"The Party Starts at 10" - December 31, 2020

[Bob cruise director]

I know what the answer is, but typed it wrong in my submission and only noticed the error as I heard the little whoosh upon sending. So I'm not on shore, but should be. Is there a blog category for this? Some sort of cruciverbalist purgatory? Oh well. Happy new year!

You are on the shore in our hearts

[DrTom]

Each year at around this time, The New Yorker magazine publishes a bit of verse, “Greetings, Friends,” which is basically a long exercise in dropping names – some that you know, many that you don’t but think that you would if you were at all up to speed with the news, science, the arts, etc. You can find this year’s version here. https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2020 ... stmas-poem

So I have put together a bit of doggerel with names that should be more familiar, at least to visitors to xword-muggles.com.


Greetongs s.png

Ah, Bird, Bird, Bird; Bird's the word....

[Cosmo]

On shore! Like others, I arrived at the answer before fully understanding the mechanism. Pretty sure I know what Matt was going for though. Fun puzzle!

[MatthewL]

First time posting (and first time submitting an answer for the meta). Which is my way of saying -- first time I was able to figure it out on my own (I think). Nice way to end an otherwise crappy year. Although, in reading some of the comments, perhaps I didn't get it right. Oh well, happy with my answer nonetheless. Happy New Year to all!

[hunkra]

Happy early New Year Muggles! (and to Jay for that amazing burst of inspiration!) Glad to be ashore for the final meta of 2020 -- here's hoping for more meta savvy for myself in 2021

[Wendy Walker]

First time posting (and first time submitting an answer for the meta). Which is my way of saying -- first time I was able to figure it out on my own (I think). Nice way to end an otherwise crappy year. Although, in reading some of the comments, perhaps I didn't get it right. Oh well, happy with my answer nonetheless. Happy New Year to all!

Welcome to our group, Matthew. May 2021 be filled with meta success!

[Cindy N]

On shore last night. Saw Matt's hint in the grid, had the answer, but wanted that "click" of confirmation. Found something I had overlooked that, to me, seals the deal.

[Bob cruise director]

Good Wednesday morning Muggles

First a great thanks to Jay 48A Bird Lives for the creativity on his "Greetings, Friends"

Next we have a year end welcome to our two newest muggles - Roger Snowden and MatthewL. Always great to end the year with new muggles.

We have a very crowded shore from another clever Matt G contest. We have 97 on the shore at present. There are a few others who are hanging back with some level of uncertainty but a couple of Isaac's drinks and they will be on their way to the shore.

A full listing will be coming out tomorrow with updates on Friday, Saturday and Sunday

Happy New Year to all and as several have expressed, all of you have made this blog an oasis of enjoyment in a rough 2020.

[LadyBird]

Ashore!

No potables with which to celebrate, but a heartwarming tale for those of you in northern climes: I'm stretched out in a tent with my wife and children in the middle of Everglades National Park (where I miraculously have cell signal) and am listening to the brisk wind rush off the Florida Straits at a lovely 72°F into clear skies overhead.
An unsolved meta would have cast the only pall over this perfect night, so I thank the crossword mavens for their providence.

how does one stake a tent in the everglades?

How does one stay alive in the everglades between the snakes and the alligators and the bugs?

Bob--where are you (pictorially at least) this week. I love traveling with your avatar photos.

[HeadinHome]

On shore with high certainty, but not entirely clear on the solution's connection to the title.

Me too - I think I skipped a step but see the phrase clearly. I’m on the beach.

Follow-up Covid test said Negative after last week’s Positive, so we are on the road and covered up with grandkids! (That’s the hubs with our four grands)

Happy New Year!

[SusieG]

I declare myself ashore. Happy New Year and good luck in your quest for the mug, Muggles!

[jhseeman]

Pretty sure I'm ashore....though very fuzzy about how I arrived here, maybe too many bourbons with Isaac before I left for the beach. Not looking forward to that bill, maybe I should have put it on Bill's tab.

[mpmanning]

Like some of the discussion, punny but cute. Ashore with Times Square listings for TV later.

[mpmanning]

how does one stake a tent in the everglades?

How does one stay alive in the everglades between the snakes and the alligators and the bugs?

Bob--where are you (pictorially at least) this week. I love traveling with your avatar photos.

Franklin, tie it to a mangrove root as opposed to staking. Mind the Boas!

[ImOnToo]

On shore! 🏖

[minimuggle]

I think I'm onshore though it seemed too easy. I'll pop the champagne anyway because I like my answer. Have a Happy new Year!

[FrankH]

Good Wednesday morning Muggles

First a great thanks to Jay 48A Bird Lives for the creativity on his "Greetings, Friends"

Next we have a year end welcome to our two newest muggles - Roger Snowden and MatthewL. Always great to end the year with new muggles.

We have a very crowded shore from another clever Matt G contest. We have 97 on the shore at present. There are a few others who are hanging back with some level of uncertainty but a couple of Isaac's drinks and they will be on their way to the shore.

A full listing will be coming out tomorrow with updates on Friday, Saturday and Sunday

Happy New Year to all and as several have expressed, all of you have made this blog an oasis of enjoyment in a rough 2020.

Good THURSDAY morning to you, Bob! And thank you for all the work you have done over the years since taking over from Sally.

[FrankH]

I know what the answer is, but typed it wrong in my submission and only noticed the error as I heard the little whoosh upon sending. So I'm not on shore, but should be. Is there a blog category for this? Some sort of cruciverbalist purgatory? Oh well. Happy new year!

I did that once and the feeling was worse than forgetting to submit. In my case, I didn't notice my typo until months later when I went over my entries to search for something and then there it was.

[Tony S]

Ashore. Easiest meta of the year.

[DrTom]

So, the other day on the Muggle Zoom there were questions on some different issues (including plumbing) but one about the new variant of the COVID virus. I put together something for my family members because there was a lot of concern/panic that we would NEVER be out of the woods. So, although I do not think that we will be anywhere near out until much later this coming year, I can shed a little light on this new specter. I am going to say up front that I am NOT an Infectious Disease specialist, though I do have some training in that area. What you see here is the condensed opinion(s) of people a whole lot smarter than I am (which on some days I figure is about 7.5 of the 7.594 billion people on this planet). So read them with an eye towards the fact that this is a new disease with a "new" organism and that information, like the information has since the very beginning, will become more refined and exact as we progress.

Musings of DrTom (no puns included, though I was tempted)!
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BCK5nl ... sp=sharing