XWord Muggles Forum

Limerick Savant wrote: ↑Mon Feb 15, 2021 11:24 am Claimed my spot on the beach yesterday when I got around to a fair grid and what seemed like a foregone meta if you agree with TimeOut.
H&S.png

On the other hand they don’t even list in their top 50 one of the best screwball comedies ever : The Awful Truth

HunterX wrote: ↑Mon Feb 15, 2021 9:30 am

Dplass wrote: ↑Mon Feb 15, 2021 9:21 am

ky-mike wrote: ↑Mon Feb 15, 2021 9:20 am

Since this is part of a series of puzzles to help bring new meta solvers into the fold, it is demonstrating one technique of a meta construction. This one was pretty easy for seasoned solvers, but may not have been quite as easy for those newer to meta-land.

Then I'd contend that the FIRE would be even MORE confusing to newer solvers...

I think you might be right. But I do feel the Belafonte/Struthers combo was sufficient for most people to guess the answer. The FIRE construction would then be 1) a satisfying confirmation for experienced solvers, and 2) something to show newbies a la "This is a way we REALLY construct these things, so look for mechanisms like this."

DBMiller wrote: ↑Mon Feb 15, 2021 3:31 pm I went into my grid solve mode, so didn't pay attention except for 39A. Then I looked at the long answers and BELAFONTE and STRUTHERS led me immediately to the right answer. But how did 39A fit in? Another long answer was RABBITRUN, is there some sort of hop to go from the F in BELAFONTE to the E in STRUTHERS? The other two long answers had the I and R, but I saw no connection.

But when I looked at the I in RABBITRUN, I noticed it was also in HOUDINI. I then remembered FORTH and FIELD, and the rest fell into place at that point. 39A was now the confirmation needed as F-I-R-E were the "connections" where each Harry "met" each Sally in the grid.

As a teaching tool, I think this would have better if 39A was not in the grid; If the puzzle's title was, "When Harry met Sally"; and the meta answer was a "Four letter word".

Joepickett wrote: ↑Mon Feb 15, 2021 2:10 pm

Dplass wrote: ↑Mon Feb 15, 2021 9:06 am What was the point of the FIRE? It was completely inconsequential with respect to getting the name of the movie. It kind of made me feel that the setter was showing off their mad meta construction skillz.

Yes I agree. I saw BELAFONTE and FIELD and then POTTER and STRUTHERS and that was enough for me. I didn't even find or bother with the downs that crossed these. I'm a busy man. I've got things to do.

Bob cruise director wrote: ↑Sun Feb 14, 2021 8:25 pm

CPJohnson wrote: ↑Sun Feb 14, 2021 5:27 pm

Colin wrote: ↑Sun Feb 14, 2021 11:23 am Re squirrel-related devices: the collective experience here must surely know that squirrels don’t like safflower seeds? I was plagued with squirrels and switched from sunflower to safflower ... haven’t seen a single squirrel since. All bird varieties still feeding including red-bellied woodies. Hairy and downy only occasionally now, but cardinals increased frequency. Safflower a bit more expensive but well worth it and probably cheaper in total. Squirrels destroyed the wicker on our patio chair in between feeds!

That's useful information! Our squirrels have been discouraged by a Squirrel-Buster feeder, a Wild Birds Unlimited baffle, and a slinky (each on a different feeder). Our birds drop so many seeds that the squirrels are content to eat underneath the feeders.

(edit) My husband tells me he mixes safflower seed in with all our mixtures, except the niger seed.

I have found the most effective squirrel deterrent is running a strong wire between two trees about 40 feet apart and 10 feet up from the ground and attaching the feeder to it. High enough to keep the bears away and hard enough to walk on to keep all but the most Walenda squirrels away.

DBMiller wrote: ↑Mon Feb 15, 2021 3:31 pm I went into my grid solve mode, so didn't pay attention except for 39A. Then I looked at the long answers and BELAFONTE and STRUTHERS led me immediately to the right answer. But how did 39A fit in? Another long answer was RABBITRUN, is there some sort of hop to go from the F in BELAFONTE to the E in STRUTHERS? The other two long answers had the I and R, but I saw no connection.

But when I looked at the I in RABBITRUN, I noticed it was also in HOUDINI. I then remembered FORTH and FIELD, and the rest fell into place at that point. 39A was now the confirmation needed as F-I-R-E were the "connections" where each Harry "met" each Sally in the grid.

As a teaching tool, I think this would have better if 39A was not in the grid; If the puzzle's title was, "When Harry met Sally"; and the meta answer was a "Four letter word".

