"Town & Country" - March 19, 2021

A place to discuss the weekly Wall Street Journal Crossword Puzzle Contest, starting every Thursday around 4:00 p.m. Eastern time. Please do not post any answers or hints before the contest deadline which is midnight Sunday Eastern time.
Locked
User avatar
LadyBird
Posts: 872
Joined: Fri Apr 17, 2020 4:20 pm
Location: Chicagoland

#321

Post by LadyBird »

KscX wrote: Mon Mar 22, 2021 12:09 am
Bob cruise director wrote: Mon Mar 22, 2021 12:01 am I have had this earworm all weekend. it is not time to pass it on

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMo3hHm ... rt_radio=1
It was this for me
https://youtu.be/2RHTiXvELNg
Oh my, but you sent me down memory lane. My college girlfriends and I loved the Go-Go's. I remember going to one of their concerts at one of the outdoor venues in Chicago. All dressed up in our 80's hair and legwarmers and such.
User avatar
Colin
Posts: 546
Joined: Sat Apr 13, 2019 11:57 pm

#322

Post by Colin »

Joe Ross wrote: Mon Mar 22, 2021 12:40 pm
Olaf wrote: Mon Mar 22, 2021 12:34 pm So does anyone know when they actually do their “drawing” to select each week’s winner? I’d like to stop obsessing all the time and checking my spam folder. I could probably get 30 minutes of my life back eVery week if I just knew when the winner would be picked!
The winner is selected Monday morning & is contacted via the email address by which they submitted. Check your email.

It sometimes takes longer to report the winner when the winner doesn't reply.


Image
Joe! Quick! Please snap your fingers or count backwards from 10 or something... I looked at your clock gif for too long and now find myself doing everything my wife asks of me!
One world. One planet. One future.
User avatar
Joe Ross
Moderator
Posts: 5000
Joined: Fri Apr 12, 2019 4:46 am
Location: Cincinnati

#323

Post by Joe Ross »

Colin wrote: Mon Mar 22, 2021 2:44 pm
Joe! Quick! Please snap your fingers or count backwards from 10 or something... I looked at your clock gif for too long and now find myself doing everything my wife asks of me!
Image
Whole blood, platelets, or plasma: Donate 4 in 2024

PLATELET 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗿𝗮𝗿𝗲.
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝘀 ENORMOUS 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲:
𝟰𝟬% 𝗽𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰,
𝟯𝟬% 𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰,
𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿 & 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘂𝗺𝗮. 𝗣𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗘 𝗦𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗘!
User avatar
HunterX
Posts: 1163
Joined: Fri Dec 04, 2020 9:17 pm
Location: Philadelphia, PA

#324

Post by HunterX »

Joe Ross wrote: Mon Mar 22, 2021 2:59 pm
Colin wrote: Mon Mar 22, 2021 2:44 pm
Joe! Quick! Please snap your fingers or count backwards from 10 or something... I looked at your clock gif for too long and now find myself doing everything my wife asks of me!
Image
Ah... Got us mesmerized folks jumping from the frying pan into the fire, I see...

(And can't stop seeing.... Pretty, flashing colors... Pretty, flashing colors...)
User avatar
Tripod
Posts: 55
Joined: Fri May 08, 2020 10:19 pm
Location: Massachusetts

#325

Post by Tripod »

I also first thought of CAPITALS before having Town and Country guide my brain to VACATION, fortunately.

My real question is: has any muggle been to all 4 of these places?

