In Japanese folklore, originating from Fukuoka, Kyushu, there’s a “wall spirit” that appears at night, blocking the destination of its victims. It can’t clearly be seen but it’s got arms and legs. One may hope to run around it but the nurikabe can extend in all directions... and, if you’re hoping to use this as a chance to test out your testosterone reserves, it’ll simply use its weight to crush you like an obstinate vending machine.

Anything sound a bit familiar?
Well, here’s a statue of the wall ghost in Tottori prefecture...

If I was ever made to guess which character from a Mario game was from Japanese folklore, I never would have guessed that annoying grunting wall, affectionately known as Whomp :o)
What a better way to get some free character design than from folklore :o)

Well, I was intrigued... and set out to find other well-known characters but quickly got side-tracked when I realised nurikabe is also a kind of puzzle. I went to the website, saw that they’d already published seven collections of them for about $6, and thirty minutes later I was in the bookstore.

Here’s the wikipedia site with a list of the rules...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nurikabe
if you want to play it online, I’m sure google can take it from here :o)

Enjoy!

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Hold forth Thailand Jumped the Hyena seeing that fresh applying comments.

Dla wszystkich dzieci mamy rowerki dla dzieci i różne pojazdy, którymi mogą się poruszać po domu i na podwórku. Dla najmłodszych chodziki, a dla starszych trójkołowce lub klasyczne aluminiowe rowery. Jest to świetna rozrywka, która przysporzy radości dzieciom w każdym wieku. Nie zapomnieliśmy również o młodych mamach i wśród zabawek dla swoich pociech mogą znaleźć u nas wyprawki dla dzieci. Są to ubranka, kocyki, łóżeczka, wanienki oraz wózki spacerowe.

Zapraszamy wszystkie dzieci wraz z rodzicami do naszej radosnej krainy z zabawkami.

I seem to have this, ummm... anal retentive perfectionism thing going on. My niece called me OCD. And not in a good way. (Atleast, it didn't sound good. But she's a teenager so really, who knows!) But I think it's time to bring it out in the open. The first step to freedom is admitting you have a problem right? Step up and tell the truth. And the truth shall set you free.

My name is Heather. And I have 3 blogs. And I am constantly changing them. For those of you who *may have already noticed this, I don't think it's because I have multiple personalities and am attempting to please them all .Though I could be wrong. It's been known to happen. Once or twice. A day. It's because I can never seem to represent exactly who I am, only a part of me. I've tried to break myself down into labels. I'm fighting a losing battle. I'm not just a homeschooler. Or a wife. Or a mommy. Or a christian.

I can't define myself by one aspect or one part of who I am, and what my purpose is. I am a homeschooler. A wife. A mommy. A christian. I am all of those things. And more. (But if you've ever talked to me for more than 5 minutes then you know what a complete mess I am so anything 'more', okay anything less too, isn't because I'm so great or anything.)

I'm ready to see the *big picture. I'm ready to start putting together all the pieces of the puzzle that is my life. Right here. For all the world to see. Okay, so it's *slightly unlikely that 'all of the world' actually reads this. Or ever will. But it's here if they want to. (And why wouldn't they?? :)

So for those of you who know me or have read my other blogs...you might see a few familiar posts. :) They might be better now. So just wade through the Momble Jomble! Keep the good stuff. Forgive the bad. Hopefully you'll be inspired. Or at least not offended. I apologize in advance for the randomness that is me.

And I leave you with this thought... any one else ready to get out of the shaker with me?

God, pick up the pieces. Put me back together again. You are my praise!

You can see it in her eyes said...

You are OCD . And yes it was in a good way . "But she`s a teenager, who really knows?" WHATS THAT SUPPOSE TO MEAN!! Lol .

Tuesday, April 17, 2007 12:04:00 AM EDT

A scene from the movie 'Sholay'.

'Gabbar Singh' (the dacoit) is furious at his accomplice 'Kalia'. Gabbar loads his revolver with exactly two bullets in continuous slots (of the six possible slots) and points the muzzle @ Kalia's head. Gabbar says 'I am going to kill you'. And saying this, triggers the revolver.

But no bullet is fired. Kalia is alive and also a lot confused.

Gabbar, amused by the turn of fate, gives Kalia an option, 'There are exactly 2 bullets in here and I am going to take only one more shot. You have a choice - 1. Either I spin the cylinder (of the revolver) again and then take a shot. 2. Or I go ahead and take another shot. Whatever now happens is your destiny. And your destiny is in your hands. What do you want me to do - Spin the cylinder and shoot OR Take another shot?'

Considering that Kalia really wants to live another day, what option should he be suggesting?

(I came across the russian roulette puzzle online. Also read in a book called 'How would you move Mount Fuji?' by William Poundstone. You could also read about the Russian Roulette on wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_roulette)

Answer

Option 2: Go ahead and take another shot.

