Message #1326

From: Melinda Green <melinda@superliminal.com>
Subject: Re: [MC4D] noteworthy new hypersolutions
Date: Tue, 11 Jan 2011 00:43:23 -0800

The audacity! These are crazy amazing pieces of news, guys! This is the
best news I’ve read this New Year that so far has only been full of bad
news. Matt’s 120 Cell solution is extra-special for me because I had
predicted early on that we would see exactly one solution to this
monster and then we would never see another in my lifetime. Well I it
seems that two years in hyper-puzzling time is like a lifetime in our
flat 3D existence given all the other wonderful puzzles that I never
even dreamed of that have also appeared and been conquered in that same
span. I will now officially stop making predictions about what will or
will not ever happen in in this magical land because I surely do not know.

Ethan: I don’t even know what to say to you intrepid 5D explorers. You
went from 3^4 straight to 5^4 in just ten days. I was wondering what you
would turn your attention to next and then you went dark, only to return
from bagging one of the most frightening beasts around. The number of
twists it took is so astounding that I can’t even say it aloud. You are
truly one patient and determined hyperpuzzler!!!

I’m sure that I speak for everyone when I say that we would all just
*love* to hear both of your stories of conquest. How long did these
solutions take? What made you decide to attempt them? How many times did
you decide to give up, only to continue again? In short, what the *hell*
were you guys thinking!!! :-) Please tell us all that you care to
share. We will read very carefully and savor your victories through your
stories because very few of us will even think seriously of following
where you have gone.

It’s no surprise that Matthew holds the current shortest solution to
original 3^4 that started this whole crazy quest thing. I bet that when
either of you look at that puzzle now it must look like a baby’s
plaything. OK, I have a new idea to throw out because this makes it feel
like the right time to think about new challenges. Who here thinks you
can solve a 3^4 blindfolded? You wouldn’t be literally blindfolded. What
we could do is add an option to switch all sticker colors to gray. That
way you could study a scrambled puzzle for as long as you like, put on
your virtual blindfold, and see what you can do. Your time ends when you
pull off the blindfold. You can take notes as you study it, but you can
not use notes or any other aids once you start twisting though prepared
macros seem fair to me. Who’s up for this challenge? I promise to make
no more predictions because something tells me there are a handful of
you who might just be able to do it. Speak up now or I will have to
start babbling about 120 Cell speedsolving contests that we will time
using calendars instead of stopwatches!

This is truly fabulous stuff, folks. Matt and Ethan: What can I say? You
guys rock!!

Breathlessly,
-Melinda

On 1/10/2011 7:08 PM, Roice Nelson wrote:
>
>
> Any hypersolution is noteworthy of course, but I thought I would post
> that for both Magic120Cell
> <http://www.gravitation3d.com/magic120cell> and the 7x7x7x7x7
> <http://www.gravitation3d.com/magiccube5d/hallofinsanity.html>, it is
> not as lonely at the top anymore!
> Matt Galla sent me a completed Magic120Cell log file just prior to the
> new year, joining Noel Chalmers.
>
> And on January 6th, I received a 7^5 solution from Ethan Muldoon,
> joining Matthew Sheerin.
> I’ve updated the online pages with their log files if any would like
> to take a look (the solutions both impress in terms of length).
> Sincere congratulations to Matt and Ethan for completing these monster
> puzzles. I’m amazed by your fortitude!
>
> And really, I’m blown away by how many solvers we have in the group
> now. I just browsed over the MC4D hall of fame and the MC5D hall of
> insanity, and it is wild how much they have grown :)
> Take care everyone,
> Roice
>