Stories

Benefits of Solving the Rubik's Cube at Any Age!

2009-09-14T14:29:00Z

It's important at any age to keep the brain chugging away on new and challenging exercises. Now that I'm in my sixties, close to seventy, it's more important than ever to recharge and, yes, regenerate brain cells. New evidence reported recently in Scientific American:
- Thousands of new cells are generated in the adult brain every day, particularly in the hippo campus, a structure involved in learning and memory.
- Within a couple of weeks, most of those newborn neurons will die, unless the animal is challenged to learn something new. Learning—especially that involving a great deal of effort—can keep these new neurons alive.
A month or so ago the idea came to me (apparently out of the blue) that I could learn to solve the Rubik's Cube. I just had a feeling I could do it now, I don't know why. I went to my local mall, found three "game" stores listed in the directory, visited each in turn only to discover that all three specialized in computer games exclusively. I found cubes for sale on the internet, but didn't want to wait for delivery. Finally found one at Target, but it wasn't traditional. Instead of the colorful surface we've all come to love, the Target cube was covered with fantastical drawings of mystical creatures. Finally I decided to call a few toy stores to see what would turn up and discovered that the Toys R Us nearby did, indeed, have one Rubik's Cube which they put on hold for me to come in and pickup.

Wow, I loved just holding it in my hand, but, soon realized I'd need help if I wanted to get it solved. That's when a Google search led me here, to this wonderful site. Wonderful, because here the dilemma of the Rubik's Cube is presented as solvable by ordinary mortals AND a method to accomplish this formidable task is freely shared.

That was two weeks ago. Since then I've solved the cube many, many times. I still have two algorithms to commit to memory. I'm looking forward to having the "6 Stage" solution routined in the next few days.

I can't tell you how much this means to me. I can do it! It's opened a door to so many more possibilities. I've discovered a whole world of Rubik's Cube devotees on the internet. I hope to join in on the fun of cubing on YouTube and have several humorous video possibilities brewing on the back burner even now. I believe what I've learned on this wonderful web site will provide me with a foundation to reach even higher in the Rubik's firmament... we'll have to wait and see about that. Wish me luck.

Again, thanks! DameEdithDevine

You CAN Do The Rubik's Cube! Solution Guide - Really Works!!!!

2009-08-05T14:40:00Z

The response to the official You CAN Do the Rubik's Cube! Solution Guide has been incredible! People are raving about how the solution guide has helped them accomplish the elusive goal of solving the world famous 3x3 Rubik's Cube for the first time in their lives. Some critics or purists said the guide is a sort of cheat sheet and that's no good. This is a very legitimate concern! In fact, the You CAN Do the Rubik's Cube! team was concerned they were giving away the secret. But that's not what happened! Because even with the official You CAN Do the Rubik's Cube! Solution Guide solving the Rubik's Cube is still a challenge!

What happens is the solution guide will show anybody how the Rubik's cube works and what the turns will do on your way to solving the Rubik's cube. But then, the solver has to remember those moves in order to get the full experience of solving the Rubik's cube. This is a great motivator to keep working the Rubik's cube. Naturally, the solver then begins to see short cuts or other algorithms to apply and learns how to solve the Rubik's cube faster. Only then does a solver experience the true fun and challenge of the Rubik's cube.

So with over 72,000 solution guides downloaded from the www.youcandothecube.com website, we know that Unlocking the Secret to solving the world famous Rubik's Cube is a great thing! And it isn't a cheat sheet, but a guide to enjoying the world famous 3x3 Rubik's cube. If you haven't done it already you can download the official You CAN Do the Rubik's Cube! Solution Guide and get started solving the Rubik's cube.

You CAN Do the Rubik's Cube! on WTNH News Channel 8 New Haven, CT

2009-05-19T13:14:00Z

On March 8, 2009 the You CAN Do the Rubik's Cube! Program was highlighted on the WTNH News Channel 8 New Haven morning show. Campaign Director, Scott Mercer, tells viewers how the You CAN Do the Rubik's Cube! Solution Kit and program can unlock the secret to solving the 3x3x3 Rubik's Cube and build confidence and self-esteem among young people.

Mercer continues to share the benefits of the You CAN Do the Rubik's Cube! program with readers, viewers, and listeners throughout the country as he embarks on a national media campaign to spread the word about the You CAN Do the Rubik's Cube! Program.

FOX-TV5 Morning Show Good Day Atlanta Profiles You CAN Do The Rubik's Cube!

2009-05-15T13:04:00Z

Good Day Atlanta spoke with You CAN Do the Rubik's Cube! Campaign Director Scott Mercer about the secrets and benefits of the You CAN Do the Rubik's Cube! Program. You CAN Do the Rubik's Cube! exhibited at the Boys & Girls Clubs of America National Conference in Atlanta, GA.

