I haven't missed the fact that my blog's focus is now pretty diverse, from games to Israel, technology, law and IP (where did that come from?), media and poetry, religion and philosophy.
I will have to make the shift to Beta blogger if only to add tags to my posts. Either that, or split up the blog.
Game
I sent out my Secret Santa gift, and have been informed that mine is on its way. My SS tells me that this was the first Hanukkah present s/he has ever sent, which increased his/her holiday spirit.
I have uploaded six months worth of reviews and session reports to BGG. 100 GG in one go. Apparently, people like my session reports and aren't thrilled with my reviews. I guess what I do falls somewhere in the middle.
When I write reviews, I don't go into the same sort of detail that others do. I don't list every component, every facet of game play, and every rule. Instead, I describe the basic mechanisms, win conditions, and game feel; what I need to know to know if the game is my sort of game, and no more than that. I might then do a brief analysis of some of the strategies or thought processes that come up in the game.
My session reports, if they don't also include mini-reviews, are either a few paragraphs, or complete blow by blows of the entire game (usually for Puerto Rico or Princes of Florence).
ORDER The Menorah Game from me; the components aren't great, but the game is. Get it in time for Hanukkah. Email me for a copy.
Ungame
Radio host Jerry Klein suggested that all Muslims in the United States should be identified with a crescent-shape tattoo or a distinctive arm band. He was testing his listeners to see what kind of responses he would get. And guess what he got?
Robert Satloff finds Arabs who saved Jews during the Holocaust. Not many, but some.
In the Arab technology field comes Sainul Abideen from Bangladore, who has created a process of storing up to 450 GB on an 8x11 piece of paper. Which is incredible for many reasons.
Update: As noted by Jason in the comments, the storage capacity has been grossly overblown; only a few MB of storage appear to be possible. That's still pretty cool, actually. Imagine backing up dozens of files to a single piece of paper. It's still cheap, bio-degradable, foldable, and cool.
Back in the Jewish world, US News also points us to a commentary from Yeshiva University by Matt Williams who throws down a gauntlet challenging how the yeshiva handles the mixing of sexes, and asserts that it creates rather than assuages sexual tension.
Finally, in the continuing genre of Star Wars parodies, check out the shortened versions of the entire Star Wars saga (very well done). Vid 1 and Vid 2. (via hamzy)
Yehuda
Monday, December 04, 2006
November Board and Card Game Patents
Let's start off with something that appears to have absolutely no relationship to board games (but just wait!): Periodic personalized media system, and associated method.
Essentially, this patent claims providing information about what a celebrity did when he or she was your age. Is that not a wonderful patent?
But wait. We're just getting started.
This patent claims copyright on the patent itself!
Now, how do board games fit into this? One of their fifty odd claims of applicability for this patent includes the following board game:
Good luck with that. Next.
Poker game with required dealer discard: Some sort of poker game where the dealer is dealt an extra card face up. If this card is within some range of values, it is discarded, otherwise one of the face down cards is discarded.
Combination Poker and Blackjack casino card game: Or Pojack, as they like to call it. I thought we covered something like this last month. *shrug*
Card games: Looks like a poker game where you are dealt three cards and you win if any of the cards match the dealer's single card and exceed it in value.
Electronic video poker game: Solitaire poker against a computer, where you play more than one hand, each of which starts off identically. They change based on what cards you toss out.
Computer assisted game for teaching cooperative resource allocation and multi-party negotiation skills: Essentially, a board game in which you have to decide how to invest: 1) in your own project, 2) in a group project, and 3) in all projects. It is supposed to teach resource and negotiation skills, as well as some game theory principles.
It is claimed by Vibeke Libby, a mathematician/engineer of some sort, working for Agilemath.
That appears to be all for this month.
Yehuda
Essentially, this patent claims providing information about what a celebrity did when he or she was your age. Is that not a wonderful patent?
But wait. We're just getting started.
This patent claims copyright on the patent itself!
A portion of this disclosure contains material to which a claim for copyright is made. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document (including Figures), as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but reserves all other copyright rights whatsoever.That's a first. First of all, they have "no objection" to the patent office making copies; thank you very much. The patent office has a legal right to copy whatever the hell they want, and don't need your permission. Secondly, I don't think you can claim copyright on a patent application, or any material submitted with it. Thirdly, this patent applies to a process, which can't be copyrighted, anyway. What are they thinking?
Now, how do board games fit into this? One of their fifty odd claims of applicability for this patent includes the following board game:
In another embodiment, a quiz can be a game presented either electronically or in paper format (e.g. board game) and involve scoring and competition between players and scoring. In one aspect of this embodiment, biographical data arranged on agelines can form the basis for board-game questions. In addition to multiple-choice questions that involve the relative ages of subjects, players can guess the number of days, months, seasons, or other intervals between the achievements/experiences of the people in the game. In another aspect of the embodiment, points can be scored by being the closest of the competitors to guessing the age of somebody at the time of a specific event. In a further aspect of the embodiment, each player starts the game as a newborn (0 days old) and gets points (corresponding to days of life) for winning various questions. The object of the game could be to "live the longest" among the competitors, or outlive various notable peoples. Losing a round could cause a player to "lose a year of his/her life."In other words, we haven't made anything, but we claim patent to just about any board game idea we can think of that involves celebrities and their accomplishments based on their age.
Good luck with that. Next.
Poker game with required dealer discard: Some sort of poker game where the dealer is dealt an extra card face up. If this card is within some range of values, it is discarded, otherwise one of the face down cards is discarded.
Combination Poker and Blackjack casino card game: Or Pojack, as they like to call it. I thought we covered something like this last month. *shrug*
Card games: Looks like a poker game where you are dealt three cards and you win if any of the cards match the dealer's single card and exceed it in value.
Electronic video poker game: Solitaire poker against a computer, where you play more than one hand, each of which starts off identically. They change based on what cards you toss out.
Computer assisted game for teaching cooperative resource allocation and multi-party negotiation skills: Essentially, a board game in which you have to decide how to invest: 1) in your own project, 2) in a group project, and 3) in all projects. It is supposed to teach resource and negotiation skills, as well as some game theory principles.
