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Puzzles for February, 2014
with Editor comments

Sat 2/1/2014
BARBARABUSHBEE
EQUIVALENCERRR
FASCINATIONOIL
OBESDRAFTWAKE
GASMOMMYLEDS
MAMBAMADCAP
AHEADEXFOLIATE
CARROLLLEADSIN
EMILNOLDEKITES
DOCENTEXMET
MANAFSTARMEW
ZEKEKLEINPISA
ALAYOURMAJESTY
GENOLIVEGARDEN
STEUNDEREXPOSE

This puzzle by Canadian Will Nediger has a lot of fine vocabulary. My favorite entries, besides BARBARA BUSH at 1A, are YOUR MAJESTY, OLIVE GARDEN, HAM OMELET, ERICA KANE, ALARM BELL, BETAMAX, FLEX-TIMER, L.A. LAKER, ERIK SATIE, and WE DID IT. And hardly anything undesirable. That's expert puzzle-making!

Sun 2/2/2014 TOIL AND TROUBLE
HAWSLEERSATUNUM
OLINSINREACHWHOLE
REDEEMTERMITEKAHUNA
EXERCISERSDURANDURAN
BANDOLEROPOLOSHIRT
KIATCMBIC
HOWCOSTEAUOAKSTSA
INHALFINAKNOTKOSHER
HEAVEHOOLEICENTREES
ANTEUHOHTACOASTO
TDSBMINORROCOCOCON
DORAEPITAPHKATO
SNOWINFELICIAWRITHE
IONESKYEESEREHEATED
NEEKIELDHSMOODIRE
GLIBNELLTENSASSN
SENDSEABIRDTOSH
ORDAINWILLFULHOTPOT
TOODLEOOIONICEHOLES
TANSSHOCOOFORRANK
ODESOPEDTEWEYOS

This puzzle has everything — a fresh, literary theme, beautifully executed, with a bonus visual element, and a handsome construction to boot. Besides the theme I like DURAN DURAN, POLO SHIRT, IN A KNOT, HEAVE-HO, IONE SKYE, HOT POT, TOODLE-OO, NO HOPE, and THE ROBOT. This should make for a relaxing few hours for most solvers ... or a "relaxing" 6-8 minutes for crossword champion Dan Feyer!

Mon 2/3/2014
ACTSLADYPORCH
LOOPELIAADIEU
EMIRAMOKROBOT
CALENDARYEAR
ELSADDIMP
IMOCHUCKYEAGER
SARASOTASINAI
ARCSTENPMDINO
ASHESDIAMETER
CHICKENYARDERS
SYDIOUTSP
CANARYYELLOW
GATORNOIRAERO
OHARECOPETACO
PARKAEKEDORAL

A little crossword news: the 15th Westport Public Library Crossword Contest was held this past Saturday. About 120 crossword enthusiasts from Connecticut and New York competed. The puzzles consisted of the Monday-Wednesday NY Times puzzles (Feb. 3-5) plus the Thursday from the following week (Feb. 13).

Andrew Kravis, of Manhattan, was the first in the room to finish each of Puzzles #1-#3, in approximately 3:05, 3:15, and 3:40, respectively.

On the playoff puzzle, #4, conducted on large boards among the top three solvers, Glen Ryan was the first to finish, in 8:05 but sadly, he left a square blank. Andrew finished right behind him, in 8:17, and his solution was complete and perfect, so he won. Jesse Lansner finished perfectly in 10:37, so he was second. Glen took third.

Here's a photo of me with the winners.

Tue 2/4/2014
HODSBASKJOJO
ANONILIESODOI
JKROWLINGBOSOM
JPMORGANMAHALO
ZOESSECLAN
EXJETLAHTI
ARBEATSINENVY
RAFTCROCIAGEE
LYLEHANKERERS
ENJOYABRAM
POTJOSMONA
INCAPSJMBARRIE
NEHRUJCDITHERS
ELECTATITOMIT
BROZISISPOSE

(Will is taking a break from contributing Notes so he can focus on preparing for the upcoming American Crossword Puzzle Tournament.)

