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Puzzles for October, 2014
with Editor comments

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Constructor (29)Editor (21)Jeff Chen (31)Jim Horne (3)Hide comments

Wed 10/1/2014
A	B	O	W		P	R	O	M			S	T	U	D
N	E	V	A		L	I	N	U	S		T	O	N	E
G	R	A	N	D	O	P	E	R	A		R	I	M	S
E	N	T	E	R			B	R	U	C	E	L	E	E
L	I	I		A	V	O	C	A	D	O	P	E	A	R
I	N	O	R	B	I	T		Y	I	N		T	N	T
C	I	N	E		C	O	O			D	U	S	T
			P	R	I	E	D	O	P	E	N
	I	P	S	O			D	N	A		T	B	S	P
O	S	A		B	A	T		U	N	C	O	U	T	H
W	A	L	D	O	P	E	P	P	E	R		Y	E	A
L	I	M	E	T	R	E	E			E	A	S	E	S
I	D	O	L		I	N	S	I	D	E	D	O	P	E
S	N	I	T		L	E	T	M	E		A	U	E	R
H	O	L	A			R	O	P	E		M	T	N	S

Generally I maintain two to 15 months of inventory of crosswords, depending on the day of the week. This puzzle, unusually, was accepted three years ago. I held it for so long partly because its theme is of a type that's become overly common, and I like to space out examples. But, also, as the standards for acceptance have risen over the years, grids that passed muster in 2011 might not do so today. Liz's original grid had a number of unappealing entries — RCPT, TASM, ENA, I IS, S DAK, and DELPY — which increasingly put me off. They're all gone now, and I think the result is pretty smooth.

– puzzle by Elizabeth C. Gorski

POW Thu 10/2/2014
S	M	U	T		F	I	S	T			N	A	S	H
W	I	N	O		I	N	C	A		M	O	L	T	O
I	N	K	S		L	U	A	U		A	B	B	A	S
E	I	N	S	T	E	I	N		C	O	E	A	S	T
A	M	O		O	A	T		R	O	I	L
P	A	T	R	O	N		B	A	D	S	P	O	R	T
			E	L	O	V	I	N		M	R	S	U	N
P	A	L	L		N	A	R	C	O		I	S	N	T
I	L	I	A	C		S	C	H	U	L	Z
P	L	U	T	A	R	C	H		T	O	E	A	T	S
			I	N	T	O		A	B	C		S	H	U
C	A	N	V	A	S		E	Q	U	A	T	I	O	N
O	N	A	I	R		A	J	A	R		H	A	R	D
P	A	S	T	Y		L	O	B	S		A	G	A	R
S	L	A	Y			A	B	A	T		R	O	X	Y

Did you notice in this puzzle that the constructor completely avoided the letter E outside of the theme answers? That's very elegant. E really does equal MC squared here, and nothing else.

– puzzle by David Woolf

Fri 10/3/2014
A	R	S	O	N	I	S	T	S		D	C	C	A	B
N	O	T	S	O	F	A	S	T		E	A	R	L	E
G	O	A	T	R	O	D	E	O		A	L	A	R	M
L	T	D		I	L	L	T	R	A	D	E	Y	O	U
E	R	I	N		D	O	S	E	S		B	O	S	S
R	O	U	E	N		T	E	S	T	Y		L	E	E
S	T	M	A	R	K		S	U	R	E	H	A	N	D
			M	O	H	S		P	O	N	E
D	I	M	E	T	A	P	P		S	T	A	S	I	S
U	N	O		C	L	A	R	O		E	R	N	S	T
N	A	P	A		I	C	O	N	S		T	A	D	A
A	L	P	H	A	F	E	M	A	L	E		R	U	S
W	I	E	S	T		B	O	J	A	N	G	L	E	S
A	N	T	I	C		A	T	A	N	Y	R	A	T	E
Y	E	S	N	O		R	E	G	G	A	E	T	O	N

Curiously, only 1%-2% of themeless submissions I receive at the Times come from female constructors. The genre is almost entirely handled by men. No one knows why. I think it's healthy to have diversity, though, in all ways, and I welcome more female-constructed themelesses. It's unlikely a male constructor would have used the fresh and lively ALPHA FEMALE (55A) as a seed, which is a perfect example of why diversity is a good thing.

– puzzle by Tracy Bennett

Sat 10/4/2014
B	R	O	M	A	N	C	E		R	I	B	A	L	D
E	A	S	Y	P	O	U	R		E	C	O	C	A	R
N	T	H	P	O	W	E	R		L	A	O	T	Z	U
T	E	A	R	G	A	S		D	I	N	K	I	E	R
			E	E	R		D	U	G			I	D	Y
S	A	U	C	E		V	A	R	I	E	D
A	G	N	I		M	A	R	I	O	N	E	T	T	E
G	O	T	O	R	A	C	K	A	N	D	R	U	I	N
A	B	O	U	T	T	U	R	N	S		N	E	M	O
			S	E	R	I	E	S		W	I	S	E	S
R	I	B			I	T	D		S	H	E
A	S	A	G	R	A	Y		S	T	I	R	R	E	R
M	I	D	A	I	R		D	I	E	T	C	O	K	E
B	A	L	Z	A	C		A	N	N	E	R	I	C	E
O	H	Y	E	A	H		G	E	T	R	I	D	O	F

Sun 10/5/2014 TIMBER!
B	B	S		R	I	S	Q	U	E		T	I	P	P		P	A	Y	I	N
R	A	T		I	N	T	U	R	N		O	N	C	E		A	M	O	R	E
I	N	I		A	S	E	A	S	Y	A	S	A	B	C		S	O	U	R	S
E	T	H	E		P	E	R	I	O	D	S		S	A	N	S	K	R	I	T
F	U	L	L	T	I	L	T			F	A	T		N	O	E		E	T	S
			M	E	R	T	Z		S	E	W	U	P		P	L	A	N	A
M	M	I		A	I	R		S	T	E	A	L	E	R		S	P	O	T	S
D	E	T	E	S	T	A	B	L	E		Y	I	E	L	D		U	T	I	L
S	W	A	L	E		P	R	A	N	C		P	R	E	S	O		K	O	A
E	L	L	A				A	N	G	E	R			S	O	A	P	I	N	G
		I	N	F		C	S	T	U	D	E	N	T	S		K	E	D
O	B	A	D	I	A	H			N	A	B	O	O				P	D	A	S
Z	I	N		R	M	A	R	Y		R	O	U	N	D		C	S	I	N	Y
M	E	S	S		P	S	H	A	W		O	N	I	O	N	R	I	N	G	S
A	N	T	E	S		T	O	P	H	A	T	S		J	O	E		G	E	T
	N	A	C	H	O		S	A	I	L	S		B	U	R	M	A
A	I	L		I	M	P		T	Z	E			A	S	S	E	S	S	E	D
S	A	L	M	I	N	E	O		B	A	T	I	S	T	E		H	A	V	E
E	L	I	O	T		A	H	E	A	D	O	F	T	I	M	E		Y	A	M
E	L	O	P	E		C	H	I	N		O	N	E	C	A	R		I	D	O
D	Y	N	E	S		H	I	N	G		L	O	R	E	N	A		T	E	N

POW Mon 10/6/2014
B	S	A		O	B	O	E		I	S	A	A	C
O	A	S		N	E	T	S		M	O	R	P	H	S
L	Y	I	N	E	Y	E	S		P	R	O	P	E	L
T	H	A	I		O	R	E	S		B	A	L	M	Y
S	I	N	G	I	N	I	N	T	H	E	R	A	I	N
			E	T	D			R	O	T		U	S	E
	H	E	R	E		A	P	A	R			D	T	S
R	E	X		M	I	S	S	I	N	G		E	R	S
A	R	C			W	H	I	T		E	D	D	Y
M	C	I		G	O	T			S	R	A
P	U	T	T	I	N	O	N	T	H	E	R	I	T	Z
A	L	A	R	M		N	Y	R	O		I	N	R	E
R	E	B	E	L	S		M	O	V	I	N	O	U	T
T	A	L	K	E	R		E	V	E	R		I	M	A
	N	E	S	T	S		T	E	D	S		L	P	S

Tue 10/7/2014
R	I	G		C	L	I	M	B		S	A	L	U	D
A	A	R		E	E	L	E	R		A	T	O	N	E
N	C	O		R	A	I	S	E		U	T	T	E	R
D	O	W	N	T	H	E	H	A	T	C	H
A	C	T	I					K	E	Y	E	D	U	P
L	C	H	A	I	M		S	T	A		T	O	F	U
L	A	S		P	E	S	C	I		L	O	G	O	N
			B	O	T	T	O	M	S	U	P
B	R	O	O	D		A	R	E	A	S		P	E	A
A	E	R	O		C	N	N		C	H	E	E	R	S
G	O	E	S	M	A	D					S	L	I	P
			T	O	Y	O	U	R	H	E	A	L	T	H
A	L	I	E	N		U	N	I	O	N		E	R	A
G	E	N	R	E		T	I	P	P	I		T	E	L
T	O	A	S	T		S	T	E	E	D		S	A	T

I hope I didn't stretch this puzzle's theme conceit too far, as L'CHAIM (28A) would be an odd thing to exclaim at an Oktoberfest. But at least the theme is timely!

