MEOW #153 Viscious Circle
- DrTom
- Posts: 3782
- Joined: Sat Apr 20, 2019 6:46 pm
- Location: Jacksonville, FL
MEOW #153 Viscious Circle
I have had this meta waiting for this time period for quite a while. Problem is that it is, I have been told, rather challenging. I did not want to post it on a week 4 MG and WSJ (though WSJ was pretty straightforward) so I held it and did "Let My People Go" instead. But since I do not want to keep it another year here you are.
It is a probably at least a Puma, though obviously if you catch the idea and internal nudges it will be much easier. I will be posting the nudges Friday but, more likely than not, sooner. Give it a try though, it is not as scary as it seems....but please don't hesitate to ask for help, I don't want it to turn you into a screaming maniac.
Kitten
Calico
Persian
*PUMA
Lion
The 8 letter answer is something known for its storied ability to change people.
Good luck!
Vicious Circle crosshare
Vicious Circle PUZ
Vicious Circle PDF
Vicious Circle spreadsheet
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!
-
- Posts: 766
- Joined: Thu Dec 31, 2020 11:57 am
- Location: Atlanta, GA
The cat has been loosed. Not sure how, but gone it is. Thanks Tom!
Matthew
- rjy
- Posts: 1032
- Joined: Fri Oct 08, 2021 12:52 pm
- Location: Gaithersburg, MD
Debagged the feline! Tricky one, DrTom, with a nice thematic aha... no forgiveness needed!
Ray
- DrTom
- Posts: 3782
- Joined: Sat Apr 20, 2019 6:46 pm
- Location: Jacksonville, FL
So, it appears I finally got a difficulty rating correct! Four hours out and 4 solvers (two here, two posted here, two more on Crosshare). I'll give it some time for additional digestion (or indigestion as the case may be) and perhaps consider an early release program (for nudges that is)
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!
- Cinny
- Posts: 820
- Joined: Mon Sep 21, 2020 2:53 pm
- Location: Minoa, NY
- Contact:
The cat has escaped, but I'm not quite sure how. I'm going to be doing some backsolving. Thanks, Dr Tom.
Cindy Heisler
- boharr
- Moderator
- Posts: 3208
- Joined: Fri Sep 06, 2019 8:57 am
- Location: Westchester, NY
The cat needed help to escape. The cluing in this one is superb. You've outdone yourself. Thanks, DrTom.
- lbray53
- Posts: 1223
- Joined: Fri May 08, 2020 8:34 am
- Location: Elkhorn, WI
I was breezing along, enjoying the clues, thinking, "Well this is not so hard and it's really fun." And then the grid was complete and I was immediately stuck. I have noticed some interesting things. Hopefully they will mean something.
My avatar proves that it is sometimes better to be lucky than good!
- DrTom
- Posts: 3782
- Joined: Sat Apr 20, 2019 6:46 pm
- Location: Jacksonville, FL
Oh, I'll jut bet they do. If you are unsure you are always welcome to reach out!
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!
- DrTom
- Posts: 3782
- Joined: Sat Apr 20, 2019 6:46 pm
- Location: Jacksonville, FL
Thanks, I appreciate the positive words. This one was fun, but it did take several sessions to get the fill reasonable and amusing and still get my nudges and Easter Eggs in.
Thanks for solving
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!
- DrTom
- Posts: 3782
- Joined: Sat Apr 20, 2019 6:46 pm
- Location: Jacksonville, FL
Well thankfully it is being solved. I was so afriad that all there would be was crickets.
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!
- DrTom
- Posts: 3782
- Joined: Sat Apr 20, 2019 6:46 pm
- Location: Jacksonville, FL
OK, 8 hours and 10 solvers (as well as 4 Testers) so far, phew. I was so afraid this would be too "out there" and nobody would be able to discern the scary working of my mind. It is no walk in the park, and apparently I have gotten the difficulty level correct. But that means I'll hold off on the nudges for another day and post them Friday as planned. We have a Week 1 MG so maybe people will appreciate the MEOW challenge?
