Eternal Sunshine #109 - February 2016

The Dining Dead -
The Eternal Sunshine Movie Reviews

For the time being I am reserving this section for exceptional films, or films we see in theaters. I will also mention films that I backed on Kickstarter or other places, once I get to see them. So some months there will be no Dining Dead section.

Black Eyed Children: Let Me In – This film by Justin Snyder was one of those I found on Kickstarter some time ago. I won’t get my DVD copy until the film is released for sale in a month or two, but I did see it on Amazon Prime a few nights ago.

First let’s take the good. Justin is a very enthusiastic filmmaker. He’s raw but he shows some talent. He also didn’t quit; it took him two or three tries on Kickstarter to get the small budget he was trying to raise, but he didn’t give up. The actual budget for the film was around $1,000 which accounts for a lot of the limitations you’ll find within. But one immediate compliment was Heather and I have watched independent movies with budgets 20 times as large (or more) that were completely unwatchable. I’m sure there is a lot more Justin would have liked to do with this film if finances allowed it.

For those of you who haven’t heard of the Black Eyed children legend, it wasn’t created in this movie. The way it generally works is you get a knock on your door or are approached by a child between the ages of 8 and 13. They will ask for help and ask to be let in (usually to your home, but also your car or office). They won’t come in unless you INVITE them in, much like part of the earlier vampire mythos. Presumably if you invite them in horrible things happen to you, because only those people who refused to let them in are around to talk about the encounters. They’re often dressed in hoodies, and always have completely black eyes (or dark, navy blue according to some people).

Justin visits a town where a number of sightings have occurred, and interviews various people who have directly or indirectly encountered what they believe to be Black Eyed Children. A few of the interviews are kind of creepy; some are simply funny because of the personality of the interview subject. One or two of the interviews are kind of boring, but strangely they seemed boring almost in the way where someone is telling you a boring story and you keep trying to walk away and they won’t let you. So there’s a bit of humor there for me as well.

A night sleeping in a tent by the local lake (now drained after a disappearance) is moderately eerie. I guess if you wanted to draw comparisons between this film and others, you might think back to the early portions of The Blair Witch Project where they interview townspeople. However Justin’s interview subjects are less polished, and wackier.

Justin’s stated purpose in making the documentary is to try and educate people about this particular urban legend, and either lead you to further research on your own (if you might believe or are interested) or to wave it off if you don’t. The end of the film is corny, and one bit of the movie that involves acting instead of interviewing suffers from poor line-reading. But with $1,000 you can’t expect countless reshoots.

If you watch the film, you’ll probably start digging around and watch other commentary on this legend on Youtube or other sights, since the mere fact that you watch it means you’re interested in legends like this one. Justin keeps the film rather short (I think 80 minutes or so) which is another plus; sometimes these crowdfunded movies go 20 minutes too long.

I don’t see Back Eyed Children: Let Me In winning any awards, but there was enough in the film to keep me interested, to be creeped a couple of times, and to laugh. Maybe Justin can revisit this topic with a bigger budget, or maybe he’ll move on to something else. Based on what he put together for $1,000 I am interested to see what he tried next. And the final vote is the most important: I backed this on Kickstarter and I am pleased that I did, since I knew in advance the limitations he’d be facing. I hope Justin learned a lot through this journey and will put it to use on his next project.

Not yet available on DVD, you can find Black Eyed Children on Amazon Video on Demand (or free for Prime members), and likely other VOD services.

The Best Albums in History - By Decade

The 1960’s – Any Leftovers

Roger Cox - The Beatles - Abbey Road

Pink Floyd - More

Pink Floyd - Ummagumma

The Rolling Stones - Let it Bleed

The Rolling Stones - Beggar's Banquet

Deep Purple - Shades of Deep Purple

Paul Kent - Sviatoslav Richter -Prokofiev: Sonata No 8; Hadyn: Sonata No 44; Chopin: Ballade No 3; Debussy: Selections, Preludes I Deutsche Grammophon 1962. These pieces have been released many times, but this appears to be the original release!

Jack McHugh - 1. Bob Dylan: Blonde on Blonde

2. Johnny Cash: At Folsom Prison

3. The Band: Music from the Big Pink

4. Sly and the Family Stone: Stand!

5. The Rolling Stones: Let it Bleed

Rick Desper - I haven't really said much because I don't really have any pre-1970s albums. I could pick some random albums out of the air for the earlier years, but that seems undesirable. I like a lot of Beatles' _songs_ for example, but don't really listen to their albums.

But I will throw in The Who's Tommy for the '60s.

The 1970’s – Second Set of Five

Douglas Kent - Boston - Boston

Led Zeppelin - Houses of the Holy

The Who - Who's Next

Elton John - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road

Pink Floyd - The Wall

Roger Cox - Pink Floyd - The Wall

Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin IV

Jethro Tull - Aqualung

The Who - Who's Next

Fleetwood Mac – Rumours

Andy Lischett - 1970s albums - Part II

Nobody else picked one of my first five! Youse guys got no class. So, having received little inspiration from your other readers (especially Roger Cox) my final five are...

6. Electric Warrior - T Rex. "Girl, I'm just a vampire for your love."

7. Led Zeppelin IV - Led Zeppelin (but skip Stairway to Heaven)

8. The James Gang Rides Again by the James Gang. Joe Walsh before the Eagles tamed him.

I'm now down to picking two from my remaining six nominees. Whatever albums contain the songs Black Betty (by Ram Jam) and Radar Love (by Golden Earring) get the heave-ho because I'm trying for more substantial albums - maybe two good songs. Next to be thrown to the wolves is News of the World by Queen, which I hope someone else picks. My last choice to get the ax is False Start by Love, which leaves me with...

9. The Man Who Sold the World - David Bowie

10. Easy Does It - Al Kooper

Carol Kay - 6. Bridge Over Troubled Waters - Simon & Garfunkel

7. Hotel California - The Eagles

8. Déjà Vu - Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young

9. Rumours - Fleetwood Mac

10. Highway to Hell - AC/DC. ((Nah. I'm just checking to see if you're paying attention. Carol's real choice is… )) Carpenters - The Carpenters.

