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Puzzles for December, 2015
with Jim Horne comments

Tue 12/1/2015
CHOSEIMACAMPS
HAPPYMOTHBALI
ADEERBORAONYX
IONCEHADAGIRL
NUTIDSACTION
STOMPSCLEEKE
ORSHOULDISAY
ULNAUSBARTY
SHEONCEHADME
ROWCADOSSIFY
SHIVERASHMOO
NORWEGIANWOOD
ERSTACHEEAGLE
BIKESHAGAREEL
BOYSHOSEPENDS
Wed 12/2/2015
AJAMMOTHSOFIA
LUNAAVIAPOEMS
LIGHTYEARAHIGH
ICERAINPARSLO
SELESPOLESTAR
OBIKOLAMRHYDE
NANONETAIR
RADIATIONBELT
INTEVADIAL
GRANDENACLEXE
REDGIANTIDAHO
APEAREACROBAT
PESCISUPERNOVA
EATINTAILOVER
STEAKSWATREND
POW Thu 12/3/2015
STRAPORGYLUTZ
THEMEMEREAZIZ
ARIELEMILDITZ
RUNNINGIMPTY
COAXODETS
OPERASDAXIGHT
FITINLIAMRIA
FLAGSOIVFATHERS
ILLVESTROSSI
CAIIMANGUESTS
ERATOPLIE
CBVIIINGNEWS
JOSHINXSRADIO
ALOESCATIPASS
WENDEARSTEMPO
Fri 12/4/2015
FALLSPROLIFIC
ALIENDEODORANT
COMPUTERMONITOR
THOUGHTSMGS
SASSROESHA
MEXBUTPST
APPLIEDRESEARCH
CELESTIALEMPIRE
ICANSEEFORMILES
DAYTONTENNESSEE
SNOUSSGAD
NPRDIMMEGA
AIRONELINER
OPERATINGSYSTEM
RATSNESTSREESE
EXCESSESERRED
Sat 12/5/2015
RAMADASHOTPAR
ELICITJOETORRE
SANESTINNOTIME
UMATHURMANEVEN
MOREYAIREDANA
EDENRMNRUSTIC
SETMARYSBLEAT
PINOCCHIO
CONANDRAINFIB
AVESTAIRSROLO
PEPSPICEJELLO
ARTSRFKSTADIUM
BLUELINEUNEASE
LANCELOTMEAGER
EYETESTSTRESS

Pinocchio was the theme in this memorable 2008 Diagramless puzzle by Patrick Blindauer.

