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Re: #703 - “Deciphering Contest”

Posted: Mon Nov 22, 2021 5:04 pm
by spotter
I submitted, and landed on the board. And now I've been taken off the board ?????????????

Re: #703 - “Deciphering Contest”

Posted: Mon Nov 22, 2021 5:37 pm
by MajordomoTom
Andrew Bradburn wrote: Mon Nov 22, 2021 3:34 pm I can think of an easy way to assemble an odds on incorrect answer. There are several ways to combine the titles of three Tom Hanks films to amount to 23 total letters. Not a ton, but several. It is worrisome to hear that many who got this right still weren't sure about their three answers before submitting, and had to sleep on it. I guess anytime Matt is looking for THREE things in the solution, the chances of one of them being wrong is much higher than if he were just looking for one.

Have tried a whole bunch of things to decipher this puzzle, but nothing so far. I may end up just submitting one of my 23 letter sols and see if I can win the T-Hanks-giving lottery.
I also have 3 or 4 (or 5) various combos that just happen to add up to the 23 letters, but no justification for pretty much any of the choices involved.

I got WALDO, so I'm hoping the fact that I don't have an ADA interrupting my sleep helps me get this one over the next day or two.

:)

Re: #703 - “Deciphering Contest”

Posted: Mon Nov 22, 2021 5:53 pm
by patpatchica
Is there ever any collaborative effect to solve here like there is for the WSJ meta? Just wondering!

Re: #703 - “Deciphering Contest”

Posted: Mon Nov 22, 2021 5:53 pm
by MMe
Andrew Bradburn wrote: Mon Nov 22, 2021 3:34 pm There are several ways to combine the titles of three Tom Hanks films to amount to 23 total letters. Not a ton, but several.
If 4000 is several, then yes.

Re: #703 - “Deciphering Contest”

Posted: Mon Nov 22, 2021 6:06 pm
by Dannyvee
I am beamed up but I’m pretty sure I’m missing something 🤷🏻‍♂️

Re: #703 - “Deciphering Contest”

Posted: Mon Nov 22, 2021 6:18 pm
by patpatchica
patpatchica wrote: Mon Nov 22, 2021 5:53 pm Is there ever any collaborative effect to solve here like there is for the WSJ meta? Just wondering!
Edit: I cannot so far find any mechanism to solving this other than educated guesses. I’ve also yet to see anyone mention a solid click to get this. So, I’m lost.

Edit again: Can anyone tell I’m new? Now I know precisely how to edit and not reply to myself. Although I do frequently talk to myself. :lol:

Re: #703 - “Deciphering Contest”

Posted: Mon Nov 22, 2021 9:10 pm
by Leslie
I feel sure that I’ve followed the correct path to one of the answers (and maaaybe a second). But no click at all for the rest, just educated guesses

Re: #703 - “Deciphering Contest”

Posted: Mon Nov 22, 2021 9:49 pm
by NoFeetMcGee
Leslie wrote: Mon Nov 22, 2021 9:10 pm I feel sure that I’ve followed the correct path to one of the answers (and maaaybe a second). But no click at all for the rest, just educated guesses
This is the same exact spot I'm in. Great click for one answer, really unsure about others and feel I must be missing something...

Re: #703 - “Deciphering Contest”

Posted: Mon Nov 22, 2021 10:21 pm
by MikeyG
Something I noticed earlier (for once) turned out to be relevant. Another, "Wow, how did Matt pull it off?" situation. (T. Hanks for the puzzle!)

Re: #703 - “Deciphering Contest”

Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2021 3:23 am
by bodhipepper
Pretty confident I'm 2/3 of the way there. Anyone willing to message me to offer what's hopefully a final nudge? Thanks!

Re: #703 - “Deciphering Contest”

Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2021 10:27 am
by Guffman
Thanksgiving is drawing nigh and I'm nowhere on this one. If someone has even a "first step" nudge, it would sure be appreciated.

Re: #703 - “Deciphering Contest”

Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2021 10:50 am
by CrossedPurposes
I would also appreciate a nudge. I have a couple first steps that haven't led anywhere productive.

Re: #703 - “Deciphering Contest”

Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2021 12:06 pm
by HoldThatThought
Does the solution require even the scantest knowledge of T. Hanks filmography? I may be outing myself as un-American, but I'm honestly not a fan, and the most basic of Hanks trivia is pretty much unknown to me. Obviously, I can look through lists of his movies, but I'm being fully honest when I say that I don't know what the name of his character was, what he did for living, or the cute thing he did when he first met Sally.

Thanks to the next commenter for a response to my query.

P.S. Lest anyone really think I'm totally clueless (Also not a Tom Hanks movie), I was mocking my Hankian ignorance with a reference to When Harry Met Sally, which I do realize stars alternative wonderful nice guy, B. Crystal.

Re: #703 - “Deciphering Contest”

Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2021 12:42 pm
by BarbaraK
HoldThatThought wrote: Tue Nov 23, 2021 12:06 pm Does the solution require even the scantest knowledge of T. Hanks filmography? I may be outing myself as un-American, but I'm honestly not a fan, and the most basic of Hanks trivia is pretty much unknown to me. Obviously, I can look through lists of his movies, but I'm being fully honest when I say that I don't know what the name of his character was, what he did for living, or the cute thing he did when he first met Sally.
Answered in a PM

Re: #703 - “Deciphering Contest”

Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2021 1:33 pm
by Verisimilitude
Tricky. But on the board!

Re: #703 - “Deciphering Contest”

Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2021 1:41 pm
by Leslie
I was pretty sure I had finally gotten the “click.” But I was wrong. I liked my answer though. Curious to see what the correct answer is.

Re: #703 - “Deciphering Contest”

Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2021 1:45 pm
by Orsys
With a generous nudge, I got there.

Re: #703 - “Deciphering Contest”

Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2021 4:24 pm
by Bird Lives
I have what I'm fairly sure is Step One. But what that gives me is a bunch of letters that don't add up to 23 and don't spell anything.

Re: #703 - “Deciphering Contest”

Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2021 4:41 pm
by patpatchica
After I submitted, I got the message that submissions are now closed. Is that just automatic for anything after the normal submission time on Tuesday? I saw we had until Wednesday noon for this one.

Re: #703 - “Deciphering Contest”

Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2021 4:51 pm
by Thurman8er
Count me among those who had to wait to see if my answer was correct, something I haven't done in a while. Still, I was 90% sure.

Happy to wake up this morning and see my name on the Big Board.