This web browser is not supported. Use Chrome, Edge, Safari, or Firefox for best results.

Thumbnails

50 puzzles with Editor comments — 9/6/2013 to 10/30/2013

Showing 50 out of 563 total with editor comments.

Use the older and newer links above to see more.

Wed 10/30/2013
CAWSPRYPUSHIT
AVEYOYOESPANA
RIASWEDISHFISH
LASSBASTERPI
STEAMERBORODIN
JELLYBEANSNORI
RDSBOASCASES
CANDYCORN
STRADEAVEEGG
TWINHOTTAMALES
POSTMANELEMENT
ETSABZUGAVER
TOOTSIEROLLARI
ENLISTGRIPTIN
REESESEYESECG

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.

Tue 10/29/2013
ASTRAEIDERCAB
LIRASLDOPAOVI
AGASPFIREPOWER
WHITESMOKEPERT
STAREATBERTH
STNODIN
SPICESBIRDBATH
EACHHOUSEALSO
CLEANOUTAIRBAG
NOTIPMS
ACINGTROOPER
WANEGREENLIGHT
FULLCOURTAERIE
USAAGENTTREND
LEWMOSSYESTES

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.

Mon 10/28/2013
HIDAGEGAPOHME
AMOROCOCOMICA
WHEREOHWHEREHAS
KOREAONOAGONY
GMCSONIA
REGALEINSPOT
OEDIPUSREXEWE
RAGESTAGPLENA
ETERANGEROVER
MADMAXSEEPED
ELSIECSI
ALERODVRANDUP
MYLITTLEDOGGONE
FRATAERATEOTS
MELSTRYSTSMOO

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.

Sat 10/26/2013
PIZZACRUSTBLAB
ARIONASSISFORA
CIPHERTEXTFORT
ASSAMDARKKIT
NOGOMANCAVE
PSANOONPELTER
HOCKEYMOMWETLY
OLENAPLUSAHAB
NATALHOTPOTATO
ERICASSECTTEX
BACKLITDATA
ORAANONOLDIE
ORCABROODMARES
TAILITALIANART
HYDENAMESNAMES

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.

POW Fri 10/25/2013
MADEMINCEMEATOF
ECONOMICWARFARE
LOSANGELESTIMES
SPECIALINTEREST
STEMSISS
ODEFFFTREE
STURMBEEFSAXL
MORSECODESIGNAL
OJSNILESLAKME
GOALMAXTVS
UGAPIERO
COMMERCIALRADIO
FREETRANSLATION
CHANSONSDEGESTE
SETSONAPEDESTAL

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.

Thu 10/24/2013
ADAPTTOINKPOTS
RENEWEDDECODES
TANGOEDEGALITE
SRAWRSSABINE
CATTDS
ANALYSTPIEHOLE
MORAHEAVENON
BOOMERANGEFFECT
ISMLOTTEABAR
TEASETSARTICLE
AVAEEL
AFLARESTKTRI
FLOUTERAUCTION
ISOTOPEKRISTIN
BOLEROSENTAILS

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.

Wed 10/23/2013
ARCHISLESBADE
SOHOSAUTEARIA
TWISTERCHECKERS
ISPREDPUENTE
MBAIOUTRAYS
CLUEMONOPOLY
AINTREFINENEO
FAKEIDSTEELS
ERSGEORGEVIAL
SORRYOTHELLO
REMITREOARS
ELICITDONIDA
BACKTOBACKGAMES
ETRECOLORSOUP
LEONKAPPAINXS

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

Tue 10/22/2013
AHORABASICDLI
RATERETHNOOID
CLEARTHEAIROCT
OARMAIOSHEA
LINEARTHINKING
CNNISAACS
STPATSOTOKEV
IHEARTHUCKABEES
BRAWITHSAYSO
ANCHORCTR
ACUTEARTHRITIS
SITARUAENUT
SAOMIDDLEEARTH
ANIERROLSHERA
YSLSEERSAIMAT

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.

