Coming Soon: The Social Distancing Puzzles

There’s an awful lot going on in the world right now. With the headlines focused (as well they should be) on the protests for racial justice, it’s easy to place on the mental back burner the massive spike in unemployment this country recently suffered — 13.3% as I write this, up from a mere 4.4% a few months ago. People who are entitled to unemployment benefits can’t get them because the states’ ancient systems are overwhelmed with new applicants. Combine that with the fact that many people don’t have enough savings to see them through even a mild emergency, and you have a formula for lasting pain.

Oh, and by the way, the coronavirus pandemic is still very much with us.

With all these terrible things happening at the same time, this is a job for… well, probably not a professional puzzle constructor. But that’s what I am, and we all need to do what we can.

Later this week or early next week, I’ll present a new puzzle project: The Social Distancing Puzzles. These are 11 challenging puzzles designed to be solved with a partner — perhaps a spouse, roommate, or family member in the same room with you, or perhaps with a friend over a videochat.

To acquire the puzzles, I’ll first ask you to make a donation to Feeding America. There will be a place on my Web site to send me the proof of your donation. You’ll then receive the puzzles via e-mail. (You’ll receive TWO sets of puzzles — one for each solving partner. Plus a third packet with hints and answers.)

Feeding America is a four-star charity (according to Charity Navigator) with a nationwide network of food banks. A lot of people have had the rug pulled out from under them, thanks to the pandemic and the related unemployment — and many of those people are discovering they aren’t sure where their next meal will come from. There’s a weekly food bank a short walk away from where I live, and on Mondays the line of cars extends down the block. Such a sight made my charity of choice for this project easy to select.

My Web site for the Social Distancing Puzzles will be up soon. Keep an eye on Twitter or Facebook for the big release announcement, which I hope will happen by June 15 at the latest.