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Re: "Chemical Change" - February 26, 2021
Posted: Mon Mar 01, 2021 5:48 pm
by HunterX
Commodore wrote: ↑Mon Mar 01, 2021 3:30 pm
HunterX wrote: ↑Mon Mar 01, 2021 12:49 pm
Colin wrote: ↑Mon Mar 01, 2021 12:40 pm
Wait. So now our email subject line only has to be approximately correct? In this week’s case, solving the meta leads to ALL letters in “MARIE CURIE” ... surely any variants would normally be incorrect? Or is this leniency just for Feb as we encourage new solvers ?
Good questions!
Sure, anyone could have guessed Marie Curie. But guessing "Curie" or "Mme. Curie" is far more likely to be just a guess. While "Marie Curie" at least has a higher chance that the solver actually solved/saw the mechanism. And "Curie" might indicate the solver saw the mechanism, but missed half of it. (Which would be like counting everyone who got Pageant-ed.)
"So, Tony, we have the officials going under the hood again. What did you see, Gene Steratore?"
"Well, Jim, what we have here is clearly a failure to communicate. Thus, the ruling on the field is overturned and the Commodore's half-submission of "Curie" in the form of a Hail Mary is accepted. Also, the New Orleans Saints are automatically eliminated from SuperBowl contention for another 5 years." Screen Shot 2021-03-01 at 3.27.10 PM.png
<Cut to additional Jake-from-State-Farm advertising....>
"And, it looks like there's a flag on the post!"
Re: "Chemical Change" - February 26, 2021
Posted: Mon Mar 01, 2021 6:41 pm
by BarbaraK
Speaking of looking for prize notification, I've been staring at my phone and refreshing my email all day, waiting for the message that I won the seat on the civilian SpaceX mission. The fine print says they'll do a background check on the winner to be sure there's nothing that will reflect poorly on the program. Maybe the checker fell asleep from boredom while looking into my background. Hope he wakes up soon and they tell me I'm the winner. I'm ready to start my astronaut training!
Re: "Chemical Change" - February 26, 2021
Posted: Mon Mar 01, 2021 9:01 pm
by flyingMoose
LadyBird wrote: ↑Mon Mar 01, 2021 5:42 pm
And that they only count the completely correct answer.
Yes, there were definitely some "correct" entries that were mechanism-free.
Re: "Chemical Change" - February 26, 2021
Posted: Mon Mar 01, 2021 10:47 pm
by lacangah
Tom Shea wrote: ↑Mon Mar 01, 2021 2:14 pm
lacangah wrote: ↑Mon Mar 01, 2021 12:16 pm
Hi,
I was happy to see Mme. Curie as this week’s solution. I’ll give a plug for the Musée Curie in Paris; had the good fortune to see it in the ‘before times.’ The museum is in her laboratory building, and includes her office (pictured here). It covers the amazing story of her and her family. A nice slice of science history in a quiet corner of an incredible city.
Cheers,
Were you required to wear a dosimeter? I mean radium has a 1600 year half life and decays to radon, which is no bargain either.
Good question. The museum seems to be a working building for the university, so I assume efforts were made to decontaminate it. Given that, there are some radium bearing artifacts on display. This site describes more of the museum background -
https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/musee-curie. Cheers,
Re: "Chemical Change" - February 26, 2021
Posted: Tue Mar 02, 2021 5:14 pm
by TNakagawaWSJ
Hello, Muggles!
Taylor Nakagawa from WSJ here. I want to share a quick update on the technical issues some of you may be experiencing with the online version of the puzzles. We've heard from you all that some of the clues are not showing up and your answers are being deleted as you fill out the grid.
- It looks like the issue re: disappearing answers is due to security updates on Safari. We encourage anyone who's experiencing this issue to switch browsers. We've also found that opening a new window in Safari can help mitigate the issue, but it's not a perfect fix.
- The issue re: disappearing clues has been a tricky one for us, but we are running some tests to get to the bottom of this. I'll share another update when we have more to share.
Thank you and don't hesitate to reach out to
puzzles@wsj.com if you run into any other technical glitches.
Re: "Chemical Change" - February 26, 2021
Posted: Tue Mar 02, 2021 9:45 pm
by hcbirker
For Bob and my Zoom Muggles. Baked Rigatoni with Lamb Ragu.
Re: "Chemical Change" - February 26, 2021
Posted: Tue Mar 02, 2021 10:22 pm
by Abide
hcbirker wrote: ↑Tue Mar 02, 2021 9:45 pm
For Bob and my Zoom Muggles. Baked Rigatoni with Lamb Ragu.
Did you buy that pen holder from Joe Ross for Less?
Re: "Chemical Change" - February 26, 2021
Posted: Tue Mar 02, 2021 10:24 pm
by hcbirker
My husband got it for my birthday three years ago. I think he used Snapfish
Re: "Chemical Change" - February 26, 2021
Posted: Tue Mar 02, 2021 10:25 pm
by hcbirker
Abide wrote: ↑Tue Mar 02, 2021 10:22 pm
hcbirker wrote: ↑Tue Mar 02, 2021 9:45 pm
For Bob and my Zoom Muggles. Baked Rigatoni with Lamb Ragu.
Did you buy that pen holder from Joe Ross for Less?
He should have!
