#685 - "Get Out Your Wite-Out"

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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KayW
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#41

Post by KayW »

RPardoe wrote: Sun Jul 18, 2021 10:40 pm
KayW wrote: Sun Jul 18, 2021 7:56 pm I'm holding off on submitting to get a Wednesday solve and a buzzer beater in one swell foop, but this one is 100%.
Good luck, and DON'T FORGET!

(I think there should be an achievement for the LAST submission as well as the first. Imagine the fun of trying to get that one.)
You read my paranoid mind. In addition to forgetting to submit, I imagine both my wifi and my phone self-destructing at 11:55 ET Wednesday. I've already scheduled a "backup" email submission at 11:57 ET (hoping this very lapsed former math major did the time zone math right for once!) and plan to set an alarm on my phone. And now I imagine the Russians hacking gmail servers that morning just to thwart my submission. (Because of course THAT's the worst possible repercussion of such a hack :lol: :roll: )
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.
Tina
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#42

Post by Tina »

Seeking post-enlightenment. This could be my streak-ender.
mheverson
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#43

Post by mheverson »

Whew, beam me up!

Such a classic Gaffney puzzle, IMHO. Honestly, I've gotten terrible at solving Mike Shenk because I've been too pre-programmed by Matt's brain with puzzles like this. He's like an animal in the forest with his own unique footprints – hard to uncover sometimes, but unmistakeable and fun to track when you do.

And speaking of forest animals, I swear he runs these through a Rabbit Hole Machine of some sort because I was WAAAYY down in one with a leap I thought would take me to the end. Had to stop, go back and follow the trail as laid out, and it took me to a different place entirely. Loved it!
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auee89
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#44

Post by auee89 »

Beam me up! (EDIT: confirmed)

Almost sent a PM for a nudge after seeing the first step, but put down the puzzle for a couple of hours and then it clicked. Fun one and happy to solve this one solo after help on the Gaffney WSJ puzzle. On to the MMM!
Last edited by auee89 on Mon Jul 19, 2021 5:15 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Kevin
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ReB
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#45

Post by ReB »

This was one where I kept chipping away at the puzzle, with moments of enlightenment intermixed with head scratches, until everything fell into place. A rare week three solve for me.
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lbray53
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#46

Post by lbray53 »

Beam me up. I needed a little help extracting myself from a deep rabbit hole of my own making. It made little sense in retrospect.

I may have gotten this one months ago because I used to try something with every puzzle that always proved fruitless. Well, until now! Too bad I gave up on it.
My avatar proves that it is sometimes better to be lucky than good!
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ajk
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#47

Post by ajk »

LOL, OK this is a new one. After days of struggle, finally cave and send a PM asking about nudge prospects. Shortly thereafter (before the PM is read, let alone replied to), inspiration strikes, and 10 min later, hey presto (technically awaiting confirmation, but pretty confident-- UPDATE: confirmed!). Need a term for PM enlightenment :lol: :lol:
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
Tina
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#48

Post by Tina »

Any time now, post-enlightenment....Any time now, ok?
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HeadinHome
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#49

Post by HeadinHome »

Fun one! Wish this one had fallen on a week when I could do it right when it came out… might have been on page 1. We just got back from a trip this afternoon… sat down with it after unpacking & starting laundry, did the grid, fell asleep (big exercise & eating weekend zzzz) and then woke up & solved the meta.

I found the mechanism pretty quickly in one place, but scrambled for the rest until I realized something that I assume others mentioned they also had missed for a while, which made it much easier!

Beam me up!
The other Wendy. :roll:
Orsys
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#50

Post by Orsys »

ajk wrote: Mon Jul 19, 2021 6:28 pm LOL, OK this is a new one. After days of struggle, finally cave and send a PM asking about nudge prospects. Shortly thereafter (before the PM is read, let alone replied to), inspiration strikes, and 10 min later, hey presto (technically awaiting confirmation, but pretty confident-- UPDATE: confirmed!). Need a term for PM enlightenment :lol: :lol:
This happens to me too. My theory is that once we ask for help and know help is coming, it releases some of the stress in the brain and thinking becomes clearer. This theory, which to say is mine, is mine.
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MikeM000
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#51

Post by MikeM000 »

Awaiting beamage.... nice when the "come back later and stare at it again" strategy works twice (no pun intended) in one weekend.... curious to see what others felt they missed along the way.

Edit: 167!
Last edited by MikeM000 on Tue Jul 20, 2021 6:55 am, edited 1 time in total.
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joequavis
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#52

Post by joequavis »

Phew, that took many "second looks" but finally got it. Great aha moment here.
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ricky
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#53

Post by ricky »

I was coming here to ask for a nudge until the thread reminded me that I have until tomorrow. I have a bad feeling that this one involves a trick I haven't seen before. I'll keep at it for now.

If you're already done, or want a change of pace, there are still 3 hours to go before the deadline on my most recent meta contest. Link in signature file below.
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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rexthree
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#54

Post by rexthree »

in search of post-enlightenment. keep coming back to it but no aha moment yet.
Tina
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#55

Post by Tina »

Thus ends my 29-week streak of solo solves, probably my longest ever.
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Joe Ross
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#56

Post by Joe Ross »

Tina wrote: Tue Jul 20, 2021 1:20 pm Thus ends my 29-week streak of solo solves, probably my longest ever.
The deadline is noon ET, tomorrow.
Whole blood, platelets, or plasma: Donate 4 in 2024

PLATELET 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗿𝗮𝗿𝗲.
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝘀 ENORMOUS 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲:
𝟰𝟬% 𝗽𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰,
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𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿 & 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘂𝗺𝗮. 𝗣𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗘 𝗦𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗘!
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hcbirker
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#57

Post by hcbirker »

I finally got it! Woo hoo!

Edit: 189
Heidi
Tina
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#58

Post by Tina »

Joe Ross wrote: Tue Jul 20, 2021 1:41 pm
Tina wrote: Tue Jul 20, 2021 1:20 pm Thus ends my 29-week streak of solo solves, probably my longest ever.
The deadline is noon ET, tomorrow.
I know, but yesterday I finally decided I had spent way too much time on this already and asked for a hint. At least I can get back to my life now. :D
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FrankieHeck
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#59

Post by FrankieHeck »

I *finally* got this one almost immediately after taking my first ever sip of Red Bull. (We won some in a drawing at a bar.) If I start buying/drinking that crap, I'm going to blame Matt.
burghman
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#60

Post by burghman »

Kudos once again to DrTom for a gentle nudge - he got me off a track that would have wasted more time than I care to think about and aimed me in the right direction. Not confirmed yet, but can’t see how my answer could be wrong.
If you see that I’ve completed the MGWCC meta, feel free to DM me and I’ll help you out - nudges, confirmations of paths, etc.
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