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Puzzles for November, 2008
with Constructor comments

View these same grids with comments from:
Constructor (1)Jim Horne (3)Hide comments
Sat 11/1/2008
BLAMERODSAHIB
EIREAECITPODA
ALTERNATEROUTES
ISPEPDEWTAH
CAFESEPALTETE
ILASTRAWNARER
DECREERAFER
STEERTSYAWOWT
ARSONNETHER
FRACSNITALELO
LESTDEPOTCALM
AVEAIDPILUT
REVERSEDECISION
ERESIAIKTPEDA
SERTAFDAESSEN
Sun 11/2/2008 WEB MASTER
ABRUPTMICESPRITISH
PLENUMADATAHININIE
TUNERSCOMICBOOKCOVER
NINASALIIOTSTIRE
ONESUGARLIETOEATERS
GREENGOBLINGALLOWAY
PROVEITRUSSO
BETASANDIRMASOCTAL
EXILESSOIOPTTITO
CATFIGHTDITCHESAMIS
OMARTAOOIEERRVINE
MINESIBERIAREADINGS
ENIDREOISMSNUGLI
SEAMSCYNDIABAASSET
ODIUMAIGLETS
ATALANTAWILLEMDAFOE
BELIKEGENIIHESPERUS
ATTNEURIMNOPLACE
THEAMAZINGSMANBLITHE
EEREVERSOEYERECORD
DRSTAKETORAYSTERES
Mon 11/3/2008
ACRESBRATCALF
CAULKROMAOVAL
EMILYPOSTSYOKE
DENDEWYMEOWED
RIDSWANT
STEVIEWONDERS
SHAVEIRISIKE
ERRSMEDEAAVIV
XESPAGOSWEDE
WINSLOWHOMERS
EATSIDAS
GHOSTSSKISOAT
NEXTHELENHUNTS
AXELOVERESTOP
WANEPAWSROOMS
Tue 11/4/2008
ADESACROSSFAT
TERILEANTOALE
ELECTIONDAYNIL
AIMEETORABES
SLIMMEDPREVENT
EATLOWEVOLTA
HEMLINEVICTOR
CASTAVOTE
LOUVREVACATES
ANNIVVENAYEN
BEREAVEELGRECO
CPASIIIAHERO
OATBALLOTBOXES
AGEONEIDADATE
TEDODDESTAMES
Wed 11/5/2008
SKIMSTAGVJDAY
TACOHYPOIPODS
IZODOREOREGAL
LONESTARFLAG
TOSSUPFOGUPI
BUMPNOONAN
LOBSTERFISHING
OHIOIOUNODE
LANCEARMSTRONG
ASKANTOSHA
FASROOEVICTS
LONGDIVISION
BIJOUREFIASTI
OPARTEASEICED
ZOWIESLOWDOME
Thu 11/6/2008
SUITGLEAMCAN
ANNORATIOMOST
MPTPLAYERSOLIO
LCDASSBESTOFF
UNPOPULAR
EMANVASLIDS
SSHOOTERVENEER
IDOWORKTFSREO
TOYINGSYSTEMIC
SSNSAPETANK
SURFAAREA
SCRAPERREVORG
WHENLATOYAJSON
AIDEEMILEUSTA
MCQTENDSPATT
Fri 11/7/2008
KAWASAKIALIGHT
BRAVEMANMONROE
TAXICABSINCITE
OBISNUTMEGDIS
YINSAKAIIRISH
SAGANINSTORSO
LOSTHAWSOUT
KARAOKEMACHINES
ICESKATEKEN
DANKTASSLAIKA
SPEARISAAKNNW
MEWIMLATEUVEA
ELAPSEGIRLTALK
ALLIEDERICIDLE
LASERSSEEDLESS
Sat 11/8/2008
DREAMTOFATLAST
RELIABLETRIFLE
ALANLADDMASTIC
MATTEMEACZECH
AXEHURLSTRES
PEASALADMIA
MIDAPRILURBANV
CLOSEDCIRCUITTV
CENSEDSHIPAHOY
ALTSADTALES
SOLIYIPPYETO
KNARSGASFATHA
IGUANAPOOLCUES
LUGNUTEDWARDII
LEHIGHRYEBEERS
Sun 11/9/2008 "SOUNDS LIKE IT'S COLD IN HERE"
TIEPOLOADAPTSBBGUNS
AMMONIANICAEAYOUSEE
WHERESTHEBRIEFTASMAN
SORTTHUGSSMASHHIRT
SPOSEFAERIEENTO
ALBIONBRANDINBOSTON
FALDOPSEUDOEYE
BRIERBEWARETEXINBAD
SAPBEGETAUSSLOANE
COCOABETROTHIDEA
KEEPYOUREYEONTHEBRAWL
