Chemo brain

Radio National (Australia) has a show called "All in the MInd", looking
mostly at psychology and neuroscience. Today's show is called:

Our Neurotoxic World (Part One): Chemotherapy and the brain

Your brain is a resilient organ, but vulnerable to nasty environmental
insults too. This week, in the first of two shows navigating our neurotoxic
world: it's been dubbed 'Chemofog' and 'Chemobrain' by cancer survivors:
short-term memory loss, foggy thoughts, fatigue - lingering sometimes years
after chemotherapy. Could chemo be doing more than killing off cancer
cells? New research suggests it may be more toxic to your nerve cells than
cancer itself. Natasha Mitchell investigates.

The transcript is already available at:

http://www.abc.net.au/rn/allinthemin...07/1841207.htm

The MP3 should be available later today (Saturday).

john wrote:

> Radio National (Australia) has a show called "All in the MInd", looking
> mostly at psychology and neuroscience. Today's show is called:
>
> Our Neurotoxic World (Part One): Chemotherapy and the brain
>
> Your brain is a resilient organ, but vulnerable to nasty environmental
> insults too. This week, in the first of two shows navigating our neurotoxic
> world: it's been dubbed 'Chemofog' and 'Chemobrain' by cancer survivors:
> short-term memory loss, foggy thoughts, fatigue - lingering sometimes years
> after chemotherapy. Could chemo be doing more than killing off cancer
> cells? New research suggests it may be more toxic to your nerve cells than
> cancer itself. Natasha Mitchell investigates.
>
> The transcript is already available at:
>
> http://www.abc.net.au/rn/allinthemin...07/1841207.htm
>
> The MP3 should be available later today (Saturday).

Thanks John.
I just read some other archived programs.
And that's a well designed web page !
J

J wrote in alt.support.cancer:

> Thanks John.
> I just read some other archived programs.
> And that's a well designed web page !
> J

Anecdotal: I seem to be OK with getting my brain started when needed with
crossword clues and sudoku puzzles etc. But I find my down time is very
down, I don't mean depressed, but I know what they mean when they say
"fog". I can sit for hours staring into space or not doing very much, a
lot more than I used to before I started chemo. But when I need to kick
into gear I can. If I had to guess I would say that is because the chemo
makes you tired, your brain parks itself in neutral when it's not needed.
The brain uses more energy than most parts of your body and I would
suggest it's an energy conservation thing.

Yeah I don't know what I'd do without radio national. It's an oasis amid
a sea of media drivel. There are some good shows. A good one I heard was
the Health Report on the subject of palliative care. The transcript is
here:

http://www.abc.net.au/rn/healthrepor...06/1745458.htm

Although I'm not sure it would translate as well into written word. The
MP3 was very powerful. Unfortunately they only keep their podcasts for 4
weeks. I have a copy of the MP3 but it's 13mb. If you want a copy let me
know.

--
Save the earth. It's the only planet with chocolate and Starbucks!!
BetsyB

"john" <not@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:z8Ozh.6366$sd2.5353@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
>J wrote in alt.support.cancer:
>
>> Thanks John.
>> I just read some other archived programs.
>> And that's a well designed web page !
>> J
>
> Anecdotal: I seem to be OK with getting my brain started when needed with
> crossword clues and sudoku puzzles etc. But I find my down time is very
> down, I don't mean depressed, but I know what they mean when they say
> "fog". I can sit for hours staring into space or not doing very much, a
> lot more than I used to before I started chemo. But when I need to kick
> into gear I can. If I had to guess I would say that is because the chemo
> makes you tired, your brain parks itself in neutral when it's not needed.
> The brain uses more energy than most parts of your body and I would
> suggest it's an energy conservation thing.
>
> Yeah I don't know what I'd do without radio national. It's an oasis amid
> a sea of media drivel. There are some good shows. A good one I heard was
> the Health Report on the subject of palliative care. The transcript is
> here:
>
> http://www.abc.net.au/rn/healthrepor...06/1745458.htm
>
> Although I'm not sure it would translate as well into written word. The
> MP3 was very powerful. Unfortunately they only keep their podcasts for 4
> weeks. I have a copy of the MP3 but it's 13mb. If you want a copy let me
> know.
>
Jphn I have an online Scrabble Game and I find it keeps me less foggy than I
was after the Chemo. You might also enjoy it. Just for variety. I also have
the sudoku puzzles but cannot figure how it should be played. Bet if I read
the darn instructions I printed it might be clearer.

