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Code Doku Joke

How do you make a hot dog stand?

Place each of the letters of CLEAR THIS exactly once in each row, column and 3×3 box. When you have completed the puzzle, the shaded squares will form the punch-line of the joke, read left to right, then top to bottom.

Difficulty: Easy

Here is a print-friendly version of this puzzle.

Other difficulties:
All of these can be solved using the sudoku placement rules alone, and they all have the same hidden message. Choose a puzzle difficulty that fits your interest, or solve the easy puzzle then try a harder one after you know the message.

• Moderate — Requires no advanced techniques
• Tough — Cannot be solved with elimination alone
• Tougher — Cannot be solved with elimination alone
• Tricky — Requires something beyond row/box and column/box interactions
• Fiendish — Requires more than row/box and column/box interactions
• Extreme — This can be solved using the placement rules alone. Really.

Please send responses to

Thanks,
Steve