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Puzzles for January, 2021
with Jim Horne comments

Fri 1/1/2021
HIJACKSASSNQUE
IFORONESPAYUND
PSYCHOACTIVEEPI
HOTSAUCEFEET
MBAOTTERERRS
POLEDANCEDARESO
GOLDRUSHUPTOYOU
GED20PERCENT
FOREVER21REI
EVELINEAPPSTORE
REVELSOLASTYEAR
GROSDEBUGRNA
URLSOATMEALS
SITAPLUSAVERAGE
ODESEESNOTICES
NEDHYDETWOSTEP
Sat 1/2/2021
BLACKCODSASH
ROLLERBAGTHREAD
ASTERISKSHUSTLE
KEAIMEANTITOFF
ERRISRORIONS
TUNSMOSTOFIT
PHARMAAINTLIZA
EEQUALSMCSQUARED
GLUERAIDUNLESS
GLASSEYELEIA
AZTECSTANSTR
ECUMOOJUICEWEE
ROMPEROLDHAVANA
GOBALDBITESIZED
LATEPORTCITY
POW Sun 1/3/2021 BUSTING MOVES
EBBTSKRADARSSNOGS
GORDITAPOPIDOLHIDEY
ETAILERSUPREMELEADER
SHIRTWAISTEPEESSKI
TENTTOTESTOPUPADA
SRSSLEDSOILAARON
KHAKIBOYPROBLEMS
MOUNTAINGOATLOLAT
UNSEEDEEDAMUSESEIS
FAULTROBECIGSAPE
ATALLCRUMBCAKEDOTES
SILSALONCANCASCA
APSOBEADSRIMSASIAM
GOBADPORTAUPRINCE
SHORTANSWERIPADS
LAVERIDEATENSBIB
EVEOPTINOSCARGIGI
EERRANGESAILSALONG
VOLLEYBALLNETINCOLOR
ENIACONEMOREKONMARI
SEETORETORTEWEBEG
Mon 1/4/2021
LASTSTEXASSPA
ALEUTALERTAUK
DIANAPRINCEFBI
DELAYEDASPHALT
ENEEYEARIA
REVAMPDCCOMICS
SEEMETUPAC
LYNDACARTER
SARASAVOID
GALGADOTCLAUSE
AQUAEBBTOT
LUMBAGOLETMEBE
LIPWONDERWOMAN
OLELULUSOVERT
PADSTYESSENSE
Tue 1/5/2021
POMNUBSGASPS
AMAONTOCOLLIE
PATSDOWNRESALE
ANCHOSUESOVER
HIGHCPADRES
DAWNSONIKEA
ASISRBIENDAT
FITJACKSUPICE
TASTEEARBEAR
ETTAWADESIN
CHASERSLATE
CHUCKSITDALAI
BIGHITWARDSOFF
GNOMESOLAYIRS
BASEDSEGOLOO
Wed 1/6/2021
STOPPRIMSTARS
THRURONATORAH
AUCTIONEDROGUE
RDASPIREIFOLD
ESSENETAMPA
YORKTIERTWO
SWEETNEONSROI
OATSOLABORN
USASOCKSDRINK
RATPACKTARE
INDIASIDNEY
TRIEDTRUTVOVA
RIATAODOREATER
UNTILFOMOBERN
EDENSFROSEDYS
POW Thu 1/7/2021
URNTABORPJS
VEEHUMVEETRIM
WIXXXXWISTAONE
ANTEDONXXXXE
VITRIOLDAISY
ENOBNEGSAWED
EEYORELAVA
DEAXXXXAFUNERAL
ORZOIBISES
WAITSSLEWION
LOOSEESSENCE
FELXXXXSACTS
ALIISTRIKETHAT
CMONWRITEREVE
TONASSAYSEA
Fri 1/8/2021
DOTHEDEWALMAY
UNHEARDOFTEASE
BIENVENUEMANIA
LOIREALTAFISH
INSISTDELLPEA
NYTANNSATEEN
DENOTEHADID
THISGUYGETSIT
CHARSNOOGIE
REPEALUSACAV
ASPYODANICOLE
WHYSBOGSNOOKS
DINARWRISTSLAP
AROMADETERMINE
DEWEYESCOOTER

I was surprised to see ["The Gray Lady": Abbr.] as a clue for NYT.