It is claimed by Vibeke Libby, a mathematician/engineer of some sort, working for Agilemath.
That appears to be all for this month.
Yehuda
U. S. Armed Forces Code, in Verse: Chapters 58-61, 63, 65, 69, 71, 73, 74
Chapter 58
1141
"Involuntary discharge"
I tell you with clarity
Is when someone's discharged
Involuntarily
1142
When leaving the mil
A staff of nice clerks
Will help you with medical
Records and work
1143
They give you a resume
And recommendations
And point out jobs listed
Around the nation
1143a
They're especially keen
To find, if they can,
Community service jobs
Like teacher or policeman
1144
Basically, they cover
Every contingency
And pretend that they're an
Employment agency
1145
For about half a year
You're medically insured,
Just think of a problem
And you're instantly cured
1146
I'm skipping this section
Not because I'm tired
It seems that all of it's
Terms have expired
1147
The same goes for this one
They really should cut them
To leave space for sections
That closely abut them
1148
If stationed abroad
There's extra assistance
Helping find jobs
With special persistence
1149
Extra leave's granted
To help relocation
From former lifestyle
To your new vocation
1150
Oh look, another old
Expired section
Added to my list of
Section rejection
1152
To sweeten the deal
Law-enforcement places
Are offered money
To ensure a few spaces
1153
The same goes for health care,
They'll offer some dough
To hire ex-soldiers
And give them a go
Chapter 59
1161
Officers are fired
Only by courts
Unless the President
Thinks they've got warts
1164
While true that they
May not be fired
At sixty-two they
Become retired
1165
Oops! When I said
They can't be fired?
They can, within three
Years that they're hired
1166
And oops! I forgot
They can also be fired
If their job performance
Was less than inspired
1167
And oh yeah, oops!
Perhaps I should mention
They're also let go
For six months detention
1168
You can't be discharged
Unless you've been paid
Or direly in need
Of medical aid
1169
You also can't discharge
A regular Joe
Unless it's required
Or the Sec says so
1170
If parents have written
And they've requested
Their minor son's release
Then he is divested
1171
Regular soldiers
May be given notice
Ending prematurely
Their terms of service
1172
Emergency soldiers
Can be let go
As soon as the President
Orders them so
1173
For experiencing "hardship"
Which isn't defined
They'll let you go if
You've dependents to mind
1174
A convoluted section
Computing your pay
So that when you sign
You'll think it's ok
1174a
Sometimes you get
Voluntary separation
Oh wait, this ended
In two-thousand and one
1175
Now my head's itchy
They offer incentive
For voluntary separation
This is getting inventive
1176
If you're getting close
To retirement time
They won't fire you
Or let you drink wine
1178
Out of left field:
Our government tracks
The number dismissed for
Not testing for anthrax
Chapter 60
1181
In order to fire you
For derelict working
They must decide first
What's work and what's shirking
1182
A board of inquiry
Full of informants
Reviews officers fired
For sub-par performance
1184
Oh man, they just get
Sillier by far
It's like they're written
By aliens from Mars
1185
When considered sub-par
To prepare a defense
The officer is notified
Some weeks in advance
1186
The Sec may just give up
And let him retire
Rather than think about
Whether to fire
1187
This section lists who
May be on the board
Included so that
Justice is assured
Chapter 61
Here's another chapter
That I found laborious
Physical disability
Is covered in glorious
Detail, like when it's
Considered serious
After reading it through
I thought I was delirious
Chapter 63
1251
For you, the play's over
When reaching the age
Of sixty-two years
You get off the stage
1263
The same goes for officers
Of Warrant nature
At sixty-two you get
Removed from the feature
1275
Just a reminder
That you get your pay
At least by the end of
Your last working day
Chapter 65
1293
A Warrant Officer may
Be earlier retired
If after twenty years
He's already tired
1305
And must be retired
If served thirty years
A long enough time
For any career
1315
Nothing new here
Just move right along
Just another chorus
In this legal song
Chapter 69
I'm skipping these chapters
This one's on grade
When retiring, in general
It's whatever you made
Chapter 71
This chapter lists your
Pay and helps count it
If you understand it
Go be an accountant
Chapter 73
And this one lists benefits
It's all very dull
Reading it gives me
A pain in my skull
Chapter 74
The last one I'm skipping's
The fund for retirement
And now back to doing
A chapter entirement
<- Previous | Next ->
1141
"Involuntary discharge"
I tell you with clarity
Is when someone's discharged
Involuntarily
1142
When leaving the mil
A staff of nice clerks
Will help you with medical
Records and work
1143
They give you a resume
And recommendations
And point out jobs listed
Around the nation
1143a
They're especially keen
To find, if they can,
Community service jobs
Like teacher or policeman
1144
Basically, they cover
Every contingency
And pretend that they're an
Employment agency
1145
For about half a year
You're medically insured,
Just think of a problem
And you're instantly cured
1146
I'm skipping this section
Not because I'm tired
It seems that all of it's
Terms have expired
1147
The same goes for this one
They really should cut them
To leave space for sections
That closely abut them
1148
If stationed abroad
There's extra assistance
Helping find jobs
With special persistence
1149
Extra leave's granted
To help relocation
From former lifestyle
To your new vocation
1150
Oh look, another old
Expired section
Added to my list of
Section rejection
1152
To sweeten the deal
Law-enforcement places
Are offered money
To ensure a few spaces
1153
The same goes for health care,
They'll offer some dough
To hire ex-soldiers
And give them a go
Chapter 59
1161
Officers are fired
Only by courts
Unless the President
Thinks they've got warts
1164
While true that they
May not be fired
At sixty-two they
Become retired
1165
Oops! When I said
They can't be fired?
They can, within three
Years that they're hired
1166
And oops! I forgot
They can also be fired
If their job performance
Was less than inspired
1167
And oh yeah, oops!
