17A. [See blurb] : GRADE BONUS (+)COMPLETION TIME: 23m 58s
57A. [See blurb] : MATH SYMBOL (+)
11D. [See blurb] : NICE QUALITY (+)
26D. [See blurb] : POSITIVE END (+)
20A. Iodine in a barber's first-aid kit? : (CL)EAR-CUT SOLUTIONCOMPLETION TIME: 14m 23s
26A. Doofus given a pink slip? : (CL)ASS DISMISSED
46A. One modifying goals? : (CL)AIMS ADJUSTOR
56A. Cronus and Rhea's barbecue remains? : (CL)ASH OF THE TITANS
65A. Influence ... and a hint to 20-, 26-, 46- and 56-Across : CLOUT (CL OUT!)
17A. *Area in front of a coop : CHIC(KEN YA)RDCOMPLETION TIME: 10m 38s
23A. *Modern school memento : DIG(ITAL Y)EARBOOK
35A. *Braided floor covering : RO(PE RU)G
37A. *More than enough : TO(O MAN)Y
50A. *Elemental parts of human nature : ANI(MAL I)NSTINCTS
57A. *Discover to be fibbing : CAT(CH IN A) LIE
34D. Sovereign lands ... or what are hidden in the answers to the six starred clues : COUNTRIES
20A. Some McDonald's burgers : QUARTER POUNDERS (QUARTERBACK)COMPLETION TIME: 5m 30s
38A. Part of a 2005 Harry Potter title : HALF-BLOOD PRINCE (HALFBACK)
50A. 1987 Stanley Kubrick classic : FULL METAL JACKET (FULLBACK)
67A. Word that can follow the start of 20-, 38- or 50-Across : BACK
21A. Result of being badly beaned? : GREAT DAZE (from GREAT DANE)COMPLETION TIME: 30m 01s
23A. Scraping kitchen gadget with nothing in it? : EMPTY ZESTER (from EMPTY NESTER)
45A. Pale yellow-shelled sea creature? : MAIZE LOBSTER (from MAINE LOBSTER)
60A. View the effects of a big lunch in court? : SEE JUSTICE DOZE (from SEE JUSTICE DONE)
67A. Fluorescent candy? : HIGHLIGHTER PEZ (from HIGHLIGHTER PEN)
92A. "Cheers" spinoff mania? : FRASIER CRAZE (from FRASIER CRANE)
113A. Hapless Roman ruler? : EMPEROR ZERO (from EMPEROR NERO)
115A. Taser for children? : KID ZAPPER (from KIDNAPPER)
17A. London newspaper : DAILY MAILCOMPLETION TIME: 12m 47s
23A. Turkey's location : DELI COUNTER
33A. Taking one's sweet time : DILLY-DALLYING
44A. Singer with the hit country album "Backwoods Barbie" : DOLLY PARTON
54A. "Gotcha," formally : DULY NOTED
17A. California home of the Crystal Cathedral : GARDEN GROVE (RENO)COMPLETION TIME: 14m 56s
26A. California locale just south of Camp Pendleton : OCEANSIDE (ENID)
38A. California State University campus site : BAKERSFIELD (ERIE)
52A. California's Sonoma County seat : SANTA ROSA (TAOS)
60A. Urban areas (as hinted at by the circled letters in this puzzle's grid) : INNER CITIES
17A. Way to reduce spending : BUDGET CUTCOMPLETION TIME: 6m 25s
23A. Pre-sporting-event songs : NATIONAL ANTHEMS
38A. President Taft's foreign policy : DOLLAR DIPLOMACY
54A. Areas targeted for economic revitalization : ENTERPRISE ZONES
63A. Some vacation expenses ... or a hint to the starts of 17-, 23-, 38- and 54-Across : RENT-A-CARS
1A. Common interjection on 27-/44-Across : ARRRCOMPLETION TIME: 7m 06s
17A. Where plank-walkers end up on 27-/44-Across : DAVY JONES’ LOCKER
25A. "Hold it!," on 27-/44-Across : AVAST
27A. With 44-Across, annual celebration on 9/19 : TALK LIKE A
44A. See 27-Across : PIRATE DAY
46A. Treasure on 27-/44-Across : BOOTY
57A. "I don't believe it!," on 27-/44-Across : SHIVER ME TIMBERS
65A. Hello, on 27-/44-Across : AHOY
23A. Don't ...! : PLAY WITH MATCHESCOMPLETION TIME: 34m 07s
38A. Don't ...! : MESS WITH TEXAS
52A. Don't ...! : BELIEVE THE HYPE
73A. Don't ...! : QUIT YOUR DAY JOB
88A. Don't ...! : QUOTE ME ON THIS
103A. Don't ...! : TALK TO STRANGERS
16D. Don't ...! : MOVE A MUSCLE
62D. Don't ...! : HAVE A COW, MAN
1A. Foe of 71-Across in Mad magazine : SPYCOMPLETION TIME: 11m 09s
17A. Genetics-or-environment debate : NATURE VS NURTURE
35A. Discovery Channel survival show : MAN VS WILD
45A. Home-seeker's decision : RENT VS BUY
64A. 2004 movie featuring a clash of sci-fi species : ALIEN VS PREDATOR
71A. Foe of 1-Across in Mad magazine : SPY
14. "High Hopes" lyricist : SAMMY CAHNCOMPLETION TIME: 07m 03s
20. Singer with the #1 R&B hit "I Feel for You" : CHAKA KHAN
37. Scam ... or an apt title for this puzzle? : CON GAME
52. He was Sonny to Marlon Brando's Vito : JAMES CAAN
62. Boxer who almost upset Joe Louis in 1941 : BILLY CONN
17A. Unused parts of a cell phone plan : ROLL OVER (MINUTES)COMPLETION TIME: 07m 32s
28A. Formal meal at a table : SIT (DOWN DINNER)
45A. Question that's a classic pickup line : COME HERE (OFTEN?)
