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Puzzles for September, 2023
with Constructor comments

Fri 9/1/2023
ALTONSHOCRISP
GEEKEDOUTHATHA
GARGOYLESANSEL
IFSONASONSALE
EYEBARJACOB
COMPLETEMESS
URBANOASESWAIL
MELLONAPMAUDE
PAULGETSTARTED
SPECIALSAUCE
RENDSFLYSPA
STINTSFAASTAR
HADTODARNITALL
AMGENOKIEDOKIE
DEEREWESOPENS

My goal in constructing this one is to start with a relatively interconnected 72-word grid, provide a bevy of fresh and lively marquee answers, and create a smooth and entertaining solving experience. Being a Friday puzzle, I also tried to balance keeping it accessible for newbie themeless solvers while still having enough meat on the bones to satisfy even the most experienced weekend warriors.

In the end, I was pretty happy that ten of the fourteen longest entries are NYT debuts, along with one additional Shortz-era debut. Moreover, many of these entries resonated with me personally. Having spent a couple of decades developing large renewable-energy power plants, I've seen over a hundred thousand 6-downs in my lifetime (which became my starting point for filling this grid). 24-down brought back many fond memories of a misspent decade tooling my 1985 CJ-7 around the beach communities of Southern California with the top down and the doors off — year round, even in the rain. I have 14-across on more things than I care to admit publicly. I even had a couple of 17-acrosses silently guarding my home for years.

And, of course, 31-down had me absentmindedly singing that song in my head for days after working on this puzzle.

All this with only (IMHO) a wee bit of all-organic, non-toxic glue to hold it all together. I really enjoyed creating this one and thought to myself, "11-down!" when it was done.

I hope you did, too.

Sat 9/2/2023
ZOMBIEPUFFIN
ATOASTSERRANO
POODLEGOTNAKED
SEDGEFAIRMESS
SETFORLIFE
HAWSEALSARTIE
ADINTMISWARMS
IMNOTASCIENTIST
TIGRISFRIEPEE
INSETFROSHLTR
GOBLINMODE
SOARRUESHOTEL
CHEEZITSSONATA
AIRTIMEUHOKAY
BOOSTSMORELS

After dabbling in themeless construction mostly at AVCX+ and with Rafa at Universal, I'm thrilled to have my first themeless puzzle in The Times. I'm a sucker for a good spanner, and since I am actually a scientist, 34-Across struck me as the perfect seed entry. My favorite clue is at 1-Across; I'd been waiting to use it for a while and was glad to use it to open this puzzle. I hope you enjoy!

Sun 9/3/2023 Computer Games
MBACRAGCABINDISCS
ORCAONEADELETANTRA
HATEMAILNEALEISRAEL
SNIPERCODSURFTHENET
DOITGALOOTSILIAD
LINCOLNPARKACRESTAB
USPSEASYFUGUETORTA
CHOTOWWISERDENIAL
YESYESSPENDTIERALE
SEEDTHEDEAEASCROLLS
TAPOUTPINKER
EMAILATTACHMENTNESS
MOSLISTCARESSCOTCH
CUTMENEBERTBAEORE
ENRONPRADAUPONCLEF
ETONDUSTSPREADSHEET
LIVERASSISTSPENN
BROKENLINKPASARABIA
ROGERSBEIGEPOPUPADS
AVERSEMYLARAVECSOO
TERSESELLSSAXEELF

After getting bombarded by a barrage of pop-up ads in late 2021, I thought "How can I recreate this in a crossword puzzle?" What does it say about the abundance and persistence of online marketing that I started viewing it as the potential basis for a crossword theme? I spent a few months brainstorming ideas, put it on hold, and then returned to it with fresh eyes in March 2023. At that point, I expanded my brainstorm to include other computer/online experiences that could be represented literally. The puzzle came together quite readily after that — I submitted the puzzle in April and received an acceptance email in June!

My seventh year of teaching is underway, and I'll be welcoming students later this week. Happy school year 2023-2024!

