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Puzzles for June, 2010
with Jim Horne comments

View these same grids with comments from:
Jim Horne (6)Hide comments
Tue 6/1/2010
TABOOOLSENIDS
USURPNANCYNIT
MISCHIEVOUSDOE
SAYESAIAIDE
PLACETOSLEEP
APPOINTIDEA
GRETACLEANSER
HOEROFFERLILO
ABNORMALBANKS
AHATPLEDGES
PERSONSBUILD
OMITLENATVA
POSFUTUREBLOOM
UTEOVERTOVATE
PENXACTORIDES
Wed 6/2/2010
KOBEISLETHAJI
ORESSTALEERIC
OBITBRIERACME
LIGHTNINGROD
STEERKEYMASAI
RABEPECTIN
HOGCAPTAINHOOK
OSOSLAILAERLE
WHATSMYLINEKID
DELRAYMOTE
YASIRAGONARCS
VIRGINIAREEL
ZUNIDIGITTHAI
IRONALLEEHASP
PINGSEISMABES
Thu 6/3/2010
ALASHAJIMASHA
GOBANANASILLAT
ROLLINGBLACKOUT
ONETENSCRAWLY
CAVETON
ONTHEHALFSHELL
BOOBSCAROMEOS
ITNOSATANYOGA
TIALENINLUXOR
FLOORTOCEILING
RAGNELL
PETITESPASTAS
LAUGHINGJACKASS
ERNIEIMISSEDIT
ANENDPAGOEATS
Fri 6/4/2010
MATSSWAYZEMIA
ALITTLELEARNING
COMPAREDAGAINST
TEAMDOHSPITS
MOOTEDCESAR
INFRUFFLESTUN
MODSMORANSUMO
ONEGPLANTOREL
SEPTSINGAXENO
ASABOOZEUPCTS
PREENREMAPS
ALTARCBSKAMA
PAUSEFORAMOMENT
STRETCHERBEARER
EEESCOTIASALE
Sat 6/5/2010
JACKPOTBABYSIT
ULANOVAONLEASH
NEMESISHOTSPUR
EPEESTEEDSPRU
AHAINMESHEW
USTAONZESPICA
BINGOHURRAY
STABLESSAPIENS
EUREKASWEET
TREYSEPICSCAD
ANASANUNOLE
DEMFRINGEORLE
ADAGIOSSLANTED
TOPICALBESIEGE
ENSNAREYAHTZEE
Sun 6/6/2010 TYPECASTING
ACROSSICIERASYEBSA
CHARGEMANGAANAXOWS
CAPITALPUNISHMENTLIP
UPSSLURSSPACEKCDVI
RATENOTHSORELOSER
SLANTEDVIEWSSEATTLE
EARTHACHEETASITA
RICCIBRUCENOTSO
DOGSHADOWBOXINGNEET
AROMALIRASDRYGMAT
YETIUTTERCDROMIERE
UGHSMEAPALAUINNER
SOITSCRIPTWRITERTDS
ENCLSHOMIENERVY
FELTDEERESMIASMA
DEITIESROMANCANDLES
RECOMMENDSITHAILS
ARTEPEANUTNEEDSMAI
WIISTRUCKOUTSWINGING
ELOVEEREGRETPILEIN
RYNURDUSANDSSTORES

Some clues in the print version are written using non-standard font styles. Across Lite and other electronic versions replace those clues with descriptive text which makes the puzzle solvable but not as fun. This PDF shows how the puzzle appears in the magazine.

I have made the clues here conform to the print style whenever it was possible to do so in HTML. For example, some of the clues are in bold, italics, or strike-through text. The drop-shadow and gothic font clues can't reliably be reproduced in a way that works across browsers.

One of the goals of XPF is to provide a standardized way to specify font variations in crossword clues, although even the current version of XPF could not handle all the gimmicks in this puzzle.

