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Oh, Hi Paul! (Meta)

· By Abide · Published 2022-06-27T12:01:12.032Z

Meta Prompt
The meta answer is a Paul Simon song that would make a good fourth theme entry. Puzzle discussion and Wednesday nudges at https://www.xword-muggles.com/viewtopic.php?t=1693
Checking for previous play data...

Leaderboard (updated hourly)

  • Abide solved 2022-06-27T14:04:32.452Z
  • Hector solved 2022-06-27T15:31:44.608Z
  • Meg solved 2022-06-27T17:41:54.258Z
  • boharr solved 2022-06-27T18:19:36.409Z
  • oldjudge solved 2022-06-27T19:14:57.828Z
  • Emma Oxford solved 2022-06-27T19:22:36.316Z
  • woozy solved 2022-06-27T19:52:55.107Z
  • FrankieHeck solved 2022-06-27T19:55:01.921Z
  • Laura M solved 2022-06-27T20:04:13.150Z
  • madhatter5 solved 2022-06-27T20:26:11.525Z
  • Mikey G solved 2022-06-27T20:41:54.507Z
  • RPardoe solved 2022-06-27T20:53:48.115Z
  • I K Snamhcok solved 2022-06-27T21:03:57.808Z
  • rjy solved 2022-06-27T21:25:07.450Z
  • BrennerTJ solved 2022-06-27T22:09:19.674Z
  • Ergcat solved 2022-06-27T23:38:34.728Z
  • JM solved 2022-06-28T00:53:15.544Z
  • BarbaraK solved 2022-06-28T03:41:13.967Z
  • clev solved 2022-06-28T04:03:47.665Z
  • markhr solved 2022-06-28T05:26:06.229Z
  • dplass solved 2022-06-28T10:49:43.934Z
  • Capn Rick solved 2022-06-28T11:58:06.360Z
  • CromsFury solved 2022-06-28T13:05:01.960Z
  • LuckyGuest solved 2022-06-28T17:44:26.725Z
  • Tyrpmom solved 2022-06-28T19:28:03.705Z
  • whimsy solved 2022-06-28T19:59:37.065Z
  • Carolyn solved 2022-06-28T20:54:24.368Z
  • DIS solved 2022-06-29T14:31:23.479Z
  • Mwoychick solved 2022-06-29T15:16:55.167Z
  • JHSeeman solved 2022-06-29T17:04:36.411Z
  • Bbaack solved 2022-06-29T18:55:31.725Z
  • CPJohnson solved 2022-06-29T18:57:03.748Z
  • Cindy Heisler solved 2022-06-29T19:35:29.297Z
  • Alvibu67 solved 2022-06-29T19:53:01.195Z
  • Schmeel solved 2022-06-29T20:09:01.486Z
  • DebbieC solved 2022-06-29T20:45:39.209Z
  • Anita and Steve solved 2022-06-29T22:17:35.542Z
  • heidi solved 2022-06-29T22:48:37.593Z
  • lbray53 solved 2022-06-29T22:49:04.279Z
  • Teamdoubletow solved 2022-06-30T00:28:08.009Z
  • Toast solved 2022-06-30T01:14:24.854Z
  • Ash solved 2022-06-30T01:46:47.011Z
  • DrTom solved 2022-06-30T05:08:57.350Z
  • THC solved 2022-06-30T11:53:28.638Z
  • Wendy S HeadinHome solved 2022-06-30T22:39:31.254Z
  • minimuggle solved 2022-07-01T20:14:02.746Z
  • ajk solved 2022-07-01T22:39:25.046Z
  • jbird solved 2022-07-02T00:52:15.185Z
  • KayW solved 2022-07-02T01:04:23.329Z
  • Naptown Kid solved 2022-07-02T03:59:07.941Z
  • Dow Jones solved 2022-07-02T07:41:35.779Z
  • auee89 solved 2022-07-02T14:41:26.940Z
  • Gutman solved 2022-07-02T14:48:01.495Z
  • michaelm solved 2022-07-03T03:26:57.881Z
  • vandono solved 2022-07-03T03:49:26.932Z
  • ReB solved 2022-07-03T13:51:23.482Z
  • Qmark solved 2022-07-05T16:01:58.042Z

Comments

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  • Hector 6:31 · 2022-06-27T15:35:15.139Z
    Thanks, Peter!
