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More Than Words

◆ · By Wendy Walker · Published 2024-03-17T04:10:20.537Z

Meta Prompt
The meta answer is a "Sesame Street" character.
Hello, friends! Thrilled to be contributing to the new SSS. My first idea for this puzzle was to use income-tax words as themers; alas, that IRS-related avenue, though timely, became simply too depressing to pursue. To my delight, a less-leaden theme emerged from my musings, and this puzzle quickly took shape. I hope you enjoy it! Thank you to my test-solvers Alan Kennan and SSS editor Cap'n Rick for their excellent suggestions and the invaluable Joe Ross for formatting. Nudges later today.
Checking for previous play data...

Leaderboard (updated hourly)

  • Philip Chow solved 2024-03-17T05:27:14.115Z
  • LarsCaine solved 2024-03-17T12:17:29.319Z
  • DIS solved 2024-03-17T12:26:34.046Z
  • atsiricajr111191 solved 2024-03-17T12:27:45.925Z
  • Cindy Weatherman solved 2024-03-17T12:43:01.411Z
  • kymike solved 2024-03-17T13:19:23.277Z
  • Capn Rick solved 2024-03-17T13:40:46.585Z
  • Darth solved 2024-03-17T13:47:46.351Z
  • Bird Lives solved 2024-03-17T13:50:19.469Z
  • boharr solved 2024-03-17T14:29:09.218Z
  • Meg solved 2024-03-17T14:54:32.492Z
  • JM solved 2024-03-17T15:14:16.868Z
  • Gutman solved 2024-03-17T15:26:55.618Z
  • I K Snamhcok solved 2024-03-17T15:31:04.702Z
  • Carolyn solved 2024-03-17T16:10:27.356Z
  • andeux solved 2024-03-17T16:23:29.354Z
  • heidi solved 2024-03-17T16:43:08.883Z
  • frostyjhammer solved 2024-03-17T16:53:32.647Z
  • woozy solved 2024-03-17T17:15:47.620Z
  • MatthewL solved 2024-03-17T17:26:57.884Z
  • KayW solved 2024-03-17T17:27:18.503Z
  • Berto solved 2024-03-17T17:33:31.211Z
  • Schmeel solved 2024-03-17T18:56:20.698Z
  • whimsy solved 2024-03-17T19:01:30.360Z
  • lbray53 solved 2024-03-17T20:06:33.379Z
  • Tyrpmom solved 2024-03-17T20:35:23.827Z
  • Sendhil Revuluri solved 2024-03-17T21:58:36.656Z
  • Mwoychick solved 2024-03-18T00:05:01.025Z
  • Abide solved 2024-03-18T00:45:08.044Z
  • Sharkicicles solved 2024-03-18T01:01:53.431Z
  • Pair O Ducks solved 2024-03-18T01:17:29.798Z
  • rjy solved 2024-03-18T04:43:57.291Z
  • Mikey G solved 2024-03-18T05:42:36.900Z
  • Danny K Bernstein solved 2024-03-18T06:04:38.596Z
  • DrTom solved 2024-03-18T16:25:45.156Z
  • Jaclyn solved 2024-03-18T16:43:04.373Z
  • Hector solved 2024-03-18T17:05:32.788Z
  • michaelm solved 2024-03-18T18:26:03.947Z
  • Alex Sisti solved 2024-03-18T19:51:08.587Z
  • ajk solved 2024-03-18T21:35:29.702Z
  • hoover solved 2024-03-18T22:20:35.728Z
  • markhr solved 2024-03-18T22:28:39.790Z
  • Laura M solved 2024-03-18T23:27:38.151Z
  • Cindy Heisler solved 2024-03-19T00:59:18.207Z
  • Kulea solved 2024-03-19T05:06:13.347Z
  • CPJohnson solved 2024-03-19T11:49:49.487Z
  • Qmark solved 2024-03-19T13:54:38.084Z
  • Alvibu67 solved 2024-03-19T20:50:37.715Z
  • Tom Wilson solved 2024-03-20T02:47:09.346Z
  • DCBilly solved 2024-03-20T19:57:48.445Z
  • ReB solved 2024-03-23T02:38:04.499Z
  • Jeremy Smith solved 2024-03-23T02:51:33.885Z
  • SJ solved 2024-03-24T14:29:04.431Z

Comments

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  • Philip Chow 7:46 · 2024-03-17T05:29:13.100Z
    this was fun - thank you wendy!! nice aha moment... had to backsolve for colt and base
    • Wendy Walker constructor · 2024-03-17T12:16:16.818Z
      Thanks for solving! #1 on the leaderboard!