Robert Lesco - John Lennon: Plastic Ono Band (Gets my vote as best solo statement from a Beatle)

Talking Heads: Fear of Music

David Bowie: Young Americans

Elvis Costello: My Aim Is True

The Cars: self-titled debut

It hurts to leave out a number of choices. Never Mind the Bollocks or The Great Rock & Roll Swindle by the Sex Pistols come to mind. Also Brain Salad Surgery by Emerson, Lake & Palmer - the best of a band unparalleled in musical showmanship and excellence.

I will be chided for leaving out Dark Side of the Moon. Sorry about that.

It should be noted that I selected Bowie's Young Americans BEFORE he died (and he needed to die to have a number one album on the charts - is that what we call spilled milk?)

Per Westling - * Sex Pistols, Never Mind the Bollocks (The Clash "London Calling" is a second alternative, but one punk album is enough)

* Breakfast in America, Supertramp (Child hood favorit)

* Propaganda, Sparks (Child hood favorit)

* Kraftwerk, Trans-Europe Express

* Blood on the Tracks, Bob Dylan

Joshua Danker-Dake - Uriah Heep, “Demons and Wizards”

Pink Floyd, “The Wall”

Rush, “Caress of Steel”

Jethro Tull, “Aqualung”

Led Zeppelin, “Led Zeppelin IV”

Andrew Goff - 5. Born To Run by Bruce Springsteen

One of the United State’s musical icons at his most passionate and powerful.

4. Dark Side Of The Moon by Pink Floyd

Don’t try this at home.

3. Unknown Pleasures by Joy Division

This is brutal and bleak. The ideas of punk pared back to match the mood of Manchester.

2. The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars by David Bowie

Unparalleled production and Bowie incredible throughout: surely the best concept album ever.

1. The Ramones by Ramones

Punk is born. Rock is saved.

Apologies to Sparks, The Sex Pistols and Led Zep. among many worthy others.

Alan Novich – The Who - Who's Next

Lynyrd Skynard - Leh nerd skynrd

Fleetwood Mac - Rumours

The Eagles - Hotel California

Manassas – Manassas

Robert Rodday, Jr. - Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here

Led Zeppelin – Led Zeppelin IV

Steely Dan - Aja

Meat Loaf - Bat Out Of Hell

Boston – Boston

Steven Cooley - The Cars - The Cars

The Eagles - Hotel California

George Harrison - Living in the Material World

Elton John - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road

The Clash - London Calling

Frank Affinito - 1. "Rocks" (Aerosmith)

2. "Tres Hombres" (ZZ Top)

3. "Alive" (KISS)

4. "Machine Head' (Deep Purple)

5. "Elegant Gypsy" (Al Di Meola)

Geoff Kemp - After the last choices this was a hard one, to my mind the 70’s produced some of the best ever albums, and was probably the start of my really noticing music properly. I began deejaying in 1972 and so was much closer in touch with the music scene.

There were very many 45’s which could have made up a list of almost unrecognisable favourites but the album was/is a different beast, which has to excel all the way through rather than just a 2 or 3 minute period.

It has taken ages to narrow this down to 5 and I was surprised to see how ‘normal’ these five are.

Chicago - Chicago II.

Pink Floyd - Dark side of the Moon.

Stevie Wonder - Songs in the Key of Life.

Queen - Night at the Opera.

Simon & Garfunkel – Bridge over Troubled Waters.

Larry Peery - For the 70s: Part 2

I made a serious error last issue when I wrote, “All in all the 70s were not a great time for classical music.” I omitted one word, “instrumental.” Certainly the 70s were a great time for classical vocal music as these examples show.

Greg Smith (choir director), the Gregg Smith Singers & the Columbia Chamber Ensemble for Ives: New Music of Charles. A superb ensemble doing a fine job with the music of a composer that I only came to appreciate late in life. Ives is an acquired musical taste, like nutmeg, but once acquired it doesn’t go away.

Rachel Elkind (producer) & Wendy Carlos for Switched-On Bach. Another acquired taste but Carlos brought Bach into the 20th Century with a unique sound that has stood the test of time.

Teresa Berganza had a unique vocal style and sound in opera that transferred brilliantly to the zarzuela art song format. Her Favorite Zarzuela Arias is still the standard. Her passion and fire still light my fire to this day.

Galina Vishnevskaya was world—famous cellist Slava Rostropovich’s wife and for many years she was a bigger star in Russia and Europe than he was. She never strayed far from the vocal music of her beloved Russia, but she didn’t have to. Her memoirs were a fascinating story from her escape from Russia in the only bright-green privately-owned Mercedes Benz in Moscow to her standing next to Slava (him holding a machine gun in his arms) on the steps of the Russian White House (e.g. Parliament) to support the Gorbachev/Yeltsin leadership during the collapse of Soviet communism. Out of many great recordings I picked one, Mussorgsky: Songs and Dances of Death.

And finally, how could I over-look The cross-over album of the 70s that made the term cross-over part of the musical lexicon of popular and classical fans alike? I admire her courage for making it and the craftsmanship she showed in doing so. What else but Barbra Streisand’s Classical Barbra?

Paul Kent – UK - UK

Angels Egg – Gong

Starless and Bible Black – King Crimson

Romantic Warrior – Return to Forever

Prokofiev, The Five Concertos - Ashkenazy, Previn

Jack McHugh - 1. Simon and Garfunkel: Bridge over Troubled Waters

2. Van Morrison: Moondance

3. Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young: Deja Vu

4. George Harrison: All Things Must Pass

5. The Who: Who's Next

6. John Lennon: Imagine

7. Paul Simon: Paul Simon

8. Supertramp: Breakfast in America

9. Led Zeppelin: Houses of the Holy

10. Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon

Martin Burgdorf - 1975 Aerosmith: Toys in the Attic

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9suQV31jTI

The American Version of the Rolling Stones - they were all but ignored in the German-speaking countries until 1989 (Pump).