Betsy

betsyb wrote in alt.support.cancer:

> Jphn I have an online Scrabble Game and I find it keeps me less foggy
> than I was after the Chemo. You might also enjoy it. Just for variety.
> I also have the sudoku puzzles but cannot figure how it should be
> played. Bet if I read the darn instructions I printed it might be
> clearer.
>
> Betsy
>

Yeah I play Scrabble online and there are also a number of clubs in my
area, I can play Wednesday all day, Thursday night, or Friday afternoon.
I used to play in tournaments but I find I can't play 7 games in a day. 4
is about my limit since the chemo started. My standard hasn't dropped but
my ability to concentrate for long periods has.

--
Save the earth. It's the only planet with chocolate and Starbucks!!
BetsyB

"john" <not@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:nqSzh.6535$sd2.6184@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
> betsyb wrote in alt.support.cancer:
>
>> Jphn I have an online Scrabble Game and I find it keeps me less foggy
>> than I was after the Chemo. You might also enjoy it. Just for variety.
>> I also have the sudoku puzzles but cannot figure how it should be
>> played. Bet if I read the darn instructions I printed it might be
>> clearer.
>>
>> Betsy
>>
>
> Yeah I play Scrabble online and there are also a number of clubs in my
> area, I can play Wednesday all day, Thursday night, or Friday afternoon.
> I used to play in tournaments but I find I can't play 7 games in a day. 4
> is about my limit since the chemo started. My standard hasn't dropped but
> my ability to concentrate for long periods has.

I agree and it has been nearly a year since I finished chemo. I can do more
than 4 but switch around to avoid boredom.
Have only broken 1000 twice.

On Feb 11, 7:47 pm, "betsyb" <betsy...@TRASHoptonline.net> wrote:
> --
> Save the earth. It's the only planet with chocolate and Starbucks!!
> BetsyB
>
> "john" <n...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>
> news:z8Ozh.6366$sd2.5353@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
>
> >J wrote in alt.support.cancer:
>
> >> Thanks John.
> >> I just read some other archived programs.
> >> And that's a well designed web page !
> >> J
>
> > Anecdotal: I seem to be OK with getting my brain started when needed with
> > crossword clues and sudoku puzzles etc. But I find my down time is very
> > down, I don't mean depressed, but I know what they mean when they say
> > "fog". I can sit for hours staring into space or not doing very much, a
> > lot more than I used to before I started chemo. But when I need to kick
> > into gear I can. If I had to guess I would say that is because the chemo
> > makes you tired, your brain parks itself in neutral when it's not needed.
> > The brain uses more energy than most parts of your body and I would
> > suggest it's an energy conservation thing.
>
> > Yeah I don't know what I'd do without radio national. It's an oasis amid
> > a sea of media drivel. There are some good shows. A good one I heard was
> > the Health Report on the subject of palliative care. The transcript is
> > here:
>
> >http://www.abc.net.au/rn/healthrepor...06/1745458.htm
>
> > Although I'm not sure it would translate as well into written word. The
> > MP3 was very powerful. Unfortunately they only keep their podcasts for 4
> > weeks. I have a copy of the MP3 but it's 13mb. If you want a copy let me
> > know.
>
> Jphn I have an online Scrabble Game and I find it keeps me less foggy than I
> was after the Chemo. You might also enjoy it. Just for variety. I also have
> the sudoku puzzles but cannot figure how it should be played. Bet if I read
> the darn instructions I printed it might be clearer.

