Editor comments, page 11

POW Wed 11/13/2013
O	J	S			T	A	B	L	E		I	K	E	A
P	U	P		S	H	R	I	E	K		S	I	L	L
A	D	O		M	I	N	C	E	G	A	R	L	I	C
L	I	N	G	E	R	I	E			D	A	N	Z	A
		G	R	A	T	E	P	A	R	M	E	S	A	N
O	L	E	A	R	Y	S		W	A	I	L
N	A	B	S				F	O	U	R		O	B	E
C	H	O	P	B	A	S	I	L	L	E	A	V	E	S
E	R	B		U	N	I	X				N	E	A	T
			A	S	I	S		R	E	B	I	R	T	H
C	R	U	S	H	P	I	N	E	N	U	T	S
L	A	N	C	E			O	B	V	I	A	T	E	S
A	D	D	O	L	I	V	E	O	I	L		A	V	A
P	I	E	T		M	I	L	O	R	D		T	I	N
S	I	R	S		P	E	S	T	O			E	L	K

It's not often you get a recipe in a crossword puzzle. And I love the low 72-word word count. That couldn't have been easy to do.

– puzzle by Jean O'Conor

Tue 11/12/2013
J	E	T	S		R	A	T	E	D	G		H	O	P
E	A	R	P		A	P	O	G	E	E		E	R	R
D	R	A	F	T	D	O	D	G	E	R		R	I	O
I	S	M		W	A	R	D				C	M	O	N
			D	I	R	T	Y	D	A	N	C	I	N	G
C	A	N	O	N	S			I	D	E	S	T
E	X	A	M			S	A	N	E	R		C	A	D
D	E	M	O	L	I	T	I	O	N	D	E	R	B	Y
E	S	E		O	R	A	L	S			B	A	L	E
		D	U	R	A	N			T	A	B	B	E	D
D	U	N	K	I	N	D	O	N	U	T	S
I	R	A	E				R	O	T	A		S	A	S
M	G	M		D	O	U	B	L	E	D	U	T	C	H
L	E	E		O	N	S	I	T	E		N	A	T	O
Y	D	S		S	T	A	T	E	S		I	N	2	D

67A is a mean trick to throw in a Tuesday puzzle. Still, the theme is otherwise straightforward, so Tuesday feels right. I tried to make the lower-right corner as easy as possible. Not surprisingly, the clue for 60D was my addition.

– puzzle by Mike Doran

Mon 11/11/2013
O	R	C	S		B	L	E	S	S		F	O	U	R
M	I	R	E		L	E	D	U	P		L	A	Z	E
A	G	E	R		A	N	I	S	E		I	R	I	S
H	O	P	E	T	H	A	T	H	E	L	P	S
A	R	E	N	A			S	I	D	E	B
		P	A	B	L	O				T	O	S	C	A
O	N	A		S	P	R	I	N	G	S	O	P	E	N
P	A	P	P		G	E	N	O	A		K	I	D	D
E	T	E	R	N	A	L	C	I	T	Y		K	E	Y
L	E	R	O	I				R	E	E	C	E
			C	L	O	C	K			A	U	J	U	S
		A	L	E	X	A	N	D	E	R	P	O	P	E
C	O	L	A		B	R	I	E	R		O	N	O	R
A	N	T	I		O	T	T	E	R		L	E	N	T
B	O	O	M		W	A	S	P	S		A	S	E	A

A literary theme like this is always appropriate. The Times crossword has more of this flavor than most other puzzles, which is one thing, I think, that sets it apart from others. Among the nontheme entries here, I especially like CREPE PAPER, SPIKE JONES, and FLIPBOOK.

– puzzle by Elizabeth C. Gorski

Sat 11/9/2013
B	U	T	T	D	I	A	L	E	D		G	I	B	E
O	N	A	R	A	M	P	A	G	E		U	N	O	S
T	I	D	A	L	B	A	S	I	N		M	O	B	S
S	T	A	P	L	E	R		S	A	C		N	S	A
			P	A	C	T	S		L	O	V	E	L	Y
I	C	E		S	I	M	I		I	N	A	P	E	T
N	A	N	S		L	E	T	S		A	S	I	D	E
B	R	I	E	F	E	N	C	O	U	N	T	E	R	S
A	D	D	E	R		T	O	R	N		S	C	U	T
D	E	B	T	E	E		M	E	I	N		E	N	S
S	A	L	O	O	N		S	L	O	O	P
O	L	Y		N	A	M		O	N	S	E	R	V	E
R	E	T	D		C	A	S	S	I	O	P	E	I	A
T	R	O	Y		T	A	K	E	S	A	S	E	A	T
S	S	N	S		S	M	A	R	T	P	I	L	L	S

I've known Michael for almost 35 years, ever since my days at Games magazine, where he created the double-crostics. He still does, in fact. A few years ago we met up again in Arizona, where he now lives, when I had a speaking engagement there. This puzzle is a good, solid themeless, with a great 1-Across. That's Mike's clue for it, too.

– puzzle by Michael Ashley

Fri 11/8/2013
		D	A	R	E	S	S	A	L	A	A	M
	C	O	N	T	A	C	T	L	E	N	S	E	S
W	H	A	T	S	T	H	E	B	I	G	D	E	A	L
R	O	S	H		A	N	T	E			F	R	I	A
A	L	I	E	N	T	O		I	N	F		K	N	T
P	E	D	R	O		O	S	T	E	O	P	A	T	H
S	R	O		N	U	K	E		A	R	E	T	E	S
			T	O	P	S	E	C	R	E	T
S	A	R	D	I	S		T	O	S	S		O	Y	E
P	R	E	S	S	E	S	O	N		E	R	T	E	S
E	F	S		E	T	O		C	H	E	E	T	O	S
N	A	T	E			B	R	E	A		T	A	M	A
T	R	Y	T	O	S	E	E	I	T	M	Y	W	A	Y
	F	L	A	S	H	I	N	T	H	E	P	A	N
		E	S	T	A	T	E	S	A	L	E	S

All the long answers in this puzzle are quite nice. I wish, though, that some of the shorter answers (like KNT, RTS, EFS, and especially ASDF) hadn't appeared. And it's not so elegant that the grid has three SEEs. Overall, though, I hope this is fun to solve.

– puzzle by Alan Arbesfeld

Thu 11/7/2013
R	I	A	T	A	S		S	H	A	M		F	B	I
A	N	T	E	U	P		W	O	V	E		A	L	F
R	H	O	N	D	A		A	B	A	N	D	I	T	S
E	A	U		I	N	I		O	R	S	O	N
B	B	C	R	O	O	K	S		I	A	N
		H	U	B		E	P	I	C		T	R	I	P
A	P	O	L	O		B	O	N	E	S		E	C	O
F	I	V	E	O		A	R	D		T	O	T	E	S
T	E	E		K	I	N	T	E		E	L	U	D	E
A	R	R	S		G	A	S	X		A	I	R
			E	I	N		C	C	C	M	O	N	T	E
		S	A	T	I	N		S	A	P		F	I	R
W	W	W	W	S	T	O	P		M	I	N	I	N	G
N	I	E		M	E	D	E		O	P	O	R	T	O
E	N	D		E	D	E	N		M	E	R	E	S	T

I'm guessing this puzzle is a little hard to break into, but once you catch on to the theme, it goes much quicker. It's a lovely theme idea. Also, I like the entries AUDIOBOOK, STEAMPIPE, and RETURN FIRE.

– puzzle by Alan DerKazarian

POW Wed 11/6/2013
D	R	U	G	S		M	U	S	S		A	B	B	A
N	I	G	H	T		O	H	N	O		C	O	L	T
A	B	H	O	R		S	A	I	D	I	T	N	O	T
			S	I	T	S	U	P		M	O	N	T	E
C	A	N	T	F	O	O	L		B	E	R	E	T	S
O	R	A	T	E	S			A	L	L		T	O	T
M	I	S	O			A	R	M	A	D	A
B	E	T	W	E	E	N	Y	O	U	A	N	D	M	E
			N	A	N	T	E	S			Y	E	A	R
H	A	T		G	I	S			C	A	M	A	R	O
O	S	W	A	L	D		T	A	L	K	I	N	T	O
W	H	A	L	E		M	O	V	E	I	N
D	O	N	T	S	C	A	R	E		T	U	R	B	O
A	R	G	O		S	P	A	R		A	T	A	R	I
H	E	S	S		A	S	H	Y		S	E	G	A	L

This puzzle has a fresh, terrific theme, and I like some of the fill, too, especially GHOST TOWN and ANY MINUTE.

– puzzle by Jacob McDermott

Tue 11/5/2013
G	S	A		O	P	E	R	A		A	N	A	I	S
O	W	L		M	O	P	U	P		H	E	N	R	I
W	I	L	D	G	E	E	S	E		H	A	T	E	D
E	T	U	I		S	E	E	M			R	I	F	E
S	C	R	E	W	Y			A	R	P		N	U	B
T	H	E	T	A		W	I	N	E	H	O	U	S	E
				R	A	I	N		P	A	C	K	E	T
		W	I	N	G	E	D	H	O	R	S	E
T	A	I	P	E	I		U	R	S	A
W	I	N	O	R	L	O	S	E		O	B	I	T	S
E	R	N		S	E	N			S	H	U	M	A	I
E	L	I	S			E	R	I	N		R	B	I	S
Z	I	P	U	P		W	I	S	E	C	R	A	C	K
E	N	E	R	O		A	T	B	A	T		C	H	E
S	E	G	E	R		Y	A	N	K	S		K	I	L

Paula's grid has a surprisingly low word count (74 entries) for a puzzle with this much theme material. As a result, the corners are quite chunky — which is great. Among the nontheme entries I particularly like SCREWY, SHU MAI, ANTINUKE, WINNIPEG, and I'M BACK.

– puzzle by Paula Gamache

Mon 11/4/2013
O	A	K		B	R	A			S	C	O	F	F	S
B	E	I		M	A	X	I		C	O	L	L	I	E
G	I	N		W	I	L	T		I	N	D	E	N	T
Y	O	G	I		D	E	S	K		S	E	X	E	S
N	U	A	N	C	E		R	A	N	T	S
		R	U	H	R		A	L	C	A	T	R	A	Z
L	O	T	S	A		N	I	K	O	N		I	R	E
U	S	H	E	R		A	N	A		T	A	C	O	S
M	S	U		L	O	G	I	N		I	S	H	O	T
P	A	R	M	E	S	A	N		I	N	C	A
			A	M	O	N	G		D	E	A	R	M	E
M	A	Z	D	A		O	M	N	I		P	D	A	S
S	M	U	D	G	E		E	C	O	N		I	N	T
R	E	L	E	N	T		N	A	T	O		I	D	O
P	R	U	N	E	S			A	S	S		I	M	P

I don't usually run punny themes on Mondays, but this one felt simple enough to still be appropriate for the easiest day of the week. Apparently, John Lieb expected this puzzle to appear later in the week, because the clues he submitted tended to be on the hard side. As a result, most of the clues here are mine.

The Monday-Thursday puzzles this week appeared last Saturday at the Arlington Puzzle Festival in Arlington, Va. The 2013 results should be posted soon.

– puzzle by John Lieb

Sun 11/3/2013 STOLEN PRODUCE
O	B	A	M	A		T	H	A	W		M	O	T	T	O		C	L	A	P
P	A	R	I	S		O	O	N	A		E	N	R	O	N		L	A	I	R
E	M	N	S	H	E	H	R	D	S		R	E	I	N	E		E	R	L	E
L	A	O	S		X	E	N	A		G	R	A	P	E	L	E	A	V	E	S
			J	C	O	L	E		B	O	I	L	S		I	X	N	A	Y	S
E	N	G	A	R	D	E		B	O	D	E	S		B	T	U	S
C	O	M	P	O	U	N	F	R	C	U	R		C	A	R	R		T	S	E
G	L	E	A	N	S		I	A	C	T		D	A	T	E	B	O	O	K	S
	A	N	N	I		I	N	S	E	C	R	E	T			S	P	R	I	T
				E	L	L	E			H	E	K	A	T	E		E	S	M	E
O	C	H	N	S	S	S	T	E	R		L	E	M	O	N	D	R	O	P	S
C	L	A	Y		D	A	U	B	E	D			A	D	E	N
H	A	R	P	O			N	A	V	Y	Y	A	R	D		I	T	E	M
R	U	M	D	B	I	L	E	Y		N	A	L	A		T	E	E	M	E	D
E	S	S		E	D	Y	S		B	A	N	A	N	A	S	P	L	I	T	S
			O	R	L	E		T	U	S	K	S		S	H	E	L	L	A	C
S	E	A	D	O	O		O	U	S	T	S		S	T	I	R	S
O	X	O	D	N	V	E	R	S	I	Y		A	L	A	R		A	N	N	A
L	A	R	S		E	R	A	S	E		F	R	U	I	T	F	L	I	E	S
O	C	T	O		T	I	L	L	S		T	E	R	R		L	I	B	R	A
S	T	A	N		O	N	S	E	T		C	A	P	E		A	E	S	O	P

A fresh theme, elegantly done. DATEBOOKS did give me pause, because I'm just barely familiar with the usage of "book" meaning "to leave" — but it's legitimate. You might be interested to know that the constructors' manuscript had F-BOMB at 1A, which I edited out. It was a close call, but I wasn't sure this met the Times's standards of good taste.