      • hoover 3s · 2024-03-18T22:22:00.345Z
        Me too! I initially made a mistake in transcribing so at first I had TECOET which was even more puzzling. Once I figured out the second E was a U, then I knew what I was looking for but just had to find it.
      • DIS 🤓12:54 · 2024-03-17T12:29:42.661Z
        I like the hint in the way you clued SITCOMS. This must have been a hard grid to work out, but you did it very smoothly.
        • Wendy Walker constructor · 2024-03-17T14:58:23.849Z
          Thank you for noticing that! It was a fun challenge to get those eight letters in the "right" squares.
        • Darth 13:28 · 2024-03-17T13:49:25.197Z
          Cute puz, Wendy. 70A and then 1A was my entrance to solving.
          • Wendy Walker constructor · 2024-03-17T14:58:42.552Z
            Thanks very much, Darth!
          • Capn Rick 🤓5:00 · 2024-03-17T13:42:15.866Z
            Great idea and execution, Wendy! Thanks again.
            • Wendy Walker constructor · 2024-03-17T14:59:59.912Z
              That is high praise indeed, coming from an exemplary constructor like you! Your advice made it better -- as always.
            • Bird Lives 4s · 2024-03-17T14:02:40.191Z
              The puzzle was posted on March 17, so I was expecting Kermit singing "Bein' Green." But I'm down for The Count, although with sports-related clues, the count did not go very high: one. What a surprise. I really enjoyed this one.
              • Wendy Walker constructor · 2024-03-17T15:00:23.216Z
                So glad you enjoyed it, Jay, and thank you so much for the kind words!
              • Meg 1:37 · 2024-03-17T14:54:59.860Z
                That was fun!! Thanks!
                • Wendy Walker constructor · 2024-03-17T16:46:05.675Z
                  You are welcome, Meg. Thanks for solving. And thanks for your contributions to the mega-Zoom call on Friday!
                • boharr 2s · 2024-03-17T14:29:37.004Z
                  Fun puzzle. Thanks, Wendy.
                  • Wendy Walker constructor · 2024-03-17T16:46:22.194Z
                    Thank you, Bob! Glad you enjoyed it.
                  • Carolyn 4s · 2024-03-17T16:11:11.624Z
                    Enjoyed that! Thanks
                    • Wendy Walker constructor · 2024-03-17T16:46:35.282Z
                      My pleasure! Thanks for solving!
                    • woozy 18:31 · 2024-03-17T17:18:03.473Z
                      Great puzzle! (My first two guesses were "Count von Count" and "Count" but they were WAGs before I figured the mechanism)
                      • Wendy Walker constructor · 2024-03-18T12:06:09.865Z
                        Thank you so much! The Count is such a wonderful character.
                      • Berto 1s · 2024-03-17T17:41:15.366Z
                        Route 66 was my way in to the metanism, maybe b/c I’m 850 miles into a road trip - and driving past several 1ac 6’s! (First time in the passenger seat, hence late solve!) thanks for the fun puzzle to help pass the time!!
