Wow it took over an hour. In the end I started blacking out dead end paths to narrow the search down. This meant I found a start at the finish first and then worked toward the start. As you can see I had to black Out huge amounts. Very confusing very hard maze. How the hell did you design this?
I wrote back to Chris, saying…
Hi Chris,
Wow! Thanks for taking the time to try the maze & to send a photo! I haven’t got many responses yet. I hadn’t heard of the blacking-out method until recently.
I don’t really design the mazes, as much as “just draw”. I try to always keep an open path until the end. Sometimes I work form both the start & the finish, connect two paths, and try to close off all the others. Sometimes I have multiple paths.
If you’d like to try this maze for yourself, you can here: Curvilinear Course [Maze] – Try not to look at the solution above first, though.
Solutions have also come rolling in from Eric Yano, to a handful of mazes at once! Are you brave enough to try?
Well, Eric Yano (of local weblog Valley of Steel) stepped up and has completed (or almost completed) 8 of my mazes. He’s got a unique method of solving. He fills in the dead ends, leaving the “good” path open. Some of these don’t show a good path, so either I screwed up in drawing, or Eric got overzealous in filling-in.
Check out this awesome *.pdf with Eric’s notes and the url’s of the mazes attached:
They need some solution love too! I’ve seen some of them being re-pinned on Pinterest. I try to ask those people to also email their solutions to world.and.lunar.domination@gmail.com, but I haven’t received any other attempts yet.
How would you like the solutions presented? Is this link to a pdf good? Is the individual blog post good? Should I post a photo of the solution in the comments of each maze? Should I just post a link o the solution to prevent “ruining” it for anyone else? Is anyone reading these besides Eric?
Nothing can polarize a random group of yinzers like discussing the Clarks. A lot of people love them, a lot of people hate them. There’s probably even more people that could really care less about the whole issue. The reason I’m blogging about this is, well, it blew up when I mentioned my distaste for them on Facebook. Everybody & their mother (literally in my case) has an opinion about the Clarks:
That Clarks commercial makes my butthole pucker...
"Wahooooo!"
Have you seen the Clarks’ Toyota commercial, or any of the Gary Busey Kia commercials? Gary Busey is bat-shit-nuts, and I’d rather buy an inferior car endorsed by him. OK, I’d really rather buy neither… but the Gary Busey commercials don’t make me want to change the channel, and they don’t make my butthole pucker.
I present to you some video evidence for your review:
Then, I posted a status linking to the first status, asking for help building my list. It turned into chaos. Don’t believe Joel below. He’s a bit mischievous. Tiffany certainly seems adamant about her love for the Clarks.
Help make a list...
So, what’s the big deal? Personally, I find their songs trite, corny, tonally bland, and their vocalist quite annoying. My general line is that his vocals are the aural equivalent to taking a cheese-grater to my eardrum. When I hear them on the radio I involuntarily sigh or roll my eyes. Yet, I know some of their songs because (thanks to local radio) I have heard them ad nauseam.
There's a penny on the floor from our last album sale residuals...
I understand that music preferences are an opinion, and that others are entitled to theirs. I’m just stating mine. There’s no need to get your panties in a bunch just because I don’t like the Clarks and you do. I’ll try hard not to consider you hopelessly tonally-challenged if you happen to like the Clarks.
I get a feeling that a lot of people like the Clarks simply because they’re from the area and mention Fayette County in their songs. Yinzers seem to like them because they’re on the radio, or because they’ve been in a bar when they played. They appear to appeal to the lowest common denominator, I don’t know how many people like the Clarks because they actually like the Clarks’ music. When I ask someone why they like the Clarks, I get answers like “I saw them at so & so’s bar” or “They’re from here” or something about allegiance to IUP. It’s never “I really like [name of song here]” or “I really like their song writing/guitar playing/etc.”. Again, this is my opinion.
Also my opinion… This car has more musical ability than the Clarks:
It’s been told to me repeatedly that people in bands around Pittsburgh simply don’t like the Clarks out of jealousy of their success. I don’t believe I’m jealous of the Clarks for myself, but I guess I am a hater on certain levels. I hate that they’re representative of Pittsburgh music. I hate that people with no grasp of the local music scene ask me if I know/like them when they find out I’m in a band. I hate that so many other bands around here that deserve wider recognition go unnoticed and go without radio play. At the same time, a lot of musicians that I know just don’t like the Clarks because they write & perform bad songs. This undoubtedly fuels the ire. Perhaps it’s “bandwagon” to hate on the Clarks? Maybe it’s the “cool” thing to do? Maybe we’re all just not tone deaf.
Scott Blasey
So, please, I’d like a discussion on the comments below, not on the Facebook post about this blog. You can comment using your name/e-mail address/url, your Facebook login, your Twitter login, or your WordPress login.
