Puzzle: What has Trump done?

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Sunday August 14, 2022 · 11:19 AM PDT

2022/08/14 · 11:19

Nova Land is a creative puzzle constructor and inspirational blogger who has been keeping the Sunday Puzzle tradition alive (and who also shares lots of cute cat pictures). The Daily Kos Sunday Puzzle franchise is in good hands, and I offer up this puzzle simply as something extra for those folks who can never find enough puzzles.

Republicans seem to be puzzled by the question of what Donald Trump could possibly have done to justify the FBI's recent search of his Florida home. David Nir published an excellent diary summarizing their puzzlement. Looking for a diversion from all of the things I should be working on this weekend, I thought it might be appropriate to address this issue in the form of a puzzle. In this case, a Latin square puzzle.

The principle underlying Latin squares has been known since at least the 13th century, and the name was acquired as a result of mathematician Leonhard Euler publishing studies of them in the 1700s using Latin letters as symbols. A Latin square takes the form of a square grid filled with with a set of symbols (numbers, letters, etc.) in such a way that each symbol appears exactly once in each row and column. Latin square puzzles can be solved by applying logic principals in a similar manner as used in solving Sudoku puzzles. Sudoku/Worduko puzzles are a type of Latin square.

This puzzle has a single solution and includes one full-width inscription suggesting an answer to the question "What has Trump done?" If you treat the completed puzzle as a word search puzzle, looking for content that could be horizontal, vertical, diagonal, and sometimes backwards, you will find additional words, some of which one may associate with the former president.

Pick a solving option that suits your style:

Interactive web-based puzzle server — just follow the link and solve online
Printable/Fillable PDF file — download the PDF file and complete it as a fillable form or print it out to complete with pen or pencil
Or just print the image of the grid and complete it with pen or pencil

Enjoy!

Simon & Schuster still Worldwide Distributor for Josh Hawley's book

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Monday January 18, 2021 · 10:58 AM PST

2021/01/18 · 10:58

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 02: U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) speaks during a news conference at the U.S. Capitol April 2, 2019 in Washington, DC. Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) held a news conference to discuss "his efforts to make healthcare more affordable and accessible for families." (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

The New York Times is reporting that Regnery Publishing (paywall) has picked up the contract to publish “The Tyranny of Big Tech” this spring. Regnery is a conservative publishing house who's authors include Ann Coulter, Dinesh D’Souza, Newt Gingrich, Ted Cruz, and Donald Trump. In the article they include the statement made by Simon & Schuster when they declined Hawley's book, but fail to mention that Regnery has a contract with Simon & Schuster for the worldwide distribution of all of their books.

Thomas Spence, the president and publisher of Regnery, said in a statement that the publishing house was proud to stand with Mr. Hawley. “The warning in his book about censorship obviously couldn’t be more urgent,” Mr. Spence said. His company’s statement said that Simon & Schuster had made Mr. Hawley a victim of cancel culture.

...

“As a publisher it will always be our mission to amplify a variety of voices and viewpoints: At the same time we take seriously our larger public responsibility as citizens, and cannot support Senator Hawley after his role in what became a dangerous threat,” Simon & Schuster said in a statement.

In 2018 Simon & Schuster entered into a Worldwide Distribution Agreement with Regnery:

Simon & Schuster, Inc., announced today that it has entered into a distribution agreement with Regnery Publishing, a leading publisher of conservative books. Under the agreement, beginning July 1, 2018, Simon & Schuster will handle distribution for Regnery titles in all markets and territories around the world.

...

“Regnery Publishing has long been the standard bearer and the most instantly recognizable, leading brand in conservative publishing,” said Michael Perlman, Vice President, General Manager, Simon & Schuster Client Publisher Services. “We are delighted to welcome them to our distribution services, and look forward to working together to bring their books to readers around the world.”

Like Pilate, they may have washed their hands, but they are still covered with blood.

Kosword Puzzle: Keep it Clean

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Thursday November 07, 2019 · 7:35 AM PST

2019/11/07 · 07:35

The same week that Trump starts the process to formally withdraw from the Paris climate agreement Italy announces that starting next year a course in climate change and sustainable development will be mandatory in all public schools. For the far-right it seems that the measure of Trump’s effectiveness is the amount of damage he’s done to our standing in the world. Here’s my offering of a few minutes diversion from this relentless news cycle.

