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Puzzles for January, 2019
with Jim Horne comments

Tue 1/1/2019
ABELFIGABROAD
GENEONEPRONTO
HATTRICKPISCES
ANIALIKEGEE
SERUMTORCHSONG
TREMBLEVATVIA
ALAEINLENS
TIMESIGNATURE
CANISNOPEN
ABASINTEACHER
BUCKTEETHSHOVE
TOOSAREEBOD
EPILOGPASSABLE
SAVAGEASPLIVE
PRESETSHYITEM
Wed 1/2/2019
PALLMUFFAGE
IDEASESAIBRAG
SHARKMARGARITA
MONDALETRADED
OCTOSCARII
OBITRUENAIF
LATENTEKELISA
GREEKAASBERET
BENEWCSMOSSES
TATAEEEEAST
TSARDOMROE
COHEIRDOGBERT
CHERRYPIEPEACH
TIESOHNOADMAN
VOLFINNESSO
POW Thu 1/3/2019
GRABBEDHASIDIM
LECARREEXODERM
ICENINEAMALGAM
DESKTOPPAPER
EDITSNOESP
DETESTSPSALM
LORAASEPSIS
WOLFOFSTREET
PIPETTEHEAL
USERSENSURES
PENPIPNAME
STONEJACKSON
LALAKERENLISTS
STOKERSSTANLEE
DETENTESINGERS
Fri 1/4/2019
FETEMUSSSABRA
APPLIANCEFLAIR
BIKINIWAXCORGI
STENCHOSHA
TWIHARDOUTFIT
RAMONEOMENNOR
AREWEDONETHINE
GMATSHEDSASTI
IFNOTMAYICUTIN
CURAMYLBITEME
ZEBRASREVERED
CZAROTOOLE
OILUPANTITRUST
DELTAREFUSENIK
ASYETSALSXOXO
Sat 1/5/2019
POINTEALARMS
INTERNGRANARY
SITSONIAMWOMAN
TOEOUTCRYNATO
INASPIRALDID
LYMEANILPANS
XERISCAPING
SIMONEBILES
SYSTEMERROR
PINTSATECARS
ARFSHACKEDUP
ROUESTADIASSE
ICESHEETPRAISE
ACLTEARRESTED
HOSERSONSETS
Sun 1/6/2019 BREAKING NEWS
ELMISTIPASHAABODE
TOOGOODEVENNOWCUREL
HOLLYWOODENDINGEGGED
NEOSLUGSDEEPBARE
SOBSETIEYEOPENER
ASKSALOTSPARDA
CHILIKEDARCTICFRONT
RINGLEADERALANISXII
OVERPAYNOBLEMENOINK
EATSIMIEPISODEI
ASPERJUMPSTARTCHESS
BLACKCODOEDSLEO
HAREORDAINEDCUPOJOE
OTCANGERSSTOLETHIRD
REHABCENTEROSAGEMAD
BLOEECAMORALLY
ANYSECONDFLAKSLO
MEETTRIOISAACEVE
IXNAYDEARJOHNLETTERS
CUTIEECLIPSEIDEALLY
ASANARELOGTEMPLES

Fun theme.

Mon 1/7/2019
CABOGABLABRAT
ALESERAENOUGH
PATRILEYNATGEO
AIMSONGTENT
PETCATNETWORTH
ONECUREDHAM
MDSGETFUJI
PITBOSSNITPICK
TSARAIRMAI
TEENBEATMRT
POTHOLESNOTYET
OVERSEEMMUD
PUTOUTNUTBREAD
ELROPOCSIBABY
SEAMANESPONCE
Tue 1/8/2019
EGGSBOBCATARC
BARECLAIREDEO
BLANKCANVASLTD
YAODIRTIRE
KEATONBLACKBOX
ALROKERTAO
PIERNEATSIRES
USATANLINEENO
TASTETADAEDNA
AAAEVENSUP
GOLDRINGIRAQIS
APETREOICU
DIMABSTRACTART
ONOPUTTEDEROS
TENESSAYSDEEP
POW Wed 1/9/2019
GIFTSSWIFT
MINISKIMILLI
WILDTHINGINKIN
ILLSIRISLISPS
IDSIRTTWIN
INTCRINGING
RIFFSBLINGKIR
ISISBRINKZITI
GINSLINGMIDST
STIFLINGWIG
RINGSIXFBI
SPRIGINITSIRS
IRISHTIGHTKNIT
TINCTCHIMING
SIKHSSNIPS

This puzzle nearly doubles the number of I's in the previous record. I particularly admire WILD THING and TIGHT KNIT; two 9-letter entries with 7 consonants and 2 I's.

