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Puzzles for April, 2023
with Jim Horne comments

POW Sat 4/1/2023
IMPSLOVESCENES
LAITADAMSAVAGE
LIKEBISONBISON
FLAMEOUTLETIT
ABCRUMSHEISR
MOHAIRDNAMETA
EXUDEREALTORS
APRILFOOL
JAMAISVUPARSE
RIMSFEEBEREAL
OMBDENBONGOY
OBAMAWOODCUTS
MENINBLACKALOE
BADSCIENCENAME
AMSTELBEERTRES
Sun 4/2/2023 Artistic Differences
YEAHIAMHAHASPUERTO
HAMRADIOERODEENVIED
THESTARRYFIGHTTRIPLE
TONEMARESDAMSELS
PODCLASSREPTOPENSA
WAILSREOBALLOON
ITSABETNOLEADSERIN
THERONALISAUSCEXTRA
CRABSENSUEESTEEL
HULASLOEGMANATURES
THEGIRTHOFVENUS
IMSHORTSAWRISKEMIT
TIPREQBISONDRAPE
BLOWNFLYTHEEONOFMAN
ULNALOATHEDHUGEASK
RIGHTHAWKSBINGE
SEESIGNAFRAIDSOAMY
DRESSEDLONGUBREA
CROATSCREATIONOFADAY
UNWISEKATIEONEONONE
BANNEDSTALLFORGERY
Mon 4/3/2023
ACMELIMAPEPPA
BRAYIPOSADORN
HONEYSACSDIGIN
OCELOTHISBODE
REDIDCASUALSEX
DASHINLET
TOYSPISDESIGN
EMOPICKSIXCIA
EGGSONYEADKNY
INPJSTLDR
TUBESOCKSUSUAL
ASEABOASIENNA
PARKSTHATSUCKS
EGRETULNASALE
READYSOARSPED
POW Tue 4/4/2023
ZOODAWNSDECOR
EMUEMAILIVORY
TATMYSTICPIZZA
AROMAEGOLYON
FINALHEFT
BROADCASTNEWS
OARSHIAWINGS
RIDSERUPTNOLO
ELECTNOTEWIN
ROSEMARYSBABY
RAREELTON
ASAPITDEGGOS
DELIVERANCEERE
DEFOEIDIOMLAX
SPANXCALMSSLY
Wed 4/5/2023
BRBIRASGASBAG
AERMARCAVIATE
MAEFILETMIGNON
BLAHDONNDME
IMSOREEVEL
TADASOAPBOX
ROMPHAHNEAVE
OMITGTOSTUN
TALCLOEWEMMA
INKSPOTSOLI
LACKPACTEN
FELTATHOMEEZRA
OVERSHARINGVIP
REGIMEANTIACE
AROMASNEONHAS
Thu 4/6/2023
BILLSHIAHARDY
ACAIPENNAFORE
TOMSRIFTTRAYS
ONITEGOMEAD
NINEVEHDESIRED
SCARETOEDDALE
INSREDGIG
TRADINGPLACES
SEEMOAELL
ISNTINNSTILES
STEEPLEPROPANE
GLEEWOOPUTT
TRALACHIPIRIS
EIDERPOLENERO
DOERSUSSRGLEN
Fri 4/7/2023
HAMITUPHAJ
DELIGHTSMASA
TOPBANANAOVAL
IONSMITEPLANO
PROMITSCATNAP
OPTINEASYPEASY
SIGNEDTURIN
DODGEDABULLET
BABELSLAMON
SWEETTALKAVERY
TONNESORBARTS
ROADSGROINGEE
AHMEKIDGLOVES
DOERFREEBIES
AOLCORRODE
Sat 4/8/2023
DAZESSMELT
SEVENUPTENORS
APOSTLESEATSIT
DONTRUSHMEWIKI
ISLEYCOALMINER
SEEDBEERBONGS
TSAARTSCENES
PLEAHATS
SOLARTIMEPEA
CANADIANSWILL
CANDYBARSSHEEP
OPTSONETOWATCH
SPACEXSENORITA
TENUREPILFERS
DAMESTESSA
Sun 4/9/2023 If the Clue Fits ...
FRETSAWMARIAARDENT
ROMAINESECONDQUASAR
ABIRDINTHEHANDUNLIKE
NERDTWITDELTAAGEE
ISADORAGREATMINDS
PESTLEETNABIEL
IANALASOMENCHASMS
SPEAKOFTHEDEVILMEAL
HARLEYAUXELONACNE
GTOSIRIUSFABRIP
IFYOUCANTSTANDTHEHEAT
PECTOMTAMERSLOT
ADZEBOBSBAECLOMPS
STAXALLTHATGLITTERS
SORTEDTROUSAVENON
ELIABRIMSENDUP
WHENINROMEWYNETTE
HELDETHOSAGERFLUE
ENLISTYOUKNOWTHEREST
ARENOTERRANDAERATES
TINGLESEEYAGREGORY
POW Mon 4/10/2023
APPSSCANURBAN
SOAPUHNONERVE
ARYAFAIRISFAIR
DEEMSFITBEITSO
ADEALISADEAL
LOXATLEAST
SWOOPEDINMAR
WHATSDONEISDONE
AOKMASTERKEY
BASSALESAY
ITISWHATITIS
BRONTERATSNEST
LOVEISLOVEGALA
ONEALUTESUSER
WANDAGENTPEST
Tue 4/11/2023
LAMALAMFLICK
ALOTIRERONAN
WANTAPIECEOFME
DIVATHEPOPE
BELASUED
ORGANICPRODUCT
PARTOOMONAE
THEMSTANGINS
IMEANBOTTIL
CANDYCRUSHSAGA
GOATEURO
AMAZINGJODI
GOCOASTTOCOAST
UPENNAOLKNOB
ASSETGETUSPS
Wed 4/12/2023
PLUSCRABNINJA
TONIHERRBTEAM
AIDESIDEASASIDE
SNORTBAKEALEX
RAGAEXIT
STRAYARTSYTRAYS
LIULOOTAROT
IAMBANNOYPRUE
CROONANOAVE
EARLYRELAYLAYER
STAGNOIR
STATGRIDDECOR
NOTESSETONSTONE
OUTROTOFUHEED
BRASSSOFTALSO
Thu 4/13/2023
PAGEPEDEASMARA
ATEANDRANRIOTER
CLOSEFORCOMFORTT
MENSKITTRIAD
ONESECSNOBAPE
RATHOTTOHANDLET
ERRSMAACEO
COOLFORSCHOOLT
LEITSAMETA
LEGITTOQUITTMID
AXESOURALMOND
OTTERRAGEBAN
TOOLITTLETOOLATE
SLUICEMONOXIDES
ESTEEMSNAPKEEP

