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Puzzles for November, 2009
with Jim Horne comments

View these same grids with comments from:
Constructor (1)Jim Horne (5)Hide comments
Sun 11/1/2009 COMPOUND FRACTURES
CAPSBATTABHORCDS
APOCRYPHAPIANOTWEET
RETROSPECTACLESVILLE
BATESKATFLEWAKITE
ELEPHANTOMSPORADICAL
AILSYANCORTESPAS
RELCRAGWADIDOTE
PSYCHEDELICACYNODICE
AAHALAEATMISOS
CONTRABANDONLIPBALMS
UTAHSEDGEEFILETAME
OHFATHERROULETTERMAN
METRORAJAMOICI
ORATORGUITARISTOCRAT
ILAYSVENNOELEGO
RECLECTERSTLAFEW
PERHAPSODYFOREVERIES
HIROSHIMAZOLAASAN
OSAKACENTIPEDESTRIAN
TETESARDENMAKEHASTE
ORANSYNCNYESTHAW
Mon 11/2/2009
FEMASNAPHASTA
AXESPOLEACTOR
RISKEDITSQUAT
THEEASTERBUNNY
DIKERI
STPGOBFLOTSAM
TOOTHFAIRYTINE
INLETHOOSALON
CYANSANTACLAUS
KARACHIHBOSTA
CHIDUE
BELIEVEITORNOT
EYEONSPAMTOUR
ARGUETOMEEZRA
MESSYEDENRENT
Tue 11/3/2009
MARIOBARGEKPS
AMENDETHELWAC
CACTICOATSATA
YOUCAMPAIGNIN
PFCMUMSNEEZED
DELAZEROGLANA
QUELLADRYATL
POETRYYOU
DATSLOESACKS
INRESWEEPRHEA
STENCILXESEGG
GOVERNINPROSE
UNIIONIANURSE
SINERECTILIAD
TAODESKSCUOMO
Wed 11/4/2009
AMORIMACCSPAN
RARENASHZORRO
CLAMTRIOCEREAL
HATERCAOCT
EYEDOENOPHOBIC
RADIIASAPFONZ
MACAUKEGORA
CHOLERRAPIER
LAVSIRDYLAN
ERISZINEANGST
OMENCOMICSAMIR
EENNETCAGE
FEDERALTAOETNA
AMAZEOHSOACED
TUBESUSEDSHES

The theme answers here are standard phrases that contain an X, but that X is changed into an O (a tic-tac-toe reference maybe?) and then each resulting phrase is clued as if it's a real thing.

So, instead of BOXING MATCH, it's a BOOING MATCH, and so on.

Thu 11/5/2009
CRICAJOLEDMEG
LANAGESAGOADA
ENTROSESARERED
ADORERSSNAKING
RONIAESGENIE
CLASPSSASSECT
UPTHEOSTIA
THEINVISIBLEMAN
HOLSTANIMA
TALLLYSINANER
OPIUMSGTTERR
MONKEESSIBERIA
CLEANSHOUSEACT
ALASTEPINSLAE
TORADAPTTOEND
Fri 11/6/2009
MOUNTFUJIOPED
IGNORAMUSPREXY
ALPHAMALEAGAPE
SECJOSIERACED
PAUSESANER
PAGANSTRAPPIZ
ECRUATTHETIME
REELTOREELTAPES
STEVEJOBSLENT
EINLODICRUSTY
COALSNILES
DANKETOLETFDA
ICIERICLAUDIUS
VIOLSCHEVROLET
EDNASERENGETI
Sat 11/7/2009
MAASSPANGMALI
ONMELARUEETON
DIONALICEFAST
ITSASTEALNINER
FROTHYDEMARCHE
YAZOOUNIONSHOP
REGLEOCTOPI
SETSUMWRYRED
CLICHELEEDS
ODALISQUERAFTS
ROMANTICPELLET
CRATEGIVEWAYTO
HARTSOFIABRRR
EDIEKNELLLOAM
ROARAGREEEDDY

This is generally considered to be the most difficult puzzle of 2009.