We're running out of unique single-vowel possibilities. Patrick Berry had 69 A's in 2002. J. R. Bender had 71 E's in 1996. In 2012, Steve Riley managed 69 O's. U, anyone?

In 1994, Cathy Allis went big, accomplishing this single-vowel feat in a memorable E-only Sunday puzzle called, of course, ELAND.

Thu 1/10/2019
VESPALEGSSPOTS
ASKEWAVONARNIE
NSYNCRATENOBEL
CAPTORINHANDURL
EYEMIAKARAT
BEATTHERAPTOR
RATIONWARYPOLO
ALIGNBITSSENDS
COMAEACHOCASEY
KEEPITREALTOR
BENTOATFGIG
THOCANTOROFCORN
OOMPHEASYSOFIA
ABBIESCANAMENS
DOSEDSTYXTORAH
Fri 1/11/2019
CAMERASHYSPAM
TALESOFWOECURB
OPEDCOLUMNORCA
TOSSTOMESOPHS
BOASPOTLIT
DISTANTPEWEMU
INPUTQUENCHED
SNOBPFUNKLADE
PARANOIADOZEN
EMTOURDNATEST
RESPITERED
SOBERODESGUSH
INREAPOSTROPHE
OLAVMARSLANDER
NYSEPLAYEDGOD

Will Shortz or one of his minions came up with the clue [Contents of some childproof containers, for short] for MEDS.

This is clever clue-writing. Instead of a simple definition or a sneaky pun, the clue takes a side-step away from the obvious to build a tiny story that points indirectly at the answer. This kind of once-removed creativity is something I struggle with. I suspect Will, with his decades of experience, does this naturally.

Today marks Jeff Chen's 55th collaboration puzzle in the NYT, more than half his total count. Only Nancy Salomon has more. Well, a lot more; she has 116. Here's the list of NYT constructors sorted by the number of collaborations.

And what about that clue for APOSTROPHE? Not ours either, but awesome.

Sat 1/12/2019
PEPBANDSVILA
OVERBOREJACOB
GORILLAZBENETS
SKITEAMMRRIGHT
ESPARIELIAR
HOMECARELARA
PUTONACLINIC
HAMSCACCHITOT
IMSPEECHLESS
NAPETHEESPYS
DRATEEROSPF
LICTORSNFCTEAM
ELMIRAZIRCONIA
GLANDICOULDNT
SONGTEMPESTS
Sun 1/13/2019 PARLOR TRICKS
SEABEDCEDEDWEEBLDS
UNDONEAMEXWILMAAOL
PARADEFLOATISLEYTRY
BITSDOTARDPARADISE
ELALIRRIGATEARENAS
MENIALICESINGLEMALT
TRAFFICCONEDEADAIM
TAKENTSBGPSJEN
JAHREALSPOOLSLOREN
OLAFISITNONECOHIBA
KARAOKEBARSUCTIONCUP
ENDIVERIPESTNSSALE
SORTAMELMACSOWNNAS
NOHWETSCOTTOOT
CHIANTIHARLEMSHAKE
BAKINGSODATAOEYEPIT
ASHLEESULLIVANORSO
WHOLEHOGGAINEDASIS
LOTDIVESINSIDESCOOP
EREIKEASKEENWHARFS
DELTERRAARTSAERIFY
Mon 1/14/2019
TAPERPAPAABCS
ILLBEEDENSLOT
DOUBLECHINSINE
YESORTOKINDA
MAGICKINGDOM
TREADONNOEND
ROMPSETAARM
AMPJUGHEADTOE
PALELLEEELS
ORFEOGUESSES
SAYAFEWWORDS
TUMMYAUDIWOO
AREADISGUSTING
LANDACNEOWNER
ESTABETSNOOSE
Tue 1/15/2019
CRUSHBASEMOHS
HENIEOXENIRAN
ITSMYTREATCITI
CANISEETREED
OPALDRINKSONME
SEGALSNEAKTAS
RONSTLWAIT
ILLGETTHEBILL
ATOYWRYLIZ
NCCIDOLSCASCA
YOURMONEYSRAHS
LUTESNOODGES
UPINNOGOODHERE
CLODGRADDALIS
KENSOOPSSTYES
Wed 1/16/2019
LASHADDSETCH
ALIASROUESOHO
BUTTWEIGHTTOAT
TMIADAMBELTS
ENDINGAISLEBEE
CALMSEASPAAAA
HEEDCPLUSRUT
BUYCHANTS
THESEEINHOST
ROYETSDOLUNCH
EWEGUISEPANERA
STRAPLIAMYET
TROYCZECHPLEAS
LULLSICKSOAMI
EELYITTYTROT
POW Thu 1/17/2019
JESTEDTWENPAR
ALPACAHAEYLLEH
MELLONECNUOENO
PAILSOLOSLAEM
ANTIHEROYACSIB
COREASOSSAEDI
KRUSTYKUEHT
SSNREVIVERFED
LENINRABOSI
TIDEDMGMMARCS
UNEASEGATSSEOG
SLEDSELESASRU
COMOESTAALLETS
AVENGERSRETEET
NEDOXESSESNES