– puzzle by Andy Kravis and Victor Barocas

Sat 11/2/2013
S	Q	U	A	B	B	L	E		J	A	M	C	A	M
E	U	P	H	O	R	I	A		O	R	I	O	L	E
T	I	P	S	H	E	E	T		K	I	D	U	L	T
B	B	S		M	A	L	I	C	E		E	L	S	E
A	B	A	S		K	O	T	O		H	A	D	T	O
I	L	L	I	N		W	U	N	D	E	R	B	A	R
L	E	A	N	O	N		P	I	E	R		E	R	S
			S	O	U	P		C	L	O	P
S	E	A		G	T	O	S		L	I	T	O	U	T
E	X	Q	U	I	S	I	T	E		C	A	N	S	O
A	T	U	N	E		S	U	C	H		S	E	T	T
G	R	I	P		D	E	C	A	Y	S		M	I	A
R	E	V	I	S	E		K	R	A	T	I	O	N	S
A	M	E	L	I	E		U	T	T	E	R	R	O	T
M	E	R	E	S	T		P	E	T	P	E	E	V	E

Some of the entries I like here are SQUABBLE, JAMCAM, TIP SHEET, KIDULT, WUNDERBAR, EXQUISITE, K RATIONS, UTTER ROT, NOOGIE, EAT IT UP, COULD BE, ALL-STAR, ONE MORE and TO TASTE. And there's almost nothing that's bad. That's fancy puzzle-making.

– puzzle by Tom Heilman

Fri 11/1/2013
B	L	U	E	C	R	A	B		L	O	W	F	A	T
O	I	L	S	H	A	L	E		B	R	O	O	C	H
N	O	N	T	I	T	L	E		J	I	L	T	E	E
D	N	A			T	O	R	T	R	E	F	O	R	M
			C	L	A	W	C	R	A	N	E
P	A	T	R	O	N	S	A	I	N	T		A	S	A
E	B	O	O	K			N	E	C		R	C	A	S
T	A	R	N	I	S	H		S	H	T	E	T	L	S
A	C	M	E		M	A	O			R	A	I	T	T
L	I	E		V	E	L	V	E	T	E	L	V	I	S
			F	A	L	L	E	N	H	E	M
E	L	D	O	C	T	O	R	O	W			V	F	W
C	O	U	G	A	R		B	R	A	S	S	E	R	A
O	R	S	I	N	O		I	M	R	U	I	N	E	D
N	I	E	N	T	E		D	E	T	E	N	T	E	S

As with all of Brad's themeless puzzles, this one is jammed with lively vocabulary. My favorite entries here are BLUE CRAB, LOW-FAT, OIL SHALE, TORT REFORM, PATRON SAINT, E L DOCTOROW, I'M RUINED, BEER CAN, LBJ RANCH and SMELT ROE. That's a lot of great stuff.

– puzzle by Brad Wilber

POW Thu 10/31/2013
W	O	L	F	M	A	N		N	A	M	F	L	O	W
I	N	U	T	E	R	O		A	R	I	G	A	T	O
M	O	N	S	T	E	R		R	E	T	S	N	O	M
P	R	E	M	I	U	M		N	A	T		D	E	B
			I	M	P		M	I	S	E	R
S	K	A	T	E		V	I	A		N	O	T	S	O
L	O	C	H		J	A	R		J	S	B	A	C	H
O	A	T			A	T	R	I	A			C	A	Y
G	L	O	S	S	Y		O	R	B		E	I	N	E
S	A	R	A	H		A	R	K		P	U	T	T	S
			D	I	A	L	S		S	A	G
A	C	C		A	B	U		I	N	S	E	C	T	S
P	H	A	N	T	O	M		M	O	T	N	A	H	P
E	A	S	E	S	I	N		S	W	E	E	P	E	A
D	R	A	C	U	L	A

This is probably my favorite daily puzzle of the week. The trick at 65A is downright mean!

– puzzle by David Kwong

Wed 10/30/2013
C	A	W		S	P	R	Y		P	U	S	H	I	T
A	V	E		Y	O	Y	O		E	S	P	A	N	A
R	I	A		S	W	E	D	I	S	H	F	I	S	H
L	A	S	S			B	A	S	T	E		R	P	I
S	T	E	A	M	E	R		B	O	R	O	D	I	N
J	E	L	L	Y	B	E	A	N	S		N	O	R	I
R	D	S		B	O	A	S			C	A	S	E	S
			C	A	N	D	Y	C	O	R	N
S	T	R	A	D			E	A	V	E		E	G	G
T	W	I	N		H	O	T	T	A	M	A	L	E	S
P	O	S	T	M	A	N		E	L	E	M	E	N	T
E	T	S		A	B	Z	U	G			A	V	E	R
T	O	O	T	S	I	E	R	O	L	L		A	R	I
E	N	L	I	S	T		G	R	I	P		T	I	N
R	E	E	S	E	S		E	Y	E	S		E	C	G

As with most of Joel's puzzles, this one has a super-tight theme and a very clean construction. Almost all the clues are his, too.

– puzzle by Joel Fagliano

Tue 10/29/2013
A	S	T	R	A		E	I	D	E	R		C	A	B
L	I	R	A	S		L	D	O	P	A		O	V	I
A	G	A	S	P		F	I	R	E	P	O	W	E	R
W	H	I	T	E	S	M	O	K	E		P	E	R	T
	S	T	A	R	E	A	T			B	E	R	T	H
				S	T	N		O	D	I	N
S	P	I	C	E	S		B	I	R	D	B	A	T	H
E	A	C	H		H	O	U	S	E		A	L	S	O
C	L	E	A	N	O	U	T		A	I	R	B	A	G
			N	O	T	I		P	M	S
A	C	I	N	G			T	R	O	O	P	E	R
W	A	N	E		G	R	E	E	N	L	I	G	H	T
F	U	L	L	C	O	U	R	T		A	E	R	I	E
U	S	A		A	G	E	N	T		T	R	E	N	D
L	E	W		M	O	S	S	Y		E	S	T	E	S

I have to give Robert Cirillo kudos. Sometime after I'd accepted and filed his HOUSE puzzle, he grew unsatisfied with the construction and sent me a whole new version ... that was better. I admire that.

– puzzle by Robert Cirillo

Mon 10/28/2013
H	I	D		A	G	E	G	A	P		O	H	M	E
A	M	O		R	O	C	O	C	O		M	I	C	A
W	H	E	R	E	O	H	W	H	E	R	E	H	A	S
K	O	R	E	A		O	N	O		A	G	O	N	Y
			G	M	C		S	O	N	I	A
	R	E	G	A	L	E			I	N	S	P	O	T
O	E	D	I	P	U	S	R	E	X			E	W	E
R	A	G	E	S		T	A	G		P	L	E	N	A
E	T	E			R	A	N	G	E	R	O	V	E	R
M	A	D	M	A	X			S	E	E	P	E	D
			E	L	S	I	E		C	S	I
A	L	E	R	O		D	V	R		A	N	D	U	P
M	Y	L	I	T	T	L	E	D	O	G	G	O	N	E
F	R	A	T		A	E	R	A	T	E		O	T	S
M	E	L	S		T	R	Y	S	T	S		M	O	O

Ed packed his grid with a lot of theme material, and the 17A/62A combo is inspired. The construction is pretty solid, too, especially considering all the constraints.

– puzzle by Ed Sessa

Sat 10/26/2013
P	I	Z	Z	A	C	R	U	S	T		B	L	A	B
A	R	I	O	N	A	S	S	I	S		F	O	R	A
C	I	P	H	E	R	T	E	X	T		F	O	R	T
A	S	S	A	M			D	A	R	K		K	I	T
			N	O	G	O		M	A	N	C	A	V	E
P	S	A		N	O	O	N		P	E	L	T	E	R
H	O	C	K	E	Y	M	O	M		W	E	T	L	Y
O	L	E	N		A	P	L	U	S		A	H	A	B
N	A	T	A	L		H	O	T	P	O	T	A	T	O
E	R	I	C	A	S		S	E	C	T		T	E	X
B	A	C	K	L	I	T		D	A	T	A
O	R	A		A	N	O	N			O	L	D	I	E
O	R	C	A		B	R	O	O	D	M	A	R	E	S
T	A	I	L		I	T	A	L	I	A	N	A	R	T
H	Y	D	E		N	A	M	E	S	N	A	M	E	S

Lots of nice vocabulary here. Besides 1A, my favorite entries are CIPHERTEXT, MAN CAVE, HOCKEY MOM, HOT POTATO, LOOK AT THAT, BATTERY BOX, and PHONE BOOTH. In fact, all the corners are pretty handsome.

– puzzle by Barry C. Silk

POW Fri 10/25/2013
M	A	D	E	M	I	N	C	E	M	E	A	T	O	F
E	C	O	N	O	M	I	C	W	A	R	F	A	R	E
L	O	S	A	N	G	E	L	E	S	T	I	M	E	S
S	P	E	C	I	A	L	I	N	T	E	R	E	S	T
		S	T	E	M	S			I	S	S
			O	D	E		F	F	F		T	R	E	E
S	T	U	R	M		B	E	E	F	S		A	X	L
M	O	R	S	E	C	O	D	E	S	I	G	N	A	L
O	J	S		N	I	L	E	S		L	A	K	M	E
G	O	A	L		M	A	X		T	V	S
			U	G	A			P	I	E	R	O
C	O	M	M	E	R	C	I	A	L	R	A	D	I	O
F	R	E	E	T	R	A	N	S	L	A	T	I	O	N
C	H	A	N	S	O	N	S	D	E	G	E	S	T	E
S	E	T	S	O	N	A	P	E	D	E	S	T	A	L

Any crossword with a "quad-stack" is impressive, and this one has two. Amazing! On the downside, MEAT at 50D duplicates part of 1A, and ODE (21A) really shouldn't appear in the same puzzle as ODIST (47D). But I clued the short words carefully. And overall the construction was too nice not to say yes to.

– puzzle by Martin Ashwood-Smith

Thu 10/24/2013
A	D	A	P	T	T	O		I	N	K	P	O	T	S
R	E	N	E	W	E	D		D	E	C	O	D	E	S
T	A	N	G	O	E	D		E	G	A	L	I	T	E
S	R	A		W	R	S		S	A	B	I	N	E
			C	A	T				T	D	S
A	N	A	L	Y	S	T		P	I	E	H	O	L	E
M	O	R	A			H	E	A	V	E		N	O	N
B	O	O	M	E	R	A	N	G	E	F	F	E	C	T
I	S	M		L	O	T	T	E			A	B	A	R
T	E	A	S	E	T	S		A	R	T	I	C	L	E
			A	V	A				E	E	L
	A	F	L	A	R	E		S	T	K		T	R	I
F	L	O	U	T	E	R		A	U	C	T	I	O	N
I	S	O	T	O	P	E		K	R	I	S	T	I	N
B	O	L	E	R	O	S		E	N	T	A	I	L	S

It blows me away that Pete found a way to run BOOMERANG EFFECT straight through two pairs of theme answers. Wow, wow, wow! The grid has a nice low word count besides.

– puzzle by Peter A. Collins

Wed 10/23/2013
A	R	C	H		I	S	L	E	S		B	A	D	E
S	O	H	O		S	A	U	T	E		A	R	I	A
T	W	I	S	T	E	R	C	H	E	C	K	E	R	S
I	S	P		R	E	D			P	U	E	N	T	E
		M	B	A		I	O	U		T	R	A	Y	S
C	L	U	E	M	O	N	O	P	O	L	Y
A	I	N	T		R	E	F	I	N	E		N	E	O
F	A	K	E	I	D				S	T	E	E	L	S
E	R	S		G	E	O	R	G	E		V	I	A	L
			S	O	R	R	Y	O	T	H	E	L	L	O
R	E	M	I	T		R	E	O		A	R	S
E	L	I	C	I	T			D	O	N		I	D	A
B	A	C	K	T	O	B	A	C	K	G	A	M	E	S
E	T	R	E		C	O	L	O	R		S	O	U	P
L	E	O	N		K	A	P	P	A		I	N	X	S

A cute theme idea with all good examples. Games are a fun topic for a crossword anyway.

