MGWCC #787 — “Hold It!”

An excellent puzzle written by one of the innovators of the meta crossword format. It comes out every Friday at noon and increases in difficulty throughout the month. Available for modest subscription (worth every cent) here: www.xwordcontest.com
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Joe Ross
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MGWCC #787 — “Hold It!”

#1

Post by Joe Ross »

MGWCC #787 — Friday, June 30th, 2023

GUEST CONSTRUCTOR MONTH, PUZZLE #5

“Hold It!” by Paul Coulter


Image


Our fifth and final Guest Constructor this month is Paul Coulter. He writes:

I’m a retired biology professor living in the Philadelphia area (Go Union, Phils, Sixers, Iggles!). I’m an avid sports fan, but even I admit that the Flyers are hopeless in their current form. Aside from constructing US-style crosswords, I enjoy cooking, cryptic crosswords in the Guardian and Times (of London), and getting my butt whupped playing backyard soccer against my seven-year old granddaughter Adeline. Look out for Addie Coulter, US WNST, 2034!


Alrighty! Let’s see what Paul’s got for us in the anchor spot this month…

THIS WEEK’S INSTRUCTIONS:

This week’s contest answer is a type of sandwich.


MGWCC #787 -- Clue Error
Dear Solver,

The clue at 29-Down today contains an error. The amended clue should read:

Luxury Italian menswear brand (or what Schiaparelli thought he saw on Mars)

This is not in any way meta-related, just an editing error.

Keep calm and carry on,

Matt


Solve well, and be not led astray by words intended to deceive.


WANT TO SUBSCRIBE TO MY CROSSWORD CONTEST?:
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hcbirker
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#2

Post by hcbirker »

Not in my inbox yet. Anyone else?
Heidi
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hcbirker
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#3

Post by hcbirker »

Never mind. Just dropped.
Heidi
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MikeyG
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#4

Post by MikeyG »

A Week 5 with 8 in 20 minutes is a good sign. I'll predict 256 (nice power of two!) when all is said and done.

Posting early here to send good insights my way, since it also helps. I think eating a lot of sandwiches will help too!

Edit #1: I think I have it, and I'm going for it. Awaiting the beam!

Edit #2: Beamed at #15!

Image
Less cross words, more crosswords.

Solve my latest "Pun of a Kind" Meta!: 92. It's a Breeze
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MMe
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#5

Post by MMe »

hcbirker wrote: ↑Fri Jun 30, 2023 12:09 pm Not in my inbox yet. Anyone else?
More reliably found on time at patreon.com
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docison
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#6

Post by docison »

Scheduled a call for noon, figuring it was a week 5 so time wouldn't quite be of the essence. But lo and behold this was an approachable week 5! Solved the grid on my call (sorry everyone) and am on the board at #27.
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BarbaraK
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#7

Post by BarbaraK »

To submit or not to submit (yet) - that is the question...

On the one hand, it seems too easy for a week 5, maybe there's more I'm missing

On the other hand, it's kind of perfect. If it is wrong, someone else would have submitted it, and there are zero incorrect out of 27 right now.

On the gripping hand (anyone nerdy enough to get that reference?) I got my 100 badge a couple weeks ago, so I'm done worrying about my streak and expect it to end soon. (May need to start trying for that 1-across by guessing before getting the puzzle:)

That was a quick update. Beamed up while I was writing this.
If you want help with a meta, feel free to PM me. The more specific you are about what you have and what you want, the more likely I can help without spoiling.

(And if I help you win a mug, I’ll be especially delighted.)
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Wendy Walker
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#8

Post by Wendy Walker »

Just submitted, with the same qualms you had, @BarbaraK! That was a fun puzzle.
EDIT: Beamed up -- and got my "100" badge!
Good luck, fellow Muggles!
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markhr
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#9

Post by markhr »

Beamed up at #31. Nice puzzle to work out.
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Bird Lives
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#10

Post by Bird Lives »

Beamed up at #41, solo solve (and it would have been higher if I hadn't been dealing with the new air conditioner). It seems as though the Week/Difficulty ratio has gone random for the guest constructors.
I'll bet that the entry that provided entrée will be the same for almost all solvers.
Jay
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ajk
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#11

Post by ajk »

Beamed after a suitable delay while I contemplated if it could be so simple. :lol:
Check out this very cool project by many of your favorite muggles to raise money to fight cancer. You get a fun puzzle bundle and good causes get $. Win-win: Crosswords for Cancer
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Bird Lives
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#12

Post by Bird Lives »

ajk wrote: ↑Fri Jun 30, 2023 1:59 pm Beamed after a suitable delay while I contemplated if it could be so simple. :lol:
There's an added dimension, not essential for solving, but it adds a certain elegance.
Jay
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ChrisKochmanski
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#13

Post by ChrisKochmanski »

Beamed!

I very much enjoyed this puzzle. Nice work, Paul!
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boharr
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#14

Post by boharr »

Beamed.
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Laura M
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#15

Post by Laura M »

Submitted with the same reservations as others, but on the board at #76! (If it hadn't been for that pesky week 2, I would have been within shouting distance of a "25" badge, grr. Oh well.)
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Joe
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#16

Post by Joe »

Pretty sure I'm there. Submitted and waiting.

Edit: Yup. Beamed.
Last edited by Joe on Fri Jun 30, 2023 6:07 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Happy to give nudges. If you notice I've solved, please tell me about avenues you've explored so I can nudge you in the right direction and not off a cliff.
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ky-mike
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#17

Post by ky-mike »

Submitted and awaiting update.

Edit - on the board at #99 with my 50 badge.

Edit again - dropped to #101. Must have been a couple of pending answers accepted.
Last edited by ky-mike on Fri Jun 30, 2023 7:04 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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hcbirker
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#18

Post by hcbirker »

Beam me up! Not a week 5, but I'll take it!
Heidi
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Cinny
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#19

Post by Cinny »

Beamed up. I enjoy any MGWCC that I solve on a Friday afternoon!
Thanks, Paul. Very nice.
Cindy Heisler
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hcbirker
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#20

Post by hcbirker »

Paul has a lot of puzzles in the LA Times. Always a pleasure to solve.
Heidi
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