Monday, March 30, 2009

Just for Old Time's Sake!

Here are some puzzles that were written back in the 80's. Try them out and have fun just don't get caught by your boss.
Here is the link: http://virtualapple.org/numbersquaresdisk.html


Here is the article that goes along with it:
The Apple II Gains Eternal Life in the Web Browser

Phil Shapiro

Mar 20, 2009 8:04 am

Back in 1989, in the same year Tim Berners-Lee was cooking up the world wide web, I asked myself if there were some way to connect joy and thinking in the minds of elementary school children. With the help of a talented Apple employee, Dave Lyons, I assembled a collection of logic puzzles named Number Squares that ran on Apple II computers. Back in those days the Apple II was king.

I founded a software company and sold that software commercially between 1990 and 1995. When the Apple II computer was discontinued by Apple in 1994, I thought the lifespan of that software had come to an end.

What I didn't anticipate is the talented person who created AppleIIGo, a Java applet that runs Apple II software within a web browser. When I heard about AppleIIGo, I posted a short note on the AppleIIGo discussion forum asking if there was anyone who could help create a disk image of the Number Squares logic puzzles I designed way back when. Robert Stone, from Columbus, Ohio, answered the call.

And soon after I was running Number Squares on various modern computers. Thanks to to Bill Martens at the Apple Puget Sound Program Library Exchange you can now play these puzzles right in your web browser on the Virtual Apple web site. The direct link to the puzzles is right here.

A QuickTime screencast I created showing the puzzles in action can be seen here.

Here are a few tips for playing these puzzles. First off, you need to remind people playing these puzzles that this software does not respond to any mouse actions. All the game play occurs via the four arrow keys -- along with the return key (also known as the "enter" key.) Sometimes you need to use the mouse to click onto the window of the Number Squares puzzles for the software to respond to the keyboard, though.

Start off with the 4 x 4 puzzles. You'll enjoy those most. My favorite puzzles are the 5 x 5 puzzles. Use the arrow keys to move the numbers into the open space. Keep in mind that if you solve a puzzle one or two seconds faster than you did before, you'll receive more substantially more points for doing so.

The points you receive for solving puzzles is based on how fast you solve the puzzles and how difficult the puzzle is. I've seen kids play these puzzles for more than an hour and not get tired of them. With the gentle guidance of an adult or older sibling, the puzzles become even more fun and interesting.

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Blow Some Bubbles in Your Drink!

Just a quick thought today. I had a Dr. appointment today and after, I took my wife to Panera Bread for lunch. By the way, I highly recommend the Black Bean Soup!! Anyway, we got talking about life and things that are happening and as I was sitting there I started blowing bubbles in my drink. I laughed to myself, then I told my wife that we all need to smile every now and then. She was not really amused by it but I kept it up and probably annoyed her a little bit!

The point is this, sometimes we just need a little levity to get us past some things that we are struggling with. Laugh at yourself, I think that it is healthy. Whether or not you want to admit it we are all very, very funny! God wants to fill us with His joy and peace, but we have to have some initiative in our lives. If we allow ourselves to wallow around in the mud, we will get comfortable and stay there for a while, dirty and pitiful. But if we choose to allow God to lift us up out, then we too can get ourselves cleaned up so that we can blow bubbles and enjoy life. It can get difficult at times, but you can make it through!!

Stay faithful and He will lift you up!!

Blessings,

Pastor Carl

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Still Learning

We all have these preconceived ideas about how life should go...

That will make you think a bit huh? Things come into our lives and leave from our lives. Circumstances and problems, blessings and fun. We live these things out, and in front of us seems to be this straight road when we look out. It is when we look back that we can see the twists and turns and hills and valleys.

I will never forget as a 12 year old boy going on vacation to California. We went as a family and drove our Mercury Marquis and our pop-up camper across the entire country. There were three of us in the back and three in the front of the car. I can't believe that we made it without killing each other. Some of the mountain passes that we drove up and through were amazing, spectacular as I think about it. These were winding twisting roads as we drove up higher and higher. You could not see the next curve until you were already in the middle of it. You did not know what was ahead because you could not see around the turn you were in. Then all of a sudden the old Mercury would shift and we would be on top of it all! You could look back and see the road that we just came up and across the valley or whatever was on the other side. It was truly spectacular to see, at times even breathtaking!!

I told you that little story to say this. We must go through the twists and turns to get to the top. We do not know what will be around the next bend. We do not know when the next curve will come or even how steep the climb will be. We can be rest assured though, because we know who is in the driver's seat. The one leading us through it all!! He is the sustainer and giver of all things!!

Be our Leader and Guide Lord!!!

Just a side note, I would have probably given my right arm for a GPS unit in those days, it would have saved us some time and arguments!!

Blessings,

Pastor Carl

Saturday, March 7, 2009

Kid's Breakaway Day 2

Well, we are almost finished with breakaway and we had a great time. We will be leaving here as soon as we eat lunch (burgers and fries) in the Caf. after the am service.

Today was a good time for all. We had a great time this morning when we had a missionary to Cuba in the service with us. It was great to hear the stories of how people are being saved in such a closed country. We at lunch then basically had free time this afternoon. We played on the playground (thank God for beautiful weather) Played basketball, and had a blast on the inflatable games set up in the gym.

After dinner (chicken nuggets!! (one of my personal pbcc favorites)) ;-) we had our last PM service and it was great. the kids were challenged to consider the baptism in the Holy Spirit. It was great to see kids praying with their chaperons in circles and hearing kids crying out to God. Tonight we had a movie night in the gym and we watched "the Pirates Who Don't Do Anything". It was much fun, but the sleepyheads are always a challenge to get back to their rooms.Overall it was a good day, I will not have time to write tomorrow so have a great morning worship service and we will see you all between 4-5 pm!! Pray for a safe trip home and plenty of peace and quiet in the van with all of the sleepy kids!!

I hope that some of you enjoyed the facebook pics, and those of you that don't facebook, you should join up because it is one of the easiest ways to stay connected!!

Blessings,
Pastor Carl
Carlisle, PA

Kid's Breakaway

Just to let everyone know... We made it to breakaway and everyone is doing just fine. We are all tired and some are having a little trouble getting to sleep with all the chatter... o wait that's my guys!! Hold on.............. Anyway we are all good, had a good service tonight where the kids were challenged to submit to Jesus and let Him take control of their lives. We had a good response and are looking forward to tomorrow's services. We got to spend time in the gym after the service on the inflatables. Everyone had a blast and ran around to wear themselves out!! We are all good and tired after the travel and fun.

Pray that God does some great things tomorrow in the lives of our kids. Pray that they are opened to His will and the moving of His Spirit!

Blessings,
Pastor Carl
Carlisle, PA