Eternal Sunshine #153

February 2022

By Douglas Kent - 911 Irene Drive, Mesquite, TX 75149

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 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 – “Doh….Oh, Mr. Policeman, don't you know a clown can get away with murder?” - (John Wayne Gacy in “To Catch a Killer”)

Welcome to Eternal Sunshine, the official zine of surly creeps and miserable losers. And you, of course, as none of the readers fall into either of those categories (unless they wish to claim membership of their own accord). They’re fairly exclusive clubs, and not ones that attract much interest in new membership. At the last meeting, I was the only attendee. Sanka was there too, but just to be a neutral observer. I think Jack McHugh was planning on being there, but he didn’t show up, so his membership application had to be rejected as I could not confirm any of the identity information in person.

On February 3^rd, the Second Annual Dallas Ice Storm and Hard Freeze arrived to the area. Many of you may remember the heavy media coverage it got last year, as the entire state was struck with near-record lows and day after day of below-freezing temperatures. Remember, I grew up living up north, so I know what real cold is like. The problems down here last year were that the homes simply aren’t built to withstand that kind of weather pattern. There were widespread issues with downed power lines, overload of demand for the power grid, and countless frozen water pipes (including huge water mains). It took months for all the damage to be repaired, and when all was said and done I think the estimated death toll across the state was over 200 (including weather-related road accidents, trees falling, and flat-out freezing to death).

This time around things were much better. First of all, the major power plants have been properly winterized (although some of the natural gas facilities have not been, which can cause issues). Second, people took it seriously; last year a lot of people seemed very blasé about the approaching weather, and they paid the price. This time people made sure they had supplies, residents kept faucets dripping to avoid burst pipes, and most townships and cities closed schools and most facilities in advance (not counting warming centers for those who are homeless or who might lose power and become displaced). And finally, it simply wasn’t the kind of insane prolonged freeze as we saw in 2021. Temperatures dropped into the teens late on Wednesday the 3^rd, but by Saturday the 5^th we were seeing some surface ice begin to melt. Black ice and some bad patches on roads and bridges were still an issue through Monday the 7^th as things would refreeze overnight, but by Monday afternoon we hit 60 degrees and things were generally back to normal. It was mostly a non-event, aside from terrible road conditions for a few days. Still, I heard a lot of people felt like they were having massive anxiety, reliving the mess from last year and afraid it was going to repeat itself. I don’t blame anyone for getting that way; logically the forecast said it wouldn’t be anything similar, but emotion rules in such things.

I barely have any movie reviews this issue. Mostly that’s because I didn’t feel much like watching new things (and I had a hard time finding anything worth watching…I don’t include reviews of things I don’t bother finishing). Being entertained or interested enough to watch all the way through seems a bigger issue these days. I start movies, and after half an hour realize I’m forcing myself to keep going…and then I don’t. I turn them off and move on. I did watch Season 3 of Ricky Gervais’ brilliant series After Life on Netflix. I was a huge fan of the first two seasons, and while the third was better than most things on TV, it didn’t measure up to the others. I felt Gervais used a cheap plot device to steer things towards the upbeat ending he gave us, and the ending itself was completely unrealistic. Too sitcomesque, if you will. All the story lines wrap up and everyone is happier than they were when the first season started? Okay, but if that’s how it should work out; this felt forced and rushed. Oddly, I’ve seen more praise for the show (and Season 3) than I ever did when I watched the first two seasons. In some respects, that makes sense: when you dilute something down enough so that it’s no longer too dark for general public consumption, you’re trading some truth for popularity. It was still worth watching. It was just a bit of a letdown.

The other reason I didn’t watch much new stuff since last issue was that as of February 1^st I am once again watching and reviewing submissions for the NHDocs Documentary Film Festival. In most cases, this is a tedious and painful process, because at least half of the films submitted for consideration are just terrible. And by terrible, I mean so bad that there is no redeeming quality, no way of fixing it, and nothing positive that can be said about it. Out of the other half, you do stumble across a few good films, and a few terrific ones (both short and long form). And the rest fall in the middle, which means even when I vote “Thumbs Down,” I am able to provide some constructive criticism of what worked and what didn’t, changes that the filmmaker might consider, specific issues with story or sound or editing. I consider those ones to be moral victories. The film may be rejected, but the feedback could be of some use if the filmmaker is open to it. I’ve got months of screening to do, so that’s where a lot of my leisure time will be spent during the spring and summer. When all is said and done, if we wind up with a respectable catalogue of films for the festival, I find it a modestly rewarding endeavor. As we approach the actual festival’s dates (both in-person and online) I will provide information on how to buy tickets and attend or view the accepted submissions.

In zine news, Peter Sullivan’s game has come to an end. Peter says he may or may not try running another, but he’ll be taking a break from his subzine for at least a while. Smart man, jumping off the ship before it sinks and we all drown. Conrad von Metzke – despite a hard drive crash – is back again as well. And of course Andy York, who rarely gets the praise he deserves. Probably my fault.

I guess that’s it from me for now. See you in March!

Game Openings

Diplomacy (Black Press): Signed up: Kevin Wilson, Gavin Begbie, Rick Davis, need four more to start.

By Almost Popular Demand: Ongoing. Join in and play NOW!

Where in the World is Kendo Nagasaki?: Ongoing. Join in and play NOW!

Also in Andy York’s Subzine – You can find his ongoing “Hangman, By Definition” and Facts in Five, plus an opening for Breaking Away.

Standby List: HELP! I need standby players! – Current standby list: Andy York, Andy Lischett, Paul Milewski, Harold Reynolds, Jack McHugh, Brad Wilson, Graham Wilson.