– puzzle by Matt Skoczen and Victor Fleming

Wed 10/8/2014
R	A	M		I	C	E	T		S	T	A	T	S
U	S	A		D	A	Z	E		O	H	T	H	A	T
B	A	N		E	R	I	N		T	R	U	E	T	O
I	D	I	O	M		N	C	O		I	N	D	E	X
K	A	F	K	A		E	O	N		L	E	E
		E	R	N	E		M	E	A	L		S	R	I
A	S	S	A	D	S		M	O	N	A		C	A	B
J	O	T		A	S	H	A	N	T	I		E	V	E
A	N	D		R	E	I	N		I	N	O	N	I	T
R	Y	E		E	S	T	D		S	M	U	T
		S	A	C		U	M	P		A	T	O	M	S
T	U	T	T	O		P	E	R		N	A	F	T	A
S	T	I	R	U	P		N	E	H	I		M	I	X
P	A	N	I	N	I		T	O	I	L		A	D	E
	H	Y	A	T	T		S	P	C	A		N	A	S

Thu 10/9/2014
C	A	S	H		J	E	A	N			C	A	P	E
R	A	T	E		A	M	I	E		P	O	W	E	R
O	B	A	M	A	C	A	R	E		L	D	O	P	A
P	A	R	A	S	K	I		T	R	A		K	P	S
				C	E	L	T		O	N	E	E	Y	E
C	A	R	R	O	T		W	Y	A	T	T
A	B	E	E	T		F	E	E	L		Y	O	L	K
K	E	N	T		B	R	E	A	D		M	P	A	A
E	D	D	Y		O	E	D	S		S	O	U	T	H
			P	I	X	E	L		B	U	N	S	E	N
F	R	E	E	Z	E		E	H	U	D
R	O	B		O	S	U		A	R	A	P	A	H	O
A	V	O	I	D		S	K	I	N	N	Y	D	I	P
M	E	N	D	S		P	I	K	E		R	A	K	E
E	D	Y	S			S	P	U	R		O	M	E	N

As far as I can remember this is the fourth "uniclue"-type crossword I've run in the Times. That's one in which all the clues (in the print edition anyway) appear in a single list, combining Across and Down. When two answers share a number, they also share a clue. The previous three times I did this are listed on XWord Info's latest summary page. The theme of Joel's puzzle today is similar to John's, but with 10 examples rather than seven, and some of them intersecting. Very elegant.

– puzzle by Joel Fagliano

Fri 10/10/2014
		F	R	E	E	W	A	Y			D	E	A	D
	P	L	E	A	S	E	D	O		P	A	N	T	Y
T	R	O	U	S	S	E	A	U		A	R	I	S	E
R	O	A	S	T	E	D		C	R	U	I	S	E	R
O	P	T	I	O	N		C	H	O	C	U	L	A
U	M	I	N	N		C	H	E	M	I	S	E
P	A	N	G		C	H	I	A	N	T	I
E	N	G		C	H	A	N	T	E	Y		R	D	S
			C	H	U	T	N	E	Y		B	E	E	T
		C	H	A	R	T	E	D		P	R	I	M	A
	C	H	A	R	R	E	D		M	O	A	N	E	D
W	A	R	R	I	O	R		B	A	L	I	H	A	I
A	P	O	L	O		B	A	R	C	E	L	O	N	A
C	O	M	E	T		O	V	E	R	A	L	L	S
O	N	E	S			X	E	R	O	X	E	D

Do you like the "stairstep" of CH- answers running through the middle of the grid? David's construction is very handsome, but I worry that the CH- pattern makes the puzzle a little too predictable.

– puzzle by David Steinberg

Sat 10/11/2014
A	T	W	H	O	L	E	S	A	L	E		S	O	D
B	R	E	A	K	I	N	G	B	A	D		E	P	A
B	A	B	Y	S	I	T	T	E	R	S		M	E	W
E	V	E	S			E	S	T	E	E	M	I	N	G
Y	E	R		W	A	R			D	L	I	S	T
			S	O	C		E	C	O		S	W	A	B
A	F	T	E	R	M	A	T	H		S	H	E	B	A
G	R	E	A	S	E	T	H	E	W	H	E	E	L	S
H	O	R	S	E		M	A	T	U	R	A	T	E	S
A	G	R	A		T	E	N		S	E	R
	M	A	L	T	A			T	S	K		K	I	P
B	A	R	T	E	N	D	E	R			T	A	R	A
A	R	I		A	D	I	M	E	A	D	O	Z	E	N
I	C	U		K	E	V	I	N	D	U	R	A	N	T
O	H	M		S	M	A	R	T	P	H	O	N	E	S

Sun 10/12/2014 INNER WORKINGS
R	A	W	D	E	A	L		W	A	T	U	S	I		C	A	L	A	I	S
I	N	H	A	S	T	E		A	M	I	N	O	R		O	V	E	R	D	O
C	O	A	L	C	A	N	A	R	Y	M	I	N	E		N	E	A	T	E	N
E	N	T			R	I	N	D			T	A	P	A	S		T	O	A	D
			R	O	U	N	D	S	Q	U	A	R	E	P	E	G	H	O	L	E
M	C	L	E	A	N				U	P	S		A	T	R	E	E
A	L	A	C	K		R	E	L	I	T		M	T	E	V	E	R	E	S	T
C	A	N	D	Y	K	I	D	S	T	O	R	E		S	E	S		A	A	H
A	S	A			A	V	I	D			E	R	A	T			A	R	G	O
W	H	I	T	E	H	A	T		S	A	W	I	N		R	A	P	P	E	R
			M	I	L	L	I	O	N	N	O	T	Y	E	A	R	S
N	A	G	A	N	O		O	R	I	O	N		T	R	I	F	E	C	T	A
E	R	I	N			S	N	A	P			P	I	U	S			O	O	N
R	E	F		C	P	O		T	E	A	T	E	M	P	E	S	T	P	O	T
F	A	T	C	H	A	N	C	E		B	E	R	E	T		O	E	S	T	E
			A	U	R	A	L		R	E	A				O	B	S	E	S	S
H	A	N	D	G	O	T	O	H	E	L	L	B	A	S	K	E	T
A	M	A	D		D	A	T	E	D			E	D	I	E			N	U	S
R	A	P	I	N	I		H	A	Y	N	E	E	D	L	E	S	T	A	C	K
S	T	E	E	R	S		E	V	E	N	U	P		O	F	F	E	N	S	E
H	I	S	S	A	T		S	E	D	E	R	S		S	E	C	L	U	D	E

This puzzle has an interesting history. Pawel and I went back and forth on the theme many times, as he progressively refined the idea and got better examples. In the end I thought it turned out great — very tight, with all familiar, lively phrases. He constructed the grid, I edited it, the puzzle-testers did their thing, etc. And after the puzzle went to the Times and was all set to be published ... I learned from a solver who got an advance copy that I ran a puzzle with the same theme, using two-and-a-half of the same theme entries, three years ago. :-(

Well, at least I'm consistent in what I like!

It's still a fine puzzle, with an expanded theme (Sunday-size rather than daily), and a solid construction besides. Still worth doing, I think, despite the accidental theme duplication. I hope you agree.

– puzzle by Pawel Fludzinski

POW Mon 10/13/2014
P	O	R	S	C	H	E		S	P	A	C	E	L	Y
C	R	O	Q	U	E	T		C	A	N	A	S	T	A
S	E	C	U	R	E	D		O	N	E	T	E	R	M
			A	L	L		G	N	A	W	S
P	S	A	T	S		L	A	C	Y		C	A	R	S
A	N	D	S		C	O	M	E		V	A	L	E	T
N	O	D		S	A	K	E		G	E	N	E	V	A
D	O	S		T	W	I	S	T	E	R		R	E	T
O	K	A	P	I	S		E	E	L	Y		T	R	I
R	E	L	A	X		T	V	A	D		A	L	S	O
A	R	T	S		C	H	E	R		K	E	Y	I	N
			S	A	L	O	N		H	E	R
C	H	E	A	T	E	R		H	E	R	O	I	C	S
H	A	N	G	M	A	N		M	A	R	B	L	E	S
I	N	V	E	S	T	S		S	P	I	E	S	O	N

I've been saving this puzzle for about a year, to run around the time of the baseball playoffs and the World Series. The double nature of the theme — that the grid contains seven games and they're all seven letters long — is what sold me on this. Simple and elegant, with a funny reveal, perfect for a Monday.

