From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Sudoku (Japanese: 数独, sūdoku), sometimes spelled Su Doku, is a placement puzzle, also known as Number Place in the United States. The aim of the puzzle is to enter a number from 1 through 9 in each cell of a grid, most frequently a 9×9 grid made up of 3×3 subgrids (called “regions”), starting with various numbers given in some cells (the “givens”). Each row, column and region must contain only one instance of each number. Completing the puzzle requires patience and modest logical ability (although some puzzles can be very difficult). Its classic grid layout is reminiscent of other newspaper puzzles like crosswords and chess problems. First published in the United States, Sudoku initially became popular in Japan in 1986 and attained international popularity in 2005.

The numerals in Sudoku puzzles are used for convenience; arithmetic relationships between numerals are not important. Any set of distinct symbols will do; letters, shapes, or colors may be used without altering the rules.

A difficult Sudoku puzzle.

The solution to this puzzle from row one to row nine is:

++++++++++++
|3 9 2|1 8 5|7 4 6|
|8 5 7|4 9 6|1 3 2|
|1 4 6|7 3 2|9 5 8|
++++++++++++
|4 7 9|8 5 1|6 2 3|
|5 2 8|6 7 3|4 1 9|
|6 1 3|2 4 9|8 7 5|
++++++++++++
|2 8 4|5 6 7|3 9 1|
|7 3 1|9 2 8|5 6 4|
|9 6 5|3 1 4|2 8 7|
++++++++++++

Coffee, as a world commodity, is second only to oil.

Coffee is the most popular beverage worldwide with over 400 billion cups consumed each year.

Hawaii is the only state of the United States in which coffee is commercially grown. =continued=

Accepted by the Guinness Book of World Records as the “longest throw of an object without any velocity-aiding feature,” the Aerobie Pro Flying Ring was most recently thrown 1,333 feet. This record replaced the 1986 world record of 1,257 feet, also set using an Aerobie Pro Flying Ring.

The throwing guidelines are quite simple:

A. A throw is measured as the straight line distance between the point of release and the point of first impact with the ground.
B. The impact point cannot be lower in altitude than the release point.
C. As is customary with disc records, wind aided throws are permitted. The current record was set at Ft. Funston, San Francisco - an updraft area favored by hang gliders.

A “Blue Moon” is the second full moon in a calendar month. It is rarely blue.

A bibliophile is a collector of rare books. A bibliopole is a seller of rare books.

A ghost writer pens an anonymous book. =continued=