Wed 2/5/2014
ROASTSNITCOOP
ECLATHONERUBE
HELLORHIGHWATER
ALFPAHSRIFT
BOOMTHEWALTONS
STRAITENDSEE
CREASEJEST
SHREDDEDWHEAT
OLIOANYHOW
MUDESSERECTS
GREATWHITELARK
ACTALAZYTUE
SOWHATELSEISNEW
ALAEHOBSPRATE
KEYSSNEESAPOR
Thu 2/6/2014
BANGOJSARTIER
ELEAHITSENTRAS
WASSOBBYCONSENT
IMTHEREFIRACHE
TOLEDOARIGOTTOW
CREDTIDYDROME
HTSUHOHSMEARED
PSEUDOCOUP
ARCHERSHAMMPTL
REHABEMMABLUE
CARRYOKIENOLANS
ADIABENCDRATES
DISOBEYJAPANESE
ENTHUSEAGOCAIN
GASSEDREPHUNS
Fri 2/7/2014
PRESENTARMS
DOOBEDOOBEDOO
GIMMEGIMMEGIMME
ASPROTCSIEEL
SMARTMTASHORT
PANETEATSONTO
SLOPPINGAEGEAN
USAUSAUSA
KEVLARARCTURUS
ELISAPLEYGANT
BURENUEYBETTE
ADAOEROSETRI
BEGSTHEQUESTION
DOUBLEBOGEYED
SPEEDSKATER
POW Sat 2/8/2014
BASFLIPONESLID
ACHJUKEBOXHERO
TRAOREGONTRAIL
HOMBREWIEISNT
SPEEDDOSYMHA
HOLEPHOTOOP
ELECOLDSAWHER
BISHOPSLEAZY
ASSDOGSITMIRA
REVOLTSBRAN
CBERKOSTEMPO
PARILAVHEREON
ORANGEPEKOETUE
SOVIETUNIONANA
TBONESTEAKSLDL
Sun 2/9/2014 IT WAS 50 YEARS AGO TODAY
MOBILESAPARTSTRASSE
ONESIDEBASIETHITHER
STATISTBUENAREDEEMS
TOTOUSUALGRIEFSLIT
LOLLOPMIODEARTO
TSEULNACOSITBEVAS
YEMENIACUTEFINEST
REALTVAVAALIODESSA
OONAAPTERRICEUWYES
NUISANCETAREARPHONE
ETATSTEENAGERSROUTS
IWASNEUERTTOP
OILCAROJYORGOBEYER
AMINACHOAERIEECO
FIVEMANYSATHOLTSOS
STEMSBLEHLIAMGUTSY
ARUTLEDAACREUTEP
STPOVENNAMRONIRHO
HOOPLANONNOSIETUDES
ERODESMOODYSAFARI
ASLANTANNESTROYES
Mon 2/10/2014
DUSKDASHASSES
UNTOITTYZOOMS
SCORECARDAUNTS
TALENTORALS
SPEARSPARECASH
NASHKAHUNA
AFLPOOLSETAS
CREATURECOMFORT
HANDTERRYSKY
ENDORAEARL
SCARECROWTEASE
ALEUTALASKA
YABBARECCENTER
EARLYARONTEEN
SHOESLINEORTS
Tue 2/11/2014
ITDGLAZEDHON
MEAMODELASOFT
PARCALLITAWASH
ASKATAIENERO
LEAVEHIGHANDDRY
EUGENEABEETA
SPENDJAILORSO
GOTOPRESS
OPIEHIPSUSAFB
URNGENCRIMEA
RETURNTOTHEFOLD
POLIOIRAYULE
LAUNDRYLISTNOG
ORCATEETERTUG
NEHHERESYSTS
POW Wed 2/12/2014
SHEESHNEPALI
SHARPEIINDIANA
TURNINGTHETRICK
PTAHOIDIA
TKOSNELLPOS
CLICTOTIEOVID
AEROROASTNEVE
TRIMMINGTHETREE
EEKAYE
MACDELOLESST
IDOLIZEMALACHI
SILICONAGEDOUT
TELLINGTHETRUTH
SUITETHANERIE
XESSHUNTMSN
Thu 2/13/2014
AKIMBOALPACAS
RELOADICANTLIE
MELINETAXIFARE
INFDRESDENUNI
LEANLAIRMDEN
LAMEARMASEIS
OREGNOMASWAS
LADYMONNA
ABETSMREVISA
ROCASWATECOL
AINTSCOTSERI
MAMSTAREATDEA
EDONEILLMIATAS
UNTURNEDINHERE
SESTETSSAMAMS
Fri 2/14/2014
ARMYCAMPURGES
READABOOKTAUNT
PINSTRIPETHEDA
ENEARSENESLY
LADYSATPARTEC
OPAHIPESSO
LAKEPOETFATSO
LOVECONQUERSALL
IDOLSPUPPETRY
LEISRAEITO
LSDNUTSOSNOUT
ITAYERTLEVSO
PONTEOILTYCOON
UNCUTLOITERING
TEENSNEATIDEA
Sat 2/15/2014
KAMASUTRALONGS
EGOMANIACENERO
PENNYANTELEGAL
TROISTERRANOVA
OASENOTES
SWMHOUSEMDIST
THISUSERSKATY
BALLPAXILOTOE
OLIONIECEPENA
NETMARSHESDER
IBANEZPOM
FORELIMBSNARCS
ANILLRATIONOUT
CEELOALANMOORE
ESSENZENGARDEN
Sun 2/16/2014 PASSING GRADES
ADESBIBIHATSRADARS
LEFTSIDESISISELISHA
DAIRYGODMOTHERDISPEL
ALLUDETORIISMACHETE
STEMOFNOTEVARIANTS
MALREMRAINMAN
OTSEGOOREOCLOYDRAM
TWODIVESFORATENJCOLE
TILTETESANILMOHAIR
