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Puzzles for April, 2020
with Jim Horne comments

Wed 4/1/2020
CLAYITEMSWEDE
LOGOCARAWANED
AREYOUKIDDINGME
WIDOWENDUPION
SLITFERN
REBINHALFVENI
ATLASTMOEIRES
WHOTHEHELLKNOWS
ENOSNONBOGOTA
RODETUSCANMOD
SARIAGIN
BATHOPONCABLE
IHAVENTGOTACLUE
GEISTARLOHILL
AMNOTSEANOPUS

This puzzle reminds me of a 2004 crossword, also by Patrick Merrell, that includes my favorite NYT clue: "Extinct Namibian shrub genus: Var."

It's the "Var." that makes it genius. If you've got some time on your hands — and hey, you do! — you might want to try solving that older puzzle by printing out the PDF. If you're too anxious and just want to jump to the answer, first reconsider the PDF because it's a fun puzzle. Ok, fine, here's the answer grid.

Happy April Fool's Day.

Thu 4/2/2020
MAPSNOOTNPADS
ORETORTELINES
ICEBETCHALLENGE
OKAPIELAM
ROTFLHORNB
STONELSTRAM
ISAOBRONZESTAR
NBCCORAILAHA
TAKECREDITPLED
ROTHTILNEER
SNOOPMSDOS
WRAPARTOO
FIVEDOLLARWORDS
ADOREFELLAZOO
BOXERASSAYORB
Fri 4/3/2020
SARASEESTSWIT
PLEBCORNERSTONE
ALAIUPSETALERTS
MONTAGUECAPLET
SWIMCAPLETSDRY
MUTTITIS
IMACSTWITTYMPG
WITHORWITHOUTYOU
ODENOELLETASES
PELEBASH
CAPULETMONTAGE
ALLNEWGINGERED
PIECEOFCAKESOLI
REALTROOPERONIT
ANTEKEYEDFADS
POW Sat 4/4/2020
BLOWDARTGRIND
ALPHANERDPODIA
GAPINGMAWAVANT
EMOTESIASERTA
LASEULTRADEEP
SSEONEOFFSSNL
EULERRAMADA
CROPTOPCARRYON
SONATASEMIS
IMSADSALESLAB
MAAMSOULSLARA
INFERATMBASIN
AGATEREADATHON
MORONSETATEASE
IDIOTDEMENTOR
Sun 4/5/2020 DOUBLE TALK
TUBASENOKINAGGOSH
OCEANLEWISCOILUNTO
GOAHEADWITHOUTMESELL
ANNEMOTESTILETTOED
SNOOZERSSCHEMEHANOI
MESATHEAYESHAVEIT
ASEADROOLSAM
IWANTTOBEALONELETSBE
RETIREISTPELLSICON
SALAXEBURLAPLIDS
TURNABOUTISFAIRPLAY
GENESAPPHOTARTOT
MRCUBYADAPSADOSIDO
ASHPANHOWNOWBROWNCOW
RESAPACEEARN
COGITOERGOSUMSPAR
ARENANOSOAPSTARDUST
SCRUBBEDUPEIEIOMIA
THARAGEISJUSTANUMBER
RILERANTANAISSEETO
ODDSBLTRAINYEGRET
Mon 4/6/2020
ACLUAGOAPART
LOONHENSDELHI
MRSCRATCHVROOM
ADELEREELMONO
SAYHILUCIFER
COLDODETOT
DOELOLHEMAN
SPEAKOFTHEDEVIL
SPEEDOARACE
ORENBAVIED
OLDNICKANSEL
POOFKOLNENACT
ECOLEBEELZEBUB
RANUPEARSELBA
ALEXAPODREAR

Does it bother you that the name of the film is actually Æon Flux?

