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Puzzles for December, 2013
with Jim Horne comments

Sun 12/1/2013 TWO HALVES IN ONE
BBSDIPTPAINETHANOL
EEWENAAETNASUITORS
RAENILBEINGPREENED
GREATDIVIDEWINS
MENTALNOTESHOESEWES
AREOLETHEREANDAGAIN
NSYNCSEAOASTTHATSO
ABESHUMPWHALE
SMORESMASSDOERDA
CHOPINFINECONCLAVES
NUTTEDENGCOWLABORS
BLOSSOMEDBONNOCELOT
CARVIDTONESCREEN
PAPERBOOKMAKO
LOOSERLAWSDIXSODOM
BROKEMOUNTAINESPANA
SALSWOODSLOSSLEADER
WARPBACKINBLACK
NIAGARAOPINEKIAILE
IDCARDSLOGOSENLSUR
POETESSDIANESOLTBS
Mon 12/2/2013
WOLFOHAREDAVE
ERIENINERENOS
BELLALINELEGS
LITTLELEAGUE
CCSDESOXYGEN
AREOLAFINES
REDHERRINGSBIG
ADAMUNOCODA
TONRIDINGMOWER
CONESREELED
STROBESEASSE
HOODORNAMENT
ATADTENONARAB
KARLIRATEPAPA
ELSEAFTEREYED
Tue 12/3/2013
GLOMTIBIALADS
AUDIORANGEWOW
SADDLESHOESABE
HUMMEDINSPIRE
AAAHALTERTOP
MANYDEISRI
IPOTEARSGAWKS
SPUROFTHEMOMENT
OSTEOHOPEDLEE
CTNSOTCLEM
BITOHONEYJAI
ENSNAREFAULTS
BSACROPCIRCLES
OERHINTATUBER
PTSESSAYSSENS
Wed 12/4/2013
METALGEOMLAVS
ASONEREARALIT
SQUIDMARKSNOVA
OUTLAIDMYDEAR
NESNEWSIES
SQUARETACTIC
HIREESETHARNO
GRANDLASAPERS
TAGSSOTALEXEI
SQUIRTCHASER
THEISTSRCA
ACTIONTEASERS
DROZGREATSQUAT
DOMEEEOCPINTO
SPEDLANKSNEER
Thu 12/5/2013
CAVETEMPTTACT
UTESIRISHATOE
RESTBATTENDOWN
RAPSISTSEAMED
EWEMAEFIRIRE
NARCOSENDUSER
TYSONPEALTD
CONFUSION
NEOBIGLASED
SODACANCAROLE
CMIIDSRAYPES
RIBBERTANBRAC
INLALALANDLAZE
PEERFATALONAN
TESTTRITECORD
Fri 12/6/2013
BAMBIMINITSKS
OPARTUPONUTAH
SALESROOMSNOLO
CREAMANDSUGAR
SEMGLORYBE
RITTRAHTOOBAD
ICIBORONFLOSS
MELTEDCHOCOLATE
MATESSUDANREL
EXALTSMENADDS
DEWLINECAB
HARAJUKUGIRLS
PAILCELINEDION
SIRIKCARNELLE
ISLESTNSADELE
Sat 12/7/2013
PROACTIVBBGUN
HASNOIDEAPULSE
EMMASTONEOGEES
LEOIOLDGEEZER
PANSYOILACNE
SUDEVERSOPLAT
ETATSPUMA
OBTAINSJEZEBEL
BAASAIRER
ICKYDISBARSTU
SKEGOAFOCEAN
BOOKSMARTHERD
MOVIEBREAKINTO
ONENDSANDALTAN
BERGSSTALLONE
POW Sun 12/8/2013 TWO OUTS
ABBAAMORESPAUKES
BRACEROPERSHANGRILA
LIBERTARIANCURVEBALL
ELOSIMONLEBONIRA
SLOWNINESUNSLENDER
TONELESSATRESTEERO
SEADOGEEKEGO
LITTERMATEMAELSTROM
ARABSILENTILDUCE
LINESGASOHOLSTRETCH
ANDRESSTIRSINZANILY
WAYLAIDADOPTEDPAEAN
IMLOSTBRITONMIND
PENNYANTEEASTORANGE
ELISKYAMYMAR
WALKEXTRASCSIMIAMI
SLEEKLYHERPAINELAM
PIEFEATHERBEDBRA
BATTLECRYHAPPYENDING
BRAINDEADANSELARNIE
CMONSOYSKITSJOES
Mon 12/9/2013
SNAPIWONCAPN
RUERNEROJOLLY
STRONGARMENIAC
CAMEOSPUTTY
TATSTEPPEATOP
VSOPLIONSCLUB
SERIFSCONEETS
ULTRAHIGH
USNARESBASTES
SPEAKEASYTEXT
ELBESLOUGHSPY
AUNTSPLEASE
ISLEYUPPERDECK
CHAIRNEINERTE
EYEDETESNASA
Tue 12/10/2013
SLAVDRAWONWBA
AEROEEYOREELL
MAGICMARKERBOG
LOOMOCCUR
DREAMTEAMSLASE
ROOMEDICINEMEN
ANNAMINOR
MISSMISSISSIPPI
CANOFCEOS
MODESTMOUSEDRE
IRANSERPENTINE
MANDMHAVE
INCMUCKETYMUCK
CGIEMPIREPRAY
SENSPAREDTILL
Wed 12/11/2013
GOBADAMASSMAW
PROTONUBIAAMA
STRATIFATFIRST
DREAMTSENATE
THEIDEAISSUER
ATLURLTIMIDLY
DELIRETAG
NOTABSURDTHEN
SLAKETIER
MINOLTACODNIH
AMENTHEREISNO
SGTMAJALBERT
HOPEFORITJEERS
ENATHATIANION
DEYANTICYENTL

