"Something From Nothing"

A weekly meta crossword created by members of the forum. Difficulty levels will vary. Hints are usually available starting Wednesday, and solutions are posted on Sunday.
Dplass
Posts: 1739
Joined: Sat Dec 28, 2019 10:09 am

#21

Post by Dplass »

Submitted what I believe is the answer.

Thanks for the puzzle!

Update: Off the couch!
Last edited by Dplass on Mon Aug 16, 2021 10:32 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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cbarbee002
Posts: 591
Joined: Fri Apr 24, 2020 6:02 pm
Location: Philly Area

#22

Post by cbarbee002 »

Grid filled - - hard to go forward as I’m still laughing at 46D.
dudeski
Posts: 371
Joined: Mon Apr 20, 2020 4:56 pm

#23

Post by dudeski »

Submitted. Well done, Al.
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Al Sisti
Posts: 2037
Joined: Thu Apr 11, 2019 1:28 pm
Location: Whitesboro NY

#24

Post by Al Sisti »

ChrisKochmanski wrote: Mon Aug 16, 2021 3:19 pm Off the couch!

Thank you, Al, for 16a. Though poor Lynne -- now she'll have to listen to me quoting Blazing Saddles lines all day.

Do you know that Madeleine Kahn was nominated for Best Supporting Actress for playing Lily von Schtupp? True! And well deserved!

Sadly, though, this master thespian was prescient in understanding the risk to his own chances for the the Best Supporting Actor award:
From time to time we have "movie themed" parties ('cause, you know, otherwise it'd be just drinking), and one of the more recent ones we did was "Blazing Saddles," complete with a whoopie cushion for every person for the beans scene. Yeah, we're all 5th graders at heart.
Schmeel
Posts: 1642
Joined: Sun Mar 29, 2020 2:38 pm

#25

Post by Schmeel »

Off the couch. Good meta.
Thanks for the puzzle!
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TMart
Posts: 816
Joined: Thu Apr 11, 2019 7:13 am
Location: Malvern, PA

#26

Post by TMart »

Excellent! Off the couch.
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DrTom
Posts: 3764
Joined: Sat Apr 20, 2019 6:46 pm
Location: Jacksonville, FL

#27

Post by DrTom »

So, solved and confirmed off the couch. I am ashamed that it took me forever to see the light and I needed a flashlight shone. In my defense I was down some pretty deep, but very reasonable rabbit holes (well reasonable for me but you all know how that goes), I struggled for HOURS trying to make this something it wasn't (wow, first time for that of course) because it was so perfect and reasonable. I'm sure he will deny it but if it was by accident then fate truly is fickle and if on purpose a MASTERFUL stroke of misdirection.

Typical of an Al puzzle, superbly (and LOL humorously) clued.

The cat has escaped, but was NOT happy being in there so long...

Cat in Scratched chair.jpg
Last edited by DrTom on Tue Aug 17, 2021 9:59 am, edited 1 time in total.
NUDGES!I am always willing to give nudges where needed; metas should be about fun, not frustration. Send me what you have done so far because often you are closer than you think!
SewYoung
Posts: 726
Joined: Sun Apr 14, 2019 9:25 pm
Location: Meridian, MS

#28

Post by SewYoung »

Haven't even looked at it yet. Heading to the beach for a few days. Printing puzzles now to take with me.
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DrTom
Posts: 3764
Joined: Sat Apr 20, 2019 6:46 pm
Location: Jacksonville, FL

#29

Post by DrTom »

SewYoung wrote: Tue Aug 17, 2021 9:57 am Haven't even looked at it yet. Heading to the beach for a few days. Printing puzzles now to take with me.
Well definitely take it, its fun and a pleasant diversion out in the sand.

