"Government Malfeasance" by benchen71

Can you storm the castle by getting across the MOAT? A weekly meta crossword constructed by forum member Ben (aka benchen71). These metas range from relatively easy to more challenging, depending on how many Australianisms he puts in them! Puzzles are posted in a new thread every Tuesday, with nudges appearing on Saturdays, and the solution coming out on Mondays. (At least, that's the plan. Given he lives in Australia, and they are so far ahead of the US time-zone-wise, things may get posted early!)
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Meg
Posts: 2165
Joined: Tue Apr 09, 2019 1:41 pm
Location: St. Petersburg, FL

#21

Post by Meg »

I crossed the moat and fortunately didn’t fall off my horse. Riding sidesaddle is tricky.
Check out and support http://CrosswordsForCancer.com.
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whimsy
Posts: 2785
Joined: Sun Jun 21, 2020 9:51 am
Location: Hopkinton MA

#22

Post by whimsy »

Untitledzzshady.png
Crossed the MOAT, entered the castle....and was shocked, shocked I tell you, to find such shady goings-on!
Thanks for a humdinger, Ben!
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Qmark
Posts: 303
Joined: Thu Aug 25, 2022 4:33 pm
Location: Ottawa, Canada

#23

Post by Qmark »

Crossed the MOAT...thanks for another great construction Ben!
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benchen71
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Joined: Thu Jul 22, 2021 8:50 pm
Location: Melbourne, Australia
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#24

Post by benchen71 »

There's still time before the end of the first 24 hours since the puzzle dropped. But the following were not put off by the super-sized grid and made it to the answer:

Hector
hoover
Danny K Bernstein
woozy
markhr
Dow Jones
Tom Wilson
Berto
Pair O Ducks
boharr
LarsCaine
Darth
DCBilly
kymike
AxelPlays
KayW
MatthewL
Cindy Heisler
Carolyn
dannyvee
Bird Lives
kurtalert
ajk
lbray53
Cindy Weatherman
heidi
DrTom
DIS
JM
edestlin
Laura M
Johnny Luau
DebbieC
Dave C
CPJohnson
Tim
LindaPRmaven
Golem
Ergcat
Alvibu67
I K Snamhcok
frostyjhammer
Meg
whimsy
Qmark

We start with 45! :D
Check out "The MOAT MEOW Mashup Pack" here. US$10 for 14 metas that don't always abide by the "rules" of the game: asymmetry, 2-letter words, uncrossed letters, who knows. And this time there's a mega-meta! :shock:
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HeadinHome
Posts: 1090
Joined: Sun Apr 26, 2020 9:06 am
Location: Charlotte, NC

#25

Post by HeadinHome »

Fell asleep with this on my lap last evening (not that it was boring… but stamina ran out!). Finished grid and quickly sussed out the mech over coffee this morning… what a treat, to be able to focus on a meta crossword and our fun community, rather than read the news the morning after Super Tuesday (used to enjoy following political news; now it just depresses me).

Oversized castle stormed!
The other Wendy. :roll:
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rjy
Posts: 1032
Joined: Fri Oct 08, 2021 12:52 pm
Location: Gaithersburg, MD

#26

Post by rjy »

Quite the grid fill! Swam for an extra day there but crossed and stormed nonetheless. Clever one, Ben~
Ray
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benchen71
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#27

Post by benchen71 »

Solver update followed by nudges!

Tyrpmom
HeadinHome
Sara
rjy
Sharkicicles
Gutman

That brings us to 51.
Check out "The MOAT MEOW Mashup Pack" here. US$10 for 14 metas that don't always abide by the "rules" of the game: asymmetry, 2-letter words, uncrossed letters, who knows. And this time there's a mega-meta! :shock:
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benchen71
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#28

Post by benchen71 »

Nudges, in order of increasing blatancy:

1. 64 Across has the hint: "Tried and true method of tracking down malfeasance in government (and a hint for finding the answer to the meta)": FOLLOW THE MONEY

2. There are also subtle hints in 24 A and 110 A.

3. You are looking for 10 currencies hiding in the grid!

4. Some currencies are going to be more obvious than others. Symmetry will also help.
Check out "The MOAT MEOW Mashup Pack" here. US$10 for 14 metas that don't always abide by the "rules" of the game: asymmetry, 2-letter words, uncrossed letters, who knows. And this time there's a mega-meta! :shock:
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Jeremy Smith
Posts: 992
Joined: Thu Apr 11, 2019 5:45 pm
Location: Tampa Bay area

#29

Post by Jeremy Smith »

That was a long moat! Solved sans nudges. Thanks, Ben!
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benchen71
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Joined: Thu Jul 22, 2021 8:50 pm
Location: Melbourne, Australia
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#30

Post by benchen71 »

Solver update:

Spid4567
Alex Sisti
noneuclidean
Jaclyn
SJMcK
Mr Tex

That's 57. Last update before the answer reveal Monday morning, Aussie time!
Check out "The MOAT MEOW Mashup Pack" here. US$10 for 14 metas that don't always abide by the "rules" of the game: asymmetry, 2-letter words, uncrossed letters, who knows. And this time there's a mega-meta! :shock:
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benchen71
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Joined: Thu Jul 22, 2021 8:50 pm
Location: Melbourne, Australia
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#31

Post by benchen71 »

Just one more solver, bringing us to a grand total of 58:

Rick
Check out "The MOAT MEOW Mashup Pack" here. US$10 for 14 metas that don't always abide by the "rules" of the game: asymmetry, 2-letter words, uncrossed letters, who knows. And this time there's a mega-meta! :shock:
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benchen71
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Joined: Thu Jul 22, 2021 8:50 pm
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#32

Post by benchen71 »

Here's the solution to "Government Malfeasance":

Government Malfeasance (solution).png

Regular-sized MOAT coming your way in a day and a half! :D
Check out "The MOAT MEOW Mashup Pack" here. US$10 for 14 metas that don't always abide by the "rules" of the game: asymmetry, 2-letter words, uncrossed letters, who knows. And this time there's a mega-meta! :shock:
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