Tue 4/7/2020
SPANSTRAWTALE
HARELAILAOLAY
ACERASCOTYORE
HEADINTHECLOUDS
FETEHOT
STEEDSODWALLA
OWNSCANOEOAR
FEETONTHEGROUND
ARMMORALUPDO
SKYMALLMETEOR
ANOLAMA
MINDINTHEGUTTER
ORALGROWNIOWA
ROTIEERIEMOET
KNOBROASTELSE
Wed 4/8/2020
GODARKCLANCY
OBERONDRUMPAD
BIERCEBOOBIRDS
STRIKEFORCES
BYLAWSSHEEP
RAFABLEURYE
AHASPLITSCREEN
NINETEENIOTA
MAYAGUNNEDIT
SPARECHANGEECO
ARIHOLDBREW
COLASCLAIRE
TURKEYBASTER
PULLAUEYAVIATE
IMSAVEDREDTAG
PAUSEDSLEETS
Thu 4/9/2020
UNOLAURAASANA
MAPASSADREMIX
PUTONHOLDTEACH
ITINAPINZOE
RIMESCHNOZZOLA
ELIPLOSTAINED
DISCOERASNL
MADEACHOICE
RIPLIFEHACK
MYFAULTTARTIE
ROADMARKERMACY
TUTBUNLALAW
OLIVEMORSECODE
AIMATPLUOTNAS
DEANSSLEDSEST
POW Fri 4/10/2020
COFFEETHEOREMS
ORILEYHELLENIC
PAROLEEPIDURAL
STEWSMAPSPATE
HOSSTALLSSPAR
OROSERPENTTSA
WIFIPASSWORD
SOFTISHHOUSTON
STEMPIPELINE
GALSTARTEDNEA
UTEPSLYERLYFT
SHARPLASBETON
TOFOLLOWNOMORE
AMESIOWABLOOMS
VERYEASYCANNES
Sat 4/11/2020
DESPACITOHIHAT
ACCOLADESAGAME
WHOLERESTLIVEN
GOTOWASTEOVENS
PITTORGEAT
RIDOFALOEHOP
INANESWOONETA
DORYSTAGSBAHT
INNBERRYSARAH
NETALEEMITTS
POODLEORAL
BIOMETIGERBALM
RETAGMORATORIA
ACINGATEDINNER
DENISPASSEDOUT
Sun 4/12/2020 BARISTA TRAINING DAY
ATLASAPERCUBABAWAWA
LEAPTROMEOSEARTHDAY
TAUPESPILLEDTHEBEANS
ERRABEYURISWARM
RUELANAIMISCTESLA
SPLITHALFANDHALFCOG
SHALLOTREIMPOSE
SAPPYLACKEDAFILTER
EBAYPIEDHALSTRUTS
RBITHANLAGERHAM
FARFROMYOURAVERAGEJOE
AYNAWMANDOVEURL
HEROESLEDISEEBALM
RANOUTOFSTEAMSONYS
INDETAILMOROCCO
MOIGROUNDSFORFIRING
SINGSGOERFIDOSTEA
ARESTMAAMESSHUM
GOTINTOHOTWATERORATE
RAINDATEEEYORERACER
PRESSBOXRRATEDSTARS
Mon 4/13/2020
DROPSRESTSHAM
VENTIARIALENO
RELAXDILLIDEA
SKYTRICKLEDOWN
MENUOXEN
STREAMLINEICK
STEINACESSHE
ERRSHATESSTOP
WARBATHHOIST
SPARIVERDANCE
CZAREONS
FLOODLIGHTSAHA
ASTOOKRAOPIUM
DATESEASLADLE
STAYSASHOCEAN
Tue 4/14/2020
CASAARMANIASS
OMENBEIRUTWHO
MINDBENDINGMIA
INTROODEOZARK
CUREDILLSANTS
SSAYOREABC
UMPOSLOLIN
GETSATFLEXIPO
ACHESATAIDTAG
ICUSIGHTNOTSO
TOMICEEEGAL
BANKROAREPA
WOWEDLOWRIDERS
AWAREIANNOVAK
XEROXTDSGNATS
Wed 4/15/2020
AGREERAGCLARO
FROTHECOPOPIN
FISTSDESROLFS
AFTAEFREMTAFT
BFAAMIBEATTIA
LINEMANKNIFING
ENDPINAVENGE
HEADTOTOE
CHARTORTEBLOC
LOGOELITELOLA
ELENAMOETENDS
FDRTSARAHGST
SASHAMENLO
MONKEYSSINUOUS
DUGINTOASSISTS
STETSONWHATTHE
Thu 4/16/2020
OBISEDICTPASTA
RANKSOLARANTIS
ISAYKEEPINTOUCH
GENESESEMBER
AMIWROTECLARET
MANNAKISSKATE
INSITUSHAMEWAX
THANKLATER
ALATHYMEPUREST
HANDDOWNDECOY
NOTIMESWALERAP
MAYBEGESTURE
DROPMEALINEHIES
EARLEILIACETRE
EGRETLEIGHASST
Fri 4/17/2020
JEWELGOTTACID
EXILEADHOCASI
DIGITROADATLAS
ITSASTARTCOLIC
RAGLIPIDS
PROPOSEATOAST
LIFELESSONCAPS
OFFALASUNODAT
WEBBELECTORATE
AREWETHEREYET
SILAGETAE
ONAIRANYTAKERS
RUNNERSUPSIDEA
ESCTOILEOWENS
SEESEALSNINTH