Meet Me in Montauk

The Eternal Sunshine Letter Column

Richard Smith: I have to agree with you about the use of warnings rather than edits for older movies with content deemed inappropriate by today's standards.

However I should confess that some of my favourite comedy movies such as Life of Brian, Blazing Saddles and Dogma were considered offensive when they were first released! I also agree that Excalibur is great - the acting, the visuals, the costumes and the music are all wonderful, and the somewhat ponderous screenplay just adds gravitas.

[[I would classify Life of Brian and Dogma as being in a different category; they were more controversial than offensive. It seems you can’t make a comedy about religion without religious zealots protesting the film, even though they’ve never seen it and have no idea what it’s about. For my birthday in 1980 my Dad was going to take me and two of my friends to see Life of Brian but we had to switch to Private Benjamin after Chris’s parents said Life of Brian “made fun of God.” Granted, neither were especially appropriate for kids out age, and in retrospect I don’t think I would have gotten as many of the jokes as I did when I finally saw it a few years later. Private Benjamin was a better choice at the time.]]

Mark Nelson: I agree with you about NYE/NYD. I almost always go to bed at my usual time. I think the last time I stayed up to watch the celebrations was December 31st 1999, since that year the coverage went on over an extended period to include the New Year celebrations across the globe.

I wonder if Conrad has published a subzine before? I assume that the answer is yes, in which case I wonder if he remembers when and where this was...

[[He would be the one to answer that question, obviously…]]

My last letter was written just before the requirement to wear a mask and to check-in to shops (using QR codes) was removed. As was obvious, the only possible outcome that was achieved by removing these mandates was a rapid increase in the number of cases. The number of cases is now so high that the daily figures are no longer accurate because they can't turn around the test results and because people can't get tested. The politicians have now had to remandate the wearing of masks and the like. We now have regular shortages of goods in supermarkets, not because people have gone crazy stock-piling (which happened almost two years ago) but because approximately 50% of the people who work on the logistics side of supply are isolating at home so there are enough workers to get the goods into the supermarkets. There is now a suggestion that these logistic workers should be exempt from self-isolating rules. I have qualified and now taken my booster shot. Originally, that was only an option six months after your second vaccine. That period was reduced to five months and now to four months.

[[We’ve had plenty of shortages here, varying in specific item, city, or even down to certain stores. Omicron has proven to be rapidly contagious, albeit apparently not as deadly. Between warehouses, logistics centers, the stores themselves, and the various methods of transport, lots of things can be hard to find for a few days. Then it switches to something else. I’ve seen some people complain about no milk being available at the store they go to, when other stores are fully stocked. It’s utterly random. The deep freeze Dallas had in early February (and all the ice on the roads for two days) only exacerbated the problem.]]

We did manage to see an additional two movies, bringing the 2021 total to four.

I agree with you about people who do not wear masks properly, particularly if they are working in a supermarket...

As I mentioned last time we went to Sydney for a short break (two nights) just after the mask mandate was removed. I was surprised at how many people were not wearing masks. As you say, best to avoid any

political discussion about this...

[[I can’t even keep track of the rules around here these days. Some stores require them, some only if you’re unvaccinated (which makes zero sense, as masks help stop infected people from spreading COVID, not really stop the wearer from catching it. And as Omicron infects those who are vaccinated just as easily – despite making them generally less ill – why the double standard? It is MORE likely for an asymptomatic person to be vaccinated.]]

Watching old movies is a confronting way of realising how social mores have changed - more confronting than reading about it in a book. I like the way that TCM is dealing with this, I am strongly against either the re-editing of old movies to remove scenes that are problematical or the blanket banning of such movies. I don't think anything is gained from either approach, indeed much is lost. Better to show the movie as released and then discuss the context. On a related issue, an on-again off-again debate in Australia is the existence of statues for the great men of the past - the great white mean of the past of course. By contemporary standards these men are guilty of all kinds of crimes. But I don't see what's to be gained from pulling down the statues - I'm in favour of re-contextualising them. To take an example at the more trivial end of the spectrum, Captain Cook did not discover Australia and was not even the first white man to discover Australia. But I don't see that as a reason to pull down his statue.

[[That was a major thing here in the states for the last few years. It started with the southern Confederate statues, and continues to spread to anyone who has ever done anything objectionable. It reminds me of the way eBay is now delisting items they think are objectionable. I get the removal of some Confederate collectibles, or black caricatures, but…I saw one postcard they took down, circa 1900, that depicted a drawing of Geisha bowing as she served tea to someone. They said it promoted colonialism. Everything has the potential to offend someone, are we really at the point where the powers that be have to protect the world from the possibility of being offended?]]

I haven't seen, indeed heard of, The Mists of Avalon. I assume that's based on the novel by Marion Zimmer Bradley? I read that a couple of times approximately thirty years ago when I was a PhD student (and seem to have more time for reading!). I will put that onto my list of books that I want to reread after I retire... It's certainly my favourite `King Arthur' novel, though it's also the only one I've ever read.

[[I think I first read it in prison. Heather mailed a copy to me, mostly because it was good and long. She had a habit of sending me any long book she could find regardless of topic.]]

Don't Look Up... it got savaged in the reviews I saw and I doubt that I will see it.

Andy York: Regarding the novel idea for your book, you can always say "based on real-events, names and details changed to obscure the participants" or something like that. Let's the reader know it isn't completely made up.

[[That would be fine by me…but not by the family members. Still, it’s possible something might be arranged if I ever actually WRITE the thing.]]