Sun 12/6/2015 WITH DRAWL
RAMCOMATRIPSSPHERE
IDOVEEROHAREHEAPED
FINJUSTONEMOWERTHING
FEAROFHYATTSSVENCOY
SUSHITOTADAGE
TENSILEUPONMONDO
CREATIVERIOTERSELTON
HERPIASPEAKTODELL
OTISPESTLESORDERLY
PRETTYSHOERGENOAN
SYSCOEMTROTNECCO
HOARSENIGHTMAYORS
DEPALMATOSHIBAEMUS
IVORIMPLORECATPSI
GILLSPRIAMREALESTATE
SLEETAULDALLYEAR
VSIGNPBSEXTRA
ERALUCKBAYERMINIMUM
DOUBLEYELLOWLIONSEMO
ALLIESMOOLAGAGANBC
MOTORSPOBOYSTAYTAO
Mon 12/7/2015
AVASTMEOWLEAD
CEDARAMMOAXLE
TROYAIKMANITLL
IDSIMEANIDEAL
VIETNAMGAUNT
HOMERSIMPSON
CESAREELSINC
ALOTILIADFOCI
REPADENCANES
ACHILLESHEEL
TORTEONRAMPS
ROMEOLINDAYEP
ARONPARISMETRO
SARIAVONIMHOT
ALECRANGCOSTS
Tue 12/8/2015
RABBIEDAMPENN
PALEDLIRAALOE
MAUVEFAIRYDUST
EYEDATMDEW
GPSFAMILYCREST
ROTIROCRAO
ALAXENONBROS
FATHERKNOWSBEST
TREESCOREDAR
STLUNIXSKA
FALSEARRESTHAY
ARIABETAXI
BREAKFASTPORED
LOGSEMIREXTRA
EWESESPYSOSAD
POW Wed 12/9/2015
WHIZGNAWALEC
EASEREDOABATE
EHUDBARAKSEDAN
PAPOVUMUPTILT
PILEDTIEDIE
CHOCOLATEECLAIR
NOSERASTA
NEEDSJAMSPEAR
ALIASEXPO
BIRMINGHAMBLITZ
ENODTSROUST
AFLCIOVASTVEE
MULANLIGHTNING
USINGOBOEASIA
PENSBENDMADD
Thu 12/10/2015
PUPSMESSCHAP
DINAHELLAHYPE
AXISOFEVILAGES
NETHOTICARTIST
CLEANSSEMITE
ESSISMDINNES
AEIOUGRILL
STUMBLINGBLOCKS
MELBAARIEL
UTTNSTRCAPDA
RAKEINEDDIES
GLASSSLIPPIEPA
OAHUANNESEXTON
ODORMOJOCIARA
FETEEWANTEST
Fri 12/11/2015
SPAMFILTERSCTV
OILRESERVELYRE
GREENSFEESIBAR
OARSTARTCENT
OTTAMATITERSE
DESPAIRFOODWEB
HARMYUPACR
ATTICASPARTA
CUREGGSTLO
TRIPLEAHEELPAD
INALLSCARSARI
VILATHINPROM
INRISEEKASYLUM
STUNPARAPHRASE
MONTSTARRYEYED
Sat 12/12/2015
PRISMJUNGLEGYM
MORAYOPERATIVE
SMITHLEVERAGES
ESAUINENGLISH
JOHNMCENROE
ARPPUPBRAHMS
WOOSPIRALPOSH
IMUSSTENOERMA
NENEOTITISSAG
GODEAFISTEGG
SCAMPERAWAY
SLUMPOVERATOZ
LIKEICARENAMIB
OPENCOILSDRANO
POSTSALESSINEW
Sun 12/13/2015 BANDS TOGETHER
AMPLELAPDOGADAGIOS
CAROLONHIREELEGANCE
CHICAGOTRAINNEATIDEA
REMAILALGEBRASTILT
ARRNARCSROOSTFLA
ONEDIRECTIONTRAFFIC
CASEEDYYUCKOGEE
OLEINOASTUTTERROT
YESNODOUBTLEAHRELO
DELTAEAGLESWINGS
AMISTADSELIGSIESTAS
BOSTONCREAMSCENE
CLAYAUSTPOISONFREE
STALWARTBONNYIELD
CUPSZOOMEAUNASA
FUNSMASHINGPUMPKINS
ASEPEETATAPASOHO
LOWESERITREASIGNAL
APTITUDERUSHTHEDOORS
NEONATESITSAGOROUTE
ANNEXEDPHONICOFTEN
Mon 12/14/2015
SHAHASKSSCRUM
MONOMWAHPOESY
OBAMACAREANDES
GOLEMGMENFORT
REAGANOMICS
ITSONMESTART
MEOWORCARMORS
ARFBUSHISMBEE
MITTENENOPEPE
BRATTFUELROD
HOOVERVILLE
PAILDIEDHAMAS
FILLSPRESIDENT
FLEETOGLETATA
TEDDYNESTONEG
Tue 12/15/2015
APPCOPSAYSME
HERAHABCLAMOR
SKINOGORAZORS
ONCDEBSENORA
DECOYSSEESTIT
OTELLOURNCHEZ
TESAGAPEGOO
HASINRANINPUT
OCDINALLESA
IFFYLSDADORED
NEWWEEDCANADA
ADAHANOILOTT
JOLSONWWIIOOF
AREOLENOTVRBI
MASTEDNEESEX
Wed 12/16/2015
WIIESMECUSSAT
OPTNAILASHORE
WOODDUCKBEAVER
LOOTAIRLINE
BODYWEIGHTLEAS
ENYAROOSLOTSA
NEOENTOOAT
EDUDEADENDFFF
JDSFATEILL
ALLEYBASHTREE
VOITLETTERHEAD
EYEBALLMEET
NONONOSEAHORSE
GLOATSALKAAIM
EARTHALOEBPXS
POW Thu 12/17/2015
TWANGYABROGATE
SECURENONRIGID
PRIDEANDPREJUDD
EDENOYSGOADS
AASFOE
CANDDBERGENMAW
ARBORSURNCODE
LUAUASSOCAXLE
IBETLAHESPIED
FARBODDRIPPERS
AIMONE
STINKPDAEACH
LONGISLANDDDTEA
INCENSEDTSURIS
TSARINASSTELLA
Fri 12/18/2015
PANOPTICONAGRA
ALOHASTATETOED
PIMACOTTONMITE
ABORTCEESNAP
DAREIRASNOTIT
OBENHLENOLA
CAMSNOLOVELOST
ROREMKIROV
WONDERBRASWEST
ONIONEYERNA
LECIDCASSADES
FOESPARLIRAS
INGAUNLADYLIKE
STUBNOISELEVEL
HAYSSETHMEYERS
Sat 12/19/2015
ACCRANETSSCAT
YAHOOEVELPOPI
KROLLMILACLOG
RIPEBELLYLAUGH
OBSDISEASEMET
YOUGOGIRLGIBES
DUPONTSLLANOS
LEOILS
GOLDENMOPTOPS
EAZYEARENAROCK
XYZARBOREDHWY
WIFFLEBALLPLOW
ICEEPEDICLARA
FOSSORENFILLY
ENTSTSOSLEADS
Sun 12/20/2015 REBRANDING
TOASTAWAREAPPSSTAN
OASISMAJORRIOTAHSO
THINKDIFFERENTLYLEAH
OUSTASTOWICKSUNNI
EARTHYESWEHAVETHAT
ALEXEISTAGAXELS
PEITVMASTARJONES
EATFRESHLYLIEGESJLO
JOSTLESABERSTEAT
BACONVATSRESORTTO
EVERYBODYLIKESSARALEE
BOLDMOVEPLAYIVINS
OWLSWIENIEENCAGE
PSIPENMENADABWILLDO
BODESWELLMCANIOU
DOUBTAIDESATFOR
LETGOOFMYEGGOCHLOE
ELEGYLEEDOHHIALAS
GULLDOYOUHAVEANYMILK
AXLEDREWELECTAANDE
LEOSTARSMARKSKNEAD
Mon 12/21/2015
UPDOSATEAMTHO
SLEPTMENLOWEB
CONTRAPTIONOYS
EELSDEADEYE
DOODADLOGOS
RUNMASSDINGUS
ACESTERESA
WHATCHAMACALLIT
ARABICDOSE
WIDGETSEAMNES
INREDGADGET
STUDIOSAUDI
HIMTHINGAMAJIG
EMUONRYEANODE
SEPROSESNAGAT
Tue 12/22/2015
ARDENTBLAHNILE
LIELOWROPEITEM
PAJAMAPARTYCHAT
SLAPSEWNCHIPS
SUNGLASSLENS
DIGESTWHISKEY
ETUDESINAIICE
PSISINGULARCOT
TUTDOONEOMANI
SPARSERAMENDS
TROUSERPRESS
HOHUMHOESSHOE
EYESSCISSORKICK
LOREPANSPOINTE
DUOSALOESETTOS