OXIDANTSANNOYABIDES
ATEEBBGUNLISP
CLORISSALEMMOLESKIN
LATENTCLEOSULLANSA
UNRIGNODRILLSAIRLINE
BEANJAPELAICSCOTTS
CHIMERATELTHO
SPIRALEDTHERESSASH
TALENTSSTYECOMOESTA
ATEASESCIENCEDICTION
CENSEREARNBLONDEALE
KNEELSAREASLITAMES
Mon 2/17/2014
SLIPUCLAELIAS
LINESPANTONTO
UNCLEBUCKCODAS
SKIEDTAKESIT
HASNOMORETEARS
EGOAKAAGENOT
SERBASHRASTA
SAYSAYSAY
NASALTEEEDEN
BTWLOSALIATE
CHEESECURLSYIP
LASTDONLATCH
VERSAWHATAJOKE
OTTERLISAANEW
LEONSSPUDRATS
Tue 2/18/2014
ATOZBARBGONER
CODYBBOYORONO
IDIGCHATTERBOX
DONOWONERSERI
TEARISITME
HAKEEMEXGOV
ICIAMIDFONDU
GARMENTDISTRICT
HIKESGENLSON
ICIERURSINE
PIANOSLEAH
ORKREUSEJOHNQ
KARATECHOPLUAU
ENOTELENOOMNI
DINEDALEXMEAN
Wed 2/19/2014
WADSTHANDASH
OMITHOHOSIBIS
OMOOELENAPERT
FORWARDMARCH
ESMEOATS
SROCOMPANYHALT
HIPPOSLUGOTOE
AVERTYESKNISH
RENEKENIAGREE
PRESENTARMSERE
ROSEEPEE
READYAIMFIRE
ISNTDIODEIMAC
MICESAGETLASH
PRODGARYEXPO
Thu 2/20/2014
CHIPSTOCKPILE
LENOLADLEADOS
AARPAROARDORM
PREDATORYARNIE
ICESCOSET
CARVERWORKBIN
AGUAGAUZEUNE
ROBWOODROWYAW
ORIADIETSINE
MANWINDCUTTER
SLANGRONA
TATASORIGINALS
ONESEVADECROP
OKIETETONECRU
LANDCRAFTSHED
POW Fri 2/21/2014
TRAMPCABSSPOT
REBARYOREPENH
INIGOCLOGDANCE
OEDIPALWEIRDER
SEECLODRESUME
JOLTEDLOS
CAMERAOBSCURA
GOBIGORGOHOME
CRESCENTMOONS
HEDSHAKES
REDCAPSTEMMBA
INORDERIDAHOAN
STREAKERSKIOSK
TEMPEDITEDSEL
OASTSOBSREESE
Sat 2/22/2014
ALCHEMISTSBASE
PIRATESHIPOMAR
STAYATHOMESEMI
ERNSHOWDVORAK
SEETOTDSEMIRS
AAAOLAYCIA
BLACKMAGICWATT
RISKSITMTSINAI
OPTSCOMEUNDONE
ARRJIMIPEE
DEOROSNLERASE
BADEGGIANIRAS
ADOSARCHANGELS
NEMOWHATASHAME
DREWDOMINATRIX
Sun 2/23/2014 REEL-LIFE ANNIVERSARY
ROBERTSPASSERSALITO
OPENERAECHELONDONHO
LASTDAYTHEWIZARDOFOZ
FLOODERTEFISSURE
MUSCLEPOPOUTENOS
BOMBSHELLDARNADE
ARITIDETOHEELENACT
INNSPERAGUYNAMEDJOE
LOOMSDYERSOLIPSIST
STRUCKPOTSTAXIGTE
GONEWITHTHEWIND
ALATEARSURENTESTS
CARSTEREOUSTAOPCIT
TORTILLAFLATEREPAGO
ISSUESKOALSNEILLEI
DSTELSAJOANOFARC
LUXEBIDDERINSERT
IRANIANMUGSDREAM
VICTORFLEMINGLAJOLLA
EATITRIPOSTEORIOLES
RHODAADAPTORTEMPEST
Mon 2/24/2014
DIDINSPRIGBMW
EZINEORONOYEA
JOKESAROUNDERS
ADETREATOBIT
VIEMEGABYTE
ARSENALAMIE
CHONGADELALIU
LOUISAMAYALCOTT
USNIMAGEGAVIN
DATESCALENE
BETHESDAMME
LARAOLIVADIM
ASAAMYLNITRITE
DECRELICEAVES
ELKELENADEEMS
Tue 2/25/2014
MOMAORBSIBIS
SNARKREAMTAPA
GOTTIAFROANAT
FENCINGBLADE
UNCIVILLIN
ROLLNEEDLECASE
STOMPMUTESEX
UFWSEABIRDPEP
LANAXLESALSA
ARABLEADERMITT
RUMLEANTOS
CROSSWORDESE
ZEUSOBOEISIAH
ANNEREVSSINGE
RODSNYETANEW
POW Wed 2/26/2014
PIGSAVIATECAF
AMOKNASSAURIO
CUBISTREPORTERS
SPICEYESAIDES
ANGASPIRE
POMPOUSASSIST
ORAREPLICARAW
PSIVOILEICE
EONCARBONSSHE
STARKISTNAKED
ATTILASAD
SURLYGASIDIOM
SLEEPERCELLISTS
ESESEANCECLOG
TATOLDESTTEES
Thu 2/27/2014
SCARCEFACADE
OHIOANAMAZIN
DONTTALKABOUT
MASTSMOEARRID
APEYEAPLENTY
YOURSELFWESALE
APPALLSOARLED
GOLFOPEL
ARPBOBSODISTS
SEATWILLDOTHAT
IDIOCYOASRNA
ARDORAMYWHINY
AFTERYOULEAVE
FOODIEPORTER
TROOPSSTEELY

