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Puzzles for April, 2017
with Editor comments

Sat 4/1/2017
MCIASWARMHDTV
NOLALANAIAIRE
GUESSAGAINVSIX
SAUTEMOLES
PRIZEEERINESS
ACAITIMNNONOS
WASSONGSETTLE
GINORMOUS
SPRUNGAARPPSA
MEANTCNRRSIKH
UNSNARLSATTYS
HEXADBLURB
SPEDTWOBYFOURS
TORIEARLEPLEA
PESTDRESSHLIK
Sun 4/2/2017 INITIAL DESCRIPTION
CHALKSMADEASALUTES
AERIALABOLLACLOSELY
SWIMMERWITHARCHEDNECK
SNAPPEAGAINFULERNIE
APPEARDEWIDS
MOSTLYARIDREDSPHERE
SANAAALSACESIDE
SKORDOTNUBSMIASMA
AIDTOLOCATEASTREET
SETRATEAAHAMYAYN
OLEANLGBTMETASTLEO
FIRILEAREZITHERS
THREEROLLEDINTOONE
CUERVODORAUNCSAGA
SANGNAGSATMINED
OTHERWISEKNOWNASYES
ASHDARATRIAL
STEERHEAVETOFRISSON
WINGEDANDSTINGINGPEST
ACRONYMDONNIEINCASH
SHYNESSPAGANASANAS
Mon 4/3/2017
EGOSVAPORIRIS
BERTIRATENATL
BEERBATTERECHO
SKOALERASHAT
PUMPKINCOACH
SKIROERHEAS
OILSNASAAFL
BALLPARKFIGURES
BAESALTNAPA
ALEVEACTYAP
WATERPITCHER
NTHSUMOREAMS
ITEMCEILINGFAN
NEROKALELARIA
GREWSNEAKLONG
Tue 4/4/2017
XFLGRATESTAID
ERARELAYCOSMO
NOSERVICERAYON
ODEAOBIPESO
NORSELITERATURE
TUTGEMWAX
EMBERSAGEMINI
NEUROSCIENTISTS
DARNCURDIMHOT
ORSJABVEE
NATIONALPASTIME
ONUSYIPICON
JAPESPINOCCHIO
EXERTINTROARK
TENTSAGASPTAI
Wed 4/5/2017
SPITCABSPOMP
SHINEROPAHSPUR
MAÑANAPEÑANIETO
IVANFLEXORSNOW
DETECTORSPAREME
GRATATNGORBS
ESSBASIEBASSOS
PIÑACOLADA
NONONOULTRASEP
OKEDSODPEPSI
SIESTASGASTRAPS
ENDICEWINEINAT
JALAPEÑOSELNIÑO
OWESLOOTPINSON
BASKARTSDAHL
POW Thu 4/6/2017
ESTDXMANLIVE
ACHEMEGAARIL
TERABYTESBTEAM
UNEIGAAGEE
PEELERPATTIE
XENIAMARAUDS
PSATTWEEOGRES
ATLXSANDOSNAE
REARSSEASGELS
INDEPTHLURID
STYLESMUFFED
YEASUGGUVA
VIVIDTUNASALAD
IRANAMPMALDA
PANGRACEHOES
Fri 4/7/2017
BLUFFSBUYERS
RANOUTPOTOMAC
ARMORYHEREWEGO
CRADLESONGSROT
HUDTUNETAUT
SPEAKEASYBELTS
SIXYEAROLDS
FIRESCREENS
MEDICALCARE
BADENTEAMSTERS
ERASSHADNOW
AMYSTONECIRCLE
TIEBEAMSORIOLE
ITERATEBADREP
TENORSSNEERS
Sat 4/8/2017
ANTIGONEWATT
HOUSEPETDONEE
ETCETERAQUOTAS
MAKESDODUELIST
RENDSWATCHES
ROOTBEERAERI
WWIIVETPRAT
COTNETIZENODE
ANILSPLITUP
NEMOCALLSFOR
THEODOREFOES
FOLKARTCASHBOX
AREOLEROBABANK
ISSUEADRIATIC
LESTDEADHEAD
Sun 4/9/2017 HAVING NOTHING ON
ABBOTSCATCRIPROOS
CLOTHARCHRENEKENDO
HOBBITHOLEAIDEOFTEN
TORSWINEMYGALSALOON
MOVIEBUFFOONSPLEENY
BASESTENLLORAX
PRECUTSAUSAGEFESTOON
LARUSSACDTLIFEECRU
ACTATEENEGOASHEN
YESHORSEDRAWNCARTOON
BEREAASLARGOS
SMALLMOUTHBASSOONTUB
PINUPULAOHNOSUPE
ERTESERBLPSEDWARDS
WAILINGWALLOONWHYNOT
ELEGYAOLOBOIST
IMPALESFLOODLAMPOON
MAINDRAGOONRIVALGOP
ADAIRLOCIDOMINATORS
MANNYAGAROPIESELMA
SMOGDOLEASTRHADAT
Mon 4/10/2017
RAISEABODECOB
ORCASCOREDACE
SEANCONNERYLEI
HANGMEDIAPLAN
TSADISHING
TIMOTHYDALTON
ATEEASESIT
ROGERLUGMOORE
RNACADSWII
PIERCEBROSNAN
LIBERALINK
IRASMEDALINTO
FINDANIELCRAIG
ENDDICERCUTER
RAJSCHMOSNORE

