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Performance Improvement Plans

Created by Katja Brinck using the free crossword puzzle maker from Amuse Labs





The idea for this puzzle all started Friday night at the 2026 American Crossword Puzzle Tournament. Friday night kicks off with the opportunity to solve some different puzzles, such as a spiral, cryptic, or a split decisions. I was sitting with some crossword friends, and when the puzzles were being passed out, a particular member of the NYT Games Team was passing puzzles out in my row...and I exclaimed "hey - it's the guy with the Pips!" (IYKYK.) He laughed, as did my seat mate Matt Luter. And I don't quite remember how the conversation continued, but Matt and I then laughed when we realized there was another Pips connection, and when this turned out to be a symmetric, the puzzle had to be made.



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