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Puzzles for June, 2012
with Jim Horne comments

View these same grids with comments from:
Constructor (2)Jim Horne (10)Hide comments
Fri 6/1/2012
ESTESMSDOS
MEAGERPOMELO
BROODERCALIBER
AGITATOOVEREAT
YESITISMASKERS
ITSELEMENTARY
STRESSTESTS
ATO
LITERATURES
FUTURERESULTS
TINSTARRUNLAPS
RECHOSEMANATEE
USHEREDSLIMING
STERESSEANCE
TASEDREGER

This puzzle tied the NYT record for the lowest word count. Mr. Krozel then broke that record in 2013.

Sat 6/2/2012
STRAINEDPEACHES
ROUNDABOUTROUTE
ITSNOCOMPARISON
SOSIHNISL
UNOSALSUNG
ABENDAWNNOE
CONCEALEDWEAPON
TOALESSEREXTENT
IMMEDIATEDANGER
NEOCOWMOSSY
GRRRPENMTS
EPIVIAHEW
DIAMONDJIMBRADY
ITTAKESAVILLAGE
DEEPESTRECESSES
Sun 6/3/2012 MYTH-LABELED
LEAFSREARSADSMAUVE
ALCOAENNIOLEOAGNES
SWORDOFDAMOCLESSEARS
HERBBESSTROJANHORSE
SNIPERTOYOTAOILMEN
DAYLAVPSYCHED
CHADSJOSIELOSPUP
ROLECUPIDSARROWARNO
OMANIKEASLOOPOPENS
CONFUTESHEISTLAPCAT
PARREDFENCEMERLOT
SHRUGSSUITELEASEOUT
COKIEHINDISYMSOKRA
UNITGORDIANKNOTFEAT
DENRAWLEEDSADDLE
METLIFEOWECHI
SPEEDONICENECHASSE
PANDORASBOXRILECOAT
ASTINFOUNTAINOFYOUTH
STEADALLRINGSERNIE
MARLOREAALGAEADDTO
Mon 6/4/2012
CRAWPRAGUEPCB
XENAHUMANEAAA
VENUSDEMILOGPS
IDESTOTOSARI
AIRCLINIC
SATURNROCKET
ICYSETHNADIR
NEPALLAOTRINI
GRECOIRISEGO
MERCURYCOMET
AMOEBALAX
BASSVIAEIGHT
ARCMARSCANDIES
TIAAGATESEZRA
EARDENIESSAAR
Tue 6/5/2012
SPICETIMORBAD
ERNESIRANIULE
DULLPICKLESMBA
ANALYSTDISBAR
NEWNATONOLTE
DUTCHDIGGERS
AGALRICBOT
BUTTERENEMIES
EOERAWADES
MUSTERROGERS
ATTENANATSTU
ITSAGOSTUCKUP
LIPRUNGMASTERS
EMOAZERATRIBE
DETMOURNASNOT
Wed 6/6/2012
FLIPKEIRAVENI
IONOEXCELAVON
ENCHANTEDISLAND
FILLMOREOUNCE
IBAMALESEX
LYMEDISEASE
SORTSNUIAMPS
THEATREDISTRICT
SODSANIOOMPA
PICTUREDISC
ROSWELLSET
ABORTDELAWARE
JEDISTARFIGHTER
ALASBRAUNOREL
HISTSABLESIDE
Thu 6/7/2012
ADOLPHHEAPON
IBEFOREEEXCEPT
GOLFTOURNAMENTS
NYETARISTASOB
HOMESETA
OLSENSINDENT
NIECEANALCHIP
CEILINGHYGIENE
ENZOHUTSWEIRD
ECOLAWGENRES
KNTIDONT
OWELETSUPRAMS
RADIOASTRONOMER
BIGNAMEROOMERS
STEENSAFTERC
Fri 6/8/2012
REBAANITAPRES
ERICTHEREDHALL
DINAHSHOREIIII
ANODEINNSLSAT
CEOSLIENS
ALUMACHTAPS
TOLITTLEPURPOSE
TRACTIONENGINES
AIRCONDITIONERS
VIPSEENESTO
EMIRSGREG
DISCICEDHALAL
NAILSLUICEGATE
ATOELORDNELSON
SANSATEINESME
Sat 6/9/2012
DOHAQATARPHOTO
OBAMACAREATRAP
GOBANANASSEEME
READILLCTSCAN
APNEAISTHATALL
CAENNENEREY
ERROREATSUP
STOLAVTHESON
AGENTKSTONE
PJSSEALCREW
TAUBETAPIPOTTS
BRIARSINRIDID
OUTTALOGINNAME
ALOESICESKATES
TERSEMARKYMARK
Sun 6/10/2012 GETTING AROUND
ANSELMZEALRSVPOVAL
NOONERAXTOBEARPOLO
GIFTWRAPPEDINNERTUBE
ERIEOPPOSESDEKECAW
REARBEASTUFOSASH
VOXBEEFSLASSO
PTBOATINSIDEFASTBALL
SELFCONTAINEDEYEFUL
ANITAASIFMACREMY
ONETONATOMGAEA
NINEBANDEDARMADILLO
DENYDELIMERLIN
OCHSRAEAPIAWAVES
WOOHOORINGEDPLANETS
INTERNALORGANSIRONON
ENDEDCASIOOKS
OPETWASAGAPEMAMA
ALGABESHAIRGELADES
BUBBLEDUPGOINCIRCLES
CLUELOISELSEKARATE
SUNGANTISITSEGOIST

