"A Sail of Two Cities" - June 18, 2021

A place to discuss the weekly Wall Street Journal Crossword Puzzle Contest, starting every Thursday around 4:00 p.m. Eastern time. Please do not post any answers or hints before the contest deadline which is midnight Sunday Eastern time.
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Wendy Walker
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Location: Unionville, PA

#121

Post by Wendy Walker »

HunterX wrote: Sat Jun 19, 2021 10:20 am But, alas, still stuck with Isaac.

Time for a break. Maybe after brunch I'll find a way to follow that rabbit hole a bit further.
Wow, we have a respectable southeastern PA contingent on the ship this week: you, @cbarbee002 , and myself!
Good luck, fellow Muggles!
Ergcat
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Location: Seneca SC

#122

Post by Ergcat »

LesY wrote: Sat Jun 19, 2021 7:34 am
BrianMac wrote: Fri Jun 18, 2021 10:36 pm
Bob cruise director wrote: Fri Jun 18, 2021 7:40 pm

Don't you love it when you are on the boat, in some deep rabbit hole and you have not one, but two spoilers redacted. And you still have no clue why what you said was a spoiler. - been there, done that
Little too much detail on first couple steps. :?
I’m clearly clueless. Thought the spoiler redacted references were intentional and was applauding both that and the Jameson’s reference.

Good luck, Annabelle! If you need a nudge feel free to PM.
Ha! I thought the same thing!! But now I’m hoping Annabelle remembers what she wrote and it helps her to finally solve!
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jrdad
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#123

Post by jrdad »

Still on the ship, with lots of data and no clear path to shore.
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Bob cruise director
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#124

Post by Bob cruise director »

boharr wrote: Sat Jun 19, 2021 11:15 am How about those who solve jointly (couples, parents and kids, close friends)?
Remember two things
We are doing this for our own enjoyment on our own terms.
The most you can win is a mug.
Bob Stevens
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Bob cruise director
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#125

Post by Bob cruise director »

Our Saturday noon status is a little early but movement to the shore has been slow
The good news is that we welcome our newest muggle regfish7 (and mom)
The other good news is that Isaac appreciates the business.

So far we 22 on the ship and 67 on the shore

On the ship are
dplass
Mister Squawk
cbarbee
Wendy
C=64
Heidi
ALS
lbary
MaineMarge
femullen
rosiegirl
mlvilv
Annabelle
John B
pjc
woozy
Joepickett
Mulligan
jrdad
Moi
SusieG
HunterX


And on the shore are

docison
Kay
Joe R
Georgeall
oldjudge
Bird Lives
Mike H
Beth A
Les
Cindy
ladybird
DannyCincinatti
Toby
Powers2020
Commodore
Tmart
geetee
Gman
Meg
Scott M
Chris
Beth T
Larrry
dudeski
boharr
Laura
RPardoe
TeamDoubleTow
David K
Tina
meowmiao71
joequavis
Franklin
Barbara K
Josh
Brian M
SReh26
copperriver
otlaolap
Richard
Zach
jhseeman
DrTom
sharkicicles
Amanda Hugginkiss
Eric P
Jace54
sf592000
Fred
hunkra
Beth C
Olof
CPJohnson
wb93
RichA2
regfish and mom
spotter
Diane
Trey and Marion
MamaE
Peter L
markhr
sanmilton
minimuggle
kamashdas
Jarrod
diplomatt


Now back to trying to figure out both WSJ and MGWCC
Bob Stevens
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Al Sisti
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Joined: Thu Apr 11, 2019 1:28 pm
Location: Whitesboro NY

#126

Post by Al Sisti »

Horsesense wrote: Sat Jun 19, 2021 10:58 am
I think we need a third locale:

1. The ship - unable to solve meta
2. The shore - solved meta without a nudge, submit answer
3. The (Nudge) Sandbar - solved With a nudge, do not submit answer.
People end up in one of those locations: the ship, the shore, or the sandbar.
Wow, I like that... halfway between the sand and the bar: the Sandbar.
JRS51
Posts: 322
Joined: Sun May 17, 2020 7:14 pm
Location: Phoenix, AZ

#127

Post by JRS51 »

I have joined the crowd at the bar. Worked out the first step or two but as many others have experienced, the final step(s) elude me
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Abide
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#128

Post by Abide »

Such an impressive construction. with 5 15s. Did not start until this morning, but had a steady stroke to shore, dodging a jetty or two along the way.

All clear down here after 6-8 inches of rain last night.
The site is just a web page, a meeting place, a clubhouse - it's the group that's special.
—Brian MacDonald
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hcbirker
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Location: Studio City, CA

#129

Post by hcbirker »

Abide wrote: Sat Jun 19, 2021 11:51 am Such an impressive construction. with 5 15s. Did not start until this morning, but had a steady stroke to shore, dodging a jetty or two along the way.

