XWord Muggles Forum

A misalignment of the stars brings you two consecutive metas from the same constructor. What can I say? I mean, when Mercury goes retrograde, who knows what fiascos may arise?

Today’s puzzle uses a style of mechanism I’ve never tried before. The level of difficulty is a notch above most of the MMMs I’ve posted lately.

The puzzle steps into the Hit Parade spotlight to ask the musical question
What might replace the isolated black squares to get an iconic #1 song from the 1950s?

Nudges will appear Wednesday.

Thanks to @Abide and @Al Sisti for test-solving and advice, and to @Joe Ross, without whom none of what you see below on this post would be there.

Geological Rings crosshare

Geological Rings PUZ

Geological Rings PDF

Geological Rings spreadsheet

Off the couch! Loved it.

Off the couch.
Thanks for the puzzle!

Couch vacated. Thanks for the fun puzzle.

Off the couch. Great way to start my Monday. Thanks!

Off the couch...fun puzzle...thanks Jay!

Fun one - thanks!

OTC!

OTC!

Nice one, Jay! OTC.

Off the couch! Thanks for the puzzle, Jay!

OTC... clever and fun, Jay, not to mention earworm-inducing too!

OTC. Guessed the answer and backsolved the mechanism. I think Jay may have been generous in accepting my answer.

OTC! Thanks, Jay!

Off the couch! Great puzzle and "aha" for me!

Great! Over the counter and off the couch.

But I have one question about the meta and two about the grid.

off the couch

Got it after some initial confusion of my own making. Very fun stuff, thanks.

OTC. Lovely way to start the day. Thanks, Jay.

Thanks, Jay! OTC, and the week is off to a good start