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NY Times, Tue, Mar 03, 2009

Author: Jeffrey Wechsler / Will Shortz
Wordplay crossword blog commentary | Analyze | Turn on Clue Tracker
Rows: 15, Columns: 15, Words: 78, Blocks: 36, Avg Word Len: 4.85, Missing: { B Q V X Z }, Scrabble score: 297 (avg 1.57)
Open squares: 73, Cheater squares: 0, Freshness Factor™: 44.2, New York Times Across Lite file
This is the debut puzzle for Mr. Wechsler.

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JimH notes: This is the first puzzle for Mr. Wechsler in the Will Shortz era but it is not, in fact, his N.Y.T. debut. He tells me that his previous puzzle was published the day Apollo 11 launched on its historic mission to the moon in 1969. Forty years between puzzles is quite a stretch!
1
D
2
I
3
S
4
M
5
A
6
Y
7
M
8
A
9
S
10
K
11
T
12
R
13
Y
14
E
L
A
I
N
E
15
O
M
N
I
16
H
I
E
17
F
O
U
N
T
A
18
I
N
P
E
N
19
A
S
A
20
O
N
C
U
E
21
D
E
L
E
22
R
T
E
S
23
G
A
Y
E
24
M
I
T
E
R
25
J
O
I
N
T
26
T
27
R
A
28
S
O
D
S
29
A
30
S
31
H
32
E
M
33
A
34
I
35
L
36
C
E
A
37
S
38
E
39
C
H
A
40
M
P
A
G
N
E
41
C
O
O
L
E
R
42
H
A
L
A
L
43
E
N
N
I
S
44
L
E
G
45
F
R
A
46
U
47
T
E
48
L
49
H
50
O
K
E
Y
P
51
O
52
K
53
E
Y
54
I
55
R
56
A
57
N
58
O
W
N
S
59
T
U
N
A
60
A
N
I
M
E
61
L
E
O
62
W
A
T
E
R
63
I
N
G
C
A
N
64
E
N
T
65
O
K
R
A
66
T
O
U
C
H
E
67
S
S
S
68
N
E
E
D
69
S
N
A
I
L
S
© 2009, The New York Times
Across Down
1. Loss of heart : DISMAY
7. Mardi Gras wear : MASK
11. Go for it : TRY
14. "Seinfeld" woman : ELAINE
15. Prefix with potent : OMNI
16. Go fast : HIE
17. Prison for soda jerks? : FOUNTAINPEN
19. Simile center : ASA
20. When prompted : ONCUE
21. Proofer's mark : DELE
22. MapQuest suggestions: Abbr. : RTES
23. "What's Going On" singer Marvin : GAYE
24. Prison for bishops? : MITERJOINT
26. La-la lead-in : TRA
28. Patches, as a fairway : SODS
29. Sweep's heap : ASH
32. Modern means of relaying jokes : EMAIL
36. Shut down : CEASE
39. Prison for vintners? : CHAMPAGNECOOLER
42. Islamic equivalent of kosher : HALAL
43. Bandleader Skinnay ___ : ENNIS
44. Part of a journey : LEG
45. Lady of the Haus : FRAU
47. 10-digit no. : TEL
49. Prison for corny humorists? : HOKEYPOKEY
54. Ayatollah's land : IRAN
58. Has : OWNS
59. Melt ingredient : TUNA
60. Cartoon art genre : ANIME
61. A fire sign : LEO
62. Prison for gardeners? : WATERINGCAN
64. Doc with a tongue depressor, maybe : ENT
65. Creole cooking pod : OKRA
66. "Good comeback!" : TOUCHE
67. Draft org. : SSS
68. Call for : NEED
69. Slow movers : SNAILS
 1. Clear up, as a windshield : DEFOG
2. Massey of old films : ILONA
3. Smart-mouthed : SAUCY
4. Stately dance in 3/4 time : MINUET
5. It may be upped : ANTE
6. Roll-call call : YEA
7. "Haystacks" artist Claude : MONET
8. More than enough : AMPLE
9. Shows derision : SNEERS
10. Thanksgiving guests, often : KIN
11. "Over and out" : THATISALL
12. Affected by 13-Down : RISEN
13. Bakery supply : YEAST
18. Infamous Amin : IDI
22. Its competitors may be thrown : RODEO
24. Singer Michelle or Cass : MAMA
25. Full of merriment : JOCOSE
27. Slo-mo footage, perhaps : REPLAY
29. Oktoberfest "Oh!" : ACH
30. Doo-wop group ___ Na Na : SHA
31. Macramé ties : HALFKNOTS
33. Census datum : AGE
34. Travel guide listing : INN
35. Spy novelist Deighton : LEN
37. "Didn't I tell you?" : SEE
38. Fraction of a joule : ERG
40. Horses that produce milk : MARES
41. Nancy in France, e.g. : CITY
46. Slow on the ___ : UPTAKE
48. ___ franca : LINGUA
49. They may be punched : HOLES
50. 1936 Olympics star Jesse : OWENS
51. Bizarre : OUTRE
52. Work, as dough : KNEAD
53. The "E" in 64-Across : EAR
55. Christina of "Monster" : RICCI
56. Menotti title role : AMAHL
57. Spanish babies : NENES
60. Like most bathroom graffiti: Abbr. : ANON
62. Took the cake : WON
63. "___ been real!" : ITS
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