Robin Yu has been a big supporter of XWord Info, and I'm pleased to see his debut today.

Fri 4/14/2023
TWITRPGADAMS
OHMEMUSICVIDEO
PIERONAGOODDAY
STANDPATNCISLA
YENOUTGNAT
STEEPCREDTMI
POTSYOUDOTHAT
JASONELMTURKS
ICANTSTOPOBOE
FEYMAINPAINS
PADSSISESP
SHTETLMINTOREO
LOVETOHATEHONK
APPLETINISHOSE
TIGERTENIMED
Sat 4/15/2023
ADDRESSBARVIDS
CARICATUREICON
UFOLOGISTSMAYO
TOOLTHIEFNOW
EELTECHSTARTUP
REDHOTTHEME
SLANGGETAVIA
SCATTERSIEMENS
TAUSSIBAMEND
ERRORNORRIS
MEANINGWHATVAN
CADMOTTOLIDO
EWESGOINGRATES
LARAONEDAYSALE
LYNXSESAMESEED
Sun 4/16/2023 Bring Your A Game
SPAMSASOFBOARLAPSE
ALLAHDECOLOREINLAY
PULSEAWARDOFTHESTATE
SMOKEELTONSALTINES
BRUSHEDASIDEBLEH
PHOTOTSPSANEMIC
WOKSANTAOILTRIPE
EMANUELABRIDGETOOFAR
LABELSOBEDIENCEFDA
CHURNBALSASTESS
HALFAWAKEATONEPOEM
SEEKHOTFORXANDO
SATPERFORATELETTER
ACUTETRIANGLEWISEONE
STRUMSTUCREAMPSY
SINGERANTSGIBES
ORALAHEADOFSTEAM
SADFACEDAGLETHASAT
SLOWLYGREWAPARTICONS
NOMADANTEERIECONGA
SUERSLOADNYPDSWEAR
POW Mon 4/17/2023
LEMONDIALSAP
ADIDASACMEPRO
SILENTTREATMENT
STETROTCSEEIT
OMITUPSIDES
EMOJIKEYBOARD
DENOTEEELYATO
ARTYGASSTOP
MEHGOOSIMHERE
ELEVATORMUSIC
CASITASMOAT
OSCARTHENSOIL
THEREARENOWORDS
TENALANNAUSEA
ANTLAYSSTOAT

Crossword solvers quickly learn that paying attention to clue precision is critical to success. An answer must match the tense and the formality level of the clue. Clue abbreviations imply answer abbrevs. Etc.

