"A Year to Watch" - December 31, 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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Al Sisti
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Location: Whitesboro NY

#141

Post by Al Sisti »

Tried a bunch of convoluted mechanisms last night after our gig, to no avail. After coming in at #5 on this week's MGWCC, I decided to give it another look just now. Sweet success! And much less convoluted... Anyway, I'm ready to add another Guinness to whatever is still remaining in my bloodstream from last night. I'm a trouper.
jeito
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Joined: Sun Dec 19, 2021 1:52 pm
Location: Ilhabela

#142

Post by jeito »

Issac closed the bar early...had no choice but to finally find the mechanism to come ashore for more grog.
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Janet
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Joined: Thu Apr 25, 2019 5:22 pm

#143

Post by Janet »

I'm ashore. I hope this will be a year to watch me win a mug!
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benchen71
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#144

Post by benchen71 »

Secret Adversary wrote: Fri Dec 31, 2021 3:49 pm Made it onshore!

Does anybody know if the WSJ is accepting submissions for new meta puzzles? We created and submitted a couple of puzzles some months ago using some PDF info found online, but never heard anything at all. Wondering if we had bad information. Thanks!
No, they don't accept any meta submissions at all. A while ago, I sent in a bunch of mine, one at a time. Within 24 hours, I received an email from a harried assistant asking me to please stop sending in metas, with a short explanation as to why. (Normally, they take a few months to respond to puzzle submissions, since they are quite backed up.) Essentially, they don't have time to solve meta submissions; but without doing so it is extremely hard to gauge the difficulty of the meta. And that's why most of my metas will only see the light of day on this forum (I do Metas On A Tuesday (or MOAT), if you're wondering.)
Check out "The MOAT Mini Pack of Marching Bands" here. US$5 gets you 7 Marching Bands which, hard enough on their own, now contain metas too. And once again there's a mega-meta! :D
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BrianMac
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#145

Post by BrianMac »

On shore at the Orange Bowl trying not to get Covid. :?

Go Blue and Happy New Year everyone!!

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Flying_Burrito
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Location: Johns Creek, GA

#146

Post by Flying_Burrito »

BrianMac wrote: Fri Dec 31, 2021 6:59 pm On shore at the Orange Bowl trying not to get Covid. :?

Go Blue and Happy New Year everyone!!


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Go Dawgs
Senor Guaca Mole :mrgreen:
Sruss43484
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Joined: Sun Oct 25, 2020 3:15 pm

#147

Post by Sruss43484 »

On shore :) Happy New Year!
Beth C
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#148

Post by Beth C »

Ashore, finally. Wasted a lot of time before seeing the mechanism. Another good one from Matt. Happy New Year everyone!
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BrianMac
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#149

Post by BrianMac »

Flying_Burrito wrote: Fri Dec 31, 2021 7:04 pm
BrianMac wrote: Fri Dec 31, 2021 6:59 pm On shore at the Orange Bowl trying not to get Covid. :?

Go Blue and Happy New Year everyone!!


21B607C3-34C0-4994-B845-5D679C1BC275.jpeg
Go Dawgs
Banned.
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hcbirker
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Location: Studio City, CA

#150

Post by hcbirker »

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Happy New Year to the Muggles!
Heidi
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HunterX
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#151

Post by HunterX »

On shore!

Not too hard, though I appreciated my kids perspective and they mine.

Wine now. Bubbly later. Happy New Year all! Thanks for providing a great community for the past year (and before)! And here's to a better 2022. (I know... Didn't we all say that one year ago for 2021?)
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HunterX
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#152

Post by HunterX »

Eric Porter wrote: Fri Dec 31, 2021 2:03 pm I'm on shore a little late because I didn't think there was a contest this week. I'd thought the WSJ didn't publish today and Mike Miller's last post said "See you in 2022!" I suppose that's true; he won't post until next year.

I also spent some time chasing rabbits until I found the right path.

Edit: Corrected my mistaken belief that there was no paper. I should have realized that they would publish on a trading day although I didn't get the paper at my apartment.
Delivery guy/gal must have been celebrating a day early?
Dplass
Posts: 1739
Joined: Sat Dec 28, 2019 10:09 am

#153

Post by Dplass »

Well Mr Gaffney you've stumped me again. I give up.

Happy New Year, stay healthy and I'll see everyone next week.
M and M
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Joined: Sat May 30, 2020 7:57 pm

#154

Post by M and M »

Happy to ring in the New Year with a solid solution. Champagne for all!
MaineMarge
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Joined: Tue Apr 09, 2019 9:57 pm

#155

Post by MaineMarge »

Like sports metas, this meta is so far out of my wheelhouse I will be content to be here in Isaac’s company for the duration. Big NYE party in full swing in the bar, so if you are still on the ship, grab your lampshade and come on up.
Happy New year to all from the North Country
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vandono
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#156

Post by vandono »

At this point, I'd be happy to even find a rabbit hole to go down. Fortunately Isaac has a strong pour tonight and the line at the karaoke machine is short.

Happy New Year to all!
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CPJohnson
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#157

Post by CPJohnson »

On shore....a real group effort for me....observations from 2 muggle friends, plus a hint one of them received from another muggle. I knew what I needed to find, but lacked the "life experience" (that's a quote from another muggle) to find it. Googled and backsolved my way to the beach. There was a great "aha" moment when I saw the mechanism and a rueful laugh over the complicated rabbit holes I tried to make work.
Cynthia
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mlvilv
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Joined: Sat Apr 24, 2021 4:06 pm

#158

Post by mlvilv »

On shore! Happy to have solved, devastated over Betty White.
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ship4u
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#159

Post by ship4u »

As someone who has not watched TV since 21A was broadcast, I'm feeling a 17A. So, I spent New Year's Eve 67A looking for a 74A. This morning 12D nothing 15D. Luckily, Isaac's big screen is showing re-runs, so maybe I'll have a chance by tomorrow. But, for this meta, I'm 27D.
Don & Cynthia

We are always happy to get to know other muggles and help in any way! PM's are always welcome. The next best thing to winning a mug is helping a fellow muggle win a mug!
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Bob cruise director
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#160

Post by Bob cruise director »

BrianMac wrote: Fri Dec 31, 2021 6:59 pm On shore at the Orange Bowl trying not to get Covid. :?

Go Blue and Happy New Year everyone!!


21B607C3-34C0-4994-B845-5D679C1BC275.jpeg
For better or worse it will be another all SEC championship game.

I wonder if Bama or Georgia could beat @DrTom 's Jags
Bob Stevens
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