Since Jeff called me out, let me try to defend myself and this theme. English is full of amusing curiosities, and one of the curiouser is that some nouns exist only in plural form (you can't use a scissor or wear a pajama, a sunglass, or a trouser) yet when they're used as adjectives, they are singular. Why? It's a mystery. And like most amusing curiosities of English, it makes for a fine word puzzle theme.

If math puzzles are more your thing, proving that integers from 1 to n sum to n(n+1)/2 is a fun challenge. Try drawing pictures. You'll get a nice Aha moment when you realize why it works.

Wed 12/23/2015
OTISSCUDECTO
GODOTLONIPLUS
ROOMYORCAHATH
ELLERYNOBLESSE
REAMOLYMPIA
PUSSYGALORE
BEGAMIIRENE
ACHRISTMASCAROL
ASSAMEATIRK
THEVERYIDEA
MASSIVEPELE
SKINTONESEAMEN
NILELEGOFRODO
BRASVEGATINYT
CASTEROSEASE
Thu 12/24/2015
TOPCOPSGREEK
ONEACRECRISTO
SHORTIESAPPHO
HIPPOCRATES
ERLEISLAMALI
SEETHECREWCUT
ISLAOHIO
ARISTOPHANES
EVENSPAR
CONCOCTMMMBOP
OWECATESTARE
DEMOSTHENES
PINDARSEATTLE
ALBANYEARNEST
PLAYSSKIAREA
Fri 12/25/2015
BOARDSAIMSNIP
ALHIRTRCAMOTH
SEAMONSTERALSO
KGBSPIESXROAN
CTATOKE
OHMSHALFCOCKED
WEIOPERACAPE
LASCALAENTRAPS
REHEARSEDSEE
ENDOFSTORYMSRP
POURMIC
SECTAADAGENCY
OVALTELENOVELA
NITEALIERASER
SLEDDISSENTON
Sat 12/26/2015
ABRAMTROJANWAR
FAUNALIFECOACH
FTDIXCENTERICE
ATOMICMOLDTUT
ILLUMINATINATO
REFSGENEREBAR
PAWNGEMINI
SKATERSZAPOTEC
PATHOSDOMO
ETHANSINEWISH
CALIRIVERDANCE
IKEEEROSOVERY
FATALBERTLEVIN
INESSENCETAEBO
CASUALSEXSTREW