Keep it Clean

Across

1. Dictator's asst.

6. Overly theatrical

10. Breakfast fare

14. Legendary actress Sophia

15. ''Uncle Remus'' rabbit

16. Track event

17. Dodge K-car

18. Union currency

19. Home of the Gaels

20. Not a fan? It's a generational thing

23. Prosecute

24. Mrs. Sprat's diet

25. Ambassador's aides

27. Gives peace of mind

31. Grimm brute

32. Calm and composed

33. A kind of trip

36. Baits

39. Hard Knocks org.

40. Cat watching King Rama, perhaps

42. "I have a dream" monogram

43. Net sales

45. A serving of Guinness

46. Blue ox of folklore

47. Carrier itineraries

49. Alma mater of Sotomayor, Alito, Thomas, and Kavanaugh

51. Allen Ginsberg, for one

55. Kind of mill

56. Make public

57. It goes with the flow

62. No longer are

64. Baltic capital

65. IRS option

66. Corner-to-corner: Abbr.

67. Small, ornamental case

68. Grow to maturity

69. Use it to rock the cradle or walk the dog

70. Disney acquisition

71. Watergate financier Maurice

Down

1. Pulled pork topper

2. "Cornflake Girl" singer Amos

3. OutFront host Burnett

4. Essential

5. High-tech help for motorists

6. Driver with a handle, briefly

7. Dutch resort island

8. Deserve

9. On the double

10. Formerly a top UK record label

11. Mother's warmth

12. Category, as in music or literature

13. Hotel visits

21. Child development centers?

22. Golf feat

26. Grand ___ (vineyard designation)

27. Teen affliction

28. Piano, on a music score

29. Suncatcher, of a sort

30. Lunchtime serial

34. Friend, in France

35. Declare false, Trump's usual defense

37. Island east of Corsica

38. Distort

40. Pursued one's dreams?

41. Rocket segment

44. Addams family relation

46. Charity affair

48. Evening social

50. Hard hit balls

51. Ribald

52. Old farmer's refrain

53. Preps for publishing

54. React to a fly

58. Have laid

59. Morning TV talk host Kelly

60. Rustic lowland

61. Urgings or cravings

63. Narcissistic preoccupation, e.g. Trump

I’m aiming for a Tuesday/Wednesday difficulty level, but this is only my fourth puzzle so I welcome feedback from experienced puzzlers on how close I am to that target. Pick a solving option that suits your style:

Interactive web-based crossword server — just follow the link and solve online
Printable PDF file — the grid and the clues on one page to print out and solve with pencil or pen
Across Lite PUZ file — for folks who have crossword puzzle software on their phones or tablets
Or just print the image of the grid above and use the clues that follow it

The online solver is ad-free, and relies only on HTML5 and Javascript, so it should work in almost any browser. Use your arrow keys and your mouse to navigate around the grid. If you get stuck it has a button to check your work and mark any wrong letters, and a button that will reveal a letter if you need a hint. The save button uses a cookie to record your progress, so you can return to the puzzle later and pick up where you left off.

Solution

Kosword Puzzle: White House of Ill Repute

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Saturday October 26, 2019 · 2:03 PM PDT

2019/10/26 · 14:03

Week after week the White House plunges deeper into turmoil and utter chaos. One can hardly imagine what it must be like for the staff who remain. With today’s puzzle I try to do my small part in reassuring them that they aren’t forgotten.

White House of Ill Repute

Across

1. Poseidon's domain

5. Used in a type of golf

9. First appearance

14. "Forbidden" perfume brand

15. Online acronym used when expressing one's viewpoint

16. HBO's "Real Time" host

17. Comes in Pro, Air, and Mini

18. Contented pootie sound

19. European country that is home to four active volcanoes

20. Label for a senior staffer

23. "Free Willy" star who died in 2003

24. Yoga accessory

25. UCLA winter setting

28. Status of many former Trump White House staff

33. Tidal retreat

36. Nights preceding holidays

37. Miami big leaguer

38. Neighbor of Bohemia

40. Supermarket lines?

41. Like a phoenix from the ashes

42. Chris Murphy's state: Abbr.

43. Freshly painted

44. Anticipated outcome for some staff

47. Albanian coin

48. ___ de Cologne

49. Actress Lenya of "From Russia With Love"

53. Courageous staff member

58. Tax ___; evidence indicates Trump committed this

60. Ingrid Bergman character who said "Play it, Sam"

61. Amy Klobuchar's state: Abbr.

62. Protrude

63. Close at hand

64. Eve's grandson

65. Snow dome

66. Crossword diagram

67. Arthur ___, a Douglas Adams creation who travels the galaxy with Ford Prefect

Down

1. Talking ___, Native American tool for designating whose turn it is to be heard

2. "Annabel Lee" poet, briefly

3. Primitive calculators

4. Numbers game?

5. ballroom moves

6. "My turn at bat"

7. Collects crustaceans for consumption

8. Livestock enclosure

9. Leave out

10. Trump considered withdrawing from this alliance

11. This between the shoulder blades might help a choking child

12. Sometimes shocking fish

13. Give it a go

21. "Have you ever?" response

22. Cartoon superhero who shared top billing with Secret Squirrel in the '60s

26. Decline, like Trump's approval numbers

27. Core principle

29. Clearly demonstrates

30. ___ culpa

31. Location of 2013 Arizona firefighting tragedy

32. Rainbow shape

33. Computer correspondence

34. Carry or convey, as by a tick or on the wind

35. Pink Floyd album cover art

39. blind-bat connection

40. Feathery wrap

42. Twisted pastry

45. Consuming calories

46. Fate of the Trump presidency, according to George Conway

50. Packing string

51. Mortise companion

52. Senator from Iowa who has been frequently recognized as the “Crazy/Stupid Republican of the Day”

54. Sci-fi writer's award

55. Thought or concept: Prefix

56. "La Bamba" actor Morales

57. Poet of old

58. Domestic intelligence agcy. vilified by Trump

59. Carpet or mat, some use them during prayer

Here are the usual options for solving:

Enjoy!

