Eureka! My Very Own Magic Square(s)!

I was so proud about this.
Not too much now.

This post was supposed to be written and published at 6 AM.
But I had to go to the Sunday mass, so… there goes the excitement.

Anyway, let’s pretend that I am still very excited about this.

Yesterday, I saw Albrecht Durer’s magic square.
It was awesome.
For all of you who don’t know what a magic square is, well, it is simply a square with consecutive numbers on it.
The magic lies within the fact that the sum of each row, column, and diagonal are the same.
Albrecht Durer’s magic square, however, is more than that.

Not only does it have the usual properties of a magic square, it also has an equal sum of the numbers on its center square (which consists of four smaller squares), and all four quadrant squares.
Moreover, the number 1514 on the bottom row is actually the year the square was created.

Impressed, I decided to make my own.
After a gruesome long night, I was finally able to create what I think is a BETTER magic square.

Like any other magic squares, the sum of each row, column, and diagonal are the same.
But that’s only the half of it.
You will also find that the sum of EVERY four adjacent squares that form a larger square is the same.
Take any four squares that form a larger square you want, and the sum of the numbers will be the same.

UPDATE
From the initial square, I was also able to derive no less than 96 squares that follow the same rules (kinda takes away the value actually).
I divide them into three groups called batches.
For the sake of space, I'm only presenting one square per batch.

Batch 21-13/25-9
 2  16  5  11
13  3  10  8
12  6  15  1
 7   9   4  14

Batch 19-15/25-9
 7  14  1  12
 9   4  15  6
16  5  10  3
 2  11  8  13

Batch 18-16/25-9
 4   9   7  14
15  6  12  1
10  3  13  8
 5  16  2  11

But Albrecht Durer’s square has the production year on it, you might say.
Well, my squares are only 4 by 4, which means the largest number is 16. There’s no number 20 to create the year 2009.
But, as far as dates are concerned, here is the list of ALL possible dates you can get from my squares:
Batch 21-13/25-9
Apr 9/Sept 4, Aug 1/Jan 8, May 16, Dec 13, Jul 14, Oct 15, Feb 11/Nov 2, Jun 3/Mar 6, Jan 12/Dec 1, May 4/Apr 5, Aug 13, Sept 16, Jun 15, Nov 14, Mar 10/Oct 3, Jul 2/Feb 7.
Batch 19-15/25-9
Sept 16, Aug 11/Nov 8, Jun 3/Mar 6, Jan 14, Feb 7/Jul 2, Oct 5/May 10, Dec 13, Apr 15, Nov 14, Mar 16, Jan 8/Aug 1, Sept 6/Jun 9, May 4/Apr 5, Feb 13, Oct 15, Jul 12/Dec 7.
Batch 18-16/25-9
Oct 15, Feb 16, Jun 8/Aug 1, Sept 7/Jul 9, May 4/Apr 5, Mar 13, Nov 14, Jun 12/Dec 6, Sept 16, Aug 10/Oct 8, Jul 2/ Feb 7, Jan 15, Mar 6/Jun 3, Nov 5/May 11, Dec 13, Apr 14.

Hooray!
- The End –

Okay, now I’m going back to my mattress.

Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol: A Lost Adventure for A Lost Cause

I finished it in two days.

It's not that good.

The plot is same old same old.
The villain is definitely not a secret. If you can't predict him within the first pages, there's something seriously wrong with your head.
The way it is written is frustrating.
It produces hype for answers and then gives you a decent one.

It STILL has some high points.
But they have nothing to do with the common apraisals.
The philosophy behind the Freemason is good, and so is the mysticism.
The symbols are cool. I'm actually thinking to have it printed on a shirt.

Conclusion:
Just borrow it.

Melencolia I

I'm taking all of this from a book in which title I won't disclose in a hope it would not ruin the plot.

The piece of art is Albrecht Durer's. It was made in 1514.

Melencolia I consists of a brooding figure with giant wings, seated in front of a stone building, surrounded by the most disparate and bizzare collection of objects imaginable - measuring scales, an emaciated dog, carpenter's tools, an hourglass, various geometric solids, a hanging bell, a putto, a blade, a ladder.