1976 The Modern Lovers: The Modern Lovers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujwAUbRa4cs

The only band that Johnny Rotten of the Sex Pistols liked.

1977 Ultravox!: Ha!-Ha!-Ha!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcOjgHt6fq0

Another fantastic song is "Artificial Life"

1978 The Saints: Prehistoric Sounds

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xy2QYtLLVOk

With their third Album the Saints had left the punk Mainstream and moved in a direction that led to Edmund Küpper's next band, Laughing Clowns.

1979 The Pop Group: Y

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=viqOIqGLLgI

1979 was the year when every month an incredible, new Album came out. It was unique in the history of rock'n'roll.

Jim Burgess - Joy Division: Unknown Pleasures, this is just such an incredible record. Interestingly, NO singles were released from this album. It has the famous "Shadowplay" song that has all those great diplomacy oriented quotes. It is THE punk album.

Mike Oldfield: Tubular Bells, this began a whole host of other records in the Progressive Rock genre and it is SO progressive....

Elvis Costello: This Year's Model, the great New Wave record. Just an incredible record, but "Pump It Up" is just SUCH a great power pop song. "Radio. Radio" was a bonus track on the CD release, but it still is the best even in it's original incarnation. I still remember vividly the day this record came into our college radio station and we were just STUNNED!

Richard and Linda Thompson: I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight, I'm choosing this as the folk rock album of the 1970's, though others will disagree. It received almost no attention when released, but grew on the critics over time. "Withered and Died" is just the best song ever.

Last one is a tough one...

Blondie: Parallel Lines, the link between Disco and New Wave, I'll go with that....it just starts off brilliantly and never let's you go, the second track "One Way or Another" was such a great dance song... heck, it still is!

Rick Desper - Pink Floyd The Wall

Jethro Tull Aqualung

Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon

Led Zeppelin IV

~~Eagles Their Greatest Hits (1971-1975)~~ [[Disallowed, no Greatest Hits albums]]

People With Incomplete Lists: Howard Bishop (need 5 from 60’s and 10 from the 70’s), Richard Martin (need 1 from the 60’s and 5 from the 70’s), Toby Harris (needs 10 from the 60’s and 5 from the 70’s), Rick Desper (needs 9 from the 60’s and 6 from the 70’s).

Deadline for the First set of 5 Albums from the 1980’s is February 23rd at 7:00am my time! Feel free to include comments in your own choices, or on anyone else’s!

Where in the World is Kendo Nagasaki?

Turn 1

Hint to Person Placed Closest to Me:

You know who I am, and you are not the only one. You haven’t found me yet, and the second-closest guess was less than 20 miles further away from me than yours.

Deadline for Round 8 is February 23rd at 7am My Time

XENOGOGIC:
A dip&DIP ‘zine
January 2016
By Larry Peery

Just a few items this month since I’m working on a couple of major projects and snowed under with snow birds seeking to escape the cold winter.

First, I had a most enjoyable visit with Conrad von Metzke, Walt Buchanan, and Rod Walker --- all former publishers & editors of DIPLOMACY WORLD --- recently. A complete write-up and some pictures will be the next issue of DIPLOMACY WORLD. It was amazing to me to see how sharp this band of Diplomacy hobby “Old Farts & Living Legends” still are. Amazingly, in 4 hours and over 200 years of Diplomacy experience , not ONE mention of The Lepanto Opening.

Second, a status report update on Henry Kissinger’s most recent book, “World Order.” Amazon.com continues to offer HAK’s latest at one-third off and the number of published reader reviews is more than double any of his previous major works: “On China” or “Diplomacy,” for example. That’s surprising since the book has officially only been for sale for a few months. My google mail account has received over 40 “reviews” of “World Order” from no less than 16 different countries; and they still are coming in.

Apparently the contra temps over Niall Ferguson’s “official HAK biography” hasn’t detracted from interest in HAK’s book. But, after all that’s been going on, I can’t help but wonder how many of those so-called “reviews” were written by HAK’s former colleagues, friends and students. It’s pretty obvious which ones were written by members of the “We Hate HAK Gang.”

Third, I thought I had written everything I had to say about HAK, ABC, Harvard and dip&DIP but more and more dirt continues to come out about at least two of those subjects. I should have an article in a forth-coming issue of THE DIPLOMATIC POUCH on the afore-mentioned “official HAK biography” by Niall Ferguson. A simple Google or Wiki search can bring you up to date on that subject for now.

However, another Harvard luminary, Professor Graham T. Allison, former dean of the Kennedy School of Government and now head of the Belfer Center is at the center of an on-going brouhaha having to do with Harvard, the Kennedy School and the Belfer Center. That report (OK, call it what it is --- a tabloid expose) will also be appearing in THE DIPLOMATIC POUCH soon. It’s a fascinating look at how dip&DIP combine in the strangest ways. A teaser on “The Thucydides’s Trap,” the center of the controversy, will appear in ETERNAL SUNSHINE.

For a bit of an insight into how all these subjects: Harvard, The Kennedy School, The Belfer Center, Henry Kissinger, Graham T. Allison and Xi Jingping all link together take a look at this:

http://belfercenter.ksg.harvard.edu/publication/26058/key_to_henry_kissingers_success.html?breadcrumb=%2Findex

As you look at that picture of PRC President Xi shaking hands with Henry Kissinger in Seattle, keep in mind that just a week or so before that picture was taken Henry Kissinger was paid one million dollars for introducing a major American corporate leader at a high-tech business conference in Beijing.

Fourth, if you haven’t read the last issue of DIPLOMACY WORLD yet, do! Buried at the back of the issue is the final report on the Youngstown 4 Demo Game which includes the last installment of The Buchanan Story as well as a surprise revelation about the game that apparently none of the players picked up on.

