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Puzzles for December, 2010
with Jim Horne comments

View these same grids with comments from:
Constructor (2)Jeff Chen (1)Jim Horne (7)Hide comments
Wed 12/1/2010
WOODYBEAMATCH
ASIRECALLSTOLA
RADIODAYSROMAS
MISSTEPCST
ALICEIONBASE
RAMONMANHATTAN
AMAHKANAWW
BANANASSLEEPER
BATANOLALA
ANNIEHALLAVION
AOUTIDIZELIG
ANCPERGOLA
MOLTOINTERIORS
ANEARFEBRILITY
POINTTDSALLEN
Thu 12/2/2010
FAREASTSITUATE
AVIATORONESPOT
DEGRADEBENEATH
ERALOSESUTES
ALISTSTP
SEWSDOPEABC
PRONOUNNUMERAL
ENTENTEEMPATHY
WEAROUTRETREAD
SSNURSAPLIE
ERNSNAGS
SLAWSAYSOBAH
LIBERALATLARGE
AVERAGESIGNIFY
GETSMADARISTAS

Nine pairs of side-by-side seven-letter answers share common clues.

Fri 12/3/2010
ATWOSHEATBAR
LEADCHILLHOMO
TELEPHONICELMS
APELOADHARLEY
RESTARTHERMIT
SEAICELUMMOXES
MESSILYPURL
FREEDTECGYPSY
LAVAPINESOL
UTENSILSQUAHOG
INDENTCUREALL
BOOTEDGOADNEA
ANDIOPENSEASON
LADDWENCHGOLD
ELSENASHAMES
Sat 12/4/2010
LJUBLJANAPABLO
AUNATURELTROOP
BRIMSTONEALICE
SETSEMERYELAN
ASATASSELS
SWIRLSTINTDIE
PAMELAINKSPOTS
ALMABUDGEAVIA
CLARISSAESTEEM
EATSCALDTERSE
SWEARATAOL
HARMMOANSOMAN
ILIADDRZHIVAGO
PLAZAALIENATED
SALEMYOGACLASS
Sun 12/5/2010 ON A ROLL
QUAFFSOMAHASAPPIER
ANGOLAASEVERINAHOLE
TERRORCUTONBOLDLINES
AVEPARTENSRVSLIME
REEKJESTSONEOFZEN
INDOEBONSAPORIDENT
INVENTHURTEXISTS
NAMAOLBONAIDES
OPENSSHADETHECIRCLES
DONOTOMARVETOLLA
OLDSSEPOYBOOTSLAPD
FLEEOROCASKNOMAD
FOLDALONGDASHESERASE
IVESLINKAGOSON
PEEVESCORDOOLONG
RULERPHOTOONTOASPS
ERESCRAMSHREDGELT
SAVEAIRJAIURNSWAR
USETAPEONEDGESENLACE
MINUTESOHOHOHSIEGES
EASIESTBUSTSSPEEDS

Here's the PDF. There is an especially elegant aspect of this puzzle that shouldn't be missed. When every O inside the die shape is colored in, the spots on each side are properly oriented, but notice that the sides themselves are correctly aligned as well. So, for example, each pair of opposite sides adds up to seven, as they should.

