Putin on the Fritz

by George Barany and Friends

This relatively easy puzzle (15x16) was created on very short notice after we learned from Karen Kaler about an interesting item that she noticed on her Twitter feed. After completing the puzzle (spoiler), learn more about its theme by clicking here.  Moreover, at any time, feel free to listen/watch the original Irving Berlin song that inspired our title, choose between classical (Fred Astaire) and madcap (Gene Wilder and Peter Boyle). 

Click here to view or download the puzzle in PDF format; here to download it as a puz file; here to download it as an ipuz file [requires the free Puzzazz app to solve]; here to solve the puzzle interactively (thanks to Jim Horne); here for the solution. We thank Noam Elkies, Michael Hanko, Brent Hartzell, Martin Herbach, Karen Kaler, Arthur Rothstein, and Michael Shteyman for helping bring this puzzle from concept to completed product in near-record time.

If you want to tell others about this particular page, refer them to
http://tinyurl.com/crimeariverpuz

More puzzles here (all) and here (politics and current events).

E-mail barany@umn.edu to be added to a bcc distribution list.