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Puzzles for October, 2009
with Jim Horne comments

View these same grids with comments from:
Constructor (1)Jim Horne (6)Hide comments
Thu 10/1/2009
SATCHELACTEDUP
INAPILEBROMINE
CATALOGCOMPASS
SOPRANOSPUT
EKGHELENHERE
TNIOPTSEWPARER
COLBERTSSRS
SBARROOUTATE
ISNTTUNEDIN
SPREEEASTENDER
LAINBERTHSAY
IMFPETERPAN
MELROSEAAMILNE
ELEANORPRICIER
SADNESSSKEETER

The print version of this puzzle varies from the Across Lite version. There is a blank square in the centre as shown here, 18 Across has a longer clue: "With 55-Across, direction indicator (and what to draw in the center of this puzzle)" and there is this mysterious clue for 55 Across: "See 18-Across." Click here to see one particular compass rose.

Fri 10/2/2009
CAUSEDASTIRSID
AUTOREVERSEANI
PENNSTATIONMOS
PLEATENEMENT
TBILLSWYLER
JMBARRIEELSE
UALAMASSPRIES
MRISCANPRISONS
PINOTELIANTSE
TADAUNSTATED
HEAVETREPAN
ELLERBEEOOLA
GELRANDOMORDER
UNEEMPIREWAIST
NAYDAMNYANKEES
Sat 10/3/2009
GREATAPEESPANA
FUNNYMANFLAGON
OLDGROWTHFOREST
REISERROEGLEI
CONTALERTBICS
ENGPLEASEAMOK
DELETETRINI
TOPONYMSNORTED
AVILAASHORE
PENTMRMOTOCPO
ARCSAVOWSCAEN
SHHERIKODETTE
BEEINONESBONNET
ARROYOREARTIRE
RESCANSIDESPIN
Sun 10/4/2009 INITIAL OFFERINGS
MORTSAHLEGGCUPSPSST
TREATIESLARUSSAELEV
SAMUELADAMSESSAYPART
TEEDHOTWARSNEVER
ANTDECCAROCMOLINA
POEMNOHDONKINGDECAY
IKNOWLIAODAMUP
NIAVARDALOSENVYHEATH
GAMERAPAROLEEWIRY
IMBUEDOWDJSNOD
QUENTINTARANTINOCUTIE
URLODELOPRAYON
ADENGOTOSEACOVERT
DUMASTITOPUENTETEPEE
MOTIFELIASIEGE
MAXERNSTEMMYAKALEAN
OUTSETLAAANIMESLY
SPEARPEARLERNONA
DARKKURTVONNEGUTCAVY
EIREANTEINGPINETREE
FRASSTERNERATTRACTS
Mon 10/5/2009
TRAITCEDECASA
AARGHALOEALIS
WILLIAMMCKINLEY
SLOUCHESNAIVE
KERDATASET
JAMESMADISON
ELATEISHACH
RIGHTONTHEMONEY
KAIGOTASKED
SALMONPCHASE
MUSTSEEORA
ANNOYPRORATED
GROVERCLEVELAND
MIREBOASNAFTA
AGESISNTANTSY
Tue 10/6/2009
ERIKOMNIOCCAM
RAMAREAMELLIS
ISMYCAMPGROUND
SPOORDEALSEGO
BLEEDRECEDES
HEADQUARTERS
ARTDOZEYECCH
IREDSTILTTHRO
RYDERNOAHAAA
THANKSGIVING
SPAREMESTINK
AOKIOUTSSPECS
BLITZKRIEGEDAM
LARUEORCARUSE
ERASENETSSPEE
Wed 10/7/2009
SWABEMMASSACK
HAVEROACHPRAY
ACEDNORTEYELL
WORLDSERIESGAME
AUTRYPAL
GOTMEDATUM
RHOLETSGOSOSA
IANSMOUNDSPAR
TREETEMPEROIL
SEDERINFRA
BOKAALTO
BASEBALLDIAMOND
AXILHOMIEAGUE
BOZOLOAMSARKS
ANEWONSETMEEK
Thu 10/8/2009
TACOOSAKAACAD
ONUPEPCOTROLO
RIPEDOUBLEPLAY
AMONGOREDEICE
HALFLIFETULSAN
SLALOMSTHCERN
AVEMOOMUTE
TIMEAFTERTIME
SINENUNIAN
OBSOILNUMERAL
REPEATGAMEFACE
BRUSHVETDITTO
AIRQUALITYETON
TUTUMACEDLENI
ESSEODORSDRED