When I started Wordplay years ago, I was given two rules to follow about the Times:

  1. Never call it the Newspaper of Record. The NYT isn't. One reason it isn't is that there's no such thing as the Newspaper of Record.
  2. Never call it "The Gray Lady" because people there hate that.
Sat 1/9/2021
JAZZWALTZAMONG
ONEORMORERADIO
JUNOESQUEGRECO
OBISCUDDOTTED
BITTRAGICSOSO
ASHEATEOUTJAM
RAYSUPABOVE
JAMALDOYEN
OFASORTCZAR
ETSTEEPEEEMIT
SETHLEARNSONO
CROAKYMAMARBI
HYDRALEMONPEEL
MOODYBLINDDATE
OUNCEJACKSQUAT
Sun 1/10/2021 OH, FOURPEAT'S SAKE!
PRESSUREORALBSPIFF
AIRLANESAMELIAARNIE
NOMANISANISLANDLACED
STAMPHUEDOREOADORE
DEMOBAHAMAMAMAMIX
HASADATEIDSELISE
AMONRACREDANTTEN
WELCOMEHOMEHONMCHALE
KNEEVOWSARIELIXIR
SOHOPRIMETIMETV
SSRTOKEGODEVANSEE
WHEREWEREWEALGA
ARTUROILEICEDRASH
TERRIFKINGKAMEHAMEHA
SKITSAREFIONERUN
BIDETTKOTHUDDING
ALUMINUMINGOTOREG
DOTESAONEDIBSRURAL
ARIASROMATOMATOSAUCE
PRONETRADERREVERSES
TENTSSENSEBLANDEST

Yes, RegEx can help you find fourpeats.

Mon 1/11/2021
MCRIBDRIPSCAM
ELISAIAGOCASA
SAFERWRAPPARTY
ANTENNAETUNDRA
OYLMATION
CUBANCIGARS
UNTIEEMTDOGS
STEMIOTASAMAL
SONSSEAAMNIO
CLUBHOPPING
MIAOAFARE
INTERNFLAXSEED
SUBREDDITACUTE
TSAREYREMORAL
SETSREEDSTOLI
Tue 1/12/2021
MILDEWYMDSECCE
ISSARAEOOPPARD
KIDNEYSTONEARID
EATANTCOLONY
SHAMSARFWALK
BIPARTISANBILL
CALMSTDNEE
THISTOOSHALLPASS
OATHUERIME
PROQUARTERBACK
PLUSTRYOKNOW
PEDESTALSERA
EDYSBRIEFMOMENT
SOOTAYNITSALOT
ONUSRAGTVHOSTS

I like this one a lot more than Jeff does. Fun puzzle.

