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Janet R. Bender author page

31 puzzles by Janet R. Bender
with Jeff Chen comments

TotalDebutLatest
3111/30/199211/3/2014
SunMonTueWedThuFriSatVariety
1151111002
ScrabDebutPre‑WSFresh
1.5992216%
Janet R. Bender
View these same grids with comments from:
Editor (1)Jeff Chen (1)Jim Horne (2)Hide comments

See the 92 answer words debuted by Janet R. Bender.

Alternate names for this constructor:
J. Bender, J. R. Bender, Janet Bender

27 Modern Era daily crosswords by Janet R. Bender

Mon 11/3/2014
PICTSLAVSLATE
ADAYWAVEAILED
ZINCAMESREARS
COMPASSCOURSE
SHEBAEENMEL
COLBYCOLLEGE
ALLSODASKIMS
LEERDEBARGNAT
ADDEDOREODNA
COLORCOPYING
IWONTHTOGAS
COUNTRYCOUSIN
IONIAELLSCABS
NECKSAIDEKNEE
GREEKHOEDSTEW

Initialisms kick off the week, theme phrases starting with CC. Such a shame that Zhouqin "C.C." Burnikel wasn't somehow involved! (One of my first LA Times puzzles was a similar CC theme, directly inspired by C.C.)

Many novice solvers like simpler themes, and initialisms can serve that purpose well. I find that these types of themes land most solidly when 1.) the theme phrases are all colorful, 2.) there's some selectivity or completeness to the themers, and 3.) an extra element gives the solver an additional layer of complexity. Back when this type of theme appeared on the scene, none of these criteria would have been important (to me, at least), but crosswords rapidly evolve.

Cletus from The Simpsons

On the first criteria, I like COLBY COLLEGE and COLOR COPYING quite a lot. Neither is sizzling hot, but they do the trick. I hadn't heard of COUNTRY COUSIN, so that's hard for me to judge. Sounds fun, anyway, and anything that gives me a laugh by thinking about Cletus from The Simpsons is good in my book. COMPASS COURSE (93K Google hits)… isn't it a COMPASS HEADING (257K Google hits)? That's what I'm used to, at least.

The second criteria: it might have felt tighter to me if the initials were something harder like JV, or if a specific subset of all the CCs out there had been selected. CC is a pretty easy set of initials to work with. Many ways to uncover potential candidates, but a "C* C*" search over at onelook.com turns up quite a bit (even with the "Common words and phrases" option). My favorite might be CREDIT CRUNCH, given my personal interest in corporate finance, but I bet something like a COVER CHARGE might be more universal.

Finally, some je ne sais quoi element could have helped. Four CCs, stat! Hmm — that doesn't quite work. Maybe a little three-letter entry like CCS (as in email CCs:) could have tied it all together? Other ways might have been packing the grid with six or even eight crossing CC answers. Many possibilities, anyway.

I really like some of the extras in YOINKS! and DON'T ASK. That, along with TY COBB and OH YEAH = Janet taking great advantage of her shorter pieces of fill. Many constructors focus all their efforts on entries of 8+ letters, and let their sixes and sevens slide. Not Janet! Well done there, excellent bonus material to help beef up the solve.

ADDED NOTE: oftentimes, I'm a doofus (dare I say, a COUNTRY COUSIN?). Perhaps more often than "often," actually. A few people, including Will, have pointed out that the theme is actually CO* CO*, which definitely helps with theme tightness. There aren't nearly as many options when it comes to that letter pattern. I'm curious to see how many people actually recognized this CO* CO* pattern vs. those on a COLLISION COURSE with my blunderous assumption — I've heard from people on both sides of the coin! Sorry C.C. — I'm pulling you from my Notes and pinch-hitting (the Oakland A's outfielder) COCO Crisp to bat for you.

