It isn't the most auspicious start to the New Year's but like the saying goes, for every dark cloud, there is always a silver lining. Or in the case for my son, every cloud has its silver lining but this year, it's a little difficult to get to the mint (aka red packets).
We didn't waste the day, well, most of it anyways.
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| The Rubik's Cube |
I spent it with family but mostly in the company of an Italian with beautiful hands and a haltingly arresting grasp of the English language. Despite my constant hacks and occasional clearing of various orifices, the Italian carried on, undeterred and with unfailing determination to impart what can only be an experience that eludes mere mortals
- the solution to the 3x3 Rubik's Cube.
'Lucatn', or 'Luigi-as-we-who-cannot-pronounce-his-nick' so fondly refer to in our household, is the only coherent voice in the world wide web of Youtube contributors to unlock the mysteries of the Rubik's cube. He didn't try to confound the viewer with mathematical algorithms or narcissistic (did I spell that right? ) buffoonery. He used simple terms like 'front', 'top', 'left', 'right' and the occasional 'back' side to explain the various twists and turns to get all the pieces to line up.
If you're like me, who has come of age and still haven't worked out the solution to the Rubik's Cube. Have no fear. Lucatn is near. He has a 4-part video series that will take you through some of the many different turns that you'll unwittingly find yourself in.
Go check his video out!
From:
LionCityMum
- As we age, we should rage less and encourage more
FAST CUBE FACTS
Information courtesy of http://www.rubiks.com/i/company/media_library/pdf/Rubiks%20Fast%20Cube%20Facts%20February%202010.pdf
Fantastic facts you might not know about the legendary Rubik's Cube
- The Cube is the world’s biggest-selling toy EVER, and has sold in excess of 350 million units worldwide
- The Cube has 43 quintillion different possible configurations (or 43,252,003,274,489,856,000 to be precise) and only ONE solution
CUBE HISTORY – let’s put it in context ...
- The legendary Rubik’s Cube was invented in 1974 by Hungarian Professor Erno Rubik, then a lecturer at the Department of Interior Design at the Academy of Applied Arts and Crafts in Budapest. It was originally called the Magic Cube.
- After winning the highest prize for outstanding inventions in Hungary, in 1980 the Cube won top toy awards in Britain, Germany, France and the US.
- Its worldwide launch also took place in 1980. Hungarian actress Zsa Zsa Gabor was chosen to host the Rubik's Cube's launch in America, at a Hollywood party. (LionCityMum: In case you didn't know, the actress is probably the most popular export of the country, perhaps with the exception of Hitler) See site for more famous persons born in Hungary - http://www.imdb.com/search/name?birth_place=Hungary
- In 1981, the Rubik’s Cube was included as an exhibit within the hallowed halls of the New York Museum of Modern Art.
- By 1982, the Cube had achieved such a universal presence and penetrated the fabric of British society so deeply, it was included in the revered Oxford English Dictionary.
- If you made a single turn of one of the Cube’s faces every second, it would take you 1,400 million million years to go through all the possible configurations. (By way of comparison, the universe itself is only 14 thousand million years old.)
Rubik’s fastest/craziest Speedcubers
- In official Rubik’s Speedcubing competitions (national and international gatherings are held by the World Cube Association), timing is done with a special StackMat. It’s average times that count: contestants solve 5 Cubes in each round, with the fastest and slowest times being discounted.
- Since 2004, the number of WCA competitions escalated from 12 during that year to 24 in 2005, 33 in 2006, 53 in 2007. By 2008 the figure had reached 110, and last year 169 competitions were held – in 38 countries. This year WCA co-founder Ron van Bruchem forecasts that well over 200 competitions will be organized, in 45 to 50 countries.
- The first official World Rubik’s Championship was held on 5 June 1982 in Budapest. The winner was American Minh Thai, who solved a standard (3x3x3) Rubik’s Cube in 22.95 seconds. (LionCityMum: GO ASIANS!)
- The World Record for a single solve on the 3x3x3 Cube is held by Erik Akkersdijk (pictured, left) from the Netherlands, who achieved 7.08 seconds at the Czech Open in 2008.
- The current youngest official Speedcuber is China’s Enxi Xie, a little girl aged just 4 years, 6 months and 10 days, who solved the Cube in just 1:28:06! (LionCityMum: GO LITTLE ASIAN!)
- The current oldest Speedcuber is also from China – Xinxian Li, at the grand old age of 88 years, 6 months and 6 days, with a time of 4:43:52. (LionCityMum: GO GOLDEN ASIAN!)
- There are also official records for solving the Cube one-handed (currently held by Sweden’s Gunnar Krig in 13:80 seconds), blindfolded (Haiyan Zhuang of China in 35:96 seconds) ((LionCityMum: GO BLIND ASIAN??) and with the feet (Anssi Vanhala of Finland in 36.72 seconds).
- The current World Rubik’s Speedcubing Champion is teenager Breandan Vallance (left, centre of podium) from Scotland, who won the title in October last year, with an average solving time of 10.74 seconds.
- On 20 December 2008, 96 people in Santa Ana, California broke the Guinness Book of World Records for the most people solving a Rubik’s Cube at once.
- On 11 April 2009, Adam Morgan solved the Rubik’s Cube in around 47 seconds while in a freefall skydive! (LionCityMum: I won't be putting that into my Bucket List anytime soon)
Note: All these facts are correct as of 1st February 2010. Please check the www.worldcubeassociation.org website for the latest information on Speedcubers/Speedcubing records.
Fun Cube Facts
It is estimated that one eighth of the world’s total population has laid hands on the Cube. (LionCityMum: Hmmm...)
In Britain, the ultimate collectible of 1981 was a Rubik’s Cube showing Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer.
Frau Schmit of Dusseldorf, Germany sued her husband for divorce in 1981, citing the Rubik’s Cube as co-respondent: “Gundar no longer speaks to me and when he comes to bed, he is too exhausted from playing with his Cube to even give me a cuddle.” (LionCityMum: Hmmm?)
With over 350 million Rubik’s Cubes sold worldwide, if all the Cubes were placed on top of each other they would reach the top of Mount Everest a staggering 1,937 times! (LionCityMum: Let's not! The toppling won't be pretty)
In 1992, the UK’s Prime Minister John Major used the Cube to demonstrate to his TV audience the virtually insoluble complexities of the Maastricht Treaty. In November 2009, when EC President Jose Manuel Barroso presented the Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt with a Rubik’s Cube to congratulate him on solving the puzzle of gaining consensus on the new EU appointments, following the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty, he chose to do it live – on worldwide TV!
The most expensive Rubik's Cube ever produced is the Masterpiece Cube, created by Diamond Cutters International in 1995. This actual size, fully-functional cube features 22.5 carats of amethyst, 34 carats of rubies, and 34 carats of emeralds, all set in 18-carat gold, and has been valued at approximately 1.5 million US dollars.
So compulsive can Cube solving become, it has given rise to two recognised medical conditions amongst some hardcore enthusiasts – Cubist’s Thumb and Rubik’s Wrist. (LionCityMum: Not quite as lethal as the plague of WoW but serious enough)
The actor, Will Smith, star of films such as Men in Black, I am Legend, Ali and The Pursuit of Happyness, can solve the Rubik’s Cube in 55 seconds. It was for the latter film that he learned to solve The Cube - with the help of
Speedcubing champions, Tyson Mao and Lars Petrus.
Teenager Daniel Kaczkowski not only solves Rubik’s Cube while Ripstiking (an advanced skateboard with only two wheels), he also finishes with his eyes closed! (LionCityMum: Another blind challenge?)
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