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Puzzles for April, 2011
with Jim Horne comments

View these same grids with comments from:
Constructor (1)Jim Horne (7)Hide comments
Fri 4/1/2011
GOGOARMRESCUE
ARONIIIAVERSE
ZINCRFDCANALS
EGGOBEDNRA
MIALOWCLASS
BORINGECODRAY
ARENASOATNINA
REIGNAFTKUDOS
HINTOTTSCONES
ODERDOHNUBILE
PARALYZEAHH
FASRECTRAP
GRAFTSORSROTE
NODICEANAOMIT
PEACHYDIGNAPS

Down answers in the right side of the grid are NORTHBOUND LANES, meaning they have to be read bottom-to-top. There have been some great April Fool's Day puzzles over the years.

Here are some of my other favorites: 1997, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2010.

Sat 4/2/2011
FOURPMADAMSRIB
UNSURERAKEHELL
NAMEITEVITABLE
GLASERYENRUSE
OERDIDOBIKED
BAITCOURSEFEES
ASNEROKAPI
THECARDIFFGIANT
ZELDAELBOW
EASTOFEDENLOCO
NITERILESVHS
CREEZINSTREEP
AMENDINGTEEPEE
SALEITEMONBASE
ENERGIZEROARED

This Saturday puzzle has a bit of a theme with two related long answers crossing at the center. You can read about the Cardiff Giant here and learn who really coined the famous sucker birth frequency stat.

Sun 4/3/2011 TRIPLE BONDS
OTOOLEANTHEMICESEW
REPLANLAMESABONJOVI
GREENTEAPARTYENDEMIC
ANAGRAMCRABCAKEWALK
LETONTEAM
UTICARIPESTFAST
LOWCUTCLASSHAIRTIES
NAILFILEAIRCANADADRY
ASSSIRENYOYOSPAAR
ETHANNONPANCALLS
DIRTYBLONDEJOKE
LADLELAPORAARYAN
TILEPRIORCRAZYAWE
HEADCOLDCASESZECHWAN
OFCOURSEHONEYPOTPIE
KNITSAGESTPSSTS
COLAHOAGY
CATFOODFIGHTANORAKS
AVIATORBLUESTATEBIRD
MESTIZOIAGREETAIPAN
SCHSEMSWORDSODESSA

Puzzle solutions are intended to be unique (except in a few odd cases where they are intentionally ambiguous.) Unlike, say, sudoku, it's hard to prove that crossword solutions are singular.

The puzzle here seems to be a case of an unintentionally non-unique grid. Dictionaries support two correct answers for 90A and 77D, as shown below.

Mon 4/4/2011
DEBSDANESACCT
AARPVERVESOUR
BRAINDRAINANTI
LIKESOTEAFIN
RYDERBACKPACK
TOEOKRAARABLE
ENDSIONSONSET
HANDSTAND
ASHESSHUNAILS
SWEEPSENYAROE
HAIRCARECLONE
AHSACEOUTING
MIMEHEARTSMART
ELANESTEEAGUA
DINGTEEMSSEND
Tue 4/5/2011
NIMBUSCLOUDS
HAZIESTRANKING
ADORNEROVERRAN
JADEDAPSEAARP
SERIESPICK
DDSRENEFEN
ARABFERTILIZER
WARRIORRETABLE
NBAALLSTARNAME
IEDRICAROD
SUNSTONERS
ACTICATSALEVE
CREEPUPTIRADES
HIRSUTEORANGES
PITTERPATTER
Wed 4/6/2011
AGEDPDASIMAC
SOLEMAORIFURL
THUNDERGODALMA
RODENTMAESERS
AMEBAWARBRIDES
LEDLAIOBESE
SAILORSETS
DOUBLEHEADERS
MERCSOAKIN
ANDRELAMWIS
STEELDRUMPLANT
CURSUESBLONDE
ARODDEADLETTER
REUPELIOTTONE
ASTISSRSONTO

The theme is DOUBLE HEADERS. Four theme answers consist of two words that can be made into new words by appending HEAD to each. So, "Thor, for one" is THUNDER GOD which becomes THUNDERHEAD and GODHEAD. Similarly with WARHEAD and BRIDESHEAD, STEELHEAD and DRUMHEAD, DEADHEAD and LETTERHEAD.