The BGCA also inducted several famous BGCA alumni into the BGCA Hall of Fame including multi-Grammy Award Winner Usher, R&B singer Ashanti, and Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin.

You CAN Do the Rubik's Cube! on FOX25-TV BOSTON

2009-04-09T11:25:00Z

I just want to say, 'thanks', to FOX25-TV BOSTON news for stopping by the Roxbury Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston to see the You CAN Do the Rubik's Cube! program in full swing.

It's great to see that FOX understands how the program is greatly impacting young people who never thought they could solve the Rubik's Cube in their wildest dreams. And now, they feel like they can accomplish anything because they learned all they needed was patience, focus, determination and perseverance.

Now they feel like they can take the same approach to any challenge they face and have success. That's an incredible feeling of empowerment. To know that you went from thinking you couldn't accomplish something so difficult to not only accomplishing it, but mastering it!

I mean listen to what these young people said in the report. They think solving the cube in 2-minutes and 14-seconds is slow! When just a few months, weeks, or days ago they didn't think they would ever solve the Rubik's Cube.

If that isn't having an impact, I don't know what is or what will! So, while we all say there isn't any good news out there and news stations only report bad news with killing and violence or young people drinking and being irresponsible, I just want to thank FOX for shining a light on some good that is out there having a positive impact on today's young people!

First Time Solver Teaches Others

2008-10-01T19:47:00Z

Ok. So I couldn't solve the Rubik's Cube when I was a kid. There wasn't a You CAN Do the Rubik's Cube program around back then! I tried once or twice and that was enough for me to be humiliated. I never picked it up again... until I was an adult. And I mean a middle-aged adult. Whatever that means?!

Anyway, this time somebody shared some information about the Rubik's cube that I wasn't aware of, or not smart enough to figure it out on my own. With this little bit of knowledge, I was able to follow some instructions that were pretty old but supposedly effective in helping others solve the cube.

After reading the instructions over and over again, and a few several phone calls to my colleagues and others, I finally solved the Rubik's Cube! I was so excited I showed my kids and my wife and ran around the house with joy!

Then, after I calmed down, I cautiously mixed it up and did it again. I failed a few times, along the way, but I did solve it over and over again. What me and my colleague realized was that there was a better way to show people how to solve the Rubik's cube. Once that was created, we began to test the new way to do it.

And then something special happened - we realized how much fun it was to share the secret with others! Every time somebody solved the Rubik's cube, we got excited all over again. It was the coolest thing to experience. And not only that, we actually witnessed people who solved the Rubik's cube for their first time teaching other people how to solve it. It was contagious!

I still have fun teaching people how to solve the Rubik's cube! There's nothing like watching somebody think they can't do something, and then showing them how to do it and watching them succeed. And along the way - there are so many other things happening! It can transform the relationships because it's a rite of passage that's happening right there before your very eyes!

Pretty cool...

How are camps responding?

2008-10-01T17:53:00Z

Check this out! Over the summer about 40 camps enjoyed the "You CAN Do the Rubik's Cube!" Program and their responses were overwhelming -

“All the girls arrived and they already had their first Rubik’s workshop and they loved it. Last night we had a competition to see which staff member could finish first. We have had a blast.” Lexy Heatley, Director, FLeur de Lis Camp

“The Cube has proved to be a popular activity with us this 2nd session, and it is common to see campers walking around camp with their Cube, practicing whenever they get a chance. We also had a demonstration by our campers during our 1st Session Family Visiting Day, and that was followed by a class for parents who wanted to learn how to do it. It really has proved to be a welcome and popular addition to our activity program, and we appreciate the opportunity and support that you have provided.” Bob, Camp Farwell

“The CUBE has taken off here! It is now an obsession!” Kris, Connecticut

“The Cube continues to be a big hit here! In fact, we’ve made it an activity offering in our Achievement Program 4 days a week. The boys really love it and many this session are quite proficient. The standing record on Island is a minute and nine seconds by a member of our Kitchen Staff, Josh, who is 15.” Mayhew Program

"The Rubik's Cubes were wonderful. Campers and staff were very engaged in trying to solve them.” Rick Mades,Bethel Camp for the Arts

We would love to hear from more of you!

What is the You CAN Do the Rubik's Cube! Program

2008-10-01T17:46:00Z

The You CAN Do the Rubik's Cube! Program (YCDTRC) is making great strides in providing access to the Rubik's Cube's solution and its many benefits. Kids are learning how to solve the Rubik's cube and so much more. No batteries, no monitors, no plug-ins and no electronics - the Rubik's cube is challenging and entertaining young people all over the U.S.

Who would've thought the Rubik's Cube would be able to reach a whole new generation and engage so many young people at a time when technology is taking over the attention span of everybody. The You CAN Do the Rubik's Cube program has shown that having fun doesn't mean you can't be challenged. This puzzle requires concentration, focus, patience, analysis, memory, dexterity, and perseverance to achieve success.

