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Puzzles for October, 2023
with Jim Horne comments

View these same grids with comments from:
Constructor (3)Editor (5)Jim Horne (8)Hide comments
Sun 10/1/2023 Film Adaptations
TULIPSALPACAAHMAD
ONEFLEWGOAWOLMOORED
THECUCKOOSNESTATTICA
MOSTTOILSOVER
SOHOSORIONNIAENT
IMONTHEEMPIRESEKIRTS
PANACEAMAINACTEAR
THELANDTIMECHITUBA
EASELITSPHOTOGENIC
ASTROPOPTIEUNESOT
TRANSLOSTLATION
BISIREIDALETTUCES
CLOSESHAVETMIAMINO
DEFTABEREADINGBURN
HEMNODDERSEASEDIN
JEOPARDYJEOPARDYRACY
ACRTEEESSIEMSDOS
MARRIEDUPFRAU
BROILSCROUCHINGTIGER
STRODELARVAESETMENU
ESTASATBATSESFEET

Several people are confused by 128-Across. "Deliberately procrastinate" is DRAG ONE'S FEET, but the instructions at 114-Across for CROUCHING TIGER imply the DRAG ON is hidden, leaving only ESFEET.

Mon 10/2/2023
ALPSATLASTAB
SEALWHOOPRACE
KILODAILYHIGHS
SAMURAISONSET
CAROWNS
BEHINDBLUEEYES
FAXEDSUDSYADO
LIARCHESSSLID
ELLMOANAAKITA
ASTHECROWFLIES
ATOPIMS
ASIDEFINALIZE
INDISGUISEODOR
DIETARLESPOOR
SPASLEETELMS
Tue 10/3/2023
STOODMEHVMA
MAUDEVESTIGIAL
ELTONINSTRUCTS
ALFRESCOPICT
REIBOARSSCORE
SRTADRATSIRAS
DNAHANSIMP
ONESOCKRETRAIN
GEMDANAALA
RIPSNORSKGODS
ELENABAMBANET
RASPMAYBELLE
COOKIEJARALIEN
BOREFRUITCANTO
SOSETCKNEES

Note that, like in the game, starting with ASP, the gray snakes get longer each time they "eat" a black square.

Wed 10/4/2023
ASTERSWBAACME
PAWNEEHAMCHER
OTIOSEASPTILE
PICKINGLISTPEC
NEINAILASSET
YARNPOT
OAHUDIGSELITE
PRINCESCODICIL
TITHEHAULDKNY
TILPLED
CARPESOLEAST
LEIBILLSOFFIRE
ARCSREOPARTIV
MIKEKEGAMOEBA
PESTSPYLESSEN

Several clues have two parts separated by "or". One clue requires the AI rebus squares to be interpreted as A, the other I. In a nice touch, answers with two rebus squares always need A first and I second to satisfy the first clue, and the reverse for the second clue.

I have arbitrarily set the answers below the grid to match the first clue in each ambiguous case.

This Is Just To Say by William Carlos Williams.

