PATTERNLESS CROSSWORD

ACROSS

53 “Aida” and “Otello” 54 Military raid 57 Stimpy’s pal 59 Name that anagrams to “Ira” 60 *Pen pal’s exhortation 62 Former sporty Ford, briefly 64 On the subject of 65 Shrek, for one 66 Surgeon’s beam 67 Classic clown 68 Ctrl and Alt 69 Belief system 1 Skewered Thai dish 6 Yank until 2016 10 “Waterloo” band 14 Patsy profiled in “Sweet Dreams” 15 Seized car, informally 16 Russia’s ___ Mountains 17 Aluminum giant 18 *Result of oversleeping (read each starred answer as a clue for a single letter!) 20 Dull routine 21 Minor employee 22 Drunk as a skunk 23 2018 World Cup winner 26 Simplifies 28 *Vice president, e.g. 33 Shortage 34 Pony up 35 One waving a baton 38 “My guess is ...” 42 NYSE debut 43 “Hey Jude” syllables 45 *Balancing point 52 Oakland’s Oracle ___

DOWN

1 Inhales, with “down” 2 Appeal 3 Ice Breakers alternative 4 “I’ll take that as ___” 5 Nay’s opposite 6 Guthrie of folk 7 Chem lab substance 8 Check a box, say 9 Childish rebuttal 10 “Rain Man” condition 11 Muffin type 12 Boxer’s comeback? 13 Cher, voice-wise 19 Rose support 21 Tree on Lebanon’s flag 24 Auction actions 25 Tech review site 27 Feeling sore 29 Like some patches 30 Animated shopkeeper 31 Hanoi’s country, familiarly 32 Add color to 35 ___ drop (stage flourish) 36 Gorilla or gibbon 37 Geological stretch 39 Moses’ brother 40 Crackle companion Rescue 41 44 Very different (from) 46 Heart on a bicep, say 47 Cleveland’s lake 48 Adidas subsidiary 49 Bluffer’s bold words 50 Paved the way? 51 San ___ (town north of Tijuana) 54 Q-tip, e.g. 55 -ish 56 Cracker brand 58 Barely makes (out) 61 Always increasing number 62 Dr. Mom’s specialty 63 Chocolate purchase