tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post518471873719871229..comments2024-03-28T06:38:18.999-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Best Picture subject nine inches shorter than actor who portrayed him / THU 1-26-17 / Le Duc decliner of 1973 Nobel prize / Whisky first produced for King George VI's 1939 visit to Canada / Supervillain in 2015's Avengers sequel / Subject of 1820 compromise / Sports star with signed jersey in Vatican / Feature of many minion in Despicable MeRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger151125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-68831933170739845902017-03-02T19:01:33.614-05:002017-03-02T19:01:33.614-05:00@TAM AYE, there's the rub.@TAM AYE, there's the rub. Wooody2004noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-91420859854432826752017-03-02T18:36:15.128-05:002017-03-02T18:36:15.128-05:00@Wooody: Funny call on the BUSTS ALOFT A CUP. (An ...@Wooody: Funny call on the BUSTS ALOFT A CUP. (An A-CUP, though, wouldn't hold a whole lot.)leftcoastTAMnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-21166817558845088642017-03-02T18:22:57.246-05:002017-03-02T18:22:57.246-05:00There's a lot of rationalizing (above, among t...There's a lot of rationalizing (above, among the realtimers) of the LITTLE adjective for "birds", as they refer to them. The actual wording/spelling in the puzzle is BIRDIES. Would you call a CROW, a TERN, or a LOON a "BIRDIE"? No, and especially not A LITTLE BIRDIE".<br /><br />It's a small point, but it annoys me enough to raise it. leftcoastTAMnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-14126259661193406822017-03-02T18:15:25.011-05:002017-03-02T18:15:25.011-05:00I liked the SLY reference to the FINE brothers, ak...I liked the SLY reference to the FINE brothers, aka The Three Stooges, with CURLY, (T.E.) LAWRENCE, MO (MISSOURI) and sometimes SHOP. I thought they had a short about little birdies but I was mixing them up with W. C. Fields in My Little Chickadee. However, Google pulled up a song by 3 S's called "Two Little Birdies". I'd embed it if I knew how. <br /><br />I loved the BUSTS aloft over a CUP. <br /><br />I'll STOP. Wooody2004noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-19937815049678485832017-03-02T16:48:09.228-05:002017-03-02T16:48:09.228-05:00Two wrong assumptions on my part made this much mo...Two wrong assumptions on my part made this much more difficult than it had to be: one was that the BIRDIES would indeed be "LITTLE", the other that they would be located symmetrically.<br /><br />Getting CROW in CROWNROYAL early on disabused me of the first assumption. But I stuck with the second almost to the end.<br /><br />Result was that CLOONEY didn't show up till late, having made the trip as a (non-symmetrical) BALLOONIST. On his own, KIERAN Culkin appeared late in the game, too.<br /><br />Clever, tough, and fair, but requiring almost more time than it was worth. leftcoastTAMnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-92211212237900776852017-03-02T15:50:43.973-05:002017-03-02T15:50:43.973-05:00Hardly a "gracious review" George. More ...Hardly a "gracious review" George. More like damned by faint praise. The puzzle review version of kicking the dog after a bad day. That it was a debut and Thursday rebus only adds insult to injury.<br />A great puzzle at any rate. Had a dismaying first ramble, but soon knocked down the two big central crosses and felt pretty good....for not very long. Could not find secret birds, but feeling certain CROWN ROYAL had to be there, I went looking more closely and came up with 'tern', which led to 'crow' and quickly 'wren'. Took a while to mop up in the NW since I had 'bumps' instead of BUSTS (pho looked phine) and, of course, 'orbs'.<br />Did Nancy ever figure out she had a DNF? centralscrewtinizerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03404913280254786506noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-67143015585874454172017-03-02T13:49:08.382-05:002017-03-02T13:49:08.382-05:00ALITTLEBIRDIE tried to TELLME today would be the h...ALITTLEBIRDIE tried to TELLME today would be the hated rebus. Knew it would be BALLOONIST, but only entered the B, because rebus-iness. Went over to the NE where things took a TERN for the better and the top half was done before the revealer. Steady from there on out.<br /><br />Surprised of so few mentions of BEA Benaderet having a prominent role SUCHAS Gracie’s next-door neighbor and best friend on the Burns and Allen TV show, years before Petticoat Junction. Even I know that, and the B&A TV show started running years before I did.<br /><br />Can’t look at PHOTOID without wanting it to rhyme with void.<br /><br />Anyone with a voice like ELLA gets a yeah baby from me.<br /><br />This one took a little extra time due to the BIRDIEs being stuffed into their random square cages. Time to relax, anyone want to share a STIFF one? IT’S on me.