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Puzzles for December, 2017
with Jim Horne comments

View these same grids with comments from:
Constructor (25)Jeff Chen (31)Jim Horne (6)Hide comments
Fri 12/1/2017
AMPCAMETOTWAS
LOOMEDOVEREASE
ORIONSBELTANTE
HANNALIBNOM
ALTOCLEFZABARS
SEEAXEDFABIO
CONTROLFREAK
GENDERROLES
ZILLIONAIRES
ITALOTRACPAD
PERONIINAWHILE
IRESMSIONIC
TADAPEACEMAKER
UTAHERRORPRONE
PETALEMMASSSE
Sat 12/2/2017
DOUBLEDOGDARE
ENNIOMORRICONE
BARNYARDANIMALS
AVEDIRECTDEBIT
TINTLIRESOLTI
ESTABTECHSEER
RIESENDUOS
STDENISPLUMJOB
EBAYAREOLA
DAINSLOTEGADS
OLMECBURRANTE
DIPSOMANIACMIL
ONETHINGATATIME
ELLENDEGENERES
SENIOREDITORS

I love the ELLEN DEGENERES clue at 61 Across.

Sun 12/3/2017 SHELL GAME
SAUTESCYCLEFTSASL
ELNORTEOSHEALEIMOO
ACCUSALSALOESOAKLAWN
WOOTTONICSWEEPHAZED
APUPINTMEASURETITO
ROTHSETHANYREPINON
PHISHDADDOING
SNOOPKRESGEDRAINS
PEZARCTICEXPLORERSIP
CRACKTEAMPAINEINCA
GAGREELRESORTTIPSTER
AGRIONICECHAMOMILE
MOEATTACKWITHAPAWTYS
ENBLOCGHOSTSYEMEN
COKESSPAARUBA
GERMLPNGEOMEANBUST
OMOOLINCOLNLOGSSHH
LOANSTWOAMUKASEATIE
ARTDECOSWIFTNEWSCREW
MAILOUTORRESOONISH
EPALOTSLAYSKLEPTO
Mon 12/4/2017
PITASTUNERTEN
ECOLIALAMOUNO
SAYITAINTSONUT
CHERCASFLAME
INDEPTHCEASE
PAYITFORWARD
NASALRAMSLAY
ESTMAYITBEATE
IPADVETAIDED
LAYITONTHICK
RAVENACHEFOR
SALEMBABEISA
AGEPLAYITBYEAR
SURTOLETRANGE
HSTSWISSRYDER
Tue 12/5/2017
ABCSSAUNACHIP
PLOTURGESHARE
POPEYETHESAILOR
SCARABACCENT
OREORITA
MARINEBIOLOGIST
IPODSORBROMEO
CIALEASTNET
SADDAYALGORE
CIGNAABORT
ALLENGINSBERG
AWOLANOYEOW
HASHATTIPSATE
AREOHHENRYDYE
BEDWHARTONYAK
Wed 12/6/2017
EMMAFIRMMAID
MANNOCCAMACME
MPEGRAMBODAME
ELMSUMPDIADEM
TEETIMEHUMMED
RMSMOLEMIA
SAMOSMAMETIAM
ELEMMANESMETE
AMTMENDSMOSES
MAREDOMSUM
MOHAIRLIMEADE
MANILADIMNMEX
ATOMNAOMITAMA
NEMOSIMBAUNUM
OREMMOONMARS

