"Horseplay" - October 18, 2019

[Bob cruise director]

Good Saturday morning muggles

Mike/Marie threw us a very clever construction this week that the muggles are getting at a slow but constant rate. Currently we have 18 on the ship keeping Isaac in business and 60 on the shore

And we have our two newest muggles: CallMeShane and Miki which brings our clan to 484

On the ship are
Mark L
Barry
Richard
JakeorJacob
Dr.Tom
Laura
Barbara K
Juliet
ann P
Heidi
MaineMarge
Deb F
Commodore
scooby
Julie O
Joe R
WBYonder and Gerry

Now for the shore party

The puzzle came out at 4:03 on Thursday. I opened the thread at 4:05. At 4:25 Leslie and Al both posted that they were on shore. About that time, I had printed out the grid and was working my way through it. Amazing.

Like most, I spent time in the wrong rabbit hole but more on that on Monday

So on the shore are
Leslie
Al
Steveb
Anita
Tom Wilson
spotter
LesY
Frankie
Beth T
Tina
Chris
Jazzvibist
docison
Meg
sharkicicles
Tmart
Cindy
Eric P
streroto
damefox
31 down
Bird Lives
Beth A
John B
Sean
OGuyDave
BrianM
Doug M
Fred
Toby
Tom S
Rita and George
Kay
Alan H
your humble cruise director
Janet P
Jim and Anita
Josh
ky-mike
Hector
Billkatz
Scott M
Jeanrosz
Darthdriessen
Inca
DBMille
oldjudge
Jimmyjam
Orsys
burd
Frank
Jeff S
Dave K
CallMeShane
Miki
Cynthia J
horsesense
janet
Paul D
and Domenic

[Troysail]

Good one. On shore.

[Laura M]

Oof. Finally got it but had to start by backsolving a guess, or at least part of one. Once I did that, I realized that the technique I had been trying to use was unnecessarily limited. Brilliant construction, as everybody's saying, but this one wasn't my favorite. (Sorry, Mike, I love 99% of them!)

[DrTom]

Issac I'm afraid you and I are going to be spending the week-end together. I know what the gimmick is I believe, and I know what I must do, but I have not got the foggiest idea of where to start doing it or how to proceed once I do because bunny trails are EVERYWHERE. Unfortunately I do not even have a guess at the character(s) name so I cannot backsolve.

I believe I'll have a cool pale ale and a slice of brisket Issac, no wait, make that a large plate of crow, or if you have any more of that humble pie left...

[ErikThor]

Solved the grid in about 10 minutes. I'm pretty sure that I know what to do but am just not sure where to start. I have even attempted to work backward from where my line of thinking takes me. For now, I shall remain on the ship drowning my sorrows. After reading all the comments, I can't wait to see how this was constructed. (If anyone feels like throwing me a bone and paying my shipborne bar tab, PM me.)

[diplomatt]

I usually just lurk here, read the comments, and refrain from posting—even when I come ashore.

But today, once arriving on the beach, I literally applauded IRL because I thought the meta was so clever.

Well done, Mike!

[Bob cruise director]

I usually just lurk here, read the comments, and refrain from posting—even when I come ashore.

But today, once arriving on the beach, I literally applauded IRL because I thought the meta was so clever.

Well done, Mike!

We love lurkers.

We love commenters even more.

Welcome to the land of the muggles.

Good luck winning the mug.

[MarkL]

Very LAS. Going to try without the blinkers and leg wraps. Also, looks like CD Bob has me at the top of the list - so, next round is on me!

[tim1217]

I’m afraid I’m going to have to vote this one a KAS-5. Other than the obvious rabbit hole, which others are saying goes nowhere (and after 48 hours of looking at it, I can agree), I have no clue what to do with this. A shame because it will break a very long streak.

[Bob cruise director]

Very LAS. Going to try without the blinkers and leg wraps. Also, looks like CD Bob has me at the top of the list - so, next round is on me!

Being at the top of the list means only that you were early in those declaring you were on the ship. But you can still buy the next round.

This will be a KAS 4 when you see it.

[Janet]

This was a very hard one. Good luck to those still on the ship!

[juliet]

The rabbit I've been chasing finally slowed down enough for me to catch it. Once I get my breath back, I'll be heading for the beach.

[Geoduck]

It seems obvious what the meta is. I can think of two logical places to start, but neither yields a fruitful path.

Hmmmm......

[ErikThor]

I'm at the same place

[BarbaraK]

Well, I finally found the channel that took me to the shore.

This was a mix of having an idea what the mechanism was and getting a bit of an answer, then getting an idea what the answer could be and seeing if that would work with the mechanism. And it did.

I can't imagine ever finding the answer if you haven't heard of the characters. Fortunately, I agree that everyone here will have heard of them, so if you're still stuck, don't give up on that basis. But it's kind of a different approach to solving and one I'm not sure I'm crazy about. Unless of course I'm missing something. Will discuss more on Monday.

[alexis'mom]

Think it will be a nice weekend on the ship...

[Susan Goldberg]

Hmm. I am most definitely with Isaac. I share the view of the others at the bar. So close yet so far.

[Jacksull]

Made it to shore. How do Mike and Matt do it week after week?

I was stumped on both the WSJ and MGWCC. Then, within minutes, the light went on for both puzzles. Funny how that works.

[Joe Ross]

On the beach! 🏝

Mack says "Hooray & hello!"

[BethA]

On the beach! 🏝

Mack says "Hooray & hello!"




Mack.gif

What about Mick?

I was in a media blackout for awhile. Just finished watching my recording of the game! Seems like they should have gotten a few more points! But we’ll take it!