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Puzzles for December, 2018
with Jim Horne comments

View these same grids with comments from:
Constructor (27)Jeff Chen (31)Jim Horne (5)Hide comments
Sat 12/1/2018
TALLIESUPGATOS
OCEANLINERALAMO
STICKYRICEBAKED
CELEBTSARSEGA
ADALITLESPAC
HORACEPOSADA
BOTOXINJECTION
PARTNERDANCING
FITNESSCENTERS
ENMESHEDGERS
LOOTOTODSSIT
TCBYTUMSTEAMO
SHIEDBROGRAMMER
ALLAYAIRPORTBAR
DEERESTAYSSANE
Sun 12/2/2018 REPRESENT!
FAULTMANECARTSWAM
LUNASALONEARIAHERA
ODDSANDENDSBEANERIES
ERITREAOUTSALTMARSH
ADEAMENRATRIP
DSTTOOBIGTOIGNORE
BRAPEPAORECRENEL
FADEINSTUFTEDELENA
FRANKSINATRAIDSDET
AMIEELIESTARAWE
ADDINSULTTOINJURY
ANNROTSSILLPOST
BODNETPARALLELBARS
OMEGABREWEREDIBLES
MAVENSANTSAWNEKE
BREAKINGASWEATAKA
RENEANTLERZED
PLACENAMEIDOPDJAMES
HABANEROSLONGOVERDUE
IVESRESTSWARDNIECE
LATESRTASLUESANER
Mon 12/3/2018
GASPSAWEBALKS
ASTRODOGEVENT
SCOOBYDOORECUR
EONSATEFINITE
STEPMORNINGDEW
TEASINGE
ACORNSINERSVP
MOONOCANDOTAR
POLOMANYABATE
USERBRIT
POSTAGEDUEMEAT
AMELIAINNORZO
BATINPASDEDEUX
SHUNTONECAPRI
TAPESPAROLSEN
Tue 12/4/2018
ANKLEPAPAAAHS
BRIANAPOPUTAH
SAMPLESALERAVI
SARTREPERON
SECRETSERVICE
ABIDENEO
BOXSIMPLESIMON
CZARCAPERRARE
SOMEDAYSOONSEX
DOHILOST
SUDDENLYSUSAN
CHEERTEENSY
RUINSYLVIASYMS
URGEERLENOELS
BANDASSNSNAKE

Fun puzzle. I like this one.

POW Wed 12/5/2018
SHULISISDYADS
MEGASCOTWAHOO
IRANOMANICELAND
TONICBILLET
HIDCUBALEBANON
SCAPULASOSERA
ALERTKOCH
UNITEDNATIONS
SCARGLENN
ALILESARCADES
MALIESTONIAONT
STMARKPOSSE
PERUSERBIASPAIN
ELIZAVENTEGGO
CLOUTEDGELENS
Thu 12/6/2018
CTLECAPRAFATC
ARESAIREDALEC
LINTLOATHGASH
OATWILTDAINTY
GLORIFIESRNA
ADOIBMRBI
LITTERBOXESKIT
ALASNAFTAAIDE
ILKKITTYCORNER
DYENAEHOE
NEEDONTPANIC
SHOVELLOOSEMO
NOVAENDOWCHAP
OPENNOISEARMY
CERSSTEELMUSC
Fri 12/7/2018
DOYOUHEARMEDRS
OVERZEALOUSEEK
PATRONSAINTCGI
ELIARESCEREAL
IDYLSHEEPLE
CENSUSWIIMOTES
ABOMBBATESIMS
MOTAIRKISSCEO
ELASLIENUCONN
RACEBIBSGRUNTS
ASHCAKEDYED
SCATHELIMBHAJ
HANAIDESDECAMP
ORCIKEACATALOG
PEESEEDOYSTERS
Sat 12/8/2018
COMICSANSCRAG
OPENLYGAYLULL
PEACESIGNSABLE
ERNOONACHAPLIN
SAGAPGTHIRTEEN
ILLSNGO
ATRIATAPDANCES
HALSKIPASSHOE
HUSHPUPPYSAINT
IANDOLL
SURPRISEMEALTO
THANKSOBAMAPHU
RUNESDETOXDIET
IRISARTDEALER
PANSSTEELBLUE

This is a terrific puzzle. Thanks, Obama!

