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Dominated in gamer lingo / TUE 1-7-20 / Public perception in political lingo...
Constructor: Ross TrudeauRelative difficulty: Easy (3:07 first thing in the morning, which is when I'm at my slowest—felt like one of the fastest Tuesday I'd done in ages, though in actuality still 20...
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Young otter's home / WED 1-8-20 / Workplace of Jack Bauer on 24 for short /...
Constructor: Amanda Yesnowitz and Joon PahkRelative difficulty: Medium (well, very easy and then bizarrely hard around the answer CTU, which I still don't really know the meaning of and I watched "24"...
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Texas city on the Mexican border / THU 1-9-20 / Spicy Indian fritters / Down...
Constructor: Alex Eaton-SalnersRelative difficulty: Challenging? (not sure, solved it on clipboard)THEME: Black tea ("T")— black squares that form "T"s in the grid must be treated like letters that are...
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Expressive cartoon avatar / FRI 1-10-20 / 1954 Patti Page hit that begins it...
Constructor: Brendan Emmett QuigleyRelative difficulty: Medium-Challenging (6:26)THEME: noneWord of the Day: BITMOJI (1A: Expressive cartoon avatar) — a brand name for a digital cartoon image that is...
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Mecca trekker / SAT 1-11-20 / Number six in group of five / Beverage option...
Constructor: Andrew RiesRelative difficulty: Medium (maybe? ... I did it slowly, on the clipboard, in the comfy chair)THEME: noneWord of the Day: BEER LEAGUE (35A: Recreational sports association for...
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West coast birthplace of John Steinbeck / SUN 1-12-20 / Japan's largest...
Constructor: Evan Mahnken and David SteinbergRelative difficulty: Easy (9:00, and I've had a little to drink...)THEME:"State of Confusion" — anagrams of states (well, actually just jumbled state names)...
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Three-time All-Star pitcher Robb / MON 1-13-2020 / Home of Milano and Firenze...
Constructor: Alan ArbesfeldRelative difficulty: Medium-HardTHEME: Middle Seat — Theme answers included some kind of seat.Theme answers:PIPEWRENCH (17A: Plumber's tool)COMESOFAGE (26A: Reaches...
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Hacienda drudge / TUE 1-14-20 / Video game franchise in which enemies are...
Constructor: Jim PeredoRelative difficulty: Easy-Medium ("Medium" was *entirely* the NW)THEME: animals feeling various levels of ire — famous names / titles which follow the pattern [adjectives meaning...
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Nine-time PGA Tour winner Jay / WED 1-15-20 / Taiwan-based computer giant /...
Constructor: Mary Lou GuizzoRelative difficulty: Easy-Medium (3:30)THEME: boxing phrases— all with non-boxing clues:Theme answers:HIT BELOW THE BELT (17A: Engaged in foul play)SPARRING PARTNER (22A:...
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Where Miners have majors / THU 1-16-20 / Ancient name for Ceylon /...
Constructor: Erik Agard and Jeff ChenRelative difficulty: Medium (6:13 on oversized 16-wide grid)THEME: TAKE A KNEE (37D: What five answers in this puzzle do phonetically, in defiance of their clues?)...
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Frequent topic for Pablo Neruda / FRI 1-17-20 / Caesar's army in popular film...
Constructor: Ryan Patrick SmithRelative difficulty: Easy, apparently (I solved it sleepily in the comfy chair, on my clipboard, so I have no idea)THEME: noneWord of the Day: OLIVIA WILDE (17A: Actress...
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Canadian hockey great Eric / SAT 1-18-20 / Relative of slate / Indicator of...
Constructor: Ryan McCartyRelative difficulty: Easy to Easy-Medium (untimed)THEME: noneWord of the Day: HALOGEN (6D: Chlorine, for one) — The halogens (/ˈhælədʒən, ˈheɪ-, -loʊ-, -ˌdʒɛn/[1][2][3]) are a...
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W.W. I French biplane / SUN 1-19-20 / Olden Tokyo / Romanian-born writer once...
Constructor: Victor BarocasRelative difficulty: Challenging (12:20)THEME:"Biotechnology"— it's basically GENE-SPLICING (71A: Biological manipulation suggested four times by this puzzle): circled...
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Chinese tree with fan-shaped leaves / MON 1-20-20 / 1984 language / Strive...
Constructor: Evan KalishRelative difficulty: Medium (3:05)THEME: GET THE PICTURE (56A: Comprehend ... or what 20-, 29- and 47-Across do, finally)— "final" word of each themer is another word for...
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Old German money / TUE 1-21-20 / Subject of interest to a 23andMe user /...
Constructor: Carl LarsonRelative difficulty: High side of Medium for me, though it is v. early in the morning (3:56)THEME: SIX PACK OF BEER (34A: Party purchase ... or a hint to each circled letter...
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Actress Graff of Mr Belvedere / WED 1-22-20 / Part of crystal radio kit / SS...
Constructor: Alex Eaton-SalnersRelative difficulty: Easy (untimed clipboard solve)THEME: SEVEN SEAS (57A: Result of connecting the circled letters in a certain way, in a punny manner) — There are seven...
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Locale for Ernst and Young / THU 1-23-20 / Mideast diplomat's request when...
Constructor: Barbara LinRelative difficulty: Easy-Medium (untimed clipboard solve)THEME: AYE (59A: Vote heard on the floor ... and at the end of 20-, 31-, 35- and 50-Across) — basic add-a-sound...
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Hit 2018 film involving gay teenage romance / FRI 1-24-20 / Virtual animal on...
Constructor: Scott EarlRelative difficulty: Easy (more Easy-Medium for me, but people I know seem to be killing it)THEME: noneWord of the Day:"LOVE, SIMON" (15A: Hit 2018 film involving a gay teenage...
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Fancy term for a long prison sentence / SAT 1-25-20 / Musical family from...
Constructor: Stella ZawistowskiRelative difficulty: Medium (7-something, with another minute to hunt down an error)THEME: noneWord of the Day: DURANCE VILE (55A: Fancy term for a long prison sentence)...
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Pollution portmanteau / SUN 1-26-20 / Zen garden accessory / Crossword-loving...
Constructor: Erik AgardRelative difficulty: Medium-Challenging for me, very easy for everyone else (I'm seeing lots of "personal record!"s, while I was in the 11s somewhere, i.e. slower than...
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