US Nationals and Open

[Lt-UnReaL]

Try the first scramble from the 3x3x3 qualification round and the third scramble from Square-1. Those were my favorites

Wow...2 move cross, lol.

 

[blade740]

Hey Sikan I got somethin' real important to give you
So just sit down and listen
Sikan you know you've been cubing such a long long time (such a long time)
And now I'm ready to lay it on the line
(Wooow) You know it's Nationals and my heart is open wide
Gonna give you something so you know what's on my mind
A gift real special, so take off the top
Take a look inside -- it's a cube in a jar!

To all the fellows out there with cubers to impress,
it's easy to do, just follow these steps:
One, open a jar.
Two, put your cube in that jar.
Three, give a cuber that jar.
And that's the way you do it, it's a cube in a jar!

 

[Lucas Garron]

Hey Sikan I got somethin' real important to give you
So just sit down and listen
Sikan you know you've been cubing such a long long time (such a long time)
And now I'm ready to lay it on the line
(Wooow) You know it's Nationals and my heart is open wide
Gonna give you something so you know what's on my mind
A gift real special, so take off the top
Take a look inside -- it's a cube in a jar!

To all the fellows out there with cubers to impress,
it's easy to do, just follow these steps:
One, open a jar.
Two, put your cube in that jar.
Three, give a cuber that jar.
And that's the way you do it, it's a cube in a jar!

Well, yes. But it's really much easier if you put your cube in a zip bag and rename it to a jar.

 

[hdskull]

The first BLD solve can be considered a lucky scramble right ? 1/5 of the cube was solved, if you solve with blue on F and yellow on U(like me), then it's really easy. All the edge cycles are pretty much set up without any rotation.

 

[Stefan]

I lost my main speedcube at the US Open and would like to get it back. I think I lost it Saturday evening after the magic show. It has "fluorescent" yellow and orange but non-fluorescent green, and it doesn't have a logo. And I think it has round scratches on all edges and marker scratch lines inside the centers (both caps and center pieces) as shown in the attached picture (click to enlarge). If you have this cube, please let me know.

 

[hdskull]

It has "fluorescent" yellow and orange but non-fluorescent green

That's exactly the same color scheme on my OH cube!

I'm sorry to hear that you lost your cube.

 

[Bryan]

I was curious if there was going to be a magic show again this year, but they didn't know when I asked on Saturday. Oh well....

anyway, I have some pictures up and a report at:

http://www.logan.cc/puzzles/usopen2008/

 

[pjk]

Nice report with pics Bryan.

I also just noticed in the stats here that Dan holds the record now with most solves and attempts in a competition, which he did at US Nationals this year.

 

[hdskull]

I was curious if there was going to be a magic show again this year, but they didn't know when I asked on Saturday. Oh well....

anyway, I have some pictures up and a report at:

http://www.logan.cc/puzzles/usopen2008/

Very nice and detailed report indeed. I think having Nationals at Mall of America(is that the biggest mall in the US?) would be a great idea, haha.

 

[AvGalen]

I am back home and both happy and sad that my travelling is over. This is the "short" summary of places I have been to after the US Nationals and Open 2008 in Atlanta:
Monday
Spent the night in the hostel, the day in Atlanta with some remaining cubers like Lars and Stefan and the evening at the hostel again where I found a way to avoid renting a car for a very high price
Tuesday
At night, I drove a car back from Atlanta to St. Augustine and passed through Dublin (not the Irish version this time) and Jacksonville (didn't re-meet Jasmine there )
In the morning I visited St. Augustine
In the afternoon I Took the Greyhound from St. Augustine to Daytona Beach and Orlando where I got my (much cheaper) rental car which I used for the remainder of my 1400 miles travelling
In the evening I visited Daytona Beach
Wednesday
Slept in the car, visited Kennedy Space Center, Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood and found a hostel in Miami Beach (Jazz hostel, very highly recommended)
Thursday
Drove up-and-down to Key West, visited Miami and went back to the Jazz hostel in Miami Beach
Friday
Drove to Everglades Alligator Farm, Everglades City, Fakahatchee Strand State Preserve, Bonita Springs, Fort Myers Beach, St. Petersburg (no hostel), Clearwater (no hostel), Reddington Beach (no hostel), Madeira Beach (no hostel), Treasure Island (no hostel), St. Pete's Beach (no hostel) and finally to Sarasota (no hostel, but a motel was just fine with me at that moment)
Saturday
Drove to Sarasota, Tampo, Orlando
Flew to Detroit
Sunday
HOME

I got about 20 hours of sleep in those days which is not much, but much more than last year so I don't feel tired (yet)

I am already looking forward to next years US Open. Having it in a part of the US where I haven't been yet (like the West-coast) would be greatly appreciated

If anyone likes the idea of travelling with me next year AND thinks he/she can handle it, just send me a PM. I can pretty much guarantee you will have a really good time.

