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Puzzles for November, 2011
with Constructor comments

View these same grids with comments from:
Constructor (2)Jim Horne (5)Hide comments
Tue 11/1/2011
ANATNOBELJARS
SETHEPOXYOMEN
HOMEREPAIRCAVA
ENSUEDSTACKSUP
SPLITYESES
REFUSESDENY
ASIAOKAPISKI
HARLEMBOYSCHOIR
MUMMEANSAUTO
SCARPLAYPEN
ESQUEHAIRS
COALESCETEEING
RUNTHAILCAESAR
USDAOPRAHDAZE
SEANPESCISWIG
Wed 11/2/2011
CARLSEMIRASPY
OBOETRACICHAT
TODIVORCEGUARD
SUEOOOHCARR
TOPULLUPSTAKES
ASSAPOSLO
ASAPSARANKEW
SPLITINFINITIVE
SILROUTSONED
ERIINFALF
TOGOFIFTYFIFTY
AREAHAGSAID
ATTICTOSHATTER
SHOOTASIAHALE
LORNABERNUSDA
Thu 11/3/2011
LAVAABODESMOG
ALEGSAVORQEII
SIRECLARAURNS
HAYNEEDLESTACK
DONMEAT
CANDYKIDSTORE
ICESEENKENYA
MALLDWEEBREAR
ASLOWLEESUNS
CHINABULLSHOP
GRASTEN
HANDHELLBASKET
JOKEADIEUANTE
EPICMUTEDLENA
MINKAPERSEXAM
Fri 11/4/2011
BLASTOFFFORAGE
MORTIMERODELAY
INCAMERARENAME
NEATENGNUSCBS
OLDERLIAMCALL
RYESDELITHREE
WEASELSOUTOF
DEFORMSGARMENT
ONEMINTJULEP
LAMESHANKCHUM
IMINMACSSHAPE
TONRANKSTANDS
TRIJETASLONGAS
LESLIESTARGATE
EDMONDSUMMERED
Sat 11/5/2011
ANAISGABANNES
BALTIMOREORIOLE
ONFAMILIARTERMS
WARLORDTBOLT
EINCHEOSHEA
ACDCFAINTEVEN
NOHAIRSELNINO
GRILLEDRAMSESI
ENTAILCORNTIN
LECTDELAYCNET
ATHOLXEDSLA
CREPESALAMIS
ANOTHERFINEMESS
SECURITYDEPOSIT
POKESSIETRESS
Sun 11/6/2011 BAKER'S DOZEN
TREADAMSPROMACDC
ROTINORMANLARABONA
OMANNONVIOLENCESOUR
HALFLIFEDIETSRECKON
SNOOTLLDSSHOCRISPY
CIRCEBOTTOMLESS
MOLAGHASARACTSUP
BAHENNEETALIIAPRS
INCOGALTARSALAESOP
DCNINEMONOSDAMNIGA
SHADOWSWIFTLYCALDER
FUMPAWLSKOALINTENS
ORRISHEFCABOTADDIE
RIENYOYOMAVERBOER
AGAMASOILNEVAVWS
MIDOCTOBERLYSIN
BROACHANSACHETACET
RENNETVOIDSOVERCAME
AYENRIOTSHIELDSOKIE
GAGEINRELENSESMETH
ALARBETSRETROSSS
Mon 11/7/2011
SPASBAGSSPAT
WALKAURALNADA
AGEEPSILOVEYOU
PECLASSBEE
EMOPTBARNUM
RITESORELENE
SETONTBARABIT
CLANSRODBRUTE
AILSLUXEABLER
LEIMINERBOAS
PFCHANGSOER
OLDPHLEVEL
