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Puzzles for February, 2020
with Editor comments

Sat 2/1/2020
ATTRACTIONIDAS
WHATLLITBEFINE
NOSETONOSESYNE
SUEEVENTATPAR
CREDRANARMS
BARONSSUNGTO
OPERAPICKLEJAR
DIDNTGETTHEMEMO
SAUTERNESPECOS
CADETSGANTRY
AGESAGOCURT
SUDSYMALIKIPA
LIFEMILITIAMAN
ELALONEMANBAND
WETSPOKERGAMES
Sun 2/2/2020 AUDUBON SOCIETY
TRANSAGEDODDSALBUS
BALOOROLEPERMTEENA
SHERYLCROWSCOUTFINCH
PAVEIHOPLOTRSELL
LEARNGEOTAPAMUSE
SIGOURNEYWEAVER
APOLUNEPAPDIALECT
FRANKIETOTEMLIESLOW
RUMENDATSEAILEANA
ABETEASYRUNSPRAY
TALIBYOLODINGTOILS
AMESTOREROSMELC
ABSOLUTRAGONDUELERS
YOUROCKSTOICOSMOSIS
ENEWHOSWEDRUNKSTAN
SAMSASTIARSEGALS
ATMSAFGHANSTSAR
BARREARTMUSEUMTYLER
RITADOVEASPLADYBIRD
IDITARODIKEATALANTA
MANILOWLYNEMERGES

Brian Herrick, of Brooklyn, does communications for a nonprofit that funds diabetes research. Christopher Adams, of Iowa City, Iowa, is a puzzlemaker/crossword constructor. (Guess who wrote the clue for 71-Across?) They met through the Crossword Puzzle Collaboration Directory on Facebook.

The puzzle's theme idea was Brian's. Chris added to Brian's examples. They spent an afternoon filling the grid together by email.

POW Mon 2/3/2020
FETAPIBBBAHAI
LARDETREALERT
USERACESNEATO
EYEOFTHETIGER
SADIEZINMMA
THEBEESKNEES
IBMPADPEONS
DRYHEATINHOUSE
AIMEESROTAT
HAIROFTHEDOG
ORSAHAROAMS
THEMONKEYSPAW
KRAUTMAINORCA
OAKENANNOLOAN
SEEYASAGSONUS
Tue 2/4/2020
IOTASAMISCOPE
TORCHEARORKIN
SHOEHORNSMAINE
YSLMAOBAILS
LOVETRIANGLES
BANEDNYBTW
OCCAMALFCITI
CHAMPAGNEFLUTES
TINACUTUBERS
ECOBRABIKE
TAPERECORDERS
NEVISBENCIA
PENINSEXORGANS
CRETEPSIANDRE
PYRESYETMUSIC
Wed 2/5/2020
RAMADAATMWHAM
EXITEDCATCHAIR
POMONACOWLINGS
ONENIGHTSTAND
EEOFREED
PIPERTMCORDER
WORKSOFARTORE
ALOEROMEOAVID
VACDOBEDOBEDO
ENEWSTAPPARES
IDAHOEAT
USEDFURNITURE
TARHEELSICEBOX
SLAMPOETTALESE
KALENWAALLRED
Thu 2/6/2020
SFPDTABUCOO
CLARAIDIGSHAW
LIKESANDTHELIKE
ACECELSDONT
SETTERSETCETERA
SUABLERUNSEW
APNEAVEERGEEK
ALIETALII
EXPMDRAMOATER
EARTEAOWNAGE
KNOTSANDWHATNOT
AURADAISGTE
UDDERSANDOTHERS
RUESPETERELIT
ISRADENIHOP
Fri 2/7/2020
SANDPSUPERAPS
UHURATREXAURA
NAKEDLUNCHSTUB
SEAMANIPHONE
MASTERBREWER
JEWELSQUIERO
AVEDASUITSRAE
PERKATANASKIA
ERESLOBSREEDS
AWHIRLDEFRAY
IBLAMEMYSELF
CALVINPLEATS
ELSEAPPALACHIA
USERTOESSEALS
PATSEXAMEDITS
Sat 2/8/2020
IMHOTOSSSITE
NOOBSALADHOOD
CUTSPRICERANGE
ANDCOPRPERSON
STEEDSOILUP
SNOTFLOPWHO
JOKEWRITERNEAT
CHILDISHGAMBINO
TINYKNEEBOARDS
SOGJETTLOAD
LASSOEDGERS
BLUEMOONSEDAN
BOCABURGERNONE
OWLSTRUCETUDE
YEAHYEOWSTIR
Sun 2/9/2020 THE EMOJI MOVIE
KINGHOGANPROTIPELF
ASEAAGORARAVINECEO
THELORDOFTHERINGSHER
GAPEDCASEDREPORT
WHEATONSHUTSDATA
HANDYOWETOTITANIC
ASTOCITIZENKANEMOP
LSATANTSELKSTAME
ELIREPOSFLAKYDUMBO
DELOUSEDIECISETSON
PLANETOFTHEAPES
OUSTERLENTOLORISES
SPEEDSMASHUNDUEAPU
LEWDSTIRMEETSLIP
ONEMARYPOPPINSTAPE
DRACULAELLENNAMER
LUGENAIADADORING
AGEINGNINNYSPORT
BIGALEAGUEOFTHEIROWN
EVARENNETFLAIRERIE
TEDDROOLSFUNDSKONG