Mon 6/7/2010
RILESWOODSJUT
ARIELATBATUNE
COOKINGTIMESTA
INNPIEIOTAS
EMIRBROKENHOME
RAZORSPITSUET
NEMODENNYTDS
POKERGAME
LAPTUNASCURE
OARSRITSARONG
SMOKEDMEATOUZO
TIMIDSOLGYN
ALIITSOKWITHME
RNSCRUDERULER
TEETYPEDABYSS
Tue 6/8/2010
OMANPLUSBREWS
DOLEADZERACER
INGAJOIEOSHEA
STARMAPMETHODS
THEMAMASSHE
IRAOUTEREAR
SEWSSTONERELI
TWISTANDSHOUT
OERHIREONACME
PREVENTSOAS
AIRTHEPAPAS
FAIRSEXONEBELL
ABOILBASTALIA
RENEEOPERLENT
MESSYXRAYLEES
Wed 6/9/2010
EPEESMACSTOFU
MICROOSLOIRIS
BLOODMONEYNONO
LENSAREAMOTES
EDOCHERRYCRUSH
MUMBAIEVENSO
SPYONIPSADEW
REDSTARTS
HICIMAXHAZEL
UNABLESELENA
RUBYTUESDAYPTS
STANDGLENTHRO
TERABRICKLAYER
OREMMETAACRED
NOTEITSYBOSSA
Thu 6/10/2010
AFEWKIWIBLANK
BLAHIDOSBASIE
LASESLOPAGING
EXTREMELYCLOSE
BENESELO
REACTCALNSEC
PARMASHIEDUVA
UNLIMITEDBUDGET
LEIPLACEMEANS
PENHIRKOPART
ASKODORS
INSPECTIONSPOT
CNOTEZULUIOWA
OFTENABELROIL
POINTREDSSNEE
Fri 6/11/2010
UNDERARMSHIEST
POOLAREAHURRAH
HOLDDEAROMEARA
ISLESDIMESSAN
LEERGONGSCASK
LSDSLUESOHBOY
ACUTESAILTO
JACQUESCOUSTEAU
UNRULYONEIS
STEALNLERSRMS
TIASFOOTSGAUL
AGTLODGEMETRE
TOILERINNOTIME
ANOINTSTIRITUP
DENUDETHEATERS
Sat 6/12/2010
BEEFEATERSFIRE
EXXONMOBILASHY
THEACADEMYLIFE
SAMMALONEALTAR
ELPSILSNITCH
YETHEIRPOLITY
SERIALMOM
MMEARTMONKERE
ROXYMUSIC
INTOITTKOSPGA
STRUTSCPAIRS
CRAKESALEMSLOT
AEONRANINPLACE
NANOASKMELATER
SLEWTHEBREWERS
Sun 6/13/2010 FLAG DAY
METALSERENOWLALAW
RBIMANROMANIAMOBILE
SBEANCOBAINAGAMAS
SELESGYMSCENT
MESTIZOSHEPACQU
INCITESCALAMITOUS
STALESTATARUNTIESTO
SARIRELANDPSHAW
MINISTSSCOWLELI
ELECTRUMDOHHEWABLE
EEOCITALYISAT
MALTASENHLARSLONGA
AVEERASESANBOUT
LOEBSREBUILTKIT
INKINDFRANCESISTINE
GOONSTRIKEENCODES
PYCSDSOSNARLSAT
EASTKAPPDENTI
OHMAGEDIGEARBOOKS
NOEXITFERENGIAERIAL
SONIADORSETPRESTO

In this ingenious puzzle, we need to read the names of the colors for the Down answers as in a normal rebus, but the Across answers work differently. Consecutive color bars combine to form flags of six different countries. Substitute the associated country names for the blocks of colors, and it all makes sense. See Wordplay for the full story including an interview with the constructor.

In my year-end wrap up Notable Puzzles of 2010 on Wordplay, I named this crossword my Puzzle of the Year.

