MGWCC #736 - “Back to the Start”
- Joe Ross
- Moderator
- Posts: 5201
- Joined: Fri Apr 12, 2019 4:46 am
- Location: Cincinnati
MGWCC #736 - “Back to the Start”
MGWCC #736 — Friday, July 8th, 2022
GUEST CONSTRUCTOR MONTH 2022, WEEK 2 OF 5:
“Back to the Start” by Will Pfadenhauer and Malaika Handa
Week 2 of GCM is here, authored by two talented Guest Constructor Month veterans, Will Pfadenhauer and Malaika Handa.
Will writes:
Hi folks! I’m stoked to be back on Matt’s site, and this time with a true powerhouse of a collaborator: Malaika! Seriously, this puzzle would not exist without her help – but more on that later. Since I was last here, I launched a new website for the meta crosswords I’ve been making! You can now find all of my past puzzles on PandorasBlocks.org. By day, I’m a graduate student at UMass Amherst where I study invasive plants, and when I’m not doing that or making puzzles I’m usually preparing for my next adventure race or wallowing in the sadness of being a Nationals fan in 2022.
And now, from Malaika:
Hey squad, I’m glad to be back for my second puzzle on Matt’s site, and my first collab (anywhere) with Will! If you’d like more puzzles from me (not metas alas), I have a few midis every week with Vulture. (Warning: Extreme Levels Of Pop Culture References.) I also send out an email every time I have a full-sized puzzle somewhere, whether it’s in a print publication, an indie publication like this, or just on my own website. You can sign up here. And lastly, if you’d like to hear my General Crossword Thoughts, I write things on Crossword Fiend (twice a week) and on Rex’s blog (once a month) and on Twitter (far too much). I’ve been called “childish,” “adorable,” “thoughtless,” and “a breath of fresh air,” by Various Internet Commenters so take that as you will!!
Alrighty — let’s see what this dynamic duo has come up with for Week 2 of 5:
THIS WEEK’S INSTRUCTIONS:
This week’s contest answer is things that often end up where they started.
Solve well, and be not led astray by words intended to deceive.
WANT TO SUBSCRIBE TO MY CROSSWORD CONTEST?: MGWCC is available only to subscribers at my Patreon page. A subscription costs $3/month.
GUEST CONSTRUCTOR MONTH 2022, WEEK 2 OF 5:
“Back to the Start” by Will Pfadenhauer and Malaika Handa
Week 2 of GCM is here, authored by two talented Guest Constructor Month veterans, Will Pfadenhauer and Malaika Handa.
Will writes:
Hi folks! I’m stoked to be back on Matt’s site, and this time with a true powerhouse of a collaborator: Malaika! Seriously, this puzzle would not exist without her help – but more on that later. Since I was last here, I launched a new website for the meta crosswords I’ve been making! You can now find all of my past puzzles on PandorasBlocks.org. By day, I’m a graduate student at UMass Amherst where I study invasive plants, and when I’m not doing that or making puzzles I’m usually preparing for my next adventure race or wallowing in the sadness of being a Nationals fan in 2022.
And now, from Malaika:
Hey squad, I’m glad to be back for my second puzzle on Matt’s site, and my first collab (anywhere) with Will! If you’d like more puzzles from me (not metas alas), I have a few midis every week with Vulture. (Warning: Extreme Levels Of Pop Culture References.) I also send out an email every time I have a full-sized puzzle somewhere, whether it’s in a print publication, an indie publication like this, or just on my own website. You can sign up here. And lastly, if you’d like to hear my General Crossword Thoughts, I write things on Crossword Fiend (twice a week) and on Rex’s blog (once a month) and on Twitter (far too much). I’ve been called “childish,” “adorable,” “thoughtless,” and “a breath of fresh air,” by Various Internet Commenters so take that as you will!!
Alrighty — let’s see what this dynamic duo has come up with for Week 2 of 5:
THIS WEEK’S INSTRUCTIONS:
This week’s contest answer is things that often end up where they started.
Solve well, and be not led astray by words intended to deceive.
WANT TO SUBSCRIBE TO MY CROSSWORD CONTEST?: MGWCC is available only to subscribers at my Patreon page. A subscription costs $3/month.
- Meg
- Posts: 2212
- Joined: Tue Apr 09, 2019 1:41 pm
- Location: St. Petersburg, FL
Waiting for the update, but feeling pretty good about it.
Confirmed. Thanks to Will and Malaika!
Confirmed. Thanks to Will and Malaika!
Last edited by Meg on Fri Jul 08, 2022 2:16 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Check out and support http://CrosswordsForCancer.com.
- Joe Ross
- Moderator
- Posts: 5201
- Joined: Fri Apr 12, 2019 4:46 am
- Location: Cincinnati
Thanks, Malaika & Will!
30. Joe Ross 07/08 - 12:59
Couldah been a Top Ten contendah, but I was helping (prodding) other muggles.