Mon 10/21/2013
CATTYDRIVEPAP
OMAHARADARONE
RUNAWAYJURYGEE
ASKINGANIDOWN
LESELFNOSES
BREAKOUTSTAR
SETATINSUPINE
AXONSLEADICTA
FEUDEDESQSKID
ESCAPECLAUSE
HITCHPATSHE
LAUDLOGFATHOM
ALPTAKEOFFRAMP
ZOOARENAFUMET
YENBERETSEEDY

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.

Sun 10/20/2013 COUNTRY ROAD
ASATEAMTOECAPSSTAMPED
INVOICEATMCARDDOWORSE
MAINSTREETACROSSAMERICA
STASEVAAGLETEKEIMOF
ACTONRAWESLSTART
THEFIRSTMAJORMEMORIALTO
SAMOAANEWANED
ONESIZETUNEDINADSPACE
LODIRWYNEILSMIOEGON
LOTSASOFIAINKERBRINY
ANVILNEONOOOHNINJA
GUTENENTHSPA
CASTANETSLOWVISION
ARIAISRACHGETELIO
THESIXTEENTHUSPRESIDENT
EAVEDSLATETILEDANKE
STEROLSLIECRUILLNESS
LINCOLNHIGHWAY
HEADNOUOOPNCAA
INDRAGAPPLIEDTOEBOOKS
TSAOCOTTSAOCMORFSLEVART
CUTIEORANGETREESVALOR
HEEDSMOTTSSANDSYESNO

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).

Sat 10/19/2013
WHIPITSPACEJAM
HAMELSCOCACOLA
AMPSUPHITSONGS
TRUTVOMNISKOS
SADONAUTPYRE
UDEKITTYKELLEY
PINCENEZRDA
GOTOVERMAGNUMS
RITTAKEONME
JOHNNYCAKESDMX
ANASOXENGEMS
REVHELPSGORGE
JOEBOXERMONGOL
ANNERICEFAZOOL
RESTSTOPATODDS

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.

Fri 10/18/2013
STILLDREALBA
CONEHEADSMEAN
ARCTANGENTOATS
RELISTSORIENTE
FAUNASTWINBILL
ADDONJETPLANE
COENGALILEE
ERSDESERETLOB
DETOXEDJONI
STEARNESTAMES
THEOREMSLIMBIC
YESDEARSANTANA
PASALABORPARTY
ETATZENGARDEN
AHSOLEONTYNE

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.

Thu 10/17/2013
BMWNAMATHLSAT
BAHISIDROSTLO
SCOTLANDYARDAGE
BSASUTRAGIS
NEWYORKPOSTAGE
ATHENAEAGER
THOKSTARERS
APPENDAGE
OMBKOALAJED
BYEARFRIEND
ESTREETBANDAGE
ORTCANOEENA
CLASSIFIEDADAGE
TIREMILNERRES
ANSASNEERSPDQ

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.

POW Wed 10/16/2013
ALCAPPOHMYSYL
MOOSHUFARECOE
FLOORMATHISAUG
MAPEIRECRAG
BACONFATHERS
ICHOKEDIRAISE
NOONASIFAHS
THROWINTHETOWEL
OASHSIADARE
BEGOODANNOYED
HISPANICROOM
UTESACHTMAC
MANHERSHEYBABY
ONSEVACLEONAS
RTEXENAPTBOAT

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.

Tue 10/15/2013
GRUBAILSJIHAD
LISAKNEEONONE
ATMSIFATSTATE
MACINTOSHHEXED
LIARCUR
TOXICMECHANIC
ADASHNRAGLO
MICKEYMOUSECLUB
PUTEEKNAOMI
MOCCASINTROPE
HUHUSES
SEDERMUCKRAKER
EVICTELLELOVE
GEEKSANEWEKED
ANTSYDAISSOLO

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.

