Vicious Circle
◆ · By DrTom · Published 2023-11-01T11:30:20.738Z
Meta Prompt
The 8 letter answer is something known for its storied ability to change people
I am going to beg for forgiveness up front...
I have had this meta waiting for this time period for quite a while. Problem is that it is, I have been told, rather challenging. I did not want to post it on a week 4 MG and WSJ (though WSJ was pretty straightforward) so I held it and did "Let My People Go" instead. But since I do not want to keep it another year here you are.
It is a probably at least a Puma, though obviously if you catch the idea and internal nudges it will be much easier. I will be posting the nudges Friday but, more likely than not, sooner. Give it a try though, it is not as scary as it seems....but please don't hesitate to ask for help, I don't want it to turn you into a screaming maniac.
Kitten
Calico
Persian
*PUMA
Lion
Nudges: (from "were you trying to get my attention" to "hey stop shoving")
Nudge 1] I said I had to release this around this time, and there are actually TWO temporal reasons I had to
Nudge 2] There are "nudge" clues throughout, 39A is one of them
Nudge 3] ...15A is another
Nudge 4] ...and 61D is yet another
Nudge 5] Finally, 21 and 23A as a pair are nudges
Nudge 6] There are also a few Easter eggs, like 36A
Nudge 7] ...and the combination of 1A and 1D, but you will have to, as suggested, think of other examples
Nudge 8] The graphic also has an Easter Egg/Nudge but you might have to go back to a previous MEOW..."Remember old MEOWs, what in the name of God does he think he is doing!!!"
Nudge 9] Finally, there is 59D which ought to tip everyone off
Nudge 10] Is this difficulty going to be the norm for DrTom or is he just going through a phase?
Nudge 11] Let's build from the nudges: Take 39A and use 15A to create something. Now, use 61D to find what you need, and be sure to incorporate 21 and 23A to help you get oriented. Oh, and if you don't know the "point" 39A refers to, that word contains the only instance of a letter in the grid which is incidentally smack in the middle of the grid
So, last day and I thought I'd put out one last big hint/nudge/downright shove:
Hint Nudge Downright Shove] You have an entry that tells you where to start. The start point is a 15A from a 39A - which could not B any clearer - and each stopping point is a 61D until you get to the END. That will spell out, graphically and literally, what 36A and 59D tried to clue you to.
Reveal Day!
How was this meant to be solved? There are several clues in the GRID:15A is very oddly worded and gives you a radius of four (4)39A describes a fixed circular route around a fixed point, and the point…it is the single B in the entire grid and is smack dab in the middle. So starting at the B draw a radius of 4 to the F. How do you know that, well 21A tells you that is the start of the game. Use a compass or a pencil on a string or whatever works for you and draw your circle. Simply going out 4 in every direction is not reasonable (nor is it a radius) because that gives you a square. With the circle completed look at every 45 degree segment (Clue 61A) and starting with the F, go around the circle until the END (Clue 23A) and you’ll find FULL MOON in the squares the circle bisects.
For a more complete, and graphic, explanation of the solve go to:
Checking for previous play data...
Knew what to look for then. Excellent, fun and well-rounded puzzle!1A
Satisfied, for example
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Across
- 1ASatisfied, for example
- 6APro at balancing
- 9AIt may be white or brown
- 14AReact to a wakeup call
- 15ALocation fo(u)r a radius?
- 16AEquip for the future
- 17AProfessor of Potions at Hogwarts
- 18ADetestable
- 20AFly until it hurts
- 21AStart of the game, kick ___
- 22AAccessory for a messy drawer
- 23AWhere the journey stops
- 25AActor Giamatti
- 26AUnion site
- 31AWhere a famous Duke of song hailed from
- 35ARaise
- 36ARing of Saintly celestial light
- 37ABy way of
- 38ANobel city in Norway
- 39AFixed circular route around a central point
- 40APull in a prize fish
- 41A"There!"
- 42APolitician's platform
- 43AComposure under pressure
- 44ABlows it
- 46AFascinated with
- 48ACaptured
- 50ATide competitor
- 51ASoul of Detroit
- 54ARadar statistic: Abbr.
- 56ATweety's "vidi"
- 60ACostco, Sam's Club, or BJs stuff
- 62AJazz group, ___ Gyra
- 63APBS vis-à-vis, "Call the Midwife"
- 64AAuth. of Treas. Island
- 65AFiddler star Chaim
- 66ADilemma duo
- 67ABig cheese at Kraft: Abbr.
- 68ASend-up
Down
- 1DSign of disrespect, for example
- 2DPisa's river
- 3DInvestment firm originally started to provide pensions for educators: Abbr.
- 4DCafe order
- 5DThe Tweedle twins, Dum and ___
- 6DBovine baby
- 7DUniv. employee
- 8DDocs' org.
- 9DJacketed past Indian Leader
- 10DAvailable at a great price
- 11DAltar ergos
- 12DNot all but not nothing
- 13DPitcher with a big mouth
- 19DPlace to have a tempest?
- 21DUneven
- 24DIt often divides players
- 25DCentral European elegance
- 26DDecided
- 27DReceiver of the shortest straw
- 28DEdmonton hockey player
- 29DChanged a sweater size
- 30DNuns are encouraged not to have a bad one
- 32DTake advantage of
- 33DCause of Grandma's blue hair
- 34DPut on, as cargo
- 39DClassic theaters
- 40DSucker
- 43DBestie
- 45DLike some bases
- 47DFan noise
- 49DThose in arrears
- 51DAir kiss sound
- 52DKnown for its rounded ends and raised middle
- 53DAntiquated pressure measure
- 54DMme's daughter
- 55DMint product from Mexico
- 57DWrong key in a music manuscript?
- 58DSomething added to a buck out west
- 59DLycanthrope's transformation
- 61D45 degree segment of a circle
- 62DBaker and Bond in London: Abbr.