC #748 - “Crack the Code”
MGWCC #748 — Friday, September 30th, 2022 — “Crack the Code”
THIS WEEK’S PUZZLE:
Well we’re not doing another Week 5 after that, but to be honest I have no idea how tough this one is. So let’s try something: with your entry, please submit a comment telling me what level difficulty you think this week’s meta is. Has to be between Week 1 and 5, but you can submit half-weeks (Week 1.5, 2.5, 3.5, or 4.5) as well as full weeks (1, 2, 3, 4, or 5). Then I’ll tabulate the results and perhaps it will be interesting.
THIS WEEK’S INSTRUCTIONS:
This week’s contest answer is a well-known number 3.
Solve well, and be not led astray by words intended to deceive.
WANT TO SUBSCRIBE TO MY CROSSWORD CONTEST?:
MGWCC is available only to subscribers at my Patreon page.
A subscription costs $3/month.
THIS WEEK’S PUZZLE:
Well we’re not doing another Week 5 after that, but to be honest I have no idea how tough this one is. So let’s try something: with your entry, please submit a comment telling me what level difficulty you think this week’s meta is. Has to be between Week 1 and 5, but you can submit half-weeks (Week 1.5, 2.5, 3.5, or 4.5) as well as full weeks (1, 2, 3, 4, or 5). Then I’ll tabulate the results and perhaps it will be interesting.
THIS WEEK’S INSTRUCTIONS:
This week’s contest answer is a well-known number 3.
Solve well, and be not led astray by words intended to deceive.
WANT TO SUBSCRIBE TO MY CROSSWORD CONTEST?:
MGWCC is available only to subscribers at my Patreon page.
A subscription costs $3/month.
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- Posts: 430
- Joined: Wed Apr 10, 2019 1:18 pm
- Location: Brookline, MA
I've submitted, maybe have a shot at the top 10? I graded this a week 2.5-3... (of course, if I'm wrong, I will change my ranking!).
Indeed, #10 on the board.
Indeed, #10 on the board.
- MikeyG
- Posts: 1443
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- Location: Chicago
- Contact:
Happiest news I've heard all month, haha. (I do love Week 5s, but last week functioned as one in my book!)
I like this rating thing. I've submitted and am crossing my fingers. I'd say a Week 3 seems solid.
- ChrisKochmanski
- Posts: 2253
- Joined: Tue Apr 09, 2019 9:51 pm
- Location: Saline, Michigan
Beam me up!
I scored it a 2.5. Though I can see going to 3. (Last week, like Nigel Tufnel, I thought, "This one goes to 11.")
I scored it a 2.5. Though I can see going to 3. (Last week, like Nigel Tufnel, I thought, "This one goes to 11.")
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- Posts: 364
- Joined: Thu Apr 18, 2019 7:56 pm
In at #15. I rated it 2.0.
Unexpectedly, my weekend just opened up.
Unexpectedly, my weekend just opened up.
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- Posts: 430
- Joined: Wed Apr 10, 2019 1:18 pm
- Location: Brookline, MA
Well, there's a new edition of P&A Magazine (pandamagazine.com) coming out tomorrow at 1 ET, so I'm delighted that my decks have been cleared!
- woozy
- Posts: 2282
- Joined: Mon Aug 10, 2020 12:40 am
I'm grouchy so I'm going to say "a well known number 3" is an oxymoron. If something is well-known its a number one or two..... Jus' being a grouch.....
Stinky Pinkies!
My Entry to the May 2024 CrossHare Midi Contest
Not a meta, but, yeesh!, that was tough to create.
My Entry to the May 2024 CrossHare Midi Contest
Not a meta, but, yeesh!, that was tough to create.
- HeadinHome
- Posts: 1131
- Joined: Sun Apr 26, 2020 9:06 am
- Location: Charlotte, NC
Seeing the obvious first step; stuck as to next step. Just like yesterday with WSJ.
The other Wendy.
