57. More Schulz

Jeannie Schulz, widow of Charles Schulz, has weighed in with a comment on post #48, the one concerning the Schulz and Peanuts biography. Her comment is long, but that’s because it includes three supporting statements that further call into question what biographer David Michaelis has put together in his book.
[HER COMMENT (scroll down to the 3rd response)]

56. Bonus Mini-Crossword

Here’s either a warm-up or cool-down crossword puzzle…

…to go with the one in the December issue of Scientific American:

55. Squares #19

54. In BOXeS crossword

The December issue of Scientific American, with my annual two-page crossword puzzle, is on newsstands now.

PDF downloads of both the ORIGINAL and a HARDER version, as well as the answers, can be found here: In BOXeS.

The HARDER version lacks some visual elements that are present in the ORIGINAL (same as the magazine) version, but is the same otherwise.

53. Squares #18

52. Clue Rules, updated

Post #17, the list of Crossword Clue Rules, has gotten a bit of massaging since it was first posted about two months ago. Part of this is thanks to a few behind the scene suggestions passed my way. One somewhat new way of looking at slang usage (for me anyway) is now included in rule #5: “there are three basic categories of words — standard, informal, and slang — and a clue can often move one category without further hint.”

51. Scientific Crosswords

The December issue of Scientific American, with my annual crossword puzzle, is imminent. In case you missed either of the previous offerings, they’re still available online here:
SET THEORY (’06) • WORMHOLE (’05)

50. Gadzooks! Kindness

Today is World Kindness Day. Drat! I had plans to be ornery today, so I guess those are kaput. And I see here on the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation’s calendar that it extends for a whole week!

49. Squares #17

Back by lack of popular demand…
The Crossword Rap, part 2

48. Charles M. Schulz

Updated 11/12: After the glow of reading this book wore off, and I looked into things a bit more, I’m of the opinion that this portrait of Charles Schulz is flawed in a fundamental way. His son Monte is quoted as calling the book “preposterous.” His daughter Amy declared that “the whole thing is completely wrong.” His wife, Jeannie, said that it’s “not a full portrait. Sparky was so much more. Most of the time he loved to laugh.”

While one could discount these statements as protective or overly biased, I think now that they are absolutely true. Although I came away from the book still thinking highly of Charles Schulz, and the author claims that the biography “comes out very strongly (that) this was a great artist,” it ultimately presents a lopsided and then condensed portrait of a sad man. Unfortunately, since the book is so well written and researched, that is the total picture many reviewers and readers are coming away with.

While I’d prefer to just delete it, I’m leaving most of my original review up…

47. Off the Wall Puzzle

Direct from the walls of the Overlook Lounge on Manhattan’s upper east side — a crossword puzzle! Two years ago this month, the promise of free food was all it took to lure members of the National Cartoonists Society into the restaurant to decorate their walls. My contribution was a crossword puzzle (being peed on by Dondi I’m proud to point out). Click on the image to enlarge it. Mike Lynch has additional pictures of all three walls.
Another cartoon wall in the same restaurant, done in the ’60s, can be seen on the Chris “Hagar the Horrible” Browne’s site.

46. Coffee Cam

Click on the image to enlarge it.
This entry has been brought to you by COFFEE TIME,
a palm-size, 320-page book of coffee puzzles and trivia.

45. Squares #16 (new every Monday)

44. Beginning Crosswords

You’re never too young to start solving crosswords. That’s the premise behind Picture Clue Crosswords (8×10, $3.95, new today). The puzzles are for beginning solvers, but they’re set up just like adult crosswords with consistent grid sizes, themes, and picture clues in Across and Down columns.

The book’s 20 puzzles include some twists: 5 have a what doesn’t belong feature; 2 have full-page clue scenes; and 2 have mystery themes. [CLICK HERE] for more info. Click on the mini-size puzzle sample below to download it.