– puzzle by Greg Johnson

Tue 10/14/2014
S	C	A	B		C	H	E	S	T		G	I	V	E
L	A	R	A		L	E	V	E	R		A	W	A	Y
O	P	E	N		O	H	A	R	E		B	O	N	E
T	R	A	D	E	S	E	C	R	E	T	S
H	A	S	S	L	E			A	T	A		B	A	A
			T	O	U	G	H		O	C	H	E	R	S
L	A	V	A		P	L	O	T	P	O	I	N	T	S
A	M	A	N	A		I	R	E		S	T	J	O	E
H	A	N	D	L	E	B	A	R	S		T	I	O	S
T	I	N	S	E	L		S	M	U	S	H
I	N	A		R	E	S			B	R	E	N	D	A
			C	O	V	E	R	S	T	O	R	I	E	S
A	L	V	A		A	D	O	P	E		O	T	I	S
D	O	W	N		T	E	L	E	X		O	R	C	A
E	A	S	T		E	R	E	C	T		F	E	E	D

Wed 10/15/2014
S	T	A	B		D	O	C	K	S		D	I	L	L
C	O	S	I		Y	A	H	O	O		E	L	O	I
H	U	C	K	L	E	F	I	N	N		C	L	O	T
I	C	R	I	E	D			R	E	A	L	I	S	T
R	H	I	N	E		M	B	A		P	A	N	E	L
R	U	B	I	K		E	L	D	E	R	W	I	N	E
A	P	E			B	O	A		T	O	E
		S	T	R	A	W	B	L	O	N	D	E
			Y	U	L		B	E	N			A	B	A
R	A	S	P	B	E	R	E	T		A	A	R	O	N
A	I	M	E	E		E	D	S		H	E	L	L	O
P	R	E	S	S	E	D			S	A	G	G	E	D
I	S	L	E		C	H	U	C	K	B	E	R	R	Y
D	E	L	T		H	O	K	E	Y		A	E	O	N
S	A	Y	S		O	T	R	O	S		N	Y	S	E

I don't usually run puzzles in which the mutilated theme answers don't themselves make sense. But the reveal to this one was so charming, and the mutilations so clear, I made an exception.

– puzzle by David Poole

Thu 10/16/2014
C	A	L	A	I	S		N	U	D	E		T	R	E
A	L	U	M	N	A		E	P	I	C	U	R	E	S
M	E	N	T	A	L		W	H	O	O	P	I	E	S
S	C	A	R	L	E	T	T	E	R		A	P	S	E
			A	L	M	A		L	S	D		L	E	X
L	I	C	K			W	M	D		E	V	E
A	D	O		C	A	N	E		F	R	A	P	P	E
P	E	R	C	Y	B	Y	S	S	H	E	L	L	E	Y
D	A	N	U	B	E		S	T	A	G		A	P	E
		U	T	E		N	Y	E			B	Y	E	S
Z	A	C		R	B	I		E	S	A	U
A	W	O	L		L	A	N	D	O	N	O	V	A	N
P	A	P	A	L	A	C	E		L	O	Y	O	L	A
P	R	I	M	E	R	I	B		A	D	U	L	T	S
A	D	A		D	E	N	S		R	E	P	E	A	T

John's manuscript had the overlapping three-letter parts indicated by circles. I thought that made the puzzle too easy. Anyway, I'm always in need of fresh Thursday-ish gimmicks, so the circles are gone, and — voilà — a Thursday!

– puzzle by John Farmer

Fri 10/17/2014
M	O	B	I	L	E	A	P	P		W	A	I	T	E
O	N	O	N	E	S	W	A	Y		A	M	A	H	L
S	E	E	N	I	T	A	L	L		D	O	M	E	D
T	A	R			A	G	E	E		D	R	A	K	E
			B	A	T			S	A	L	A	M	I	S
S	T	R	O	B	E	S			R	E	L	E	N	T
T	H	I	N	A	S	A	R	E	E	D		R	G	S
R	E	T	D			M	A	R			F	I	D	O
U	M	A		F	A	S	H	I	O	N	I	C	O	N
C	O	M	S	A	T			S	T	R	E	A	M	S
K	N	O	T	T	E	D			R	A	F
D	I	R	A	C		Y	O	G	A			D	D	T
U	T	E	R	I		A	L	A	N	M	O	O	R	E
M	O	N	E	T		D	I	E	T	S	O	D	A	S
B	R	O	D	Y		S	O	L	O	S	H	O	T	S

Sat 10/18/2014
M	E	S	S	K	I	T	S		C	R	O	T	C	H
A	G	E	L	I	M	I	T		L	A	U	R	I	E
N	O	S	E	C	O	N	E		A	S	T	U	T	E
	S	E	E	K		A	P	P	S		S	T	E	P
			P	S	Y	C	H	O	P	A	T	H
A	W	L		T	U	T	E	E		U	R	I	A	H
V	I	A		A	M	I	N		S	T	I	N	G	O
A	L	S	O	R	A	N		C	O	O	P	E	R	S
S	C	E	N	T	S		C	A	L	C		S	E	E
T	O	R	T	E		R	O	L	E	O		S	E	A
		D	I	R	T	Y	H	A	R	R	Y
C	R	I	P		T	E	E	M		R	A	F	A
H	U	S	T	L	E		R	A	R	E	B	I	R	D
A	S	C	O	T	S		E	R	I	C	B	A	N	A
D	E	S	E	R	T		D	I	C	T	A	T	E	D

Evan's handsome construction today has quite a few names, some of them uncommon, which is always cause for concern — especially when they're in the same area, and especially especially when they cross. LAURIE (16A) crossing RAS (10D) may give some solvers pause, but I think "A" at the intersection is the most likely letter to guess. I also worried about SOLER (35D) crossing the difficult STINGO and ROLEO. Evan's clue for SOLER was "Baroque composer Padre Antonio __," who, I have to admit, I'm not familiar with. So I changed this to something more inferable, even if it's rare. Overall Evan writes excellent clues. The ones here for 15A, 36A, 43A, 4D, 12D, and 28D are all his.

– puzzle by Evan Birnholz

Sun 10/19/2014 WHY NOT?
B	U	T	T	E	D		G	R	I	L	L	S		S	H	A	R	I	F	S
O	N	R	I	C	E		R	E	D	D	I	T		G	A	L	A	T	E	A
O	E	U	V	R	E		I	D	O	L	S	O	F	T	H	E	K	I	N	G
H	A	S	O	U	T		E	S	S		A	O	L			K	I	N	D	A
I	R	T				A	V	E				G	E	M		E	S	A	I
S	T	E	T		C	L	E	A	R	T	H	E	W	E	I	G	H
S	H	E	C	R	A	B			E	M	O		O	W	N			C	R	O
		S	U	N	D	A	E	B	E	S	T		U	L	T	R	A	H	I	P
U	N	I		S	E	N	D	A	K		P	E	T		R	E	S	A	V	E
P	A	D	S		T	E	N	D		T	O	T		T	O	L	K	I	E	N
S	T	E	P	S		S	A	R	I	S	T	A	T	E		O	E	S	T	E
T	A	K	E	O	N	E		A	C	E		L	A	N	D		D	E	E	R
A	L	I	C	I	A		A	P	E		T	I	L	D	E	S		R	D	A
R	I	C	K	R	O	L	L		D	E	V	I	L	R	A	I	S	E
T	E	K			M	O	L		I	N	A			I	N	C	U	B	U	S
			G	U	I	S	E	A	N	D	D	O	L	L	S		V	E	N	I
	I	T	L	L		E	G	G				S	O	S				L	I	Z
O	D	O	U	L			E	O	N		A	B	A		S	H	U	L	T	Z
N	O	R	I	M	E	O	R	R	E	A	S	O	N		A	E	R	I	A	L
E	N	S	N	A	R	L		A	S	P	I	R	E		A	L	G	O	R	E
D	E	I	G	N	E	D		S	T	R	A	N	D		B	L	E	N	D	S

An unusual theme today that took me awhile to wrap my head around — puns involving homophones of words containing the letter Y. The Y's are all gone. Usually themes are based on what's in the grid, not what's not. But once you get it, the result is nice, and the puzzle has a perfect, explanatory title. I also like David's elegant touch of avoiding Y's anywhere in the grid, not just in the theme answers.

– puzzle by David Phillips

Mon 10/20/2014 A SIGN OF THE TIMES
G	A	D		B	R	O		M	G	M		T	S	P
A	P	E		L	E	T		O	U	I		A	P	U
S	P	L	I	T	S	E	C	O	N	D		X	E	R
		E	N	S	U	R	E			L	I	T	E	S
T	O	G	A		M	I	N	U	T	E	R	I	C	E
H	U	A	R	T	E			S	E	R	A	P	H	S
A	C	T	O	R		S	P	A	N
T	H	E	W	I	T	C	H	I	N	G	H	O	U	R
					H	A	I	R		L	A	P	S	E
O	P	T	I	C	A	L			C	O	R	P	S	E
D	A	Y	T	R	I	P	P	E	R		L	O	R	D
E	L	R	O	Y			O	R	E	G	O	N
S	E	A		P	A	S	S	I	O	N	W	E	E	K
S	S	N		T	O	P		C	L	U		N	Y	E
A	T	T		S	K	Y		H	E	S		T	E	N

Every autumn since 2008 I've run either a themed puzzle week or a Sunday puzzle contest in the Times. In 2008 it was a week of daily crosswords constructed by teens. The following years were, successively, crosswords by Times contributors for 50+ years, members of the Brown University crossword club, all-Patrick Berry, and Sunday crossword contests by Caleb Rasmussen and Mike Selinker.

