Eternal Sunshine #132
May
2020
By Douglas Kent - 911
Irene Drive, Mesquite, TX 75149
Email: dougray30@yahoo.com
On Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/270968112943024/ or on the web at http://www.whiningkentpigs.com/DW/. Follow on Twitter at @EternalSunshDip. Also be sure to visit the official Diplomacy
World website which can be found at http://www.diplomacyworld.net.
Sign up for the Eternal Sunshine Mailing List
at https://mailchi.mp/45376bbd05df/eternalsunshine
Check out my eBay store at http://stores.ebay.com/dougsrarebooksandmore
Quote of The Month – “You know, the worst ain't so bad when it finally happens. Not half as
bad as you figure it'll be before it's happened.” (Curtin in “The Treasure of
the Sierra Madre”)
Welcome to Eternal
Sunshine, the only Dipzine published by a world-renowned surly creep.
Despite the pandemic lockdowns, I had to take Toby in to the vet
early in May for his annual shots and the senior bloodwork I have them do once
a year. He’s been in apparent good
health, although I admit he’s been sleeping a little more and doesn’t like to
jump quite as high or as far as he used to.
We all get older, one day at a time, and like weight gain it’s harder to
notice any changes when you’re up close and personal. To be honest, I don’t even know if he sleeps
more than he used to; it’s just that with my working from home for the last six
weeks, I’ve spent all day, every day with Toby and Sanka. Since Toby likes to curl up on the couch next
to me while I’m working, I see him sleeping most of the day. He might have done that all along…or maybe he
used to have a crazy party life in his youth.
He isn’t very forthcoming with those details.
The vet trip itself was a little different, for two reasons. First of all, there’s my vet’s office. Late in 2019 a few destructive tornadoes
moved through Dallas, especially in the neighborhood with I first lived when I
relocated here in 1994. That’s how I
found this vet to begin with: they were in the shopping center down the street
from the house I rented. As it turned
out, they were exceptional veterinarians, and so I’ve continued to use them
despite a few owner changes and staff retirements. They attract a sort of haughty clientele,
high maintenance and demanding. I’ve
always felt they sort of appreciated having me as a client, being as I am much
easier to deal with and still am very attentive to my pets and their
needs. Anyway, those tornadoes hit the
shopping center their offices were in, damaging them to the point that they
need to be completely rebuilt. And that
rebuilding is not complete yet (as it has to be done in conjunction with the
rest of the stores; they were all connected rather than free-standing
structures), so for the time being they’ve been “sharing” space with another
vet further north in Dallas.
While that’s been going on, they’ve sent me a number of emails
updating me on their status. They were
unable to port their old phone number temporarily to the new location, so
updated contact information was the first priority. And then there have been a lot of
short-notice emails warning about how they would be closed for a day due to
electrical issues, or more frequently plumbing problems. It sounded like the vet office they moved to
had plumbing that was woefully unprepared for the additional water usage of a
second clinic. It general it just seemed
like they were getting gut-punched over and over again.
There’s one vet in the clinic that knows Toby and Sanka better
than the others, so I scheduled the appointment on a Sunday morning when she’d
be working. I had the address and knew
the cross streets, but because I hadn’t been to that location before I left
home early enough to allow for a bit of “my sense of direction sucks” search
time. And it’s a good thing I did,
because I drove up and down the block four times before I figured out where
this office was. And once I found it, I
understood better why they’d been having electrical and plumbing problems. I swear, this was the saddest little shopping
center I’ve ever seen. The anchor store
– a Minyard’s grocery – looked like it had been closed for a year. And so did every other store there; they were
all vacant. I finally found the vet’s
office tucked into a corner behind the Minyard’s, next to some kind of salon
which was the only other store in the center that was still in business (although
I’m assuming it’s been closed during the lockdown). Most of the parking lot was torn up too. I couldn’t tell if they were ripping
everything to pieces, or trying to repair things. Either way, there was no signage for the vet,
and no way to see it from the street.
It’s obviously a sad state of affairs.
The other thing which was different was the non-contact
visit. As you’d expect, I normally bring
the cat or cats inside, wait in the waiting room, carry them to the exam room,
and stand there while everything is done.
Not this time. Instead, they have
a new procedure where you wait on your car.
A vet tech comes out and gets the pet while you stay outside. The vet or vet tech calls you to go over
history, complaints, etc. and the receptionist calls to get payment
information. And then they bring your
pet back outside to you when it’s all over.
I’m not a fan; I don’t like having my pet go inside without me there, more
for their sake than mine. But Toby got
through it okay, and now he’s home dealing with Sanka’s post-vet
bitchiness. Whether Sanka accompanies
Toby to the vet or not, when we’re home, if she smells the vet on Toby, she
hisses at him mercilessly. Toby is
clearly unnerved by this treatment, and it always makes me feel sad. He’s such a loving cat, and he doesn’t
understand why someone who supposedly loves him and sometimes runs around the
house with him is instantly aggressive.
Then the next afternoon the vet called to go over Toby’s blood
work. Senior blood work is not
cheap, and every time I do it I start to wonder about pet insurance and whether
it would truly defray the cost. But
anyway, she said there were some things in Toby’s results that had her
concerned. He had an elevated calcium
level, elevated globulin level, and elevated protein level. Her diagnosis is that Toby has early stage GI
leukemia (that’s the most likely culprit, although it could be in a slightly
different part of the body). He has no
outward sings of disease presently: no sores, no loss of hair, no mass in the
abdomen. And he is still acting
normally: no diarrhea, no loss of appetite or anything of that sort. But the outlook is bad.
The biggest concern for me is Toby is 17 ½ years old, effective in
his 90’s. If I wanted to be aggressive
in treating this, first Toby would need to go to a specialist for x-rays and an
ultrasound. Then they’d want to try to
do a biopsy if they located the mass, which could be a skinny needle biopsy
(best case) or require putting him under anesthesia to open him and get a
direct biopsy. And all that
would do is give a better idea of how sick he is, and how long he has
left. At that point it would be time to
consider chemotherapy (which is done orally for cats). While usually felines handle chemo better
than humans, it’s still not an easy experience.
Some of the side effects are similar in nature to the side effects of
the leukemia itself. Best case, Toby would
feel lethargic, eat less, possibly have diarrhea, and who knows what else? Then, if treatment was successful, a typical
result is giving him an extra six months.
It’s possible to put the leukemia into remission for a time, but at his
advanced age he’s just as likely to develop additional problems in the
meantime. When you get that old,
illnesses creep up, and his immune system would be weakened by the treatment.
To me, Toby’s quality of life is the most valuable asset he
has. Hypothetically he may have six
months left if I forego all this aggressive treatment. So, which is better for him: six months of
mostly normal life, or a year of feeling sick or lethargic or just not right? I just can’t justify the vet and specialist
trips (which he hates, and which, as I mentioned, result in Sanka treating him
like an evil stranger), and the less-than-stellar way he’ll feel, to lengthen
his life an extra six months. And that’s
very hard for me to accept, because for all intents and purposes Toby is my
best friend in the world, and has been since the divorce. He’s a very affectionate cat, and highly
intelligent. When I’m home he prefers to
be by my side, or on my lap, as much as possible. In general, he’s lying on or between my legs
when I go to sleep, wake up, or both. In
many ways I would give almost anything to keep Toby around as long as
possible.
But I can’t be selfish when it comes to something this
serious. I have to consider what is best
for Toby. That’s a job I signed on for
when he was first adopted. It’s a
binding contract, sealed with years of love and affection.
For the time being I am going to do nothing. I’ll be keeping a close eye on him,
obviously, and trying not to read too much into his every move or action. And when he does begin to show other symptoms
(most likely the loss of appetite and diarrhea before anything else), I’ll work
out the next treatment options with my vet.
Right now the most likely course of action would be oral steroids, which
often work for a few weeks to a few months…until it stops working. And after that, keep him as comfortable as
possible until I am forced to conclude that he’s feeling ill enough to make his
quality of life undesirable. And
then…I’ll have to say goodbye, which will shatter the heart which is now
already broken.
This morning he’s been very playful, chasing a cat wand around in
the cool air since I have the windows open.