I have a bit different viewpoint of "Don't Look Up", and I agree that the trailers weren't too humorous. However, I went to see it with friends in a theater (maybe 1/3 of capacity). Upon leaving one of my friends and I agreed that it was better than we thought going in. Part of that was that we were aware that it was a take on the real world's climate change and that it played off some of the current political attitudes/stances. Also, being "in a (pseudo)crowd" improved the "funny"ness. There were a few times that the entire theater was laughing, including me - and I'm not a laughing person. I think this type of movie plays better with others as laughing can be infectious.

[[The communal experience of seeing a movie can create an entirely different experience. I think back to when I saw The Blair Witch Project on opening night, in a packed theater full of people who waited two hours or longer to get in. Now sit down and watch it on a video tape…there’s no comparison. I still enjoy watching it now and then, but part of that is triggering the memory of that night.]]

I agree that the acting wasn't what it could have been, even with the caliber of the actors. But, I didn't try to break it down as this type of movie loses cohesiveness once you look under the covers.

[[I caught the comparisons to the current political stuff. It just didn’t play for me. But as many people have given it much stronger positive reviews than you did – and you enjoyed it – it’s clear that there’s a wide range of opinions. One thing I have realized, mostly from replying to these letters, is that finding it such a disappointment bothered me more than many other films, mainly because it had real promise. The premise, the cast…it could have been something. I coulda been a contender…. Speaking of which, on a topic you did not bring up, I can’t even remember when I lost all interest in the Academy Awards. I used to devour them. Now I ignore them, or roll my eyes.]]

The Dining Dead – Eternal Sunshine Movie Reviews

Flesh for Frankenstein (Shudder) – This title recently had a remastered Blu-Ray release from Vinegar Syndrome, so when I saw it on Shudder I decided to give it a go. Generally most VS titles border on terrible, despite the rapid fandom of their collectors. Flesh for Frankenstein was released as Andy Warhol’s Frankenstein in the U.S., I think simply because of writer and director Paul Morrissey’s connection to Warhol. (Warhol may have put up some of the funds for the film, I can’t be certain and don’t’ care enough to find out). Shot in Italy, it’s supposed to be a mixture of camp, overacting, and grotesque scenes. By 1973 standards it was all three, but by today’s standards it doesn’t hold up especially well. Baron Frankenstein (Udo Kier) and his assistant Otto (Arno Juerging) spend most of their time in the lab, trying to assemble a male and a female “zombie” so the Baron can have them mate and bear him children for his army or slaves. He’s got a wife who he ignores, and who passes her time having sex with farmhands on their property, and two odd children who snoop around and watch things from corners and dirty windows. There’s a basic plot but it’s not even worth getting into. For historical sake it wasn’t entirely boring, but after forty minutes it loses all momentum (if it ever had any). In a way it’s typical Giallo fare, but the cinematography has some merit. There’s a sister film shot at about the same time called Blood for Dracula that I may try watching too (also on Shudder and also with a recent remaster), where Dracula needs to feed on virgins but can’t find any.

Older Movies Watched (that I’ve seen many times) – The Bridge on the River Kwai, To Catch a Killer, The Usual Suspects, The Verdict.

NOT TONIGHT, DEAR,

I HAVE A DEADLINE (2)

By Conrad von Metzke

In the beginning….

It was September 1961. I had just enrolled for my first semester in college, with a major in English and a minor in Political Science. As it happened, both of those departments at San Diego State College shared the same building, and so did a small cafeteria, which meant that I didn’t have very far to walk for anything. Very neatly arranged for me; and it became even better when, my second week, I discovered an office labelled “Model United Nations.” So one fine day, I walked into the office “just to see.”

Many of you now reading this weren’t born yet in 1961, but if you were, you doubtless heard the thunder and saw the flash of lightning. Because at that moment I discovered the meticulously rumpled gentleman sitting in the big fat armchair in the inner office. And on his desk was a placard: RODNEY C. WALKER, Secretary-General.

Ooh, I thought. I’d heard about the Model U.N., maybe they could use a freshman file clerk or something so I could get in on it. So I knocked discreetly, and shyly waved.

“Yes?” said the man behind the desk – who had a drooping mustache and pointy teeth, and wore a crinkled brown suit – he looked, actually, a bit like a gopher dressed as a person.

“Please, sir,” might have been a better intro, but instead I settled for “Hey there, so you’re running a U.N. imitation, eh? May I help?”

Huff puff snort wheeze….”IMITATION? It is no such thing! It is absolutely the real thing, save only that nothing we do has any effect in the outside world. Hmph...imitation. If that’s what you think, then please use the exit on your way out.”

I chortled. (But I would soon learn that the gopher at the desk was the better chortler.) “No offense, bub, I just meant that you ain’t no Hammarskjöld and nobody around here looks like no peacekeeper. So, what? You do what we used to do in high school? Write fake reso- lutions and vote on ‘em and then go get cokes and hit on chicks?”

I think it was the intense reddening, and also the spittle, that told me I might have pushed things a bit beyond….

But in time, because I was generous buying Cokes and really did have something that was officially certified as a brain, Mr. Gopher and I – er, sorry; Mr. Walker and I – deigned to become friends. And thus he was the first person I thought of who might have money enough to answer a classified ad I found in Saturday Review - “Game of Strategy, make and break deals, world domination, etc., etc.” Showing same to Mr. Walker, I observed a gleam of ferocious intensity that boded very ill for anyone who chose to play such a game with such a demonic personality. But what the hell, I thought, if he pays for the game set, maybe I’ll get trounced, but at least I won’t be out any cash….

“Diplomacy” - the big maroon box with wooden pieces – arrived a week or so later, and Rod invited me over to his house to see what it was all about. And as we read the rules together and played around with some trial moves, I’m quite sure any observer would have seen that sort of lustful gaze that heroin addicts get….