Case 1: Revolve the cylinder again and shoot.

In this case, the no of cases where Kalia will survive is 4 (if any of the 4 empty slots gets selected again). Total no of slots is 6 (4 empty + 2 with bullet each).

Hence, Probability of Survival, P(S) = Favourable cases / Total no of cases = 4/6 = 66.66 %

Case 2: Take another shot.

In this case one empty slot has already been exhausted (as the first shot did not fire any bullet). Now to survive, the next shot must also land up on one of the remaining empty slots. Remaining empty slots = 3. Hence, favourable cases = 3.

From the total no of possible slots that can be considered, one empty slot has already been exhausted.

Also the bullets are loaded continuously. Hence, the second continuous bullet slot also has to be excluded. Because the only way that the second bullet slot can now be selected is if the first shot would have landed on the first bullet shot. But that cannot be the case, since the first shot did not fire any bullet.

Hence Total no of possible slots = 6 - 1 (empty slot that was selected for the first shot) - 1 (the second continuous bullet slot which cannot be selected) = 4

Hence, Probability of Survival, P(S) = Favourable Cases / Total Possible Cases = 3/4 = 75%

This case has a higher Probability of Survival.

Hence, Kalia must select this option.

Извиквам на помощ Тетрадките и от тях изскача една "Отварачка за консерви" от Виктор Лану. Изскачат много спомени, от които в усмивката ми отново се прокрадва тъга.

15 юли 1994

Моят въпрос има два възможни отговора - 1. Всичко е много сложно и необяснимо; 2. Всичко е много просто и естествено. Все още не мога да подкрепя нито единият от двата, но си струва човек да опита да прецени разните "за" и "против".

Това, което ме накара да погледна към тези два варианта е онази пиеса "Отварачка за консерви" - двама души/ двама мъже живеят заедно - скрили се в бункер от бедствието настъпило на земята. Не могат да променят убежището си, защото чакат да премине опасността. Напомня за Бекет - очакване, което уж има причина, но всъщност е безсмислено. Двамата са различни по характер, имат различни интереси, различно мислене, различен интелект, различно МИНАЛО. Всеки по различен начин разбира и приема причините за НАСТОЯЩОТО им съжителство. Всичко това е естествено, всичко е нормално и общоизвестно. Жан и Жак се опитват да оцелеят и оцеляването всеки от тях разбира по свой начин. Всеки от тях пречупва мечтата си за БЪДЕЩЕТО през собствените си възгледи. За всеки то е предопределено от миналото и неизбежно трябва да премине през настоящето. Тук бъдещето се усложнява, но струва ми се, че това е само привидно.

Хората са устроени така - зависими са.

От какво, обаче е продиктувана идеята на Жан и Жак да се слеят в един човек? За по-умният това е начин да реагира срещу опасността, единсттвената му възможност да оцелее е да "погълне" другия. За другия (и не го наричам по-глупавия) е просто следване на по-силния, отстъпване пред страха от самотата. Може би ключовата дума е самота? Възможно ли е тя да бъде разбрана само от човек, който вече е търсил отговор на въпроса какво е самота? Възможно е аз да съм такъв човек и това да е причината да твърдя, че всичко е много просто. Такъв човек е и един мой приятел, с когото си говорихме за пиесата, но според него да приемеш самотата не е никак просто.

С какво моята гледна точка се различава от неговата?

Двамата - Жан и Жак - стават един човек. Виктор Лану е създал прекрасни комични ситуации, за да "обясни" това еднство. Жан и Жак не се променят, защото миналото не може да се промени. Само се опитват да преодолеят по-безболезнено настоящето. Не успяват да преодолеят самотата, която ги въвлича със своята неизбежност, води ги към своето вечно съществуване, което не зависи от обкръжението.

Какво означава едно временно съвпадение или разминаване на мненията на двама души с 20 години разлика във възрастта (аз и моят приятел)? Има ли изобщо разминаване или това е естествената разлика в миналото на всеки от нас, която диктува движенията и мислите ни?

П.П. 14 години по-късно - В тъгата се прокрадва усмивка. На онези въпроси вече съм си отговорила. Сега има други. Какво се случва с героите след 14 години? Поп Каро избра сложността на самотата и потъна в нея. Дали е жив и здрав? Къде е? Да го потърся ли? И ако го намеря, какво?

П.П.П. "Отварачка за консерви" е представена за първи път на българска сцена в Драматичен театър "Стефан Киров" - Сливен на камерна сцена "Слави Шкаров". Незнайно защо сайта на театъра е пропуснал да спомене заглавието на спектакъла в репертоара си. Още по-незнайно защо не е споменато името на камерната зала. Не, няма да му туря пепел. Небрежно, случайно и по невнимание се опитват грубо да зачеркнат спомените ми. Тц. Помня, всичко помня.