Mon 9/4/2023
IRSBLOOPAGAR
TOTSFONDATYPO
WORLDFOODSUMMIT
ATEAMSESPBET
SLUMSLOSESFACE
MESSDONTAGED
ESESOREIFS
SLIPPERYSLOPE
DYEOILYETA
ERIEDUPEPECS
NAVALBASETAKES
AMPALTIMLATE
MOUNTAINCLIMBER
ONMESNARKSORT
REPOEGGOSOAS
Tue 9/5/2023
SAMOADUOEPCOT
CLOWNFISHCLOVE
OILLEASESHADES
WEDMICORECART
DONSACE
SPRINTTICKBIRD
CAINECASEOCHO
ARCCOULDAIS
REEFULNAWANNA
FRUITBATCATTOY
GREPELE
LACTOSEALLMET
SNARLTELESCOPE
ANSELSYMBIOTIC
TOTESYESNOTCH
Wed 9/6/2023
ZORBAEBAYTHIS
ASIANLACERIME
GHOSTRIGHTOTOE
SATEACECUTUP
CIVILWRIGHTS
SITONITKOSHER
AROARARMWAD
WRITESOFPASSAGE
SALOPTKALEL
DEWLAPSHOULDI
RITEBROTHERS
EARLSRAEACHE
UTILSOUNDSGOOD
SEENAXEDKENYA
ESSOPOSYASSAM
Thu 9/7/2023
IROBOTPINEHAL
ROMEROEDENAMO
AIGENERATEDSIR
FEDORASBASE
SATYRALGORITHM
TEEYTDNAG
ESTAAHOKGOTYA
WORLDDOMINATION
SPADEGARBSTUD
ELISAOANS
NEURALNETDINGO
IMPSDELETED
NEOTURINGTESTS
JENOCTOITALIA
ATEVESTFELONY
Fri 9/8/2023
CRABCLEARASMUD
LETOTORTELLINI
ASTOEARLYBIRDS
WEEMADEPEES
FANDOMROPENAE
ORDERBAHAPADS
OCEANINRUSH
THELITERALWORST
INABITABATE
OTTOCEOSTOWED
AROSORTTASSEL
FORTHJETCPA
IMPRIMATURTOES
SPOONERISMURNS
HERDEDCATSBESO
Sat 9/9/2023
BASSESGRADEA
ULTIMACOUPONS
SCALIAFOOTPADS
HOVERBOARDSSOU
EVENSNIFFWORM
LEDTVTRUEFALSE
MEDAYLEXIE
BOXUPPLIED
CAVESMOANS
CHRISTMASTPING
LANEBEREAODEA
ONAQUEERTHEORY
ACCOUNTSMOTIVE
KELVINSABIDES
SLEAZYNOCOST
Sun 9/10/2023 Detours Ahead
LOLBGAMEASHEMASS
ADAINLATETKOSOPPO
BOBCRATCHITBADASSERY
ROADWAYLAVAGUTHRIE
RISERSELAYNEAETNA
NODREELOPENUGH
JOSEFRIANUSBORDERS
AHAPOINTREODRIVE
BMWRAMSESIBEGONE
BARBETSDOTHPERNANS
EMERYEMUEGGSXENON
DADASSNPATHGOBROKE
SHALOMIVOTENOMIA
MIAMIOEDSILEXIDK
FILMSPEEDPTASKVASS
BANLANEIBISBIO
ANIMESLYFOXBOUNCE
INTOTALEYREAUREATE
LIARSDICEELASTICBAND
ONCEADDSSTREETIVY
NGOSMESHLARDSLYE
Mon 9/11/2023
NACHOSLRTSAI
ACHEDCOATATIT
BREADDOUGHMIRO
SENDSUPEERILY
RACESPILL
ALBERTPAIDIRA
TEASETRITERAG
BELTWHIMSTIVO
ACLGAINSLASER
THORINGSELENA
OBITSHANK
UNIDOSONSTAGE
SNITUPANDCOMER
KISSTALEAMONG
ITTYSLYPESTO
Tue 9/12/2023
BOPSSPAONELS
FLIPSOUTNARUTO
ADORABLEICEPOP
NIKESNTHORE
SIEGEALITINED
APEORALBNESS
MARKERCLIFF
SEACREATURE
LUAUSENAMEL
HITSSNUBSPLY
IDIOMGPAOUTIE
JONADSDIRTY
ANKARAEGOTISTS
BOLEYNNEWSLEAK
TERSEORAETNA
Wed 9/13/2023
SWAGJETAGAIN
