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Re: "Town & Country" March 19, 2021

Posted: Sun Mar 21, 2021 5:36 pm
by Richard
minimuggle wrote: Sun Mar 21, 2021 3:02 pm I have a question for the muggles. Is it acceptable to use google for the contest? I know I used it this week. I would never use it for the grid. Growing up we used to call the Crossword Dictionary "The Cheater". That being said, we did have a crossword dictionary which was an admission that at times we had to cheat. But we never considered we had solved it on our own if we "cheated". The contest seems different though. It feels OK to google. Happy Weekend
Marie
I try to solve the grid without Google but since I consider the Meta the real puzzle will resort to Google when necessary. Usually i kick myself as I should have been able to get the grid without Google. The metas can be a different story. Some metas would be impossible for me without Google. What some call "well known" I call "obscure."

Re: "Town & Country" March 19, 2021

Posted: Sun Mar 21, 2021 5:39 pm
by BarbaraK
minimuggle wrote: Sun Mar 21, 2021 3:02 pm I have a question for the muggles. Is it acceptable to use google for the contest? I know I used it this week. I would never use it for the grid. Growing up we used to call the Crossword Dictionary "The Cheater". That being said, we did have a crossword dictionary which was an admission that at times we had to cheat. But we never considered we had solved it on our own if we "cheated". The contest seems different though. It feels OK to google. Happy Weekend
Marie
Is it acceptable? Absolutely. With some metas, it's pretty much assumed that it will be necessary for most solvers.

Is it fun? Ah, now there you get widely varying opinions. Many of us get more enjoyment from the ones that don't require any googling. Some absolutely hate using google and will not do it no matter what. Some love the prod to go learn new things.

Re: "Town & Country" March 19, 2021

Posted: Sun Mar 21, 2021 7:00 pm
by Alvibu67
On shore! I’ve been to a couple of the countries referenced - looking forward to more travel soon!

Re: "Town & Country" March 19, 2021

Posted: Sun Mar 21, 2021 7:15 pm
by Tripod
On shore. Fun swim. Using this one to recruit new muggles.

Re: "Town & Country" March 19, 2021

Posted: Sun Mar 21, 2021 7:51 pm
by mel87
On shore!

Re: "Town & Country" March 19, 2021

Posted: Sun Mar 21, 2021 8:24 pm
by Amy
Ashore 😊

Re: "Town & Country" March 19, 2021

Posted: Sun Mar 21, 2021 8:37 pm
by Bob cruise director
I know it is a bit early but the trips to the shore have dropped to a trickle. Isaac closed the bar a long time ago and is lounging on the Lido deck.

We have 226 on the shore.

Good luck to all winning the mug.

Have a great week

Re: "Town & Country" March 19, 2021

Posted: Sun Mar 21, 2021 8:48 pm
by M and M
BarbaraK wrote: Sun Mar 21, 2021 5:39 pm
minimuggle wrote: Sun Mar 21, 2021 3:02 pm I have a question for the muggles. Is it acceptable to use google for the contest? I know I used it this week. I would never use it for the grid. Growing up we used to call the Crossword Dictionary "The Cheater". That being said, we did have a crossword dictionary which was an admission that at times we had to cheat. But we never considered we had solved it on our own if we "cheated". The contest seems different though. It feels OK to google. Happy Weekend
Marie

Once there was a Friday crossword that required you to come up with the wardrobe/costume person from Gone With the Wind. It was at that point that I concluded for once and for all that Google had become legal for crosswords.

And by the way, we are safely on shore and had a lovely weekend.

Re: "Town & Country" March 19, 2021

Posted: Sun Mar 21, 2021 8:57 pm
by billkatz
I'm safely on the beach...

Re: "Town & Country" March 19, 2021

Posted: Sun Mar 21, 2021 9:19 pm
by Dennis
Just got time to log in. On shore. Like a number of Muggles, I thought the grid was hard and a number of the clues are devious. Does anyone know if Mike Shenk chuckles as he writes a clue like 38A or 42A? I had to use a search engine just as many of us did when it involved the periodic table of elements.

Re: "Town & Country" March 19, 2021

Posted: Sun Mar 21, 2021 9:21 pm
by ADS
I'm ashore. Late start, found the grid tough, but quick meta.

