Rubik

Introduction

This is a tutorial for my method of solving Rubik's Cube. It is intended both for beginners and experienced cubers. There is no group theory or strange notation involved, I just show you how to move. You very much need a Java-enabled browser.

Using this method, I won the 1981 Swedish championships, and finished 4th in the 1982 world championships in Budapest. I also won the 2005 world championships in Orlando for solving in fewest moves. My average of 10 best is 21.88 seconds from 2002, and for a single solution 13.60 in 2006.

Please take a look at my terminology, so you know the difference between a turn and a twist, for example.

If you are a total beginner, look at this description of the basic concepts of Rubiks Cube.

The animated Java cubes that are used for illustrations and examples are explained here.

The Basic Idea

Most people solve the cube layer by layer. This is a simple way for the human mind to approach the problem, but it is useless for speed cubing. No matter how good you are, you will use more than 100 moves. Going for speed, I use 60 moves on average. Going for few moves, I average 45.

In the final of the Swedish championship, 8 of 11 competitors used a vanilla layer-by-layer method. The other 3 of us finished 1, 2 and 3!

The basic problem with the layer method is a big one, and it's obvious once you realize it. When you have completed the first layer, you can do nothing without breaking it up. So you break it, do something useful, then restore it. Break it, do something, restore it. Again and again. In a good solution you do something useful all the time. The first layer is in the way of the solution, not a part of it!

The Method

The Petrus method has 7 steps:

• Step 1 - Build a 2x2x2 corner
• Step 2 - Expand to 2x2x3
• Step 3 - Twist the edges --- 2, 4 or 6 bad edges
• Step 4 - Finish 2 layers --- Step 4b tricks
• Step 5 - Position the corners --- Complete Step 5+6 index
• Step 6 - Twist the corners --- Complete Step 6+7 index
• Step 7 - Position the edges
• Step 1, 2 & 4 - Block building tricks
• Practice - 13 example solutions

The 365 Days Of Christmas

Deck the halls with gaudy baubles
Pour the eggnog of good cheer
Now Roy Wood and Wizzard’s wish has come true
‘Tis the season to be jolly – all year
Choirs of cherubic children sing carols
Red-nosed reindeer fly through the sky
The snow falls in great fluffy tidings of joy
Even though it’s the middle of July
Hark! Bing Crosby croons on – and on and on
Fa-la-la-la-la, ho-ho-ho, sleigh-bells jingle
Lo! Is that the last turkey on earth being killed?
No! It’s the daily Cliff Richard Christmas single
And it’s perpetual repeats of the endless Queen’s speech
And Santa’s so knackered he’s shrunk
But not so Tiny Tim – he ate all the mince pies
Now he’s “Crawling In The Air”, fat and drunk
And 12 Christopher Biggins’ pantomime dames
Are dancing with elves at the foot of the bed
Swigging sherry and burning your presents
Shrieking “Ebeneezer Scrooge is dead!”
As Noddy Holder’s clarion call
Melts into Edvard Munch’s silent “Scream”
I suddenly wake and realise, yes -
(Cue violins, puppy dog and a bucket of syrupy marshmallow sentiment for
a desperately contrived happy ending)
Yes – everything’s grand in our winter wonderland
It was all just a horrible dream.
Written by Elvis McGonagall for BBC Radio 4's "Saturday Live" programme on Saturday, December 15th, in response to an item about the self-styled "Mr Christmas" who celebrates Christmas every day of the year.

Christmas

CHRISTMAS STORIES

THE HISTORY OF CHRISTMAS

Christmas is a Christian holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. No one knows the exact date of Christ's birth, but most Christians observe Christmas on December 25. On this day, many go to church, where they take part in special religious services. During the hristmas season, they also exchange gifts and decorate their homes with holly, mistletoe, and Christmas trees. The word Christmas comes from Cristes maesse, an early English phrase that means Mass of Christ.

The story of Christmas comes chiefly from the Gospels of Saint Luke and Saint Matthew in the New Testament. According to Luke, an angel appeared to shepherds outside the town of Bethlehem and told them of Jesus's birth. Matthew tells how the wise men, called Magi, ollowed a bright star that led them to Jesus.

The first mention of Christmas

The first mention of December 25 as the birth date of Jesus occurred in A.D. 336 in an early Roman calendar. The celebration of this day as Jesus's birth date was probably influenced by pagan (unchristian) festivals held at that time. The ancient Romans held year-end celebrations to honor Saturn, their harvest god; and Mithras, the god of light. Various peoples in northern Europe held festivals in mid-December to celebrate the end of the harvest season. As part of all these celebrations, the people prepared special foods, decorated their homes with greenery, and joined in singing and gift giving. These customs gradually became part of the Christmas celebration.

In the late 300's, Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire. By 1100, Christmas had become the most important religious festival in Europe, and Saint Nicholas was a symbol of gift giving in many European countries. During the 1400's and 1500's, many artists painted scenes of the Nativity, the birth of Jesus. The popularity of Christmas grew until the Reformation, a religious movement of the 1500's. This movement gave birth to Protestantism. During the Reformation, many Christians began to consider Christmas a pagan celebration because it included nonreligious customs. During the 1600's, because of these feelings, Christmas was outlawed in England and in parts of the English colonies in America. The old customs of feasting and decorating, however, soon reappeared and blended with the
more Christian aspects of the celebration.

Gift giving

The custom of giving gifts to relatives and friends on a special day in winter probably began in ancient Rome and northern Europe. In these regions, people gave each other small presents as part of their year-end celebrations.

Other customs

In the 1800's, two more Christmas customs became popular--decorating Christmas trees and sending Christmas cards to relatives and friends. Many well-known Christmas carols, including ``Silent Night" and ``Hark! The Herald Angels Sing," were composed during this period. In the United States and other countries, Santa Claus replaced Saint Nicholas as the symbol of gift giving.

The celebration of Christmas became increasingly important to many kinds of businesses during the 1900's. Today, companies manufacture Christmas ornaments, lights, and other decorations throughout the year. Other firms grow Christmas trees, holly, and mistletoe. Many stores and other businesses hire extra workers during the Christmas season to handle the increase in sales.

The word Xmas is sometimes used instead of Christmas. This tradition began in the early Christian church. In Greek, X is the first letter of Christ's name. It was frequently used as a holy symbol.

Christmas

For My Teacher At Christmas

Christmas vacation is great;

My time is mine to spend;

I can be with friends or watch TV;

I wish it would never end.

I don't miss school or homework;

I really like to be free;

But I'll miss you when I'm gone from school;

You're just what a teacher should be.

So have a perfect Christmas;

Be sure to have lots of fun;

I look forward to seeing you again,

When Christmas vacation is done.

Christmas

Christmas Magic


Are we too grownup to feel a thrill

As we light the Christmas tree?

Are we immune to cookies,

Christmas cards and Christmas glee?

Are we too adult to "Ooh" and "Aah"

At the Christmas candle's glow?

Are we blasé about our gifts;

Do we shun the mistletoe?

Are we too mature for carols,

For merry or for jolly?

Do the decorations leave us cold,

The ornaments and holly?

Fat chance! We'll never grow too old

To love the Christmas magic.

A year without a Christmas

Would be boring, even tragic.

So bring it on! The candy canes,

The feasting and good cheer;

O Christmas, lovely Christmas,

You're the highlight of the year!