MEOW #106: Unhappy Endings

A weekly meta crossword on the forum started by member Josh (aka madhatter5). These puzzles are often very creative with solving mechanisms out of the norm and skewing towards the more challenging. Puzzles are posted every Wednesday, and the solution appears the following Tuesday.
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rjy
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#21

Post by rjy »

Took a day, but always enjoy wrestling with a DrTom challenge. Had the general concept but needed a nudge to stick the landing.

Speaking strictly for myself, I would have more free time during the holidays to solve than leading up to them, but that’s just my $.02. The other $.98 should come from the constructors, moderators, etc., - not only in terms of constructing and posting puzzles, but with whatever behind the scenes support is required to answer PMs etc. Take whatever well-earned break you need, folks!
Ray
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madhatter5
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#22

Post by madhatter5 »

If it is ok with all the constructors I would like to jump back in from my interregnum for a special new years MEOW on the 28th :)

As I wrote in private to Tom, I hope to return sometime in February but I can make no promises.
https://pandorasblocks.org/crosswords-for-cancer
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whimsy
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#23

Post by whimsy »

madhatter5 wrote: Thu Dec 08, 2022 6:30 pm If it is ok with all the constructors I would like to jump back in from my interregnum for a special new years MEOW on the 28th :)

As I wrote in private to Tom, I hope to return sometime in February but I can make no promises.

Yay! Certainly it is! We wouldn't be having all this fun now if it hadn't been for you!

(BTW -- I just read something about ancient DNA discoveries in Greenland -- wasn't you was it? :lol: )
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madhatter5
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#24

Post by madhatter5 »

Wasn't me but my colleague is working with that data!
https://pandorasblocks.org/crosswords-for-cancer
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whimsy
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#25

Post by whimsy »

I did read something about Cambridge and also a university in Copenhagen.
Mastodons! Gotta love 'em!
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Dplass
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#26

Post by Dplass »

DrTom wrote: Wed Dec 07, 2022 10:58 pm OK, not bad, not bad - solvers for Day 1
1 edestlin
2 Dave C
3 boharr
4 Darth
5 whimsy
6 Hector
7 Meg
8 Cindy Weatherman
9 ChrisKochmanski
10 dplass
11 KayW
12 Cindy Heisler
I was a TS, FWIW...
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benchen71
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#27

Post by benchen71 »

madhatter5 wrote: Thu Dec 08, 2022 6:30 pm If it is ok with all the constructors I would like to jump back in from my interregnum for a special new years MEOW on the 28th :)

As I wrote in private to Tom, I hope to return sometime in February but I can make no promises.
Woo hoo! That will be awesome.

In the meantime, I have two puzzles ready to go. If the demand is there, the first of these may run on the 21st I think.
Check out "The MOAT Mini Pack of Marching Bands" here. US$5 gets you 7 Marching Bands which, hard enough on their own, now contain metas too. And once again there's a mega-meta! :D
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DrTom
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#28

Post by DrTom »

Dplass wrote: Thu Dec 08, 2022 8:00 pm
DrTom wrote: Wed Dec 07, 2022 10:58 pm OK, not bad, not bad - solvers for Day 1
1 edestlin
2 Dave C
3 boharr
4 Darth
5 whimsy
6 Hector
7 Meg
8 Cindy Weatherman
9 ChrisKochmanski
10 dplass
11 KayW
12 Cindy Heisler
I was a TS, FWIW...
You most certainly were, and gave me some valuable insight. Test solvers go on the solvers board of course! I mean sometimes I test solve and by the time the puzzle comes around I have forgotten it and have to literally re-solve. Benefits of a short memory but I often use it to my advantage; "Did I already have a glass of wine? Well maybe but I don't remember so..."
NUDGES!I am always willing to give nudges IF ASKED; metas should be about fun, not frustration. PM me what you have done so far, because often you are closer than you think, and I will try to help you move along.
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DrTom
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#29

Post by DrTom »

So only three more people on the solvers board:

1 edestlin
2 Dave C
3 boharr
4 Darth
5 whimsy
6 Hector
7 Meg
8 Cindy Weatherman
9 ChrisKochmanski
10 dplass
11 KayW
12 Cindy Heisler
13 lbray
14 rjy
15 woozy


Must be time for nudges!
NUDGES!I am always willing to give nudges IF ASKED; metas should be about fun, not frustration. PM me what you have done so far, because often you are closer than you think, and I will try to help you move along.
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DrTom
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#30

Post by DrTom »

OK, it is Nudge day in MEOW land and here they are in force (i.e. how hard the nudge is) order

Did you notice that there seemed to be a lot of clues with a military theme?

Constructors rarely use "positional" words in a title capriciously

What date was this puzzle published. and why is that important?

If the previous spoiler still has you wondering, you are NOT going to solve this meta. PM me for more help
NUDGES!I am always willing to give nudges IF ASKED; metas should be about fun, not frustration. PM me what you have done so far, because often you are closer than you think, and I will try to help you move along.
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benchen71
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#31

Post by benchen71 »

Yay nudges! The cat's out!!
Check out "The MOAT Mini Pack of Marching Bands" here. US$5 gets you 7 Marching Bands which, hard enough on their own, now contain metas too. And once again there's a mega-meta! :D
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Dow Jones
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Location: Yakima, WA

#32

Post by Dow Jones »

The cat has been nudged out of the bag. Thanks for a fun grid and meta, Dr. Tom
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MarkWoychick
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#33

Post by MarkWoychick »

Very clever, Dr. Tom - I got it with the first nudge
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MatthewL
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Location: Atlanta, GA

#34

Post by MatthewL »

Cat's out. Needed the nudges though.
Matthew
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CPJohnson
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#35

Post by CPJohnson »

Cat's out of the bag....needed the first nudge. Thanks, @DrTom!
Cynthia
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ajk
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#36

Post by ajk »

Late to the puzzle, but got it after nudge 2. Good one, thanks.
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
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TeamDoubleTow
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#37

Post by TeamDoubleTow »

Needed 2 nudges! Thanks for the puzzle... We loved it!
Team DoubleTow=Ali (who posts here) & Alex
with occasional assistance from son
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lbray53
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#38

Post by lbray53 »

The nudges were hysterical. Nicely done.
My avatar proves that it is sometimes better to be lucky than good!
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DrTom
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#39

Post by DrTom »

Well the nudges appear to have done their job, new list of solvers:

1 edestlin
2 Dave C
3 boharr
4 Darth
5 whimsy
6 Hector
7 Meg
8 Cindy Weatherman
9 ChrisKochmanski
10 dplass
11 KayW
12 Cindy Heisler
13 lbray
14 rjy
15 woozy
16 benchen71
17 Dow Jones
18 Lance
19 Mwoychick
20 DIS
21 MatthewL
22 CPJohnson
23 ajk
24 Mr Tex
25 SJMck
26 ReB
27 Teamdouble tow
28 Sharkicicles

Still a few days to go, so feel free to rush through the MGWCC and come back to this one :D
NUDGES!I am always willing to give nudges IF ASKED; metas should be about fun, not frustration. PM me what you have done so far, because often you are closer than you think, and I will try to help you move along.
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Ergcat
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#40

Post by Ergcat »

Cat nudged out of the bag!
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