"Autotune" - May 15, 2021

Available by emailing a request to PandorasBlocksWMC[at]gmail[dot]com, these meta puzzles are distributed by email every Sunday. Pandora's Blocks crosswords are intended to spread the popularity of meta crosswords, however, they are not just for beginners and run the gamut it terms of difficulty.
User avatar
hashbrown
Posts: 123
Joined: Sat Jul 11, 2020 9:25 am
Location: Scotland

"Autotune" - May 15, 2021

#1

Post by hashbrown »

Sorry all, it's almost 3am in the UK but I'm still up so will post the thread:) Direct copy and paste from Will's email at
pandorasblockswmc@gmail.com - if you're not subscribed, why are you reading this?

This week's puzzle: Autotune
Complexity Scale™ rating of 8 / 10.

Dani and Emma both deserve a ton of credit and gratitude for their hard work helping me edit this one. I mean, they always deserve a ton of credit and gratitude, but this puzzle took an especially long time to edit, and their contributions made it exponentially better!

It's tricky, yes, but I know you're up for it! At least, I hope you are, because you have an extra day and a half to solve this one (we'll keep the same deadline as usual). Please don't be afraid to ask for hints.

As a reminder, I never include red herrings on purpose. However, I did purposefully increase the difficult level on some aspects of this. Essentially, I wasn't trying to lead you astray, I was just trying to test you! Never fear, an easier puzzle is on deck for next weekend if this one's not quite up your alley.

The answer to this week's meta is a 4-letter company name.
(You may need some quick Google checks for the meta, but I imagine it will be solvable for some folks without Google. I make no promises about the grid, though).

Crosshare link: https://crosshare.org/crosswords/5r5ukKGi2lFJlwNBVet8
-HB
User avatar
RPardoe
Posts: 736
Joined: Tue Jul 23, 2019 4:09 pm
Location: Houston, TX

#2

Post by RPardoe »

Grid was a challenge, but got it completed.
Noticed a few things as I did so which turned out to be the right path towards the solution.
Answer submitted.
Edit: and confirmed
Laura M
Posts: 1384
Joined: Thu Apr 11, 2019 11:49 am

#3

Post by Laura M »

Dino me, a day and a half early! Very fun to solve.
LesY
Posts: 678
Joined: Tue Apr 09, 2019 4:21 pm

#4

Post by LesY »

Dino me as well! A super-enjoyable solve, especially the cheeky humor. Kudos to Will, Dani, and Emma!

Is it too early to ask for a Guinness or do we not do that here? :)
User avatar
Hector
Posts: 1297
Joined: Thu Apr 11, 2019 8:15 pm
Location: San Francisco
Contact:

#5

Post by Hector »

Fun mechanism.
User avatar
oldjudge
Posts: 1624
Joined: Fri Apr 19, 2019 4:16 am
Location: Pasadena, CA

#6

Post by oldjudge »

Another fantastic puzzle from Will--Dino me 🦕
User avatar
MamaE
Posts: 334
Joined: Tue May 05, 2020 6:15 pm
Location: Maryland

#7

Post by MamaE »

OK. I am hesitant to say "dino me" after my totally wrong answer in the MGWCC yesterday. But in the words of 'enry 'iggins "By George I think she's got it!" This was a fun puzzle with a great moment of revelation for me. :)

ETA: confirmed! What a fun puzzle!
Last edited by MamaE on Sun May 16, 2021 11:50 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- Just puzzling it out here in Delmarva :D
User avatar
Meg
Posts: 2137
Joined: Tue Apr 09, 2019 1:41 pm
Location: St. Petersburg, FL

#8

Post by Meg »

Had fo be nudged a few times, but finally got it! Thanks, Will.
Check out and support http://CrosswordsForCancer.com.
User avatar
BarbaraK
Posts: 2592
Joined: Tue Apr 09, 2019 2:37 pm
Location: Virginia

#9

Post by BarbaraK »

I'm out of the box - unconfirmed but no doubt. That was very well done. I got the first step while solving the grid, but it took a while to figure out where to go from there.
User avatar
hashbrown
Posts: 123
Joined: Sat Jul 11, 2020 9:25 am
Location: Scotland

#10

Post by hashbrown »

Finally got around to filling in the grid after my late night. I've identified a clear starting point (and one with this week's MGWCC) but that's where the trail ends with both puzzles. Time to have what I affectionately term a "scratching head Saturday" before the "scrambling Sunday"... Expect some panicked PMs soon enough:P
-HB
User avatar
Cindy
Posts: 1248
Joined: Tue Apr 09, 2019 5:39 pm
Location: Matthews

#11

Post by Cindy »

Solved. And very well done!

Finally cleaned that pollen filled screen porch today.
User avatar
hcbirker
Posts: 1985
Joined: Thu Apr 11, 2019 7:24 pm
Location: Studio City, CA

#12

Post by hcbirker »

I believe I am out of the box.
Heidi
User avatar
boharr
Moderator
Posts: 3183
Joined: Fri Sep 06, 2019 8:57 am
Location: Westchester, NY

#13

Post by boharr »

I needed help prying the box open, but I'm out.
User avatar
ChrisKochmanski
Posts: 2158
Joined: Tue Apr 09, 2019 9:51 pm
Location: Saline, Michigan

#14

Post by ChrisKochmanski »

Dino me!

Much fun!
User avatar
Dannyvee
Posts: 515
Joined: Sat Oct 10, 2020 11:39 am
Location: Jamaica Plain, MA

#15

Post by Dannyvee »

Dino! One of my favorite Pandoras thus far
I can be found in Sheridan, NY, veejaying. (8)
User avatar
BrennerTJ
Posts: 433
Joined: Sun Jan 31, 2021 2:54 pm
Location: Chicago suburbs

#16

Post by BrennerTJ »

🦕
I also had the first step quickly - had to marinate on the next part for 2 days and then 'aha!' - another excellent one! (Awaiting confirmation but confident).
-Tamara
User avatar
AnswerPfinder
Posts: 122
Joined: Sat Aug 08, 2020 9:49 pm
Location: Hadley, MA

#17

Post by AnswerPfinder »

Answers for this week's puzzle have been accompanied with some pretty high praise! Thank you all so much for your kindness and encouragement.

I apologize to anyone that waited a bit longer than normal for an email response from me. Thanks for you patience! I'm back online now after some internet maintenance this weekend, so I should be a bit quicker to respond from here on out.

Cheers!
-Will
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.
User avatar
lbray53
Posts: 1194
Joined: Fri May 08, 2020 8:34 am
Location: Elkhorn, WI

#18

Post by lbray53 »

Wow! Great puzzle. I needed some guidance. Wonderful help. I am not naming the source in the event that they do not want to be inundated with requests for nudges in the future. Kind of like not giving out the name of your favorite babysitter.
My avatar proves that it is sometimes better to be lucky than good!
User avatar
Cinny
Posts: 805
Joined: Mon Sep 21, 2020 2:53 pm
Location: Minoa, NY
Contact:

#19

Post by Cinny »

Dino me! 🦕

Another great puzzle from Will.
Cindy Heisler
User avatar
Beth Tyrpin
Posts: 512
Joined: Thu Apr 11, 2019 5:11 pm

#20

Post by Beth Tyrpin »

🦖🦕🦖🦕🦖🦕🦖🦕😁
Post Reply