Perhaps I should mention
They're also let go
For six months detention
1168
You can't be discharged
Unless you've been paid
Or direly in need
Of medical aid
1169
You also can't discharge
A regular Joe
Unless it's required
Or the Sec says so
1170
If parents have written
And they've requested
Their minor son's release
Then he is divested
1171
Regular soldiers
May be given notice
Ending prematurely
Their terms of service
1172
Emergency soldiers
Can be let go
As soon as the President
Orders them so
1173
For experiencing "hardship"
Which isn't defined
They'll let you go if
You've dependents to mind
1174
A convoluted section
Computing your pay
So that when you sign
You'll think it's ok
1174a
Sometimes you get
Voluntary separation
Oh wait, this ended
In two-thousand and one
1175
Now my head's itchy
They offer incentive
For voluntary separation
This is getting inventive
1176
If you're getting close
To retirement time
They won't fire you
Or let you drink wine
1178
Out of left field:
Our government tracks
The number dismissed for
Not testing for anthrax
Chapter 60
1181
In order to fire you
For derelict working
They must decide first
What's work and what's shirking
1182
A board of inquiry
Full of informants
Reviews officers fired
For sub-par performance
1184
Oh man, they just get
Sillier by far
It's like they're written
By aliens from Mars
1185
When considered sub-par
To prepare a defense
The officer is notified
Some weeks in advance
1186
The Sec may just give up
And let him retire
Rather than think about
Whether to fire
1187
This section lists who
May be on the board
Included so that
Justice is assured
Chapter 61
Here's another chapter
That I found laborious
Physical disability
Is covered in glorious
Detail, like when it's
Considered serious
After reading it through
I thought I was delirious
Chapter 63
1251
For you, the play's over
When reaching the age
Of sixty-two years
You get off the stage
1263
The same goes for officers
Of Warrant nature
At sixty-two you get
Removed from the feature
1275
Just a reminder
That you get your pay
At least by the end of
Your last working day
Chapter 65
1293
A Warrant Officer may
Be earlier retired
If after twenty years
He's already tired
1305
And must be retired
If served thirty years
A long enough time
For any career
1315
Nothing new here
Just move right along
Just another chorus
In this legal song
Chapter 69
I'm skipping these chapters
This one's on grade
When retiring, in general
It's whatever you made
Chapter 71
This chapter lists your
Pay and helps count it
If you understand it
Go be an accountant
Chapter 73
And this one lists benefits
It's all very dull
Reading it gives me
A pain in my skull
Chapter 74
The last one I'm skipping's
The fund for retirement
And now back to doing
A chapter entirement
<- Previous | Next ->
Sunday, December 03, 2006
I Don't Want to be Great
I don't want to be a great blogger
I want my readers to enjoy a great blog
I don't want to be a great writer
I want my readers to gain from my writing
I don't want to be a great worker
I want my company to benefit from my work
I don't want to be a great parent
I want my children to benefit from my parenting
I don't want to be a great partner
I want my partner to be happy to be married to me
I don't want to be a great person
I just want to leave the world better than I found it
Yehuda
I want my readers to enjoy a great blog
I don't want to be a great writer
I want my readers to gain from my writing
I don't want to be a great worker
I want my company to benefit from my work
I don't want to be a great parent
I want my children to benefit from my parenting
I don't want to be a great partner
I want my partner to be happy to be married to me
I don't want to be a great person
I just want to leave the world better than I found it
Yehuda
Jerusalem Touring and Gaming with Chris Brooks
Sorry, Chris has all the pictures, which you'll probably eventually see on his blog.
Our weekend plans were:
- Tour old city on Friday morning
- Go to lunch after the tour
- Go back to my house and game a little, if time permitted
- Synagogue
- Dinner
- Game
- Chris sleeps over and then heads to the airport on Saturday morning
Not everything went according to plan, but it was still a great time.
Tour Start and Guide
I arrived at 9:05 and met the tour guide I had picked out for them. I thought I might be late, but it turns out that Chris and co had traffic and the usual navigation problems crossing Jerusalem and didn't arrive until 9:45.
The tour guide, Ellie, turned out to be a nice guy and a competent tour guide, easily navigating through centuries of history and geological and political facts.
Arab Market
Since 2000, I haven't been to any predominantly Arab areas, anywhere, least of all the Arab market in the old city. I have heard too many stories about tourists or Jews getting attacked. It turns out that Jews and certainly tourists still walk through there regularly, especially residents of other parts of the old city. The market is almost on the border of the Jewish (and Armenian) quarter(s).
I first thought that maybe I should take off my kippah, but after a short time I realized that it wasn't necessary.
The market is packed to overflowing with beautiful clothing and wares, and most of them are reasonably priced. Of course, any price that they start off with is literally fifteen or twenty times the price they are willing to accept, with the exception of basics such as spices or food.
Chris will tell you all about it, I'm sure.
My Bad
One of the things that I forgot when I accepted his invitation to accompany them on the tour were the numerous things that I wouldn't be able to do, that they can do. Such as: eating anywhere they want, or going into churches.
When they went into the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, for instance, I sat outside. And again when they stopped for lunch. I think they felt a little bad for me, and I felt a little bad for them having to feel bad for me, and in the latter case, for the manager of the restaurant who I wasn't trying to insult.
Chess, Backgammon, and Thirty-One
During lunch, I wandered around a little bit. One thing they sell all over the market in great amounts are these awesomely beautiful Chess and Backgammon boards. One was so beautiful that I had to take pictures of it (on Chris's camera). Of course, the owner wanted to sell it to me. He started at $700, and was down to $200 when I left him desperately trying to get me to at least agree to a starting point for negotiation.
By the way, they play at least five different games on a Backgammon board. I observed two fellows playing "Thirty-One". The rules are similar to Backgammon, with the following changes. You start will all of your pieces on your first space (1 or 24). You move similar to Backgammon, including doubles. You cannot take off any pieces; a single opponent's piece blocks a space. One would think that this would make for less strategic play, but the ability to impede your opponent's movement is greater.
Big Yellow Taxi
There is, of course, so much to see in the Old City, and they were enjoying the tour so much, that they decided to continue with the tour for longer than planned. That left two problems.