That would be quite a bingo card. I only have one...
User avatar
Joedbee
Posts: 64
Joined: Thu Apr 11, 2019 3:12 pm

#326

Post by Joedbee »

Seeing Ringstrasse reminded me that I was in Vienna in 2005 on the 50th anniversary of Austrian independence from annexation and occupation from 1938 until 1955. They celebrated with a military parade including bands moving around the Ringstrasse. From 1953 to early 1955 I was stationed with the U.S. Army outside Salzburg, Austria so almost saw the start of their independence. Vienna is a beautiful city and the weinerschnitzel mit bier was great! I never got to the other cities in the meta answer.
Nlobb
Posts: 296
Joined: Sat Nov 16, 2019 6:46 pm

#327

Post by Nlobb »

I've done a fair bit of traveling but never to any of those locations, so without the help of Mr G I would not have been able to identify the towns and countries needed to solve the puzzle. Sort of like when modern singers or actors are mentioned. I am clueless!!! Anyway, I don't like to have to look up answers but I guess that it how one learns new things. And once I did, solving took no time at all! Thanks for an enjoyable puzzle!!
User avatar
BarbaraK
Posts: 2592
Joined: Tue Apr 09, 2019 2:37 pm
Location: Virginia

#328

Post by BarbaraK »

kgiano wrote: Mon Mar 22, 2021 10:53 am I submitted CAPITALS - anyone else? Each of the 4 town/country combinations was a town that was the CAPITAL of the country. So CAPITALS was enough to trigger that elusive "click" to feel correct.
You were pageanted! Welcome to the very large club:)

If you haven't been doing these long enough to know about the original pageant, the explanation is here:
viewtopic.php?f=18&t=36

There have been others since then where people had that same feeling (though never another with anywhere near that large number of wrong submissions) but yours is really just like the original.
User avatar
DBMiller
Posts: 537
Joined: Wed Apr 10, 2019 8:59 pm
Location: New Hampshire

#329

Post by DBMiller »

kgiano wrote: Mon Mar 22, 2021 10:53 am I submitted CAPITALS - anyone else? Each of the 4 town/country combinations was a town that was the CAPITAL of the country. So CAPITALS was enough to trigger that elusive "click" to feel correct.
I would say that most (if not all) of the time when the meta has a specific length, then you are going to get letters somehow that spell the answer.
If I'm around, I am willing to join the Muggle Zoom room at other times to lend a hand to those in need.
User avatar
Tom Shea
Posts: 598
Joined: Thu Apr 11, 2019 6:37 am
Location: Freedonia, NH/VT/HI/Earth

#330

Post by Tom Shea »

Tripod wrote: Mon Mar 22, 2021 4:35 pm I also first thought of CAPITALS before having Town and Country guide my brain to VACATION, fortunately.

My real question is: has any muggle been to all 4 of these places?

That would be quite a bingo card. I only have one...
Anyone who's been to Tehran would be a serious traveler, IMO.

I have flown over it. As close as I'd want to get.
Rufus T. Firefly
TomAndDenise
Posts: 30
Joined: Sun Apr 19, 2020 8:10 am
Location: North Andover, MA
Contact:

#331

Post by TomAndDenise »

I'm batting .750 on visiting the countries represented this week but I haven't managed to get to Iran. Traveling on a Canadian passport won't help either. I can still conjur up the smell of the blue gums of Canberra -- lovely. I liked this puzzle; I learned some new things.
Tom and Denise Greaves
North Andover, Massachusetts
rosiegirl
Posts: 158
Joined: Sun Nov 22, 2020 4:26 pm

#332

Post by rosiegirl »

DBMiller wrote: Mon Mar 22, 2021 7:18 pm
kgiano wrote: Mon Mar 22, 2021 10:53 am I submitted CAPITALS - anyone else? Each of the 4 town/country combinations was a town that was the CAPITAL of the country. So CAPITALS was enough to trigger that elusive "click" to feel correct.
I would say that most (if not all) of the time when the meta has a specific length, then you are going to get letters somehow that spell the answer.
I have read the "pageant" comment many times, but didn't know the origin. Thank you for the link to the explanation!
SarasotaSun
Posts: 103
Joined: Mon Sep 16, 2019 7:53 am

#333

Post by SarasotaSun »

Who is the winner of the treasured mug? And why aren't they constantly checking their email to see if they are this week's winner?
otlaolap
Posts: 245
Joined: Fri Sep 18, 2020 11:48 am
Location: Palo Alto, California