П.П.П.П. Вили, от Сливен тръгва и моят път :) От книжарницата под часовника, тръгваш по павирания площад и си на крачка от бряста :)

This year I'm piecing together stone walls, a more pragmatic pursuit, I think, as I'll end up with something permanent. Hmm. Well, permanence is what I'm striving for.

My husband and I are completing the landscaping of our yard following a 10-year plan. We've beaten back a bit of the woods (don't worry, I'm a tree hugger too) and carved out a pretty little yard around our hilltop home in New England. Perennial gardens are set in every little sunlit space in between trees, with natural ferns and wild strawberries encroaching on the borders. It's a big job taming a small plot of land in the woods of New Hampshire.

This last phase of landscaping involves flower beds set against the foundation on the east and south sides of our home. And that's where I'm building the stone retaining walls.

It all began with the advice of a local guy. "We'd like you to deliver some rocks to be used in garden retaining walls," we requested from this burly man who seems to know his way around the challenges of landscaping in our area. We pictured large, rectangular-ish rocks which simply needed to be stacked upon each other. No problem. We could handle it.

We arrived home after work one night to find shockingly large piles of blue stones in our driveway. They are definitely more stones than rocks, and there's hardly a nice flat one to be found. We stood there, hands-to-mouths, staring at piles of impossibly small and irregular shaped wall building material. The stones average 6" around, and come in every shape imaginable... none of which we could visualize stacking into a straight, strong wall.

We spent a few days walking past these piles as we came and went. We talked about the rocks, which we began calling them because it sounded less daunting. We stared at the rocks. We complained passionately about the rocks. We declared the task IMPOSSIBLE. We felt defeated. How would we complete this remaining job?

I have no idea when the mental shift took place. Perhaps I saw the pieces falling into place during a dream. Maybe the craftsman in me just figured the puzzle out. Maybe I just felt determined to finish the outside work once and for all! Suddenly one hot Saturday in June, I found myself picking up a rock... and then another. I moved them around in position after position, finally deciding that the key would be to make the front appear as uniform and flat as possible. Behind the flush front, other rocks were placed carefully (painstakingly, someone decided while looking at my project in process) to keep the structure stable.

Each rock is rotated in my small, leather-gloved hands until one flat section is identified. That flat section is the only part seen. Other rocks are added behind and on the sides of the front-row rocks. I find that my wall is most stable when it is 2-3 stones deep. It's a laborious process, involving core strength that hadn't been used during our l-o-n-g snowy winter.

After the first day, I had to ice my right hand--I hurt too much to even knit! The next day I felt every muscle in my body. Continuous work on my walls is building strength in me that makes me feel a bit younger. I have a slight spring in my step again. I feel my back and abdominal muscles coming back to life again.

And to my shock, I found that I just love the whole process! Building a stone wall is meditative. I've discovered the Zen of Stone Wall Building--hmm, possible book idea? I've been working on this during days off from my office job, and I actually have pretty little blue stone walls to show off. They're many, many yards wide, and about 2 feet high. I'm rounding the corner now, connecting the two walls wrapping around the foundation gardens. The rock piles in the driveway are melting away, and our yard is looking pretty sharp. Nothing like stone walls to create a professional, finished look!

For those of you who want to try it, here are a few tips.

• Order rocks a little larger than ours. Eight to ten inches would be much easier to work with.
• Don't be intimidated when your rocks are delivered. It's just like a jigsaw puzzle... just fit one rock at a time.
• Work with leather gloves. If you're kneeling, use knee pads; I wore through a few layers of skin before I finally put the knee pads on.
• Create a good, steady bottom layer, setting your stones into the soil at the base.
• Listen to the birds and the neighborhood kids playing while you're working. It's a joyful experience.
• Either stretch string across your project area and level it, or keep a buddy nearby to tell you when you're veering in or out. [Note to buddy: When you have to tell the wall builder that the wall is beginning to bow out, do it at a distance and carefully pass a bottle of cold water to her with a smile as she grumbles.]
• Leave yourself plenty of weekends to accomplish the job. It's slow work.
• Once the front of the wall is flat and straight, fit rocks around the back to steady it all. Try putting your weight on each section to see if anything shifts. If so, curse... and then substitute some rocks before moving on. I work in about 12 inch sections.
• Keep the thin, flat rocks to complete the tops of your walls. Don't worry if it's really messy in the back. You can back-fill with soil to complete your walled garden.
• Take pictures as you go so you can brag. Building your own stone wall is pretty impressive.

So, don't be afraid. Dive in! Use the rocks prevalent in your area to keep the cost down. And let me know how you're doing as you put together your own stone wall puzzle this summer.

The fish are secret agents (Mission Impossible-style) and have several cases to solve (you'll learn about them in the second level via the self-destructing message. With 70 levels, the game should keep you entertained for some time!

Fish Fillets is available for Linux, Windows and Mac!