Mon 4/8/2013
FIJIBROADFLOG
OMOOLORRYRICO
OPENSESAMEONTO
SLAINANDES
DIGOREGONSTATE
ENERGYMUSS
MENUGEENAAMA
OPERATINGSYSTEM
STSVOLGANODE
ARODWOOLEN
ORIGINALSINLAD
VOCALINNES
EDITOCEANSPRAY
RENEAFIREAFRO
TOGSTONERSKEW
Mon 7/26/2010
TEMPODEEREZIP
AVIANENTERUSA
CONTRACOSTALED
IKEETASISSUES
TEDCOMBRET
COMPUTERCODE
OGLERSSUERDAS
POUNDMASSOIRS
ETATREGSHINTO
COURTENEYCOX
URDUAIRDAM
BIGMACSHOTOUI
AVACOMMONCOLDS
JEWTABOOUNLIT
ASKSTAGSTESTY
Mon 8/3/2009
CHATSOLERAPID
HALOAVONAMEBA
AMENFEEDGODOT
SLUGGERWILLIE
METALKENYASDS
STSUZIGENETIC
PEELELANA
PALEYELLOWCOLOR
URALSPOON
PULLTABOERPAT
ATAAREASGEODE
LABRATSMILIEU
SNARLTRUEINST
ERNIELIMAOTTO
CADETEASTTEEN
Mon 4/21/2008
REAPEARSGLASS
AXLESTEPAUDIE
YEARCLEANSLATE
SCRUBOAKALLIED
IRSEVARDS
HAZMATSWIMS
ALOESSWEEPHAND
ROOSMEALSERIE
DUSTDEVILPLANE
ARDENRIFLED
ESPAIRNET
APERCUWASHSALE
VACUUMTUBEAJAX
ETAILASEAMAGI
SENNAPSSTERST
Mon 5/7/2007
WALKPAWNSAMBA
ILIEACHEULEES
RACEPRIXBIZET
EMILIOESTEVEZ
DOTLOSTMENACE
ASSSIRNAM
EXTRAEFFORTIRA
AHEMECOANTI
TOLELECTRICEEL
USEDIDETE
PAMPASGAPEPAY
EASTERNEMPIRE
ASTINBAJAAQUA
LORNERIOTTUBS
FLYERONUSHEAT
Tue 6/13/2006
JOADSWIGATOLL
INXSPINAPODIA
BUILDINGSUPPORT
ESSECCEPIERRE
FLEETBAR
SCALPSLIENCAB
ALLAHSOFASOSA
PATRICKOFTENNIS
IRAEOOPSQATAR
DARQUAYPURINA
CURLSEAL
ALOHASEARLSOS
RIVERENTHUSIAST
CRESTOTISMILE
HERTZBABEPLOW
Mon 2/13/2006
QUAFFWATTBLEW
ELGARELHIRAVE
DEEREALUMOPEN
MERRYGOROUND
PHIWASTEMPTS
AENEASSAHL
SILLYPUTTYACTS
TREKSNUTSMART
ASTOFUNNYMONEY
HEMSAERIAL
APPEALILLSTE
LAUGHINGGULL
ERMANOELOUTER
READELMOUTURN
TESSSOSOTETRA
Mon 2/14/2005
FETEAFARDACHA
ACRENASAETHAN
THEGOODSHEPHERD
SOXDIETQUOTES
VENDCUTS
PALESTGRAYCHE
ACERSURALWHOA
THEBADNEWSBEARS
TECSRIALLEONE
ISHMITTLAPSED
PAVEHAZY
OCTANEJUTEICK
THEUGLYAMERICAN
TERSEAVONDOMO
OWNERMARTANEW
Tue 4/27/2004
SPECEBAYCOMBO
HILLDELIONION
AQUAIDLEGLAZE
NUDISTCOLONY
DEEREHYDRASRI
YTDDIESECTION
LARCHISBN
BARENAKEDLADIES
AVONPREXY
JOUSTEDIDIPAL
AWESWELLOPERA
THEFULLMONTY
HANOIINRISCUM
ARBORLAIDSIRE
SCANTERGOELON
Mon 4/14/2003
SAVORCABINJEW
TRIPEAMANAEPA
OGLESPANTYRAID
PUERTORICOONCE
SERAPANNAT
SETDEVILLE
SHALIBYAANAIS
PUBLICRELATIONS
AGLETARENASOO
TEETERSGRR
TSETOEELAN
ODIEPAULREVERE
POTROASTSMINCE
AGEDITTOIVIED
LEMDRAINRENDS
Wed 6/19/2002
RABATNESTDIME
IRANIAXLEETAL
PIETARIOTLARA
DIRECTORBILLY
TOECAPPARION
ELKSORTSINANE
AGEDCOOCEO
MARATHONERFRANK
DOSTEAALEE
JABOTSOLTILAG
AMOERAENTERS
NEWSMANMORLEY
GLEEIDOLERODE
LIRASARATROOP
EASTELONSEPTA
Thu 2/14/2002
ROWEDRASPQUIT
IMAGEEMIRUNDO
BOXOFCHOCOLATES
SOYERASCAROMS
TAOSSENT
HEARTSHAPEDNAB
ARGUESMADHOME
ZONEDCARTEPID
EDERNOTARIANE
LEWCUPIDSARROW
JURYRIPS
OSIERSSOAPEBB
STVALENTINESDAY
LOANREADRHETT
OWNSYENSSENSE
Tue 1/8/2002
ACHEMOLTSLUMP
COAXOVERTATAR
TERPJAVAARTIE
BOBOLIGARDENS
SHIRRISLRES
PONTEVECCHIO
LOGDIVATYLER
ACESMEDALLIME
THROWIDESZIG
PALAZZOPITTI
OCTGERCLASS
FLORENCEITALY
FAKIRARNOILLS
ERASENITENOAH
RAYEDENOSIRMA
Mon 1/15/2001
SLAGRIOSSCALE
HALOARCHCOMET
AUTOPACEOVENS
FRENCHQUARTER
TARHAIRATTIRE
WOESPYCAM