Sun 12/9/2018 WHAT A ZOO!
NAPDRCLAWAVOIDAHAB
ALEWOEISITERRESOME
SANABOMINABLESNOWMAN
AMITYPANNEDTWEEZE
LOCHNESSMONSTERELMO
IRENEWETCOOLANA
FILEDAWNTHEKRAKEN
ISLESURALRATRESECT
ELISHAARETOOAASRHO
FANTASTICBEASTSODSON
ALLOTANDUTILE
SACREWHERETOFINDTHEM
UNHOZSGOTANFNEROLI
STACIEMONREELRIVAL
HIMALAYASSTUDMEND
ICERLETEMONEVER
ALLATHENORWEGIANSEA
ONEOFFTROWELSTORM
SCOTTISHHIGHLANDSVIP
LENTSTOICASTANAEKE
ORSOHUTCHTHEWARRAD
Mon 12/10/2018
LACESFRYPABST
SLATELIEALOHA
DIRTCHEAPSAFES
PUTOUTATMFEE
TAOGRASSROOTS
ELOPESICY
APLUSMAGISWAT
THEPLOTTHICKENS
SARATIESPINTA
PHDBUSTER
BUSHLEAGUERDS
ONTOURLAREDO
ODIUMJUNGLEGYM
SENSEIEDKAUAI
TREESFYISLEPT
POW Tue 12/11/2018
POOFPOPBYBAS
JONIATRIAPIPE
SHELLSHOCKAREA
EASEDMIDST
PROCTORPEELOUT
CARLINHURTNIL
STEENSARINATE
GROUNDSCREW
AMOKFATEAGILE
PANTOGOAZARIA
PITBOSSSLOWEST
ENRONAUDRA
AMALCOMPOSTBIN
RAIDADIEUTIVO
SNLPEERSSTEW
Wed 12/12/2018
CABOHEMIANDOR
UPONAVONGUIDE
FORABIBIENRON
FREDDIECONCERT
STRAITLEROI
ROSSIIRONON
TATERTVMOMAWE
AJAQUEENZIT
LAXSUDANCRIES
CRIMEAISSUE
EASEDTEASET
BENEFITMERCURY
ENOKIYSERTRAP
ARIESMUTEELSE
MYRRHAPSODYED
Thu 12/13/2018
SAUTEPANMATCHA
ABSOLUTEONARUN
HOMEBREWDOTIME
ADAARMYMENMAC
REPSSPOOLBEND
ASSAMORBFOLIO
DOSKJJWATT
MALCOLMGOODBYE
CLEARYSBRO
GLASSVETDIDIT
RIDENACRENADA
ENOBOTTOMSGEN
GOFLATIMBATMAN
ONFIREOPENLATE
RESTEDNERDCRED
Fri 12/14/2018
SLOGANBARNUM
HAIRBOWAVIATE
ATLANTANMASSES
YESYESTEARS
CIAGONDOLALOY
ANITAEFFORTS
SPRITSLABETAS
TUPPERWAREPARTY
STOPEONSASIAN
RICARDOREPRO
SOTALLEGROSID
EXCONDROIDS
CLOWNSSOCIALIQ
TIDIEDDESSERT
SPEEDSSTEAKS
Sat 12/15/2018
HAMMCHUPACABRA
ECRUHESITATION
RUMSUNDERSTOOD
TROTTRADETALKS
ZAMBEZIPSI
ESPSITNSPIN
RENTACOPGOOSE
DEMIHINESCLAW
ONICEGARLICKY
HOTELBARENE
GRRCDDRIVE
SUPPRESSEDTRIX
ILLBETHEREEARP
BEERCOOLERAQUA
SEASONPASSMIST
Sun 12/16/2018 TOP GEAR
FIVEAMIMAMLOMSEMIS
IMEASYTODOAHATIARA
SPARTASUDSRBIAGLET
CALLINGINTSTIONGHANA
ACESTONTOMAYANTWIN
LTRBOOIQUITCYBHICS
BUNDLEUPLTGEN
PIUSIIIECHOESROADS
LONGADOUSINGRETAIL
IPASSENCECEOATEMPO
BCCWHATIABAFTIPA
ROOMERAVEILLSALLIN
ARMIESMISSMOTSANNE
SNAKTGELCAPCRABLEG
EIDERBOOKOFRA
IMSPENTFREUDPERDIM
NOTIATSEANODOZLOCI
CORALATTHEDROPOFAHAT
AMAZEKOISLOWNATANT
PONZIEMSTOUREMERGE
SODASNAHETSYSERMON

Great title.