All clear down here after 6-8 inches of rain last night.
Send that rain to me here in dry Southern California. And maybe your meta chops! I'm now printing my third copy of the puzzle.
Heidi
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SReh26
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Joined: Thu Apr 01, 2021 10:48 pm

#130

Post by SReh26 »

So for us newbies, is the tenor of the call with Matt similar to:

A. revival meeting
B. Beatles fan club
C. strategy session
D. 12 step program (wherein we admit we have become powerless over the meta and our lives made unmanageable)
E. interrogation /three minutes hate?

or all five? 🤣
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lbray53
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Location: Elkhorn, WI

#131

Post by lbray53 »

I am on the beach with an assist on the last step. I stubbornly refused to follow through on an early notion.

I gave it a good solid try but asked for a nudge when my self allotted time to work on the puzzle ran out. Yes I do that so that these things don't consume my life!

Back to mowing the weeds since that is all that is growing in this drought.
My avatar proves that it is sometimes better to be lucky than good!
jimbo1
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Location: Ohio

#132

Post by jimbo1 »

On shore!
Great Day fir a Tom Collins
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Miki
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#133

Post by Miki »

Ashore, now. BirdLives gave me the nudge I needed. Thanks.
Bird Lives wrote: Thu Jun 17, 2021 5:40 pm Ashore and resolved not to say the obvious. It took me a couple of minutes to remember this mechanism, which for relative newcomers may be unfamiliar, unintuitive, and hard to find.
crosswordnewbie
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Joined: Sun Aug 09, 2020 5:34 pm

#134

Post by crosswordnewbie »

Finally decided to start getting back into doing these puzzles after a long break, and have gotten the last three weeks with the help of my husband, but this week is stumping us! Been going down rabbits holes for three straight days after getting past what I am hoping is a correct Step 1. My husband and I are officially stumped. Now (reluctantly) asking for a kindful nudge.
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Joepickett
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#135

Post by Joepickett »

Bird Lives wrote: Thu Jun 17, 2021 5:40 pm Ashore and resolved not to say the obvious. It took me a couple of minutes to remember this mechanism, which for relative newcomers may be unfamiliar, unintuitive, and hard to find.

{Also, please note: I am NOT reserving a space on page one for a solver who is usually here but who has instead been Shanghaied into baker/host labor aboard some puzzleless vessel.)
So if I go back and study all the Gaffney puzzles in the past solutions section of this forum, I may get this thing?
So you are saying that I have a chance?
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Joepickett
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#136

Post by Joepickett »

Joepickett wrote: Sat Jun 19, 2021 2:09 pm
Bird Lives wrote: Thu Jun 17, 2021 5:40 pm Ashore and resolved not to say the obvious. It took me a couple of minutes to remember this mechanism, which for relative newcomers may be unfamiliar, unintuitive, and hard to find.

{Also, please note: I am NOT reserving a space on page one for a solver who is usually here but who has instead been Shanghaied into baker/host labor aboard some puzzleless vessel.)
So if I go back and study all the Gaffney puzzles in the past solutions section of this forum, I may get this thing?
So you are saying that I have a chance?
In fact I did have a chance. I just got it. Post Enlightenment strikes again!

Woo hoo! Page 8!
Jeanrosz
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Location: New Richmond ohio

#137

Post by Jeanrosz »

Solved! Typical gaffney to me…
Susan Goldberg
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Joined: Sun Apr 14, 2019 7:16 pm
Location: Wellesley, MA

#138

Post by Susan Goldberg »

Phew. I am finally on shore. Refused to give in. When I looked up from the puzzle a few moments ago, the entire family was gone, except for the dog. Loyal to the end.
image.jpg
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KscX
Posts: 234
Joined: Sat May 02, 2020 12:09 pm
Location: Charlotte, NC

#139

Post by KscX »

I’m on the boat but so ready to dive off and swim! Going to take another look to find that laaaaaast step.
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Bob cruise director
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#140

Post by Bob cruise director »

SReh26 wrote: Sat Jun 19, 2021 1:07 pm So for us newbies, is the tenor of the call with Matt similar to:

A. revival meeting
B. Beatles fan club
C. strategy session
D. 12 step program (wherein we admit we have become powerless over the meta and our lives made unmanageable)
E. interrogation /three minutes hate?

or all five? 🤣
Hi
This is the first time we have done this so this is an opportunity to meet one of the great constructors and ask questions.

I would suggest questions about
1) how he comes up with the ideas for metas
2) how he decides how difficult to make them for the WSJ vs MGWCC where he goes harder each week.
3) how he goes from concept to final product - reviewers,
anything else you can think of.


The only ground rules are:
1) keep it cordial. Matt is doing this to meet us.
2) this is not a complaint session so keep things positive
3) nothing of a personal nature unless Matt brings it up.

Let me know if this answers your questions. If you have any others, please ask
Bob Stevens
Cruise Director
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