We tried some simulations, and tested the effects of rules on what we might be able to do, and in short order we decided it was time to try the game set with full complement. Rod and I both had homes that had spacious areas for such things, so from here on we took turns hosting. There were sufficient variations in work or school schedules that we could theoretically have had a game nearly every night of the week.

Well, of course, “Diplomacy” became something of an obsession around here, to the point that – when a sample copy of John Boardman’s “Graustark” arrived in my mailbox just as we were finding scheduling issues with our in-person gaming (we were mostly students, after all) - we collectively brought our excitement to a fever pitch. And we jumped on the publishing bandwagon as if we were the rats climbing back on a sinking ship. I started COSTAGUANA. Hal Naus started ADAG. Bob Ward took over a flagging orphan, STAB. Mac Jeffery rolled out T.S. And Bob Cline, obviously sick of the scamper to find a name for his variant ‘zine, did the easy thing and just called it nothing at all – which the rest of us translated to NAME, and which – when taken over by someone else down the line – became RENAME.

And by these means, we began San Diego’s conquest of the universe, one Dip game at a time. Hal Naus and I even went out and bought our very own duplicating machines; the others either borrowed ours or went to commercial shops. And if some researcher had selected us as a microcosm for study of the society at the time, we’d probably have been credited with a third World War.

Well. All crazes run down below the level of frenzy sooner or later, and ours was no exception. A few of the departures from the ranks were tragic: Bob Ward died very suddenly (I never did learn how), and Hal Naus’s wife died equally suddenly and left him to raise three small children. The others hung on for a while, but in the end I think I was the only lunatic – er, valiant warrior – who kept it going on and on and on and on and….

And in the end, even I buckled to the pressure of Real Life, though never totally as the others did. In point of fact I haven’t seen or been in any contact with any of the above former co-warriors for quite a few years; for all I know, they’re all deceased save me. (And since we no longer have ‘phone books to look numbers up, I may never hear of them again.)

But I published for a very long time after the dissolution of the local cabal, and even now – so many years later – it’s obvious that some form of the gaming disease still resides deep within my bones. Which probably means that, one of these fine days when nothing else occurs to me to do, I’ll go type another ‘zine, send it to as many people as I have addresses for, and wait for a New Cycle to begin.

Or maybe I’ll just read all the stuff in the ‘zine you’re reading right now, and satisfy myself with the knowledge of what I contributed to the past, which of course has been embedded in the present and accordingly points its way to a long and bright future, to which for a while yet I can still contribute endless barrages of verbiage to uplift and edify. Count on it. It is SO much more fun to write about it than to actually lose as Austria for the zillionth time….

Octopus's Garden

Issue One Hundred and Four

9^th February 2022

Sub-editorial

HELLO, good evening and welcome to Octopus's Garden, the subzeen with its very own Railway Rivals end-game statement. It is a subzeen to Douglas Kent's Eternal Sunshine. It's produced by Peter Sullivan peter@burdonvale.co.uk. It's also available on the web at: http://www.burdonvale.co.uk/octopus/.

RR Number: RR 2473 B	Round 0: OG 93	Date: Jan 2021
Game name: "Garrett Hobart"	Round 1: OG 94	Date: Feb 2021
Game: Railway Rivals Map B (London & Liverpool)	Round 12: OG 103	Date: Jan 2022
g.m.: Peter Sullivan	Game-end: OG 104	Date: Feb 2022

JGL [John Galt Line] black (Start: Liverpool)

John David Galt

AYUP (All Yorkshiremen Utter Profoundly) yellow (Start: Hull)

Mark Firth

HJA (Henry John and Associates) red (Start: London)

Hank Alme

BASH [Bradford and Sheffield Steel Highway] sky-blue (Start: Bristol)

Bob Blanchett

Round	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
JGL	20	46	47	71	82	87	103	150	216	294	346	409	482
AYUP	20	32	50	54	58	66	71	120	158	223	302	389	454
HJA	20	37	56	72	63	59	56	88	156	179	197	221	272
BASH	20	21	19	5	17	14	-2	20	69	89	140	165	178

That was Octopus's Garden #104, Startling Press production number 400.

400 issues? That’s not too many…

Out of the WAY #41

by W. Andrew York

(wandrew88 of gmail.com)

Howdy!

Another month that the time just flew by. So, little reading time (only one book finished) and not much progress on all the projects I have on my to-do list. So, again, this is light on content beyond the game reports. New game of Hangman is starting if anyone would like to join in a fresh one.

Plus, it was an opportune time to upgrade my phone and computer. I have yet to get things fully set-up on and transferred to the new devices with progress on the phone far ahead of the computer (typing this on my old computer). Fortunately, from my work days, I’m well practiced on using two computers side-by-side. So, there’s no rush on getting things over as the older computer isn’t failing - I bought it about seven years ago and there was a good deal to be had.

The phone really needed to be done, the old one was over three years old and the battery wasn’t near what it was originally. But, I still use it daily on my walks as, with headphones, it acts as a radio so I can listen to NPR while walking (usually “1A” and/or “Texas Standard” on weekdays, “Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me!” and/or “Live Wire” on Saturday) and not have it charged against my wireless plan.

I was able to catch a few movies:

“We Need to Talk about Kevin” – only saw this because of Tilda Swinton as the main character, the psychological

thriller theme wasn’t something that I was interested in. The movie itself is a bit disturbing, but well done with

little visual “shock” events. Swinton does a masterclass showing the toll the events did on the mother’s psyche

over the years.

“The Last and First Man” – yes, the narrative is drawn from the SF classic by Olaf Stapledon, voiced by Tilda Swinton.

