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Puzzles for July, 2021
with Jim Horne comments

POW Thu 7/1/2021
STATSGPSHARM
OWLETREEFOREO
SOLARPANELWONT
MEANDMYMOUTH
NOSGITSRINSES
EATSINNONEED
WHATSTHEIDEA
TUBAOWNRBIS
YOUOWEMETIME
ABOUNDETHANE
STENTSHORASOD
THATSAVERYIF
ROMAILLALLOWIT
AMESDOLLECOLI
PERKGOBRINKS
Fri 7/2/2021
PEAKSORBBRAT
ISLEOFSKYEAERO
GOOGLETRANSLATE
SSNMEANELLY
GNOMEFUEL
ACTIVELIFESTYLE
CHIKADRIESSET
HOMEARABSGOTH
EKEPLUTOCAMEO
SECRETMENUITEMS
OHNOASSET
AMENSECTHAI
NOISECANCELLING
INNUDIVINGINTO
LEGSSLYANGER
Sat 7/3/2021
SOREBACKNSFW
OMELETTEEPPIE
GIVEATRYMARIST
STENCILHATTAN
STAHLTOKEICU
HAMOPERATOR
THOUAHEMNOUS
CREATUREFEATURE
AINTSILOLITT
MASSGENERAL
BLTORENDEETS
OREFIRROYCOHN
DUELEDZIRCONIA
INTERIDEALISM
ASHEPASTICHE

Did you like seeing ROY COHN in the grid?

There are different schools of thought about what entries are suitable for crosswords, ranging from "include nothing that makes me sad or might trigger anyone anywhere" to "anything in the newspaper itself is fair game." I tend toward the latter, but I understand the former.

Crosswords have been criticized for including words that might be used as an insult in other contexts, under-representing various groups, etc., but controversial names seem to be especially tricky. There's an implication that grid inclusion implies endorsement. If you saw your own name in an NYT crossword, you'd feel honored. I get that.

Crosswords would look much different if they completely eschewed the despicable and the evil. MAO and IDI are grid staples. IVANKA is a great combination of letters that will attract ambitious constructors. WAGNER and PICASSO and JFK and MLK are more famous for their work than for their moral failings.

As we learn more about the rich and famous, our opinion evolves. GIULIANI used to be an American Hero. Now he's a national embarrassment. WOODY ALLEN used to be an admired filmmaker. Now he's too toxic to include in a puzzle.

For the record, I loved seeing Roy Cohn today, in the same way I enjoy seeing BILLY THE KID. That doesn't mean I don't have my own triggers. ENOLA has been clued over 200 times in reference to that infamous B-29 bomber. Whatever you think of the military strategy behind the decision to bomb Japanese civilians, 70,000 deaths is a tragedy. Would JACK THE RIPPER be better because it was longer ago and fewer people died? Is that worse or not as bad as a lawyer who corrupted American democracy? Those are crazy calculations to try to make.

[Added note] Reader Mike Knobler makes this astute observation: "For some of us, seeing a name or an organization or an institution in the puzzle isn't offensive if the bad thing the person or organization or institution did or does is addressed in the clue. ROY COHN clued as a McCarthyite is much less offensive than, say, Henry Kissinger clued as a diplomat or the NRA clued as an advocacy group."

That makes sense to me. even though It doesn't completely solve the problem of you and I disagreeing on who is despicable and who is heroic.

