Wow, Ron. Did you get beat up by a crossword bully when you were in grade school or something?

Here's the most glaring hole in your odd rant against puzzle-solvers: If you bothered to ask or do a little research i'm sure you'd find that most crossword fans ALSO read. A lot. I can speak not just for myself, but for many friends as well who treat crosswords as a supplement to, not a replacement for, avid reading habits, which include novels, short stories, newspaper articles, and even mean-spirited diatribes by angry on-line columnists.

And you might want to take a break from whatever you're reading now and ask any number of medical professionals about why they recommend doing crosswords as a way to keep the brain sharp, especially as the brain ages. (I can't speak for Soduko; I'm not a numbers guy). But crosswords are not simply about filling in blanks--they challenge you to think of the great variety of ways words can be used and connections are made to words we use every day, as well as others we may not have seen since our SAT days.

Finally, if you don't think movies are a time-wasting activity, at least check out the documentary "Wordplay", that focuses a lens on crossword lovers around the world, including some, like Daily Show host Jon Stewart, who are certainly well-read AND funny...you sound like you could use a good laugh.