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Puzzles for February, 2012
with Jim Horne comments

View these same grids with comments from:
Constructor (1)Jeff Chen (1)Jim Horne (6)Hide comments
Wed 2/1/2012
HAWKOCTOUMASS
AGEEHARKMULCH
GREATAPESASTOR
SERIOUSHARE
POPMETRUBYRED
CAREALENESDS
PROVABLETHA
WARANDPEACE
NATTEARDROP
RPMISNOTCORE
CHARLIEPCSSEZ
COVENAMEONE
ONEALTHEDONALD
LENTOLOVEIDID
ASSAYYSERDOVE
Thu 2/2/2012
PAILSCTVORBED
ARNOALOELEERY
REALKNOWLEDGEIS
MELLESSDELT
ALLHEREBASEHIT
LAPTOASTORE
STINTSTNNSVEN
TOKNOWTHEEXTENT
ONEAIRERAINES
WILEVERSVPS
SOIREESORIENTS
HALLUNIEIAL
OFONESIGNORANCE
WOOERALETITHE
NODESNITSSHOP
Fri 2/3/2012
EMMAHOBOAHAND
SAILALECVOICE
SINGINGTELEGRAM
ANIONAWAYSPAS
YEARNSENESCO
TEEHEESTORMS
SHUREINSORTON
MARIEANTOINETTE
ELENASHIREETE
ESCARPELATER
ASSAILNORMAL
MCMLPRIMORIBI
ALEUTIANISLANDS
NURMITESHTAUT
NEAPSESTEALLS
Sat 2/4/2012
MESASPARMCIG
OUTDOSTEEPFINE
OWEMEYOMTVRAPS
DEVOURLUSCIOUS
ENROLLSPESTO
TUNISIARID
AHASSHEEPNIH
PUSHTHEENVELOPE
AHHHARPOAPSE
LUGRAGWEED
BACONAAMILNE
AMYADAMSRACKUP
LISTERINEZAIRE
SETHROGENERNST
ASSDARTDEGAS
Sun 2/5/2012 STATE ANNEXATION
EXTRASATDOGAMOEBA
WILESIVEIKEMAULED
EXCITEMENTGARDENTOOL
NOLODAISYISELIN
OPSCONSRICOSTA
ROMOPERASINGERYEAH
GROUSEETESADAMSAGO
CONTRASTASAMANSRO
BITSCONCENTRATETOP
UNHEALEDAVERSRIME
DEFAMEDPRIMOSOLARIA
ALIAPOETIGUNSTAND
LOBSPLITSECONDANAS
ERRSTENTSRASPUTIN
NCISODIEHOURENAMEL
TACTPODDEDPLANTALE
AIDANERERCALYE
VERSUSSCOUTMISC
BIRTHSTONEMORALTENET
OCELOTBUNWADEDUCE
BESETSSGTSPADEMON

This puzzle has a wonderfully creative angle I've never seen before. State abbreviations are added to certain answers to provide information for other clues.

So, for example, at 6-Across, "Posed (for)" is SAT. Then, at 33-Down, we see "6-Across near Indianapolis?" Add IN (the abbreviation for Indiana) to SAT to get SATIN, making the answer for 33-Down SMOOTH FABRIC.

Correction: Errors in NYT puzzles are extremely rare but this crossword has one. The clue for 30 Across reads "New Jersey town bordering Rahway" and the answer is ISELIN. It turns out they're very close together but they don't actually touch. You can see for yourself in these closeup maps of Iselin and Rahway.

