MEOW #102: Initial Impression

A weekly meta crossword on the forum started by member Josh (aka madhatter5). These puzzles are often very creative with solving mechanisms out of the norm and skewing towards the more challenging. Puzzles are posted every Wednesday, and the solution appears the following Tuesday.
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ChrisKochmanski
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Joined: Tue Apr 09, 2019 9:51 pm
Location: Saline, Michigan

#21

Post by ChrisKochmanski »

“Bye, bye, bag,” said the cat.

Nice! Thanks, Dr. T!
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DrTom
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Location: Jacksonville, FL

#22

Post by DrTom »

Well then, this seems to have had a good impression, I think I have a record high for a first day:

T Cinny
T Whimsy
T KayW
1 woozy
2 Schmeel
3 Dave C
4 JM
5 Qmark
6 boharr
7 DIS
8 Hector
9 rjy
10 Carolyn
11 Mikey G
12 Darth
13 Cindy Weatherman
14 Meg
15 Ergcat
16 Abide
17 Laura M
18 SJMcK
19 Gutman
20 Mwoychick
21 Benchen71
22 Cap'n Rick
23 Ckochmanski

Twenty-six of you have released the cat and I'm looking forward to more fleeing felines in the days to come.

Thanks to all who have solved so far.

Tom
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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Dplass
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Joined: Sat Dec 28, 2019 10:09 am

#23

Post by Dplass »

Wow, I'm really baffled by this one... (See also, "I love inside jokes. Someday I hope to be part of one.")
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lbray53
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#24

Post by lbray53 »

I THINK I have the first step!?!
My avatar proves that it is sometimes better to be lucky than good!
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edestlin
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#25

Post by edestlin »

I'm with lbray53. Step one right away, followed by a day of baffled ripping out of my hair.
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DrTom
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#26

Post by DrTom »

Gosh, 23 the first day and ONE since - obviously the fascination was truly only initial.....

Here's a freebie for those who are stuck (and I think I know why!)...there is a nudge clue!
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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DrTom
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#27

Post by DrTom »

Dplass wrote: ↑Thu Nov 03, 2022 9:06 am Wow, I'm really baffled by this one... (See also, "I love inside jokes. Someday I hope to be part of one.")
Well I thought I was baffled but it turns out I had the flue....
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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Dplass
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#28

Post by Dplass »

DrTom wrote: ↑Thu Nov 03, 2022 2:04 pm
Dplass wrote: ↑Thu Nov 03, 2022 9:06 am Wow, I'm really baffled by this one... (See also, "I love inside jokes. Someday I hope to be part of one.")
Well I thought I was baffled but it turns out I had the flue....
I feel like an ash now...
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DrTom
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#29

Post by DrTom »

Dplass wrote: ↑Thu Nov 03, 2022 2:22 pm
DrTom wrote: ↑Thu Nov 03, 2022 2:04 pm
Dplass wrote: ↑Thu Nov 03, 2022 9:06 am Wow, I'm really baffled by this one... (See also, "I love inside jokes. Someday I hope to be part of one.")
Well I thought I was baffled but it turns out I had the flue....
I feel like an ash now...
Well I hope they haven't over-charred you!
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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Dplass
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Joined: Sat Dec 28, 2019 10:09 am

#30

Post by Dplass »

DrTom wrote: ↑Thu Nov 03, 2022 2:41 pm
Dplass wrote: ↑Thu Nov 03, 2022 2:22 pm
DrTom wrote: ↑Thu Nov 03, 2022 2:04 pm

Well I thought I was baffled but it turns out I had the flue....
I feel like an ash now...
Well I hope they haven't over-charred you!
Naw, everything's coal. Coal as a cokeumber
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DrTom
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#31

Post by DrTom »

Dplass wrote: ↑Thu Nov 03, 2022 2:54 pm
DrTom wrote: ↑Thu Nov 03, 2022 2:41 pm
Dplass wrote: ↑Thu Nov 03, 2022 2:22 pm

I feel like an ash now...
Well I hope they haven't over-charred you!
Naw, everything's coal. Coal as a cokeumber
Ok, then I’ll stop fission around, I don’t want to add alternative fuel to the fire…(we got a Hunter X thing going on here!)
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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hoover
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Joined: Mon Mar 29, 2021 7:26 pm

#32

Post by hoover »

I see a good candidate for step 1, but when I try the obvious choices for step 2, I get gibberish. Trying to leap to the end and guess the meta answer didn't work either.
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hcbirker
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#33

Post by hcbirker »

Since I got the WSJ quickly, thought I would give this a try. Fun one Dr. Tom!
Heidi
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DrTom
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#34

Post by DrTom »

So, a few more join the group:

24 Beth Tyrpin
25 dplass
26 ChrisCriss
27 heidi

Some are still seated firmly on the couch, I'll give you tomorrow and then post nudges late tomorrow or early Saturday

Tom
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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lbray53
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#35

Post by lbray53 »

Off the couch. I managed to make this difficult for myself. I thought I had already tried the correct mechanism but apparently not because there it was.
My avatar proves that it is sometimes better to be lucky than good!
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CPJohnson
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Location: Kingsport, TN

#36

Post by CPJohnson »

Finally got it, with nudges from @Cinny. Thanks, DrTom!
Cynthia
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TeamDoubleTow
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Joined: Fri Jan 01, 2021 1:58 pm

#37

Post by TeamDoubleTow »

Things this took a while. Finally solved after some good collaboration tonight.
Team DoubleTow=Ali who posts here, Alex & Maya the hound(with occasional assistance from son)
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DrTom
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#38

Post by DrTom »

OK then, end of Day 3 and a few more debaggers have appeared:

28 markhr
29 lbray53
30 Dannyvee
31 CPJohnson
32 Teamdoubletow

Great work everyone. Tomorrow I'll post some nudges to help along those still looking to be impressed....
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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DrTom
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#39

Post by DrTom »

Saturday Nudges...YAY!

Ordered in gradations of "spoilerness"

In a departure from my usual chaos, the 5 things you need to find are symmetrical!

Look through the GRID, do you see any items that ring a historical bell?

I have included a nudge clue that points you to the mechanism in the puzzle

It is a clue that when you saw it I am sure some part of you said. "Why did he write it that way?". Well now you know
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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ajk
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Location: Colorado

#40

Post by ajk »

LOL solved after the first nudge but didn't realize it until later. I was like 'oh, I guess this isn't the mechanism, but it would be kind of a cool one'

Came back later and...that was the mechanism. :lol: :lol:
Check out this very cool project by many of your favorite muggles to raise money to fight cancer. You get a fun puzzle bundle and good causes get $. Win-win: Crosswords for Cancer
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