One was that I had to get home before shabbat; it was already 2:30 and shabbat started at 4:30. And two, they only had use of the parking garage until 3:00 and had to move their car.
Chris decided to take us to the car while the others continued with the guide. He dropped me and his luggage off at my house and then returned to the tour.
Rather than walk to the car, we decided to take a quick taxi ride over to the car, i.e. from the Golden gate to Jaffa gate. About two minutes.
Unfortunately, we had to refuse the first taxi who wanted to take us for 40 NIS; not only a ridiculously high fee, but illegal not to use the meter. He agreed reluctantly to drop to 35 NIS and started yelling at me when I went to another cab.
Then, according to Chris, he turned to him and said "You're a Christian and he's a Jew; what are you doing together?" Lovely. Of course, he thought I was a tourist because I have an American accent.
The cab fair, on the meter, was 16 NIS.
Dinner
Chris returned at 6:00, in time for dinner. He missed a rolicking good time at my synagogue, too bad.
The others also stepped in for a few hellos, and then they were off. Also over for dinner were three of my kids (all except for Ariella) and Nadine and two of her kids. We had a nice dinner, and then Adam came over at 8:00 as we were winding up.
Games
Chris delivered the game I had shipped to him: Tichu, San Juan (for Josh), Saboteur, Lost Cities, Children of Fire, and Wildlife. I am going to try to save some of them for Hanukkah.
He also delivered a new copy of Sunriver's newest game, 24/7. But first, I wanted to inflict him with my game another time, using my new reprinting.
This was a good thing, because it got him out of playing Puerto Rico with Rachel and Nadine; the last time he was here was also the last time he had played Puerto Rico, and on that occasion he was toasted soundly. So he owes me a favor.
The Menorah Game
We played this, and it confirmed the rather odd thing I had discovered about the game: it is best with three players. It's still good with four and two, but best with three.
Saarya played with us. I took the game, and then Chris requested that we play another one. Saarya narrowly won that one, followed by Chris, with me in third. Since KC had the copy of the game I had given them last time, I was happy to give Chris a copy for himself, with the promise that he would play it occasionally.
24/7
We played without the printed rules (which Chris had forgotten), and therefore without the theme which appeared to be completely irrelevant to the game.
Essentially, there are forty tiles, four of each numbered 1 to 10. There is a 7x7 board, with a center square and 8 locations marked "x2". Each time it is your turn, you place a tile and pick a tile. You may not place a tile such that any line of tiles formed with that one totals more than 24.
You score for placing a tile which does any of the following:
- the entire line of tiles adds to 7 (e.g. a 3 placed next to a 4, and no other tiles extend the line) [2 points]
- the entire line of tiles adds to 24 [4 points]. After doing that, you cap the ends with some stones to show that other tiles can't be placed.
- forms a run of 3 or more [the length of the run]
- forms a kind of 3 or 4 [5 or 6 points]
- is the 7th tile in a line [6 points]
- forms both a 7 and a 24 [12 points, total]
If the tile you placed was also on a "x2" you double your bonus. Game continues until no one can play a tile.
The game is a nice game, even easier than Havoc. It is not a brain burner, although you have to look each and every direction that tiles might score. The odds are great that on most of your turns you can score something, and creating a sum of 24 is not difficult.
I liked it enough to want to see if there was more depth to the game. The first game we played resulted in long walls of locations where we couldn't play anything, so there wasn't much to think about most of the time, at least for me.
To tell the truth, my first thought was "Oh, I could play this with Rummikub tiles." And my second was "I wonder if you could award special bonus points for the way the markers are placed on the board after a line of 24 is made."
Since the Puerto Rico game was ending, and we were going to be four people, we didn't play again. After my first play, I gave it a 7.
I played again the next day with daughter Tal, 13, and she liked it. I also liked it better the next day as a two-player game. You have more control and the (very slight) possibility of setting up moves. I upped my rating to 7.5 . It scores higher for kids, and is a good means of drilling simple math skills.
I'm not sure, but it might also be a little better to play with less tiles in hand, as I felt it was too easy to score points.
One definite problem: the box is way too big, by a factor of 2.5 or so, like El Grande's box. Chris says that they should have fixed that before going to production.
Puerto Rico
Rachel won by at least ten points over the next player. No surprise.
Tichu
Since we had 4 (Chris, Adam, Nadine, and me), and Adam and Nadine like Bridge, Chris taught us Tichu, which I had bought solely on it's reputation.
I have to say that I was nervous about it. It plays with a mechanic that other game that I don't like use, such as The Great Dalmuti, President, and so on. On each trick, one person leads an X, and everyone else has to play a higher X until someone can't. The last person to play takes the trick and leads again. First one out of cards wins. If that's the whole game, I wasn't going to like it.
I was very happily surprised that instead enough kinks were thrown into the game to make it into a very good game. For one thing, there are several wild cards that do various things. Second, it's a partnership game, which is always more fun. Thirdly, the game goes until only one person is left with cards. Fourth, even after you've taken a trick, there is the possibility you will lose the collected points.
All in all, there are many subtle strategy points, and I liked it.
One thing that bemused Chris: Like Hearts, you pass cards to other players, although in this case it's only one card to each other player. Nevertheless, Adam and I immediately started working on passing signals, which is pretty hard when you only have one card to pass. But we stuck to it, anyway. Chris thought we were aliens.
We played four hands, and Adam and I were ahead, so it must work. :-) I called and make Tichu on the last hand.
Saturday
Saturday morning, Chris decided to go to Bethlehem while we were in synagogue, and he returned at lunch time. Even though he was supposed to leave, he stayed around and ate a bit with us before taking off.
Another lovely visit, and I hope to be able to reciprocate by visiting him in Oregon, some day.
Apples to Apples
Later that night, Ariella, Tal, Yoav (Ariella's boyfriend) and I played Apples to Apples. It was pretty fun. I had managed to collect Powerful, Patriotic, Idiotic, and Corrupt, which made me all set to declare my presidency, but then I acquired Thoughtful (or something like that) so I had to give that up.