Watching him happy and kitten-like is a wonderful sight, and it reminds
me what a good day feels like. There’s
no easily definable line between sick an too sick, so I’ll just have to do my
best to decide for him that which he cannot decide for himself. It’s a tremendous weight to have on your
shoulders, as any pet lover knows. But I
owe it to Toby.
In “good” news, or I suppose more productive news, my new book has
now been released and is available for purchase on Amazon in Kindle and
paperback format. You should also be
able to order the paperback copy from any book retailer any day now. Bits and pieces of certain chapters have
appeared in these pages over the last ten years, in different formats, so some
of you may be familiar with the subject matter.
It tells the story of my relationship with Mara, who was my High School sweetheart
and my first wife, from the day we met until the very end of the line. More than just the story of the relationship,
it is also the story of her struggles with mental illness and with a number of
physical ailments, and the strain that put on both of us, our marriage, and our
world.
Readers of my first dipzine Maniac’s Paradise may remember
some of the subzines Mara did through the years, among them You’re the One
and Oasis. She had no interest in
Diplomacy, but she loved games in general…and she also drew the ire of many
people who played Kremlin in the zine back then, as she demanded I allow her to
roll the 20-sided die when I adjudicated.
She had a real knack for killing your most prized Politburo member at exactly
the wrong time.
The cover incorporates a portrait which was drawn of Mara as a
child that I still have. Shawn Burkett
of Concept Media (who did the film Trespassing which I reviewed briefly last
issue) helped take that drawing an incorporate it into a usable cover. I should also mention Heath Davis-Gardner and
especially W. Andrew York for their suggestions when it came to edits (plus Mr.
York’s LONG list of typo corrections).
They’re properly thanked in the book a well.
The book can be found here: https://www.amazon.com/Helplessly-Hoping-Douglas-Kent-ebook/dp/B088CQZSD8/
If you read the book, I would be soooooooo appreciative if you
could find the time to put a review on Amazon, Goodreads, and any other book
review website you’re familiar with.
Word-of-mouth is the only real exposure a book like this gets. In general, memoirs are the bane of the publishing
industry, and independent ones written by non-celebrities are the dirt beneath
the dirt. Just as important, if you
discover you do enjoy the book, try to tell a few friends about it. And any sharing of my social media posts (or
writing ones of your own) can only help expose more people to the title.
In zine news, there was no interest in the East Indies opening (I
didn’t exactly expect any), but I have added the promised Woolworth opening
instead. By coincidence, Mark Nelson
requested the rules and maps this issue (I was going to include them
anyway). Brilliant minds think
alike. The latest Diplomacy game has
filled, and a new one is open. See my
Game Openings section for other things I am considering. And remember Andy York has openings in
Gunboat and Breaking Away in his subzine.
That’s about it from me. On
to the zine, and I’ll see you in June!
Game Openings
Diplomacy (Black Press): Signed up: None, needs
seven.
Woolworth II-D (Black Press): Rules and map
found at the end of this issue. Signed up: None, needs
five.
Gunboat (No
Press):
Check out the opening in Any York’s subzine.
Sign up for this opening ONLY through him at wandrew88@gmail.com
By Popular Demand: Ongoing. Join in the fun! You can join at any time.
Where in the World is Kendo Nagasaki?: Turn 1 this
issue. Join in and play NOW!
Also In
Andy York’s Subzine – You can find his ongoing “Hangman, By Definition” and Facts
in Five, plus openings in Gunboat (listed above) and Breaking Away.
Coming
Soon: Open to suggestions. Anybody want
to play Acquire?
Standby List: HELP! I need standby players! – Current standby
list: Andy York, Andy Lischett, Paul Milewski, Harold Reynolds.
Meet Me in Montauk
The Eternal Sunshine Letter Column
Andy Lischett: My guess is Dub
Taylor in Gibsland, Louisiana. Do I win?
Can you guess which of my favorite movies I watched lately?
[[Did you watch that on TCM this
weekend? I re-watched Network and saw
most of an interview with Faye Dunaway....so I'm guessing they showed Bonnie
& Clyde too...]]
No, Bonnie & Clyde was on another
station. I don't remember which. Unfortunately, our cable company, Comcast,
chopped TCM about six months ago unless we want to pay an extra $10 a month.
TCM was my favorite station, but $120 a year for one station is too much,
especially since I've seen most of the movies multiple times. Maybe if I get
energetic I'll see if Comcast will cut out all the sports stations I don't
watch (especially now, with no baseball) and give me TCM.
[[That sucks.
I probably watch way too many movies on TCM….sue me.]]
Dane Maslen: My belief that I
might catch up on some of the episodes of Columbo waiting to be watched has
proved very wide of the mark. One reason
is that I was introduced to yucata.de, a website that allows a wide variety of
games to be played asynchronously. I
have a nasty suspicion that by the time lockdown ends I shall no longer be able
to understand how I ever had time to go out the house.
[[I’m just not informed when it comes to more
modern games; I don’t think I recognized more than one or two games available
on that site. I’m sure other people
would know a lot more of them.]]
I don't think Columbo episodes ever suffered inappropriate
editing when shown over here. these days
I'm certain that they don't as they're shown on channels that want to fill as
much airtime as possible.
On the subject of European detectives with
personal issues, have you seen any of the series of The Bridge (I thought the
third and fourth series were the best) or Trapped? The former is a joint Danish-Swedish effort,
while the latter is Icelandic, so features scenery that you would presumably
enjoy. About 25-30 years ago I had a
series of holidays in Iceland. I enjoyed
the scenery, though not necessarily the weather, a great deal. Maybe one day I'll go again, but only if they
stop whaling. Alas Iceland is currently
on my boycott list.
[[I looked both up on IMDB, and while The
Bridge sounds vaguely familiar, I don’t think I’ve seen either. My choices are limited by what I can find on
streaming services. Netflix seems to put
up a decent quantity of these shows, one or two at a time, but they never stay
up there too long.]]
Paul Mikewski: If this COVID-19
emergency keeps up, I may have to look into some other way to access the
internet than going to the library. I
hear our library won’t be open until May, and I’m not sure what the computer
access there will be like if they implement “social” distancing. All the equipment was close together before.
[[As it turned out, Paul bit the bullet so to
speak and bought a smart phone, so he’s able to email again and is now in the
new Diplomacy game!]]
Mark Nelson: Colombo is being broadcast on
one of our free-to-air channels. I’m not watching it, but after receiving the
last issue I noticed it was on and caught the last few minutes of a show. A
lady "shot" her husband and was about to be taken away by the police
as they found the murder weapon in her clothes closet. Colombo was in the house
of a business associate of her husband (I assume) talking about some plant - I
think the business associate grew orchids at home. Turned out that Colombo
found a bullet that had been fired by the murder weapon in a flower bed inside
the house. It had been fired at a burglar about a year ago. That poor account should be enough for you to
identify the episode!
[[Of course, although you butchered the plot
a bit. It’s “The Greenhouse Jungle” from
the second season, starring Ray Milland.
It’s not a favorite episode of mine, mostly because Milland’s
performance comes off as far too overbearing and loud. The basic plot is Milland’s character is the
uncle to a fellow named Tony. Tony is in
love with his wife, but his wife is no longer in love with him. He’s convinced that he can win back his wife
with money and expensive presents, so he and his uncle concoct a phony
kidnapping scheme to break his trust fund.
Then when the ransom is collected, Milland kills his nephew and takes
the money for himself. Actually, that’s
another reason I don’t rank it up there among my favorites: the motive is
weak. Milland supposedly wants the money
to continue his expensive orchid collection, but it just doesn’t seem
reasonable to me. Anyway, he swaps the
murder weapon with the identical one owned by Tony’s wife, and then the rest
progresses as you described. The other
notable aspect to this episode was the appearance of Bob Dishy as Sgt. Wilson. The network had long begged for a sort of
sidekick for Columbo, and Sgt. Wilson serves that function in this episode,
following all the obvious clues Milland’s character lays out for him while
Columbo focuses on the hidden facts. The
two are a nice change of pace, but I don’t see how having him as a regular
character would have been a positive influence on the series. Sgt. Wilson did return four years later, in a
late-season episode during Season 5, “Now You See Him” which was a great
episode starring Jack Cassidy in his final Columbo appearance (Cassidy was the
murderer in the first “episode” of Columbo, if you don’t count the two movies
of the week that ran prior to it becoming a series, as well as in a Season 3
episode.]]