Fifth, a little soft-launch plug for a new project I am going to try out in THE DIPLOMATIC POUCH. But first a question: DO REAL DIPPERS READ REAL BOOKS ABOUT REAL DIP ANYMORE? Think about it; when was the last time you read a real book that had something to do with dip&DIP? It’s been a while, right? Well, I’m looking for Dippers who write books, read books and like to write about books that might be of interest to Dippers. That means the books can be about Diplomacy (the game) or diplomacy-related books that might be of interest. If you’ve got a book you’ve written and want reviewed, or a book you’ve read and want to review, drop me a line. After all, the worst thing I can say is, “I know you can do better. Write, or read, it again J

Sixth, and finally, this year’s WORLD DIPCON is coming up 24-26 June (Friday-Sunday) in Chicago in conjunction with Weasel Moot X. It should be an interesting and fun event, so plan to go. For more information from the hosts, check out http://windycityweasels.org/wdc2016. If you’re a foreigner and want a dis-interested and mostly objective peerispective on what to expect in Chicago drop me a line and I’ll be glad to try and answer your questions.

ZERO SUM³ Subzine to Eternal Sunshine Issue 11 January 24, 2016

Published by Richard Weiss. richardweiss@higherquality.com.

GM Musings:

16020 Sunrise Watch, Auburn CA is my new address. Tremendous views of state park, national park, and some privately owned, frontier density population over the American River and the Auburn Ravine. A few ridgelines along my trajectory are the snow-capped Sierras probably including Heavenly Mountain in South Lake Tahoe and the top of the highest at the northern end of Lake Tahoe. I have yet to bring up Google Earth or buy topographical maps.

I have opera-type glasses (saw the opera once, never again, was supposed to be free, but wasn’t) (found the glasses in a bumper car at an amusement park many years ago and never bothered to turn them in. Here’s a hypothetical for Doug, if the bag had also contained keys would you have returned none, the keys alone, or the whole thing?). I have not found a store that sells binoculars yet. I avoid guns that sell guns and all that outdoorsy stuff, but may have to, or go to dear old Amazon.

I have underground electricity that is tunneled 11 miles. Only internet is hot spots. TV will have to be Direct, although maybe Hughes is in the area and more expensive. I already so miss cable internet and unlimited data. I never realized how much data I do stream, and that is without movies. TV is out now. And Direct is not in yet, so will go through the SuperBowl without sitting in my own house, in my favorite chair, watching my UHD big screen. Aint that a shame. Nah. Life is grand.

Get your orders in on time, because I will be adjudicating quickly and early. I will be seeing Charlie Musselwhite and the North Mississippi Allstars that night. I’ve seen Charlie off and on over the years in a variety of size venues, mostly small. GF reminded me that we saw the Allstars before, in Phoenix, opening for BB King. I’d guess that was his 80^th birthday tour. We were pretty close in a larger hall than I usually go to. To see him again was special. I only saw him once more after that.

ZeroSumCubed deadline for Issue 12 is THE SUNDAY BEFORE Doug’s deadline. Deadline is 21 February 2016, a Sunday, at 8 AM California time.

GAME OPENINGS:

Intimate Dip Only Need One More. I love this game. Zero Sum exemplified. One winner. One loser. No draws. Pure tactics. Come on and play. Are you tactically good enough?!?!?!?

A great two-person variant. The rules are printed in Issue 1, 2 and 9.

Takes two.

Signed up: Peter McNamara" peterjmcn@gmail.com

Challenge Intimate Dip

Challenge someone to a game of Intimate Dip. Does not have to be in ZeroSum or Eternal Sunshine. Could be a celebrity, if you provide a funny explanation.

The Pope Is A Socialist (nee Nuclear Yuppy Dip)

Game requires seven players. Rules in issues 1-3.

Signed up: Jim Burgess, John David Galt, Doug Kent, and Jack McHugh. Anyone else? Or this one will be retired and offered again later.

Where In The World Is Kendo Nagasaki In Doug Kent’s House

A new game will open when the current game ends.

Needs 7 to start.

Signed up:

ONGOING GAMES SECTION

All Orders Due Sunday 21 February 2016 by 8 AM CA time.

Eddie Chapman Intimate Diplomacy Germany (Harold Zarr Jr) vs. France (Doug Kent)

Eddie Chapman ("ZigZag") infiltrated the German Abwehr

during World War II whilst feeding intelligence to MI5. He was so trusted by the Germans that he is reportedly the only British citizen to have ever been awarded the Iron Cross.

Supply Center Control

Austria: Budapest, Trieste, Vienna = 3

England: Edinburgh, Liverpool, London, = 3

France: Brest, Marseilles, Paris, = 3

Germany: Berlin, Kiel, Munich + Den = 4, may add one

Italy: Naples, Rome, Venice = 3

Russia: Moscow, Sevastopol, St. Petersburg, Warsaw = 4

Turkey: Ankara, Constantinople, Smyrna = 3

Unowned: Belgium, Bulgaria, Greece, Holland, Norway, Portugal, Rumania, Serbia, Spain, Sweden, Tunis

Country	Doug’s Bid (has 23)	Harold’s Bid (has 14)	Controller of Country
Austria			In Chaos
England	8	6	France
Italy	10	7	France
Russia	5		France
Turkey		1	Germany

France started with 23 credits and spent 23, leaving zero. Germany started with 14 credits and spent one, leaving a remnant of 13.

Spring 1902

Doug/France

France:

A Burgundy – [[Ruhr]] (retreat to BEL, PIC, PAR, GAS, OTB)

F English Channel – [[North Sea]]

A Marseilles – [[Burgundy]]

England:

A London - Yorkshire

F North Atlantic Ocean - Norwegian Sea

F Wales - London

Italy:

F Gulf of Lyon - Tyrrhenian Sea

A Naples - Apulia

A Piedmont - Tyrolia

Russia:

A Moscow - Livonia

F Sevastopol - Rumania

F St Petersburg(sc) - Gulf of Bothnia

A Warsaw – [[Silesia]]

Harold/Germany

Winter: Build Army Berlin

German Army Berlin to [[Silesia]]

German Army Ruhr to Burgundy

German Army Munich supports Army Ruhr to Burgundy

German Fleet Denmark to [[North Sea]]

Turkish Army Constantinople to Bulgaria

Turkish Fleet Ankara to Black Sea

Turkish Army Smyrna to Armenia

Mercenaries

Austria: Army Vienna - Hold, Army Budapest - Hold, Fleet Trieste – Hold

Summer and Fall 1902 Orders due on or before next deadline.