This year I've returned to the 2011 format with a whole week of daily puzzles constructed by one of the greats of crosswording, Patrick Blindauer. The first five puzzles, Monday to Friday, look like normal crosswords. As the instructions explain, though, they contain the start of a hidden message. The Saturday puzzle completes the message and has cryptic instructions for finding it.

Can the hidden message be identified before the Saturday puzzle is published? I'd be astonished. But then I've been astonished by Times solvers many times before, so we'll see.

BTW, the contest prizes this year have been upgraded to 20 one-year subscriptions to the online Times crossword. These prizes are nice, but (as you'll notice) still modest. Federal and state laws don't allow large prizes for contests that involve any significant element of luck, which this one does. You have to be lucky to be randomly selected from those who submit correct answers.

Still, it's really the fun of the event that's important. Also, if you win, you get your name in Wordplay next Friday.

Happy solving ... and good luck!

– puzzle by Patrick Blindauer

Tue 10/21/2014 A SIGN OF THE TIMES
R	E	M	I	X		D	I	G	S		M	A	R	X
E	L	I	S	A		I	R	O	N		O	P	E	R
H	I	G	H	C		N	A	N	A		S	A	G	A
M	A	R	A	T	H	O	N	E	R	S	S	T	A	T
		A	L	O	U	S		R	E	Q		O	L	E
N	A	T	L		M	A	S	S		U	N	W	E	D
A	D	O		O	V	U	M		S	E	P
P	A	R	T	N	E	R	O	F	W	A	R	N	E	R
			O	R	E		T	R	E	K		A	V	A
S	I	G	M	A		R	E	I	D		S	V	E	N
A	P	U		M	P	H		J	E	T	T	Y
W	H	A	T	P	R	I	S	O	N	E	R	S	D	O
Y	O	R	E		A	N	A	L		T	I	E	U	P
E	N	D	S		D	O	L	E		E	V	A	D	E
R	E	S	T		A	S	K	S		S	E	L	E	S

(see my Note from Monday)

– puzzle by Patrick Blindauer

Wed 10/22/2014 A SIGN OF THE TIMES
G	I	L		T	A	D		F	A	T		O	M	S
O	B	E		S	P	I	N	A	C	H		X	O	O
P	E	E	K	A	B	O	O	I	S	E	E	Y	O	U
F	R	A	U			X	E	R			A	G	I	N
F	I	N	N	S		I	L	E	R		S	E	N	D
T	A	N	G	O	E	D		S	A	Y	I	N	G	S
			F	A	C	E		T	I	M	E
U	N	C	U	R	L				S	C	R	O	L	L
S	E	A		S	A	N	G	R	I	A		N	A	E
A	W	R	Y		T	I	M	O	N		C	E	N	T
	S	L	U	M		P	O	T		C	A	L	C
A	R	O	M	A	S				P	O	N	I	E	S
F	O	R	Y	O	U	R	E	Y	E	S	O	N	L	Y
T	O	F	U		M	O	N	E	T		L	E	O	N
A	M	F	M		O	Z	O	N	E		A	R	T	E

(see my Note from Monday)

– puzzle by Patrick Blindauer

Thu 10/23/2014 A SIGN OF THE TIMES
C	H	A	R	G	E		S	A	S	H	I	M	I	S
O	U	T	E	A	T		E	M	P	A	N	A	D	A
A	L	T	I	M	A		M	O	R	T	I	M	E	R
X	K	E		E	L	M		R	U	E		E	S	A
		M	I	T		O	V	E	N	M	I	T	T	S
O	H	P	L	E	A	S	E		G	A	B
R	I	T	E		M	E	R	V		I	N	B	E	D
C	H	E		D	A	Y	S	A	I	L		A	V	E
S	O	D	O	I		S	A	N	S		I	S	E	E
			B	A	T		C	I	T	A	D	E	L	S
I	N	T	I	M	A	T	E	S		T	I	M
D	O	E		E	O	E		H	I	E		E	E	L
L	I	M	I	T	I	N	G		D	M	I	T	R	I
E	S	P	R	E	S	S	O		O	P	I	A	T	E
D	E	S	E	R	T	E	D		S	O	I	L	E	D

(see my Note from Monday)

– puzzle by Patrick Blindauer

Fri 10/24/2014 A SIGN OF THE TIMES
O	R	A	L	E	X	A	M	S		C	R	A	S	S
R	E	D	C	A	R	P	E	T		Z	I	P	U	P
G	R	A	D	U	A	T	E	D		A	T	A	R	I
C	O	M	S		Y	E	T		X	R	A	T	E	D
H	U	B		A	S	S	E	N	T	S		H	O	E
A	T	E	S	T		T	R	E	E		S	Y	F	Y
R	E	D	E	E	M		S	E	R	T	A
T	S	E	L	I	O	T		T	R	O	U	P	E	S
			E	N	N	I	S		A	N	D	A	L	E
J	A	W	S		I	N	K	S		T	I	M	I	D
U	Z	O		L	E	T	I	T	G	O		P	T	A
L	A	N	C	E	S		S	E	A		F	L	I	T
E	L	T	O	N		T	U	R	N	L	O	O	S	E
P	E	O	N	Y		G	I	N	J	O	I	N	T	S
S	A	N	K	A		I	T	S	A	B	L	A	S	T

(see my Note from Monday)

– puzzle by Patrick Blindauer

Sat 10/25/2014 A SIGN OF THE TIMES
T	R	A	P		M	M	X	L		X	T	I	N	A
R	A	R	E		A	I	D	E		M	O	R	E	S
I	N	T	R	A	N	S	I	T		A	M	E	N	S
X	I	S		L	I	O	N	S		R	E	N	E	E
			C	P	A	S		P	O	K	I	E	S	T
S	T	R	O	H	S		O	A	T	S
K	U	A	L	A		I	R	R	I	T	A	T	E	S
I	D	I	D	N	T	C	A	T	C	H	T	H	A	T
S	E	N	S	U	A	L	L	Y		E	R	A	S	E
				M	O	A	B		B	S	I	D	E	S
P	I	E	J	E	S	U		P	E	P	A
A	N	D	O	R		D	R	A	N	O		O	E	R
R	A	D	I	I		I	O	N	S	T	O	R	M	S
E	P	I	S	C		U	P	D	O		A	C	T	V
S	T	E	T	S		S	E	A	N		R	A	S	P

(see my Note from Monday)

– puzzle by Patrick Blindauer

Sun 10/26/2014 Winners' Circle
	S	C	H	L	U	B	S		S	A	L	S	A	S				A	L	I
P	L	A	Y	A	R	E	A		C	C	L	A	M	P		A	C	O	I	N
H	E	R	D	U	L	E	S		H	H	C	T	O	R		I	R	R	E	G
S	W	O	R	N		P	E	P	S	I		I	N	A	T	R	E	E
	S	L	A	C	K	E	S	T		L	E	N	G	T	H		S	M	O	G
				H	E	R		B	E	L	A				E	S	C	A	R	P
J	A	S	P	E	R			O	P	E	R	A		S	P	L	E	N	D	A
A	C	T	O	R		G	L	A	S	S		B	A	T	M	A	N
C	H	A	N		C	O	A	T	I			B	I	E	N		T	R	A	P
K	I	N	G	K	O	N	G		L	E	G	A	L	A	G	E		A	R	I
P	E	Z		F	E	Z		F	O	T	O	S		M	U	D		T	I	A
O	V	A		C	R	I	M	I	N	A	L		A	C	I	D	J	A	Z	Z
T	E	S	T		C	L	A	N			I	S	M	A	N		A	T	O	Z
			O	T	I	L	D	E		B	A	U	E	R		D	I	A	N	A
K	E	D	R	O	V	A		D	A	V	I	D			D	E	L	T	A	S
P	L	A	T	T	E				H	I	H	O		T	I	E
H	A	R	O		L	O	C	C	I	T		K	A	S	P	P	R	O	V
		L	I	L	Y	P	A	D		A	M	U	S	E		B	A	S	I	L
R	A	I	S	E		I	N	R	O	M	E		S	T	A	L	B	A	N	S
A	N	N	E	X		U	T	O	P	I	A		A	S	S	U	A	G	E	D
W	I	G				M	O	M	E	N	T		D	E	L	E	T	E	S

Mon 10/27/2014
A	C	M	E	S		A	N	N	A		J	O	T	S
Q	U	O	T	A		P	I	E	R		O	K	R	A
U	R	B	A	N		A	C	R	E		R	A	I	L
A	B	S		D	I	C	K	V	A	N	D	Y	K	E
			T	A	L	E	S	E		O	A	S	E	S
R	E	F	I	L	L			C	A	I	N
O	V	E	N			P	O	E	T	S		S	T	P
D	E	A	T	H	V	A	L	L	E	Y	D	A	Y	S
E	R	R		I	M	P	E	L			A	P	P	S
			A	R	I	A			O	U	T	S	E	T
M	E	A	D	E		J	E	A	N	N	E
D	V	D	R	E	C	O	R	D	E	R		L	O	U
L	A	V	A		O	H	I	O		U	M	A	S	S
I	N	I	T		O	N	K	P		L	A	D	L	E
I	S	L	E		P	S	A	T		Y	O	Y	O	S

POW Tue 10/28/2014
F	A	L	C	O		A	M	I	S	S		G	S	T
I	L	I	A	C		Z	O	W	I	E		L	E	I
A	L	L	T	H	A	T	J	A	Z	Z		I	M	A
T	A	T	A	R	S		O	S	E		S	T	I	R
			L	E	T					O	U	T	T	A
	D	A	Y	S	O	F	T	H	U	N	D	E	R
S	I	N	S			L	O	A	N	S		R	O	Y
P	S	S	T		T	O	N	Y	A		T	A	P	E
A	C	E		A	E	R	I	E			O	T	I	S
	O	L	D	B	L	A	C	K	M	A	G	I	C
G	U	A	V	A					A	T	E
A	N	D	I		N	B	A		S	H	T	E	T	L
U	T	A		B	E	A	T	T	H	E	H	E	A	T
D	E	M		E	X	T	R	A		N	E	R	D	Y
Y	D	S		E	T	H	A	N		A	R	O	A	R

Andrea's puzzle today does something I like. It involves a complete set of things — in this case N.B.A. teams whose names don't end in the plural -s. There's something neat about completeness that appeals to a puzzle solver's mind. Or at least my mind. And as the N.B.A. season opens tonight, this puzzle couldn't be timelier.