The winged figure is a representation of "human genius" - a great thinker with chin in hand, looking depressed, still unable to achieve enlightenment. The genius is surrounded with all the symbols of his human intellect - objects of science, math, philosophy, nature, geometry, even carpentry - and yet is still unable to climb the ladder of true enlightenment. Even the human genius has difficulty comprehending the Ancient Mysteries.

This post is dedicated to all the depressed comrades. You're not alone. The sorrow is ages old.

A Journey to a No Man's Land

Hello world!
I'm back!

...from Singapore.

"What?!
Singapore is hardly a no Man's land!," you might say.

Well, for one and a half days, I actually thought it was;
and it had nothing to do with me getting warnings twice from the authorities also (let me tell you it's not for littering or vandalism).

It had to do with the malls.
I guess I'm not much for malls; and the first one and a half days were all about checking them out.
At first, yeah, they were great, especially considering just how many good looking girls roaming them.
But the excitement wore off quickly.
So much that I could only think of four words to describe the country.

Hot babes - Hot pants

That's all there is.
Where am I? I thought.
Everyone was wearing their best clothes, using lots of make up, spending lots of money for things I did not understand.
I was in the land of consumption frenzy, filled with beautiful looking beings that I don't recognize as mere humans.
I was in the land of the gods and goddesses... with malls all around.

(Some say it's a shopping heaven.
Well, I don't like to shop.)

***

It changed everything.

For the first time, I saw the beautiful landscape I had only been able to see in pictures.

It felt like I was in the pictures myself.
The pictures have come to life! I thought.
They are all filled with vivid colors! They surround me from every angles!
Until it hit me.
The pictures are real! I am really here!
I was filled with joy.
And it was far from over.

***

There were only three members (one had the guitar, one on percussion, and a vocalist).
They performed these arrays of light-relaxing songs, and were actually pretty good.
They talked to the audience between every performance, churning out jokes here and there.
Sometimes they told stories from their lives, which were all touching, in a light-happy way.
And to realize all was done on a stage with a backdrop of  beautiful landscape of the river, the tall buildings and the Merlion at night, was just unbelievable.
It was almost a trance for me.

But I was given more.
In the middle of a performance, all of the sudden, an old man on the front row stood up.
I thought he was going to the toilet when he started...
to dance.
Yes, he danced in front of the stage, at the watching eyes of the crowd.
And it was not just a simple dance.
He danced the dance I thought only someone with booties could pull.
The old man danced passionately; and we all cheered.
I almost cried that night.

The next day, I traveled alone to the edges of Singapore.
I saw flats with dried clothes hanging on its railings, schools, bad malls like the ones we have in Bekasi, dirty public toilets (yes, that's right).
I saw ugly people, high school students just coming home from schools, college students, workers, senior citizens, children, families.
I saw a land of Man, with mere Man all over it; ordinary people doing ordinary things.

I was no longer in the land of gods and goddesses.
I was in someone's country, someone's home.

It was beautiful.

I never thought I would be excited to see all the things that had made me happy.
I mean, dried clothes, public toilets, workers? Get real.
But I was.

Departure

I'm leaving!

I'll be back seven days before my neurology test (speechless).

Wish me luck!

Don Rosa's The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck: A Hidden Gem

A friend of mine has already posted this comic on his site, so I won't mention much about it.

I just feel I have to post it again because it is actually very good.
It reminds me the sheer joy of optimism and hope.
I've always loved Disney stories. I have fond memories of them in my childhood.
I guess that's why the impact is even greater for me.

Just read it, you won't be sorry.

I Say Grace

Thank you o dear Lord, for what I have received from it.

1. I have become stronger
2. I have learned a lot about myself
3. I have something to write
   
4. I have learned about forgiveness
   
5. For the first time in a long time, my heart is love again
6. 
   
7. 
   
8. 
   
9. 
   
10. 
    

If the amount isn't ten yet, then I'm still trying.
But I'll get them all, don't worry. :)

UPDATE
I just don't give a shit anymore.