– puzzle by Robyn Weintraub

Tue 10/22/2013
A	H	O	R	A		B	A	S	I	C		D	L	I
R	A	T	E	R		E	T	H	N	O		O	I	D
C	L	E	A	R	T	H	E	A	I	R		O	C	T
O	A	R			M	A	I			O	S	H	E	A
	L	I	N	E	A	R	T	H	I	N	K	I	N	G
			C	N	N			I	S	A	A	C	S
S	T	P	A	T		S	O	T	O			K	E	V
I	H	E	A	R	T	H	U	C	K	A	B	E	E	S
B	R	A			W	I	T	H		S	A	Y	S	O
	A	N	C	H	O	R			C	T	R
A	C	U	T	E	A	R	T	H	R	I	T	I	S
S	I	T	A	R			U	A	E			N	U	T
S	A	O		M	I	D	D	L	E	E	A	R	T	H
A	N	I		E	R	R	O	L		S	H	E	R	A
Y	S	L		S	E	E	R	S		A	I	M	A	T

When editing this puzzle, I noticed that the grid had ISAACS at 30A crossing ISAK at 28D, which really wasn't good, as they're basically the same name. Fortunately, IS OK bailed me out in the latter spot, and it has the advantage of never having appeared in a Times crossword before.

– puzzle by Kevan Choset

Mon 10/21/2013
C	A	T	T	Y		D	R	I	V	E		P	A	P
O	M	A	H	A		R	A	D	A	R		O	N	E
R	U	N	A	W	A	Y	J	U	R	Y		G	E	E
A	S	K	I	N	G		A	N	I		D	O	W	N
L	E	S		E	L	F		N	O	S	E	S
			B	R	E	A	K	O	U	T	S	T	A	R
S	E	T	A		T	I	N		S	U	P	I	N	E
A	X	O	N	S		L	E	A		D	I	C	T	A
F	E	U	D	E	D		E	S	Q		S	K	I	D
E	S	C	A	P	E	C	L	A	U	S	E
		H	I	T	C	H		P	A	T		S	H	E
L	A	U	D		L	O	G		F	A	T	H	O	M
A	L	P		T	A	K	E	O	F	F	R	A	M	P
Z	O	O		A	R	E	N	A		F	U	M	E	T
Y	E	N		B	E	R	E	T		S	E	E	D	Y

A simple theme with a solid construction — a bread-and-butter Monday puzzle. Among the nontheme entries, I especially like BAND-AID, QUAFF, I DUNNO, and POGO STICK. FUMET (66A) was new to me, but all the crossings are good.

– puzzle by Gary Cee

Sun 10/20/2013 COUNTRY ROAD
A	S	A	T	E	A	M		T	O	E	C	A	P	S		S	T	A	M	P	E	D
I	N	V	O	I	C	E		A	T	M	C	A	R	D		D	O	W	O	R	S	E
M	A	I	N	S	T	R	E	E	T	A	C	R	O	S	S	A	M	E	R	I	C	A
S	T	A	S		E	V	A		A	G	L	E	T		E	K	E		I	M	O	F
A	C	T	O	N			R	A	W				E	S	L			S	T	A	R	T
T	H	E	F	I	R	S	T	M	A	J	O	R	M	E	M	O	R	I	A	L	T	O
				S	A	M	O	A		A	N	E		W	A	N	E	D
O	N	E	S	I	Z	E		T	U	N	E	D	I	N		A	D	S	P	A	C	E
L	O	D	I		R	W	Y		N	E	I	L	S		M	I	O		E	G	O	N
L	O	T	S	A		S	O	F	I	A		I	N	K	E	R		B	R	I	N	Y
A	N	V	I	L			N	E	O	N		O	O	O	H			N	I	N	J	A
				G	U	T		E	N	E		N	T	H		S	P	A
C	A	S	T	A	N	E	T	S						L	O	W	V	I	S	I	O	N
A	R	I	A		I	S	R			A	C	H			G	E	T		E	L	I	O
T	H	E	S	I	X	T	E	E	N	T	H	U	S	P	R	E	S	I	D	E	N	T
E	A	V	E	D			S	L	A	T	E	T	I	L	E			D	A	N	K	E
S	T	E	R	O	L	S		L	I	E		C	R	U		I	L	L	N	E	S	S
				L	I	N	C	O	L	N		H	I	G	H	W	A	Y
H	E	A	D		N	O	U								O	O	P		N	C	A	A
I	N	D	R	A	G		A	P	P	L	I	E	D	T	O		E	B	O	O	K	S
T	S	A	O	C	O	T	T	S	A	O	C	M	O	R	F	S	L	E	V	A	R	T
C	U	T	I	E		O	R	A	N	G	E	T	R	E	E	S		V	A	L	O	R
H	E	E	D	S		M	O	T	T	S		S	A	N	D	S		Y	E	S	N	O

I accepted this puzzle by Liz in 2009 — holding it for four years until the Lincoln Highway Centennial, which occurs this month. Fortunately, most accepted puzzles don't have so long a wait. Next Sunday's puzzle, for example, took less than a week from acceptance to scheduling. Many factors affect the wait (or lack of one).

– puzzle by Elizabeth C. Gorski

Sat 10/19/2013
W	H	I	P	I	T		S	P	A	C	E	J	A	M
H	A	M	E	L	S		C	O	C	A	C	O	L	A
A	M	P	S	U	P		H	I	T	S	O	N	G	S
T	R	U	T	V		O	M	N	I	S		K	O	S
S	A	D	O		N	A	U	T			P	Y	R	E
U	D	E		K	I	T	T	Y	K	E	L	L	E	Y
P	I	N	C	E	N	E	Z		R	D	A
G	O	T	O	V	E	R		M	A	G	N	U	M	S
			R	I	T		T	A	K	E	O	N	M	E
J	O	H	N	N	Y	C	A	K	E	S		D	M	X
A	N	A	S			O	X	E	N		G	E	M	S
R	E	V		H	E	L	P	S		G	O	R	G	E
J	O	E	B	O	X	E	R		M	O	N	G	O	L
A	N	N	E	R	I	C	E		F	A	Z	O	O	L
R	E	S	T	S	T	O	P		A	T	O	D	D	S

This is the second themeless puzzle I've published in the Times in which SPACE JAM sits atop COCA-COLA in the upper-right corner (great minds think alike!). But it's been over a year and a half since the last one, and I hope most solvers don't remember.

– puzzle by Peter Wentz

Fri 10/18/2013
S	T	I	L	L	D	R	E				A	L	B	A
C	O	N	E	H	E	A	D	S			M	E	A	N
A	R	C	T	A	N	G	E	N	T		O	A	T	S
R	E	L	I	S	T	S		O	R	I	E	N	T	E
F	A	U	N	A	S		T	W	I	N	B	I	L	L
A	D	D	O	N		J	E	T	P	L	A	N	E
C	O	E	N		G	A	L	I	L	E	E
E	R	S		D	E	S	E	R	E	T		L	O	B
			D	E	T	O	X	E	D		J	O	N	I
	S	T	E	A	R	N	E	S		T	A	M	E	S
T	H	E	O	R	E	M	S		L	I	M	B	I	C
Y	E	S	D	E	A	R		S	A	N	T	A	N	A
P	A	S	A		L	A	B	O	R	P	A	R	T	Y
E	T	A	T			Z	E	N	G	A	R	D	E	N
A	H	S	O				L	E	O	N	T	Y	N	E

David Steinberg, who turns 17 next month, has turned out an eye-popping construction here — and I accepted the puzzle over a year ago, when he was still 15! My favorite entries in it are STILL DRE, CONEHEADS, TWIN BILL, JET PLANE, YES DEAR, LABOR PARTY, ZEN GARDEN, SCARFACE, SNOW TIRES, GET REAL, JASON MRAZ, BISCAYNE, and JAM TART. That's a lot of great stuff. I could have done without EDE (where I've been, BTW) and TESSAS...but overall, this is pretty fancy constructing.

– puzzle by David Steinberg

Thu 10/17/2013
B	M	W		N	A	M	A	T	H		L	S	A	T
B	A	H		I	S	I	D	R	O		S	T	L	O
S	C	O	T	L	A	N	D	Y	A	R	D	A	G	E
	B	S	A			S	U	T	R	A		G	I	S
N	E	W	Y	O	R	K	P	O	S	T	A	G	E
A	T	H	E	N	A				E	A	G	E	R
T	H	O		K	S	T	A	R			E	R	S
			A	P	P	E	N	D	A	G	E
	O	M	B			K	O	A	L	A		J	E	D
	B	Y	E	A	R				F	R	I	E	N	D
	E	S	T	R	E	E	T	B	A	N	D	A	G	E
O	R	T		C	A	N	O	E			E	N	A
C	L	A	S	S	I	F	I	E	D	A	D	A	G	E
T	I	R	E		M	I	L	N	E	R		R	E	S
A	N	S	A		S	N	E	E	R	S		P	D	Q

I accepted this puzzle in 2009, but held it for so long because I'd run similar themes in 2004, 2002, and 1997. Three of the four theme entries here are new, though, and I think they're all pretty nice. Curiously, there's more substandard/crosswordy fill here than I usually allow now — K-STAR, OMB, ORT, ANSA, RES, TRY TO, and others. On the whole, crossword construction has improved a lot over the past four years.

– puzzle by Gary J. Whitehead

POW Wed 10/16/2013
A	L	C	A	P	P		O	H	M	Y		S	Y	L
M	O	O	S	H	U		F	A	R	E		C	O	E
F	L	O	O	R	M	A	T	H	I	S		A	U	G
M	A	P		E	I	R	E				C	R	A	G
			B	A	C	O	N	F	A	T	H	E	R	S
I	C	H	O	K	E	D		I	R	A	I	S	E
N	O	O	N				A	S	I	F		A	H	S
T	H	R	O	W	I	N	T	H	E	T	O	W	E	L
O	A	S		H	S	I	A				D	A	R	E
	B	E	G	O	O	D		A	N	N	O	Y	E	D
H	I	S	P	A	N	I	C	R	O	O	M
U	T	E	S				A	C	H	T		M	A	C
M	A	N		H	E	R	S	H	E	Y	B	A	B	Y
O	N	S		E	V	A	C		L	E	O	N	A	S
R	T	E		X	E	N	A		P	T	B	O	A	T

Besides the theme, my favorite entries here are AL CAPP, OH MY, PT BOAT, PHREAK, and YOU ARE HERE. I also kind of like I CHOKED, although I'm not 100% sure it's a stand-alone phrase, which lessens its desirableness.

– puzzle by Samuel A. Donaldson

Tue 10/15/2013
G	R	U	B		A	I	L	S		J	I	H	A	D
L	I	S	A		K	N	E	E		O	N	O	N	E
A	T	M	S		I	F	A	T		S	T	A	T	E
M	A	C	I	N	T	O	S	H		H	E	X	E	D
			L	I	A	R			C	U	R
T	O	X	I	C		M	E	C	H	A	N	I	C
A	D	A	S	H			N	R	A			G	L	O
M	I	C	K	E	Y	M	O	U	S	E	C	L	U	B
P	U	T			E	E	K			N	A	O	M	I
	M	O	C	C	A	S	I	N		T	R	O	P	E
			H	U	H			U	S	E	S
S	E	D	E	R		M	U	C	K	R	A	K	E	R
E	V	I	C	T		E	L	L	E		L	O	V	E
G	E	E	K	S		A	N	E	W		E	K	E	D
A	N	T	S	Y		D	A	I	S		S	O	L	O

Some time ago one of the crossword bloggers (I won't say which one, but her initials are D.A.) declared that if she ever saw another vowel-progression theme again, she'd poke her eyes out. (Sorry, D.A.!) As these themes go, I think this one's pretty nice. And have heart: I try not to run this sort of thing too often.

