#683 - "First Taste"

An excellent puzzle written by one of the innovators of the meta crossword format. It comes out every Friday at noon and increases in difficulty throughout the month. Available for modest subscription (worth every cent) here: www.xwordcontest.com
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Hector
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#683 - "First Taste"

#1

Post by Hector »

This week’s contest answer is a country.
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KayW
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#2

Post by KayW »

:alien: :flying_saucer:

:sparkler: :us: :fireworks:
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.
stmv
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#3

Post by stmv »

Beamed up at #21. I thought I was fast, but clearly completing the grid before thinking about the meta answer is too slow for a week 1 like this. Doing the grid wasn't entirely straightforward, so I lost time there.
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ajk
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#4

Post by ajk »

Beam me up. Think this is the first time I've ever had a list update occur just as I submitted. <submit><refresh>there I am!

Agree that the grid was tougher than a normal week 1, at least for me.
Check out this very cool project by many of your favorite muggles to raise money to fight cancer. You get a fun puzzle bundle and good causes get $. Win-win: Crosswords for Cancer
docison
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#5

Post by docison »

Grid a bit tougher, but meta not so much. Exercise ran past noon and there are 40 peeople on the board before me!
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sharkicicles
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#6

Post by sharkicicles »

Woohoo, I beat Jangler! (which means he hasn't gotten around to looking at the puzzle yet.)

Definitely a 1/5.
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Meg
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#7

Post by Meg »

Me too about the grid. Perfect week one. Happy fourth everyone! 🎆 🇺🇸 💥
Check out and support http://CrosswordsForCancer.com.
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cbarbee002
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#8

Post by cbarbee002 »

Beamed up. Week 1 for sure.
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ricky
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#9

Post by ricky »

Got the answer in under 2 minutes, by far the fastest I've ever solved one of these. If I hadn't forgotten the puzzle was coming out until 12:23, I could've been in the top ten... ish...
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
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Hector
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#10

Post by Hector »

This is a nice construction, with a lot of entries crossing three or four themers. They're not all perfect, of course, but it's impressive nonetheless.
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ky-mike
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#11

Post by ky-mike »

I tasted victory pretty quickly this week.
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MamaE
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#12

Post by MamaE »

First time ever getting the answer before finishing the grid! Beam me up!
- Just puzzling it out here in Delmarva :D
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hcbirker
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#13

Post by hcbirker »

That was quick and easy. Beam me up!
Heidi
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Cindy
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#14

Post by Cindy »

Solved - late start - teams meeting lasted long past noon.
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ChrisKochmanski
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#15

Post by ChrisKochmanski »

Beam me up!
architect
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#16

Post by architect »

Late start, but just 4:45 to finish the puzzle and simultaneously get the meta.

You know it's easy when over 100 people have gotten it in before you and it's not even 1 pm.
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Bird Lives
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#17

Post by Bird Lives »

I got to this late and still might have beenin the top 100 except that I spent too much time trying to think of other examples. Not many and not easy except for the one that's also in the NPR Will Shortz Sunday on-air puzzle.
Jay
Orsys
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#18

Post by Orsys »

Week 1 all done.
higgysue
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#19

Post by higgysue »

Beam me up!
Verisimilitude
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#20

Post by Verisimilitude »

Done!
Locked