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		| keith 
 
 
 Joined: 19 Sep 2005
 Posts: 3355
 Location: near Detroit, Michigan, USA
 
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				|  Posted: Sat Sep 27, 2008 7:24 pm    Post subject: LA Times / Freep 26 Sep, 2008 |   |  
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				| Not yet attempted: Keith 	  | Code: |  	  | Puzzle: FP092608 +-------+-------+-------+
 | . . . | . . . | 8 . . |
 | . 5 . | 6 . . | 9 1 . |
 | 6 3 . | . 1 . | . . . |
 +-------+-------+-------+
 | . . . | 8 . . | . . 2 |
 | . 9 . | . 6 . | 5 8 . |
 | 4 . . | 5 . 3 | . . . |
 +-------+-------+-------+
 | . . . | . 3 . | . 4 1 |
 | . 1 6 | . . 7 | . 5 . |
 | . . 7 | . . . | . . . |
 +-------+-------+-------+
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		| nataraj 
 
 
 Joined: 03 Aug 2007
 Posts: 1048
 Location: near Vienna, Austria
 
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				|  Posted: Sat Sep 27, 2008 8:20 pm    Post subject: |   |  
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				| This (after one kite r5c1<>7 ) is tough: 
  	  | Code: |  	  | +--------------------------+--------------------------+--------------------------+
 | 1279    27      1249     | 3       24579   2459     | 8       267     4567     |
 | 278     5       248      | 6       2478    248      | 9       1       3        |
 | 6       3       2489     | 24-79   1       24589    | 24a     27*     457      |
 +--------------------------+--------------------------+--------------------------+
 | 157     67      15       | 8       479     149      | 1346b   3679    2        |
 | 12      9       3        | 1247*   6       124      | 5       8       47c      |
 | 4       2678    128      | 5       279     3        | 16      679     679      |
 +--------------------------+--------------------------+--------------------------+
 | 2589    28      2589     | 29      3       6        | 7       4       1        |
 | 239     1       6        | 249     2489    7        | 23      5       89       |
 | 239     4       7        | 129     2589    12589    | 236     2369    689      |
 +--------------------------+--------------------------+--------------------------+
 
 | 
 There is an elimination based on strong links and/or bi-values in 4 and 7 in col 7, box 6 and row 5:
 
 (7=2)r3c8-(2=4)r3c7-(4)r4c7=(4-7)r5c9=(7)r5c4; r3c4<>7
 
 [Notice that if r3c7=4 then r5c9 is also 4. (Most "wings" start with an observation like this one)
 But if r5c9=4 it cannot be 7 and then r5c4=7.
 
 How will r3c7 be 4 ? Only if it is not 2 and that happens when r3c8 is not 7.
 Take it all together and we get: if r3c8<>7 then r5c4=7]
 
 7 is now a naked single in r5c4.
 
 
 After cleanup, another roadblock here:
 
  	  | Code: |  	  | +--------------------------+--------------------------+--------------------------+
 | 1279    27*     1249     | 3       24579   2459     | 8       26      56       |
 | -278*   5       248      | 6       2478    248      | 9       1       3        |
 | 6       3       289      | 29      1       2589     | 4       27      57       |
 +--------------------------+--------------------------+--------------------------+
 | 157     67      15       | 8       49      149      | 136     379     2        |
 | 12      9       3        | 7       6       12       | 5       8       4        |
 | 4       2678    128      | 5       29      3        | 16      679     679      |
 +--------------------------+--------------------------+--------------------------+
 | 2589b   28a     2589     | 29      3       6        | 7       4       1        |
 | 239     1       6        | 4       289     7        | 23      5       89       |
 | 239     4       7        | 1       2589    2589     | 236     369     689      |
 +--------------------------+--------------------------+--------------------------+
 
 | 
 Again, a short AIC is the best I can do:
 (7=2)r1c2-(2=8)r7c2-(8)r7c1=(8)r2c1; r2c1<>2
 
 With 2 gone from r2c1, there is now an xy-wing 78-27-28 and the puzzle gets going once more.
 
 Finally, here
 
  	  | Code: |  	  | +--------------------------+--------------------------+--------------------------+
 | 19      7       149      | 3       459     459      | 8       2       6        |
 | 8       5       24       | 6       7       24       | 9       1       3        |
 | 6       3       29       | 29      1       8        | 4       7       5        |
 +--------------------------+--------------------------+--------------------------+
 | 7       6       5        | 8       49      149      | 13      39      2        |
 | 12      9       3        | 7       6       12       | 5       8       4        |
 | 4       28      18       | 5       29      3        | 16      69      7        |
 +--------------------------+--------------------------+--------------------------+
 | 5       28      89       | 29      3       6        | 7       4       1        |
 | 239     1       6        | 4       289     7        | 23      5       89       |
 | 239     4       7        | 1       2589    259      | 236     36      89       |
 +--------------------------+--------------------------+--------------------------+
 
 | 
 there is a UR (89) type 4, but coloring on 2 yields a better harvest.
 