AXILOTOLOGYERNIE
MANUALFIBCRAZEAAS
AMESSMFAMEDICINEBRO
PEIPIERCENUBIA
BREASTSELLERSBIPEDS
EENYADIEUSISIAH
EDGEGOFEROATERODOR
THISBEFLATBREADTRUCK
LANIEREELPOTTIEINTO
ETERNELESSEESEMANAS
Mon 11/10/2008
MISTYDRAMAOAT
AMUSEIOTASNIA
CHEESECLOTHISP
HIDSNEEZESOLE
OPENITYAWNED
ARRAYSKID
SISIASISANODE
ETALPAPERGMAN
WOLFSPETESEND
SITSSHADE
CHALETDETERS
RACERECITEVIA
AILTACOTOPPING
BTUATONEERASE
SIBSALEMRENES
Tue 11/11/2008
SPRYSCHSTHOR
ALEEPOETWOUK
WAILISAACINTO
TINPANDIONNE
ODESSAINRIYMA
KLMNNETMAN
HAWSEIGGYHOST
ILIADRDAAROSE
TONSYOUIDUNES
ANDHOWETNA
TEYNCOSAGLEAM
CHEAPOSEARLE
MAIMSTUNSTWOS
ALTOITBEKIAS
LAYSCHARANDY
Wed 11/12/2008
COBRAFOAMTGIF
APRILARLOARTI
PAIDAVISITLEAN
ELMBENICEAGE
SMARTINVESTOR
AMYTEASES
MOIRAPSATSEAR
ARMYCLAREZANY
PENARABSWILDE
OBLATECIN
PUTSINATRANCE
APHIDSANGDRS
TEEDTHERATPACK
INREOMNIITMAY
ONESNOONPASSE
Thu 11/13/2008
LEICAHONGSCUD
EXCELEMIRCINE
SPERMROTOANDA
TICTACTOEWINNER
ERANEZTATARS
REPEALJOHNMDI
MCLEANMOOR
POISONWARNING
CANTDENIAL
OMEPRODGISELE
SPLISHBELMAX
THIRTYINOLDROME
ULNATRAXOATER
MEETHAZEWREST
ETREMEIRNESTS
Fri 11/14/2008
CREAMSODAWAIST
DORSALFINIDLER
COOPBOARDSELMA
ASTISTATEHOW
STICKOINKLULL
ESCHERETOAMIN
SARTREPRONE
FLICKASEURAT
LANAIBODICE
AMFMDENIROCAB
TAOSURLSSAUNA
ISRSHEETMSGR
REMITTAILGATER
ORATETVCONSOLE
NYLONAEHOUSMAN
Sat 11/15/2008
SPACEJUNKSTABS
TOLERANCETHROW
ONONESWAYKRONA
ICUSPRAIRIEDOG
CADUCEINETS
SORTSATHENA
VALEOFTEARSSOP
AVISFELLAFARO
NEZDONALDTRUMP
ERASERHOMME
VEDAWISEDUP
SLEEPERCARBANE
PILLSALBALONGA
AMATIBULLDOZER
ROLEXSEESSTARS
Sun 11/16/2008 SOUNDS LIKE SOMEBODY I KNOW
DREWHARUMTORTES
RULEMARISAPTOMAINE
AIMERAYMONDCHANNELER
KNOBAREASJEDIARI
EERDMASSVCRSEISM
RESEAUDOHEMOTE
LADDARNOLDPOLYMER
ROMANASMUIBEAMOONA
IRONSFOORONAPARROT
GATTBACKRUBADEAR
GTOKOOKOROACHESML
ORSONSNYDERSASIA
ERIKSETTEEFRYDIETS
LINEMARTSNCOJESSYE
MONICAZEALOUSROLL
NONOSURLOHHELL
PROSESGTLEONIAIM
AAAPITASOTTOSMEE
NIKITACRUISECHEFABBA
LINDSAYLOWHANDADEN
SEASONCARLOBART
Mon 11/17/2008
PAWALPSPETITE
RBILEAPEMINEM
ODSSADECARATS
SUEFORDAMAGES
ECTONIKONNOD
TOGANONAMANA
BEGFORMERCY
GASBAGOODLES
PRAYFORRAIN
ALLOTEELGAZE
SOSANTICPEND
ASKFORTROUBLE
ORDEALATOPRIG
POINTACLOTASA
SEPTETTENSSTS
Tue 11/18/2008
TAGUPSSRATOZ
ADLAIATMELANE
FIEROROADBLOCK
TEANABISCOSEE
SUMMERSCHOOL
METANEMIC
OTTERSTATEBIRD
FAYNAIFSCAR
FIREPOWERBEANS
SLOTHSBAM
DOLLCARRIAGE
ESPTOILSATROD
TWOHOUSESECOLE
NAPECAANNOMAN
APEXHSTDEANS
Wed 11/19/2008
NOPARNIPSALTE