Sun 11/8/2009 COLONIZATION
ALERADAGEZAPSSUPRA
BENECAMELELANUSHER
ANTHEMLINEBASETENANT
FORESEEECRUSEATSTE
TREATSSRTAEARNFEAR
EEROBEARDINGCARLY
PLANTAINDEALER
CASSETTEOOPDISLPS
ARIEDEILENAINUTILE
LORCASNOODPANTRYBAR
INFOREINAECARETE
GIANTBILLAWRAPSALTS
NERDIERSAPSDIGNEET
SSESAMHIPRELISTED
MADAMIMADAMANT
GRAINAPERITIFRASP
RONAANDSESTACONTRA
AMOOPIEELOILONGRUN
PEDANTXINGWEBPAGEANT
ERASEOREONSYNCLIES
SOLESNABSSTASHANDY
Mon 11/9/2009
AGENTCASTOGLE
TONEROTTOLIES
HASTYCOUGHDROP
ELIAOLATILT
NIGHTFALLMETAL
SENIORSESLARE
TRITAUALDA
KITCHENSINK
EMITAAAPVT
PENCNNWEASELS
ANGLOSKINNYDIP
TSARSANDINA
THINKTANKAMBER
OOZEEDGEMILNE
OLESTOADPRESS
Tue 11/10/2009
SICEMSAGSAWIN
INADVANCEAGONY
TAKEPLACETOMES
OWENOPTSURE
NEDTHESOPRANOS
BOAZENSPH
ALIENMOONELIA
MONEYLAUNDERING
EGOSEDIEVIBES
BARIRTHEN
ANDILOVEHERRDA
ELLYQASSUER
LURIDRUNSCARED
AFTERRIDESHARE
WOODYSPYALLEN
Wed 11/11/2009
ADDONUTAHROMA
PRIMOSOSAADAM
BEERBREWERMIRE
SIMILARADDRESS
EVILLAO
FRATIDIDINDEED
RADIOGANGBLO
ONETWOTHREEFOUR
STPLUSTRANDI
TOTHETEETHDYES
ORBRHEA
TALLYUPRAMPAGE
EMILROTOROOTER
SOTOSLABNORMS
SKEWTOPSGRIST
Thu 11/12/2009
DJIMBRADYDHEAD
REDEFINESBERTH
ISOLATIVEAXELS
NUITTORIC
GIDERANRKELLY
TODAYTASTIER
RECTOTRES
ADISFOREVER
CURLOPENS
OMNIBUSCOUPS
SPELLSMDLTECH
ASSAIOTRO
ASPICTURBOPROP
WHELKARTERIOLE
NEILDBASEBALLD
Fri 11/13/2009
RIPENLCDSHALF
IRONYAOUTOLEO
GASGUZZLERLIAR
ASTAYELLOWBIRD
EGADASNER
CAREBEARGLOBE
ENGSCUDSCOOLS
EDITIONOSHKOSH
SIRENTASTESIE
ELATENARRATED
SHREDESNE
COPPERMINEGREG
OHIOACROPHOBIA
AMMONEONALONG
LEANTENSWAXES
Sat 11/14/2009
ANTESYEARSPAN
ZEBRAONMEORNO
TAINTUTESFATS
ELLAPEXMAIZE
CELLULARGARR
ENOSLETIGO
INCOMESTATEMENT
MOONOVERPARADOR
ARRIVEDERCIROMA
MANDARINORANGES
SHEBATMOLE
DELSMESSROOM
SABLEWINSFRO
KIEVMAMAIQUIT
IDEEACEDMUSEE
DEFSJOSEPEELS

This is the first NYT puzzle to stack four 15-letter answers.

