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Puzzles for October, 2013
with Editor comments

POW Tue 10/1/2013
VOLSCOPTOSLAV
AVOWINLAWHIVE
NAVIGEESEAVES
ELEVEABEEVICT
REVELRAVEN
KISLEVVIRGIN
OWLREVIVALWHO
LOADNIVENLION
ANNESCANTALPO
STEELANEMILES
MIGRATION
SPAMOIINNBAD
TORPEDOANIMATE
UPTOYOUNICEJOB
DESISTSSEALANT

You don't see left/right symmetry often in American crosswords, but it's just as legitimate as the regular kind. This puzzle is light on theme material, but I think it makes up for it with liveliness — especially LOVER'S LANE, LIVING WILL, UP TO YOU, and NICE JOB. Joel just started his senior year at Pomona College in California. He has been my intern for the past three summers and intends to return full-time after graduating. Virtually all the clues in this puzzle are his.

Winning time for this puzzle at the 17th Westchester Crossword Puzzle Tournament, held last Friday in Pleasantville, NY:

Jeffrey Schwartz, New York, NY, in 4:33.

Wed 10/2/2013
SHAFTBLIPPRET
AIDANOONALALA
PRINTSOFTHIEVES
SENTPITHNAIVE
AGINEMUS
LOSINGPATIENTS
SELIGLINTOBE
UCLAYOURSTWIX
MAILANGHAIRY
PRESENTSOFMIND
WIKIIDOL
ATTICPOLIGIGI
JUMPATTHECHANTS
ATEEVOIRSTOOL
RUNSGEOSTENSE

One thing I like about Paula's puzzles is that she can make them at any difficulty level, from an easy Monday to a brain-cracking Saturday. This one falls happily in-between. She's a good clue-writer, too. Most of the clues here are hers.

Winning time for today's puzzle, at the 17th Westchester Crossword Puzzle Tournament, held last Friday in Pleasantville, NY:

Bob Mackey, Eatontown, NJ, in 4:25.

Thu 10/3/2013
HULAHOFFSLOTH
OHOSORALCANWE
SUCKSBYOUAFTER
PHOENIXBALOVER
DOTSEDER
TAXIHEREGAEA
OPENAREASEEMSB
MANBORNOTBITO
BRIDEBCHESSSET
STAREWESCHET
YPRESAPR
BHONESTBRIEFED
GOMERBORNBWILD
UMASSARIAISSA
NORSERITZTHEY

In the print edition of the Times, the solution to this puzzle will be shown as SUCKS2BYOU, 2BORNOT2B, etc. For online, though, the solution shows "BB" in the theme squares, as we felt that's what solvers are more likely to guess. This was the playoff puzzle at last Friday's Westchester Crossword Puzzle Tournament. As I write this, I'm anxious to see how quickly (or not) the contestants catch onto the trick.

ADDED NOTE: Winning time for this puzzle at the 17th Westchester Crossword Puzzle Tournament, held last Friday in Pleasantville, NY:

1st — Bob Mackey, perfect in 8:36

2nd — Jeffrey Schwartz, perfect in 10:34

3rd — Glen Ryan, 11:56 with one error

Fri 10/4/2013
SANTANANETFLIX
CHUNNELOXIDATE
AIRTAXISPRAYER
LTSGUMSHOEAMO
DUETSOLOSTWIX
ENRONNOWGRAZE
DAYLILYSPLAYED
KEYDIP
ETAILEDIQTESTS
NOTESINCZZTOP
COENIVIESEURE
ASIAMOEBASNNE
MONSTERAMISTAD
POTOMACTORPEDO
SNOCONEHAIRDOS

A classic grid layout with lots of fine vocabulary. My favorite entries are NETFLIX, AIR TAXI, GUMSHOE, DAY LILY, IQ TESTS, ZZ TOP, SNO-CONE, TOLKIEN, GLITZ, XEROXED, TOO SOON, ICE BATH, SIRI, and SPEEDOS. That's a lot of great stuff!

