How to solve the Rubiks Cube
A few years ago I picked up a game called “Rainbow Six.” I greatly anticipated this game as it was supposed to have incredible A.I. (a term gamers use lightly) not only with the bad guys but with your team as you achieve various objectives.
I worked hard at it. I did the first several missions and worked them till I got it right and we (my A.I. virtual team and I) had 100% perfection. It was the most fun I had had playing a game in a year or two, what a great time.
Then I met a fellow gamer friend and he revealed to me, that all you had to do to win was play the mission without your team. Solo. He was right, I ran home and played the mission I was currently on and just walked right through it. I never played the game after that.
Enter the Rubik’s Cube. Only smart people can solve this thing. I ‘heard’ there was a formula but it always escaped me, and no one would tell me. Well the magic passed and so did time. Then this past Christmas my Mother In Law gives me a honkin Rubiks Cube for Christmas.
This time the Internet was on MY side. It took about an hour and I had solved the Rubik puzzle. And in triumph and victory I celebrated. After 25 years I had beaten this bad boy. But my celebration was short lived. It was just the six steps, in reality it is simply a mathmatical expression, like an algebra equation, only instead of writing on paper its a physical object. Once you learned its equation the rest is easy. It never was about intelligence, only how to work a problem.
Now its no more fun than math class. It was ruined. Spoiled by its own simplicity. But no, wait, thats not the whole story.
Im that kid that struggled at math, C or B average, at best. But when I got something, I mean really understood the how, why and what that formula was I did ALL the problems not just the Odd ones.
The Rubiks Cube has turned into a great stress reliever for me. I know it can be solved every time I pick it up. All its pieces are present, but the solution is hidden in their arrangement.
When I first learned the Rubiks formula I thought I had lost it, much like I lost “Rainbow Six.” Cheating is a real downer, but the formula isnt a cheat, its the solution.
Maybe if we actually started trying to find solutions to our problems instead of trying to find cheats for them . . .
Thanks Rubik, It only took 25 years but I think I finally get it.
Dont Poke the Bear
“A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed. “
I will argue with no man about who should have a right to “keep and bear arms.” Man has defended himself since we were first put on the planet a few years back. Its instinctual, native, and part of being human. Did God want us to own guns? I’ll ask when we meet.
I am proud that this week the Supreme Court decided to actually read the constitution. It’s refreshing when the system works, it often doesnt, but this week it did.
What gets me is that people seem to believe that owning a gun, or a weapon, means Im going to go out and do harm, to myself or others. This is weird, crazy talk.
Lets take a moment and review factual things: A firearm does one thing and it does it very dependably and reliably, it rams a projectile down a barrel.
And it does that every time we use it.
I have a firearm to protect myself, my family, and those around me. I am proficient with its usage, I am of sound mind and I am a good citizen. I keep my ‘arms’ locked up when not in use, safe from young, curious hands. However a firearm is just one of many tools that I use to protect my family. Where we live, the house, our dogs, the alarm system, are all devices that we employ to protect us from harm.
Please dont bore me with statistics that dont mean anything. If your the kind of person that allows numbers with no real context or meaning to influence you, robots will be replacing you soon I suppose.
And if you ever try and take shelter in a cave in winter and find a sleeping bear, dont poke it.
This article by Ted Nugent does a pretty good job of summing up the situation.
Is it just lazyness?
It doesnt seem like I can get anything done of late. I havent graded papers, Im not keeping up with projects at work, the grass isnt mowed, my office is in shambles. The problem is when I get home Im so tired I just want to plop on the couch and watch TV.
There is nothing wrong with TV. With great shows like ‘Life‘ ‘Chuck‘ and ‘The Unit’ Its no wonder I get anything done at all.
So what is a guy to do? Somehow I need to manage my time better and make sure I am prioritizing my day. Intellectually I know this, but I am not doing it. Thats when the “im lazy” monicer starts to creep into my mind. But why now, why when im in my 30’s? Why am I suddenly gaining weight?
I dont think Im Lazy, I think Ive lost some focus.