35. Meg 07/08 - 13:05
Nice work, Meg!
30. Joe Ross 07/08 - 12:59
Couldah been a Top Ten contendah, but I was helping (prodding) other muggles.
35. Meg 07/08 - 13:05
Nice work, Meg!
- MMe
- Posts: 307
- Joined: Tue Sep 21, 2021 11:27 am
-
- Posts: 1419
- Joined: Thu Apr 11, 2019 11:49 am
#47 because I had to do some work for my actual job first :-) Elegant and fun meta!
- MajordomoTom
- Posts: 1426
- Joined: Sat Nov 02, 2019 12:09 am
- Location: St. Louis, MO
that was a week one, done and submitted, now back to the WSJ
EDIT: #56 on the board, not bad
EDIT: #56 on the board, not bad
Last edited by MajordomoTom on Fri Jul 08, 2022 2:09 pm, edited 1 time in total.
"Lots of planets have a North", the Ninth Doctor.
-
- Posts: 367
- Joined: Thu Apr 18, 2019 7:56 pm
- ky-mike
- Posts: 2064
- Joined: Thu Apr 11, 2019 4:22 pm
- Location: Near Louisville Ky
Late start. Completed and submitted sitting in the airport. Waiting on update.
Edit: A swing and a miss. Guess I will take another look, but the streak will start over next week.
Edit: A swing and a miss. Guess I will take another look, but the streak will start over next week.
- oldjudge
- Posts: 1652
- Joined: Fri Apr 19, 2019 4:16 am
- Location: Pasadena, CA
Really a solid week two by Malaika and Will, and some interesting outdoor and indoor scenery.
- Cap'n Rick
- Posts: 1619
- Joined: Sun Aug 02, 2020 12:44 pm
- Location: Nahant, MA
Got it! Nice one, Will and Malaika!
Edit: 71
Edit: 71
Last edited by Cap'n Rick on Sat Jul 09, 2022 9:45 am, edited 1 time in total.
- woozy
- Posts: 2320
- Joined: Mon Aug 10, 2020 12:40 am
Oh..... what a relief after two? three? months of misrated puzzles to have a puzzle that is unquestionably a week 2.
....
Also after the hideousness that is my attempts at the WSJ and the MMMM (MMMM? since when has *that* every been an issue?) it was nice to be tossed a bone.
....
Also after the hideousness that is my attempts at the WSJ and the MMMM (MMMM? since when has *that* every been an issue?) it was nice to be tossed a bone.
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".
- ajk
- Posts: 1033
- Joined: Mon Dec 21, 2020 4:22 pm
- Location: Colorado
Saw nothing during first effort this morning. Then opened it again this afternoon and instantly my eye was caught by something that turned out to be the right path.
Definitely a fun one.
Definitely a fun one.
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
- Streroto
- Posts: 804
- Joined: Thu Jul 04, 2019 4:24 pm
- Location: Newtown Square, PA
Beamed. Fun and clever puzzle. As much as I love Matt’s work it’s nice to have guests from time to time.
Stay well all
Stay well all
- MikeyG
- Posts: 1456
- Joined: Wed Dec 30, 2020 2:52 pm
- Location: Chicago
- Contact:
Definitely took a bit of staring, but then the cobwebs scattered, which means more time to play with Ginger Cat! Fun Week 2!
- BarbaraK
- Posts: 2661
- Joined: Tue Apr 09, 2019 2:37 pm
- Location: Virginia
I've beamed up after completing Will and Malaika's excellent mission.
If you want help with a meta, feel free to PM me. The more specific you are about what you have and what you want, the more likely I can help without spoiling.
(And if I help you win a mug, I’ll be especially delighted.)
(And if I help you win a mug, I’ll be especially delighted.)
- Guffman
- Posts: 198
- Joined: Tue May 18, 2021 10:02 am
- Location: Prairie Village, Kansas
Amazing how a short nap is all you need to see what you didn't see before.
- ChrisKochmanski
- Posts: 2269
- Joined: Tue Apr 09, 2019 9:51 pm
- Location: Saline, Michigan
- Bird Lives
- Posts: 2839
- Joined: Tue Apr 09, 2019 6:43 pm
- Location: NYC
- Contact:
Sheesh -- Malaika and all her sports clues.
Awaiting confirmation but confident.
Awaiting confirmation but confident.
Jay
- KayW
- Moderator
- Posts: 3534
- Joined: Wed Apr 10, 2019 12:10 am
- Location: Chicago
Beaming up... and hoping I don't end up back where I started.
Fun one. Bravi, Will and Malaika!
Fun one. Bravi, Will and Malaika!
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.
- Jeremy Smith
- Posts: 1031
- Joined: Thu Apr 11, 2019 5:45 pm
- Location: Tampa Bay area
I completed the grid as soon as the puzzle was released, but saw nothing promising to be meta-related. Went outside and cut an acre and a quarter of grass and immediately saw the mechanism when I picked up the puzzle again. Beam me up!