Not As Easy As They Say
◆ · By DrTom · Published 2024-03-13T19:10:01.395Z
Meta Prompt
The answer is what you might receive if you don't solve the meta
"Give me a meta long enough and a full day to solve and I will move the cat out of the bag..."
Drat, just as you feared, I'm back! I came up with today's puzzle after solving another meta I first tried to solve using the technique here. It did not work of course, "But it could", said I.
As stated in the prompt, the answer is what you might receive if you don't solve the meta, but I am sure most of you will. Though I'd put this as a solid Calico, maybe a Persian, I know some of you are going to see this immediately. I won't say who because that would probably tip it too much.
Still, it should be challenging enough that you raise a little sweat while you are trying for the prise (props to Mr. Gaffney for that lovely pun).
I want to thank Al Sisti and Whimsy for test solving and helping me clean this up. As is the norm, nudges Friday and reveal next Tuesday.
NUDGES:
Nudge 1] Puzzle creators LOVE to be topical and if their puzzle will be published on a day, or on a day before, an “event” they like to include it.
Nudge 2] If you look through the grid, aren’t there a lot of symmetric words that begin with the same two letters?
Nudge 3] The “dead center” clue/answer is soooo often important.
Nudge 4] If you combine Nudge 2 and Nudge 3 does that give you a clue to any numbers?
Nudge 5] If a puzzle creator gives you numbers, what do you do with them?
EXTRA STRONG NUDGE:
Nudge 6 THIS OUGHTA DO IT] You have probably found a common beginning IN six places. But if we used a different preposition and it was instead TO six places???
THE REVEAL:
A puzzle published one day before PI day.
A graphic that points to Archimedes the father of PI, acting out his famous quotation and trying to move, not the Earth, but a giant pie
Six words, symmetrically placed, in the grid that begin with the letters PI
A center clue that hints towards a decimal place
A realization that PI to six places gives a number: 3.141592
Plugging in the letter in the grid squares that match those numbers gives DEMERIT, the meta answer
For a more complete explanation and graphic depiction of the solve please go to:
Checking for previous play data...
1A
Pilot's guess
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Across
- 1APilot's guess
- 4AFood found in the field, often
- 7ASomething people do at a wall
- 11AWhere to dock your boat, unless there is too much pressure
- 13AStocking gift for bad kids
- 14ABeans you get in a Mexican restaurant
- 15ALacking any get up and go
- 16AUsually associated with crafts
- 17AOne form of addition
- 18AParty hearty
- 20AClean out a pipe, maybe stuffed with paper?
- 21AIn an appropriate manner
- 22AThis is not nothing, but it's related
- 23A"Stop" to a salt
- 26AProduction dependent on numbers
- 30ANiche for a pendulum
- 31AOne of the famous Greek mathematicians, this one known for Geometry
- 35AJob of a relief pitcher
- 36AOne of the forty you might put your mule on
- 38AA location, like perhaps after a decimal point
- 39ALike much folk music: Abbr.
- 40ARuiner of a field day
- 41AWisest, like 31A or his contemporaries
- 43AAn animal that might root for you
- 44ADescription of a rock group's hotel room if they did 18A
- 46ALane on a plane
- 48AUnhappy bag occupant
- 49ASoldier with a red cross on his helmet
- 52AGod that was hammered in Marvel Comics
- 54ADelightful, many layered, desserts fit for an Emperor
- 58AComplains
- 59ANot a spot for a drink, with Al
- 60AKilometer, mile or furlong
- 61AFootball venue
- 62AGroup that often believe otherwise
- 63ASeat for non-players; "riding the ___"
- 64AClub for the musically inclined
- 65ASomething found on the end of a butt
- 66AHighlander's hat
Down
- 1DStory writ large
- 2DTime does not improve the chance that this will wait for you
- 3DFarmer's location, it is said
- 4DThe end of some stories
- 5DThreadbare and worn
- 6DChoice word
- 7DWhat I consider grape reading
- 8DGirl associated with the King of Siam
- 9DCouple in a newspaper
- 10DRye friend from Nova Scotia
- 12DWhere you can see large schools in the Caribbean
- 13DSome say this can be found in front of a horse
- 14DName of a very trendy Hilton
- 19DIt often follows a nibble
- 22DSubjects of paintings and magazines
- 23DNo longer together
- 24DBig man in the local parrish
- 25DParts of hearts
- 26DAnimals cruelly treated by the farmer's wife
- 27DBottom feeders and often the subject of dissatisfaction
- 28DMake useful to yourself
- 29DPigeon perch on a high-rise
- 32DUnexpected win or loss
- 33DClothed in
- 34DCan be the product of a jet plane
- 37DSettle in comfortably
- 42DFollow
- 45DLike winters in the Arctic
- 47DWhat your windows will do in 45D
- 49DMorgans' flowing locks
- 50DHistorical or geological age
- 51DSingle word warning
- 52DAll work and no play
- 53DEmotion often evoked by anger
- 54DRocket launcher
- 55D"No worries, got that!"
- 56DOne of a Columbian fleet
- 57DAcronym that includes chemistry and calculus
- 58DMeasure of trip efficiency in the US