1 Joe Ross (T)
2 Tamara (T)
3 MikeyG (T)
4 Al Sisti (T)
5 Hector
6 Madhatter5
7 MatthewL
8 rjy
9 boharr
10 Cindy Heisler
11 JM
12 andeaux
13 Laura M
14 DebbieC
1 Joe Ross (T)
2 Tamara (T)
3 MikeyG (T)
4 Al Sisti (T)
5 Hector
6 Madhatter5
7 MatthewL
8 rjy
9 boharr
10 Cindy Heisler
11 JM
12 andeaux
13 Laura M
14 DebbieC
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!
- Joe Ross
- Moderator
- Posts: 5082
- Joined: Fri Apr 12, 2019 4:46 am
- Location: Cincinnati
There's nothing wrong with difficult puzzles, as long as solvers are forewarned. Owning it & declaring it amps up the challenge for some.
With my , I get to re-solve this. I filled out the grid, yesterday, and look forward to attacking the meta, again, tomorrow.
I do remember enjoying the first trip. So, there's that!
Thank you for your diligent effort, Tom!
With my , I get to re-solve this. I filled out the grid, yesterday, and look forward to attacking the meta, again, tomorrow.
I do remember enjoying the first trip. So, there's that!
Thank you for your diligent effort, Tom!
- benchen71
- Posts: 2448
- Joined: Thu Jul 22, 2021 8:50 pm
- Location: Melbourne, Australia
- Contact:
The cat's out before even finishing the grid! Now to complete the grid and backsolve the meta.
Edit: Egad, I don't think I would have solved this without having first correctly guessed the answer. This one is devious!
Edit: Egad, I don't think I would have solved this without having first correctly guessed the answer. This one is devious!
Last edited by benchen71 on Wed Nov 01, 2023 8:05 pm, edited 1 time 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!
- lbray53
- Posts: 1223
- Joined: Fri May 08, 2020 8:34 am
- Location: Elkhorn, WI
Solved with help and kind of a back solve. The black cat is out of the bag with an arched back and hissing.
My avatar proves that it is sometimes better to be lucky than good!
- DrTom
- Posts: 3782
- Joined: Sat Apr 20, 2019 6:46 pm
- Location: Jacksonville, FL
Just don't let him get too familiar...
Thank you for solving
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!
- Darth
- Posts: 739
- Joined: Sat May 15, 2021 6:51 pm
- Location: Champaign, IL
- ChrisKochmanski
- Posts: 2199
- Joined: Tue Apr 09, 2019 9:51 pm
- Location: Saline, Michigan
- DrTom
- Posts: 3782
- Joined: Sat Apr 20, 2019 6:46 pm
- Location: Jacksonville, FL
LOVE the graphic!!! Thanks for solving.
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!
- DrTom
- Posts: 3782
- Joined: Sat Apr 20, 2019 6:46 pm
- Location: Jacksonville, FL
Well there has actually been a pretty good response to this one:
15 lbray53
16 Meg
17 Cindy Weatherman
18 benchen71
19 Darth
20 Gutman
21 merlinimmue
22 Chris Kochmanski
I know I am posting early, and there may be more this evening, but I was up late giving out candy. Then I made supper and did the rest of the things that need to be done so it was late when I went to bed. So. I'll post the leaderboard now and then tomorrow arise refreshed. Thanks to all the solvers who struggled through sans nudges. Those will be out on Friday if still needed, but for now, good night.
15 lbray53
16 Meg
17 Cindy Weatherman
18 benchen71
19 Darth
20 Gutman
21 merlinimmue
22 Chris Kochmanski
I know I am posting early, and there may be more this evening, but I was up late giving out candy. Then I made supper and did the rest of the things that need to be done so it was late when I went to bed. So. I'll post the leaderboard now and then tomorrow arise refreshed. Thanks to all the solvers who struggled through sans nudges. Those will be out on Friday if still needed, but for now, good night.
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!
- KayW
- Moderator
- Posts: 3273
- Joined: Wed Apr 10, 2019 12:10 am
- Location: Chicago
Cat's out (doesn't look that vicious to me)
Another puzzle I got to enjoy twice - thanks Tom!
Another puzzle I got to enjoy twice - thanks Tom!
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