Mon 12/6/2010
CAJUNLIPPAST
ORATEAMAACMES
LIKEDSHIPSHAPE
EDENPEERATREA
SHARPSHOOTER
ARTIESRAM
SHELLSHOCKFOBS
CELPARTIIINEA
HALTSHORTSHEET
MOOELAYNE
SHEEPSHEARER
YAMTHORNSDAZE
SHOESHINESHREW
TARSISIRSACRE
SEENTEAETHOS
Tue 12/7/2010
IRAQMAPLERINK
NANUIWILLOMAN
CHIEFTEXANAPSE
MEETMISDEAL
STAGEGIANTBILL
EATLAUDOIL
RBISBIOSLOCOS
FOOTBALLMATCHUP
SONARTIERKATE
GYMZACHMIA
JETPACKERUPPER
ARRANGEPLEA
ROARRAMCHARGER
EDITACRIDINFO
DENYWHIGSLEGO
Wed 12/8/2010
JADEOSHAWASNT
APOPRATSALTAR
YPSILANTIREATA
CALYPSOMUSIC
ACTILOVOTIVE
GOAWRYSLAVSER
AMMOCOOLIO
APOCALYPSENOW
FAMOUSENID
ATVLUTZKPDUTY
SHAWLSLAISHE
SECRETAGENTS
USAIRGYPSYMOTH
CENTIAREAOWIE
HATEDROWSGENX
Thu 12/9/2010
PLODSCAMSPSAT
ELHIHOVELOCTO
RAYEEMILETROY
CNOTEBLOWOPEN
HOUSEBOATLIE
OLAVTALENTS
BAWDNEWNASDAQ
OSHADRAMASOSU
MCIMASCOTSOSA
BITTENOROPROD
SIERRASALII
TILHOLYCROSS
FREEBIRDHIMOM
YEASANGUSTARO
AMSOSTATEONEK
ZAHNSONYAFIRE
Fri 12/10/2010
NARCSSALESTAGS
AMOLEPOOLTABLE
PECANALLSEWNUP
INKSTERSETA
EROSIVEINSGAR
RANAMOKNETAMA
ENEMORITAT
JOHNNYONENOTE
BORATESTASERED
LEERHTS
ITSABEMIRED
POTSASARULE
PRESCHOOLRENES
ERIECANALKNICK
DEADSPOTSSECTS
Sat 12/11/2010
CTSBEBENOTHIN
DELIRIUMOCEANO
CLEMENZATHANKS
LUCREZIABORGIA
ESTOSELLEGENL
SAHLFREEGARDE
PLEDABRAXAS
OLDLIEJOBIBO
MIRAMAXTMAX
TAMEDTACOHERE
OMANZEITDRAIN
SOUTHERNACCENT
SUNHATMERCATOR
ENDORAASTATINE
STYLESNTSBTEX
Sun 12/12/2010 THE WISH
ALTASTUBMASHERMCCL
SHAMTUTUASPERAALAE
HARPSPEEDTHINSISTERS
ESPANADOZENSSITARS
NASSAUOHIOLINEN
GLOBALHARMINGSTS
ASPSIVAESCORTADHOC
SPAMSUMERACHESEERO
SARILAXDDAYABLEST
TRACHEAAMOIDECREPIT
HASTEMANAGEMENT
DESERTEDLANABROILER
EMILIEGILTRCANOTE
BALLREINASPOREGOAL
RIVESINGRAMAGALPLY
ALEHINGEDVICTORY
RHINEELOITRIAGE
ETHANSTHERESHITMEN
READYTOHEARMAGICHAND
GEREELOISEOBOEALOE
ONESPARREDSCARDEAD
Mon 12/13/2010
JETSRISENMAP
ATOPRETINAILL
NETEARNINGSNBA
ESSENSLEET
SCUDSWASTEAREA
CASSIOHORN
ADOGRADERASAP
DEFINITEARTICLE
STANOSIRISULT
ISLEDEBBIE
WYATTEARPTRANS
HESSEERASE
ELKPLANETEARTH
ALEPOMELOSURE
TOWEXPELTEAR
Tue 12/14/2010
MORALPEWCHESS
ELOPEODELEGAL
SELESWILLINGLY
HOLDTHEFLOOR
AURISTYEA
HITTHECEILING
MINEDETOXRET
OTHERSNIKONS
PEAPOSSEALTO
CLIMBTHEWALLS
HECBEARER
EXERCISEROOM
SUNSTROKENORMA
ONAIRILSATEAT
DONNADETSHONE
Wed 12/15/2010
KITHFLEXATBAY
ABRALAVESHUTE
NOIRODINSERTA
JOCKFULLONUTS
IKEONESAMATOL
TLCWIEORA
JEERLEADERSPIT
ALLEYQUESCENT
MITEJUMPCHANGE
USOMIAHAM
PENPALGLADSTP
JESTPROTECTOR
BRONCOORTALPO
ETHNOPUCEPEAL
TENETSTAROOZE
Thu 12/16/2010
ARIAORVALINKY
MAWRNAIVENONE
THATREMAINSSEEN
NYETETOILES
OPTBORNWILD
NRAATEELUELLA
BELWASTTRUES
AMONOTTOBECSI
SINGEALKYKIA
EXERTSEARSYON
ITHADYOUANS
PAMELASNEIL
YOUVEGOTKIDDING
RUNEGRITSOVER
OTISYEASTLEER
Fri 12/17/2010
LAGCAPPCLOSER
ALEHOUSERIPPLE
TINACTINEASELS
TATTOOCBERCSI
ESSENBIRDSIBS
UVULAMAMET
MOTORSCOOTERS
PAROLEHEARING
WALKIETALKIES
ETAILTRESS
BRYNKEPTSIMBA
CIARISERECALL
ALLOUTNEATENUP
MEANIEEGGTEETH
SYMONSROSEDOA
Sat 12/18/2010
ECHOSOUNDERPBJ
SHARONSTONEORU
MANBITESDOGLIN
EKGLIMBLIBIDO
ASSUMEMANATEE
IREMEGAHITS
MADGERAHALCOQ
ELANNATTYSABU
APTTIBIAGELEE
THETEXANDOC
CAMELOTBETTOR
AMYTANYEAHLEM
SAMVENUSDEMILO
ELOIRAROLLOVER
SEMVANITYPLATE
Sun 12/19/2010 HOPE FOR CLEAR SKIES
ONTAPEDAHLADZETHINLY
BOUTONAVIASIAMAENEID
STRIPEMANYMSAGOCROWNS
AFTERDDEIONDHORSE
HOWYOMTURNREDASIDAW
ONADEAPOSGTMUGCDAGE
VERAONERSVICESLYES
GAPPEABRAINSCEY
BENCELESTIALBODIESALB
INUTEROTOORDERONASSIS
DARESAYMEAWAIKIKI
ERSTATTHEESCOREICED
AMERELIRAPLOYJESSE
AMATEURASTRONOMER
TAJBRYANMOEGSUITSAG
ALOMARKENNEDYSWANNS
LITERATITIAMOMAHARANI
LASAGNESTOTEMXRAYSPEX
TOTALLUNARECLIPSE
AGASREOAVGNAME
CASTINGGOESDERASHADOW
OPHELIAINBUILTTEELINE
PEEWEESCOWPOKEONESTAR

