Cryptography
◆ · By ajk · Published 2024-03-11T04:01:56.081Z
Meta Prompt
The meta answer is an appropriate 5-letter verb
Happy Monday. I don't remember where the idea for this one came from, but definitely one of those "can I turn this into a puzzle" thoughts.
Thanks to Abide and Wendy Walker for test solving, and for some key fill/clue tweaks. Thanks also to Wendy for spotting a rather nasty red herring that I didn't even know was a fish. 
Thanks as always to Joe Ross for tech support.
Thanks as always to Joe Ross for tech support.I don't think it's especially difficult (maybe week 1.5 on the Gaffney scale), but if you get stuck, fear not, nudges will be forthcoming on Wednesday. Solution on Sunday.
Hope you enjoy!
cheers,
Alan
Checking for previous play data...
1A
Some farm inhabitants
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Across
- 1ASome farm inhabitants
- 5AResponse to "Rise and shine!" that often stretches the truth
- 9ASome naval leaders, briefly
- 13AIts north shore is a surfing mecca
- 14AEdible seaweed
- 15AKeyboard symbol that has nothing to do with diamonds
- 16AMalfoy's evasive maneuver?
- 18APal
- 19ATerm for a lost animal that sounds like it should only apply online
- 20ADemon delighting in climate destruction?
- 22A"Do I need another beer? Nah, ____"
- 23ATreble or bass
- 24AFirst in a string of 13 popes
- 25ATeacher's assn.
- 26A____ -cone
- 28AArriving there usually means flying over the Dumbarton Bridge rather than the Golden Gate
- 30APol. affiliation that's neither red nor blue
- 31ASinger from Co. Donegal whose parents, unsurprisingly, owned a pub
- 33ADoctor's assn.
- 35AModern-day Persia
- 37ASticker for a Mexican Patsy Cline fan?
- 40AStory
- 41A"Lost" actor Daniel ____ Kim
- 42AX-man?
- 46ABrief path (or Irish state TV)
- 48AName that might come from the Latin for "white"
- 50ABrief sign of sucess
- 52A____ Simbel (temple featured in "Death on the Nile")
- 53AMany ages
- 55AIt's often not least
- 57AVillain's adjective
- 59AMexican-themed cruise ship area?
- 61ASinger Crow
- 62AChange, as a piece of legislation
- 63APolo's poor grades?
- 65ABig name in rap
- 66ARazor with convenient letters
- 67ACertain memo header
- 68AFangorn forest inhabitants
- 69AA curated stick collection, sometimes
- 70A"Hey, over here! Yes, you."
Down
- 1DOpioid sometimes co-administered with Tylenol
- 2DShip propellers?
- 3D"____ you?" (I'd like your opinion)
- 4DNice sugar?
- 5DNickname associated with a fedora
- 6DSpringfield tavern owner
- 7D"Family Matters" character
- 8DComponents
- 9DDesert transport
- 10DOld movie spot?
- 11DType of area
- 12DImpassive
- 15DUnpleasant type
- 17DStable foods?
- 21DPolice figure
- 23DLake or Perry
- 27DStar Trek engine component
- 29DBritish singer Rita
- 32DIn the manner of
- 34D____ on
- 36DBar draft
- 38DRio greeting
- 39DMordor vis-a-vis the Shire
- 40DLike old paperbacks
- 43DBacall and Hutton, for two
- 44DFollowers, of a sort
- 45DEmpty container?
- 46DDo again, as a movie scene
- 47DUnanimously, of an all-male group
- 49DGhost hunter, sometimes?
- 51DEight in Guadalajara
- 54DSome TVs
- 56DFootwear or fish
- 58DCommit a certain party faux pas
- 60DHe followed HST
- 61DBear tracks?
- 64DFour Monopoly spaces, briefly