This is the 39th NYT crossword that requires entering at least one answer backward. Here are the rest: list or thumbnails.

My favorite "mirror" puzzle didn't exactly require entering answers backward. Check out this Joe Krozel gimmick from 2008.

Fri 1/18/2019
PAPAWSACTUAL
ICEBOWLDOABLE
LISALOEBSPIELS
EDOFOALSSPRIT
SENDOUTEDT
STEADBONETIRED
WESTMADSENIRA
ETCSOLVENTVAT
ERAINLETSMETE
PAPERTOSSOARED
HEXHOSTING
HERTZNERDSMDS
ADORESLIEABOUT
GROANSPALOOKA
SAMSONSEXTET
Sat 1/19/2019
TAKETHISCROAKS
ONALEASHUVULAE
POTBELLIEDSTOVE
ADIALEARNAH
ZEEDOTMMAEKE
MOWBIELTAR
CASESENSITIVE
MICHELLEOBAMA
PERSONALSPACE
RNCTIPSOBS
ISUSISPTALIP
VWSASIAAIDA
YEAROFTHEMONKEY
TACOMAACIDTEST
ORTEGAHEADEDTO

Becoming by 34-Across is highly recommended. Read it!

Sun 1/20/2019 QUESTION OF RESPONSIBILITY
CLAMSPACEDAPSENIBS
HASATEMOTEDOERECOL
ISTHATAFACTASEAWIRY
CHURROSCHERITSADEAL
HETEROWHERESTHEPARTY
IDESHOOKSCHEERED
DOOMLOADSAGA
HOWSITHANGINGGLIBON
AREASSNOOTSRAINCOAT
GOTCHALATFARMHOUSE
WHOSESIDEAREYOUON
ORIENTATERNASMIDGE
DELTOIDSTBONDSANIME
EELRRSWHOSCRYINGNOW
SKYSMARXENNE
ESOBESOSTASHCATE
WHATSEATINGHIMASASON
AIRBRUSHENIDSNARLAT
INKAVSOPANYBODYHOME
FDICREDSSTUMPNOPAR
SINKETSYHOPISOPENS
POW Mon 1/21/2019
PASHAOSLOSON
FREEDCAROMUZI
FITFORAKINGPAX
TAOABELMERE
NATIONALPARKS
SCHMIDTNEAR
HEAPSSKETCHUP
URLTREADINO
TALKSHOWLOTUS
ICEDABOUTME
THEWHOLETRUTH
HEMIAMORECO
ELMCIVILRIGHTS
FLYODELLTIARA
TASDORYSLYLY
Tue 1/22/2019
MLKJRTSKSVATS
EIEIOOHIOIDIE
WINGSPREADEVER
SCARESTWIBE
CYDOWENNISSAN
REUBENDIDERE
YORESTPETE
WATCHYOURSTEP
HOPESOALOU
GABIPOCAREOF
ADREPSFIATAFC
WHAMSNIMROD
KEPILANDSLIDES
ERATESAULEERS
REDSDALESTERN
Wed 1/23/2019
CRABARCSHOTEL
LITEPERPAWAKE
OVALSTARNIXED
DELIVERYADDER
STLEOAONEELK
FLYINGBUTTER
SSSENSSAUTE
CATNAPSATECROW
ADREPCNNNNE
BLOWUPMATTER
SYNHEREMAGMA
GENDERNEUTRAL
LEMMEMANXTITO
AWAITACAIAMEN
VENTSWESTNYSE
Thu 1/24/2019
RCASAIMBAHAIS
ERICIDLEARARAT
VODODOLLSCHEMA
SNAPETISATF
SEALFOLPROF
ODDREGINAL
CRITICALDECCA
TORICHFORMYBLOD
OPERAMOUSSAKA
ENCASESDEM
FOTSTOLSTAG
ALILETLANDO
CAMERAGOGOEYES