Thu 10/5/2023
HITBAILPSYCH
ATAGLANCEOPERA
JOBMARKETTONYS
LOTSABEST
RESETTESHESP
BUSROMACORNEA
INCHOOPSTODAY
SARALEECHOSLO
ETAILTRUEFUEL
CAPRISEDAMPGA
TBSNYPDDEMOS
MESAASTIN
MAFIACLIPONTIE
SWINGAUDIOTOUR
GENIESVENPDA
Fri 10/6/2023
TYKESELIEPDF
BUNGEEJUMPFREE
SMOGALERTSLIMA
PAWWACKOFAVOR
FETTBURIALS
ASHLEEELNORTE
BOOEDTRAINESC
CURESHEMTHESE
SRSALICERAYON
GETLOSTFOMENT
PRORATEMOWS
RAPIDNEARSROB
OPECADVICEGURU
MEREGUINEAPIGS
SSAEPEETANSY
Sat 10/7/2023
HEDGEMAZEIMPS
AXELFOLEYSLEEK
MXMISSILEHOMEY
MOODQEDSOVERY
NNEUNAWARE
EMERGESOUTLIER
LOTSONOCHANCE
OBIBADIDEATHA
PIZZABOXICHOR
ELEANORBARRELS
NAVYVETIWO
ENCINOINTSECT
TYPEAYODASPEAK
CRASSELECTEDTO
HOSTWARHORSES
Sun 10/8/2023 Tones of Voice
MOCHASCACAOROAMS
ADPAGESGALOSHEASIER
VERMONTWETRAGCHANCE
GOLDENOPPORTUNITY
TALCREINDOI
AVIATIONREDEYEFLIGHT
SEESITRETILEYOWLED
SHEAFADONISBOARS
PALEORAMONESBLEND
BROWNIEMIXDEFROST
SEWLEILAGBUS
VESSELSGRAVYBOATS
ONSETACREAGEOLDEN
PALESBRIBESRAIMI
CHICASOAFISHPLEDGE
PINKYPROMISEPOPSCENE
YAKHAULSAUL
COLORFULCHARACTER
ARABIAIROBOTOPENERA
REROLLSOLIDSFANEDIT
ODELLTWITSYODUDE
Mon 10/9/2023
GRAMPAAMIDBRR
PILEONKILOLIU
AMAZONBASINOTS
CLUEHANGOUT
IKEAMETACARPAL
VILLATAPISLE
SNLPALMYUM
APPLEPEELER
ESPELANAWE
NADAAREASKEW
UBERMENSCHCEDE
DIPLOMATACO
IDOTECHSTARTUP
SETERIEEVENSO
MDSLYNXRESTED
Tue 10/10/2023
SASSMOSTFEDUP
HULAEXPOADOBO
ATOMGEEKNUDES
GOGODANCERSORE
ARTNUMB
GALJOJORABBIT
PLOTNEMOSARAH
ALLAHENTSSDSU
YOYOTRICKSSEE
JERKISH
TWONONONANETTE
RINSEOVERLARS
INEPTDATEICES
MESASELSAXOXO

A RegEx search like ^(.)O\1O......* can help you find words that fit the pattern.

Wed 10/11/2023
AJARSAMIBARRE
ROCKMUSICONION
ANDOUILLESTRUT
BICSTALESMIX
AEONTWA
PEPPERCAYENNE
ATOPSEALEDALE
CHASMAJOSNIDE
TICISSUESOVEN
CHICKENCELERY
TAIKOLA
MEHNOWNOWVAN
LUCASWHITERICE
STOCKLIFESAVER
DELAYSPEDYARD
Thu 10/12/2023
LAILAALIASHIP
APGERMANBROOME
YEARBOOKAMOUNT
OYSSWEETS
CPLUSFAOTHETA
HOAXJACKSIMAS
RPSMCQSIGNORS
TFORRAGT
METOOERPEPHBO
ODOMWOWEDMEOR
SALESLIZTARTT
ENCALLBRR
MIATASLALAKERS
ELVERSBLACKOPS
SLEDSEASTASIA
Fri 10/13/2023
MATCHESMOSAICS
THEHELPONANDON
VANILLASCREAMO
VOICETEACHER
OBSESSEDDOTE
BINCOSTCO
ADASTRACHATGPT
MERMAIDREFEREE
ATLARGEEYESORE
LOATHEWIN
ORALINSTALLS
PORTAPOTTIES
RUBICONENRAGED
ATOMANTSASHIMI
HEREIGOTIEITUP
Sat 10/14/2023
MANSEAHABPUMP
ALBUMREGULATES
KOALAMARZIPANS
ENDUREPIZZAHUT
UEYKEGKAY
PANZEROTTIAGTS
GAITORALBOHO
EASTERNILLINOIS
WITREICEREDS
WNYCGEENADAVIS
AHATLCSSW
THESAUCEFACEME
MIDAUGHTSLIVID
EYEBLEACHLAINE
NANADOHASOLES
Sun 10/15/2023 Doing Doughnuts
ODESMOBSTARDOMBOSC
PIRIPIRIASTAIREALTA
EVIDENCEYESICANUDON
CAKESTANDMELDSFOO
BOSSAISLEBETAAPP
EDGESMITTENSZIPSBY
MELTFROSTEDTIPREHAB
BRASLADYSTEFRILE
LIZFUMESAPSROCOLD
EVEOVERRIDESMRSUN
MEDCINNAMONTOASTENT
EMIRSHORNSINONDEW
FIXEUHHNEELEOSILE
UNPCSOAPISNTMDSE
NARCOPLAINTRUTHAEON
KNEADSTRIPHOPTRANS
MISSINGSIRENADOS
UMSNORUNSUGARBUZZ
SAILCASITASFANTASIA
ITOOADSPACEOTTERPOP
CENTPERSISTSEESSNS
Mon 10/16/2023
DOMESZIPSSLIM
OZONEOBOEPAPA
JASONMOMOAASAP
ORADIMFLARE
SKITLIVENTREE
CHANNINGTATUM
OLETUSHART
BYGUMMRTEGGOS
OARACAIIMO
DWAYNEJOHNSON
ENDEARLADDORM
UNCAPZITNIA
FLATMOVIEBUFFS
DATAISEESTALK
AXESCHERPETES
Tue 10/17/2023
KILTHEAPMETRO
IDEAANTIASHEN
DOTDOTDOTSTUNG
APEMAZENEO
ALBARIERODED
DOUBLEDOGDARE
SARIAIWATARS
DINGDONGDITCH
SEALMESOELAN
DRESSDOWNDAYS
SHAYNENNEPSA
PALDECIATE
ANIMA3DPRINTER
NOVELPERUVIVA
SIEGEOMENYEET