The graphic here is courtesy of Patrick Merrell who created it for his Wordplay post. Click it for a slightly larger view.

Mon 12/20/2010
LEAPMCCOOREST
OSLOARAILOTTO
CATSCRADLETHAI
HUSTLINGQUILL
MONKEYSUNCLE
MRHANEYATAD
BEENEADAAFAR
AMADOGSAGEACE
SOLOZAPZAIRE
SEMIUMPIRED
ELEPHANTSEAR
PEARSREASSIGN
SORELIONSSHARE
ONLYARIELOGOD
MESSPASTYWOWS
Tue 12/21/2010
REACTOPTEDTIN
ALLAHLLANOHBO
PLANEBOARDSISM
TENKERNASSES
MINDBLOGGING
SECANTODETS
PLANKEREITBA
CHRISTMASCLAROS
AIRYENSAMUSE
YEARNICIEST
BLOTTEDWATER
LANCEITARILE
ORBADAMSLANDER
OVASNAPETILES
MAGEASYAEXERT

An L in five common phrases gets shifted three places to the left.

Wed 12/22/2010
FAVORPALMOTIS
READEASIAOHNO
OILEDCHERLEFT
GOODTIMESNAFU
SURANAABELARD
FINNLARAMIE
SMALLSCERFIAT
CADYONEALTE
ACABTENSPRYER
LAYDOWNSURF
ARSENIOPLOFRO
TWEENYOURHEAD
SHORKHANAERIE
PURELUNGTEAMO
ARKSEDGYALLIN
Thu 12/23/2010
ITSHOMERZEBRA
SETOFAGEOBOES
THEGHFROMENOUGH
HELLOSILENT
MELISSATORYISM
IDASEGGSQED
TORAHKAUAI
THEOFROMWOMEN
SEENOTRISH
ARRFIEFENDS
PRELUDEDETROIT
WATERYOSTEO
THETIFROMNATION
BAGELEDGESCUE
SNORETAROTETD
Fri 12/24/2010
HMMARCHGASCAP
EAURARAESPANA
NUSCHURCHHYMNS
RIOTDIRPAT
MICHAELCAINE
MTSINAIGETAT
EATCELTOUCH
NAUGHTYORNICE
INSOOSLOIRE
ADAGEEASEDIN
CHRISTMASEVE
AVAOAKLONI
SILENTNIGHTTEN
SCENEITREEARE
TICTACSEEDLAW

The Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune ran an article about these constructors and this puzzle.