Here's my attempt at Sudoku instructions:
The game is a 9 x 9 grid of cells, which is subdivided into three 3 x
3 "boxes". You fill the cells with one symbol in each cell, those
symbols usually being the digits "1" through "9", but they could as
easily be "a" through "i" or any other set of 9. The object is to
fill all cells without having the same symbol more than once in any
row, column, or box. This also means that every symbol will be used
exactly once in every row, column, and box. The solution involves
noting where a symbol is allowed to go, and what symbols are allowed
in any particular cell. For instance, if the top left box has a "3"
in the middle row, and the top middle box has a "3" in the bottom row,
that means the "3" in the top right box must be in the top row. If
only one of the three boxes there hasn't yet been filled in, that must
be the one for the "3". Also, if a particular cell is in the same row
with cells with "1", "2", "5", and "9", and in the same column with
cells with "3" and "7", and in the same box with "6" asnd "8", that
means the only value allowed in that cell is "4". Does that make
sense? The whole thing is a logic puzzle, with no arithmetic. You
never have to add, subtract, etc. the values in the cells, which is
why I point out that the symbols don't have to be digits. I think
that throw some people off, making them think it's somehow about
arithmetic.

FWIW, I spent my time in chemo doing Sudoku & crossword puzzles,
talking to other patients/supporters/nurses, and toward the end,
sleeping a lot. Sudoku and crosswords are supposed to be the best
ways to keep your brain working.

---
CSM

--
Save the earth. It's the only planet with chocolate and Starbucks!!
BetsyB

<csm7532@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1171293083.063656.185770@q2g2000cwa.googlegro ups.com...
> On Feb 11, 7:47 pm, "betsyb" <betsy...@TRASHoptonline.net> wrote:
>> --
>> Save the earth. It's the only planet with chocolate and Starbucks!!
>> BetsyB
>>
>> "john" <n...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>>
>> news:z8Ozh.6366$sd2.5353@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
>>
>> >J wrote in alt.support.cancer:
>>
>> >> Thanks John.
>> >> I just read some other archived programs.
>> >> And that's a well designed web page !
>> >> J
>>
>> > Anecdotal: I seem to be OK with getting my brain started when needed
>> > with
>> > crossword clues and sudoku puzzles etc. But I find my down time is very
>> > down, I don't mean depressed, but I know what they mean when they say
>> > "fog". I can sit for hours staring into space or not doing very much, a
>> > lot more than I used to before I started chemo. But when I need to kick
>> > into gear I can. If I had to guess I would say that is because the
>> > chemo
>> > makes you tired, your brain parks itself in neutral when it's not
>> > needed.
>> > The brain uses more energy than most parts of your body and I would
>> > suggest it's an energy conservation thing.
>>
>> > Yeah I don't know what I'd do without radio national. It's an oasis
>> > amid
>> > a sea of media drivel. There are some good shows. A good one I heard
>> > was
>> > the Health Report on the subject of palliative care. The transcript is
>> > here:
>>
>> >http://www.abc.net.au/rn/healthrepor...06/1745458.htm
>>
>> > Although I'm not sure it would translate as well into written word. The
>> > MP3 was very powerful. Unfortunately they only keep their podcasts for
>> > 4
>> > weeks. I have a copy of the MP3 but it's 13mb. If you want a copy let
>> > me
>> > know.
>>
>> Jphn I have an online Scrabble Game and I find it keeps me less foggy
>> than I
>> was after the Chemo. You might also enjoy it. Just for variety. I also
>> have
>> the sudoku puzzles but cannot figure how it should be played. Bet if I
>> read
>> the darn instructions I printed it might be clearer.
>
> Here's my attempt at Sudoku instructions:
> The game is a 9 x 9 grid of cells, which is subdivided into three 3 x
> 3 "boxes". You fill the cells with one symbol in each cell, those
> symbols usually being the digits "1" through "9", but they could as
> easily be "a" through "i" or any other set of 9. The object is to
> fill all cells without having the same symbol more than once in any
> row, column, or box. This also means that every symbol will be used
> exactly once in every row, column, and box. The solution involves
> noting where a symbol is allowed to go, and what symbols are allowed
> in any particular cell. For instance, if the top left box has a "3"
> in the middle row, and the top middle box has a "3" in the bottom row,
> that means the "3" in the top right box must be in the top row. If
> only one of the three boxes there hasn't yet been filled in, that must
> be the one for the "3". Also, if a particular cell is in the same row
> with cells with "1", "2", "5", and "9", and in the same column with
> cells with "3" and "7", and in the same box with "6" asnd "8", that
> means the only value allowed in that cell is "4". Does that make
> sense? The whole thing is a logic puzzle, with no arithmetic. You
> never have to add, subtract, etc. the values in the cells, which is
> why I point out that the symbols don't have to be digits. I think
> that throw some people off, making them think it's somehow about
> arithmetic.
Let's see, analytic geometry was simpler? And I have never found a need for
that either? I think I best get the game on the screen then read thru your
notes. Thanks