46 Ms is a record. In 2010, Mr. Probert tried the same trick with the letter B.

Thu 12/7/2017
TANGENTHAMLAP
AMTUNERIVOODE
JOHNJAYGOOFSUP
SOPCHINASEA
MATHISREDBULL
APRONTARALE
INITBIZKSTATE
DEPBUSYBEEDER
SALAAMIONGEAR
ELKFDAWORSE
LATEFEERINSED
TEXASTEAIND
OVERALLUPTOYOU
GILLEOPEELERS
ASSEEKINRANGE
Fri 12/8/2017
SCATJEANSHORTS
POPOESCAPEROOM
FACTDERNIERCRI
STRATIEARLKEL
ELOWANETINE
RADIOGAGACHET
IMINLOVEDAE
BATCAVEBITESAT
OTTQUAALUDE
MAMEPUZZLEBOX
COLEBAEZAMT
ANGCORPKNEWIT
BARRELRACENEKO
IMEANTOSAYTEEN
NINJASTARSSTAY
Sat 12/9/2017
ESASASFITTAOS
RONALORCAONCE
INDIRENEEDRATE
CORNBREADPECAN
IGOTITKATARINA
DRIESPINECONES
LADDFINCHES
EMSBEEGEESMAP
KILDAREBADA
LIBELLAWSMONEY
ONAPLATEMAXINE
CARTSESTATETAX
ALTODROWNEDOUT
LIEFARMASUBER
SERFMEESEPARA
POW Sun 12/10/2017 FULL-BODY CAST
AWALKSHELINNOTIME
TOMEITALIBHOTLINES
OWIESEVOKESETHAKITT
MEGASTARELWAYVITAE
DONCHLESLALOMILE
NAVJOHNLUIZAMO
ZAPMOIRAONENOLO
ETONCOINOPBANGOR
ELSALANCERPORKADOBO
ATBATATTUNESOIR
INDDENZELWASGTONKGB
STOPBONSAIVISIT
TACOSTANDMICHELLEOH
SCHEMEHEALERYADA
KIEVTEETEXTSROT
RYANPHILLPEIAN
USESAVIOROLPLATT
RENALNOTREPASTRIES
BITPARTSETCHEDCULPA
ANTIGONESUTRAOTTER
NEONSIGNTSARDOSES
Mon 12/11/2017
HOYASWATHBEAD
EDENLIBRAONCE
ROTARYCLUBODDS
ARISECELLBLOCK
ASIAYALE
AMAZEDTALON
MOBILEHOMENONE
INNLAUDINGVIC
SEEDSMARTALECK
SYRIAERASES
FIRSCRIB
PAYFREEZESCOPE
LUAUHEADPHONES
URNSANGERATOP
MAKEBOSSYTONY
Tue 12/12/2017
SOXDILLHARPON
CHRISTIEAMELIA
REACTSTONOSALT
ANTEYENSSTY
PRESSAPRODAY
SYDEMBRYORENE
OREADOPIATE
SALVATORMUNDI
GOLDENDOING
ADAMINANETTUB
LANATOVSHINE
ASKWISEUTES
HALTEDNOVELLAS
ARDENTCHARLESI
STARTSIONADYE

Mr. Kahn memorialized another artworld controversy back in 2008.