<br />rondonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-73200498040861500212017-03-02T13:25:54.055-05:002017-03-02T13:25:54.055-05:00Good, fair puzzle if you pull all the rebus out. I...Good, fair puzzle if you pull all the rebus out. It really was for the birds.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-85409390258226200092017-03-02T13:04:15.984-05:002017-03-02T13:04:15.984-05:00A real toughie, but I solved it: triumph factor a ...A real toughie, but I solved it: triumph factor a boatload of PTS. Started in the center with BEA Benaderet of old "Petticoat Junction" fame, BLT and right there in the middle of a host of guys, DOD ELLA. Yeah, baby, I'll take All Of You.<br /><br />It's a good place to get a foothold, especially if it contains the reveal line, as today's does. I don't typically hear that expression with the -IE ending, but it'll pass. The prexies' SPANIELS took me into the NE, where my time seemed ETERNAL till that word flashed into my mind. Oh, so: rebusiness! From then on it got a LITTLE easier...but not much. Cluing was Saturday-ish.<br /><br />One blot: my moral universe had an ARm instead of an ARC. Can you get a CUP of ice cream? Oh, you mean like a CUP-shaped CONE?? Or, are we size-dieting: " Exactly one CUP, please." Ice cream is not soup or coffee. The only thing that saved me there was the fact that "mUP" makes even LESS sense.<br /><br />How could I not know KIERAN Culkin (any relation to McCauley?), or that uber-famous, multi-award winning (?) "Igby Goes Down?" Who saw that one...both of you? But, it all crossed in.<br /><br />I was more impressed by the theme--and execution--than OFL, and agree about the almost-clean fill. So I'll take advantage of a rare opportunity to lift my score directly from the grid: BIRDIE.spacecraftnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-53864108837319038322017-03-02T13:02:39.640-05:002017-03-02T13:02:39.640-05:00I'm not a fan of the rebi, and face Thursday p...I'm not a fan of the rebi, and face Thursday puzzles with a bit of apprehension. OTOH, I always enjoy it when I figure out a rebus puzzle and conquer it. As was the case today. Those little birdies had me scratching my head, but I got them all into their respective nests. <br /><br />I think I saw a California Condor last year - perhaps it was a Turkey Hawk, but it was pretty huge. Whoever it was, it impressed me as a big birdie. <br /><br />Personally, I have no problem with the size of the birds in today's fun game. <br /><br />Diana, Lady-in-Waiting for CrosswordsDiana,LIWnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-88919869310115364052017-03-02T10:16:47.863-05:002017-03-02T10:16:47.863-05:00. . . THO NOT_HERE
SLY AGAMEMNON kept ONEEYE on t.... . . THO NOT_HERE<br /><br />SLY AGAMEMNON kept ONEEYE on that SAPPHO lass,<br />STIFF and AMAZED at her FINE NAPE and BUSTS.<br />They TELLME this ETERNAL HELLENIC ardor was at IMPASSE –<br />IT’S Lesbos did STOP HIM and his CROWNROYAL lust.<br /><br />--- SAMUEL “CURLY” CLOONEY<br />Burma Shavenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-69470218279745446712017-02-02T00:15:09.469-05:002017-02-02T00:15:09.469-05:00I just had to chime in on the hawk comments:
Like...I just had to chime in on the hawk comments:<br /><br />Like @Tita, I live in CT also, and have Cooper's Hawks stop by my house every single day. They usually get a Mourning Dove.<br /><br />Last week, a Sharp-Shinned Hawk got a Red-Bellied Woodpecker, sadly. The woodpecker was almost bigger than the hawk! Though I see the Sharpies rarely, they do stop by occasionally.<br /><br />Hi @Tita, @chefwen, @Rex, @Loren et al.JenCThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18290169184354765840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-18161997992722412502017-01-27T20:52:15.666-05:002017-01-27T20:52:15.666-05:00Agree,totally w/ anon #2. Come on, Rex. Agree,totally w/ anon #2. Come on, Rex. Babshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06554608885904765077noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-83257423842663138382017-01-27T19:45:58.556-05:002017-01-27T19:45:58.556-05:00I think little as in 'fits in one square'I think little as in 'fits in one square'Philhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07988007506745985696noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-42229112759470925152017-01-27T14:40:37.450-05:002017-01-27T14:40:37.450-05:00Baloney. If "a little birdie" keys to th...Baloney. If "a little birdie" keys to the rebus words, then by any rule of fair play the four birds have to be LITTLE birds. Wren? Yes, indeed. Crow? No, a crow is not a little bird. And loons and terns are, in fact, very LARGE birds. Taking it too literally? I think not -- the foundation of the puzzle must be accurate, and here it wasn't. midnight madnesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02728323729131140342noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-80868675726864637392017-01-27T02:08:56.899-05:002017-01-27T02:08:56.899-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.Big Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01455710196331692209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-85670264770337022262017-01-26T23:32:02.419-05:002017-01-26T23:32:02.419-05:00I completed the center part of the puzzle first so...I completed the center part of the puzzle first so I had the revealer. The likely place for each answer was one per corner. <br /><br />I was thinking of 'little' birds, title, finch, even wren. Then it hit me, any bird becomes little when you cram it into one square.