But the opposite is also true. Solvers need to accept the fuzziness of clues, especially if there is colloquial support. Speed and velocity aren't the same thing, but non-physicists use them interchangeably. Ode to Joy isn't the final movement of Beethoven's Ninth, but close enough for crosswords.

The fourth movement of Beethoven's final completed symphony included (shocking, at the time) four solo singers and an entire choir. Singing words! In what was supposed to be a "pure music" form! Kids and their crazy music nowadays! The lyrics for the singers were adapted from a poem by Friedrich Schiller called, in English, "Ode to Joy."

There's a sad story about the premiere of this work. Beethoven, already deaf, wanted to conduct, so he stood on a conductor's stand and madly waved his arms while someone nearby waved a baton that the musicians actually followed. But there's a happy ending. When the piece was finished, Beethoven turned to face the audience. The crowd knew he couldn't hear, so along with the clapping and cheering, they threw their hats and handkerchiefs into the air so the maestro could see that he was appreciated and loved.

Tue 4/18/2023
CHAOSPANSTRAP
HINDUSLOWHOME
ALIENVSPREDATOR
ILLDITAUTISM
ERAFERNS
GODZILLAVSKONG
AZUREUNITGRR
PARADOXCOTERIE
EREPUTTOBAMA
KRAMERVSKRAMER
VANYAANY
AFFIRMSTDSOB
BREAKITUPYOUTWO
EASTNOSEWIELD
LUTEDMEDNEWSY
Wed 4/19/2023
POPECOPAYRICH
OWENINDIEALLA
UNPCTETRATOUR
NEPALISCRUISED
DRAMAIPAANTSY
POWDERKEG
INKSHELGASOUP
ROEHADSOMEPSI
ARENOTPOKEAT
POETSCORNER
BCCSHOOHAYAMS
URLHEYMRDJSAW
ROOMYDEAECOLI
NASIMOUTFCLEF
STEINGPSFROST
Thu 4/20/2023
SLATACEDPAWAT
CASHTRADEARENA
UPPERCASEREOIL
DUEBYNEMEAUSE
SPRITZLIONIZES
GOOFTOOTH
NEWSUAENITWIT
TAUSUDAFEDZOO
HUZZAHRIOWONT
WIDENGOBI
CAUTIOUSNUDIST
IDORUNINNOSIR
RIZZOCLOCKWISE
COZENITSSOEASY
ASHESOSHARHYS

Click the grid to rotate CLOCKWISE, and then click again to straighten it out. This effect works better in other fonts, but you'll get the idea.

Theme answers here use "rotational letters" E H N O U W and Z which, when rotated, give M I Z O C E and N. Our Finder can help find words with only those letters.

  1. Using the Regex query ^[MIZOCEN]+$
  2. Using the OneLook query *+MIZOCEN

Fun fact: the longest such word that OneLook finds is zenzizenzizenzic — an obsolete form of mathematical notation representing the eighth power of a number. For some reason, it's never been used in an NYT crossword.

It's interesting to compare letters that become other letters after 90-degree rotation, with Byron Walden's similar idea requiring a full 180-degree flip. Click the grid on that one too, to see the rotation in action.

