XWord Muggles Forum

I am the biggest Pink Floyd fan of them all, thanks for posting that!!!!!

Ashore, with a lovely "aha! AHA!!" moment last night, after puzzling over this for a bit. Loved the construction of this meta!

Ashore after many many rabbit holes. Agree with the muggleati here this one is a classic!!

MajordomoTom wrote: Sat Apr 04, 2020 12:38 pm I am the biggest Pink Floyd fan of them all, thanks for posting that!!!!!

Years ago, as our favorite bar wrapped up its months' long construction project that would double its size, the new section sat gleaming and unseen behind the by-now-familiar blue tarp. Our band was set up on the new stage, and as they tore down the wall for the first time, we played Pink Floyd's "The Wall" in its entirety.

What to say? Mike/Marie in vintage form. A bit of grinding, a bit of exhausting tools in the box and more than a wee bit of paying attention.

33A, I am beached!

Now, for a wee drop o' the pure.

Stay safe and healthy!

There's a tribute band here in St. Louis, called El Monstero, they play the albums in clubs here, I'm ashamed I've never been to one of their shows.

They also cover Zepplin under the name Celebration Day.

As a quick note, it was just about one (sorry) years ago that the WSJ changed its policy and Brian started this blog. I want to thank him for his initiative and effort. In my mind, this blog has been successful beyond what I think any of us could have envisioned.

And I want to thank all the muggles for creating an atmosphere that can only be described as sensational - friendly, helpful, funny and educational all at the same time.

A great group to know.

Bob cruise director wrote: Sat Apr 04, 2020 3:24 pm As a quick note, it was just about TWO years ago that the WSJ changed its policy and Brian started this blog."

ONE year, sire!

EDIT: This is a 'Monty Python and the Holy Grail' reference: King Arthur repeatedly said FIVE when he meant THREE.

Joe Ross wrote: Sat Apr 04, 2020 3:29 pm

Bob cruise director wrote: Sat Apr 04, 2020 3:24 pm As a quick note, it was just about TWOyears ago that the WSJ changed its policy and Brian started this blog."

ONE year, sire!

Happy Birthday, XWord Muggles Forum! This calls for a drink, all-around!

Bob cruise director wrote: Sat Apr 04, 2020 3:24 pm As a quick note, it was just about two years ago that the WSJ changed its policy and Brian started this blog.

As a noob - what was the WSJ prior policy? I used to just do them in my hard copy paper at lunch - I never even knew you could do them online. I am not even sure how or why I found out that you could complete the puzzles online and then it was only after a couple months that I decided to click the comments and found out about this place.

TPS wrote: Sat Apr 04, 2020 3:46 pm

Bob cruise director wrote: Sat Apr 04, 2020 3:24 pm As a quick note, it was just about two years ago that the WSJ changed its policy and Brian started this blog.

As a noob - what was the WSJ prior policy? I used to just do them in my hard copy paper at lunch - I never even knew you could do them online. I am not even sure how or why I found out that you could complete the puzzles online and then it was only after a couple months that I decided to click the comments and found out about this place.

It used to be that anybody could comment on the WSJ site. The change is that now only subscribers can post comments. Personally, I am ever so thankful that the WSJ allows me, a non-subscriber, to print out the puzzle. Just mentioning it scares me a little.

I am ashore, with a reminder from the daughter in Spain. I might have remembered to do what she mentioned by myself, but it would likely have taken the rest of the weekend, many consultations of old puzzles, etc.

Joe Ross wrote: Sat Apr 04, 2020 3:29 pm

Bob cruise director wrote: Sat Apr 04, 2020 3:24 pm As a quick note, it was just about TWOyears ago that the WSJ changed its policy and Brian started this blog."

ONE year, sire!

I sit corrected

TPS wrote: Sat Apr 04, 2020 3:46 pm

Bob cruise director wrote: Sat Apr 04, 2020 3:24 pm As a quick note, it was just about two years ago that the WSJ changed its policy and Brian started this blog.

As a noob - what was the WSJ prior policy? I used to just do them in my hard copy paper at lunch - I never even knew you could do them online. I am not even sure how or why I found out that you could complete the puzzles online and then it was only after a couple months that I decided to click the comments and found out about this place.

Like most newspapers, the WSJ allowed comments from almost anyone. And in this day and age, they were getting extremely vitriolic (except for most of the hobby articles). So the Journal was spending a lot of time babysitting them to root out the worst of them. They did a study and found a few things:
1) The worst comments came from nonsubscribers
2) After about four days, the usefulness of the comments waned
3) Many of the worst commenters used screen names

So they changed their policy across the board to allow only subscribers to comment, terminated comments after four days and eliminated the use of screen names.

Unfortunately the policy applied across all columns, articles and features. They made an exception for us to continue the comments through Monday but still no nonsubscribers (about 50% of all of us). So Brian created this blog which has a large number of features in addition to just the comments. It has been a huge success and the WSJ has no problem with the blog.

One of the casualties of the new policy was Marie Kelly. This was the pseudonym of Mike Shenk when he constructed the puzzle. Marie Kelly is an acronym of Really Mike.

To make sure that anyone knew was aware of the blog, I post the background and link every week.

Meg wrote: Sat Apr 04, 2020 3:50 pm
It used to be that anybody could comment on the WSJ site. The change is that now only subscribers can post comments. Personally, I am ever so thankful that the WSJ allows me, a non-subscriber, to print out the puzzle. Just mentioning it scares me a little.

Hey Meg - I graduated from law school in St. Pete and most of my mother's family still lives there.

I think it's great they let people print the puzzle and fill it out online. I think it probably has to do with awarding a cup - there are very strict laws in place about running contests and sweepstakes and not having it being considered gambling. That is why most contests state "no purchase necessary" once you have to buy something that is a "bet".

On shore. Really enjoyed this one, with a satisfying ah-ha!

Took another look before attending virtual happier hour and am now ashore! Great puzzle!

Joe Ross wrote: Sat Apr 04, 2020 3:29 pm

Bob cruise director wrote: Sat Apr 04, 2020 3:24 pm As a quick note, it was just about TWO years ago that the WSJ changed its policy and Brian started this blog."

ONE year, sire!

EDIT: This is a 'Monty Python and the Holy Grail' reference: King Arthur repeatedly said FIVE when he meant THREE.

As a senior citizen, I can relate to King Arthur

tim1217 wrote: Fri Apr 03, 2020 6:31 pm Have gone down lots of rabbit holes and even have had some help with Y/N questions, but alas I am still very much LAS.

So in the meantime, here's the Friday night musical interlude. You'll have to forgive this Liverpool football (soccer) fan, but the team's theme song is a tremendous message of hope. When Gerry and the Pacemakers released their version of this song in 1963, the owner of the club (who was a friend of Gerry's) asked if the team could adopt it as their theme, and the rest is history.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OV5_LQArLa0

If you liked that, and you've never seen the fans at Liverpool's Anfield stadium sing it before every match, it's well worth viewing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N51jWNsW3F8

PS: Apologies to any Manchester City or Manchester United fans!

I’m 50 years a Gunner, but I agree with you Tim, LFC has the best anthem of all... makes the hairs on my neck stand up every time. I really hope you get the Championship - it was already in the bag in my book.
Right! After that effort at uniting the fans, it’s back to the meta. About as much chance of getting that as seeing Arsenal finish above 10th! Double G&T please Isaac.

Another gunner here, Colin!

And I’ve managed to extract 11 letters from the puzzle in a reasonable way, but they in no way resemble an answer of any kind. Either I am on the right track or knee deep in a rabbit hole, we shall see....