This is the second Einstein quote puzzle this year.

POW Thu 12/12/2013
CEDILLAESIASON
OPENOUTNASTASE
RAMBLERGRAMMAR
NUIAGESAGOOKD
ELLEOSAGEMAAS
RELYTGIJANN
STEEDSONIONS
BEAMGIGI
COVERTISAYSO
BOLOAWECOHN
DENTKNITSSURE
ENDPADTHAILIN
EGOTISMABALONE
MARINERNEMESES
SYSTEMSERASERS
Fri 12/13/2013
ALFALFASNOWJOB
TORSIONMANHOUR
ANACQUIREDTASTE
DETOUROLIOHEW
TOCCATADUDS
BAMROILSNRA
ENAMELEDBOOTEE
EGGEDONALSORAN
BENHURCLUELESS
ATPVALETEYE
RICAVERYTOP
ERAACREONEOFF
HERESHOWTOORDER
ENTRAINITSDONE
MAANDPATHEURGE
Sat 12/14/2013
PANAMGAMESPCS
DETERIORATEHAL
TERRENCEMCNALLY
ETATSOTISLOVE
NESSSMEEFIXER
JAMVIP
ANCHORAGEALASKA
FOREIGNMINISTER
TRAINEDELEPHANT
ANTSINONESPANTS
TNTESO
GOBIGCANAAMAT
UPONWORFSCARE
SERGEANTOROURKE
TRARIGORMORTIS
SAXBLOODSTAIN
Sun 12/15/2013 A CUT ABOVE THE REST
CCCCCISUPAUELTTTTT
CROATTOURLUAULETHE
CELTSCLUETURKCATER
CSISHOUSERULECTRS
CCCCCUUUUUNOTME
ASPCAMRIJUKES
JAUNTIEREOSUNICYCLE
ALFELIASMSNBCPAL
BIONICLEGTOOKATAXI
ONEAAGAINRELO
TOPSCOREASSENDORSED
INLEAFNASTIEROHENRY
LEARNTELPRADOFARINA
DAYSHERBSHIDEFODED
ALEAEIOUTEATSESS
DIVANMCRAECHIRR
THRICETHIRDHEROES
MAOISTTRAGEDYTINMAN
AMOSIDEASNOOSEDATE
ZEKEOUNCETWYLAORBS
EDYSNOOKNORMSKYS

This is the 17th Shortz-era grid with repeated answer words. Manny Nowsowsky and Jeff Chen have two each. Compare with this April Fool's puzzle from 2000 where Mr. Nosowsky teased out 12 different definitions for TTT...