Four theme answers are compound words made up of "kinds" of TIME. 18 Across is DOUBLE PLAY and both DOUBLE TIME and PLAY TIME are common phrases. Similarly, HALF TIME and LIFE TIME, GAME TIME and FACE TIME, and AIR TIME (when a show is broadcast) and QUALITY TIME. Since the two kinds of TIME are together, one follows another and we have TIME AFTER TIME.

Fri 10/9/2009
JRRTOLKIENITSY
COUNTBASIETHEE
CONTRABANDSENS
HMSARODSWAMIS
AMFMSOOTEBOLI
SARISMROCTOBER
ETERNEAGONY
ZEEALTANATEC
DPLUSSPEEDO
DEARSANTASTEIN
EXISTEKCOANTS
PASEOSICEDAMO
ACLUPETESEEGER
UTESARTSTUDENT
LASSMASSEXODUS
Sat 10/10/2009
ABETSWORDGAME
VISINEHOOLIGAN
ICONICIMMINENT
DATTROPPONOR
MEACULPAMETRE
PERCHDELTAS
ERIKPIROUETTE
ZACPARSONSALP
LAYITONMEPLIE
UNSNAPSALON
MARKSSPAMALOT
ORANIPSATRNS
BONAFIDENOIDEA
IMAGONERSUREST
LATEPASSTERSE
Sun 10/11/2009 AUTHOR! AUTHOR!
ANGLEWINHONUSADAM
COOEDJANEOMANIGAME
HARTEBURNSWESTLONDON
THEOREMOCANADAPEAKS
FLAPTABORCREW
GAFFESWIFTWALKERWHA
ISOSUEMEASTAIRES
SNOWWHITEETATISTINK
METEOUTBEADEAROGRE
OREGONCARRPARKERHID
BODPOLETROUAIT
EMUSTEELEMANNDIMPLE
LENDWIREDUPMOTORED
SAYIDOCESSSTOUTKING
ARAPAHOESIOUXCIE
SANWILDESINGERGLENS
ESTDATMANNERO
CARLOSCRIPPSINASPOT
BROWNWOOLFPOUNDSTONE
ELBATUBALLUNGPICKS
ROSYSLOPEETCSTOPS
Mon 10/12/2009
RAYGALLEVENUP
EWEOWIEVALISE
TAMSWIMMINGBAN
ARESOMELBA
GENTLEBENURGES
ROXYDORALT
LILIUNOREILLY
USEDCLOTHINGBIN
MODELTTIEEASE
PUTASASNIT
STOMPCESTSIBON
ATSEAITALY
HOTCROSSBUNRIM
ARARATTAFTEVE
DROOPSSHOOSET
Tue 10/13/2009
MAMASGADMISS
AMANAIPOSACTA
LITTLEJOHNREAL
ASTROSEASTLA
ASHYLETTERHEAD
SHANESORTAGA
CURIOABASE
HEIRTOTHETHRONE
TAPESORION
USABETCOWLIZ
SARDINECANAGRO
EXCITEONEIDA
ROADROYALFLUSH
INDOSUERSEGAR
DYESTRYOREOS
Wed 10/14/2009
GAMMAWIZMESTA
ALIENADEEXTOL
RANATSEASPORT
BRITISHALEHOUSE
EELNESTOR
COOTIESTIDE
APRONAHADNA
PUBLICEDUCATION
ESSROZDIDTO
PAINOLDCOIN
ASWARMANT
CHARGEDPARTICLE
RISKYRAGENROL
INTELICESTARK
DEEREPERTOMES

In the print version of this puzzle, the four "-" clues are simply blank. PUB + LICE + DUCAT + ION = 36 Across.

