So I went on vacation last week, and I brought along the Rubik's Cube, or at least a cheap version that I got at a Dollar Store where I live. I have played with these things since I was a kid, whenever I could. Until this year, the furthest I had ever gotten was to get one side all the same colour. This year, though, I decided to solve it, just to see if I could. No doubt, I was inspired by Will Smith's performance in "The Pursuit of Happyness."I know there are myriad web sites out there that will tell you exactly how to solve the cube, and in many fewer moves than this method requires. I'm not writing this down because it's a good guide. I'm writing it down as proof that I actually figured out the rubik's cube on my own. Feel free to try this method, and let me know if it works for you too.Phase One: The Top LevelI don't really know exactly how I do this. It wasn't complex enough for me to bother writing down. Basically, just pick a colour that is going to be the "top" of your cube. Then, find the four "edge" pieces of the same colour, and bring them into position one at a time. Remember to compare the second colour on those edge pieces to the middle colours on the four "sides" of your cube, to make sure you have the edge pieces in the right order. Then, find the four corners you need, and get 'em in there. Again, make sure that you match all three colours on the corner, and if you get the right three colours in the right position, but they're pointing in the wrong direction, just take it out and put something else in there, and fix it.You should now have a rubik's cube with the top a solid colour, the first layer from the top all the same colour, and matching the centre squares of the four sides.Phase Two: Second-level edgesHere, I devised an algorythm. Let me give you the notation:F - front of the cube, held toward you.B - back of the cube, facing away from you.R - right of the cube, facing to the right.L - left of the cube, facing to the left.T - Top of the cube, facing up.X - bottom of the cube, facing down.Each move indicates which of those six pivots you turn, and which side is being turned where. For example: F, T to R indicates that you rotate the front of the cube clockwise, so that the Top of the front becomes the Right of the front. Got it?OK, Here's what I call the "Right Jig":R, T to FX, F to L (2 times for "double")R, F to TX, L to F (2 times for "double")F, T to RX, F to RF, R to TThe same thing, but done on the other side of the cube, is the "Left Jig":L, T to FX, F to R (2 times for "double")L, F to TX, R to F (2 times for "double")F, T to LX, F to LF, L to TWhere it says "2 times for "double"" you need to do those moves twice in order to execute a right double jig or left double jig. But you won't need those 'till later.So, to get an edge piece in the right position in the second layer, follow these steps:

1. Pick which edge you're trying to fill, and find the piece you want.
2. If the piece you want is in the second layer already, turn the cube so that the piece you want is on the right of the side facing you, and do a right jig.
3. The piece you want will now be on the bottom layer. Turn the bottom layer until the piece you want matches one of the middle colours of the four sides of the cube, and hold that side facing you.
4. If you want the piece to go in the edge to the right of that side, do a B, F to L, followed by a right jig.
5. If you want the piece to go in the edge to the left of that side, do a B, F, to R, followed by a left jig.
6. Repeat for all four middle-layer edges.

You should now have a rubik's cube with the top colour and the first two layers finished.Phase Three: The Bottom Edges - PositionThe next step is to make sure that the four edges on the bottom of the cube are in the right position, without concern for whether or not the colours are pointing in the right direction.To do so, follow these steps:

1. Spin the bottom until one of the edge pieces is matched up with the correct side. It doesn't matter whether the bottom colour is on the bottom or the side, you're only concerned that the four bottom edges appear in the right order.
2. Check to see how many of the other edge pieces are also in the right position.
3. If all of them, you're done. Move on to Phase Four.
4. Otherwise, turn the cube so that the matched edge is facing you. Do a right jig, then turn the cube so that the right side is facing you, and do a left jig. Now turn the bottom to match up the same colour that you matched above, and go to step 2.

You may have to go through that process as many as three times, but you will have two layers complete, and the four bottom edges will be in the right order, if not facing the right directions.Phase Four: The Bottom Edges - DirectionIn this phase, you will make the four bottom edges change direction so that the bottom colour is on the bottom side of the cube. Follow these steps:

1. Spin the cube so that the bottom edge pieces match up with the sides.
2. See how many of the bottom edge pieces are facing the right direction (the bottom colour is on the bottom, not on the side).
3. If all four, you're done. Move on to phase five.
4. If two, and they are next to each other, turn the cube so that the edges that are facing the right direction are on the front and the right of the bottom layer.
5. Otherwise, pick any side of the cube to face you.
6. Then, do a right double jig. Turn the cube so that the right side is facing you. Then do a left jig.
7. Go to step 1.

You should now have a cube with the top two layers, and the bottom "cross" completed.Phase Five: The Bottom Corners - PositionAgain, we're not concerned that the corners are pointed in the right direction, we just care that they are in the right location relative to the bottom edges. Follow these steps:

1. Turn the bottom of the cube so that the bottom edges line up with the side colours.
2. Determine how many of the bottom corners are in the right location.
3. If only one, turn the cube so that the bottom corner in the right location is on the bottom left of the side facing you.
4. If two, turn the cube so that one of those two is on the bottom left of the side facing you.
5. Otherwise, choose any side to face you.
6. To a right double jig. Turn the cube so that the side on the right is facing you. Do a left jig. Then turn the cube so that the side on the left is facing you.
7. Repeat step 6 3 more times.
8. Go to step 1.

You will now have a cube with two finished layers, with the bottom cross completed, and with the bottom four corners all in the right locations.Phase Six: The Bottom Corners - DirectionFollow these steps:

1. Turn the bottom of the cube so that the edges line up with the side colours.
2. Determine how many of the corners are pointing in the right direction.
3. If all of them, you're done!
4. If one, turn the cube so that it is on the bottom left of the side facing you.
5. If two, turn the cube so that one of the two is on the bottom left of the side facing you.
6. Otherwise, pick a side to face you.
7. Perform four right jigs.
8. Go to step 1.

That's it. If you should have a completed rubik's cube.Good cubing. If you try this method, and it works for you, let me know.