NEWORLEANSEAVE
OVINECPUOWNER
HANKTHEBIGEASY
ODDTAORLS
WESSEXFLOEMAO
DIXIELANDJAZZ
LEONARARAINTO
ASWANRIGGLIEN
DENISSLOELACE
Tue 2/9/1999
BEGSEWESELWES
ETREBERTFERDE
REEDBENEFEEDS
GREENSKEEPERS
ENCREPETTSE
NEEREEFPEGLEG
EVENEDLESE
WERNERKLEMPERER
ELECEDERLE
DESEEDSMEEETS
SEEVETBESET
CREMEDEMENTHE
DETERNEVETHEE
EVENTSLEWREEL
CEDESELLSERSE
Tue 8/4/1998
ALPSARALSAFER
TOUTFAREOCALA
TALECHEVYCHASE
ATLASNIECE
CHUMPCHANGEASU
HEPAPOGREGOR
AROMASLEAN
CHINESECHECKERS
AEONSTEREO
MANIACLEDWBA
ETSCHARLIECHAN
SCOPEDRANG
CHOKECHAINALTO
DIDINITSYZEAL
SPENTDAMEERMA
Tue 8/12/1997
PAIRCRAMLATHE
ALDAHERAERROL
RELIGIOUSRITUAL
REELINMAOSERA
AGESDON
BRITISHSATIRIST
RANEATSPORTY
ACTEDMRSSTARK
GERMANALPNEE
GROUPOFWARSHIPS
SPAMOUE
ANKAAWLBRAVOS
FINGERNAILFLESH
ALIENELSEERLE
RETRODOOMROOS
Mon 3/31/1997
BONUSOMANICSA
AVANTFIXERRUB
BUTTERFLIESEEL
ELAINEEOSLAZE
SELECTSMODEM
DIETSNOOSES
JIMLARAMSNOWY
ARIDROBINADEN
VALETHIMOMARE
ANKLETNILES
MEDOCCONTOUR
QUODPHDSTERNO
URNCHEESEHEADS
AGEPASSEOLLIE
DEYATTICLEEDS
Mon 10/21/1996
JADEECRUSCENE
OXENLOONTAKES
TEACHERSCHARGES
ACESOIL
RECASTSSTRAITS
ALERTSPATSMIA
MELEEPERUSING
VANNAANDBETTY
DADAMININEATO
ATOSPRYCRETIN
BENGALSPHONEME
AGEOEIL
FLOWERINGPLANTS
OINKSALIILOOP
BLASTLYNNPREY
Mon 8/12/1996
FLIPTROOPSMOG
IOTAEYDIEHUGO
RUSTYNAILSIDLE
IONETINDER
JIGGERSHERYDS
ENROLSWARSAW
SNEADMAZEWATT
SEATRAKEDATOR
ERSEEVELLIEGE
YEOMENBETRAY
OSSDANBRASSES
HAPPENFEES
ALOEDIRTYHARRY
ROOTELATEMIKE
ANNEDETERPOOP
Tue 5/28/1996
ESPVESTSTES
KEEPEDERERLES
ETTENENEREESE
HERBERTSPENCER
STEELEND
GRETRESTLEJEW
REEVESMELGENE
ENGELHEXBESTS
BEETFEWKERSEE
EERDRESSERERR
TEETENTH
ELLENDEGENERES
LEERSWEVEELKE
SENSEERESTMEN
STERRENTSET
Tue 10/10/1995
JAWSMEDOCGAME
ELIAALAMOOVAL
BONNMALESROLL
USARMYINSIGNIA
IANARE
SHUTTLECOCKLAP
CANOESARKPICA
EDITSONESEVEN
NETSADOPOSERS
ESEFRENCHFORBY
QOMARA
CASABLANCASTAR
OBITERIKSORAL
ALTATULLEGAZA
LEERSTEEDALEX
Tue 9/19/1995
AMPASALECAQUA
SARDISOLODUST
CREAMTIERZOOM
OLYMPIASNOWE
TOSSESALEJAM
RAMSLATELY
BALKNATHANHALE
ACINGCOOSANER
ROBERTHAYSWENS
BREWERTAIL
SNLEAULETTER
CRYSTALGAYLE
HAIRFAILELLEN
ALOUUGLYNIECE
MANXLETSDARTS
Tue 9/6/1994
AJARCOSTPREGO
LUXEABIERICED
ANIMALENCLOSURE
NOSDISKEGESTS
LOBEAGER
ASSURECLANSMAN
DANCERSALLYAWE
ALEEETAAGAS
NEVPITCHERCURT
AMARANTHMANSES
ERNOSADE
LASSIEANNASUE
INTENSEYEARNING
STUNGFLATEZIO
PINTSTAKEWETS
Sun 5/29/1994 Look Both Ways
CLINESAFESPATAWE
AIDEDCRAMPMORSELEA
STEVELAMSMALEVETSGAR
TRAINERTENORSOTHERN
SELLALSTAPIRSAERIE
ADEPTMANORSLIES
SCRAMTRAPATOYOTAPART
THEDAYYULSOURS
RICHTERSAMBAMBEISR
IDEEGAPNEARSNANCE
NEDRAGESINANISEGARDEN
GREEDTRENDWARLINT
SSSACTTRYSTROSEATE
SNAREAEFWINNER
DRAWALEVELAWARDREADS
RAGASPIROSKEENE
AMANAALNICOEVADRAM
GLISTENEROSEOVERAGE
NINLENOSETAGATESONEL
ENSARENTSKATEALONE
TETSODAADESULNAE
Mon 1/31/1994
SINSHERDMASTS
TMENERIEEXTRA
RATEWILTALAIN
ARTLINKLETTER
FELLSSHYWIZ
ETEROTATECARE
PALERSCARED
FREDCOUPLES
STEALSORION
AIRYTAMESTCAM
LEOQEDHEAVE
CHARLIEJOINER
IDIOTIDLEGANG
MITLABEAREDGE
PAYERSANKRAES