The last time that we flew international, my
wife suggested that we watch Good Omens. Don't know how she knew about it, as I
wouldn't have guessed it would be her cup of tea. Anyhow, we both enjoyed it! Like you, I am a big fan of Sandman and the
Death spinoff - or at least I was when I was into comics. I kicked that addiction
in 1997 - when I went off to work in New Zealand.
[[It was mostly financial reasons –
overwhelming medical bills from Mara’s illnesses and lack of insurance – that
made me eventually drop comics entirely.
Then in the years that followed I sold almost every comic I had, except
for a few JLA/JSA Justice League crossovers that I loved as a kid..and except
for some independent more mature comics like Jeff Levine’s No Hope. I included a couple of Jeff Levine’s mini-comics
with issues of Maniac’s Paradise.]]
The Rockford Files... dimly remember that as
a 1970s TV series, but doesn't ring any bells.
[[Like everything else, you either watched it
or you didn’t. The only difference
between then and now is the far greater selection of things to watch. Most of the episodes I watched I saw in
syndication as reruns.]]
I wonder if anyone has a complete set of
Bushwacker...I would be interesting in seeing a complete list of the all the games
that Fred Davis, Jr. ran... for most of the time I think he had a 3-game limit, so despite the 231 issues (?)
there wouldn't be that many of them.
[[I doubt anyone does. His widow Inge sent me two binders of his
zines when he passed away, and the Bushwacker one started with Issue #160, so I
don’t think even Fred still had a full run in his possession (and that binder
also had mailing lists going back to the 70’s, suggesting he’d disposed of the
earlier issues.]]
Mark Firth: We finished watching the second After
Life last night, having spaced the episodes out. Enjoyed this one too;
apparently there’s a third to come.
[[Yes, he announced that he’ll write another
season. I’m apprehensive, but I was
apprehensive when he said he’d do a Season 2 too, and he delivered fully.]]
The Dining Dead – Eternal Sunshine Movie
Reviews
Boiled Angels: The Trial of Mike Diana (Amazon) – The story
of 18-year-old Mike Diana, the only cartoonist (actually, the only artist,
period) in U.S. history to be found guilty of obscenity just for his art, in
this case a comic zine he did in the early 90’ss called Boiled Angels. A shy kid living in rural Florida, his
mail-order comic zine – with a readership of between 80 and 300 – fell into the
hands of law enforcement who saw similarities between one of his drawings and
recent serial killing crime scene.
Eliminating him as the killer in that crime (although the local press
forever referred to him as a “suspect”), they decided to go after him for
distributing obscene material instead. Be
warned: if strange cartoonish drawings of graphic violence, incest, rape,
and other taboo subjects are too much for you, don’t’ want this
documentary. I only knew vaguely about
this case, mainly because of all the mini-comics and zines I would read at the
time, and the alternative comics I was buying.
Those of you who have been around long enough to receive my first zine Maniac’s
Paradise might remember some of the mini-comics and zines I’d include in
the envelope now and then. I do remember
reading about this case in the Comics Journal and discussions about how
the Comic Legal Defense Fund paid for his lawyer. Jello Biafra of the Dead Kennedys does the
narration and voice-over reading of a few stories from Mike Diana’s work. I never bought a copy of Boiled Angels
but some of the zines and mini-comics shown in a few scenes are ones I had or
have in my collection. If you are
interested in the First Amendment this is a good documentary to watch, although
I could have done without some of the comic stories being read and displayed slowly
and deliberately. Peter Bagge (Hate
comics) and Neil Gaiman are among the comic book luminaries interviewed. The early 90’s were a strange time, and a lot
has changed since then. Hopefully this
kind of local justice is a thing of the past.
Dead Man’s Line (Amazon) – This
documentary recounts the story of Tony Kiritsis, who in 1977 walked into the
office of his mortgage banker in Indianapolis, wired a shotgun to the back of
Richard Hall’s head, and then called 911 to inform the police of what he was
doing (and to try and explain why). What
followed was one of the world’s first live-broadcasted crimes. Not only did local (and soon national) television
networks carry the 3-day crisis with constant updates, but Kiritsis also got
much of his information from radio and news reports. About 75% of the documentary is selections
from those reports, or radio interviews with Kiritsis, edited together. The rest of the film is built out of
modern-day interviews with police, media members, and other involved
individuals. Only one year removed from
the release of the film Network, television news was already starting to
focus more on action (“if it bleeds, it leads”) rather than straight information. Satire was becoming truth. And the documentary does a very good job of
showing how television was struggling with that new reality, from live feeds
where the reporters really had nothing to report to episodes where comments
from authorities or second-hand information would be broadcast and then
Kiritsis would respond in real-time, sometimes with frightening anger. Television was no longer just reporting the
news, it was affecting the outcome and shaping the story, an active participant
on the ground. I thought the film
started a bit jagged and confused, but pretty quickly the tension begins to
build. It’s a good watch, especially if
you like true crime or if you’re interested in television history.
Voice from the Stone (Shudder) – Emilia
Clarke (Game of Thrones) stars as Verena, an English woman serving families as
a private nurse in rural Italy. She
arrives at the ancient estate of Klaus (Marton Csokas) to care for his son
Jakob, who has not spoken since the death of his mother seven months
earlier. The beautiful gothic house and
surrounding lands bring a very eerie atmosphere to the film, and Clarke does an
admirable job as Verena. While I enjoyed
Voice from the Stone, the plot seemed painfully obvious from the very
beginning. I suppose the only real
question was whether they’d hold to that storyline or whether it was a red
herring from which they would strategically deviate. I’m still glad I gave it a watch, as in a way
it is a homage to the old suspenseful Hammer titles with the old homes and
gothic atmosphere.
After Life Season 2 (Netflix) – As you
might recall, I completely fell in love with this series when it first was
released, and watched Season 1 again a few weeks back to prepare for Season 2. Not really to prepare in terms of the story,
but more to get into the proper emotional rhythm. Season 1 made me laugh my ass off and cry
uncontrollably, because I so closely identify with Ricky Gervais’ character
Tony. Season 2 wasn’t quite as brilliant
as Season 1, but it was still great and better than 95% of anything you’ll find
out there. I couldn’t help myself,
burning through all six episodes in one evening. It’s the same crew as Season 1. Tony is still desperately missing his late
wife, but his growth during Season 1 wasn’t thrown away. While he is still abrasive and blunt, it
isn’t being used as a “superpower” any longer.
Instead he starts trying to find ways to help those who were there for
him when he was at his lowest. He also
realizes – partially through the advice of his graveyard friend Anne (Penelope
Wilton) – that one of the reasons he gets so angry about things is that he
actually goes out of his way to do things for people, and feels shitty when he
gets burned for that time and again…and then feels guilty for getting
angry. Still plenty of big laughs, and
plenty of moments that brought me to tears.
One line summed up a lot of why Tony and I are so in synch: “I have a
problem with kindness. I don’t feel like
I deserve it.” That’s the story of my
life. I’m working on it, always a work
in progress.
Cursed Films (Shudder) – This is a
five-episode series, each one focusing on a different “cursed” film: The
Exorcist, The Omen, Poltergeist, The Crow, and Twilight
Zone: The Movie. I honestly hoped
for a lot more than I got here. The
first two episodes just recount a few things that happened on set, and spend
the rest of the time pondering whether a film can actually be cursed or
not. There was more detail in the last
three episodes, or maybe there was simply more story to tell. But regardless, I knew almost everything they
mentioned in here (although I’d forgotten the details of Bruce Lee’s death, or
how his character’s death in a movie paralleled how his son would later die). And a few of the things they mentioned were
stretches; they mention how Julian Beck died of stomach cancer after Poltergeist
II came out, but he knew he was terminal before he agreed to make the
movie. That’s hardly a “curse.” The last two episodes offer some good
details, especially from the set designer on Twilight Zone. Overall, I think people will less knowledge
of the films in question might enjoy this more than I did.