Mon 10/14/2013
TAPEGAPENALA
NEINALOTMOTOR
USAINBOLTATTIC
TONGAUSUALFARE
POMPSBLARED
BASINSARI
SEASBOSCARTSY
PARUSBPORTATE
ARSONLYLEULEE
IRAEDANSK
MILLERMOORE
USERSFEESIPADS
GETITUSHEREDIN
GROGSRAILNINA
YENSOINKSOAP

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.

Sun 10/13/2013 TAKEN TO TASK
ROSINSASPCATMCINT
PUTNAMTIEREDOILNEE
MISSIONIMPOSSIBLEFAD
OAKENAMADODOBIRD
BOULDERCOLORADOPANTY
ONTVVANSLOTHARIOS
DENEBENTMFAETAT
RENEWSHAWLSCARKEYS
CHIAESAUMIRALAP
MARYANNWAHISNTONO
IKOREDCAPEDSELSONS
NILGRAYIRAMEATPIE
ATLALESAFARASHE
JAIALAISYSTEMSITBY
NOGSNANOYAKBEAUT
DIGRESSEDIONAALGA
INSTRPERPETUALMOTION
GETAHEADRXSCEASE
ESOITSANUPHILLBATTLE
SSNSAMONEONEEKEOUT
TEESSSWELTSLASSIE

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!

Sat 10/12/2013
NASTYGRAMNAPES
INTHEREARORRIN
PARASAILSBOONE
SLOWSDIGOATEE
STPYSIDRO
SROUSUALLYTED
CAMERASHYSTYLI
ADAPTTOFSHAPED
RAHALPROPONENT
FRAEYEEXAMSAO
BADENDMET
STEPINZIAESAU
MIATAPOOLHALLS
ULCERENTOURAGE
GEHRYDEATHSTAR

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.

Fri 10/11/2013
FAWNABBATASKS
ECHOHEARIRENE
MEATTHERMOMETER
ASTARTRYMETWA
HRAPSAGAL
PLAYMEORTRADEME
SAPSOXERPISAN
ESPONYTOLATNO
USEASGINOSHOT
DONTEVENGOTHERE
SHEENPIES
CTNKEATSLYCEE
WHERESTHEREMOTE
TAXEREUROARAL
SITESDREWNETS

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

Thu 10/10/2013
SADPAEANBACK
ABEERATOREPRO
LOSDUSTSWEEPER
IRKAMYTIMODE
VITALVARIATION
AGOGLIRAIAN
TIPSERENUTS
ENCSMTWTFSMID
EAZYOCDMEDE
LEAENYAONEA
SWEETENEDOCTAD
KINSRAIMFBIB
UNDREAMEDOFOSO
LEANNELEVEOLD
LYRALOSERKEY

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.

Wed 10/9/2013
RADSCAPEDPSST
ESAUIVANIETTA
DOANDROIDSDREAM
OFELECTRICSHEEP
ABLESTCALLA
COMMIEASP
ERUPTBUMPSPIN
RATSAMPLEDODE
FLEADICKADULT
RIDTNOTES
ALARMPIGOUT
WECANREMEMBERIT
FORYOUWHOLESALE
UNIEHEIDIORYX
LADDREPENNEAT

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.

Tue 10/8/2013
CHOOETHICDOS
HASHLAREDORNA
ARTIATARISELY
LOSTPROMISES
BREAKERMONDAY
LORNAEPISTEVE
TDSTBTESTONES
LETITSNOW
ATTAWEEUNSRCA
THRUMDREASIAN
HEARYESAMEOLD
LOCATIONGALL
EMIHELENADOTH
TENOILCAROBIE
ENGSOAKSMONY

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.

POW Mon 10/7/2013
TAMPSWAPRASP
SARAHTODOUTAH
THEREGOESMYBABY
DOWWIKIAIDES
SEENDESSERT
AFTERMIDNIGHT
DOLLSESENEAR
RHOABSINCTRA
EONSAASBATTY
WHEELINTHESKY
NOTEPADASAP
TWEENERGOBRA
SINGINGTHEBLUES
ANNAASEAEARNS
REELBARRYOGA

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!