Wed 1/13/2021
JUSTTODDCACTI
ETTAEMIRUSHER
SAYCHEESETHICK
THEKINGSSPEECH
TIASEAS
AERATEDENSPAC
STEPHMEDIARDA
THEPELICANBRIEF
REFWINKSUNCLE
ORSEGOSSTAKES
TIERACT
THEGREENHORNET
YEESHDRAINPIPE
EXALTIBISGLEE
ATLASNESTSEEM
Thu 1/14/2021
AWOLPOLESCHUB
LANEABUSEAONE
ASIAGATORMOWS
SOSUEMEFAERIE
WANTSASABLAST
HIDABSTSOYES
OLIVIAPOTUS
SPINTHEBOTTLE
ABHORINLOVE
AOCOSOACESAT
DROOLTLCSEEPS
HIHATSITSSAFE
EGOSCUBITTARE
RISEAKRONECON
ENTSTEENSREND
POW Fri 1/15/2021
BATBOYSCHMALTZ
IPHONEQUEEREYE
GREWUPUSEDCARS
WIRESDAHLSDOT
ICONPITYHENS
GOBFASTSMORE
STOLETHESHOW
STARTERPISTOL
MAIDSOFHONOR
FABLEROTECOE
POLOFINSOAKS
ORCSNAGSJUMBO
EGODEATHMETEOR
MOVIESETCARROT
STEPDADSSNEAKS
Sat 1/16/2021
CALLTHESHOTS
MUSEUMEXHIBIT
LETITGOALREADY
GARETHBRIOMER
APRSAKIMBOAPE
GUITALELEMASON
SPAFLEERUDE
MERYLTRAMP
SAWVSEEPPBS
AREELSCRAPBOOK
RIBUNPAIRURSI
AGSGILLEASTON
NATIONALANTHEM
ATEASESOLDIER
CORNISHPASTY
Sun 1/17/2021 DOUBLE-CROSSED
CLOSEBBCBATORABUT
REMITALAARENASCAMO
OVERHEADRSONOMAISPY
WIGEVERTIMOEGADS
ETARADIICARTOETWORK
DYSONVEESSIDTABOO
FESTERSTALLSSOAP
LEFTTOPLEXETCHERS
AIMEEUGENIEASEA
GLORIAREDKURDARCANA
RATEDRTIDEPODMIOTIC
ACEDITETONSTROBEECT
NOAMPEASOUPMAHI
GASMAINMEWLDEBATE
RICOSTAIDPINENUT
ADHOCIRSAONEMESON
BALNARTISTSVOLGAWOE
OPRAHOASADAIRICE
ACAIREFUTEDAYTIMEYS
LUNEEFILESEDUDITTO
LESSTEARSSAPEBSEN
Mon 1/18/2021
PINUPITCHALVA
ARENAMATANYET
PARISTEXASGINS
ANDCIABRONTE
ATHENSGEORGIA
SELMATERESA
IDEALVINEIKE
DARNPREPSGNAT
EMTWHIRPEALS
ARAFATALLEY
NAPLESFLORIDA
ELAINETARTDS
VICETOLEDOOHIO
EVENWHAMFREON
REDSOOPSFERRY
Tue 1/19/2021
PSALMSSIGHSHIA
AERIALOSLOPOGS
LEMONYELLOWETUI
KENTVIEWSNCAA
DELTASOLDON
SEWVATASFOR
SAWSEGOTISMFDA
ICHFRUITCUPEON
ARIAPELIKEWENT
MOTORSACMAI
BEREFTHERDS
SARAARABSEEOC
ATITCOCONUTCRAB
RICOTOLLROURKE
ICERSMUTNOTYET
Wed 1/20/2021
POETSPAMCGI
COLLISIONSART
MINDMELDINGSOS
UTZODORATOM
MEIRMATCHGAME
OTTOORIONS
WORKERLAINEMT
THEUNITEDSTATES
ABCACAICESSNA
REINERSODA
JOINTPAINPOPE
ATVSNICKPUG
CHIWINEPAIRING
KENONEPERCENT
ORGKNOTSKYE
Thu 1/21/2021
HABIBSNAPEDS
AMAROCANIVETS
MODERNISTSICEE
METACEIMALONE
BARTONODEDON
COKIETSPDYES
DIEDSITUATE
CDSYESORNOMFR
CASTLESAREA
ACHYSICBIPED
PROAMSHAILED
DEGREESAUGABE
ANNATURNSIGNAL
STADIMACFAUCI
ICENOPESITKA
POW Fri 1/22/2021
LOLCATSHASHTAG
IPADPROERNURSE
PERSEUSAGONIST
RNASLUMDOGVAL
IBMSYEASTRENO
NAIADMSUMOTTS
GRENADEPLAYSET
DYEERA
PEPBANDBALLHOG
HASONIREAWOKE
ORYXNSYNCETSY
TLCHOMEGYMDHS
OOHLALAALOHAOE
OBESITYLOCATOR
PEDDLESINKJETS
Sat 1/23/2021
MOODRINGSSLITS
INDUETIMEMABEL
STANDSPATADELE
TOYREACTROLLE
WALTHITLIST
TOPOFFBENICE
APORTBROKEEVEN
RETDHAIRYVETO
OLDSMOKEYBISON
EFILERPUTONS
ARCADESKOLA
LURIDARROWDAB
ODELLLAURANYRO
FEMMEESPERANTO
TREESSHARKWEEK
Sun 1/24/2021 SUGAR, SUGAR
TOSHIBARACYBMWORG
ARCANUMISHECRAMBAM
NERDSRINGPOPFADDIETS
KLEEUBERSOILNYT
USESBABYRUTHSNICKERS
PENTONISUEBUMRAP
WHISKASRESTRASPY
CRUNCHNOWANDLATER
ERINSPINYETIKFC
LATKESUSGAEELYAOK
AYEWHOPPERSSPREENYU
NOREASEDISCRAFTER
NSALAPSLEAFOAST
MILKYWAYSTARBURST
SALADASECSCAREDY
ALOTOFATSARAYSAC
LIFESAVERSPAYDAYWELL
BTUJAYSEPEEARLO
HAIRLINEMARSSMARTIES
ABEUTESAKINPROTEGE
MARGASOSLOGETSSET
Mon 1/25/2021
IRANDESIADAPT
NEMOIRONROMEO
CHICGARBAGECAN
HAGUETOROS
BATTLEAXELIMB
SCANSTALER
SOSSTABSPIRO
QUARTERBACKSACK
UNDERYOGADYE
ACIDICEGAD
BEEBANKLEBOOT
IGLOOAGNEW
YOUREFIREDSITE
AANDMSEERACRE
PRESSYALETEAK
Tue 1/26/2021
LEGACTSERUPTS
AMASOAPSUPPORT
PIZZAZZYPRINTER
SLEEPYOKIETAO
EIREKNICKKNACK
DOSSIERSEAEAGLE
CLIOSEPEES
STRESSLESSNESS
STAIDDRAPE
CENTAVOSNARWHAL
RAZZMATAZZOOZE
IGALOWEGYMBAG
MANATEESCRABBLE
PLIGHTSTIEREEN
SLATESYAWNSAD