If you like the Clarks, please tell me why. If you don’t like the Clarks, please tell me why. If you don’t care about the Clarks, you can let us know that too. Let’s not resort to name-calling or devaluing anyone’s opinions. We’re (mostly) all adults here.
Perhaps I’ll make another blog post soon trying to make a list of Pittsburgh local bands that deserve more attention & a wider audience.
Again…
If you like the Clarks, please tell me why.
If you don’t like the Clarks, please tell me why.
If you don’t care about the Clarks, you can let us know that too.
Let’s not resort to name-calling or devaluing anyone’s opinions.
Well, Quiznos never wrote back, but a QSRweb representative did. Apparently Quiznos is embarrassed or perhaps angered by my request. At the very least, they’re obviously not amused. Poor customer service, indeed. Perhaps they picked up a flippant tone to my original email?
From: Alicia Kelso <aliciak@networldalliance.com>
Date: Tue, Feb 7, 2012
Subject: RE: Wendy’s accelerates store reimaging, undergoes employee ‘reboot’
To: world.and.lunar.domination@gmail.com
Good afternoon, Waldo.
Per your inquiry about Quiznos and its anemic presence. That is, indeed, purposeful. The company has been restructuring – teetering on Chapter 11 – for the past year, year and a half.
In the process, it named new members to the executive team and closed its underperforming shops. However, the company has embarked upon a turnaround effort – new marketing, new international markets. Don’t count it out just yet.
You may start to see Quiznos popping up again within the next couple of years.
Well, so there’s that. Chapter 11 can’t be a good thing. So, that’s why all those local stores closed. How can they not make money? People need to eat. People like sandwiches. Make the sandwiches well, and people will eat there. Seems simple.
Still waiting for an official answer from Quiznos. Perhaps they’d like to defend this position. I have a feeling I’ll never get one.
Have you seen the other mazes? I’ve drawn a few before. No one has sent a solution to any of them yet, although I have some claims that some have been solved. If you dare, print it, solve it, and send me the solution. You can leave it (or a link to it) in the comments section. If you’re lost on how to accomplish that… simply email a photo, cell phone photo, or a scan of it to me at world.and.lunar.domination@gmail.com and I’ll take care of posting it for you. I may have to issue some sort of challenge or think of some kind of prize(s). What kind of reward would you suggest?
Here’s another maze. Just like with the others, if you’re adventurous enough to print & solve this maze, I’d like to see the solution. Just snap a photo with your cell phone or scan & email it to world.and.lunar.domination@gmail.com. If you’re tech savvy just post it (or a link to it) in the comments below.
I’d even be interested to see if you find a valid cheat too.
I’d just like to go on record saying I don’t like bathroom attendants. I’ve been to two venues lately that have had them, the Diesel Club Lounge & the Altar Bar. My run-in last night at the Altar Bar was odd. I went into the stall to relieve myself, and came out to the faucet running, a dude squirting soap in my hands, and handing me some towels when I was done. It’s odd to have someone do something for me that I could have easily done myself.
Imagine you’re walking down the street and your shoe comes untied, I run up to tie your shoe, & expect a tip. I would be met with a resounding “WTF?” because I wasn’t asked to help. Yet, I helped you, and you had no choice. Odd there. Odd in the bathroom.
We can suspend the general “stage fright” issue, knowing it’s weird that there’s a dude standing less than 10 feet away, but it is a public bathroom so there’s always that distraction. It’s just the other guys are there doing the same thing as you, not offering any services.
Poop-flavored candy, cakes, & gum!
Speaking of offering services… No, I don’t want any gum, candy, Swiss cake rolls, or honey buns that have been sitting in the bathroom. Can’t you at least put that part right outside the door? I don’t generally have food in my bathroom at home…. why would I want it anywhere else? How many foul smells & horrible germs must those foods absorb before you’re able to sell them? I’m not a smoker, but I’m guessing that people who are also don’t want cigarettes that smell like they were pulled out of a sewer.
Why are you trying to sell me food in the bathroom? No, I don’t need cologne or deodorant, or anything else. When I’m urinating, it’s my own special alone time. I don’t need to chat or dine afterwards to celebrate.
Thank goodness I didn’t need to defecate last night. Who wants to poop with someone hanging out ready to smell that? Not to be disgusting, but we all do it, and we all know it smells horrible sometimes. Who the hell wants to stand in a room selling absorbent little cakes while that’s going on? (Would he build a nest for me? Is that guy ready to wipe & wet-nap my ass too? Do you have to tip extra for that?)
I can see the plus sides… perhaps a person in there deters people from being general pigs, graffiti, illicit activities, and promotes hand-washing. They probably never run out of towels, soap, or toilet paper. But, really, why not just check on things periodically and put up a sign.
Do these attendants get paid, or do they work only for tips & poop-flavored candy sales? How does one get a position as a urination supervision specialist?
Shouldn’t I have a chance to refuse their services entirely if it creeps me out?
Where & why did this all start?