Behind the Mask: The
Rise of Leslie Vernon
(Shudder) – A mockumentary in which Taylor (Angela Goethals) and her crew
follow Leslie Vernon (Nathan Baesel) as he prepares for his big reappearance,
twenty years after his supposed death at the hands of townsfolk. Set in an alternate reality where killers
like Freddie Kreuger and Michael Myers actually exist, Leslie explains the
motivations for certain actions and the preparation for his big night of
slaughtering teenagers at his family’s abandoned farmhouse. This film has its moments, reminiscent of Scream
and A Cabin in the Woods (although those two movies are superior to this
one). Most of the dark humor is directed
at the slasher movie canon: why people make terrible decisions, hide instead of
running away, etc. Behind the Mask
actually starts rather slow, and the uneven acting in the first five minutes
almost made me turn it off. But it grows
on you, not to the extent that the others films mentioned do, but at least
enough to become entertaining. There are
a few recognizable horror icons in the film, with Robert Englund appearing as a
“Dr. Loomis” character and Zelda Rubenstein (Poltergeist) as a
librarian. Director and co-writer Scott
Glosserman does a lot with a small budget, and while it’s nothing sensational,
I’d have to call it a success overall.
Out of the WAY #21
by W. Andrew York
(wandrew88 of gmail.com)
Howdy!
Another
month mostly still inside except for walking for exercise (weather permitting),
picking up mail and going grocery shopping. We’ve opened up a bit, I was able
to pick up my last comic pull curbside (an Austin comic book writer paid for
the entire backlog in the store’s pending pick-up files so it was free!) and
will order some books from BookPeople to pick up curbside on Monday.
Restaurants have the option of opening (25% capacity), but many aren’t or are
remaining solely with take-out/delivery. So, I have cut back quite a bit on my
“eat out” spending and have been trying out new dishes to make at home. Barber
shops did open this week in a limited manner, but had picked up clippers and
cut it myself (keep it very short, without any attempt at styling, so not a big
stretch). So, not sure when I’ll go back to that. My gym opens on Monday, but
I’ll likely give them some time to work out their routine before I had back –
haven’t gotten to Texas summer heat yet, so walking in the morning is still
doable (as long as it isn’t raining).
We’ve
only two spots left in the No-Press Gunboat game, with plenty of participation
in Facts in Five and Hangman, By Definition. So, feel free to jump into either
at any time. Also, if you’re willing to be a standby in the No-Press Gunboat
game, please let me know – hopefully one won’t be needed, but you never know.
I
did download the rules for Breaking Away, but haven’t fully processed them. I
should have that done by next issue. There was a suggestion to consider
Fragments and Choice, of which I’ve also obtained the rules. I’m still
pondering how I might want to implement them here. Hopefully I’ll have made a
decision by next issue. Anything else folks would like to see?
===================================
Commentary
After watching many of the late night shows, I
whittled it down to three that I generally record to watch the following day
(if more than a day, I usually delete them unless a guest is someone I want to
hear). They are “The Daily Show with Trevor Noah”, “The Late Show with Stephen
Colbert” and “Late Night with Seth Meyers”. I generally watch the monologues
and may listen to the guests if they are someone that interests me (not
often)). Each has their own brand of humor that I like, and I especially enjoy
their focused commentaries on what is going on in the world. I don’t
necessarily like everything that they do, However, Colbert’s “Meanwhile”
segment (redubbed “Quarantinewhile” for the time being) is one I can do without
(though it has a rare gem). And, I will tape and watch other late night shows
if I happen to notice a guest that is of interest.
It is interesting to see how they’ve transitioned
from doing their show in a theater with a live audience to a home location,
supported by family members (and pets!). Overall that has gone well, especially
once the initial hurdles were dealt with and a routine worked out. But, I do
miss their interaction with an audience which provides a spontaneity that adding
color and unexpected bits that can be quite entertaining.
I really don’t want to add another show, but is there
one of your favorites you think I should take a second look at or might have
missed?
===================================
Spotlight on Texas
As most folks know, Austin is the Capital of the State of Texas.
However, that wasn’t always the case. Unlike most states which, once they
establish a capital, that’s where it remains. Some states have had a single, or
even two, relocations. Texas, of course, can’t be part of the crowd. As a
Republic, it had seven capitals in just four years – not counting national and
pre-revolution territorial capitals.
Technically, before Texas became a Republic, its capital was the
capital of the country that controlled (or claimed) the area. That formally
includes France, Spain and Mexico. Once Texas gained independence, unlike most
states, the capital was established at a surprising number of places before
ending up in Austin (even though that almost changed again!).
The first “capital” of the
Republic was at San Felipe de Austin, the key, and central, settlement in
Stephen F. Austin’s colony/land grant in the territory. It was here the
original declaration was created and a provisional government chosen
(1835-March 1836). For the frontier area, it was actually a fairly successful
town with a hotel, stores, taverns and a post office. However, today it is
solely an uninhabited historical site.
Next, Washington-on-the Brazos
was the center of the efforts to separate from Mexico (March 1836-April 1936).
It was here that the first state formal declaration of independence was
produced and a constitution was written, with the provisional government
replaced with a new governmental structure for the Republic and a formal
organization of the military drafted.
Unfortunately, the location
became untenable after the fall of the Alamo and Goliad with the government
moving to Harrisburg to avoid capture by the Mexican army under Santa Anna (it
was part of the “Runaway Scrape”, a potential topic for a future spotlight).
The government’s time in Harrisburg (April 1836) was brief, moving next to
Galveston Island (April 1836-??) under pressure of the advancing Mexican army
which torched the Harrisburg. From Galveston, government then moved for a time
to Velasco (?? – October 1836), where Santa Anna signed the Treaty of Velsaco
giving Texas its independence.
Once Texas became a republic,
the capital was next established in Columbia (October 1836-April 1837). There,
a clapboard house was the governmental complex. There were no accommodations
with legislators sleeping in sheds or even under the stars. The stay was
necessarily a fairly show one.
Next, it was moved to a new settlement near Harrisburg, named
Houston (April 1837-October 1839), but it wasn’t not much of a town at the
time. Accommodations weren’t much better than in Columbia with the executive
mansion being a one-room, dirt floored, shack.
After searching for a better location, the town of Waterloo was chosen
– renamed Austin. The government moved there in October 1839 for the last
official relocation. It has remained there since; however, not everyone was
happy with that decision.
During Sam Houston’s second, non-consecutive, term as the
President of the Republic, his actions resulted in what is called the Texas
Archive War in 1842. Ostensibly worried about the threat of an Indian raid or
Mexican invasion, he called the Texas government into session back in
Washington-on-the-Brazos. He also sent agents with a wagon to move the State
Archives. However, the citizens of Austin ran them out of town – even showing
their displeasure by shaving one of the horses. Houston ultimately wanted to
move the official capital to Houston and had been trying to obtain support to
do so.
A couple months later, in the middle of the night, Houston sent
another, larger, team to gather and secure the records. However, Angelina
Eberly, owner of a local boardinghouse, discovered the operation. She went
where the town cannon was stored (for defense against Indians) and fired a shot
blowing a hole into the side of the Land Office (where the men were loading the
records). The men escaped with the wagons and records, but Austin citizens
followed them eventually stopping them about 20 miles away (near Round Rock’s
Dell Diamond), reclaimed the records which have remained in Austin since.
Eberly is commemorated with a statue, including a replica cannon, and plaque at
6th and Congress Avenue (ostensibly where the cannon was originally
located), about five blocks south of the capital building (and the nearby Land
Office).
Meanwhile, Houston and the legislature stayed in
Washington-on-the-Brazos for several more years until returning to Austin late
in 1841, a few months before the Republic joined the United States as a state.
And, of course, the national
capital of Texas is currently Washington DC and, while a member of the
Confederate States, the capital was first in Montgomery AL and then Richmond
VA.
Note – I did not
try to fully track the pre-Republic “state”/”territorial” government locations
which included Saltillo, San Antonio, Nacogdoches, Los Adaes and Moncola while
under the Spanish and Mexican governments.
