"Double Trouble" - December 3, 2021

[Schmeel]

Ashore.
Not a phrase I've heard before, but Google helped.

[mattythewsjpuzzler]

Hate to say it but still on the ship. This is getting frustrating!!

Update: got first part pf mechanism (Duh!) no clue on rest yet.

Also I thought it particularly cruel that Matt used "Mass in B minor" for 7D given that was another meta I didn't solve!

Further update: What I thought (think) is the first part of the mechanism confuses me even more. Now all I have to figure out is what the hell the title means, the use of the (possible?) theme answers and said first mechanism part. HOW CAN THESE BE CONSIDERED EASY! Must mean overthinking but......

FURTHER further update: thought I had the oft-mentioned (in this thread) proverbial shower solve! Run to Google and literally NO search results. How does that even happen? I trust based on this thread that the mechanism is 100% but now need to figure rest. I know I am closer and honestly I would have been disappointed at my first answer because there were unanswered questions. Gonna give it the day and they make ask for a nudge.

[Tom Shea]

I was 19 in '87. Am I in the wrong forum?

My daughter and fellow muggle, Regfish7, was only 1 in 1987 ! So muggles come in all ages!!

I turned 3 in ‘87 Not old enough to remember Burma Shave, and I only moved to the US in 2014 in any case, but I remember reading about the Burma Shave roadside advertising in a couple Bill Bryson’s books - “Lost Continent” and “Made in America” IIRC. R.I.P.

Bill Bryson is still on this side of the grass. He also wrote a great book on Australia originally called "Down Under". It was renamed for some reason, likely involving lawyers, to "In A Sunburned Country" or variations on that.

[mindle]

On shore. Have a nice weekend!

[boharr]

My daughter and fellow muggle, Regfish7, was only 1 in 1987 ! So muggles come in all ages!!

I turned 3 in ‘87 Not old enough to remember Burma Shave, and I only moved to the US in 2014 in any case, but I remember reading about the Burma Shave roadside advertising in a couple Bill Bryson’s books - “Lost Continent” and “Made in America” IIRC. R.I.P.

Bill Bryson is still on this side of the grass. He also wrote a great book on Australia originally called "Down Under". It was renamed for some reason, likely involving lawyers, to "In A Sunburned Country" or variations on that.

All the Bryson books I’ve read have been terrific.

[ReB]

On shore without falling into a rabbit hole, surprisingly.

[Relic]

Just came ashore after brainstorm assistance from my wife.

The solution first crossed my mind while working out but I kinda blew it off with a nah!

When I showed my wife the mechanism, she blurted out the phrase, and I said yeah! No idea why I blew it off the first time.

So happy to be on dry land; taking the remainder of the weekend off. Now searching for a fine cigar and adult beverage!

[iggystan]

I don't know whether the other person found it or not, but if you go to https://www.wsj.com/newsletters, toward the bottom is a list of alerts and there you will find the daily puzzle alert. It only provides for the daily crosswords; if you do the variety/acrostic puzzles, you have to go to the site on Saturday afternoon for the posting.

[Hammertime]

Wandering lost below decks. Optimism created by last week's easy puzzle has faded...

[jimbo1]

No trouble
Make mine
A double

[SusieG]

I was stumped until this morning at breakfast. I told my husband I needed to run it by him. He laughed and said I was sweet for letting him think he could help. After showing him, I immediately solved it. Funny how saying things out loud sometimes will shake the answer loose.

I’m ready for the tiki bar now. We are off to a fundraiser that was moved outdoors due to COVID. I’m just glad I don’t have to get dressed up this year (and the weather is unseasonably warm).

[Secret Adversary]

Pretty sure I’ve got it, but one bit is puzzling me, you might say. Anyone care to chat offline to verify please?

[Richard]

Got a late start as we were on a trip to NYC and decided not to try on the plane ride home with my phone.

Anyhow, am now on shore.

Cute one, IMHO

[pilsbandy]

Solved the grid, pretty sure I'm onto the mechanism, but can't come up with any phrase. Would anybody ashore be willing to verify if I'm at least on the right track?

[Joey Avocado]

Fun one

Don’t give up.

Reading this entire thread definitely helped.

You can do it!

[b4alltime]

Ashore with confidence. Been a while. What became of the difficuly ratings?
Happy holidays to all.
Jim

[patpatchica]

Fun one

Don’t give up.

Reading this entire thread definitely helped.

You can do it!

I guess I am about to read through this entire thread again since I’m close to giving up! I have a good idea what I need to use, but can’t find a mechanism for it yet. I’ll be paddling around at sea for a while.

[escapeartist]

Toes in the sand!

I was explaining the puzzle to my wife and the aha moment came - she said she enjoyed seeing the light come on!

She’s now officially part of the meta solving team

[LuscombeDriver]

There used to be a rating given at the top of the page, right under the title and date. Now it says "Rate the difficulty of the meta". I'm with you - what happened?

[mrmd]

On shore but slightly blurry as to how I got here….!