POW Sat 10/5/2013
ACTFIVEOFFCAST
FAIRBANKSALASKA
FREEASSOCIATION
ALGOREMANXMPG
BEANSPORTMOJO
LAMSBUDSLOVES
ESEBRNOROO
ESPRITDECORPS
AIMRAMPLID
SKORTHASPNOLO
AAHSSAGEJAWED
IBMZERODUPING
DOYOUWANNADANCE
HOMELESSSHELTER
IMYOURSCLAMORS

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.

Fri 10/4/2013
SANTANANETFLIX
CHUNNELOXIDATE
AIRTAXISPRAYER
LTSGUMSHOEAMO
DUETSOLOSTWIX
ENRONNOWGRAZE
DAYLILYSPLAYED
KEYDIP
ETAILEDIQTESTS
NOTESINCZZTOP
COENIVIESEURE
ASIAMOEBASNNE
MONSTERAMISTAD
POTOMACTORPEDO
SNOCONEHAIRDOS

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!

Thu 10/3/2013
HULAHOFFSLOTH
OHOSORALCANWE
SUCKSBYOUAFTER
PHOENIXBALOVER
DOTSEDER
TAXIHEREGAEA
OPENAREASEEMSB
MANBORNOTBITO
BRIDEBCHESSSET
STAREWESCHET
YPRESAPR
BHONESTBRIEFED
GOMERBORNBWILD
UMASSARIAISSA
NORSERITZTHEY

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

Wed 10/2/2013
SHAFTBLIPPRET
AIDANOONALALA
PRINTSOFTHIEVES
SENTPITHNAIVE
AGINEMUS
LOSINGPATIENTS
SELIGLINTOBE
UCLAYOURSTWIX
MAILANGHAIRY
PRESENTSOFMIND
WIKIIDOL
ATTICPOLIGIGI
JUMPATTHECHANTS
ATEEVOIRSTOOL
RUNSGEOSTENSE

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.

POW Tue 10/1/2013
VOLSCOPTOSLAV
AVOWINLAWHIVE
NAVIGEESEAVES
ELEVEABEEVICT
REVELRAVEN
KISLEVVIRGIN
OWLREVIVALWHO
LOADNIVENLION
ANNESCANTALPO
STEELANEMILES
MIGRATION
SPAMOIINNBAD
TORPEDOANIMATE
UPTOYOUNICEJOB
DESISTSSEALANT

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.

Mon 9/30/2013
PACTIMAMMEMOS
ACHYSADEENACT
STOPSHORTADDTO
PEATERSTMAV
CESSNAPOPSCENE
ATHEARTITUNES
KNOTADORED
YAPCOPSHOWTAU
SAMSONHOGS
COHIBAOCTOPUS
DROPSHOTREISER
RETTACHEAST
AGORACOVERTOPS
CONANUSEDURAL
KNEEDREGSPYRO

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!

Sat 9/28/2013
PAWPRINTMEANTO
REELEDININFERS
ORNAMENTALTREES
POTTIESLEIDEI
OBSESSBISCAYNE
SAONEPIETIN
ATUSMIGNONETTE
LITBIGBANGHUA
SCHOOLMATECERT
DALENEBERNE
TIMESINKGERMAN
IWOTOTBARTOLI
LISTENSTOREASON
TSHIRTRUNTIEST
SHEESHITISNTSO

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.

Fri 9/27/2013
GERMINATELUCIA
OVERTAKESANODE
DOMESTICPARTNER
IKIDARSSKIDOO
VETALAGASLOGS
ASSISIARPFRO
CHANGEONEAL
MCGEEONEPOEMS
ALOESLETTER
METSAWARMPIT
MATDOWNAGAAMY
AREOLAESTAGAR
MINDINGTHESTORE
INIGOAREACODES
AGNESTERMINATE

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!