Sun 7/4/2021 I'VE GOT A FEELING ...
RATEDRTUBMANRABID
BOBATEAAPRICOTELOPE
GUARDEDOPTIMISMLOTSA
ASTOPIUOMENCLAPTON
MEETCATELOCHAXEL
EDSCULTURESHOCKCECE
PATOLAYTEENIDOL
BBGUNTWOSGOODSAUNA
YURTSHIGHANXIETYPAN
EGOTZANYWAILANWAR
SWEDENTOWDOCENT
BIDENNOOKAMESTGIF
DUNCOMICRELIEFOBESE
ANGLOINTOORGYBARTY
UNCARINGALBAHER
BYOBUNBRIDLEDJOYVAT
NERDOENODOURDIVA
NOCLASSSFPDSIMAGES
OBELICREATURECOMFORT
MIREDIPANEMAENROUTE
SENDSITTEAMDETERS
Mon 7/5/2021
BADPRMAJORBBB
ATRIAOLIVAEAU
SEACUCUMBERARC
SIPNASAREPACK
ONEACRECABARET
WHYYOULITTLE
HARRYWELTHOE
OBEYGOLDSBUNT
TIACOPETORAH
ELLIBERTADOR
LINDSAYTOYOTAS
STAINSSONSANT
AIMEYEINTHESKY
FEEWOLFEODELL
ESSSNITSPUREE
Tue 7/6/2021
IRANGAPSTIPSY
BONYABITOMAHA
MONEYMONEYMONEY
STATUEKNEETEM
MRCOOLMOPE
HOTBATHPRAM
ALOUARGOAXIOM
GIMMEGIMMEGIMME
SNAPESTEMNENA
TELLGIVESIN
ARODELPASO
LESSTYESINBAD
IDOIDOIDOIDOIDO
NOUNSNANOTBAR
ESPNUGLENABBA
Wed 7/7/2021
TADAOHMBRER
SLOPBEAURAVEL
APOPSADROMEGA
REFTAKESANAP
DEBARMELSIS
USELESSLEGBONE
GALECTOCRO
SLOWANDSTEADY
RAPDORMIOC
OHDRYUPPALOOKA
NBALAGINNER
LOSESABETNAY
SNAGSSTEPPSAS
DONOTTACOAIRE
WINSTHERACE
Thu 7/8/2021
BOOBOOBIOSORB
ENFOLDOBIEVEE
ALAODEWELLWELL
COINSTIAARIA
OAKANNSEAGLE
NNELEOTARDOVA
STATUSERRED
THAIRADIOADDS
WORTHTEABAG
ATEAVENGERWOW
PAULATORTOUR
MAMMAIASOLTI
INAPANICYOGAAT
STPSERAENLACE
SSSTREYAGENTS
POW Fri 7/9/2021
LAMPOPTEDBLTS
OHIOPARSEREIN
GOLDMEDALSOSLO
EYECANDYCLOSER
AXELMEEKEST
BEDSIDEMANNER
ROOTSBYRDSEPA
INNSCORKSSVEN
ESTGLAREPOISE
GOWITHTHEFLOW
EPIPENSPERT
DIVINGFREESPIN
IDEASNAILSPACE
TAUTTWICEOPEC
HYPEOAREDTASK
Sat 7/10/2021
CARELESSMISTAKE
ANANSITHESPIDER
COMMUNIONWAFERS
HUMEERODEFLO
ETESTSARASP
DHARMARAPIER
ROUTEGODNO
ACCORDSDIGDEEP
RHODETENSE
CEREALLAPDOG
SSNROOMDICE
HERSATYRAVIA
SILENTTREATMENT
PRIVATEENTRANCE
FEASTONESEYESON
Sun 7/11/2021 NO RUSE
DRESSAGEMYBADNAPLES
RESTATEDCOULDOMEARA
UNPOISEDBURDENOFPOOF
GOOPDYNAMICSENMASSE
SMAETAPETER
ODDJOBBRENDANRAMPED
TERIODESTILTSDRACO
IAMMALALAHEARTIMRAN
SLOMOMILWAUKEEBOOERS
SMOKEEVENEELJED
RICKADDERPOPO
SSRITOLOAFTORSO
TAMINGOFTHESHOOLITHE
ARISEWYATTMINUSSIGN
RAZORNORTHSLONICER
THENFLREPEALSDONKEY
BARESTMISEN
IMITATEBOOTSTRENGTH
PENELOPECOOSEUPHORIA
SAGELYSORTAEMAILING
ODESSAOPAHSNPRTOTES
Mon 7/12/2021
ARCANETOFUAMP
CARWAXARABPOI
IMALITTLETEAPOT
DIMLOOKRUSTY
BARTHEIR
ALBERTOGONZALES
TAINTOPIEOVA
BUTTJIBEDHUEY
AGETONILOINS
THROWINGABONETO
PENSGAWK
SOBERBULLNOD
CHICKENYAKITORI
OILEDITAFRICA
TOEDUPENEURAL
Tue 7/13/2021
MORPHREMITSIBS
AWAREELISEENYA
COVERALLTHEBASES
EWEELIAPOSEAS
WILESTEMCRY
RIGHTOFFTHEBAT
ADROITARESTBAR
CLAYSSCAMBRIBE
KEMONAIFSEATED
OUTOFLEFTFIELD
SUPISEELOAN
ASHORECOOLWAH
WHOLENEWBALLGAME
TENDSWEETENTER
ORESEWERSNUTSO
POW Wed 7/14/2021
OFFSRAVESSIP
CARTEETAILESL
CRYINGWOLFEAAA
AGENDALIFEBOAT
MORKWILDEPITCH
ELKSLSAT
WHEREELSESEGA
HEXEREADERRED
ONTOYOGAPOSES
RIPSERMA
TOOLECHESTKARA
USVSTHEMHOLDIT
THEPEACHYKEENE
OERIMPEISALSA
RATGASESFEET
Thu 7/15/2021
YMYMIMTOOTIP
COCOACAROBRICA
COKESBLAMEIDOL
ARFTIMESPICAYNE
AFROLHASAAPSO
LACROSSEHAM
ALTONASNESTLE
YKONGOLDPOTATOES
PARDONSEWAMOS
PALENERGYSE
OTHERHANDSEEM
WHYYOULITTLESKA
LODENACREDROID
ERRSCLEANYOUTH
TAOHARPSOPED

