MGWCC #787 — “Hold It!”

[dudeski]

Great puzzle Paul.
Thanks.

[ajk]

There's an added dimension, not essential for solving, but it adds a certain elegance.

Having had what I presume you're referring to pointed out to me, totally concur (and feel a bit sheepish about shortcutting).

[TMart]

There's an added dimension, not essential for solving, but it adds a certain elegance.

Having had what I presume you're referring to pointed out to me, totally concur (and feel a bit sheepish about shortcutting).

I see it too, now. Agree, not needed for the solve, but some nice added elegance.

[HeadinHome]

got there but with help. I found a thing that was a perfect member of a set of things but it was not a thing. Got a new idea for a meta though!

Awaiting beam.

[MajordomoTom]

and "the other Wendy" just helped me by being a sounding board, struck one of my mistakes and then I saw it.

Thx all, happy and safe Fourth to all!

[lbray53]

Submitted with some confidence since there is only one wrong answer so far. Bed time for me. I will likely be checking the leader board at about 2:00 AM since I will be up then anyway.

Edit: Beamed! That tiny bit of doubt got me up a half hour early.

[KayW]

In the tractor beam...

EDIT: on the board.

[Jeremy Smith]

Got a very late start but beamed earlier in the evening. Maybe not a true week 5 but I'm not complaining!

[benchen71]

Awaiting the beam thanks to a solving session on Discord with Deb...

... and I'm aboard.

[Berto]

Awaiting beam. Agree with comments above, saw a second / third step - but maybe that was just elegance - or a beet red herring…
EDIT beamed. Phewee.

[MikeyG]

There's an added dimension, not essential for solving, but it adds a certain elegance.

Having had what I presume you're referring to pointed out to me, totally concur (and feel a bit sheepish about shortcutting).

Now I have to go back and peruse!

Definitely might have went for the under on this one at 256 too prematurely, haha.

[Wendy Walker]

In response to @Bird Lives' comment, here's my ranking of difficulty for the Guest Constructors' puzzles:
Week 1: The Week 1 Erik Agard hourglass puzzle.
Week 2: The Week 5 sandwich puzzle.
Week 3: The Week 4 periodic table puzzle.
Week 4: The Week 3 puzzle by Dr. Tom with the 10 10-word clues.
Week 5: The Week 2 X-Men puzzle by Quiara Vasquez.
I'd like to hear others' rankings!

[MMe]

In response to @Bird Lives' comment, here's my ranking of difficulty for the Guest Constructors' puzzles:
Week 1: The Week 1 Erik Agard hourglass puzzle.
Week 2: The Week 5 sandwich puzzle.
Week 3: The Week 4 periodic table puzzle.
Week 4: The Week 3 puzzle by Dr. Tom with the 10 10-word clues.
Week 5: The Week 2 X-Men puzzle by Quiara Vasquez.
I'd like to hear others' rankings!

Probably there was a guest consigliere this month

[Katiedid]

Beamed after a suitable delay while I contemplated if it could be so simple.

There's an added dimension, not essential for solving, but it adds a certain elegance.

Cue Twilight Zone music. I went to the other (added) dimension first. After I found a suitable answer there, I looked back at my notes and saw the simple path. Beamed up!

[ricky]

In response to @Bird Lives' comment, here's my ranking of difficulty for the Guest Constructors' puzzles:
Week 1: The Week 1 Erik Agard hourglass puzzle.
Week 2: The Week 5 sandwich puzzle.
Week 3: The Week 4 periodic table puzzle.
Week 4: The Week 3 puzzle by Dr. Tom with the 10 10-word clues.
Week 5: The Week 2 X-Men puzzle by Quiara Vasquez.
I'd like to hear others' rankings!

I'd put the AES at 4, Dr Tom at 2, this one at 3. I was #19 this week and still held off several minutes before submitting because I was afraid I had somehow missed a step. Good puzzle overall.

[woozy]

Came here hoping for commiseration and I get this? Sheesh!

[MikeyG]

In response to @Bird Lives' comment, here's my ranking of difficulty for the Guest Constructors' puzzles:
Week 1: The Week 1 Erik Agard hourglass puzzle.
Week 2: The Week 5 sandwich puzzle.
Week 3: The Week 4 periodic table puzzle.
Week 4: The Week 3 puzzle by Dr. Tom with the 10 10-word clues.
Week 5: The Week 2 X-Men puzzle by Quiara Vasquez.
I'd like to hear others' rankings!

I think the "bread" of this sandwich is certainly accurate. Honestly, I think the inside could go many different ways! Yeah, the X-MEN one...I thought I'd never see that.

[Joe Ross]

I sat staring at the only possible, Occam-approved answer before finally submitting. In discussing this, post-submission, I learned that I solved this bass-awkward. Instead of feeling extry-smart, I feel stupid, non-plussed, and wondering why I chased this through however many levels there might have been.

Hey! "Accept the win." Right? Especially since I haven't solved in a month or two, having chased that elusive 1st spot with WAGs.

[Joe]

In response to @Bird Lives' comment, here's my ranking of difficulty for the Guest Constructors' puzzles:
Week 1: The Week 1 Erik Agard hourglass puzzle.
Week 2: The Week 5 sandwich puzzle.
Week 3: The Week 4 periodic table puzzle.
Week 4: The Week 3 puzzle by Dr. Tom with the 10 10-word clues.
Week 5: The Week 2 X-Men puzzle by Quiara Vasquez.
I'd like to hear others' rankings!

I'd say:
Week 1: Agard
Week 2: Sandwich puzzle
Week 3: DrTom's puzzle
Week 4: X-Men
Week 5: Periodic table

Periodic table was the only one I needed a nudge on this month. I like this idea of yours, Wendy!

[Laura M]

In response to @Bird Lives' comment, here's my ranking of difficulty for the Guest Constructors' puzzles:
Week 1: The Week 1 Erik Agard hourglass puzzle.
Week 2: The Week 5 sandwich puzzle.
Week 3: The Week 4 periodic table puzzle.
Week 4: The Week 3 puzzle by Dr. Tom with the 10 10-word clues.
Week 5: The Week 2 X-Men puzzle by Quiara Vasquez.
I'd like to hear others' rankings!

I'd say:
Week 1: Agard
Week 2: Sandwich puzzle
Week 3: DrTom's puzzle
Week 4: X-Men
Week 5: Periodic table

Periodic table was the only one I needed a nudge on this month. I like this idea of yours, Wendy!

Based solely on how quickly I got each of these (or not):

Week 1: Agard
Week 2: DrTom
Week 3: Sandwich
Week 4: Periodic table
Week 5: X-Men