XWord Muggles Forum

In the manner of Adrian Cronauer, “Gooooooooooooood Morning Muggles!” I had to dust off the keyboard as it has been a while since my last appearance on MMM, but life happens!

This week’s puzzle is Mix & Match - - I won’t rate it since, well, I’m terrible at it. The idea came to me while mixing a margarita (which has absolutely NOTHING to do with the meta solve), as I sometimes get ideas from trite sayings. Based on prior commentary I know that some of you dislike the “parenthetical numbers” puzzles, but I hold out hope that this meta changes your minds. Thanks, as always, for the great input from Peter/Al.

Usual drill - - PM me with answers, nudges on Wednesday, and Gooooooooooood Luck!



Mix & Match crosshare

Mix & Match PUZ

Mix & Match PDF

Mix & Match spreadsheet

In 1980, WBAI, the Pacifica radio station in New York, ran a serial drama "Our Life Together Among the Works of Art." It was like an old radio soap opera, episodes of 10-15 minutes. Adrian Cronauer was one of the names associated with it. It seems unlikely that there could be two people with that name both involved in radio, but I can find nothing on the Internet that links the AC of that show with the AC of Good Morning, Vietnam. Does anyone have any information about this?

Off the couch! Had to wrestle with this for a bit, but cool metanism and construction. Keep the dust off your keyboard!

In my confusion, I needed help but finally got off the couch.

A lesson to me not to be smug and cocky. It apparently is not what I thought the obvious mechanism would be.

I'm gonna go out on a limb and say this is playing tougher than anticipated. Early nudges if you want them:

Follow the title in order, i.e. "mix", then "match". 64D starts you off.

The first number in the "x,y" parentheses tells you how much of the "end" to mix.

cbarbee002 wrote: ↑Mon May 08, 2023 1:20 pm

The first number in the "x,y" parentheses tells you how much of the "end" to mix.

OMG! I noticed those parenthesis of course but by the time I finished the grid I had completely forgotten they existed!

I would say it's time for nudges. Give it a moment.

Got it without the nudges in about 25 minutes (did on Crosshare, then saw here that you added nudges). Without the nudges you may encounter several possible rabbit holes to try, but you'll know pretty quickly if you are on the right trail... try it without the nudges, I say!

Fun one!

Whew. Got it after nudges. Thanks, Chris!

Got it. And I sorry I looked at the clue. Don't know if I'd have needed them but they did clarify things. I feel like a doofus that I finished the grid and completely forgot about the (number, number) parenthesis.

Needed the nudges (thanks for taking pity on us). Nice one Chris!

Got it with some help, after taking a small wrong turn.

Great meta. Off the couch. I needed to have Chris remind me to folllow the directions.

This was very well done.

That was a tough one. Nice construction.

Nice mechanism, but I'll admit I needed a nudge. I'm not a big fan of the numbers in parentheses, but this worked out nicely. Thanks, Chris!

Off the couch! Very nicely done, Chris!

Off the couch, without needing the nudges! Thanks, Chris.

OTC!

Used the nudges, but they didn’t detract from my fun.

Thanks, Chris!

Off the couch after looking more closely at the title and prompt (along with the key clues).

I did look at the nudges but I don't think they gave me an assist beyond what I had already figured out. What I needed was to take a break and then to come back for another go.

Off the couch - nudges needed.
Thanks for the puzzle!