P.S. 1: Must-See's in Florida are the Keys, Everglades, St. Petersburg bridges, Kennedy Space Center and obviously the Miami Beach Jazz Hostel. (Some of the Disney stuff around Orlando might be worth it as well)

P.S. 2: I have apparantely traded a couple of puzzles during the tournament.
Puzzles I have, but shouldn't have: An extra clock of normal quality, An extra 3x3x3 that locks a lot (NOT Stefans) and a flaky timer
Puzzles I no longer have, but should have: A Magic (in many pieces), A Master Magic (working), a 4x4x4 Eastsheen Supercube, 2 black V-Cubes 5, a perfectly fine timer
And a timer with Audabon on it is now stored for future return by the organising team.

 

[Carson]

I have apparantely traded a couple of puzzles during the tournament.
Puzzles I have, but shouldn't have: An extra clock of normal quality, An extra 3x3x3 that locks a lot (NOT Stefans) and a flaky timer
Puzzles I no longer have, but should have: A Magic (in many pieces), A Master Magic (working), a 4x4x4 Eastsheen Supercube, 2 black V-Cubes 5, a perfectly fine timer
And a timer with Audabon on it is now stored for future return by the organising team.

Wow, that is quite a large list of mistaken swaps...

 

[Hadley4000]

That was your timer that had Audabon on it??? I was up there with everyone trying ti figure out who it belonged to. Sorry Arnaud! If I'd known I would have gotten it back to you

 

[Mike Hughey]

Drove up-and-down to Key West, visited Miami and went back to the Jazz hostel in Miami Beach

Wow - I can't believe you made it all the way to Key West!!! Very impressive! Hope you enjoyed the trip - it sounds like you mostly did!

 

[AvGalen]

That was your timer that had Audabon on it??? I was up there with everyone trying ti figure out who it belonged to. Sorry Arnaud! If I'd known I would have gotten it back to you

No, you misunderstood.
a) I am missing my own timer which worked perfectly well
b) I have a timer that looks just like it in my possession which doesn't function correctly
c) I found another (older) timer that has Audabon on it and gave it to the organisers

And Mike: Key West wasn't far at all. That day I only drove about 325 miles which was just below average for my Miami adventure. It took me 2 times 4 hours though. When I drive to other competitions (like Polish) we drive about 800 miles in about 14 hours and those drives don't have such a nice view! (They do include great company though)

 

[Bryan]

I am back home and both happy and sad that my travelling is over. This is the "short" summary of places I have been to after the US Nationals and Open 2008 in Atlanta:
Monday
Spent the night in the hostel, the day in Atlanta with some remaining cubers like Lars and Stefan and the evening at the hostel again where I found a way to avoid renting a car for a very high price
Tuesday
At night, I drove a car back from Atlanta to St. Augustine and passed through Dublin (not the Irish version this time) and Jacksonville (didn't re-meet Jasmine there )
In the morning I visited St. Augustine
In the afternoon I Took the Greyhound from St. Augustine to Daytona Beach and Orlando where I got my (much cheaper) rental car which I used for the remainder of my 1400 miles travelling
In the evening I visited Daytona Beach
Wednesday
Slept in the car, visited Kennedy Space Center, Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood and found a hostel in Miami Beach (Jazz hostel, very highly recommended)
Thursday
Drove up-and-down to Key West, visited Miami and went back to the Jazz hostel in Miami Beach
Friday
Drove to Everglades Alligator Farm, Everglades City, Fakahatchee Strand State Preserve, Bonita Springs, Fort Myers Beach, St. Petersburg (no hostel), Clearwater (no hostel), Reddington Beach (no hostel), Madeira Beach (no hostel), Treasure Island (no hostel), St. Pete's Beach (no hostel) and finally to Sarasota (no hostel, but a motel was just fine with me at that moment)
Saturday
Drove to Sarasota, Tampo, Orlando
Flew to Detroit
Sunday
HOME

I got about 20 hours of sleep in those days which is not much, but much more than last year so I don't feel tired (yet)

I am already looking forward to next years US Open. Having it in a part of the US where I haven't been yet (like the West-coast) would be greatly appreciated

If anyone likes the idea of travelling with me next year AND thinks he/she can handle it, just send me a PM. I can pretty much guarantee you will have a really good time.

P.S. 1: Must-See's in Florida are the Keys, Everglades, St. Petersburg bridges, Kennedy Space Center and obviously the Miami Beach Jazz Hostel. (Some of the Disney stuff around Orlando might be worth it as well)

P.S. 2: I have apparantely traded a couple of puzzles during the tournament.
Puzzles I have, but shouldn't have: An extra clock of normal quality, An extra 3x3x3 that locks a lot (NOT Stefans) and a flaky timer
Puzzles I no longer have, but should have: A Magic (in many pieces), A Master Magic (working), a 4x4x4 Eastsheen Supercube, 2 black V-Cubes 5, a perfectly fine timer
And a timer with Audabon on it is now stored for future return by the organising team.

Wow! You wrote this entire post-competition report and you didn't mention meeting a single "nice girl".