Thu 10/15/2009
DATANAMATHCPA
EMITARABIAHIC
BETTEMIDLEREPH
ALTARLEOIPRET
SIERRAHONOLULU
EAREXAMCABIN
APTLYPAYING
IOLANIPALACE
SONDRADONAT
AWEEKPETEASH
MAUNAKEALABREA
PCPSHERAMACAW
RIPBARACKOBAMA
ATEAKINTOEREI
SYDGINNEDLODI
Fri 10/16/2009
AMENAGASPTAMS
LIVYSETHEADEE
FLANKSTEAKREND
SILENTTMINOLTA
TUXEDOJUNCTION
BAALAKEEIDERS
UNTILNEISSE
BTENCOPSECRTS
SHOWERSKEET
ANNUALRAULDNA
BEARNAISESAUCE
OURGANGLESSORS
UTNEDISINHERIT
NEINEVITERAFE
DRATRESETSLEW
Sat 10/17/2009
THANKSTOSUGAR
SOVIETERAUSAGE
TOOKNOTESMOVED
ODIELOSTACELA
RIDBENTHICHEL
MESSYEONROVE
LOADSUPAPER
POTABLEGUNBELT
IVANBATHTUB
NEXTERRBITSY
ORDRESIGNSHUE
CHOSEIDEEBRNO
HADNTRENTAROOM
LUGARSNOWFENCE
ELEGYTATTLEON
Sun 10/18/2009 AHEAD OF THE CURVE
MANETALIENATEDNOIRE
OCEANPATRONAGEOSKAR
THESOLOMONRGUGGENHEIM
HERETICSANTAANA
SETMUSEUMSTR
HIFISSOPRANOSRAFFLE
ONINPIANOTUNERDARTS
TENPOSTMDVIIBARS
TVAITSABARIGTENSE
AILCAYBEGUILEIRK
MTMATSCHAGALLOGLES
AAASIPDAPHNEONELAP
LBJSOASRESGMAORR
ELOONCUEVIRALYEA
SERBSEMITRAILEREDDY
WANKANDINSKYTRW
SPOUSECESSNASSEURAT
EARHARTDEEDIDO
ASKANATALIEWOODIGOR
THOUSPIRALSHAPETHRU
OAFSTAXPREPARERETES

This is one of my favorite NYT puzzles ever.

Mon 10/19/2009
LIMOBAWLWHIM
ODOROBOESHONE
BOONDOCKSHOODS
NORMSSERAPES
COSTASEGALEE
ASHNEUTRONADS
BLOCKAGEIKE
SOTSSHEDSABED
TEEPETSTORE
NETGOULASHUSC
EDURUNEORFEO
PICKETSSERIF
ASSETOOHANDAAH
LOONSLEISENDS
INNSDRATSTAT
Tue 10/20/2009
WEILLHOOPFACT
AMTOOEDNAESAU
ROSEGARDENSIRS
ABITETOTALS
DADCHIVASREGAL
ORELNIPAROSE
CLASSANAAN
OLDTIMERSGAME
ORIGHERALD
AREUPCATMISO
SAUSAGEROLLNET
STRATAFETAL
THOUSHIFTGEARS
DEPSPAVEERNIE
AREASTYENODOZ
Wed 10/21/2009
BOYIMALLSABLE
ANANIVEAAURAS
DUMBSDOWNTRENT
ESSOWWIGEORGE
TREASURER
MICHAELSENATOR
ONDECKKEGOVO
BARRETISVINOS
IWOIRAJINGLE
LEMONDEJACKSON
SALESSLIP
BROWNEOBIOHOS
RABATCRASHTEST
AGILEMECCAALE
DEEDSISHOTPOP
Thu 10/22/2009
ECRUGLASSTEEM
ALUMSINAIEMMA
NOTBYALONGEMIR
SARATNTELI
LEBANONASHOTIN
ADAGUAMAUTO
GIGAIMEANIT
SNAPJELLODOWN
HOARDEROCHO
SHIPSUVSCIG
THEDARKTOPHATS
HUTHANEASE
UTEPGUNWEDDING
GURUAROARJOEL
SPOTSLINGINDO
Fri 10/23/2009
TOPHATSJIGSAW
EUROPOPALTOONA
STINTERZOOLOGY
TONERANTATLI
PFCBRYCECANYON
ADELECOKED
PATELLASDUARTE
ETONIANHALTERS
RENDERPARAKEET
VROOMTAXER
VALLEYFORGEARA
OSAYARALAMIN
WYSIWYGDEALING
ELENOREINRANGE
LARGOSONENESS
Sat 10/24/2009
BLURAYDISCSTOP
TINATURNERMANO
EDDIEMONEYEXES
ADINANISEWILT
MEESEENTRERIM
SDSANDGOXTINA
TREOSSPADER
JACOBINBERSERK
OILGUNFETES
BROADTADASSOD
CDSSCENTSHERA
ORESREBARYANN
RIOTIVEBEENHAD
PEURSELLBYDATE
SSTSPETESEEGER
Sun 10/25/2009 WISHFUL THINKING
ABBAEBANSDAKCEDRIC
ROIDRAGEAETNAAQUINO
MYGOALINLIFEISDUNLOP
ELMNALDITOBEACLUE
YEOMENDINAFATTEST
UPTIMEDESIUTES
INTHENEWYORKTIMESGAG
ASHALEEEONAIDE
SASHACROSSWORDPUZZLE
ORTSHOEEPITOMES
TOOLBOXIVEISIDORE
OXYMORONELSEALY
NEVERTOLDANYONESEGUE
AYESEARIDLEEST
LEYSPORTSILLUSTRATED
SCUMSOLOPACINO
SAVANNANOVAHOOVES
PETERKINGSAPORETH
ADELIETHATBUTITSTRUE
VASTERSIGILTESTRIDE
ENTERSJETEONELITER