Yehuda
Our weekend plans were:
- Tour old city on Friday morning
- Go to lunch after the tour
- Go back to my house and game a little, if time permitted
- Synagogue
- Dinner
- Game
- Chris sleeps over and then heads to the airport on Saturday morning
Not everything went according to plan, but it was still a great time.
Tour Start and Guide
I arrived at 9:05 and met the tour guide I had picked out for them. I thought I might be late, but it turns out that Chris and co had traffic and the usual navigation problems crossing Jerusalem and didn't arrive until 9:45.
The tour guide, Ellie, turned out to be a nice guy and a competent tour guide, easily navigating through centuries of history and geological and political facts.
Arab Market
Since 2000, I haven't been to any predominantly Arab areas, anywhere, least of all the Arab market in the old city. I have heard too many stories about tourists or Jews getting attacked. It turns out that Jews and certainly tourists still walk through there regularly, especially residents of other parts of the old city. The market is almost on the border of the Jewish (and Armenian) quarter(s).
I first thought that maybe I should take off my kippah, but after a short time I realized that it wasn't necessary.
The market is packed to overflowing with beautiful clothing and wares, and most of them are reasonably priced. Of course, any price that they start off with is literally fifteen or twenty times the price they are willing to accept, with the exception of basics such as spices or food.Chris will tell you all about it, I'm sure.
My Bad
One of the things that I forgot when I accepted his invitation to accompany them on the tour were the numerous things that I wouldn't be able to do, that they can do. Such as: eating anywhere they want, or going into churches.
When they went into the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, for instance, I sat outside. And again when they stopped for lunch. I think they felt a little bad for me, and I felt a little bad for them having to feel bad for me, and in the latter case, for the manager of the restaurant who I wasn't trying to insult.
Chess, Backgammon, and Thirty-One
During lunch, I wandered around a little bit. One thing they sell all over the market in great amounts are these awesomely beautiful Chess and Backgammon boards. One was so beautiful that I had to take pictures of it (on Chris's camera). Of course, the owner wanted to sell it to me. He started at $700, and was down to $200 when I left him desperately trying to get me to at least agree to a starting point for negotiation.
By the way, they play at least five different games on a Backgammon board. I observed two fellows playing "Thirty-One". The rules are similar to Backgammon, with the following changes. You start will all of your pieces on your first space (1 or 24). You move similar to Backgammon, including doubles. You cannot take off any pieces; a single opponent's piece blocks a space. One would think that this would make for less strategic play, but the ability to impede your opponent's movement is greater.
Big Yellow Taxi
There is, of course, so much to see in the Old City, and they were enjoying the tour so much, that they decided to continue with the tour for longer than planned. That left two problems.
One was that I had to get home before shabbat; it was already 2:30 and shabbat started at 4:30. And two, they only had use of the parking garage until 3:00 and had to move their car.
Chris decided to take us to the car while the others continued with the guide. He dropped me and his luggage off at my house and then returned to the tour.
Rather than walk to the car, we decided to take a quick taxi ride over to the car, i.e. from the Golden gate to Jaffa gate. About two minutes.
Unfortunately, we had to refuse the first taxi who wanted to take us for 40 NIS; not only a ridiculously high fee, but illegal not to use the meter. He agreed reluctantly to drop to 35 NIS and started yelling at me when I went to another cab.
Then, according to Chris, he turned to him and said "You're a Christian and he's a Jew; what are you doing together?" Lovely. Of course, he thought I was a tourist because I have an American accent.
The cab fair, on the meter, was 16 NIS.
Dinner
Chris returned at 6:00, in time for dinner. He missed a rolicking good time at my synagogue, too bad.
The others also stepped in for a few hellos, and then they were off. Also over for dinner were three of my kids (all except for Ariella) and Nadine and two of her kids. We had a nice dinner, and then Adam came over at 8:00 as we were winding up.
Games
Chris delivered the game I had shipped to him: Tichu, San Juan (for Josh), Saboteur, Lost Cities, Children of Fire, and Wildlife. I am going to try to save some of them for Hanukkah.
He also delivered a new copy of Sunriver's newest game, 24/7. But first, I wanted to inflict him with my game another time, using my new reprinting.
This was a good thing, because it got him out of playing Puerto Rico with Rachel and Nadine; the last time he was here was also the last time he had played Puerto Rico, and on that occasion he was toasted soundly. So he owes me a favor.
The Menorah Game
We played this, and it confirmed the rather odd thing I had discovered about the game: it is best with three players. It's still good with four and two, but best with three.
Saarya played with us. I took the game, and then Chris requested that we play another one. Saarya narrowly won that one, followed by Chris, with me in third. Since KC had the copy of the game I had given them last time, I was happy to give Chris a copy for himself, with the promise that he would play it occasionally.
24/7
We played without the printed rules (which Chris had forgotten), and therefore without the theme which appeared to be completely irrelevant to the game.
Essentially, there are forty tiles, four of each numbered 1 to 10. There is a 7x7 board, with a center square and 8 locations marked "x2". Each time it is your turn, you place a tile and pick a tile. You may not place a tile such that any line of tiles formed with that one totals more than 24.
You score for placing a tile which does any of the following:
- the entire line of tiles adds to 7 (e.g. a 3 placed next to a 4, and no other tiles extend the line) [2 points]
- the entire line of tiles adds to 24 [4 points]. After doing that, you cap the ends with some stones to show that other tiles can't be placed.
- forms a run of 3 or more [the length of the run]
- forms a kind of 3 or 4 [5 or 6 points]
- is the 7th tile in a line [6 points]
- forms both a 7 and a 24 [12 points, total]
If the tile you placed was also on a "x2" you double your bonus. Game continues until no one can play a tile.
The game is a nice game, even easier than Havoc. It is not a brain burner, although you have to look each and every direction that tiles might score. The odds are great that on most of your turns you can score something, and creating a sum of 24 is not difficult.
I liked it enough to want to see if there was more depth to the game. The first game we played resulted in long walls of locations where we couldn't play anything, so there wasn't much to think about most of the time, at least for me.