ELEVENINAFLASH
TAXACTFABSHIA
Fri 1/25/2019
SCAMALERTDATA
TRUETOSIZEODES
EAGLESCOUTNOTI
IMUSTOTSTUPES
NPRBORESATTA
RANTRACKATM
ELCIDSWEETPEA
MEAGAINSOCIETY
MALAPROPANTES
ADPPARADERS
SHELINANENEC
STAVEDTBAPOLO
COLAICESCRAPER
ARODSENATERACE
RYNELETSPARTY
Sat 1/26/2019
WORLDBEATERS
GENIEOFTHELAMP
ALABAMASLAMMERS
SCRIPSLOSTIT
TOASTSUPSHAME
OMNITAPIRONUP
NETMONSTERMASH
BUNDTCAKE
ITSAMEMARIOBID
MEINRAGERBENE
AANDPNEWBASAL
PRUNESBERTHA
CESAREANSECTION
DEMOCRATICALLY
SETSTHETABLE
Sun 1/27/2019 UNEMPLOYMENT LINES
WEBAPPATTHATASIMOV
AVATARSHEESHACTFIVE
DISTRESSEDHAIRDRESSER
ETSOCTALBEAMONSRI
DEFILEDMANICURISTPET
ICEDWAGERSSEXY
BADSEEDHOMAGECULP
LIDDISPATCHEDTAILOR
ADLIBVOLDAMAPTEST
BEENEEMERILACLDEE
DEGRADEDTEACHER
BBCPUTMISSMETETRA
ERASERUNAPOTSCHED
DISTRUSTEDBANKEREPA
GELSCAVEATNEWSBOY
DAYORAHBAASITA
INKDERANGEDCATTLEMAN
ETAEVENERARIALBWI
DISILLUSIONEDMAGICIAN
ONESTOPLASSIEEARNIT
NEMEANSNAPATSMOOTH

This weekend's Variety puzzle is a form I particularly like called Going Too Far. We have the solution here.

Mon 1/28/2019
ANKLENICHEDAS
TANYAUSHEROCT
FREECYCLINGETA
IREHULASOPSUP
RABEKENTANAL
STOPSIDEHUSTLE
TONICSEEST
RELOADSHALOM
EASESFILAS
DROPTHEMICFINE
EONSPINEEVAN
NOTYETRENDEGO
TMIKICKSTARTER
AIMELIASTETRA
LEESTATEAMISS
Tue 1/29/2019
DQEDMACROODDS
OUZOADLERREEL
LIPSERVICEAGEE
ANASLIMBLARE
POSCOLBERTBUMP
SASHAROWLEO
OPERANTALAN
TELEVISIONSET
HANDINHERIT
ITSBAGCOUPE
GOLDENSPIKEMAX
HOARDANETLEI
LIVEVOLLEYBALL
ONEGIDEALYULE
WEDSMEOWSETAS
Wed 1/30/2019
ALITSTRAPSCOW
CADAPIARYHONE
RPIGRAPELEAVES
OLDFOESPONDER
BANANABANCROI
ATOMDAISLEMON
TATEONSTOTEMS
FRUITLESS
AFLOATROLEBRA
DROPSKOOLERAS
MAVINESSPLITS
TEENIEMAESTRO
ORANGEPEELSCAR
HOLDCATSITOCT
OWLSETCHESMES
Thu 1/31/2019
COHERENTEKGTEA
APOLOGIAZEROING
NEWYORKSAREACODE
ANISEIPANIC
DEEDTTOPLUCAS
ADMITALLANROSE
ASOFDEMOSNIX
LINCOLNSBIRTHDAY
ODDNIECEMEMO
KIEVTEHEEWOMBS
IDLEROSISSIRE
RECTOSISNAP
H2OSBOILINGPOINT
A1SAUCESEMINUDE
W2SSADTRANSMIT

In print, the clue for 57-Down looks like this:

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