Crossword Puzzle Background Optimization

[Alexander Thesoso]

Consider the crossword puzzle. Traditionally the blank/background squares
are black.
In a world where people try to optimize things, is this shade correct/best,
and in what sense?

If you count the cost of ink, it would be cheaper to use a lighter shade.

If you consider ease of doing the puzzle, it isn't clear what shade
(texture, color) is best.

In the electronic world, with a CRT display, black uses the least energy,
thus solving global warming. (With a LCD or light valve display, it makes no
difference.)

I have no idea what is best; I just pose the issue to start an argument.

[Rich Grise]

I once wrote a program to print crossword matrices - I was living at my
folks's house, doing home care. Mom liked the crossword, so on Sunday,
I'd go down, get the paper, look at the Xword, copy the matrix and print
it out. Then Mom would do the crossword, and I'd use my blank sheet to do
it again - just covered Mom's answers with my printout.

For the black squares, I used a hatch; it doesn't need to be very dense.

Hope This Helps!
Rich

[Steve Fry]

"Alexander Thesoso" wrote:
>
> If you count the cost of ink, it would be cheaper to use a lighter shade.
>

> In the electronic world, with a CRT display, black uses the least energy,
> thus solving global warming.

Global warming has already been solved.
The real issue facing mankind is how we are to solve the coming ice age.

[Eric Sosman]

My father used a pad of quarter-inch-ruled graph paper.

--
Eric Sosman
eso...@ieee-dot-org.invalid

[Dogstar]

"Steve Fry" <sc...@raytheon.com> wrote in message
news:B9_Mm.92$5N...@bos-service2b.ext.ray.com...

>>
>> In the electronic world, with a CRT display, black uses the least energy,
>> thus solving global warming.
>
> Global warming has already been solved.
> The real issue facing mankind is how we are to solve the coming ice age.

You must live in Southern California.

-Dogstar

[Matthew Russotto]

In article <B9_Mm.92$5N...@bos-service2b.ext.ray.com>,

Increase the size of Congress.

--
The problem with socialism is there's always
someone with less ability and more need.

[Richard Heathfield]

In <CbGdnfA2yclVzprW...@speakeasy.net>, Matthew Russotto
wrote:

> In article <B9_Mm.92$5N...@bos-service2b.ext.ray.com>,
> Steve Fry <sc...@raytheon.com> wrote:
>>

<snip>

>>
>>Global warming has already been solved.
>>The real issue facing mankind is how we are to solve the coming ice
>>age.
>
> Increase the size of Congress.

You are a bad man. Requirement for new keyboard only narrowly averted.

--
Richard Heathfield <http://www.cpax.org.uk>
Email: -http://www. +rjh@
"Usenet is a strange place" - dmr 29 July 1999
Sig line vacant - apply within