To tell the truth, my first thought was "Oh, I could play this with Rummikub tiles." And my second was "I wonder if you could award special bonus points for the way the markers are placed on the board after a line of 24 is made."
Since the Puerto Rico game was ending, and we were going to be four people, we didn't play again. After my first play, I gave it a 7.
I played again the next day with daughter Tal, 13, and she liked it. I also liked it better the next day as a two-player game. You have more control and the (very slight) possibility of setting up moves. I upped my rating to 7.5 . It scores higher for kids, and is a good means of drilling simple math skills.
I'm not sure, but it might also be a little better to play with less tiles in hand, as I felt it was too easy to score points.
One definite problem: the box is way too big, by a factor of 2.5 or so, like El Grande's box. Chris says that they should have fixed that before going to production.
Puerto Rico
Rachel won by at least ten points over the next player. No surprise.
Tichu
Since we had 4 (Chris, Adam, Nadine, and me), and Adam and Nadine like Bridge, Chris taught us Tichu, which I had bought solely on it's reputation.
I have to say that I was nervous about it. It plays with a mechanic that other game that I don't like use, such as The Great Dalmuti, President, and so on. On each trick, one person leads an X, and everyone else has to play a higher X until someone can't. The last person to play takes the trick and leads again. First one out of cards wins. If that's the whole game, I wasn't going to like it.
I was very happily surprised that instead enough kinks were thrown into the game to make it into a very good game. For one thing, there are several wild cards that do various things. Second, it's a partnership game, which is always more fun. Thirdly, the game goes until only one person is left with cards. Fourth, even after you've taken a trick, there is the possibility you will lose the collected points.
All in all, there are many subtle strategy points, and I liked it.
One thing that bemused Chris: Like Hearts, you pass cards to other players, although in this case it's only one card to each other player. Nevertheless, Adam and I immediately started working on passing signals, which is pretty hard when you only have one card to pass. But we stuck to it, anyway. Chris thought we were aliens.
We played four hands, and Adam and I were ahead, so it must work. :-) I called and make Tichu on the last hand.
Saturday
Saturday morning, Chris decided to go to Bethlehem while we were in synagogue, and he returned at lunch time. Even though he was supposed to leave, he stayed around and ate a bit with us before taking off.
Another lovely visit, and I hope to be able to reciprocate by visiting him in Oregon, some day.
Apples to Apples
Later that night, Ariella, Tal, Yoav (Ariella's boyfriend) and I played Apples to Apples. It was pretty fun. I had managed to collect Powerful, Patriotic, Idiotic, and Corrupt, which made me all set to declare my presidency, but then I acquired Thoughtful (or something like that) so I had to give that up.
Yehuda
U. S. Armed Forces Code, in Verse: Chapters 54-57
Chapter 54
1061
Survivors of soldiers
Can shop at mil stores
Which I assume must give
Discounts on S'mores
1062
Widows or widowers
Can eat in mess halls
Assuming they like
Spaghetti and meatballs
1063
The mil has facilities
Called MWRs
With events and activities,
Everything but bars
1064
National Guardsmen
Can also use these
In national disasters
Such as killer bees
Chapter 55
I'm sorry, but sixty-four
Sections on dental
Is too much for anyone
You'd have to be mental
Chapter 56
1111
The mil runs a health fund
For when you retire
Helping with anything
You may require
1112
Money goes into it
To keep you alive -
I still can't get over
Chapter fifty-five
1113
Money goes out of it
Etcetera, etcetera, (yawn)
I'm thinking of taking a
Vacation in Petra
1114
A board oversees it
And so forth and so on -
Do you think that's a nice place
To take a vacation?
1115
The board will review it
And so forth ad nauseum -
After that I was thinking I'd
Take in a museum
1116
The Secretary pays into it,
We've heard this already -
I won't go in winter
I hear it's quite muddy
1117
The funds are invested
La la la, we got it -
I need cash for buying
Souvenirs; can you spot it?
Chapter 57
1121
The Legion of Merit
Is awarded to those
Exemplary soldiers
The President chose
1122
The Medal of Merit
Is also worth cheers
For civilians, but hasn't
Been given in years
1123
Military society
Badges are worn
On special occasions
While in uniform
1124
The award for inventions
Is given in pay
It's paid out in dollars
Up to twenty-five K
1125
You may get awarded
For doing nothing wrong,
They make these all up
As they go along
1126
Killed soldiers' relatives
Get a Gold Star
I'm sure they'd rather have
The soldier, by far
1127
I really don't get
Why awards have precedence,
Does ranking them really
Increase their significance?
1128
A prisoner-of-war
Gets a medal when returned
That's a reward I'd
Rather not have earned
1129
Another for which earning it
Doesn't get me thrilled:
The purple heart's given if
You're wounded or killed
1130
They might still award if
Your paperwork's late
They specially review it
So you'll just have to wait
1131
In case it's so obvious
That you would have missed it,
You only get a purple heart
If you're enlisted
1132
"Seriously violent
Felons" can get one,
They can't enter prison
In order to present one
1133
The Bronze Star is only
Awarded to they
Who are eligible for
Special danger pay
1134
The medal of honor
To the unknown soldier
Is meant for all missing
Not only for him or her
<- Previous | Next ->
1061
Survivors of soldiers
Can shop at mil stores
Which I assume must give
Discounts on S'mores
1062
Widows or widowers
Can eat in mess halls
Assuming they like
Spaghetti and meatballs
1063
The mil has facilities
Called MWRs
With events and activities,
Everything but bars
1064
National Guardsmen
Can also use these
In national disasters
Such as killer bees
Chapter 55
I'm sorry, but sixty-four
Sections on dental
Is too much for anyone
You'd have to be mental
Chapter 56
1111
The mil runs a health fund
For when you retire
Helping with anything
You may require
1112
Money goes into it
To keep you alive -
I still can't get over
Chapter fifty-five
1113
Money goes out of it
Etcetera, etcetera, (yawn)
I'm thinking of taking a
Vacation in Petra
1114
A board oversees it
And so forth and so on -
Do you think that's a nice place
To take a vacation?