Betsy

>
> FWIW, I spent my time in chemo doing Sudoku & crossword puzzles,
> talking to other patients/supporters/nurses, and toward the end,
> sleeping a lot. Sudoku and crosswords are supposed to be the best
> ways to keep your brain working.
>
> ---
> CSM
>

On Feb 12, 8:46 am, "betsyb" <betsy...@TRASHoptonline.net> wrote:
> --
> Save the earth. It's the only planet with chocolate and Starbucks!!
> BetsyB
>
> <csm7...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>
> news:1171293083.063656.185770@q2g2000cwa.googlegro ups.com...
>
> > On Feb 11, 7:47 pm, "betsyb" <betsy...@TRASHoptonline.net> wrote:
> >> --
> >> Save the earth. It's the only planet with chocolate and Starbucks!!
> >> BetsyB
>
> >> "john" <n...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>
> >>news:z8Ozh.6366$sd2.5353@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
>
> >> >J wrote in alt.support.cancer:
>
> >> >> Thanks John.
> >> >> I just read some other archived programs.
> >> >> And that's a well designed web page !
> >> >> J
>
> >> > Anecdotal: I seem to be OK with getting my brain started when needed
> >> > with
> >> > crossword clues and sudoku puzzles etc. But I find my down time is very
> >> > down, I don't mean depressed, but I know what they mean when they say
> >> > "fog". I can sit for hours staring into space or not doing very much, a
> >> > lot more than I used to before I started chemo. But when I need to kick
> >> > into gear I can. If I had to guess I would say that is because the
> >> > chemo
> >> > makes you tired, your brain parks itself in neutral when it's not
> >> > needed.
> >> > The brain uses more energy than most parts of your body and I would
> >> > suggest it's an energy conservation thing.
>
> >> > Yeah I don't know what I'd do without radio national. It's an oasis
> >> > amid
> >> > a sea of media drivel. There are some good shows. A good one I heard
> >> > was
> >> > the Health Report on the subject of palliative care. The transcript is
> >> > here:
>
> >> >http://www.abc.net.au/rn/healthrepor...06/1745458.htm
>
> >> > Although I'm not sure it would translate as well into written word. The
> >> > MP3 was very powerful. Unfortunately they only keep their podcasts for
> >> > 4
> >> > weeks. I have a copy of the MP3 but it's 13mb. If you want a copy let
> >> > me
> >> > know.
>
> >> Jphn I have an online Scrabble Game and I find it keeps me less foggy
> >> than I
> >> was after the Chemo. You might also enjoy it. Just for variety. I also
> >> have
> >> the sudoku puzzles but cannot figure how it should be played. Bet if I
> >> read
> >> the darn instructions I printed it might be clearer.
>
> > Here's my attempt at Sudoku instructions:
> > The game is a 9 x 9 grid of cells, which is subdivided into three 3 x
> > 3 "boxes". You fill the cells with one symbol in each cell, those
> > symbols usually being the digits "1" through "9", but they could as
> > easily be "a" through "i" or any other set of 9. The object is to
> > fill all cells without having the same symbol more than once in any
> > row, column, or box. This also means that every symbol will be used
> > exactly once in every row, column, and box. The solution involves
> > noting where a symbol is allowed to go, and what symbols are allowed
> > in any particular cell. For instance, if the top left box has a "3"
> > in the middle row, and the top middle box has a "3" in the bottom row,
> > that means the "3" in the top right box must be in the top row. If
> > only one of the three boxes there hasn't yet been filled in, that must
> > be the one for the "3". Also, if a particular cell is in the same row
> > with cells with "1", "2", "5", and "9", and in the same column with
> > cells with "3" and "7", and in the same box with "6" asnd "8", that
> > means the only value allowed in that cell is "4". Does that make
> > sense? The whole thing is a logic puzzle, with no arithmetic. You
> > never have to add, subtract, etc. the values in the cells, which is
> > why I point out that the symbols don't have to be digits. I think
> > that throw some people off, making them think it's somehow about
> > arithmetic.
>
> Let's see, analytic geometry was simpler?

