XWord Muggles Forum

Bob cruise director wrote: ↑Sun Jun 06, 2021 11:06 am Good luck to all winning the low probability mug

I think it would be great if Matt or Mike constructed a mug themed meta. And the very tricky but appropriate mechanism can be that there is no solution.

I want my mug!!!!!!!

Sore and bitter loser Tom

Nope! I am absolutely nowhere except in the bar on the boat! I used to solve with occasional frequency, but am beginning to wonder if all the events of the past 16 months has affected my brain.

CPJohnson wrote: ↑Sat Jun 05, 2021 7:04 pm See post #35, Bob....I WAS on the boat. However, I am now on shore, thanks to Meta Daughter. Her knowledge base is much broader than mine. HOWEVER, we disagree on the correct answer, so we have submitted 2 different things.

I'd like to say there's some sort of interesting bet behind it, but there's not. In our family we prefer smug correctness, bragging rights, and fame and glory.

(And Oxford commas.)

I see quite a lot here, so feel like I must be close, though I am missing the 25% so many others have mentioned -- at least I assume it's the same piece No idea yet on the numbers. Will keep staring at it!

EDIT: On shore! Still need to backsolve the 25%, but 100% confident. Nice one.

tigerfly222 wrote: ↑Sun Jun 06, 2021 2:06 pm

CPJohnson wrote: ↑Sat Jun 05, 2021 7:04 pm See post #35, Bob....I WAS on the boat. However, I am now on shore, thanks to Meta Daughter. Her knowledge base is much broader than mine. HOWEVER, we disagree on the correct answer, so we have submitted 2 different things.

I'd like to say there's some sort of interesting bet behind it, but there's not. In our family we prefer smug correctness, bragging rights, and fame and glory.

(And Oxford commas.)

See PM to you and your mom. But you have to announce who won and what the bet is

Anyone mind offering me a nudge? We truly don't have a starting point (aside from the clues that are obviously part of the solution). Thanks in advance! Signed, Two Sadly LASers

On shore!
Although a rip-tide current tried to drag me to the Island of the Lost World on the last step, I went with the flow and approached the coast anew closer to a local maximum, geographically speaking.

Wendy Walker wrote: ↑Sun Jun 06, 2021 9:55 am

Bob cruise director wrote: ↑Sun Jun 06, 2021 4:21 am
Wendy credits her misspent youth for her speed. She will explain Tuesday

Bob, it was actually the MGWCC puzzle for which (at least one year of) my misspent youth was a ginormous solving aid!

Interesting, it was MY misspent youth that almost led me astray on this WSJ puzzle (though I was indeed led astray many times during my misspent youth, the years 18-25 at least!).

CPJohnson wrote: ↑Sat Jun 05, 2021 7:04 pm See post #35, Bob....I WAS on the boat. However, I am now on shore, thanks to Meta Daughter. Her knowledge base is much broader than mine. HOWEVER, we disagree on the correct answer, so we have submitted 2 different things.

Well that ought to be interesting - cannot wait to hear the back story.

Struggling a bit. Anyone willing to see what I have and provide a nudge would be appreciated!

Edit: Much thanks to tonyrobots and SreH26 for the tow!!

Ashore! Solved the grid Thursday night, but didn't see anything right away. Just picked it back up this afternoon, and it jumped right out at me. Or at least enough of it did.

I'm super excited to be starting a new job tomorrow (I've been out of work since COVID). It will probably mean less time for crosswords, but I haven't been doing very many anyway since ramping up the job search a few months ago. Basically down to just WSJ and MGWCC.

BrianMac wrote: ↑Sun Jun 06, 2021 4:35 pm Ashore! Solved the grid Thursday night, but didn't see anything right away. Just picked it back up this afternoon, and it jumped right out at me. Or at least enough of it did.

I'm super excited to be starting a new job tomorrow (I've been out of work since COVID). It will probably mean less time for crosswords, but I haven't been doing very many anyway since ramping up the job search a few months ago. Basically down to just WSJ and MGWCC.

Well congratulations Bryan - sorry that you were made redundant by Covid, but I am sure that whoever now has the pleasure of having you work for them will quickly realize the find they have. Good luck in the new endeavor. We will miss you on the Boards. Hopefully you'll still be around for some constructive criticism on futile META puzzle building attempts.

femullen wrote: ↑Sat Jun 05, 2021 8:51 am (2,1)(4,8)(2,5)(6,7)(5,3)(8,2)(1,8)

I think you mean (6,8)(1,3)(2,8)(1,7)(4,1)(4,5)(7,4)(1,3)(8,1)(2,6)(3,4), but I'm not sure!

On shore, enjoying an Elysian Space Dust IPA.

Back from the literal shore (Pine Knoll Shores, NC) and am now on the the figurative shore. Would never have made it if not for the archive! Count me as part of the 75% club who needed to backsolve to find my initial error.

sanmilton wrote: ↑Sun Jun 06, 2021 5:00 pm

femullen wrote: ↑Sat Jun 05, 2021 8:51 am (2,1)(4,8)(2,5)(6,7)(5,3)(8,2)(1,8)

I think you mean (6,8)(1,3)(2,8)(1,7)(4,1)(4,5)(7,4)(1,3)(8,1)(2,6)(3,4), but I'm not sure!

4 Pete's sake! I've seen 2 many numbers this weekend 2 decrypt those messages. Either 1 of you care 2 enligh-10 me?

KayW wrote: ↑Sun Jun 06, 2021 5:25 pm

sanmilton wrote: ↑Sun Jun 06, 2021 5:00 pm

femullen wrote: ↑Sat Jun 05, 2021 8:51 am (2,1)(4,8)(2,5)(6,7)(5,3)(8,2)(1,8)

I think you mean (6,8)(1,3)(2,8)(1,7)(4,1)(4,5)(7,4)(1,3)(8,1)(2,6)(3,4), but I'm not sure!

4 Pete's sake! I've seen 2 many numbers this weekend 2 decrypt those messages. Either 1 of you care 2 enligh-10 me?

I can't until Monday!

With a little shove (and I didn't have my life jacket on), I finally made it to shore. Matt's last paired number puzzle gave me some fits as well - this is another meta lesson learned. His constructions are pretty impressive, I have to say.

Got a late start on this, and began composing sad limericks in my head to compensate for no solution. Even after figuring out the basic mechanism, only gibberish resulted. Darn those parentheses! Anyway, as is often the case with Gaffney, it is multilayered and tricky, and one more layer has emerged. There are a few gaps yet for me but I'm pretty sure I've got the solution. And now to celebrate with a very nice rose (I drink mine over ice) in a crystal wine glass!

Ashore.

Didn't work on until last night. Visiting son in Pacific NW. First time seeing him in person in 17 months!

Back-solve 25%? - Check
Worried about something I haven't seen mentioned by anyone yet, though. Well, I think 2 posts might have hinted at it. Hmmm... Guess I'll find out at 9pm PDT tonight. (One advantage to being out here.)