YEET, like ADORKABLE, was added to M-W a couple of years ago. Do you find yeet to be adorkable? Or does it just make you feel old?

Wed 10/18/2023
RIPAHIFEEANI
ERACONTORTROD
FORTHEFIRSTTIME
UNTIEEBWASANA
SEEDURBANKNOT
EDDYSNARESAME
REORDER
BIBLEEWING
ONEIDAAVATAR
STATESPETSPA
NOMEATPREMED
ABRACADABRA
RAZEILLERSGTS
ALEERAISEKIWI
TLDREMAILICON
Thu 10/19/2023
UTONILLAVIGDA
SUNUSAININFRM
HRDCLUEDBARIE
ANEALEDCITREN
TEPEERCESKDS
DORICIONTO
MRSDIESSLUGS
REIDSCHMEENOS
IDTAGASORLIN
KARNAEATAT
IDBRATEESTAD
SETERSBOOKCLU
INHRETROLLHOL
ASFSTLONGUEND
HERESCODASSEW
Fri 10/20/2023
ASISATRIASPAR
MOTELROOMSAHME
PLEXIGLASSFOIL
MOMBUENOBENDY
DEETSMOTE
SEDERSGOODYBAG
AQABAPARTYFOUL
MURALERRDIODE
SANTABABYORKIN
ALTEREGOFUSSES
OTTERDEBT
SHOESAVAILFOP
IOTAEVILGENIUS
GRIMGELINSERTS
HANSGLESSWEST

It's odd how crosswords eschew certain trigger words but embrace others like IDI and ENOLA GAY. 15-D is a funny twist on a phrase made famous because of a horrible tragedy.

