Of Boxes and Numbers

Sorry, dear reader(s)- all 6 of you- I'm taking A's advice and going on news strike: (Yes, again. Wonder how long I'll last this time?) I opened the Haaretz Headlines last night and it read worse than Simon & Garfunkel's "Seven O'Clock News" Song- the one set to Silent Night? Apologies if I've indavertantly rubbished the title, purists.

OK- so everything within the public domain is deeply depressing, what with Katrina aftermath, plane crashes, and this mad country and surrounding environs eating itself up while not seeming to care how upset that makes me. And so I feel more than a little guilty writing about or even alluding to the Cadbury's chocolate, imported crumpets or any other censored topics which have been recently lighting up my life while so many people suffer. So for those of you who seek some guiltless distraction from this cruel world- I have one word for you.

Sudoku.

Ah, the infinite wisdom of the Japanese has already given so much to the world: Karaoke! Origami! Playstations! Akira Kurosawa! Sonic The Hedgehog! Sake! BigInJapan! Subaru Cars! Obscure Early Queen Album Tracks! Sushi! (even this avowed non-fish eater appreciates that its omittance from such a list would be a crime. And granted, I rather like those pickled ginger strips.) And now- this timely miracle! In this age of hatred, wrath and despair, solace is to be found in little boxes, numbers and logic.

Well, I hope it works for you. Me, I'm officially rubbish at maths and hopelessly irrational (so I've been told. And often.) Nevertheless, I have some very clever friends who are much better at this sort of thing, so much so that they built this website which boasts BILLIONS of puzzles. That's years of distraction guaranteed, people! So forget your troubles -and those of your neighbouring or originating countries- go lose yourselves in their genius and don't forget to tell them I sent you.