From ishius@ishius.com Fri Sep 30 18:16:33 1994 Return-Path: Received: from holonet.net (zen.holonet.net) by life.ai.mit.edu (4.1/AI-4.10) for /com/archive/cube-lovers id AB29180; Fri, 30 Sep 94 18:16:33 EDT Received: from DialupEudora (ishius@localhost) by holonet.net (Anton Dovydaitis) with SMTP id OAA00476; Fri, 30 Sep 1994 14:58:27 -0700 Date: Fri, 30 Sep 1994 14:58:27 -0700 Message-Id: <199409302158.OAA00476@holonet.net> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" To: ishius@ishius.com From: ishius@ishius.com (ishius@holonet.net) Subject: COMMERCIAL: Penrose, Cutler, Masterball COMMERCIAL POSTING September 30, 1994 Dear Puzzle Enthusiast: Sometimes the pieces of a puzzle just seem to fall into place. For the Fall season, we have several new puzzles whose pieces may easily fall into place for you. Or perhaps they'll prove more challenging than watching autumn leaves. Chief among our Fall puzzles is our new plastic puzzle, Sneaky Squares. It's hard to talk about this puzzle without saying that it is truly a great puzzle. A great puzzle should be simple in concept and design, but require a right angle turn of the mind in order to arrive at the solution. Sneaky Squares was invented by veteran puzzle designer Bill Cutler. He calls it his finest achievement. It consists of just 4 blocks that must be fitted into a box. What could be simpler you say? Yet it stumps 99% of the people we show it to. But, once you have figured out the solution, you can demonstrate it to your friends in seconds. Because of its simple elegance, this is an excellent gift for people who might be intimidated by a complex or esoteric puzzle. At just $15, Sneaky Squares is a must for your collection, and a great gift for your friends! Birds of an entirely different feather comprise the Perplexing Poultry series of puzzles. These intriguing puzzles, from England, are based on the tiling theories of mathematician and cosmologist Roger Penrose. Penrose became interested in the shapes of tiles that will cover a plane. Some regular shapes (such as squares) do this, but Penrose came up with a number of irregular tile sets that could cover a plane. These tiles produce patterns that are non-periodic (that is, the patterns do not repeat). They are called 'quasi-periodic' since the pattern appears to repeat regularly until you examine it closely. (Scientists have since found some real-world crystals that form in a quasi-periodic way.) The quasi-periodic tile sets make interesting puzzles. To decide the position of the next tile you place, you must take into account more than just the neighbor tiles -- you have to think about the 'whole-board position.' Choose either a color or black and white version of the Perplexing Poultry. The Black & White is reminiscent of the work of M.C. Escher. (Many of Escher's drawings, incidentally, are examples of periodic tiling.) Additionally, four of the tile sets have been made into jigsaw puzzles. The jigsaws are unusual and colorful. 500 die-cut pieces build to a 19" diameter circle in each of them. Although these are conventional jigsaws, they are quite difficult because of the quasi-periodicity of the pattern. See the enclosed flyer for illustrations of each jigsaw and for more information about Perplexing Poultry. As a special offer, to get your fingers moving as fast as your brain, we'll throw in free shipping on orders of $50 or more, if you place them by October 15! So hurry and dig into these new brainteasers. Happy puzzling, James W. Connelley President Ishi Press International P.S. We picked up a limited number of Circusmaster and Dragonmaster Masterballs at a special price. Masterball is a rotational puzzle with the sphere divided along lines of latitude and longitude. Masterballs usually sell for $19.95. While they last, we are offering these at the special price of just $11.70 each. Because they came from a European shop, the packaging is not in perfect condition, but the puzzles are just fine. Take advantage of this special offer before we run out! Dear Ishi - Please send me the following puzzles to brighten my Fall days! Puzzle Price s/h o Sneaky Squares $15.00 1 o Puzzling Poultry, B&W (PX01) $69.00 6 o Puzzling Poultry, Color (PX02) $99.00 6 o Perplexing Poultry Jigsaw (PX05) $15.00 2 o Cat Amongst the Pigeons (PX06) $15.00 2 o Perplexing Pisces (PX07) $15.00 2 o Pentaplex (PX08) $15.00 2 o Circusmaster Masterball $11.70 2 o Dragonmaster Masterball $11.70 2 Total $_______ ____ FREE shipping on orders of $50 or more received by Oct. 15, 1994! Please send these puzzles to: ________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________ MC/VISA___________________________ exp:__________ California residents please include 8.25% sales tax. Toll Free order line: (800) 859-2086 Always feel free to write me if you have any questions or comments. Anton Dovydaitis Customer Support =========================================================================== Ishi Press International 408/944-9900 vc, 408/944--9110 FAX 76 Bonaventura Drive 800/859-2086 Toll Free Order Line San Jose, CA 95134 ishius@ishius.com (or @holonet.net)