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Puzzles for December, 2012
with Jim Horne comments

View these same grids with comments from:
Constructor (1)Jim Horne (5)Hide comments
Sat 12/1/2012
PIPEDREAMARBOL
ANASTASIAPIANO
CURSEWORDPONES
TITANELULGST
STAYWADISPAPA
YINBEFALLS
AMARETTIRECOAT
SOMETHINGFIERCE
INAPIEGOESDEEP
FORESAWNET
TTYLSIZESPAST
ORLMEDEDEWAR
SELMAOBAMACARE
AMITYWRITLARGE
YESNOSAMMENDES
Sun 12/2/2012 LO AND BEHOLD!
POOFFANCLUBSACCUBE
CAPOALIBABAENCLOSES
THELOXFACTORATRANDOM
SUCKLERVANLOINJOKE
HIDEBITEONDE
ASHENCLASSIFIEDLOAD
SHARLSATAFORELKE
FAVORITESOLONDWARF
AMEAVONYEWMARIFOO
RUNSFORSLALOMDANCING
STRATAHEAVED
SLOWINGVOTERSMIDSIZE
WENNOESINCSANAMAV
ORANGGLOAMINGTABLE
ROILAPPTAFTSPUER
DIRECTORSCLOUTAPEST
ALIERINDCANE
BLOBGUNSOEDOBTAINS
CALIENTEFLOATTUESDAY
UNDERCUTTOPHATSEARN
PIERHPSSWEARATDSCS
Mon 12/3/2012
ZESTJPEGFUGUE
OLEOEUROASONE
ONERSTAYCEDAR
MINNESOTAFATS
INIYENADOPTS
NOTBESPAREEWE
ROCERRBLOW
CALIFORNIAROLLS
ALITPECHOT
REFMIXEDCHUCK
AXEMANARKNOI
VIRGINIASLIMS
QUESTSANDUTES
UNSHYANTIMETE
IOTASYOYOPROD
Tue 12/4/2012
PERMPSSTRAWLS
IMAMHONEEVICT
MINIDONUTQANDA
PROVINGGROUND
SSNAESRITUAL
UNIADZEPIA
PLANEGEOMETRY
SHEADHLTOSS
PEANUTGALLERY
ARCGRESILE
MAHALOUNEHMM
PRINCESSGRACE
BOISEHEREYOUGO
OREOSERDEANEW
WASNTROADRTES
Wed 12/5/2012
CLADUNCUTSFPD
YULEPIANOCRUE
SALTSPRINGROLL
TUDORSATRAZES
AXISMETIME
STYFEDERALNBC
PASSFAILGLOBAL
OPUSPACNATO
RECESSPUNGENCY
TSKCULPRITAHS
ENAMELBOON
SORERNEESNAFU
TWINENGINETIER
ELIESTICKAILS
PSISCHILEPITA
Thu 12/6/2012
TACHBASESPONE
OSHAUNCUTAVOW
PNOMSTORENAPE
AEROHEWANTLER
TRENDEDOMOO
ORALTRIUMPED
OBGYNCODESIBO
WAREWATERPLAN
NIAEAGERBUOYS
SOPOCLESPILS
HOLDHANSOLO
PSCALEWISAPID
ITARNAIVETIVO
SODADEFEREZER
HWYSACIDSSENS
Fri 12/7/2012
JMBARRIEPSYCHO
IBELIEVEOCELOT
BALLPEENTHWART
IMPLYBLUYAO
HOKIESFRIST
ONENDWEAKSAUCE
TETECHICKENPOX
DOHPRANKEDFOP
ONAPLATTERJOKE
GETSUPSETRARIN
ASSADDANGED
AHHSHYHADER
COOLIOSAMADAMS
MAYIGOTHEROBOT
EXTENTPASSESON
Sat 12/8/2012
GSHARPCASTIRON
ECOCARALPACINO
ORTEGATIELINES
RAHENHANCEGPA
GMENKALESNEIL
OJAYSNOSVERNE
HEDGEHOGFEW
MTSINAIFALSEST
ADJSEQUENCE
ICONSVELMUTER
MOLTKEVINMINA
BCDANNEXESCAW
ICEQUEENELMIRA
BYSTREETDARNIT
EXTRADRYSPIGOT
Sun 12/9/2012 LAST NAME FIRST
TABBYATSEAPIBBMCS
OLIVEFEIGNSEPIACHI
WELDTUESDAYCOOKROBIN
IRKRATEDLONDONJACK
TOOKCARERIPSAILS
WILDERGENEELAYNE
ODORISLESROBS
FRENCHVICTORSATEISM
OASLEONORABASSLANCE
GTEERINIDTAGAVID
HOLDSDARNITEMBAAED
OREOROGERHAVESNL
RICHBUDDYTELEXEDICE
NOTORESPHOENIXRIVER
TOGASHAUNODES
STOKERMONTANAJOE
OARSPANEEGOMANIA
SLICKGRACEMATEOANG
CUBANMARKNEWTONJUICE
ATEEAVESATOLLASLAN
RESENIDPALEDWASNT
Mon 12/10/2012
FDASALELAPSE
LASCSIPASSION
ATSTAKEARTICLE
TEEUPASSTSKIM
MEETWITHJUDY
JABSHADAMOP
AILSAKESOY
WRYTWELFTHDES
GASIRESINK
BIBSNEELADY
CFOSSHEEPDOG
OATALOSSOBOTE
NUTTREEPHOENIX
GLOATEDIANAMI
ATMOSTNYELET
Tue 12/11/2012
DADCUPIDCOMET
ARAOPARTANISE
SINNORMSPESTS
HACIENDAIRISH
ENEMYPRANCER
RAROCHAIRUTE
NEWAGEMABEL
SAINTNICHOLAS
CERTSGLEAMS
UARLOESSADOS
BLITZENECONO
IVIEDPILSENER
LOANSMEMOSNIT
INLETTRADEEDO
ESSAYVIXENRAF