However, the limited voiceover is only to provide a thematic glue to the effort. The filmography is of concrete

structures in the Balkans – just montages and panorama shots. Overlaid is an instrumental score that bridges

the visuals and the narrative. Overall, it’s a contemplative work rather than an entertaining story or novel

adaptation.

“Jockey” – filmed in 20 days, “banker’s hours”, and for $350k (or was it $380k?) the film is a look into the world of

horseracing from the jockey’s point of view – in this case a jockey nearing the end of his career. A very

intimate movie, with many of the scenes drawn from discussions with jockeys, and many of them include those

jockeys and other personnel around the track where it was shot. A post-discussion with the writer/directors

really brought out the amazing effort that brought the film together and reinforced the authenticity of the

movie’s message.

“Trouble in Paradise” – a pre-Code comedy/romance film set in Europe. Nicely done overall, with a well-integrated

humor underline rather than overt slapstick. It does show a bit of its age, as certain techniques that were fresh

at the time are a bit stale today (such as a musical line that climbs a scale as folks run up a staircase or

descends the same scale when going down). Still, an entertaining viewing.

Last time I mentioned the SABR membership I received as a Christmas gift. The meeting I teased was excellent! Great presentations (one on worldwide baseball stamp issue was particularly enjoyable), the speakers had a wealth of stories and insight into baseball history and the Express management folks previewed some of the changes to AAA in the upcoming season along with the assurance that, regardless if MLB’s season is delayed, it won’t delay the minor leagues. The biggest effect will be that no one on the MLB team’s 40-man rosters may play until a deal is finished. I do need to mention that one of the speakers, a female umpire who was working a fantasy camp in Florida, brought in quick cameo ‘hi’s from three women who played in the women’s leagues from WWII. That was something I never expected!

The next monthly meeting was also done remotely (the area is still in the strictest COVID stage, though it may lessen in the near future). It was just members, with one presenting a “brushes with the famous” of getting autographs or meeting notable celebrities. There was a quiz on identifying Hall-of-Famers who were team leaders in a stat category for both NL and AL teams. I only was able to identify one, while most others were in the teens and low 20s (of 25 possible). I obviously have much to learn!

Also during the month SABR released a book, an electronic version which is free for members to download. It is a 176-page publication titled “Negro Leagues are Major Leagues”. A glance through the book bumps it up near the top of in my baseball book list – it has 22 articles and will be easily tackled by reading one a day. I’m quite liking the membership so far!

==================================

Texas Talk

ANN RICHARDS QUOTE #11

“The here and now is all we have, and if we play it right it’s all we’ll need.”

Sources: www.inspiringquotes.us/author/3002-ann-richards

===================================

Letter Column

(always welcome, send them in!)

(if something shouldn’t be included here, clearly mark it as a personal comment)

[Mark Firth] - …did you say you have some kind of Dip map tool (maybe from Kevin Wilson?) that can be used to set position

up? That would be really useful as I cannot get the online sites I’ve tried to work. [WAY] – that I do, it’s PowerPoint

based. I’ve forwarded the Email with that attachment to you. Anyone else?

[MF in Later Note] – On first inspection seems really easy to update so should be a very useful tool. I’ll thank Kevin

too. [WAY] – An endorsement, and kudos to Kevin! Anyone else?

[Mark Nelson] - Based upon what's happened already in 2022 I'm not expecting this year to be an improvement upon 2021...

The Xmas tradition in our household is to have a seafood fiesta. This usually means pre-cooked seafood on Xmas Eve

and then to cook something on Xmas Day. My mind has gone completely blank regarding what we've cooked

previously, but one year we had a seafood paella. On NYD I like to cook a "devil chicken" recipe (from a Singaporean

cooking book), though the misses will only eat it once so I have to eat it over many subsequent days. (Luckily it's one of

those recipes which tastes better and better). [WAY] – care to share any recipes?

[MN] - Glancing through your subzine before reading it, my first thought upon seeing the word Vertigo was not the

movie for Brad Wilson's old fanzine.

Andy's [[Lischett]] comment about his cars put me in mind of a clip in "The Castle" (a famous Australian movie). I

couldn't find the clip on youtube, but here's the quote.

"Steve could you move the Camira? I need to get the Torana out so I can get to the Commodore."

Returning to engineering students. It wouldn't necessarily be the case that students had already seen the exact question,

but they had already seen the type of question. (Though sometimes I did populate the last few tutorial sheets with some

of the exact questions from the forthcoming exam paper). I used to get the students to do the "never surrender, never

give up" quote in class and do the hand movement. The good thing about teaching engineering students is that you

know that some of them will get the reference...

I'll forgo the use of a potato ricer for my mashed potatoes, but I won't forgo trying to put as much full cream milk and

butter as I can into them. Got to draw the line somewhere.

A book I read a few years ago and enjoyed (which you might like) was David Crystal's "Begat: The King James Bible

& the English Language". When I finish reading my current book I should go back and reread it. [WAY] – Looks

interesting, I’ll look for it!

===================================

Mini-Book Reviews

(finished since last issue)

Creation and Fall by Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1959; 96p).

I recently came across this book, subtitled “A Theological Interpretation of Genesis 1-3”, and immediately bumped to a ‘next read’ book. I was not disappointed. FYI - Bonhoeffer was a German theologian who opposed the Nazi movement in Germany and was killed in a concentration camp a month before the end of WWII.