I don't know. I took analyt in junior high school, which has been a
while.

> And I have never found a need for
> that either?

That's probably a large part of why I can't recall it---like most
school stuff, I never used it. Or if I did, I forgot what it was
called. They say memory is the second thing to go.

> I think I best get the game on the screen then read thru your
> notes. Thanks

Once you get started with it, you'll likely find that most puzzles can
be readily solved with a set of mechanistic rules. Our paper has one
each day, rated 1 to 6 stars. Usually, I can solve up to the "3"s
without even making any little notes. For fours and fives, I usually
end up noting on some cells what values are allowed, and looking for
the patterns. For sixes, I usually have to do a "what-if" to solve
them. Start with the easiest ones, see what patterns and rules you
can find, and then try more difficult ones. Have fun!

---
CSM

wrote in alt.support.cancer:

> Once you get started with it, you'll likely find that most puzzles can
> be readily solved with a set of mechanistic rules. Our paper has one
> each day, rated 1 to 6 stars. Usually, I can solve up to the "3"s
> without even making any little notes. For fours and fives, I usually
> end up noting on some cells what values are allowed, and looking for
> the patterns. For sixes, I usually have to do a "what-if" to solve
> them. Start with the easiest ones, see what patterns and rules you
> can find, and then try more difficult ones. Have fun!
>

Once you've done a few they get easier.

I've put a free sudoku game on my website for you to download. You can do
9x9, 12x12, 16x16, 25x25 or any combination you like. It also has many
different difficulty settings. I am now doing 25x25, find them more of a
challenge.

If you need help let me know. It's a very simple program. Everything is
in the "Type" menu. I use the custom settings and make up some fairly
difficult puzzles for myself.

http://users.bigpond.net.au/ftr/sudoku.exe (69kb)

There is also a pdf on how to solve them that I got from another website:

http://users.bigpond.net.au/ftr/solving.pdf (99kb)

--
Save the earth. It's the only planet with chocolate and Starbucks!!
BetsyB

"john" <not@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:PF5Ah.39$4c6.36@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
> wrote in alt.support.cancer:
>
>> Once you get started with it, you'll likely find that most puzzles can
>> be readily solved with a set of mechanistic rules. Our paper has one
>> each day, rated 1 to 6 stars. Usually, I can solve up to the "3"s
>> without even making any little notes. For fours and fives, I usually
>> end up noting on some cells what values are allowed, and looking for
>> the patterns. For sixes, I usually have to do a "what-if" to solve
>> them. Start with the easiest ones, see what patterns and rules you
>> can find, and then try more difficult ones. Have fun!
>>
>
> Once you've done a few they get easier.
>
> I've put a free sudoku game on my website for you to download. You can do
> 9x9, 12x12, 16x16, 25x25 or any combination you like. It also has many
> different difficulty settings. I am now doing 25x25, find them more of a
> challenge.
>
> If you need help let me know. It's a very simple program. Everything is
> in the "Type" menu. I use the custom settings and make up some fairly
> difficult puzzles for myself.
>
> http://users.bigpond.net.au/ftr/sudoku.exe (69kb)
>
> There is also a pdf on how to solve them that I got from another website:
>
> http://users.bigpond.net.au/ftr/solving.pdf (99kb)

Thanks John but I have the game on my computer. I just haven't gotten around
to teaching myself how to play it.