 Awfully advanced for a newspaper sudoku, if you ask me ... I must have missed something there.
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		| Marty R. 
 
 
 Joined: 12 Feb 2006
 Posts: 5770
 Location: Rochester, NY, USA
 
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				|  Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2008 12:08 am    Post subject: |   |  
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				| I can't make a dent in this thing. I had a worthless ER and Finned X-Wing. I tried it a second time to see if I might've missed something, but it was the same. |  | 
	
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		| keith 
 
 
 Joined: 19 Sep 2005
 Posts: 3355
 Location: near Detroit, Michigan, USA
 
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				|  Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2008 2:59 am    Post subject: |   |  
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				| I think we should throw this one on the trash pile. 
 I have checked that I posted the correct puzzle.  Sudoku Susser uses four very obscure chains to solve it.
 
 RIP.
 
 Keith
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		| daj95376 
 
 
 Joined: 23 Aug 2008
 Posts: 3854
 
 
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				|  Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2008 3:43 am    Post subject: |   |  
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				| Epilog: 
 
  	  | Code: |  	  | after basics *--------------------------------------------------------------------*
 | 1279   27     1249   | 3      24579  2459   | 8      267    4567   |
 |*278#   5      248    | 6     *2478#  248    | 9      1      3      |
 | 6      3      2489   |*2479   1      24589  | 24     27     457    |
 |----------------------+----------------------+----------------------|
 | 157    67     15     | 8      479#   149    | 1346   3679   2      |
 | 12-7   9      3      |*1247#  6      124    | 5      8      47     |
 | 4      2678   128    | 5      279#   3      | 16     679    679    |
 |----------------------+----------------------+----------------------|
 | 2589   28     2589   | 29     3      6      | 7      4      1      |
 | 239    1      6      | 249    2489   7      | 23     5      89     |
 | 239    4      7      | 129    2589   12589  | 236    2369   689    |
 *--------------------------------------------------------------------*
 
 2-String Kite (*) or Empty Rectangle (#)                     =>  [r5c1]<>7
 
 [r2c1]=2, [r5c1]=1, [r4c3]=5, [r7c3]<>5, [r7c1]=5, [r2c1]=8  =>  [r2c1]<>2
 
 XY-Wing  [r1c2]/[r2c1]+[r7c2]                               =>  [r7c1]<>8
 
 Skyscraper                                                  =>  [r89c5]<>2
 
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		| Marty R. 
 
 
 Joined: 12 Feb 2006
 Posts: 5770
 Location: Rochester, NY, USA
 
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				|  Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2008 3:55 am    Post subject: |   |  
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				| How do you differentiate between a 2-string kite and a kite? What I see with the (*) cells is what I was taught was a simple case of strong links, except the two strong links are perpendicular, as opposed to a parallel skyscraper. This was later named a kite to the best of my knowledge.
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		| daj95376 
 
 
 Joined: 23 Aug 2008
 Posts: 3854
 
 
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				|  Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2008 4:22 pm    Post subject: |   |  
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				|  	  | Marty R. wrote: |  	  | How do you differentiate between a 2-string kite and a kite? What I see with the (*) cells is what I was taught was a simple case of strong links, except the two strong links are perpendicular, as opposed to a parallel skyscraper. This was later named a kite to the best of my knowledge.
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 I learned it as a 2-String Kite. It gets its name from the box being the kite and the two strong links being visualized as the two strings.
 
 In Sudopedia, under Solving Techniques: Single Digit Patterns, it lists: Skyscraper, 2-String Kite, and Empty Rectangle. For the most part, they are all specialized forms of Turbot Fish.
 
 I just assumed that everyone here was abbreviating it to kite.
 
 Note: Many patterns have differing definitions and are sometimes implemented contrary to their definitions.
 
