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Puzzles for July, 2015
with Editor comments

Wed 7/1/2015
THAWNARYTHICK
NILEISEEAISLE
UGLISHEAIDLER
THIGHSOFRELIEF
HBARLEN
ANCONECARDBET
SICEMHOOARLO
THUMBEROLYMPICS
RIPSXIIIONIC
ALSRUGRATSEDA
REDSETS
THEMESOKAYTOME
TRACEILSAEMAG
SOSADFDICARIA
PUPPYTENTMILL
POW Thu 7/2/2015
CHAOSDIMPLEFDR
LIANAARARATORE
ECCENTRICITYUMA
ACEDEEDSEMINAR
NULLAMINOANDRE
SPLITSECONDNEIN
ESSAYRENTROD
MEDIUMRARE
MICSENDORALS
UHOHSTOOLPIGEON
GENUSENROLOOZE
GANGWARIVESLEA
IREINVISIBLEINK
NYCSNAPONIMAGE
GATSOLONGTUNER
Fri 7/3/2015
WHITECAPSTHETA
RUMRAISINHALEN
EXPURGATEADDED
SLEEPSCAUTIONS
TENDPHDSTRAC
SYDRHODAMAGE
QUITITLADEN
ALBUSDUMBLEDORE
VERASSEAICE
EVOKERLBSCCS
MEMEBAALPOLI
ALARMINGDRIVEL
RINGOTAKEAPEEK
INCUSEPICVERSE
AGENTSEXKITTEN
Sat 7/4/2015
BROSWHIMSMOT
BABAGHANOUJEXO
SPELLINGBEEGYM
TYSONGAYDRAGS
OWESBIBLE
MISDIDMIAMIINK
ADMANNICKITMI
MIATHICKENHAT
MORHARRYDLIST
ATTHEZOOSTOCKY
BADDYBARF
HOLLAAMIRIGHT
AXERECORDCROWD
RECKLONDIKEBAR
TSKIPASSNOSY
Sun 7/5/2015 HEADS OF STATE
RIMTRUSSTHAI
KOKOMOHERODHARDHAT
IKEBANAEDAMSEVILONE
NAYCAMOMILEAGELIMIT
SYSTREMANWHIRNESS
HOTECRANKHEREWEGO
AKONHIHOPARIAHSFDA
SANDSCAFOTOTATAMIS
AYEIPATENOREMTOGS
SAGANHWYFEMBRUIN
GROUNDCREWASSAILANTS
LAUDSISPDNANTEST
ASTIANTEEONCOSRAE
SPHERICOBEJAITRUTV
SYDBRITPOPUMPSASTA
ARSENALSPAPALSHIN
DOKENEETONETOAMTS
EGOIDEALWASHDOWNOUT
NETCOSTNITTIRICARDO
YEAHYOUOCTALSATEEN
SASSSKULLHAM
POW Mon 7/6/2015
BAILBALKSACRE
ELLAADIEUHOUR
WALKAROUNDANNE
IMPELSYAPFLA
TOASTPLANAHEAD
CDSONIONPASTE
HESSUPCLESSER
TAKEAPART
CAJOLETAIEROS
OPARTKERRIEVE
MOVEASIDEDICED
CSARIDSENTRA
ATMSKNOCKABOUT
SLAGHANOIERSE
TENTSPENTDYED
Tue 7/7/2015
PACERPACKCMVI
AGATEAGUEHIES
RODINTALEALIA
TRICEHILLBILLY
BALKWONATA
LEWISSCHERZO
TOATEEACEADHD
AMCILLWILLFOO
LOSEDIETEDIUM
COEXISTPIXEL
VASSACFLAB
CHILLPILLBIMBO
BELTADAMECONO
GALEWOKESIREN
BREDSLEDSTERE
Wed 7/8/2015
ITEMBAJAOBAMA
NALAATIEROBIN
THIRDDEGREEBURN
RIMELLINGTEA
ONALOUANAS
INDIANPLANTAIN
NUANCEORMAN
CLIPSHAWNESME
DENIMCRAVAT
SIGNOFTHETIMES
GLUETISLET
OWLDJSCVIBAH
WHEREISTHETHEME
NIGERIBETBEAR
STOPSESSOORNE
Thu 7/9/2015
INSESPRITGLOB
LAIPURINAIOTA
LUNCHMONEYARTS
ERASMUDLENDEE
QUIPPEDPORTERS
OERSORES
JETTISONSQUID
AVEQUASHFRO
WEARSPEEDBOAT
ELATEMOO
PISTONSNOISOME
ENERGYOESURAL
