$$\bbox[orange]{\begin{array}{rcl}\\\hline\huge\ \ \star\ \ \star\ \ The&\huge{Puzzling}&\huge{Times\ \ \star\ \ \star\ \ }\\\hline\\\end{array}}$$ Vol. 4, No. 1$\raise 2pt \tt{\large{\ \ \ \ \ \ \ MONDAY,\ JANUARY\ 9^{th},\ 2017\ \ \ \ \ \ \ }}$Price: One 
$\raise 55pt\begin{array}{c}\mathbb{\large PSE\ R\small INGS\ \large I\small N\ THE\ \large N\small EW\ \large Y\small EAR!}\\\hline\\\small\text{We here at }\ The\ Puzzling\ Times\ \text{ wish}\\\small\text{to wish all of our readers a very happy}\\\small\text{2017 — we're off to a terrific start thus}\\\small\text{far and hope to be there with all of you}\\\small\text{to see what this new year will bring us.}\\\small\text{So, farewell 2016 ... and bring on 2017!}\\\hline\end{array}$$$\begin{array}{lll}\hline\bf Y\scriptsize\text{OU'D HAVE TO BE BLIND}\ &&\ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \text{— Li'l Tidbits —}\\\text{not to have noticed the} \ &\ \tt{p.1-Welcome\ 2017!} &\ ·\small FTC\#24: \text {Grid–Deduction!}\\\text{new styles of puzzles that} \ &\ \tt{p.2-Rebus'o'Rama!} &\ ·\small Farewell\ to\ Hats \ :(\\\text{have cropped up with the} \ &\ \tt{p.3-What's\ New\ PSE} &\ ·\small New\ 40K\ Club\ Member!\\\text{new year! We've seen a} \ &\ \tt{p.4-Notes\&Letters} &\ ·\small New\ 10K\ Club\ Member!\\\text{great series of Rebus and} \ &\moveleft{2pt}{\smash{\Rule{.2ex}{18.9ex}{0ex}}\rlap{\Rule{54ex}{.4ex}{0ex}}}&\smash{\Rule{.2ex}{18.9ex}{0ex}}\phantom{xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx}\smash{\Rule{.2ex}{18.9ex}{0ex}}\\\text{Cryptic Rebus puzzles, a} \ &\ \text{Be sure to check out} \ &\ \text{check out which hats you}\\\text{fresh batch of Grid styled} \ &\ \text{the FTC#23 roundup} \ &\ \text{got, and which ones you}\\\text{logic puzzles for FTC#24} \ &\ \text{post: there were some} \ &\ \text{missed! You can also see}\\\text{and a }bunch\text{ of numeric} \ &\ \text{wonderfully festive} \ &\ \text{which of your fellow PSE}\\\text{sequence questions. Just} \ &\ \text{seasonal puzzles.} \ &\ \text{puzzlers topped the Hats}\\\text{goes to show, you never} \ &\ \text{Don't forget to take a} \ &\ \text{Leaderboard, and see who}\\\text{can tell what we'll see} \ &\ \text{look at the Winter} \ &\ \text{beat you in the rankings}\\\text{next on Puzzling SE!} \ &\ \text{Bash blog post, too—} \ &\ \text{(and who you beat out!).}\\\hline\end{array}$$ $$\begin{array}{c}\hline\mathbb{\large\ \ \huge T\large HE\ \huge M\large AIN\ \huge E\large VENT\ \ }\\\hline\end{array}$$$\bf T \scriptsize ODAY'S\ \normalsize M \scriptsize AIN\ \normalsize E \scriptsize VENT\ \scriptsize PUZZLE$ comes from Rubio, who is pleased to have his first puzzle featured in this section. He had this to say:$$\small\begin{array}{c}This\ is\ an\ idea\ I've\ had\ in\ my\ head\ for\ a\ while\ now\ and\ I\ was\ finally\ able\ to\ \\put\ all\ the\ pieces\ together\ the\ way\ I\ had\ envisioned.\ I\ hope\ you\ enjoy\ solving\\it\ as\ much\ as\ I\ enjoyed\ creating\ it!\end{array}$$So—on with the puzzle.