Sources: American
History Desk Reference edited by The New York Public Library (1997); big
wonderful thing by Stephen Harrigan (2019); Capital Areas Statues, Inc.
website (capitalareastatues.com); Family Encyclopedia of American History
published by Reader’s Digest (1975); personal visits to a statue of Angelina
Eberly in Austin and historical plaques in the area; Texas Almanac website
(texasalmanac.com); Texas Almanac 2010-2011 published by Texas State
Historical Association (2010)
===================================
Letter Column
(always welcome, send them in!)
[Mark Nelson] – It was gratifying to read that the
run-on-toilet-paper is a worldwide phenomenon and not just an Australian thing!
When people went crazy over here the first thing they went crazy for toilet
paper! There was even an incident that got into the TV news of people getting
into a fight at the supermarket over toilet paper (this was before the
supermarkets start rationing what you could buy). [WAY} there was one news report here of a person going to a Dollar
General store and buying out the entire paper product supply. They had clips of
them loading pallets of product into their full-sized pickup. I guess they
won’t have to buy any more for a couple of years (or else they were planning
their Christmas gifts early!).
[John David Galt] – It’s been a mixed spring here in
Sacramento. The shutdown came as a surprise; there have been visible outbreaks
of you-know-what in the Bay Area but not here. And I can’t wait to be allowed
out again.
I’m a tax professional, and
started this year with a mom-and-pop operation that does some quite technical
business returns, so I’ve been working at home since January (and yes, we have
secure e-mail, I’d be happy to advise anyone who wants help to set it up for
themselves). So the virus hasn’t changed my work situation except to extend the
season to the new July 15 deadline, but it does mean I can’t go out walking or
shopping. At least the Walmart delivers. And I’ve put on some weight I’ll have
to deal with when it’s over.
[WAY] – John has a number of thoughts on the media and the impact
of the virus on healthcare. If you’re interested in seeing them, contact him
via “jdgalt at att.net” and he’s said he’s happy to exchange thoughts.
[JDG] - Update: It’s been two weeks since I
wrote the above, and Governor Newsom just announced that he will be sending out
mail ballots to the whole state for November!!! [WAY] that’s a prudent decision, we’ll see if other states take the
hint and do something similar. Here the initiative to expand mail-in voting
(but not to the extent of mailing all votes ballots, just allow more reasons to
be allowed to request one) is very contentious at the state level with multiple
lawsuits being decided ahead of the July 14th runoff election..
[WAY] – in a later note, in response to my follow-up to him about
the above. [JDG] - They’re giving a
few businesses permission to open. So I can see my dentist after June 1, but I
still can’t visit the barber or get the gardener in to pull the weeds (as I
normally do every year in late March, and the landlord is getting annoyed about
it).
[Richard Smith] – Did you notice that in
the PDF version of ES 131 your subzine has some bookmarks but not the rest of
zine? [WAY] – er, no. I don’t see them in my copy and I’m not even sure
how to look for them. [RS] – I guess it depends on how the merge is done
and how the PDF is created. Variable Pig is merged in MS Word from multiple
documents and if I tell it to use headings to make bookmarks when saving to
PDF, I get a horrible mess. So I have to use the manually-created Word
bookmarks option, but these can’t have spaces in the name and can’t be
hierarchical. To be honest I don’t think many people use the bookmarks these
days, it’s all a bit 1990s. [WAY] – sounds like something that’s done on
Doug’s side, hey Doug. [Doug Kent] – I rarely if ever have bookmarks
enabled in Adobe so I’ve never noticed if they’re there or not. It’s an easy
thing for me to remove after making the pdf since I have full Acrobat, so if I
remember I’ll remove them before each issue. For a few issues I used to
manually insert ones in Diplomacy World but nobody said they ever noticed or
made use of them… I’ll wager Richard is the only person to have noticed these
even exist. [WAY] – thanks Doug, sounds like a plan. No one else has
mentioned them, so you might be right!
===================================
Random Review
Terraforming Mars is a game
released in 2016 that puts the players in charge of one of the efforts working
to, not surprisingly, terraform Mars. It is a quasi-cooperative game as to end
the game three goals must be reached – placing nine ocean tiles, raise the
temperature from -30 to +8 degrees and raise the percentage of oxygen in the
atmosphere to 14%. Once those three goals are met the remainder of that turn is
completed, then the board and cards scored with the person with the greatest
final Terraform Rating (TR) (aka score) being the winner.
A turn consists of identifying
the new first player (next person clockwise), a research phase to potentially
seed new cards to each player (cards may be optionally purchased for future
use), an action phase consists of each player taking one or two actions in
order going around the table until no one has any further actions. Once
everyone has completed their actions a resource production phase is conducted.
Actions may include initiating a standard project (pay money for raising
various productions, placing oceans, etc.), activating a reoccurring card,
claiming a milestone, funding an award, paying the cost of a card (money,
discounts, resources may be used to cover it) and implementing any immediate
effects, etc.
The original game has three
playing options, the basic game with a standard start for all players, the
Corporate Era with variety of corporations (each gives a “jump start” for each
player, as well as potentially some unique advantage in the game) and the solo
game. I found the basic game a good way to introduce folks to game play and let
them learn the mechanics without initial overload from the variety of cards
used. Once they are familiar with that, usually one play, definitely move to
the Corporate Era version as each player will start out with different
production levels and have different abilities.
The solo game plays
significantly differently and uses a different game end. The skills gained,
though they can be useful in learning cards and some strategies, are not a good
way to become used to the multi-player game. The solo game has a goal of
beating the system and terraforming Mars within fourteen turns. So, you don’t
have the need to use cards that give extra points at the end of the game, only
cards that build up production, or otherwise directly change the planet, will
be used. The multitude of cards that provide abilities to gain victory points at
the end of the game (scored as increases in the TR) providing no utility to
actually terraform the planet – only as immediate discards or, if brought into
your hand without cost, to be sold for an additional credit to spend.
Since the original game was released
a number of expansions have been released. Each may add some actions, more
cards/corporations, playing areas, etc. They include:
Prelude – adds additional
start-up corporations and introduces pregame cards that give boosts to initial
production or
inventory
levels
Venus Next – adds an additional
set of actions to alter Venus (not required to max out to end the game) and the
World
Government
Colonies – adds moons for trade
and placing colonies
Hellas & Elysium – two
additional map options
Turmoil – adds Global Events and
a Terraforming Committee board with parties and delegates.
I’ve
played several solo games, a handful of times face-to-face (mostly teaching
people the game) and several via Email. Overall, I’m very impressed with the
game, its variety and replayability. Especially with the expansions there are
enough cards to ensure that the game retains its freshness (only once did we go
through an entire deck and have to reshuffle). The two maps in the original
game, coupled with the expansion, give plenty of variety in the gameboards. As
for the expansions, some I like more than others – Prelude is almost a given,
Colonies I’m still deciding about, Venus Next is OK, but I don’t miss it and
Turmoil I’m in my first game using it so really don’t have a fair opinion yet.
If you’re looking for a good
game to spend an afternoon or evening playing with friends, without worries
about the game play becoming stale, Terraforming Mars is a definite winner.
Highly Recommended.
To give it a preview there are
several tutorials on the web so you can see it for yourself and decide if it is
for you.
===================================
Mini-Book Reviews
(finished since last issue)
Gotterdammerung: The Last
Days of the Wehrmacht in the East
edited by Bob Carruthers (2012; 140p).
This is one of the books in his “Eastern Front from
Primary Sources” series (he has other series, such as the “Hitler’s War
Machine”). The book has an introduction, setting the premise of the book,
followed by a series of compilations from primary sources, such as documents
written at the time, interviews afterwards or other recollections from those
directly involved. Then, there are additional short pieces of associated
material.
In this book, billing it as “The Last Days of the
Wehrmacht in the East,” is a bit of a stretch. It is actually a focused look on
the Battle of Berlin in April/May 1945. First, the run up to the battle sets
the scene, followed by overviews of the fragmented command structure, planning,
supply and the civilian population. The minutia of the battle are not detailed,
however the general flow is given. Following the main part of the book, there
are bits on Soviet tanks in city fighting, a look at the Panzerhandmine 3, the
background of the Volkssturm and others.
