"Please Find Enclosed" - July 2, 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.
Locked
Geezer Weezer
Posts: 128
Joined: Fri Jan 17, 2020 1:33 pm

#281

Post by Geezer Weezer »

Ashore.
I am a man of few...
User avatar
Cindy N
Posts: 984
Joined: Mon Oct 21, 2019 12:55 pm
Location: Wisconsin

#282

Post by Cindy N »

Got distracted and almost completely forgot to post - on the beach enjoying a Honey Blond Ale, waiting for the fireworks.
User avatar
SReh26
Posts: 763
Joined: Thu Apr 01, 2021 10:48 pm

#283

Post by SReh26 »

Happy Independence Day
Hope all is going your way
if not, hope it all gets betta
right after you‘ve solved this meta
User avatar
Flying_Burrito
Posts: 287
Joined: Fri Apr 16, 2021 11:24 am
Location: Johns Creek, GA

#284

Post by Flying_Burrito »

HunterX wrote: Sun Jul 04, 2021 4:12 pm
mitchel674 wrote: Sun Jul 04, 2021 1:40 pm I'd love a nudge. I have the first step, but I'm stumped again at numbers in parentheses!!
KFB wrote: Sun Jul 04, 2021 2:38 pm I have self diagnosed numerophobia primarily manifested by fear of the number 1040, 666 and any numbers involved in solving a meta. (shouldn't they be 86 'ed once and forever?)
That said a nudge might get me through till next week's hopefully non-numeric meta.
10-4 and thanks in advance.
TheCatt wrote: Sun Jul 04, 2021 2:41 pm At the bar. Thought we had the first step, found a connection for 2nd step, we thought, then stuck.

Would appreciate a nudge.
I must be in the minority in that I don't mind the numbers. Or, rather, I mildly dislike them for a different reason than most people. (Which I can discuss tomorrow, as this meta is an example of the reason.) The Hints for Solving Meta Contests gives plenty of ideas on how they can be used. Though I always just ignore them until I've figured out the mechanism, or at least step 1 of the mechanism.

For anyone who wants a hint, if you see me, or anyone who has declared that they have solved the puzzle, online, feel free to send a Private Message explaining what you have tried so far, and how much of a nudge you want. Many of us would be happy to offer a "You're hot/cold," or "You're correct but need to continue searching," or "Just try this..." nudge.
HunterX, for a clue I would just tell people "Look at HunterX Connect 4 picture" to figure out the mechanism
Senor Guaca Mole :mrgreen:
User avatar
HunterX
Posts: 1163
Joined: Fri Dec 04, 2020 9:17 pm
Location: Philadelphia, PA

#285

Post by HunterX »

Flying_Burrito wrote: Sun Jul 04, 2021 5:50 pm
HunterX wrote: Sun Jul 04, 2021 4:12 pm For anyone who wants a hint, if you see me, or anyone who has declared that they have solved the puzzle, online, feel free to send a Private Message explaining what you have tried so far, and how much of a nudge you want. Many of us would be happy to offer a "You're hot/cold," or "You're correct but need to continue searching," or "Just try this..." nudge.
HunterX, for a clue I would just tell people "Look at HunterX Connect 4 picture" to figure out the mechanism
(Shhhhh! Don't reveal the "Avatar Hint Electronic Messaging System" (abbv. AHEMS). That's for the Muggles who have undergone the secret initiation rite of passage and then been sworn to secrecy.)
User avatar
Ben B
Posts: 171
Joined: Sun Apr 25, 2021 11:50 pm
Location: Houston

#286

Post by Ben B »

We are keeping Isaac company this weekend. We see some things but are foiled by the numbers. Not a lot of time to spend on it this weekend. Happy 4th everyone!
User avatar
Ben B
Posts: 171
Joined: Sun Apr 25, 2021 11:50 pm
Location: Houston

#287

Post by Ben B »

Well by a last minute miracle we again are late but onshore. Son had an inspiration as I was cleaning up from our summer camp trip. That brings a smile to my face. Good puzzle!
User avatar
Bob cruise director
Cruise Director
Posts: 4512
Joined: Thu Apr 11, 2019 2:38 pm
Location: Any golf course within 500 miles of Littleton MA

#288

Post by Bob cruise director »

Good evening muggles

As we close out this July 4th, we have 12 on the ship and 178 on the shore

The latest to join Isaac are
mitchel674
KFB
Patty

And the last tenders to shore brought
TheCatt
Cindy N
dpl11
Peter L
Geezer Weezer
horsesense
Flying_Burrito
Grover
PJM
flamingbear
Doug C
bradisbrad
copperriver
rosiegirl
Ben B and son

Have a happy and safe July 4th
Bob Stevens
Cruise Director
User avatar
ricky
Posts: 450
Joined: Sun Jun 21, 2020 3:47 pm
Contact:

#289

Post by ricky »

Okay, I need a nudge. I have spent way too much time this weekend messing with this to not get across the finish line.

EDIT: On shore! Thanks. The answer was what I thought it might be, just had to grasp the how along with the what.
Last edited by ricky on Sun Jul 04, 2021 11:23 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Check out the meta challenge at Lexicon Devil

Latest puzzle: "This Place Looks Familiar," March 7, 2024

Deadline: Tuesday, March 12, 2024, 12 PM EST
User avatar
BrianMac
Site Admin
Posts: 787
Joined: Mon Apr 08, 2019 11:45 pm
Location: Connecticut

#290

Post by BrianMac »

Ready for some fireworks!