We last saw this theme nine years ago. It's interesting to compare the clues.

Wed 12/12/2012
EQUISTEAMSLOT
SULKHOBBITAVA
PETEROTOOLEWAX
OURHEELEAR
SEALYDAVIDLEAN
ASSUMEASSANTE
VESSELSSCAR
SLOSCAREUPEND
HIFIHUNTERS
ALATEENDOUBLE
WORLDWARIZELIG
ALIENNAOTB
JOBBESTPICTURE
ANILETOUTUSER
MEAERUPTSTEST
Thu 12/13/2012
SOSADEGALSLIM
WRITESOMEPILE
ANNALPINGTABLE
TEGRINNOSECRET
VIVOTINEARS
CLOSECUTTAJ
AVIRANUPMADAM
FOCILARAMMITE
EVENSSIGEPNRA
EKGNONLEGAL
ARTROOMLUND
SHUTAWAYORBITZ
KINGLIVESALTHO
ONEADINOLOCAL
FEDSESSOSCHWA

This original grid has four "rebus" squares containing IO. Each crosses a short and a long answer. The short answers fit the clues with either I or O. (I arbitrarily chose to use I in the answers below but you can see that either satisfies the clue.) The long answers use both I and O in that order. So, 14 Across can be either WRITE or WROTE, and 3 Down is SING-SONG VOICE.

DING DONG DITCH at 34 Down is a game where you ring someone's doorbell and run away. It's a favorite each year at the ACPT.