Brian Kulman, of Los Gatos, Calif., is a semiretired executive in the technology business. He started solving New York Times crosswords during high school when a teacher said they'd help improve his SAT vocabulary score. ("It definitely worked!")

He loves movies and collects movie posters. He hopes this puzzle evokes a lot of good memories from movie lovers.

Mon 2/10/2020
ADFEETHUGBCUP
ICEAXVINEIONA
WORTHASHOTLUGS
ANNAREAMONET
ALITTLEEXTRA
JABBEDUSAIN
ACRESARANOUT
CHICREWCUTSHO
KEGHARSHPEON
HEARTMARSHY
SETTLEASCORE
ITSOKHAIRFEZ
GAINDOUBLETAKE
MIDIANTISKIER
ALECBESTTORSO
Tue 2/11/2020
ALIBIAVISAJAR
DEBITWINEPOPO
WEEDSLASERSHOW
ARREARUNIONS
RAINBOWFLAGMTV
ETAIDIOTSPULP
AGINGARIES
FLYINGCOLORS
GRIEFFRATS
YENSIRAISEPIA
MSGGLITTERBOMB
HUGELYSERIFS
PAINTBALLGENRE
DINAEDITOATEN
FRETTHUDSKEET
POW Wed 2/12/2020
OKRAATETHREES
SNOCONESHEAVEN
LOVECONQUERSALL
OWEHITPOMP
SONSOLEEMO
DEATHANDTAXES
DOWSOXSIXERS
REINSWEBCIRCA
ALTOIDLABOTS
THUNDERSTORMS
SIPEPIGTOS
ALLAUTAGPS
WARTOENDALLWARS
IMEANTONEDOZEN
NOODGEGODKEYS
Thu 2/13/2020
CCSHERBSTAGE
HAIEAVEOCELOT
ORGINSERVIDAYS
OWNEDFIEFNAY
SAUCISHPRIMA
EXPOEINEBELAY
AUDINOIDEA
REVERSECTIONARY
GRATISEINK
SALTSFRETEPIC
HATHASHAVEDE
ETAOATHLETIN
ROLLTHEDICEADS
MALALATROULIU
ADAGEVESTSTS
Fri 2/14/2020
THESTOOGESTROT
HITCHARIDEHAVE
INTHATCASEEVEN
STARACEARENT
OILOLDWELSH
DEADCALMELI
AUDIOBOOKSSUMP
BRENNANOPENSET
SONGMICROCOSMS
EBBINTHERED
OVERLAINSOS
PALSYHESCOPE
ALECHOMEPLANET
LUNASPACEOPERA
SEATTEXTALERTS
Sat 2/15/2020
SUCKDRYAPPEASE
INHEREDCHANTER
THREADSTORTOLA
SEISMSTANLINES
HASHEESHEOCENE
ITSADATESUEDES
VEINYESTERS
ADEREMAXTEA
HEADUPAWOLS
SALAMIRIPTIDES
ALEVELFREELOVE
LEVERETSLADLES
OPIOIDSHATPINS
OPENTAPEGOISTE
NOSEATSLENGTHS
Sun 2/16/2020 NUMBER THEORY
DRATDATIVESLIMUP
RECUTCINEMAXSPANISH
INTROAMILATELANDTAX
QUINCEJELLYQUINCE
POTUSCUSPEXAMS
GERMANAYEAYESIRMAW
DAFOEABAFTTHOLORI
ELFDOBBYTHEHOUSEELF
WASABIPEAOVIDTIBET
GETITHADESREPAY
SEIZEPOWERSEIZE
ACITYMOTESSOMNI
AMISSTAUTGODISGOOD
DUETOTHEFACTTHATDUE
INNSMRSKAZOONOICE
ORCDIETMENUSFRENCH
SAYSOARCSSIEVE
LOSTINTRANSLATION
BUSYBEEAKRONOHDETOO
ITALIANBIOLOGYARTOO
GENYERBATONSMYOB

