Pile-On Cryptogram

Jim Cook 10/20/2009
[8] comments

The following is a cryptogram, a code in which each letter has been systematically and consistently replaced by another. Can you crack the code? K DRQA MKIAL RXO MKIAL JG NIRES GCKAXOL. BDAZ EJFA BJ FZ DJFA, K FRCCZ BDAF, …

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Posted in Moral Values, Puzzles | Tagged , | 8 Comments

Pre-Halloween Historical Cryptogram

Truman 10/6/2009
[2] comments

A historical cryptogram to get you in the mood before Halloween.

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Posted in Puzzles | Tagged , | 2 Comments

The Fire Next Time? Current Events Cryptogram

Jim Cook 10/6/2009
[3] comments

The following is a question I consider appropriate to the Judiciary Committee hearings on Patriot Act reauthorization to be held later this week. I’ve typed it out as a cryptogram, however. A cryptogram is a kind of code in which …

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Posted in Politics, Puzzles | Tagged | 3 Comments

Congressional Cryptogram

Truman 10/1/2009
[6] comments

A cryptogram of a quote from a member of Congress this week – can you figure it out?

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Posted in Politics, Puzzles | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

Cosponsorship Networks in the U.S. Senate as of March 1, 2009

Jim Cook 3/1/2009
[0] comments
http://irregulartimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/senatecosponsorshipwithbegich.jpg

Cosponsorship, the act of registering one’s name as an official supporter of a bill, is a common activity in the United States Senate. Although the 111th Congress is less than two months old, 1753 cosponsorships for 495 Senate Bills and …

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Posted in Democrats, Irregular Ideas, Legislation, Politics, Puzzles, Republicans | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Chess Bingo: Educational Tool for Young Kids Learning Chess

Jim Cook 1/27/2009
[11] comments
http://irregulartimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/chessbingo1-228x300.png

For about a year now, I’ve been volunteering at a local elementary school to teach chess to kids in the 2nd through 5th grade. Over that time I’ve come to realize that teaching young children is not at all like …

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Posted in Puzzles, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

McCain-Obama Debate Cards for October 15, 2008: Play Games With History

Jim Cook 10/15/2008
[0] comments
http://irregulartimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/obamamccaindebatebingo7.png

This is your last chance! In case you somehow slept through all three general election debates, dozens of candidate forums and scores of primary-round debates, tonight’s debate at 9 pm Eastern is your last chance to see the candidates for …

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Posted in Barack Obama, Democrats, Election 2008, Politics, Puzzles, Republicans | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

McCain-Obama Debate Bingo Cards for September 26 2008

Jim Cook 9/26/2008
[1] comment
http://irregulartimes.com/obamamccaindebatebingo1.gif

Tonight the First Presidential Debate between John McCain and Barack Obama will be aired on TV at 9 PM on just about all the network news stations, and we are all prepared to … … to what? Learn something new? …

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Posted in Barack Obama, Democrats, Election 2008, Media, Politics, Puzzles, Republicans | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Puzzle Books and Finding the Real Kakuro Extreme Challenge

Jim Cook 8/2/2008
[0] comments

As “part of a regime of daily activities to keep my brain limber,” which is my excuse for “fun,” I like to work on kakuro puzzles. Kakuro is the name of a paper puzzle that’s like Sudoku on steroids. As …

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I Cannot Find the One Different Turtle

Jim Cook 8/1/2008
[4] comments
http://irregulartimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/onedifferentturtle.jpg

Can you meet this challenge? Or, as I suspect, is there actually no difference at all?

Posted in Puzzles | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Democratic Debate Bingo Cards for April 16 2008

Jim Cook 4/16/2008
[4] comments
http://irregulartimes.com/democraticbingoapril1.gif

Tonight the Democratic Presidential Debate between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama will be aired on TV on ABC at 8 PM, and we are all prepared to… … to what? Learn something new? Maybe if we’re just emerging out of …

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Posted in Barack Obama, Democrats, Election 2008, Media, Politics, Puzzles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Unity08 Soldiers On, Seeking to Revive itself with Even More MegaLoans

Jim Cook 3/4/2008
[2] comments

Despite protestations to the contrary by Unity08 staffers, Unity08 did not shut down when it and the Draft Bloomberg committee shared the same business address. It’s not just that the Unity08.com website itself said that Unity08 was “forced to scale …

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Posted in Alternative Parties, Economy, Election 2008, Politics, Puzzles, unity08 | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Sending Mind Quiz Up the River

Jim Cook 2/17/2008
[0] comments

I’ve been playing with a software package I got for Christmas called Mind Quiz. The program is a clunky attempt to capitalize on the “stretch-your-mind-with-puzzles” craze that’s sweeping the nation like an overcharged Roomba. I have never been able to …

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Liberal Sudoku: Conspiracy and the Threat of Imminent Death

Jim Cook 10/26/2007
[1] comment
http://irregulartimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/sudoku102607.gif

To solve this puzzle, fill in the grid below so that every row, column, and smaller 3×3 box displays each of the following letters once and only once: A C E F I L N O R Clue: Appearing in …

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Posted in Homeland Insecurity, Liberty, Moral Values, Politics, Puzzles | 1 Comment

Liberal Sudoku: The President and The Law

Jim Cook 10/25/2007
[0] comments
http://irregulartimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/sudoku102507.gif

To solve this puzzle, fill in the grid below so that every row, column, and smaller 3×3 box displays each of the following letters once and only once: A D E K O M S U Y Clue: Appearing in …

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Posted in Homeland Insecurity, Liberty, Politics, Puzzles | Leave a comment

Tracking Election 2008: Sales Primary Updated June 23, 2007

Jim Cook 6/25/2007
[0] comments

Since November of 2004, we have been tracking the number of bumper stickers, magnets, campaign buttons and shirts that we sell in support for each of the Democratic candidates in the 2008 presidential race. While polls measure opinions of the …

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Posted in Barack Obama, Bumper Stickers, Buttons, Democrats, Economy, Election 2004, Puzzles | Leave a comment

Liberal Political Sudoku #21: Science Says it Because I Say It Does

Jim Cook 8/30/2006
[0] comments

Now there’s a name: they’re calling it Wordoku. As in Bible Wordoku, Weekly Bible Wordoku, and … oh, dear, someone needs to stake a secular wordoku claim, no? Well, whatever you call it, it’s time for another liberal political sudoku, …

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Posted in Environment, Puzzles, Science | Leave a comment

Liberal Political Sudoku #20: A Conduit Who Can Do It

Jim Cook 7/9/2006
[0] comments

Click here for a printable version of the twentieth in Irregular Times’ ongoing series of liberal political sudoku. As in classic sudoku, the object of liberal sudoku is to fill in a 9×9 grid so that each member of a …

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Posted in Ethics, Politics, Puzzles, Republicans | Leave a comment