– puzzle by Andrea Carla Michaels

Wed 10/29/2014
S	E	L	A		S	P	I	R	E		A	Q	U	A
P	A	I	R		E	L	L	E	N		N	U	L	L
F	R	U	I	T	S	A	L	A	D		G	I	N	A
			O	R	A	N		T	I	B	E	T	A	N
	A	S	S	A	M		P	A	N	E	L	S
A	L	P	O		E	G	I	S		F	A	M	E	D
G	I	L		P	O	E	T		K	O	S	O	V	O
O	B	I		H	I	T	S	O	N	G		K	E	N
R	I	T	U	A	L		T	R	E	S		I	R	E
A	S	S	N	S		C	O	R	E		A	N	T	E
		C	H	E	W	U	P		B	O	N	G	S
P	A	R	A	D	E	S		B	E	A	D
O	P	E	N		I	T	S	I	N	T	H	E	R	E
D	E	E	D		R	E	S	O	D		O	L	E	O
S	S	N	S		D	R	E	G	S		W	I	T	S

Thu 10/30/2014
			F	L	U	I	D		R	O	B	E
		P	E	A	R	C	E		A	S	O	N	E
	S	I	N	U	S	E	S		W	H	O	A	M	I
C	P	E	N	D	A	L	E	S	D	A	N	C	E	R	S
P	Y	R	E	S			R	C	A			T	E	A	T
E	C	O	L		P	O	T	A	T	O	C		R	N	A
W	A	G		C	I	N		R	A	P	M	U	S	I	C
A	R	I	Z	O	N	I	A	N		P	U	P
			E	T	E		V	E	R	O	N	I	Q	U	E
A	R	C	E	L	A	G	O		A	S	K		U	N	C
S	I	S		E	L	O	C	U	T	E		L	I	P	O
E	C	H	O			K	E	N			S	O	C	A	L
C	H	O	C	O	L	A	T	E	C	C	O	O	K	I	E
	E	T	C	H	E	R		S	P	O	R	T	E	D
		S	A	I	N	T		C	E	N	T	E	R
			M	O	S	S		O	R	E	A	D

In the print edition (and maybe some other versions) of today's puzzle, the six squares in each corner of the grid, which would usually be black, have been removed instead — to accentuate the cookie's roundness visually. This sort of effect used to be common in grids in crossword magazines, but it's a rarity in newspapers.

– puzzle by David Woolf

Fri 10/31/2014
R	O	C	K	B	A	N	D	S			J	A	C	K
W	H	A	L	E	B	O	A	T		T	O	P	O	L
A	D	V	I	S	A	B	L	E		S	E	P	I	A
N	E	O	N	S		R	A	W	T	A	L	E	N	T
D	A	R	K		R	A	I	S	E			T	A	C
A	R	T		L	E	I			A	W	E	I	G	H
			C	O	G	N	O	S	C	E	N	T	E
		B	U	R	I	E	D	A	L	I	V	E
	H	O	R	R	O	R	S	T	O	R	Y
L	O	O	S	E	N			E	T	S		C	D	S
A	P	B			A	M	I	S	H		T	R	E	E
M	E	T	A	L	L	I	C	A		K	O	A	L	A
O	F	U	S	E		M	O	U	S	E	O	V	E	R
N	O	B	I	S		I	N	C	A	R	N	A	T	E
T	R	E	S			C	O	E	X	I	S	T	E	D

In Mary Lou's and Jeff's manuscript for today's puzzle, they clued COGNOSCENTE (29A) as "Fortunato vis-à-vis Amontillado, e.g." I almost kept this so the clues to all three central Across answers, including 32A and 33A, would relate to Poe's "The Cask of Amontillado." That would have been neat. But in the end I felt their clue sounded too strained. I went with something more general instead. (Sorry, guys!)

– puzzle by Mary Lou Guizzo and Jeff Chen

XWord Info Home

112 ms

A	B	O	W		P	R	O	M			S	T	U	D
N	E	V	A		L	I	N	U	S		T	O	N	E
G	R	A	N	D	O	P	E	R	A		R	I	M	S
E	N	T	E	R			B	R	U	C	E	L	E	E
L	I	I		A	V	O	C	A	D	O	P	E	A	R
I	N	O	R	B	I	T		Y	I	N		T	N	T
C	I	N	E		C	O	O			D	U	S	T
			P	R	I	E	D	O	P	E	N
	I	P	S	O			D	N	A		T	B	S	P
O	S	A		B	A	T		U	N	C	O	U	T	H
W	A	L	D	O	P	E	P	P	E	R		Y	E	A
L	I	M	E	T	R	E	E			E	A	S	E	S
I	D	O	L		I	N	S	I	D	E	D	O	P	E
S	N	I	T		L	E	T	M	E		A	U	E	R
H	O	L	A			R	O	P	E		M	T	N	S

S	M	U	T		F	I	S	T			N	A	S	H
W	I	N	O		I	N	C	A		M	O	L	T	O
I	N	K	S		L	U	A	U		A	B	B	A	S
E	I	N	S	T	E	I	N		C	O	E	A	S	T
A	M	O		O	A	T		R	O	I	L
P	A	T	R	O	N		B	A	D	S	P	O	R	T
			E	L	O	V	I	N		M	R	S	U	N
P	A	L	L		N	A	R	C	O		I	S	N	T
I	L	I	A	C		S	C	H	U	L	Z
P	L	U	T	A	R	C	H		T	O	E	A	T	S
			I	N	T	O		A	B	C		S	H	U
C	A	N	V	A	S		E	Q	U	A	T	I	O	N
O	N	A	I	R		A	J	A	R		H	A	R	D
P	A	S	T	Y		L	O	B	S		A	G	A	R
S	L	A	Y			A	B	A	T		R	O	X	Y

A	R	S	O	N	I	S	T	S		D	C	C	A	B
N	O	T	S	O	F	A	S	T		E	A	R	L	E
G	O	A	T	R	O	D	E	O		A	L	A	R	M
L	T	D		I	L	L	T	R	A	D	E	Y	O	U
E	R	I	N		D	O	S	E	S		B	O	S	S
R	O	U	E	N		T	E	S	T	Y		L	E	E
S	T	M	A	R	K		S	U	R	E	H	A	N	D
			M	O	H	S		P	O	N	E
D	I	M	E	T	A	P	P		S	T	A	S	I	S
U	N	O		C	L	A	R	O		E	R	N	S	T
N	A	P	A		I	C	O	N	S		T	A	D	A
A	L	P	H	A	F	E	M	A	L	E		R	U	S
W	I	E	S	T		B	O	J	A	N	G	L	E	S
A	N	T	I	C		A	T	A	N	Y	R	A	T	E
Y	E	S	N	O		R	E	G	G	A	E	T	O	N

B	R	O	M	A	N	C	E		R	I	B	A	L	D
E	A	S	Y	P	O	U	R		E	C	O	C	A	R
N	T	H	P	O	W	E	R		L	A	O	T	Z	U
T	E	A	R	G	A	S		D	I	N	K	I	E	R
			E	E	R		D	U	G			I	D	Y
S	A	U	C	E		V	A	R	I	E	D
A	G	N	I		M	A	R	I	O	N	E	T	T	E
G	O	T	O	R	A	C	K	A	N	D	R	U	I	N
A	B	O	U	T	T	U	R	N	S		N	E	M	O
			S	E	R	I	E	S		W	I	S	E	S
R	I	B			I	T	D		S	H	E
A	S	A	G	R	A	Y		S	T	I	R	R	E	R
M	I	D	A	I	R		D	I	E	T	C	O	K	E
B	A	L	Z	A	C		A	N	N	E	R	I	C	E
O	H	Y	E	A	H		G	E	T	R	I	D	O	F