Since Mr. Carpenter brought it up, here's the relevant excerpt from the XWord Info Word List FAQ:

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Fri 7/16/2021
FRAMEUPSPRIMP
AEROSMITHDECAL
CLEOPATRAACELA
TINNYFORSADLY
INDYYALTAPART
SETBULLETSNAE
PULLSREACTS
ZIPTIESHOLIEST
ONEALLPAPER
OFTTOTINOSTDS
MOPSGRADSOHIO
BREADANYAURAL
OMEGAMOMFRIEND
MAVENPLAINJANE
BLESSANTEATER
Sat 7/17/2021
SCOTUSGOSHNO
PAPYRIRAINIER
AMELIALAILAALI
TINESBOGTURTLE
USSRCLOGPLAIN
BOWDRAPERLET
SLICEANDDICE
EMOJIKEYBOARD
WAGELABORERS
CAWSTONESDEA
AGILETODDGDAY
PAPERCOPYBRIMS
IDIGRESSGOAWAY
TINGODSNOVICE
ARGYLECRYPTS
Sun 7/18/2021 DIG IN
ASCAPVOCESCOWLEVER
RHODEIRANTERRAVILE
BONAPPETITALMICHAELS
OVERPOWERATLANTAFIE
RESNIKANYTHINGISGOOD
LEDEPAAORTA
REALLYJUSTAMEETING
ACNESEAAIRPARMEARN
GRAPHDENSOCTADTRIO
AUTEURIRONSONEGG
WHOSGOINGTOKNOW
BOOSTARTEDEROICA
UNDOALOADMAIMMOTOR
BEERTOURPOROUSLOCI
EVENPUTITINTHEFOOD
ASDOIWETTAU
THESTEAKTOCOOKSNUFFS
HATAXLROSEFORTUNATE
EMAILALERTJULIACHILD
NECKMAMMAUSAFHIREE
ASHESHEERTESTSTEER
Mon 7/19/2021
JAMSELDERCCED
EDAMGOUGEHOLY
TAKINGADOGEASE
EMOTIONAPEXES
TPSGFLAT
FATESCARNANAS
ELANNAMEDSHARK
ALSDARESAYDEI
TOTHEBEACHPEAR
STEALEPABURST
SHARPDAB
TECHIEAIRLINE
SCOTISABADIDEA
ARIAOILERSLOT
RUNGUNITYHENS

What I (anonymously, apparently) told Jeff is that I appreciate jokes like this one where the humor isn't in the words themselves, but in the story you mentally construct afterwards. Chacun à son goût.