Sun 11/15/2009 MAN OF MANY WORDS
ANJOUSDEBSHAVA
GOEASTBESOTMEDIATED
ONEFORMYBABYCOALYARD
REPSAORTICTANGERINE
ATEFIDOSACIDSILER
ROTTENATSEATID
ISLSLIBSATMONEBC
ONCDETCETCOSLERROW
BOREASFAHDARIZONA
ORESTENOAUTEURSACK
IDEASMOONRIVERLADLE
SEPTWILLYASKATEWAN
TREFOILEDITBEHAVE
STRFLYATELANDSEYED
OSMICMUDEREIJAMS
ADOOROUTORMOLU
ACCTSUNINACEITSIN
GREATGUNSCANOLAAIRE
HEADWESTJOHNNYMERCER
ASSOONASALOISINLAND
STERGAYESTOLES
Mon 11/16/2009
LAMBSORGANLTD
USAIRLEASEIRA
COCKANDBULLFUR
KNEEOPALSLEEK
YESDEARBOAS
SHOCKANDAWE
JABBALIBIVES
ELLAPREXYDEEP
ETASAAATARDY
ROCKANDROLL
KENTFICTION
YALTAISLEAFRO
ALILOCKANDLOAD
LESORBITNOLTE
EXTGIMMEANDES
Tue 11/17/2009
ADENPETDUBS
OCULIELIENLAI
DURANPODBLING
ORATORSENTENTE
RANIGITMOAGAR
OJSWAVES
BOONEWIREPHOTO
USATWINKLENEW
CUFFLINKSERODE
RIGELASO
ESSOALERTSKUA
SPUMONIIMEANNO
SUGARSONKNOCK
ARAGETAGENCLS
TREOSRODEKE
Wed 11/18/2009
SHARPHUNANMFA
HIREROSOLEAIT
HAMMERTHROWANT
LAYLOWETALIA
PEGLLAMAROTI
CANIFROSTNIXON
SHACKDEICE
CHEESECLOTH
ARNELSTOPS
RABBITEARSAURA
OMOOPSALMSEX
SPYDOMNOOSES
TETJACKSTOOPEN
EROOSTEOELENA
REYSCRAMDITTY
Thu 11/19/2009
LINEDSIGMAAMI
USONETRIESMOO
COSTAGAVRASBON
KLEENEXDRYWINE
IAGREEQUARRELS
ETASWHUPIONIC
REYCHAIWANTTO
FRITZLANG
JUAREZNEGSWAD
APNEAUOMOVANE
STARMAPSNEESON
MOLESTSREACHIN
IPOOLIVERSTONE
NAGDAZEDYOUTH
ERSASEEDARTSY
Fri 11/20/2009
JAZZERCISECHAS
ONEOVERPARREUP
GABLEROOFSERGO
ANEWEKESOUT
WALESAIQTEST
EPISODEGNUSTY
IRAQSTOREUP
SMUTSROSECT
EASESONTRAP
OTOREQMOBRULE
ZIPLOCTRIXIE
ANTESUPCUED
ROSARESERVISTS
KRISEATONESHAT
SENTDRESSSHOES
Sat 11/21/2009
RAMPUPSALES
SAVETHEPLANET
JAPANESELANTERN
UNITERRISKEDIT
IDEASBATSNABE
CARRMESSEDGES
ELSBAASRAREST
CENTERICE
STILESSOPHWAD
MINERSSTSSADE
ANTALEMSSELMA
REARTIRETIEPIN
MAKEAMENTALNOTE
RESTINTERVALS
STATESENATE
Sun 11/22/2009 CAREER DAY SPEAKER SCHEDULE
BAMBISMOKEIRESTLGA
ILIADESSEXNECCOORS
TICKETAGENTSMOOTHOUT
LAUDSOCIALWORKER
ETTAROLORITTSILO
DRIVINGINSTRUCTORESS
SEDANSMEESEHERES
EVAARABLEAGITATE
LILIESBRANCHMANAGER
BARDOTRHEANACRES
IRANFILECLERKKENT
SYSTEMFISHMISUSE
UNIONOFFICIALLATSHE
PENNAMEKENOBIWAY
ERMASASIDEELAINE
GATMARKETINGDIRECTOR
EVANEGOSESTSTHIS
RECORDKEEPERLAFF
BROWBEATSNOVELWRITER
ISMINLETONENDAVIAN
LEASTERSRATSOYEARS
Mon 11/23/2009
RAJDIGINABBEY
ONOIRATEQUOTE
POIPOLEVAULTER
EDNANAMETAG
RETYPESOSIRIS
HELDMANNEST
THESELAICGATE
WANBEATLESDOW
ELALLIESTRIOS
RAVITRYNEON
PSYCHODAMAGED
EARPLUGDREW
AGENTORANGEORE
WORSEOWNEDOIL
LORESSNORTMEL

Ben Pall was 14 years old when this puzzle was published, making him the youngest constructor of an NYT crossword in the Shortz Era.