 

[pjk]

Sounds like a lot of puzzles were stolen at the competition in Atlanta. Stefan lost his good 3x3, and Arnaud lost a Magic (in many pieces), a Master Magic (working), a 4x4x4 Eastsheen Supercube, 2 black V-Cubes 5, a perfectly fine timer. I can't see someone simply mis-placing all those items. My guess would be someone saw them sitting there and just took them. It's a shame people can show up to a competition and do that.

Nonetheless, nice report Arnaud. Sounds like you had fun.

 

[Rama]

Yeah, too bad Arnaud, hopefully you'll get (some of) them back ASAP.
It was unbelievable that you displayed all your puzzles at Czech Open and just left it there, with or without other cubers around.

I think you shouldn't display all your puzzles in ''public'' places. Ron once lost his competition cube at an German conmvention of his work if I'm correct.
I'd rather do 17 seconds for the 3x3x3 then that I loose my main cube... tough I don't have a main cube anymore.

Sounds tempting to go with you Arnaud next year, but I mustn't travel too much this/next year because of my school and Hong Kong 2009 will be expensive I think, tough Joël, Erik and I made a ''no lose deal'' for Dutch Nationals 2008 if the winner could win tickets.

 

[jorge19ts]

Hong Kong 2009= WC 2009?

 

[AvGalen]

I am back home and both happy and sad that my travelling is over. This is the "short" summary of places I have been to after the US Nationals and Open 2008 in Atlanta:
Monday
Spent the night in the hostel, the day in Atlanta with some remaining cubers like Lars and Stefan and the evening at the hostel again where I found a way to avoid renting a car for a very high price
Tuesday
At night, I drove a car back from Atlanta to St. Augustine and passed through Dublin (not the Irish version this time) and Jacksonville (didn't re-meet Jasmine there )
In the morning I visited St. Augustine
In the afternoon I Took the Greyhound from St. Augustine to Daytona Beach and Orlando where I got my (much cheaper) rental car which I used for the remainder of my 1400 miles travelling
In the evening I visited Daytona Beach
Wednesday
Slept in the car, visited Kennedy Space Center, Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood and found a hostel in Miami Beach (Jazz hostel, very highly recommended)
Thursday
Drove up-and-down to Key West, visited Miami and went back to the Jazz hostel in Miami Beach
Friday
Drove to Everglades Alligator Farm, Everglades City, Fakahatchee Strand State Preserve, Bonita Springs, Fort Myers Beach, St. Petersburg (no hostel), Clearwater (no hostel), Reddington Beach (no hostel), Madeira Beach (no hostel), Treasure Island (no hostel), St. Pete's Beach (no hostel) and finally to Sarasota (no hostel, but a motel was just fine with me at that moment)
Saturday
Drove to Sarasota, Tampo, Orlando
Flew to Detroit
Sunday
HOME

I got about 20 hours of sleep in those days which is not much, but much more than last year so I don't feel tired (yet)

I am already looking forward to next years US Open. Having it in a part of the US where I haven't been yet (like the West-coast) would be greatly appreciated

If anyone likes the idea of travelling with me next year AND thinks he/she can handle it, just send me a PM. I can pretty much guarantee you will have a really good time.

P.S. 1: Must-See's in Florida are the Keys, Everglades, St. Petersburg bridges, Kennedy Space Center and obviously the Miami Beach Jazz Hostel. (Some of the Disney stuff around Orlando might be worth it as well)

P.S. 2: I have apparantely traded a couple of puzzles during the tournament.
Puzzles I have, but shouldn't have: An extra clock of normal quality, An extra 3x3x3 that locks a lot (NOT Stefans) and a flaky timer
Puzzles I no longer have, but should have: A Magic (in many pieces), A Master Magic (working), a 4x4x4 Eastsheen Supercube, 2 black V-Cubes 5, a perfectly fine timer
And a timer with Audabon on it is now stored for future return by the organising team.

Wow! You wrote this entire post-competition report and you didn't mention meeting a single "nice girl".

I am trying to get rid of that playboy image . But I have shot about 3.5 hours of video and there are plenty of "nice girls" on it (most of them were single ). But most of the video is focussing on the other beautiful things nature has created. It will take me at least a week to put it online though.

And everyone is right about me not being carefull enough with my puzzles. I am very naive and trust people a lot. I also enjoy seeing others (including walk-by-viewers) trying out all those puzzles. Next time I will mark all of them and I will put GPS inside

 

[Bryan]

Sounds like a lot of puzzles were stolen at the competition in Atlanta. Stefan lost his good 3x3, and Arnaud lost a Magic (in many pieces), a Master Magic (working), a 4x4x4 Eastsheen Supercube, 2 black V-Cubes 5, a perfectly fine timer. I can't see someone simply mis-placing all those items. My guess would be someone saw them sitting there and just took them. It's a shame people can show up to a competition and do that.

Nonetheless, nice report Arnaud. Sounds like you had fun.

Honestly, people left a lot of stuff laying around. It's not like people's backpacks were gone through and stuff taken then. I think some of the east coast had much more theft. I think Arnaud has his broken magic sitting on the side table for a while. Plus, the non-cuber traffic through the area was very heavy. I'm more surprised about the theft I heard at Princeton (I think?)