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Christmas Message

◆◆ · Di DrTom · Pubblicato 2023-12-27T12:30:01.759Z

Meta Prompt
The answer is the Christmas message implied by the meta
Talk about last minute...an absolute Christmas miracle!
This was thought up, built and completely redone in a slightly more than 24 hour period. It came to me that I was not being very seasonal, so hopefully this one is.
I cannot speculate on difficulty since there are some who will IMMEDIATELY see what I am doing, some who will grok it from other things, some who will guess it and some who will struggle trhogh the process. Whichever route you take I hope it is rewarding.
Thanks to my testers @KayW and @whimsy who got this last minute with a plea for quick turnaround, and of course they came through.
Nudges will be Friday and reveal on Tuesday
Nudges:
Nudge1] A Christmas meta without carols, holly, elves, sleighs, or tinsel...how odd! I wonder why?
Nudge 2] Would the phrase "The quick brown fox jumps over the hazy dog" be as cool as the original
Nudge 3] Here I was thinking I was so clever, then I found out this had idea been used in 2021 by benchen71
There, that should do it!
The Reveal:
This is probably the easiest reveal I will ever have. The Christmas Message here is that the grid was constructed without any L's, so NO L or, in the Christmas Spirit NOEL. NOEL is not only a massage you hear at Christmas, but it literally MEANS Christmas, so it is most definitely a Christmas Message.
Controllo se esistono file di gioco salvati...

Classifica (aggiornata ogni ora)

  • DIS solved 2023-12-27T14:12:47.669Z
  • Hector solved 2023-12-27T16:28:22.820Z
  • JM solved 2023-12-27T18:18:54.408Z
  • Darth solved 2023-12-27T18:47:12.215Z
  • KayW solved 2023-12-27T20:23:24.506Z
  • Pair O Ducks solved 2023-12-27T20:32:11.593Z
  • benchen71 solved 2023-12-27T21:41:21.168Z
  • woozy solved 2023-12-27T22:04:06.410Z
  • whimsy solved 2023-12-27T22:06:46.365Z
  • frostyjhammer solved 2023-12-27T22:15:07.660Z
  • Berto solved 2023-12-27T22:28:30.627Z
  • boharr solved 2023-12-28T01:08:06.142Z
  • markhr solved 2023-12-28T02:03:04.514Z
  • SamKat9 solved 2023-12-28T05:36:03.071Z
  • Cindy Weatherman solved 2023-12-28T13:54:52.453Z
  • Meg solved 2023-12-28T13:58:49.260Z
  • I K Snamhcok solved 2023-12-28T14:21:23.222Z
  • Mr Tex solved 2023-12-28T19:48:56.996Z
  • CPJohnson solved 2023-12-28T21:39:37.452Z
  • Laura M solved 2023-12-28T22:39:27.602Z
  • Darrell solved 2023-12-28T22:47:32.390Z
  • Jeremy Smith solved 2023-12-29T04:33:05.028Z
  • LarsCaine solved 2023-12-29T13:48:07.219Z
  • DCBilly solved 2023-12-29T13:48:13.148Z
  • MatthewL solved 2023-12-29T14:21:54.246Z
  • rjy solved 2023-12-29T14:49:59.590Z
  • Carolyn solved 2023-12-29T17:24:10.998Z
  • hoover solved 2023-12-29T19:08:47.875Z
  • Cindy Heisler solved 2023-12-29T21:01:33.144Z
  • andeux solved 2023-12-29T23:37:28.173Z
  • Philip Chow solved 2023-12-30T01:50:46.190Z
  • BarbaraK solved 2023-12-30T12:32:39.150Z
  • Ergcat solved 2023-12-30T15:36:02.558Z
  • Mwoychick solved 2023-12-30T23:56:04.788Z
  • atsirica111191 solved 2023-12-31T16:44:16.194Z
  • Tim solved 2023-12-31T17:56:51.972Z
  • Tyrpmom solved 2023-12-31T20:42:03.888Z
  • kurtalert solved 2024-01-13T01:03:01.822Z
  • Mikey G solved 2024-01-15T07:16:45.928Z
  • Katiedid solved 2024-01-19T19:39:54.338Z
  • Qmark solved 2024-03-03T13:46:01.585Z

Commenti

Accedi con google per lasciare un tuo commento:

  • Hector 3s · 2023-12-27T16:41:08.901Z
    Well done; thank you! If you wouldn't mind a suggestion, an entry in the center of the grid clued with "all state names," if not an intentional red herring, might better be differently clued.
    • DrTom costruttore · 2023-12-28T04:25:36.991Z
      Wow, a completely unintended red herring, but I can see how it might have misled you. I changed it to: "Paper containing a picture of all the states" so people will not look for state names in the text. Thank you and thanks for solving!
    • Darth 25:32 · 2023-12-27T18:54:09.694Z
      Thanks, DrTom, and a "joyeux" 55D to you!
      • DrTom costruttore · 2023-12-28T04:27:04.131Z
        La meme! Thank you for solving.
      • Pair O Ducks 8:04 · 2023-12-27T20:34:25.321Z
        Thanks DrTom! And of course I loved the MEOW in 61A :)
        • DrTom costruttore · 2023-12-28T04:26:20.452Z
          Well so far you are the only one who saw that...gotta feed the kitty! Thanks for solving.
          • hoover 2s · 2023-12-29T19:09:30.176Z
            Well, except for HARD CORE MEOW CANS!
        • boharr 3s · 2023-12-28T01:08:59.879Z
          Needed help but made it. Thanks
          • DrTom costruttore · 2023-12-28T04:28:23.235Z
            Well the tricky thing is to realize that there are no BELLS, SLEIGHS, HOLLY, etc., etc. that would require L's. Thanks for sticking with it.
          • SamKat9 🤓12:25 · 2023-12-28T05:38:47.952Z
            I noticed there were no "Els" but it didn't click until I had an unsolicited nudge. Now I'm kicking myself, but smiling. Thanks Dr. Tom and Happy Holidays!
            • DrTom costruttore · 2023-12-28T06:45:51.426Z
              Well I was able to get the L out of there...Merry Christmas
              • SamKat9 🤓12:25 · 2023-12-29T00:26:49.722Z
                That's a good thing, but unfortunately L probably be stuck there next time. (I made myself groan lol)
                • DrTom costruttore · 2023-12-29T04:40:55.190Z
                  In this puzzle LOL would be O 😊
                  • SamKat9 🤓12:25 · 2023-12-29T05:41:53.445Z
                    Haha, too true.
            • Meg 3s · 2023-12-28T13:59:58.142Z
              Ha ha! Still laughing!
              • Laura M 🤓17:52 · 2023-12-28T22:41:12.109Z
                Very nice, thank you!
                • MatthewL 🤓12:41 · 2023-12-29T14:25:22.017Z
                  Finally got it with the nudges. Oy. The amount of time I spent looking at abbreviations because I was convinced that the clue at 55D was a hint to solving the meta was ... a lot. Talk about your red herrings. Ah well, at least it is finally solved. Thanks for the year of puzzles, Tom! On to 2024!
                • Carolyn 5s · 2023-12-29T17:25:05.416Z
                  Needed the nudge. Thanks!
                  • hoover 2s · 2023-12-29T19:10:16.551Z
                    Groan! A Christmas meta by DrTom... that alone should have been enough of a clue!
                    • DrTom costruttore · 2023-12-29T22:01:57.604Z
                      You have no idea how much I wanted to include an clue that said "Superman's girlfriend, Lois ___" because NOEL NEILL played her in the Superman TV Series, or even a clue that was "Unclear canine; ___ dog" to see if people would catch the "Quick brown fox..." reference.
                      But as you point out, it has groan on people...
                      Thanks for solving
                    • Philip Chow 9:25 · 2023-12-30T01:54:48.049Z
                      Thanks for the fun puzzle Dr Tom - I definitely needed the nudge... i went down the rabbit hole of trying to make christmas carols materialize in the grid... chestnuts roasting on an open fire = CHESS + TNUTS on top of CHIMNEY... happy holidays and happy new year!! :)
                      • DrTom costruttore · 2023-12-30T05:45:36.946Z
                        Wow, that is indeed a rabbit hole - wild idea though! Thanks for solving Phil
                      • BarbaraK 3s · 2023-12-30T12:34:54.129Z
                        Groan :)
                        Impressive constructing though :) :)
                        • DrTom costruttore · 2023-12-30T20:54:13.334Z
                          "Oh there's no place to groan for the holidays..." Glad you enjoyed it Barbara.
                        • Mwoychick 17:27 · 2023-12-30T23:56:26.213Z
                          Took me way too long, but I got there with hints and some "research"
                          • Tyrpmom 31:28 · 2023-12-31T20:47:29.961Z
                            Santa and toys coming down the chimney looked like song lyrics to me. No L. Yes. That is very good.
                            1A
                            Ceremonial splendor
                            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
                            47
                            48
                            49
                            50
                            51
                            52
                            53
                            54
                            55
                            56
                            57
                            58
                            59
                            60
                            61
                            62
                            63
                            64
                            65
                            66
                            67
                            68
                            Orizzontali
                            1. 1A
                              Ceremonial splendor
                            2. 5A
                              "Surely you ___!"
                            3. 9A
                              Popular eye-care prefix
                            4. 13A
                              Popular dry white wine
                            5. 16A
                              Winter comment
                            6. 17A
                              60
                            7. 18A
                              Baby "boeuf"
                            8. 19A
                              "Siddhartha" author
                            9. 20A
                              Light bulb unit
                            10. 22A
                              Noise
                            11. 23A
                              Ice cream giant
                            12. 25A