    • Meg 3s · 2022-06-27T17:43:05.798Z
      Now I just have to figure out why it’s correct. What a strange way to solve a meta!
      • Emma Oxford 🤓5:23 · 2022-06-27T19:25:58.357Z
        Huh, I see you added that... too fast for it to be a response to my comment. Dunno why I didn't see it. (Also I didn't check the muggle forum until after I solved, and I see it's on there too.)
        • Emma Oxford 🤓5:23 · 2022-06-27T19:23:34.902Z
          Oh huzzah! Is the trick that you're looking for the Paul Simon song with two state abbreviations in the title? "Paul Simon song that fits the theme" might've saved me from a couple rabbit holes.
          • Abide constructor · 2022-06-27T20:13:07.000Z
            Yes, I was working on revising the prompt when you posted. I thought this would be sorta obvious but the super-solvers were having trouble with the backsolve...
          • woozy 🤓11:09 · 2022-06-27T19:54:24.430Z
            Because when you have to name a Paul Simon song, always name either "Me and Julio Down in the School Yard" or "You can Call me Al".
            • woozy 🤓11:09 · 2022-06-27T20:40:03.420Z
              What was the first title of the puzzle?
              Hmmm.... I don't think finding two sets of pairs of letters out of some 14/15 letter strings and looking for a fairly specific but unnatural attribute without any real incentive is as simple to the solver as the constructor thinks it is. I mean, sure, it makes sense once it's pointed out but it's not a natural thing to look for.
              Maybe if the title were "50 Ways (and other things) to leave your lover"..... (Um, was that the first title?)
              • Emma Oxford 🤓5:23 · 2022-06-27T21:04:37.738Z
                I help edit/test-solve the Pandora's Blocks weekly crossword, and "Will, I know this seems very straightforward to you, but I promise no one else is going to see it" comes up a lot in my emails. 😂
                I think the trick in this one is that it's not just pairs of letters, it's specifically two-letter words. Which to be fair is not obvious when you're just looking at the grid, but it did jump out at me when I wrote out the long themers with the correct spacing.
                • woozy 🤓11:09 · 2022-06-27T21:47:14.034Z
                  Oh... those are words. Yeah, that helps. all the two letter words are states. I tone back my criticism exponentially. Still some other clue or trigger else where (clues or titles hinting at states (very obliquely of course) or something like that).
                  • dplass 9:19 · 2022-06-28T11:06:04.068Z
                    Same. Before the title change there was nothing telegraphing state abbreviations. WWGaffneyD?
                • Abide constructor · 2022-06-27T21:17:33.790Z
                  They are not just "pairs of letters"; they are two letter words. Putting that constraint on it makes it very hard to find any lengthy "in-the-language" phrases. These may have verged on invisibility, but if you write the themers out with spacing it is more apparent.
                  The first title was Duolingo. My "post-publication test solver" (Hector) felt it was too distracting and I agreed.
                  • woozy 🤓11:09 · 2022-06-27T22:51:38.944Z
                    Duolingo??? Now I'm very confused!
                    • Abide constructor · 2022-06-28T00:39:13.192Z
                      Duo-(pair) Lingo. Next time don't ask--lol
              • Laura M 🤓7:15 · 2022-06-27T20:06:53.328Z
                Would never have gotten it with the original title and prompt, so thanks for the reworking!
                • woozy 🤓11:09 · 2022-06-27T21:15:50.730Z
                  What was the original title?
                • madhatter5 3s · 2022-06-27T20:27:38.186Z
                  Thanks Al!
                  • Abide constructor · 2022-06-27T21:17:42.677Z
                    Yeah, I was thinking about giving this to him -- that would have been really meta!
                  • Mikey G 🤓4:32 · 2022-06-27T20:43:07.651Z
                    If anyone reading this needs some joy, the low-key zaniness music video for "You Can Call Me Al" is one of my favorites of all time.