The YCDTRC Solution Kit has everything needed to engage and entertain young people for hours on end. There is so much fun in learning the Rubik's Cube if you're committed to succeed! Once you've solved it with the YCDTRC Solution Guide, the next challenge is solving it without the YCDTRC Solution Guide. And the fun doesn't stop there! Once you memorize how to solve the Rubik's Cube you can try to solve it faster and faster, observing and learning new shortcuts that help you improve your time. When you teach your peers or family, you share in the joy of their accomplishment, and then... you can compete with them to see who can go faster sooner!

What more can you ask for from a puzzle?! All I can tell you is that ever since I solved the Rubik's Cube, I've had a lot of fun sharing the success with others. And we all have the same amount of fun and joy when we share our stories about the reactions people have when they solve it for the first time. So, remember You CAN Do the Cube and have fun doing it, too!

If you don't believe me, give it a try! See for yourself. Do you have the patience? Are you afraid to fail? Well, there's no success without failure! I think you can do it if you just give it a try.

It's True - You Really CAN Solve the Rubik's Cube!

2008-10-01T17:38:00Z

The you can do the rubik's cube program is helping so many people have fun solving the rubik's cube. It's amazing how many people are enjoying the great accomplishment of solving the rubik's cube. I am having so much fun working with young people to show them they can solve one of the most challenging puzzles in the world. When they solve it they say they can do anything! Everybody should have the opportunity to share the amazing Rubik's Cube with their family, friends, and colleagues. I love this program.

Check out this story of how the Rubik's Cube changed one person's life. Just click on this link.

More from David Alger

2008-10-01T13:45:00Z

It wasn’t more than a few days into it when I realized that the Rubik’s Cube unit would become a permanent part of my geometry curriculum. The justification for spending the time is simple – it addresses NCTM standards on so many levels for geometry and measurement, problem solving, reasoning and proof, communication, connections and representation. More importantly it is naturally engaging for kids, promotes deep thinking, and upon completion creates incredible feelings of pride and confidence. It is problem solving and critical thinking in its purest form, and any well-trained teacher will tell you it is exactly what you hope to see in your best of math classes.

Rubiks inspired sneakers hitting Australia

2008-09-12T17:10:00Z

I heard rumor of a Converse sneaker that pays homage to the Rubik's Cube. My first thought was to hit Google up and see if they had indexed a sneak peek. While I didn't find any sPublishhots of the new Converse sneaker I did happen upon this little beauty up at Sneaker Freaker;

---------------------------------------

ROYAL ELASTICS - RENMAR

Inspired, apparently by the gaming sensation of the '80s, the Rubik's Cube, comes this wacky concoction by the good folk at Royal Elastics, the Renmar. Targeted to the hipsters and scensters in the club scene, the Renmar is guaranteed to have you Melbourne shuffling all night long, without breaking a sweat due to its comfort and sweat free materials. Sticking with its winning air elasticated stretch fit closure system, the sneaker is made for those that like comfort and support as well as standing out on the dancefloor. With an incredibly limited release of just 60 pairs available in Australia, Royal Elastics are stepping up to the big boy shoe labels, inciting hype and frenzy with the timely release of their new shoe. Available in November at retailers in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Auckland.

Finally solved it, at the ripe age of 38

2008-09-10T20:30:00Z

As a teenager in the 80's I remember being in awe of the Rubik's Cube. I had a few friends that had mastered this amazing little puzzle, and I had to have one. I was sure that if THEY could do it, then so could I. So, about 10 bucks and a 3 mile walk later I had my challenge in-hand. And I'm embarrased to say that I never figured it out. I did however take it apart, reassemble to the "as bought" state, and placed in lovingly on my dresser. Where it went from there I have no idea. That was about 25 years ago.

I never touched one again, and never thought I would be able to do the cube. And then I met Scott and Holly, the Program Directors, and was introduced to the YCDTRC program.

With the help of the guide, some quiet time (that being a challenge as the father of 3 toddlers), and a little perseverance (yes, even with a 'guide' it took time, and was a challenge), I finally solved the cube. Finally. It was a momentous occasion. One I will write about at another time.

The point of my story is simple; the cube is back, and the message is quite different. Instead of "you can't" it's all about "you can", and for all of us, young and old, that struggled, got angry and threw that damn thing on the floor - take a deep breath, download the guide, and spend the ten bucks and 2+ hours to figure it out.

The feeling of accomplishment is undescribable, and you'll now be empowered to pass along the favor, and teach someone else. Beit a friend or your kids and their frends.

The cube is back and you deserve to give it another shot, if only to say you can, and maybe pass the favor along, and see the pride in a child eye's when they too "do the cube".

Best. -t