– puzzle by Patrick Blindauer and Andrea Carla Michaels

Mon 10/14/2013
T	A	P	E		G	A	P	E			N	A	L	A
N	E	I	N		A	L	O	T		M	O	T	O	R
U	S	A	I	N	B	O	L	T		A	T	T	I	C
T	O	N	G	A		U	S	U	A	L	F	A	R	E
	P	O	M	P	S				B	L	A	R	E	D
		B	A	S	I	N		S	A	R	I
S	E	A	S		B	O	S	C		A	R	T	S	Y
P	A	R		U	S	B	P	O	R	T		A	T	E
A	R	S	O	N		L	Y	L	E		U	L	E	E
			I	R	A	E		D	A	N	S	K
M	I	L	L	E	R				M	O	O	R	E
U	S	E	R	S	F	E	E	S		I	P	A	D	S
G	E	T	I	T		U	S	H	E	R	E	D	I	N
G	R	O	G	S		R	A	I	L		N	I	N	A
Y	E	N	S			O	I	N	K		S	O	A	P

Zhouqin is one of surprisingly many Times crossword constructors from the Minneapolis area (what is it about Minneapolis?). I like this puzzle because the repeated element (US-) at the starts of the theme entries is so unexpected, and because the "explainer" at 43D is so good. PIANO BARS, MALL RAT, NOT FAIR, and TALK RADIO are great nontheme entries, too. BTW, when I was in Minneapolis a few weeks ago, Zhouqin answered a question I'd been wondering about: how the heck is her first name pronounced? It's something close to "SHOW-tsin." Now you know.

– puzzle by Zhouqin Burnikel and D. Scott Nichols

Sun 10/13/2013 TAKEN TO TASK
R	O	S	I	N	S			A	S	P	C	A		T	M	C		I	N	T
P	U	T	N	A	M		T	I	E	R	E	D		O	I	L		N	E	E
M	I	S	S	I	O	N	I	M	P	O	S	S	I	B	L	E		F	A	D
			O	A	K	E	N		A	M	A		D	O	D	O	B	I	R	D
B	O	U	L	D	E	R	C	O	L	O	R	A	D	O		P	A	N	T	Y
O	N	T	V			V	A	N	S			L	O	T	H	A	R	I	O	S
D	E	N	E	B		E	N	T		M	F	A			E	T	A	T
	R	E	N	E	W		S	H	A	W	L	S		C	A	R	K	E	Y	S
			C	H	I	A		E	S	A	U		M	I	R	A		L	A	P
M	A	R	Y	A	N	N		W	A	H		I	S	N	T			O	N	O
I	K	O		R	E	D	C	A	P		E	D	S	E	L	S		O	N	S
N	I	L			G	R	A	Y		I	R	A		M	E	A	T	P	I	E
A	T	L		A	L	E	S		A	F	A	R		A	S	H	E
J	A	I	A	L	A	I		S	Y	S	T	E	M		S	I	T	B	Y
		N	O	G	S		N	A	N	O		Y	A	K		B	E	A	U	T
D	I	G	R	E	S	S	E	D			I	O	N	A			A	L	G	A
I	N	S	T	R		P	E	R	P	E	T	U	A	L	M	O	T	I	O	N
G	E	T	A	H	E	A	D		R	X	S		C	E	A	S	E
E	S	O		I	T	S	A	N	U	P	H	I	L	L	B	A	T	T	L	E
S	S	N		S	A	M		O	N	E	O	N	E		E	K	E	O	U	T
T	E	E		S	S	S		W	E	L	T	S			L	A	S	S	I	E

This is one of my favorite Sunday puzzles in a while. The "reveal" along the center diagonal is wonderful. Besides the theme, I especially like the entries DODO BIRD, CAR KEYS, MEAT PIE, GET AHEAD, ON THE WAY, ALGER HISS, IT'S HOT, and I DARE YOU. That's a lot of great stuff!

– puzzle by Jeff Chen

Sat 10/12/2013
N	A	S	T	Y	G	R	A	M		N	A	P	E	S
I	N	T	H	E	R	E	A	R		O	R	R	I	N
P	A	R	A	S	A	I	L	S		B	O	O	N	E
S	L	O	W		S	D	I		G	O	A	T	E	E
			S	T	P		Y	S	I	D	R	O
S	R	O		U	S	U	A	L	L	Y		T	E	D
C	A	M	E	R	A	S	H	Y		S	T	Y	L	I
A	D	A	P	T	T	O		F	S	H	A	P	E	D
R	A	H	A	L		P	R	O	P	O	N	E	N	T
F	R	A		E	Y	E	E	X	A	M		S	A	O
		B	A	D	E	N	D		M	E	T
S	T	E	P	I	N		Z	I	A		E	S	A	U
M	I	A	T	A		P	O	O	L	H	A	L	L	S
U	L	C	E	R		E	N	T	O	U	R	A	G	E
G	E	H	R	Y		D	E	A	T	H	S	T	A	R

Lots of great entries in this grid. Besides the wonderful NASTYGRAM at 1A, I especially like CAMERA SHY, EYE EXAM, BAD END, POOL HALLS, DEATH STAR, AALIYAH, NOBODYS HOME, SLY FOX, and OMAHA BEACH. I could do without SDI, which is over 25 years old and something you don't hear much about anymore. In fact, I'd like to see this entry banned. In this particular puzzle, though, it helps set up too much other good stuff, so I made an exception. BTW, John Farmer writes great clues. Nearly all of today's are his.

– puzzle by John Farmer

Fri 10/11/2013
F	A	W	N		A	B	B	A		T	A	S	K	S
E	C	H	O		H	E	A	R		I	R	E	N	E
M	E	A	T	T	H	E	R	M	O	M	E	T	E	R
A	S	T	A	R		T	R	Y	M	E		T	W	A
		H	R	A	P			S	A	G	A	L
P	L	A	Y	M	E	O	R	T	R	A	D	E	M	E
S	A	P		S	O	X	E	R		P	I	S	A	N
E	S	P	O		N	Y	T	O	L		A	T	N	O
U	S	E	A	S		G	I	N	O	S		H	O	T
D	O	N	T	E	V	E	N	G	O	T	H	E	R	E
		S	H	E	E	N			P	I	E	S
C	T	N		K	E	A	T	S		L	Y	C	E	E
W	H	E	R	E	S	T	H	E	R	E	M	O	T	E
T	A	X	E	R		E	U	R	O		A	R	A	L
S	I	T	E	S		D	R	E	W		N	E	T	S

All six intersecting 15-letter answers in this puzzle are pretty nice, I think. I also like ARMY-STRONG and HEY MAN.

– puzzle by Peter A. Collins

Thu 10/10/2013
S	A	D		P	A	E	A	N			B	A	C	K
A	B	E		E	R	A	T	O		R	E	P	R	O
L	O	S		D	U	S	T	S	W	E	E	P	E	R
I	R	K		A	M	Y		T	I	M		O	D	E
V	I	T	A	L		V	A	R	I	A	T	I	O	N
A	G	O	G		L	I	R	A		I	A	N
T	I	P	S		E	R	E			N	U	T	S
E	N	C		S	M	T	W	T	F	S		M	I	D
	E	A	Z	Y			O	C	D		M	E	D	E
		L	E	A		E	N	Y	A		O	N	E	A
S	W	E	E	T	E	N	E	D		O	C	T	A	D
K	I	N		S	R	A		I	M	F		B	I	B
U	N	D	R	E	A	M	E	D	O	F		O	S	O
L	E	A	N	N		E	L	E	V	E		O	L	D
L	Y	R	A			L	O	S	E	R		K	E	Y

In addition to the rebus entry at 36A, Jeffrey's first version of this puzzle had DAY and WEEK rebuses at the top and bottom of the grid. I thought these were unnecessary, and they constrained the construction in these areas too much besides. The revised version of the grid, which you see here today, is cleaner and nicer, I think. And the "aha" at 36A is really great.

– puzzle by Jeffrey Wechsler

Wed 10/9/2013
R	A	D	S		C	A	P	E	D		P	S	S	T
E	S	A	U		I	V	A	N	I		E	T	T	A
D	O	A	N	D	R	O	I	D	S	D	R	E	A	M
O	F	E	L	E	C	T	R	I	C	S	H	E	E	P
			A	B	L	E	S	T		C	A	L	L	A
C	O	M	M	I	E				A	S	P
E	R	U	P	T		B	U	M	P		S	P	I	N
R	A	T		S	A	M	P	L	E	D		O	D	E
F	L	E	A		D	I	C	K		A	D	U	L	T
			R	I	D				T	N	O	T	E	S
A	L	A	R	M		P	I	G	O	U	T
W	E	C	A	N	R	E	M	E	M	B	E	R	I	T
F	O	R	Y	O	U	W	H	O	L	E	S	A	L	E
U	N	I	E		H	E	I	D	I		O	R	Y	X
L	A	D	D		R	E	P	E	N		N	E	A	T

Others can comment on this astonishing theme discovery by first-time contributor Jason Flinn. I'd like to comment on the word REPEN at 64A. Uncommon "re-" words like this are sometimes described as "roll-your-own" — meaning they're made-up. I think it's a term that blogger Amy Reynaldo coined. To me a roll-your-own word is one that really is made-up; that is, one that is not in the dictionary and gets little or no usage online. But REPEN is real. It's found in Random House Unabridged, Webster's Second New International, and Funk & Wagnalls Unabridged. It also has real usage online. It's not a good entry, to be sure, but it's legit. And sometimes a weak entry like this helps set up other good things, like (in this case) I'M HIP, PIG OUT, and the intricate interlock in the lower-middle. So it passes muster here in my book.

– puzzle by Jason Flinn

Tue 10/8/2013
C	H	O	O			E	T	H	I	C		D	O	S
H	A	S	H		L	A	R	E	D	O		R	N	A
A	R	T	I		A	T	A	R	I	S		E	L	Y
		L	O	S	T		P	R	O	M	I	S	E	S
B	R	E	A	K	E	R			M	O	N	D	A	Y
L	O	R	N	A		E	P	I		S	T	E	V	E
T	D	S		T	B	T	E	S	T		O	N	E	S
			L	E	T	I	T	S	N	O	W
A	T	T	A		W	E	E	U	N	S		R	C	A
T	H	R	U	M		D	R	E		A	S	I	A	N
H	E	A	R	Y	E			S	A	M	E	O	L	D
L	O	C	A	T	I	O	N		G	A	L	L
E	M	I		H	E	L	E	N	A		D	O	T	H
T	E	N		O	I	L	C	A	R		O	B	I	E
E	N	G		S	O	A	K	S			M	O	N	Y

I think of the Times crossword as being like a circus, in which you never know which kind of surprise will come next. This puzzle's theme is very unusual... and with 16 examples, there's a lot of it, too.

– puzzle by Tim Croce

POW Mon 10/7/2013
	T	A	M	P		S	W	A	P		R	A	S	P
S	A	R	A	H		T	O	D	O		U	T	A	H
T	H	E	R	E	G	O	E	S	M	Y	B	A	B	Y
D	O	W		W	I	K	I			A	I	D	E	S
S	E	E	N		D	E	S	S	E	R	T
		A	F	T	E	R	M	I	D	N	I	G	H	T
D	O	L	L	S			E	S	E		N	E	A	R
R	H	O		A	B	S		I	N	C		T	R	A
E	O	N	S		A	A	S			B	A	T	T	Y
W	H	E	E	L	I	N	T	H	E	S	K	Y
			N	O	T	E	P	A	D		A	S	A	P
T	W	E	E	N			E	R	G	O		B	R	A
S	I	N	G	I	N	G	T	H	E	B	L	U	E	S
A	N	N	A		A	S	E	A		E	A	R	N	S
R	E	E	L		B	A	R	R		Y	O	G	A

There have been a couple of puzzles over the years whose themes involved words that combine with BLUE, but this is the first one that uses only song titles. Great punch line at 63A, too!

– puzzle by Amy Johnson

POW Sat 10/5/2013
A	C	T	F	I	V	E		O	F	F	C	A	S	T
F	A	I	R	B	A	N	K	S	A	L	A	S	K	A
F	R	E	E	A	S	S	O	C	I	A	T	I	O	N
A	L	G	O	R	E		M	A	N	X		M	P	G
B	E	A	N	S		P	O	R	T		M	O	J	O
L	A	M	S		B	U	D	S		L	O	V	E	S
E	S	E		B	R	N	O		R	O	O
	E	S	P	R	I	T	D	E	C	O	R	P	S
			A	I	M		R	A	M	P		L	I	D
S	K	O	R	T		H	A	S	P		N	O	L	O
A	A	H	S		S	A	G	E		J	A	W	E	D
I	B	M		Z	E	R	O		D	U	P	I	N	G
D	O	Y	O	U	W	A	N	N	A	D	A	N	C	E
H	O	M	E	L	E	S	S	S	H	E	L	T	E	R
I	M	Y	O	U	R	S		C	L	A	M	O	R	S

Do you quake a little when you see Byron's byline? He fills his puzzles with lots of vocabulary never seen before in crosswords, which makes them naturally difficult, and then he writes good, tough clues. Most of the clues here are his. So many favorites — 1A, 18A (nice bit of trivia), 20A, 25A, 39A, 54A (more trivia), 9D, 16D (mean!), 34D (whew!), and others.