The most famous stage direction from the world's most famous playwright seems more than fair to me.

POW Sat 4/18/2020
CHANELPROTIP
DELILAHDAPHNE
CRYHAVOCAPTEST
ADDINMOSSIFTS
SEALRENTSCOOP
ERRGASCAPSRCA
LOTTERYPICK
WINTERSCENE
CYBERATTACK
DOCRADIUMSHOV
ROLFPENDSDARA
ALIENRAETRUES
IMFREESNOBALLS
NOFAIRTEAMUSA
SMELLSDRAPER
Sun 4/19/2020 OF COURSE!
NPRAPIARYPISCESAPP
ORELESLIEARMADACAL
MICROCHIPSPLURALPLO
ADOUTSENSEROMELAN
DENGASTROKEOFBADLUCK
RANTSUTNEMIDGES
ASSANGEPLEATEVE
CAPTAINHOOKITSARFED
EKELETUPSGREEDWEAR
SEEDYLEILATENANTS
DISTRACTEDDRIVING
BOBSTAYEASYAEDSEL
ALASRABIDDENTALHWY
AEGISNASWEDGEISSUES
DOETAGONPRECISE
DOTELLSALKGEENA
IRONDEFICIENCIESRPMS
TNUTGAGSNARFEJECT
HEPWALNUTNOTUPTOPAR
EREENCASEANEMIASTU
RYESTOLENSEDANSISM
Mon 4/20/2020
LAPELMOJOSTLE
ICUDEEDUNTIED
BALLGAMEMOUNDS
IDSAYSOBFF
DIETHIGHOFFICE
OASESROUTSLAT
ELSTARAIRA
BADNEWSCOWBELL
ALIWALLNOR
NESTLOOPLEAKY
SCHOOLPLAYEDIE
OHOROMCOMS
OUTLAWBOYOHBOY
ASSUREIDOLENO
RAPPEDNYSESOU
Tue 4/21/2020
TAPESPPPQUERY
ATESTALEUNDUE
PHASECURLICUES
SERAPHIMONO
ONLYONASCOFFS
NAYFROGELROY
WHIMELLAURN
THEGOPPONTIAC
KRISHNASWEATY
NITTELLTROT
OBESEELIAORS
BESUREMADSPOT
PJSOPENUPTO
COMPETENTASIAN
ADULTADODANTE
MEMESREPANGER
Wed 4/22/2020
DUMBPABSTCUBA
ATEITORATEOPEN
FAITHLIBRAROAD
THREEMILEISLAND
MEATPHIL
SEVENHILLSOFROME
APEDICEYPEEKED
DONSOARSDALI
ACTUALRITESPET
THIRTEENCOLONIES
GOVTPLIE
PRIMEREALESTATE
CROCRATIOETHER
PISAEDENSELENA
AXELTESTSEMTS
POW Thu 4/23/2020
ETTAWANDSHY
BEANABOUTCUE
BAKINGBREADOMG
LEMONYCUERVO
SESAMEINTHREED
LOITERMOIODES
ANGERPILES
BINCATEREDCGI
MYBADGILES
ASIAOLEDEMOTE
COMPAREDOOPSIE
TILSITAMULET
IRARELOCATIONS
NETDELHIENOS
GEEEDENSEWN
Fri 4/24/2020
TIETACKGIRTHS
SOLOSHOTIDAHOS
ALLTHEREBEDAMN
RASHEXPEDITE
ESTATEISLA
BLURSTSWON
GRABABITETOEAT
BRISTLECONEPINE
CATTLERUSTLERS
UPIYETHAND
PESTHISSES
SHAGBARKABBA
BORNEOMINOTAUR
ADAGESARCHAISM
MAJORSTOMBOYS
Sat 4/25/2020
DACAPOTOMCAT
ORATORROLAIDS
TIPTOESHRAPNEL
SATELLITETVCPO
ASSNATEMITT
WHITEDITPEN
WONACERBARNIE
JUKEBOXMUSICALS
DRAKEFATEDTIT
NETISLEPIED
SAGSANTEMIC
EPATIGERMOTHER
CARMAKERULTIMO
TROOPERSTELMO
STOLENKODIAK
Sun 4/26/2020 TURN, TURN, TURN
SWEETOAREXPOPONE
HASBROFEEXMANMOTES
ASSEENONTVMAKESALIST
HAIRSALONSASUASKSTO
STETRITAPRELIMS
BANEPAISANAFIRE
PRAIRIEREINTACOBAR
TUNNELFEEDERHEREIGO
ANNUMSLURRENEGEZED
STEREOTYPICTAKEADE
ENLAINAGTNUTS
ALADINGRADIOSHACKS
MICBADGESYEOWELROY
IRESIGNTUNEINVISION
GALILEEPETSCURABLE
ASADOSCREWYPOLS
XLSHIRTDOUGFAHD
ARABIAICUROLLACIGAR
TOTEMPOLESACIDTONGUE
OBITSSIREMKTEMAILS
METAUSSRPSYELESS