$$\boxed{\text{The clue is:}\\\ \ \ \bf{Photo Journalist?}\\\\\ \\\rm\text{Cipher Text:}\\\ \ \ \bf\text{yand sfwh tou the" forand gharar qgh yand thp forand qgh}\ \ \\\ \ \ \text{ando owo thp}\ \ \ \text{sfwh tou thp qgh yand oow}\ \ \ \\\ \ \ \text{qg qgh yand qwith thp forand qgh}\\\ \\\bf{What\ Am\ I?}}~\require{action}\require{enclose}\llap{\smash{\lower{15pt}{\moveright{1ex}\toggle{\scriptsize\enclose{circle}[mathcolor=white]{\rlap{\begin{array}{c}\\\smash{\lower{4ex}\color{silver}{\Rule{14ex}{3ex}{0ex}}}\\\smash{\lower{4ex}\color{silver}{\Rule{12ex}{10ex}{0ex}}}\\\smash{\lower{3ex}\color{silver}{\Rule{8ex}{15ex}{0ex}}}\\\smash{\lower{1ex}\color{silver}{\Rule{2ex}{18ex}{0ex}}}\end{array}}\scriptsize\color{black}{\begin{array}{c}\phantom{\Rule{14ex}{0ex}{0ex}}\\scratch\\off\ for\\hint\\\ \end{array}}}}{\enclose{circle}[mathbackground=white]{\scriptsize\begin{array}{c}\\\ \\\ \ \rm Y\rlap{\smash{\raise{2.9ex}{\rm\ 0}}}\lower{2.9ex}{\tt\ c}\ \ \rlap{\smash{\raise{4ex}\rm f}}\lower{4ex}\tt{5}\ \ \ \ \ \tiny\\\ \end{array}}}\endtoggle}}}$$ Hints: 1983-1985. Grade 2. Apple.
This is a riddle, cipher, enigmatic-puzzle, knowledge, and ... visual puzzle?! ... Good luck!
$ $
$\begin{array}{c}\hline\mathbb{\large C \small RYPTICS\ \large C\small ORNER}\\\hline\end{array}$
Wherein we present a few quick Cryptic Clues...
- Italian food left unfinished, you and I trade places and start Lasertank$ $ing—first interesting, now greatly perplexing. (8)
- Chimney part of Hanoi towers? (5)
- Replace old partner with something new. (8)
$ $
$\begin{array}{c}\hline\mathbb{\large C \small OLUMNS}\\\hline\end{array}$
$$\begin{array}{l|l|l}\hline\scriptsize\text{Site Scope}^\text{TM}&\scriptsize\text{Puzzler's Q&A}&\bf E\scriptsize\text{DITORIAL}\\\bf I\scriptsize\text{S SITE REP EVERYTHING}\ &\ \bf W\scriptsize\text{HAT'S A RED HERRING} \ &\ \\\text{it's cracked up to be? Do} \ &\ \text{and why is it that many} \ &\ \text{Why are}\ ``\text{simple" puzzles}\\\text{I even need it? What's it} \ &\ \text{puzzlers—both setters} \ &\ \text{often considered}\ ``\text{bad" or}\\\text{useful for, and how do I} \ &\ \text{and solvers alike—hate} \ &\ \text{of low quality, and end}\\\text{earn it? We are going to} \ &\ \text{them? Are they all just} \ &\ \text{up being downvoted into}\\\text{share some valuable tips} \ &\ \text{fish-haters?} \ &\ \text{oblivion? Isn't there room}\\\text{on how you (yes, YOU)} \ &\ \text{For people who haven't} \ &\ \text{on PSE for some easier}\\\text{can gain reputation, and} \ &\ \text{heard the term before,} \ &\ \text{fare, to help newer users}\\\text{what you can look} \ &\ \text a\ red\ herring\ \text{is an} \ &\ \text{get their bearings without}\\\text{forward to as you reach} \ &\ \text{element of a puzzle that} \ &\ \text{having to tackle the more}\\\text{higher rep levels.} \ &\ \text{is there only to serve} \ &\ \text{challenging puzzles that}\\\text{First, you should make} \ &\ \text{as a distraction from} \ &\ \text{more experienced users}\\\text{sure you have taken the} \ &\ \text{a puzzle's real}\ ``\text{meat"}, \ &\ \text{are accustomed to?}\\\text{Site Tour, as it gives} \ &\ \text{which can be frustrating} \ &\ \text{Often, larger puzzles are}\\\text{general information on} \ &\ \text{to have to root out and} \ &\ \text{too daunting for newer}\\\tiny\text{CONTINUED ON PAGE 4} \ &\ \tiny\text{CONTINUED ON PAGE 3} \ &\ \tiny\text{CONTINUED ON PAGE 4}\\\end{array}$$
______
(Solving this puzzle, while not particularly challenging to do, requires a couple of steps of finding the right way to interpret information and the right way to do it. Partial solutions, while not strictly necessary, may prove helpful.)
—HINTS—
helpfulness level 0:
helpfulness level 1:
helpfulness level 2:
helpfulness level 3:
helpfulness level 4:
helpfulness level 5:
helpfulness level 6:
🔒 LOCKED (Unlocks only if needed, and *only* after cipher is broken!)