In 23 chapters, running up to 10 pages, he dissects the passages in the first three books of the Bible’s Genesis, and the first verse of the fourth book. It is an intriguing, thought-provoking and contemplative look into the Judeo-Christian world creation, and birth of man, texts. Well worth reading if you’re looking for a nuanced interpretation of these Biblical chapters. [January 2022]

===================================

Babylon 5 Quote

In “A Voice in the Wilderness, Part 1” – Delenn: “Without the hope that things will get better, that our inheritors will know a

world that is fuller and richer than our own, life is pointless and evolution is vastly over-rated.”

===================================

Game Section

Everyone Plays Games: Hangman, By Definition; Facts in Five

Game Openings: Breaking Away (Kent, Burgess, Smith; Firth, minimum 6 players needed)

Standard Choice (Smith, minimum 4 players needed)

Possible Game Openings: Breaking Away Variants, Grey-Press Gunboat (no preference lists)

Suggestions accepted for other games to offer.

Standbys: Breaking Away (x1); Gunboat Diplomacy (x1)

Rules for Breaking Away. Breaking Away Variants and Choice available on the Variable Pig website (variablepig.org)

~~+++++++++++++++++++++~~

“Round Rock Express”

(No-Press Gunboat, Game #1)

MN: 2021Crb32

Spring 1902

Austria: F GRE s a bul, A BUL s a gal-rum, A TRI s ITA a ven-tyl, A BUD s a gal-rum, A gal-RUM, A VIE s ITA a ven-tyl

England: F NWY hold, A gas-mar (r-bur/otb), A pic-BRE, F mao-POR, A lpl-YOR, f lon-eng (nsu)

France: F NWG-nwy, A SPA s a mar-gas, A bel-PIC, A PAR s a bel-pic, A mar-GAS

Germany: F swe-BAL, A bur-BEL, A MUN-ber, A war-MOS, F DEN s f swe-bal, A ber-SIL, A KIE-ber

Italy: F EME c a tun-syr, A TUN-syr, A ven-TYL, F ION c a tun-syr

Russia: F bal-kie (r-bot/pru/lvn/otb), F rum-BLA, A UKR-rum, A BOH-mun

Turkey: A SMY-syr, F CON s f rum-bul(ec) (nsu to support), F AEG-smy

Supply Center Count

Austria: Bud, Tri, Vie, Ser, Gre, Bul = 6

England: Edi, Lpl, Lon, Bre, Nwy = 5

France: Mar, Par, Por, Spa, Bel = 5

Germany: Ber, Kie, Mun, Den, Hol, Swe, War = 7

Italy: Nap, Rom, Ven, Tun = 4

Russia: Mos, StP, Sev, Rum = 4

Turkey: Ank, Con, Smy = 3

Neutral: none

Next Due Retreats and Fall 1903

Note – Split seasons are granted when 2 or more requests are received if 4+ players; 3 or less requires only 1.

+++++++++++++++++++++

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 Five, Turn 1:

Solution:

Word: __ __ __ __ __ __ (6)

Definition: __ __ (2) __ __ __ __ __ (5) __ __ __ __ __ (5) __ __ (2) __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ (8)

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ (7) __ __ __ (3) __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ (8) __ __ (2)

__ __ __ __ __ (5)

Never Revealed: E, S Already Revealed: none

Game Words Correctly Guessed: Infinitesimal (David-Gardner, Firth, Kent, Smith, Wilson);

Triclinium (Firth, Maslen, Smith, Wilson)

Chummy (Wilson)

Region (Firth, Kent, Lischett, Maslen, Smith)

Player Comments:

[Kevin Wilson] – Well, I don’t know if it would have made a difference or not but I completely missed the semi-colon in the

definition after SPACE. I had the words Any, large, usually, of, a, or, an & area but was trying to logic a definition that

brought “an area” along with the rest, not noticing the semi-colon. That might have been just enough to tip it the right

way as REGION was one of the first options I came up with but passed on. Oh well. So close. [WAY] – Any reasonable

suggestions on making things more readable?

+++++++++++++++++++++

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. Please clearly identify which individual you are using as your answer if there are multiple potential people with a given name. For instance, if the category is American Presidents, answering Washington is fine as there is only one; however, if you decided to use Bush you need to indicate whether you are submitting the father or the son. Unclear answers will be matched to score the least points. Using the Bush example, if one person submitted “Bush” and three people submit “George W. Bush” the latter would score 2 points and the former 1.

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.

Game Four, Round Three

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.

Note: One player submitted some original answers along with alternate answers if the first one didn’t fit in the category. In these

situations, I’ll only look at the first answer and disregard any others. As a general comment, the “goal” is not just to give

an answer to the category but also to match another player’s answer so you get the bonus point. If you think an answer

is iffy, it’s unlikely to match anyone else’s and you probably should pick something that’ll definitely fit the category. Of

course if you can’t determine something that fits, taking a stab or making a humorous answer is welcome (though please

let me know so I don’t spend time trying to verify an intentionally wrong answer).

Players E G M S T

Human Body Organ

Mark Firth Ear Gall Bladder Mesentery Spleen Thyroid Gland

Doug Kent Ear Gall Bladder Mouth Stomach Tongue

Andy Lischett Ear Gall Bladder Mouth Stomach Testicles

Walt O’Hara Ear Gall Bladder Musculature Spleen Testes

Kevin Wilson Eye Gall Bladder Mouth Skin Tongue

Noted South American Writer

Mark Firth Diamela Eltit Betina Gonzalez Daniel Munduruku Ariano Suassuna Viscount of Taunay

Doug Kent M Enriquez E Galeano G G Marquez Alfonsino Storni <>

Andy Lischett <> Che Guevara Garcia Marquez Alfonsino Storni <>

Walt O’Hara J Edwards J del Granado G Mistral M Serrano A B Tyszka

Kevin Wilson J Edwards N Guillen G G Marquez V D Silva A B Tyszka

Catholic Pope (not Anti-Pope)