Sat 12/25/2010
CBSNEWSDECIMAL
RATATATEMANATE
ONADARELILLIAN
CATALINAISLAND
NONSOY
DAZINGDOINJAM
IVORYARNOPURE
MONICAMOUNTAINS
LIESDEMSINCAS
YDSRUSESNEEZY
AOLDOT
ANITARACETRACK
ANIMATETREACLE
DONATESENDPLAY
DNATESTTOSSUPS
Sun 12/26/2010 HEY, MISTER!
EXCELAMPSSHOPATSEA
VERVESOOTWAKEGEARS
INEEDMYSPACEMANLANAI
TOENAILBADLYCASTS
ENDTUBATEEBUREAUS
BATMANSINTHEBELFRY
CUMINRICOALISEED
OPENDOORMANPOLICY
MSNFLEETEPEEEPACT
ITSSAFEDAISMARIAH
CARTMANBEFORETHEHORSE
ATEOUTOCATUSSWASP
LEAPSSLURPAULOCOO
TAKEARAINMANCHECK
PROSCURBLOBHUSKY
JACKMANOFALLTRADES
SGTYORKEDOEASYCUT
DOBIEIDIOMKARAOKE
NOBLEGOODMANASNEWMAN
ALEUTATRAYOGIBLAST
ELREYBAASOMENASSES
Mon 12/27/2010
BATMANRPMSEE
AROUSEAEROTAX
BENCHWARMERATA
SASHSCALALIL
CASHPAYMENT
STOPUPTSE
MILLERLITERARE
UNDIDEREUMIAK
TEENRIVERSEDGE
TOETENSES
NASHRAMBLER
IZECREEPWOKE
PUTHERESJOHNNY
PROINITEDITOR
YENDDTDEMOTE
Tue 12/28/2010
SHELFSGTSNARE
LEVELPOETONES
ARENAOWEASIDE
MARATHONMINI
TANSSCRAMS
SCAREDETEVIE
MARINESUBSMILE
ENCLSARANCAEN
AAHEDFINEEXTRA
RPIISEHALEST
SEESAWFORT
PRECIOUSSEMI
ATARIARMOILED
MOVIEISPUTILE
STAGSNTHTESTS
Wed 12/29/2010
PODRENAMEBLAM
ACEEMINORLAVE
BENPINACOLADAS
LASVEGASDAHLIA
ONEEARSTEPELS
SLAPASTA
APATTIKIOMBRE
JALAPENOPEPPERS
ANGLOASEAHASP
STATISTO
BAPISAOTHREAT
AMIGOSMARIACHI
MANANASENOROYL
BIOLDOGOODNED
ANNASPASMSOSE

American crosswords traditionally ignore diacritical marks, even with foreign words, but this puzzle carefully handles both N and Ñ so the words are correct both Across and Down. In 2012, David J. Kahn did something similar with És.

Thu 12/30/2010
ASHSLOPIANO
CHARTERMEMBER
OUSEATCOCALEB
PLANTMANAGER
STEVIEORNO
WINETASTER
JAPESAVOWARNO
OPERATINGROOM
KIASOTAYAMPLE
EARTHANGEL
FISCOOLONG
FORTHERECORD
NONETEMMAKWAI
NOTRESPASSING
ELVERTNTNTS

This PDF file shows how the puzzle appeared in print where the theme is more elegantly displayed. Clue numbering in the print and electronic versions differ.

Seven long Across answers are made up of shorter words. 12 Across, "One in on the founding of a company", is CHAR+TERM+EMBER. Similarly, PLAN+TMAN+AGER, WIN+ETAS+TER, OPERA+TIN+GROOM, EAR+THAN+GEL, FORT+HERE+CORD, and NOTRE+SPAS+SING.

Fri 12/31/2010
JALOPYTHEWIRE
JEANIETEENIDOL
ARISENIMSOGLAD
BOLSTOMPSIDE
RNAABETSNIS
AAAISLAWIDGET
MULANAFLAME
STICKITTOTHEMAN
TEPEESITALO
SSTARSREAPPOW
TAUASTIRQUA
ORRSAITCHUEY
PTBARNUMHAVETO
BROMANCEERESTU
YESISEESEXTET
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