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Letter A

NY Times, Tue, Jan 31, 2006

Author: Patrick Merrell / Will Shortz
Wordplay | Analyze | Turn on Clue Tracker
Rows: 15, Columns: 15, Words: 80, Blocks: 40, Avg Word Len: 4.63, Missing: { F J K Q V Z }, Scrabble score: 268 (avg 1.45)
Open squares: 64, Cheater squares: 0, Freshness Factor™: 56.7, New York Times Across Lite file
This is puzzle 54 of 67 for Mr. Merrell — solos: 67, collaborations: 0, Sundays: 14

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JimH notes: I have shaded the squares that we're asked to circle at 65 Across.
1
S
2
W
3
I
4
S
5
S
6
C
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A
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B
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M
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O
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L
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L
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S
14
T
E
N
S
E
15
L
E
E
16
E
L
I
O
T
17
R
I
D
E
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A
G
A
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D
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N
G
Y
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I
G
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T
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R
Y
I
N
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G
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O
G
E
E
25
P
H
O
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B
I
A
27
S
P
A
28
R
S
E
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S
T
R
O
N
G
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O
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C
31
R
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R
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S
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S
A
S
35
G
L
O
A
36
T
I
N
G
37
B
38
O
39
S
S
40
E
S
E
41
W
E
S
T
42
R
U
T
A
43
B
44
A
G
A
45
A
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T
A
47
O
R
E
48
B
U
G
49
C
R
I
50
T
51
I
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C
53
A
54
C
C
E
S
55
S
56
R
E
N
A
M
E
57
E
58
L
M
O
59
R
H
I
60
N
O
S
61
L
P
S
62
S
A
I
N
63
T
64
E
R
E
65
T
66
H
E
A
S
67
S
I
N
G
E
68
L
E
X
69
L
E
N
I
N
70
A
R
G
O
T
71
L
E
T
72
E
X
T
R
A
© 2006, The New York Times
Across Down
1. Cheese choice : SWISS
6. It's no free ride : CAB
9. Gangster gals : MOLLS
14. Like a Hitchcock audience, typically : TENSE
15. Grant opponent : LEE
16. Poet T. S. ___ : ELIOT
17. Hitchhikers' needs : RIDES
18. Turkish chief : AGA
19. Not completely white anymore : DINGY
20. "Where did ___ wrong?" : IGO
21. Testing, as one's patience : TRYING
24. S-shaped molding : OGEE
25. Fear : PHOBIA
27. Scant : SPARSE
29. Like 90 proof liquor : STRONG
30. Non-Rx : OTC
31. Four Monopoly properties: Abbr. : RRS
34. European carrier : SAS
35. Bad winner's behavior : GLOATING
37. "Who's the ___?" : BOSS
40. Peking or Siam suffix : ESE
41. Direction for a wagon train : WEST
42. Large turnip : RUTABAGA
45. ___ good clip : ATA
47. Valuable rock : ORE
48. Spying device : BUG
49. Reviewer : CRITIC
53. Outsiders may not get it : ACCESS
56. Put a new handle on : RENAME
57. Ticklish muppet : ELMO
59. Thick-skinned critters : RHINOS
61. 33 1/3 r.p.m. spinners : LPS
62. Many a pope : SAINT
64. Before, in poetry : ERE
65. California team [and 18 letters in the grid to circle ... and then connect using three lines] : THEAS
67. Lightly burn : SINGE
68. N.Y.C. ave. between Park and Third : LEX
69. Red Square notable : LENIN
70. Gang's slanguage : ARGOT
71. Allow : LET
72. Newsboy's shout of old : EXTRA
 1. Comic page offerings : STRIPS
2. Scale reading : WEIGHT
3. Not outside : INDOOR
4. Memphis-to-Mobile dir. : SSE
5. Troubadour's six-stanza verse : SESTINA
6. Pot composition : CLAY
7. Sponsorship : AEGIS
8. Gardener's vine support : BEANPOLE
9. Dr.'s field : MED
10. Stews : OLIOS
11. Common Valentine's Day gift : LINGERIE
12. Theater section : LOGE
13. Eye ailment : STYE
22. Lively piano pieces : RAGS
23. Córdoba cat : GATO
26. ___ nova (1960's dance) : BOSSA
28. Zenith competitor : RCA
32. Surgical assts. : RNS
33. ___ Snorkel : SGT
35. Fed. purchasing org. : GSA
36. Wit who wrote "When in doubt, tell the truth" : TWAIN
37. Sis's sib : BRO
38. Your and my : OUR
39. Hot under the collar : STEAMING
40. Shade of white : EGGSHELL
43. U.K. radio and TV inits. : BBC
44. Violinist Leopold : AUER
45. Prefix with 25-Across : ACRO
46. Railroad support : TRESTLE
50. Skill : TALENT
51. Damage : IMPAIR
52. Business jet maker : CESSNA
54. Zaire, now : CONGO
55. "Yes ___, Bob!" : SIREE
57. She, in Roma : ESSA
58. Bandit's refuge : LAIR
60. Call in a bakery : NEXT
63. Holiday in Vietnam : TET
66. Bewitch : HEX
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