PYLERIGHTONCUE
SOMAEOLIANANG
QUADQUESTSSAY
Fri 7/10/2015
ARIONASSISPLUS
BEEROCLOCKOINK
RESORTAREACOME
AFTMINEDIKNEW
FANGNTESTS
WADINGQUARTS
ARABSBUGGYWHIP
ACNEARILSAARE
CHARMCITYSTRIP
COERCEACCESS
SNAPTOGROH
HERTZSPEERCFC
RAVICANTONOHIO
ELECORIOLEPARK
KEYSDINNERTIME
Sat 7/11/2015
CASHESINLOGJAM
ALLINONESERENA
NBADRAFTDRAWER
DEBOMEGAMIME
INTLISASIMPSON
DIORTITLESONG
EZPASSNILENEO
MICERISE
ANTGAULNEXXUS
COUGHDROPPANT
IMNOTSOSUREMBA
DIALSTRIPORR
INCASEDIDSQUAT
TEASERONEOUNCE
YENTASGASMETER
Sun 7/12/2015 START AGAIN
BURGFLASHPERPSPUR
OHIORABIESEVILILSA
CUCKOODETATRAGEMEET
AHEADTUTUOFDIAMONDS
REARSPRIEDALI
SPATULASKIEDIGETIT
ELMMIMIANDMYBIGMOUTH
SAVECAPRIISLANDER
AYEAYEDOCTORLOOEMU
MOTTOADAPHILOOF
ENSURESTROMSCREAM
PETEMMAMICHELLO
STPHUDCHOOCHOOTOYS
IRONMINEGREERSIDE
COCOACONSPIRATORSSAY
STATUSPANELPINCERS
TARSPOILASNER
BYEBYEPRODUCTSREADS
LULLBOOKCHICHIDEVIL
OGLEBONEKOKOMODONE
BOOSSLEDPITONSNOW
Mon 7/13/2015
ARLOAHABSNACK
COATDAREUPTON
LIKEWHITEONRICE
USERIDTVSTOE
GILEILEEN
ONECOMMENTCAVA
DONODIESALON
ORESDRAMAAMID
RAVENNAPAOLE
SHAREPRICESNAS
TWEETSSTD
SHESSTPEORIA
FACEBOOKBUTTONS
PHOTOREARACTI
DANDYTAMELAOS
POW Tue 7/14/2015
RUMABSCAMSNUG
ABALACUNAPOGO
HORTONHEARSAWHO
MALEEGOITS
TONLOTNYMPHS
THELORAXAIL
OOMPAOARATTA
GREENEGGSANDHAM
RANGMAOCASTS
ETSHOPONPOP
SEALABDERTES
UNAWEVEMET
IFIRANTHECIRCUS
BARIDEALINESP
MREDSAYSSOESS
Wed 7/15/2015
VENOMPACETOP
ELOPEOLAYSERE
REPERTOIREULEE
AVENGERSAILOR
MERROOSTS
DECIPROPRIETOR
IMACSACTEDAPO
DOMWADOSELEA
UTEERITUSEEDS
PERPETUITYASST
ALTIMAEMT
EXCESSDOIDARE
DORATYPEWRITER
EXESRAILERTES
ROWYOGISTADT
Thu 7/16/2015
COALDARTZELIG
ANNAENOWECOLI
LETDOWNYOURHAIR
DUDEGROOMED
SIBCRAZIES
PSYCHOLOGYTODAY
IANAPSASADORE
TIARASBRIGGS
AAMESBEAVNOES
THETHRILLISGONE
CARLITODTS
RESERVEMALT
ILLDOITTOMORROW
CLEEFTONIIOWA
HADNTALYNMINX
Fri 7/17/2015
PUBLICSCRAPE
ENIGMAKAHUNAS
DIGSINBIGAMIST
AFITIMECOPTSO
NODETICKSCROP
TRENTNASCLANS
MADABOUTYOU
SOMERSAULTS
WALTERMITTY
ASNERHITCERES
LEADARCEDREAL
ORGCLEARUPARI
MAGELLANMASKED
APESUITATHENE
REDPENSHARDS
Sat 7/18/2015
RESPROMA
DACHAAVOID
VETOESMAORIS
DECANTSOLDBATS
ANATOLIANSABOU
SALAMANCAILLIN
TESTINGSOCLOCK
CDIANA
ALADDINSENDSON
GOTRESTSTROPHE
AURICLETHEMAGI
STELLARAILERON
SALINETRACED
RINDSETTAS
NESTDYER
Sun 7/19/2015 THE SHORT FORM