This tricky theme confused many solvers. Look closely at the circles in the grid. TUBE and FASTBALL are inside circles. GIFT is wrapped by them. SELF is contained by them. PLANETS are ringed by them. ORGANS are internal to them. UP is bubbled inside. The especially nice coincidence is that the Nine-banded ARMADILLO gets nine bands because Armadillo has nine letters.

Mon 6/11/2012
GABSOGRESSFAD
REAMAPACHEIRE
URGEFALLENIDOL
FIELDPARMGMT
FELLOWSHIPPEAS
YEOWRABAT
ADORAWELISE
FILLINTHEBLANKS
LEDINOVOGAP
YOKEDINEZ
AMENFOLLOWSUIT
BALEFLAEATME
FULLNELSONZAHN
AREOCASEYSHOD
BARSTRODEANTS
Tue 6/12/2012
BRRDAVESWEAR
ROEAGEEHITTER
ANDDONCORLEONE
DARKAGEMUDDEL
INSTHEBRIDGE
LAVANOELINSET
THERMOREAVE
DAROVERTHERES
NOONEARTIST
TWEENDRABROPE
RIVERKWAISOB
ENEINARATTRAP
ANNIVERSARYALI
TESTEEICONVAT
ROARSBENEONT

The first letters of the Across clues spell out "The Robert Redford film A River Runs Through It."

Wed 6/13/2012
NAPAJAWASIDES
OMEREXOTHROWN
MANPOWERHOTTEA
AZTECSSPEWMLI
DEALTSTONEWALL
SOYAMARAT
AIMPINTIRAQ
PLAYINGWITHFIRE
BAJAOSSAXED
ORTHOLANG
BIRDHOUSEKELSO
UNEROILSILENT
LOTSOFANTEATER
BUTANEVIATHRO
STEWEDEBBOEDS
Thu 6/14/2012
SADMEDICKNOBS
NOEAXIALASCOT
ANASTASIATATAR
REDRUMMIRYATE
WARPSREDANES
FAOELOIBIPEDS
IGOTENNEADS
REDUPISPSERIF
TRACHEASIRE
FOSTERREDSGAD
ILLOGICSAITH
LEINAHSPROTON
MOCHAEARTHTONE
CLEANEVITANCR
REDITREDONRED

Turn right on RED to read the seven theme answers.