WIPESODADRIVE
ISNTPAINDOLED
GEEIDONTKNOW
RATIONINTROS
NOLETMETHINK
SPYONHALOPEI
CROWGLOWSBENT
HEWTRONWENDS
WELLYOUGOTME
ANSARIBADREP
MANTHATSHARD
OCEANHOMEATOM
LISZTROARTUBE
DATESUPSSPED
Thu 9/14/2023
SLOESTABHELIX
AIRXOSHAEQUIP
MATHCLASSLUCIA
ONHOLDSNEAKIN
AGORARESENT
TILESAWIOWA
ADSRENTXSOLAR
BRAVOSAWNING
CORALDANTENEO
SPARDERIVES
ISRAELTESSA
CLOAKEDOILCAN
RABBISOLVEFORX
EXILEERIEIWIN
DETERACERELSA
Fri 9/15/2023
SODOPEHARASS
ATADESKREGATTA
LOWERCASELETTER
SENATORIALSEATS
BELLS
ALASKANKINGCRAB
CENTERSDOORONE
MADEABINGE
ERRANDSPRIEDUP
SNAKEINTHEGRASS
SOROS
SIGNSPOINTTOYES
ICECOLDBEERHERE
MARACASSTOMATA
SNEAKYHUSHES
Sat 9/16/2023
COSMOSBROILS
ANOINTSGRAPHIC
BALDCAPOUTSELL
AHAEGALITEABA
NINASTONEIRAS
AGGIERAGCRIBS
HERDMENTALITY
DIDASOLID
WHATSTHEPOINT
CHATSMATSUBIN
TOTEPEROTMANE
SETTANKTOPTEE
CLIPARTONALEAD
ASPIRESEGGTART
NESTEDSEEMSO
Sun 9/17/2023 Classical Music
ROPERARASALONBOARD
UNOSIBARPLANEERNIE
HTTPGIVEPEACEACHANCE
RATMATINEESTOELOOP
OPENITNARCPEWS
HERECOMESTHESUNTORSO
XENAMASFEUD
PARTINTLLIGHTMYFIRE
SLOTSISOLATERIVETER
STOOPSAVONJADORE
TOTOHPRETTYWOMANRID
CANOESERASSNEAKY
STAGGERPARSNIPESTEE
YOURESOVAINDELATEAS
NOSESINURSA
CLEEFDONTBRINGMEDOWN
ASAPOONABMOVIE
ALBUMENIMACPROSECG
MORNINGHASBROKENORCA
EMAILLADLEDINEFLAT
NASTYELDERENDSTYNE
Mon 9/18/2023
FORMARTSADAPT
ARIAPORTCARRY
TALKABLUESTREAK
SLEETLENAKAYE
MOABCRAM
TELLAWHITELIE
AGOLECHMAYOR
JAMBSKOALTITO
ALEUTSLIPNAS
RAISEAREDFLAG
YALEETAL
BREWEVERIOWAN
COLORCOMMENTARY
CAMRYIMAXONCE
SMOKERANTFEST
Tue 9/19/2023
ASPIFSOTWIT
LEANOUNLAHTI
SESQUIPEDALIAN
OBSTREPEROUSLY
EDIEOYESKIT
FLOPSSEWSECO
DOWMEDTRYST
AWNINGSBAO
COMGETTHIS
DICEDMADAMP
AVASWATPIDAY
MARYASHORAL
ANTIDISESTABLI
SHMENTARIANISM
KOALAGENTTEA
SENDERGOETC
Wed 9/20/2023
ISSATAROTATOM
MOCSOLIVERAVE
BLACKMAGICFLEA
ADMIRERSHEERG
COPAIMSRENEE
KNICKSUPERSTAR
LOBNEEPET
POWERBALLAD
PACSUESIN
ROCKETMANFARES
ALISTMOATALT
REFASHSTEAMER
ENIDHIGHERLOVE
STEMADIOSONES
TARSMEANTTANS
Thu 9/21/2023
WESCRMOHHALF
OPERAALAIAMOI
NEGEVLEWDSIGN
GEODESKIMNEC
ONESGALOSH
HEMSMESANSA
ARIIAMNOTACR
WINTERMIGRATION
COUNSELEDDOE
RCANEROASKS
DICKCLSCOT
UGHTAZOINESC
CLOYROXYLIVER
TOREKNEEENERO
SODAENTRENEW
Fri 9/22/2023
STOATSLSDOPEN
CARROTCAKEROMA
OXYMORONICGOOD