SAHIBTEMPGATEASHEN
IRAQIHAILAMURSTALE
FIRSTPERSONSINGSENSE
TARTAKETWOLISURGED
USERIDSNAANOMNI
ADMIRESDONTGIVEANIN
POPDENSITYDEUCETSE
ETHERSCHATSPINCHHIT
SOSOHEINOUSARENT
NORAINOCTJANEROE
ELITURNOFTHECENTEND
DEMOTEDUARPREYON
EMOTETRUSSUPTAFT
NEUTRALSLETUSPAULIE
INTTONNEAPTCOMPLEX
CUTQUITEAFIGORALIST
AUNTAMTSCENTRES
PSHAWIKEARALSEALOP
OTERILOOKOUTFORNOONE
LARKSLUNANEILTOSCA
OBESESTETERNEHOTEL
Mon 7/20/2015
SWABSACREENZO
CAPRIPHATDEAD
AKIOMORITAHUGE
MEEKVOLTFAT
PUCEANDYMURRAY
SPENTARRIVE
IFIMAYINON
MORNINGPERSON
PALOROMERO
TIDBITWARDS
ALMICHAELSGEEK
ONEGLEEEASE
MENSALIMACGRAW
OREOBOZOLAUDE
BRYNSWANUPPER

As John indicates, we spent a lot of time working to get the best set of 10-letter names of famous people with the initials A.M. Ethnic diversity and gender balance were serious considerations, as always, but other factors are just as important.

ANNE MURRAY was on our short list for this puzzle, but we didn't consider her to be nearly as famous as ANDY MURRAY. Anne Murray's last hit was in 1981, 34 years ago, whereas Andy Murray is a current tennis player who won Wimbledon as recently at 2013. ALICE MUNRO was also considered — but for a Monday puzzle we judged Andy Murray to be the best known.

Also, as a general matter it has to be acknowledged that there are a lot more famous men than famous women. In the "Noted Personalities" section of the World Almanac, for example, men outnumber women by more than 5 to 1. So naturally themes based on famous people's names are likely to have more men than women.

My main goal in a puzzle like today's is to have a broad range of generally familiar names, and I think today's set achieves that. To expect 50/50 gender balance is unrealistic, and insisting on such a balance in every puzzle would lead to inferior work.

Tue 7/21/2015
ABSBURMAOJO
BOPSAENEASSAO
BOOKEMDANNOTMZ
ONSITEGEOFFREY
TEAPARTIERLIS
SIRNICKS
LADDCOMARCHIE
ICEROADTRUCKERS
DACRONVIDASKS
SIOUXNAB
BUTSANDCASTLE
REPHRASEICKIER
ORAITSINTHEBAG
ARGFINNEYDEVO
RYETESSARET
Wed 7/22/2015
RISESEERSPITZ
ONEDAMMOHENRI
SHAGLAIDRETAG
SUPERVILLAIN
IMOAOLASLUSA
NARCSSAVILEROW
INTOTOLETANNE
NAVELRING
FRETEXOSOLELY
DEVILRAYSBELIE
AXEADMHIEEVA
CHOPPEDLIVER
ZORROLORENANO
ARBORESPNSTUN
GRIPESEATPEPE
Thu 7/23/2015