POW Sat 10/5/2013
ACTFIVEOFFCAST
FAIRBANKSALASKA
FREEASSOCIATION
ALGOREMANXMPG
BEANSPORTMOJO
LAMSBUDSLOVES
ESEBRNOROO
ESPRITDECORPS
AIMRAMPLID
SKORTHASPNOLO
AAHSSAGEJAWED
IBMZERODUPING
DOYOUWANNADANCE
HOMELESSSHELTER
IMYOURSCLAMORS

Do you quake a little when you see Byron's byline? He fills his puzzles with lots of vocabulary never seen before in crosswords, which makes them naturally difficult, and then he writes good, tough clues. Most of the clues here are his. So many favorites — 1A, 18A (nice bit of trivia), 20A, 25A, 39A, 54A (more trivia), 9D, 16D (mean!), 34D (whew!), and others.

Sun 10/6/2013 TOE TAGS
DASHBABARSTYESCALP
EBAYOVINEMEETKATIE
PERMANENTPRESTOIDOLS
PLANTERSROLLINGPINTO
BEDSPINTAOOZES
UPROARRENDSJEFF
GLOOMYGUSTOCUPOFTITO
LEAKAMTSPOSERAGRA
YAMBILBONOLTEFILET
LAPELRABIDCANOES
BUYONEGETONEFRITO
DOLLEDSAUCYSOARS
YIELDWELSHTERMSBAG
ALEESHALECARTBONO
NYPDBLUTOMASTERQUITO
LIPSLANESEUCLID
SPOONMOTORWEAK
GARBAGECANTOMINILABS
ASYETGUIDEDMISTLETOE
WHOSEORZOLOSERURSA
PAREDSEENEMORYPASS
POW Mon 10/7/2013
TAMPSWAPRASP
SARAHTODOUTAH
THEREGOESMYBABY
DOWWIKIAIDES
SEENDESSERT
AFTERMIDNIGHT
DOLLSESENEAR
RHOABSINCTRA
EONSAASBATTY
WHEELINTHESKY
NOTEPADASAP
TWEENERGOBRA
SINGINGTHEBLUES
ANNAASEAEARNS
REELBARRYOGA

There have been a couple of puzzles over the years whose themes involved words that combine with BLUE, but this is the first one that uses only song titles. Great punch line at 63A, too!

Tue 10/8/2013
CHOOETHICDOS
HASHLAREDORNA
ARTIATARISELY
LOSTPROMISES
BREAKERMONDAY
LORNAEPISTEVE
TDSTBTESTONES
LETITSNOW
ATTAWEEUNSRCA
THRUMDREASIAN
HEARYESAMEOLD
LOCATIONGALL
EMIHELENADOTH
TENOILCAROBIE
ENGSOAKSMONY

I think of the Times crossword as being like a circus, in which you never know which kind of surprise will come next. This puzzle's theme is very unusual... and with 16 examples, there's a lot of it, too.

Wed 10/9/2013
RADSCAPEDPSST
ESAUIVANIETTA
DOANDROIDSDREAM
OFELECTRICSHEEP
ABLESTCALLA
COMMIEASP
ERUPTBUMPSPIN
RATSAMPLEDODE
FLEADICKADULT
RIDTNOTES
ALARMPIGOUT
WECANREMEMBERIT
FORYOUWHOLESALE
UNIEHEIDIORYX
LADDREPENNEAT

Others can comment on this astonishing theme discovery by first-time contributor Jason Flinn. I'd like to comment on the word REPEN at 64A. Uncommon "re-" words like this are sometimes described as "roll-your-own" — meaning they're made-up. I think it's a term that blogger Amy Reynaldo coined. To me a roll-your-own word is one that really is made-up; that is, one that is not in the dictionary and gets little or no usage online. But REPEN is real. It's found in Random House Unabridged, Webster's Second New International, and Funk & Wagnalls Unabridged. It also has real usage online. It's not a good entry, to be sure, but it's legit. And sometimes a weak entry like this helps set up other good things, like (in this case) I'M HIP, PIG OUT, and the intricate interlock in the lower-middle. So it passes muster here in my book.

