Still Alive

Still alive and doing other things.

Digital Art

The trees don their holiday duds

The Great American Freecell challenge

OK, here is the deal. Somehow, it is suspected that all free cell games are winnable, however, no one seems to know for sure. I am currently playing each game and am up to game 1300* out of 35000, having won all of them. What I am currently seeking is any game anyone has encountered that is thought to be unwinnable. I will then take on the challenge to actually win such game. I will, after winning such, capture the window** and post it here to show it is winnable. Post the game number of any game you feel is not winnable in the comments.

* Susan is additionally working her way up starting with game 3000, nearly successfully completing the first one hundred.

**see example in extended entry

Added 11/7/07

In later implementations of FreeCell in Microsoft Windows, there are 1,000,000 games. Of these, 8 have been found to be unsolvable. They are games No. 11,982, No. 146,692, No. 186,216, No. 455,889, No. 495,505, No. 512,118, No. 517,776, and No. 781,948. This conclusion was arrived at by the consensus of several authors of FreeCell solvers. The solvers of both Danny A. Jones and Gary D. Campbell have been run through the first million FreeCell games and have found solutions to all but these eight. Several other solvers have also failed to produce solutions to these games. Wikipedia

And after 50 attempts at game No. 11,982, I am completely convinced it is unsolvable. As such, I cede the challenge. Boo-Hoo .. guess I'll have to find something else to do to occupy my free time, which comes in 3 to 4 minutes at a time.

To all the Buffalo Bills fans ...

your heartbreak is only exceeded by my elation!

GO COWBOYS!!!!!!!

Right time, right place ...

I know-- It's corny ...

Harvesting a beautiful sunset ...

Where the wild fern grows ...

Butterflies are free ...

...but sometimes hard to catch.

Fish Tree Story

Through Sur we love ...

Doubletake

Oh, deer, you're nosy!

What's hot & cold & wet all over?

I've looked at clouds from both sides now ...

Not-so-pacific Pacific

Relaxed and Well Fed

Mixed signals

Stand up straight!

They don't build'em like they used to . . .

Until approximately three years ago, local residents drove cars and pick-ups across this one-lane bridge as they had regularly done since its construction in 1914. Walking on the bridge today, I recalled my white knuckles as I clutched the wheel of my car several years ago as I first encountered this bridge. As I reached the middle, I was wishing I could abort my trip, but it was too late to turn around. However, after that early ordeal, I soon found myself crossing it on a regular basis. I feel much safer crossing the new bridge, as shown below, but am glad they left the old bridge in place for those rare occasions on which I wish to take a short walk down memory lane.

Day is done.

What is the name of this rock and where is it?

In your face

A Picture is worth a 1000 words

or so they say. I am doing well, other than fretting about the lack of contact from my publisher, and having too little free time or too little inclination to share those little tidbits about what is going on in my life or how I feel about things politically and otherwise, but felt this space was going to waste and there were people wondering if I was still alive so felt I could at least share some of the great photos Susan and I have taken here lately on our travels. If you like them, feel free to say so or not. If you wish to use them, feel free to do so. If you would like to have it in the original size, about 4 3 times as large as what is posted, drop me an email at the address under the unknown lady at the left and tell me which one and I'll be glad to send it your way via attachment.

As for content herein, leave it to say that I will post a pic from time to time, allowing the picture to impress you on the beauty I have seen with my own eyes. Just in case you don't know who Susan is, here is a nice photo taken of the two of us.

You Can't Touch This

Just your friendly neighborhood spider, man!

Engine, engine No. 9 7652

Still waters run deep

Good Day Sunshine

Cool, clear water

Let the sun shine in!

WELCOME TO ...

Ever'thing's going my way!

I've got a beautiful feeling ...

Oh, What a beautiful day!

Oh, What a wonderful morning