– puzzle by Byron Walden

Fri 10/4/2013
S	A	N	T	A	N	A		N	E	T	F	L	I	X
C	H	U	N	N	E	L		O	X	I	D	A	T	E
A	I	R	T	A	X	I		S	P	R	A	Y	E	R
L	T	S		G	U	M	S	H	O	E		A	M	O
D	U	E	T		S	O	L	O	S		T	W	I	X
E	N	R	O	N		N	O	W		G	R	A	Z	E
D	A	Y	L	I	L	Y		S	P	L	A	Y	E	D
			K	E	Y				D	I	P
E	T	A	I	L	E	D		I	Q	T	E	S	T	S
N	O	T	E	S		I	N	C		Z	Z	T	O	P
C	O	E	N		I	V	I	E	S		E	U	R	E
A	S	I		A	M	O	E	B	A	S		N	N	E
M	O	N	S	T	E	R		A	M	I	S	T	A	D
P	O	T	O	M	A	C		T	O	R	P	E	D	O
S	N	O	C	O	N	E		H	A	I	R	D	O	S

A classic grid layout with lots of fine vocabulary. My favorite entries are NETFLIX, AIR TAXI, GUMSHOE, DAY LILY, IQ TESTS, ZZ TOP, SNO-CONE, TOLKIEN, GLITZ, XEROXED, TOO SOON, ICE BATH, SIRI, and SPEEDOS. That's a lot of great stuff!

– puzzle by Bruce R. Sutphin

Thu 10/3/2013
H	U	L	A		H	O	F	F		S	L	O	T	H
O	H	O	S		O	R	A	L		C	A	N	W	E
S	U	C	K	S	B	Y	O	U		A	F	T	E	R
P	H	O	E	N	I	X		B	A	L	O	V	E	R
			D	O	T		S	E	D	E	R
T	A	X	I			H	E	R	E		G	A	E	A
O	P	E	N	A	R	E	A		S	E	E	M	S	B
M	A	N		B	O	R	N	O	T	B		I	T	O
B	R	I	D	E	B		C	H	E	S	S	S	E	T
S	T	A	R		E	W	E	S			C	H	E	T
			Y	P	R	E	S		A	P	R
B	H	O	N	E	S	T		B	R	I	E	F	E	D
G	O	M	E	R		B	O	R	N	B	W	I	L	D
U	M	A	S	S		A	R	I	A		I	S	S	A
N	O	R	S	E		R	I	T	Z		T	H	E	Y

In the print edition of the Times, the solution to this puzzle will be shown as SUCKS2BYOU, 2BORNOT2B, etc. For online, though, the solution shows "BB" in the theme squares, as we felt that's what solvers are more likely to guess. This was the playoff puzzle at last Friday's Westchester Crossword Puzzle Tournament. As I write this, I'm anxious to see how quickly (or not) the contestants catch onto the trick.

ADDED NOTE: Winning time for this puzzle at the 17th Westchester Crossword Puzzle Tournament, held last Friday in Pleasantville, NY:

1st — Bob Mackey, perfect in 8:36

2nd — Jeffrey Schwartz, perfect in 10:34

3rd — Glen Ryan, 11:56 with one error

– puzzle by Evan Birnholz

Wed 10/2/2013
S	H	A	F	T		B	L	I	P		P	R	E	T
A	I	D	A	N		O	O	N	A		L	A	L	A
P	R	I	N	T	S	O	F	T	H	I	E	V	E	S
S	E	N	T		P	I	T	H		N	A	I	V	E
			A	G	I	N		E	M	U	S
	L	O	S	I	N	G	P	A	T	I	E	N	T	S
S	E	L	I	G			L	I	N	T		O	B	E
U	C	L	A		Y	O	U	R	S		T	W	I	X
M	A	I		L	A	N	G			H	A	I	R	Y
P	R	E	S	E	N	T	S	O	F	M	I	N	D
			W	I	K	I		I	D	O	L
A	T	T	I	C		P	O	L	I		G	I	G	I
J	U	M	P	A	T	T	H	E	C	H	A	N	T	S
A	T	E	E		V	O	I	R		S	T	O	O	L
R	U	N	S		G	E	O	S		T	E	N	S	E

One thing I like about Paula's puzzles is that she can make them at any difficulty level, from an easy Monday to a brain-cracking Saturday. This one falls happily in-between. She's a good clue-writer, too. Most of the clues here are hers.

Winning time for today's puzzle, at the 17th Westchester Crossword Puzzle Tournament, held last Friday in Pleasantville, NY:

Bob Mackey, Eatontown, NJ, in 4:25.

– puzzle by Paula Gamache

POW Tue 10/1/2013
V	O	L	S		C	O	P	T	O		S	L	A	V
A	V	O	W		I	N	L	A	W		H	I	V	E
N	A	V	I		G	E	E	S	E		A	V	E	S
E	L	E	V	E		A	B	E		E	V	I	C	T
		R	E	V	E	L		R	A	V	E	N
K	I	S	L	E	V				V	I	R	G	I	N
O	W	L		R	E	V	I	V	A	L		W	H	O
L	O	A	D		N	I	V	E	N		L	I	O	N
A	N	N	E		S	C	A	N	T		A	L	P	O
S	T	E	E	L		A	N	E		M	I	L	E	S
			M	I	G	R	A	T	I	O	N
S	P	A		M	O	I		I	N	N		B	A	D
T	O	R	P	E	D	O		A	N	I	M	A	T	E
U	P	T	O	Y	O	U		N	I	C	E	J	O	B
D	E	S	I	S	T	S		S	E	A	L	A	N	T

You don't see left/right symmetry often in American crosswords, but it's just as legitimate as the regular kind. This puzzle is light on theme material, but I think it makes up for it with liveliness — especially LOVER'S LANE, LIVING WILL, UP TO YOU, and NICE JOB. Joel just started his senior year at Pomona College in California. He has been my intern for the past three summers and intends to return full-time after graduating. Virtually all the clues in this puzzle are his.

Winning time for this puzzle at the 17th Westchester Crossword Puzzle Tournament, held last Friday in Pleasantville, NY:

Jeffrey Schwartz, New York, NY, in 4:33.

– puzzle by Joel Fagliano

Mon 9/30/2013
P	A	C	T		I	M	A	M		M	E	M	O	S
A	C	H	Y		S	A	D	E		E	N	A	C	T
S	T	O	P	S	H	O	R	T		A	D	D	T	O
		P	E	A	T		E	R	S	T		M	A	V
C	E	S	S	N	A		P	O	P	S	C	E	N	E
A	T	H	E	A	R	T			I	T	U	N	E	S
K	N	O	T			A	D	O	R	E	D
Y	A	P		C	O	P	S	H	O	W		T	A	U
			S	A	M	S	O	N			H	O	G	S
C	O	H	I	B	A			O	C	T	O	P	U	S
D	R	O	P	S	H	O	T		R	E	I	S	E	R
R	E	T		T	A	C	H		E	A	S	T
A	G	O	R	A		C	O	V	E	R	T	O	P	S
C	O	N	A	N		U	S	E	D		U	R	A	L
K	N	E	E	D		R	E	G	S		P	Y	R	O

Six theme entries plus an "explainer," at 58A, all wrapped in a simple, elegant construction, make for a handsome Monday puzzle. COHIBA at 43A was new to me, but the crossings are good, and everything else seems easy enough. BTW, the Monday through Thursday puzzles this week were used at the 17th annual Westchester Crossword Puzzle Tournament last Friday, held for charity in my hometown of Pleasantville, NY.

The fastest solver was Glen Ryan, Taftville, CT — perfect in 2 mins. 41 secs. Dan Feyer, a tournament judge (and reigning American Crossword Puzzle Tournament champ), finished this puzzle in 2:05. He beat constructor Ian Livengood, another judge, by about half a minute...on Ian's own puzzle!

– puzzle by Ian Livengood

Sat 9/28/2013
P	A	W	P	R	I	N	T		M	E	A	N	T	O
R	E	E	L	E	D	I	N		I	N	F	E	R	S
O	R	N	A	M	E	N	T	A	L	T	R	E	E	S
P	O	T	T	I	E	S		L	E	I		D	E	I
O	B	S	E	S	S		B	I	S	C	A	Y	N	E
S	A	O	N	E		P	I	E	T	I	N
A	T	U	S		M	I	G	N	O	N	E	T	T	E
L	I	T		B	I	G	B	A	N	G		H	U	A
S	C	H	O	O	L	M	A	T	E		C	E	R	T
			D	A	L	E	N	E		B	E	R	N	E
T	I	M	E	S	I	N	K		G	E	R	M	A	N
I	W	O		T	O	T		B	A	R	T	O	L	I
L	I	S	T	E	N	S	T	O	R	E	A	S	O	N
T	S	H	I	R	T		R	U	N	T	I	E	S	T
S	H	E	E	S	H		I	T	I	S	N	T	S	O

Judging by comments on the blogs, you either love Joe Krozel or you hate him. I lean more towards the former. Joe is always pushing the envelope, in this case with a super-low word count. As in most puzzles of this sort, there are compromises — as with NINS, D'ALENE, AT US, RUNTIEST, and TREEN crossing TREES.

On the other hand, the grid has a lot of great entries — PAW PRINT, SCHOOLMATE, TIME SINK, SHEESH, MILLIONTH, WENT SOUTH, BIG BANG crossing BIG BANK, and both 15-letter entries. I wouldn't want every themeless puzzle to push the envelope like this. But once in a while? Absolutely.

– puzzle by Joe Krozel

Fri 9/27/2013
G	E	R	M	I	N	A	T	E		L	U	C	I	A
O	V	E	R	T	A	K	E	S		A	N	O	D	E
D	O	M	E	S	T	I	C	P	A	R	T	N	E	R
I	K	I	D		A	R	S		S	K	I	D	O	O
V	E	T		A	L	A		G	A	S	L	O	G	S
A	S	S	I	S	I		A	R	P			F	R	O
			C	H	A	N	G	E		O	N	E	A	L
M	C	G	E	E		O	N	E		P	O	E	M	S
A	L	O	E	S		L	E	T	T	E	R
M	E	T			S	A	W		A	R	M	P	I	T
M	A	T	D	O	W	N		A	G	A		A	M	Y
A	R	E	O	L	A		E	S	T		A	G	A	R
M	I	N	D	I	N	G	T	H	E	S	T	O	R	E
I	N	I	G	O		A	R	E	A	C	O	D	E	S
A	G	N	E	S		T	E	R	M	I	N	A	T	E

I think Pete intended this puzzle as a Thursday, but as much as I liked the theme, I didn't think it was powerful enough to devote an entire puzzle to. For this to be a "themeless" puzzle, though, my rule is that the grid has to have 72 or fewer entries, and Pete's original grid had 74. So my colleague Frank Longo revised the construction. The last black square in the sixth row used to be one square higher, and its symmetrical mate in the lower left was one square lower.

This shift lowered the word count by the necessary two words. Then Frank reworked the upper-right and lower-left corners accordingly. The result turned out great, I think — a themeless puzzle with a mini-theme!

– puzzle by Peter A. Collins

POW Thu 9/26/2013
B	A	L	L		D	O	Z	E	N		H	A	L	F
E	P	E	E		I	R	A	T	E		I	D	E	A
S	I	A	M	E	S	E	C	A	T		G	M	A	C
T	E	N	O	N		S	H	I	P	S	H	A	P	E
		I	N	T	O			L	A	T	E	N	T
W	O	N		E	D	Y	S		Y	E	R
E	G	G		R	I	O	T	S		S	E	G	E	R
S	L	O	B		C	L	O	C	K		D	O	D	I
T	E	N	O	R		K	O	A	L	A		T	A	N
			L	U	V		D	R	U	M		O	M	G
	S	C	O	T	I	A			M	I	L	S
D	E	A	T	H	S	T	A	R		G	A	L	O	P
A	G	R	I		I	A	M	A	C	A	M	E	R	A
Y	U	L	E		T	R	A	C	Y		P	E	E	R
S	E	A	S		S	I	D	E	D		S	P	O	T

I met Tom Pepper and Victor Barocas when I was in Minneapolis two weeks ago. There is a surprisingly large crossword-constructing community there. This puzzle's theme is first-rate, I think.

