Da Kine Star-Bulletin staff and wire services

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TEST YOUR WITS

Puzzle master to give lecture at 'Iolani School on Wednesday

The world can look better upside down -- ask a possum. Or ask Scott Kim, author of "Inversions," a best-seller about recasting words so the letters spell the same thing when turned, flipped or run in some other direction.

Kim presents a free lecture and demonstration at 7 p.m. Wednesday at 'Iolani School's Seto Hall. "Thinking Upside Down" will focus on the connection between art, music and math.

Kim designs puzzles and games for the Internet, computers, magazines and toys. He graduated from Stanford University with a bachelor's degree in music and a doctorate in computers and graphic design. Isaac Asimov once called him "the Escher of the alphabet."

Kim is the 2008 'Iolani School Keables chairman, with a two-week teaching residency at the school. Visit www.iolani.org.