i think i left the soldering tip on the chip too long, and it got too hot and now the display is flashing really bad.

i went back and looked at your pictures, and i figured out i'm using a lot smaller led's than you did, so i might have burnt them out from not using a big enough resistor. at least now i have something to practice on and get right before i go to do the one i now have to buy. i have one of the 4-pin ones i'll mess with today