Thu 10/10/2013
SADPAEANBACK
ABEERATOREPRO
LOSDUSTSWEEPER
IRKAMYTIMODE
VITALVARIATION
AGOGLIRAIAN
TIPSERENUTS
ENCSMTWTFSMID
EAZYOCDMEDE
LEAENYAONEA
SWEETENEDOCTAD
KINSRAIMFBIB
UNDREAMEDOFOSO
LEANNELEVEOLD
LYRALOSERKEY

In addition to the rebus entry at 36A, Jeffrey's first version of this puzzle had DAY and WEEK rebuses at the top and bottom of the grid. I thought these were unnecessary, and they constrained the construction in these areas too much besides. The revised version of the grid, which you see here today, is cleaner and nicer, I think. And the "aha" at 36A is really great.

Fri 10/11/2013
FAWNABBATASKS
ECHOHEARIRENE
MEATTHERMOMETER
ASTARTRYMETWA
HRAPSAGAL
PLAYMEORTRADEME
SAPSOXERPISAN
ESPONYTOLATNO
USEASGINOSHOT
DONTEVENGOTHERE
SHEENPIES
CTNKEATSLYCEE
WHERESTHEREMOTE
TAXEREUROARAL
SITESDREWNETS

All six intersecting 15-letter answers in this puzzle are pretty nice, I think. I also like ARMY-STRONG and HEY MAN.

Sat 10/12/2013
NASTYGRAMNAPES
INTHEREARORRIN
PARASAILSBOONE
SLOWSDIGOATEE
STPYSIDRO
SROUSUALLYTED
CAMERASHYSTYLI
ADAPTTOFSHAPED
RAHALPROPONENT
FRAEYEEXAMSAO
BADENDMET
STEPINZIAESAU
MIATAPOOLHALLS
ULCERENTOURAGE
GEHRYDEATHSTAR

Lots of great entries in this grid. Besides the wonderful NASTYGRAM at 1A, I especially like CAMERA SHY, EYE EXAM, BAD END, POOL HALLS, DEATH STAR, AALIYAH, NOBODYS HOME, SLY FOX, and OMAHA BEACH. I could do without SDI, which is over 25 years old and something you don't hear much about anymore. In fact, I'd like to see this entry banned. In this particular puzzle, though, it helps set up too much other good stuff, so I made an exception. BTW, John Farmer writes great clues. Nearly all of today's are his.

Sun 10/13/2013 TAKEN TO TASK
ROSINSASPCATMCINT
PUTNAMTIEREDOILNEE
MISSIONIMPOSSIBLEFAD
OAKENAMADODOBIRD
BOULDERCOLORADOPANTY
ONTVVANSLOTHARIOS
DENEBENTMFAETAT
RENEWSHAWLSCARKEYS
CHIAESAUMIRALAP
MARYANNWAHISNTONO
IKOREDCAPEDSELSONS
NILGRAYIRAMEATPIE
ATLALESAFARASHE
JAIALAISYSTEMSITBY
NOGSNANOYAKBEAUT
DIGRESSEDIONAALGA
INSTRPERPETUALMOTION
GETAHEADRXSCEASE
ESOITSANUPHILLBATTLE
SSNSAMONEONEEKEOUT
TEESSSWELTSLASSIE

This is one of my favorite Sunday puzzles in a while. The "reveal" along the center diagonal is wonderful. Besides the theme, I especially like the entries DODO BIRD, CAR KEYS, MEAT PIE, GET AHEAD, ON THE WAY, ALGER HISS, IT'S HOT, and I DARE YOU. That's a lot of great stuff!

Mon 10/14/2013
TAPEGAPENALA
NEINALOTMOTOR
USAINBOLTATTIC
TONGAUSUALFARE
POMPSBLARED
BASINSARI
SEASBOSCARTSY
PARUSBPORTATE
ARSONLYLEULEE
IRAEDANSK
MILLERMOORE
USERSFEESIPADS
GETITUSHEREDIN
GROGSRAILNINA
YENSOINKSOAP

Zhouqin is one of surprisingly many Times crossword constructors from the Minneapolis area (what is it about Minneapolis?). I like this puzzle because the repeated element (US-) at the starts of the theme entries is so unexpected, and because the "explainer" at 43D is so good. PIANO BARS, MALL RAT, NOT FAIR, and TALK RADIO are great nontheme entries, too. BTW, when I was in Minneapolis a few weeks ago, Zhouqin answered a question I'd been wondering about: how the heck is her first name pronounced? It's something close to "SHOW-tsin." Now you know.