I guess we won't see you this evening - have fun!
NUDGES!I am always willing to give nudges where needed; metas should be about fun, not frustration. Send me what you have done so far because often you are closer than you think!
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eagle1279
Posts: 307
Joined: Mon Nov 11, 2019 7:00 pm
Location: Indianapolis

#30

Post by eagle1279 »

Submitted an answer of which I’m 99% sure. Great puzzle!! [Confirmed OTC]
Last edited by eagle1279 on Tue Aug 17, 2021 12:24 pm, edited 1 time in total.
hoover
Posts: 1220
Joined: Mon Mar 29, 2021 7:26 pm

#31

Post by hoover »

cbarbee002 wrote: Mon Aug 16, 2021 7:17 pm Grid filled - - hard to go forward as I’m still laughing at 46D.
Goes well with 47U.
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DCBilly
Posts: 244
Joined: Thu Apr 01, 2021 4:40 pm
Location: Washington DC

#32

Post by DCBilly »

Got it, very nice puzzle.
michaelm
Posts: 487
Joined: Fri Jan 24, 2020 3:21 pm

#33

Post by michaelm »

Confirmed off the couch.
Unlike in the final Quick Draw McGraw spinoff episode (1962!), I did not encounter a wacky Martian rabbit.
Thanks for the great puzzle, Al!
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HeadinHome
Posts: 1067
Joined: Sun Apr 26, 2020 9:06 am
Location: Charlotte, NC

#34

Post by HeadinHome »

Solved, submitted, and confirmed last evening after the muggles zoom… a fun and cleverly clued puzzle; thanks Al!
The other Wendy. :roll:
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Al Sisti
Posts: 2037
Joined: Thu Apr 11, 2019 1:28 pm
Location: Whitesboro NY

#35

Post by Al Sisti »

Wednesday morning leaderboard (if I missed you, please let me know... Test Solvers too):

1  madhatter5 
2  Meg 
3  Dannyvee 
4  lbray53 
5  boharr 
6  Cinny 
7  Cap'n Rick 
8  Hector 
9  ky-mike 
10  LesY 
11  Beth Tyrpin 
12  michaelm 
13  FrankieHeck 
14  Darth 
15  oldjudge 
16  hoover 
17  woozy 
18  Laura M 
19 Cindy
20  ChrisKochmanski 
21  Bird Lives 
22  Bbaack 
23  RPardoe 
24  Wendy Walker 
25  Dplass 
26  Anita 
27  Dow Jones 
28  dudeski 
29  cbarbee002 
30  BrennerTJ 
31  Schmeel 
32 DrTom
33  TMart 
34  eagle1279 
35  Bob cruise director 
36 DCBilly
37  MaineMarge 
38 docison
39  Small Wave Dave 
40  m5rammy 
41  DebbieC 
42  Snood 
43  HeadinHome 

Nudges start in an hour... but this one's a freebie: There are two "things" in Down entries that you might think are part of the meta (they're like the "things" you do want to use in the long acrosses). They are unintended red herrings that I should have caught. Ditto with what might read as a hint/solving instruction in a down entry in the SE portion.
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Al Sisti
Posts: 2037
Joined: Thu Apr 11, 2019 1:28 pm
Location: Whitesboro NY

#36

Post by Al Sisti »

Okay, it's Nudge Wednesday, so here goes:

Look for nothing… when you find it, it should lead you to something.

Often, the long acrosses hold the key to what you want. This time is no different.

Sometimes, there are solving hints carefully placed either in a central row/column entry or in the SE corner. Sometimes, they’re in both places.

Come on people, you got this!!
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ImOnToo
Posts: 442
Joined: Thu May 02, 2019 5:28 pm
Location: Texas

#37

Post by ImOnToo »

Confirmed off the couch.

Al, 46D is one of my favorite crossword clues to date! 😄
Konnie
Kalamitykatie
Posts: 8
Joined: Fri Jul 30, 2021 11:39 am
Location: Maine

#38

Post by Kalamitykatie »

I think I've finally solved my first Meta - took me all morning and a peek at the hints - but we all have to start somewhere I guess!
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KayW
Moderator
Posts: 3124
Joined: Wed Apr 10, 2019 12:10 am
Location: Chicago

#39

Post by KayW »

Finally off the couch. Before seeing nudges. Not that anyone but me cares about that :lol:
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.
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sharkicicles
Posts: 798
Joined: Fri May 10, 2019 12:03 pm
Location: Chicago

#40

Post by sharkicicles »

This one was very, very good.
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