Newspapers / North Carolina School of … / Sept. 1, 2000, edition 1 / Page 4
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page 4 ♦hebackpaje September 00 What can you do in less than 30 seconds? Dan PlERGALLlNl Most people in less than 30 seconds can do very few things. Watch a TV commercial; listen to a radio commercial, you get the idea, not a whole lot. However, Chris Hardwick, a stu- dent from Broughton High School in Raleigh, can solve a Rubik’s cube puzzle in less than 30 seconds. Most people have trouble even solving the Rubik’s cube, let alone being timed. Chris first started ex perimenting with a Rubik’s cube when he was in second grade, but said that shortly thereafter he gave up on it for about six years. Then, after rummaging through his closet one day, he found his Rubik’s cube and wanted to give it another try. This second try lasted for about a week before he went to the Internet to find a solution for it. Since then, he has spent three years solving the Rubik’s cube, and he has been speed solving it for about one year. Chris, has been working on other faster and more efficient solutions, and is now working on his own speed solving solution, which will hopefully be faster than the one he learned before. The world record time is 22.95 seconds, set by Minh Thai when he was in ^igh school in 1982. Chris’s fastest times are in the 19 second range, with some “lucky” times in the 18’s. A lucky time Chris explained, was an attempt where the blocks were set up the right way to where l/S* of the solu tion was already solved, leav ing less of the puzzle to solve, and therefore, a faster time to solve it in. You might ask that since Chris’s times are obvi ously faster than the world record, why is he not in the book? In order to hold the world record, you have to reach that time in official competition, which Chris has not partici pated in yet. It took Chris 7-8 months, working on and off, to get his times that fast. Chris said had he been working on the cube consistently, it would have taken him only 3-4 months. Chris is not alone in his interest in the Rubik’s cube. He knows many other speed- solvers like himself and keeps in touch with them over the Internet. The closest one to him lives in Vermont, and Chris ad mits that his fnend in Vermont I Like Girls that Wear Abercrombie & Fitch Alistair Anagnostou Auspiciously making their entrance onto the fashion scene several years ago were Abercrombie and Fitch’s care fully “aged clothing.” As a longtime fan of aged wine, cheese, and vintage cars, when I first saw the faded shirts and jeans (best of all the “original” wom-off logo) the blatant stu pidity of new pre-wom clothing played with my mind like a kan garoo in a n old person’s home. But as I thought further, I real ized the problem was more seri ous. As a self-proclaimed “out doors enthusiast” it pains me to see kids walking into the mall with their allowances just to buy a pair of jeans with tom hems that I could have made for them in just a few months of wear. Just think, you could buy new clothes, get your preppy look going on, and switch to pseudo-grunge, as soon as they start to fall apart, and that way get two outfits for the price of one, instead of modem-day America’s half a shirt for the price of three. Equally as bad are the shirts with logos that shout out “I’m a #$@@ing mountain has had better times than he has. However, they are not in a bitter rivalry for the world record as one might think. Instead, they share tips and hints on how to get even faster times. Chris is also willing to share hints and tips, as well as teach others how to speed-solve the Rubik’s cube. Some friends he has taught it to now can solve the cube in around 26 seconds. greasing it he can turn the cube pieces faster than a standard new Rubik’s cube, which would slow his time down by a notice able amount. Chris has also pur sued other puzzles, some similar to the Rubik’s cube and even more complex, and can speed- solve those as well. Chris is a very nice guy and is willing to teach other stu dents how to solve the Rubik’s cube, and you might be seeing more Rubik’s cubes all over cam pus. Chris has already had a fa vorable response to his initial messages about starting a club (or just teaching others how to speed-solve). However, if you cannot solve the Rubik’s cube, they also make colorful paper weights. Speed solving involves memo rizing patterns and combina tions in the cube, usually for 2-4 pieces at a time. There are 20 pieces in a Rubik’s cube. Chris looks at the combina tions and hav ing already memorized them, he knows faster ways to solve the cube. Chris has also doctored his cube up. By This is a Rubik's cube; they are difficult to solve climber, that engages in life- threatening but exhilarating sports” when the wearer really considers catching the DATA bus to Northgate their adrena line-pumping experience for weeks afterward. However, to play the op timist, this wretched marketing ploy could have some valuable applications. Always wanted a car with two dinged fenders and a missing hubcap? Now on sale for only $36,000, or better yet, go to the outlet mall and buy a pre-worn dog; nobody will know Sparky hasn’t been in the family for years. The extra bucks will be worth your friends’ com pliments on his scruffiness. Maybe, if this trend continues we could even have pre-wom children. Avoid the hassle of raising a child that’s just going to grow up and become a medi ocrity in a low-paying job. Just buy your very own human Cab bage Patch doll. My recommendation to those who want mgged cloth ing is wear them yourself, go camping, climb a cliff, or next time you go for a romp in the grass with your playmate, don’t be afraid of the grass and dirt stains, it seems they can only increase the value of your clothes. STUDENTS AND FACULTY! TWISTERS HOT PRETZELS AND FROZEN SNACKS IS NOW OPEN AT 758 NINTH STREET (ACROSS FROM GEORGE’S GARAGE). COME IN NOW AND CHOOSE FROM OUR LIST OF OVER TWENTY DIFFERENT KINDS OF FRESH BAKED PRETZELS. WE ALSO HAVE ICE CREAM, FROZEN YOGURT, ICE CREAM SNACKS, AND OUR ALWAYS POPULAR SHAVED HAWAIIN ICE. PRESENT THIS AD AND GET A HOT PRETZEL FOR ONLY HALF PRICE! (EXCLUDING SPECIALITY PRETZELS). OR BUY A PRETZEL AT REGULAR PRICE AND GET A SECOND PRETZEL, SODA, OR COFFEE ABSOLUTELY FREE!
North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics Student Newspaper
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Sept. 1, 2000, edition 1
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