MEOW #141 Forethoughts

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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whimsy
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MEOW #141 Forethoughts

#1

Post by whimsy »

Well, what an honor! To be offering a MEOW the same week as International Cat Day! :P

This week's puzzle is probably a CALICO at most; and the answer to the meta is:

An apt 8-letter word.

Nudges late Friday or PM.

Thanks to DrTom for testing, tweaking, and providing a better title; to Kay for another pair of eyes as she readies the reveal, and to Tech-Man, Joe.

Enjoy!

*** New clue for 20A (see post # 14) "I've been fired by my boss! My mortgage is under-water! How on ----- am I going to make it?"***
Thanks, @woozy!



Forethoughts crosshare

Forethoughts PUZ

Forethoughts PDF

Forethoughts spreadsheet


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Last edited by whimsy on Wed Aug 09, 2023 3:29 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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benchen71
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#2

Post by benchen71 »

Cat's out - I think. (Awaiting an answer to a PM.)

Fun meta concept!
Check out "The MOAT MEOW Mashup Pack" here. US$10 for 14 metas that don't always abide by the "rules" of the game: asymmetry, 2-letter words, uncrossed letters, who knows. And this time there's a mega-meta! :shock:
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hoover
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#3

Post by hoover »

Cats are free and having a post-breakfast nap!
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whimsy
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#4

Post by whimsy »

OK -- We all know it wouldn't be a whimsy puzzle without a glitch in it. :P
20A is inaccurate. But I trust that you will still be able to deduce the meta answer.
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Meg
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#5

Post by Meg »

Very nice!! And well done! The cat sends his appreciation.
Check out and support http://CrosswordsForCancer.com.
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Schmeel
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#6

Post by Schmeel »

Cat's gone.
Thanks for the puzzle!
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boharr
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#7

Post by boharr »

Cat went bye bye. Thanks for a fun puzzle.
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woozy
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#8

Post by woozy »

I love me a whimsy puzzle.

Kind of funny I was halfway through the grid (and well exposed but not yet aware of the metanism) when I thought of one clue "wouldn't that be better with....? Oh, well" and it wasn't till much later I got it. Well played. Very well-played.
Stinky Pinkies!

My Entry to the May 2024 CrossHare Midi Contest

Not a meta, but, yeesh!, that was tough to create.
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ChrisKochmanski
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#9

Post by ChrisKochmanski »

Vendre la meche!
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HeadinHome
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#10

Post by HeadinHome »

Cat free and now back to my paying job. Fun challenge .. maybe a tad more than calico. Entertaining as well!
The other Wendy. :roll:
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MatthewL
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Location: Atlanta, GA

#11

Post by MatthewL »

Cat has been debagged. Thanks for the fun puzzle, Whimsy!
Matthew
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Darth
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#12

Post by Darth »

Cat out of the bag, and...(Yes, I'm your fan!)
images (34).jpg
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hcbirker
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#13

Post by hcbirker »

Cat's out! Great idea for a meta!
Heidi
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whimsy
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#14

Post by whimsy »

We interrupt this program to bring you a new and improved clue for 20A, courtesy of @woozy (I know, confusing names, but we're not actually the same person. :lol: ) This removes the inaccuracy and helps to pinpoint your answer. (Which many of you were able to get anyway -- I knew you could!)

New clue for 20A -- "I've been fired by my boss! My mortgage is under-water! How on ----- am I going to make it?"
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Bird Lives
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#15

Post by Bird Lives »

The bag is catless, The puzzle is wonderful. Nothing I like better than a good contrived clue. (I solved it with the pre-Wooz clues and liked it just fine.)
Jay
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lbray53
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#16

Post by lbray53 »

Cat is free. I am missing something. The original clue for 20A was better for me.

I figured out what I was missing. Yes. The new clue is better.
My avatar proves that it is sometimes better to be lucky than good!
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Qmark
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#17

Post by Qmark »

Cat's out of the bag...thanks for the fun puzzle!
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MarkWoychick
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#18

Post by MarkWoychick »

Cat's out of the bag! Thanks, @whimsy!
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
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whimsy
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#19

Post by whimsy »

Here are today's solvers:

DrTom (TS)
KayW (TS)
Joe Ross (who never gets listed but who sees all and knows all!)
benchen71
hoover
Hector
Meg
merlinnimue
Schmeel
boharr
Pair O Ducks
Tyrpmom
DrButtBeard
woozy
Sharkicicles
I K Snamhcok (Thanks for the French instruction!)
HeadinHome
MatthewL
BrennerTJ
Laura M
Darth
Heidi
Carolyn
Alex Sisti (Do you have any Bobbsey Twins books?)
Chris Barbee
JM
Cindy Weatherman
Gutman
BarbaraK
Bird Lives
Markhr
Wendy Walker
lbray53
Berto
Qmark
Mwoychick


And surprise, surprise! All of whom will receive a commemorative drinking vessel!
(Of course so will tomorrow's solvers, and the next day's.....)
No worries about reimbursing me from forum funds; I was able to pick up a gross at Walmart for $1.97.

Untitledzzprize.png
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rjy
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#20

Post by rjy »

Debagged the feline! Took me off and on noodling today, but fun to get the aha in the end. Fun puzzle, nice concept, @whimsy!
Ray
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