Fri 6/15/2012
SCARECROWSCOST
TOLEDOOHIOANNA
IWANTMYMTVLEON
FETEBASHCLOWN
FREEROLLRICCI
IMEANANTON
THINEWOLFGANG
HANGARMOTIVE
WRISTLETVINES
AEREOMAGEE
RESTSCHARTRES
WHAMSBOOPWELT
IOLAPOPUPVIDEO
CLOPCHILLAXING
KENSPRESENTDAY
Sat 6/16/2012
ORGANSSOCIALIQ
NAUSEAEDITMENU
RUNSONTERIYAKI
ACCENTROCSDMZ
MOATAMANAMOAN
PUSSYCATSZORRO
SSEERIEKOPEKS
ELULCANE
SCHULZMONKLSD
CHARSBABYSPICE
HALOLETBEOTIC
ITTJEDIWASHER
SEEPEDINELAINE
MARITIMESEDUCE
SUSPENSETEAMED
Sun 6/17/2012 PLAYABLE
NATOAPBYEASTSWAB
AMAHBOROPOLLOITARA
BUMBLERAPRUMBLEPUNCH
OSIRISGETITLONDON
BELOTIGNEOUSGIN
THANWARBLEONDRUGS
SHAHREGISERASEOPED
EAVETRADERGESTATES
THERESTHERUBBLEAMOK
HASCHINOSEAMEN
GLOATEDKASHMIR
CRAWASIAOONAOK
FEESDROPPINGTROUBLE
MALTSHOPOCEANOPEEN
ISEEALOOPYPRESPLOT
NOBLENONSENSESOME
CDRORIENTSARNAZ
DEPLOYPLATOOLDAGE
QUEENMUMBLEHUBBLECAP
EROSADORESECTOCRIP
DONSNOTAXHUEKENO
Mon 6/18/2012
ZESTGUTKISSUPS
INCHUNHOCEANIA
OTOEESOLETITBE
NOWHEREMANNOBS
UNREALEAT
GOLDENSLUMBERS
FOLKWAILILL
ANIMICHELLECAY
NOVITOOGENE
WECANWORKITOUT
OSOKANSAS
COHNREVOLUTION
HEYJUDEITEANDY
UNPOSEDNUTLCDS
BOOBOOSGPSEASE

The publication date is Paul McCartney's 70th birthday.

Tue 6/19/2012
OHNOBROTWOD
MOORSLOBBOORS
OTROCOLORONDO
OLDSCHOOLOTTOS
COMPSHOT
HOHOHOKOMODO
OROOSMONDORRS
SLOPSOSOSTOOL
POCOMOTTSTONO
PHOBOSPROLOG
LOWSTOOD
SCORNSNOOPDOGG
NOTOKHOOKLOOT
OCHOSOWLSOPTO
BOOMOSSTSOS

The only vowel in this grid is O. There are 69 of them, more than twice the previous record set in 1993.

Wed 6/20/2012
BANJOSMASHCFO
OSCARPADRELAN
WHACKJORDANACE
LEAKERRROMEO
POTTYSKIPPIN
SCOOBMOIESTE
CUSTERBEATEN
IDSSURVEXELF
MENACEDILLER
AHOYIWOLUSTY
MORMONNAILER
OBGYNLLBKANT
RBITAMESJAILER
ALEAGORAKNAVE
LESPRESSAGREE
Thu 6/21/2012
ALOHAEPAPSALM
MAJORTIXOHGEE
OZARKHOLEROUND
KEYSJENITWASI
ELULOGRE
HEYMOMMAHARAJA
TRUEUPATTYBOL
EARNSISSYYOYO
SSTLTRSFIERCE
TESSERAEORATES
AGESPURR
ARGYLEGARSASE
VARIETIESPOLKA
IRONSVETELVIS
DAWGSSKYADAPT

Include the clue number itself in the highlighted symmetric answers.