– puzzle by Tom Pepper and Victor Barocas

Wed 9/25/2013
E	B	B	T	I	D	E	S		A	S	S	A	I	L
T	R	O	O	P	E	R	S		I	M	E	L	D	A
H	O	T	W	A	T	E	R		R	E	C	O	O	K
A	N	T		D	E	B		A	S	A	R	U	L	E
N	C	O	S		R	U	P	T	U	R	E
S	O	M	M	E		S	T	E	P		T	B	S	P
		L	O	A	D		S	U	P	S		U	K	E
A	N	A	G	R	A	M		P	L	U	G	S	I	N
D	E	N		N	T	S	B		Y	E	A	S
S	O	D	A		E	D	I	T		S	L	E	E	T
			T	A	B	O	O	E	D		E	R	N	O
L	I	T	T	E	R	S		J	A	I		V	A	T
I	M	H	E	R	E		H	A	R	D	T	I	M	E
N	A	R	N	I	A		I	N	T	E	R	C	O	M
E	X	U	D	E	D		D	O	S	S	I	E	R	S

"Word before" and "word after" sorts of themes have become overdone, I think. This one, though, I think is particularly pretty because the key word combines with both halves of the other theme entries ... and there are six of them, not four. Very impressive.

– puzzle by Victor Fleming and Bonnie L. Gentry

Tue 9/24/2013
S	H	A	H			S	T	A	D		T	Z	U	S
O	U	T	E	R		T	O	G	O		H	E	S	A
T	H	E	R	E		A	G	I	O		E	R	S	T
		D	R	E	W	B	A	R	R	Y	M	O	R	E
S	C	I		S	P	I	E	L	B	E	R	G
C	O	N	C	E	A	L			E	L	S
O	M	N	I	S		I	F	E	L	L		M	S	G
R	E	E	D		S	T	E	A	L		M	O	T	H
E	R	R		S	H	Y	E	R		P	A	B	L	O
			S	O	I			D	A	I	R	I	E	S
		P	H	O	N	E	H	O	M	E		L	O	T
F	L	Y	I	N	G	B	I	C	Y	C	L	E
R	O	L	E		L	E	N	T		E	U	B	I	E
A	W	O	L		E	R	G	O		S	P	A	C	E
T	E	N	D		S	T	E	R			E	Y	E	R

I'm astonished by the amount of theme material Kevin managed to wedge into this puzzle, some of it even stacked and/or crossing other theme entries. At the last minute, just before editing, I decided this puzzle needed a theme "explainer," so the circled E and T were my idea. The E was already in place. The center-right and lower-right sections of the grid were revised to get the circled T in a symmetrical position.

– puzzle by Kevin Christian

Mon 9/23/2013
B	R	A	D			D	U	B		S	O	L	I	D
A	I	D	E	D		A	S	A		O	B	E	S	E
S	A	D	I	E		M	E	N	S	R	O	O	M	S
S	L	I	C	E	A	N	D	D	I	C	E
E	T	C	E	T	C			I	K	E		M	O	P
T	O	T	S		T	H	E	T	H	R	E	E	R	S
				S	I	A	M			E	L	W	A	Y
	I	T	S	T	I	M	E	T	O	R	O	L	L
A	C	H	O	O			R	U	E	S
G	O	O	G	O	O	E	Y	E	S		I	M	A	M
E	N	S		D	I	N			T	A	M	A	L	E
			C	O	S	T	U	M	E	B	A	L	L	S
V	I	C	E	V	E	R	S	A		C	R	A	W	S
E	V	A	D	E		A	N	N		S	E	W	E	R
T	Y	L	E	R		P	A	X			T	I	T	S

My favorite theme answer here is THE THREE R'S, especially as R'S are a fun thing to roll. I edited this puzzle on a plane ride to Iowa two weeks ago, fact-checking a few clues once I got back.

– puzzle by Susan Gelfand

Sat 9/21/2013
L	I	A	R	S				B	L	A	S	T	I	T
U	N	D	O	C	K			C	O	M	E	O	N	S
S	A	S	S	O	N	S		S	A	N	T	A	N	A
T	W	O	S	T	E	P	S		F	E	T	T	E	R
F	O	R	E	T	E	L	L	S		S	L	U	R	S
U	R	B	S		P	I	A	M	A	T	E	R	S
L	D	S		B	A	T	T	A	L	I	O	N
			L	E	T	T	E	R	M	E	N
		C	O	N	C	E	R	T	O	S		S	E	A
	T	O	U	G	H	R	O	A	D		M	A	G	I
C	O	N	G	A		S	O	L	O	H	O	M	E	R
L	O	C	A	L	S		F	E	V	E	R	I	S	H
A	L	E	N	C	O	N		C	A	R	E	S	T	O
M	E	D	I	A	T	E			R	E	S	E	E	S
P	R	E	S	T	O	S				S	O	N	D	E

With just 58 words, this grid design is an eye-opener. My favorite entries in it are 6A, 38A, 14D, 20D, 23D, 29D, and 34D. I didn't care so much for ADSORBS, BCS (especially that), SONDE, and one or two other things. But overall this is pretty handsome.

– puzzle by Tim Croce

Fri 9/20/2013
A	S	K	O	V	E	R		P	T	B	O	A	T	S
R	A	I	S	E	D	A	N	E	Y	E	B	R	O	W
A	L	L	K	I	D	D	I	N	G	A	S	I	D	E
R	O	M	A	N		I	N	N	E	R		S	I	E
A	M	E	R		M	A	J	O	R		S	T	E	T
T	E	R		T	I	T	A	N		K	N	I	F	E
			B	A	K	E	S		D	E	A	D	O	N
	I	B	I	S	E	S		P	E	E	P	E	R
A	M	A	Z	E	D		M	A	L	L	S
R	I	L	E	D		B	U	S	T	S		S	H	E
A	T	I	T		P	E	S	T	S		V	T	E	N
P	A	N		S	E	I	K	O		K	A	R	A	T
A	T	E	E	N	A	G	E	R	I	N	L	O	V	E
H	O	S	T	I	L	E	T	A	K	E	O	V	E	R
O	R	E	S	T	E	S		L	E	E	R	E	R	S

Mangesh Ghogre, of Mumbai, India, is making his debut with today's puzzle. How he and Doug divided up the construction job I don't know. The two pairs of stacked 15s are pretty nice, I think, although three of the four 15s have appeared in Times puzzles before (17A once, 48A twice, and 45A three times). But it's been awhile since they've appeared, and the clues for them are fresh, so I hope solvers will not remember them or at least not mind.

– puzzle by Mangesh Ghogre and Doug Peterson

Thumbnails

50 puzzles with Editor comments — 9/20/2013 to 11/13/2013

O	J	S			T	A	B	L	E		I	K	E	A
P	U	P		S	H	R	I	E	K		S	I	L	L
A	D	O		M	I	N	C	E	G	A	R	L	I	C
L	I	N	G	E	R	I	E			D	A	N	Z	A
		G	R	A	T	E	P	A	R	M	E	S	A	N
O	L	E	A	R	Y	S		W	A	I	L
N	A	B	S				F	O	U	R		O	B	E
C	H	O	P	B	A	S	I	L	L	E	A	V	E	S
E	R	B		U	N	I	X				N	E	A	T
			A	S	I	S		R	E	B	I	R	T	H
C	R	U	S	H	P	I	N	E	N	U	T	S
L	A	N	C	E			O	B	V	I	A	T	E	S
A	D	D	O	L	I	V	E	O	I	L		A	V	A
P	I	E	T		M	I	L	O	R	D		T	I	N
S	I	R	S		P	E	S	T	O			E	L	K

J	E	T	S		R	A	T	E	D	G		H	O	P
E	A	R	P		A	P	O	G	E	E		E	R	R
D	R	A	F	T	D	O	D	G	E	R		R	I	O
I	S	M		W	A	R	D				C	M	O	N
			D	I	R	T	Y	D	A	N	C	I	N	G
C	A	N	O	N	S			I	D	E	S	T
E	X	A	M			S	A	N	E	R		C	A	D
D	E	M	O	L	I	T	I	O	N	D	E	R	B	Y
E	S	E		O	R	A	L	S			B	A	L	E
		D	U	R	A	N			T	A	B	B	E	D
D	U	N	K	I	N	D	O	N	U	T	S
I	R	A	E				R	O	T	A		S	A	S
M	G	M		D	O	U	B	L	E	D	U	T	C	H
L	E	E		O	N	S	I	T	E		N	A	T	O
Y	D	S		S	T	A	T	E	S		I	N	2	D

O	R	C	S		B	L	E	S	S		F	O	U	R
M	I	R	E		L	E	D	U	P		L	A	Z	E
A	G	E	R		A	N	I	S	E		I	R	I	S
H	O	P	E	T	H	A	T	H	E	L	P	S
A	R	E	N	A			S	I	D	E	B
		P	A	B	L	O				T	O	S	C	A
O	N	A		S	P	R	I	N	G	S	O	P	E	N
P	A	P	P		G	E	N	O	A		K	I	D	D
E	T	E	R	N	A	L	C	I	T	Y		K	E	Y
L	E	R	O	I				R	E	E	C	E
			C	L	O	C	K			A	U	J	U	S
		A	L	E	X	A	N	D	E	R	P	O	P	E
C	O	L	A		B	R	I	E	R		O	N	O	R
A	N	T	I		O	T	T	E	R		L	E	N	T
B	O	O	M		W	A	S	P	S		A	S	E	A

B	U	T	T	D	I	A	L	E	D		G	I	B	E
O	N	A	R	A	M	P	A	G	E		U	N	O	S
T	I	D	A	L	B	A	S	I	N		M	O	B	S
S	T	A	P	L	E	R		S	A	C		N	S	A
			P	A	C	T	S		L	O	V	E	L	Y
I	C	E		S	I	M	I		I	N	A	P	E	T
N	A	N	S		L	E	T	S		A	S	I	D	E
B	R	I	E	F	E	N	C	O	U	N	T	E	R	S
A	D	D	E	R		T	O	R	N		S	C	U	T
D	E	B	T	E	E		M	E	I	N		E	N	S
S	A	L	O	O	N		S	L	O	O	P
O	L	Y		N	A	M		O	N	S	E	R	V	E
R	E	T	D		C	A	S	S	I	O	P	E	I	A
T	R	O	Y		T	A	K	E	S	A	S	E	A	T
S	S	N	S		S	M	A	R	T	P	I	L	L	S

		D	A	R	E	S	S	A	L	A	A	M
	C	O	N	T	A	C	T	L	E	N	S	E	S
W	H	A	T	S	T	H	E	B	I	G	D	E	A	L
R	O	S	H		A	N	T	E			F	R	I	A
A	L	I	E	N	T	O		I	N	F		K	N	T
P	E	D	R	O		O	S	T	E	O	P	A	T	H
S	R	O		N	U	K	E		A	R	E	T	E	S
			T	O	P	S	E	C	R	E	T
S	A	R	D	I	S		T	O	S	S		O	Y	E
P	R	E	S	S	E	S	O	N		E	R	T	E	S
E	F	S		E	T	O		C	H	E	E	T	O	S
N	A	T	E			B	R	E	A		T	A	M	A
T	R	Y	T	O	S	E	E	I	T	M	Y	W	A	Y
	F	L	A	S	H	I	N	T	H	E	P	A	N
		E	S	T	A	T	E	S	A	L	E	S

R	I	A	T	A	S		S	H	A	M		F	B	I
A	N	T	E	U	P		W	O	V	E		A	L	F
R	H	O	N	D	A		A	B	A	N	D	I	T	S
E	A	U		I	N	I		O	R	S	O	N
B	B	C	R	O	O	K	S		I	A	N
		H	U	B		E	P	I	C		T	R	I	P
A	P	O	L	O		B	O	N	E	S		E	C	O
F	I	V	E	O		A	R	D		T	O	T	E	S
T	E	E		K	I	N	T	E		E	L	U	D	E
A	R	R	S		G	A	S	X		A	I	R
			E	I	N		C	C	C	M	O	N	T	E
		S	A	T	I	N		S	A	P		F	I	R
W	W	W	W	S	T	O	P		M	I	N	I	N	G
N	I	E		M	E	D	E		O	P	O	R	T	O
E	N	D		E	D	E	N		M	E	R	E	S	T