Denis Donaldson Intimate Diplomacy: England (Jack McHugh) vs. Germany (Doug Kent)

Denis Donaldson, infiltrated the Sinn Féin on behalf the British government. He was found dead in his cottage after a Northern Ireland newspaper revealed this.

Doug’s Choices: TGRAEIF

Jack’s Choices: T E F R G I A

Country	Jack’s Bids (has 20)	Doug's Bids (has 22)	Controller of Country
Austria	1	3	Germany
France	8	6	England
Italy	1	3	Germany
Russia	8	5	England
Turkey	0	0	Neutral

England had 20, spent 16, has 4

Germany had 22, spent 6, has 16.

Press Throwdowns: GM to the Two Intimates: Pretty quiet. What’s going on?

Spring 1901 orders do on or before next deadline, 21 February

Let’s Have Some Pun: This is the final month of Let’s Have Some Pun. Hats off to Andy for being a stellar contributor. If anyone has some ideas for some new categories, please do send them to me.

	Andy Lischett	Douglas Kent
The newest moon of Jupiter	Sasha or Malia. (The internet says there is a convention for naming new moons of Jupiter after children of gods. At least our president thinks he is God
A crater on the moon	Joe's Crater and Bait Shop	Lunar Oil Exploration, it’s cratering all right
Next meteor going to crash into Earth (or come close)	Meteor Putin	Adam Sandler’s Career, burning up on entry
A new nebula	I had to ask Carol what a nebula is. It sounds like an SUV from Hyundai) - Chocolate Eclair Nebula	Dwarf Nebula, sung in a high pitched whine on Frank Zappa’s “The Radio is Broken”
A zodiac-like arrangement of starts you hope to see	Somehow I see the face of Alfred E. Newman - Probably it was a cover of Mad Magazine	Orchidista, sign of the vagina
The next satellite we send beyond our galaxy	Road Runner I. (You must realize that I like cars and I am old. in the late 1960s and early 1970s a Plymouth Road Runner (Meep Meep!) was a souped-up Plymouth Satellite	The Satellite of Love, thanks to Kickstarter
Free Choice (A body that is celestial?)		Celestial Body – Harley Quinn

Press: GM to Andy and Doug: Thank you so much for so much Pun!

Where In The World Is Kendo Nagasaki in Doug Kent’s House

	Round 1
	Person	Location
Mark Firth	Zeus	Stonehenge
John Galt	David Beckham	Delhi, India
Doug Kent	Could not find
Kevin Wilson	Did not submit
Andy Lischett	Little Miss Muffet	1237 Kurdsan Way
Jim Burgess	Toshiro Mifune	Mt. Fuji
Andy York	Richard Weiss	Sacramento

Clue: Gender is correct. I died before s/he was “born. “

	Round 2
	Person	Location
John Galt	Joan of Arc	Memphis, TN
Doug Kent	Teddy Roosevelt	London Bridge
Andy York	George Washington	Denver
Clue: There is something about your name that relates to my fame. We were born on the same continent.

	Round 3
	Person	Location
John Galt	Napoleon Bonaparte	Washington, D.C.
Doug Kent	George Washington Carver	Floating on the Great Salt Lake
Andy York	Napoleon	Kansas City, KS
Jim Burgess	George Washington	On Mount Vernon
Mark Firth	David Lloyd George	Tulsa OK
Clue: I was alive in two centuries, starting the one after you died. We share a citizenship, although each of us had more than one.

	Round 4
	Person	Location
John Galt	Margaret Thatcher	Washington Monument
Doug Kent	Washington Irving	Golden Gate Bridge
Andy York	Churchill	Dollywood
Jim Burgess	George H.W. Bush	Mount Rushmore
Mark Firth	Albert Einstein	Ellis Island
Original Clue: You are closest but not at all close. You are the wrong gender. You were only a citizen of one country. I died during your life. We are both dead. We are famous for different reasons. Subsequent clue to Andy York: You are closest but not at all close. You are the right gender. You were only a citizen of one country. I died during your life. We are both dead. We are famous for different reasons.”

	Round 6
	Person	Location
John Galt	Sir Winston Churchill	Jefferson Memorial
Doug Kent	Laurence Olivier	The Louvre
Andy York	Eiffel	Fort Knox
Tom Howell	Jeremiah J. Murphy	Mount Roraima
Jim Burgess	Leonard Nimoy	Parthenon
Clue: The other landmark there.

	Round 7
	Person	Location
Doug Kent	Alfred Hitchcock	Lincoln Memorial
Andy York	Eiffel	Angel Falls
Tom Howell	Nikola Tesla	Cuquenan Falls in Venezuela
Clue: Can’t get any closer than you are now.

PRESIDENTIAL BOURSE

The first caucus and first primary will have results before the next issue. Hooray. We’ve been playing a long time and the political season seems to have been going on a really long time already. And soon after the next issue is out, we will have Super Tuesday. We may see some drop in the dust of those.

The first paste is what each of us did:

The next paste is what all players’ holdings are as of 24 January 2016.

The final paste is what the total sells and buys have been for each candidate to date and what the current stock value is.

Bourse is accepting bids and sells to finalize on 21 February 2016. Some Republican values will drop based on the criteria for their debate 28 January.

I promise to neither buy nor sell Democratic shares. I will sell 73 Christie shares and 27 Bush shares and buy 50% Other and 50% Cruz.

The Cathy and Pete Gaughan

Snowball Fighting Game.