There is an old joke that prisoners make good crossword constructors because they have a lot of time on their hands.

In my 23+ years at the Times, I haven't found this to be the case. I've rarely gotten submissions from people in prison, and Lonnie Burton is the first one I've ever accepted a puzzle from.

Lonnie's theme of 007 actors is straightforward and unremarkable. I'm sure it's been done before. What tickled me about this version was the grid number "007," as well as the elegance of crossing the answer there with one of the theme entries. That's brilliant.

I asked Lonnie to tell me about himself and how he makes crosswords — which can't be easy to do in prison. A condensed version of his response appears below.

I'm a strong believer in redemption and the capacity of people to change. No matter what Lonnie has done in the past, which landed him in prison, I admire him for what he's doing now.

POW Tue 4/11/2017
WISHLAMBSWAMI
AKIOALOEIONIC
SECLUSIONGENRE
PAKISTANZANIA
DENPHS
NICARAGUATEMALA
OKAYMONKREBAR
ENCGENTILENYE
LOTSAEIREDEEN
SWITZERLANDORRA
OEDTAM
UNITEDNATIONS
TAKENBEANANGEL
AVERTACIDOLIO
BASSOYOLOSENT
Wed 4/12/2017
MANUPRIDLOPES
ALITOAMYINEPT
ROKERCANAVERAL
GUESSTIMATES
EDSCISMATADO
HOMEINVADER
SHAPELTDCENT
WALLSTREETCRASH
ALEEHOCAEREO
MARXBROTHER
PLOIAMOTSWAC
SPLITTHEBILL
MAPLELEAFALLIE
ANTEDSROTIMER
GNAWSTARSPANK
Thu 4/13/2017
IPADSPYSIMBA
BIGOSHOOATEAM
ENIDMOODLHASA
GOTOHEOHERSIDE
SADATLOAN
OTAWAEDKOCH
GAPNALAINSUM
ONEPOATOWOPOATO
STRUTTOONYES
HITMENFLASH
PRIMLIOTA
TRIPLEOVERTIME
CAIROZBAROTOS
UPTOPZESTRECT
BEANSOYEOROS
Fri 4/14/2017
POTROASTSCAT
ABOUTTHATSOAVE
TOUGHLOVEPUTIN
HEREATERANNAS
SRSRAINDATE
BOOTHNBCAPED
BADRAPSYEAS
STEALINTALLONE
IFSOEXPEDIA
SWATAWLHEDER
PARLANCETAP
ARIASREHEMCES
SHOCKARENAROCK
MOSESBALALAIKA
SLEDTIMESLOT
Sat 4/15/2017
STATORALBLCDS
OATHMETALBLOT
CHEESECAKEJAGR
KIMMELDEAFSPA
STPETERKANSAN
IOCTOTOBOARD
HITTHEBRICKS
SPACETOURISTS
PHONESERVICE
IONICNORMMUD
TOYCARESIASON
FATPAWSTAKETO
AWAGTHEJONESES