Mon 12/16/2013
LAPISCIAOYAPS
PRIMEROMEOREL
SEEYALATERURSA
ONEMANSLICK
ACDUCTSBMOVIE
SHORESCHAISE
HISSDOUBLEDUP
ENVGOODBYEENO
SKISLOPESERIE
DIAPERMASCOT
STANDSTENPINS
LONGELIESTO
UTILHASTALUEGO
GAYEEMIRESSEX
SLATTATAREPLY
Tue 12/17/2013
ARSAPBSSUBWAY
TAUCHICELAINE
TINBADGEEARNIT
INBUDINONBBS
CHARSDEMORATE
SATIKEVINBACON
THESEATIOKNT
SOBGES
OOPNAHDESPOT
ONIONBAGELIPOS
HENRYHOSSTENT
NBAAARENONNA
KOALASGREENBAY
ITLLDOEVERAGE
RELYONDELTRED
Wed 12/18/2013
BUBBAWANDEBON
AARONATTUTORE
AWARDOFTHESTATE
DEEPENHATES
PBSSIRDSOEGO
AAHSESCAPEPLAN
SHAPEUSEBY
AWAYWITHWORDS
DEEREXEROX
ISMELLARATSERE
MTAALSBUSSTS
PARESGASHES
ALIGHTINTHEDARK
LANAIRAEAGGIE
AGEDPETSREEDY
Thu 12/19/2013
CATROMANCEBCD
ARREXEDOUTALE
PTACOLORTVNEE
TINFOOLAMP
ACCOSTSTRAINER
ILESULTRAMANE
NESSBROERESTD
LIKEWATERANDOIL
AWEATATIMEURI
SHYHOTWBAGTAB
TEAODESIRLTR
PERIODTOLIFE
ALECLAYERONIT
SINEELATEWENT
SEAWRAZEDWSKI

This is the first NYT daily crossword to use heavy bars to separate answer words. Across Lite can't handle this so most other solving software uses circled squares with combined and renumbered clues. Just to prove it can be done better, XWord Info has created a special HTML 5 solving experience that duplicates the intended effect.

POW Fri 12/20/2013
MANCAVEMUGSHOT
EQUATORUSOTOUR
SUNSETSDETENTE
HASHEARROPEIN
CARTOONDYED
SCRAPZAPATA
PHOBOSSAMADAMS
EELLEATHERNOT
CROPLANDSOOTHE
HOTTUBINERT
VAYABICYCLE
AGENDAKEATECH
RIOTACTBRAILLE
ITWORKSYESMAAM
GASMASKEDHELMS
Sat 12/21/2013
ANGIENEWYORK
PERKSSOLEMNER
SHEETFUNGICIDE
ERETAMPAACOW
SUNDAYWORLDESE
LUMENOLES
OMANISOWNERS
RANDDCOSTA
ORDEALCLOSED
ELOISTATE
BBSARTHURWYNNE
ELAMEWELLTEX
DALAILAMACHIRP
INEXCESSGUAVA
MCMXIIIINLET

Here's a nice article by Merl Reagle on the 100th birthday.

Sun 12/22/2013 GOOD ONE!
ABETASPMASONFAR
SANARHOFICKLEQUEEG
HUGUENOTICKIERBERNE
EXITROWBAHDAVISLOVE
NINESBELTEDREFTSOS
TENTSALELADYDIAMI
ESEACLUAMESFINI
DOCKSANETDESKTOP
RAGOREALGATILTHUH
ANOTHERNOELNOELISSA
MOLESOTOLOGYRIOTS
SIFTGENEPOOLTRAINEE
ENEQUOTASTERAJGRR
STRAUSSTICSSENAT
CPASJESUGAEAOBI
ZAPEMERILOUTTAKES
GIBETOASPEEDOMEARA
UPRAISINGTOSPRINTAD
ALERORAYGUNSPIRITED
MORONERRORSKENSILO
CANSPODEIRKMEIN

The title is brilliant. I named Ms. Gorski my Constructor of the Year for 2013.