                        • Wendy Walker constructor · 2024-03-18T12:08:23.232Z
                          Fantastic! So glad I could assist! Speaking of road trips, I want someone to invent an app that narrates any historical markers that you pass. When I'm the passenger, I can Google and read them aloud, but when I'm the driver my passenger grudgingly cooperates until we pass about five of them and then he flatly refuses.
                        • MatthewL 🤓7:50 · 2024-03-17T17:29:17.229Z
                          Was pretty sure who the character was going to be, but needed the nudges to help me figure out the why. Thanks for the puzzle, Wendy!
                          • Wendy Walker constructor · 2024-03-18T12:08:36.176Z
                            Thanks for solving!
                          • KayW 🤓8:48 · 2024-03-17T17:29:10.326Z
                            Love it! Fantastic construction, and so fitting that the answer is that number-loving vampire. Thanks Wendy!
                            • Wendy Walker constructor · 2024-03-18T12:08:52.992Z
                              So glad you enjoyed it, Kay! Thank you for solving!
                            • whimsy 🤓13:13 · 2024-03-17T19:05:39.334Z
                              What a terrific idea and application! Loved the way everything meshed together. If I'd known this was waiting for me I would have set my alarm! "One-ticky-tocky; two ticky-tockies...." Thanks, Wendy; great work!
                              • Wendy Walker constructor · 2024-03-18T12:09:15.616Z
                                Oh, Whimsy, how kind of you! Glad you enjoyed it!
                              • Tyrpmom 2s · 2024-03-17T20:39:22.925Z
                                I’m impressed and entertained. Thanks.
                                • Wendy Walker constructor · 2024-03-18T12:09:29.864Z
                                  Wonderful! Thank you so much for solving!
                                • Mwoychick 11:27 · 2024-03-18T00:05:18.481Z
                                  Very nice, Wendy! Thank you
                                  • Wendy Walker constructor · 2024-03-18T12:09:46.856Z
                                    Mark, I am so happy you enjoyed it!
                                  • Abide 5s · 2024-03-18T00:49:07.982Z
                                    Fantastic job, and a nice aha going from "teco hut" to "the count"!
                                    • Wendy Walker constructor · 2024-03-18T12:10:10.383Z
                                      It was fun watching you solve on last night's Zoom call, Peter! Thanks for the kind words.
                                    • Sharkicicles 2s · 2024-03-18T01:03:59.806Z
                                      Tough grid in a good way! No NATICKs and completely solvable, kinda reminded me of a Fireball puzzle.
                                      I WAGged “ELMO” due to “MOTEL” at 1A before actually trying to solve…
                                      • Wendy Walker constructor · 2024-03-18T12:10:53.047Z
                                        WHOA! I love Fireballs, so that is high praise! Thanks, Chris!
                                      • Sharkicicles 2s · 2024-03-18T01:09:00.992Z
                                        Also BASE 10 reminds me of the hexadecimal beta from a little while ago…
                                        • Wendy Walker constructor · 2024-03-18T12:11:15.312Z
                                          Yes, that is EXACTLY what I hoped it would remind solvers of!
                                        • BarbaraK 2s · 2024-03-18T02:48:31.491Z
                                          I found The Count in the puzzle, googled a list of Sesame Street characters to see if that was one, and saw Count von Count!🙂 When I went to submit though, I fat fingered and hit reveal instead. 😕
                                          Very well done! Impressive that you could get all the clues to work with or without the numbers!
                                          • Wendy Walker constructor · 2024-03-18T12:12:55.703Z
                                            That was the tricky (and fun!) part -- if I had to clue it again, I'd try to make the themers more obvious as some solvers are finding the grid to be challenging. Thanks for solving, Barbara! And I'm impressed with how quickly you got the WSJ last night after only the first hint.
                                          • DrTom 3s · 2024-03-18T16:29:01.598Z
                                            I VAN TO say FUN! I figured that might be the guy so I overlooked Oceans 8 and 13 as well as the Route we know so well in Florida, Route 1. I did not know until today that he had a last name, Count Van Count. Thanks Wendy
                                            • Wendy Walker constructor · 2024-03-19T12:10:01.284Z
                                              So glad you solved, Tom! I didn't know he had a last name, either, until I was looking for some art for my reveal!
