"In Character" - February 19, 2021

[Wendy Walker]

On shore! I was in the middle of a project when the puzzle dropped, so I never got around to it earlier. Couldn't get back to sleep after dreaming I was a character in "Halt and Catch Fire" and decided to get up and start the grid. Figured out the meta quickly, and now that good ol' Sleepytime tea is kicking in, so I'm off to dreamland once again.

Mark and I just started Season 2 of "Halt and Catch Fire." It is wonderful! Which character were you?

[Annabelle]

I think this is a first for me: I got the meta before I finished the grid! Thanks to the clue from George Eliot. Now, that's a novel I have not read ...

[boharr]

For those who solved the meta without filling in the grid, you may want to take a look. There's some elegance therein.

[ReB]

I see how Matt is constructing these February metas as tutorials. This week, with 36A he (1) wanted to prevent newcomers from being PAGENTED by telling them that 36A was not the answer, but just a hint; and (2) thereby alert solvers as to a prime axiom of meta construction that the solution is NEVER a single grid answer.

In normal times, the clue to 36A is an example what in the Muggle world would be titled a NUDGE.

[hissongcle]

On shore. My best time for solving the meta. Fun contest.

[damefox]

Ashore!

[JaneGummy]

Another fast one! Jumped right out at me, brilliant mechanism. Thanks Mike
For all the bird lovers, this handsome burrowing owl just dug a burrow next door, we're hoping he'll attract a mate. Breeding season is March (which ties in nicely with this week's puzzle)

[SeanS]

Ashore.. off to San Diego for the weekend to visit USMC brother. Hope to be sipping a Bloody Mary at the Hotel Del Coronado in about 24 hours

[sf592000]

On the Beach!

[Deb F]

Ashore.. off to San Diego for the weekend to visit USMC brother. Hope to be sipping a Bloody Mary at the Hotel Del Coronado in about 24 hours

Ooh--envious. Cheers!!

[Deb F]

The was a fun one. On the beach--sorry it's figurative as some warm sunshine would be nice. It's sure to be crowded!
Enjoy your weekend, Muggles.

[mpmanning]

Ashore (and wishing I wasn't in Massachusetts with this snow).

[FirstMax]

On shore. Like others, solved before I finished the puzzle.

[grwinski]

Ashore! Didn't start until this morning, so happy it fell together so quickly (even found the meta before completing the crossword, which is a first for us!

Rita and George

[auee89]

Ashore! Again, I wait until Friday mornings to start and that's when the puzzle is loaded on the WSJ iPad app anyway. Makes Fridays even more enjoyable!

I see posts saying the construction was elegant. Not sure I am tracking. As a newer solver of the WSJ Thursday and Friday puzzles (I am now addicted!), I would love to have a conversation with folks about your perspectives. February has been a good training ground as I now go back and work through the 2020 Friday puzzles. Feel free to message me if you want to have the conversation. Thanks!

[Scraps]

I think this is a first for me: I got the meta before I finished the grid! Thanks to the clue from George Eliot. Now, that's a novel I have not read ...

I've read it.

It's highly regarded, more highly now than when published, but it never clicked for me.

Eliot deals with a lot of important subjects, but they are obvious, conventional ones, and she doesn't say much interesting about them.

The novel is praised for its many distinct characters, but I don't find many of them credible or their motivations interesting. When you compare xxxxxxxxxxx to Bleak House, similarly massive novels written twenty years apart, Dorothea Brooke does not measure up to Esther Summerson as a compelling female protagonist.

[LadyBird]

Another fast one! Jumped right out at me, brilliant mechanism. Thanks Mike
For all the bird lovers, this handsome burrowing owl just dug a burrow next door, we're hoping he'll attract a mate. Breeding season is March (which ties in nicely with this week's puzzle)

How exciting! I saw my first--and only--burrowing owls last year when we were in Florida. My husband had meetings, so I drove over to Cape Coral to track down some owls!

[Sara Dacus]

I have a couple blanks on my grid, but I have submitted my meta answer.

I thought this one was a lot easier than last week.

I am enjoying easy street month!

[Susan Goldberg]

On shore!

[JoeS]

On shore. Pretty easy again this week. But welcome as we are still busy dealing with extreme weather and its aftermath here in Houston. We were kinda lucky as we regained power after 30 hours but still under boil water decree. And unrelated, garage door opener malfunctioned and Natasha and I are started installing a new one. Doesn't measure with the human suffering, but we are expecting to lose a lot of citrus and palms despite protective measures. Lots of gardening ahead. Mostly looking forward to get my toes in some real warm sand.