#626 - "Three-Quarter Time"

An excellent puzzle written by one of the innovators of the meta crossword format. It comes out every Friday at noon and increases in difficulty throughout the month. Available for modest subscription (worth every cent) here: www.xwordcontest.com
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spotter
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#41

Post by spotter »

I also don't think I'll solve this one in time. I haven't had a single idea that has led me anywhere. I guess it's weeks like these that make it feel so good to solve these puzzles!
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ky-mike
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#42

Post by ky-mike »

Bird Lives wrote: Tue Jun 02, 2020 9:48 am
Joe Ross wrote: Tue Jun 02, 2020 9:27 am Read three posts in WSJCC SOUND OFF that will add two tools to my solving kit. They also seem to give me some traction, here, at last, but I can't follow through to the end.
There's 350 of them. Can you say which three? Or is that a public nudge?
I don't know which three he is referring to, but there was more than 1 reference to reading each clue and answer out loud, which is a general solving technique. That hasn't gotten me anywhere with this one, yet.
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Joe Ross
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#43

Post by Joe Ross »

ky-mike wrote: Tue Jun 02, 2020 10:49 am
Bird Lives wrote: Tue Jun 02, 2020 9:48 am
Joe Ross wrote: Tue Jun 02, 2020 9:27 am Read three posts in WSJCC SOUND OFF that will add two tools to my solving kit. They also seem to give me some traction, here, at last, but I can't follow through to the end.
There's 350 of them. Can you say which three? Or is that a public nudge?
I don't know which three he is referring to, but there was more than 1 reference to reading each clue and answer out loud, which is a general solving technique. That hasn't gotten me anywhere with this one, yet.
See my latest post on SOUND OFF topic.
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DrTom
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#44

Post by DrTom »

Well, and I am certain this is not a spoiler, here is another quote from Talk Like a Pirate Day - AAARRRGGGHH!!!!!!!!

Man do I ever feel incompetent. I've got nothing, this darn thing even woke me up at might thinking about it.
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!
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joequavis
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#45

Post by joequavis »

DrTom wrote: Tue Jun 02, 2020 11:18 am Well, and I am certain this is not a spoiler, here is another quote from Talk Like a Pirate Day - AAARRRGGGHH!!!!!!!!

Man do I ever feel incompetent. I've got nothing, this darn thing even woke me up at might thinking about it.
At least this one made it into your subconscious. I didn't make a single in-road, so I don't think my subconscious even knew there was a meta to solve. T-20 minutes to a learning experience.

Congrats to the solvers!
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#46

Post by DrTom »

joequavis wrote: Tue Jun 02, 2020 11:40 am
DrTom wrote: Tue Jun 02, 2020 11:18 am Well, and I am certain this is not a spoiler, here is another quote from Talk Like a Pirate Day - AAARRRGGGHH!!!!!!!!

Man do I ever feel incompetent. I've got nothing, this darn thing even woke me up at might thinking about it.
At least this one made it into your subconscious. I didn't make a single in-road, so I don't think my subconscious even knew there was a meta to solve. T-20 minutes to a learning experience.

Congrats to the solvers!
Learning and humbling experience! I always an amazed at the cleverness of the constructor and the solvers. When people get these it makes me realize that my wife is entirely correct, I am NOT as smart as I think I am. :D
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!
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#47

Post by Big Mac »

No last-second miracles this week. Week 5 wins.
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BarbaraK
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#48

Post by BarbaraK »

I’d actually rather it turn out to be a Kas 4. With those, I can at least hope that someday I might get them all.
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DrTom
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#49

Post by DrTom »

Oh LORD - July has 5 weeks as well, I don't know how much pain I can stand! I also noted my Birthday month (October) has 5, the fifth coming after my birthday so perhaps I'll be wise enough to solve (yeah AS IF).
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!
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ky-mike
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#50

Post by ky-mike »

Big Mac wrote: Tue Jun 02, 2020 11:52 am No last-second miracles this week. Week 5 wins.
And, for that reason, I’m out.
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Joe Ross
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#51

Post by Joe Ross »

Sincere congratulations to & admiration of all who solved!

Looking forward to the solution.

[EDIT] That's EXCELLENT. Looking forward to next 5th week.
Last edited by Joe Ross on Tue Jun 02, 2020 12:13 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Whole blood, platelets, or plasma: Donate 4 in 2024

PLATELET 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗿𝗮𝗿𝗲.
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝘀 ENORMOUS 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲:
𝟰𝟬% 𝗽𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰,
𝟯𝟬% 𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰,
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camandsampowercouple
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#52

Post by camandsampowercouple »

I failed!!
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DrTom
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#53

Post by DrTom »

OK, so I just looked at Matt's site, there were as of 4 minutes ago 175 solvers, so low for a week. BUT, Jangler got the grid and meta in 10 minutes and he was SECOND!! How in the hell is that even physically possible to fill a grid of 70 plus words in 8-10 minutes AND figure out the META.This puzzle has to come out earlier somewhere or there are spirit solvers. If people can do that. what hope is there for folks like me.
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!
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spotter
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#54

Post by spotter »

No learning experience yet on crossword fiend. Looks like even Joon was stumped. Wow. Tough one
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Hector
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#55

Post by Hector »

The themer clues have alternate four-letter answers with three identical letters: PAPP, OMOO, NUNN, DODD, EPEE, ARRR. PONDER.

Deep rabbit hole: NANCE LIEBERMAN BASKETBALL. (Nancy Lieberman was a very famous bball player.)
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joequavis
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#56

Post by joequavis »

I thought for sure that the central entry SCORING had to be thematic, since it fits the title nicely. Apparently that was one of those words intended to deceive...
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joequavis
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#57

Post by joequavis »

Never EVER would have gotten this. I need to be better about recognizing when the clues are written vaguely enough such that multiple correct answers are possible...even answers not found elsewhere in the grid.
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SusieG
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#58

Post by SusieG »

Hector wrote: Tue Jun 02, 2020 12:04 pm The themer clues have alternate four-letter answers with three identical letters: PAPP, OMOO, NUNN, DODD, EPEE, ARRR. PONDER.

Deep rabbit hole: NANCE LIEBERMAN BASKETBALL. (Nancy Lieberman was a very famous bball player.)
I missed some of the alternates (KANE instead of Papp, GOLF instead of EPEE, ARGH instead of ARRR), leaving me scratching my head all weekend.
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BrianMac
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#59

Post by BrianMac »

My rabbit hole: The grid is a pangram, except for Q and U. It's not unusual for a puzzle to not have a Q, but it's hard to make one without a U, so I assumed that was intentional. Especially with QU in the title. But what clinched it is the clue "Quinnipiac University product." QU product?! In a puzzle that is a pangram except for QU?! C'mon, Matt! :P

It was a hole I couldn't climb out of. Even when I was being spoon fed the mechanism, I kept waiting to see how QU would play into it.
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BarbaraK
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#60

Post by BarbaraK »

Arrr! Giant head slap. Because I had the list of NAFTA senators, arranged by state. How did I not notice Nunn and Dodd!! I’d like to think that would have got my attention to google the rest.

Oh well, my solo solve steak ends at 25. New one starts next week. (Nice thing about MGWCC week 1s is that it feels safe to say that without risking the wrath of the meta gods.)

Three more metas now on tap - muggle meta Monday, MMMM, and Fill Me In - but I may have to save them for tomorrow and give my brain a chance to recover from all the rabbit holes I’ve been down.
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