Fri 6/22/2012
BUZZKILLPAPAW
UNIONDUESFLESH
STREETMAPCARTA
TICWAMPUMRIOT
EDOMGOTTIMONA
DYNESXANDYDIG
DUHTIRAMISU
CREAMERKITSCHY
REDLABELBED
ASHCREEDSOFTG
SCABENGELSAUL
HURLWARSAWTVA
PERILCOOKIEJAR
AMINETOTEMPOLE
DESKSMORPHEUS
Sat 6/23/2012
QUIETDOWNERECT
SNAKEEYESRESOW
CAMETOSEEINTRO
OWNEXTWONTONS
REOSYEPUSENET
EDTVGREATRILE
EYEBALLSALP
SHANANATETANUS
PANMARKETER
AVERTSARSGATE
RECEDETNTOREG
RADIODJAOLGRE
ICONSINTRIGUES
NOTIEBREEZIEST
GWENSSASSAFRAS
Sun 6/24/2012 ELEMENT OF SURPRISE
SPAREDSPEDBANGSIP
PETERIIECCEIGERPDA
ATOMICSYMBOLCELERIES
TINACTINSNAPLEERAT
STARKTEDONUSINNATE
ELKGAZEDOZONEHOLES
CORPATOWEOIS
STBARTSTHXSCOUR
SPHERECLARETTASSELS
PLANBTRAONADATERAH
RANTOSAVEWATERGRADE
ASKNIAGARAALSAISLE
THUSFARLOWESTASLEEP
POSITSANSCREEDS
GAOSOTYTDOKS
PLANTATREESIGNSSTK
TULIPSORCASACEUROS
BALERSMOMAYELLFIRE
ONELITERCONSERVEFUEL
ADONDAKACDCNOMINAL
TANTAROROSHVIXENS

Connect the atomic symbols for Carbon to see the shape of a footprint.

Mon 6/25/2012
MUIRSCUBAAMFM
ANNOMITERRIDE
LAVAEVERTLSAT
TWINKLINGEYES
EATILLSASYET
DREAMYIMACOSU
SEESFLASHBULB
IMSOZETA
JIFFYLUBEGEAR
ADATORISESAME
BOTCHGEESRNS
INSTANTCOFFEE
LOGOOMAHAILSA
BRUTROMANNATL
SKEETRENTSPYS
Tue 6/26/2012
ADULTLAMPALMS
JONAHERIESHAH
ACEVENTURAKAYO
SHIMSGOESON
DOHACEHARDWARE
EMERGELED
PALAUABLESAKE
THEDEADMANSHAND
SANSDOINTORII
GABMADOFF
EIGHTMENOUTNEY
THEDOWACTUP
HALTEIGHTTRACK
AVIVSPAREERIE
NEDSTOTESPRAY
Wed 6/27/2012
MARSHY
STORMINATEACUP
LACKINGSYMMETRY
ALCOAOHMLOAM
YOURAIDPIC
SNLLOADERSIRA
STASHSINAI
CARETZANE
PENTOMINOES
TILEBIGOXAIRS
ONSTERIMOO
OTISETRESPUN
NONINTERLOCKING
ONETRACKMIND
ARENAGOLONG
EWEANTE

A set of five squares can be connected along their edges to form 12 unique shapes. You can see each of them here. This gimmick necessarily breaks some of the standard construction rules — symmetry is not possible and, because of the so-called U pentomino in the bottom left, there's an unchecked square. The 12 pentominoes can be interlocked to form rectangles of various sizes.

Thu 6/28/2012
HARDSNACKHALF
ALOUTOSEAIRAE
ROLEPAPERPLATE
VOLTAHSELOPED
EFTDTSUNOARI
SLOPESSNITCHON
TYPOSLOANHONG
TIMEFRAME
ATATADAMBARBQ
RINSINGSGATEAU
RSTDDEYOSTRA
IDOTOODEWRIEL
VANILLAICEANTI
ALIEIMACSMOTT
LEADNIGHTPLAY

Types of TIME FRAME the entire grid.

Fri 6/29/2012
BADTASTEHIPPO
AMERICANSONION
ROSEROYCEABATE
DREAMTEAMGAZES
SEXTETSIBILANT
DOSELEADTO
COCAOSHANOIR
HAROLDSAMSCRAY
OLANOAHUNEAL
MENTALALPO
EDGINESSABLAZE
HOUNDCALLBOXES
ENTERUTILITIES
LIANEMILESTONE
PANTSTOTHEMAX
Sat 6/30/2012
ONEFINGERSALUTE
CALIFORNIAGIRLS
AFIGHTINGCHANCE
LTSEASERAN
AAASTACOSALAD
UPSDOISOTO
MINERALSALTTEL
RCADOMETIEATIE
MIIPERSIANCATS
OLAVLOACSA
MYDARLINGISON
SEITECSONO
EMOTIONALOUTLET
MOMENTOFINERTIA
SPARETHEDETAILS
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