POW Thu 9/26/2013
BALLDOZENHALF
EPEEIRATEIDEA
SIAMESECATGMAC
TENONSHIPSHAPE
INTOLATENT
WONEDYSYER
EGGRIOTSSEGER
SLOBCLOCKDODI
TENORKOALATAN
LUVDRUMOMG
SCOTIAMILS
DEATHSTARGALOP
AGRIIAMACAMERA
YULETRACYPEER
SEASSIDEDSPOT

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.

Wed 9/25/2013
EBBTIDESASSAIL
TROOPERSIMELDA
HOTWATERRECOOK
ANTDEBASARULE
NCOSRUPTURE
SOMMESTEPTBSP
LOADSUPSUKE
ANAGRAMPLUGSIN
DENNTSBYEAS
SODAEDITSLEET
TABOOEDERNO
LITTERSJAIVAT
IMHEREHARDTIME
NARNIAINTERCOM
EXUDEDDOSSIERS

"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.

Tue 9/24/2013
SHAHSTADTZUS
OUTERTOGOHESA
THEREAGIOERST
DREWBARRYMORE
SCISPIELBERG
CONCEALELS
OMNISIFELLMSG
REEDSTEALMOTH
ERRSHYERPABLO
SOIDAIRIES
PHONEHOMELOT
FLYINGBICYCLE
ROLELENTEUBIE
AWOLERGOSPACE
TENDSTEREYER

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.

Mon 9/23/2013
BRADDUBSOLID
AIDEDASAOBESE
SADIEMENSROOMS
SLICEANDDICE
ETCETCIKEMOP
TOTSTHETHREERS
SIAMELWAY
ITSTIMETOROLL
ACHOORUES
GOOGOOEYESIMAM
ENSDINTAMALE
COSTUMEBALLS
VICEVERSACRAWS
EVADEANNSEWER
TYLERPAXTITS

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.

Sat 9/21/2013
LIARSBLASTIT
UNDOCKCOMEONS
SASSONSSANTANA
TWOSTEPSFETTER
FORETELLSSLURS
URBSPIAMATERS
LDSBATTALION
LETTERMEN
CONCERTOSSEA
TOUGHROADMAGI
CONGASOLOHOMER
LOCALSFEVERISH
ALENCONCARESTO
MEDIATERESEES
PRESTOSSONDE

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.

Fri 9/20/2013
ASKOVERPTBOATS
RAISEDANEYEBROW
ALLKIDDINGASIDE
ROMANINNERSIE
AMERMAJORSTET
TERTITANKNIFE
BAKESDEADON
IBISESPEEPER
AMAZEDMALLS
RILEDBUSTSSHE
ATITPESTSVTEN
PANSEIKOKARAT
ATEENAGERINLOVE
HOSTILETAKEOVER
ORESTESLEERERS

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.

Thu 9/19/2013
LACOSTEGPSARM
APOGEESLOALEA
COLDMASTERYLTR
ELLEANTIOUT
ULANCHOSEDOWNY
PORSCHEDORMER
SISPEACHGEDS
CARTFAIRY
BEERHOYLEEMT
ACROSSEATCROW
CLOCKPICKYARNE
KITIRMASATE
EPICANDYCOATED
NSCATOAIRBILL
DEAPSTMIRACLE

A theme like this lives or dies on the naturalness and humor of the theme examples. I thought these were pretty good.

Wed 9/18/2013
OCTOPISCTVKID
TOUTERHAREIDO
THRONEOPENTEN
AONINERTGUTAG
WRITTEXTMEGA
ATNOTAKEAHINT
MATTERNLAO
ONCEBITTWICESHY
NEOOMNITEC
TEMPLETONABCD
PRIXNOTIRELY
OBEYSASWANNOS
PATHEMPCASINO
URLEMMALISTEN
SKYSOONERRORS

I don't usually run rebus themes on Wednesday, but every once in a while I make an exception. It keeps solvers from getting complacent. This rebus element is pretty easy, so the puzzle felt Wednesdayish to me. Still, I'm expecting complaints from newbies who don't usually do Thursday (or later) puzzles and have never encountered a rebus in a crossword before.