My pastor has been teaching about ‘Chazown’ (im not sure Ive spelled it right) and he points to our vision for our lives. Is that it, Ive lost focus? Wow, a friend awhile back said that he felt I had not finished my dissertation yet because I was afraid too. Fear, lack of vision?
Ok sport, so how do you regain vision? How do you say “my life has purpose, this is what Im here for!!!??”
I dont know, but I can try.
Jerry Falwell Dies at 73
You can find more detail about it here.
As some of you know, I attended Liberty University from 1989 to 1994 (yes, I packed a four year degree into five). My dad called and my friend Kevin emailed me to tell me of the news about Falwell’s passing.
But you know, after reading all the hate, and all the blogs smashing on him, I decided I would add another post about Falwell.
First, He was a man. He had balls of steel. He feared no man, not even Phil Donahue. He shamelessly went on talk shows, and TV shows knowing why they had invited him and when they spewed their bile (as they are now that he is dead) he smiled and said “son, you need Jesus” and that was IT. How many men do YOU know, even amongst christians who stand up for their beliefs?
Second, He loved his God. You know, I dont even have to write about this because we know it to be true. He rose every morning at 4:30 AM to pray to his God and study His word. He lived it.
Third, Summer of my freshman year, I was walking back to my dorm and I saw his black suburban driving by. I thumbed him, you know ‘hitched’ a ride. Dang if he didnt stop and give me a ride. He asked my name and where I was from and a few questions about Liberty. Years later I ran into him with my wife and he sucker punched me (as he did most of us students) said “David, from Georgia right?” I met him more than a dozen times, played in his orchestra (Tuba) for several years and of all the thousands of folks that he knew. I was one of them. And I knew it.
I will be a LU grad for all time. And I wont ever let anyone forget it either.
Did You Know?
I didnt mean for this to be about Gun Control
I have been so grieved about the Virginia Tech massacre and have been trying to decide what to write. But over the last few days I have heard a lot of discussion about Gun Control, that somehow not being able to purchase a gun would have fixed the problem. Why is it we focus on the wrong things? oh well.
The Nuge has posted some comments for why we should have the right to ‘keep and bear arms’
Some hi-society blow hard who is evidently for some rights (that benefit him) and against others. sorry I didnt realize it was a buffet. I mean really this kind of lunacy is moronic. Read here for a good read.
And Tolerance be damned . . .
Here is a wonderful article. I really dont have any thing else to add about the Imus controversy. I know 1st amendment rights dont absolve you of responsibility for what you say, however, it was his JOB to be an ass. Why was everybody so shocked? So yes I agree with the article, especially the last line . . .
children of men
My wife and I saw the movie this past weekend. I really enjoyed it (which suprised me since I was prepared to hate it). I really liked the long shots (not sure what else to call them), I mean some of them were like 12 minutes long and had tons of action in them. That was no easy feat to pull off but it really gave the film an authentic feel.
I loved the little touches: workstations that had dust covers (no new jobs), their are no schools or children. and then the surprise is the Pink Floyd Album “Animals” is a ’set’ in the film. I googled the topic and most people talk about it from when he was INSIDE the Ministry building the pig and chimneys can be seen through the windows. But on the drive into the ministry you can see almost and exact reproduction of the album cover.
Vonage is under the bus
Ok so they lost another round yesterday. And the Sprint is after them as well. Ive been using vonage for 3 years. My question is this, did they really do the patent infringement? I personally smell a rat. Verizon and Sprint wrote vague descriptions so they can sue ANY vendor who has success at VOIP.
I know they have screwed up some stuff but overall they have a good product.
Just my thoughts and questions. I wish I knew.
“Do No Harm . . .”
“does raise concerns that technology is causing harm without clear benefit.”
I read this article in the New York Times today that basically stated that the computer software we have been using since 1998 hasnt helped but has caused alot of false positives.
I have never been a fan of AI, and no this isnt that discussion, but it is a case that brings to light the very purpose of technology. It should be enabling. How many women have had bad news and biopsys because of software?
But should we toss out technology from medicine? What of all the discussions and Discovery Channel shows that show how tech is saving lives etc. How is one to know?