Fri 12/14/2012
SISTHEBIGSHORT
TNTBEATLEMANIA
ADASAMUELALITO
NORWRESPRINTS
DOSHOTSKATT
ARTERYUNCLESAM
SPREESMOKYTLC
IOUSTOPPSPRIM
DOCGANEFLEICA
ELKHOUNDSEEPIN
ATTYDHARMAS
DEMISESEISAKI
EVALONGORIALEO
FACEREALITYLYN
THEREDROVERSSS
Sat 12/15/2012
HALFANDHALFCCS
INAUGURATORALI
NINJATURTLEPAN
DODIMENLOPARK
INSWCSONICE
CEEALPAIMS
SHOELACEZZTOP
CHANDLERARIZONA
HISSYRIPAPART
INDOHODUPS
TILDEFLYCCL
TOBEEXACTELIE
HISCAVEDRAWING
OSOANIDIFRANCO
RMNFEDEXKINKOS
Sun 12/16/2012 HEARING DOUBLE
ASPICCAMEAAWOLACR
SOREATOLANDLAVATOO
WOODYOUMINEDBLESSERS
ENSOLMOSNEEDTHEDOE
AYEOFKNUTEPROTDINT
TIARAANOLOTRKARAT
NODOSEMAIDOFMETTLE
MADMENALEEINI
ASKERSHASITASLANT
COHOSCESTGOODKNIGHT
KAAARIAALAEROD
KNOTFORPROPHETTIETO
SLOOPSAMOURDIMWIT
IWOGRIPSPATES
HALVETHERITEBROOCH
AMEEROXENLOOFOEHN
IPSOINREBYRDOFPRAY
LESISMOOREUNDERELM
IDOLATRYAISLEOFWHITE
NUNSHEASNEERFORGET
GPSHEELEDDYSWENDS
Mon 12/17/2012
DAMEDIEMACTUP
ALEXURDUBOISE
KITTYHAWKURGES
ANERANILENEST
RESULTNUMBER
DEAFKEILLOR
JADEGAPRELIVE
ALACATSCANLED
MONGOLILLTYRO
BEDROOMIDLE
EISNERSIXTHS
CELSGLEESTOOL
ALITOOCTOPUSSY
VIOLADUNKREEL
SANERYEASEASY
Tue 12/18/2012
AMANATSARAXES
LETONACNELEAH
FAIRGROUNDINTO
ATTILADOWNTIME
ESPYOUAES
ONTOTANOTT
ROOMMATEDMITRI
BLINIHENETAIL
SOLIDSDOUGHBOY
ARTYESESTA
AHSIONLUC
DATEBOOKAROUSE
LIARDOUBLEPLAY
IFSOINRESEEME
BAHSNETSTREES
Wed 12/19/2012
PANDACELEBTBS
INERTAKELAALI
KNOWLEDGEISROM
HALROSETTE
KNOWINGATOMATO
TIECUTIRON
ISAFRUITGEL
STREAMSJUNIORS
LEAWISDOMIS
ESAISINNET
NOTPUTTINGITIN
JANEROEATE
OROAFRUITSALAD
ITOLIESTOSAKA
NONSTOATKEBAB
Thu 12/20/2012
SCARYCIAARSON
AUCOURANTGAMUT
XBOXLUNCHENOTE
ESPYITOSICKOS
MNIGHTSHIFT
LIMAEATON
SINEXTEASGOP
ATRAINOFTHOUGHT
WEEOPTSDRUMS
ATARIINNS
SCLASSCLOWN
PATTIEASHSONS
ANITACHRISTMAS
RAMENSTIMULANT
SLEDSTICBONUS
Fri 12/21/2012
SCIESTOPSTAFT
GOCOMMANDOODRA
THEBOOKOFMORMON
SOPSKENERRING
SACREEATSINTO
ATLEASTLIED
DIANESALMAMRS
INCESKYPESAIL
AGEACTERNANCE
SROSOERSTED
THEWORKSVCHIP
RESALEILEICAL
APPLEPIEALAMODE
STYEANGRYBIRDS
HOSSDOESNTEYE
Sat 12/22/2012
STEERINGCLEAROF
CARBONFOOTPRINT
ISTANDCORRECTED
KEYSTDSESTD
ELA
ASTHESAYINGGOES
BAREXAMRIHANNA
ICERUNTOREAT
DREADEDREUNITE
EASTERNAIRLINES
ADP
FACETOOMSRP
DISASTERSUPPORT
EXERCISETRAINER
NEARESTRELATIVE
Sun 12/23/2012 BYWORDS
MENDERSCUMAHMEGLAM
ICEAXETHRUDAMNNANA
DOWNEDRENTMONEYANDS
ANYCIGARSTANDATWORK
SOOTDOINAESRISES
RHOANCSHILOANEW
BAKESLEANTOSUSCG
ORNATEDROOLLEADTO
STEREOPENNERMORTARS
NEWTONEEEEEDITSYAO
SYSCANTFDICNSW
MIOCAUSEHAGSAGEOLD
BARCODEDIALUPSETFEE
ANKARASISALUNWORN
NAMEFORERANROUST
ACDCBRIMSDYEERR
ABOILBANEIAMKLEE
MOSDEFKERRISTRUGIRS
IDEAINESSENCESLAVES
CELTRBISSCAMSENECA
ISLEMANETABSYEASTY

Side-by-side circled words combine with "by" to form new phrases like KNEW by HEART.

