"Location, Location, Location" - May 24, 2019
- Janet P
- Posts: 553
- Joined: Tue Apr 09, 2019 6:29 pm
KAS 5 for me! I got so hung up that the only state capital in the puzzle was Providence, Rhode Island, that I could not make any sense of the other city entries. First rabbit hole had the weather map next to the puzzle in the print WSJ all marked up with hoping to find some intersection at a capital city. Not Gaffneyesque at all so abandoned pretty quickly. Then tried the direction from each named city to its state's capital. Nothing there either but possibly a little more Gaffneyesque. Finally saw the two-word city/one-word state and one-word city/two-word state pattern but still could not reconcile the non-capital cities with Providence so I never made it to the initials phase. If the Rhode Island city had been Portsmouth or Pawtucket; or the other entries has been capitals, I MIGHT have made it a little further. Who knows?! I also burrowed into the Asheville/Bali/Raleigh rabbit hole CandyB referred to above...
Thankfully, Isaac got the martini perfectly dry by the end of my time at the bar!
Thankfully, Isaac got the martini perfectly dry by the end of my time at the bar!
- Joe Ross
- Moderator
- Posts: 5199
- Joined: Fri Apr 12, 2019 4:46 am
- Location: Cincinnati
This is what I couldn't disregard, once found, and what blinded me to the solution:
"U.S." in the clue indicated - if not demanded - initials. Initials are letters.
This led me to ask which letters of the alphabet were "in this grid". Those 24 letters of the alphabet in this grid did not include J & Q.
There are three "U.S. state capital" cities that include J. In fact they start with the initial J. No "U.S. capital cities" include Q. Also, *three* capitals are not *one* answer. I reasoned that capital 'cities' may not be the answer.
I then pondered the clue word "capital" and reasoned that "capital" does not have to be a city. A capital can be an uppercase letter, like initials.
U.S. states have official two-letter postal initials, both "capitals". Of all of *these* " U.S. state capitals", B & Q are not used. Of the set of these 24 "U.S. state capitals", J was not in the grid.
My answer was J, although the clue words "should be" annoyed me.
After submitting my answer, a perfectly gracious Muggle offered to review my reasoning, after I cheekily requested if they might. I was not given the answer nor a nudge, at my request, but knowing there was a better answer didn't help me get past my reasoning above.
"U.S." in the clue indicated - if not demanded - initials. Initials are letters.
This led me to ask which letters of the alphabet were "in this grid". Those 24 letters of the alphabet in this grid did not include J & Q.
There are three "U.S. state capital" cities that include J. In fact they start with the initial J. No "U.S. capital cities" include Q. Also, *three* capitals are not *one* answer. I reasoned that capital 'cities' may not be the answer.
I then pondered the clue word "capital" and reasoned that "capital" does not have to be a city. A capital can be an uppercase letter, like initials.
U.S. states have official two-letter postal initials, both "capitals". Of all of *these* " U.S. state capitals", B & Q are not used. Of the set of these 24 "U.S. state capitals", J was not in the grid.
My answer was J, although the clue words "should be" annoyed me.
After submitting my answer, a perfectly gracious Muggle offered to review my reasoning, after I cheekily requested if they might. I was not given the answer nor a nudge, at my request, but knowing there was a better answer didn't help me get past my reasoning above.
Whole blood, platelets, or plasma: Donate 4 in 2024
PLATELET ๐ฑ๐ผ๐ป๐ผ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ.
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ถ๐ ENORMOUS ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ:
๐ฐ๐ฌ% ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ฎ๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฐ,
๐ฏ๐ฌ% ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ต, ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐ฐ,
๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ฟ & ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐บ๐ฎ. ๐ฃ๐๐๐๐ฆ๐ ๐ฆ๐๐๐ฅ๐!
PLATELET ๐ฑ๐ผ๐ป๐ผ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ.
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ถ๐ ENORMOUS ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ:
๐ฐ๐ฌ% ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ฎ๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฐ,
๐ฏ๐ฌ% ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ต, ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐ฐ,
๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ฟ & ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐บ๐ฎ. ๐ฃ๐๐๐๐ฆ๐ ๐ฆ๐๐๐ฅ๐!
- Joe Ross
- Moderator
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- Joined: Fri Apr 12, 2019 4:46 am
- Location: Cincinnati
I also attempted to post earler, using my phone, but wasn't successful. I had success, now, after Previewing my post, then Submitting.
Whole blood, platelets, or plasma: Donate 4 in 2024
PLATELET ๐ฑ๐ผ๐ป๐ผ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ.