POW Mon 12/17/2018
CALSCORESABIT
ALAISRAELTROY
BATSPARROWHAWK
AMIEALEALGAE
LONDONBRIDGE
LIUMUSTERS
SCOTCHZACEXIT
TOVHIJACKSTSA
EKESJUGSURREY
PERUSALMIA
RUBYSLIPPERS
ASHENPANEXEC
BLACKFRIDAYTHE
LAVARECENTRAN
EVENOPENEDABE
Tue 12/18/2018
CTRLACTINLATS
OREOTOADYALEE
DUSTJACKETGOIN
ETTUKEAFUNGO
USATRAILBLAZER
PERSATAARONS
SLEDROEDID
FASHIONPOLICE
TUTDAMARMS
TRAUMAYESEEO
HOLDINGTANKART
EDGEDRUBEATS
NEONFOLLOWSUIT
BURTBUSEYIRON
APESIPASSSENT
Wed 12/19/2018
SLUGSPLITSNBA
OENOALETAPARC
TVPGSEAAIRTAN
SYCOPHANTETUDE
BEADSHAIR
SAGANPODCAST
CZARICEAGELEO
OURANAGRAMIMP
ORBREBORNASIS
BEATERSANTSY
GOATSPORK
THEOCTHEHILTON
AIMOLEARYERGO
FDADEARIETERR
TENEASELSSEEM
Thu 12/20/2018
AMOSCARTSSPAS
RENOANOUKTACK
TEASSCENICAREA
TWOWAYSABOUTIT
HOOINNATE
SKINOFFMYBACK
ARMALEEIHEAR
NOMYANMARNO
SCALYYSERROO
MANISANISLAND
AGORASSAC
LAUGHINGMATTER
FINESTHOUREDAM
ALTSORATENASA
SYSTKALESTYPO

Two-letter answers were common in Margaret Farrar's day. They disappeared from the NYT crosswords in 1952, until Patrick Merrell broke the two-letter ban and nine other rules in this memorable 2004 puzzle. Joe Krozel gave us eight two-letter State abbreviations in 2008. In 2014, Peter A. Collins's Mother's Day grid art required four two-letter entries.

Fri 12/21/2018
TIGERSHARKSTUB
INOCULATIONONE
BOOKSONTAPEMIA
ENDSODASENSOR
RESHIPSGREENS
MAYBAREBACK
LIEONBOREDVAI
IMASLAITYBERN
OYSWARNSWORDS
NOTCHINGPIX
SUCCORBODYBAG
GROSSHULLOERE
AMAWHERESWALDO
TASHELENKELLER
ENTOHMYDARLING
Sat 12/22/2018
ONTAPESASSED
MARTINIEVONNE
ADULTINGREBATE
NIATACONICPAP
INNSCHIEFSOIL
SETUPANGAPPLY
BEERGOGGLES
ZOROASTRIAN
CORRECTIONS
IRONYTEAGHANA
NUTSMEATYYSER
CIOBIRDIESSAN
ESPIALYOSEMITE
PEIRCENEMESES
TRASHYSITINS

There's a double hint in the "Slip covers?" clue — the question mark and the extra space. The fitted cover that slips over a chair or sofa (or book!) is a (single word) slipcover. Did Will Shortz need both? For me, probably, but I imagine there might have been some internal debate.