Thu 4/7/2011
BASASPTORTONI
ANTONIOARSENIC
SEAPORTRETASTE
IRFINESTHOUR
CAFEDYESSHAW
SPAREODILE
RESASMALLHOTEL
MEDICSASWIRL
YMIGHTBEGIANTS
RUTHSAGONY
ASSTCHOOFLAG
LMAANDLOUISE
SIDEARMBONBONS
OLESTRAATTUNES
DORSEYSRIOSRO
Fri 4/8/2011
NEBSTSK
ALAPCOLDALE
TERRTHEUNKEN
UVEASMILEEEN
RABIDCCSAVE
ATONESFEETBED
LONELIESTDALY
DREDTNTVICE
SIBSFACEMASKS
OSUWATERGLASS
VATASHRILED
ISTSTOWEALAR
ETOHEMANNOTE
TENNERDCWTS
SRSESOS

In this cold-war themed puzzle, the black squares spell out 1961, the year the Berlin Wall was constructed.

Sat 4/9/2011
BBCAMERICAWORK
ORATORICALOMEN
NOMANSLANDLEVI
ITEERIEFLIT
THUMPSEDNABEST
OSPREYSSALTII
SUNHATHITON
SCARCAPEKTENG
HALOSQUARTZ
ARABICLIKEMAD
MONITORSSTROVE
PLANDOTEJOS
OILSITALIANICE
ONDONONSTARTER
SEANGREATSCOTT
Sun 4/10/2011 ALL-PRO
MASHESBACKSTABAPERS
CREOLEARISTIDEREBEL
FORGOCOLDTURKEYCROCI
LORGNETTEATESAILON
YMADOONESFORBIDDING
ELEEREEKELIO
ABIDECASTALLATSEA
FORGIVEUSTHISDAYENC
OBOEIMPSNARYBUTTE
GONDOLAELUDEPATDRY
FORAGEAPPROPRIATE
ALEUTSCHOSEELLESSE
MINTSBLOCIONARIPS
PVCPLAYHARDTOFORGET
SEEDCOATTOOTMONDO
ERINCFOSPSST
GRINANDFORBEARITELF
LEVITTLAENEARFATAL
AMAZECARRIESAFORTUNE
DINERASSERTEDPEEDEE
STANSTHESSALYSTEEDS
Mon 4/11/2011
PATMAIMKHAN
ASHINCASLIME
THEJOKERMAGMA
HOMOLEXLUTHOR
STEPPEETC
SLOLAGHELM
SPOILSLAPXII
HANNIBALLECTER
EGGOTTOPARSE
DESKESTUMA
IMASPELLS
VOLDEMORTRAIL
IPADSMORIARTY
PERESSPINGEE
SCARKEPTERR
Tue 4/12/2011
MAJRCRUMBGOBS
AMAERESTUOVUM
ROMSALPARADISE
KIEVDISLIONEL
SAILSMIDWEST
MYBLUEHEAVEN
AVOIDXKESSSE
LENDPLIESLUTZ
LSDILESDEBAR
MOUNTNIRVANA
PATENTSONSET
ANEMIAMITLOFT
BARBARAEDENMAE
SIRECARERSIQS
TSARHAVANACST
Wed 4/13/2011
COHOSRAVEIMOF
OPARTAXISAIRE
REDGRANITECMON
ORAARDORBOING
TANGIERMOROCCO
RIOTSETC
DODOSLAPHAPPY
ALEINTEGRAERE
DEARSANTADAIS
REVARESO
TEARINGUSAPART
DANTEASTONLAH
JERIYOUINGRATE
EBONEMILUNDER
DONGNITEPASSE
Thu 4/14/2011
IPODSDVDSAPISH
SADATRAINTALIA
MYEYEILLEARIEL
TRAVELERSLOGO
ITSONMEATONES
SHADEPROVIDER
LAMARRADOHER
ARMYREELINTELE
MPSARCSBANTU
GENEKELLYPROP
UNSOLDLEADINS
HITFORRIHANNA
USURPEBONONEAL
RANEEAEROSCALE
ANTEDMTNSEERIE

The missing clues are all UMBRELLA. Spell that word by connecting the dots letter by letter to see the shape.