- HeadinHome
- Posts: 1131
- Joined: Sun Apr 26, 2020 9:06 am
- Location: Charlotte, NC
Also - there is an award related to submitting on Oct. 2, as i recall. So i have time.
UPDATE - WOW was I feeling dumb (and increasingly infuriated) seeing people post here how easy it was, and seeing Matt’s board growing at a week-2 or week-3 pace. I just did not get it, for hours!!
Ironically, I was so relieved and excited to finally spot the mechanism, I forgot all about waiting to Oct. 2 and submitted immediately. Also forgot to give Matt a difficulty number in my comments… which I would say was a 4, and a true S.A.D. On the plus side, I have a bunch of new ideas for metas for my files. If I ever get to retire, I can make metas forever with all my failed meta theories.
UPDATE - WOW was I feeling dumb (and increasingly infuriated) seeing people post here how easy it was, and seeing Matt’s board growing at a week-2 or week-3 pace. I just did not get it, for hours!!
Ironically, I was so relieved and excited to finally spot the mechanism, I forgot all about waiting to Oct. 2 and submitted immediately. Also forgot to give Matt a difficulty number in my comments… which I would say was a 4, and a true S.A.D. On the plus side, I have a bunch of new ideas for metas for my files. If I ever get to retire, I can make metas forever with all my failed meta theories.
Last edited by HeadinHome on Sat Oct 01, 2022 12:05 am, edited 2 times in total.
The other Wendy.
- Wendy Walker
- Posts: 1749
- Joined: Thu Apr 11, 2019 7:44 pm
- Location: Unionville, PA
I rated it a 2.5. As with so much of life, something dreaded simply Did. Not. Happen!
Good luck, fellow Muggles!
- KayW
- Moderator
- Posts: 3474
- Joined: Wed Apr 10, 2019 12:10 am
- Location: Chicago
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.
- Joe Ross
- Moderator
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- Location: Cincinnati
Submitted a minute after previous update.
50. Joe Ross 09/30 - 15:26
Rated it a well-known 3, of course, hoping for extra credit in sussing this trick question.
50. Joe Ross 09/30 - 15:26
Rated it a well-known 3, of course, hoping for extra credit in sussing this trick question.
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!
PLATELET 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗿𝗮𝗿𝗲.
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝘀 ENORMOUS 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲:
𝟰𝟬% 𝗽𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰,
𝟯𝟬% 𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰,
𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿 & 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘂𝗺𝗮. 𝗣𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗘 𝗦𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗘!
- TMart
- Posts: 822
- Joined: Thu Apr 11, 2019 7:13 am
- Location: Malvern, PA
Good meta. I gave it a week 2, but now I'm surprised that there aren't more solvers already. Maybe it's more of a week 3?
- Meg
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- Location: St. Petersburg, FL
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- Posts: 132
- Joined: Fri Jul 15, 2022 4:19 pm
I think I’m suffering from a Week 4 hangover. Got the first step quickly and now stuck in the mud. Will step away for a bit and take a look at it with fresh eyes.
- MarkWoychick
- Site Admin
- Posts: 627
- Joined: Sun Jun 13, 2021 6:15 pm
- Location: Boise, ID
Waiting to be beamed up - good puzzle and happy for the reprieve on a week 5 - let the weekend begin!
Edit: beamed up at 59
Edit: beamed up at 59
Contest Crosswords Combating Cancer (CCCC) is a bundle of 16 contest-style (meta) crosswords that we've created to help raise money for cancer-related organizations - get the bundle at http://crosswordsforcancer.com
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- Posts: 399
- Joined: Tue Apr 09, 2019 5:56 pm
Haha. Loved the clue for 17A. This is why I am listed as "Fat Lard" in my daughter's iPhone contacts.
- MMe
- Posts: 301
- Joined: Tue Sep 21, 2021 11:27 am
Same -- I think it's a week 2 PLUS a red herring that might be very hard for folks to shake? (And are there many people who don't even try a week 5?)