New York Times’ decision to drop support for the most popular crossword file format has left enthusiasts puzzled. Up until this decision, NYT’s online crossword puzzles used the “.puz” file format, which could be downloaded and loaded onto programs such as Across Lite and Puzzazz for on the go and offline solving. But they’ve gone much further than dropping the file format; they seem to be killing the entire ecosystem, deleting their archive of puz files, which had puzzles dating back to 1993. Read full article here
Societal Issues
To curb drug deaths, communities turn to Reddit, texts and wastewater
With drug overdose deaths on the rise, authorities are attempting to curb the epidemic by tracking and sharing information in real time. In one unique effort, a nonprofit in New York City is using drug-testing equipment and stamping or marking habits of dealers to identify drug batches that may endanger users. Other approaches are also being used, such as monitoring drug-related chatter on Reddit and analyzing local wastewater for opioid and other drug levels. With the combination of these efforts, researchers hope to put a dent in the opioid crisis and reduce overdose deaths. Read full article here
Merv
June 1, 2023
