My final scoring solve.

If I were feeling clever I would say something about this solve, or spin some wire with original characters. Instead I'll leave that to the commentators; I must admit that part of what I like about the tournament is people discussing my work, even a little. Maybe we're all a little narcissistic in that way? Between the 2024 Weeklies and the 2025 Tournament, I joined a puzzle game weekly tournament, and one of my favorite parts is my gameplay being on-stream, commentated. Maybe it's just me after all...

Instead, I will very briefly discuss my stance on the final weekly puzzle: it, like all computation puzzles, is beyond me. Maybe if I were to put in the time and effort, I could figure out how to make such concepts work. My second solve was technically computation, after all, and there are several blog posts and visual examples and recordings all pertaining to computation...however.

To say "ain't nobody got time for that" is clearly false. But I cannot see myself dedicating so much time to Opus Magnum, when I have any number of other things to do, and games to play, and Nintendo hype to manage...

The point being, if I had done any of that research up front, maybe I would have any interest or attention. But I haven't, and I don't. There are limits on knowledge, and there are personal limits, and I have run up against the line I have set for myself.

It was never *really* about the competition, in a real sense. Otherwise there would be more effort. For this reason, I remain walking in the footsteps of those who walk in footsteps.

Compared to last year, that isn't so bad.

See you in the weeklies, on the discord, and in the blogs.

R=54 (trust me but verify)