Wed 12/13/2017
GASBOMBMANDMS
AVIATORTAXFREE
FERRITEAGELINE
FRENCHANTILLES
ETNADIESOD
SERUMNRCGOAT
DRIVETHROUGH
LIAAMAORETOY
SIDELIGHTING
DIAZCRYSTOMP
MEGADAKIAS
MAKEANENTRANCE
LENIENTTOEPOKE
ASCENDSEFFUSED
WAYLAYSUITORS
POW Thu 12/14/2017
TANKSHEDSCPAS
ATONTAKEILENA
MANOELECTARTY
ATEWELLOBOISTS
LIONELARMORY
ELFLABMICENAE
STYEROARKSAPS
OAFAGOAOL
BURLTINSHIH
CURLUPATONAL
ORBBATSNOCTA
LYESROBEDMOCK
STEPADLERIMHO
OHSOLATTEMEET
NEWTLYSOLETTA
Fri 12/15/2017
ATANANGLEASSERT
TACOSALADDEALER
LETITPASSOEUVRE
ISAACSMGMLION
REVERSIRISEROD
AKAALERTRATS
METABOLICRATE
SEXANDVIOLENCE
ENTREPRENEURS
KARLHIRESRIO
ERADEFYHEAVENS
BANQUETCALLED
ABOUNDMODELSHIP
BLUINGARECAPALM
SETTEELASTNAMES
Sat 12/16/2017
OCTUPLETZAPPA
THEVOICEFELLIN
REALTALKORIENT
ANKARAWFOOTAGE
MUSTARDGAS
SHOPSRAPLETS
HENEARNOWISEE
IMEMINECREATED
RATATATSNLAUG
KNOTGITBTYPE
WHEREAREYA
REALMADRIDMOJO
ITTEAMMAGNAVOX
FACTISATEALIVE
ETHELCASHEDIN
Sun 12/17/2017 OH, ONE LAST THING
CHADAMIDALAABCSABS
LEDEREVELERLOUISNYE
EMUSSTIFFASABORDEAUX
FILTHHEYELAPSED
TREPIDRONINBERMS
ALSORANVANITYPHARAOH
NEWYORKMEZZOEARRDA
KAISIREESPRYMEEK
ARMADARADBEEFGABLE
MELBATUTTISLIT
ROLLINGINTHEDEPOT
TERIGAUNTBYRON
SILASGILTFOESTEPPE
OPELTURFGESSOHAT
CTAHALIRESTMYQUESO
KOSHERPICCOLONEUTRON
SPEARREEKSFINITO
SEASONSDEVTEMPT
LOVEISINTHEARROWROLE
LOOKATMEONGUARDENOS
COWMAIDWEEBLESDEWS
Mon 12/18/2017
EASESALGAEALB
SLOMOREIGNNOR
CLAUDEMONETOVA
AMPAXONOKIES
PAILPRIDEMONTH
ELNINOORBITAL
DEGASHAJISPY
MADEMONEY
RIMELISGAINS
ATATIMEDOWNON
CODEMONKEYNATO
ELDERNAANWOW
FDAINNERDEMONS
AYSCRUELMERCI
NAHHANDYOGDEN
Tue 12/19/2017
SOPSWEETRIG
PIERTOOTHHERA
ALDOERNIEESOS
LICHENCOBAIN
BACKINCODDLE
AMASSDIMUSUAL
APBSAVVIEREWS
CANDYCANE
STARTSRENTAL
ORTOACORNRARE
BIRCHHOEBANTU
BOHOAHAUGGS
HOPENOTLORELAI
PROTECTMUSSELS
SOSYAYSITDEM
Wed 12/20/2017
TSARMOTIFS
MEETUPAVENUE
TORPEDOSREADER
HASTESTESMILE
ONEEIGHTGIN
MARCSARGELENA
LLCSSIZING
FOURFIVE
TOUCANMETE
CORDPOWERSASS
HRSSEVENTWO
INANEAIDANEED
DAKOTAREDHEADS
EDENICLIAISE
SONANTNINE
Thu 12/21/2017
ASSISICAMARO
WHATEVSGALILEI
GENERALHOSPITAL
EATANIMATEEDU
ERATKNOLLPREP
STAGPETE
PALAUSFOHEATH
INURNHISELLIE
GENIIOFTLOFTS
SWANNTISEUROS
RAGSETTA
REYFEUMRTNCO
ICEPOPSIRECKON
PRAIRIEFORRENT
EUREKASFLYINTO

Thanks to our database, we know exactly who Alex Eaton-Salners can thank for introducing left-right mirror symmetry to NYT crosswords. The first such puzzle ever in the Times was on June 14, 1942 (the 18th NYT crossword in history) by former Times Editor Charles Merz and former Times publisher Arthur Hays Sulzberger.

It wasn't their invention, of course. Will Shortz tells me that there were mirror symmetry grids as far back as the 1910s.

POW Fri 12/22/2017
GUITARAMPEBAN
ESCAPEROOMLOCO
THELEGIONOFDOOM
FAMESERGEIHUE
IPASSSHOPS
TENTECHSCHOOLS
TALLAHASSEE
GALLIVANTED
AIRLINEFOOD
STRESSEATERFDA
WALDOYPRES
ABCUHOKAYREBS
ROOMTONEGOTIATE
DIDONERFROCKET
SLEWSNAKEEYES
Sat 12/23/2017
RINGTABSATRAPS
THOREAUTREESAP
SEXIESTMANALIVE
AZTTUDORALL
MRESGESTTOM
RIMSORTSALIVA
ITALIANAMERICAN
INDUCTEES
CHANCETHERAPPER
RACKEDEVESRXS
INCAWEDCOLT
EGOALTARUFO
STUDIOEXECUTIVE
TENANTSSIMILES
ONTRUSTTASTERS
Sun 12/24/2017 MAKING A FAST BUCK
STPCARIBLOPESSEC
HOLEERODEEGRETGILA
RUMARBYSFLOORREVS
SAMBASBLEATEDIMAGES
HELLENEELKIMPEDES
ALDERCOEGAYLE
CRAZYEIGHTYSIXDAMON
OENOTREEHEIREINE
PLINTHSNUGLISEAGLES
LASSOESESIGNJINGLES
AXEOMYASSAYINKIAM
NETLONGUNOMDENRA
DREWSCOTTNOLIESEEN
SAINTPROPOSEECARD
SOFAYOUREPROD
SAVEPARKNTHOTRODS
ALIEMILATHEIFSNOT
NBCOASISPAULAALA
TAUTOUUNICORNLIQUOR
ANNALSRUDOLPHLOTTOS
YARDSEXESCROP

The Elizabeth Gorski year-end connect-the-dots puzzles is the greatest tradition in NYT crosswords. Liz is caught up in her own delightful weekly puzzles now, so Mary Lou and Jeff have taken up the tradition, at least for this year.

