The Rubix Cube Pt. 2: Back to the Future

Ok, if we can't solve this thing on our own, what's the fucking point?

Time to cheat.  That's right, cheat.  If our ancestors are good for anything, they are good for a few hints and shortcuts.  We can learn from their wisdom.  We must follow the path. 

Using the written directions included, it took me around six hours to solve the Cube for the first time.  It was confusing and frustrating, and I didn't actually believe the directions would work until the final few turns of the cube.  It took me about 45 minutes the second time, and about 30 minutes the third.  

Go and do this.  See how long it takes you.  

What you will realize is that even with the written directions, solving the Cube is still an extremely difficult endeavor, SO difficult that most people can not or simply WILL NOT solve the Cube.  Try to imagine the excuses they make for giving up, even with the solution right in front of them:

"The directions are bullshit, this is stupid, what's the point, it's broken, I'm stupid, it's a waste of time, this is a joke, it's impossible, I'm too tired, only a moron would waste time on this, it's just too difficult, I'm no good at math, I'm not going to let this ruin my day, I give up, I've got more important things to do, the directions are wrong"

Don't judge them, rather, try to recognize situations in your own life where you may have used the same excuses.

After you have solved the Cube, try to solve the Cube again, but in half the time.  Then commit the process to memory, and solve it without the training wheels.  Then with the pressure of an audience.  Challenge yourself to become quicker, faster.

Congratulations!  You can now solve the Rubix Cube. 

When I say You, I mean Robot.  A Robot solved the Cube.

Please, do not kid yourself that you have done anything more than install the Rubix Cube Solution program in your brain.  Or did you forget?

We cheated.  We took the shortcut.  

The fall (bababadalgharaghtakamminarronnkonnbronntonnerronntuonnthunntrovarrhounawnskawntoohoohoor-denenthurnuk!) of a once wallstrait oldparr is retaled early in bed and later

on life down through all christian minstrelsy. The great fall of the

offwall entailed at such short notice the pftjschute of Finnegan, erse solid man, that the humptyhillhead of humself promptly sends an unquiring one well to the west 

in quest of his tumptytumtoes: and their upturnpikepointandplace is at the knock out in the park

where oranges have been laid to rust upon the green since devlinsfirst loved livvy.

James Joyce

Joyce recognized that this is what was happening with language and history.  McLuhan understood Joyce, and recognized that this was happening with literacy and media as well.  Kubrick understood them both, and recognized that this was no accident.