A weekly meta crossword created by members of the forum. Difficulty levels will vary. Hints are usually available starting Wednesday, and solutions are posted on Sunday.
Welcome to Monday Muggles March Madness Meta. This final Monday Meta of the month is a team effort — the home team being Peter Abide and me — though the puzzle has nothing to do with basketball. Here’s the backstory:
A few weeks ago, Matt Gaffney’s puzzle for his weekly contest (MGWCC #715) was A City of Puzzles. Solving that puzzle gave me an idea for a totally different mechanism (and puzzle). When I mentioned this in the Muggles Zoom Room, Peter said that he’d had the same idea. He said this, even though I had not revealed what my idea was. And he was right. So we collaborated, and the result is today’s puzzle. It’s a bit more challenging than most Monday Metas (at least that what test solvers not named Al Sisti thought).
The answer is a title associated with Elvis.
PM me (or Peter, or both) with your answer or go to Crosshare for instant gratification.
I see some of what I am supposed to but I know there must be more.
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!
Line up the ducks and... hit a wall. Started okay. Maybe will end up okay but I'm not there.
Funny story. I was all set to enter Par for the course for the CrossHare midi contest for April but I mistakenly thought midi meant 7x 7 and not 11 x 11. Oops. Well.... Here's a complex but **small** meta on the subject of golf.
MikeyG wrote: ↑Mon Mar 28, 2022 1:25 pm
I test-solved this, and by test-solved, I mean test-nudged, and by test-nudged, I mean test-carried-over-the-finish-line.
Major kudos for anyone who cracks this!
Couldn't say it any better as this was my experience as well.
I wrote down an answer before I started the grid and found enough "circumstantial" evidence to submit. I was right! Based on comments above I still have some work to do if I am going to "show my work". The old math teacher in me thinks that is important.
My avatar proves that it is sometimes better to be lucky than good!
I feel sorry for the test solvers that had to solve the original version. A few “helpers” (including 26-Down) were added after hearing their anguished cries.
The site is just a web page, a meeting place, a clubhouse - it's the group that's special.
—Brian MacDonald
Abide wrote: ↑Mon Mar 28, 2022 2:25 pm
I feel sorry for the test solvers that had to solve the original version. A few “helpers” (including 26-Down) were added after hearing their anguished cries.
I wondered if that was important and if it was going to be a problem that I’m just a dabbler in cryptics. Don’t understand that clue at all.
If you want help with a meta, feel free to PM me. The more specific you are about what you have and what you want, the more likely I can help without spoiling.
(And if I help you win a mug, I’ll be especially delighted.)
lbray53 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 28, 2022 2:04 pm
I wrote down an answer before I started the grid and found enough "circumstantial" evidence to submit. I was right! Based on comments above I still have some work to do if I am going to "show my work". The old math teacher in me thinks that is important.
I have "fleshed" out my answer. I am feeling much better now.
My avatar proves that it is sometimes better to be lucky than good!
(But I suspect that the only connection to this MMM is that the title inspired the authors.)
If you want help with a meta, feel free to PM me. The more specific you are about what you have and what you want, the more likely I can help without spoiling.
(And if I help you win a mug, I’ll be especially delighted.)