On Feb 11, 7:47 pm, "betsyb" <betsy...@TRASHoptonline.net> wrote:
> --
> Save the earth. It's the only planet with chocolate and Starbucks!!
> BetsyB
>
> "john" <n...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>
> news:z8Ozh.6366$sd2.5353@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
>
>
>
> >J wrote in alt.support.cancer:
>
> >> Thanks John.
> >> I just read some other archived programs.
> >> And that's a well designed web page !
> >> J
>
> > Anecdotal: I seem to be OK with getting my brain started when needed with
> > crossword clues and sudoku puzzles etc. But I find my down time is very
> > down, I don't mean depressed, but I know what they mean when they say
> > "fog". I can sit for hours staring into space or not doing very much, a
> > lot more than I used to before I started chemo. But when I need to kick
> > into gear I can. If I had to guess I would say that is because the chemo
> > makes you tired, your brain parks itself in neutral when it's not needed.
> > The brain uses more energy than most parts of your body and I would
> > suggest it's an energy conservation thing.
>
> > Yeah I don't know what I'd do without radio national. It's an oasis amid
> > a sea of media drivel. There are some good shows. A good one I heard was
> > the Health Report on the subject of palliative care. The transcript is
> > here:
>
> >http://www.abc.net.au/rn/healthrepor...06/1745458.htm
>
> > Although I'm not sure it would translate as well into written word. The
> > MP3 was very powerful. Unfortunately they only keep their podcasts for 4
> > weeks. I have a copy of the MP3 but it's 13mb. If you want a copy let me
> > know.
>
> Jphn I have an online Scrabble Game and I find it keeps me less foggy than I
> was after the Chemo. You might also enjoy it. Just for variety. I also have
> the sudoku puzzles but cannot figure how it should be played. Bet if I read
> the darn instructions I printed it might be clearer.
>
> Betsy- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Betsy,
I was home sick for a few days & decided to try Sudoku. I found a
website for a free 28 day trial & went to work. I only found a couple
of techniques; it's not one of those things where you continue
learning new things to try. The 2nd one I solved was rated 'very
hard' which took longer than the 'easy' one I did first, but it used
the same skill set & I solved it perfectly. I would describe the
process as tedious. I quickly became bored & killed the program. I
can see using it to focus concentration, but it can sure gobble the
time. I prefer more of a challenge, something where you continue to
make new discoveries.
Fig

On Feb 11, 7:47 pm, "betsyb" <betsy...@TRASHoptonline.net> wrote:
> --
> Save the earth. It's the only planet with chocolate and Starbucks!!
> BetsyB
>
> "john" <n...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>
> news:z8Ozh.6366$sd2.5353@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
>
>
>
> >J wrote in alt.support.cancer:
>
> >> Thanks John.
> >> I just read some other archived programs.
> >> And that's a well designed web page !
> >> J
>
> > Anecdotal: I seem to be OK with getting my brain started when needed with
> > crossword clues and sudoku puzzles etc. But I find my down time is very
> > down, I don't mean depressed, but I know what they mean when they say
> > "fog". I can sit for hours staring into space or not doing very much, a
> > lot more than I used to before I started chemo. But when I need to kick
> > into gear I can. If I had to guess I would say that is because the chemo
> > makes you tired, your brain parks itself in neutral when it's not needed.
> > The brain uses more energy than most parts of your body and I would
> > suggest it's an energy conservation thing.
>
> > Yeah I don't know what I'd do without radio national. It's an oasis amid
> > a sea of media drivel. There are some good shows. A good one I heard was
> > the Health Report on the subject of palliative care. The transcript is
> > here:
>
> >http://www.abc.net.au/rn/healthrepor...06/1745458.htm
>
> > Although I'm not sure it would translate as well into written word. The
> > MP3 was very powerful. Unfortunately they only keep their podcasts for 4
> > weeks. I have a copy of the MP3 but it's 13mb. If you want a copy let me
> > know.
>
> Jphn I have an online Scrabble Game and I find it keeps me less foggy than I
> was after the Chemo. You might also enjoy it. Just for variety. I also have
> the sudoku puzzles but cannot figure how it should be played. Bet if I read
> the darn instructions I printed it might be clearer.
>
> Betsy- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Betsy,
Is the scrabble game free on the net? I bet I'd like that one. Would
appreciat a link if so.
Fig