Solution

Kosword Puzzle: Dreamer's Nightmare

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Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Sunday October 20, 2019 · 6:40 AM PDT

2019/10/20 · 06:40

Here’s the second installment in my adventures in crossword construction. Thank you to the folks who provided feedback and encouragement following last week’s puzzle. Here are some options for solving:

Enjoy!

Dreamer’s Nightmare

Across

1. Some puppets

6. Certain antidepressants, Celexa or Prozac e.g.: abbr.

10. CEO et al.

14. One from Zagreb

15. Heroic in scope

16. Big Foot's size?

17. Make amends for

18. Rant and rave (like Trump)

19. ___-Alt-Del

20. Colbert's take on Trump's immigration policy, part I

23. Get on in years

24. Weasel's cousin

25. In functioning condition

28. With Michelle, founded Higher Ground Productions

30. Short albums: Abbr.

31. Heart starter, briefly

32. Houses in Finland have them

35. Hissy fit, Trump has them frequently

36. Colbert's take on Trump's immigration policy, part II

40. Sender of the Valkyrie

41. Part of candidate's media campaign

42. Sweetie alternative

43. Command to a collie

45. Former DKOS user who made, what will remain for all time, the greatest exit from the site

49. Dreams, perchance

51. Tree's protective layer

53. Wire measurement

54. Colbert's take on Trump's immigration policy, part III

57. New Delhi dress

59. Passes through Florence, Empoli and Pisa

60. Fudd or Gantry

61. Metropolitan air pollution

62. Within reach

63. Rental agreement

64. Casino magnate Steve, facing accusations of sexual misconduct

65. The only former Republican presidential nominee to endorse Trump

66. Military acronym referring to warfare simulation for flight crews

Down

1. Poe's "gold bug"

2. Past and present Nicaraguan president

3. 1971 hijacker of uncertain fate

4. Orson Welles' iconic role

5. External combustion automobile

6. Canary's European cousin

7. Stormy used a rolled-up magazine to do this to Trump

8. Dame Diana of "The Avengers" and "Game of Thrones"

9. Froze over

10. Birthplace of Muhammad

11. Receive much enjoyment, for your dollar perhaps

12. Sea, in Marseille

13. Prefix with evangelist

21. Israeli party that has moved the country towards apartheid

22. Pompous fool, Trump e.g.

26. Longtime Carrie Fisher role

27. Summer time, in D.C.

29. Birth announcement words

30. This, in Madrid

33. Hatchling's home

34. Dadaism pioneer Jean

35. ___ City (Baghdad suburb)

36. Rocker Billy

37. Club for shorter shots, often seen in Trump's hands

38. New Mexico county where the first atomic bomb was exploded

39. Watergate whistleblower known as "Deep Throat"

40. Exclamations of surprise or understanding

43. You might find 32 across there

44. Martha's Vineyard e.g.

46. Old Apple commercial tagline

47. Most kind

48. Highway distress signal

50. Digitally endorse

51. Quite unoriginal, like some of the clues to this puzzle

52. Cherish greatly

55. Some people eat the middle first

56. Lawrence Durrell novel

57. Dallas-to-Austin dir.

58. Actress/comedian Schumer

If you read the comments before solving be forewarned there may be spoilers.

Solution

Kosword Puzzle: Only Congress can solve this

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Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Sunday October 13, 2019 · 7:28 AM PDT

2019/10/13 · 07:28

Not exactly a diary, but I’ve been wanting to try my hand at crossword puzzle constructing, so Kos folks are my guinea pigs (or maybe a large European dormouse, 47 down. Sorry about the crosswordese.)

For pencil & paper solvers, you can download the PDF file here. If you have an Across Lite compatible app (.puz files) on your phone or other device you can download the .puz file here. And you can solve the interactive online version at the link below:

Kosword Puzzle: Only Congress

The online solver is ad-free, and relies only on HTML5 and Javascript so it should work in almost any browser. Use your arrow keys and your mouse to navigate around the grid. If you get stuck it has a button to check your work and mark any wrong letters, and a button that will reveal a letter if you need a hint. The save button uses a cookie to record your progress, so you can return to the puzzle later and pick up where you left off. It doesn’t save the timer, so that will have been reset when you return.

I’m new to this and welcome any feedback you’d like to provide. If you have suggestions for themes you can message those to me. If you read the comments before solving be forewarned there may be spoilers. Since there really isn’t much content to this diary please feel free to use the comments as an open thread. Enjoy!

Solution

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