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Thomas Heilman author page

7 puzzles by Thomas Heilman
with Jeff Chen comments

TotalDebutLatest
78/21/200711/2/2013
SunMonTueWedThuFriSat
0110014
ScrabbleFresh
1.6572%
Thomas Heilman
View these same grids with comments from:
Constructor (1)Editor (1)Jeff Chen (1)Hide comments

See the 27 answer words debuted by Thomas Heilman.

Alternate name for this constructor:
Tom Heilman
Puzzles constructed by Thomas Heilman by year
Sat 11/2/2013
SQUABBLEJAMCAM
EUPHORIAORIOLE
TIPSHEETKIDULT
BBSMALICEELSE
ABASKOTOHADTO
ILLINWUNDERBAR
LEANONPIERERS
SOUPCLOP
SEAGTOSLITOUT
EXQUISITECANSO
ATUNESUCHSETT
GRIPDECAYSMIA
REVISEKRATIONS
AMELIEUTTERROT
MERESTPETPEEVE

You had me at "Result of knuckling down" = NOOGIE. As a writer of middle grade fiction (for ages 8-12), any reference including but not limited to wedgies, spitwads, atomic wedgies, noogies, or wet willies tickles me (much to the chagrin of my poor wife).

Some very nice clues today, "Sniffing a lot" for STUCK UP being my second favorite, and "'As you like it' phrase" a devilishly clever clue. It took me the longest time to realize that it was "As you like it", not "As You Like It" (capitalized). Very well done.

A observation regarding ECARTE: note the preponderance of high-frequency letters, just the C being a touch out of the realm of common. This makes it ideal to use as a piece of fill, something that helps glue a part of the grid together. I personally would love to see less of it though, given that ECARTE is about as common (I think) as the other outdated xw card game staple, ONE-O-CAT. I love cards (contract bridge being one of my favorite pastimes outside of xws), but as crosswords evolve, I'd like to see constructors use these two only in the tightest of pinches.

Themeless constructors face so many trade-offs within a single puzzle. SQUABBLE over EUPHORIA over TIP SHEET is such a nice triplet. I'm sure glad all the crossings were fair for BOHM though, as he doesn't quite feel gridworthy to me. Just one person's opinion, of course (and that of a person who giggles at a NOOGIE).

Some nice debut words today, JAMCAM being new to me but a term I've decided I really like. TIP SHEET is another great one. As a reminder, entries never before seen in the NYT Shortz era appear in red below. It's fun to be the first person to introduce a fresh, snappy answer, especially when it's the seed entry to a themeless.

Fri 2/15/2013
STONEAGESECADA
CEREBRALPROPEL
OLDWORLDRIPOFF
OLEANETALII
PARTITASARCANE
ELICHITDEERE
RINGSIDESEAT
SEGASEPIAIMAY
SLIDINGSCALE
ATEINNELLDOW
PLANTSSWEEPOUT
ILLGOTNINER
NIKITAJOEDANTE
KEENENUSSENATE
ODDESTTEAROSES
Sat 12/17/2011
SALSADIPJOISTS
APIARISTARMPIT
REVERSALPAJAMA
AXEARIDELUDED
SQUADCARSEXT
ESAUENCRYPT
ALLISLOSTASIAN
TAICHIGRAMMY
SPEKETELETYPES
FLOORITIONE
SCARMESSTENT
TAPEREDSIXELI
APPEALTORTONIS
GRAZIEAMERICAN
SILENTREDALERT
Sat 7/23/2011
JETSTREAMOHGOD
ELEPHANTSNORSE
TAXRETURNERASE
EMTWIFISASSED
GINARMRESTS
EMBARGOOATHS
REEVEWHOSHOTJR
SIDESLOTHCAPO
TRANSPIRESKIES
ZONESREVENGE
GAZPACHONEY
OILERSROLLTAT
ARIALTIKITORCH
PENCEMORSECODE
EDGEDINATRANCE
Sat 4/24/2010
ITSASHAMETALKS
BIKINIWAXALANA
INAMOMENTCOZEN
ZELIGHAWKEYED
ADDNSTONEYBBB
GALOOTSJOEL
JUGMINDGONNA
ANATOMYSEABEDS
MIMESHELLSST
PTERASOCIAL
APTOPTSTOOLEN
CRABMEATUTERO
KIBEIFIRESTORM
ECLATFLUMMOXED
DEEMSSETSASIDE
Mon 8/11/2008
GASSYSMEARBRO
ATONEOUTRELAB
BRAINWASHEDONE
EARPOPIEHOWDY
EDUCRIERS
CASINOCABALA
CUTANDDRIEDFAR
HEATOASAUDI
OILHARDPRESSED
ONLOANSILKEN
CANTEDDOS
FJORDLIMOAIDA
LASBLINDFOLDED
APTAIDESDOLED
XESGEESESTEPS
Tue 8/21/2007
CACHETOSSCHIC
OCHEROBOEHOOD
STINGOPERATIONS
TSARSTYEEPPS
ISLEEWES
ILKHONEYIMHOME
DEICEXEDOMEN
TORAAMUSETATE
ANOSMERUSHER
GIVEMEABUZZADO
LINTPAIL
PROFPATHALBA
THEAFRICANQUEEN
WEEDPERKTRIED
OWLSISEESASSY
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