--
Save the earth. It's the only planet with chocolate and Starbucks!!
BetsyB

"Figgertoes" <figtoes@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1171327840.098544.74920@q2g2000cwa.googlegrou ps.com...
> On Feb 11, 7:47 pm, "betsyb" <betsy...@TRASHoptonline.net> wrote:
>> --
>> Save the earth. It's the only planet with chocolate and Starbucks!!
>> BetsyB
>>
>> "john" <n...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>>
>> news:z8Ozh.6366$sd2.5353@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
>>
>>
>>
>> >J wrote in alt.support.cancer:
>>
>> >> Thanks John.
>> >> I just read some other archived programs.
>> >> And that's a well designed web page !
>> >> J
>>
>> > Anecdotal: I seem to be OK with getting my brain started when needed
>> > with
>> > crossword clues and sudoku puzzles etc. But I find my down time is very
>> > down, I don't mean depressed, but I know what they mean when they say
>> > "fog". I can sit for hours staring into space or not doing very much, a
>> > lot more than I used to before I started chemo. But when I need to kick
>> > into gear I can. If I had to guess I would say that is because the
>> > chemo
>> > makes you tired, your brain parks itself in neutral when it's not
>> > needed.
>> > The brain uses more energy than most parts of your body and I would
>> > suggest it's an energy conservation thing.
>>
>> > Yeah I don't know what I'd do without radio national. It's an oasis
>> > amid
>> > a sea of media drivel. There are some good shows. A good one I heard
>> > was
>> > the Health Report on the subject of palliative care. The transcript is
>> > here:
>>
>> >http://www.abc.net.au/rn/healthrepor...06/1745458.htm
>>
>> > Although I'm not sure it would translate as well into written word. The
>> > MP3 was very powerful. Unfortunately they only keep their podcasts for
>> > 4
>> > weeks. I have a copy of the MP3 but it's 13mb. If you want a copy let
>> > me
>> > know.
>>
>> Jphn I have an online Scrabble Game and I find it keeps me less foggy
>> than I
>> was after the Chemo. You might also enjoy it. Just for variety. I also
>> have
>> the sudoku puzzles but cannot figure how it should be played. Bet if I
>> read
>> the darn instructions I printed it might be clearer.
>>
>> Betsy- Hide quoted text -
>>
>> - Show quoted text -
>
> Betsy,
> Is the scrabble game free on the net? I bet I'd like that one. Would
> appreciat a link if so.
> Fig
>

Not free, I think I paid 20 dollars or so but you get several additional
installations with it. I have had it more than 6 years and many computer
crashes, some were even my fault.