PGTHIRTEENTIDY
OAHUOUTGOUSER
ITEMSEASMANE
Tue 11/8/2011
ABBAFASCIABRO
FOOLATHENAOOF
CINDERFELLASPF
NEEREAATEE
BEINGBOBBYBROWN
ABETABESULNAS
ROBEROTBYEBYE
SNLHEERAISA
URALSENTKOI
OLEARYAHAVERT
REBIDELANODES
BOUNCINGBABYBOY
INTSDRERAE
TILFLABBERGAST
ENEREGREWENOS
DERIDEATERSVP
Wed 11/9/2011
GMANMSRPSOHIO
ROLOOTOEOPART
OPENTOALLFIRST
WINNINGFOOTED
DECAFSSDSHOO
ISOFINNISHTANK
MTNSGIEOATES
INNKEEPER
GUANODNAAIMS
SINNINGSONGTAL
TEASUETOASTY
GUINNESSAGAIN
TERREINAUDIBLE
CRAGSANTILEDS
UNMETLESTETAS
Thu 11/10/2011
INUITISTOPSIS
KINDANEINLENA
EXCELWEAKLINKS
LAKEINSPANISH
CIOESTWYLIE
ACTORCHANEYEND
LAHRDOSED
FLEESFROMPRISON
STRAPAHME
TSPPASTURELAND
ALONESIXGIS
CAPITALLETTER
OYSTERBEDABUTS
MEIRGAITNAGAT
ARNOORSOTYSON
Fri 11/11/2011
MRIBBCSKAASA
CONTOURUNKEMPT
MAFIOSIREARERS
IDIOIMAGEARIE
ITTNICEDINA
OSSENTOMICK
ESAISAUNACALE
MINTSLAGSANEW
UNDOMILESTIRE
GSUEZINEENS
CATTNATESSPYS
OPATYRASP
LORELEIALBERTA
ARTDECOLOAMIER
SESSIONSCHISMS
Sat 11/12/2011
JSBACHACTOFWAR
ALEGRELOISLANE
WIENERVONSYDOW
STREAMLINEWIDE
STAINSBESET
IRAOJODUI
CONCRETEJUNGLE
ETTUSTEAKHAVE
CAPITALBELTWAY
HAYBOANNE
APRONBIAFRA
SHELLIPREADERS
SAIDNOTOAMANAS
ASNEEDEDRINGIN
DEARSIRSLEARNS
Sun 11/13/2011 EITHER WAY
NORMANSSGTASPOBJ
OVERLAYDUOSBORNMAO
PUPILSSLIPUPBLOOPERS
EMOSTAMENBEACHBABE
ADAPERSEUSSUESREP
WANTOUTBAITTRAATH
EQUIPAUPAIROYERS
BUTTRESSEDDESSERTTUB
BASLENZAHAURLS
LIBRASUBPARRAPBUS
ELTOROAUNTSARISEN
WARSAWWASRAWLASED
EPEEHITDENTUFO
DEROGATIVEEVITAGORED
SPOTSEXTRASAWGEE
UMAUPAPAPAYESLETS
GIGOLOSSOLOGIGRPS
SCENESHOPSENTRATWA
ORIENTALXERXESSEXREX
MOSTAMEITESVENTURE
ESTLESSOSPROCEED
Mon 11/14/2011
ASEAALAMOPOMP
SAUDPETALSCAR
STRIKEGOLDTAKE
ARENAAMENDRIT
YAKRUTIODINE
SPARESOMECHANGE
ENEIRKMAIN
WASPSOLEEASTS
APIAIONBUS
SPLITTHEJACKPOT
SLIDESOYLEKE
AECNABOBISLET
IPODBOWLEDOVER
LINEOREOSFIFI
SEESYENTAACES
Tue 11/15/2011
KAZANPAXAPLUS
ALEVEALETTOPS
ROBEDLANCEBASS
TOURCESARIO
FLAVORINAJAM
