Now that everyone has had a chance to look at the “answer” to the “puzzle,” I will explain why I think it’s fucked up.
First, let’s review the rules of the puzzle:
Without rearranging any, remove exactly nine toothpicks below to spell the last name of a US president.
Now, why I think it’s fucked up:
Spelling requires valid letters. No one would say that the word “priΩk~” is spelled correctly.
I realized that to most people it was a “free” puzzle, but I paid for that magazine. I also realize I spent way too much time working on it and complaining about it. But, in the end, I still feel cheated. Making people think “outside the box” only works if there is a large, more rigid box that defines the laws of time and space in your little puzzle world.
And to anyone that got it and wants to say differently, you can cram it up your ~~>.
POSTSCRIPT This might have been the first time I’ve cursed on this blog. I guess I can no longer show it to my mother. Or anyone’s mother. Except Joe’s. Was it worth it? I think time will show that it was.
I’m pretty sure my mom couldn’t read this blog since post 1.
Before I lost my posts, I was very liberal with my language on my blog (as I’m sure anyone could tell), but I never really cared. I always figured justify it by saying that’s how I speak, family be damned. If relatives don’t want their children reading my blog because of swear words, then don’t let them read it. Freedom of speech FTW (or loss…since you’re effectively alienating readers…)
Yes, I agree the puzzle was fucked up. I read your script after having given up and looking at the answer and I wanted to inform you that you were going about it all wrong, but I didn’t know how to say it without giving it all away.
C’est la vie.