"Pardon My English" - June 4, 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.
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31 Down
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#241

Post by 31 Down »

Bob cruise director wrote: Sun Jun 06, 2021 11:06 am Good luck to all winning the low probability mug
I think it would be great if Matt or Mike constructed a mug themed meta. And the very tricky but appropriate mechanism can be that there is no solution.

I want my mug!!!!!!!

Sore and bitter loser Tom
Thomas W (since there's already a Tom W)
Dennis
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Joined: Sun May 12, 2019 4:58 pm

#242

Post by Dennis »

Nope! I am absolutely nowhere except in the bar on the boat! I used to solve with occasional frequency, but am beginning to wonder if all the events of the past 16 months has affected my brain.
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tigerfly222
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#243

Post by tigerfly222 »

CPJohnson wrote: Sat Jun 05, 2021 7:04 pm See post #35, Bob....I WAS on the boat. However, I am now on shore, thanks to Meta Daughter. Her knowledge base is much broader than mine. HOWEVER, we disagree on the correct answer, so we have submitted 2 different things. :roll:
I'd like to say there's some sort of interesting bet behind it, but there's not. In our family we prefer smug correctness, bragging rights, and fame and glory.

(And Oxford commas.)
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tonyrobots
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#244

Post by tonyrobots »

I see quite a lot here, so feel like I must be close, though I am missing the 25% so many others have mentioned -- at least I assume it's the same piece ;) No idea yet on the numbers. Will keep staring at it!

EDIT: On shore! Still need to backsolve the 25%, but 100% confident. Nice one.
Last edited by tonyrobots on Sun Jun 06, 2021 3:08 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Bob cruise director
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#245

Post by Bob cruise director »

tigerfly222 wrote: Sun Jun 06, 2021 2:06 pm
CPJohnson wrote: Sat Jun 05, 2021 7:04 pm See post #35, Bob....I WAS on the boat. However, I am now on shore, thanks to Meta Daughter. Her knowledge base is much broader than mine. HOWEVER, we disagree on the correct answer, so we have submitted 2 different things. :roll:
I'd like to say there's some sort of interesting bet behind it, but there's not. In our family we prefer smug correctness, bragging rights, and fame and glory.

(And Oxford commas.)
See PM to you and your mom. But you have to announce who won and what the bet is
Bob Stevens
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KDubs
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#246

Post by KDubs »

Anyone mind offering me a nudge? We truly don't have a starting point (aside from the clues that are obviously part of the solution). Thanks in advance! Signed, Two Sadly LASers
FKelly
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#247

Post by FKelly »

On shore!
Although a rip-tide current tried to drag me to the Island of the Lost World on the last step, I went with the flow and approached the coast anew closer to a local maximum, geographically speaking.
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DrTom
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#248

Post by DrTom »

Wendy Walker wrote: Sun Jun 06, 2021 9:55 am
Bob cruise director wrote: Sun Jun 06, 2021 4:21 am
Wendy credits her misspent youth for her speed. She will explain Tuesday
Bob, it was actually the MGWCC puzzle for which (at least one year of) my misspent youth was a ginormous solving aid!
Interesting, it was MY misspent youth that almost led me astray on this WSJ puzzle (though I was indeed led astray many times during my misspent youth, the years 18-25 at least!).
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!
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DrTom
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#249

Post by DrTom »

CPJohnson wrote: Sat Jun 05, 2021 7:04 pm See post #35, Bob....I WAS on the boat. However, I am now on shore, thanks to Meta Daughter. Her knowledge base is much broader than mine. HOWEVER, we disagree on the correct answer, so we have submitted 2 different things. :roll:
Well that ought to be interesting - cannot wait to hear the back story.
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!
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anaerobe
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#250

Post by anaerobe »

Struggling a bit. Anyone willing to see what I have and provide a nudge would be appreciated!

Edit: Much thanks to tonyrobots and SreH26 for the tow!!
Last edited by anaerobe on Sun Jun 06, 2021 5:31 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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BrianMac
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#251

Post by BrianMac »

Ashore! Solved the grid Thursday night, but didn't see anything right away. Just picked it back up this afternoon, and it jumped right out at me. Or at least enough of it did.