OGEEGEMTUBE
ABNERERIESLOE
CAPALDORAYIRS
CRIPAGUEORATE
TAKETETJUAN
SKETCHHORNBY
SLEEPINFRAT
FISHERMENARENA
ACEOFMEDDEANS
TEMPTALISEMIS
Wed 11/16/2011
BVDSAMBLEBOWL
ALAICAROLACHE
BOTTLENECKTHEE
AGAZEOAKSMEAR
GARDENPARTY
LAPTOPIAN
OLEOPREACHPLO
BARRELOFMONKEYS
ONEMATSUIAWOL
EMUSAYSNO
BELLYDANCER
IRONSREACHART
COSIBEERCHASER
EDENUNDERLINE
PESONASTYFATE
Thu 11/17/2011
FENDSPADSACDC
LAURAABUTFAIR
OUTOFORDERONCE
PEKOEAERATE
ASECALLMIXEDUP
WALLEYEINCAMY
KILOSUSEIT
LETTERSORTING
HUMANEMILY
OPTAPIROSEBUD
REARRANGEDLSTS
BOLEYNNAOMI
IRESANAGRAMMED
TINTDATAZIPPO
SATSASSNETHAN
Fri 11/18/2011
RIDGEDIANAROSS
ONIONANDIQUOTE
SPEROSCHNITZEL
ARTESTHEEEVE
POPSTAURSASES
ATLSERPENTS
REARENDDARTING
KSTARSSEINER
STEIGERTHERAGE
TIRESOUTBAA
LOTTOSEGAPITT
OROSTAGMAKIN
GOTINLATEALIVE
ONEFOOTERRENEW
NOMYSTERYCRISS
Sat 11/19/2011
MCGWIREMCCAREY
CHEAPENCLIMATE
CARSONSMADAMES
ONITETHANNISI
UTTEREONCANIT
REOICECUBETAI
TYLENOLSERMONS
MGRCEE
MCQUEENMCBRIDE
CLURAILCARSEN
LOONSGYMAWAIT
ASNOSHEAFHIFI
RESTARTHASIDIC
ETERNALOVERSEE
NOTEASYNETLOSS
Sun 11/20/2011 FIGURE IT OUT
ATPFRETDUNNLOCKER
DANLEDEMARIOINHOME
ABE3DGRAPHICSDEERES
PLUSBARNESHTSARENT
TEMPIRINGHOREBRADS
FOYERS4ELICACY
PONIEDPREMEALBR7TES
BRINKSREBIDSBYTURNS
S2AGOMENSCALPITT
OBVBERUWAROFERA
PUTNI6ELETTERSINORDER
OSETENETEXIT5OO
DIEDNOMSMITETIVO
INNINGSCOILERALANIS
AGASSIWAILERSPOTATO
TANGIBLESONOMA
SCAREARLSPARESROMA
PARISGEEHUBERTSRIS
AMECHEMAGIC8BALLANS
MENTALACUTEEPEETBA
SLA9KSNETSLESSA1Y
Mon 11/21/2011
BEHINDZITBLUE
ADAGIOACERONS
BIGOTSNEAATIP
ETSAVEBOYTOY
SAGOCAREENS
BROWNEYEDGIRL
RERANALPSENG
INANEGALAPNEA
TONRITALAYER
GREENEYEDLADY
AREARUGETAS
BATMANFRABAR
AIRSIMOLOYOLA
SNEETEXINONIT
EYESELYITUNES
Tue 11/22/2011
BOPBAJASPASMS
ONOALOTOLDHAT
WEMADEITREMEDY
IAMBSNIPAID
ELECTICANDREAM
TWINRESAVES
CIVICLEWLIRR
BLTTHEYSAYLIP
UOFAIDEGOOSE
SNIPINGKERR
HEGOTGAMEKISSY
USCRANDNOPE
MARTHAYOUAGAIN
FUELEDOBEYPCT
ASSESSRITEYEA

