Some of you may have noticed that I have not been around the forum recently. While I never was much of a contribution, I made a few big posts, but I don't believe I ever posted a single puzzle. Judging by the fact that my last post was in the beginning of December, I have missed a lot of "new stuff." Also, with the constant arguments over KO's, and the theoretical talks of jumbling, ridiculous new puzzles, and this "fudging" thing, I find myself lost whenever I do visit the forum.

Over the past few months I have become more and more serious about my music career. More shows= less time. Less time= Less fun. We all know that less fun= less puzzles. More shows=less puzzles. Because of the expenses of being a musician are a bit more than a cuber, I also have less cash for puzzles.

I won't be gone forever. Just until things slow down a bit. I plan to keep my collection, but I would consider selling some stuff if I had a really good offer.

I'd like to thank every one of you, you made it a great few years and made my "hobby" a great way to spend my time. Frank is still in my prayers and I hope all of you great builders and collectors continue doing what you do best. It has been a great learning experience and a great way to make friends.

I hope you'll see my name in lights some day.

-Will Ulmer

I'm in the same boat, but I do really love puzzles. Sorry to see you go.

It seems as if a lot of forum members must go through this.

I myself have been finding the forum less interesting as before. Music is a factor for me too but not on the proffessional level, still as a hobby. But I'll agree that many posts here are usually the same ole' posts, mentioning some mass-produced puzzle, forgetting about it, awesome custom puzzle, forgetting about it, theory of puzzles, forgetting about it. The truth is, custom puzzles are being made more frequently by more and more builders, they're just becoming less special. There are so many of them, taxonomy is required to sort the puzzles, and that taxonomy itself is bloated and extremely complicated. There are some great inventors and designers and modders but the overall interest in their masterpieces is going down.

A new interest in puzzles is what this forum- and the rest of cubers alike- desperately need in order not to lose members. Let us prepare to make the biggest comeback in cubing since V-Cubes. I've got an idea myself but this is definitely not the thread for that.

Will, you have indeed been a member with wonderful posts. Music is a lovely interest
to have, I know many people who could not live without music.

Good luck to this career, and it would be awesome to hear from you from a non-puzzle front.
In the meantime, we will always be waiting for you to come back and post here.
Frequency of posting is irrelevant when it comes to quality and contribution.




Pantazis


PS. Personally, I cannot imagine myself not checking this forum and thinking of puzzles,
as they will always be for me the mental exercise, just like sports are the body exercise.