Feb.21
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I Read the News Today, Oh Boy: James A. Isn't the Most Famous Garfield

Garfield, to most Americans, undoubtedly brings to mind the comic-page cat, who has also appeared in books, movies, and TV shows, and on t-shirts, mugs, keychains, potholders, toilet paper cozies, and any other object that will squeeze some money out of the character's merchandising rights. We don't begrudge creator Jim Davis for getting every cent he can out of his creation, but he is definitely yin to the yang of Calvin and Hobbes creator Bill Watterson (who not only refuses to merchandise his creation, but who ended his strip at the height of its popularity because he felt he'd said all he had to say).

In short, poor James A. Garfield ranks second among notable American Garfields. Maybe even third, behind actor Andrew Garfield. That's what getting shot and killed a year into your term will get you. What does this have to do with anything? Well, that brings us to last week's headline theme. Our first hint, after noting that last week's puzzle was a toughie, was "you should really start by looking at the calendar," while the second hint was "think of a scoreless tennis match." And now, reader A.E. in Cleveland, OH with the solution:

In honor of Valentine's Day, each headline includes the name of a group/team/film featuring someone named "Love."

Finishing the set, the movie Garfield, from this item's headline, features Jennifer Love Hewitt.

Here are the first 50 readers to get it right:

  1. B.K.J. in San Diego, CA
  2. M.B. in Albany, NY
  3. S.K. in Ardmore, PA
  4. A.E. in Cleveland
  5. H.B. in Toronto, ON, Canada
  6. M.H. in Ottawa, ON, Canada
  7. B.P. in La Habra, CA
  8. M.S. in Canton, NY
  9. M.W. in Frederick, MD
  10. D.B. in Glendale CA
  11. D.M. in Oakland, CA
  12. B.B. in Avon, CT
  13. M.L. in Iowa City, IA
  14. R.A.G. in Seattle, WA
  15. A.A. in South Orange, NJ
  16. M.W. in Altea, Spain
  17. J.S. in Pittsburgh, PA
  18. M.A. in Union City, CA
  19. D.H. in Portland, OR
  20. T.K. in Half Moon Bay, St. Kitts
  21. M.B. in Denver, CO
  22. D.L. in Springfield, IL
  23. S.W. in Winter Garden, FL
  24. P.H. in Ft. Lauderdale, FL
  25. J.N. in Zionsville, IN
  1. D.E. in High Springs, FL
  2. R.D. in Cheshire, CT
  3. B.F. in Nashville, TN
  4. J.E. in San Jose, CA
  5. P.A. in Redwood City, CA
  6. D.M. in Austin, TX
  7. P.W. in Tulalip, WA
  8. E.P. in Long Beach, CA
  9. S.B. in Los Altos Hills, CA
  10. R.S. in Milan, OH
  11. N.P. in Santa Rosa, CA
  12. K.R. in Austin, TX
  13. M.T. in Wheat Ridge, CO
  14. M.T. in Kent, OH
  15. D.R. in Pittsburgh, PA
  16. R.B. in Santa Monica, CA
  17. A.B. in Chicago, IL
  18. W.L.D. in Seoul, South Korea
  19. V.B. in Boise, ID
  20. J.T.R. in London, England, UK
  21. F.B. in Los Angeles, CA
  22. F.B. in Fort Wayne, IN
  23. J.C. in Needles, CA
  24. S.D. in Las Vegas, NV
  25. B.B. in Somerville, MA

A reader asked us to reveal what time the 50th correct answer was received. This one was tough, and so we didn't get 50 correct ones until... Monday at 5:44 a.m. PT. Note that, to make the list, a reader just has to provide the theme. The list of how each headline qualifies for the theme is optional.

As to this week's theme, it may be easy, or it may be extra tricky—we don't know. It relies on one word per headline, and would fit into the Trivial Pursuit category "Headlines." And speaking of headlines, the hint is that you could not possibly solve this one with JUST the headlines.

If you have a guess, send it to comments@electoral-vote.com, with subject "February 21 Headlines." (Z)


This item appeared on www.electoral-vote.com. Read it Monday through Friday for political and election news, Saturday for answers to reader's questions, and Sunday for letters from readers.

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