Tue 9/17/2013
LABELESCAPEPSA
INANEERASERAWN
DANCESWITHWOLVES
GORENOISELAW
WILDATHEARTVOTE
SWEETALPEFEVER
JOSAVEMOLARS
DATEMOVIES
UMLAUTREXWAR
GOERSPLIEEJECT
ALOTTHEGRADUATE
NINEIRONPINK
DEADPOETSSOCIETY
ARRSOBEITTOSEE
NEDOPENLYSRTAS

As you probably noticed, the grid is an atypical 16x15 squares, in order to accommodate the theme. I'm happy to run any sort of unusual grid size like this as long as there's a good enough reason and readers get their usual amount of crossword solving.

Mon 9/16/2013
PANASAPDAPPER
UPIGALSELAINE
MAMMAMIACANNOT
AROARLEOATRA
STYXMUMMYSTOMB
IBIDISLE
AHAAROOILOST
MILLIONMOMMARCH
IMPELBAALSHY
TEMPHAYS
MAMMYYOKUMLAMA
ATIENTHAARON
CESSNAMMMMGOOD
HITECHEXAMMER
UNSERSRICOADE

The Monday through Thursday puzzles this week were used last Saturday at the 6th annual BAC Fill crossword tournament in Oakland, Calif. Each year all the money raised at the event goes to benefit Families of SMA, which is dedicated to finding a treatment and cure for Spinal Muscular Atrophy. More info can be found at www.bayareacrosswords.org.

Sat 9/14/2013
PIZZAJOINTWIFE
ANTIMATTERALAS
WHITENOISELLCS
NILSEESTOKATO
SETSNLGOT
HTSTIEONEON
INHERITNEWWAVE
BIODATAGREASES
ATTACKSSISTERS
RETREATSETE
OKSEPSRAW
LOTSSTEPONSAY
YURIRENONEVADA
IZODISCREWEDUP
NOTESTEELTRAPS

In retrospect, I'm not sure why I accepted this puzzle. Jeff can't construct worth a damn... oh, hi Jeff! Just kidding, of course. You've turned into a first-rate constructor in a very short time. My favorite entries here are 1A, 17A, 37A, 59A, 62A, 64A, 11D, 25D, and 35D. That's a lot of nice stuff! My least favorite are 26A, 2D, 10D (which isn't made anymore), and 60D. Overall, though, the pluses far outweigh the minuses.

Fri 9/13/2013
CLASPINGANGLE
LASERBEAMBORAX
INANIMATECRAVE
NORADLETTYOU
GLUTEIEASTERN
TILERUMORHASIT
ONECONARTISTS
LANDLINES
FOURLETTEROFT
COINPURSESBRIE
HULKINGSCLERA
ALPGOBSRAGES
ITALYNOTREDAME
SINAIEYEOPENER
EPSONSTETSONS

I'm so impressed with every crossword Patrick constructs — fresh, interesting vocabulary, with no junk. He makes constructing seem effortless, which it definitely isn't. His clues are excellent, too. My favorite one here is 35A.

Thu 9/12/2013
TAJLIRRAWARD
ABUBREADDACHA
ROMJACKSPARROW
SUPSQUELLZING
ITSABIRDABODES
TUXESANON
SHIEDBUBBLEJET
KATGIRLSUAE
ITSAPLANEELITE
LEASALICE
VACUUMJEFFKENT
ETONUDALLEBAY
ITSSUPERMANAWL
LIMESSEEMERAE
SCOREDREWSYR

As with all of Ian's puzzles, the fill in this grid is particularly clean and lively. Also, the theme has a twist I've never seen before.

Wed 9/11/2013
JAFARUNITELS
AMORESCORELAP
WARMBLOODEDIKE
SSTIANDOZEN
MATERNITYWARD
PEYTONPASS
ATEAMPOOLGPS
CARDBOARDCUTOUT
ESSARTSPIETY
LETTADESTE
EXTENSIONCORD
AROMANENUFO
SAYCOLDHEARTED
EYETREVIXACTO
LSDSEEDETHER

This puzzle has been in my files for a long time, because I have a lot of puzzles with word-ladder themes, and I try to space them out. The two long non-theme entries at 3D and 34D are especially nice.

