#710 - “Just State the Facts”

[BarbaraK]

I'm enjoying the multi-step process for week 1s.

I started with the no instructions, downs only. Couldn't finish the grid, but early on I had enough to have a good idea what the meta answer would be.

Next, I looked at the across clues and finished the grid and had even more confidence in my meta answer.

Then I looked at the instructions and confirmed that my meta answer worked and submitted it.

Downs only, no instructions. But now, do I go with what I'm almost certain is the answer, or check the prompt and avoid any risk of losing my "50"? Decisions, decisions.

I didn't even consider this

[ChrisKochmanski]

Beam me up!

[Bird Lives]

Then I looked at the instructions and confirmed that my meta answer worked and submitted it.

Downs only, no instructions. But now, do I go with what I'm almost certain is the answer, or check the prompt and avoid any risk of losing my "50"? Decisions, decisions.

I didn't even consider this

After I clicked to submit, I scrolled down the page, and there at the bottom was the reassuring prompt.

[DrTom]

Aboard the Enterprise with only 85 people in front of me - pretty good for me. I might have snuck up a space or two because I had the answer 10 minutes before that but went back to check something to make sure. Since I KNOW I will never get a #1, it doesn't matter really what position I do get.

I still need someone to explain to me how the puzzle can be solved, the meta derived and the answer sent un what has to be less than 30 seconds (a 12:00 solve for e.a.) this could not have been guessed that easily because there are several possibilities and how could anyone be that good that they can solve the entire puzzle, or even just the themers, and submit within 30 seconds. It is continually amazing....

[patpatchica]

Beamed up! Glad I didn’t have to think too hard for a change. Nice week 1! Now back to the WSJ.

[Cindy]

Solved

[DCBilly]

Solved. Inspired by that success, I returned to the NY Times Split Decisions and finished it up as well. The WSJ meta, not so much.

[ajk]

Solved it without the directions, but didn't realize it until after reading the directions b/c I made a mistake applying the method, and thus was stumped until I read them and the mistake was revealed.

[woozy]

Forgot about this and got a late start. If I got it right I'll be in the ... THREE-HUNDREDS???? Oh, well.....

[burghman]

You go out to run a few errands, come back two hours later, get the meta solved ... and you're #223 on the board.
Yep, must be a Week #1.

Same boat here - solved it around 3:30 and was thinking “Nice, maybe top 100”. Ha! More like 265.

[802puzzler]

Beamed up! Now I'll give the WSJ puzzle another look.

[hcbirker]

Had to go to work this morning. Beam me up!

[cbarbee002]

A true week 1. On the board.

[Laura M]

Beamed up a while ago, but just now getting around to posting. 100% right for the year so far!

[Dannyvee]

Beamed up, downs-only (with the exception of the NW corner) Fun!

[MaineMarge]

Beamed up at #360. Definitely in my wheelhouse
(Week #1).
I had this special escort up-

— Via the Cloud Appreciation Society
Early black and white photographs of strange aerial objects purported to be UFOs have subsequently turned out to be of lenticularis clouds. You can understand why from this view of Altocumulus lenticularis spotted by Donald Fleming (Member 49,858) over Saddleback Mountain in Laguna Woods, California, US. Hovering in the lee of mountain peaks, these are alien clouds, motherships of moisture, and they come in peace.

[rjy]

Beamed up, mostly downs-only but with a little peeking at a few across clues. IMHO (unlike the prior one) this should be solvable for many folks with downs-only, no instructions.

[MikeM000]

Should be on the board soon near 100.

12:47pm was a busy time - 1 minute and 10 people beamed up behind you.

[Barney]

Well this is completely humiliating. I thought I easily spotted “the answer,” submitted it without a tremendous amount of concern, and voila, it isn’t there.

I will have to ask someone what the answer is so as to cease fretting about what it should have been.

Week One.

[Barney]

Not even going near the WSJ meta this week. At least there’s Wordle and a Patrick Berry.