Simply put, the RIEMANN hypothesis is a deep mathematical conjecture which states that the nontrivial Riemann zeta function zeros, i.e., the values of s other than -2, -4, -6, ... such that ζ(s)=0 (where ζ(s) is the Riemann zeta function) all lie on the "critical line" σ=R[s]=1/2 (where R[s] denotes the real part of s).

On a somewhat unrelated topic: while CASUAL SEX may be new to NYT solvers, it's a colorful and welcome phrase. Crosswords can be somewhat staid but they also have a history of lightly flirting with the slightly risqué. Who can be surprised when such behavior eventually leads to casual sex?

POW Sun 12/27/2015 BINARY CODE
SIPONABASESTEAMO
UNLOADNATASHAAVIANS
SHOPPINGCENTERGARRET
SAWAGELONGRUTSFRAY
ELMIRONRHYMECAIRN
DEADENDSDIALSPAREME
SNORTSINTLELATED
MAONCAAFINALSCOT
BLOTFOESCBSAURORA
LEEOSLOAAASTPAULS
ICANWINDOWFRAMESPEE
SODAPOPCHEMUSHLAD
LOOTERBOGALOTEVEN
ELFONIONRINGSGIL
FARINAENTSCANALS
ADDLINGBAASJAZZDUET
BOOLAODETSRUDEDVR
BLURPTASEVERESTDEY
ALBINOMINNESOTATWINS
SALSASEDASNERTOOTAT
REESEEVENTSPOEMS
Mon 12/28/2015
SINSWALLETTAP
OBOEICEAXEERR
SEALTEAMSIXLGA
OTHERMESGLUT
SILVERTEASET
IRABEELET
LANAATOMSLATE
SINBADTHESAILOR
ALARMESAICENT
BOOTLCSEE
SPEAKTOOSOON
COLDELOGORGE
OILSTEMTOSTERN
USETROPICCLAD
TEESASHESHOMS
POW Tue 12/29/2015
HUBSTARSCOMBO
ABAOWLETICEES
NORNOTBADATALL
GARBMEADEOTTO
STELLARTSP
LOANKEEPITUP
CAROMSWIRLRNA
HBOMBPARAMATI
ELLANIMESIMON
WELLDONECHAP
OATWAYTOGO
CRAWSWARMALAN
YOUREONFIREITT
STREWBATONNEA
TEASEARENTESP
Wed 12/30/2015
PROBMANTACHEZ
JIMIIBEAMABLE
SAGONERVENOSE
PAULDIRAC
VCHIPSICEBOX
PRECISEPCCLONE
SEAAIRBOATBAD
ALANGREENSPAN
AMTSNEATOENDS
MEHTADTSENDOR
FRYERSPRAWNS
GREASYNEALE
MALIVIOLATART
APOXORDERYVES
NEWYEARSEVE
Thu 12/31/2015
SNLSTIRGRAMPA
MOOHIDERELIES
UNCLEBENADEXEC
GOOGLEDOCSELI
BLTOPUSDEI
GRETAAAHSOD
NAYCARGOSHORTS
AGEDTEASETIRE
WAGONMASTERNUN
LIERPSASKED
PLATEAUPIN
ESSEGOMANIACS
PASSGOMONOPOLY
STEVENETTUKEN
ISSUESNESTIFC

This crossword was part of a unique four-puzzle Monopoly by Ben Tausig.

The brilliant podcast "99% Invisible" did a fascinating episode on The Landlord's Game just last month. You can listen to it or read about it here.

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