"Two for One" - July 23, 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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SReh26
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Joined: Thu Apr 01, 2021 10:48 pm

#161

Post by SReh26 »

Bob cruise director wrote: Fri Jul 23, 2021 1:47 pm
TNakagawaWSJ wrote: Fri Jul 23, 2021 1:35 pm Hello, Muggles! Taylor Nakagawa here with WSJ's puzzles team.

I want to share an exciting announcement: We just published a new interactive course on the contest puzzles! The idea behind the course is to slowly teach new puzzlers how to uncover the meta answer in a given contest crossword. Matt Gaffney and Mike Shenk wrote the course and it's based on four puzzles that ran in February of this year. Each lesson also includes tips from the Muggle community. Thank you to everyone who reached out to share their tips and stories with me!

For many people on this board, the guidance from Mike, Matt and the Muggles may seem obvious to seasoned solvers. Our goal was to create a new experience to bring new people into the fold and introduce them to this community. We even included a link to this board on the opening page!

So, here it is, Contest Crosswords 101. I hope you enjoy. :)

Contest Crosswords 101
Learn the ins and outs of WSJ’s weekly contest crossword in this four-part series
@TNakagawaWSJ Taylor - you forgot to mention if you are taking the course, doing the puzzles and letting us know if you are on the ship or the shore (a barren shore as you can not win the mug but the shore does have a tiki bar)
I got the first one! This is a great course! Thanks wsj and all who had a part in creating it!
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HunterX
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Joined: Fri Dec 04, 2020 9:17 pm
Location: Philadelphia, PA

#162

Post by HunterX »

Begbie wrote: Fri Jul 23, 2021 2:14 pm
HunterX wrote: Fri Jul 23, 2021 11:08 am
Streroto wrote: Thu Jul 22, 2021 9:02 pm @ladybird - before making a TURn on my way home today I had to braKE for a bird I was certain I would never see in downtown phillY !!!!!
Yo. I don't know 'bout choo. But I live in downtown Philly, an I seen more turkeys than you can trow bat-ries at!

And as for the bird... yeah... I flipped it a few times at 'em.

I’m from Philly, too, and know that Fluffyans call it “Center City” and not “downtown”.

Said with much brotherly love and sisterly affection.

Also, I’m cranky because I’m still at sea…
I hear ya, I hear ya... I was translatin' for those from the 'burbs. Not only do I not say "downtown," I don't say "turkey" either, preferring a more... um... 'colorful' word.
czeemuggle
Posts: 25
Joined: Sat Jul 10, 2021 3:18 pm

#163

Post by czeemuggle »

On shore but it took me waaaay too long to spot the interaction between [certain aspects of the puzzle]. Have to wait another hour before I can celebrate with a cold one!
TNakagawaWSJ
Posts: 10
Joined: Thu Feb 04, 2021 6:27 pm

#164

Post by TNakagawaWSJ »

Bob cruise director wrote: Fri Jul 23, 2021 1:47 pm
TNakagawaWSJ wrote: Fri Jul 23, 2021 1:35 pm Hello, Muggles! Taylor Nakagawa here with WSJ's puzzles team.

I want to share an exciting announcement: We just published a new interactive course on the contest puzzles! The idea behind the course is to slowly teach new puzzlers how to uncover the meta answer in a given contest crossword. Matt Gaffney and Mike Shenk wrote the course and it's based on four puzzles that ran in February of this year. Each lesson also includes tips from the Muggle community. Thank you to everyone who reached out to share their tips and stories with me!

For many people on this board, the guidance from Mike, Matt and the Muggles may seem obvious to seasoned solvers. Our goal was to create a new experience to bring new people into the fold and introduce them to this community. We even included a link to this board on the opening page!

So, here it is, Contest Crosswords 101. I hope you enjoy. :)

Contest Crosswords 101
Learn the ins and outs of WSJ’s weekly contest crossword in this four-part series
@TNakagawaWSJ Taylor - you forgot to mention if you are taking the course, doing the puzzles and letting us know if you are on the ship or the shore (a barren shore as you can not win the mug but the shore does have a tiki bar)
I'm still lost at sea for this week's contest puzzle, but putting together the course has given me so much more confidence on finding the shore! ;)
Andrew Bradburn
Posts: 207
Joined: Tue Apr 09, 2019 1:51 pm
Location: Los Angeles

#165

Post by Andrew Bradburn »

Still LAS here. Hope to get some ideas this weekend.
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pjc
Posts: 240
Joined: Sun Apr 25, 2021 10:12 am

#166

Post by pjc »

FINALLY on shore! I'd suggest there was nothing easy about it for this guy - and yet, the beach is so crowded, I can't get to the bar! :lol:
livpolfan
Posts: 28
Joined: Fri May 07, 2021 3:04 pm

#167

Post by livpolfan »

Ashore with a Hurricane.
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dmorack
Posts: 83
Joined: Thu Apr 11, 2019 8:20 pm
Location: Herndon, VA

#168

Post by dmorack »

No sign of a riptide this week. Easily made it to a crowded shore.
-Doug Morack
sfed
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Joined: Fri Jan 10, 2020 12:37 pm
Location: Washington, DC

#169

Post by sfed »

Ashore! 😊
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Bob cruise director
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Joined: Thu Apr 11, 2019 2:38 pm
Location: Any golf course within 500 miles of Littleton MA

#170

Post by Bob cruise director »

TNakagawaWSJ wrote: Fri Jul 23, 2021 3:33 pm
Bob cruise director wrote: Fri Jul 23, 2021 1:47 pm
TNakagawaWSJ wrote: Fri Jul 23, 2021 1:35 pm Hello, Muggles! Taylor Nakagawa here with WSJ's puzzles team.