While I have the greatest respect for Stan, both as an editor and a person, I don't completely agree with his puzzle philosophy. Specifically, I don't think crosswords have to avoid all difficult words. A crossword consists of two parts, apart from any theme — the grid and the clues. In my opinion the challenge can come from either part. Completing an interesting difficult answer can be just as rewarding to the solver as solving an interesting difficult clue.

By an "interesting difficult" answer I don't mean an insect genus or a 50-mile-long river in Russia. I mean something that's stimulating, amusing and/or useful to know. Honest people can disagree about what words meet this criterion. But presumably someone who likes crosswords also likes learning words and exploring the richness of the English language. This means that crosswords don't need to be limited to the 10,000-20,000 most common words — which can get overused besides.

Another problem with Stan's philosophy is that it can lead to blandness of vocabulary and overcaution in themes. I don't judge a puzzle by its worst entries. I judge it by its overall effect. An ambitious theme may require compromises. A great entry or combination of entries may require compromises. I think average solvers judge a puzzle on its balance. I do, too.

So I admire Stan's "fussiness" and attention to using only common vocabulary. I'm happy to publish crosswords of this sort. I just don't think every crossword has to be like this.

Fri 2/28/2014
IRAQCAVERSODS
RACEADIDASJOT
IDIDLIVINGWAGE
SINALERTTHYME
HIGHNOTESASAP
ATPAFT
TRADITIONALIRAS
MALARIAPARASITE
EMOTIONALOUTLET
NATIONALANTHEMS
NTSCII
ABBETEXASSIZE
TORAHOVERTVIA
STOREFRONTWALT
IONROCKIEONCE
XXXREHEARKAHN
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