Mon 2/6/2012
BAHAERASESGTS
EBONLORNATORO
GOHALFSIESAHEM
UVULAADEERAKE
NOMOREZLOTY
GALAXYKIWIS
ORGYIRECANINE
NEOGOCRAZYRNA
TABLETOLEBEST
ODEONEXACTA
LATERHEDGES
GOLFDRAGRHINO
ASYEGOCOMMANDO
SLURARTOOISEE
POPSRSVPSRUDY
Tue 2/7/2012
BOGUSASIAHTTP
URIAHMANSOHIO
MIRROROFTHEMIND
RODRENEESING
ALLSTARRATES
PEEKCASEWORKER
ISHASSNIGO
HAITIGUTIFNOT
EINLEANIAL
PLATEGLASSAVEC
TONGAALABAMA
BRUTXEBECNIM
FAIRHAIREDCHILD
ONCEKEIRTOTIE
REEDASKSSPYON
Wed 2/8/2012
FRAUDSEARCOTS
ANDSOORCAAFEW
BASSRELIEFNCAA
RELICSTOAT
ALGMIDASSTOUCH
ROOMIESITERTE
IKEASTINTS
DISCUSSTHROWERS
BERTHSANAT
UVAAYEAWESOME
SINGLESSBARTSP
ORALSAUTOS
PINEBUSSTICKET
ELANASHECALVE
NESSHEADAMMAN

Ms. Lempel is stirring up controversy yet again, bless her cheeky soul. Is MID-ASS TOUCH at 25 Across cute, clever, or offensive? The New Yorker weighs in.

Thu 2/9/2012
ISTOYSERPABST
THRUACMEAREAS
SEARCHOUTLATTE
IWISHUSEASBAIT
NOTERRANYCDS
LOSEAGAMESALE
FRAZIERJAMES
MIDSEASON
DEPOTUNASKED
ESOSRESTSEASY
PTLEELISPPEP
ROYALSEALHOOTS
ENSUECELTICSEA
SICEMTREKHOST
SAILSSOSOSSTS
Fri 2/10/2012
SHAMEDCHIMERA
WECARESHADOWED
ALEGARCAROTENE
POLITICALDNA
STACGINKGOAMS
BLUNTSTSLOT
STBEDEYULPLOY
TOTALUPPOTHOLE
OWENREFAKITAS
LEASTPLANON
ELMRESOLEXTRA
JACQUARDLOOM
PARAMOURCOINOP
FAIRPLAYALKANE
CROSSEDREELED
Sat 2/11/2012
RIPSAW
GOPROSELIG
GALLIUMCHAINED
ALLANTELASCALA
SAINTVALENTINES
SETSONEATEASE
OUTSTRIPS
VACPENSEESMML
ENASDODDSPEAL
STRAPTILEENIE
TENDERHEARTEDLY
ADELPHINEAREST
LURESINESPARTO
SPARINGSTETSON
Sun 2/12/2012 ADDITIONAL READING
BELASHAZERAHARI
AMAOPTICCLONESAPOP
DELIVERTHEGOODBSLPGA
CRAVETIDIESTAISLES
OILERPERIOLDSTERS
PLAYBFORAFOOLESTOP
SEISCYMBALSSNITS
CAMDETBONAMIEYE
OGEEFACEBREALITYOPE
QUELLLAVIEAZOVREN
ITSONTENLEKREADS
JLOGAMEMELEESTEIN
EENBMARKMYWORDSORZO
AREUNTIESETOBER
NASALDONNISHSANT
BWORMDONKEYSYEARBS
SAMENESSELEAABUSE
ABASEDOUTSELLDACHA
KOKOFULLMETALBJACKET
IDEMINANERSTUDYULA
SERERERANOPSSFC
Mon 2/13/2012
CELLOAMFMMEMO
ARIELBOOPIRAN
BREADDOUGHSONY
SSNBIASRADIO
GARRYTRUDEAU
FLOATEDOVID
AUDIADENIRA
WAITINGFORGODOT
NUNTARTSEAM
ESAUCAESARS
MARLONBRANDO
EBOOKOREGAPO
LISPREARWINDOW
ODIEUGLIERASE
NEEDMODERAMEN
Tue 2/14/2012
QVCPSHAWANODE
TELEPOCHDIVER
IRASANTAMONICA
POWDERSTAEDIT
UTESRAP
ALABAMASLAMMERS
PETAENTITYLEO
LATINDIMLOVER
UVADARNITNEST
SERTAMATTRESSES
AKASOLE
FARMNUSJITNEY
AMOAMASAMATIDO
SMILEMAINEGAY
TOLETCRASSHMO
Wed 2/15/2012
TABSTHAISINRE
ECRUWANNANEAT
ATOPOSKARAERO
MAKERSLIONSDEN
ERABERNINI
SANTEEGRANTS
UTESLEPTORGAN
MALAINHOTLETO
ARENAEDDIEXER
CIVICSANNERE
ASHTRAYORR
ARTESIANPSYCHE
COOTFLINTDIET
MARTFLORAESME
ERSESYNCSREPS
Thu 2/16/2012
SLIPUPFLUFF
CARUSOLIVEACT
FETTLEDAGENTRY
UNELOSWHASSUP
MARGINBETTODO
BRIANMUDPIE
LISTFORERROR
ESEOUTINKHEM
TRAWLIVSSISI
REMEDYIHOPS
THATINSONESEC
REDDENSATVTCU
ILLEGALREIGATE
PLICATECREATE
BONERHOWLER
Fri 2/17/2012
BABEMAGNETRESP
ELIWALLACHEXPO
AFTERTASTECHAW
MASBANASEAICE
SLIDSTAPLER
SIFTERCLASSACT
CHADSBLUNTRAO
HALSFRIEDDADO
ODSNOUNSBETEL
ONETOONEVALETS
LOSESTOHINT
MITTENFEEDSPF
ADAROWENWISTER
TERATHERETHERE
EATSEASYDOESIT
Sat 2/18/2012
ROASTERSTUSHES
ONTHELAMINLOVE
CALAMINEMARLEE
OPAPASTIESDAS
CASCOHAIROORT
ORTHLONIWANDA
AGORANATTER
SWAPOUTSERMONS
TIGERSTHEME
ASNAPARODAGOG
THOUIMUSILONA
EBSRHYTHMSRBI
POTSIEHOOLIGAN
ENIGMAINREPOSE
NECTARSEASONED

