Modern Crossword Puzzles Turn 100!
The Modern Crossword Puzzle Is Invented This weekend the Google Doodle is devoted to the crossword puzzle. On December 21, 1913, the first modern puzzle, created by Arthur Wynne, was published in The New York World, one of many newspapers in New York City at that time. Wynne called it a “word-cross”, but the name was eventually changed because of a typesetting error. Wynne was living in Cedar Grove, New Jersey when he invented this very specific puzzle form. The puzzle was based on earlier forms of puzzles and was diamond-shaped. These puzzles were successful almost from the beginning, and eventually became the famous square puzzles we love today. You…
WordPress or Blogger?
WordPress or Blogger? I want to apologize to anyone from a WordPress blog who commented on Sunday’s post. For some reason, I can’t seem to make comments on blogs hosted by them anymore. One of the blogs offered the option to comment through Google+. Google+ refused to accept “Literary Lioness” as a real name, even though I used “Literary” as the first name and “Lioness” as the last name. Gee, I wonder why that didn’t work. Hmmm. Right now I don’t want my real name associated with the blog, although I probably will in the future. When will Google learn that forcing Google+ on people won’t work? Twitter and Facebook…
What I Am Reading Right Now
What Am I Reading? I am currently reading The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt on my Kindle. My plans are to attempt to read some of the books I started within the past year but never finished because I was distracted by certain events. I was away from book blogging because the past few months have indeed been very busy. Someone I knew was getting married, so I attended an engagement party/“surprise” bridal shower/and posh wedding. I also knew two different people who died on the same day. So there were wakes/viewings/and funerals to attend. My husband and I spent some time in Pennsylvania visiting my stepdaughter and her husband. I…
The Seasons : Spring by James Thomson
The Seasons : Spring Come, gentle Spring! ethereal Mildness! come, And from the bosom of yon dropping cloud, While music wakes around, veil’d in a shower Of shadowing roses, on our plains descend. O Hertford, fitted or to shine in courts With unaffected grace, or walk the plain With innocence and meditation join’d In soft assemblage, listen to my song, Which thy own Season paints; when Nature all Is blooming and benevolent, like thee. And see where surly Winter passes off, Far to the north, and calls his ruffian blasts: His blasts obey, and quit the howling hill, The shatter’d forest, and the ravaged vale; While softer gales succeed, at…
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
Snow Days I’m not a winter kind of girl, because I love warm weather, but my idea of a perfect snowy afternoon would be sitting in front of a lovely fireplace surrounded by cats and books. That is how I spent many snowy afternoons while I was growing up, especially on Sundays. The roast beef and potatoes for Sunday dinner would bake in the oven. My parents and I would sit in front of our living room fireplace and read. We would occasionally glance up and watch the snow falling outside. My father would read his magazines: Time, U.S. News and World Report. My mother would read biographies. I would…