EVITAAGROROWS
DOZENZEALGOOS
ZACHARYMONTE
LEATHERELATION
ADZODERAGENE
DOZEONASENSES
WINELOVER
MONAMIIVEATME
ANOSCIEGOREX
REPRESSRANPAST
SALUTOUTSTEP
ACABELLAASPER
LACINDAKSTERE
ATENGENEKORAN
Thu 11/20/2008
WOLFFWAILSHAD
AKIRAALTOHIFI
CAPITALISMONTO
CAPNABRADED
WITHOUTFAILURE
RANISTEARNS
ITSOKLCDSMEN
TEENAGETIEPINS
ARTBOTHSACRE
FUNERALKROC
ISLIKERELIGION
RAELIANTARS
ANGEWITHOUTSIN
BEAROTOENAFTA
URLSLYRATNOTE
Fri 11/21/2008
PONIEDGNOMES
ENABLEQUEPASA
RAGMOPLUNATICS
NSAICIESTDOH
OSSOLOBEHERE
DIALAMENDMENTS
SKYETERRIER
IMLISTENING
PANTYGIRDLE
SPRINGOPENOOPS
THEAPONGNOSE
REVWEALTHMID
ONEHORSEATTILA
DORMERSLIVEON
EMBOSSLEARNS
Sat 11/22/2008
COMPAREDAGAINST
ATOOTHFORATOOTH
TRUETOTHELETTER
SADTONACRE
UNASHAIRSSOIE
PTLBOTNETSOLA
SOLVETHEPROBLEM
INTERLUDE
IMMEDIATEDANGER
CEOSPRITESERE
ERRSSTAELPROM
BIDONAIMTO
AMERICANTABLOID
GENERALAUDIENCE
SETSONAPEDESTAL
Sun 11/23/2008 PICTURE THIS
SAMIAMALTARWEARABLE
ARISTONEALEALLOTTED
HENRIMATISSELEBATEAU
INKTARAMODLAIRNRC
BASSEARLAPTONNE
WAXBEANSIPODIUMS
LOWISHSCIENCESSPAR
INASPINADARAFOSLO
LATSBADUOPSCOMMIT
AREPITASMATARUEDE
CARDSTORESTIGHTDRESS
MMIIIERTEFRAYSDEW
PERSONSIXFILSCOCA
JADENOSNETLEDAWAY
EGISBANKSHOTVAUNTS
NEATERLOOROOMERS
DAVIDPIPPINESAS
AFBIVANMAVINDCKIA
PAINTINGFRENCHARTIST
AMBIENCEATRIAYEARLY
REINDEERSISALSETTER
Mon 11/24/2008
RIOTABLEAJAR
UNPEGCRAMMADE
GREENTHUMBAWOL
SENSORTARPERA
MISERYINDEX
MACHETEROUE
OSLOONSSEEMS
MEETINTHEMIDDLE
SCOOTEXONILE
NETSGOATEES
GIVEMEARING
ADOSETAEATOUT
REINHINKYPINKY
BALEERIEENTER
OLAVEENYSOSO
Tue 11/25/2008
KAFKASQFTTRAP
EMAILTALEREBA
PENALPANELIGOR
INSWILDESPADE
CELLARCALLER
MRMOTOOLE
RIALTEXASTAXES
SCIVIPBAH
CONANCANONROSE
NEDAMEXES
TICTACTACTIC
ALOFTIDLEDOHO
CORADAVISDIVAS
OVERERINACURA
SEAMMALEYUMMY
Wed 11/26/2008
LAMBSOTTOBESS
OPALIMHIPAUTO
SOSOBERNEGRAB
HOLYGUACAMOLE
MANDELACAPER
ADORESCANNERS
PETEROTOOLE
SEEDBAWLSANKH
FILETOFSOLE
TAPWATEREATER
IDEALGOAFTER
THELASTHURRAH
HEREUSAIRVETO
ERASMARDIORAL
SETAPRMENRENE
Thu 11/27/2008
CLIMBISLARAGS
CANOESTARTEDUP
LUTESAUSTRALIA
ERETRACTOPALS
FASTBUCKCUPID
TEEMORATE
TWIXTINONAHAB
HANSECEDEROSE
AXELRESISTREV
NYSENUNNESSAY
GRIPEWAKE
BRAHECHEMISTS
PAULYAKEEMHIE
ASIAMINORABODE
GINGERNUTTREAD
ELSEKATZEARLY
Fri 11/28/2008
OCHOSTHCIDOL
UNROBEHURMORE
SHIVERMETIMBERS
MEMVCRTAUS
CREATIVELICENSE
PSECSECYTAM
IRENENIAGOA
THECOSTOFLIVING
TOVTAIATIVE
OPESARICASE
PENTATONICSCALE
TONITELHES
STINGOPERATIONS
RIOTNEAIMGONE
ANNOSAMMINTY