B	B	S		R	I	S	Q	U	E		T	I	P	P		P	A	Y	I	N
R	A	T		I	N	T	U	R	N		O	N	C	E		A	M	O	R	E
I	N	I		A	S	E	A	S	Y	A	S	A	B	C		S	O	U	R	S
E	T	H	E		P	E	R	I	O	D	S		S	A	N	S	K	R	I	T
F	U	L	L	T	I	L	T			F	A	T		N	O	E		E	T	S
			M	E	R	T	Z		S	E	W	U	P		P	L	A	N	A
M	M	I		A	I	R		S	T	E	A	L	E	R		S	P	O	T	S
D	E	T	E	S	T	A	B	L	E		Y	I	E	L	D		U	T	I	L
S	W	A	L	E		P	R	A	N	C		P	R	E	S	O		K	O	A
E	L	L	A				A	N	G	E	R			S	O	A	P	I	N	G
		I	N	F		C	S	T	U	D	E	N	T	S		K	E	D
O	B	A	D	I	A	H			N	A	B	O	O				P	D	A	S
Z	I	N		R	M	A	R	Y		R	O	U	N	D		C	S	I	N	Y
M	E	S	S		P	S	H	A	W		O	N	I	O	N	R	I	N	G	S
A	N	T	E	S		T	O	P	H	A	T	S		J	O	E		G	E	T
	N	A	C	H	O		S	A	I	L	S		B	U	R	M	A
A	I	L		I	M	P		T	Z	E			A	S	S	E	S	S	E	D
S	A	L	M	I	N	E	O		B	A	T	I	S	T	E		H	A	V	E
E	L	I	O	T		A	H	E	A	D	O	F	T	I	M	E		Y	A	M
E	L	O	P	E		C	H	I	N		O	N	E	C	A	R		I	D	O
D	Y	N	E	S		H	I	N	G		L	O	R	E	N	A		T	E	N

B	S	A		O	B	O	E		I	S	A	A	C
O	A	S		N	E	T	S		M	O	R	P	H	S
L	Y	I	N	E	Y	E	S		P	R	O	P	E	L
T	H	A	I		O	R	E	S		B	A	L	M	Y
S	I	N	G	I	N	I	N	T	H	E	R	A	I	N
			E	T	D			R	O	T		U	S	E
	H	E	R	E		A	P	A	R			D	T	S
R	E	X		M	I	S	S	I	N	G		E	R	S
A	R	C			W	H	I	T		E	D	D	Y
M	C	I		G	O	T			S	R	A
P	U	T	T	I	N	O	N	T	H	E	R	I	T	Z
A	L	A	R	M		N	Y	R	O		I	N	R	E
R	E	B	E	L	S		M	O	V	I	N	O	U	T
T	A	L	K	E	R		E	V	E	R		I	M	A
	N	E	S	T	S		T	E	D	S		L	P	S

R	I	G		C	L	I	M	B		S	A	L	U	D
A	A	R		E	E	L	E	R		A	T	O	N	E
N	C	O		R	A	I	S	E		U	T	T	E	R
D	O	W	N	T	H	E	H	A	T	C	H
A	C	T	I					K	E	Y	E	D	U	P
L	C	H	A	I	M		S	T	A		T	O	F	U
L	A	S		P	E	S	C	I		L	O	G	O	N
			B	O	T	T	O	M	S	U	P
B	R	O	O	D		A	R	E	A	S		P	E	A
A	E	R	O		C	N	N		C	H	E	E	R	S
G	O	E	S	M	A	D					S	L	I	P
			T	O	Y	O	U	R	H	E	A	L	T	H
A	L	I	E	N		U	N	I	O	N		E	R	A
G	E	N	R	E		T	I	P	P	I		T	E	L
T	O	A	S	T		S	T	E	E	D		S	A	T

R	A	M		I	C	E	T		S	T	A	T	S
U	S	A		D	A	Z	E		O	H	T	H	A	T
B	A	N		E	R	I	N		T	R	U	E	T	O
I	D	I	O	M		N	C	O		I	N	D	E	X
K	A	F	K	A		E	O	N		L	E	E
		E	R	N	E		M	E	A	L		S	R	I
A	S	S	A	D	S		M	O	N	A		C	A	B
J	O	T		A	S	H	A	N	T	I		E	V	E
A	N	D		R	E	I	N		I	N	O	N	I	T
R	Y	E		E	S	T	D		S	M	U	T
		S	A	C		U	M	P		A	T	O	M	S
T	U	T	T	O		P	E	R		N	A	F	T	A
S	T	I	R	U	P		N	E	H	I		M	I	X
P	A	N	I	N	I		T	O	I	L		A	D	E
	H	Y	A	T	T		S	P	C	A		N	A	S

C	A	S	H		J	E	A	N			C	A	P	E
R	A	T	E		A	M	I	E		P	O	W	E	R
O	B	A	M	A	C	A	R	E		L	D	O	P	A
P	A	R	A	S	K	I		T	R	A		K	P	S
				C	E	L	T		O	N	E	E	Y	E
C	A	R	R	O	T		W	Y	A	T	T
A	B	E	E	T		F	E	E	L		Y	O	L	K
K	E	N	T		B	R	E	A	D		M	P	A	A
E	D	D	Y		O	E	D	S		S	O	U	T	H
			P	I	X	E	L		B	U	N	S	E	N
F	R	E	E	Z	E		E	H	U	D
R	O	B		O	S	U		A	R	A	P	A	H	O
A	V	O	I	D		S	K	I	N	N	Y	D	I	P
M	E	N	D	S		P	I	K	E		R	A	K	E
E	D	Y	S			S	P	U	R		O	M	E	N

		F	R	E	E	W	A	Y			D	E	A	D
	P	L	E	A	S	E	D	O		P	A	N	T	Y
T	R	O	U	S	S	E	A	U		A	R	I	S	E
R	O	A	S	T	E	D		C	R	U	I	S	E	R
O	P	T	I	O	N		C	H	O	C	U	L	A
U	M	I	N	N		C	H	E	M	I	S	E
P	A	N	G		C	H	I	A	N	T	I
E	N	G		C	H	A	N	T	E	Y		R	D	S
			C	H	U	T	N	E	Y		B	E	E	T
		C	H	A	R	T	E	D		P	R	I	M	A
	C	H	A	R	R	E	D		M	O	A	N	E	D
W	A	R	R	I	O	R		B	A	L	I	H	A	I
A	P	O	L	O		B	A	R	C	E	L	O	N	A
C	O	M	E	T		O	V	E	R	A	L	L	S
O	N	E	S			X	E	R	O	X	E	D

A	B	O	W		P	R	O	M			S	T	U	D
N	E	V	A		L	I	N	U	S		T	O	N	E
G	R	A	N	D	O	P	E	R	A		R	I	M	S
E	N	T	E	R			B	R	U	C	E	L	E	E
L	I	I		A	V	O	C	A	D	O	P	E	A	R
I	N	O	R	B	I	T		Y	I	N		T	N	T
C	I	N	E		C	O	O			D	U	S	T
			P	R	I	E	D	O	P	E	N
	I	P	S	O			D	N	A		T	B	S	P
O	S	A		B	A	T		U	N	C	O	U	T	H
W	A	L	D	O	P	E	P	P	E	R		Y	E	A
L	I	M	E	T	R	E	E			E	A	S	E	S
I	D	O	L		I	N	S	I	D	E	D	O	P	E
S	N	I	T		L	E	T	M	E		A	U	E	R
H	O	L	A			R	O	P	E		M	T	N	S

S	M	U	T		F	I	S	T			N	A	S	H
W	I	N	O		I	N	C	A		M	O	L	T	O
I	N	K	S		L	U	A	U		A	B	B	A	S
E	I	N	S	T	E	I	N		C	O	E	A	S	T
A	M	O		O	A	T		R	O	I	L
P	A	T	R	O	N		B	A	D	S	P	O	R	T
			E	L	O	V	I	N		M	R	S	U	N
P	A	L	L		N	A	R	C	O		I	S	N	T
I	L	I	A	C		S	C	H	U	L	Z
P	L	U	T	A	R	C	H		T	O	E	A	T	S
			I	N	T	O		A	B	C		S	H	U
C	A	N	V	A	S		E	Q	U	A	T	I	O	N
O	N	A	I	R		A	J	A	R		H	A	R	D
P	A	S	T	Y		L	O	B	S		A	G	A	R
S	L	A	Y			A	B	A	T		R	O	X	Y

A	R	S	O	N	I	S	T	S		D	C	C	A	B
N	O	T	S	O	F	A	S	T		E	A	R	L	E
G	O	A	T	R	O	D	E	O		A	L	A	R	M
L	T	D		I	L	L	T	R	A	D	E	Y	O	U
E	R	I	N		D	O	S	E	S		B	O	S	S
R	O	U	E	N		T	E	S	T	Y		L	E	E
S	T	M	A	R	K		S	U	R	E	H	A	N	D
			M	O	H	S		P	O	N	E
D	I	M	E	T	A	P	P		S	T	A	S	I	S
U	N	O		C	L	A	R	O		E	R	N	S	T
N	A	P	A		I	C	O	N	S		T	A	D	A
A	L	P	H	A	F	E	M	A	L	E		R	U	S
W	I	E	S	T		B	O	J	A	N	G	L	E	S
A	N	T	I	C		A	T	A	N	Y	R	A	T	E
Y	E	S	N	O		R	E	G	G	A	E	T	O	N