                    • dplass 9:19 · 2022-06-28T10:51:36.992Z
                      I never understood why Chevy Chase was in it...
                    • Ergcat 4s · 2022-06-27T23:38:55.837Z
                      Thanks, Peter!
                      • dplass 9:19 · 2022-06-28T10:50:22.186Z
                        US state abbreviations?
                        • Capn Rick 🤓6:27 · 2022-06-28T12:22:37.707Z
                          Nice one, Peter! Thanks.
                          • whimsy 17:51 · 2022-06-28T20:25:32.179Z
                            Well, it this wasn't the answer, my next submission was going to be Still Crazy After All These Years! Thanks, Peter! Subtle but effective! :)
                            • Carolyn 4s · 2022-06-28T20:55:35.413Z
                              Love it! Took me a second look after the new prompt... then aha.
                              • DIS 🤓4:48 · 2022-06-29T14:32:14.798Z
                                Nice one!
                                • Cindy Heisler 2s · 2022-06-29T19:38:50.864Z
                                  After many wrong submissions, I finally got it.
                                  • Schmeel 3s · 2022-06-29T20:17:32.073Z
                                    Yet again, stumped by the state abbreviations not apparent to me at a glance! I couldn't figure out the first nudge, and I used the second without realizing the state connection. In retrospect it was a good meta if you're from the right country!
                                    • DebbieC 🤓18:19 · 2022-06-29T20:49:05.028Z
                                      Have to be honest; I was stumped until Going Postal spoiler. Embarrassing for a lifelong Paul Simon superfan! I got hung up on The Boxer cuz of Oscar De La Hoya and coiuldn't get the other 2 themers to work . . .
                                      • Abide constructor · 2022-06-29T21:24:21.358Z
                                        I was expecting The Boxer rabbit hole. Most of the wrong guesses are Homeward Bound though...
                                        • DebbieC 🤓18:19 · 2022-06-29T23:20:25.167Z
                                          I think the bigger rabbit hole was Paul Simon. This isn't really about him other than one song as the meta answer/4th themer. I kept trying to find a song within the other themers. Ma & Pa Kettle became Mama Pajama etc. from Me & Julio Down By the Schoolhouse. Nice exercise, thanks!
                                      • Toast 🤓57s · 2022-06-30T01:18:43.208Z
                                        Same as Schmeel. I smelled something statey going on, but because "DELA" and [phonetic] Oh Hi are both prefixes of state names, I never quite went to the postal abbreviations, and the whole state name fizzled out. Eventually got there via arbitrary contained postal abbreviations. Nice "Hey, waitaminute ...." (there's something simpler going on that I should'a seen earlier) moment.
                                        • THC 🤓4:28 · 2022-06-30T11:59:18.226Z
                                          Thanks, Peter!
                                          • Naptown Kid 7s · 2022-07-02T04:06:11.217Z
                                            Needed the nudges. Got hung up on the abbreviations that were in other words in the themers but didn’t stand alone. Thanks for constructing.
                                            • Dow Jones 4s · 2022-07-02T07:49:53.044Z
                                              Thanks, Peter, for the nudges. Excellent meta.
                                              • michaelm 🤓6:04 · 2022-07-03T03:30:37.394Z
                                                Thanks Peter! Brilliant concept, to state the obvious…
                                                • Abide 2s · 2022-07-03T04:49:56.141Z
                                                  Thanks! “State the Obvious” would have been a good title!
                                                • ReB 6s · 2022-07-03T13:55:18.177Z
                                                  My previous attempt (Let me live in your city) also fits the pattern, though it does repeat IN. Fortunately I persisted to the end of the list. Funny how many songs with two 2-letter words I missed seeing yesterday, included the two alluded to here.