D	R	U	G	S		M	U	S	S		A	B	B	A
N	I	G	H	T		O	H	N	O		C	O	L	T
A	B	H	O	R		S	A	I	D	I	T	N	O	T
			S	I	T	S	U	P		M	O	N	T	E
C	A	N	T	F	O	O	L		B	E	R	E	T	S
O	R	A	T	E	S			A	L	L		T	O	T
M	I	S	O			A	R	M	A	D	A
B	E	T	W	E	E	N	Y	O	U	A	N	D	M	E
			N	A	N	T	E	S			Y	E	A	R
H	A	T		G	I	S			C	A	M	A	R	O
O	S	W	A	L	D		T	A	L	K	I	N	T	O
W	H	A	L	E		M	O	V	E	I	N
D	O	N	T	S	C	A	R	E		T	U	R	B	O
A	R	G	O		S	P	A	R		A	T	A	R	I
H	E	S	S		A	S	H	Y		S	E	G	A	L

G	S	A		O	P	E	R	A		A	N	A	I	S
O	W	L		M	O	P	U	P		H	E	N	R	I
W	I	L	D	G	E	E	S	E		H	A	T	E	D
E	T	U	I		S	E	E	M			R	I	F	E
S	C	R	E	W	Y			A	R	P		N	U	B
T	H	E	T	A		W	I	N	E	H	O	U	S	E
				R	A	I	N		P	A	C	K	E	T
		W	I	N	G	E	D	H	O	R	S	E
T	A	I	P	E	I		U	R	S	A
W	I	N	O	R	L	O	S	E		O	B	I	T	S
E	R	N		S	E	N			S	H	U	M	A	I
E	L	I	S			E	R	I	N		R	B	I	S
Z	I	P	U	P		W	I	S	E	C	R	A	C	K
E	N	E	R	O		A	T	B	A	T		C	H	E
S	E	G	E	R		Y	A	N	K	S		K	I	L

O	A	K		B	R	A			S	C	O	F	F	S
B	E	I		M	A	X	I		C	O	L	L	I	E
G	I	N		W	I	L	T		I	N	D	E	N	T
Y	O	G	I		D	E	S	K		S	E	X	E	S
N	U	A	N	C	E		R	A	N	T	S
		R	U	H	R		A	L	C	A	T	R	A	Z
L	O	T	S	A		N	I	K	O	N		I	R	E
U	S	H	E	R		A	N	A		T	A	C	O	S
M	S	U		L	O	G	I	N		I	S	H	O	T
P	A	R	M	E	S	A	N		I	N	C	A
			A	M	O	N	G		D	E	A	R	M	E
M	A	Z	D	A		O	M	N	I		P	D	A	S
S	M	U	D	G	E		E	C	O	N		I	N	T
R	E	L	E	N	T		N	A	T	O		I	D	O
P	R	U	N	E	S			A	S	S		I	M	P

O	B	A	M	A		T	H	A	W		M	O	T	T	O		C	L	A	P
P	A	R	I	S		O	O	N	A		E	N	R	O	N		L	A	I	R
E	M	N	S	H	E	H	R	D	S		R	E	I	N	E		E	R	L	E
L	A	O	S		X	E	N	A		G	R	A	P	E	L	E	A	V	E	S
			J	C	O	L	E		B	O	I	L	S		I	X	N	A	Y	S
E	N	G	A	R	D	E		B	O	D	E	S		B	T	U	S
C	O	M	P	O	U	N	F	R	C	U	R		C	A	R	R		T	S	E
G	L	E	A	N	S		I	A	C	T		D	A	T	E	B	O	O	K	S
	A	N	N	I		I	N	S	E	C	R	E	T			S	P	R	I	T
				E	L	L	E			H	E	K	A	T	E		E	S	M	E
O	C	H	N	S	S	S	T	E	R		L	E	M	O	N	D	R	O	P	S
C	L	A	Y		D	A	U	B	E	D			A	D	E	N
H	A	R	P	O			N	A	V	Y	Y	A	R	D		I	T	E	M
R	U	M	D	B	I	L	E	Y		N	A	L	A		T	E	E	M	E	D
E	S	S		E	D	Y	S		B	A	N	A	N	A	S	P	L	I	T	S
			O	R	L	E		T	U	S	K	S		S	H	E	L	L	A	C
S	E	A	D	O	O		O	U	S	T	S		S	T	I	R	S
O	X	O	D	N	V	E	R	S	I	Y		A	L	A	R		A	N	N	A
L	A	R	S		E	R	A	S	E		F	R	U	I	T	F	L	I	E	S
O	C	T	O		T	I	L	L	S		T	E	R	R		L	I	B	R	A
S	T	A	N		O	N	S	E	T		C	A	P	E		A	E	S	O	P

O	J	S			T	A	B	L	E		I	K	E	A
P	U	P		S	H	R	I	E	K		S	I	L	L
A	D	O		M	I	N	C	E	G	A	R	L	I	C
L	I	N	G	E	R	I	E			D	A	N	Z	A
		G	R	A	T	E	P	A	R	M	E	S	A	N
O	L	E	A	R	Y	S		W	A	I	L
N	A	B	S				F	O	U	R		O	B	E
C	H	O	P	B	A	S	I	L	L	E	A	V	E	S
E	R	B		U	N	I	X				N	E	A	T
			A	S	I	S		R	E	B	I	R	T	H
C	R	U	S	H	P	I	N	E	N	U	T	S
L	A	N	C	E			O	B	V	I	A	T	E	S
A	D	D	O	L	I	V	E	O	I	L		A	V	A
P	I	E	T		M	I	L	O	R	D		T	I	N
S	I	R	S		P	E	S	T	O			E	L	K

J	E	T	S		R	A	T	E	D	G		H	O	P
E	A	R	P		A	P	O	G	E	E		E	R	R
D	R	A	F	T	D	O	D	G	E	R		R	I	O
I	S	M		W	A	R	D				C	M	O	N
			D	I	R	T	Y	D	A	N	C	I	N	G
C	A	N	O	N	S			I	D	E	S	T
E	X	A	M			S	A	N	E	R		C	A	D
D	E	M	O	L	I	T	I	O	N	D	E	R	B	Y
E	S	E		O	R	A	L	S			B	A	L	E
		D	U	R	A	N			T	A	B	B	E	D
D	U	N	K	I	N	D	O	N	U	T	S
I	R	A	E				R	O	T	A		S	A	S
M	G	M		D	O	U	B	L	E	D	U	T	C	H
L	E	E		O	N	S	I	T	E		N	A	T	O
Y	D	S		S	T	A	T	E	S		I	N	2	D

O	R	C	S		B	L	E	S	S		F	O	U	R
M	I	R	E		L	E	D	U	P		L	A	Z	E
A	G	E	R		A	N	I	S	E		I	R	I	S
H	O	P	E	T	H	A	T	H	E	L	P	S
A	R	E	N	A			S	I	D	E	B
		P	A	B	L	O				T	O	S	C	A
O	N	A		S	P	R	I	N	G	S	O	P	E	N
P	A	P	P		G	E	N	O	A		K	I	D	D
E	T	E	R	N	A	L	C	I	T	Y		K	E	Y
L	E	R	O	I				R	E	E	C	E
			C	L	O	C	K			A	U	J	U	S
		A	L	E	X	A	N	D	E	R	P	O	P	E
C	O	L	A		B	R	I	E	R		O	N	O	R
A	N	T	I		O	T	T	E	R		L	E	N	T
B	O	O	M		W	A	S	P	S		A	S	E	A

B	U	T	T	D	I	A	L	E	D		G	I	B	E
O	N	A	R	A	M	P	A	G	E		U	N	O	S
T	I	D	A	L	B	A	S	I	N		M	O	B	S
S	T	A	P	L	E	R		S	A	C		N	S	A
			P	A	C	T	S		L	O	V	E	L	Y
I	C	E		S	I	M	I		I	N	A	P	E	T
N	A	N	S		L	E	T	S		A	S	I	D	E
B	R	I	E	F	E	N	C	O	U	N	T	E	R	S
A	D	D	E	R		T	O	R	N		S	C	U	T
D	E	B	T	E	E		M	E	I	N		E	N	S
S	A	L	O	O	N		S	L	O	O	P
O	L	Y		N	A	M		O	N	S	E	R	V	E
R	E	T	D		C	A	S	S	I	O	P	E	I	A
T	R	O	Y		T	A	K	E	S	A	S	E	A	T
S	S	N	S		S	M	A	R	T	P	I	L	L	S

		D	A	R	E	S	S	A	L	A	A	M
	C	O	N	T	A	C	T	L	E	N	S	E	S
W	H	A	T	S	T	H	E	B	I	G	D	E	A	L
R	O	S	H		A	N	T	E			F	R	I	A
A	L	I	E	N	T	O		I	N	F		K	N	T
P	E	D	R	O		O	S	T	E	O	P	A	T	H
S	R	O		N	U	K	E		A	R	E	T	E	S
			T	O	P	S	E	C	R	E	T
S	A	R	D	I	S		T	O	S	S		O	Y	E
P	R	E	S	S	E	S	O	N		E	R	T	E	S
E	F	S		E	T	O		C	H	E	E	T	O	S
N	A	T	E			B	R	E	A		T	A	M	A
T	R	Y	T	O	S	E	E	I	T	M	Y	W	A	Y
	F	L	A	S	H	I	N	T	H	E	P	A	N
		E	S	T	A	T	E	S	A	L	E	S

R	I	A	T	A	S		S	H	A	M		F	B	I
A	N	T	E	U	P		W	O	V	E		A	L	F
R	H	O	N	D	A		A	B	A	N	D	I	T	S
E	A	U		I	N	I		O	R	S	O	N
B	B	C	R	O	O	K	S		I	A	N
		H	U	B		E	P	I	C		T	R	I	P
A	P	O	L	O		B	O	N	E	S		E	C	O
F	I	V	E	O		A	R	D		T	O	T	E	S
T	E	E		K	I	N	T	E		E	L	U	D	E
A	R	R	S		G	A	S	X		A	I	R
			E	I	N		C	C	C	M	O	N	T	E
		S	A	T	I	N		S	A	P		F	I	R
W	W	W	W	S	T	O	P		M	I	N	I	N	G
N	I	E		M	E	D	E		O	P	O	R	T	O
E	N	D		E	D	E	N		M	E	R	E	S	T

D	R	U	G	S		M	U	S	S		A	B	B	A
N	I	G	H	T		O	H	N	O		C	O	L	T
A	B	H	O	R		S	A	I	D	I	T	N	O	T
			S	I	T	S	U	P		M	O	N	T	E
C	A	N	T	F	O	O	L		B	E	R	E	T	S
O	R	A	T	E	S			A	L	L		T	O	T
M	I	S	O			A	R	M	A	D	A
B	E	T	W	E	E	N	Y	O	U	A	N	D	M	E
			N	A	N	T	E	S			Y	E	A	R
H	A	T		G	I	S			C	A	M	A	R	O
O	S	W	A	L	D		T	A	L	K	I	N	T	O
W	H	A	L	E		M	O	V	E	I	N
D	O	N	T	S	C	A	R	E		T	U	R	B	O
A	R	G	O		S	P	A	R		A	T	A	R	I
H	E	S	S		A	S	H	Y		S	E	G	A	L

G	S	A		O	P	E	R	A		A	N	A	I	S
O	W	L		M	O	P	U	P		H	E	N	R	I
W	I	L	D	G	E	E	S	E		H	A	T	E	D
E	T	U	I		S	E	E	M			R	I	F	E
S	C	R	E	W	Y			A	R	P		N	U	B
T	H	E	T	A		W	I	N	E	H	O	U	S	E
				R	A	I	N		P	A	C	K	E	T
		W	I	N	G	E	D	H	O	R	S	E
T	A	I	P	E	I		U	R	S	A
W	I	N	O	R	L	O	S	E		O	B	I	T	S
E	R	N		S	E	N			S	H	U	M	A	I
E	L	I	S			E	R	I	N		R	B	I	S
Z	I	P	U	P		W	I	S	E	C	R	A	C	K
E	N	E	R	O		A	T	B	A	T		C	H	E
S	E	G	E	R		Y	A	N	K	S		K	I	L

O	A	K		B	R	A			S	C	O	F	F	S
B	E	I		M	A	X	I		C	O	L	L	I	E
G	I	N		W	I	L	T		I	N	D	E	N	T
Y	O	G	I		D	E	S	K		S	E	X	E	S
N	U	A	N	C	E		R	A	N	T	S
		R	U	H	R		A	L	C	A	T	R	A	Z
L	O	T	S	A		N	I	K	O	N		I	R	E
U	S	H	E	R		A	N	A		T	A	C	O	S
M	S	U		L	O	G	I	N		I	S	H	O	T
P	A	R	M	E	S	A	N		I	N	C	A
			A	M	O	N	G		D	E	A	R	M	E
M	A	Z	D	A		O	M	N	I		P	D	A	S
S	M	U	D	G	E		E	C	O	N		I	N	T
R	E	L	E	N	T		N	A	T	O		I	D	O
P	R	U	N	E	S			A	S	S		I	M	P

