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New York Times, Saturday, September 26, 2026

Author:
Brian Callahan
Editor:
Will Shortz
Blog:
32-Down : A bit corrupt, perhaps?
TotalDebutLatestCollabs
58/28/20239/26/20262
SunMonTueWedThuFriSat
0210011
ScrabFlowFresh
1.5638.649%
Brian Callahan

This puzzle:

Rows: 15, Columns: 15 Words: 64, Blocks: 36 Missing: {FJKQZ} This is puzzle # 5 for Mr. Callahan. Grid flow: 56.1 Saturday freshness: 84%
Jim Horne notes:
Computers store information in "binary digits" or "bits". When one bit gets corrupted, it can lead to DATA ROT, but usually not! ... read more
1
S
2
T
3
E
4
A
5
M
6
S
7
W
8
A
9
S
10
A
11
B
12
I
13
S
H
A
P
E
L
14
Y
15
E
L
E
V
E
N
16
W
E
R
E
G
O
O
17
D
18
N
I
N
E
R
S
19
B
E
M
Y
G
U
E
20
S
T
21
T
R
E
E
22
T
E
X
A
N
23
L
A
P
24
H
I
A
T
T
25
W
E
A
N
26
S
I
D
E
27
B
A
N
G
S
28
I
B
M
29
T
E
E
H
E
E
H
E
E
30
T
R
A
D
E
D
E
A
L
31
P
E
A
R
T
A
R
T
S
32
D
33
N
34
A
35
W
E
B
I
S
O
D
E
S
36
H
A
U
L
37
T
A
L
O
N
38
M
I
A
39
C
A
T
T
Y
40
A
V
O
W
41
G
E
N
D
42
E
R
G
A
P
43
R
E
T
I
44
N
A
45
G
E
T
A
G
R
I
46
P
47
P
H
O
N
E
D
48
R
A
T
I
O
N
S
49
S
I
N
G
E
S
50
S
E
S
T
E
T
© 2026, The New York Times9/26/26 ( No. 28,081 )
Across
1
Prepares, as shumai : STEAMS
7
Paste commonly simulated by a blend of horseradish, mustard and green dye : WASABI
13
Rounded, say : SHAPELY
15
Late hour : ELEVEN
16
Pair's reassurance : WEREGOOD
18
N.F.C. West team, informally : NINERS
19
"Go right ahead ..." : BEMYGUEST
21
Pecan, but not pumpkin : TREE
22
Selena Gomez or Beyoncé, by birth : TEXAN
23
Runaround? : LAP
24
John ___, singer with the hit albums "Perfectly Good Guitar" and "Mystic Pinball" : HIATT
25
Withdraw (from) : WEAN
26
Part of an asymmetrical hairstyle : SIDEBANGS
28
Early giant in punch-card tabulating systems : IBM
29
Giggle : TEEHEEHEE
30
Element of economic globalization : TRADEDEAL
31
Desserts that may feature frangipane : PEARTARTS
32
Part of what makes you you : DNA
35
Online show pieces : WEBISODES
36
Result of a shopping spree : HAUL
37
Kite feature : TALON
38
The Marlins, on scoreboards : MIA
39
___-corner : CATTY
40
Assert : AVOW
41
STEM field concern : GENDERGAP
43
It's in the eye of the beholder : RETINA
45
Pull it together : GETAGRIP
47
Rang : PHONED
48
Camp distribution : RATIONS
49
Toasts : SINGES
50
Verse from Emily Dickinson or Emma Lazarus : SESTET
Down
1
Duluth-to-Minneapolis dir. : SSW
2
Broadcaster with a onetime coat-of-arms logo, informally : THEBEEB
3
Otoscopy, e.g. : EAREXAM
4
Anthropopithecus, e.g. : APEMAN
5
Actress Price of the 2000s sitcom "Grounded for Life" : MEGYN
6
Labor : SLOG
7
Took a turn : WENT
8
Subject of the 1996 documentary "When We Were Kings" : ALI
9
Watch party? : SENTINEL
10
Mean : AVERAGE
11
Some Basque headwear : BERETS
12
Exclave's spot in an atlas, often : INSET
14
Critical response concerning a piece of fiction? : YOULIEDTOME
17
Riding free as an employee, in airline lingo : DEADHEADING
20
Real page-turner? : SPEEDREADER
22
Lead-in to light : TWI
24
Gag reflexes? : HAHAS
26
Scorches : SEARS
27
Roots for vegan burgers : BEETS
29
Part of a bridal outfit : TRAIN
30
Signature QB move included as a feature in 2012's Madden NFL 13 video game : TEBOWING
31
Main pack in a bicycle race : PELOTON
32
A bit corrupt, perhaps? : DATAROT
33
Evergreen whose cones bear edible seeds : NUTPINE
34
Olympic gymnast Raisman : ALY
35
Silently greet someone : WAVEHI
36
Pudding typically served with "neeps and tatties" : HAGGIS
37
Highly prized rewards on "Survivor" : TARPS
39
"This Side Up" container : CRATE
41
Roves : GADS
42
HHH : ETAS
44
Once called : NEE
46
Lake Tahoe winter hrs. : PST

Answer summary:
7 unique to this puzzle, 1 unique to Modern Era but used previously.

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