Generally well done, it gives decent coverage of the
topic. It is not for the casual reader, or the serious researcher trying to
nail down specifics for a scholarly article. However, I found it good to
refresh my memory, fill in some gaps and leave some things I’d like to look
into further. Also, it included some photographs that I don’t recall seeing
before and some maps/sketches that added to my understanding of the topic, such
as a map of the city subway system and which sections had been flooded.
Well
worth buying and reading it this is something of interest. I do have two more
of his books in the “to read” pile and likely will keep an eye out for more of
them. [April 2020]
Omega City by Diana Peterfreund (2015; 324p).
This is a YA novel set in the present time centered
on two 12 year old siblings living with their disgraced father. He had written
a factual book about an, apparently, fringe scientist but, after publication,
all of his research and notes were destroyed when their home flooded.
Therefore, unable to back up the claims in his book, he was also deemed a
fringe conspiracy theorist.
His kids, along with their friends and an older teen,
start following some clues that lead to a major discovery (hint, the title of
the book), adventures and danger. Their adventures continue in the next books
of the trilogy.
Overall, a solid story that should engage most tweens
and younger teenagers. It does require an adult to have some suspension of
belief as there are several points where you’d go “could this happen.” However,
I’ll likely pick up the other volumes when they come out in paperback. [May
2020]
Sharpe’s Enemy by Bernard Cornwell (1984/2001; 351p).
The sixth book (publishing order) in Cornwell’s
Sharpe series. It is set during the Napoleonic War, on the Iberian Peninsula.
The series follows Richard Sharpe, originally an enlisted soldier who was
promoted to the officers’ ranks, due to merit during military actions in India,
instead of through the more usual purchase. It is historical fiction, but based
on the life, times and events that actually occurred. You may be more familiar
with the BBC series based on the books.
In this installment, it is 1812 with Sharpe and his
unit in northern Portugal. Asked to oversee the first trials in the peninsula
of the Congreve rocket units, he is diverted to a rescue mission and,
inevitably, the potential to meet French forces on a field of battle.
Well written, the book moves along and keeps the
reader engaged while not skimping on the feel of the time period and the
grittiness its military conflict. You don’t need to start at the beginning of
the series, but I certainly would recommend it. Can’t wait for the next volume
to percolate to the top of the fiction pile (which, as I look, I don’t have the
next one – I do have eight other Sharpe books that I was given, but not the
next one….time to order it, off to BookPeople!). [April 2020]
===================================
Babylon 5 Quote
G’Kar
in “The Hour of the World”: “Our
thoughts form the universe, they always matter.”
Source: But In Purple...I’m Stunning! by J. Michael
Straczynski, edited by Sara “Samm” Barnes, copyright 2008.
===================================
Recipe of the
Month
Recipe Philosophy: Except for
baking, recipes are only suggestions. I rarely precisely measure, eyeballing
most everything. The
listed measurements, for the most part, are estimates
from the last time I made the recipe. Feel free to adjust to meet
your personal tastes – and remember, it is easier to
add “more” of something than to compensate when “too much” has
been added.
For ingredients, if you don’t
like raw onions, omit them or replace with celery to retain the crunchiness. If
you like food with
more spice, add an extra jalapeno or use habaneros
instead. On the other hand, if you don’t like spicy food, replace the
jalapeno with half a bell pepper. Optional items are
used when I’m looking for a variation or making it for individuals
with specific preferences or allergies.
Packet Dinner
by W Andrew York
(last reviewed May 2020)
Ingredients (serves 1 each):
Note – this is what I used the last time I made this
recipe. It is extremely variable, see notes for other ideas
4-6oz Pork Tenderloin Piece (mine came from the
store with a BBQ seasoning, if not
season with salt and pepper or other spices as
desired)
½ Large Sweet Onion sliced into four
sections
½ Large Idaho Potato sliced into
eight wedges
5-8 Carrots sticks
5-8 Celery sticks
4-8 Garlic Cloves
Olive
Oil
Tony
Chachere’s (aka Tony C’s) Cajun
Seasoning
Steps:
1) Toss to coat all the veggies in olive oil, then add the Tony C’s seasoning to taste
2) Pour the veggies into the middle of a generous square
of foil, prepped with no-stick spray, on a half-sheet pan
3) Place the meat on top of the veggies, making sure some
aromatics (garlic, onion) are under the meat
4) Seal tightly on all sides and top (use additional foil
as needed) to create a packet around the veggies/meat
5) Cook the packet in a 350 degree toaster oven for @40
minutes or until the meat and veggies are cooked through.
6) Remove from oven, carefully open (watch for escaping
steam) and transfer the veggies/meat to a dinner plate
Notes:
-
This makes plenty
of extra veggies, cut back to avoid leftovers or add more for even more extras
-
Feel free to add
or substitute 1-2” green onion slices, rutabaga, parsnips, radishes, corn on
the cob, etc.
(key thing is all veggies should be prepared to be
done at, or about, the same time. I’ve had potato wedges
too
thick so undercooked when the rest were ready, etc.)
-
I’ve used other
types and cuts, chicken thighs, pork chops, slice of roast. I wouldn’t use a
fine cut of beef though.
For
seafood, use peeled/deveined shrimp or firm white fish, with lemon/lime slices
or juice added to the
aromatics. As the fish usually
cooks faster, prep the veggies into smaller pieces. Note - I’ve not tried it
with tuna or salmon though
they’ll take a bit longer to cook than a white fish filet
-
If you’re making
more than two packets, use a regular oven
-
Packets can be
prepped in the morning and stored in the fridge. Remove about 1/2–hour ahead of
time to come to near room temperature
===================================
Game Section
Everyone Plays Games: Hangman,
By Definition; Facts in Five
Game Openings: Breaking Away
(Kent, Burgess); No-Press Gunboat Diplomacy (5 players, 2 openings)
Possible Game Openings:
Fragments (under consideration), Choices (under consideration)
Suggestions
accepted for other games to offer.
Standbys: Breaking Away
(none); Gunboat Diplomacy (none)
+++++++++++++++++++++
Hangman, By Definition
This is a five round game,
with each round consisting of a variable number of turns. The winner will be
the person who wins the most rounds, with a tie breaker being fewest total
number of turns in those winning rounds. Second tie breaker will be the most
number of letters guessed (by total count revealed, not by individual letter).
Each round will consist of
identifying a word of at least six letters. Along with each word will be the
first definition given. All words and definitions will be identified by blank
spaces. Words and definitions are verified in a dictionary that was my high
school graduation gift (slight hint to those who might want to find the
edition).
The goal is to guess the word
in as few turns as possible. Each turn, all players will submit one letter to
be revealed. The letter submitted by the most players will be the letter
revealed in the next turn. Ties will be broken by a randomized method.
Additionally, each player should submit a guess for the word. Once the word is
correctly identified (spelling is important), that round will end and a new
round will begin. All players who guess the word in the same turn will share in
the win for the round. If the word is not guessed by the end of six turns with
no letter being revealed, no one will win the round.
Along with revealing letters
in the word, letters will be revealed in the definition. There are no bonus
points for guessing any part of the definition, it is only there to help
players figure out the word. No guesses about parts of the definition will be
confirmed or displayed except by the letter revealed in that round. The letters
“E” and “S” can never be chosen as the letter to be revealed.
Game 1, Round One, Turn Two:
Letter Votes: C x1, I x1, L x2, N x1, R x1, U x1 Revealed: L
Words Guessed: [Doug Kent]: Brainstorming; [Kevin Wilson]: Callisthentics [sic]; [Dane Maslen]: Unquestioning;
[Richard
Smith}: Conceptualism; [Andy Lischett]: No Guess; [Heath Davis-Gardner]: Woolgathering;
[Mark
Firth]: Unquestioning
Solution:
Word: __ __
__ __ __
__ T __
__ __ __
__ L (13)
Definition: __
__ __ __
__ __ __
__ __ __ L __ (12)
__ __ (2)
__ __
__ __ L
__ __ L
__ __ L __
(12) __ __
__ __ T __
(6)
Never Revealed: E,
S Already
Revealed: L, T
Game Words Correctly Guessed: None, yet
Player Comments: <<all
received held for the end of the round>>
+++++++++++++++++++++
FACTS
IN FIVE
Rules: There will be five rounds, the cumulative high
score at the end of the fifth round will be the winner. Anyone may join anytime
with a starting score matching the lowest total from the previous round. Anyone
missing a round will add the lowest score of that round.
