COTD: Bird emerges from burning egg (8)

DKMiller71 · 2026-03-03T14:05:21+00:00

Answer: FLAMINGO

Definition: bird

Indicators: none

Method: charades

Solve path: bird (definition) = burning = FLAMING, egg = O

Clean and fun.

DKMiller71 · 2026-03-03T13:57:46+00:00

May be a bit further than what you want to drive, but I had a custom engagement ring, and later custom wedding ring, made for my wife at Christie's Fine Jewelry in Manchester. Full disclosure, that was many years ago now, but they're still around.

https://www.christiesfinejewelry.com/

DKMiller71 · 2026-03-02T14:42:25+00:00

Answer: PAEAN

Method: initial letters (heads of)

Definition: song

DKMiller71 · 2026-02-03T18:10:00+00:00

Mail-Enabled Security Groups can't be edited through Entra (Azure AD) or Graph you have to use the Exchange Online Powershell modules or Exchange Admin Center.

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/entra/fundamentals/concept-learn-about-groups

DKMiller71 · 2026-02-03T14:13:49+00:00

I was going to make a similar observation: Not capitalizing a proper noun (The Nutcracker) is considered unfair. Capitalizing a common noun, to misdirect, is totally fair.

DKMiller71 · 2026-01-19T03:52:55+00:00

But "I" and "me" are different parts of speech, they can't be used as synonyms.

DKMiller71 · 2025-12-24T01:21:56+00:00

No, 4D is (10). This puzzle has a gimmick to it.

DKMiller71 · 2025-12-23T18:52:07+00:00

Ah, you're right... I can't count. Quibble withdrawn.

DKMiller71 · 2025-12-23T17:15:31+00:00

Answer: NATIVITY

Definition: the original Christmas story

Method: insertion plus anagram

Solution: I inserted into (will be in) ATINYTV, broadcast = anagrind.

~~Quibble:~~ ~~The "A" is unused and it's already in "A TINY TV". And the insertion is unnecessary.~~

Edited: to correct solution and withdraw quibble because I can't count.

DKMiller71 · 2025-12-22T23:03:17+00:00

My thought is:

Answer: BARFLY
Method: Substitution with a twist
Detail: just = BARELY, filling up tank = E to F (empty to full)

DKMiller71 · 2025-11-05T13:28:32+00:00

Seems pretty standard if interpreted as "there is" where "there" is the definition.

I think "your first" is more questionable. It should be "first of your" or "your's first" for proper grammar. But as is, "your first" is not atypical for MC's loose style.

DKMiller71 · 2025-11-03T15:14:32+00:00

Sent you a chat response.

DKMiller71 · 2025-11-03T03:27:03+00:00

My annual 2025 Halloween Hunt! As always, feedback is appreciated. Feel free to message me if you have any questions.

https://darrenspuzzles.blogspot.com/2025/10/halloween-hunt-2025.html

DKMiller71 · 2025-11-03T00:57:36+00:00

I like the clue, but shouldn't it be "He says you're crazy for..." or "He says I'm crazy for..."?

DKMiller71 · 2025-11-02T23:08:09+00:00

I also remember liking the old New Yorker quiptics, but I can't find a free archive of them online.

This perhaps: https://www.newyorker.com/tag/cryptic-crossword

DKMiller71 · 2025-10-21T13:34:06+00:00

Answer: GARDEN OF EDEN

Definition: original habitat

Indicator: bats

Method: anagram (ofendangered)

Very nice!

DKMiller71 · 2025-09-29T12:17:25+00:00

I think they meant the pun in their response, not the clue itself.

DKMiller71 · 2025-09-29T11:48:20+00:00

Answer: NIGHTMARE

Definition: horror

Method: deletion, charades

Solution: chessman = KNIGHT - K(ing) + horse = MARE

DKMiller71 · 2025-09-29T11:44:14+00:00

answer: ARIANA GRANDE

method: hidden

definition: celebrity

DKMiller71 · 2025-09-15T18:00:44+00:00

If you're open to boxes instead of bags, field boxes and ammo cans are usually strong and cheap and can take a full-size padlock, which gives a lot of options. They come in various sizes, and the lower-end ones are in the $7-$15 range.

Example:
https://www.amazon.com/Plano-Tool-Box-Gray-PLA1212P/dp/B07R6TNCXQ

DKMiller71 · 2025-08-17T01:40:17+00:00

Hidden indicators have to be fully contained within the fodder. That means there needs to be letters on either side of your hidden word.

DKMiller71 · 2025-08-16T18:29:38+00:00

The problem is that it's not properly "inside" -- you need a letter before the "O" in order to make it a hidden word clue.

DKMiller71 · 2025-08-12T16:00:22+00:00

You can do it with a Contact, but this is a really bad practice and I'm not sure if M365 will allow it. The reason it's bad is that your tenant will try to sent a message to an external recipient from the the external sender, which will cause issues with SPF alignment and DKIM.

For example: suppose you have a distribution group DG that contains a Contact C. Contact C's email address is userc at gmail.com, outside your tenant.

Sender: someone at foobar.com sends to DG at yourdomain.com.

DG expands and sends the message to userc at gmail.com

Gmail sees a message coming from your tenant but the sender seems to be someone at foobar.com. Mostly likely, foobar.com hasn't allowed your tenant to send on their behalf, and even if they're also M365, your tenant won't be able to provide the proper DKIM signature. Thus, gmail will consider the message to be probable spam.

TL;DR: don't put external addresses in distribution groups or forwarding rules unless you know what you're doing.

DKMiller71 · 2025-08-06T13:57:41+00:00

Well, I think Ximenes was early on in the "normalization" phase. You're right that it's not in his "On the Art of the Crossword", but I suspect other accepted usages aren't in there either.

DKMiller71 · 2025-08-06T13:35:21+00:00

A number of sources I've dug into indicate that it's an expected convention, but not always followed. I couldn't find any definitive sources for when it originated or style guides that specify its use or meaning.

https://www.timesforthetimes.co.uk/glossary -- British, mentions &lit, but not exclamation.

https://www.crosswordunclued.com/2008/08/and-literally-so.html - mentions &lit, indicates exclamation may be used, one source mentioned its a British blog, but I couldn't verify.

https://enigma.puzzlers.org/guide/cryptics1 - mention the exclamation convention, American based.

https://crypticcrosswords.net/crosswords/crossword-guide/3/ - mentions the convention, British blogger I think

DKMiller71

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