TIXBABARYALTA
LIPSEVONNE
ECIGSPSEUDO
ALOFTSHOTHOOPS
PALEOPORANDOR
ENDOFRANTDOLMA
FRANCECORES
BUDICEDENS
EASELREUSELID
ASIAJAMESJOYCE
RIOTACTSNORMAL
PENHYESABSENT
Sat 9/23/2023
SKATEBOARDTRICK
COURTAPPEARANCE
INDIANTERRITORY
SMITSSLATSNIL
SATEDOETHCEDE
OREBRUTEMAGES
RIDEOUTSTUPORS
ARIISO
CORRIDABLENDER
AXONSMOILSEDE
RIBSDINGSIAMS
ADESIDEBSTLEO
CARBONATEDWATER
ANTICOLONIALIST
STICKSANDSTONES
Sun 9/24/2023 Rebrandings
POPARTAMUSEDCOOLCAT
AVENUEYANKEEONTARIO
LITTLESEIZERSPETNAME
RHINESIEKRONAPER
COINADOPTSBUDWISER
WALLGREENSEMITACT
ABELHEWCEOSEARN
FLUHOLEFOODSBESTBYE
TEMPOYAWNSPURTLAX
IPODVIESORNAMENT
AMERICANHEIRLINES
CASANOVAGELSYELL
UEYONEPMAILSETAIL
PROCTORANDGAMBLEICU
SOULDUOSAAATSAR
LOWRAINTALKOBELLE
WRITEAIDEDIBLEREEL
EEKLEGALERARIOTS
STEALTHEMBASSYSWEETS
TRIDENTNOIDEAISRAEL
SOTOSAYDETESTTESTER
Mon 9/25/2023
IPADOPUSCRISP
DOTERANTPINTA
ARABICCHARACTER
SHUNIPOHERD
SCATTERPLOTREO
NHLOVAEMOTION
LETSEPARIMS
EARTHTONE
BANGSAGDOME
SATDOWNBRARIG
ABEGOALSETTING
MOATNSAMONA
SOWHATSTHESTORY
ONAIRETONACED
NSYNCRENDLOTS
Tue 9/26/2023
ACCRACHOPISIT
SOLARHIRETALE
SPAMFILTERALLA
TEMPMOIBLABS
SPAGHETTICODE
ROOHOEBFF
PHOTOLOANAIL
RAHFOODWEBRNA
ADSAVESESSEX
MAPCHEFAT
HAMBURGERMENU
CURESAVAPEND
ONELJAVAUPDATE
ACMEAGEDSATIN
THEEMOLEIDOLS
Wed 9/27/2023
BOOPBABURINSE
BOWLOPECPHONY
COLORLESSGENIE
TIEDOFFASPS
WENTBYLYRE
ALOENOCLUENDA
SPARGREENSOB
HAMSIDEASTITO
ESCSLEEPICED
DOHFINSTAMALE
OTOEDCELLS
EMMADIMPLES
TESLAFURIOUSLY
ASKEDSLOBCHIA
SAYSOOLDSKELP
Thu 9/28/2023
JETATONEDINS
IREMEGAMANMET
MONSTERSINCPGA
MINIMEHDOTORG
ICINGUSEALOE
EASELBALLERINA
WACOEIDETIC
TSPDANDOWEST
ACOLYTEGNAW
PALESTINEROVES
ALLARNADOILY
SLOFIEIDKLOPS
BICFALLINGFLAT
AOKSTEEREDESE
RNSSTREEPTOM
Fri 9/29/2023
ODDSODINGAP
MOONSHINESPELL
ISHOULDNTCOTTA
TEANOSSTETSON
CDROMENDIN
ABROADAUSTEN
REEDYWETSEASON
LANESOWEDLINE
OUTSCORESCEDES
SWARMSCARESS
STIRSTRANS
PORTIONADDAVA
ALICESORELOSER
SIKHSFRENEMIES
ODEWARTGAPE
Sat 9/30/2023
CADDIESPUMONI
AFRICANAMERICAN
SLAVEREBELLIONS
TOKEDPOLLSMAE
EWEROLLELEST
ALIBITAI
HOUSECATSNEWME
MARINEBIOLOGIST
STEADYOLATENGO
NSANOSES
FADSISIAHCRU
APECRESCASHES
THEROSETTASTONE
WIRELESSSPEAKER
ADEPTATPAYEES
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