Logic and problem-solving abilities are perhaps the two most impotant natural or "raw" mental traits we are born with, yet do we ever really take the time to try to improve them?
Were it not for that bit of enticing logic itself, as stated above, I never would have gotten addicted. All I needed was on more intrusion into a busy schedule ;-) Now I am hooked. Yup, addicted to improving the capacity for logic, under the guise of a game. The game is called "Sudoku" and is very popular in Japan, and becomming a craze in the West. Like baseball, its popularity there belies it being an Ameican invention, but no matter who takes claim, it is definitely addictive. Sudoku puzzles are a simple 9x9 grid, with some numerical "hints" pre-placed, and range in difficulty from "gentle" to "diabolical." While it is asserted that each sudoku can be solved by logic alone, I am not fully convinced, having yet to solve the ones at the end (where of course I started, before realizing the "better part of valor" should prevail). I reccommend Will Shortz's introductory book, but - do yourself a favor and start at the first. The rules are trivial to learn, and no math ability is required, just patience and logic. The opening pages are a fairly complete set of strategems for solving the most difficult ones and guesswork is couter-productive (as you will quickly find out). The rules to Sudoku are trivial to learn, but the involvemnt quickly addicting (even on a "football" weekend). Will S., the acknowledged puzzle king, is becoming the regualr "connection" for millions of former couch-potatoes-turned-grid-junkies... and someone needs to rat him out to the Deptartment of Homeland Security. I'm sure this is an Al-Quedda "plant" to keep National attention diverted (or did Gilead/Halliburton play a role?). If you become addicted too, be aware that I am already considering starting a 12 step porgram - Sudohuholics Anonymous, even though I'v only been hooked for two days. Jones
