i got the thumb rebus as well, but couldn't figure out for the life of me how to get 5 characters into the nyt applet -- the faq only suggests you can go up to 4. Any ideas?
jeff | 08.28.07 - 9:47 pm | #

The applet accepts first letters of rebus words as correct. So, here, just putting a T in the square would suffice.
smwcross | 08.28.07 - 10:12 pm | #

Also, Amy, might not 'TURNS away' and 'TWISTS off' be included in the storm theme in the Sun?
smwcross | 08.28.07 - 10:15 pm | #

Odd experience on the NYT. Got the rebus in 10 seconds. Was in the NW corner when there was [Barnum midget] with _ _ M _, obviously TOM(), and ()SONESNOSE a gimme. Looked for symmetrical rebus and right there was [Encouraging sign] of course ()()UP and yes, thought of Roger and Gene and the other fellow. And oh, how Roger and Gene could opine! The 3 have an archive of over 5000 movie review conversations here: http://bventertainment.go.com/tv...bertandroeper/ #. (Can't do the coding in this format, Amy? or maybe I got it wrong.) So in 20 seconds the highlights are over and the rest is just ()thing to clean up.
Lee Glickstein | 08.29.07 - 4:19 am | #

Got the rebus in the NYT right away. Seemed easy, even for a Wednesday.

On the NYS, however, I had no clue at all on the 52A/D crossing: DES/DOBLE. Strange names and foreign languages crossing is borderline unfair -- there's no way to figure it out if you don't know it. Surely, there are more reasonable clues for DES in that situation. It also took me awhile to figure out how "Best alternative?" was YOURS (I've since concluded it is in reference to the closing salutation of a letter); I was *sure* the answer was going to be STARR. Not crazy about the OBEAH/HIS crossing either, though that one was at least gettable.
Pete M | 08.29.07 - 7:46 am | #

I believe today's Times puzzle is also a pangram (and doesn't even rely on the rebus to do so). Impressive.
Elbee | 08.29.07 - 7:59 am | #

It would've been cool to see HUMBER[T HUMB]ERT or EA[T HUMB]LE PIE as a theme entry, to make the rebus a little trickier.
Will Nediger | 08.29.07 - 8:18 am | #

Sad to see today's NYT reference to OWEN Wilson, given his recent troubles. I would've preferred a last minute switch to some other OWEN if it were possible...
Evad | 08.29.07 - 8:25 am | #

Is prescience 20/20? As my dog plopped down on my shoes, preventing me from tying them, I explained to her that unless she had OPPOSABLE THUMBS, I would have to ask her to move. She got the idea promptly, grabbed a sneaker, and chewed on those laces.

Have fun in FL. j
flipperista | 08.29.07 - 9:09 am | #

In today's clever NYS puzzle, 46D reads "Nickname of a century-old symphony" (EROICA). Is this the version Beethoven rolled over in his grave to write? ;-)

It's two centuries old, isn't it?
jim | 08.29.07 - 10:55 am | #

To respond to the two NYSun-related responses:

Yes, TURNSAWAY and TWISTSOFF were intended to be theme (glad you noticed!).

And, yes, Beethoven DID roll over (and Tchaikovsky was told the news, so as not to be left in the cold of the theme-y storm) to write this version. Actually, it was a typo that wasn't caught until it was too late for the online version - apparently, if it had been changed the diamond of circles would likely have been lost, so it was decided to let us all instead make jokes about the even more impressively prolific Ludwig Van.

As for DES/DOBLE: MEA CULPA! I suppose using the foreign word-version of DES - or another, more gimme fitb - would have been options, but the DOBLE being both foreign AND fitb...well...I was dizzy from making the rest of the puzzle!

Thanks to Patrick Blindauer for assistance with the eye, which I had at first tried with the purest intentions (though somewhat inelegantly) to make round vs. diamond-shaped.

Have a nice time in Florida,
Tony Orbach | 08.29.07 - 3:17 pm | #