#708 - “Word for Word”

[TMart]

Spent the last two days in a deep rabbit hole that I thought was promising...until I realized that I misspelled something.

Oh, well, not this Christmas ....and then gave it one last look and boom, there it was.

Beam me up with a Christmas badge!

[Thurman8er]

Well worth the wait.

I'm so glad we are treated to these puzzles each week...and by someone who puts family first. This group gives me hope for 2022.

[lbray53]

On the board. PM me if you need a nudge, and I'd be happy to help. Let me know what you've noticed so far!

I got a perfect nudge. While answering back that I needed more, there it was in my message. Fantastic nudge. Fantastic puzzle. One of my favorites actually.

It seems like there should be a finite number of meta mechanisms. But, similar to the huge number of songs created from an eight note scale, that number might be very large.

[burghman]

On the board. PM me if you need a nudge, and I'd be happy to help. Let me know what you've noticed so far!

Took cisalope up on the offer and I’m fairly certain I’ll be on the board at the next refresh, and hopefully have claimed my Christmas badge. Thanks for the nudge, and happy to pay it forward.

[ricky]

On board by Sunday PM after an hour or two of pondering, a welcome change from last week, which I found very, very frustrating.

It is pretty remarkable that MG can say "the puzzle I was constructing came out too difficult, give me a day or two and I'll have something more appropriate" and 36 hours later he sends out a puzzle (with an odd grid and some odd fill, granted) that is both the desired difficulty level and uses a mechanism as creative as this one.

[MaineMarge]

Nice one Matt!
Beamed up at #76 with a helpful nudge. It was a rough trip up through this ragged pannus cloud.

Via the Cloud Appreciation Society

[DrTom]

All I can say is OMG - I had several nudges, none of which helped as I panicked my way around trying to get what seemed like the impossible. Then, similar to lbray53, as I was going back to the well I saw the bucket and the rope I needed.

I've officially stopped wondering how Mike and Matt do this consistently. I know there is no logical explanation, they therefore must be wizards - now if I can just avoid being turned into a newt.....

[HunterX]

I've officially stopped wondering how Mike and Matt do this consistently. I know there is no logical explanation, they therefore must be wizards - now if I can just avoid being turned into a newt.....

I agree they must be wizards. And no, you don't want to be turned into a newt. Though, at this time of year, you could drink a martini, complain about Christmas celebrations, and then you'd be Newt Gin-Grinch.

[Joe Ross]

I've officially stopped wondering how Mike and Matt do this consistently. I know there is no logical explanation, they therefore must be wizards - now if I can just avoid being turned into a newt.....

I agree they must be wizards. And no, you don't want to be turned into a newt. Though, at this time of year, you could drink a martini, complain about Christmas celebrations, and then you'd be Newt Gin-Grinch.

Well... You'll GET better...

[HunterX]

I've officially stopped wondering how Mike and Matt do this consistently. I know there is no logical explanation, they therefore must be wizards - now if I can just avoid being turned into a newt.....

I agree they must be wizards. And no, you don't want to be turned into a newt. Though, at this time of year, you could drink a martini, complain about Christmas celebrations, and then you'd be Newt Gin-Grinch.

Well... You'll GET better...

But does he weigh as much as a duck?

Always appreciate a good Monty Python reference.

[Joe Ross]

But does he weigh as much as a duck?

Always appreciate a good Monty Python reference.

The scale's chocks are knocked clear, proving she weighs as much as a duck and, therefore, is a witch. Then she delivers one of my favorite lines of this rich script:

"It's a fair cop."

You can't argue with everyone screaming, "SCIENCE!"

[HunterX]

But does he weigh as much as a duck?

Always appreciate a good Monty Python reference.

The scale's chocks are knocked clear, proving she weighs as much as a duck and, therefore, is a witch. Then she delivers one of my favorite lines of this rich script:

"It's a fair cop."

You can't argue with everyone screaming, "SCIENCE!"

And her line is quiet and subtle, easy to miss. But it is the perfect punchline to that scene.

[woozy]

The must frustrating nudges are the ones where you say "but I tried that and it didn't go anywhere then" but... sometimes that is how the nudges must be.

I got it with one of those nudges.

[Al Sisti]

But does he weigh as much as a duck?

Always appreciate a good Monty Python reference.

The scale's chocks are knocked clear, proving she weighs as much as a duck and, therefore, is a witch. Then she delivers one of my favorite lines of this rich script:

"It's a fair cop."

You can't argue with everyone screaming, "SCIENCE!"

And her line is quiet and subtle, easy to miss. But it is the perfect punchline to that scene.

I was going to respond with her line, but I didn't know if even the most ardent Python fans remember/heard it... apparently you guys did. Seek help immediately.

[HunterX]

"It's a fair cop."

And her line is quiet and subtle, easy to miss. But it is the perfect punchline to that scene.

I was going to respond with her line, but I didn't know if even the most ardent Python fans remember/heard it... apparently you guys did. Seek help immediately.

Well, when you've seen it [REDACTED] times, you remember details like that. As for seeking help, that's probably a good suggestion. I'll go to the nearest Argument Clinic for a session or two.

[Al Sisti]

And her line is quiet and subtle, easy to miss. But it is the perfect punchline to that scene.

I was going to respond with her line, but I didn't know if even the most ardent Python fans remember/heard it... apparently you guys did. Seek help immediately.

Well, when you've seen it [REDACTED] times, you remember details like that. As for seeking help, that's probably a good suggestion. I'll go to the nearest Argument Clinic for a session or two.

"Contradiction's not an argument!"

[Joe Ross]

I was going to respond with her line, but I didn't know if even the most ardent Python fans remember/heard it... apparently you guys did. Seek help immediately.

Well, when you've seen it [REDACTED] times, you remember details like that. As for seeking help, that's probably a good suggestion. I'll go to the nearest Argument Clinic for a session or two.

"Contradiction's not an argument!"

"I don't argue. I explain."

• Dowager Countess Grantham

[Al Sisti]

Well, when you've seen it [REDACTED] times, you remember details like that. As for seeking help, that's probably a good suggestion. I'll go to the nearest Argument Clinic for a session or two.

"Contradiction's not an argument!"

"I don't argue. I explain."

• Dowager Countess Grantham

Ah, Maggie... she's another one. Humor doesn't always have to be a pie in the face.

[boharr]

After much help I have submitted….and have beamed up.

[HunterX]

I was going to respond with her line, but I didn't know if even the most ardent Python fans remember/heard it... apparently you guys did. Seek help immediately.

Well, when you've seen it [REDACTED] times, you remember details like that. As for seeking help, that's probably a good suggestion. I'll go to the nearest Argument Clinic for a session or two.

"Contradiction's not an argument!"

"It can be."