Hi, I am Lou Clifton

[Louie]

Hello everyone. I just got yelled at for not introducing myself, so here I am!

I am an old speed cuber, I started in 2003. I was about 17 when I started and Dan Knights was king of the Rubik's world with his sub-20 average. In those days having a sub-20 put you in the top 10 in the world even on the unofficial records page IIRC.

I went to college in 2004 and the cube became something to impress people. And yes it can get a girls attention but it's up to you to seal the deal. Just tell her you're a freakin' genius then change the topic. Mystery is golden.

So now I'm back and I valet cars at a hospital (putting my spacial skills to good use I suppose). I started taking Alpha Brain and suddenly I regained my love of cubing. I don't mean to advertise, it's just a great natural supplement. Anyway I've gotten my time back down to a 40 avg with the help of your new speed cubes.

You young people have no idea how lucky you are! Per Dan Knights advice I actually got store-bought cubes and lubed them with store-bought silicone lube! Then I bought a Rubik's Studio Cube for like 35 bucks and when that thing pops it EXPLODES, trust me. And now you can get an amazing Chinese cube that are 10 times better for 10 dollars. I love it. It's definitely helped rekindle my love of cubing!

I love big cubes too. I solve the 4x4 in like 3 minutes (I still use a 1980's Ideal Rubik's Revenge) and the 5x5 in like 5 minutes (New Rubik's version) and I once solved a 10x10x10 virtual cube on oinklburger - a site that no longer exists as far as I know.

So that's my introduction. I speak French and a little spanish, I love movies, science, and exercising. And I love my job (valeting) I've been doing it for just 8 months now and I've driven 300 different car models including a couple that are worth $200,000+

And I'll leave you with a link that'll crack you up. Look at these times:

http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/speedsolvingrubikscube/message/37387?l=1

 

[That70sShowDude]

Hey. I like how someone said, in 2003, that they miss the good old days of cubing.

Where in PA?

 

[StachuK1992]

Welcome.

Where in PA indeed?

I'm currently living near Lancaster, but go to Harrisburg most every day and towards West Chester and Reading on alternating weekends.

 

[collinbxyz]

I think it was me who got you to make this, yes?

I live about 2 hours away from Stachu, according to google maps. So I live near, let's say, Montgomeryville. I live like 25-30 minutes from there, but I don't want to be too specific.

What cube are you currently using, btw? And what method do you use? Be specific please (example: Fridrich w/2 look OLL and full PLL)

 

[Louie]

Sorry it was early in the morning and I forgot some things! I actually live very close to Montgomeryville! I live in Plymouth Meeting, near Philadelphia. And yes it was you and your cube solving cat that got me to post an intro thread Collin.

I use the 4-look last layer. Intuitive F2L. I am considering learning full Fridrich but there are 2 problems: That's a lot of algorithms! And also I like the algorithms that are just R, F, B, U, L, etc, none of that x, y, r stuff. (I guess I'm like Jessica Fridrich that way) So, if you guys have any suggestions I'd appreciate the advice. And by the way my 4-look is: Cross, Permute Corners, Orient Corners, Permute Edges.

 

[Hershey]

I am considering learning full Fridrich but there are 2 problems: That's a lot of algorithms! And also I like the algorithms that are just R, F, B, U, L, etc, none of that x, y, r stuff.

Well ZZ (depending on the last layer technique) has less algorithms than CFOP/Fridrich, and you don't need to do moves like "x,y,r" I think. However even the fastest ZZ user does not like the method.

 

[qqwref]

Hi Louie! Welcome to the forum.

You young people have no idea how lucky you are! Per Dan Knights advice I actually got store-bought cubes and lubed them with store-bought silicone lube! Then I bought a Rubik's Studio Cube for like 35 bucks and when that thing pops it EXPLODES, trust me. And now you can get an amazing Chinese cube that are 10 times better for 10 dollars. I love it. It's definitely helped rekindle my love of cubing!

Haha, yeah. I haven't been around as long as you but I remember when the best cubes were the Rubik's Game and Rubik's Studio cubes... and then it was a big deal when the official adjustable DIYs came out.

I once solved a 10x10x10 virtual cube on oinklburger - a site that no longer exists as far as I know.

It's moved, actually. http://puzzlingaddiction.com/Cube/applet/ There are quite a few other simulators out now though, and a few people (*cough*) have some really fast times on them, far better than what would have been imagined five or more years ago.

 

[Louie]

Thanks for finding oinklburger qqwref! I have a Rubik's Game cube right here! haha. I love the tiles on it. And the fact that it is older than I am!

 

[collinbxyz]

I actually live very close to Montgomeryville! I live in Plymouth Meeting, near Philadelphia. And yes it was you and your cube solving cat that got me to post an intro thread Collin.

Awesome, I'm less than half an hour away from there! As for the picture, I saw my cat stretched out asleep on my bed, so I put an unsolved cube next to him and took the pic.

I use the 4-look last layer. Intuitive F2L. I am considering learning full Fridrich but there are 2 problems: That's a lot of algorithms! And also I like the algorithms that are just R, F, B, U, L, etc, none of that x, y, r stuff. (I guess I'm like Jessica Fridrich that way) So, if you guys have any suggestions I'd appreciate the advice. And by the way my 4-look is: Cross, Permute Corners, Orient Corners, Permute Edges.

4 LLL (Four Look Last Layer) is not that bad, and I can easily sub-20 with it, so don't worry about that for a while. I can sub-15 ao12 with Full PLL only. So don't think about Full Fridrich LL for now. The cube rotations (x, y, z) are only used for 4 PLL algorithms I know ( Four G-Perm), which is all y's, which is twisting left and right, so they're not too bad. Although there might be another alg with an x or something. I'm not sure how the way you do LL is, but if it's slow, I suggest learning 2 look OLL and 2 look PLL. Only like 13-14 algorithms I think... correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[StachuK1992]

It sounds like we should organize a small meetup.
My vote is Thanksgiving weekend (ish).

Anyone up for it?

 

[collinbxyz]

It sounds like we should organize a small meetup.
My vote is Thanksgiving weekend (ish).

Anyone up for it?

I remember when you were talking about one with Ryan Reese (Idk if you actually did it or not), and it's the same deal with me. I would probably go, but would you mind a 12 year old? Be honest...

 

[Godmil]

Welcome to the forums You reminded me that when I got back into cubing last year I went straight to Dan Knights site for cube recommendations, and bought a Rubik's DIY. I should have done more research

 

[Louie]

Welcome to the forums You reminded me that when I got back into cubing last year I went straight to Dan Knights site for cube recommendations, and bought a Rubik's DIY. I should have done more research

Haha! They are useless these days.

And thanks so much for the recommendations Collin! Like I said I do OE, PC, OC, PE. The only part that is slow is the OC because I often have to do 2 algorithms back-to-back. And that's good news that I don't have to worry about Full Fridrich yet. I might switch to the 4LLL that you suggested though. And you're only twelve? You don't type like a twelve year old. Or solve cubes like one! haha