                                            • michaelm 🤓9:33 · 2024-03-18T18:39:30.237Z
                                              HALO Wendy, thanks for not putting the hex on us. SARI, but for some reason seem to HAITI anything but BASE 10 now. INO I'll be ABACI for your next puzzle as well. Two thumbs up and thanks!
                                              • Wendy Walker constructor · 2024-03-19T12:10:34.435Z
                                                You are very welcome! Thanks so much for solving!
                                              • Alex Sisti 3s · 2024-03-18T19:51:46.608Z
                                                Baa-Ahh-Ahh!
                                                • Wendy Walker constructor · 2024-03-19T12:10:57.971Z
                                                  Thanks, Al! The Count is such a wonderful creation.
                                                • ajk 11:48 · 2024-03-18T21:37:43.848Z
                                                  late start due to being distracted by Will's puzzle, but just as fun the second time around. Thanks again. :)
                                                  • Wendy Walker constructor · 2024-03-19T12:11:25.219Z
                                                    Alan, thanks for being my trusty test-solver. This one's playing more difficult that we expected.
                                                  • Laura M 🤓14:29 · 2024-03-18T23:27:52.532Z
                                                    Fun!
                                                    • Wendy Walker constructor · 2024-03-19T12:11:44.515Z
                                                      And I had fun making it. Thanks for solving, Laura!
                                                    • Qmark 3s · 2024-03-19T13:54:55.022Z
                                                      fun one...thanks Wendy!
                                                      • Wendy Walker constructor · 2024-03-20T12:30:16.710Z
                                                        Glad you had fun. Thanks for solving!
                                                      • Alvibu67 7s · 2024-03-19T21:04:13.083Z
                                                        Great puzzle, Wendy! Crosswords are all about words and numbers on a page, so with the title I knew this had to be about numbers. Cookie Monster is my favorite, but The Count’s good 2. Thanks for the puzzle!
                                                        • Wendy Walker constructor · 2024-03-20T12:31:08.597Z
                                                          And thank YOU for the kind words, Alison! I agree that Cookie Monster is a wonderful character, too.
                                                        • DCBilly 🤓4:25 · 2024-03-21T14:39:41.743Z
                                                          I was in the rabbit hole playing with "ER" words for a while. You know, ER comes at the end of "more-than words."
                                                          • Wendy Walker constructor · 2024-03-23T12:40:37.613Z
                                                            Haha! Now you've given me an idea for another meta. Thanks for solving!
                                                          • ReB 4s · 2024-03-23T03:02:42.450Z
                                                            Nice construction. Though even after getting oriented by the nudges, I did need to google most of the themers to find the corresponding number - and to confirm that there was indeed a Sesame Street character named The Count - since much fell outside of my 61A. Quite ingenious.
                                                            • Wendy Walker constructor · 2024-03-23T12:40:57.653Z
                                                              Bob, thank you for solving!
                                                            Play today's daily mini crossword
                                                            1A
                                                            Place to stay on a road trip that might be part of a chain
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                                                            Across
                                                            1. 1A
                                                              Place to stay on a road trip that might be part of a chain
                                                            2. 6A
                                                              Hardy heroine
                                                            3. 10A
                                                              Require
                                                            4. 14A
                                                              Japanese export
                                                            5. 15A
                                                              ___ spumante
                                                            6. 16A
                                                              Bullfight cheers
                                                            7. 17A
                                                              "OK by me!"