Re: "Chemical Change" - February 26, 2021
Posted: Tue Mar 02, 2021 10:28 pm
by SewYoung
The dish looks delicious and I see your Crossword Champion Mug in the background.
Re: "Chemical Change" - February 26, 2021
Posted: Tue Mar 02, 2021 10:37 pm
by SewYoung
Here's a little something to make your stay more pleasant and meaningful when you and the rest of the Muggles finally have a chance to come and spend time with me at the lake.
https://www.facebook.com/15699472230558 ... 4399784343
Re: "Chemical Change" - February 26, 2021
Posted: Tue Mar 02, 2021 11:21 pm
by hcbirker
Re: "Chemical Change" - February 26, 2021
Posted: Tue Mar 02, 2021 11:25 pm
by hcbirker
I remember going to Washington D.C. with the kids when they were young and surprised at the southern accents. I slapped myself a bit because of course you’re in the South!
Re: "Chemical Change" - February 26, 2021
Posted: Tue Mar 02, 2021 11:37 pm
by hcbirker
I’m going to go all out Dr. Tom here and say I’m going to call you Miss Lisa because you are sew young.
Re: "Chemical Change" - February 26, 2021
Posted: Tue Mar 02, 2021 11:39 pm
by PJM
HunterX wrote: ↑Mon Mar 01, 2021 12:49 pm
Colin wrote: ↑Mon Mar 01, 2021 12:40 pm
MikeMillerwsj wrote: ↑Mon Mar 01, 2021 12:06 pm
Fully 95% were correct (counting all the CURIEs, M.CURIE's, MME. CURIE's as well as the full name...
Wait. So now our email subject line only has to be approximately correct? In this week’s case, solving the meta leads to ALL letters in “MARIE CURIE” ... surely any variants would normally be incorrect? Or is this leniency just for Feb as we encourage new solvers ?
Good questions!
Sure, anyone could have guessed Marie Curie. But guessing "Curie" or "Mme. Curie" is far more likely to be just a guess. While "Marie Curie" at least has a higher chance that the solver actually solved/saw the mechanism. And "Curie" might indicate the solver saw the mechanism, but missed half of it. (Which would be like counting everyone who got Pageant-ed.)
"Anyone could have guessed Marie Curie."
Marie Curie has gone from famous scientist to cult hero in the past decade. She was
the only guess.
Re: "Chemical Change" - February 26, 2021
Posted: Wed Mar 03, 2021 8:48 am
by SewYoung
hcbirker wrote: ↑Tue Mar 02, 2021 11:37 pm
I’m going to go all out Dr. Tom here and say I’m going to call you Miss Lisa because you are sew young.
"Miss Lisa" would be entirely correct. "Miss First Name" or "Mr. First Name" is the way to address a person (although, usually one considerably older than oneself) in a more familiar relationship than "Mrs. or Mr. Last Name", while showing proper respect for age or position. Seriously, if a southerner addresses you that way or as "Ma'am", it is not intended as snarky or insulting; it's just the way we are brought up to show respect, yet familiarity or affection.
Re: "Chemical Change" - February 26, 2021
Posted: Wed Mar 03, 2021 9:06 am
by Abide
hcbirker wrote: ↑Tue Mar 02, 2021 10:24 pm
My husband got it for my birthday three years ago. I think he used Snapfish
A closer inspection reveals no pencils and several highlighters. A true solver’s toolbox
Re: "Chemical Change" - February 26, 2021
Posted: Wed Mar 03, 2021 6:08 pm
by BarbaraK
SewYoung wrote: ↑Wed Mar 03, 2021 8:48 am
hcbirker wrote: ↑Tue Mar 02, 2021 11:37 pm
I’m going to go all out Dr. Tom here and say I’m going to call you Miss Lisa because you are sew young.
"Miss Lisa" would be entirely correct. "Miss First Name" or "Mr. First Name" is the way to address a person (although, usually one considerably older than oneself) in a more familiar relationship than "Mrs. or Mr. Last Name", while showing proper respect for age or position. Seriously, if a southerner addresses you that way or as "Ma'am", it is not intended as snarky or insulting; it's just the way we are brought up to show respect, yet familiarity or affection.
I live in Virginia and started getting called ma'am in my late teens/early 20s. I never thought of it as a southern thing, in fact I remember talking about it with my cousins from Pennsylvania, so maybe it was more universal back then?
Just in the last year or two, there have been a couple times when waiters called me 'miss' and that really seemed weird. No added name, just 'What would you like to order, miss?". I'm pushing 60 and sitting with my husband and I'm a miss? Huh?? So now I'm wondering if the anti-ma'am northerners have messed up our perfectly reasonable greeting. I never even realized it was an issue til I watched you video. Amazing what I learn on this forum.
Re: "Chemical Change" - February 26, 2021
Posted: Thu Mar 04, 2021 2:35 pm
by Bob cruise director
hcbirker wrote: ↑Tue Mar 02, 2021 9:45 pm
B61EDF79-E19B-4638-A2BD-1D56B645E8D6.jpeg
For Bob and my Zoom Muggles. Baked Rigatoni with Lamb Ragu.
Do you deliver?
Re: "Chemical Change" - February 26, 2021
Posted: Thu Mar 04, 2021 2:40 pm
by Bob cruise director