Each round will consist of five categories and five
letters. Each player submit may an entry
for each category which has a key word that starts with each of the letters
(twenty-five total entries). Key words are generally the first word; however
articles (the, a, etc.) and modifiers (“red” in red bicycle for “R” in “mode of
transportation” or “general” in General Lee for “G” in “Military Leaders”) are
not key words. A word in the category may not be the key word (“bank” in “Bank
of America” for “B” in the category “Banks”). For given names, the last name is
the key word, if married it will be their post-marriage last name. However, in
the case of commonly used stage names, that name should be used (in a category
of female singers, ”Q” could be “Queen Latifa” and “Cher” for “C”). An entry
may only be used once per round.
One point will be scored for each entry that
unarguably meets the letter and category. An additional point will be added if
anyone else also uses the same valid entry for the same category. Maximum
possible score in a round is 50 with a lowest possible score of 25, presuming
an individual submits a valid entry for each category and letter in that round.
Research is allowed, collaboration between players is
not.
Round One
Bolded - Scores 2 points for matching another entry; Crossed
Out - scores 0 points; otherwise scores 1 point.
REMINDER - Last names are generally the key word, not first
names.
Players M P O L B
Female World Leader/Ruler
Heath Davis-Gardner Merkel Park Otunbayeva Liliuokalani Bhutto
Mark Firth Merkel Patil Oprah Leda Bhutto
Doug Kent Merkel Payette Otunbayeva Lynch Bachelet
Andy
Lischett Merkel ? Olive Oyl ? Bhutto
Kevin Wilson Merkel Rosa Parks Obama Lagarde Bhutto
Societies/Organizations
Heath Davis-Gardner Mensa PETA Order of the Coif Legal Aid Soc Bohemian
Club
Mark Firth Mob,
The PLO Orient L&M Lady Bl Mam Beer Lovers Party
Doug Kent Mensa Plym
Hist Soc Order of F& P LA Hist Soc Brook His Soc
Andy Lischett MLB PGA OAS LPGA BSA
Kevin Wilson MSF Planetary
Soc OPEC League/Nations Bot
Soc of Am
Famous Structures
Heath Davis-Gardner Monticello Parthenon O Wor Tra Ctr Leaning Tower Big Ben
Mark Firth Maracana
Stad Pyramid (Giza) Octagon House London Bridge Brooklyn Bridge
Doug Kent Machu Picchu Pyramids O Wor Tra Ctr Louvre Burj
Khalifa
Andy Lischett Met Life Bldg Parthenon Orchestra Hall Louvre Brooklyn Bridge
Kevin Wilson Machu
Picchu Parthenon O Wor Tra Ctr Leaning Tower Big Ben
Professional
Magazines/Periodicals
Heath Davis-Gardner Music Trades Pub
Weekly OPI Loc Gov Chron Billboard
Mark Firth Math
Circular Proctologist Ins Ophtha Lib
News Digest Bomb Gazette
Doug Kent Mari Prof Photographer Op
Today Legal Week Biotech Week
Andy Lischett Mad People Oui Lancet Better
Homes & Gardens
Kevin Wilson Money Pro
Photographer Outside LIFE BusinessWeek
Science Fiction Authors
Heath Davis-Gardner Mieville Pohl Orwell Le Guin Bradbury
Mark Firth Moorcock Pournelle Orwell Lewis,
C. S. Banks
Doug Kent Martin Pohl Orwell Lovecraft Bradbury
Andy Lischett McCaffrey ? ? ? Bradbury
Kevin Wilson McCaffrey Pournelle Orwell Le Guin Bradbury
Heath’s Notes: Park Geun-Hye
(in Korea, surname comes first); O Wor Tra Ctr = One World Trade Center;
Pub Weekly - Publishers Weekly; OPI = Office Products
Intl; Loc Gov Chron = Local Government Chronicle (UK)
Mark’s Notes: Leda – Queen of
Sparta; Mob – I was initially inclined to disallow as a generic term for a
criminal gang; however,
research shows it is a an acceptable alternative name
for the Mafia/La Costa Nostra; PLO – Palestinian Liberation
Organization; Orient L&M – Oriental Light &
Magic, disallowed as the only references I can find to it are as a
commercial film/animation studio rather than a
society or organization; Lady Bl Mam – Ladysmith Black Mambazo;
Beer Lovers Party (of Belarus); Math Circular –
Mathemeatics Circular; Proctologist Ins – Proctologist Insider,
disallowed as I can’t find any reference to it
existing, send me a reference and I’ll update the scores; Ophtha
– Ophthalmology; Lib News Digest – Librarian News
Digest; Bomb Gazette – Bombardier Gazette, disallowed, see
note with Proctologist Insider
Doug’s Notes: Plym Hist Soc =
Plymouth Historical Society; Order of F&P = Order of the Founders and
Patriots;
LA
Hist Soc = Louisiana Historical Society; Brook His Soc = Brooklyn Historical
Society; O Wor Tra Ctr =
One World Trade Center; Mari Prof = Maritime
Professional; Op Today = Optometry Today
Andy’s Notes: Olive Oyl –
disallowed as the only reference I can find is to a cartoon character, not a
world leader/ruler
Kevin’s Notes: MBS –
Medicines Sans Frontiers; League/Nations - League of Nation; Bot Soc of Am –
Botanical Society of
America; O Wor Tra Ctr = One World Trade Center; Prof
Photographer – Professional Photographer
Round Two
Letters: D F B O S
Categories: Liquid Edible Products; Popular
Music Title; Past Religious Leader/Figure; No. American Port City;
7+ Letter German Word
Current Standings
Scores by Category 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th Previous Now Total
Heath David-Gardner 8 6
9 5
9 0 + 37 = 37
Kevin Wilson 7 5 10 5 10 0 + 37 = 37
Doug Kent 7 6 9 5
9 0 + 35 = 35
Mark Firth 7 4 7 3
7 0 + 28 = 28
Andy Lischett 4 5
8 5
4 0 + 26 = 26
Player Comments:
[WAY] –
well, not a player comment but something germane to the game. I’ve added two
clarifications to the rules that I want to make sure everyone was aware –
“research is allowed, collaboration between players is not.” Also, as a help
when I adjudicate the game, if you’re using an obscure reference or something
that might have multiple meanings, a bit of explanation would be helpful. But,
if something is disallowed and you provide the reference later I’ll correct the
score.
[Andy Lischett]
– Not sure if by “professional” magazine you mean professionally produced or
for specific professions, but I’m going with the first. [WAY} – The card I drew for the category wasn’t specific, and to be
honest the second option hadn’t even occurred to me, so I’d expected professionally
produced magazines instead of fan-produced. But, as in “By Popular Demand” it
is up to the person playing to decide how they’ll answer. [AL] – If an answer is incorrect yet a lot of people give it, does
it count? [WAY] – Unfortunately, no.
If the category is major league baseball teams and five people choose Detroit
Lions, they’ll be discounted (unless one of the submitters gives a good reason
why they chose it). [AL] – For
structures, how about “Opry, Grand Old”? [WAY]
– Nope, the name it is usually called should be how it is submitted. [AL] - Or, “Old Faithful” because it
has a fence around it. [WAY] – If it
was submitted as “Old Faithful’s Fence”, with a clarification note, it would be
accepted. If you just submitted “Old Faithful” without any clarification it
wouldn’t be allowed. [AL] – OPEC
will probably beat OAS, but maybe not. [WAY}
– We’ll see, so far (with two entries) it hasn’t come up.
===================================
Deadline for the Next Issue of Out of the WAY:
June 10, 2020 at noon – See You Then!
