Porcus
- Bird Lives
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Porcus
I thought this might be an original idea, but as it turns out, it played a part in at least one other meta, or so I was reminded by someone whose memory for these things is better than mine. (I’m not naming names, and “someone whose memory is better than mine” doesn’t do much to limit the field). I went ahead and finished constructing the puzzle anyway. That was several weeks ago. Then recently, something similar turned up in another WSJ puzzle. What’s a constructor to do? Go ahead and publish it anyway – at least, that’s what this constructor did.
One of the themers (72A) does not strictly hew to the format, but it's close. Coming up with these themers was challenging. My favorite among them is not my own creation but that of my niece. Try it yourself, please, and PM me your best candidates.
{Update: Solvers have called my attention to a big mistake: the order of two of the nine letters is inverted. My apologies.)
Thanks to @Abide for advice and tolerance and to @Joe Ross for indispensable technical assistance.
"Porcus" crosshare
"Porcus" PUZ
"Porcus" PDF
"Porcus" spreadsheet
One of the themers (72A) does not strictly hew to the format, but it's close. Coming up with these themers was challenging. My favorite among them is not my own creation but that of my niece. Try it yourself, please, and PM me your best candidates.
{Update: Solvers have called my attention to a big mistake: the order of two of the nine letters is inverted. My apologies.)
Thanks to @Abide for advice and tolerance and to @Joe Ross for indispensable technical assistance.
"Porcus" crosshare
"Porcus" PUZ
"Porcus" PDF
"Porcus" spreadsheet
Last edited by Bird Lives on Mon Jun 19, 2023 5:14 pm, edited 4 times in total.
Jay
- CPJohnson
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Jay, NEVER apologize for using a "used" metanism! It's always my hope that the metanism will be something I've seen before, and that I will remember it in time for it to help!
Cynthia
- boharr
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- rjy
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- KayW
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Fun one - thanks Jay!
Contest Crosswords Combating Cancer (CCCC) is a bundle of 16 metapuzzles created to help raise money for cancer-related charities. It is available at CrosswordsForCancer.com.
- ChrisKochmanski
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- jhseeman
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- Wendy Walker
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- lbray53
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Fun meta. I don't remember every seeing this mechanism. But then I don't remember what I had for dinner last night.
There are a couple of things I am not sure about but the answer was a lock. Looking forwrd to the reveal and discussion.
There are a couple of things I am not sure about but the answer was a lock. Looking forwrd to the reveal and discussion.
My avatar proves that it is sometimes better to be lucky than good!
- ky-mike
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- ajk
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Got it after a brief initial 28D. Fun stuff, thanks.
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
- woozy
- Posts: 2320
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Kee-yute.
But... I think I made some errors. But enough correct to get it and confirmed.
But... I think I made some errors. But enough correct to get it and confirmed.
So I just plain couldn't get my meta based on "Up the Down Staircase" to work.
My challenge it to constructors is to make a meta where the meta, theme or metanism is "Up the Down Staircase".
My challenge it to constructors is to make a meta where the meta, theme or metanism is "Up the Down Staircase".
- SJMcK
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There is no 71ABird Lives wrote: ↑Mon Jun 19, 2023 6:11 am One of the themers (71A) does not strictly hew to the format, but it's close.
—
Steven McKinney
Steven McKinney
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This puzzle was fun Jay. Thanks. I do remember the other puzzle with a similar mechanism and that one totally stumped me. I'm off the couch and confirmed on Crosshare.
- MarkWoychick
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Off the couch, and thanks for the puzzle, Jay!
Contest Crosswords Combating Cancer (CCCC) is a bundle of 16 contest-style (meta) crosswords that we've created to help raise money for cancer-related organizations - get the bundle at http://crosswordsforcancer.com
- Cinny
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Off the couch. My memory is just not what it used to be. I don't even remember a recent meta with this mechanism!
Cindy Heisler
- bhamren
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- Bird Lives
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Sorry, 72A. I only missed it by one.SJMcK wrote: ↑Mon Jun 19, 2023 1:15 pmThere is no 71ABird Lives wrote: ↑Mon Jun 19, 2023 6:11 am One of the themers (71A) does not strictly hew to the format, but it's close.
Jay
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Off the couch. Finally. Thanks for the puzzle Jay! Love the clue at 21A -- very clever.
Matthew
- edestlin
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Off the couch! Fun grid, though I stumbled pretty badly in the southwest corner. Once I got the metanism it was fun and mostly smooth sailing. Thanks for the puzzle, Jay!