59A. Death row inmate's hope : STAY (OF EXECUTION)
57D. With 65-Across, comment that might be heard after the start of 17-, 28-, 45- or 59-Across : GOOD
(65A. See 57-Down : DOG)
1A. Nitty-gritty, as of negotiations : BRASS/TACKSCOMPLETION TIME: 31m 01s
6A. Boater : STRAW/HAT
14A. Title figure in an Aesop fable : GRASS/HOPPER
58A. Work on at a desk, say : HUNCH/OVER
77A. Bracket shape : RIGHT/ANGLE
35D. Ernest and Julio Gallo product : MERLOT/WINE
57D. Usual amount to pay : GOING/RATE
95D. Part of a boxer's training : JUMPING/ROPE
107D. It's pitched for a large audience : CIRCUS/TENT
117D. Common secret : PASS/WORD
25. Author of the 1968 work named in the circled letters (reading clockwise) : WOLFECOMPLETION TIME: 23m 28s
35. Subject of the 1968 work : MERRY PRANKSTERS
44. Leader of the 35-Across : KESEY
17A. Sing-along direction : (FOLLOW) THE BOUNCING BALLCOMPLETION TIME: 11m 38s
23A. Obey : (FOLLOW) ORDERS
29A. Children's game : (FOLLOW) THE LEADER
40A. Chase scene shout : (FOLLOW) THAT CAR
47A. Pursue a passion : (FOLLOW) ONE’S HEART
54A. Word missing from the answers to 17-, 23-, 29-, 40-, 47- and 62-Across : FOLLOW
62A. Do as a mentor did, say : (FOLLOW) IN ONE’S FOOTSTEPS
16A. Ticket usable on more than one trip : TRAVEL CARD (TIME TRAVEL & TIME CARD)COMPLETION TIME: 7m 03s
26A. Available if needed : ON CALL (ON TIME & CALL TIME)
39A. Become oblivious to one's surroundings : ZONE OUT (TIME ZONE & TIME OUT)
59A. Fast marching pace ... or a hint to 16- and 39-Across and 10- and 24-Down : DOUBLE TIME (the answer is a hint to 26A as well!)
10D. Interval in which something is tested : TRIAL PERIOD (TIME TRIAL & TIME PERIOD)
24D. Las Vegas staple : SLOT MACHINE (TIME SLOT & TIME MACHINE)
20A. Charleston is its capital : WEST VIRGINIACOMPLETION TIME: 5m 49s
31A. Trumpet's saliva-draining key : SPIT VALVE
48A. Not a unanimous ruling : SPLIT VOTE
60A. Swedish liquor with memorable ads : ABSOLUT VODKA
5D. Venomous snake : PIT VIPER
13D. Off-road transport, briefly : ATV
42D. Permit for leaving a country : EXIT VISA
63D. Appliances hidden in seven answers in this puzzle : TVS
22D. Heads-up in Ireland? : GAELIC WARNING (from GALE WARNING)COMPLETION TIME: 34m 09s
29D. Superman's attire, e.g.? : CLASSIC ACTION SUIT (from CLASS ACTION SUIT)
40D. Farm pails? : RUSTIC BUCKETS (from RUST BUCKETS)
64D. "I feel the earth move under my feet," e.g.? : KING LYRIC (from KING LEAR)
70D. Fancy garb for Caesar? : FINE TUNIC (from FINE TUNE)
83D. Antisthenes, notably? : ORIGINAL CYNIC (from ORIGINAL SIN)
98D. Something talked about on "Today"? : TOPIC OF THE MORNING (from TOP OF THE MORNING)
111D. Extremely occult? : GREATLY MYSTIC (from GREATLY MISSED)
3A. Vacation spot that's crazily busy? : THE ISLE OF MANIC (from THE ISLE OF MAN)
51A. Prank involving a hammer and nails? : CARPENTER ANTIC (from CARPENTER ANT)
The name's William Ernest Butler, but please call me Bill. I grew up in Ireland, but now live out here in the San Francisco Bay Area. I am retired, from technology businesses that took our family all over the world.
I answer all emails, so please feel free to email me at bill@paxient.com, contact me on Google+ or leave a comment below.
I worked on my first crossword puzzle when I was about 6-years-old, sitting on my Dad's knee. He let me "help" him with his puzzle almost everyday as I was growing up. Over the years, Dad passed on to me his addiction to crosswords. Now in my early 50s, I work on my Irish Times and New York Times puzzles every day. I'm no longer sitting on my Dad's knee, but I feel that he is there with me, looking over my shoulder.
This blog is dedicated to my Dad, who passed away at the beginning of this month.
Bill
January 29, 2009