Sam Ezersky, 24, is the associate puzzles editor at The Times. A "puzzlehead" since childhood, he sold his first crossword to the paper, a Saturday, when he was 17. His job at The Times includes testing/fact-checking the daily Mini crossword and curating the daily digital Spelling Bee.

This puzzle started when he noticed a curious property of 26-Across.

Mon 2/17/2020
PUPANGEROVENS
ASLTULSAPEKOE
LAURABUSHELENA
SITUBEEARC
ROSALYNNCARTER
TRYOHSORRY
EPICGOTOAME
MICHELLEOBAMA
FOXMODSALPS
EJECTORSRO
HILLARYCLINTON
ANYLOXOVUM
AGINGBETTYFORD
GECKOBATHEISS
AMESSCROSSDEE
Tue 2/18/2020
ARTSMUYABSORB
IDEALISTCRIMEA
GARDENEDRECALL
REWEDTIEHIE
AHADOTARDBAER
CAREORASENDS
TRIAGEDICTA
PARALLELPARKS
BRIANUNDEAD
DPLUSBCESIRE
REEDBAYINGSAW
AYNIANLEAPT
MONADSTEARLESS
ATOLLSCERBERUS
SENSEIUNSASEA
Wed 2/19/2020
FISHETREPEROT
BANTULAOSGRAPE
RICESLYFTDRIVER
BLUESTEELRACERS
SPARTATNAE
TOTREUPINIT
ATOMKNICKKNACKS
SODASSPATGROAN
KEYSTONEKOPPOLO
HANAEKESKEG
IDSRAPREFI
NEPALISWIPELEFT
SWIPERIGHTKOJAK
EARPSITISERATO
TRESSISPYRARE
POW Thu 2/20/2020
BAROBAMARSVP
OLEGALIASICEE
UPL8HUNCHPHEW
THEFOURTHEST8
SATUPPOLLS
PATTIPARDON
PAWH8RSGONNAH8
ISHSALUTZAP
TAILG8PARTYENS
ADRIANMUSIC
SALEMPLOWS
PIECESOFEIGHT
XR8DONAD8CR8R
FILLVIGILKEPI
LOSEEDENSSIP
Fri 2/21/2020
BOTTLESSIDEBET
EVASIVEPREGAME
EURASIAROLODEX
FLORALPRINTMRT
EATSGLENSDOGE
DRSCRAFTTRUED
PAINECHATS
RUNNERSHIGH
HOPESEWERS
SILASSNEADLAD
ITLLSADATMAGI
THELUNARCRATER
PODCASTJOSHING
AMRADIOADVANCE
TESTEESREPLAYS
Sat 2/22/2020
MCCAINOFFTO
QUIZZICALLOOK
QUOTATIONMARKS
BURNERTOPSY
AAADIPOLESHOW
MYNANAMEDBABE
SCAGGSNOMAD
TRAIPSEPARLEYS
HILDABEAPAL
ISLEHOPUPSERB
SKAROYALLYMOA
FLIESIOMOTH
FROZENDAIQUIRI
DENOFINIQUITY
REEDSARSENE
Sun 2/23/2020 RESOLVED
DESPAIRDRJSEPTORME
ENCARTAYOOTRIONEIL
EGOTRIPSKYRINGCYCLE
REPRESSYOURLUCKHMONG
LEIAHENIOCISEVEY
ORIELSDAKSEALE
EMITRELATETOTHEPARTY
VIDASTALKHUHDOUGIE
EXACTSTAINTEALRILE
TOPITEMUNITARDS
AIRRESENTPACKINGLAH
THELORAXSARAGIS
PACEFLEDLIMOSFELIX
AVENGECEOMERITCONE
RESTOCKSANDBONDSOWNS
SORTATYRAICAHN
IMPGOTHOYSTAEDAM
NOOSERETURNTHETABLES
SNOWSKIERUIESIDEONE
UGLIINLANNEARTSALE
MOSTRASPSOLROOTFOR

