From cube-lovers-errors@mc.lcs.mit.edu Mon Mar 15 13:18:24 1999 Return-Path: Received: from sun28.aic.nrl.navy.mil (sun28.aic.nrl.navy.mil [132.250.84.38]) by mc.lcs.mit.edu (8.9.1a/8.9.1-mod) with SMTP id NAA28320 for ; Mon, 15 Mar 1999 13:18:23 -0500 (EST) Precedence: bulk Errors-To: cube-lovers-errors@mc.lcs.mit.edu From: WaVeReBeL@webtv.net Reply-To: WaVeReBeL@webtv.net Date: Thu, 11 Mar 1999 13:47:33 -0800 (PST) To: Cube-Lovers@ai.mit.edu Subject: Local Cubists Message-Id: <10765-36E839F5-696@mailtod-122.bryant.webtv.net> I feel like I was born in the wrong era. I'm 20 years old and in college right now. If I had been born 10-15 years earlier, I might be training to be in competitions. I was a little too young when it was in its prime in the 80's. I got my hands on a cube this past November & now am hooked for life. I went from 30 mins to 3 mins in the 1st month, & in 2 more months got it down to under a minute. I bring a cube everywhere I go. Tons of people come up to to talk to me about it. 99% of the time they would say: "You know what I used to do?" and then either: 1) peel off the stickers or 2) take it apart. I used to laugh along at this amusing anecdote, for I myself admit to both. But, after the 100th person...Its just annoying. There is no one I can share my hobby with. Of all these people, in the 4 months I've been into this, I have only met one person who actually knew how, but it was years ago, and has since lost interest. I got one of my friends into it, but he isn't at a level where he can compete w/ me yet. Plus, he's too busy to put some serious time into it. With the exception of my one friend, I feel all alone when it comes to cubes. Right now I am looking for any cube enthusiasts, beginner through advanced, in my area who want to get together to compete, buy/sell/trade books & cube related stuff, share secrets/techniques that can only be taught in person (there are limits as to what text & 2D images on a web page & in books can convey about manipulating a 3D cube), etc. All of my knowledge on cubes is from people's web pages, but practically all of them are made to teach the beginner. My current goal is a 30 second average. At a 55 sec average w/ a 33 sec record, I'm not too far from my goal. I achieved this using moves I've gotten from the web. I would like to talk to people personally, and see some of the books no longer in print. I read somewhere that there are over a hundred written. Please contact me if you have books I can look at, or know where I can get a hold of them. I would like also to join any local clubs if any still exist or, If there are enough people interested, start a new one. A lot of people who have seen me playing with mine in public have asked me if the Rubik's Cube has "come back" like a new craze. Although there isn't, I would sure like to see one. And how about a new championship? That would be cool. Not a world wide thing, but it wouldn't be hard to set up a small local one with a small prize like a Megaminx. Any thoughts on this? Has this been attempted lately? I live in Carson, California. So, if anyone in the LA/South Bay area is interested, please contact me. -Alex Montilla- waverebel@webtv.net ipiiika@aol.com