Tue 11/24/2009
GUMTREESLYPICA
ENCHANTTEEIDOL
ADDEDINATTHEEND
ROLFGAVEIPANA
IBMALASKA
ALANBALLWHENALL
REHABEITHERSEA
EVELISSAIDAKIN
NIACOSELLVNECK
ANDDONEKEEPAWAY
UNSEATDSL
LAIRDBOREYODA
OFTHEDAYONASSIS
AREAIRSSIMILES
DORMGASACESOUT
Wed 11/25/2009
JCREWCATTDISH
AZUREAMAHUNTO
RADIALTIREADAM
SRISUNHOTLINE
SEMITEREADY
AMAHLPREFIX
LAROSAELEPHANT
GNAWCRESSALOE
ASBESTOSSOUTER
RASTASPSALM
HAYDNAPPLET
EVERESTLONBRA
NANAPIRATEFLAG
CITICOOSRHONE
ELANANKHSACKS
Thu 11/26/2009
ZEROFOGGYRACE
ATOBINANEEDAM
PACOGALASFORA
KERMITTHEFROG
ASSOERIDEALS
SHOGUNLIVID
FELIXTHECATJED
IBISAVEPACE
TADELSIETHECOW
EXITSHECKLE
IMARETFERKEY
PARADEBALLOON
ACESRAREERIPE
NYSEADEAFAFAR
ASTRLEASTLETS
Fri 11/27/2009
SLUMBERARISTOS
CONSOLEDENTONS
AWINGANDAPRAYER
MMVSLOELIPPI
PAARIMAYLINE
INCONTROLBEATS
BAANOGONET
ALEGTOSTANDON
APEGILTNEE
GETBYDRAGRACES
TREEPEARDADE
TRALATASSMEN
TURKEYLEFTOVERS
ORIENTEAIRHOLE
REPROVETRESSES

This is a rare Friday puzzle with a theme. It came out Thanksgiving evening.

Sat 11/28/2009
ERRSSLOBPLANO
TACHTOURRESET
CZARESSOETAGE
HOVEVETOLINER
RIKKITIKKITAVI
ABCNEONLAMP
HATPINGETATTS
SCOTTIETEESHOT
OKRACPUWISELY
RAKINGINMLX
PERMISSIONSLIP
AVOIROTBSOKLA
GAUGEDILLBAAL
EDGAREVIEADZE
TEENSSENTROAR
Sun 11/29/2009 CUED UP
DOCSSPOOLZINEVISE
OPAHPLANATONALINCA
SQUEALOFAPPROVALSMOG
SPRITIDEAMANSHAWL
ONEHITTERTIEDGENTLE
ROWESEXWILDEBEQUEST
GUARDDEBITEMU
SNYDERCODOMANEVIAN
SNIPBEAVISFLANGE
SKIPSIPSBENICENCAA
LOCIQUEASYRIDERQUIP
IRAQUSAGESGERMURNS
DANUBELETSGOTATI
ENTERBETHALITASMAN
EAUINFRACHICA
QUALMSGIVINGOUTISMS
UNDIESMEREINDIANTEA
ASHENAPROPOSIMAGO
FEELQUAINTMISBEHAVIN
FAROBELLYATOLLCEDE
STEWSLAYRILEYTROD
Mon 11/30/2009
WESTEQUALASU
AVERNURSEDPEP
RIGALIGHTSPEED
PLAYMATESTERNA
FOCISCAT
ASQUIETASAMOUSE
PAULGALAS
EXOALDENTEZIT
CROONNONO
BLUEFOOTEDBOOBY
OOPSBAIT
UNMASKRODCAREW
GEORGESANDBETE
HRSTRENDYIATE
SSTRATSOTRAP
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