I've highlighted them.

Sun 2/19/2012 CORE O' NATIONS
SPLATBOTHOBERLIN
FORAGEMELEEMARIANAS
AHUGANDAKISSGRACEFUL
BANESIDIOTICTSEOSE
RVERTERNSTAHOEDREW
IERACIDPATENMAMAS
CISCOKIDPINCHALA
ORESIXTHMATILDA
AFROSMUNIIRISHTES
WRAPUPANTENEAPVANS
ARISTACKSDANETALIA
LIREIRAEPELTRICKEY
TBAKNOWNOBISUMASS
ZANIESTYENTESON
DREMASTSSTUNTMAN
BASILGUCCIWAWAECO
ESQSPASHABABELLEAP
ASUMABTREADLEHORDE
DEARABBYGARDENMARKET
STROLLERORALSGLEAMS
SECTORSTPKEMONTY

I have shaded in the Nations at the Core of each theme answer.

Mon 2/20/2012
ETHANBOMBSTWO
TIARAARIALEON
CENTSSALMONROE
ERGMIMEVOIDS
TRAFFICARTERY
CARELLINMATE
MADAMSPEAKER
IFSROIIDS
RULESOFORDER
KROGERONEILL
PRESIDENTSDAY
SWEEPNEATURN
LUSTAFTEROWNED
OSUSLEPTMONDO
ESPTORSOSWOON
Tue 2/21/2012
LOLOHSTOPROME
AMIREPINEOJAY
PEGOLIVERSTONE
UGHSEROOASES
PATTONOSWALT
SODAAMOEBAE
KHAKISERFODD
REBECCADEMORNAY
IREHGTSPOEMS
SARALEEDENS
MARTYFELDMAN
AGASPAECOCTO
BESTPICTURECPO
ERIENEEDEDOAK
TEALTOSSESYRS
Wed 2/22/2012
GRABDOBBSDAIS
AIDAENOLAEMMA
BOOSBESOMLOON
KNIGHTSGOING
STEEDOUR
CONTACTLANCES
ADDKORANKATES
RIASMILERNOAH
FELLABAYEDOSO
LISTSWEFORGET
PIAWEEDS
JOUSTKIDDING
ETCHENRONAXEL
STLOINURELOVE
TOADTOMESEXES
Thu 2/23/2012
SHOOTROOTJERK
HINDUAUTHOXEN
OGLERPITAKILO
PHYSICSANGELIC
NOHOWORECK
COKEREHABS
OWESNEORELIEF
MEGABITKEEPSTO
ENSUREDIENATO
AROUNDSOUL
SLOPSROGET
TELLSONPROPSUP
IRMARANIRETRO
COENETONCRANK
KICKMESSHORSE

