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Unhappy Endings

· By DrTom · Published 2022-12-06T17:59:45.777Z

Meta Prompt
The answer is an apt description for a day of the week
If you are having a difficult time, perhaps some hints may help. Here are some "nudges" to help you solve; I have them in order of what I think is the level of strength of the hint which get more blatant as you go down:
Did you notice that there seemed to be a lot of clues with a military theme?
Constructors rarely use "positional" words in a title capriciously!
What date was this puzzle published. and why is that important?
Checking for previous play data...

Leaderboard (updated hourly)

  • edestlin solved 2022-12-07T14:00:01.476Z
  • Dave C solved 2022-12-07T14:57:28.309Z
  • boharr solved 2022-12-07T15:22:47.605Z
  • Darth solved 2022-12-07T16:28:31.981Z
  • whimsy solved 2022-12-07T16:38:30.664Z
  • Hector solved 2022-12-07T17:12:29.143Z
  • Meg solved 2022-12-07T20:01:11.991Z
  • Cindy Weatherman solved 2022-12-07T20:02:28.175Z
  • I K Snamhcok solved 2022-12-07T20:35:07.927Z
  • dplass solved 2022-12-07T22:20:42.979Z
  • KayW solved 2022-12-08T01:49:04.512Z
  • Cindy Heisler solved 2022-12-08T02:10:27.304Z
  • lbray53 solved 2022-12-08T14:32:34.166Z
  • rjy solved 2022-12-08T17:50:29.279Z
  • woozy solved 2022-12-09T03:44:03.068Z
  • Laura M solved 2022-12-09T07:04:23.833Z
  • Dow Jones solved 2022-12-09T07:49:28.008Z
  • Lance solved 2022-12-09T12:42:18.044Z
  • Mwoychick solved 2022-12-09T13:41:33.904Z
  • DIS solved 2022-12-09T14:28:26.058Z
  • CPJohnson solved 2022-12-09T16:54:59.455Z
  • ajk solved 2022-12-09T16:57:50.371Z
  • Mr Tex solved 2022-12-09T21:46:53.426Z
  • SJMcK solved 2022-12-09T23:08:38.481Z
  • ReB solved 2022-12-09T23:19:41.186Z
  • Teamdoubletow solved 2022-12-10T01:11:02.920Z
  • Sharkicicles solved 2022-12-10T02:20:05.378Z
  • Ergcat solved 2022-12-10T12:45:55.447Z
  • BarbaraK solved 2022-12-10T13:26:02.906Z
  • markhr solved 2022-12-11T07:02:54.268Z
  • Schmeel solved 2022-12-11T13:30:51.951Z
  • Tyler Johnston solved 2022-12-11T21:03:34.661Z
  • SeamusOL solved 2022-12-12T04:45:49.404Z
  • Johnny Luau solved 2022-12-12T18:20:09.451Z
  • Mikey G solved 2022-12-12T21:54:27.800Z
  • Darrell solved 2022-12-13T11:19:05.638Z
  • Abide solved 2022-12-17T04:01:05.457Z
  • Tyrpmom solved 2022-12-22T13:58:50.847Z
  • clev solved 2023-03-15T07:36:16.194Z