Mark Firth Eleutherius Gregory IV Marcellus II Sixtus III Telesphorus

Doug Kent Eugene II Gelasius I Marinus I Simplicius Theodore II

Andy Lischett Eugene II Gregory II Marinus I Sisinnius <>

Walt O’Hara Eleutherius Gregory VII Miltiades Sixtus IV Theodore II

Kevin Wilson Eugene I Gregory XII Marcellus II Sixtus IV Theodore II

Former Female Head of State

Mark Firth ~~Eve (by default)~~ Indira Gandhi Golda Meir Stella Sigcau Yulia Tymoshenko

Doug Kent Elizabeth I Indira Gandhi Golda Meir Stella Sigcau Thatcher

Andy Lischett <> Indira Gandhi Teresa May Jenny Shipley M. Thatcher

Walt O’Hara A E Lahnstein ~~Wu Guixian~~ ~~V Matviyenko~~ ~~V Matviyenko~~ ~~E E Toshkova~~

Kevin Wilson ~~Luise~~ ~~Ermisch~~ Julia Gillard Angela Merkel Ellan Johnson Sirleaf Margaret Thatcher

Non-Profit Organization

Mark Firth Elec Reform… Guide Dogs… MoMA Sierra Club Teen Cancer…

Doug Kent East Side… Global Health… MAP Intl Samaritan’s… Transparent Hands

Andy Lischett Elephant… Greenpeace Marine… Safina Center <>

Walt O’Hara Elephant… Greenpeace Medical… Samaritan’s… Tabby’s Place

Kevin Wilson Environmental… Greenpeace Medicins… St. Jude’s…. TAILS

Note – for allowed and disallowed answers, please feel free to correct me!

Notes on Mark’s Answers: Eve is disallowed, as though it was a nice try, there wasn’t a government to be head of and, even if

there were, arguably God/Yahweh would be the head of state; Elec Reform… is Electoral Reform Society; Guide

Dogs… is Guide Dogs for the Blind; MoMA is Museum of Modern Art; Teen Cancer… is Teenage Cancer Trust

Notes on Doug’s Answers: M Enriquez is Mariana Enriquez; E Galeano is Eduardo Galeano; G G Marquez is Gabriel Garcia

Marquez; East Side is East Side Arts Council (Minneapolis); Global Health is Global Health Ministries; Samaritan’s…

is Samaritan’s Purse

Notes on Andy’s Answers: Elephant… is Elephant Sanctuary; Marine… is Marine Mammal Center

Notes on Walt’s Answers: J Edwards is Jorge Edwards (Chile); J del Granado is Javier del Granado (poet, Bolivia); G Mistral is

Gabriela Mistral (Chile); M Serrano is Marcela Serrano (Chile); A B Tyszka is Alberto Barrera Tyszka (Venezuela);

Eleutherius (Eleutherus) (ca 174); Gregory VII (aka the Best Gregory and most significant pope of medieval times);

Miltiades (Melchiades) (ca 311); Sixtus IV (aka the builder of the Sistine chapel); Theodore II (reigned 20 days); A E

Lahnstein is Anne Enger Lahnstein (Norway, Acting Deputy PM); Wu Guixian (PRC Vice Premier) is disallowed as

I’ve not found any evidence that she was, or acted as, a Head of State; V Matviyenko (Russia, Deputy PM) is Valentina

Matviyenko and is disallowed as I’ve not found any evidence that she was, or acted as, a Head of State; ~~V Matviyenko~~

(Bulgaria, Deputy PM) is Valentina Matviyenko and is disallowed as the last name doesn’t start with an “S”; E E

Toshkova is Emel Etem Toshkova (also Bulgaria, also Deputy PM) is disallowed as I’ve not found any evidence that

she was, or acted as, a Head of State; Elephant… is Elephant Sanctuary; Medical… is Medical Teams International;

Samaritan’s… is Samaritan’s Purse; Tabby’s Place is subtitled a Cat Sanctuary, Inc.

Notes on Kevin’s Answers: J Edwards is Jorge Edwards; N Guillen is Nicolas Guillen; G G Marquez is Gabriel Garcia Marquez;

V D Silva is Victor Domingo Silva (Endeiza); A B Tyszka is Alberto Barrera Tyszka; Luise Ermisch is disallowed as I

can’t find a reference to her being a “Head of State”, though she was member of East Germany’s Central Committee;

Julia Gillard is PM Australia; Angela Merkel is Chancellor F. R. Germany; Ellan Johnson Sirleaf is President Liberia;

Margaret Thatcher is PM UK; Environmental… is Environmental Defense Fund; Medicins… is Medicins Sans

Frontieres; St. Jude’s is St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital

General Player Comments:

[Kevin Wilson] – Female heads of state is a little bit tough. Most are going to be Prime Ministers, which technically are heads of

government not necessarily Head of State. I’m going to choose Head of State = Head of Government = Prime Minister

meets the need. And even with that, finding an “E” was tough. She wasn’t technically a sole HoS but shared it with the

governing council in early East Germany. Probably doesn’t pass muster but best I could do.

Popes, way too many so just picked some names that either rang a bell or were just fun.
Be interesting to see the body organs. My kids just the other day were commenting on skin as the largest organ of the

body.

Finally, some of those Latin names confuse me. You never know if the appropriate surname is the last one listed

(apellido materno) or the next to last (apellido paterno). I had someone in one of our offices in South America explain it

to me once so I get the difference but which is the one to use isn’t consistent. Here I used the one that seemed to be the

preferred (almost always the apellido paterno) but included the other to avoid confusion.