I want to share an exciting announcement: We just published a new interactive course on the contest puzzles! The idea behind the course is to slowly teach new puzzlers how to uncover the meta answer in a given contest crossword. Matt Gaffney and Mike Shenk wrote the course and it's based on four puzzles that ran in February of this year. Each lesson also includes tips from the Muggle community. Thank you to everyone who reached out to share their tips and stories with me!

For many people on this board, the guidance from Mike, Matt and the Muggles may seem obvious to seasoned solvers. Our goal was to create a new experience to bring new people into the fold and introduce them to this community. We even included a link to this board on the opening page!

So, here it is, Contest Crosswords 101. I hope you enjoy. :)

Contest Crosswords 101
Learn the ins and outs of WSJ’s weekly contest crossword in this four-part series
@TNakagawaWSJ Taylor - you forgot to mention if you are taking the course, doing the puzzles and letting us know if you are on the ship or the shore (a barren shore as you can not win the mug but the shore does have a tiki bar)
I'm still lost at sea for this week's contest puzzle, but putting together the course has given me so much more confidence on finding the shore! ;)
We are more than happy to give nudges to WSJ employees. LOL
Bob Stevens
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minimuggle
Posts: 554
Joined: Wed Nov 04, 2020 7:33 am

#171

Post by minimuggle »

So far its another week of treading water and looking for land. Hope it will come to me later this weekend. I would love to see a video of Al and the others solving this within 20 minutes :) Seriously I would pay for that. Very very impressed as I am every week. Enjoy the weekend everyone.
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Kris Zacharias
Posts: 219
Joined: Sat Apr 13, 2019 2:05 pm
Location: Reading, PA

#172

Post by Kris Zacharias »

On shore, 100% certain this week. Had the right method last week and then overthought the final step and chose the wrong one of what I thought were two possible answers.
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Thurman8er
Posts: 393
Joined: Tue Apr 09, 2019 3:05 pm
Location: Fresno, CA

#173

Post by Thurman8er »

I'm on shore. Wondering if Mike and Matt (and occasionally Patrick) don't include 19A just for us some times.

Oh, I'm also predicting that I win the mug this week. :)
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hunkra
Posts: 265
Joined: Thu Jul 09, 2020 6:35 pm
Location: Hudson Valley, NY

#174

Post by hunkra »

Count me on the ship - after several (?) weeks of making it to shore, I am in the weeds on this one, not even a rabbit hole in sight. I'd be embarrassed, but it's just too nice of weather right now in my neck of the woods to feel anything but contentment as I sip my Ommegang Rosetta on my front porch.
Channeling Molly Weasley on a good day.
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DianeA
Posts: 101
Joined: Wed Feb 24, 2021 7:58 am
Location: Southport, NC

#175

Post by DianeA »

On shore! Grid was tougher than normal for me. Had the first step very quickly, worked through multiple step 2s until i settled on the mechanism. But THEN....crickets. After lunch and a nap, i achieved enlightenment. So glad to have my weekend free of mental gynmastics. BTW, last week's puzzle was a total bust for me. Very frustrating, and in awe of the solvers.
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HunterX
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Joined: Fri Dec 04, 2020 9:17 pm
Location: Philadelphia, PA

#176

Post by HunterX »

On shore.

Grid was tough. Meta escaped us for a little bit as we brainstormed ideas that were very shallow rabbit holes. Something clicked after about 30 minutes and we were off to the races.

Nice construction!

And the weekend is salvaged.

Drink will wait until I get together with my college roommates. Curious to see how much hair has been lost, and how much gut has been gained. It's been awhile.
Dave C
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Joined: Fri Apr 26, 2019 2:30 pm
Location: Round Rock, TX

#177

Post by Dave C »

I got a late start, but safely ashore.
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Bob cruise director
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Joined: Thu Apr 11, 2019 2:38 pm
Location: Any golf course within 500 miles of Littleton MA

#178

Post by Bob cruise director »

For muggles and lurkers - over on Matt Gaffney's contest page (https://xwordcontest.com/), last week Andy Keller had a very long streak of 285 weeks come to an end so Matt asked Andy and his cosolver Evan Birnholz to talk about solving and long streaks. It is an excellent piece and I recommend it to all - both for new solvers and for experienced one.

Thanks to Matt, Andy Keller and Evan Birnholz for sharing this excellent writeup.
Bob Stevens
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KayW
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Joined: Wed Apr 10, 2019 12:10 am
Location: Chicago

#179

Post by KayW »

Jeremy Smith wrote: Thu Jul 22, 2021 6:24 pm Onshore! I’m surprised this is trending as 2.5 stars in difficulty. Although the grid was tough, I saw early on what was happening. There’s also a nice Easter egg in the grid.
Time for a margarita on the lanai!
I liked this meta a LOT. But I'm not sure I see any Easter eggs, so I hope you'll enlighten me after the deadline.
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.
Shirley
Posts: 62
Joined: Wed Jun 16, 2021 11:36 am

#180

Post by Shirley »

Ashore this morning! Thank you for fun puzzle.
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