See the response to this puzzle in this NBC report.

Mon 10/26/2009
ROLFEASSNSACK
OPERASHOOAURA
MAXESFOXMULDER
ALLEYCATALTIMA
UBOLTHASBEEN
LATINIAIMTO
ACHEFALLEXTRA
PROXFACTOREEL
PEROTHOSTEXGI
NEMEAHEAROF
COVEREDVENTI
OSIERSPERMITME
MAXYASGURENTRY
AGEEURNSSTEER
SENDPOKEHORDE
Tue 10/27/2009
PEAKSIAMBSRIB
INUITVIOLAETA
TETRAHEDRONCUR
OKIESOMEONE
SYLRAHMEMANUEL
WOODDUELTIPSY
IRAEPEWLEG
GENESISBOOMERS
PUNSOWAXES
ADMENBLOBSTAT
GRANDPOOBAHEMS
HARDESTLYNN
AWLCHEERLEADER
SEEKARMANITRO
TRYSWOOPAFORE
Wed 10/28/2009
PITCHYCICADAS
INROADOLDKNICK
SKILLSGOESINTO
ASCOTERDAGOR
KNEWTESTAMENT
DOCETE
BREWLEWDTRESS
LADYOFTHEKNIGHT
USUALCAFETOYS
TANENO
KNOTFORPROFIT
IOSWOESFLIES
COMELATECALLME
KNITPICKTIEDUP
SECANTSARREST
Thu 10/29/2009
AGASSCOWSHAVE
PACTNOTREOMIT
ESTOARROWSMITH
SOUPSPOONTETRA
LAGOONGRATEON
AIROFFENSIVE
UNIAFROBEAGLE
REEDSRAMOOD
ASSISTALTAIVE
EEROSAARINEN
CASTLEDSLINGS
ELISEDATESBACK
AEROSOLCANOWEN
SUEDNOTITRANI
ETNASTIRSNYET
Fri 10/30/2009
FRANCFINGOTTA
TORAHINAOTHER
ONEMOMENTINTIME
RDACALINERPS
DOODOODOODOODOO
FILCENVIG
THESAHARADESERT
OOXTEPLERNON
DUPLEXAPARTMENT
EEKCANHER
STRAITISTHEGATE
OATSATHALTOI
SWIMSUITEDITION
ANSAEEDMNOONE
DYERSSSSERNES

There are twelve 15-letter answers in this grid, an NYT record. The 44 three-letter answer words is also a record for a 15x grid.

Joe Krozel used this same grid pattern in 2013.

Sat 10/31/2009
FACTSDISARMS
ICARUSGANTRIES
SCRAPEENDICOTT
HEAVENISOLATES
INPORTSERENER
ETALIAHUSSARS
RECTOSASE
DEARTHEDWOOD
HOESAPRES
EMPIRESSTERNA
LARGESTAERIAL
MARINATEERESTU
AIRMOTORNOTOUT
SNEERERSSATIRE
TERRENEKALES
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