Tue 7/20/2021
THONGWETSSLR
HOSERTOMEITAO
UNCLEIMMADEMO
SEALEDBEAMTRAM
RAKEINEWERS
ANNGLASSFLOOR
GOOGOLGLAMP
ENDEDLYONATMS
RESTSIMPHIHAT
ASHENAIRACE
INTHEVAULTTEM
APBIOSPLITS
CHAPKITKATBARS
TOMGENIEBALOO
ATVPERCYILIAD
SOPAPESGLENS
Wed 7/21/2021
KOBEAMISHDODO
GRIZZLEDVETERAN
BARRELHOUSEJAZZ
NCAARETEE
UGHLAPAZACED
NEBSMOGSOT
PLATIKEWHIMS
CORRODERAMONES
SKINSCOTNEAT
PVTOAHUMBA
DALIZONESORB
BONEDUTNE
OZZIEANDHARRIET
NEAPOLITANPIZZA
ORCAPASTYPEEP
POW Thu 7/22/2021
RATOPENWIDGET
ERETRUEENRAGE
HIPSTERSICEBOX
HIPPOPOTAMUSES
ASIASCABS
BEDTIMECRUSADE
COXAESILEX
PARTYWHIPSZEST
IDEASHIPWRECKS
KHAKIARTIE
ADRENALSMASHED
SAGETPOLO
JOINEDATTHEHIP
DEADENPITACHIP
DETESTEDYSUTE
TRYSTSDELTMED
Fri 7/23/2021
CRUSHEDITSHRED
COSTARICANOIRE
EYEOPENERLTDAN
DAMUPTOMSTESS
LETEMVATISEE
NICECATCH
MEDSNORGOKART
PLATOONMETERED
HOBARTDOMTENS
BREAKROOM
SELFUNOMYLAR
AXELREPOLILAC
SIDEAECONOMIZE
SLIERLAZYRIVER
YENTESPEEDTEST
Sat 7/24/2021
WHITECLAWSTAT
HOMEPHONEROACH
INESSENCEENTRE
PDASMEHBIGTOE
SANERROSENOPS
RIGVIDCOOP
NBAPLAYEROILY
FORCEINGEMINIS
ETATTIMESINKS
MESSTMITSK
ITSTEENSTYPES
NAILEREKGDANK
IKEASPRIEDINTO
SERBSOVERUNDER
TRESMARIOKART
Sun 7/25/2021 STAR SEARCH
ASPSATOASESTOMRDA
*PADPROALEVEANTWERP
LIBRARYKEVIN*NFAVOR
ELLICEY*ELDEUGENE
STONEAGEANDFR*JOLES
K*RINNOELATIN
NORISAND*EGANOATS
BRONTETIREDLYIFF*ER
CATGUTICANSEEDAHL*A
GREECEADSITE
MAJOR*SRAMENPOLAR*S
ALOUETTESIRNATIVETO
COURT*SSARAEPERIL
AULDGNATLANENANO
ODECUOMOSATTILANAS
BASEILANA*MDB
ODIUM*NCOGNITOJOYCE
PROSECCOWEEONEUPPED
RAWDOUBLED*PPERSREI
AKAUPSETSESPRITELF
HENEYELETSUSANSSOY

An astute reader pointed out that 19-Down is easy if you happen to remember The Weavers. They don't make pop hits like this anymore.

Mon 7/26/2021
JAZZFANSYELPS
EPEEELALATEAT
SSNSLATECHEWY
TOOTHISOWNHORN
SUNKITS
CISSEALEGSSAM
SNEAKISHDINO
PULLSOMESTRINGS
ARMSHAGAMUSE
NEANICEJOBSTS
FOOABBA
DRUMUPBUSINESS
AROMASANEGAIL
CAPEDARTSUCLA
ABYSSTESSSHOW
POW Tue 7/27/2021
MALLDAWGCAGY
ALOEBELIEOBOE
REVITALIZERONA
EXEROVEUNDER
SHYENGINEERS
IPHOTORAFT
NEALONMOMAFDA
FACERECOGNITION
ORKEROSOTELLO
SLUMTHREES
VOLCANOESFAT
ICEAXBADUYIN
SEALAPOCALYPSE
TAPELANKYEENY
ANTSEDYSASTO
Wed 7/28/2021
BFFSPEPSISUMP
OREOAVILAEPEE
PETUNIAPIGATRA
SEASONPOLLOCK
EVERSOIPA
DOTSOWNSUPER
IREACTAOPPOSE
SINDRIBBLEITE
CONROYBOARNED
ONIONOILITRY
SCIREDBUD
JACKSONARIOSO
EVACPADDINGTON
LIMOATEITITAL
LAPDLEAPSTORY
Thu 7/29/2021
USSRPOSTWHIZ
HUTUONTOHYDE
SERBGERIAPED
DISPOSALAREA
PRESIDENTS
ATTESTTO
WEIWEIRENTED
OARCITIOLE
EROSKNEENUMB
NEWSCASTER
OSCARAIDES
FILLINTHEBLANK
UMASERIALTOE
SODTWELVEEKE
ENSSTYLEDSIT
Fri 7/30/2021
ELCAPITANASPS
VILLANOVAIHOPE
ADULTERERMOLAR
NABSPORCHSWING
TITTOOECKO
ASIANTORRE
THIRDSTRIKETAB
MOMITHACANALA
SPAGRASSHOPPER
GLOATWRECK
AMIENSCSNO
FINALDRAFTFURS
ALEVEINEEDANAP
RESETCOMEANDGO
SOSOHEARMEOUT
Sat 7/31/2021
HALODJINGTIM
AMONGRANONONO
REVUEAZTECPRU
DRESSSIZESPTAS
AIDULNARJOHNS
SKINNYMENUPAGE
SATEDABSOLUTE
WHATATRIP
FREEPASSEARPS
CLARIONSBADART
LAPATYAWEDPEA
AVISORDINARILY
MODCHAOSMINIS
URLENTRESTOMA
PSYLOESSZEST
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