Congratulations on your debut, Mr. Ferguson.

I've remarked before about how personal your crossword experience is. Your life history informs what you know or don't, what you admire or dislike, what your personal triggers are. I was doing fine until I hit COULD CARE LESS. I realize I'm being pedantic. I know it's in the language. But the sheer illogicality grates. IRREGARDLESS gives me a similar fingernails-on-chalkboard response. I'm sure you're more forgiving than I am.

The print version of this puzzle has arrows, not merely lines, driving through the tunnels.

Mon 4/27/2020
SWABASIASTART
WIREAPSETHROB
ANGELHAIRPROVO
NOOSERAIDOMEN
ACEHARDWARE
SCLERALEAS
COUPMAGIDOGMA
ACCIDENTSHAPPEN
ROYCECOTEEARN
HASHLENSES
ARSENIOHALL
LAHRPROPMIDAS
IDIOMAHAMOMENT
SANERGURUIKEA
TRESSEMTSNEWT
Tue 4/28/2020
COMBGOLFHASH
OPALSONIAOLLA
DEJALILACTIES
COMPANYRETWEET
RAINSWANKY
OLDBAGOFTWIX
WOOLFKARATHAS
LAMESATUPTENT
SFOPAPALFORTY
FAMILYTWEEZE
WRISTSAINT
HIGHSPEEDTWAIN
UCLAADMITICON
POORDAISYLANE
SHOPEMTSSLOT
Wed 4/29/2020
HELLWELLAMPS
OWIESODOICALL
BANGTRUTVCRAY
ONEWOODSETRATE
AMISHBRACES
ADEXECALLAANT
BALINGLOOPS
CHINSOFTGPOOH
GALOOTTIARA
IRSBOFFJUNKET
TEESUPFRANC
SWEATITADAYAGO
SINGTINGECHOP
ARIACREEDLONE
DENSHEAREYED
POW Thu 4/30/2020
BLEGSASIFGASP
CAIROCHOOLEIF
ALTERTINEERMA
MAHTHINSKNOCK
PLEAAVENESSIE
SARDINEEINOTS
HOGWASHSLY
CORNERKICKS
ZACAAMILNE
FOPFIRMINERAL
ANIMALIOSTETE
LETATASKMEDOM
LOANMINIGODNO
SULUADOSGREEN
FTOPGETSSANDW
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