Comments

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  • DrTom constructor · 2022-12-06T18:03:51.314Z
    Given that this Pearl Harbor Day I thought I'd take advantage of it's ominous label by placing words associated with the event that have a last letter which, when taken in grid order, spell out INFAMOUS. "...December 7th..., a date which will live in infamy" FDR
    • Dave C 2s · 2022-12-07T14:58:31.533Z
      I saw the links to Japan right away and then backed into the entire word.
      • boharr 5s · 2022-12-07T15:24:21.753Z
        Thanks, DrTom. Great fun.
        • Darth 🤓13:44 · 2022-12-07T16:29:40.302Z
          The Pearl Harbor theme was definitely there. Nice idea for a meta and timely! Thanks DrTom!
          • Hector 3s · 2022-12-07T17:18:04.443Z
            Thanks doc!
            • Meg 4s · 2022-12-07T20:09:12.232Z
              It’s amazing how one part of my brain registered the theme, but did not communicate with the rest of my brain. Little idea bubbles that couldn’t make it to the surface. Got a nudge. Nice puzzle, Dr. Tom!
              • I K Snamhcok 1s · 2022-12-07T20:36:00.446Z
                Good one, Dr. T. Lest we forget.
                • Cindy Heisler 7s · 2022-12-08T02:12:04.096Z
                  As much fun this time as when I test solved. Perfect puzzle for today!
                  • whimsy 9:13 · 2022-12-08T23:46:09.239Z
                    Ditto!
                  • woozy 🤓12:41 · 2022-12-09T03:44:27.705Z
                    Okay... now to figure out what the heck the meta could possibly be.
                    • woozy 🤓12:41 · 2022-12-09T03:49:40.414Z
                      Oh... take the letters that are there! Don't add or change anything.... thanks to a check to the to the head from rjy.
                      • Laura M 🤓9:37 · 2022-12-09T07:08:20.320Z
                        Got it with the first nudge, it's amazing how oblivious I can be sometimes. I skated right past all of the pointed theme clues to focus on all the ones with two-word blanks, since it seemed like there were an unusual number of those. Nice puzzle and commemoration!
                        • Dow Jones 3s · 2022-12-09T07:53:29.628Z
                          Loved the clue at 3D3DWords that start a lifetime sentence[----] (Words that start a lifetime sentence). Well done, Dr. Tom
                          • DIS 🤓5:02 · 2022-12-09T14:29:19.089Z
                            Well done. I needed the "gentle shove".
                            • ReB 4s · 2022-12-09T23:25:36.144Z
                              The gentle (first) nudge quickly set me on the right path to find the theme words that had relevant endings. Nice way to memorialize that infamous attack on our Pacific Fleet,
                              • Teamdoubletow 3s · 2022-12-10T01:14:26.358Z
                                That date is the anniversary of my husband's parents so that characterization of the date has been repeated many times. Thanks for reminding me of their anniversary! I think my Father-in-law would have loved metas and this one in particular.
                                • Ergcat 18:04 · 2022-12-10T12:46:52.148Z
                                  Needed the nudges! Thanks, DrTom! Fitting for the Dec 7!
                                  • Tyrpmom 2s · 2022-12-22T14:04:17.978Z
                                    Working my way through the unsolved puzzles on my clipboard this morning. Took the first nudge. Thanks for the puzzle Dr. Tom.
                                    • DrTom constructor · 2022-12-23T04:42:04.856Z
                                      Well glad you got to it! It probably was a bit more difficult when it was NOT solved on December 7th.
                                    1A
                                    "Are you calling me ___ ____?"
                                    1
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                                    61
                                    62
                                    63
                                    64
                                    65
                                    66
                                    67
                                    Across
                                    1. 1A
                                      "Are you calling me ___ ____?"
                                    2. 6A
                                      Nods off
                                    3. 10A
                                      Metros. Prizms, and Storms
                                    4. 14A
                                      "Quasimodo, does that name ___ ___ bell?"
                                    5. 15A
                                      Seedy coat
                                    6. 16A
                                      "You've got a friend ___ ___"; Randy Newman song
                                    7. 17A
                                      Class picture
                                    8. 19A
                                      Born's partner
                                    9. 20A
                                      State serving as headquarters of the U.S. Navy's Pacific Fleet
                                    10. 21A
                                      365 days in the past
                                    11. 23A
                                      Neet rival
                                    12. 25A
                                      Place to get a Kamikaze
                                    13. 26A
                                      Get airborne from a carrier
                                    14. 30A
                                      Edvard Munch ___ ___ grim picture
                                    15. 32A
                                      Bring together
                                    16. 33A
                                      Cover over a cake
                                    17. 35A
                                      One third of a World War II film
                                    18. 36A
                                      Functioned as a farrier
                                    19. 37A
                                      Some of the best initial brandy
                                    20. 41A
                                      Air raid or fire signal
                                    21. 42A
                                      Wartime radio broadcaster, ___ Rose
                                    22. 43A
                                      Lost his head to a Hessian rider
                                    23. 47A
                                      Torments
                                    24. 49A
                                      Military chaos initials
                                    25. 50A
                                      Rooney of "60 Minutes"
                                    26. 51A
                                      Avian joint?
                                    27. 54A
                                      Zeros in the sky
                                    28. 59A
                                      Cockney's vacation residence
                                    29. 60A
                                      Gets out of the way
                                    30. 62A
                                      "Hud" Oscar winning actress
                                    31. 63A
                                      Weight of an empty vessel
                                    32. 64A
                                      Totenberg and Simone
                                    33. 65A
                                      "¿Cómo ___ usted?"
                                    34. 66A
                                      Aptly named Utah ski resort
                                    35. 67A
                                      Considers
                                    Down
                                    1. 1D
                                      Cry of frustration
                                    2. 2D
                                      Bread found in Milan in the 60's
                                    3. 3D
                                      Words that start a lifetime sentence
                                    4. 4D
                                      Lago contents
                                    5. 5D
                                      Soccer great Megan
                                    6. 6D
                                      Slangy refusal
                                    7. 7D
                                      Loud, as a crowd
                                    8. 8D
                                      Mr. T's emotion
                                    9. 9D
                                      Berry for flavoring gin
                                    10. 10D
                                      "The Prophet" author
                                    11. 11D
                                      Absorbed
                                    12. 12D
                                      Last letters from a Greek author
                                    13. 13D
                                      Town known for hummingbirds and Kias
                                    14. 18D
                                      "The Sparrow"; famous chanteuse
                                    15. 22D
                                      Dance in delight, do "___ ___"
                                    16. 24D
                                      Words that precede "a hammer"
                                    17. 26D
                                      Steve Martin's pharaoh
                                    18. 27D
                                      Yucatan year
                                    19. 28D
                                      White wine and cassis cocktail
                                    20. 29D
                                      Prediction at O'Hare
                                    21. 30D
                                      Merchant encountered by Simon
                                    22. 31D
                                      "Go on ..."
                                    23. 34D
                                      ___ blimey, English exclamation
                                    24. 36D
                                      Mo retarder
                                    25. 37D
                                      "___ Ryan's Express" (Frank Sinatra movie)
                                    26. 38D
                                      Hang out with moguls?
                                    27. 39D
                                      Attention getter in Spain
                                    28. 40D
                                      Cation charge: Abbr.
                                    29. 41D
                                      Adjoin
                                    30. 42D
                                      Babes' place
                                    31. 43D
                                      First line of "Taps". "Day ___ ___"
                                    32. 44D
                                      Benjamins
                                    33. 45D
                                      Tear into
                                    34. 46D
                                      Roc--, defunct Jay Z record label
                                    35. 48D
                                      National econ. stats
                                    36. 50D
                                      Wide awake
                                    37. 52D
                                      Slender gentleman's dog?
                                    38. 53D
                                      A right leaning type: Abbr.
                                    39. 55D
                                      Locale d'Indochine
                                    40. 56D
                                      Highest Sudoku digit
                                    41. 57D
                                      Babybel® cheese
                                    42. 58D
                                      House mtg.
                                    43. 61D
                                      Princess vexer
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