Game entries, letters of
comment and other material can be sent to:
wandrew88 at gmail.com; or by post to: W. Andrew
York; POB 201117; Austin TX 78720-1117
Eternal Sunshine Game
Section
Diplomacy, “Wine Lips”, 2020B
The Players:
Austria: Harold Reynolds – hjreynolds2@rogers.com
England: David Cohen –
zendip18@optonline.net
France: David Burgess
– burgesscd@roadrunner.com
Germany: Mark Firth – mogcate@aol.com
Italy: George Atkins -
GeorgeWrites@outlook.com
Russia: Heath
Davis-Gardner – heathdavisgardner@gmail.com
Turkey: Paul Milewski
– paul.milewski@hotmail.com
Black Press is permitted in this game (you may write
press from any location, as may any other player or non-player). Seasons separated on three requests, but
Winter 1901 only requires two requests.
This is American-style, which means no predictive
adjustments needed. You submit Autumn
and Winter with Spring, and Summer with Fall, unless separations are granted.
Draws must include all survivors, and they must pass
unanimously. Voting is secret. NVR = Yes.
ALL
Players Must Be Signed Up to the ES Mailchimp List at https://mailchi.mp/45376bbd05df/eternalsunshine
Deadline
for Spring 1901 Moves and Press is: June 13, 2020 at 7am My Time (U.S. central
time)
Diplomacy, “Indestructible Machine”,
2020A, Fall 1902
Austria: Rick Davis – redavis914@aol.com - A Bulgaria Supports A
Rumania (*Ordered to Move*),
F Greece Supports A
Bulgaria, A Vienna - Budapest (*Bounce*).
England: Mark Firth – mogcate@aol.com - F London - North Sea, F
North Sea – Denmark,
F Skagerrak Supports F
North Sea – Denmark, A Yorkshire Hold.
France: John David Galt – jdgalt@att.net - F Brest - English
Channel, A Gascony – Marseilles,
F Mid-Atlantic Ocean
Supports F Brest - English Channel, A Picardy – Paris,
F Spain(sc) Supports A
Gascony - Marseilles.
Germany: Tim Haffey – trhaffey1@gmail.com - F Baltic Sea - Denmark (*Fails*),
A Belgium Supports F Holland, A Burgundy -
Munich (*Bounce*), F Holland Supports A Belgium,
A Kiel Supports F Baltic Sea - Denmark.
Italy: Toby Harris – toby@responsiva.biz - A Apulia – Venice, F
Ionian Sea - Aegean Sea (*Fails*),
A Piedmont - Tyrolia
(*Fails*), A Trieste - Budapest (*Bounce*), F Tyrrhenian Sea Hold.
Russia: Bob Durf – playdiplomacymoderator@gmail.com - Retreat A Vienna -
Tyrolia..
F Black Sea Supports A
Galicia – Rumania, A Finland Supports F Norway, A Galicia – Rumania, F Norway
Hold,
F Sweden Supports F North
Sea – Denmark, A Tyrolia - Munich (*Bounce*).
Turkey: Jack McHugh - jwmchughjr@gmail.com - Retreat A Bulgaria -
Rumania..
F Aegean Sea Supports A
Rumania - Bulgaria (*Cut*), F Ankara Hold,
A Constantinople Supports
A Rumania – Bulgaria, A Rumania - Bulgaria (*Dislodged*,
retreat to Sevastopol or
Ukraine or Serbia or OTB).
Tim Haffey has
resigned as Germany (he’s having email problems, and just before the deadline
reported he’s having major eyesight problems which he fears may not be
treatable). Will Andy Lischett (andy@lischett.com) please take over?
Supply Center Chart
Austria: Budapest,
Bulgaria, Greece, Serbia?, Vienna=4 or 5 Build 1
England: Denmark, Edinburgh, Liverpool, London=4 Even
France: Brest, Marseilles, Paris, Portugal, Spain=5
Even
Germany: Belgium, Berlin, Holland, Kiel, Munich=5 Even
Italy: Naples, Rome, Trieste, Tunis, Venice=5
Even
Russia: Moscow, Norway, Rumania, Sevastopol?, St
Petersburg,
Sweden, Warsaw=6 or 7 Even
or Build 1
Turkey: Ankara, Constantinople, Smyrna,
Sevastopol?, Serbia?=3 or 4 Even
or Build 1
PRESS:
Lord Haw-Haw to Berlin: No, the *other* left!
Bob Durf: Czar Bob Reflecting on Pope 'I won the World
Championship, lets have some Tea and Biscuits' Toby of Italy.
disclaimer: Czar Bob has nothing but respect and love for
his friend in Italy.
Associated Press of
St. Petersburg: Russian Troops
Leaving Vienna
Deadline
for W 02/S 03 is: June
13th at 7am My Time
Balkan
Wars VI, “Bad Way to Go”, 2020Apb08, Fall 1910
Albania:
Mark Firth – mogcate@aol.com – A Tir–MON, F Nas-TRI,
F VAL-Epi.
Bulgaria:
Jack McHugh - jwmchughjr@gmail.com -
F VAR-Con, A Sof-PLO,
A Mac-SAL, A THR S A Mac-Sal.
Greece:
Kevin Wilson – ckevinw@gmail.com – A EPI-Val, A Sal s A Epi-Val (Dis – ret Ath, OTB), F
Spa – GOC.
Rumania:
Brad Wilson –fullfathomfive675@gmail.com - F NBS-Izm , A Bes-CLUJ, A DUB H.
Serbia: Andy
York – wandrew88@gmail.com - A Cro-BOS, A Bel-CRO, A SKO S A
Mac-Sal.
Turkey:
Heath Davis-Gardner – heathdavisgardner@gmail.com - F IZM s A Con,
A
CON S Rumanian F Nbs– Var (Impossible), F Ems-RHO.
Supply Center Chart
Albania: Mon, Tir, Val, Tri=4 Build
1
Bulgaria: Sof, Var, Plo, Thr, Sal=5 Build 1
Greece: Ath, Spa=2 Remove
1
Rumania: Buc, Gal,
Cnsta, Cluj, Dub=5 Build
2
Serbia: Bel, Nis, Sko, Bos=4 Build
1
Turkey: Con, Izm, Smy, Rho=4 Build 1
Neutral: Mal, Cre, Cyp
PRESS
Turkey to Rumania - All this for one or
two dots? Shoot me an email, let's figure out how to make Bulgaria truly
suffer. Turks know the Janissary position quite well and are happy to be on the
other end of it for once. You made this variant, so I'm sure you are aware of
advantages to taking me out that I'm not seeing, but from where I'm sitting, it
looks like either Bulgaria is a sucker, in which case good for you, or you
think Bulgaria is a sucker but he isn't, in which case good for him. Of all the
people on this board, I bet you anything I care the least about winning and the
most about having some fun. Why be such a party pooper? Are you convinced yet?
:)
RUM-ALB: Smart opening builds.
WORLD to BULGARIA: Ugly haircut!
Turkey to Bulgaria - Did you not get my
email at the start of this game? Was this in the bag from the beginning? At
least Rumania responded to me literally the day of the deadline after my moves
were in and stuff. But yeah, if he broke my support and you got into Con,
congrats.
Turkey to Greece - If Rum/Bul press the
attack, you know I'm going to support you as much as I can in taking my dots.
You at least exchanged a bunch of emails with me, even if they were all setup
for some sort of misorder :)
Greece, Albania, and Serbia, If you're listening,
release the Rumanian/Bulgarian emails. What have they been saying to each of
you? Compare notes.
FRANZ FERDINAND SAYS: Look out Serbian
creeps, here I come!
Deadline for W 1910/S 1911: June 13th
at 7am My Time
Remember, there are NO SEPARATIONS allowed
in Balkan Wars
Where in the World is
Kendo Nagasaki?
The Rules were in
Eternal Sunshine #131, read them if you want a detailed explanation and
examples. Basically, this is a guessing
game, trying to guess the mystery person and their location (both chosen by me
before the game started). Closest guess
gets a public clue and notification they were the closest. Everyone else sees the clue but has to figure
out on their own who was the closest that turn.
Turn 1