                                                  1A
                                                  In the saddle (again)
                                                  1
                                                  2
                                                  3
                                                  4
                                                  5
                                                  6
                                                  7
                                                  8
                                                  9
                                                  10
                                                  11
                                                  12
                                                  13
                                                  14
                                                  15
                                                  16
                                                  17
                                                  18
                                                  19
                                                  20
                                                  21
                                                  22
                                                  23
                                                  24
                                                  25
                                                  26
                                                  27
                                                  28
                                                  29
                                                  30
                                                  31
                                                  32
                                                  33
                                                  34
                                                  35
                                                  36
                                                  37
                                                  38
                                                  39
                                                  40
                                                  41
                                                  42
                                                  43
                                                  44
                                                  45
                                                  46
                                                  Across
                                                  1. 1A
                                                    In the saddle (again)
                                                  2. 9A
                                                    Bit of remorse
                                                  3. 13A
                                                    It may go to blazes
                                                  4. 14A
                                                    Bassoon's little cousin
                                                  5. 15A
                                                    "C'mon, make up your mind"
                                                  6. 17A
                                                    Assault, as with water balloons
                                                  7. 18A
                                                    Puny arms?
                                                  8. 19A
                                                    Ingvar Kamprad, for one
                                                  9. 21A
                                                    Word with chop on a menu
                                                  10. 22A
                                                    Ang Lee's "Life ___"
                                                  11. 23A
                                                    Where the MLB's Astros have played the last five seasons
                                                  12. 24A
                                                    It's easy as 1-2-3
                                                  13. 27A
                                                    Rustic film couple with a Universal franchise
                                                  14. 30A
                                                    Cape ___; ___ Arbor
                                                  15. 31A
                                                    They're brought to a CPA
                                                  16. 32A
                                                    Torts and Contracts student
                                                  17. 33A
                                                    "Your Majesty"
                                                  18. 34A
                                                    Gyeongbokgung Palace city
                                                  19. 35A
                                                    Doodle on a sheet of music?
                                                  20. 38A
                                                    Home of the NCAA's Banana Slugs
                                                  21. 39A
                                                    Welterwight champion dubbed "The Golden Boy"
                                                  22. 43A
                                                    Trotter's trot
                                                  23. 44A
                                                    Beatles song with the lyric "Although I laugh and I act like a clown; Beneath this mask I am wearing a frown"
                                                  24. 45A
                                                    Church section that's not a nave
                                                  25. 46A
                                                    "Free Fallin" rocker
                                                  Down
                                                  1. 1D
                                                    Museum curator's deg.
                                                  2. 2D
                                                    One cause of inflation?
                                                  3. 3D
                                                    Skillet for making thin pancakes
                                                  4. 4D
                                                    Entered, as data
                                                  5. 5D
                                                    Total jerk
                                                  6. 6D
                                                    Promote big-time
                                                  7. 7D
                                                    "Woe ___" (grammar best-seller)
                                                  8. 8D
                                                    Hamilton
                                                  9. 9D
                                                    Bess's beau
                                                  10. 10D
                                                    Leigh Hunt poem "___ ben Adhem"
                                                  11. 11D
                                                    Cookie, garden, or yarn, e.g.
                                                  12. 12D
                                                    Has an aha moment about
                                                  13. 16D
                                                    Of ample proportions
                                                  14. 19D
                                                    Literary drug of forgetfulness
                                                  15. 20D
                                                    NYC sports radio station with an apt call sign
                                                  16. 21D
                                                    Web mag that includes Matt Gaffney as a contributing writer
                                                  17. 23D
                                                    Incentive for some high-achieving students, in brief
                                                  18. 24D
                                                    Gratis
                                                  19. 25D
                                                    Cordon ___ (master chef)
                                                  20. 26D
                                                    Don't leave home without it
                                                  21. 28D
                                                    Like a martini with less vermouth
                                                  22. 29D
                                                    Footwear that's on point?
                                                  23. 33D
                                                    Go with the flow
                                                  24. 34D
                                                    Dandruff shampoo target
                                                  25. 35D
                                                    Class with warrior poses
                                                  26. 36D
                                                    "I need it yesterday!"
                                                  27. 37D
                                                    Long-running CBS crime drama
                                                  28. 38D
                                                    Biblical name that sounds like a mother and offspring
                                                  29. 40D
                                                    Jimmy Eat World genre
                                                  30. 41D
                                                    "Are we there ___?"
                                                  31. 42D
                                                    Secret or mission ending
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