Game Four, Round Four

Letters: A B E O W

Categories: Musical Instrument; Oscar Winning Director; Current Podcast Title; Poet; Seaport City

Current Standings

NOTE – it was pointed out that in the previous issue’s game report “Vengeance is Not Mine” is a haiku by Ging Alburo D, and verified. That adds 1 point to Doug’s total and is reflected below in the previous score.

Scores by Category 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th Now Previous Total

Kevin Wilson 8 8 8 5 6 35 + 86 = 121

Doug Kent 10 6 8 9 6 39 + 78 = 117

Mark Firth 8 5 7 7 5 32 + 74 = 106

Andy Lischett 10 5 6 6 6 33 + 68 = 101

Walt O’Hara 9 7 8 1 8 33 + 68 = 101

===================================

Deadline for the Next Issue of Out of the WAY:

March 9, 2022 at noon Central US Time Zone

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, “Indestructible Machine”, 2020A, End Game

France (John David Galt) - Congrats to Andy for a well-played win.

Germany (Andy Lischett) - When I took over Germany England was in Denmark and Russia in Tyrolia. I wrote to everyone and received nice letters with contradictory information. Austria and Italy said Russia was next to unstoppable, Russia and Turkey said that Italy was controlling Austria and France. Turkey said that England and Germany were ganging up on Russia, while England said that he and Russia were ganging up on me. Italy offered to toss Russia out of Tyrolia.

It was confusing, and it also seemed that everyone had spent two game-years working out deals and nobody, except Russia, wanted to start over for a new player.

Russia admitted plotting with England against Germany, but now he feared an English/French alliance and eventually Bob and I agreed to an offensive against England and France. I was leery of inviting Russia to engulf me - east, north and northwest - but it was the only offer I got. Along with Russia came a Turkish ally, and they were my only allies during the game.

For the next seven game-years Russia and Germany grew evenly until 1909, when - through dumb luck - I took both an Austrian center and an Italian center that I'd attacked only to cut support. With 13 centers to Russia's 10 I began thinking of a solo win rather than a 2-way or 3-way draw, but as late as Spring 1910 I played it straight with Russia.

Before submitting Fall 1910 orders I wrote out the pros and cons of (1) staying true to Russia, or (2) stabbing him later, or (3) stabbing him now. Breaking our alliance was hard, but I chose #3 because the point of playing Diplomacy is to try to win. I also worried that Russia and Turkey would be too big to stab later or might stab me, as they would soon own a combined 16 supply centers and were barely talking to me.

Tactically, getting from 13 to 15 centers in 1910 was easy, but from 15 to 18 after that was iffy. I figured to take Edinburgh, Liverpool and Portugal, but lose Budapest, for a total of 17. Then a stop-the-leader alliance with five Turkish fleets would burst my bubble (ouch!). But I hoped that one or more of Austria, France, Russia and Turkey would be demoralized or confused enough not to cooperate with the others, and that’s what happened. I took Edinburgh, Sweden and Portugal, and held Budapest.

This was my first Diplomacy game in a long time and it was fun yet sometimes nerve-wracking. My printed file for Indestructible Machine is 1.5 inches thick.

The defining events of this game were the Russian/Turkish/German alliance, and drawn-out wars of France vs Italy, and Austria vs Turkey. None of those four powers - Austria, France, Italy or Turkey - ever took hold (except Turkey at the end), which left Russia and Germany to finish England and then nibble at the edges of everything else.

Bob was a terrific ally, whatever his name is. We worked well together and improved on each other’s ideas. I'm from the old days of Diplomacy where one wrote long, detailed letters because if you missed something it could take two weeks to clarify it, so I'd send Bob long emails with three or four suggestions, each having sub-options, and he would reply to five questions with, “Okay”. But we figured it out.

Two questions I’m hoping other endgame statements answer: (1) Was France hitting REPLY ALL when submitting Spring '05 orders a mistake or a trick, and would Russia have stabbed me after 1910? I never read the misdirected orders, and Russia "forgot" to vacate my supply center in Spain in F'10.

Thank you, everybody, for an enjoyable game. And thank you, Doug, for excellent GMing... or as Word says, excellent Gming.

Diplomacy, “More Than Ever”, 2021A, Winter 01

Seasons Separated By Player Request

Austria: Andy Lischett – andy@lischett.com – Build F Trieste, A Vienna..Has A Budapest, F Greece, A Serbia,

F Trieste, A Vienna.

England: Paul Milewski – paul.milewski@hotmail.com – Has F English Channel, F Irish Sea, A Yorkshire.

France: Brad Wilson - fullfathomfive675@gmail.com – Build A Paris, F Brest, F Marseilles..Has A Belgium,

F Brest, F Marseilles, A Paris, A Portugal, F Spain(sc).

Germany: Heath Davis-Gardner – heathdavisgardner@gmail.com – Build F Kiel, A Berlin..Has A Berlin,

F Denmark, A Holland, F Kiel, A Munich.

Italy: John David Galt – jdgalt@att.net - Build F Naples..Has F Ionian Sea, F Naples, A Tunis, A Venice.

Russia: Simon Langley-Evans - slangers1964@gmail.com - Build F St Petersburg(nc), F Sevastopol, A Moscow..

Has A Moscow, A Norway, F Rumania, F Sevastopol, F St Petersburg(nc), F Sweden, A Ukraine.

Turkey: Jack McHugh - jwmchughjr@gmail.com – Build F Smyrna..Has F Ankara, A Bulgaria, A Constantinople,

F Smyrna.

PRESS

None.

Deadline for S 02 is March 12^th at 7am My Time

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