Fri 4/21/2023
NCAAOCEANSPRAY
YUCKCARNEASADA
STABTRANSLATOR
ESPANOLATEIBN
APROPOSMOOS
ADEDISPERSE
BELAIGUESSSO
CALCULATORWATCH
SLAMPOETSARI
ESPRESSOTIO
HITSDATEDUP
ADAILKFORESTS
DATACENTERAQUI
IHAVETOASKTURN
TORETOBITSHOES
Sat 4/22/2023
IOWASJACKASSES
SHAVEUPANDQUIT
THREWJUNEAUITE
HEBREWUTABITHA
ILLRIBALDDEEM
SLOPZEROESDRY
INGODOSRIC
TOSSUPQUESTIONS
TORUSSTRAW
TSKSOEASYYADA
BEERVELLUMLEN
ONRADARIMAJERK
NONPUBLICNIXIE
DREAMLIKEGNATS
SALTPETEREXMET
Sun 4/23/2023 Punctuation Matters
OFTSPATBARONHABLA
PLEARAGUALOHAAPLUS
AIRGUITARPLAYSATRICK
HRREPTINTORAREINKS
STANDSINTHEWAYCOLD
TOOINSTLENSCAP
JERKSAROUNDMIDUSE
ABUKERRSCAMAORTA
DOSEDFALLSOUTOFFAVOR
EYELEVELAWARELITER
ACERLWORDLOEB
CSPANDAFOEGOPLACES
BATSFIVEHUNDREDDRAWL
FREESEARLNAESMAE
FORHENBEARSINMIND
SNIFTERGLAMROE
LOCSPLANTSEVIDENCE
SMIZESHOTSOMEUTAHN
PUZZLESOVERDARKHUMOR
ONEILSTENOAIDAPESO
TIDESNODTOSLITDEN
Mon 4/24/2023
CHOONEUPTHUMP
LAPNEATOHOSEA
ANICORNKERNELS
SOUSALEERED
PIMPLESREADER
ALLRASPOXO
ASPSBAUMISLAM
CHAMPAGNEBOTTLE
MENSAROSAASTO
ERERYANSTY
SALOMEWHEELIE
PELOSIEDENS
WHATSPOPPINMAT
AORTAPIERSOWE
DEMONSTRAYNEE
Tue 4/25/2023
TAMPANOKIACMS
OCEANEXECSAOL
QUARTERLIESMUY
URNSNOIREPPS
EATERYPANTRIES
COALISONTO
CRESTOINKSERA
HENCADDIESSAP
OPTSMEATWISPY
MORESOSCAN
PREPPIESONEHOP
TATANORMREPO
YETSPECIALTIES
OREMAMASAISLE
USDSTYLEPATSY
POW Wed 4/26/2023
CRISPRREAPILK
HOTTEAISTODOE
ABSENTAPOPLEXY
TOSDOLLYZOOM
UTAHNOTWASP
PODIATOWERNTH
TANSAVOIDED
PANCHOFRETSAW
UHOHVOIDHIRAM
MERCANGTERI
AMMOKAMAFACTS
ACLVERTIGO
MONKEYINGAROUND
AIDDUSTUPSNYE
PLYSKASETTUB

The Spirograph opening credits might seem a little hokey now, but Bernard Herrmann's brilliant score still shines.

For cinematographers, the basic camera movements are: Zoom, Pan, Tilt, Dolly (move camera forward or backward), Truck (move camera side to side), and Pedestal (move camera up and down). Some people also include Rack Focus (adjust focus to highlight near or far).

When Zoom and Dolly are combined (zoom in while dollying out), you get this disorienting effect that perfectly captures Jimmy Stewart's acrophobia. You can see it here:

Thu 4/27/2023
ASMIDGEBELLOWS
DOCTORSINSIGHT
DRASTICDOUBLEA
SETSHREKENG
ATTENTION
ASIDEWASLOFAT
FOCUSENOLA
TAKESTHEEDGEOFF
SPFHIPTOTAT
ACCUSATIONS
IDCARDSUNDOCKS
DITTOEGRET
ANOWHATFUNUNO
HERDANCERSBYU
ORSSHAMBLESAT

Quick theme explanation:

  • DOCTORS without borders
  • no end IN SIGHT
  • undivided ATTENTION
  • baseless ACCUSATIONS
  • topless DANCERS
Fri 4/28/2023
CUTAWAYGAGLAIR
ONETIMEUSEONTO
LIMONCELLOLOST
EXALTPADTSO
LESTNEITHER
LITRHEASNEERS
ACHMANGASARI
WHITEYONTHEMOON
ORALRELICNUB
MOSCOWSALTESC
ESTONIASLIT
TETNEAVOICE
EYREOSLONORWAY
ROARNOTFORSALE
SUPSAPOTHEOSIS
Sat 4/29/2023
ABBACRABCLAW
CLAPSHAVEDICE
RUDEWHATATREAT
ERRFARMSOASIS
TONEDUPANT
LEMONBAWLESP
ADAPTGOTPIE
MONEYISNOOBJECT
BUCFEELEEKS
TENSASHODDLY
USOHOWNICE
SHADEMOPEDHBO
WOWIEZOWIEBEAR
ALLSMILESISLE
GASMETEROSLO
Sun 4/30/2023 Name Dropping
PRUNESSSNREDCOD
DETOXESSCOOBHEROIZE
AVENUEQHELLOEARGASM
SDSUENDOWAMOS
ACTEACRESADDRIFF
ATHOSRIMSSNOTSTILE
TRAPBETADIRTSNOW
OARGROINSSATIREERE
MIDIRONTATERPINATAS
NOJOKEAROARSCYTHE
NUKESNAPSONKAMA
BANSTREKWISECNBC
THATHENUPSPINAKIN
WAYAHEADBOOANDERSON
TALCSELFTBIRD
FLEWATFROTHINASEC
SRASWELLSGOINGSLOW
TADADIYTPSGISH
ICYHOTEFFACESKOOZIE
RAMONADIABOLOURBANE
SAYOKSNEERBRIBE
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