#19 - "Go With Plan B"

[Hector]

The answer to the metapuzzle is a five-letter category.

[Hector]

Grid not quite as hard as last week's, but maybe only because I seem to have a lot of the same arcane interests/background as Peter.

Meta, supposing I got it right, seems to me week 2-ish, in Gaffney lingo, and amusing.

[TMart]

I think I got it, but I'm missing a piece.

[FrankieHeck]

Grid not quite as hard as last week's, but maybe only because I seem to have a lot of the same arcane interests/background as Peter.

The grid was definitely easier for me than last week's, which took me two days! I always have to look up a lot of things when I do his puzzles, but I end up learning the strangest assortment of new information.

[Hector]

Ha! One piece, while technically correct, is a bit of a stretch...

[FrankieHeck]

Also was stuck briefly on one piece, but got it. Thankful for an easier one. My confidence needed a boost today.

[LesY]

Also thankful for an easier one! And I learned something, too.

While last week provided delicious misdirections this one definitely seems to hit the solver over the head! And one of the references in the clue for 16A got me going for a minute....

[Meg]

I’m also missing a piece AND I don’t see how the title relates, but the meta seems pretty clear. I’ll have to cogitate some.
Ok! I got the title! I’m working on the piece.

[Laura M]

I'm also sure of the answer but missing a piece. I have a suspicion but I'm not sure I like it...

[ChrisKochmanski]

Also missing the piece. I won't submit my answer until I find a fit for it.

[Meg]

I got the piece after some interesting Google searches. Nowhere near my wheelhouse!

[FrankieHeck]

I got the piece after some interesting Google searches. Nowhere near my wheelhouse!

Google took me to some interesting places.

[Cindy]

Solved

[Toby]

I just can’t get last piece, although I’m pretty sure I have the answer. Google expanded my sex Ed on this one but probably not the right path.

[FrankieHeck]

I just can’t get last piece, although I’m pretty sure I have the answer. Google expanded my sex Ed on this one but probably not the right path.

Strangely, my first attempt to Google that piece took me there, too. But then my second one took me to the answer with no sex involved. Not sure what I changed in the search terms. I wonder if I should be bracing myself for a different genre of personalized ads now.

[Toby]

Solved. Even after I got the missing piece it took a while to relate it to puzzle title. In retrospect it should have been easy, using Beginner Meta technique.

[Al Sisti]

The title definitely does relate, and did help.

[Laura M]

Finally stumbled on the missing piece! Now I see why my Google searches weren't productive, at least not in the right way (the less said, the better). Cute meta, I like the unusual way that it fits with the title.

Also, I enjoyed the grid a lot--it didn't take me hours to do or require Google! But it was challenging enough that I had the illusion that I accomplished something :-)

[ChrisKochmanski]

Indeed, with the encouragement provided here, I continued to Google and found the missing piece. Fun!

I must say that, while I appreciate the occasional cheekiness of PGWCC's clues and answers, I'm finding I'm learning a bit more than I really care to about today's popular narcotics!

[pgw]

Indeed, with the encouragement provided here, I continued to Google and found the missing piece. Fun!

I must say that, while I appreciate the occasional cheekiness of PGWCC's clues and answers, I'm finding I'm learning a bit more than I really care to about today's popular narcotics!

This puzzle had two drug-related clues, one of which referenced an anti-drug public service campaign, and both of which reference things I haven't heard of in over 30 years ...