Fri 4/15/2011
PDJAMESSILICON
IRONOREUNAWARE
EASTERNPROMISES
TIESSIGNSCOT
ANYPRATEAHA
BOATODEDOS
AFTERDINNERMINT
CREATIONSCIENCE
HERMIONEGRANGER
EERCSAEELS
AGOLANESRAP
AJARPILEBONE
POLICESERGEANTS
SUBPARTAPRICOT
ERASMUSLAGOONS
Sat 4/16/2011
ALASPUPAEBMWS
CASHASSETSMOOT
THATSIMPOSSIBLE
ARMETSPOETIVE
ATAAETNALED
PTLDVRENDER
MOTJAIMECELIA
AREYOULISTENING
OKRASANTISBEE
POKERTEXSRS
DIFPONCEFAA
REFHOERBAIRNS
WHATSTHEVERDICT
HACKERASERHEAD
OTTORUMORISAS
Sun 4/17/2011 END OF THE LINE
TSAGULAGWADESPSALM
AOLERATOERODEALLEE
ISTILLDOBUTIUSEDTOTOO
COINSNUBSRESERVOIR
HOMERSSEULLUCIA
INAPEDESTRIANSPOCKET
TEAMOTIORESTUP
FADSKIPITNAANURI
ESAUTHROUGHNOTDYING
NIMBLEINSNOVAE
APOORJUDGEOFANATOMY
ALIENIREDEWIER
NOITAKETHATBACKSLAP
OWNROUXSTREAMOHM
DETACHSITONTOP
SOTHATSHOWITCOMESOUT
TAROTMIDISTERNA
SUPERDOMENEEDSUTIL
ISINAGLASSJARONMYDESK
DANDDELSIEEZINEGOT
ERASEDOESTDEPOTANO
Mon 4/18/2011
SIAMSTABDOJOS
IDLYTELLIDEAS
LIESARGOPITTS
LOVETRIANGLE
STELADUOESA
FIFTEENMILES
STLROCASCII
THIRTYSOMETHING
ARTOOLANDEN
FORTYTHIEVES
FEEMAYLEAST
GAMESETMATCH
CREAKNICETARA
IHOPEAVONERIN
GONERSALTDIME
Tue 4/19/2011
BEADYBOOBBABA
IDLESARCAEDEL
BUBBLEBATHEINE
SCATBALCREEP
BARBARABUSH
CARBONROMA
URBANMBASRHEE
BEINGBOBBYBROWN
EASTORBSRELAY
HANASELENA
BASEBALLBAT
ABABAIRABARB
NONOBABYBOOMER
DIAMOPECOZONE
BLABBOLEPOKED
Wed 4/20/2011
OBAMAEFTSGASP
ARDENLAWNARLO
SADGENERALROAR
IVEWOVENADMIT
SODLARGEDEANS
SCOTBON
GOOEYOTROSILO
MIXEDGREENSALAD
CLOGISMSALLIE
AMAISLE
DEARANGELSWET
IMPLYRUINSAVE
NORADALESANGER
ETONOPENNEONS
SENDCERTDENSE
Thu 4/21/2011
FREAKCYSTEBBS
RINSOHOPESULU
EACHONEWORDCLUE
YALELAWTRIAGED
AGUAAMPERE
INTHISPUZZLE
BEARDCOZYNES
MAKEMATEOROCK
STELEHISAVOY
ISAHOMOPHONE
ARARATNATO
LETITBETRINARY
OFITSACTUALCLUE
HELILTYREATIN
ARTSLORERAINS
Fri 4/22/2011
HALLOFFAMEHESA
IKIDYOUNOTANTS
TINSELTOWNSLOB
MMEZIONALPINE
ABABONYXASSES
NORAHSMOOTTAT
TAESUPEREGO
MOSHINGTIRADES
INTERNEEEAN
STAGENUSLUCAS
THYMEETASPANT
RECALLETTAVEE
EWANINREALTIME
SALEPAPERTRAIL
SYMSOPENSOURCE
Sat 4/23/2011
UPHEREDUSTMOP
PROXIMACENTAURI
DONTMOVEAMUSCLE
OBESEOLDETHOR
SOSTWISTEONS
STARESAT
SCALPSCOGSLOE
KIBBITZPISTONS
ASEAYOSBRAVES
OUTBOXES
DYESAMPASCUE
EENYNLERMARIN
ITSNEVERTOOLATE
STOCKINGSTUFFER
MORSELSTEATRO
Sun 4/24/2011 USE IT OR LOSE IT
DEBUGOARSMISHAMDSE
ALIMACGRAWANNASTIKI
BIGAPPLECIRCUITSFEES
ADOERECSHARPAMUSE
TETESLOSEONESMOJITO
GAZEBOSROTIRES
POLITEDANCERSAHLARI
ARESBURHAEPEERESS
RASSRASORATELYE
SCHOLARPULPITFICTION
ELATEDNADEARAMBO
CENTEROFGRAVYLAUGHIN
OPELEICALAKEETC
ORBITALARCIFIOREO
DEOIDIGLEARNERSPERM
IDTAGEEKAULAIT
CLASHOFTHETANSGSTAR
ANITASALAMISSNISO
ABITSMOKEYANDTHEBAND
DESITORICSTREETCRED
ALTSSEESTSOYSSCARY
Mon 4/25/2011
GOOSEATODEBIT
IRKPUTONILOSE
BARBEROFSEVILLE
BLASEPUPAETEN
IDOETRE
BOXOFFICESTAR
FLUSTUDNEATEN
AUTORAWLOCO
ARTUROHERAMUD
BARACKOBAMASR
SMEEPAC
PERMAGNASCHWA
BLOWINGOFFSTEAM
JAMINESTEERCA
SLANGREADDBOS
Tue 4/26/2011
HOPEBIASJOINT
AXELONCEUDDER
WEREUGLIDOOZY
KNUCKLEUNDER
TEDEELREC
WHOSNEXTNAMELY
OAKTREADSWATER
BREDNNEJAVA
BREADBASKETREN
LOFTERYESANDNO
EWEEAUSTA
SPELLWEAVING
JESUSCAHNAREA
OVINEERICJILT
EASYARAZEOSLO

