Nudges, in order of increasing blatancy:
1.
2.
3.
4.
"Helpful Quotation" by benchen71
-
benchen71
- Posts: 2448
- Joined: Thu Jul 22, 2021 8:50 pm
- Location: Melbourne, Australia
- Contact:
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! 
-
benchen71
- Posts: 2448
- Joined: Thu Jul 22, 2021 8:50 pm
- Location: Melbourne, Australia
- Contact:
Since the nudges were published, there have only been 2 more solvers:
Bird Lives
SeamusOL
That brings us to 53. Next (and last) update before the answer reveal.
Bird Lives
SeamusOL
That brings us to 53. Next (and last) update before the answer reveal.
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!
-
whimsy
- Posts: 2786
- Joined: Sun Jun 21, 2020 9:51 am
- Location: Hopkinton MA
-
benchen71
- Posts: 2448
- Joined: Thu Jul 22, 2021 8:50 pm
- Location: Melbourne, Australia
- Contact:
3 additional solvers, bringing us up to a total of 56:
edestlin
whimsy
Sharkicicles
Answer soon...
edestlin
whimsy
Sharkicicles
Answer soon...
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!
-
benchen71
- Posts: 2448
- Joined: Thu Jul 22, 2021 8:50 pm
- Location: Melbourne, Australia
- Contact:
Here's the solution to "Helpful Quotation":
The seed for this meta was a MEOW puzzle I released towards the end of 2022 in which I inadvertently used the clue "Madonna song, 'La ___ Bonita'" for ILSA. A number of solvers reported the error and I immediately fixed the mistake (to "Mrs. Lund of 'Casablanca'"). But thinking about it afterwards I realised something like that could actually be a meta mechanic. Of course I had to use that very same error, which led quite directly to the meta answer. I came up with the other mistakes which all ended up involving short words. Then, since the puzzle needed some long entries, I went looking for a suitable quotation. And I think you will agree that Samuel Smiles' is absolutely perfect, referencing both mistakes and discovery. I love it when everything comes together so serendipitously!
... And then I went and made exactly the same mistake a few weeks ago
The seed for this meta was a MEOW puzzle I released towards the end of 2022 in which I inadvertently used the clue "Madonna song, 'La ___ Bonita'" for ILSA. A number of solvers reported the error and I immediately fixed the mistake (to "Mrs. Lund of 'Casablanca'"). But thinking about it afterwards I realised something like that could actually be a meta mechanic. Of course I had to use that very same error, which led quite directly to the meta answer. I came up with the other mistakes which all ended up involving short words. Then, since the puzzle needed some long entries, I went looking for a suitable quotation. And I think you will agree that Samuel Smiles' is absolutely perfect, referencing both mistakes and discovery. I love it when everything comes together so serendipitously!
... And then I went and made exactly the same mistake a few weeks ago
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!