AROUND must be added to the answers around the outside edge for the clues to make sense.

Fri 2/24/2012
THAIPEGSMATE
HORNEALANBATES
ARENAEMBARRASS
WATERBASEPAINT
ECHELONTINCTS
DEADONDONAHUE
CURIOROBE
STOCKSANDSHARES
TIVOTNOTE
ORESTESARROWS
PERSONLIBERAL
INAGADDADAVIDA
BRICABRACGOOEY
ROCKSLIDEELLIE
ONESEBAYTEND
Sat 2/25/2012
MOBSFIVESATINS
ONEOALITTLEBIT
STENKOSHERDELI
THRICEAEROXER
WEBCASTRISE
AMOEBOIDCENSOR
NOTSUMOSNOTCH
TNTSTOWEDLOCI
EELEDRELOSLAN
DYELOTLEGALESE
FLOPSTDENIS
OHOOREOIROBOT
MINDREADERNANO
AREWEALONEISAN
REGISTEREDDELE
Sun 2/26/2012 BACK TO THE START
LAMPSLACASAGABFESTS
ISAACEXACTSEVERMORE
PERSONALSHOPTONIBRAX
OCTOPODHIMOMNEAREST
EDUCEATINTRY
ANTIDEPRESSLAVYOWZA
MORNSTINTVIDALSOIL
ONOFFOPSWHEELIEURB
KEGLERPLEASUREPRINCI
LAZELENSTREADON
SCOTBIERSLAPSEMENO
YODELERHAIRAMAD
PHYSICALGEOGRADARKER
HITMCQUEENOIDJONAH
OBEYAIRESPURERCECE
NASALSEZARTICHOKEHE
NEADELTAELON
BACKENDROOTSADSPACE
UNDERGROONTHEWATERFR
RELEASEDMALONEARTOO
TWISTTIESLEWEDRUSSO

Theme answers go back to the start. Append the first three letters to the end for the answers to make sense.

Mon 2/27/2012
PIPPIASOFADZE
ENRONLOWETOAD
STANDSTALLEGGS
TRIGAOKIDIG
LASKISSANDTELL
EYELIDLEEROE
ENHALOFELT
HANDINTHETILL
RENTGRAVEL
AMAIRRIAMSAM
HIGHWAYTOLLUZI
ROOMICEETAS
ARABJETHROTULL
LIMBELLEPAREE
POSYTIERSTEAD
Tue 2/28/2012
OSLOOLESOCOME
PLODPOLORIVER
IAGOORANIRANI
EVERYSINGLECLUE
SASSEN
ARTPUFFATLAST
LAITMOREAISLE
INTHISPUZZLEHAS
AOLERSIREDENT
SNEERSTAPSSTY
ISMPEA
THIRTEENLETTERS
HUBBAMAILOLIO
AGAINOMNILIMP
WORSTSEENLASS
Wed 2/29/2012
PAVLOVTHEATVS
AGASSIIAGORAE
RENTCONTROLILE
ESSALEUTDCUP
GREASEMONKEY
APTESTISAK
ASWEERNSTNIX
HAIRREPLACEMENT
STNAMASSHEIR
CARAMTOSSA
CHICAGOBEARS
HATHRUSSOASI
OVICATSPAJAMAS
MOEHEHEDABOMB
PCSEROSANCIEN
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