Sophia Maymudes is a senior at Carleton College in Minnesota, studying computer science and math. This is her third crossword for The Times. Her father, David Maymudes, is a senior staff software engineer for Google in Seattle. After years of being Sophia's test solver, he decided he wanted to construct, too.

They write: "We presume there have been other father/daughter co-constructors, but we were wondering if there have been any others where the daughter was the one who introduced the father to constructing." I can think of just one other father/daughter pair, from 1998. I believe this is the first one in which the daughter is the veteran puzzlemaker.

Mon 2/24/2020
SHODSICKOBOA
LEVIAMAINRUMP
IRANVERNEARES
POLICEDOGHINGE
NAMBARISTAS
MONGRELLOCI
UBOATEFFSNASH
SOILAGORAGLUE
SERFSAGEUTTER
ROILDOSHOTS
FACEOFFSWEE
AWASHOPENSFIRE
NARCCRATELOOM
TIVOACTORATOM
ATETEENSGAMY
Tue 2/25/2020
JONASSPORTLASS
REACHERRORANEW
SUITENITTIVIDI
FRIENDSHIPGAMES
ITISSOOILERS
RACISMELLA
ORBHOPEDIAMOND
ONEAMLEVYSPREE
FORWARDPASSCHE
SKEEORCHID
LICHENHARBOR
INDUSTRYLEADERS
NARCAIDEDHEATS
EWOKLORRYAPNEA
DEMSSTATEMOTTO
Wed 2/26/2020
GRAMMYONKPKAT
RADIOSROARONO
ATONALATTESTTO
BEGUNPLAYMOBIL
SEGAIDID
HIPSDONTLIESKI
ESAIPAWDRAPED
LEIGHMODSURLY
PERNODPEPTELL
SMSTROMPELOEIL
AFARTROT
ASYOUWISHRUSSO
GOANDSEEBENHUR
OAKGINAONEALL
GPSENTSBADGUY
Thu 2/27/2020
BASSLSATRUN
WORTHACLUCAPE
HOMERTHEBORDER
OMMINERSPOINT
NEROMASONS
ANDREWDIALS
WEREBRIARSFE
LAOSLINGOMAAM
TOGOOGOOASIA
ILOSENETTLE
LEANEDRVER
ALLENBSIDESTW
SOMESPACECAREW
IPADCLAWTRUES
KEYPITSSIGN
Fri 2/28/2020
BINGEWATCHESA
ESCAPEROOMEVIL
DEATHTRAPSMAXI
SEASNADAPANTS
PAYRELIGHT
OHSTOPFEMALES
RECUTSONICLEE
EARTHSHATTERING
ODEOPALSBOSSA
HEALERSLOOTED
SUNDECKSOS
ANTESNACLBMWS
UTEPMAKEITRAIN
NESTIDONTWANNA
ARTCONTAINING
Sat 2/29/2020
RADISHJAMESON
ARETHACAROLINA
GOSTAGONENINTH
ADSGASLEAKS
EGGROLLSICUS
PREYCELWORST
BATEGIGECONOMY
ARMPREEMIETIL
BEEFHOTDOGTONE
ENNUIYENKANT
STUNLPGATOUR
KEYARENAISM
AGERANGEOLIVIA
BOYARDEETAMERS
STEPPESESPRIT
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