Conjunction Junction
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Abide
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@DrTom How surreal, I clipped that Wizard of Id strip out of the paper back in the day and kept it in my desk drawer for at least 20 years.
The site is just a web page, a meeting place, a clubhouse - it's the group that's special.
—Brian MacDonald
—Brian MacDonald
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Cap'n Rick
- Posts: 1968
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Ahoy, Muggles!
The meta answer is "UNIONS", "and" there are 6 of them depicted in the grid by 12 symmetrically-placed theme entries "and" 3 large plus (+) signs in the black squares. When joined across these little "conjunction junctions" (both Across and Down), the 6 paired theme entries formed phrases that fit 6 other clues. The first letters of these 6 alternate entries, in grid order, spelled the meta answer.
A few solvers thought the answer was "UNISON", since 40D SAHARA is indeed a "HOT and DRY" place. However, the clue for SAHARA, a proper noun, was "Northern African expanse," which doesn't really match up with "HOT and DRY", a pair of adjectives. The better alternate clue was 55D "Desertlike" (SERE). So, a temporary little "sand trap" for some of you
, but I think everyone figured it out in the end.
Thanks for solving, everyone! @Bird Lives is up next on "Smooth Sailing Sundays!"
Until next time!
Cap'n Rick
The meta answer is "UNIONS", "and" there are 6 of them depicted in the grid by 12 symmetrically-placed theme entries "and" 3 large plus (+) signs in the black squares. When joined across these little "conjunction junctions" (both Across and Down), the 6 paired theme entries formed phrases that fit 6 other clues. The first letters of these 6 alternate entries, in grid order, spelled the meta answer.
A few solvers thought the answer was "UNISON", since 40D SAHARA is indeed a "HOT and DRY" place. However, the clue for SAHARA, a proper noun, was "Northern African expanse," which doesn't really match up with "HOT and DRY", a pair of adjectives. The better alternate clue was 55D "Desertlike" (SERE). So, a temporary little "sand trap" for some of you
, but I think everyone figured it out in the end.Thanks for solving, everyone! @Bird Lives is up next on "Smooth Sailing Sundays!"
Until next time!
Cap'n Rick