"Double Trouble" March 24, 2023

[Jeremy Smith]

Ashore! An unfortunate spelling error in my grid kept me from solving this earlier.

[Zagman49]

Ashore

[Zagman49]

A Row'em Poem
(or "How I Got To Shore")

...in Iambic Dimeter

I couldn't sleep.
Was Matt to blame?
Tried counting sheep.
The answer came.

[hoover]

Ashore! I forgot about the puzzle until about an hour ago, but there wasn't much rowing required.

[Jackie J]

Oh clever Matt. Double, double toil and trouble…ashore and make mine a double!

[dot]

Ashore! After struggling for the last few weeks, this was a refreshingly straightforward solve for team dot! Yippee!

[Schmeel]

I posted earlier that I was ashore.
Good thing I got it early this week - my son, Meir Simcha, is getting married on Sunday and we're busy with last minute preparations!

[Joe Ross]

I posted earlier that I was ashore.
Good thing I got it early this week - my son, Meir Simcha, is getting married on Sunday and we're busy with last minute preparations!

🥳🥂🍾

[Barnhart6]

Didn’t get to the puzzle till this AM (Friday). Count me ashore with a strong bold coffee. I’ll add the Jameson this evening.

[cheryl w]

Solved. Liked it!

[Kris Zacharias]

On shore, very enjoyable puzzle! Have a good weekend, everyone!

[ship4u]

REMINDER: Muggle ZOOM Friday will be, as usual, at 4:30 pm Eastern Time today! All are welcome! Whether on ship or on shore, a good time is in store! I look forward to seeing everyone!

Click on the Muggle Zoom Room tab at the top of the page to join in.

[DavyGravy]

On shore. Nice to actually get one without any nudges!

[Streroto]

Thursday at 4 is an interesting time. If I am lucky and I am between cases I can get right to it.

I plan to retire in 11 months. When that blessed day comes, I can well imagine Thursdays at 4 being between pints. To be between cases, that's in a league beyond.

ROFL

[Dplass]

Ugh, I see the ... and the other ... but not the ....so... I'm not able to read Matt's mind on this one just yet.

Fun fact, I once met 1A -- my wife's cousin used to be married to their daughter. I'm famous!

Update: Ashore after a nudge. Not an obvious or easy meta for me.

[gdshort]

Ashore

[Henry Paul]

Ashore!

Is it just me or have Mike and Matt switched places in their “good cop/bad cop” scenario? I used to find Mike’s metas easy and Matt’s hard; now, it’s the other way ‘round.

Yeah … it’s probably just me … .

I was thinking the same thing! Here’s my theory (grounded in the ether):

1. Matt’s contract is expiring this year, and he’s annoyed at the compensation offered, so he’s just “phoning it in.” But Matt and Mike both know that Matt needs the exposure the WSJ provides to his Patreon-ish side hustle of the MGCC, so eventually they’ll come to terms. At that time Matt will pull out Mjölnir and crush us.

2. Matt and Mike realize that CPAs and Tax lawyers are an over represented demographic to the Friday XW, and since they’re slammed this time of year, both are “taking it easy” on them, to keep readership up.

3. Mike realized that post pandemic the rise in Meta solvers was huge (witness all the new muggles, myself included). They decided to “take it easy” to not completely overwhelm us and keep readership high. Matt will periodically pull out Mjölnir to crush us puny Muggles and show who’s boss.

That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

[Dplass]

Ashore!

Is it just me or have Mike and Matt switched places in their “good cop/bad cop” scenario? I used to find Mike’s metas easy and Matt’s hard; now, it’s the other way ‘round.

Yeah … it’s probably just me … .

I was thinking the same thing! Here’s my theory (grounded in the ether):

1. Matt’s contract is expiring this year, and he’s annoyed at the compensation offered, so he’s just “phoning it in.” But Matt and Mike both know that Matt needs the exposure the WSJ provides to his Patreon-ish side hustle of the MGCC, so eventually they’ll come to terms. At that time Matt will pull out Mjölnir and crush us.

2. Matt and Mike realize that CPAs and Tax lawyers are an over represented demographic to the Friday XW, and since they’re slammed this time of year, both are “taking it easy” on them, to keep readership up.

3. Mike realized that post pandemic the rise in Meta solvers was huge (witness all the new muggles, myself included). They decided to “take it easy” to not completely overwhelm us and keep readership high. Matt will periodically pull out Mjölnir to crush us puny Muggles and show who’s boss.

That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

Fun fact, though, MGWCC is slated to end in a mere 227 weeks, so there may be more to this theory than just ether.

[NuYear68]

Happily on shore again this week. Make mine a double.

Stay well,
Paul

[Oxford Comma Mama]

I think I know the answer but I'm not sure how to get there? In other words I don't have the confirmation I would like to have, so I will keep toying with it awhile to see if I can come up with the confirmation or find another answer altogether