I'm super excited to be starting a new job tomorrow (I've been out of work since COVID). It will probably mean less time for crosswords, but I haven't been doing very many anyway since ramping up the job search a few months ago. Basically down to just WSJ and MGWCC.
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DrTom
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#252

Post by DrTom »

BrianMac wrote: Sun Jun 06, 2021 4:35 pm Ashore! Solved the grid Thursday night, but didn't see anything right away. Just picked it back up this afternoon, and it jumped right out at me. Or at least enough of it did.

I'm super excited to be starting a new job tomorrow (I've been out of work since COVID). It will probably mean less time for crosswords, but I haven't been doing very many anyway since ramping up the job search a few months ago. Basically down to just WSJ and MGWCC.
Well congratulations Bryan - sorry that you were made redundant by Covid, but I am sure that whoever now has the pleasure of having you work for them will quickly realize the find they have. Good luck in the new endeavor. We will miss you on the Boards. Hopefully you'll still be around for some constructive criticism on futile META puzzle building attempts.
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!
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sanmilton
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#253

Post by sanmilton »

femullen wrote: Sat Jun 05, 2021 8:51 am (2,1)(4,8)(2,5)(6,7)(5,3)(8,2)(1,8)
I think you mean (6,8)(1,3)(2,8)(1,7)(4,1)(4,5)(7,4)(1,3)(8,1)(2,6)(3,4), but I'm not sure! :P
WSJosh
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#254

Post by WSJosh »

On shore, enjoying an Elysian Space Dust IPA.
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Scott M
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#255

Post by Scott M »

Back from the literal shore (Pine Knoll Shores, NC) and am now on the the figurative shore. Would never have made it if not for the archive! Count me as part of the 75% club who needed to backsolve to find my initial error.
Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect.
Mark Twain
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KayW
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#256

Post by KayW »

sanmilton wrote: Sun Jun 06, 2021 5:00 pm
femullen wrote: Sat Jun 05, 2021 8:51 am (2,1)(4,8)(2,5)(6,7)(5,3)(8,2)(1,8)
I think you mean (6,8)(1,3)(2,8)(1,7)(4,1)(4,5)(7,4)(1,3)(8,1)(2,6)(3,4), but I'm not sure! :P
4 Pete's sake! I've seen 2 many numbers this weekend 2 decrypt those messages. Either 1 of you care 2 enligh-10 me? :)
Contest Crosswords Combating Cancer (CCCC) is a bundle of 16 metapuzzles created to help raise money for cancer-related charities. It is available at CrosswordsForCancer.com.
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sanmilton
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#257

Post by sanmilton »

KayW wrote: Sun Jun 06, 2021 5:25 pm
sanmilton wrote: Sun Jun 06, 2021 5:00 pm
femullen wrote: Sat Jun 05, 2021 8:51 am (2,1)(4,8)(2,5)(6,7)(5,3)(8,2)(1,8)
I think you mean (6,8)(1,3)(2,8)(1,7)(4,1)(4,5)(7,4)(1,3)(8,1)(2,6)(3,4), but I'm not sure! :P
4 Pete's sake! I've seen 2 many numbers this weekend 2 decrypt those messages. Either 1 of you care 2 enligh-10 me? :)
I can't until Monday!
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iggystan
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#258

Post by iggystan »

With a little shove (and I didn't have my life jacket on), I finally made it to shore. Matt's last paired number puzzle gave me some fits as well - this is another meta lesson learned. His constructions are pretty impressive, I have to say.
debbierudy
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Joined: Sat Apr 20, 2019 4:57 pm

#259

Post by debbierudy »

Got a late start on this, and began composing sad limericks in my head to compensate for no solution. Even after figuring out the basic mechanism, only gibberish resulted. Darn those parentheses! Anyway, as is often the case with Gaffney, it is multilayered and tricky, and one more layer has emerged. There are a few gaps yet for me but I'm pretty sure I've got the solution. And now to celebrate with a very nice rose (I drink mine over ice) in a crystal wine glass!
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HunterX
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#260

Post by HunterX »

Ashore.

Didn't work on until last night. Visiting son in Pacific NW. First time seeing him in person in 17 months!

Back-solve 25%? - Check
Worried about something I haven't seen mentioned by anyone yet, though. Well, I think 2 posts might have hinted at it. Hmmm... Guess I'll find out at 9pm PDT tonight. (One advantage to being out here.)
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