Mr. Quigley announced he was going to become a father via 17 Across.

Wed 4/27/2011
ZEROREMITATOP
IVANAWAKEBAIL
NICEPENNAUGLY
CLEARPRIORITY
LIEFWIWOPS
USHCREENODULE
SAYOKLSATIRAE
EXPLICITCONTENT
NOELUSDAISIAH
ENRAPTENCLTRE
TYSUIESOLE
PATENTLEATHER
QUADPRIERHUME
EKCOIONICITAL
DEESELYSECUJO
Thu 4/28/2011
PURIMAPPSGUFF
AMEBALOREOSLO
WALESTOONNAIR
ROYALWEDDING
WEBINARGEORGE
EURAILTBALL
PRINCEWILLIAM
TENOBEAGO
KATEMIDDLETON
BAMBAAUNTIE
OREIDAHARDENS
KINGANDQUEEN
ALTAAUERDOWEL
PERITAILITALY
IDYLELISNERDS
Fri 4/29/2011
SNOOKISAMADAMS
KENKENTRADEGAP
IHEARTCINERAMA
PRAYFORRAINRAT
SUMUNION
FELINECHAP
CALIFEXAMROOMS
AGEOLDTETRIS
SHOWERCAPFEAST
SANAXANADU
VALIDPGA
UTATHEPOSITION
SUBPRIMECARLOT
EBBTIDESOTIOSE
DEAAGENTSEXTED
Sat 4/30/2011
JAMBDOJOBLOG
USEEENOSQUILL
BILLBELTBUCKLE
IDOUBTITRAKEIN
LEDGEEVADES
AFRAIDSOEER
NRANAIVEROOD
TOMSDRILLOVIS
MAPSSTIESEMP
ROBZANEGREY
DANUBETOWNS
ALICESNOTSOHOT
HAVEITMADEDEVO
LIEUTENDSILER
SNAPNASTEMLY
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