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When cats work, they require a purr-formance review.

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September is here! It does mean that summer is unofficially ending, so this is the last puzzle in the Summer of Solves. We will still go back to puzzles on a bimonthly basis, and the next one will go live Saturday, September 16 at 1 pm ET (I hope the leaderboard will be finalized by then!).

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1. Puzzle #68 answer: ABIDE

Correct entries: 49 (tying last week, with about 20 or so likely solo solves).



Shortest explanation, which is still a bit involved: The five longest across entries, with one letter changed, would contain within them five consecutive letters of the alphabet. (For instance, SUPERSTAR would have PQRST if the E were changed to a Q).

All changes (with new/old letter)

SUPQRSTAR (QE)
DEFGHTON (FI)
THIJKLIKEACAT (JN)
FIRSTUVE (UA)
BCDEFAULT (CY)

The new letter and replaced letter start and end five other 5-letter words in the grid. Their order, from top to bottom, JOANN, UMBRA, QUITE, CADDY, FIERI. We already have "used" the start and end letters of these, but the middle letters spell ABIDE, the contest answer and one of the few single 5-letter words (ABODE is the other I found) that share the property in question: when one letter is changed to another, a string of five consecutive letters of the alphabet forms: ABCDE, in this case! (I've also been told this is @Abide's favorite puzzle.)

The main question I had on this, which was fair, was why the center letters are used; I thought this was a legitimate mechanism, as nothing directly states the initial letters always have to spell the answer. In retrospect, I might have included some entry or directive that indicated to look toward the center.

Onward!

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2. Leaderboard



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3. This is the first Saturday in September and, indeed, we have a cool-down lap of a Level 1 to close out the Summer of Solves.

69. Let's Meet After Work

The answer to the meta is what you did to solve it (but not really).

Deadline is Saturday, September 9 at 1 pm ET, thus concluding the Summer of Solves!

Good luck, and may all your solves be beautiful!

Mikey G

A great way to finish the Summer of Solves. Please keep going or we will experience The Winter of our Discontent

Thanks Mikey! Can't believe the SOS is over already, it's been a blast!

Thanks for a beautiful Summer of Solves!

Whew. Needed a Level 1 after the last few weeks. Thanks, Mikey!

Thanks for the Summer of Solves, Mikey. Really enjoyed it.

Thanks Mikey! What’s the prize for being #6 on your leaderboard? There's a prize, right?

Thanks for all the summer puzzles, Mikey. Oh, and go Cubs!

Fun finish to the season...thanks for all the great puzzles.

In defense of the center mechanism, the question would be "why not?". The entries were all 5 letters long, the beginning and terminal letters were already "used" in finding those 5 words, meaning there were three "unused" letters left in each word. It would make a lot more sense to use the middle letter than either of the other two, besides when you write the 5 words out, one underneath each other in grid order in a spreadsheet or monospaced on paper (which we all tend to do), you see: A very quick looks tells you what you need, it is the only real "word" AND it fits the theme (he has done so well he got promoted to an answer - the ultimate Peter Principle)!

I needed help to get there (muffed the very last part) but when I did I was delighted and impressed.

^^^
I didn't get last week's either (well, the last step, that is) until about the 53rd nudge.
But hey, looking at @DrTom's grid just above I now see MID diagonally left-to-right and top-to-bottom, right in the MID!! You did give us that hint after all, Mikey!

What we'll all be doing to Mikey on September 15.
"Wake up, Mikey. It's time for POAK, POAK, POAK, POAK, POAK........"

Thank you for this last SofS puzzle and for the whole line-up; it's been great fun!

I came into the series a little late but I really enjoyed it. Thank you!

Meg wrote: ↑Sat Sep 02, 2023 1:34 pm Thanks Mikey! What’s the prize for being #6 on your leaderboard? There's a prize, right?

Perhaps there should be a bonus if you share the creator's birthday!

SamKat9 wrote: ↑Sat Sep 02, 2023 4:34 pm I came into the series a little late but I really enjoyed it. Thank you!

Hope to see you next summer and every other week henceforth in '23!

Fun one Mikey! I always enjoy your puzzles (and your cluing). Looking forward to the 16th!

Done and dusted, bringing to a close a great SoS. Thanks, Mikey!

Solved. Thanks, Mikey!

DrTom wrote: ↑Sat Sep 02, 2023 2:04 pm when you write the 5 words out, one underneath each other in grid order in a spreadsheet or monospaced on paper (which we all tend to do), you see:
MIKEY.jpg

... except this isn't exactly grid order. The Q of QUITE is higher than the U of UMBRA.

It is grid order if you are already looking at the middle letters, which was why I required assistance to bring this one home.

Fun final puzzle.

Thanks for your contribution in Saving Our Summer!!

Mine in particular.