Players:

Jim Burgess: [Two Balls]

John David Galt: [Brett Favre]

Mark Firth: [Max Splodgey]

Doug Kent: [Jack Frost]

Jack McHugh: JM

Andy York: [Teddy Wayne]

Rules and empty map are in Issue 7.

Reminder: 10 VPs = winner and end of game. 0 remaining HPs = go immediately, directly, and at maximum speed (determined by GM) to the kitchen and wait there three segments.

Teddy Wayne/Andy: Starts at Q3. Has one snowball.

4a) RR at Brett Favre: 0.80 + 0.05 + 0.20 = 0.95. Rolled 0.52. Success!
4b) Collect Two SBs:
4c) RR at Brett Favre: 0.80 + 0.05 + 0.20 = 0.95. Rolled 0.00. Success!

Ends with one simple snowball at Q3.

Brett Favre/John: Ends with no snowballs at Q5. Stands and shivers.

Two Balls/Jim: Ends with 2 SBs at G3. Stands and shivers!

Jack: Ends at M11 with four snowballs

4a) SB at Jack Frost: 0.80 + 0.05 + 0.15 = 0.95. Rolled 0.39. Success!

4b) Was hit with RR, HP reached 0, must move at maximum speed to kitchen, at W11. Drops his snowballs on M11 and they are considered destroyed. Moves M11 – P10 (two hexes) then P10 – W11 (double speed on path) and ends at the kitchen door.

4c) Moves W11 into kitchen. Must spend 3 segments in the kitchen. Will spend all of the next turn in the kitchen. Can return first segment of the 6^th turn. Will start at W11 with two snowballs and 10 HP. Can then throw or move. Can be targeted then.

Ends turn in kitchen drying socks with no snowballs.

Max Splodgey/Mark: Ends with no SBs at E11.

4a) collect DDm

4b) DDm on TB; dodge: 0.55 – 0.25 + 0.05 = 0.35. Rolled 0.78. Success! (3 Damage)

4c) Collect two SBs

Ends at E11 with two SBs

Jack Frost/Doug: Ends with one SB at Q9

Rattlesnake at Jack McHugh: 0.80 + 0.15 + 0.1 (arms full) + 0.05 – 0.25 = 0.95. Rolled 0.33. Success!

Collect 2 snowballs

Rattlesnake at Jack McHugh: Is on way to kitchen. Wasted snowball.

Ends at Q9 with 1 snowball.

Yard Banter: With 28.7 inches of new fallen snow, there is no sound other than the attempts of the wee lads to move and breath.

Results:

Snowman at Q3 is headless.

Player	VP to start	VP gained	VP end	HP to start	HP received	HP end
Andy	5	2	7	3	0	3
John	7	0	7	5	2	3
Jim	5	0	5	10	3	7
Jack	3	1	4	1	1	0
Doug	4	1	5	7	1	6
Mark	1	3	4	9	0	9

No map this time, partly because they are so ugly and mostly because everyone is playing frozen statutes, except Jack had to go see Grandma.

Orders for Turn 5 due with other orders, 21 February 2016 at 8 AM CA time.

Brain Farts: The Only Subsubzine With It’s Own Fragrance

By Jack “Flapjack” McHugh – jwmchughjr@gmail.com

(or just email Doug and he’ll send it to me)

Issue #75

A couple of you jackoffs have complained that I don’t write enough anymore. Like it is my job to amuse you. Do you pay me or something? But fine if you want more of my personal life I kept a special diary for two weeks. And now I give it to you.

Two Week Diary of My Bowel Movements

Day 1 – Didn’t go until late afternoon. Happy I was home. Read part of a book on German tanks. Mild straining. Messy clean up but I have soft toilet paper so it wasn’t that big a deal. I probably should invest in some of those flushable wipes but they might clog the toilet. Even with toilet paper I have to flush after each wipe to make sure it all goes down.

Day 2 – I had to go at work but I was in the middle of something and the urge left. One of those rare shit free days.

Day 3 – After two cups of coffee at work I knew I had a load to drop. The bathroom at work smells like old piss. Nothing written on the stall walls and I had no book with me. Slow and solid, moderately clean which is good because their toilet paper is like sand paper.

Day 4 – Went to lunch and had to go there. It was one of those kind of large bathrooms you lock when you go into. They had no toilet paper, only paper towels. Felt like I ripped myself a new hole with those things plus you can’t flush them so I had to throw them in the already overflowing trash. Disgusting. Had to wash my hands for over five minutes because of some stuff under one of my fingernails. I should clip them shorter.

Day 5 – Finished the book on German tanks. They like to say it isn’t good to sit when you don’t have to go but I wanted to finish the chapter. Sack sent me a replacement copy of the book on Napoleon my former gaming buddy borrowed and never returned which somehow is supposed to be different then stealing. Kind of soft and a little messy but not a problem.

Day 6 – I ate something that didn’t agree with me. Went three times. Negatives are the sound, smell and splashing. Postives are easier cleanup. I think I’m getting hemmeroids too.

Day 7 – Feeling better, only had to go once and while my guts are sore I think the worst is over. Some blood on the sandpaper toilet paper which I guess it the hemmeroids. I will google them and see how to treat them.

Day 8 – My ass hurts but I haven’t gone today. I guess the plumbing in my body needs to fill up again.

Day 9 – Went at home again which is always better. I forgot how good this book on Napoleon’s campaigns is. Still some minor blood when I wipe. I know I need to get some cream for these but who the hell wants a 17 year old girl with 6 face piercings looking at you weird when you buy hemmeroid medicine? Heavy intake of cocktail nut mix meant a lot more work cleaning. Do people shave in there?

Day 10 – Damn it, I fucking dropped the Napoleon book in the toilet. I had already flushed before that but now I need to let it dry out. I think it will be okay but it will always seem like it is reuined in my mind. It is expensive too. Damn it. Had to take a shower to make sure I was really clean. Hurt to wipe and the ot water stung, so did the soap. That might be a good sign.

Day 11 – I’m stopping here. I took a shower after work and THEN had to shit. I hate it when that happens and I am still angry about the book, which is pretty dry now. The pages look unstained but they have that crinkle wavy bends from the water.