 Last edited by daj95376 on Mon Sep 29, 2008 8:48 am; edited 1 time in total
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		| arkietech 
 
 
 Joined: 31 Jul 2008
 Posts: 1834
 Location: Northwest Arkansas USA
 
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				|  Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2008 7:52 pm    Post subject: |   |  
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				| daj95376 said  	  | Quote: |  	  | In Sudopedia, under Solving Techniques: Single Digit Patterns, it lists: Skyscraper, 2-String Kite, and Empty Rectangle. They are all specialized forms of Turbot Fish. 
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 Can anyone show me an example where a kite or skyscraper is not an empty rectangle?
 
 dan
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		| cgordon 
 
 
 Joined: 04 May 2007
 Posts: 769
 Location: ontario, canada
 
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				|  Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2008 8:29 pm    Post subject: |   |  
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				| Whoa! I spent a long time on this.  I probably found the same useless ER as Marty - then nothing.  Why would the LA Times produce a Suduko whose solution is unsolvable for the vast majority of their readers?   Inexcusable I say! |  | 
	
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		| keith 
 
 
 Joined: 19 Sep 2005
 Posts: 3355
 Location: near Detroit, Michigan, USA
 
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				|  Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2008 9:39 pm    Post subject: |   |  
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				|  	  | arkietech wrote: |  	  | daj95376 said  	  | Quote: |  	  | In Sudopedia, under Solving Techniques: Single Digit Patterns, it lists: Skyscraper, 2-String Kite, and Empty Rectangle. They are all specialized forms of Turbot Fish. 
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 Can anyone show me an example where a kite or skyscraper is not an empty rectangle?
 
 dan
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 @ is a skyscraper, # are the eliminations.
 
  	  | Code: |  	  | +-------+-------+-------+ | . @ . | . . . | # . # |
 | . . . | . . . | . . . |
 | # . # | . . . | . @ . |
 +-------+-------+-------+
 | . . . | . . . | . . . |
 | . . . | . . . | . . . |
 | . . . | . . . | . . . |
 +-------+-------+-------+
 | . . . | . . . | . . . |
 | . . . | . . . | . . . |
 | . @ . | . . . | . @ . |
 +-------+-------+-------+
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 Another thing to consider is that an ER makes an elimination in only one cell..
 Keith
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		| Asellus 
 
 
 Joined: 05 Jun 2007
 Posts: 865
 Location: Sonoma County, CA, USA
 
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				|  Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2008 10:04 pm    Post subject: |   |  
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				|  	  | nataraj wrote: |  	  | Again, a short AIC is the best I can do: (7=2)r1c2-(2=8)r7c2-(8)r7c1=(8)r2c1; r2c1<>2
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 This AIC is valid, but not the elimination.  It is <7> that is eliminated from r2c1.  This is why it can be good practice to include the weak link discontinuity in your Eureka notation:
 (7)r2c1 - (7=2)r1c2 - (2=8)r7c2 - (8)r7c1=(8-7)r2c1; r2c1<>7
 
 Danny showed that there is also an AIC in the same grid that eliminates that <2>:
 (2)r2c1 - (2=1)r5c1 - (1=5)r4c3 - (5)r7c3=(5-8)r7c1=(8-2)r2c1; r2c1<>2
 
 Thus, r2c1=8.
 
 Rather than two separate AICs, this can be done as a single (though not as easy to see) AIC:
 (8)r2c1=(8)r23c3 - ALS[(8)r6c3=(1)r5c1|r6c3] - (1=5)r4c3 - (5)r7c3=(5-8)r7c1=(8)r2c1; r2c1=8
 
 I expect that this is a good puzzle for practicing Medusa multicoloring.
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		| Asellus 
 
 
 Joined: 05 Jun 2007
 Posts: 865
 Location: Sonoma County, CA, USA
 
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				|  Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2008 10:30 pm    Post subject: |   |  
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				| In nataraj's first grid (after the 7 Kite), there is a not very helpful Finned X-Wing that removes <7> from r1c9. 
 nataraj's <7> elimination in r3c4 can be revealed with a simple Medusa multi-coloring.  However, the <4> can be eliminated from that same cell with an AIC that is even simpler in the sense that it is a basic Medusa elimination:
 (4)r3c4 - (4)r3c7=(4)r4c7 - (4=7)r5c9 - (7)r5c4=(7-4)r3c4; r3c4<>4
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		| arkietech 
 
 
 Joined: 31 Jul 2008
 Posts: 1834
 Location: Northwest Arkansas USA
 
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				|  Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2008 11:14 pm    Post subject: |   |  
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				| keith said:  	  | Quote: |  	  | Another thing to consider is that an ER makes an elimination in only one cell.. 
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 Doesn't a turbot also remove only one? Can't overlapping turbots and ers be considered? This is interesting
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		| daj95376 
 
 
 Joined: 23 Aug 2008
 Posts: 3854
 
 
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				|  Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2008 11:28 pm    Post subject: |   |  
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				|  	  | keith wrote: |  	  | Another thing to consider is that an ER makes an elimination in only one cell. | 
 Keith, I wish you hadn't opened this bag of worms.
 