On Feb 12, 3:15 pm, john <n...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> wrote in alt.support.cancer:
>
> > Once you get started with it, you'll likely find that most puzzles can
> > be readily solved with a set of mechanistic rules. Our paper has one
> > each day, rated 1 to 6 stars. Usually, I can solve up to the "3"s
> > without even making any little notes. For fours and fives, I usually
> > end up noting on some cells what values are allowed, and looking for
> > the patterns. For sixes, I usually have to do a "what-if" to solve
> > them. Start with the easiest ones, see what patterns and rules you
> > can find, and then try more difficult ones. Have fun!
>
> Once you've done a few they get easier.
>
> I've put a free sudoku game on my website for you to download. You can do
> 9x9, 12x12, 16x16, 25x25 or any combination you like. It also has many
> different difficulty settings. I am now doing 25x25, find them more of a
> challenge.
>
> If you need help let me know. It's a very simple program. Everything is
> in the "Type" menu. I use the custom settings and make up some fairly
> difficult puzzles for myself.
>
> http://users.bigpond.net.au/ftr/sudoku.exe (69kb)
>
> There is also a pdf on how to solve them that I got from another website:
>
> http://users.bigpond.net.au/ftr/solving.pdf (99kb)

With no implications about John, I strongly recommend doing a virus
scan before using *any* executable (ends in .exe for Windows) you get
from someone on the 'Net. There are a lot of Sudoku programs out
there, but John's sounds more flexible than most. As a s/w developer,
I built a program to help solve Sudoku, by tracking the "clerical"
tasks. It keeps track of what values have already been used for each
row, column, and box, and clears those values from the available
choices. It does a few other things, but the point was more to write
a program modelling Sudoku than anything else. Solving them, as Fig
points out, can get to be little more than tedium, although still a
great way to spend chemo time, and keep your brain working. Once you
start modelling and formalizing the puzzle, you start to think of
other aspects, like the various transforms you can perform on a grid
without affecting the information. I posted about that in another
group, but got little response.

---
CSM

--
Save the earth. It's the only planet with chocolate and Starbucks!!
BetsyB

<csm7532@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1171378582.289876.69150@l53g2000cwa.googlegro ups.com...
> On Feb 12, 3:15 pm, john <n...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>> wrote in alt.support.cancer:
>>
>> > Once you get started with it, you'll likely find that most puzzles can
>> > be readily solved with a set of mechanistic rules. Our paper has one
>> > each day, rated 1 to 6 stars. Usually, I can solve up to the "3"s
>> > without even making any little notes. For fours and fives, I usually
>> > end up noting on some cells what values are allowed, and looking for
>> > the patterns. For sixes, I usually have to do a "what-if" to solve
>> > them. Start with the easiest ones, see what patterns and rules you
>> > can find, and then try more difficult ones. Have fun!
>>
>> Once you've done a few they get easier.
>>
>> I've put a free sudoku game on my website for you to download. You can do
>> 9x9, 12x12, 16x16, 25x25 or any combination you like. It also has many
>> different difficulty settings. I am now doing 25x25, find them more of a
>> challenge.
>>
>> If you need help let me know. It's a very simple program. Everything is
>> in the "Type" menu. I use the custom settings and make up some fairly
>> difficult puzzles for myself.
>>
>> http://users.bigpond.net.au/ftr/sudoku.exe (69kb)
>>
>> There is also a pdf on how to solve them that I got from another website:
>>
>> http://users.bigpond.net.au/ftr/solving.pdf (99kb)
>
> With no implications about John, I strongly recommend doing a virus
> scan before using *any* executable (ends in .exe for Windows) you get
> from someone on the 'Net. There are a lot of Sudoku programs out
> there, but John's sounds more flexible than most. As a s/w developer,
> I built a program to help solve Sudoku, by tracking the "clerical"
> tasks. It keeps track of what values have already been used for each
> row, column, and box, and clears those values from the available
> choices. It does a few other things, but the point was more to write
> a program modelling Sudoku than anything else. Solving them, as Fig
> points out, can get to be little more than tedium, although still a
> great way to spend chemo time, and keep your brain working. Once you
> start modelling and formalizing the puzzle, you start to think of
> other aspects, like the various transforms you can perform on a grid
> without affecting the information. I posted about that in another
> group, but got little response.
>
> ---
> CSM
>

Thanks for the well mean tips. I have a nerd who works for our Senate who
guides my every move. He is their IT Guy. Why was I in school more than he
was?