<br /><br />Nice puzzle.gifcanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12612467417938884430noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-26733120421450520462017-01-26T23:21:53.726-05:002017-01-26T23:21:53.726-05:00I got the rebus right off, I had BUSTS and HIM, an...I got the rebus right off, I had BUSTS and HIM, and the clue for 13 across a quickly realized had to be balloonist, the trick was figuring out how the rebus worked. I guessed "loon" and the rest fell into place. That was before I even found the revealer.Lee Collerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08815538838562145810noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-69826164392494451222017-01-26T23:12:06.848-05:002017-01-26T23:12:06.848-05:00Ugh, hating this hysterical conversation about the...Ugh, hating this hysterical conversation about the extremely small percentage of woman who opt for late-term abortions for a whole host of reasons. Educate yourselves and then remember that it's someone else's body and not yours, and shut the hell up.<br /><br />http://www.livescience.com/56570-late-term-abortions-presidential-debate.htmlAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-91114491007528184422017-01-26T22:42:27.834-05:002017-01-26T22:42:27.834-05:00I had an early doctor's appointment and, stymi...I had an early doctor's appointment and, stymied in the [WREN] corner, I abandoned the puzzle until I got home. Based on the clue, I was also trying for something like Toulouse Lautrec but just couldn't find a bird i there anywhere. Shabby finally saved the day. I don't know how I came up with it but LO[WREN}T sprang to mind. I had PTS and HEM and had to think deep and hard to remember his initials as T.E.. Thomas Edward LA[WREN]CE makes so much more sense than that American Leaguer, Designated Hitter LA[WREN]CE. Okay, okay, I just cheated and looked up what the T.E. represented. <br /><br />DNF, because I had to look up the Culken guy. Otherwise I thought this was a pretty Gorram* good Thursday opus. Took me slightly over my average time but kept me engaged for most of the day pondering the rebus. CLOONEY was the first one I got. I knew that people rushing were going for a FRA[TERN]ITY or a sororITY. That gave me the Aha on E[TERN]AL. [CROW]N ROYAL was soon to follow. I think this was pretty remarkable debut so I'll be looking for more from Hal Moore.<br /><br />Memory is hazy so I don't recall if it was a Coopers or a Red Shouldered hawk that was living in the trees behind the house we were living in last year. I do recall that she sounded like the red tails I heard in California. I bunch of little birds would be in the trees and on the lawns until a mockingbird would turn up and imitate her call and they'd all take off in a panic. I enjoyed watching them. <br /><br /><br />*Thank you whoever reminded me of Firefly/Serenity.Numinoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01263999193499725814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-2611265745326061202017-01-26T22:36:54.283-05:002017-01-26T22:36:54.283-05:00Ooh google NYE is a flock of pheasnts... thank you...Ooh google NYE is a flock of pheasnts... thank you @HM for not Hhitting us with that clue ;)<br />With a little squinting you should be able to get a haiku from everything.<br /><br />BE A ROOFER SPRY<br />A LITTLE BIRDIE TELL ME<br />THO 'NYE' ITS NOT HERE<br />Philhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07988007506745985696noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-21823579528975178302017-01-26T22:22:08.919-05:002017-01-26T22:22:08.919-05:00unborn or preborn not preformunborn or preborn not preformAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-26245529423368092032017-01-26T22:20:16.051-05:002017-01-26T22:20:16.051-05:00I'm not a good linker but basically says prefo...I'm not a good linker but basically says preform children have no rights until they leave the womb. Sorry Andrew. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-66114964999594795022017-01-26T22:15:57.478-05:002017-01-26T22:15:57.478-05:00http://liveactionnews.org/there-is-no-federal-law-...http://liveactionnews.org/there-is-no-federal-law-protecting-the-preborn-from-abortion-at-any-time/Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-66279237762967330242017-01-26T22:03:21.007-05:002017-01-26T22:03:21.007-05:00Semantics pal. They regularly perform third trimes...Semantics pal. They regularly perform third trimester abortions. You can call it whatever you want. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com