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ถ๐ ENORMOUS ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ:
๐ฐ๐ฌ% ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ฎ๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฐ,
๐ฏ๐ฌ% ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ต, ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐ฐ,
๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ฟ & ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐บ๐ฎ. ๐ฃ๐๐๐๐ฆ๐ ๐ฆ๐๐๐ฅ๐!
PLATELET ๐ฑ๐ผ๐ป๐ผ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ.
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ถ๐ ENORMOUS ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ:
๐ฐ๐ฌ% ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ฎ๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฐ,
๐ฏ๐ฌ% ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ต, ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐ฐ,
๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ฟ & ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐บ๐ฎ. ๐ฃ๐๐๐๐ฆ๐ ๐ฆ๐๐๐ฅ๐!
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Did anyone else venture down this rabbit hole? I took the compass directions from the 4 cities in the grid to their respective state capitals and used the compass directions to spell out TENNESSEE. I used TS from Providence as it is THE SAME as its capital. Thought for sure Nashville was the answer.
Last edited by tyrion on Mon May 27, 2019 9:57 am, edited 1 time in total.
- Bob cruise director
- Cruise Director
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- Joined: Thu Apr 11, 2019 2:38 pm
- Location: Any golf course within 500 miles of Littleton MA
My weekly, weakly tale of woe
After getting the grid, I wrote out the cities on the back of my page to see if there was a pattern either of the letters or number of letters. Nada. they I checked the two letter postal codes and that got me no where. So I wrote down the list of states and postal codes (remnant of taking fluid mechanics where I memorized the states in alphabetical order and the capitals). I checked to see if all but one of the postal codes were in the grid. another rabbit hole with no rabbit. I pulled up bing maps and put the five cities on the map - no pattern there. The spelled out the capitals cities of the states of the five cities. Another vacant rabbit hole. Along the way, I circled all the postal codes in the grid. Then I checked the clues to see if Matt had done something bizarre there - as he has been known to do. I also checked to see if the cities all had other states where they were named to see if there was something there.
So the only thing left is to root for the Bruins tonight.
After getting the grid, I wrote out the cities on the back of my page to see if there was a pattern either of the letters or number of letters. Nada. they I checked the two letter postal codes and that got me no where. So I wrote down the list of states and postal codes (remnant of taking fluid mechanics where I memorized the states in alphabetical order and the capitals). I checked to see if all but one of the postal codes were in the grid. another rabbit hole with no rabbit. I pulled up bing maps and put the five cities on the map - no pattern there. The spelled out the capitals cities of the states of the five cities. Another vacant rabbit hole. Along the way, I circled all the postal codes in the grid. Then I checked the clues to see if Matt had done something bizarre there - as he has been known to do. I also checked to see if the cities all had other states where they were named to see if there was something there.
So the only thing left is to root for the Bruins tonight.
Bob Stevens
Cruise Director
Cruise Director
- Bob cruise director
- Cruise Director
- Posts: 4604
- Joined: Thu Apr 11, 2019 2:38 pm
- Location: Any golf course within 500 miles of Littleton MA
Tyrion - not exactly but a couple of variations on the same theme.tyrion wrote: โMon May 27, 2019 9:51 am Did anyone else venture down this rabbit hole? I took the compass directions from the 4 cities in the grid to their respective state capitals and using the compass directions to spell out TENNESSEE. I used TS from Providence as it is THE SAME as its capital. Thought for sure Nashville was the answer.
Bob Stevens
Cruise Director
Cruise Director
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- Joined: Tue Apr 09, 2019 2:46 pm
This was a tricky puzzle! We had 745 entries, only 53% correct. With 50 options to choose from, we had wrong answers literally all over the map, inclding DENVER (37, why so many?), NASHVILLE (20), RICHMOND (8), SALEM (8), INDIANAPOLIS (7), DOVER (7), and many others.
Congratulations to this week's winner: Liza Moore of Bexley, Ohio. And Happy Memorial Day to all!
Congratulations to this week's winner: Liza Moore of Bexley, Ohio. And Happy Memorial Day to all!
- Joe Ross
- Moderator
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- Joined: Fri Apr 12, 2019 4:46 am
- Location: Cincinnati
Um, Mike... What was the correct answer?
Last edited by Joe Ross on Mon May 27, 2019 12:05 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Whole blood, platelets, or plasma: Donate 4 in 2024
PLATELET ๐ฑ๐ผ๐ป๐ผ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ.
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ถ๐ ENORMOUS ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ:
๐ฐ๐ฌ% ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ฎ๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฐ,
๐ฏ๐ฌ% ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ต, ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐ฐ,
๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ฟ & ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐บ๐ฎ. ๐ฃ๐๐๐๐ฆ๐ ๐ฆ๐๐๐ฅ๐!
PLATELET ๐ฑ๐ผ๐ป๐ผ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ.
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ถ๐ ENORMOUS ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ:
๐ฐ๐ฌ% ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ฎ๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฐ,
๐ฏ๐ฌ% ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ต, ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐ฐ,
๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ฟ & ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐บ๐ฎ. ๐ฃ๐๐๐๐ฆ๐ ๐ฆ๐๐๐ฅ๐!
- Joe Ross
- Moderator
- Posts: 5199
- Joined: Fri Apr 12, 2019 4:46 am
- Location: Cincinnati
What was the correct answer?MikeMillerwsj wrote: โMon May 27, 2019 11:45 am This was a tricky puzzle! We had 745 entries, only 53% correct. With 50 options to choose from, we had wrong answers literally all over the map, inclding DENVER (37, why so many?), NASHVILLE (20), RICHMOND (8), SALEM (8), INDIANAPOLIS (7), DOVER (7), and many others.
Congratulations to this week's winner: Liza Moore of Bexley, Ohio. And Happy Memorial Day to all!
Whole blood, platelets, or plasma: Donate 4 in 2024
PLATELET ๐ฑ๐ผ๐ป๐ผ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ.
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ถ๐ ENORMOUS ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ:
๐ฐ๐ฌ% ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ฎ๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฐ,
๐ฏ๐ฌ% ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ต, ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐ฐ,
๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ฟ & ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐บ๐ฎ. ๐ฃ๐๐๐๐ฆ๐ ๐ฆ๐๐๐ฅ๐!
PLATELET ๐ฑ๐ผ๐ป๐ผ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ.
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ถ๐ ENORMOUS ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ:
๐ฐ๐ฌ% ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ฎ๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฐ,
๐ฏ๐ฌ% ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ต, ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐ฐ,
๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ฟ & ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐บ๐ฎ. ๐ฃ๐๐๐๐ฆ๐ ๐ฆ๐๐๐ฅ๐!
- Joe Ross
- Moderator
- Posts: 5199
- Joined: Fri Apr 12, 2019 4:46 am
- Location: Cincinnati
https://blogs.wsj.com/puzzle/2019/05/23 ... st-may-24/
"Mike MillerStaff
18 minutes ago
Yes itโs Albany.
I believe the official explanation will be up at 4pm today."
"Mike MillerStaff
18 minutes ago
Yes itโs Albany.
I believe the official explanation will be up at 4pm today."
Whole blood, platelets, or plasma: Donate 4 in 2024
PLATELET ๐ฑ๐ผ๐ป๐ผ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ.
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ถ๐ ENORMOUS ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ:
๐ฐ๐ฌ% ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ฎ๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฐ,
๐ฏ๐ฌ% ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ต, ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐ฐ,
๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ฟ & ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐บ๐ฎ. ๐ฃ๐๐๐๐ฆ๐ ๐ฆ๐๐๐ฅ๐!
PLATELET ๐ฑ๐ผ๐ป๐ผ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ.
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ถ๐ ENORMOUS ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ:
๐ฐ๐ฌ% ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ฎ๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฐ,
๐ฏ๐ฌ% ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ต, ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐ฐ,
๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ฟ & ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐บ๐ฎ. ๐ฃ๐๐๐๐ฆ๐ ๐ฆ๐๐๐ฅ๐!
- Meg
- Posts: 2211
- Joined: Tue Apr 09, 2019 1:41 pm
- Location: St. Petersburg, FL
Mike confirms on the WSJ site that the answer is Albany.
Did anybody notice the clue and entry for 12D? LOL in hindsight.
Did anybody notice the clue and entry for 12D? LOL in hindsight.
Check out and support http://CrosswordsForCancer.com.
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- Joined: Thu Apr 11, 2019 11:49 am
D'oh! I kept coming back to this one but never could see it. I wrote out the theme answers with their states but used the postal abbreviations, oops. This really was an ingeniously crafted meta puzzle. But so straightforward when you see the explanation--I'll be kicking myself for a while over this one!
- Wendy Walker
- Posts: 1757
- Joined: Thu Apr 11, 2019 7:44 pm
- Location: Unionville, PA
Wow, yet another level of this brilliant puzzle! As if the symmetrical placement of the 3-letter answers in the grid wasn't enough!