Here's a puzzle I devised an Excel algorithm to build ... though could be built more easily today with direct use of Crossword Compiler.

As a launching point, I first draw attention to the intersection points of the 5 horizontal and 5 vertical 15's:

  • IREIE
  • EIEIN
  • ESOLI
  • NTNCA
  • IOEAO

Reading horizontally, these are the letters that appear in positions 3, 6, 8, 10, 13 of their corresponding 15-letter words. Reading vertically, the positions are 3, 5, 8, 11, 13. Note, for instance, that the last row IOEAO represents STING OPERATIONS in the puzzle, but also fits the pattern for JOINT OPERATIONS.

A key feature of the matrix is the heavy use of common letters R ,S, T ,L, N, A, E, I, O. (The letter C is the one outlier). The common letters would assist my algorithm below since slight variations often represent other words. For instance, if IOEAO is changed to IOIAO, I find that the latter represents OBIE NOMINATIONS.

So now, the basic notion of the algorithm was this: I would build the matrix from the top down and maximize my chances of completing rows and columns based on shear numbers. I started off with "good guesses" for the top two rows like this:

  • IREIE
  • EIEIN
  • ?????
  • ?????
  • ?????

Examining the individual columns... I have 379 15-letter words in my word list that follow the (abbreviated) pattern IE???; 469 for RI???; 326 for EE???; 255 for II???; 217 for EN???. All very plentiful. Then, for each of these sets I looked at what letters are most common as the third letter ... while limiting myself to only those which would successfully complete the third row: (ESOLI — as a horizontal entry — gives me THE COST OF LIVING).

The matrix now grows to:

  • IREIE
  • EIEIN
  • ESOLI
  • ?????
  • ?????

and the next iteration focuses on the columns again; The number of 15-letter entries with the pattern IEE?? is 50; There are 30 for RIS??; 38 for EEO??; 42 for IIL??; 12 for ENI??. The main thing to note is that the choices are quickly dwindling, and the iteration could easy have halted with the completion of row 4. If that had been the case, I'd go back to the top with fresh choices for row 1 and 2 and repeat the above algorithm.

But the matrix filled up, and the corresponding 15-letter entries were transferred onto a blank grid, and the black squares were tossed in (with some leeway). Unfortunately, the Scrabbly letters now came out of the woodwork, but the challenge was a manageable one.

Sat 11/29/2008
LITMUSTESTARPS
OCEANLINERBEAT
CONSCIENCEDECO
INTERPRETSIXER
ROOSARCASM
MANSNAPROAMED
AMESSRIOTTITO
DICEDIZZYONTO
ATTNRAZZGREER
GOATEEAYERDRS
ABRIDGENIC
SLIMYMINESHAFT
CANEACCESSIBLE
AMENBEERCOOLER
RESTSELDOMSEEN
Sun 11/30/2008 UH-OH
GRADEDHTMLDAMPSSAX
NOJIVEAREAELIOTPRY
ATONICWONTVISORYUL
REBATESTHERESTHEROBE
RAMISADULTTENAM
USSDEODATOPACE
CLAIMEGRETPEACHFOES
LOAMANDABNERARTYPLY
ABBACYARRASLIEN
RASSLEKNITSLANCE
AREWEHAVINGPHONEYET
GNATSANENTSALONS
ODDSEVANSOOLONG
LOITAURPERSIANROGUE
FRIARTOKECOATIEWOKS
LOSTSCOLDEDDET
SCRAPSTALLMEDIC
PAININTHEBOATDECODES
ITTCORALGWENCAVORT
FEZATOLLIANAAMELIA
FRYLINEACYTELETTER
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