Mon 12/24/2012
LASSESBOATSTE
EMPIREEAVEAID
STALECOFFEELPS
MAITAITOTE
JABSSTEELWOOL
IDODDTBYLINES
GATEAUAREAS
STYLEPOINTS
HOUSENOSTRA
PATENTSFGSRUG
STOLEHOMEVIBE
AMPSELOPED
LOGSTOOLPIGEON
MSUTHAWELANDS
STNYUKSNESTEA
Tue 12/25/2012
GREGIREDPALED
TAXINEMOOLIVE
OVENSCANPUREE
SECRETAGENTMAN
ULANDIAN
SLAMONTHEBRAKES
HERMITOASTILO
IVEYSNLSTIR
PENSANEFREEZE
SEASONEDVETERAN
ARTEODES
LETTERSTOSANTA
SODOISEERWARY
ARGUEARIAEDIE
MEETSTANSDAMS
Wed 12/26/2012
ANIMCLAIRCASH
GENXASIDEARLO
ROTIJAMSCAMRON
ANECDOTEGLOVE
RAILSCPRYES
TWINGEMAREONT
BIOMSAIRIER
SERAMMMMMHIGH
LEANONMYRNA
ALLODDSHOMRUN
IOUSESPEPSI
LUCCISELECTED
MDIANINCOMHACK
NETSCOUNTETON
TREKEMMYSMENY

It's interesting to compare this with Mr. Schoenholz's previous rebus.

Thu 12/27/2012
POPSATEITKISS
SNOWVOLVOIRAQ
HALFNELSONSEAU
AHLENDERAMARE
WOODCUTAMELIE
PIECEOFWRITING
LOQRAIDZEE
ASHEPOXNENE
SPABROZPSY
PARTIALECLIPSE
IMDONEHANDAXE
RACKSBOOYAFAA
ALOESEMIFINALS
TORNCISCOORLY
ETESINKERHIYA
Fri 12/28/2012
JUSTSAYINASSET
ENCHILADAKOALA
JERUSALEMCLUCK
UVAIDESACHE
NEWWAVEDEGREES
ENLACEARMEPAT
NOTGOINGAPE
SPIELFOPXENON
CANDYBARPET
HRHTADAGRATIS
NAIVETEFASTONE
ANDIHATEOCT
POISEWHATASHOT
PINTOAERODROME
SAGANYESMASTER
Sat 12/29/2012
TRITTSCRAMABA
VIREOCHINANOR
PTOLEMAICSYSTEM
GENERALBEERS
REPULSER
GOSNEEVWS
VANESSAWILLIAMS
ELECTEDOFFICIAL
NARRATIVEPOETRY
ATEENAGERINLOVE
LIECHTENSTEINER
ADIOISSEL
EPEERESTSON
HORSEMANUREEUR
ALESUCCESSCSA
YDSSHOD

This grid is notable for several reasons. Most remarkably, it's the first to stack five 15-letter answer words. That's an amazing accomplishment few believed possible. The grid is asymmetric. Notice the additional 15 in the top half but none in the bottom half. (I've long held that strict adherence to symmetry limits interesting grid and theme possibilities. Would a quintuple-stack be possible if symmetry were required? Do you care?) And finally, this is the first puzzle dropping HORSE MANURE into the grid.

Sun 12/30/2012 PLUS TEN
UPTIMEDROPGPSBOUT
NORMALMULLALLYLOFTY
CLASSIFIEDADIOSELFIN
OIDCOLTSTODDROOTLE
ICEWATERSEREWEIGHER
LEDERWINEANDIODINE
LAOCPRORYACNE
ABCSDIORAMAQUEENHOW
NAOHDCVLOLASOVATE
EROAMAINROTOATERS
WILDCARDIOPACKRATIOS
TIRANETNTROARSOHO
WOOEDITTOOIPAATOP
INCSTUDIOMUFFINSSTS
ZEUSISEATOTSK
STUMPORATORIOTURFS
MITOSISAVONCATAPULT
AVOWEDAMOSTASERAAA
NOMARCURIORENTEVENTS
GREGSPRODUCESNEEDLE
EYRELADPASOASSAYS
Mon 12/31/2012
HAIRBEVELSGPS
ALOEOLIVIAROM
GINGERSNAPSAPE
IANENOSVAL
GETSSETOVERT
ASHTOASTPOINTS
GPACHIANTI
ANTSATALLAMPS
TEETIMEAAA
CHEESECURLSGIG
ROASTSAUCERS
EAREDIEURL
ERSFINGERFOODS
PSIACTONEDUNK
YETNELSONSTAY
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