Tue 10/15/2013
GRUBAILSJIHAD
LISAKNEEONONE
ATMSIFATSTATE
MACINTOSHHEXED
LIARCUR
TOXICMECHANIC
ADASHNRAGLO
MICKEYMOUSECLUB
PUTEEKNAOMI
MOCCASINTROPE
HUHUSES
SEDERMUCKRAKER
EVICTELLELOVE
GEEKSANEWEKED
ANTSYDAISSOLO

Some time ago one of the crossword bloggers (I won't say which one, but her initials are D.A.) declared that if she ever saw another vowel-progression theme again, she'd poke her eyes out. (Sorry, D.A.!) As these themes go, I think this one's pretty nice. And have heart: I try not to run this sort of thing too often.

POW Wed 10/16/2013
ALCAPPOHMYSYL
MOOSHUFARECOE
FLOORMATHISAUG
MAPEIRECRAG
BACONFATHERS
ICHOKEDIRAISE
NOONASIFAHS
THROWINTHETOWEL
OASHSIADARE
BEGOODANNOYED
HISPANICROOM
UTESACHTMAC
MANHERSHEYBABY
ONSEVACLEONAS
RTEXENAPTBOAT

Besides the theme, my favorite entries here are AL CAPP, OH MY, PT BOAT, PHREAK, and YOU ARE HERE. I also kind of like I CHOKED, although I'm not 100% sure it's a stand-alone phrase, which lessens its desirableness.

Thu 10/17/2013
BMWNAMATHLSAT
BAHISIDROSTLO
SCOTLANDYARDAGE
BSASUTRAGIS
NEWYORKPOSTAGE
ATHENAEAGER
THOKSTARERS
APPENDAGE
OMBKOALAJED
BYEARFRIEND
ESTREETBANDAGE
ORTCANOEENA
CLASSIFIEDADAGE
TIREMILNERRES
ANSASNEERSPDQ

I accepted this puzzle in 2009, but held it for so long because I'd run similar themes in 2004, 2002, and 1997. Three of the four theme entries here are new, though, and I think they're all pretty nice. Curiously, there's more substandard/crosswordy fill here than I usually allow now — K-STAR, OMB, ORT, ANSA, RES, TRY TO, and others. On the whole, crossword construction has improved a lot over the past four years.

Fri 10/18/2013
STILLDREALBA
CONEHEADSMEAN
ARCTANGENTOATS
RELISTSORIENTE
FAUNASTWINBILL
ADDONJETPLANE
COENGALILEE
ERSDESERETLOB
DETOXEDJONI
STEARNESTAMES
THEOREMSLIMBIC
YESDEARSANTANA
PASALABORPARTY
ETATZENGARDEN
AHSOLEONTYNE

David Steinberg, who turns 17 next month, has turned out an eye-popping construction here — and I accepted the puzzle over a year ago, when he was still 15! My favorite entries in it are STILL DRE, CONEHEADS, TWIN BILL, JET PLANE, YES DEAR, LABOR PARTY, ZEN GARDEN, SCARFACE, SNOW TIRES, GET REAL, JASON MRAZ, BISCAYNE, and JAM TART. That's a lot of great stuff. I could have done without EDE (where I've been, BTW) and TESSAS...but overall, this is pretty fancy constructing.

Sat 10/19/2013
WHIPITSPACEJAM
HAMELSCOCACOLA
AMPSUPHITSONGS
TRUTVOMNISKOS
SADONAUTPYRE
UDEKITTYKELLEY
PINCENEZRDA
GOTOVERMAGNUMS
RITTAKEONME
JOHNNYCAKESDMX
ANASOXENGEMS
REVHELPSGORGE
JOEBOXERMONGOL
ANNERICEFAZOOL
RESTSTOPATODDS

This is the second themeless puzzle I've published in the Times in which SPACE JAM sits atop COCA-COLA in the upper-right corner (great minds think alike!). But it's been over a year and a half since the last one, and I hope most solvers don't remember.

