"Pop Duos" July 7, 2023

[Fogway]

I will probably be one of the last people on this beach...

But certainly not the least. I may hold that distinction.

[Scott M]

All rabbit holes have come up empty. Mr. Shenk and I are not on the same wavelength these days.

[iggystan]

On shore?
(I have an answer but can't make it fit logically. We'll see.)

I, too, was traveling this week unfortunately for the funeral of my godfather. He joined my godmother, who passed last year.

[Cbaudhuin]

Safely ashore.
Fun trip.
Enjoyed a nice cold Hamms.

[RichA2]

Ashore

[Scott M]

With a somewhat delayed post-enlightenment, I have moved to the shore, and Mike has moved off my -list. I'm drying out after way too many Manhattans last night, so I'll celebrate with something appropriate tomorrow.

[Tom Shea]

Firmly ensconced in my usual bar stool with Isaac. I'll blame it on the missus's birthday weekend celebrations, but don't know that it really would have mattered.

Good luck all.

[Bob cruise director]

Good evening.

Our final count is 4 on the ship with Isaac and 218 on the shore.

and welcome to our newest muggle @muggleunity Always great to have more muggles.

Have a good week and good luck winning the elusive mug.

[Kris Zacharias]

On shore, rather late. Does the fact that my daughter, her husband, and their two children, ages 3 and 8 months are visiting count as an excuse?

[ZooAnimalsOnWheels]

I started this one late, and now have eight letters that don't spell anything. I know I am part way there, so I may take my own time on Monday to try and figure this out.

[HellZiggy]

I wasn't home all weekend, so I just got a chance to look at the puzzle. I've got the grid solved, so I'm going to mosey over to the bar and hope that I can still figure out the meta before the deadline. I'll take a Guiness, Issac!

[FloridaMan81]

Holy crap the Saturday puzzle kicked my butt.

Same! I know I left the timer on the WSJ app open at some times I wasn’t really working the grid, but I put in 2 hrs 45 mins into it this weekend! Top left was just impossible for me, but gritted it out in the end (only erred on 2 random letters)

[HellZiggy]

And I'm on shore now. This is the 2nd time I've made it off the ship! Time to go find that Tiki Bar over there for a refreshing drink!

[hcbirker]

[escapeartist]

I can’t be the only one first looking for Hall and Oates.

[Kas]

Well…I guessed “Beverage” as a likely answer, but I couldn’t reverse engineer it, so I didn’t submit.
Goodbye mug.
Hello Isaac.
Sigh.

[Aragorn]

I can’t be the only one first looking for Hall and Oates.

Hall n' Oates, Simon and Garfunkel, Wham!, definitely went down that rabbit hole.

[Aragorn]

Given that beverages are a theme of this forum, I was tempted to post that "the meta is meta" after I solved, but thought that might be a spoiler. Was also tempted to post: "I'm so meta, even this anagram..."

[JRS51]

Once I got to 44-D I solved the meta very quickly. Until then, the clue at 16-A was so bizarre, I was certain it would have something to do with the ultimate answer. What does that clue mean? Why the “while ‘hero’ is ‘bator’” in parentheses? I hope someone can explain that one. Thanks!

[Kwyjibo]

Once I got to 44-D I solved the meta very quickly. Until then, the clue at 16-A was so bizarre, I was certain it would have something to do with the ultimate answer. What does that clue mean? Why the “while ‘hero’ is ‘bator’” in parentheses? I hope someone can explain that one. Thanks!

Ulan Bator is the capital of Mongolia. Mike just gave us a little trivia with the clue.