Comments on: The Polizeros Crossword Puzzle!

By: Sue

Sue — Sat, 31 May 2008 06:13:07 +0000

Thanks, Eli, for trying my puzzle. Which clues are too stretchy? Let me know & I’ll try to fix them. I will try your friend’s puzzle. I’ve been using Crossword Compiler. Better than pencil and eraser, but still “roundy-go-roundy”.

By: Eli Stephens

Eli Stephens — Fri, 30 May 2008 03:29:52 +0000

Crossword puzzles are indeed VERY hard to create, and I speak as someone who has struggled to do so. I don’t know about this one, but I’m guessing Sue used the same program I do, which deals with the mechanics of things, but does NOT supply words to fill in the squares; you have to do that entirely on your own!

My respect for crossword puzzle creators is enormous.

By: Bob Morris

Bob Morris — Fri, 30 May 2008 00:13:56 +0000

Thanks for the feedback. (Yes, some of the clues were indeed tough.) More puzzles coming. She used a crossword puzzle program to help build it, but even with that said, “they are harder to create than solve.”

By: Eli Stephens

Eli Stephens — Thu, 29 May 2008 20:27:45 +0000

Took about an hour. At first I thought it was going to be impossibly hard, but I managed to work my way through it. A few of the clues were a BIT of a stretch, but in general an excellent job by the puzzlemaker! I’m very impressed.

Be sure to try this one, done by a good friend of mine.

By: John Couzin

John Couzin — Thu, 29 May 2008 17:39:35 +0000

Hi,
this is off topic but needs as much publicity as possible.

Press Release for immediate use 19/05/2008:
Hunger Strike by Belfast airport workers is the direct responsibility of Tony Woodley, the Unite joint general secretary.
Support from Ricky Tomlinson and Jimmy McGovern
For the last five days, T&G shop steward and ex-airport worker Gordon McNeill has been on a hunger and liquid strike on the roof of the T&G headquarters in Belfast. Gordonâ€™s condition is now critical and he will die unless the T&G leadership acts now to stop this tragedy.
Background
The protest is a result of the unionâ€™s past collaboration with the ICTS management at Belfast airport, which resulted in four shop stewards and 20 other workers being unfairly dismissed.
Last September, a Belfast employment tribunal ruled that these workers were unfairly sacked and blamed both the management and the local T&G official for bringing this about. The huge legal costs amounting to over Â£200,000 have been loaded on the shoulders of the four shop stewards whilst the union refused any responsibility. The tribunal ordered ICTS to pay damages, also over Â£200,000, but this sum has been frozen pending an appeal to the High Court by ICTS.
Because of these legal obstacles, the shop stewards are facing eviction from their homes and hugely indebted. The solicitors who acted for the workers have said they cannot act any further without these costs being met. A number of issues are involved but as a sign of good intent, the shop stewards have said that if the union pays off the outstanding legal fees, they will call off the protest.
Unfortunately, the shop stewards feel that they cannot trust the union without this concrete gesture. On four separate occasions, the union promised to settle but all of these promises have been reneged upon.
This is an extremely serious situation. Gordon has left instructions that if he is taken to hospital, he will refuse treatment as his human right. That would end in his death.
Ricky Tomlinson has said: â€œI have been on hunger strike myself and can fully sympathise with these workers.â€
Playwright, Jimmy McGovern sent this message earlier:
â€œRemember the way the TGWU betrayed Liverpool’s dockers? I bet you thought no union could ever sink so low again. I did too. We were wrong. The way in which Unite has treated the Belfast Airport workers is a disgrace. Unite’s leaders should hang their heads in shame.”