![Nytimes crossword archive](https://kumkoniak.com/65.jpg)
The NE corner was pretty straightforward, with MAGNETO and UNOCARD. But I jumped very quickly to entering ARIA.
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I can't say why the fact that 9D referred to 45A led me to immediately see the trick in the latter's clue. I liked 45A: Met for a few hours in the evening? ( OPERA). And why did we used to count by 5 to 100? Partly because I had that X still in there, but also because I was stuck thinking about Tag. It took me a long time to get 14D: Game where It always counts ( HIDEANDGOSEEK). Speaking of which, I just now got why "Unsalted, perhaps" is ICY. I should have known that FETAS are brined. I had no idea what "Ochlocracy" would mean, but fortunately getting the first three letters from crosses made MOBRULE pretty clear. Great clue for that last one ("This clue's answer might contain more than seven letters" - hah!). Wrong, but enough right to open up the SW corner.
![nytimes crossword archive nytimes crossword archive](https://www.metro.us/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/cwd191125ag-border-700x700.jpg)
Instead I moved into the middle of the puzzle with SELFIE and MAILBox. Getting CHAITEA and WIT right off the bat was not as helpful as I thought it would be. Is my blog not not well written? At least I can say ITRY. It is always a pleasure here at HAFDTNYTCPFCFA when we can honestly say that the Turn has been both not NOTGOOD as well as not CRAPPY.
![Nytimes crossword archive](https://kumkoniak.com/65.jpg)