09.09.07

Feast


Illustration: “The Feast of the Gods” -- Bellini, Giovanni

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Sunday, September 9, 2007

PROCESS OF ELIMINATION
Puzzle by Patrick Berry, edited by Will Shortz

TWICE (127A The Process of Elimination: In the answer to each starred clue, cross out any letter that appears _____, then read the letters that remain). In the NYT Magazine, the clue reads “each italicized clue."

L -- SORELOSER (25A *One who gets beaten badly);
E -- ANTIPERSPIRANTS (27A *Sticks in medicine cabinet);
F -- HATCHETFACE (40A *Forbidding countenance);
T -- HARDHEARTED (49A *Lacking compassion);
O -- IFTHESHOEFITS (68A *“It’s true, like it or not”);
V -- DRIVERSSIDE (87A *British motorist’s right?);
E -- SHESALLTHAT (94A *1999 romantic comedy based on “Pygmalion”);
R -- HIPPOCRATICOATH (108A *It’s taken by doctors);
S -- NOOFFENSE (115A *Follow-up to a potential insult).

Early last week, it seems the New York Times crossword puzzle constructors were serving food until everything was leftovers, so here we are with hopefully the last of it -- see LEFTOVERS.

The final clue’s entry, TWICE, along with it’s definition is of no help in the solution of this puzzle, it is merely a after-thought doodle for the noodle. A messy business, too -- crossing out all that neatly entered material to wind up with one letter per entry -- albeit, if one doesn’t, one hasn’t finished the puzzle. It all winds up looking like a ravished dinner table with only, dare I say it once more -- leftovers... Outside of that chore-laden ending, the remainder of the puzzle is no picnic either.

It was, however, a feast!

Much ADO (22A Botheration) abounds in addition to SHESALLTHAT, HARDHEARTED, HATCHETFACE, SORELOSER, IFTHESHOEFITS, NOOFFENSE -- wear it! ...EGOTISTS (88D Their priority is number one); NOHOPERS (86D People who haven’t a chance, in Britspeak); MOPISH (10D Down in the dumps); HEXES (117A Works magic on); HITUP (24A Put the touch on); IRATE (21A About to explode, maybe); ANTSY (8D Unable to sit still); EXTORT (43D Acquire by unsavory means); STUPE (9D Blockhead); LOSSES (61D Gamblers’ setbacks); FERVID (71D Vehement); and DISASTER (11D Worst-case scenario) -- EGAD (84A “Holy moly!”) -- HEY (47D Casual greeting), it’s good we have PROZAC (83D Mood lifter)!

For the veterinarian there's not much business from the dog world, just ASTA and REN -- but the doctor is in the house with his HIPPOCRATICOATH, our CLOTS (125A Stops flowing), SPASM (6A Twinge); LIMB (53A Tire swing supporter); SHAKEALEG (35D “Hurry up!“); SCAN (86A Sonogram, e.g.); WAITON (90A Serve); and if he can't ZEROIN (65D Position the cross hairs [on]) the ailment; there is ENTOMB (96D Enter into a plot?) where you will be INERT (122A Like noble gases) in EDENIC (17D Paradisaical) bliss!

There you'll have dreams of words you seldom see: EQUUS (19A Horse genus) (and a play in England with Harry Potter [Daniel Radcliffe]); CANTO (20A Dantean division); OSOLEMIO (60A Song that Elvis's "It's Now or Never" was based on); MASADA (16D Site fortified by Herod the Great); PARSEE (28D Minority member in India); SERAI (123A Near East hotel); DABHAND (51D Expert, in England); SCHEMATA (6D Underlying patterns); STINGO (94D "Sophie's Choice" narrator); and the lovely TARANTULA (36D "Fuzzy crawler); the ever-tricky QANDA (1A Talk follower); and the debut of the PAIR (7D Poker holding) of BOZ and DOZ.

Our species is represented by DUNST (23A "Marie Antoinette" star, 2006), ONEAL (102A The Big Aristotle, in the N.B.A.); KATIE (57A Holmes who married Tom Cruise); "The Princess Bride" character INIGO Montoya (92A); FARRAH (39D Jill's portrayer in "Charlie's Angels") and FAISAL (69D 1960s-70s Saudi king); ENSOR (81A Belgian painter James, known for bizarre fantasies with masks); BOGGS (Wade at Cooperstown); PEETE (83A Former N.F.L. QB Rodney); GORDIE (18D Howe who was known as Mr. Hockey); PESCI (78D "Home Alone" actor Joe); and others.

I'm leaving out what I haven't much to say about, including DATUM (11D Bit of info); RADII (33A Hub-to-rim lines); ERODING (66A Losing ground); ROYAL (58A Typewriter brand); ALUMNAE (73A Former coeds, maybe); DELUGING (79A Inundating); STENCIL (63D Letter-writing aid); STOLES (46D Items checked at an opera house checkroom); TECHIE (98D Computer whiz); and IMITATION (54D (Made of paste).

Meekly leftover in this otherwise non-food puzzle is 119D Pizza order -- PIE -- without, we've nothing to eat but words!

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For today's cartoons, go to The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated.