Incremental new best times, I realize, but hey, I’ve never solved it faster! There were a few sure-thing solves that fell into disgust. One had me taking about a minute to solve the last layer alone. Pathetic. However, today, it’s good news. A new record, a second faster than the last. 2:48.12. I won’t complain!
Archive for the Cubing Category
New Cubing Record: 4×4 – 2:48.12
Posted in Blog, Cubing, Cubing Records with tags 4x4x4 on May 27, 2012 by slatemanNew Cubing Record: 4×4 – 2:49.17
Posted in Blog, Cubing, Cubing Records with tags 4x4x4 on May 16, 2012 by slatemanAfter my record-setting run of yesterday I noticed a dilemma…I don’t think it was my record! I found an older time that would’ve been the true record! Alas, there is no real problem, just break it again! I quite enjoy my 4×4 but after Aiden chewed on it, the stickers are a mess. I need to buy more. I also need to re-tension it. However, for now it’s still great, and was good enough to help me break my record! Not bad!!!
New Cubing Record: 4×4 – 2:50.96
Posted in Blog, Cubing, Cubing Records with tags 4x4x4 on May 15, 2012 by slatemanI haven’t been speedcubing much lately but I decided to grab my 4×4 and give it a go. My living room was too stuffy, dark and hot so I went to the kitchen, turned the fan on and enjoyed a cool spring breeze. I have been frustrated as of late so it was so refreshing to see my record broken by a few seconds. My centers were really fast (sub-30 I believe) but my middle layers were horrible. At one point I just stared for several seconds, lost. I had a great final layer though, which was my saving grace. No parity and a lucky draw = a new record!!! 2:50.96!
New Cubing Record: Megaminx – 7:52.85
Posted in Blog, Cubing, Cubing Records with tags Megaminx on May 13, 2012 by slateman
Megaminx
In the past month I’ve been thoroughly enjoying my Megaminx and Windmill Cube. They are fantastic additions to my puzzle collection and provide a reasonable challenge. I have done both for time but don’t have an official time for the Windmill Cube yet. It’s like 2:30 or so. However, I did go for a Megaminx time run twice. The first was better than the second, but both hovered around the 8-minute mark. I’ve updated both my Best Times Page and my Milestones Page. I’ll say…while I’ll never be good enough to even take part in competitions, I’ve come a long way since first solving a cube 15 months ago.
Next up for the collection? I made a To-Buy List but I’m leaning towards a Gigaminx. They’re expensive though. I’ve seen the larger ShengShou cubes and I’ll have to say they look solid. I never use my V-Cube 6 any more because it’s so annoying. The 8×8 and larger will have to be purchased…but we’re talking big bucks. However, I’m thinking a Gigaminx might be fun. Anyways…it’ll all have to wait for now. Oh…and I seem to have lost my 2×2. I’m not happy about that.
Vacation Over: Back To Work = …?
Posted in Blog, Cubing, Games, Yankees on April 23, 2012 by slatemanOK, so my week off is over. I may say I hate vacations but I got to spend a full week waking up and hanging out with the boy and my sunshine (that’s Aiden and Kairi for the uninitiated). In any event, what’s the week to come to bring?
Module: Imagineering
First off, I’m kinda psyched that Module has released a new album. His Site has the full album…I should just buy it? The Shatter soundtrack is just about perfection. From what I’ve heard, I like this…I don’t love it. Oops…I was listening to samples from his first album. NP: The new one. OK, I more than like it.
What I DO love? The Yankees coming back from 9 down yesterday. I think the rain-out today is actually beneficial to the Sox. Let’s face it, they won’t be this bad forever. When we make this game up, likely sometime in September, they’ll win it. Mark my words.
I guess I miss my students a little bit. Sue me for loving my job so much.
The Windmill Cube is the bomb…BTW. So much fun.
To work in the AM. Bring it on!
Wednesday Roundup
Posted in Cubing, Games, Ys with tags Roundup on April 19, 2012 by slatemanOh vacation, how I loathe thee. I should love vacation but every time it is just full of suckage. BUT, rather than complain, let’s see what’s good.
First off, GameFly shipped me Portal 2. I played through a bunch last autumn but had to send it back to get something new (can’t recall what), and now it’s time to get back into it. I’ll say, this is a frustrating game. Like all puzzle games, if you’re stuck, it’s downright shit. However, when you do complete a level, it’s a very rewarding feeling.
