"One Is The Loneliest Number" by benchen71
- benchen71
- Posts: 2550
- Joined: Thu Jul 22, 2021 8:50 pm
- Location: Melbourne, Australia
- Contact:
"One Is The Loneliest Number" by benchen71
Welcome to...
benchen71's Metas on a Tuesday (MOAT)
Can you storm the castle by getting across the MOAT? Apparently, Harry Nilsson was inspired to write "One Is The Loneliest Number", not as the result of a painful breakup, but because he made a phone call and got a busy signal. The "beep beep beep" caught his attention and so he incorporated a similar sound into the opening piano chords of his song. Fast-forward to today and this song title inspired me to create this meta! The answer to the meta is a 6 letter word, which might not be all that specific but I promise that there's an additional hint waiting for you in the puzzle itself.
The easiest way to submit is on Crosshare (and you get instant feedback and unlimited attempts!) But you can also PM me with your submission. Either way, I'll compile a list of those who successfully solve the meta.
One Is The Loneliest Number - Online Form
One Is The Loneliest Number - PUZ
One Is The Loneliest Number - PDF
One Is The Loneliest Number - spreadsheet
Nudges are here.
The solution is here.
benchen71's Metas on a Tuesday (MOAT)
Can you storm the castle by getting across the MOAT? Apparently, Harry Nilsson was inspired to write "One Is The Loneliest Number", not as the result of a painful breakup, but because he made a phone call and got a busy signal. The "beep beep beep" caught his attention and so he incorporated a similar sound into the opening piano chords of his song. Fast-forward to today and this song title inspired me to create this meta! The answer to the meta is a 6 letter word, which might not be all that specific but I promise that there's an additional hint waiting for you in the puzzle itself.
The easiest way to submit is on Crosshare (and you get instant feedback and unlimited attempts!) But you can also PM me with your submission. Either way, I'll compile a list of those who successfully solve the meta.
One Is The Loneliest Number - Online Form
One Is The Loneliest Number - PUZ
One Is The Loneliest Number - PDF
One Is The Loneliest Number - spreadsheet
Nudges are here.
The solution is here.
Last edited by benchen71 on Sun Jul 23, 2023 6:37 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Check out "The MOAT MEOW Mashup Pack" here. US$10 for 14 metas that don't always abide by the "rules" of the game: asymmetry, 2-letter words, uncrossed letters, who knows. And this time there's a mega-meta!
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Crossed the moat! Thanks, Ben, for another great puzzle!
- woozy
- Posts: 2300
- Joined: Mon Aug 10, 2020 12:40 am
So many loose oddities, so few big things smacking one in the face...
Stinky Pinkies!
My Entry to the May 2024 CrossHare Midi Contest
Not a meta, but, yeesh!, that was tough to create.
My Entry to the May 2024 CrossHare Midi Contest
Not a meta, but, yeesh!, that was tough to create.
- sharkicicles
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- Location: Chicago
- ChrisKochmanski
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- Location: Saline, Michigan
- boharr
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- Location: Westchester, NY
- KayW
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- Joined: Wed Apr 10, 2019 12:10 am
- Location: Chicago
De-moated. Fantastic aha! moment - thanks, Ben!
Contest Crosswords Combating Cancer (CCCC) is a bundle of 16 metapuzzles created to help raise money for cancer-related charities. It is available at CrosswordsForCancer.com.
- Meg
- Posts: 2204
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- Location: St. Petersburg, FL
Clippety-clopped across the drawbridge. I thought too much on this one!
Check out and support http://CrosswordsForCancer.com.
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- Posts: 1
- Joined: Tue Jul 18, 2023 4:28 pm
I believe the actor in 19A spelled his name with two T's. Perhaps the "California Dreaming" Mama would have worked better.
- benchen71
- Posts: 2550
- Joined: Thu Jul 22, 2021 8:50 pm
- Location: Melbourne, Australia
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Apologies for the inaccuracy. It is unrelated to the meta.
Check out "The MOAT MEOW Mashup Pack" here. US$10 for 14 metas that don't always abide by the "rules" of the game: asymmetry, 2-letter words, uncrossed letters, who knows. And this time there's a mega-meta!
- DrTom
- Posts: 3948
- Joined: Sat Apr 20, 2019 6:46 pm
- Location: Jacksonville, FL
Crossed the MOAT and thank goodness, because I was starting to feel so alone. Fun puzzle Ben, nice challenge and fun AHA!
NUDGES!I am always willing to give nudges where needed; metas should be about fun, not frustration. Send me what you have done so far because often you are closer than you think!