 [Withdrawn:] I don't want to get into another definition/name debate!
 
 Last edited by daj95376 on Mon Sep 29, 2008 2:35 am; edited 2 times in total
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		| daj95376 
 
 
 Joined: 23 Aug 2008
 Posts: 3854
 
 
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				|  Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2008 11:40 pm    Post subject: |   |  
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				|  	  | arkietech wrote: |  	  | Can anyone show me an example where a kite or skyscraper is not an empty rectangle? 
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 In my PM where I have a 2-String Kite (*) and an Empty Rectangle (#) marked, if cell [r4c6] had contained a 7 as well, then the 2-String Kite would still be valid but the Empty Rectangle would no longer be valid.
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		| arkietech 
 
 
 Joined: 31 Jul 2008
 Posts: 1834
 Location: Northwest Arkansas USA
 
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				|  Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2008 1:03 am    Post subject: |   |  
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				| Thanks to all for the help. I will close this bag of worms. |  | 
	
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		| nataraj 
 
 
 Joined: 03 Aug 2007
 Posts: 1048
 Location: near Vienna, Austria
 
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				|  Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2008 5:24 am    Post subject: |   |  
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				|  	  | Asellus wrote: |  	  | This AIC is valid, but not the elimination.  It is <7> that is eliminated from r2c1.  This is why it can be good practice to include the weak link discontinuity in your Eureka notation
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 Absolutely right.
  (And I'll adapt another good practice: not to post after midnight) 
 Thanks, Asellus.
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		| keith 
 
 
 Joined: 19 Sep 2005
 Posts: 3355
 Location: near Detroit, Michigan, USA
 
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				|  Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2008 5:36 am    Post subject: |   |  
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				| Why not?  I, for one, have learned recently that an ER is a distinct pattern.  (I had thought that I could ignore ER's, for I would always find the elimination by other means, like a kite.  Not true.) 	  | daj95376 wrote: |  	  |  	  | keith wrote: |  	  | Another thing to consider is that an ER makes an elimination in only one cell. | 
 Keith, I wish you hadn't opened this bag of worms.
 
 [Withdrawn:] I don't want to get into another definition/name debate!
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 Anyway, I think the term "skyscraper" was coined by Havard in his classic explanation of strong links.  Seems pretty clear to me.
 
 http://www.sudoku.com/boards/viewtopic.php?t=3326
 
 He acknowledges a connection to Turbot fish.  (The problem is, I think, no one ever goes looking for Turbot fish.  We look for kites, skyscrapers and ER's.)
 
 Keith
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		| nataraj 
 
 
 Joined: 03 Aug 2007
 Posts: 1048
 Location: near Vienna, Austria
 
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				|  Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2008 6:37 am    Post subject: |   |  
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				| Thanks for the link, Keith! I think that is a great tutorial. 
 (remainder of original post deleted)
 
 Last edited by nataraj on Mon Sep 29, 2008 10:23 am; edited 1 time in total
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		| daj95376 
 
 
 Joined: 23 Aug 2008
 Posts: 3854
 
 
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				|  Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2008 8:31 am    Post subject: |   |  
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				|  	  | keith wrote: |  	  | Anyway, I think the term "skyscraper" was coined by Havard in his classic explanation of strong links.  Seems pretty clear to me. 
 http://www.sudoku.com/boards/viewtopic.php?t=3326
 
 He acknowledges a connection to Turbot fish.  (The problem is, I think, no one ever goes looking for Turbot fish.  We look for kites, skyscrapers and ER's.)
 
 | 
 Havard's presentation is great. I just take exception with his statement:
 
 
  	  | Quote: |  	  | This pattern is part of the Turbot Fish, and I have named it a "skyscraper" because of the way the two strong links looks a bit like two skyscrapers to me. 
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 The definition of a Turbot Fish is a pentagon pattern that allows for at most one elimination from what I've been able to determine. This works okay for a (2-String) Kite and (basic) Empty Rectangle but it doesn't work IMO for the general case Skyscraper.
 
 To perform the four eliminations in Havard's diagram of a Skyscraper, it would take 4x Turbot Fish eliminations ... or 2x Sashimi X-Wings ... or one Siamese Sashimi X-Wing. Yes, I said 2x Sashimi X-Wings ... and not one as indicated in Sudopedia.
 
 With the introduction of grouped strong links, grouped versions of these old patterns have been adopted. I'm fine with that -- like in the puzzle CE_37 that I presented recently ... and everyone has ignored. I don't blame them.
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