1115
The board will review it
And so forth ad nauseum -
After that I was thinking I'd
Take in a museum
1116
The Secretary pays into it,
We've heard this already -
I won't go in winter
I hear it's quite muddy
1117
The funds are invested
La la la, we got it -
I need cash for buying
Souvenirs; can you spot it?
Chapter 57
1121
The Legion of Merit
Is awarded to those
Exemplary soldiers
The President chose
1122
The Medal of Merit
Is also worth cheers
For civilians, but hasn't
Been given in years
1123
Military society
Badges are worn
On special occasions
While in uniform
1124
The award for inventions
Is given in pay
It's paid out in dollars
Up to twenty-five K
1125
You may get awarded
For doing nothing wrong,
They make these all up
As they go along
1126
Killed soldiers' relatives
Get a Gold Star
I'm sure they'd rather have
The soldier, by far
1127
I really don't get
Why awards have precedence,
Does ranking them really
Increase their significance?
1128
A prisoner-of-war
Gets a medal when returned
That's a reward I'd
Rather not have earned
1129
Another for which earning it
Doesn't get me thrilled:
The purple heart's given if
You're wounded or killed
1130
They might still award if
Your paperwork's late
They specially review it
So you'll just have to wait
1131
In case it's so obvious
That you would have missed it,
You only get a purple heart
If you're enlisted
1132
"Seriously violent
Felons" can get one,
They can't enter prison
In order to present one
1133
The Bronze Star is only
Awarded to they
Who are eligible for
Special danger pay
1134
The medal of honor
To the unknown soldier
Is meant for all missing
Not only for him or her
<- Previous | Next ->
Friday, December 01, 2006
U. S. Armed Forces Code, in Verse: Chapters 48-50, 53
Chapter 48
951
That was a long chapter
On to the next one:
"Correctional facility"
A.k.a. prison
952
Prisoners refurbish
Supplies when they're told
And when they behave
They may get paroled
953
After your sentence
The system must allow
You to resume
Service somehow
954
You can choose to serve
Your squad extra time
In order to honorably
Erase any crime
955
Prisoners sometimes
Are sent internationally
Foreign ones also
Are treated dispassionately
956
Golly, they're generous,
Returning deserters
Can earn you as much as
Seventy-five dollars
Chapter 49
971
Calculating service,
Officers don't count
Time as midshipman
Or cadet in the amount
972
Time in the brink
Or drunk or deserting
Isn't your service
This section's asserting
973
Officers cannot
Take offices or work
If doing so causes them
Duties to shirk
976
You can't join a union
Or let them meet near you
But still, your commanders
Are required to hear you
978
All new inductees
Are tested for addiction
Addition to Warcraft's
Not a restriction
979
The mil can't loan money
To robbers or thieves -
Wow, what a surprise,
Who'd have believed?
980
As a human experiment
They need your consent
Except when they don't
That's really what's meant
981
The number of slaves -
Oops, I meant helpers -
Is less of: three hundred,
Or four times the officers
982
Military members
On active duty
Are usually exempt
From serving on jury
983
The ROTC
Is welcomed by schools
Who want their mil funding
According to rules
985
Soldiers executed
Aren't buried with honors,
Balloons, big bands,
Or beautiful banners
986
Starting this century
Security clearance
Isn't given to criminals,
For sake of appearance
Chapter 50
991
You may be deployed
It seems to appear
No more than two hundred
Days every year
Chapter 53
1031
For oaths of enlistment
Any officer will do
He takes off his Ipod
Before hearing you
1032
Friends of a soldier
Have benefits begin
If killed only 'cause of
A relationship to him
1033
Secretaries sometimes
Can flex their authority
Making officers work for
Athletics or charity
1034
Members must always
Speak freely to congress
And not be subjected
To threats or distress
1035
This eclectic chapter
Now talks about pay,
Savings and interest,
And if you're MIA
1036
If a soldier is missing
Someone is paid
To accompany his family
So they aren't waylaid
1037
The mil will pay lawyers
And even pay bail
If a soldier ends up
In some foreign jail
1038
An Auxiliary Corps
Sixty years ago
Was run once for women
And I'm telling you so
1039
If you serve as a minor
Your service still counts
It's credited to you
In varying amounts
1040
A dependent on you
If you're serving afar
May be transported to hospital
If they're where you are
1041
If you lose a certificate
Of honorable discharge
They'll give you another one
And it's free of charge
1042
Copies of service
Certificates are free
For you or your kin,
Or a named attorney
1043
Service in PHS
Or NOAA
Is counted for retirement
Or computing your pay
1044
If a soldier needs legal
Service, and is poor
The mil will provide it
It's what friends are for
1044a
Judges and others
Can act as notaries
They're always available
And can't take any fees
1044b
Power of attorney
As defined by the mil
Trumps laws of state
Regardless of will
1044c
The same goes for doctors,
But not all respective
Only those accepting the
Advanced Medical Directive
1044d
The same goes for wills,
Or "testamentary"
So long as they're solid
Their legality is very
1045
Soldiers can request
That states withhold tax
So that their accountant
Can sit and relax
1046
If you bring your children
Outside the U.S.
Foster care's provided to
Clean up their mess
1047
A sick member's given
Clothes worth two-fifty,
When expelled it's forty
Which is rather less nifty
1048
This one I don't get
You get twenty-five smackers
For fraudulently enlisting
Which strikes me as quackers
1049
A supernumerary
Is not a civilian
I think it's a term from
The Silmarillion
1050
Head-scratching here;
Special compensation
For Latin Americans to
Enhance cooperation?