Tue 9/10/2013
KUMQUATTYPHOON
ATEINTOHORMONE
LETDOWNEDASNER
ERASTEAMEDAGO
SILKRELAY
SAINTSOATS
HYUNDAIKOWTOW
AAAKETCHUPODE
GUNGHOHORATIO
ELKOBOTTLE
BARAKCHOW
EBBBOREDOMIMO
MARCONICHATTER
ALADDINCOLUMNS
GINSENGCHINESE

What I like about this puzzle is the unusual nature of the theme. There are no theme answers longer than seven letters. The information in the theme makes you go "huh, I didn't know that," which is nice.

POW Mon 9/9/2013
ACTSBLACKWORD
SLOTULTRAALAI
KERRSALARYHIKE
AREAMAPLEVET
PRESSPASSRAISE
GUNSHYMEIR
APTTRAITEARNS
GOODCATCH
SHEENSEOULART
TELLBAMBOO
ELATERABBITRUN
ALPSIEGEREAL
MUSICSCORETHAW
EVERPARERNADA
DADASPATEAMEN

A note about ROULADE (43D) and AGORA (51D): I've heard some people say a Monday puzzle shouldn't have difficult words like these, but I strongly disagree. Of course a Monday puzzle is supposed to be easy, but it can have a hard word or two, if all the crossings are clear. This is especially so for a New York Times audience, which tends to be educated and intelligent. A couple of hard words, if they're interesting and useful, are not a detriment at all.

Sun 9/8/2013 BUMPER CARS
SPAYTALCMCATSSEPIA
ILIAOHIORICOHEARLS
PARKAVENUECOUGARQUEST
TWIXMARSHPALAUSAO
SEAMENISITELMERS
CAVALIERCAPRIDIPLOMAT
HUEGMAYSERSWAMI
ALHIRTAMOURENYA
BOBCATRABBITACCORD
ROLEXARATALEABS
INTREPIDRAMCHALLENGER
MASSOMASOOBURNT
STORMTROOPERSONATA
AQUIHENCESHANKS
MUNROBITOUZIATF
CELEBRITYGOLFDEFENDER
ONSIDENEMOFLIMSY
AKACOINSTERSEAXIS
MIDGETOUTBACKEXPLORER
PREENCRAMPERASNERF
SIDLEYETISDEMISDAK

Judging by the test-solvers' comments, the clue for 99-Down, "Pussy ___ (Russian girl group)," will raise some eyebrows. But the group's name has been much in the news for several years, including in several New York Times headlines, so I think it's fair game.

Sat 9/7/2013
BURJKHALIFAPIC
ONAUTOPILOTGMA
WISDOMTEETHTMS
EXPOSITSOLDHAT
LEOAMERICA
CIALISSTATERUN
ASIANSUITETLC
NORMSENDSYEAH
TMCMAINESEETO
HELSINKICORNER
ATEINTOEON
CRANIACRONYISM
KINMAJORLEAGUE
ICEANDSOITGOES
TSRLASTRESORTS

The Times's test-solvers found this puzzle tough. And anyone who doesn't know the BURJ KHALIFA (1-Across), as one of the testers didn't, is in for an especially rough time.

Fri 9/6/2013
POVERTYROWGARR
URANIUMOREEPEE
CARROTCAKELPGA
ENYAUARDIALUP
GASPENTEL
ESTERSTEADICAM
WARSAWPACTNITE
ONEBOLSTERDIA
KTELRETIREMENT
SAGEGREENBERGS
CUTSINFAN
BLASTSONODISK
CAROOTHERWOMAN
URDUMSMAGAZINE
PASTEASTORANGE

This is another lovely, clean construction from Brad and Doug. Most of the clues are theirs, too.

XWord Info Home
XWord Info © 2007-2025, Jim Horne
377 ms