B	R	O	M	A	N	C	E		R	I	B	A	L	D
E	A	S	Y	P	O	U	R		E	C	O	C	A	R
N	T	H	P	O	W	E	R		L	A	O	T	Z	U
T	E	A	R	G	A	S		D	I	N	K	I	E	R
			E	E	R		D	U	G			I	D	Y
S	A	U	C	E		V	A	R	I	E	D
A	G	N	I		M	A	R	I	O	N	E	T	T	E
G	O	T	O	R	A	C	K	A	N	D	R	U	I	N
A	B	O	U	T	T	U	R	N	S		N	E	M	O
			S	E	R	I	E	S		W	I	S	E	S
R	I	B			I	T	D		S	H	E
A	S	A	G	R	A	Y		S	T	I	R	R	E	R
M	I	D	A	I	R		D	I	E	T	C	O	K	E
B	A	L	Z	A	C		A	N	N	E	R	I	C	E
O	H	Y	E	A	H		G	E	T	R	I	D	O	F

B	B	S		R	I	S	Q	U	E		T	I	P	P		P	A	Y	I	N
R	A	T		I	N	T	U	R	N		O	N	C	E		A	M	O	R	E
I	N	I		A	S	E	A	S	Y	A	S	A	B	C		S	O	U	R	S
E	T	H	E		P	E	R	I	O	D	S		S	A	N	S	K	R	I	T
F	U	L	L	T	I	L	T			F	A	T		N	O	E		E	T	S
			M	E	R	T	Z		S	E	W	U	P		P	L	A	N	A
M	M	I		A	I	R		S	T	E	A	L	E	R		S	P	O	T	S
D	E	T	E	S	T	A	B	L	E		Y	I	E	L	D		U	T	I	L
S	W	A	L	E		P	R	A	N	C		P	R	E	S	O		K	O	A
E	L	L	A				A	N	G	E	R			S	O	A	P	I	N	G
		I	N	F		C	S	T	U	D	E	N	T	S		K	E	D
O	B	A	D	I	A	H			N	A	B	O	O				P	D	A	S
Z	I	N		R	M	A	R	Y		R	O	U	N	D		C	S	I	N	Y
M	E	S	S		P	S	H	A	W		O	N	I	O	N	R	I	N	G	S
A	N	T	E	S		T	O	P	H	A	T	S		J	O	E		G	E	T
	N	A	C	H	O		S	A	I	L	S		B	U	R	M	A
A	I	L		I	M	P		T	Z	E			A	S	S	E	S	S	E	D
S	A	L	M	I	N	E	O		B	A	T	I	S	T	E		H	A	V	E
E	L	I	O	T		A	H	E	A	D	O	F	T	I	M	E		Y	A	M
E	L	O	P	E		C	H	I	N		O	N	E	C	A	R		I	D	O
D	Y	N	E	S		H	I	N	G		L	O	R	E	N	A		T	E	N

B	S	A		O	B	O	E		I	S	A	A	C
O	A	S		N	E	T	S		M	O	R	P	H	S
L	Y	I	N	E	Y	E	S		P	R	O	P	E	L
T	H	A	I		O	R	E	S		B	A	L	M	Y
S	I	N	G	I	N	I	N	T	H	E	R	A	I	N
			E	T	D			R	O	T		U	S	E
	H	E	R	E		A	P	A	R			D	T	S
R	E	X		M	I	S	S	I	N	G		E	R	S
A	R	C			W	H	I	T		E	D	D	Y
M	C	I		G	O	T			S	R	A
P	U	T	T	I	N	O	N	T	H	E	R	I	T	Z
A	L	A	R	M		N	Y	R	O		I	N	R	E
R	E	B	E	L	S		M	O	V	I	N	O	U	T
T	A	L	K	E	R		E	V	E	R		I	M	A
	N	E	S	T	S		T	E	D	S		L	P	S

R	I	G		C	L	I	M	B		S	A	L	U	D
A	A	R		E	E	L	E	R		A	T	O	N	E
N	C	O		R	A	I	S	E		U	T	T	E	R
D	O	W	N	T	H	E	H	A	T	C	H
A	C	T	I					K	E	Y	E	D	U	P
L	C	H	A	I	M		S	T	A		T	O	F	U
L	A	S		P	E	S	C	I		L	O	G	O	N
			B	O	T	T	O	M	S	U	P
B	R	O	O	D		A	R	E	A	S		P	E	A
A	E	R	O		C	N	N		C	H	E	E	R	S
G	O	E	S	M	A	D					S	L	I	P
			T	O	Y	O	U	R	H	E	A	L	T	H
A	L	I	E	N		U	N	I	O	N		E	R	A
G	E	N	R	E		T	I	P	P	I		T	E	L
T	O	A	S	T		S	T	E	E	D		S	A	T

R	A	M		I	C	E	T		S	T	A	T	S
U	S	A		D	A	Z	E		O	H	T	H	A	T
B	A	N		E	R	I	N		T	R	U	E	T	O
I	D	I	O	M		N	C	O		I	N	D	E	X
K	A	F	K	A		E	O	N		L	E	E
		E	R	N	E		M	E	A	L		S	R	I
A	S	S	A	D	S		M	O	N	A		C	A	B
J	O	T		A	S	H	A	N	T	I		E	V	E
A	N	D		R	E	I	N		I	N	O	N	I	T
R	Y	E		E	S	T	D		S	M	U	T
		S	A	C		U	M	P		A	T	O	M	S
T	U	T	T	O		P	E	R		N	A	F	T	A
S	T	I	R	U	P		N	E	H	I		M	I	X
P	A	N	I	N	I		T	O	I	L		A	D	E
	H	Y	A	T	T		S	P	C	A		N	A	S

C	A	S	H		J	E	A	N			C	A	P	E
R	A	T	E		A	M	I	E		P	O	W	E	R
O	B	A	M	A	C	A	R	E		L	D	O	P	A
P	A	R	A	S	K	I		T	R	A		K	P	S
				C	E	L	T		O	N	E	E	Y	E
C	A	R	R	O	T		W	Y	A	T	T
A	B	E	E	T		F	E	E	L		Y	O	L	K
K	E	N	T		B	R	E	A	D		M	P	A	A
E	D	D	Y		O	E	D	S		S	O	U	T	H
			P	I	X	E	L		B	U	N	S	E	N
F	R	E	E	Z	E		E	H	U	D
R	O	B		O	S	U		A	R	A	P	A	H	O
A	V	O	I	D		S	K	I	N	N	Y	D	I	P
M	E	N	D	S		P	I	K	E		R	A	K	E
E	D	Y	S			S	P	U	R		O	M	E	N

		F	R	E	E	W	A	Y			D	E	A	D
	P	L	E	A	S	E	D	O		P	A	N	T	Y
T	R	O	U	S	S	E	A	U		A	R	I	S	E
R	O	A	S	T	E	D		C	R	U	I	S	E	R
O	P	T	I	O	N		C	H	O	C	U	L	A
U	M	I	N	N		C	H	E	M	I	S	E
P	A	N	G		C	H	I	A	N	T	I
E	N	G		C	H	A	N	T	E	Y		R	D	S
			C	H	U	T	N	E	Y		B	E	E	T
		C	H	A	R	T	E	D		P	R	I	M	A
	C	H	A	R	R	E	D		M	O	A	N	E	D
W	A	R	R	I	O	R		B	A	L	I	H	A	I
A	P	O	L	O		B	A	R	C	E	L	O	N	A
C	O	M	E	T		O	V	E	R	A	L	L	S
O	N	E	S			X	E	R	O	X	E	D

Thumbnails

Puzzles for October, 2014 with Editor comments

Puzzles for October, 2014
with Editor comments

A	B	O	W		P	R	O	M			S	T	U	D
N	E	V	A		L	I	N	U	S		T	O	N	E
G	R	A	N	D	O	P	E	R	A		R	I	M	S
E	N	T	E	R			B	R	U	C	E	L	E	E
L	I	I		A	V	O	C	A	D	O	P	E	A	R
I	N	O	R	B	I	T		Y	I	N		T	N	T
C	I	N	E		C	O	O			D	U	S	T
			P	R	I	E	D	O	P	E	N
	I	P	S	O			D	N	A		T	B	S	P
O	S	A		B	A	T		U	N	C	O	U	T	H
W	A	L	D	O	P	E	P	P	E	R		Y	E	A
L	I	M	E	T	R	E	E			E	A	S	E	S
I	D	O	L		I	N	S	I	D	E	D	O	P	E
S	N	I	T		L	E	T	M	E		A	U	E	R
H	O	L	A			R	O	P	E		M	T	N	S