Jace54 wrote: ↑Mon Feb 15, 2021 7:18 pm

DBMiller wrote: ↑Mon Feb 15, 2021 3:31 pm I went into my grid solve mode, so didn't pay attention except for 39A. Then I looked at the long answers and BELAFONTE and STRUTHERS led me immediately to the right answer. But how did 39A fit in? Another long answer was RABBITRUN, is there some sort of hop to go from the F in BELAFONTE to the E in STRUTHERS? The other two long answers had the I and R, but I saw no connection.

But when I looked at the I in RABBITRUN, I noticed it was also in HOUDINI. I then remembered FORTH and FIELD, and the rest fell into place at that point. 39A was now the confirmation needed as F-I-R-E were the "connections" where each Harry "met" each Sally in the grid.

As a teaching tool, I think this would have better if 39A was not in the grid; If the puzzle's title was, "When Harry met Sally"; and the meta answer was a "Four letter word".

I also tried to start with the “f” in Belafonte and work down through “i”, “r”, and “e” in the other long answers, convinced it would spell a movie. Finally just said the full names of Belafonte and Struthers and immediately knew the answer, then found the intersections.

Your last paragraph reminds me of a Christmas meta a few years ago where the 8 reindeer names intersected in four places. I think those intersecting letters spelled out “pine”, which was the answer.

Al Sisti wrote: ↑Mon Feb 15, 2021 2:33 pm I raced to get my answer in, and then panicked as I ran back to check my sent folder to make sure I hadn't sent in "When Sally Met Harry." Whew... I'm assuming/hoping that they don't count that as the correct answer. It *is* the name of a movie, but not that movie.

JRS51 wrote: ↑Mon Feb 15, 2021 5:15 pm

Joepickett wrote: ↑Mon Feb 15, 2021 2:10 pm

Dplass wrote: ↑Mon Feb 15, 2021 9:06 am What was the point of the FIRE? It was completely inconsequential with respect to getting the name of the movie. It kind of made me feel that the setter was showing off their mad meta construction skillz.

Yes I agree. I saw BELAFONTE and FIELD and then POTTER and STRUTHERS and that was enough for me. I didn't even find or bother with the downs that crossed these. I'm a busy man. I've got things to do.

This was exactly how I realized the answer, and I also stopped there. I didn’t get to the puzzle until Sunday and the Pebble Beach tournament was calling for me to watch!
In addition, I never heard of the Forth comic strip so that answer was in no way a clue that helped me.

KayW wrote: ↑Tue Feb 16, 2021 11:16 am

Al Sisti wrote: ↑Mon Feb 15, 2021 2:33 pm I raced to get my answer in, and then panicked as I ran back to check my sent folder to make sure I hadn't sent in "When Sally Met Harry." Whew... I'm assuming/hoping that they don't count that as the correct answer. It *is* the name of a movie, but not that movie.

Why, yes. Much to my surprise, it IS. Al, how do you FIND these things? The sole public comment on the video sums it up for me: "I'm so confused."

When Sally Met Harry

Limerick Savant wrote: ↑Mon Feb 15, 2021 11:24 am Claimed my spot on the beach yesterday when I got around to a fair grid and what seemed like a foregone meta if you agree with TimeOut.
H&S.png

On the other hand they don’t even list in their top 50 one of the best screwball comedies ever : The Awful Truth

tim1217 wrote: ↑Tue Feb 16, 2021 12:58 pm

Limerick Savant wrote: ↑Mon Feb 15, 2021 11:24 am Claimed my spot on the beach yesterday when I got around to a fair grid and what seemed like a foregone meta if you agree with TimeOut.
H&S.png

On the other hand they don’t even list in their top 50 one of the best screwball comedies ever : The Awful Truth

Speaking of missing things, also nowhere to be found on (London-based) TimOut's list is (IMHO) the best rom-com of all time, High Fidelity...and it's based on a British novel for goodness sake!

Jack Black's breakout role and in a way, he steals the show!

image.png

This scene alone is worth the price of admission...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pc3TYIIpOZM

Al Sisti wrote: ↑Tue Feb 16, 2021 12:21 pm

KayW wrote: ↑Tue Feb 16, 2021 11:16 am

Al Sisti wrote: ↑Mon Feb 15, 2021 2:33 pm I raced to get my answer in, and then panicked as I ran back to check my sent folder to make sure I hadn't sent in "When Sally Met Harry." Whew... I'm assuming/hoping that they don't count that as the correct answer. It *is* the name of a movie, but not that movie.

Why, yes. Much to my surprise, it IS. Al, how do you FIND these things? The sole public comment on the video sums it up for me: "I'm so confused."

When Sally Met Harry

Just a Google search. It was okay, but it was no "The Wrath of Grapes."

SarasotaSun wrote: ↑Wed Feb 17, 2021 12:10 pm What? No announcement yet of the winner of LAST Friday's contest puzzle?
The next contest puzzle should be presented tomorrow.
Who isn't looking at his/her emails hoping to receive the winner's announcement?