Do you know what kind of an effect the Rubik's Cube had on the authors? Refer to yesterday's post.

But man, that little box is the most entertaining toy I've come across so far. I bought a cube on Saturday, and I've been fiddling with it ever since. It's draw is simply inexplicable. Is it the colours, or is it the sheer satisfaction of solving what most would consider to be an incarnation of the devil? I think it's the colours.

So anyway, last night I tried maybe fifty times to get the cube solved. I kept missing a turn somewhere and the whole thing just died. Kept having to go back to square one(no pun intended). But after the second hour or so, I began to get it right, and because I had repeated the same steps over and over and over and over and over and over and over... again, it was already ingrained into my muscle memory. I suddenly knew all the turns, and I could solve it without reference.

This morning, I tried again, this time, with a timer. Eight minutes. Nowhere near to those amazing people who take part in competitions, but not bad for someone who's only had it for less than 24 hours. Just half an hour ago, I tried it a few more times. I got my timing down to four minutes. I was ecstatic. I am so very addicted to that box. I've always wanted to try one, but I don't think I'd have ever bothered if Jeremy hadn't showed it to me. So, thanks mate.

Other than the amazing fun that I have when playing with that thing, I think it actually builds up the strength in my fingers. I'm typing faster now, probably because my finger muscles are still stuck in "push the square around" mode. Can you see the implications of this? Faster and more accurate typing, swifter writing... All important skills, especially in this time of examination. Even playing first-person-shooters don't give your fingers as much exercise as this.

Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

To put it mildly, I am happy right now. Something which comes quite rarely. I mean, normally, I feel... neutral. Static. Now, I am happy. The sense of accomplishment and success beats everything else. The same feeling I get when I complete a difficult video game, or get back a kick-ass grade.

So, if you want to give it a try, you can tell me. I may be making a trip down to wherever and I could buy one on the way for you.



Puzzles. What joy.

-Joe