MEOW #94 Split the Bill

[MikeyG]

Keep the MEOW alive! I will attempt to tackle it this weekend! I always could use more @DrTom in my puzzling days - and we'll see how the meta treats me!

[KayW]

Whew! Needed the first nudge but a fun puzzle. Loved 5D.

[benchen71]

Cat's finally out! Yay!! Now all I have to worry about is the WSJ!!!

[lbray53]

Cat finally escaped after spoilers. Oh man! This was great. One misstep had me stymied for a bit.

In the proloque for this puzzle Dr. Tom forgot to mention that Josh’s clever puns would be relegated to who else? Dr. Tom.

[ajk]

Badly needed the first nudge. Was nowhere near. But got it with that. Fun one, thanks.

[DrTom]

Solvers Update:
18 markhr
19 KayW
20 DIS
21 kurtalert
22 lbray53
23 ajk
24 Dow Jones

Seven more have been able to split the cat from the bag. Hopefully there are more working on it, but if you are as stuck on the WSJ as I am I'll bet your efforts are directed there, I mean after all that deadline is sooner.

[benchen71]

Seven more have been able to split the cat from the bag. Hopefully there are more working on it, but if you are as stuck on the WSJ as I am I'll bet your efforts are directed there, I mean after all that deadline is sooner.

And me!

[MaineMarge]

I’m here- over here @DrTom Still working on it between garden forays, but getting it with your nudges.
And no fair thinking about not meowing.
Not much meowing going on here- nor bed making til they get up

[Joe Ross]

When is that, @MaineMarge?

Tuesday?

[DrTom]

Seven more have been able to split the cat from the bag. Hopefully there are more working on it, but if you are as stuck on the WSJ as I am I'll bet your efforts are directed there, I mean after all that deadline is sooner.

And me!

Yes, and Ben.

I am not very adept at the back and forth of Crosshare/Xword and solvers have been coming in on both. Also if I got anyone's name wrong I apologize but people use different names on Crosshare and Xword so sometimes I am guessing. I am not sure, if I continue, that I will use Crosshare again. I messed up and apparently left open a backdoor and oddly there is no way to go back in and close it. I know people like the instant gratification but...ah well. So yes both BenChen and Tamara have joined the group, hopefully more will be kind to the kitty.

Tom

[MikeyG]

I was definitely thinking of the title incorrectly, haha. I did need Nudge #1, but I'm hoping that will do it! Let's see!

Got it! Loved it. Should've pursued a hunch from earlier, but that one nudge let the cat come out of the bag!

[DrTom]

I was definitely thinking of the title incorrectly, haha. I did need Nudge #1, but I'm hoping that will do it! Let's see!

Got it! Loved it. Should've pursued a hunch from earlier, but that one nudge let the cat come out of the bag!

EXACTLY! Let out - HA! Like the meta answers I often have to drag them out kicking and screaming.

[DrTom]

I haven’t solved yet BTW - still scanning this colossal grid.

Is that COLOSSAL in a good way? Like , "MEOW puzzle a Colossal hit, critics rave!"

Or perhaps more like TITANIC (if so we are sunk).

T

[Qmark]

Needed the first nudge for me to get the cat out.
Been going down rabbit holes in the WSJ puzzle since Thursday...hoping that inspiration will strike as the deadline approaches (or more likely it's another one of those "looong weekends...").

[DrTom]

Ok, the last few days have seen some trickle in:
25 BrennerTJ
26 MikeyG
27 Qmark

Just because it is the next to last day I'll toss in a bonus nudge:

If you said this puzzle was for the birds you'd be right but I'd be forced to spar with you and we might have a row!

[CPJohnson]

Finally got it. Thanks, DrTom! (And Cinny)

[HeadinHome]

I haven’t solved yet BTW - still scanning this colossal grid.

Is that COLOSSAL in a good way? Like , "MEOW puzzle a Colossal hit, critics rave!"

Or perhaps more like TITANIC (if so we are sunk).

T

Colossal as in, the PDF maker put the grid on one page and the clues on another, so when I printed the puzzle it came out giant!

After opening ALL the nudges, I see basically what to do and found some things, but have come up with 4 letters I can make a word from only by anagramming, and it has nothing to do with anything. So I give up. (I’m also pretty tired from working too much, so maybe my brain is just fried.)

[DrTom]

Ok, I guess I have had the last solver clock in: CPJohnson, for a grand total of 28. Not fantastic but not shabby either. I think as creators we always hope for "Matt like" of "WSJCC-like" numbers but that is unrealistic. This little bird was harder than we anticipated, so thank you for giving us a try.

[DrTom]

If you have ever gotten a PM from Shmuel with the solve to a puzzle you know how detailed it is. Well as per usual, he was one of the first solvers and so methodical that I HAVE to use it in the reveal:

Schmeel:
A lot going on here!
I was looking for bills of various kinds - from currency to caps, from names to invoices. Then I saw birds in the grid. Beaks! And what do you know? Each of them six-letters long, and could be 'split' into two crossword-worthy entries midway, and could fit alternate clues:
25A MARTIN - MAR - 61A ABRADE and TIN - 114A STEEL
32A BARBET - BAR - 1A GRAPE and BET - 18A ODDS
63A PARROT - PAR - 72A LEVEL and ROT - 52A HOOEY
98A PIGEON - PIG - 86A VILE and EON 102A ETERNITY
The initials of those eight alternate entries, in clue order provide the answer - 'go halves'.
Fun puzzle. A lot to get in the grid, hence it's size I guess.
It took me a while to see it all, and then to make it come together. I extended my lunch break and persevered. Now back to work!

Well thanks Schmuel. I literally could not have said it better myself. I can show it though:

I think Madhatter and I thought that people would see the birds immediately and then, since they have bills, would know to split the names. We even provided a bit of a “hey look at me” in that we prominently displayed the word bird in all four relevant theme clues. We even put a hint to the mechanism in 32A, the Barbet, clue since we told you it had a name like a dog or a WAGER. Unfortunately, and as I can solidly attest, the obvious is often not obvious to everyone (I completely missed the WSJCC “Shorts” one).

Some interesting herrings (unintentional as always) were the “Guy who is not a keeper” as an alternate clue for PIG, and both DENIAL and EXAM as possible alternates for BAR. I had ruled them out because BAR is a specific exam and DENIAL is a the wrong form of the word to match BAR (since it was DENIAL and not DENY).

It looks like we will be going forward with MEWO for a while at least, and we will try to make it weekly. However, it all depends on a lot of commitment from, in general, a group of otherwise retired people. MEOW is a forgiving forum, so if ever you wanted to try your luck, now’s the time.

[Dplass]

Ugh. After many many patient nudges from DrTom I had the letters but in the wrong order....no wonder It didn't spell anything.

I've heard "go halvsies" but not "go halves". Today I learned.

Thanka for the puzzle and the patience and the nudges.