It seems like a good time for a Liz Gorski Year-End Visual Crossword Retrospective. Her year-end puzzles include:

There's more write-on-the-grid creativity on our Visual Puzzles page.

POW Mon 12/25/2017
PRIMCLOTLATCH
JADEEONSALOHA
SHOTCLOCKYEMEN
RUSSETEXANS
CALORIEFATTEE
OSUSUNBELTOYL
RICHESLACEUP
KAYONUTSASH
VETOERFIASCO
CSAWAXBEANTAG
RUNOTTRUDDERS
IMPISHMOXIE
SMELTHITPARADE
CILIAARIABAIL
OTTERMACSYANK
Tue 12/26/2017
AJJACOBSABSCESS
PORTABLEBAYAREA
RESONATEINSPECT
LAMNADAICRY
STILLAFIVELETTER
LAGSANACAST
ECOACTSPOIL
WORDSTARTINGWITH
AISLEUSSRYE
TATAIOSPAPA
LOSANDENDINGINER
ARABEASEOLE
MENACERSCOUTCAR
ERASURESANTIAGO
ROSEREDABSENTEE

Terrific puzzle! Here's the A. J. Jacobs page on Amazon.

Wed 12/27/2017
RBIWHOALADIES
ARMAUDIAVENGE
GAGORDERBODEGA
TNOTEWIENER
ADOTATALLTEL
GODOFLOVESHIVA
FINENOBAIL
MISPLAYCOROLLA
OPERASAONE
JANETAGNESGREY
ODDSWEETAIDE
CACHESBRAGS
CHATTYADDERLEY
GASTROGAYETRE
INHALFOMENOSS
Thu 12/28/2017
BEAMESPAMDRY
LTCOLTAGUPROE
ONEPMACADEMICS
WADPOSTERTON
ESAUSNAKES
SWITDEBUTABALL
TENSEIMAMTWA
ETDVANTAGEHOC
ANIELIESHOOK
DASINFERNOANDS
SPARTAEONS
RAUUPTHEANTE
TURNABOUTACORN
ANALEMMEROVED
BOYGOADSWAYS
Fri 12/29/2017
BETATESTSCOPED
OXYCONTINSHAVE
PARTYGIRLIONIA
ECOSEMIONHOLD
ETNALUNACYRGS
POETSLGBTBARE
BALICAKEMIX
CICERONOTANY
ARISINGDENT
SENTGOREGISTS
HANREPEATSLAP
FLAVORDRACELO
LIBELJOYBUZZER
OZONELAMBROAST
WENDSOKEYDOKEY
Sat 12/30/2017
DASHIKISWETBAR
ALPACINOOMEARA
MNEMONICRUNDMC
AIDINGIDSDARE
SCUDJDATESPEW
KOPFAILSPSA
HOMEDFEALTY
CANIGETAWITNESS
ZLOTYSRERAN
OTTSWEETHAD
LAVAQUIPSROVE
GRABURNTHEWEB
OBLATEIWOULDNT
SOITISSANTIAGO
ZYDECOMCESCHER
Sun 12/31/2017 RING OUT THE OLD, RING IN THE NEW
OWNCCCRAGTAGFISTS
WHOSWHOFERRARIINUIT
LASTTANGINPARISBAMBA
SMEESNERTSPATSTWIT
BATTENSPSIACURAS
CELLRECITALTHEBABE
LIETOTESLASITEMSAP
ONEHOPIGUESSGETME
TEDPOLGROUNDSFELLTO
SUDANESEBLAMEON
ALFMISSYSOLERROY
GOLIATHOBSESSED
ATODDSINEEDAHUGOFAN
TUPACGOSTAGESPANA
ESPASANSLAKEDAHINT
YIPPIESURANIUMOREO
OLDBOYLOPPENNANT
BAIOSADATELMERERLE
EPSONSEVENDAYSINMAYO
YUCKYHAIRPINOPTEDIN
SPOSEENCORENEHENS
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