void setup() {
for (int thisPin = 2; thisPin < 10; thisPin++) {
  pinMode(thisPin, OUTPUT);
  }

Serial.begin(9600);
Serial.println("Serial Initialized.");
}


void loop() {
 //test(100);
delay(2000);
String message = "Flash!   Message. ";
flashMsg(message);

}

void test(int speed) {

for (int i = 2; i <10; i++){
  delay(speed);
  digitalWrite(i, HIGH);
  delay(speed);
  digitalWrite(i, LOW);
  }
}

void clearSlate() {

for (int i = 2; i <10; i++){
  digitalWrite(i, LOW);
  }
}
void flashMsg(String msg) {
 Serial.println("Message to print = " + msg);
 
 //Display the binary values
 
 
 //char firstChar = x[0];
 //Serial.print("Now displaying binary value ");
 //Serial.print(firstChar, BIN);
 //Serial.println();
  
  //Loop to peel off next character
  
  
  for (int a = 0; a <= msg.length(); a++){
    ///Serial.print("Peeloff loop iteration " );
    //Serial.print(a);
    //Serial.println();
    char nextChar = msg[a];
    Serial.print("Now Printing: " );
    Serial.print(nextChar);
    Serial.print(" as ");
    Serial.print(nextChar, BIN);
    Serial.println();
    //Loop to display that character on the lights
    for (int i = 0; i <= 6; i++) {
      //Serial.print("Light loop iteration " );
      //Serial.print(i);
      //Serial.println();
      
      int thisBit = bitRead(nextChar, i);
      
      //Serial.print("Checking " );
      //Serial.print(thisBit);
      //Serial.println();
      if (thisBit == 1){
        //Serial.println("Yes, it's a 1!");
        digitalWrite(i+2, HIGH);
      }
    }
    //Serial.println("Done with that character, delay until next...");
    delay(300);
    clearSlate();
    
    
    }
  }