Wednesday, November 27, 2013

My Entry in the New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #405

Here is my entry in the New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #405 for November 25, 2013. The cartoon is provided by Tom Cheney. The caption is provided by me.

"Hungry?"


I had a few other caption ideas:
"Frankly, no, it doesn't remind me of "The Lone Ranger."
"I call it rightsizing."
"We offer convenient, low-interest financing."

"No, ma'am, stuffing is not included."
"Or thirty-seven hours if you like it well done."


Now the very week after this contest appeared in the New Yorker, the magazine is running another size gag on the cover. If I didn't know better, I'd think the cover art is being used to pay an homage to the caption contest. But I do know better.
Tom Gauld, The New Yorker, December 2, 2013


December 2, 2013 Update:  The Finalists

December 16, 2013 Update:  Winning Caption




Note:  My previous entry in the New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest was decidedly Presidential, not that I'm running for office or anything. It can be found here. I had only two ideas for a caption this time. As it turns out, the one I didn't run with was surprisingly close to a finalist's caption. I remain, as ever, unable to choose wisely from among my sundry caption concoctions.

Tom Cheney is the artist behind some of my least successful Caption Contest entries, but that might not entirely be his fault. See more blog posts about his work here.

You can always see more of Tom Cheney's New Yorker work in the Cartoon Bank here.

Then catch up with the latest news about cartoonist Tom Cheney on Ink Spill here.

I may not have cracked the code to the New Yorker's caption contest, but I am currently a proud finalist in the Moment Cartoon Caption Contest. Read all about it here. You can even vote for your favorite caption entry here.

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Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Parking Lot Turkeys

Hybrid turkeys make themselves at home in a parking lot.

Parking Lot Turkeys
December 24, 2012
Note:  See more turkeys here.

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Monday, November 25, 2013

The 2010 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

In 2009, the parade route had changed and I could no longer easily reach my preferred viewing area from an apartment high above Columbus Circle. So on November 25, 2010 as an alternative I went into Central Park on foot to meet the challenge of partially-obstructed views which were still, I think, better than no views at all. They were really not the pictures I wanted to take, though. I'm sorry to report that I personally have not been back to the Parade since to make amends. Maybe next year.

Flying Ace Snoopy leaves Columbus Circle
Kermit the Frog on Central Park South
Diary of a Wimpy Kid, new for 2010
Ronald McDonald 
Mt. Rushmore's American Pride
Uncle Sam
Statue of Liberty float
Marion-Carole Showboat float
Sailor Mickey

Sailor Mickey

Sailor Mickey

Basketball and Football balloons



SpongeBob SquarePants


Beach Ball Cluster

Jolly Polly Pirate Ship and Arrrrtie the Pirate



Arrrrtie the Pirate





"Super-Cute" Hello Kitty

"Super-Cute" Hello Kitty

"Super-Cute" Hello Kitty



Sunshine Theme float (Jimmy Dean)

Shrek balloon

Shrek balloon

Kaiko and Kiki balloons.  Who?

Kaikai and Kiki balloons


Castle of Dreams
Planet Earth balloon

Castle of Dreams float and Planet Earth balloon pass down Central Park West
Harold the Fireman

Kung Fu Panda balloon, new for 2010

Kung Fu Panda, new for 2010

Kung Fu Panda balloon

Pikachu and Poké Ball 

The Pikachu and Poké Ball balloons from the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade 2010.
Gotta catch 'em all.

Pikachu balloon

The Pikachu and Poké Ball balloons


Spider-Man balloon (new from 2009)


Spider-Man balloon



One second of the Big Apple (Daily News) float from the
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade 2010. One second?


The Big Apple (Daily News) float

Horton the Elephant balloon

Horton the Elephant


Horton the Elephant balloon


Horton the Elephant

Kool-Aid Man balloonicle

Buzz Lightyear balloon

Buzz Lightyear

The Energizer Bunny

Red Candy Cane

Pillsbury Doughboy (new from 2009)


Pillsbury Doughboy balloon

Strawberry/Pistachio Ice Cream Cone balloon

Big Man Santa

Big Man Santa balloon

Smurf balloon

Smurf

Smurf balloon


Smurf Mushroom float

Snow Crystals

Elves--Blue, Yellow, and Red
The Parade heads away down 7th Avenue




Note:  I have here some links to other wonderful Thanksgiving Day posts from previous years. In general, I'm quite pleased with these, except for maybe the wild turkeys. Anyone can take picture of a wild turkey. Also, I missed quite a few years, which I'm not really happy about. Contact me if you can fill in the blanks.

The 2012 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

The 2012 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloon Inflation

The 2008 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

The 2005 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

Maurice Sendak's Wild Thing Balloon Design

Keith Haring's Figure with Heart Balloon

Balloons Over Broadway by Melissa Sweet

Wild Turkeys

Peter Arno:  Pilgrim's Progress

I'm afraid will not be able to attend this year's Parade, although I am hopeful that others may be able to take a few pictures for me, as this turned out rather well last year when I didn't show up. I also would be happy to include inspiring photos and short videos of the 2013 parade from readers, provided of course they are exclusively your property.

I do plan to be present this year for the Wednesday evening balloon inflation, where I should be able to get a couple of shots from above probably very similar to last year's. If anyone else can get good photos of the balloon inflation, I'd be most grateful if you'd share them here.

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