                                                            8. 18A
                                                              Story arc
                                                            9. 19A
                                                              Classic firearms brand
                                                            10. 20A
                                                              Galley with three tiers of oars
                                                            11. 22A
                                                              Many, such as the number of cast members in an all-star movie
                                                            12. 24A
                                                              Character in the "Guilty Gear" video games
                                                            13. 25A
                                                              Embellish
                                                            14. 26A
                                                              Busch partner
                                                            15. 30A
                                                              Prominent Italian family in the Renaissance
                                                            16. 34A
                                                              Feathery wraps
                                                            17. 35A
                                                              Salt Lake City collegians
                                                            18. 37A
                                                              2020 pandemic
                                                            19. 38A
                                                              "___ Blue?" (yes, in Grover's case)
                                                            20. 39A
                                                              Abbr. on liquor bottles
                                                            21. 40A
                                                              Frequently, in poems
                                                            22. 42A
                                                              Online term for offline
                                                            23. 43A
                                                              Hidden downside that may create a no-win situation
                                                            24. 45A
                                                              Nimbus
                                                            25. 47A
                                                              Grammy winner Winans
                                                            26. 48A
                                                              Phrases that tend not to translate well
                                                            27. 50A
                                                              Fipple flute
                                                            28. 52A
                                                              Where Doha is
                                                            29. 54A
                                                              Prefix for corn or lateral
                                                            30. 55A
                                                              City spot that can get very crowded
                                                            31. 57A
                                                              Values highly
                                                            32. 61A
                                                              Knowledge ___, which might include math
                                                            33. 62A
                                                              "Bad" cholesterol readings
                                                            34. 64A
                                                              How arthritis might start
                                                            35. 65A
                                                              ___ house (site of many pledges)
                                                            36. 66A
                                                              "Cheerio, mate!"
                                                            37. 67A
                                                              Speak
                                                            38. 68A
                                                              Some evergreens
                                                            39. 69A
                                                              Alexa's kin
                                                            40. 70A
                                                              Highway with a number
                                                            Down
                                                            1. 1D
                                                              Beer ingredient
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                                                              Doozy
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                                                              South American monkey
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                                                              Abrasive substances
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                                                              "Madame, ici ___," dit le garçon
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                                                              Record
                                                            7. 7D
                                                              Subj. for some immigrants
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                                                              Rose
                                                            9. 9D
                                                              "Three's Company" or "One Day at a Time"
                                                            10. 10D
                                                              "Sorry, not gonna happen"
                                                            11. 11D
                                                              First name at Tesla
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                                                              Sinuous swimmers
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                                                              It started last Sun.
                                                            14. 21D
                                                              Iraqi city
                                                            15. 23D
                                                              Upright
                                                            16. 25D
                                                              "___ we there yet?"
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                                                              Ancient computers
                                                            18. 27D
                                                              Restless one
                                                            19. 28D
                                                              Where Duvalier used to rule
                                                            20. 29D
                                                              ___ A Sketch
                                                            21. 31D
                                                              Like the walls at Penn or Yale
                                                            22. 32D
                                                              She turned sailors into swine
                                                            23. 33D
                                                              Time waster
                                                            24. 36D
                                                              Only
                                                            25. 39D
                                                              Phylicia's sportscaster husband
                                                            26. 41D
                                                              Pay close attention
                                                            27. 44D
                                                              Flirtatious guys
                                                            28. 46D
                                                              Airport abbr.
                                                            29. 47D
                                                              "And if he ___ me, I will hear" (Exodus 22)
                                                            30. 49D
                                                              Walking sticks
                                                            31. 51D
                                                              What Taylor Swift is at the moment
                                                            32. 53D
                                                              Traditional Vietnamese garb
                                                            33. 55D
                                                              Traditional Indian garb
                                                            34. 56D
                                                              Peter or Nicholas
                                                            35. 57D
                                                              Actor Morales of "La Bamba"
                                                            36. 58D
                                                              Famous last words
                                                            37. 59D
                                                              Be introduced to
                                                            38. 60D
                                                              Achy
                                                            39. 61D
                                                              Lifelong pal (Abbr.)
                                                            40. 63D
                                                              Paper tray setting
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