C2B799AB-553A-4728-ABE4-68EA19C2D6E0.jpeg

Have a great day at work tomorrow, England! :P
FKelly
Posts: 315
Joined: Thu Apr 11, 2019 9:09 pm

#291

Post by FKelly »

Dear Matt Gaffney
Please find enclosed
my thanks for a wonderful puzzle.
Happy 4th of July
User avatar
SReh26
Posts: 763
Joined: Thu Apr 01, 2021 10:48 pm

#292

Post by SReh26 »

BrianMac wrote: Sun Jul 04, 2021 9:28 pm Ready for some fireworks!


C2B799AB-553A-4728-ABE4-68EA19C2D6E0.jpeg


Have a great day at work tomorrow, England! :P
for those with Insta - see my snapshots of this evening‘s amazing fireworks show at the Empire State Building!! those without, just google SReh26 instagram!
Last edited by SReh26 on Sun Jul 04, 2021 11:37 pm, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
HunterX
Posts: 1163
Joined: Fri Dec 04, 2020 9:17 pm
Location: Philadelphia, PA

#293

Post by HunterX »

BrianMac wrote: Sun Jul 04, 2021 9:28 pm Ready for some fireworks!


Have a great day at work tomorrow, England! :P
Alas... As an employee of a Federally Insured Bank (FDIC all the way, baby!) I don't have a holiday tomorrow. We're open for business. Cash for everyone!!!

But I do get a "floating holiday." That means at some point I'll be floating on a river, lake, ocean, or in a swimming pool, or bathtub, and I'll say, "I'll think I'll take a holiday today."
Hidden in 3D
Posts: 379
Joined: Sun Nov 17, 2019 11:42 pm

#294

Post by Hidden in 3D »

Well, I can't believe I've been staring at the answer all weekend. Finally ON SHORE after trying since Thursday to make this waaaay harder than it actually is. And how many other MUGgles have already posted something similar to this over the weekend?! Now I am really glad that I accomplished everything on my to-do list for Saturday and Sunday instead of obsessing even more over finding the meta answer sooner!
Sara
User avatar
TeaJenny
Posts: 271
Joined: Fri Feb 05, 2021 11:44 am
Location: Stamford, CT

#295

Post by TeaJenny »

FINALLY! ASHORE! Just in the nick of time.

Of course, I way, way, WAY overthought it. Story of my life.
You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me. ~C.S. Lewis
User avatar
Limerick Savant
Posts: 220
Joined: Sun Jun 09, 2019 12:22 am
Location: Mobile, AL
Contact:

#296

Post by Limerick Savant »

Hidden in 3D wrote: Sun Jul 04, 2021 10:44 pm Well, I can't believe I've been staring at the answer all weekend. Finally ON SHORE after trying since Thursday to make this waaaay harder than it actually is. And how many other MUGgles have already posted something similar to this over the weekend?! Now I am really glad that I accomplished everything on my to-do list for Saturday and Sunday instead of obsessing even more over finding the meta answer sooner!
I am sticking to my pledge to work the solution at the last minute mainly because I too over complicated the process this week. Had a pretty good idea of what the meta should refer too quite early but kept looking for it in the wrong place. Regardless I am now on shore working on my limerick.
Dedicated to no nonsense nonsense
User avatar
KayW
Moderator
Posts: 3129
Joined: Wed Apr 10, 2019 12:10 am
Location: Chicago

#297

Post by KayW »

The contest answer is SHELL GAMES.

Each of the five theme answers contains something found inside a shell: EGG, LOBSTER, ALMOND, PECAN, OYSTER. As suggested by the title, rearrange the ten enclosing "shell" letters according to the parenthetical numbers to get SHELL GAMES.
WSJCC210702.PNG
(Joe is taking a well-deserved weekend off and granted me special dispensation to post the midnight solution)
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.
bradisbrad
Posts: 33
Joined: Fri Jan 10, 2020 12:57 am

#298

Post by bradisbrad »

HunterX wrote: Sun Jul 04, 2021 4:36 pm
bradisbrad wrote: Sun Jul 04, 2021 4:26 pm
HunterX wrote: Sun Jul 04, 2021 4:16 pm

This one seemed like a 100%'er to me. Pretty straight-forward, using a not-unfamiliar mechanism (generally).
I'm at about 99%. Answer makes sense, mechanic makes sense, there was just one little piece that felt off to me.
I'm curious, so do tell us tomorrow.
Alright, to follow up on this I did get it right, and I had the mechanism correct. My problem was that I didn't spot "egg" and thought "Well, 'nut' seems too on the nose and there's no preceding letter, but I guess I'll just use the two letters after 'nut' instead?"

Luckily that worked out to be the same two letters as the two surrounding "egg." But that certainly explains why it felt wrong.
Inca
Posts: 828
Joined: Tue Apr 09, 2019 10:55 pm

#299

Post by Inca »

Has the meta-spell finally really lost its power over this muggle? Well, I *was* curious to see what the end game would be, but although I knew for sure that the shelled insides were key and I was pretty sure that the numbers were positions in the final solution and I probably tried every kind of variation except using the 2 letter outside the foods, despite that I was fine with just letting it go at some point rather than let it drive me crazy. So you decide: has it lost its power over me or have I lost my power of it???
User avatar
Eric Porter
Posts: 466
Joined: Sun May 05, 2019 2:19 am
Location: Nashville, TN

#300

Post by Eric Porter »

I quickly saw the "enclosed" words. I couldn't figure out how to get the 2 letters though.

Eventually, I realized that all 5 of them have a shell and thought it must be a part of the answer. None of the words have an 'H' in them, so I looked through the grid for the letter 'H' and when I saw one in front of 'OYSTER', I was mad at myself for not thinking of that.
I'd tried similar things like the first and last letters. I wasn't expecting something else hidden besides the words.

I felt a little bad backsolving this puzzle, but there's no rule against it.
Locked