Still playing Magic Piano (by Smule). It’s fun and somewhat relaxing. I need that during weeks like these.
Got two new Yankees shirts. \m/
Also got Beowulf finally. This translation is by Seamus Heaney and I nabbed the illustrated edition. It’s actually a cool edition and I look forward to finally reading it. Also on the to-read list, Catching Fire (Hunger Games book 2), Sigurd & Gudrun, Tolkien’s poem and Game Of Thrones. Let’s face it though, that last one is gonna take forever.
Oh, playing Ys: Oath In Felghana on the Vita. Sure, it’s a PSP game, but the ability to pause and run other apps is kinda cool. The game is fun but the difficulty ramps up ridiculously on boss battles. Meh.
Ahh, forgot to mention that I solved the megaminx and the windmill cube the other day each without algorithms. It’s a good step, makes me feel good about myself and only through this do I really count it as ‘solved’. I started a tutorial on the windmill cube. Editing takes 10x longer than the filming.
OK, that should be it. Need a vacation from the vacation!!!
Tuesday Rumblings
Posted in Blog, Cubing, Games, Music, Yankees on April 10, 2012 by slatemanI hate Tuesdays. They are the worst day of the week. The novelty feel of Monday has worn off. It’s not yet Wednesday. Hello Tuesday; I hate you.
OK, Today’s rumblings. First off, the Yankees won last night. It was nice seeing them string hits together and having that feel of certain victory. I don’t care that it came against the (3-0!) Baltimore Orioles. It’s a W. We started off 1998 0-3 as well.
Windmill Cube Solved! OK, that’s not news, but doing so without a guide is! I was using my
notes and algorithms but with so little to remember, I was kinda proud of getting it done myself. It’s a fun cube!
JKB’s Posthuman comes out soon and I hope to have a promo shortly. Definitely looking forward to this one. More over at Crumbling Flesh when it does arrive.
Cubing: Windmill Cube – Algorithms
Posted in Cubing on April 3, 2012 by slateman
Windmill Cube
I tossed up some algorithms over at my Cubelog. Having solved the cube a few times, I’ve found a way to improve upon the original tutorial and may eventually make my own. However, for now, it’s a guide for myself. As it turns out, the cube itself isn’t as difficult as its presentation would suggest. It is actually quite fun.
New Cubes Get!
Posted in Algorithms, Blog, Cubing on March 28, 2012 by slateman
New Cubes Get!
The Megaminx is solved largely like a standard 3×3, but wrapping my mind around that concept isn’t working too well. I’m just…so confused. The Windmill Cube (YJ Wheel Puzzle) is just too strange for me to grasp. I’m having such an hard time understanding how the entire thing works.
Void Cube Parity Algorithms
Swap UF with UR
R F’ L2 F2 U’ D R’ F B’ D’ F2 D F’
U2 R2 D R’ L B’ R2 F2 U D’ R’ F’ B U
Swap UF with UB
U F’ L’ B U’ R’ L2 D L’ D’ B R L2 U
F L R’ B U2 D’ F U L’ U’ L R’ D’ F’ R’
Updated: Cube To-Buy List
Posted in Blog, Cubing on March 24, 2012 by slatemanWith my new purchase in ‘shipping soon’ status, I’ve updated my wish list with some new stuff. I really thought I was almost done but I’m kinda interested in some of these different types of cubes. No rush on this stuff.
Master Skewb ($15)
QJ Megaminx (~$10, or $9) (or MF8 VII?) ($12.50)
LanLan Void Cube ($5)
YJ Wheel Puzzle ($8)
YJ Fisher Cube
SS 5×5
SS 6×6 ($23)
SS 8×8 ($88!)
Dayan ZhanChi
New Stuff
QJ 1x1x3 (6.50)
C4U 3x3x4 ($12)
LanLan Flower Rex Cube ($10)
Curvy Copter ($18) (or LanLan for $15)
MF8 Gigaminx (gonna be expensive…)
OK, do I *NEED* this stuff? Mainly, no. I do want a Megaminx though. The Void Cube & Master Skewb should be cool too. Then to start looking at the odd 3x3xNs. There are plenty of those to collect. Anyways, just some links for now. Future reference and all.