O	B	A	M	A		T	H	A	W		M	O	T	T	O		C	L	A	P
P	A	R	I	S		O	O	N	A		E	N	R	O	N		L	A	I	R
E	M	N	S	H	E	H	R	D	S		R	E	I	N	E		E	R	L	E
L	A	O	S		X	E	N	A		G	R	A	P	E	L	E	A	V	E	S
			J	C	O	L	E		B	O	I	L	S		I	X	N	A	Y	S
E	N	G	A	R	D	E		B	O	D	E	S		B	T	U	S
C	O	M	P	O	U	N	F	R	C	U	R		C	A	R	R		T	S	E
G	L	E	A	N	S		I	A	C	T		D	A	T	E	B	O	O	K	S
	A	N	N	I		I	N	S	E	C	R	E	T			S	P	R	I	T
				E	L	L	E			H	E	K	A	T	E		E	S	M	E
O	C	H	N	S	S	S	T	E	R		L	E	M	O	N	D	R	O	P	S
C	L	A	Y		D	A	U	B	E	D			A	D	E	N
H	A	R	P	O			N	A	V	Y	Y	A	R	D		I	T	E	M
R	U	M	D	B	I	L	E	Y		N	A	L	A		T	E	E	M	E	D
E	S	S		E	D	Y	S		B	A	N	A	N	A	S	P	L	I	T	S
			O	R	L	E		T	U	S	K	S		S	H	E	L	L	A	C
S	E	A	D	O	O		O	U	S	T	S		S	T	I	R	S
O	X	O	D	N	V	E	R	S	I	Y		A	L	A	R		A	N	N	A
L	A	R	S		E	R	A	S	E		F	R	U	I	T	F	L	I	E	S
O	C	T	O		T	I	L	L	S		T	E	R	R		L	I	B	R	A
S	T	A	N		O	N	S	E	T		C	A	P	E		A	E	S	O	P

O	J	S			T	A	B	L	E		I	K	E	A
P	U	P		S	H	R	I	E	K		S	I	L	L
A	D	O		M	I	N	C	E	G	A	R	L	I	C
L	I	N	G	E	R	I	E			D	A	N	Z	A
		G	R	A	T	E	P	A	R	M	E	S	A	N
O	L	E	A	R	Y	S		W	A	I	L
N	A	B	S				F	O	U	R		O	B	E
C	H	O	P	B	A	S	I	L	L	E	A	V	E	S
E	R	B		U	N	I	X				N	E	A	T
			A	S	I	S		R	E	B	I	R	T	H
C	R	U	S	H	P	I	N	E	N	U	T	S
L	A	N	C	E			O	B	V	I	A	T	E	S
A	D	D	O	L	I	V	E	O	I	L		A	V	A
P	I	E	T		M	I	L	O	R	D		T	I	N
S	I	R	S		P	E	S	T	O			E	L	K

J	E	T	S		R	A	T	E	D	G		H	O	P
E	A	R	P		A	P	O	G	E	E		E	R	R
D	R	A	F	T	D	O	D	G	E	R		R	I	O
I	S	M		W	A	R	D				C	M	O	N
			D	I	R	T	Y	D	A	N	C	I	N	G
C	A	N	O	N	S			I	D	E	S	T
E	X	A	M			S	A	N	E	R		C	A	D
D	E	M	O	L	I	T	I	O	N	D	E	R	B	Y
E	S	E		O	R	A	L	S			B	A	L	E
		D	U	R	A	N			T	A	B	B	E	D
D	U	N	K	I	N	D	O	N	U	T	S
I	R	A	E				R	O	T	A		S	A	S
M	G	M		D	O	U	B	L	E	D	U	T	C	H
L	E	E		O	N	S	I	T	E		N	A	T	O
Y	D	S		S	T	A	T	E	S		I	N	2	D

O	R	C	S		B	L	E	S	S		F	O	U	R
M	I	R	E		L	E	D	U	P		L	A	Z	E
A	G	E	R		A	N	I	S	E		I	R	I	S
H	O	P	E	T	H	A	T	H	E	L	P	S
A	R	E	N	A			S	I	D	E	B
		P	A	B	L	O				T	O	S	C	A
O	N	A		S	P	R	I	N	G	S	O	P	E	N
P	A	P	P		G	E	N	O	A		K	I	D	D
E	T	E	R	N	A	L	C	I	T	Y		K	E	Y
L	E	R	O	I				R	E	E	C	E
			C	L	O	C	K			A	U	J	U	S
		A	L	E	X	A	N	D	E	R	P	O	P	E
C	O	L	A		B	R	I	E	R		O	N	O	R
A	N	T	I		O	T	T	E	R		L	E	N	T
B	O	O	M		W	A	S	P	S		A	S	E	A

B	U	T	T	D	I	A	L	E	D		G	I	B	E
O	N	A	R	A	M	P	A	G	E		U	N	O	S
T	I	D	A	L	B	A	S	I	N		M	O	B	S
S	T	A	P	L	E	R		S	A	C		N	S	A
			P	A	C	T	S		L	O	V	E	L	Y
I	C	E		S	I	M	I		I	N	A	P	E	T
N	A	N	S		L	E	T	S		A	S	I	D	E
B	R	I	E	F	E	N	C	O	U	N	T	E	R	S
A	D	D	E	R		T	O	R	N		S	C	U	T
D	E	B	T	E	E		M	E	I	N		E	N	S
S	A	L	O	O	N		S	L	O	O	P
O	L	Y		N	A	M		O	N	S	E	R	V	E
R	E	T	D		C	A	S	S	I	O	P	E	I	A
T	R	O	Y		T	A	K	E	S	A	S	E	A	T
S	S	N	S		S	M	A	R	T	P	I	L	L	S

		D	A	R	E	S	S	A	L	A	A	M
	C	O	N	T	A	C	T	L	E	N	S	E	S
W	H	A	T	S	T	H	E	B	I	G	D	E	A	L
R	O	S	H		A	N	T	E			F	R	I	A
A	L	I	E	N	T	O		I	N	F		K	N	T
P	E	D	R	O		O	S	T	E	O	P	A	T	H
S	R	O		N	U	K	E		A	R	E	T	E	S
			T	O	P	S	E	C	R	E	T
S	A	R	D	I	S		T	O	S	S		O	Y	E
P	R	E	S	S	E	S	O	N		E	R	T	E	S
E	F	S		E	T	O		C	H	E	E	T	O	S
N	A	T	E			B	R	E	A		T	A	M	A
T	R	Y	T	O	S	E	E	I	T	M	Y	W	A	Y
	F	L	A	S	H	I	N	T	H	E	P	A	N
		E	S	T	A	T	E	S	A	L	E	S

R	I	A	T	A	S		S	H	A	M		F	B	I
A	N	T	E	U	P		W	O	V	E		A	L	F
R	H	O	N	D	A		A	B	A	N	D	I	T	S
E	A	U		I	N	I		O	R	S	O	N
B	B	C	R	O	O	K	S		I	A	N
		H	U	B		E	P	I	C		T	R	I	P
A	P	O	L	O		B	O	N	E	S		E	C	O
F	I	V	E	O		A	R	D		T	O	T	E	S
T	E	E		K	I	N	T	E		E	L	U	D	E
A	R	R	S		G	A	S	X		A	I	R
			E	I	N		C	C	C	M	O	N	T	E
		S	A	T	I	N		S	A	P		F	I	R
W	W	W	W	S	T	O	P		M	I	N	I	N	G
N	I	E		M	E	D	E		O	P	O	R	T	O
E	N	D		E	D	E	N		M	E	R	E	S	T

D	R	U	G	S		M	U	S	S		A	B	B	A
N	I	G	H	T		O	H	N	O		C	O	L	T
A	B	H	O	R		S	A	I	D	I	T	N	O	T
			S	I	T	S	U	P		M	O	N	T	E
C	A	N	T	F	O	O	L		B	E	R	E	T	S
O	R	A	T	E	S			A	L	L		T	O	T
M	I	S	O			A	R	M	A	D	A
B	E	T	W	E	E	N	Y	O	U	A	N	D	M	E
			N	A	N	T	E	S			Y	E	A	R
H	A	T		G	I	S			C	A	M	A	R	O
O	S	W	A	L	D		T	A	L	K	I	N	T	O
W	H	A	L	E		M	O	V	E	I	N
D	O	N	T	S	C	A	R	E		T	U	R	B	O
A	R	G	O		S	P	A	R		A	T	A	R	I
H	E	S	S		A	S	H	Y		S	E	G	A	L

G	S	A		O	P	E	R	A		A	N	A	I	S
O	W	L		M	O	P	U	P		H	E	N	R	I
W	I	L	D	G	E	E	S	E		H	A	T	E	D
E	T	U	I		S	E	E	M			R	I	F	E
S	C	R	E	W	Y			A	R	P		N	U	B
T	H	E	T	A		W	I	N	E	H	O	U	S	E
				R	A	I	N		P	A	C	K	E	T
		W	I	N	G	E	D	H	O	R	S	E
T	A	I	P	E	I		U	R	S	A
W	I	N	O	R	L	O	S	E		O	B	I	T	S
E	R	N		S	E	N			S	H	U	M	A	I
E	L	I	S			E	R	I	N		R	B	I	S
Z	I	P	U	P		W	I	S	E	C	R	A	C	K
E	N	E	R	O		A	T	B	A	T		C	H	E
S	E	G	E	R		Y	A	N	K	S		K	I	L

O	A	K		B	R	A			S	C	O	F	F	S
B	E	I		M	A	X	I		C	O	L	L	I	E
G	I	N		W	I	L	T		I	N	D	E	N	T
Y	O	G	I		D	E	S	K		S	E	X	E	S
N	U	A	N	C	E		R	A	N	T	S
		R	U	H	R		A	L	C	A	T	R	A	Z
L	O	T	S	A		N	I	K	O	N		I	R	E
U	S	H	E	R		A	N	A		T	A	C	O	S
M	S	U		L	O	G	I	N		I	S	H	O	T
P	A	R	M	E	S	A	N		I	N	C	A
			A	M	O	N	G		D	E	A	R	M	E
M	A	Z	D	A		O	M	N	I		P	D	A	S
S	M	U	D	G	E		E	C	O	N		I	N	T
R	E	L	E	N	T		N	A	T	O		I	D	O
P	R	U	N	E	S			A	S	S		I	M	P

O	B	A	M	A		T	H	A	W		M	O	T	T	O		C	L	A	P
P	A	R	I	S		O	O	N	A		E	N	R	O	N		L	A	I	R
E	M	N	S	H	E	H	R	D	S		R	E	I	N	E		E	R	L	E
L	A	O	S		X	E	N	A		G	R	A	P	E	L	E	A	V	E	S
			J	C	O	L	E		B	O	I	L	S		I	X	N	A	Y	S
E	N	G	A	R	D	E		B	O	D	E	S		B	T	U	S
C	O	M	P	O	U	N	F	R	C	U	R		C	A	R	R		T	S	E
G	L	E	A	N	S		I	A	C	T		D	A	T	E	B	O	O	K	S
	A	N	N	I		I	N	S	E	C	R	E	T			S	P	R	I	T
				E	L	L	E			H	E	K	A	T	E		E	S	M	E
O	C	H	N	S	S	S	T	E	R		L	E	M	O	N	D	R	O	P	S
C	L	A	Y		D	A	U	B	E	D			A	D	E	N
H	A	R	P	O			N	A	V	Y	Y	A	R	D		I	T	E	M
R	U	M	D	B	I	L	E	Y		N	A	L	A		T	E	E	M	E	D
E	S	S		E	D	Y	S		B	A	N	A	N	A	S	P	L	I	T	S
			O	R	L	E		T	U	S	K	S		S	H	E	L	L	A	C
S	E	A	D	O	O		O	U	S	T	S		S	T	I	R	S
O	X	O	D	N	V	E	R	S	I	Y		A	L	A	R		A	N	N	A
L	A	R	S		E	R	A	S	E		F	R	U	I	T	F	L	I	E	S
O	C	T	O		T	I	L	L	S		T	E	R	R		L	I	B	R	A
S	T	A	N		O	N	S	E	T		C	A	P	E		A	E	S	O	P