                              Advantageous to all
                            13. 27A
                              Place for a crime
                            14. 30A
                              Sine ___ non
                            15. 32A
                              Speakers' hesitations
                            16. 33A
                              Go-___
                            17. 34A
                              Apr. addressee
                            18. 35A
                              In their time, very sleek cats
                            19. 38A
                              Serpent's tail?
                            20. 39A
                              Has more troops than
                            21. 41A
                              "Alley ___!"
                            22. 42A
                              A captain of the Enterprise
                            23. 44A
                              Cutting tool
                            24. 45A
                              "Ohio" group, initially
                            25. 46A
                              Rx instruction
                            26. 47A
                              Imitate
                            27. 48A
                              The mating game
                            28. 49A
                              Cities marked for destruction
                            29. 51A
                              A familiar voice on your phone
                            30. 53A
                              A long, long way to run, rumor has it
                            31. 54A
                              Beano brother
                            32. 56A
                              It has the beat
                            33. 59A
                              N.Y.P.D. employee
                            34. 61A
                              Mortgage holders, often
                            35. 64A
                              Genevieve and Jeanne, for short
                            36. 65A
                              "It's clear to me"
                            37. 66A
                              "Bye!"
                            38. 67A
                              Retired speedsters that are making a comeback: Abbr.
                            39. 68A
                              1914 battle line
                            Verticali
                            1. 1D
                              Loan figure: Abbr.
                            2. 2D
                              Long, drawn out expression of realization (and NO the meta does not have to do with the strings of letters that are there)
                            3. 3D
                              Filly's mother
                            4. 4D
                              Current
                            5. 5D
                              "___ Wales", Eastwood character
                            6. 6D
                              S.A.S.E., e.g.
                            7. 7D
                              Falling flakes
                            8. 8D
                              1943 battle site
                            9. 9D
                              "No duh!": Abbr.
                            10. 10D
                              Incline
                            11. 11D
                              What the Beatles "Ticket to Ride" was for
                            12. 12D
                              "So ___ down most hurriedly and joined up with the John Birch Society..." (Dylan lyric)
                            13. 14D
                              Since, in Spain
                            14. 15D
                              Abominable Snowman
                            15. 21D
                              Flanged fasteners
                            16. 24D
                              Two of four or three of nine, for short
                            17. 26D
                              Crooked
                            18. 27D
                              Bypass
                            19. 28D
                              "Ooh, ooh, please Mom"
                            20. 29D
                              Classic toy for budding engineers
                            21. 31D
                              Paper containing a picture of all the states
                            22. 34D
                              Birth control device
                            23. 35D
                              Split ___, New Zealand rock group
                            24. 36D
                              A long, long time
                            25. 37D
                              1974 C.I.A. spoof film with D. Sutherland and E.Gould
                            26. 39D
                              Cat ___, the eternal pet choice
                            27. 40D
                              Cool drinks
                            28. 43D
                              A hand
                            29. 45D
                              A sweeping feature on a stately home
                            30. 47D
                              Orgs.
                            31. 48D
                              Sara's last name in "A Little Princess" (1995), or a Cheshire railway town
                            32. 49D
                              Target of NORAD
                            33. 50D
                              When repeated, a fish
                            34. 52D
                              "For ___ and turn..." ("Tainted Love" lyric)
                            35. 53D
                              A rock in some decisions
                            36. 55D
                              The way to spell Christmas when you want to reduce your letter count
                            37. 57D
                              Reverent seats with an irreverent sounding name
                            38. 58D
                              'What's Hecuba to him, ___ to Hecuba' (Hamlet)
                            39. 60D
                              "Do you know where your children are?" is one: Abbr.
                            40. 62D
                              Creature with impressive limbs
                            41. 63D
                              Damascus' land: Abbr.
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