"Looking for that Spark" - February 12, 2021

[MajordomoTom]

... I read that one a few years ago and need to find it, it is probably one of the most perfect novels of all time.

That and Great Expectations.

[Janet P]

This is a haiku
I hate that they do not rhyme
I am on the shore

They frequently don't
And I've accepted that life
doesn't rhyme either


It should be known that
No one can be happy with
Everything life brings

A haiku that rhymes
Might not be in the spirit
But is fun sometimes!

[Bob cruise director]

Good Morning muggles. Another busy week as the WSJ works to get new muggles. We have 3 muggles on the ship and 180 on the shore. Interestingly we have no new muggles so far this week.

And if you solved this too quickly, I suggest Chris Barbee's meta 2020 Foresight under Other Meta Crossword Puzzles/Muggle Meta Mondays - challenging but very fair.

Our small but cheerful ship contingent is

Tom S
rosiegirl
KRM

While our very crowded shore includes

Peter
Al
C=64
Kay
Beth A
Wendy
Joe R
Georgeall
Mike H
paige
Beth T
stmv
Jim and Anita
JaneGummy
David K
sanmilton
Cap'n Rick
TPS
Jordanian
bskptkl
Jean
hunkra
Janet
CallMeShane
Dan A
MatthewL
ladybird
mikeh
boharr
RobM
Meg
mattythewsjpuzzler
JimJim
joequavis
Tom Mueller
Laura
Steveb
SewYoung
minimuggle
spotter
Schmeel
Emmajane
Bob Kerfuffle
copperriver
Miki
Blair
Barbara K
Tom Wi
Larrry
Begbie
oldjudge
Chris
Franklin
Tina
SusieG
Joepickett
Dave C
otlaolap
ky-mike
Tmart
MaineMarge
Mary F
Toby
streroto
Heidi
Cindy
michaelm
Dannyvee
Jeremy
ImOnToo
Omnibus
TomandDenise
Rita and George
LittleGood
dplass
ajk
Henry Paul
TeamDoubleTow
NuYear68
Andrew B
cbarbee
damefox
Wordsmith
HeadinHome
MajorDomoTom
JeanneC
ReB
Lacangah
mbryant
Cosmo
Richard
RPardoe
escapeartist
whimsy
Hidden in 3D
DrTom
Bill
Mister Squawk
seahawks seashanty
dudeski
BeTheLight
Gman
higgysue
scraps
Flananigans
Moi
802puzzler
JennyByrd
Guy L
Tripod
KscX
dk letter
MikeM000
Seadub
Jace54
Janet P
Plymouth Rock
ardentgailla
Nalugirl
Peter L
Peter Merwin
Diane
D B Miller
auee89
Kris Zacharias
Amanda Hugginkiss
lbary
Billy M
flyingMoose
Jennifer
Prozach
joe
agatha
Big Mac
Ann
tobivillanovi
halseymac
SarasotaSun
Dow Jones
adodz
sf592000
yourpalsal
Trey and Marion
seans
Homer
Nlobb
Crest
Alan H
sharkicicles
fstadler
Ed S
Scott L
Jackie88
OGuyDave
Olaf
RDaleHall
wb93
Tony S
Softie
HunterX
PJM
tim1217
jrdad
jhseeman
edot
meowmiao71
bread-girl
ALS
joes
tigerfly222
hissongle
cinemagical
madhatter5
CPJohnson
PQ63
zacmoretz
Orsys
martimeryard
Annabelle
John B

As always let me know if I have missed anyone.

Good luck and stay safe

[mpmanning]

Late but ashore - seemed easier than usual.

[TPS]

A Tale of Two Cities is my favorite book.

Me too - I’ve read it 3 times Sydney Carton is my favorite character in literature. The only books I’ve probably read more are probably The Great Gatsby and 1984.

[Horsesense]

On shore...

[Tony S]

... I read that one a few years ago and need to find it, it is probably one of the most perfect novels of all time.

That and Great Expectations.

David Copperfield's worth a read as well. Great Expectations and A Tale of Two Cities were required reading in my high school; because I liked those so much I elected to read David Cooperfield and I was not disappointed.

[Beth C]

Safely ashore. An easy one from Matt, don't you think? Good luck Muggles.

[HunterX]

And hey, I'm in Philly and under 65. I'm looking towards... what... August? October? before I get vaccinated.

YES - when one is just a year or few younger than 65, it’s discouraging to see so many younger people getting in already, as it likely pushes our turn further and further into summer/fall. I know many of them work in the medical field or have health risks and SHOULD get theirs, but some I’ve become aware of recently worked a technicality or just plain stretched the truth. (Then again, many of the alarming footage you see of beer-induced super-spreaders is younger folks, so maybe we are going about this pecking order backwards! )
Even heard that in some places if you BRING someone over 75 to be vaccinated, you yourself can get vaccinated too, as their companion. Now to find me an unvaccinated and unaccompanied elderly accomplice... (Just KIDDing of course, y’all! Waiting my turn.)

Tell me about it! Here in Philly Rite Aid started administering them without checking eligibility. So a bunch of 30 year olds got it. And everyone I know seems to have one of the "exceptions." I mean, I certainly get health care providers and essential workers, and those with risky pre-existing conditions. But when someone I know, who never had any health issues and was active at sports, tells me THEY got a vaccine, and it's because their doctor said they have "breathing issues," I have to wonder. (That person also told me to lie and say I was a smoker on the registry, which I would not do.)

[howardl]

I'm on shore. I did wander down one very particular Rabbit Hole.

[flamingbear]

Just missed the roll call. When I looked yesterday I was making it much harder than I thought. But I’m on shore with everyone else, I’ll have whatever is left.

[Roberta]

Ashore

[ddb13]

Ashore !

[Scott M]

Add me to the ship crew. Plenty of room to distance. Not a rom-com guy and not seeing anything. I have a feeling I'm gonna feel really dumb at some point.

[rosiegirl]

Good Morning muggles. Another busy week as the WSJ works to get new muggles. We have 3 muggles on the ship and 180 on the shore. Interestingly we have no new muggles so far this week.

And if you solved this too quickly, I suggest Chris Barbee's meta 2020 Foresight under Other Meta Crossword Puzzles/Muggle Meta Mondays - challenging but very fair.

Our small but cheerful ship contingent is

Tom S
rosiegirl
KRM

...

As always let me know if I have missed anyone.

Good luck and stay safe

Good morning, Bob! I swam to shore late last night...was a bit difficult since we are in a New Moon phase, but there were many bonfires going on shore that helped guide me there.

[mel87]

On shore!

[diplomatt]

On shore! Too much in my 'On shore!' post

[norrin2]

On shore. There's one loose end that sorta bothers me, but maybe I'm missing something.

[Bob cruise director]

On shore. There's one loose end that sorta bothers me, but maybe I'm missing something.

It may be what I was missing also for a while. PM me and we fill fill in the blanks

[Secret Adversary]

I looked through all of the pages up to now and don't see this addressed...

I know what 24A should be in the grid, but is it true? Prof. G doesn't agree with the answer.

Seems like a pretty big whoops by Matt Gaffney if it's not. Am I missing something?