Mon 6/14/2010
BAMAALPSATLAS
ALEXHAILPEACE
HIGHWAYTOHEAVEN
ATSEASATEMAST
AIMELS
ROADTOPERDITION
HAMMIRAMENSA
OTARUNABBRAIN
METEROTISNEC
BRIDGETONOWHERE
DEMTWO
GATEIDESINUSE
ROUNDTRIPTICKET
INNERONUSHEWN
NEEDYPERKOSSA
Tue 6/15/2010
FADSHOWERPAGE
ONEPAROLEEARN
ONAGAINOFFAGAIN
LENOREDELATE
LEDSLOE
ISOFFONATANGENT
CANSOALESSLOW
IRSREVERSEEVE
NEERFAVEFINER
GETONTHEOFFRAMP
PASOASA
ASTERFIRQTIP
SWITCHPOSITIONS
KILOARLENEMCS
STEWNODEALEAT
Wed 6/16/2010
MARCACARDOVES
CLEOSHOEUPONE
DIDNOHARMMTIDA
VEIGHTTBIRDCOT
INGEARNOUSE
RRATEDBMOVIE
MILEYEDSWOON
ACADSNIFFSTUD
ROMEOTRESESS
VNECKTSHIRTS
BASICREADME
NORIPHONEEMAIL
CHANGEXITPOLLS
ONIONMENEALLI
SONGSANODNYSE
Thu 6/17/2010
BELLSRAFTSPOO
ISAAKILOVEAND
BAWDYBORATSHE
BUNDLEOFJUBOAT
ASSTAPIANO
ENJABLEALMONDJ
MACSHYPE
BEETHOVENSNINTH
ENESSOHO
JRIDINGOVERJED
SONOMASPAS
TONALJLUCKCLUB
INEIGNISIRONY
CEECREMEMANET
KYDHERESOBESE

Cleveland.com has a story about Corey Rubin and this puzzle.

Fri 6/18/2010
ZEPPELINBAOBAB
AQUAFINAONSALE
FUELTANKROSCOE
TINSNEEZESHEF
INTSARDORREVS
GEENAEATFILET
ONEASHONORE
QUICKDRAWMCGRAW
UNCOLAJAMAL
IRENECALLEGER
NOSEROYKOTORA
ELKHEXBOLTAMI
LLAMASIVEGOTIT
LETOUTRETICENT
ADEPTSDRAFTEES
Sat 6/19/2010
CRAPSTABLEWOVE
HOLYPERSONANIN
EVILINTENTISAT
RECONSIDERSAVE
IRENEERUSTLER
TREKSELENE
POPESSUSTAINED
ODONJELLSNOTI
PORTFOLIOREWON
URCHINKTWO
PEERSATEUROPE
MALATHENATURAL
ETALHOLESINONE
NEILASSEENONTV
URNSNEEDLENOSE
Sun 6/20/2010 PUBLISHING TRADE
PASSEMPAALEONBATHE
ASCARCANADADRYICHAT
JOHNNYGOTHISGNUKEENE
ANISVOLSASEAMIND
MISEOVOCLODMOUNTAIN
AAMILNEBOSSEXGIVSO
UNREALANYTBILL
HALFPENNYFASTCORNEA
AMOREDELANOTOPIC
GARETHERATOFWARBIER
ENDSRYABLTIRKACRE
NAOHAPREFECTSPYBOIL
FABLERESHODOLETA
ATTILAPRESSOBEREDUP
NEHRUDISTAMALE
TEEELANREMYSILENTC
INFINITEJETSBSCMAIL
IDOLSEATVICIENNA
IDLESAFAREWELLTORAMS
REESEHONESTABELINES
VESTSIREDOLOFALANA
Mon 6/21/2010
SCRAPALBEECAT
ALAMOBOOMSHUE
SIMPLEASABCIRE
HOPLACERAGLAN
DUCKRAPIDLY
ZENITHRECESS
ALONEVEXEDPEA
NIPSSELESFLAX
EARACRESSLAVE
OPPOSESTAYED
ROBERTASOUP
ELLIOTSELFROW
ADEPIECEOFCAKE
DEMOSCAREAGLE
SROSHOTSDREAD
Tue 6/22/2010
LIPLASSIEZEDS
AKAELAINEOTOE
MEWTOWNCOUNCIL
BANDITOSMEHTA
TENOFSFPD
SHIPOFFOOLSPCS
MACONRBIPHAT
ARKSGHOSTAIRE
SKEELOUOILER
HSTBUSTERBROWN
JUTEMOVES
ASHESSIDEDOOR
STORYTELLERPDA
KERRSTAINSHIP
SWAYPEYOTEYET
Wed 6/23/2010
RAREASHESSILO
EXESSTENOINON
LITTLEONESEDGE
OLECAINARI
ALLAHCALIBRATE
DALLASOCEANIC
VINTAGEANO
EVAMARIESAINT
ALIPULSARS
DORITOSWOBBLE
SIGNONTHEUNION
IVYDARNMAD
JANEDOTTEDLINE
AXISIRVINONEA
MEATYESNOLIRR

Here's another example of a crossword with an unusual visual element that Across Lite can't reproduce. Hence, the convoluted notepad. The print version had no notes.