Mon 12/23/2013
COLACRESTBONG
RAIDCINCOAMOR
ORZOSPERMWHALE
PSALMMICANAG
PIGGYBACKING
METHANEETON
ABOMASCOJOS
TAKEITTOTHEBANK
EYESQUOIWII
MOETBREASTS
RIVERPHOENIX
AVECOENOINKS
FOGMACHINEOOOH
TRAMHANOIMAKE
SYNESTERNSHOD
Tue 12/24/2013
TWARAFTROBBEN
EATEIREILOILO
ALTPRESIDENTOF
LEDAESSOYIPE
PONYCARAFTNEE
FWDEKLERKWAGS
CIETIESOX
NELSONMANDELA
ITSADOILL
TATAAPARTHEID
BANYESPERUSES
ARNOCOOTINON
SOUTHAFRICAVAT
STARERSNAGETA
ISLANDOGLEREX
Wed 12/25/2013
CHADSMURKADDS
HULOTASIAFEAT
IRENENUMBOMNI
STEELIERUPROAR
ELLPEKOE
OWLALPMISSTEP
FEARDUMBEAUDE
FIVEGOLDENRINGS
TRACESSRSDIET
OSSETIASYSSRO
SACRANYC
SHASTALACROSSE
NORIRUINIRATE
OHNOUSEDANGEL
BOONSONYCYSTS
POW Thu 12/26/2013
IDAHOSAFTERALL
ARRANTTIAMARIA
NUCLEARENGINEER
GOOGLESTRONG
SIENNAALEE
DRJGREENALGAE
IKESVARIG
POTENTIALENERGY
AIREDDOPE
RIFLERANGEZAP
BARAINARUT
ECARDSVARIES
GENERALDISARRAY
EMIRATESSIERRA
MESSTENTOLDSAW
Fri 12/27/2013
GOODCATCHSTORM
INSTAGRAMTINEA
NEWSREELSSLEDS
USEBEAVLIST
PEGSTICSYNCH
COLASNAOHTAE
INTALOEVERA
DJANGOUNCHAINED
AUCKLANDEVA
DITOTOHDELOS
SCAMSSOWSTUF
TELEBRIGTAI
OBOTEOBAMACARE
BONESVETOPOWER
EXERTASHKENAZI
Sat 12/28/2013
JUMBOFRIESSRTA
ONIONRINGSUIES
GUNSLINGERGPAS
SMAEDGERPASSE
PAGOGARNET
MOJAVESTUCCO
EDUCEBORNTORUN
WISEBARAKATNO
LETSPARTYSTEPS
PEORIAPIERCE
ODETTEMILD
FIATSATOLLDAD
ONCESMILEYFACE
LAHRSENTIMENTS
DRYSANYONEELSE
Sun 12/29/2013 TAKE A BREAK
PBOOKTUNESPICKP
VENTISTACYATLAS
ELITEAUTOSCOATI
TOOVERBALCUEWIZ
OWNSTSELIOTISEE
CARAFL
SIDEWALKCHALK
BOWERAFOULQUILT
AMANANAOMIIMDUE
WALTWHITMANBRIDGE
DREIUNERCANOES
SANGHIYA
PWATCHHUBOUTOFP
PEPSILAPATCIVIC
ALPDRESSRACKETH
SCABATABRASRTA
SOREPIGPENSUPIN
EMERSTOOLIEDANG
RELAPBALLSFORGE
TENETSHARK
CIERALOUSE
HOSHEARTFELTPSA
OBAMADOILYHAITI
TRAMPDONORERROR
PACESSKYPEDEEPP
Mon 12/30/2013
WINGZITIABODE
ESAUAPEDBRUIN
BANEPANTSUITED
ABASHNOAHOTTO
PENTUPANGERHAW
PLASMAPAPERS
REFSGARY
PINTMEASURE
POSEOZMA
SOWHATMESSRS
OPEPONTLEVEQUE
ATRATORAARUBA
PUNTRETURNVIAL
ENACTENVYESTE
REPOSSKATSHOD
POW Tue 12/31/2013
AFLACMYBADBHT
LLAMAAERIELEE
LIVINGLARGEINN
SPAOUTSJUNCO
HORATIOALGER
XANADUSKYE
TWIRLPOLEFOB
ROCKETSREDGLARE
ALEHAGSIBIZA
IDOLAVALON
PREMIUMLAGER
LOUPEETTAARF
AIRCHIVASREGAL
GLOUMBERIMAGE
ESSTOMEIPUREE
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