1051
They also give money
For attending conferences
So long abiding by
All of their preferences
1051a
If the U.S. is part of
A global coalition
Liasons are expensed under
General permission
1051b
Anyone helping using
Non-combat means
Is given a pen and
A few magic beans
1052
Also, for adopting
They give you 2k
For having your own kids
They're not willing to pay
1053
If they forget to make
An automatic deposit
They'll cover your late fees
So get out of the closet
1053a
If you make plans
And they cancel your leave
They'll cover the damages
They'd have you believe
1054
If they give you lawyers
They'll cover things lost
Because of malpractice
Regardless of cost
1055
If you rent a house
You don't pay the fees
For security deposits
If the mil guarantees
1056
If the mil makes you move
They pay relocation
To move your whole family
To where you're now stationed
1057
When you get a license plate
It comes with insignia
Even if you live in
The District of Columbia
1058
If a military official -
Whatever that means -
Sees domestic violence
He may intervene
1059
If a spouse gets abused
Or the children (poor dears)
They receive compensation
For one to three years
1060
A retired member,
If agreed by bureaucracy,
May go to work for
A fledgling democracy
1060a
The mil provides food
That's warm and delicious
While also ensuring it's
Wholesome and nutritious
1060b
Retirees and dependents
All get IDs
You get a replacement
In your seventies
<- Previous | Next ->
951
That was a long chapter
On to the next one:
"Correctional facility"
A.k.a. prison
952
Prisoners refurbish
Supplies when they're told
And when they behave
They may get paroled
953
After your sentence
The system must allow
You to resume
Service somehow
954
You can choose to serve
Your squad extra time
In order to honorably
Erase any crime
955
Prisoners sometimes
Are sent internationally
Foreign ones also
Are treated dispassionately
956
Golly, they're generous,
Returning deserters
Can earn you as much as
Seventy-five dollars
Chapter 49
971
Calculating service,
Officers don't count
Time as midshipman
Or cadet in the amount
972
Time in the brink
Or drunk or deserting
Isn't your service
This section's asserting
973
Officers cannot
Take offices or work
If doing so causes them
Duties to shirk
976
You can't join a union
Or let them meet near you
But still, your commanders
Are required to hear you
978
All new inductees
Are tested for addiction
Addition to Warcraft's
Not a restriction
979
The mil can't loan money
To robbers or thieves -
Wow, what a surprise,
Who'd have believed?
980
As a human experiment
They need your consent
Except when they don't
That's really what's meant
981
The number of slaves -
Oops, I meant helpers -
Is less of: three hundred,
Or four times the officers
982
Military members
On active duty
Are usually exempt
From serving on jury
983
The ROTC
Is welcomed by schools
Who want their mil funding
According to rules
985
Soldiers executed
Aren't buried with honors,
Balloons, big bands,
Or beautiful banners
986
Starting this century
Security clearance
Isn't given to criminals,
For sake of appearance
Chapter 50
991
You may be deployed
It seems to appear
No more than two hundred
Days every year
Chapter 53
1031
For oaths of enlistment
Any officer will do
He takes off his Ipod
Before hearing you
1032
Friends of a soldier
Have benefits begin
If killed only 'cause of
A relationship to him
1033
Secretaries sometimes
Can flex their authority
Making officers work for
Athletics or charity
1034
Members must always
Speak freely to congress
And not be subjected
To threats or distress
1035
This eclectic chapter
Now talks about pay,
Savings and interest,
And if you're MIA
1036
If a soldier is missing
Someone is paid
To accompany his family
So they aren't waylaid
1037
The mil will pay lawyers
And even pay bail
If a soldier ends up
In some foreign jail
1038
An Auxiliary Corps
Sixty years ago
Was run once for women
And I'm telling you so
1039
If you serve as a minor
Your service still counts
It's credited to you
In varying amounts
1040
A dependent on you
If you're serving afar
May be transported to hospital
If they're where you are
1041
If you lose a certificate
Of honorable discharge
They'll give you another one
And it's free of charge
1042
Copies of service
Certificates are free
For you or your kin,
Or a named attorney
1043
Service in PHS
Or NOAA
Is counted for retirement
Or computing your pay
1044
If a soldier needs legal
Service, and is poor
The mil will provide it
It's what friends are for
1044a
Judges and others
Can act as notaries
They're always available
And can't take any fees
1044b
Power of attorney
As defined by the mil
Trumps laws of state
Regardless of will
1044c
The same goes for doctors,
But not all respective
Only those accepting the
Advanced Medical Directive
1044d
The same goes for wills,
Or "testamentary"
So long as they're solid
Their legality is very
1045
Soldiers can request
That states withhold tax
So that their accountant
Can sit and relax
1046
If you bring your children
Outside the U.S.
Foster care's provided to
Clean up their mess
1047
A sick member's given
Clothes worth two-fifty,
When expelled it's forty
Which is rather less nifty
1048
This one I don't get
You get twenty-five smackers
For fraudulently enlisting
Which strikes me as quackers
1049
A supernumerary
Is not a civilian
I think it's a term from
The Silmarillion
1050
Head-scratching here;
Special compensation
For Latin Americans to
Enhance cooperation?
1051
They also give money
For attending conferences
So long abiding by
All of their preferences
1051a
If the U.S. is part of
A global coalition
Liasons are expensed under
General permission
1051b
Anyone helping using
Non-combat means
Is given a pen and
A few magic beans
1052
Also, for adopting
They give you 2k
For having your own kids
They're not willing to pay
1053
If they forget to make
An automatic deposit
They'll cover your late fees
So get out of the closet
1053a
If you make plans
And they cancel your leave
They'll cover the damages
They'd have you believe
1054
If they give you lawyers
They'll cover things lost
Because of malpractice
Regardless of cost
1055
If you rent a house
You don't pay the fees
For security deposits
If the mil guarantees
1056
If the mil makes you move
They pay relocation
To move your whole family
To where you're now stationed
1057
When you get a license plate
It comes with insignia
Even if you live in
The District of Columbia
1058
If a military official -
Whatever that means -
Sees domestic violence
He may intervene
1059
If a spouse gets abused
Or the children (poor dears)
They receive compensation
For one to three years
1060
A retired member,
If agreed by bureaucracy,
May go to work for
A fledgling democracy
1060a
The mil provides food
That's warm and delicious
While also ensuring it's
Wholesome and nutritious
1060b
Retirees and dependents
All get IDs
You get a replacement
In your seventies
<- Previous | Next ->
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