Sun 10/20/2013 COUNTRY ROAD
ASATEAMTOECAPSSTAMPED
INVOICEATMCARDDOWORSE
MAINSTREETACROSSAMERICA
STASEVAAGLETEKEIMOF
ACTONRAWESLSTART
THEFIRSTMAJORMEMORIALTO
SAMOAANEWANED
ONESIZETUNEDINADSPACE
LODIRWYNEILSMIOEGON
LOTSASOFIAINKERBRINY
ANVILNEONOOOHNINJA
GUTENENTHSPA
CASTANETSLOWVISION
ARIAISRACHGETELIO
THESIXTEENTHUSPRESIDENT
EAVEDSLATETILEDANKE
STEROLSLIECRUILLNESS
LINCOLNHIGHWAY
HEADNOUOOPNCAA
INDRAGAPPLIEDTOEBOOKS
TSAOCOTTSAOCMORFSLEVART
CUTIEORANGETREESVALOR
HEEDSMOTTSSANDSYESNO

I accepted this puzzle by Liz in 2009 — holding it for four years until the Lincoln Highway Centennial, which occurs this month. Fortunately, most accepted puzzles don't have so long a wait. Next Sunday's puzzle, for example, took less than a week from acceptance to scheduling. Many factors affect the wait (or lack of one).

Mon 10/21/2013
CATTYDRIVEPAP
OMAHARADARONE
RUNAWAYJURYGEE
ASKINGANIDOWN
LESELFNOSES
BREAKOUTSTAR
SETATINSUPINE
AXONSLEADICTA
FEUDEDESQSKID
ESCAPECLAUSE
HITCHPATSHE
LAUDLOGFATHOM
ALPTAKEOFFRAMP
ZOOARENAFUMET
YENBERETSEEDY

A simple theme with a solid construction — a bread-and-butter Monday puzzle. Among the nontheme entries, I especially like BAND-AID, QUAFF, I DUNNO, and POGO STICK. FUMET (66A) was new to me, but all the crossings are good.

Tue 10/22/2013
AHORABASICDLI
RATERETHNOOID
CLEARTHEAIROCT
OARMAIOSHEA
LINEARTHINKING
CNNISAACS
STPATSOTOKEV
IHEARTHUCKABEES
BRAWITHSAYSO
ANCHORCTR
ACUTEARTHRITIS
SITARUAENUT
SAOMIDDLEEARTH
ANIERROLSHERA
YSLSEERSAIMAT

When editing this puzzle, I noticed that the grid had ISAACS at 30A crossing ISAK at 28D, which really wasn't good, as they're basically the same name. Fortunately, IS OK bailed me out in the latter spot, and it has the advantage of never having appeared in a Times crossword before.

Wed 10/23/2013
ARCHISLESBADE
SOHOSAUTEARIA
TWISTERCHECKERS
ISPREDPUENTE
MBAIOUTRAYS
CLUEMONOPOLY
AINTREFINENEO
FAKEIDSTEELS
ERSGEORGEVIAL
SORRYOTHELLO
REMITREOARS
ELICITDONIDA
BACKTOBACKGAMES
ETRECOLORSOUP
LEONKAPPAINXS

A cute theme idea with all good examples. Games are a fun topic for a crossword anyway.

Thu 10/24/2013
ADAPTTOINKPOTS
RENEWEDDECODES
TANGOEDEGALITE
SRAWRSSABINE
CATTDS
ANALYSTPIEHOLE
MORAHEAVENON
BOOMERANGEFFECT
ISMLOTTEABAR
TEASETSARTICLE
AVAEEL
AFLARESTKTRI
FLOUTERAUCTION
ISOTOPEKRISTIN
BOLEROSENTAILS

It blows me away that Pete found a way to run BOOMERANG EFFECT straight through two pairs of theme answers. Wow, wow, wow! The grid has a nice low word count besides.

POW Fri 10/25/2013
MADEMINCEMEATOF
ECONOMICWARFARE
LOSANGELESTIMES
SPECIALINTEREST
STEMSISS
ODEFFFTREE
STURMBEEFSAXL
MORSECODESIGNAL
OJSNILESLAKME
GOALMAXTVS
UGAPIERO
COMMERCIALRADIO
FREETRANSLATION
CHANSONSDEGESTE
SETSONAPEDESTAL

Any crossword with a "quad-stack" is impressive, and this one has two. Amazing! On the downside, MEAT at 50D duplicates part of 1A, and ODE (21A) really shouldn't appear in the same puzzle as ODIST (47D). But I clued the short words carefully. And overall the construction was too nice not to say yes to.

