"Shamrocks" March 17, 2023

[Bonnibel]

Ashore. Ignore previous post. It's just a reminder of the best reason for not giving up on a solve: There is no way to know how close you are to the solution -- until there it is. Don't give up -- it might be very close.

Very well stated!

Never give up. I've been known to dream about these puzzles. I solved this at my 2nd attempt, though many times I just can't see it. Don't beat yourself up! We've all been there.

Enjoying my *green* vodka gimlet as I write this.

[JJD]

Ashore, after a month or two of distractions.
This one clicked quickly for me.

[Crest]

Safely ashore!

[Oxford Comma Mama]

Still on the ship. Drinking hot tea since it seems I may finally have caught the cold going around in the family. Hoping for a solve to boost my morale, but it eludes me so far.

Have found several rabbit holes that don't seem to go anywhere. Going to take another look at it tomorrow and hope I find the right rainbow with the pot of gold at the end!

[JeanneC]

Grid done since Thursday night but still with Isaac. I’ll help you take down all the green decorations, Isaac. Where’s the ladder?

[jimbo1]

On Shore after paddling late into the night,

[CPJohnson]

If you are looking for a starting point, I can offer some old puzzles to consider.

[Whiplash]

On shore - with help from the Muggle Zoom Room and Mrs. Whiplash.

[Colin]

Saint Patrick decor:
Green olive in martini,
But still with Isaac.

[JJD]

I just realized that I was helped in both the grid and the meta by having learned real life knowledge from 2 different (obscure) video games.

[Colin]

With focus… ashore!
The croci are out… j’adore!
Yoga (lotus)… sore!

[steveb]

Ashore and ready for a greentini. I'm on a run of six weeks! Unfortunately, I've forgotten to submit my entry for three of them. I suspect it greatly decreases the chances of winning a mug.

It doesn’t seem to make much difference, actually…

[Cinny]

I was ashore on Thursday night, but forgot to come here and comment.

[HunterX]

On shore last night.

At my in-laws, so I barely had time to Zoom with my daughter to do the puzzle before dinner. Didn't have time to post.

As with others, my first instinct worked. Thus, I would assign the "E" word to this one. (YRMV)

[minimuggle]

Onshore after a fun zoom last night. My first instinct was right but I just didn't follow it through at first. Happy post St Patricks Day to all

[mbryant]

Finally on shore. Struggled with this as much as I struggled with how UVa lost on Thursday.

[Bob cruise director]

Good Saturday morning muggles. If you are not a subscriber to the MGWCC, both Matt and Mike had the same hint this week - "a famous Irish person". Do we detect a little collusion here?

Another interesting challenge from Mr. O'Shenk this week. And the muggles are up to the challenge. We have 6 on the ship with Isaac and 140 on the shore.

Enjoying green beer with Isaac are

Barney
JeanneC
jrdad
relic (and Maggie)
Burak
Oxford Comma Mama

And basking on the shore with green water (or is that just in Chicago) are:

Mme
escapeartist
clonefitz
michaelm
Al
Kay
Wendy
pjc
paige
boharr
Homer
benchen71
Joe R
streroto
D B Miller
Heidi
Jean
Dannyvee
Eric C
oldjudge
chriscross
Les
Beth A
NebFaninCA
Meg
Mike H
Al Laubenstein
Larrry
Peter
shalmanezer
Cindy
whimsy
Jace54
M and M
Dow Jones
girubato1
Lee-Ann
docison
Tmart
Georgeall
CAe39
Flying_Burrito
BrennerTJ
MarkWoychick
Chris
Don and Cynthia
Ergcat
Eric P
darth
DebbieC
Rita and George
Harbo
SewYoung
Tom S
Rculli0332
mattythewsjpuzzler
Barbara K
woozy
CPJohnson
rjy
ALS
NDStegs
MikeyG
Henry Paul
dplass
higgysue
Tom Wi
cheekumbaldy
ZooAnimalsOnWheels
Zach
eisense
MikeM000
Fred
Laura
Lacangah
Beth T
MajorDomoTom
Tina
HeadinHome
BigPear
Liz
Hidden in 3D
Steveb
Googly
Berto
dudeski
Jack
MatthewL
sharkicicles
Miki
Kris Zacharias
ricky
Devilbunny
lxp
joe
femullen
ErikThor
Colin
Scott M
DCBilly
Cap'n Rick
Lyman
Char
mlvilv
Sleepy
TeamDoubleTow
Geezer Weezer
Acari
ky-mike
Alvibu67
Moi
ReB
JaneGummy
turbotron
Zagman49
Nlobb
mikeB
William
Whiplash
Bird Lives
Ben B and son
Crest
Susan G
Bill
Bonnibel
batfella
jimbo1
Guffman
Jackie J
SingleMalt
Dennis
Fogway
Scott L
Ron
James D
Haari
Katiedid
HunterX
Cinny
minimuggle

Good luck to all in winning the mug and good luck if your NCAA brackets are not smashed to smithereens

[HunterX]

Speaking of the NCAAs, anyone else with Princeton bragging rights? #15 > #2 ...

I actually spent two semesters officially on the faculty (what a joke) not too many years post-Bradley, so I was rooting for them but foolishly didn't take the money line.

Well, I guess I could brag, though I don't follow basketball at all, much less March Madness. But I had a couple of people text me to tell me the news. (Had to respond, "Is this something about sports?")

I was there during the days of Pete Carril, which doesn't really narrow it down much since he was there for 29 years. He was the first college basketball coach to win over 500 games without the benefit of athletic scholarships! I always took pride when they won an NCAA tournament game. I remember 1989 when they lost to #1 Georgetown by a single point. I also recall some controversy in that game due to a ref's call over a Princeton shot in the last couple of seconds that would have lead to them winning.

[HunterX]

On the shore . . . With my friend Alistair in Ireland on the Irish Sea, Spring Break 1979.

Far out, man.

[StunGun]

Thanks to all involved in Friday's Zoom. I kibitzed on the sly while at work. It's so fun to hear all the diverse theories (Latin mass? Brilliant), and to hear when someone has that "aha moment." Great fun.

And RIP to about 90% of the brackets after last 2 days...