#334

Post by otlaolap »

Last weekend I discovered that MikeMiller posts the weekly contest statistics, and winner, not only in a message on this forum but also on the WSJ puzzle page conversation for that contest. He has posted in neither so far this week. I've done my part and (repeatedly) checked spam but, unfortunately, I am not the reason for the delay.
JeanneC
Posts: 616
Joined: Sat Apr 25, 2020 11:25 am
Location: Florida

#335

Post by JeanneC »

otlaolap wrote: Tue Mar 23, 2021 9:23 pm Last weekend I discovered that MikeMiller posts the weekly contest statistics, and winner, not only in a message on this forum but also on the WSJ puzzle page conversation for that contest. He has posted in neither so far this week. I've done my part and (repeatedly) checked spam but, unfortunately, I am not the reason for the delay.
I send all my info when I submit my answer. Heck, I’d give my blood type if I thought it was used to pick the winner!
“I cannot and will not cut my conscience to fit this year’s fashions”. Lillian Hellman
SarasotaSun
Posts: 103
Joined: Mon Sep 16, 2019 7:53 am

#336

Post by SarasotaSun »

Perhaps the first name chosen should have 24 hours to respond. If not, then another entry should be selected?
User avatar
DrTom
Posts: 3765
Joined: Sat Apr 20, 2019 6:46 pm
Location: Jacksonville, FL

#337

Post by DrTom »

Joe Ross wrote: Mon Mar 22, 2021 12:40 pm
Olaf wrote: Mon Mar 22, 2021 12:34 pm So does anyone know when they actually do their “drawing” to select each week’s winner? I’d like to stop obsessing all the time and checking my spam folder. I could probably get 30 minutes of my life back eVery week if I just knew when the winner would be picked!
The winner is selected Monday morning & is contacted via the email address by which they submitted. Check your email.

It sometimes takes longer to report the winner when the winner doesn't reply.


Image

"Must eliminate the Great and Powerful Oz, Must eliminate the....!" Munchkinian Candidate
NUDGES!I am always willing to give nudges where needed; metas should be about fun, not frustration. Send me what you have done so far because often you are closer than you think!
User avatar
DrTom
Posts: 3765
Joined: Sat Apr 20, 2019 6:46 pm
Location: Jacksonville, FL

#338

Post by DrTom »

HunterX wrote: Mon Mar 22, 2021 3:45 pm
Joe Ross wrote: Mon Mar 22, 2021 2:59 pm
Colin wrote: Mon Mar 22, 2021 2:44 pm
Joe! Quick! Please snap your fingers or count backwards from 10 or something... I looked at your clock gif for too long and now find myself doing everything my wife asks of me!
Image
Ah... Got us mesmerized folks jumping from the frying pan into the fire, I see...

(And can't stop seeing.... Pretty, flashing colors... Pretty, flashing colors...)
We have things that can treat that...but sometimes it involves passing the acid test. :D
NUDGES!I am always willing to give nudges where needed; metas should be about fun, not frustration. Send me what you have done so far because often you are closer than you think!
MikeMillerwsj
Posts: 286
Joined: Tue Apr 09, 2019 2:46 pm

#339

Post by MikeMillerwsj »

Hello, and apologies for the delay--here's a quick report on a busy week:

Massive response! We had 3180 entries, about 95% correct. We heard from some solvers that the metas are getting easier--I have no visibility into upcoming contests but there has been no policy decision to get easier, and I suspect tougher challenges are lurking in the future.

Congrats to this week's winner: Tracie FInke of Cincinnati, OH!
steveb
Posts: 379
Joined: Tue Apr 09, 2019 5:25 pm
Location: Silicon Valley, CA

#340

Post by steveb »

SarasotaSun wrote: Wed Mar 24, 2021 8:17 am Perhaps the first name chosen should have 24 hours to respond. If not, then another entry should be selected?
I believe the official rules give the winner one week to respond. I don't think any prize has gone unclaimed since the contest started in 2015.
Locked