Good luck, fellow Muggles!
- hcbirker
- Posts: 2083
- Joined: Thu Apr 11, 2019 7:24 pm
- Location: Studio City, CA
I got stuck looking for airport codes due to 53 down. Then state codes, etc, Googled all the theme answers (did you know there is a Providence, Asheville and Collins in New York?). Finally saw "any" and that was that. (Heidi)
Heidi
- Bob cruise director
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- Location: Any golf course within 500 miles of Littleton MA
Meg
I saw that as I was wandering through the many rabbit holes but converged on state postal abbreviations.
Bob Stevens
Cruise Director
Cruise Director
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I really didn't like this at all, perhaps because I got it wrong. Why the use of cities that can be anagrammed into other cities? Fort Collins almost transforms into Lincoln, San Antonio almost contains Austin, Asheville almost has Raleigh, Providence contains Denver, and Grand Island contains Lansing. Also, ANY IS in the grid!! My least favorite meta ever as other answers are equally plausible.
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- Joined: Fri May 03, 2019 6:38 pm
I went down both the connect-the-dots-on-a-map rabbit hole and another involving circling all instances of the 5 state abbreviations and trying in vain to discern some pattern. The lone diagonal TX in the upper left both made me consider the latter option for FAR too long and ultimately helped me abandon it.
I was finally tipped off when I allowed myself to embrace my perception (likely born of ignorance) that PRI at the top of the grid is not โcrossworthyโ (according to xwordinfo, for example, the last time it appeared in a Times puzzle was 23 years ago) and therefore must be relevant to the meta. When I noticed that ANC, only slightly more crossworthy in my estimation (though Iโve certainly seen it before) was in the mirror position at the bottom of the grid, it all came together!
I was finally tipped off when I allowed myself to embrace my perception (likely born of ignorance) that PRI at the top of the grid is not โcrossworthyโ (according to xwordinfo, for example, the last time it appeared in a Times puzzle was 23 years ago) and therefore must be relevant to the meta. When I noticed that ANC, only slightly more crossworthy in my estimation (though Iโve certainly seen it before) was in the mirror position at the bottom of the grid, it all came together!
Last edited by JimmyJam on Mon May 27, 2019 2:40 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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I LOVE meta puzzles; I was a fan of the cryptic crosswords in the Atlantic for decades, and they often had a meta aspect, which I loved. (And the ones by the same authors that are here on WSJ are good, too, but seem "nerfed" a bit, as the kids say.)
I have been trying these WSJ Crossword Contest puzzles for a few weeks, and so far they seem to be the kind that are clever in retrospect; after solving them you can see what the meta trick was, and appreciate the construction... to a point. But so far each puzzle has had an aspect that I've found to be either inelegant or rules-breaking (like the use of "narwhal" and "whale" a few weeks ago), and so were not particularly satisfying to me when I solved them. Sometimes I wasn't even sure I HAD solved them, which I also find problematic. I'm going to try a few more weeks, I guess.
I am only posting this because every week I have seen a few complaints, and I wanted to tell those folks that I agree with them.
I have been trying these WSJ Crossword Contest puzzles for a few weeks, and so far they seem to be the kind that are clever in retrospect; after solving them you can see what the meta trick was, and appreciate the construction... to a point. But so far each puzzle has had an aspect that I've found to be either inelegant or rules-breaking (like the use of "narwhal" and "whale" a few weeks ago), and so were not particularly satisfying to me when I solved them. Sometimes I wasn't even sure I HAD solved them, which I also find problematic. I'm going to try a few more weeks, I guess.
I am only posting this because every week I have seen a few complaints, and I wanted to tell those folks that I agree with them.
- HowardHuddleston
- Posts: 38
- Joined: Wed Apr 10, 2019 9:39 am
- Location: Franklin, TN
Started Saturday on this thing, not seeing anything. Later, sat down across from my 5 yr old grandson (who was doing a puzzle of his own) and something made me sound out the crossword answers, such as โProvidence Rhode Islandโ and there was the PRI and everything else following with โANYโ in the corresponding position across from โGINโ. Itโs just amazing what your brain will see or (more often) not see.
- KDubs
- Posts: 68
- Joined: Fri May 03, 2019 6:44 pm
- Location: Stamford, CT
Gah, I TOTALLY should have gotten this one but didnโt! Couldnโt agree more that this was Gaffneyesque and masterfully constructed.. Wow.