S	M	U	T		F	I	S	T			N	A	S	H
W	I	N	O		I	N	C	A		M	O	L	T	O
I	N	K	S		L	U	A	U		A	B	B	A	S
E	I	N	S	T	E	I	N		C	O	E	A	S	T
A	M	O		O	A	T		R	O	I	L
P	A	T	R	O	N		B	A	D	S	P	O	R	T
			E	L	O	V	I	N		M	R	S	U	N
P	A	L	L		N	A	R	C	O		I	S	N	T
I	L	I	A	C		S	C	H	U	L	Z
P	L	U	T	A	R	C	H		T	O	E	A	T	S
			I	N	T	O		A	B	C		S	H	U
C	A	N	V	A	S		E	Q	U	A	T	I	O	N
O	N	A	I	R		A	J	A	R		H	A	R	D
P	A	S	T	Y		L	O	B	S		A	G	A	R
S	L	A	Y			A	B	A	T		R	O	X	Y

A	R	S	O	N	I	S	T	S		D	C	C	A	B
N	O	T	S	O	F	A	S	T		E	A	R	L	E
G	O	A	T	R	O	D	E	O		A	L	A	R	M
L	T	D		I	L	L	T	R	A	D	E	Y	O	U
E	R	I	N		D	O	S	E	S		B	O	S	S
R	O	U	E	N		T	E	S	T	Y		L	E	E
S	T	M	A	R	K		S	U	R	E	H	A	N	D
			M	O	H	S		P	O	N	E
D	I	M	E	T	A	P	P		S	T	A	S	I	S
U	N	O		C	L	A	R	O		E	R	N	S	T
N	A	P	A		I	C	O	N	S		T	A	D	A
A	L	P	H	A	F	E	M	A	L	E		R	U	S
W	I	E	S	T		B	O	J	A	N	G	L	E	S
A	N	T	I	C		A	T	A	N	Y	R	A	T	E
Y	E	S	N	O		R	E	G	G	A	E	T	O	N

B	R	O	M	A	N	C	E		R	I	B	A	L	D
E	A	S	Y	P	O	U	R		E	C	O	C	A	R
N	T	H	P	O	W	E	R		L	A	O	T	Z	U
T	E	A	R	G	A	S		D	I	N	K	I	E	R
			E	E	R		D	U	G			I	D	Y
S	A	U	C	E		V	A	R	I	E	D
A	G	N	I		M	A	R	I	O	N	E	T	T	E
G	O	T	O	R	A	C	K	A	N	D	R	U	I	N
A	B	O	U	T	T	U	R	N	S		N	E	M	O
			S	E	R	I	E	S		W	I	S	E	S
R	I	B			I	T	D		S	H	E
A	S	A	G	R	A	Y		S	T	I	R	R	E	R
M	I	D	A	I	R		D	I	E	T	C	O	K	E
B	A	L	Z	A	C		A	N	N	E	R	I	C	E
O	H	Y	E	A	H		G	E	T	R	I	D	O	F

B	B	S		R	I	S	Q	U	E		T	I	P	P		P	A	Y	I	N
R	A	T		I	N	T	U	R	N		O	N	C	E		A	M	O	R	E
I	N	I		A	S	E	A	S	Y	A	S	A	B	C		S	O	U	R	S
E	T	H	E		P	E	R	I	O	D	S		S	A	N	S	K	R	I	T
F	U	L	L	T	I	L	T			F	A	T		N	O	E		E	T	S
			M	E	R	T	Z		S	E	W	U	P		P	L	A	N	A
M	M	I		A	I	R		S	T	E	A	L	E	R		S	P	O	T	S
D	E	T	E	S	T	A	B	L	E		Y	I	E	L	D		U	T	I	L
S	W	A	L	E		P	R	A	N	C		P	R	E	S	O		K	O	A
E	L	L	A				A	N	G	E	R			S	O	A	P	I	N	G
		I	N	F		C	S	T	U	D	E	N	T	S		K	E	D
O	B	A	D	I	A	H			N	A	B	O	O				P	D	A	S
Z	I	N		R	M	A	R	Y		R	O	U	N	D		C	S	I	N	Y
M	E	S	S		P	S	H	A	W		O	N	I	O	N	R	I	N	G	S
A	N	T	E	S		T	O	P	H	A	T	S		J	O	E		G	E	T
	N	A	C	H	O		S	A	I	L	S		B	U	R	M	A
A	I	L		I	M	P		T	Z	E			A	S	S	E	S	S	E	D
S	A	L	M	I	N	E	O		B	A	T	I	S	T	E		H	A	V	E
E	L	I	O	T		A	H	E	A	D	O	F	T	I	M	E		Y	A	M
E	L	O	P	E		C	H	I	N		O	N	E	C	A	R		I	D	O
D	Y	N	E	S		H	I	N	G		L	O	R	E	N	A		T	E	N

B	S	A		O	B	O	E		I	S	A	A	C
O	A	S		N	E	T	S		M	O	R	P	H	S
L	Y	I	N	E	Y	E	S		P	R	O	P	E	L
T	H	A	I		O	R	E	S		B	A	L	M	Y
S	I	N	G	I	N	I	N	T	H	E	R	A	I	N
			E	T	D			R	O	T		U	S	E
	H	E	R	E		A	P	A	R			D	T	S
R	E	X		M	I	S	S	I	N	G		E	R	S
A	R	C			W	H	I	T		E	D	D	Y
M	C	I		G	O	T			S	R	A
P	U	T	T	I	N	O	N	T	H	E	R	I	T	Z
A	L	A	R	M		N	Y	R	O		I	N	R	E
R	E	B	E	L	S		M	O	V	I	N	O	U	T
T	A	L	K	E	R		E	V	E	R		I	M	A
	N	E	S	T	S		T	E	D	S		L	P	S

R	I	G		C	L	I	M	B		S	A	L	U	D
A	A	R		E	E	L	E	R		A	T	O	N	E
N	C	O		R	A	I	S	E		U	T	T	E	R
D	O	W	N	T	H	E	H	A	T	C	H
A	C	T	I					K	E	Y	E	D	U	P
L	C	H	A	I	M		S	T	A		T	O	F	U
L	A	S		P	E	S	C	I		L	O	G	O	N
			B	O	T	T	O	M	S	U	P
B	R	O	O	D		A	R	E	A	S		P	E	A
A	E	R	O		C	N	N		C	H	E	E	R	S
G	O	E	S	M	A	D					S	L	I	P
			T	O	Y	O	U	R	H	E	A	L	T	H
A	L	I	E	N		U	N	I	O	N		E	R	A
G	E	N	R	E		T	I	P	P	I		T	E	L
T	O	A	S	T		S	T	E	E	D		S	A	T

R	A	M		I	C	E	T		S	T	A	T	S
U	S	A		D	A	Z	E		O	H	T	H	A	T
B	A	N		E	R	I	N		T	R	U	E	T	O
I	D	I	O	M		N	C	O		I	N	D	E	X
K	A	F	K	A		E	O	N		L	E	E
		E	R	N	E		M	E	A	L		S	R	I
A	S	S	A	D	S		M	O	N	A		C	A	B
J	O	T		A	S	H	A	N	T	I		E	V	E
A	N	D		R	E	I	N		I	N	O	N	I	T
R	Y	E		E	S	T	D		S	M	U	T
		S	A	C		U	M	P		A	T	O	M	S
T	U	T	T	O		P	E	R		N	A	F	T	A
S	T	I	R	U	P		N	E	H	I		M	I	X
P	A	N	I	N	I		T	O	I	L		A	D	E
	H	Y	A	T	T		S	P	C	A		N	A	S

C	A	S	H		J	E	A	N			C	A	P	E
R	A	T	E		A	M	I	E		P	O	W	E	R
O	B	A	M	A	C	A	R	E		L	D	O	P	A
P	A	R	A	S	K	I		T	R	A		K	P	S
				C	E	L	T		O	N	E	E	Y	E
C	A	R	R	O	T		W	Y	A	T	T
A	B	E	E	T		F	E	E	L		Y	O	L	K
K	E	N	T		B	R	E	A	D		M	P	A	A
E	D	D	Y		O	E	D	S		S	O	U	T	H
			P	I	X	E	L		B	U	N	S	E	N
F	R	E	E	Z	E		E	H	U	D
R	O	B		O	S	U		A	R	A	P	A	H	O
A	V	O	I	D		S	K	I	N	N	Y	D	I	P
M	E	N	D	S		P	I	K	E		R	A	K	E
E	D	Y	S			S	P	U	R		O	M	E	N

		F	R	E	E	W	A	Y			D	E	A	D
	P	L	E	A	S	E	D	O		P	A	N	T	Y
T	R	O	U	S	S	E	A	U		A	R	I	S	E
R	O	A	S	T	E	D		C	R	U	I	S	E	R
O	P	T	I	O	N		C	H	O	C	U	L	A
U	M	I	N	N		C	H	E	M	I	S	E
P	A	N	G		C	H	I	A	N	T	I
E	N	G		C	H	A	N	T	E	Y		R	D	S
			C	H	U	T	N	E	Y		B	E	E	T
		C	H	A	R	T	E	D		P	R	I	M	A
	C	H	A	R	R	E	D		M	O	A	N	E	D
W	A	R	R	I	O	R		B	A	L	I	H	A	I
A	P	O	L	O		B	A	R	C	E	L	O	N	A
C	O	M	E	T		O	V	E	R	A	L	L	S
O	N	E	S			X	E	R	O	X	E	D