Hope you enjoyed hearing more about my personal life. Fuckers.

Game Openings

Diplomacy (Black Press): Signed up: Harold Zarr, need six more.

Modern Diplomacy (Black Press): Rules in this issue. Ten-player variant. No planes will be used, just armies and fleets. Signed up: Jack McHugh, Jim Burgess, John David Galt, Geoff Kemp, Harold Zarr. Needs five more.

Where in the World is Kendo Nagasaki: Rules in issue #102. Send in your guesses. Prize for the winner? Probably! (Don’t forget to play in Richard Weiss’ subzine too!)

Hypothetical Questions: Just send in answers. Anybody can play at any time, just takes participation.

By Popular Demand: Join at any time. Send in your answers! A prize for the winner!

Roger Cox has volunteered to run one of these: Divine Right, Dune, Source of the Nile, Titan, or Cosmic Encounter. Contact me ASAP is you are interested in one or more of these games.

Multiple Openings in Richard Weiss’ subzine – check them out NOW!!

Coming Soon – Colonia VII? Deviant Diplomacy? Kremlin? Make a suggestion or express interest!

Eternal Sunshine Game Section

Diplomacy, “Milk and Trash”, 2015A, S 05

Austria (Jack McHugh – jwmchughjr “of” gmail.com): F Aegean Sea – Constantinople,

A Budapest – Galicia, A Galicia – Ukraine, A Rumania Supports A Galicia - Ukraine (*Cut*),

A Silesia Supports A Budapest - Galicia.

England (Mark Firth – mark.r.firth “of” capita.co.uk): F Brest Supports F English Channel –

Mid-Atlantic Ocean, A Edinburgh - Liverpool (*Fails*), F English Channel - Mid-Atlantic Ocean,

F London - English Channel, F North Sea Supports F London - English Channel,

A Sevastopol - Rumania (*Fails*).

France (Paul Milewski – paul.milewski “of” hotmail.com): F Liverpool Hold, A Portugal Hold.

Germany (Jim Burgess – jfburgess “of” gmail.com): F Belgium Hold, A Berlin Hold, A Burgundy – Marseilles,

A Gascony Supports A Burgundy – Marseilles, F Gulf of Bothnia - Livonia (*Bounce*), A Munich – Tyrolia,

A Paris – Burgundy, F St Petersburg(sc) Supports F Gulf of Bothnia - Livonia.

Italy (John Biehl – jerbil “of” shaw.ca): A Apulia Hold, A Bulgaria Supports F Aegean Sea – Constantinople,

F Eastern Mediterranean - Smyrna (*Fails*), ~~A Marseilles - Spain~~ (*Dislodged*, retreat to Piedmont or OTB),

F Naples - Ionian Sea, F Rome - Tyrrhenian Sea, F Spain(sc) - Mid-Atlantic Ocean (*Fails*),

F Venice - Adriatic Sea.

Russia (Kevin Wilson – ckevinw “of” comcast.net): A Moscow Supports A Warsaw – Livonia,

A Warsaw - Livonia (*Bounce*).

Turkey (John David Galt – jdg “of” diogenes.sacramento.ca.us): A Armenia – Ankara,

~~A Constantinople - Bulgaria~~ (*Disbanded*), F Smyrna Supports F Eastern Mediterranean - Aegean Sea (*Void*).

Deadline for F 05 is February 23rd at 7am my time

PRESS

Rome (Apr 1, 1905): King giovanni the Short was short with the Turkish Ambassador, " Since the Sultan declined my generous offer I find it most appropriate to assist the Austrian Emperor's fleet to reach Constantinople where they may visit the Christian churches there. You may also pack your bags and slink back to your obstinate master."

(BOOB): Yes, I'm a Boob, what the heck am I doing? Who the heck knows...

(JIM-BOB to DOUG): One wishes one had the time to pay attention to one's hobbies....

Doug – Boob: I wish I did too. I can’t even consider this one of my hobbies any longer.

Black Press Gunboat, “Noah’s Titanic”, 2015Arb32, W 04/S 05

Austria: Build A Vienna.. A Budapest – Galicia, F Bulgaria(sc) - Constantinople (*Fails*), A Rumania – Ukraine,

A Serbia – Rumania, A Trieste Supports A Vienna – Tyrolia, A Vienna - Tyrolia (*Bounce*).

England: F Edinburgh - Yorkshire (*Bounce*), F Irish Sea Hold, F London - Yorkshire (*Bounce*),

F St Petersburg(nc) U.

France: A Burgundy Supports A Ruhr – Munich, A Picardy - Belgium (*Bounce*),

A Piedmont - Tyrolia (*Bounce*), A Ruhr – Munich, F Western Mediterranean - Mid-Atlantic Ocean.

Germany: Build A Kiel.. A Belgium – Ruhr, F Holland - Belgium (*Bounce*), A Kiel Supports A Belgium – Ruhr,

~~A Munich Supports A Belgium - Ruhr~~ (*Dislodged*, retreat to Bohemia or Berlin or OTB),

F North Sea - Yorkshire (*Bounce*), F Norway - Norwegian Sea, A Silesia Supports A Munich (*Cut*),

F Skagerrak - Norway.

Italy: Retreat A Trieste - Venice..Build A Rome.. F Aegean Sea Supports F Greece,

A Constantinople Supports A Smyrna - Ankara (*Cut*), F Greece Supports F Aegean Sea, F Ionian Sea – Tunis,

A Rome Supports A Venice, A Smyrna - Ankara (*Fails*), A Venice Supports A Piedmont - Tyrolia.

Russia: A Warsaw - Silesia (*Fails*).

Turkey: Remove A Albania.. A Armenia – Ankara, F Black Sea Supports A Armenia – Ankara,

A Moscow - St Petersburg (*Fails*).