- dsbened
- Posts: 99
- Joined: Fri Oct 25, 2019 4:31 pm
- Location: Seattle, WA, USA
I just now downloaded the PDF and will work on it tomorrow morning. But TY for the nod to Harry Nilsson and maybe you can use a few of his songs for future inspiration. ("Jump Into the Fire" and "Coconut" are two of his major hits that were popular here in the U.S. And I hear that Fire-roasted Coconuts are quite delicious)
Seattle DB
- benchen71
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I worry about those of you solving using the PDF. I don't always feel my grids/clues are as easy as they should be, so I take consolation from the fact that electronic solvers (using the PUZ or Crosshare) can reveal a letter, word or even the entire puzzle if they want to confirm the grid before embarking on solving the meta. Best of luck to you, though!dsbened wrote: ↑Tue Jul 18, 2023 8:21 pm I just now downloaded the PDF and will work on it tomorrow morning. But TY for the nod to Harry Nilsson and maybe you can use a few of his songs for future inspiration. ("Jump Into the Fire" and "Coconut" are two of his major hits that were popular here in the U.S. And I hear that Fire-roasted Coconuts are quite delicious)
Check out "The MOAT MEOW Mashup Pack" here. US$10 for 14 metas that don't always abide by the "rules" of the game: asymmetry, 2-letter words, uncrossed letters, who knows. And this time there's a mega-meta!
- Cinny
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- Location: Minoa, NY
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Crossed the moat after trying to make this much harder than it was.
Cindy Heisler
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- HeadinHome
- Posts: 1139
- Joined: Sun Apr 26, 2020 9:06 am
- Location: Charlotte, NC
I almost always solve using the PDF screen-printed to Paint (so I can erase, used colors, etc.) — then I fill in the grid on Crosshare to submit. This one has me stumped! I filled the grid easily enough, entered that finished grid into Crosshare (hoping that filling it out again might make me see something I had overlooked?). Nada. I have 4 things that are clearly part of something, but no way to make a 6-letter word. Halllp! (anyone want to throw me a nudge?)benchen71 wrote: ↑Tue Jul 18, 2023 8:25 pmI worry about those of you solving using the PDF. I don't always feel my grids/clues are as easy as they should be, so I take consolation from the fact that electronic solvers (using the PUZ or Crosshare) can reveal a letter, word or even the entire puzzle if they want to confirm the grid before embarking on solving the meta. Best of luck to you, though!dsbened wrote: ↑Tue Jul 18, 2023 8:21 pm I just now downloaded the PDF and will work on it tomorrow morning. But TY for the nod to Harry Nilsson and maybe you can use a few of his songs for future inspiration. ("Jump Into the Fire" and "Coconut" are two of his major hits that were popular here in the U.S. And I hear that Fire-roasted Coconuts are quite delicious)
UPDATE - took what I had and tried thinking more creatively… got it!
The other Wendy.
- benchen71
- Posts: 2550
- Joined: Thu Jul 22, 2021 8:50 pm
- Location: Melbourne, Australia
- Contact:
Here we are at the end of the first 24 hours, and here's who has solved so far:
Laura M
merlinnimue
kurtalert
Hector
markhr
KayW
Sharkicicles
ChrisKochmanski
Meg
Cindy Weatherman
boharr
DrTom
Golem
CPJohnson
Berto
Cindy Heisler
HeadinHome
woozy
Tyrpmom
That's 19 to get us started. We are very definitely in "week 3" territory with this puzzle!
Laura M
merlinnimue
kurtalert
Hector
markhr
KayW
Sharkicicles
ChrisKochmanski
Meg
Cindy Weatherman
boharr
DrTom
Golem
CPJohnson
Berto
Cindy Heisler
HeadinHome
woozy
Tyrpmom
That's 19 to get us started. We are very definitely in "week 3" territory with this puzzle!
Check out "The MOAT MEOW Mashup Pack" here. US$10 for 14 metas that don't always abide by the "rules" of the game: asymmetry, 2-letter words, uncrossed letters, who knows. And this time there's a mega-meta!
- CPJohnson
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- Location: Kingsport, TN
- KayW
- Moderator
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- Joined: Wed Apr 10, 2019 12:10 am
- Location: Chicago
Good morning and welcome to the forum!
I'm sorry I had to edit your post, but specific information regarding puzzle solutions should not be posted publicly while the puzzle is still active, to avoid spoilers for those that haven't solved yet. You can send a private message with questions or comments like that directly to the constructor, or to anyone else who has posted here that they have solved.
I sent you a PM with an answer to your question - please feel free to follow up with any other questions.
Contest Crosswords Combating Cancer (CCCC) is a bundle of 16 metapuzzles created to help raise money for cancer-related charities. It is available at CrosswordsForCancer.com.
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- Joined: Thu Dec 31, 2020 11:57 am
- Location: Atlanta, GA
Moat crossed, castle stormed, but no one seems to be home. Thanks Ben!
Matthew