Friday Foxer #222

This week’s handmade co-op puzzle won’t defox itself. If you’re a dab hand at quizzes, lateral thinking, and search engine sleuthing, why not help out.

The ‘cluster foxer’ is regarded by some as the most demanding form. Solving one involves identifying 25 pictures and five hidden themes. The enlargeable mosaic below consists of five interlocked picture clusters (some possible cluster arrangements are shown above) each with its own theme. Themes have nothing in common with each other. Don’t be surprised to find, for example, “Crocodiles”, “Tulip mania”, “Words beginning with “ter””, “1948” and “Fictional policemen” sharing a puzzle. A picture’s connection to a particular theme won’t always be literal. An image of the Brandenburg Gate is just as likely to be part of a “Bach” cluster as a “Berlin” one.

In an attempt to ensure as many people as possible get a chance to participate, Roman requests defoxers solve no more than five squares per person on Day 1, and guess no more than one cluster theme. (After 24 hours have elapsed, fill your boots!). Use your ration to complete an entire horizontal or vertical line before anyone else to win ‘Connect 5’ bragging rights.

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SOLUTIONS

last week’s hivefoxer theme: tunnels (defoxed by Colonel_K)

blesmol (a_monk)
chunnel (Colonel_K)
cu chi (Colonel_K)
cut and cover (a_monk)
erdstall (a_monk)
feeler hole (a_monk)
gotthard base (a_monk)
greathead shield (a_monk)
harry (Colonel_K)
intrados (a_monk)
ole singstad (a_monk, Colonel_K)
qanat (a_monk)
rove (a_monk)
ryfast (a_monk)
tbm (a_monk) or mbt (Colonel_K)
winterberg (Colonel_K)

31 Comments

    • Another one I think, missing just one connection:

      FOXR FOXR
      OLDT BUPW YUEJ YOEK KCZC LYFD YYUY KUIG FWJP NTCZ STZT RGBH TEKD GPQL OABJ GFOJ KSMW TMEP KWDR RHTW EEOA DKVK
      FOXR FOXR

    • Here are the intercepted messages. The settings to validate the authenticity using the linked Engima M4 simulator above are:

      Message key: FOXR FOXR (not part of the encrypted message)
      Wheels: B.Beta VII III I (F,O,X,R) / Ring setting 02 03 05 08 / Plugboard not used

      A ONE B ONE C ONE A TWO B TWO SHUFFLING FARO HINDU (52) PICKUP CORGI DOVETAIL XXX

      A THREE B THREE C THREE D THREE E THREE REBELLIONS MONMOUTH RUGBY SCHOOL EUREKA SATSUMA BOXER XXX

      D ONE E ONE C TWO D TWO E TWO WILLIAM LAMB VISCOUNT MELBOURNE BYRON SWING RIOTS CAPTAIN LAMB QUEEN VICTORIA X

      And the missing link for the last one is Into the West’s set location PORTARLINGTON.

  17. Rebellions:
    A3. Monmouth
    D3. Satsuma
    E3. Boxer

    various degrees of revolt at B3. Rugby School over the years; 1797 is categorised as a Rebellion.

    Leaves C3. (as yet unidentified)

  18. Remaining unidentified cluster:
    – PERSES / RIVAL
    – HOLI / SRI SRI RADHA KRISHNA / ISKCON / UTAH
    – PARZIVAL / HOLY GRAIL
    – BOB MARLEY / SURVIVAL / ZIPRA (masked flag) / BUSH WAR / RHODESIA
    – SERVAL (OPERATION?)

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