Sat 10/26/2013
PIZZACRUSTBLAB
ARIONASSISFORA
CIPHERTEXTFORT
ASSAMDARKKIT
NOGOMANCAVE
PSANOONPELTER
HOCKEYMOMWETLY
OLENAPLUSAHAB
NATALHOTPOTATO
ERICASSECTTEX
BACKLITDATA
ORAANONOLDIE
ORCABROODMARES
TAILITALIANART
HYDENAMESNAMES

Lots of nice vocabulary here. Besides 1A, my favorite entries are CIPHERTEXT, MAN CAVE, HOCKEY MOM, HOT POTATO, LOOK AT THAT, BATTERY BOX, and PHONE BOOTH. In fact, all the corners are pretty handsome.

Sun 10/27/2013 WHO'S LEFT?
PCBOARDATCAMPSALADS
COULTERNEUTERENAMEL
THREECARGARAGEMONICA
EGOWOESWRINGDRY
PRELIMPREPOWESEE
LESEMAJESTEPIXELATED
YRSMCAYEEXIS
LOEWECONCRETEPUMP
SWARDLSATSELOSPEE
AWAITSMORESTOLIHAS
FAIRAMOUNTHARASSMENT
TNTLANNYMATINAIRES
REEKHIDHIREEBONER
AERIALCOMBATSNEAK
EYEOOOFROCSI
ONAVERAGEWIDELYKNOWN
YESBUSSMEELIANES
SPACEJAMBALEPGA
TAMALEBALLETSLIPPERS
ELAPSEOHYEAHADMIRAL
RINSERSLEETSLOSESTO
Mon 10/28/2013
HIDAGEGAPOHME
AMOROCOCOMICA
WHEREOHWHEREHAS
KOREAONOAGONY
GMCSONIA
REGALEINSPOT
OEDIPUSREXEWE
RAGESTAGPLENA
ETERANGEROVER
MADMAXSEEPED
ELSIECSI
ALERODVRANDUP
MYLITTLEDOGGONE
FRATAERATEOTS
MELSTRYSTSMOO

Ed packed his grid with a lot of theme material, and the 17A/62A combo is inspired. The construction is pretty solid, too, especially considering all the constraints.

Tue 10/29/2013
ASTRAEIDERCAB
LIRASLDOPAOVI
AGASPFIREPOWER
WHITESMOKEPERT
STAREATBERTH
STNODIN
SPICESBIRDBATH
EACHHOUSEALSO
CLEANOUTAIRBAG
NOTIPMS
ACINGTROOPER
WANEGREENLIGHT
FULLCOURTAERIE
USAAGENTTREND
LEWMOSSYESTES

I have to give Robert Cirillo kudos. Sometime after I'd accepted and filed his HOUSE puzzle, he grew unsatisfied with the construction and sent me a whole new version ... that was better. I admire that.

Wed 10/30/2013
CAWSPRYPUSHIT
AVEYOYOESPANA
RIASWEDISHFISH
LASSBASTERPI
STEAMERBORODIN
JELLYBEANSNORI
RDSBOASCASES
CANDYCORN
STRADEAVEEGG
TWINHOTTAMALES
POSTMANELEMENT
ETSABZUGAVER
TOOTSIEROLLARI
ENLISTGRIPTIN
REESESEYESECG

As with most of Joel's puzzles, this one has a super-tight theme and a very clean construction. Almost all the clues are his, too.

POW Thu 10/31/2013
WOLFMANNAMFLOW
INUTEROARIGATO
MONSTERRETSNOM
PREMIUMNATDEB
IMPMISER
SKATEVIANOTSO
LOCHJARJSBACH
OATATRIACAY
GLOSSYORBEINE
SARAHARKPUTTS
DIALSSAG
ACCABUINSECTS
PHANTOMMOTNAHP
EASESINSWEEPEA
DRACULA

This is probably my favorite daily puzzle of the week. The trick at 65A is downright mean!

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