As referenced in 50- and 60-Across, there are three Zodiac SIGNs above the dotted lines.

Thu 6/24/2010
DIAGNNCOFAMED
ETHIOPIANTHANE
MAILSACKSDANTE
MLKETHEPROBLEM
EYESTOSEEDYRS
COILCIGS
ITMAKESNMETHOD
CHORDOOFSPYRO
BODEANSAREPEL
MRSULUENSETOME
PANGNEVE
SHASTEVIERANT
TAKEASTEEPNMBA
AGINGSEMIOTICS
MATINTRANSACTS
PRADAOSEEDIVE

Three 18-letter theme answers snake across the grid, each taking a nose dive on the word NOSE.

Fri 6/25/2010
PALPSARABAMPM
ALIASLODESTARS
REBUTDIDGERIOS
TVILPASSEDOFF
VESSELTOPHAT
OKAPISNOONE
WINECASKASNER
SOPIIIIIORR
TRUSSFROTHERS
ATRIAFASTER
CHILIGENRAPT
ATEKOSHERASEA
PLANTFOODSTARR
PONTOONEDHUMIR
STIRROSYAMITY

Read the first letter of each Across clue to reveal a hidden message. Here's the wedding announcement in the NYT.

"Byron and Robin today will be saying 'I do.'"

Sat 6/26/2010
NOTTODAYFIANCE
OVERCAMEINDOOR
SOMETHINGSFISHY
PEALTAKETEN
ASAWADES
REGULARTATA
ICEPALACESREN
DONTDOTHATAGAIN
NCOWHITEHORSE
DYNEINANGER
CHESTASI
ASPHALTERAS
AREYOUKIDDINGME
BARRELLIGATURE
ABBESSLAYSINTO
Sun 6/27/2010 TO THINE OWN SELF BE TRUE
SWALESLURDARTSSAND
PISANTUNEDRURYAGEE
FILMCRITICATMANLOVE
BIERSOLYMPICLUGER
DEPENDKARLALLSET
AMOROSOSKOPJEPECAN
RANTERATYAOAGESAGO
LIZTABLOIDWRITERSER
ALIBISIRSSERTMINE
SITUTITHEDISBANDS
LICKINGALEVEPEACOAT
ACHESFORERINSTROW
NEEDEROSACTIENOCH
CAMELECTIONLOSERRHO
EXEMPTSRELOPENSKAL
TERISAISLESEDMEESE
NORISKIGETSOARED
TELEMARKETERHOURS
OLIOYESOREBAYPATRON
GAELONINETINELAURA
ANNANENESSTERSRTAS
Mon 6/28/2010
JAGSRULESVEST
IRAQAPARTAXIS
LIEUREPROVERA
LALALANDPHASER
ROADLIEV
LIVETVLETLOOSE
ACESIXAMMOBIL
SEEMSETUPMACE
SARAHRERANMEN
OXYMORONPAJAMA
APEXJADE
FITSINBABAWAWA
AREAADOBEFLAT
MAXIMAMBARENT
ESTDEMBAROXEN
Tue 6/29/2010
LOBBYSANSMETZ
AWIREETATARIE
PENALNOVAIAMB
SNOWLEOPARDTOR
CLEARLEONORA
ECUDRIPANA
BALESTATOCSIN
BLACKANDWHITE
SCROLLDABOMEN
LIEAMASUMA
SPRINTSPROWL
KOIKILLERWHALE
USSRTOONHOTEL
NEEDBETEALOSS
KYRAESTDTERSE
Wed 6/30/2010
IHADTIEDSHAM
TOMEIHOYANAPE
CROWNJEWELURSA
HASAGOADLIBBED
ROYSANNO
PITSTOPSSCORNS
CRISUITSASSOC
LICESTEELEERO
ANKLESITARAMT
BALERSNOVELLAS
EMITFILA
TYPECASTSOWETO
ASINCLAWHAMMER
DENTKITEDAMNS
ARKSSPEDNATO
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