Re: "Town & Country" March 19, 2021

Posted: Sun Mar 21, 2021 9:53 pm
by Thurman8er
On shore!

Re: "Town & Country" March 19, 2021

Posted: Sun Mar 21, 2021 10:04 pm
by Scraps
M and M wrote: Sun Mar 21, 2021 8:48 pm
BarbaraK wrote: Sun Mar 21, 2021 5:39 pm
minimuggle wrote: Sun Mar 21, 2021 3:02 pm I have a question for the muggles. Is it acceptable to use google for the contest? I know I used it this week. I would never use it for the grid. Growing up we used to call the Crossword Dictionary "The Cheater". That being said, we did have a crossword dictionary which was an admission that at times we had to cheat. But we never considered we had solved it on our own if we "cheated". The contest seems different though. It feels OK to google. Happy Weekend
Marie

Once there was a Friday crossword that required you to come up with the wardrobe/costume person from Gone With the Wind. It was at that point that I concluded for once and for all that Google had become legal for crosswords.

And by the way, we are safely on shore and had a lovely weekend.
It’s not a matter of legality for me. Completing puzzles that ask for things I don’t know—especially names of musicians, athletes, or artists I’ve never heard of—is the most fun part (after puns and misdirections).

I love being able to say, “I didn’t know him, I didn’t know what sport she played, and I don’t know what this word means, but I still finished the puzzle!”

Google would take that satisfaction away.

Re: "Town & Country" March 19, 2021

Posted: Sun Mar 21, 2021 10:56 pm
by Olaf
minimuggle wrote: Sun Mar 21, 2021 3:02 pm I have a question for the muggles. Is it acceptable to use google for the contest? I know I used it this week. I would never use it for the grid. Growing up we used to call the Crossword Dictionary "The Cheater". That being said, we did have a crossword dictionary which was an admission that at times we had to cheat. But we never considered we had solved it on our own if we "cheated". The contest seems different though. It feels OK to google. Happy Weekend
Marie
I don’t consider it cheating to help solve the grid. I like looking things up since that is how learn. I try to look up factual things, not just crossword answers that will appear on a crossword solver site. So things like actor names, etc. obviously looking up a meta answer itself would be cheating I. My view, but I don’t know if those are even out there. There is a decent honor code so far. I hope this wsj project to expand interest does not result in a spoiler page! There would be no glory in winning the mug if you just found the contest answer out there. I have submitted my husbands answers under his name when he has solved it himself!

Re: "Town & Country" March 19, 2021

Posted: Sun Mar 21, 2021 11:07 pm
by Louwers
Safely ashore. Easiest grid and meta in a while.

Re: "Town & Country" March 19, 2021

Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2021 12:00 am
by Joe Ross
Image

Re: "Town & Country" March 19, 2021

Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2021 12:00 am
by Joe Ross
Image

Re: "Town & Country" March 19, 2021

Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2021 12:01 am
by Bob cruise director
I have had this earworm all weekend. it is now time to pass it on

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMo3hHm ... rt_radio=1

Re: "Town & Country" March 19, 2021

Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2021 12:09 am
by KscX
Bob cruise director wrote: Mon Mar 22, 2021 12:01 am I have had this earworm all weekend. it is not time to pass it on

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMo3hHm ... rt_radio=1
It was this for me
https://youtu.be/2RHTiXvELNg

Re: "Town & Country" March 19, 2021

Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2021 12:58 am
by Tony S
minimuggle wrote: Sun Mar 21, 2021 3:02 pm I have a question for the muggles. Is it acceptable to use google for the contest? I know I used it this week. I would never use it for the grid. Growing up we used to call the Crossword Dictionary "The Cheater". That being said, we did have a crossword dictionary which was an admission that at times we had to cheat. But we never considered we had solved it on our own if we "cheated". The contest seems different though. It feels OK to google. Happy Weekend
Marie
Not only is it acceptable, it's necessary to solve certain metas. Several years ago a meta required knowing the flags of multiple foreign countries --- very few people outside the diplomat corps would have this knowledge in their heads. Google away, just hope what you're googling isn't a giant rabbit hole.