"The Five W's" - November 12, 2021

[CaptainVideo]

I think I've slogged away at this long enough. Would some kind soul give me a nudge?

[Tina]

I have printed out a fresh grid and am going to make one more attempt at reaching shore! I will let you know if it is successful!

Update: Nope.

[KaiS]

Stuck at sea with a few dropped threads. Third week in a row and I'm feeling a bit seasick. These metas have been killing me! If anyone could offer a nudge, I'd love a PM, just so I may get a glimpse of what I'm missing before it's laid out for us tomorrow.

EDIT: I am now ashore with a few helpful nudges. I won't submit because I wouldn't have gotten there on my own, but I'm happy to see how this one worked out. Brilliantly and annoyingly simple.

[JennyByrd]

And...ashore. The only bright spot in an otherwise sucky day in which the outer glass on my oven door shattered into a shower of little black bits all over the kitchen floor

Oh My! What an awful thing to happen right before Thanksgiving. Hope its under warranty and that you get a repair soon.

Jg

[Nlobb]

Ashore

[hayburner]

Lost at sea, resigned to not submitting, and would appreciate a nudge toward.. something. Happy to provide a list of what we’ve come up with so far!

[sphorning]

Just got to the grid today. Finished with that and headed to Isaac's bar. Wow, 10 people deep!

[benchen71]

I can't even be bothered to ask for a nudge. A lot of the comments from successful solvers made it sound like there was not a very satisfying path to the solution. I'll definitely check out the official answer. But I'm not wasting any more time on this one...

Edit: This post was brought to you by a high level of frustration and reading too many comments on this forum without knowledge of the solution on my part. I trust that if Mr. Shenk reads my comment he won't take offence, and still give any metas that I try to get published in the WSJ a fair appraisal!

[GTIJohnny]

I am submitting an answer...but I can't reverse engineer it enough to click in a satisfactory manner.

So...ashore but swimming in a lovely pool.

[BarbaraK]

Count me still at sea.

Just printed off a clean copy of the puzzle. Will clear my mind and try to get in the zone as I re-fill it. And maybe post-enlightenment will strike.

[Relic]

After two days of trying this and that to no avail, I've decided to punt. Time to clear my mind on the exercise bike. Losing streak now at 4 weeks. Hanging out with Isaac until midnight when I'll read it and weep. Congrats to all the solvers!

[Trey]

Well...........Marion and I are safely ashore - both rowed but she was the guide. After a couple of weeks of close or close/nudge, it's good to be back in the sand!

Luck to all..........

[TeaJenny]

Finally ashore! (I think.)

If I've done it correctly, I see why it's simple AND difficult. Also why some people are saying it's not "crisp." Hopefully, I found the right golden arrow and the right bullseye.

BTW, @Joe Ross I wrote "Simple, not easy" on my note sheet to remind myself.

Anyone else think Gaffney and Shenk are having a Most Difficult Meta Setter competition?

[TeaJenny]

I first thought of whimsy when I saw this. Then Isaac. And now myself answering "I dunno" to the question of what's the meta answer!

Screenshot_20211109-160505_Facebook.jpg

Your rabbit reminded me of this little gem.

[rosiegirl]

Towed to shore so at least I get the feel of sand between my toes! But definitely will NOT be submitting. Good luck to all of those who were able to solve and submit!

[RobM]

Struggled to shore thanks to a generous nudge. Thanks, Wendy! Won't be submitting, but nice to see where we were going this week.

[Bob cruise director]

And...ashore. The only bright spot in an otherwise sucky day in which the outer glass on my oven door shattered into a shower of little black bits all over the kitchen floor

Oh My! What an awful thing to happen right before Thanksgiving. Hope its under warranty and that you get a repair soon.

Jg

Jenny
I would not hold out much hope for either unless you pick one off the floor of the store. We ordered a stove and it took four months to come in.

[SReh26]

I remain upon the ship
On my shoulder a little chip
However I’ve enjoyed the trip
I think I’ll have a little nip

In my shoulder I’ve had the jab
I didn’t have to take a cab
It was a pinch, not at all a stab
City of New York picked up the tab

No fainting, headaches or palpitation
Around here that’s grounds for elation
Some say it’s a usurpation
But I’m doing my part for self and nation

Ok I was a little late
Given everything I decided to wait
However my job set a date
And I get a pretty good rate

[RobM]

The Monday post-mortems will be fun this week. I'm looking forward to seeing where everyone else's unproductive rabbit holes led. I had at least six, only one of which was even slightly connected to the correct answer.

[Bob cruise director]

Our final report has 57 on the ship and 53 on the shore

Getting to the shore since lunch are

sphorning
michaelm
KaiS
Barbara K
Nlobb
GTIJohnny
relic (and Maggie)
Trey and Marion
dk letter
minimuggle
TeaJenny
rosiegirl
ajk


And joining the crowded bars on the ship are

Hidden in 3D
Katiedid
Flying_Burrito
CaptainVideo
ZooAnimalsOnWheels
hayburner
czeemuggle