Peter Gordon is one of my favorite constructors and, as usual, I liked this one more than Jeff did. Chacun à son goût, and all that.

Mr. Gordon famously based this 2001 puzzle on Scrabble scores.

Wed 1/27/2021
BAJACACTISTAB
AGARSCORNHUME
BENEATHCONTEMPT
EDENSTOYIAMSO
FOPSSPRY
RIOTLUNCHSASH
EONMONSOONCHE
UNDERTHEWEATHER
PSALMICEREEDS
PERPRICE
STRATANOOGIE
OWESFACETFUNK
BELOWTHESURFACE
ERASEALANERUB
REXWDSUEYDRY
Thu 1/28/2021
LANAATATSATES
ALOTNAVYALONE
TOSHDROPIGIVE
THELASTWORDILY
EASEOUTAYE
TLCAAVERAGE
BAKEHOTMESSILY
AGEPEADOE
HAYLOFTILYNEWS
ARSONISTORE
LESEGOTRIP
ALLTHATJAZZILY
EIEIOTEEMEVER
TWANGORCARENE
CARGOMATTONES

"Penultimate" is a great word, but as English continues to erode, I mean evolve, it's in danger of losing precision. It means "second to last" but (sloppy) people sometimes use it to mean the very last. That makes jokes like "post-penultimate" or clues like 20 Across lose all sense.

Flanders and Swann famously included the lyric, "Then there flashed through her mind what her mother had said, With her antepenultimate breath" in their cautionary song Have Some Madeira, M'Dear.

POW Fri 1/29/2021
FEZESPSTAMP
EXESSLEEPERCAR
ATRATERRACOTTA
TROMBONETRUSTY
SACEVADEET
SHARESENTOPT
PANTPUBTRIVIA
PINTAEMUERECT
ACCENTRUGCORK
LYEDEPPMINTY
LENSMOPHEF
SATIREDONEDEAL
PARENTHOODATTY
CRISISMODELOEB
APPLEMRSPRY
Sat 1/30/2021
HOAGIEDROID
ROCKETSCIENCE
YOUHATETOSEEIT
SAYNOGRADDONE
CLADCOATESFEN
ATLSUITECRUST
BASELINEMOUSSE
PANGDAUB
CASINGKITTYCAT
EXACTDUSTSADO
ROOSCONCEKNIT
ALIGRODECEDES
MOREPOWERTOYOU
ITSNOWORNEVER
CLEATPASTED
Sun 1/31/2021 PRODUCT MISPLACEMENT
CIVILPESOAJARMATES
OPINEAUTOKIWIGRUNT
MONSTERRAMRALLYMERCI
SEISMSRPITSARATON
SOILADODOTLUG
NATUREABHORSAHOOVER
CARETYEAFOIESPADAY
USEDRIGGOPLOGE
SANMYSOLORUNNETHOVER
PLATOONOLINSORARE
ANKARIGIDPURE
INTERNMETALEMMING
WORKEDFORPLANTERSWAR
ERICSTUSIRKONA
BASALTINCASEQNINNY
THROWINGINTHEBOUNTY
POLLIVAGOSNAG
ARIDGORPLOSNUNCIO
MINISTALEOFTHESCOTCH
POEMSEGOTARIAELATE
ASNERDADAROCKDELAY
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