ASTAJAILSULTRA
GOUPANNULROHAN
ATNOMAGNIFICENT
SHELFDEADBEAT
SERIESEILLUSE
INSTRUMENTEXPO
IMFNORASEEN
SPCIFILTEPAIDC
DISSETTEETD
ATIPASSOCIATES
BEARDSHENRYVI
NAILGUNSEERIE
MARYPOPPINSYANG
GLUTSAOKAYONCE
MAGOOSNIPSUTES
Fri 7/24/2015
INSIDEMANMAFIA
NEWMEXICOATALL
CHASTENEDSELLS
HITORMISSCASIO
SOPSMAMET
GOTOITDEARTEE
INERTCOTTAGERS
LEARALLAHHEAP
DARYLHALLPOTTY
ANGOOPSFISHES
DARBYGENT
LOSESSKELETONS
INSETANTINOVEL
ALEVECOMPUWARE
RYDERSWEETNLOW
POW Sat 7/25/2015
TIMEBOMBSERVOS
EGOMANIAAROINT
ALSORANSMIMOSA
COURTVISIONLAG
HOLYEVITATALE
BRASSBASES
FLAGRANTWETONE
OILRIGSBIBELOT
OBLATETONEROWS
TROISTEXTS
BAWLFRESHFRAN
ARABOUNCEHOUSE
TIBIASPOWERNAP
HALVESORANGINA
SNEEZEPERSONAL
Sun 7/26/2015 NO ESCAPE
COPAYPLEACRYCDC
OHMAGEEUROHEETOILE
HEARTOFDARKNESSRISEN
MENALEXUSBRIMUNARM
EPISODEIMAUDEEPPIE
ANENOLOBUNKUPCS
ALFIEGROUPIEAFRESH
BAALISMBOSOMLHASA
OTTLIENPETCANTERED
LOANAILEIPASIDE
ISLINTHEYEDIHNAB
SCALAPINEROBGSU
HATEMAILTKTAGEDANS
TABLESACRESTANCES
DARNITKARAOKERETRY
ORANAARPLPGABTW
NACRECALEBSLASHERS
OPTINAKINDRYADALIA
RAIMICENTEROFGRAVITY
SHOEDINGTAXIARETES
ONSASSSTYXPINES
Mon 7/27/2015
RECAPRATEDGET
ECOLIIGIVEERA
MONICASELESORR
MAVENNIMROD
ADORETOSUGLY
GRANDENOLTE
RORYNAMEATTAR
AMYYOKOONOEGO
BALSARENUGNAT
HIPPODAREME
OMANINSGRATE
BANGORPAEAN
ANNPALINDROMES
MIAATONEALAMO
AAHLEPEWTAROT
POW Tue 7/28/2015
CHATATBATTBA
CERESCHECKELL
CRISPTIGHTKNIT
POLTROONNONO
BURRSPRUNG
ATTACKSTART
VERNETHECREEPS
ICISWIMSCSI
SHOTHOOPSGROSS
RUFUSGRUNTS
AAAMAPFRAS
STEWFRESHETS
PHILIPIIIPITHS
OOOROOSTSNOOT
TSUKLUTZGNUS
Wed 7/29/2015
UPCASTZEBRANPR
NOOGIEEAREDELI
STANDARDTIMEGAG
TEEASADARENO
CARWASHTAKEOVER
ABOARCLEST
CROSSTALKSTIGMA
TAMPAHOYTANOUT
IMSOLDPLAYBILLS
OARSETADEE
BACKDATETHERESA
EBAYGRUELCON
LBJDOUBLEDOUBLE
TAUUNTILALTOID
SSNESSESYESYES
Thu 7/30/2015
PEPYSAJARHAM
UNLOCKMAMAAGO
TOUGHNUTMEGRAT
GAITSUNEARTH
ALUMSAMPLIES
BIGAMYBUSINESS
BELTELLLOX
ANYKNELLEDGAS
AGTAAARUPP
MACBETHNCHEESE
PALEUSAESSEX
ACCRUALTARTS
BROTRAVELBANJO
SOTANNALAGOON
TNTHEELLETBE
Fri 7/31/2015
DRAGSHOWSTACKS
AUTOTUNETOILET
SNOBALLSEUDORA
BAMBAITCARSPY
OMARSNEAKMELD
OONAKERBGATOR
TKTSIANSNOOPY
CARDKEPI
ATLASTTEXSPEC
ROILSKATYTACO
TOPSCELEBSCUM
IDSCANKLESHAM
SLYDOGBOATRIDE
TENUREINSEASON
ESCHERGETWEIRD
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