"Jolly Old St. Nick" December 23, 2022

[Bob cruise director]

This week's contest is titled "Jolly Old St. Nick by Mike Shenk

The answer to this week's contest is a word associated with Santa.

Remember that while the contest closes on 11:59PM Sunday Dec 25, the solution will not be posted on the WSJ site until late Monday December 26. And the WSJ will not notify the winner until Tuesday December 27. So hope will spring eternally for another 24 hours.

However the normal discussion will occur here after the contest has closed. And the rabbit is hopping for lots of great rabbit holes that muggles will be exploring humorously.

Jolly Old St Nick spreadsheet

[Wendy Walker]

Hello Friends! YES, it is I, Wendy Walker, committing an unapologetic Page One Encroachment. The reason for this blatant hypocrisy? I have the pleasure of announcing a Muggle-created puzzle, “Monumental Moderation,” that’s dedicated to our six Forum moderators, Peter Abide, Bob Harris, Brian MacDonald (Webmaster), Joe Ross, Bob Stevens (Cruise Director), and Kay Whitman.

Here’s the official intro from Cap’n Rick, who did a great job masterminding this group effort.
Ahoy Muggles!

We have a special treat for you today! I recently invited 11 of your favorite meta constructors to collaborate on a special tribute puzzle honoring the hard-working Moderators of the "XWord Muggles Forum". The end result is a big honkin' 23x23 grid with 184 grid entries and tons of awesome theme material. And with a puzzle this large created by 12 constructors from around the world, we couldn't stop at just one meta answer. No, no, no, we had to include a second mechanism with a second meta answer as an added bonus. So, sharpen your pencils, grab your highlighters, and block out the entire holiday weekend to tackle our collaborative offering. And remember not to overthink it, because sometimes the answers are hidden in plain sight.

I'd like to thank all of the creative constructors who joined me in this "Monumental" effort: @Al Sisti, @AnswerPfinder, @benchen71, @BirdLives, @cbarbee002, @DrTom, @MarkWoychick, @MikeyG, @Schmeel, @Wendy Walker, and @whimsy. Henceforth, you can call us the "QWERTY Dozen".

The first meta answer is a 9-letter word that you can confirm on Crosshare.
The second meta answer is a two-word phrase consisting of 11 letters that you can confirm via PM.

"
Crosshare: viewtopic.php?p=115303#p115303
PDF: puzzles/20221225-Many%20Muggle%20Meta%2 ... ration.pdf

Good luck, and Happy Holidays!
Cap'n Rick

[ky-mike]

Hello Friends! YES, it is I, Wendy Walker, committing an unapologetic Page One Encroachment. The reason for this blatant hypocrisy? I have the pleasure of announcing a Muggle-created puzzle, “Monumental Moderation,” that’s dedicated to our six Forum moderators, Peter Abide, Bob Harris, Brian MacDonald (Webmaster), Joe Ross, Bob Stevens (Cruise Director), and Kay Whitman.

Here’s the official intro from Cap’n Rick, who did a great job masterminding this group effort.
Ahoy Muggles!

We have a special treat for you today! I recently invited 11 of your favorite meta constructors to collaborate on a special tribute puzzle honoring the hard-working Moderators of the "XWord Muggles Forum". The end result is a big honkin' 23x23 grid with 184 grid entries and tons of awesome theme material. And with a puzzle this large created by 12 constructors from around the world, we couldn't stop at just one meta answer. No, no, no, we had to include a second mechanism with a second meta answer as an added bonus. So, sharpen your pencils, grab your highlighters, and block out the entire holiday weekend to tackle our collaborative offering. And remember not to overthink it, because sometimes the answers are hidden in plain sight.

I'd like to thank all of the creative constructors who joined me in this "Monumental" effort: @Al Sisti, @AnswerPfinder, @benchen71, @BirdLives, @cbarbee002, @DrTom, @MarkWoychick, @MikeyG, @Schmeel, @Wendy Walker, and @whimsy. Henceforth, you can call us the "QWERTY Dozen".

The first meta answer is a 9-letter word that you can confirm on Crosshare.
The second meta answer is a two-word phrase consisting of 11 letters that you can confirm via PM.

"Monumental Moderation" - Crosshare

"Monumental Moderation" - PDF
Good luck, and Happy Holidays!
Cap'n Rick

We need links!

[ky-mike]

Hello Friends! YES, it is I, Wendy Walker, committing an unapologetic Page One Encroachment. The reason for this blatant hypocrisy? I have the pleasure of announcing a Muggle-created puzzle, “Monumental Moderation,” that’s dedicated to our six Forum moderators, Peter Abide, Bob Harris, Brian MacDonald (Webmaster), Joe Ross, Bob Stevens (Cruise Director), and Kay Whitman.

Here’s the official intro from Cap’n Rick, who did a great job masterminding this group effort.
Ahoy Muggles!

We have a special treat for you today! I recently invited 11 of your favorite meta constructors to collaborate on a special tribute puzzle honoring the hard-working Moderators of the "XWord Muggles Forum". The end result is a big honkin' 23x23 grid with 184 grid entries and tons of awesome theme material. And with a puzzle this large created by 12 constructors from around the world, we couldn't stop at just one meta answer. No, no, no, we had to include a second mechanism with a second meta answer as an added bonus. So, sharpen your pencils, grab your highlighters, and block out the entire holiday weekend to tackle our collaborative offering. And remember not to overthink it, because sometimes the answers are hidden in plain sight.

I'd like to thank all of the creative constructors who joined me in this "Monumental" effort: @Al Sisti, @AnswerPfinder, @benchen71, @BirdLives, @cbarbee002, @DrTom, @MarkWoychick, @MikeyG, @Schmeel, @Wendy Walker, and @whimsy. Henceforth, you can call us the "QWERTY Dozen".

The first meta answer is a 9-letter word that you can confirm on Crosshare.
The second meta answer is a two-word phrase consisting of 11 letters that you can confirm via PM.

"Monumental Moderation" - Crosshare

"Monumental Moderation" - PDF
Good luck, and Happy Holidays!
Cap'n Rick

We need links! And maybe a separate thread.

[Cap'n Rick]

Thanks, Wendy! Here's the link -> "Monumental Moderation"

[whimsy]

Once you finish the WSJ, head on over to Monumental Moderation and heft a few with the gang!

[KayW]

Ashore. (With what I feel is a POE - Publicity Opulence Encroachment)

Now back to that MONUMENTAL meta!

[Abide]

Great I need a new puzzle to work on because I'm getting nowhere with this one...

:25 edit-- now I get it. Nice SAD one!

[MatthewL]

Ashore! Merry Xmas All! I'll have a spiked eggnog, please.

[Jace54]

Ashore, fun one to begin the holidays!

[Laura M]

On shore. Fun!

[benchen71]

On the beach!
And I highly recommend the MONUMENTAL MODERATION META!

[Joe Ross]

On the Beach with the Boys, run running with the reindeer.

Ahhhhhh
Oooooooo
Merry Christmas Saint Nick
Christmas comes this time each year

[chriscross]

On shore! Merry Christmas!

[clonefitz]

on the beach!

[MikeyG]

And I'm on the shore with Santa! But he tells me I have to go play him for a few hours, apparently!



Definitely check out that meta as well - @Cap'n Rick herded us cats, and it was an absolute delight!

Mikey G

[pipster]

Ashore and (maybe) on page 1?

[BethA]

On the beach! 🏖

Happy Holidays to all!

[mheberlingx100]

On the beach! Merry Christmas to all!

[oldjudge]

Guinness me