Sat 10/21/2023
REPAIRSHOPS
SECONDOPINION
STILLNOTAPLAYER
CANALMUSTYLSU
ALITVENMOFATS
BENSENDSKITES
COREACENTRE
EMBARGOWANNEST
YOUSEEVOIDS
ENTERMAORIWEB
LOTSGORDOPINA
IPOMERITDUNES
DONTINTERRUPTME
DISCRETIONARY
TAKEMYMONEY
Sun 10/22/2023 You're Onto Something
MGSIGUANASSPECSVIE
ARPDOGRACEHADATIMP
DOESNTGIVEAFIGURENAH
CUCKOOSTHINEDEARME
ACTIALOOFVIPROOM
PHOWASHINGTONPOSTURE
SORDIDTALEENOSIGOR
AIDYDEEDSHEENA
PASTURECARINGFEES
OBOEREADGOALTEND
TELALLURETOOWELLCEO
STOOLIESINREERAT
FEEDNOMEANFEATURE
SCLASSTUBEOLGA
BOONFADSCOURSELOAD
ADVENTURECALENDARREA
LEERIERERODEMIRY
OBLATEDUNNOCESSNAS
ALIENDUREONAHIGHNOTE
NUNRISENLETITGOCON
SEESELLSDYETESTORD
Mon 10/23/2023
COPEMODEMLALA
OPALOBAMAORAL
PERMANENTRECORD
ANTMAYAALASKA
IDOLCOTES
MASKINGTAPE
BELLSOLOESTAB
RATATOMSOWE
ALOOFCREEAMEN
HIGHYIELDCD
SCENEDOOR
APEMANITLLUSA
SINGLESTREAMING
ARTEVICESTSAR
POSEASHESVEGA
Tue 10/24/2023
COLDSPAMCOWL
BAMAALLINOAHU
STAYCLASSYSKIT
YOURENOTMYTYPE
SAMPEA
TIMEFORACHANGE
ANYTRILLZINC
FURBYODEMAZDA
TIREJERRYMOP
THESPARKISGONE
ROOGTO
LETSWRAPTHISUP
IVANTCHOTCHKES
NEROSTENONECK
KNOBIWINOSSA
Wed 10/25/2023
TRONDRJJARGON
COMETRUEONEIDA
MEGWHITEHAMMER
COPARENTLUC
ORGANBIEBAIMS
DOURRANSOMS
IMSDIGGNASSER
SESTINAWHITTLE
TOYINGSIAMOMA
EGOTISMCUED
BBQSSECTLITRE
YOUSTAKEOUT
GRAMMADRUMROLL
UNDOERAIRPORTS
MESMERYASNEED
Thu 10/26/2023
SCENEAHABMAID
HONEYWAVEONLY
ESTEEARISTOTLE
BIRDBIRDSTONE
AGEADDINSANE
NEALEYOLKTEN
PLACEPLACEAT
HOPOARART
BITTENSHYSHY
ALTBETSOASES
MOOCOWEDULOP
MANMANMANBABY
UPANDATEMTAPER
SENDTROYELSIE
ETSYHANSDEETS
Fri 10/27/2023
SLIMESTITCHES
SPATESOHBEHAVE
CATSATBESEATED
ARENTCELESTENG
RENOHERONRTE
SUITYOURKISS
STEEPPALED
EASELXENON
STRIPIONIC
TAYEVEALTHAT
DRSMECCAWINE
RICEBOWLSTALIA
AVEMARIAMONISM
MINIBARSRINSES
SADLYYESSLATE
Sat 10/28/2023
LAMBEDPAMFMRI
ARIADACAPOLOAN
NONCITIZENABIT
DUCKFATSAYSNO
USEBYMATSCHI
PERUTOILETSEAT
TWITTERRANT
STARTERHOME
CHOKEARTIST
CORNELWESTHAVE
ARIMEADPERIL
TREXESFOISTED
BIKESMARTPHONE
EDENLABORPAINS
DADAYESAIMSAT
Sun 10/29/2023 Fabric-ations
RAPDUOCTRLZEBRAFISH
ELOISEAREAADAPTEDTO
GINGERBREADBINGEREAD
ANDESORALBABESRANG
LESSIPADPURLSHESSE
TONICPERSEBOT
SENATESEATASSENT
SPADEREARJDATEMOE
ARIOMELETWARDSOPTS
MIDFOCUSDALAIPRATT
CUTFROMTHESAMECLOTH
DENISTPAINPAULAHEN
ECCEHAIRSMESSESIRA
CALTEXASBANAMAZES
OPENERERRORPRONE
INSGENIEARENT
LACEDPRUDESTIRIDOL
ETALBLOCSAPTSCHILE
ARMSREACHCREAMCHEESE
FIREEATERUGLIVERGED
SAYNOMOREPOLLSWOONS
Mon 10/30/2023
OTISMOCHAUSES
LAVAAPRILTEAK
AXELSTUPIDEASY
FIRSTAIDIRATE
ARLOCHAIN
GUIDEANIMALELK
ANNIEMOWSMOI
LAMPPRANKTORO
AGESLOGBONDS
SIMHIDEANDSEEK
OBIESNEAT
AFROSEGGYOLKS
BRIGHTIDEANONO
BEAUINERTEVEN
ATMSMANSESEES

In the print version, the circles in the IDEA blocks are meant to look like light bulbs.

Tue 10/31/2023
ATMSHIPSNEATO
CHIAACRERAWER
HALLOWEENASANA
TIKTOKSTSTROT
HESOUTTHERE
BALMSPAPAYA
ELOIARKSCREAM
ROUNDLYVIOLATE
GETOUTATSEVAN
REPOSEOMENS
DONTLOOKNOW
AMAHPCSPIANOS
RADIOYOURENEXT
CHIRPTUNAAREA
YARDSETCHLONG

"Musical interval used to convey sadness" for MINOR THIRD might cause some consternation for both musicians and Canadians.

It's sort of true that music in a minor key tends to sound more melancholy than music in a major key, and one distinction of a minor key is that the interval from the root to the third is "minor" (that is, only three semi-tones instead of four) but even a happy major key has more minor thirds than major thirds. In, say, C Major, the intervals A-C, B-D, D-F, and E-G, are all minor thirds.

"O Canada" starts with a minor third, and I don't think sadness is the intended emotional response.

(This is an example of how knowing too much about a topic can affect your experience in a way that nobody else cares about.)

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