LAIRTOXINRUDE
LYLEYAYMESPUD
Sun 4/16/2017 SADDLE UP!
NAFTABIGAIDEAEGGOS
ELLENAMEXCARDSZORRO
ALISTTHEHUMANTORNADO
RAPTCHOKESBARMAGNET
HARBORAPPASSPAH
CISCOKIDEARLMALE
RIODIABLOALAFOE
PRIEDEATSLONERANGER
MANSESNAHSILVERDOME
SUBSOWSOITSEEMS
ALLOREPWIZWASLSAT
ROYROGERSGALNAG
TRIGGERINGPOWWELOST
SENIORYEARSNAPTONTO
EDYSKIGIRLSCOUT
BCCSSTEMPILEITON
ALEMDTMBADOOMED
DALEEVANSUTAHANOHOH
BUTTERMILKDONUTSTALE
EDICTPLOWSINTOPENCE
TECHSSETHSOURADDED
Mon 4/17/2017
WDSCDROMAPBIO
IRAAWARECLUCK
LULULEMONHADES
SNARLERLONGS
OKRABOOBOOBEAR
NSYNCDUALTWO
IOSRBIREST
PUPUPLATTER
PRIMREAAIL
IONETDSPALES
GOOGOOEYESPITA
SCARFAMUSERS
ETHICVUVUZELAS
DELTAOTERIODE
DRESSNERFSWED
Tue 4/18/2017
SEESETTELASS
TILTREARSARIA
AREAASSAIRATS
REALISTSTILES
ETESASEA
ALTAIRALISTER
SARISRITESLAT
STIRSELESRITA
TETSTEEREATER
RETAILSATREST
ELLSESAI
ISRAELSALTIER
RIISETATSIRAE
ELLERELEEEASE
STERLESTSSTS
Wed 4/19/2017
SLAWJANUSAQUA
TECHABOVERUNS
EREIKERRIMATT
MONSTERMASHKOI
SITKADAYMARE
EDGERSURFS
PLAYAREAMANGIA
RONSENEANNULS
EKEOUTLIENEE
VICUNAAPR
DRAGSHOWSHIA
NEOSAWEDINHALF
OATSRENOCILIA
TSARBARRAGLET
EELSOTISRHODE
Thu 4/20/2017
AWAYSOLIDATIT
SIZEPLUMEBONE
ONUSRADIIROVE
FORHEAVENSSAKE
IVYMIDACT
TVAMARRECTO
WHACKAMOLELIP
SHESIMBUESAVE
PINLAMEEXCUSE
ATALEARSHMS
RETAINBET
RUNFORTHEROSES
GIRDFATALTOKE
NCAAATOLLALEX
CELTTEPEELOST
POW Fri 4/21/2017
APSESPAUSEHAG
CREMAASSETUTA
TOTUPPIECHARTS
OFTSMEARTACTIC
FOLDERGNILLA
GREATSCOTTDEAN
OMIGOSHOHMS
DANRIATEAOHS
TIASAFROPOP
PIPEHELLOKITTY
ENLAIIBNLIDS
GRAMMARNAZIMAT
GOGOBOOTSALITO
EAUANNEEMISER
DDEDEALSBETSY
Sat 4/22/2017
HEBRIDESMESSES
AQUILINEAXILLA
JUICEBOXZANILY
JACKASSTHEMOVIE
ILKSAWSJEER
PREPPYMAR
CHEROKEEPAPIER
BADIDEAROXANNE
SHINEDMAKINGDO
EGOBITEME
CUFFTANSAYA
ARAISININTHESUN
PILEUPCAREWORN
ECCLESATALANTA
SHODDYREDDRESS
Sun 4/23/2017 A CENTURY OF SONG
MAMMASCRUSTAMALFI
GORILLASHEREELAGOON
ATISKETATASKETENNUIS
LEOSCABERNETBEGUILE
ETSEQYEWALOOFASSET
SINUSEARPFFFDADS
DIMITRICONSUMER
ISHTUNDESOTOJAIME
NEOLITHSNINOSICSRS
JAWATAPEADOBESUTRA
ELHILADYELLAGRAY