2 Variety puzzles by Janet R. Bender

Sun 9/9/2007
ALTOAMES
STREETSCENE
SEPTEMBERSONG
BANKERSEASALT
QUIDTOE
HURLEWE
RIBLISA
STONESOUPBEAST
STEVENSPIELBERG
STIESSANSIMEON
NEATAGE
SKISCOW
OILLULL
SALSODAJALOPY
SUMMERSAUSAGE
SOONERSTATE
EGOSSHEP
Sun 9/3/2000
COATS
REFRACT
GOLFCLUBS
ODIEEBAN
NEARSARA
IAGOSPED
RNSOPSPET
SETONATONENICHE
THEFIRSTWIVESCLUB
OERPEPEPIAFARB
IERMIRENGIBE
CLUBCARCLUBMED
SPOOKEDTEENIER
TOLEDOADDEND
OWL
ZOO
YEN

2 pre-Shortz crosswords by Janet R. Bender

Tue 4/20/1993
QEFPARMAEPACT
ULEODEONLALLA
ILLDALLASGREEN
TALEGEESESNAG
REINSCHEERS
CHARLOTTERAE
RAISASTERELF
ORRSHEATIBOL
WESTARPCRONE
RIVERPHOENIX
RAMONAELATE
AGESNASALFAZE
TRACYAUSTINJAM
TENORREEDYANI
YESESARNEERET
Mon 11/30/1992
ABUTMALIMANET
RIFEEVILAMINO
CLOCKWORKORANGE
ILIELIT
STAPLEDMINICAM
HERALDRAVEORE
ELSIEGONESLIT
LEGRANDORANGE
LANEDOERCOATS
ALIAMMOSCOTTO
BLONDIETHEDEEP
OARARES
ORANGEFREESTATE
DANCEDIANALEX
DYNESALTAGLEE
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