Venezuela going after crossword puzzles again

[joeglow3]

"Crossword puzzles in a local Venezuelan newspaper are calling readers to violent protests with conspiratorial messages, the country’s information minister said today.

Delcy Rodriguez called for an investigation of El Aragueno daily from the industrial town of Maracay, 120 kilometers (75 miles) west of Caracas for putting “encrypted messages” in its puzzles, she said in a post on her Twitter account. She didn’t give any details.

One person died in Maracay in a month and a half of protests against the government’s handling of an economic crisis that has pushed inflation to the highest in the world and led to shortages of basic items. At least 35 people have died in the protests, according to President Nicolas Maduro.

Brain teasers have triggered the alarm of Venezuela’s socialist government before. In May 2012, state television accused the biggest national newspaper Ultimas Noticias of trying to organize the assassination of then-President Hugo Chavez through coded crossword messages. Chavez died from cancer a year later."

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-03-27/venezuela-says-subliminal-crosswords-stoke-deadly-protest.html

[frazzled]

1. For this, I am glad I don't live in Venezuela

I am addicted to crossword puzzles, and can't start my day until I've completed the NYT puzzle. Puzzles (and Solitaire) help me clear my mind of stressful thoughts and get focused. I sure hope Venezuela doesn't start casting doubt on Solitaire, or Sudokus!

[okaawhatever]

2. C'mon now, crossword puzzles??? That's a bit much. I suppose Wheel of Fortune is next. nt

[hack89]

3. Crossword puzzles are so last century. Suduko codes are the tool of modern subversives. nt

[justhanginon]

4. Were I Venezuelan they would have to

pry my beloved crossword puzzles from my cold dead hands (can't remember the exact quote but something like that).

[hrmjustin]

5. And Jesus Wept!