SPITZERIESEOSZLOTY
TUGIDSTNUTCONTINUE
PHONEHOTDOGNUIGMS
TVCAMERAFOSSILS
AGHADUILUSTTEALS
CEELOTRUCEPATSCALE
ELMTREEPHASESINKTEL
TAOISTISINGLIKEIFEEL
ATONEDTENETSINSULTS
LONERSSTARSSALLYS
Mon 4/24/2017
HTMLCHEFPSALM
OWESIOTAEERIE
WORDSALADGAPED
TAMWOEIRATE
OMAHAENOSGMT
NOTHINGBURGER
THIRDSEINE
SWIMPANSYDOSE
POSITOPENS
COUCHPOTATOES
ALPROLEBANGS
PRIEDGEEIOU
SEOULHUMBLEPIE
EASELARABMEND
TRESSTINSURGE
Tue 4/25/2017
IRAQTRIGCBGBS
MENTROSAHELOT
BODYGUARDIBIZA
URIAIDGAMEBOY
EGESTSNEVE
COMPUTERPORT
SAMESEZCARVES
PRANKZZZSIENA
AGREESLIIONER
MOVIETHEATER
PEASSAYIDO
ICELANDCOSMEX
BORATFRONTPAGE
MITZIUNUMAGUY
SLEETNAPEHOME
POW Wed 4/26/2017
VIEWAPBMENTOS
ACNECOOAVIARY
REDDFOXXNEXXUS
YESSIRSAYNO
ANGERNSFW
MEANTOAREDARE
ALPOANTIVAXXER
DIEHARDVINROSE
EXXONMOBILANNO
RIADYLANDYSON
ARMSAGGRO
LEASHAMARNA
TJMAXXDOSEQUIS
ROOMIEARPUGLI
YEASTSDRYASEA
Thu 4/27/2017
CENTRALSUDOKU
ORCHARDNAUTICAL
PRIESTSUNBEATEN
ASSETMTMNOLA
MARSHEIRE
SWIMITERATEABS
OHMYCARETDFLAT
CEASERATESATYA
KEYDIETARYNOSY
MUNIPSSST
CODEONONAPES
HAIRCUTSERASURE
IHATEYOUMEFIRST
PUZZLESQUARES
Fri 4/28/2017
DAFTCAMECHIPS
ACROPOLISRUNES
WHATADUMPALCAN
GENTLEMENSCLUB
EARNZAKBRR
BARTAFOREAAA
GODEEPENTRTIC
MUDDASNERTINE
ANICLODECHOED
ICCIONICREND
LETTMIASAP
SEXYANDIKNOWIT
MODEMLEMONLIME
SUTRAAMARYLLIS
STOOPWONTSENT
Sat 4/29/2017
ASHBBCSCRAWL
THEATEAMARABIA
MEACULPANATANT
FERNGIRDMATTE
ESTEETIEUPTEX
EHSKOALASCORE
DILLYDALLIES
SOUNDINGBOARD
GEORGESMILEY
ITSASTOVESGEE
GAPSTINESTEAM
ASONECRABONTO
TIRANAOWLSNEST
ODESSAEAUDEVIE
NESTEAYESAND
Sun 4/30/2017 NEW ENGLAND CHATTER
GRIDASNAPCLOCKPDF
AIDELEONIOUNCEFRAU
SPOCKPLUGSACALLTOOMS
HALOESETALIIHATES
AYEASLOPERACEME
HOTSPECIALISTCHASSIS
INEULMSCALIATRI
TURNITUPTHEBODOFAVON
ESSENESEASTRAMONG
GARBFLEATOETOTOE
BOWLPASSINGMOCKREND
EPHEMERAADIAKENO
GEICOICKTWASAUDIS
INSTANTCOMMADROPSEAT
NIKCOOLIOMAUAGA
STEPSINASHOTINTHEDOC
DOUSESTENETSELS
SMARMCHILLSLLBEAN
LOWCOBDIETITSMYPOTTY
UTAHAROLLNEPALWORE
REYHYNDEERASESNIT
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