We live by Carnegie Mellon, can’t someone make some robots for this job that aren’t creepy & that don’t require tips?
Submitted via webform to VO5.com, Alberto.com, & the Unilever US & UK sites. Maybe I’ll get an answer eventually…
Hello Good Citizens of Earth,
I write to you today with questions about your VO5 clarifying shampoo. I have been using one of the vanilla-smelling Tea Therapy shampoos in a frosted bottle that clearly says “CLARIFYING” on the front.
While I find that the product feels great, was a ridiculously low price, and cleans my hair remarkably well (and my wife likes the smell), I believe that the product label may be misleading. I have used over half of the bottle, and I cannot see through my hair at all yet. It is most definitely not clear, and I deduce thusly that it has indeed not been clarified.
You see, my plan is to become completely invisible as soon as possible, in order to further orchestrate my plan for total world (and lunar) domination.
I had hoped that the clarifying shampoo would take care of my hair, and then I would be able to get something else to cover the rest of my body. Perhaps I could obtain that new invisible jacket that has popped up in the news. I shall set my minions upon research for that. But in the mean time… Do I need to use the entire bottle before any clarifying effects take place?
Any assistance or insight that you may offer would prove extremely valuable, and bode well for your company under my eventual complete control of the world (and moon). Once the planet is mine, I can ensure that VO5 products are the only legal hair care products in the world, and the first to be used on the moon!
Thank you for your time in reading my query and addressing the concerns of your future emperor of the Earth (and moon). I look forward to your response and expected cooperation.
Inquisitively,
-Waldo Lunar
W(aL)D.
This is an old one that I never got a response from, so I tried again. With some help from Twitter.
From: <do-not-reply@vo5.com>
Date: Wed, Feb 1, 2012
Subject: Thank you for contacting VO5
To: world.and.lunar.domination@gmail.com
Thank you for contacting VO5.
Your correspondence is important to us. Your message has been directed to the appropriate person. If a response is required one will be sent to you shortly. As this is an automated response, please do not reply to this email.
Which roughly translates to “Blah blah blah blah blah.”
From: <UnileverTeam@unilever.com>
Date: Thu, Feb 2, 2012
Subject: Thank you for your message
To: world.and.lunar.domination@gmail.com
Dear Sir/Madam
Thank you for contacting Unilever.
Your message will be directed to the appropriate Unilever expert with immediate effect. We try to answer all communications as soon as possible, but please note that in certain cases this may take up to three weeks.
As this is an automated response, please do not reply to this email. However be assured that you will receive a personal reply in due course.
Kind regards, Customer liaison team Unilever
Which roughly translates to “Blah blah blimey blah blah blah.”
Some people are no fun. Quiznos pretty much refuses to write back to this:
Salutations Sandwich Sultans!
♩♫ Where have all the Quiznos gone? ♬♪ (I imagined that in my head as sung like that “Where Have all the Cowboys Gone” song from the 90’s. – Hopefully you did too!)
I live in & around Pittsburgh PA, and all the Quiznos locations seem to have dried up. At one point we were over-saturated, then poof! They were all gone.
What happened? Was it too easy to open a Quiznos? Are they deceptively hard to run for a profit? Is it hard to find good workers? Certainly you have a better product than Subway and there aren’t many Jimmy John’s, Jersey Mike’s, or Firehouse Subs in the area (yet).
I ask only because I keep receiving emails asking me to come eat at Quiznos… yet there aren’t any near where I live or work, thus eliminating weekday lunch or dinner visits. This doesn’t discount weekends, but I also don’t find myself near any Quiznos locations when I’m out & about.
This brings me back to by original query; ♩♫ Where have all the Quiznos gone? ♬♪ (Did you hear it this time?)
Inquisitively,
-Waldo
♩♫ Where have all the Quiznos gone? ♬♪
Really, what happened? That’s all I want to know. They are actual legitimate (if slightly embarrassing) questions.
I’ve submitted this to their contact form, and haven’t received a reply. I sent it to some email addresses I had for Quiznos employees, and it bounced back.
They didn’t really answer well via Twitter, as they couldn’t get my whole letter:
Technical details of permanent failure:
Google tried to deliver your message, but it was rejected by the recipient domain. We recommend contacting the other email provider for further information about the cause of this error. The error that the other server returned was: 550 550 5.7.1 <helpdesk@myquiznos.com>: Relay access denied. (state 14).
Weird. That message (according to a quick Google search) sort of tells me I’ve been marked as spam. I tired sending from a different email address, but got the same thing. I may have to print & mail this one. I wonder if even that will garner a response?
…unfortunately it won’t work on the mazes I draw, as you can’t just select one side. They’re all connected. If anyone can come up with a similar way to solve my mazes, I’d really dig it.
![Furcate Estate [Maze]](https://aixelsyd13.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/2012-02-07_002.jpg "Furcate Estate [Maze]")
World (and Lunar) Domination 