This puzzle demonstrates how using 100% of available theme units can overcome a theme's low-excitement factor. I wanted to come up with seven ILSAs (in-the-language stand-alones), preferably all phrases (vs. hyphenated or compound words), each having as its first unit a different subject pronoun. I wanted to cross theme answers in each of two corners. The one iffy entry was SHE DEVILS, which seems to have etymologically evolved into a hyphenated word. However, if you glance through IMDb, you can find this word going both ways in movie titles over a 50-year period.

I submitted the puzzle to Will by mail in April or May of 2010. I had a cross-country road trip planned for late June, with stops in Williamsburg VA and Southbridge MA, en route to a golf weekend in Killington VT. I routed myself through Will's home town and invited him to dinner. He accepted. Before dinner, he gave me a tour of his puzzle factory, showing me his collection of old puzzles, and then pulled out an envelope with this puzzle in it. He critiqued it on the spot, accepting the puzzle, but asking for revisions in a few places. It's the only puzzle as to which I can claim an acceptance in person. (He also rejected three puzzles that afternoon, but let's not go there!) We had dinner at the Pleasantville Diner. I dropped him back at his house and then drove on to Southbridge.

Wed 11/23/2011
SINSSUCHACHED
ADAMASHEMAINE
CIAOWHIRERGOT
ROCKTHECASBAH
EMPERORIAMTOO
YERROSEBOWL
SACASKEWANNO
TIOTEALEAFEEG
AMMOHONDODRY
BEERPONGOYS
SEALEDAREARUG
GARDENVARIETY
SWANKBARBDYER
ARIDEANILNERO
SYNODYALEOSOS
Thu 11/24/2011
SRISBABAAHAB
CASHALIASSORE
AREAFORTHEGOLD
REENACTERASER
ALIGNTPSIRENE
BYTHEBOOKEDGES
ANOTEEOST
WITHTHEFLOW
UGHROOGIL
PROOFTOTHEDOGS
COSMOEKEGSUIT
LONERSSPECTRE
OVERTHETOPOLLA
SEXTIGORSRAIL
ESTANOGOEWES
Fri 11/25/2011
ALGATAKESNOTE
FURLWATERLEVEL
TAILGATEPARTIES
SUNLXIIINNE
DDAYNSCBESS
ESCAGA
SARASOTAFLORIDA
USEDCARSALESMAN
PENTATONICSCALE
STARSINONESEYES
EENNON
PANEGENTUES
ABOROGETUPI
GOHEADOVERHEELS
AVONLADIESAMOS
NEWSBREAKREPO
Sat 11/26/2011
CHAIRBEDSPHERE
LANCEITOTRAVIS
ANISEEDSRESINS
MGMSRSBESIEGE
BLARESBREED
ROLESNEATNIK
OOFYKITCATCLUB
TSACIPHERSANA
HERBALPERTABBR
MEMOIRSBLEAT
AIMEESEARLE
ALUNSERCAFJAN
TURBOTLALALAND
ONSALEOPALESCE
MEAGERBADLOSER
Sun 11/27/2011 YIN/YANG
DEMOSHINEHOMERRAMA
OLAVABNERENOLAOFIT
RIDEHOTANDHEAVYURGE
KHANAMELIASTEGOSAUR
SUMMERBREEZESUDSIER
ITAENDSNEEDLE
FILTHHARIAAHSSAO
UNITMOROSEYOUDUFOS
MSGCONSULSDONNATRE
ATHATEGAPRIYALHAT
NATRHYTHMSENATEELP
CTALEMONPEATENDEI
HESARONIENMASSEAXE
USAFSONGUSENETTRAC
FOBNEHIERINASKME
SHERYLSTDSSHU
COASTALOLDMANWINTER
ONTHENOSEARCHIEAWRY
OSHACAUGHTACOLDMIRA
THEMINIGOBOYLEIRON
SUREASTONSOSASSLRS
Mon 11/28/2011
FLOWIMACHADAT
DIDISARAOBESE
AMOSONANFICHE
PRETTYBOYFLOYD
GOOSEEME
GALUMPHRANGIN
UGLYBETTYNEURO
ERASTEEPLAM
SEMISPLAINJANE
SEAMENSLOEGIN
ACELASHE
GORGEOUSGEORGE
AVOIDSHINIRIS
REUNETONENERO
BREEDYEARGWEN

UGLYBETTY seemed to scream for a puzzle to be made out of the title. PRETTYBOYFLOYD was the second, natural balance thematically but totally different lengths, and the difficult to work with 14 letters. Once I came up with GORGEOUSGEORGE 14 to match I was good to go, as UGLYBETTY at the odd number 9 could go across.

But it seemed a bit light. The challenge rather than scrapping the puzzle was to come up with a fourth, 9 letters, preferably another woman, so it was two men, two women...but it had to be on the spectrum of UGLY, PRETTY, GORGEOUS. The adjective also ad to come first, so PLAINJANE was a godsend.

Tue 11/29/2011
DISCSICESCARS
ONTHEPLEAUVEA
SCRATCHANDSNIFF
THAIHONTEASE
GREENGOBLIN
TAGGREROOF
CULPAHEMOLDS
BREADCRUMBTRAIL
YARNAYEOMBRE
DATADEMYEW
BACONNUMBER
ADOBEARMLIMB
MONEYMONEYMONEY
ONEAOWNSAPTTO
KERRDEYSREHAB
Wed 11/30/2011
AFTGOALJETLAG
PAHURDUELOISE
LEEMOONEDSQUAD
ORESADIEU
MONEYWORDECHO
BEDEVILYATHUH
YODELRACISM
STONEAGECOACH
RERUNSAMAIN
AXEETSINSTANT
DYESLARAMONES
CLOUDOGLE
GONEINRUMMYEST
ATONALLATELOS
BOWERYTRAPONE
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