Sun 12/23/2018 LABOR CONTRACT(ION)S
CHAPHEMGRAVELMECCA
HOLAAPOEUREKAINLOW
EWESWITHONEACCORDION
ASPCACEOLOEBPCTS
PAPALBULLIONDIDOK
DOLLARESTEEMTRIBAL
SALESNOVAEPANAMA
CROWNSISTHATAFACTION
HERAATTUSLIGOTSK
UNAGIRIFFEDDENS
GOLEMUNIONIZEDITSME
RACEREPEALCALEB
AWEGOUDAAVECGAGA
MISSIMPOSSIBLELEEWAY
INSANESTENOSMARM
ENAMELOILRIGANNOYS
YASIRFILLINGSTATS
ATTNEASTUNATHREW
RHETORICALQUESTSERLE
KASHALADIESEEOROLE
SITARSTANDSTENSWAP
Mon 12/24/2018
BESOALICEWHEW
LAINVENOMHOLE
ASTAIVANAERIE
HYBRIDENGINES
SAYOKREALIZES
LETTEMPE
KALAHARIDESERT
FENALIKEAAA
GENDERIDENTITY
SLIERYUM
SESSIONSNAVAL
HITCHINGARIDE
AJARBYCAREMMA
DALEMOORETEEN
OWLSSULKYSONS
Tue 12/25/2018
DAISISPOSETMC
EDNABEARONYAY
JUDYGARLANDPVC
ALAURBANPEEL
THINSUGARCANE
AHOKEROS
ROUESSAMMYAWE
LOSANGELESANGEL
ODEOATENLOANS
ERMAERTE
MOVIESTARALPS
SHINENEMYLOX
NYGOTANNENBAUM
BOOYESIAMATTA
CURSTEELEHEHS
POW Wed 12/26/2018
CINCHUGHSIGMA
ALOHAFRYARIEL
ROBINHOODYANNI
ASIAGOORESSUV
TEDANIMALHOUSE
PROSFIB
KONARIPETEMPO
FANTASTICVOYAGE
CREEDITOOEGAD
NUBLIED
BEETLEJUICETEL
ATMTEEMELTORO
NAOMISPIDERMAN
DIJONSECREESE
SLINGEDYSKIER
Thu 12/27/2018
CAROMETNAJAW
ALONGALOOFEPA
TOTEMSKYWRITER
AHABSESSIONS
WATCHTVTTOP
BOOEYEDERMA
AERIALRECREEL
HRECESIAGO
EMOTICYOYOMA
SLOPCTAINER
TELECROSESBAM
AGETOALLITALO
GIRARDIARTISAN
GEAROILNAILSIT
STALEDESTINY
Fri 12/28/2018
LEADEROFTHEPACK
ALFAROMEOSPIDER
GOINGBACKTOCALI
CLEORUYCAPES
LUISNOTHTSP
ITSPLEDGECOTY
BETARAYANGORA
LIREMAUL
GODEEPECSTASY
NOLODORSETIMO
ORDCOPAGREW
MISDOPUPDUMA
ALAINRENELESAGE
ALLOVERCREATION
MATRYOSHKADOLLS
Sat 12/29/2018
THUMBLASETSP
GARBAGEBAGITEM
ITSALIVINGMENU
FHACRIEDREACT
GODSPLUMMET
AMAINBAOBAB
CURVYPOPPYCOCK
CITESEXESHALE
TRIMESTERLITUP
FEAREDINSET
AVIATORCAPE
LOCHSSLURPMOM
ELIADOUBLEWIDE
EVANJUNIORPROM
OLDSTATSMORE
Sun 12/30/2018 "NO DUH!"
HOTTUBTIMBREBISSAU
UNWISEROARINGACCEPT
BLIMEYINRANGESERAPE
BITEORBITSLIBERAL
UNCSNEEZEIESTPDT
BEHINDSCENESEWANEAT
SEPIASWELLOFFMARK
JUGHEADSEREOCELOT
ATITLEAPTEAGERER
FINALEMEREFOVEAVET
ACURAOUTOFBLUESLOTH
RAPBRESTSUEDSTACHE
BEERTAPSTACKMAYS
LISBONXRAYHIRABLE
POPQUESTIONNEARER
NWAFEARAGAINSTGRAIN
ARKFILMVENTISMMI
ENAMELSMELEESHYPE
ACROSSLARISSASEATAC
SHOWERSTUNTEDUNLACE
KIDNAPSEDANSEVENTS
Mon 12/31/2018
QANDAATTICHON
THIRDLAIDASIDE
IMTOOOLDFORTHIS
PERULEAFPEONS
DOGTAGLOL
HAVENOOOMPH
MATTEIMPLORED
ERRRANGEEMO
WAITHEREEGYPT
BOOOFFSTAGE
ERSEUGENE
SHARISINNWING
ITSAZOOOUTTHERE
STEGOSAURHITON
IPANURSEOZONE
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