XWord Muggles Forum

2023 Puzzle 1: “Staple Singers” by Pete Muller

Here’s contest puzzle #1. Solve using the Crossword Compiler applet, download a PDF, or use Across Lite/PUZ.

The meta is a California band from the '70s.

Submit your answer to the meta before 11pm ET Sunday, January 15, using the form on the home page.



Notes for 2023:

Mega-meta: There will once again be a mega-meta hidden in the 12 puzzles. It's been a little over ten years since the first MMMM mega-meta. To commemorate that, we will do things a little differently this year. This year's mega-meta consists of two songs from the '70s.

Red Herring: The Red Herring returns for 2023. Guessing the red herring is worth 5 extra points, and it will work like other metas in that you only get one chance to submit. This year's red herring is a former record label.

Hints: The website will be updated with a hint to the meta solution Sunday night at 11pm, right after the contest closes.

Grand Prize Eligibility: In order to be eligible for the Grand Prize drawing, you need to correctly solve the mega-meta before the mega-meta reveal puzzle comes out on December 19, and solve at least eight other metas. You can also qualify for the Grand Prize drawing if you solve the mega-meta and 10 out of 12 of the monthly puzzles, even if you don’t solve the mega-meta early.


Thanks!

A big THANK YOU to all of you who contributed to our Tip Jar in 2022. We raised $3,836 from 115 people, all donated to the Live Music Society.

Forgot to contribute to the Tip Jar? It's open for one more day, until tomorrow night.


More Thanks!

I get a lot of help making the MMMM, and I'd love to acknowledge the really important contributions from the folks who help make it possible. A big THANK YOU to everyone helping out this past year: Andrew White, Frank Longo (editing), David Williams and Mack Meller (tech), and test solvers Francis Heaney and Sue Keefer.

Thanks and enjoy,

Pete

Simple start to the year. On the board.

On the board. Love January!

Aboard!

On the board....nice start to the year.

Ashore. Gentle start.

Got it!

On the board. Yes, it's [the 'E' word].

I thought surprisingly many of the answers were "I'm gonna have to look that up", but with the crossing clues (and some strange inspirations) I managed to fill it all in, serach-less-ly (that's a word, right?)

On the board. One of my favorites from back in the day.

Finally got 20 minutes to do this today, and I'm on the board! Happy January!

On the board.

m5rammy wrote: ↑Tue Jan 10, 2023 1:55 pm I thought surprisingly many of the answers were "I'm gonna have to look that up", but with the crossing clues (and some strange inspirations) I managed to fill it all in, serach-less-ly (that's a word, right?)

Same. I often have that experience with Pete’s puzzles and really enjoy it.

Cute meta!

Now I wonder what the mega will be

Solved with my wife, so two can play at this game anyway…

Groovy, man.

Joining the fun this year. I believe I am on the beach.

On the board, after receiving a gentle nudge.

Got it!

On the board. Looking forward to another year of Pete's great MMMM puzzles.