Computer Woes

I have had all kinds of problems with my laptop recently. The immediate need was to install the latest TurboTax software to file my income tax returns. The install would not work, complaining about Windows installer being missing. TurboTax tried to fix my computer. It did not work.

Next I have had some weird problems browsing. I would Google some topic. Then if I click a link, instead of going to the search result, I get sent over to some rogue search engine. When I try to open the search result in a new window, I get a "404 not found nginx" page. Fail.

So I bit the bullet and restored my computer to its factory settings. That was a pain. But at least I was able to file my taxes. Then I found the Google browsing problems had returned. What? I tried finding some fixes online. The latest fix was Norton Eraser, a free tool that would supposed to help. The only thing it did was make it so my computer would not boot up. Luckily I had some system recovery CDs. However I am back to restoring my system to the factory default.

Maybe it is time to buy a Macintosh like Momoko.

Rubik's Revenge

Some people at Google have determined that you can solve any variation of the Rubik's cube in 20 moves or less. Previously there had been some mathematical proofs that it would take no more than 52 moves. More recently some other math types proved you could solve any Rubik's cube combination in 22 moves or less.

The Google guys had a different approach. They used a huge number of computers testing out what it would take to solve any combination of Rubik's cube. They then used this massive computer network to solve all the combinations. And they found that with the right moves, all you need is 20 moves at most.

Now your normal person cannot solve the Rubik's cube in any number of moves. I think I can solve one side, maybe two. I don't think I have the brain power to solve three sides at once. Momoko plans to attend a workshop where they teach her the secret moves. Maybe she can get it down to 50 moves or so. We shall see in one week when she attends the workshop.