Deadline for F 05 will be February 23rd at 7am My Time

PRESS

Ger-Fra: Oh, my dear friend. England lay at your feet and you have missed the opportunity. Italy is a great threat, no doubt, but together we could have swept England and then Italy from the board. Now, I fear that the war will last much longer than it should have, and more innocent blood will be spilled. The opportunity is lost, and I fear it may take much time for it to be realized again.

Dateline Europe: What remains of the Russian army has moved back into Warsaw and with the exception of the Czar, nearly all of his living relatives have been killed or are hostages of the Sultan. Austria has regained nearly full control of the Balkans, but the movement of Italian fleets strongly suggests that Italian units will begin a southern invasion of the region in an attempt to rebuild the Roman Empire of old.

Meanwhile, French troops have launched a two-pronged invasion of both Italy and Germany in an attempt to capitalize on wars between Germany and England and between Austria and Italy. It appears that a temporary rapprochement has been achieved between England and France. Whether it will hold remains to be seen. Apparently, the French have decided to “ignore” the recent English incursion into Brest, although their movement into the Mediterranean once again leaves this territory vulnerable to an English invasion. Many of the leaders in other governments have expressed their utter astonishment at this action given how unreliable an ally England has proved to be, while Germany has steadfastly supported France up to this point. How this will all be resolved is yet to be determined.

What is certain is that the war in Europe, which had appeared to be headed towards a quick and just settlement, is now certain to be prolonged and the suffering of the citizens in all lands will not be ended anytime in the near future.

Da Pope to Da President of France: Ima gonna come ova dere one time, capiche? You make nice . . . or Ima not gonna be so nice, capiche?

France to Germany: Great idea! I'm going to check out some vineyards right away!

England to Frenchy: Did you let me into MAO? You fool!!

Sultan - Tsar: Hey, it could be worse: you could be stuck in Warsaw for the winter!

Ger-Rus: Now that our differences have been resolved, the German Kaiser is once again willing to enter into a spirit of friendship and cooperation with his cousin, the Czar. You have asked for a friend, and your cousin stands before you with an open hand and heart. You have but to accept this most generous offer and see your kingdom reborn. Restoration of your lands may be possible by first recovering your summer home along the Black Sea coast. Know that your cousin will support you in this endeavor if you but signal your good intentions through diplomatic channels.

Rus - Ger: I'm back!

Rus - Fra: Now's the time to get Mun.

Rus - Tur: Don't expect to survive in Siberia

Rus - Aus: May you fumble.

Rus - Eng: May you meet Davey Jones.

Silesia: Since the German army has brought new supplies here, our Cossacks have raided across the border to acquire more booty.

Ger-Eng: With the movement of French fleets to the Mediterranean, the Mid-Atlantic and numerous ports of call (and supply) are now open to you. There is no need for conflict between us as our mutual cooperation to this point has benefited us both. Let us resolve to continue that spirit of cooperation while we take advantage of the priceless opportunities that have appeared before us. Judicious actions will reward us with good fortune, and you may once again be the known as the King of England and France!

Pope Pluvius - Archduke: Now we're better aligned, it's vital we move quickly to thwart German domination. Please take Sev and move onto the German border.

The French army wandering into my territory has frustrated my builds but hopefully it will go soon. Let's not get embroiled in a tussle that can only help Germany win. Any ideas on demilitarising Gre/Ser/Bul? My fleet in Greece already frees your Serbian troops for action further north.

Ita - Fra: C'mon, we need to keep our eyes firmly on Germany here. You made good moves up top but scuppered them with the fleet. I'll keep supporting you to Tyl if it helps.

I - E: Iberia? Feel free.

Papal Envoy - Sultan: that's no flying carpet! Get yourself properly ensconced in your nice Russian palace and I'll go elsewhere.

Pope - Germanic hordes: your messages of heathen insurgency have been noted. May Europe rise in unison against you!

Friends of Rome - Russian nomads: Quo vadis?

Ger-Ita: It would appear that France is attempting to take advantage of your involvement in the Balkans by stabbing you in the back! War on three fronts (Turkey, Austria and France) does spell “good times” for you, my dear Pope. Perhaps you can resolve your differences with Austria and Turkey long enough to protect the lands that produce the delicious wines for which you are so famous. Then again, perhaps the enmity with your neighbors is too deep for these issues to be resolved. Pray on it, and see if a divine answer is given to you.

Ger- Aus: A priceless opportunity is given to you, my dear friend. Italy is besieged by France, and with too many units committed to Turkey, “He who defends all, defends nothing!” Greece can be yours, and with it, northern Italy as well. France is attempting to replace Italy in the Mediterranean with its own hegemony, and will shortly be your enemy. Italy may well fall from grace faster than you anticipate. Prepare well for this, and your homeland will be secure from all threats.

By Popular Demand

The goal is to pick something that fits the category and will be the "most popular" answer. You score points based on the number of entries that match yours. For example, if the category is "Cats" and the responses were 7 for Persian, 3 for Calico and 1 for Siamese, everyone who said Persian would get 7 points, Calico 3 and the lone Siamese would score 1 point. The cumulative total over 10 rounds will determine the overall winner. Anyone may enter at any point, starting with an equivalent point total of the lowest cumulative score from the previous round. If a person misses a round, they'll receive the minimum score from the round added to their cumulative total. In each round you may specify one of your answers as your Joker answer. Your score for this answer will be doubled. In other words, if you apply your Joker to category 3 on a given turn, and 4 other people give the same answer as you, you get 10 points instead of 5. Players who fail to submit a Joker for any specific turn will have their Joker automatically applied to the first category. And, if you want to submit some commentary with your answers, feel free to. The game will consist of 10 rounds, with the 10^th round being worth double points. A prize will be awarded to the winner. Research is permitted, but cooperation or collusion between players is not!

Round 7 Categories

1. A former Pope.

2. A film featuring Christopher Walken.

3. A type of bread.

4. A television game show which was broadcast in black and white (for at least part of its life).

5. A mental illness.

Jack McHugh scores the low 17, sticking it to the NMRing players. Dane Maslen gets 43
(out of a possible 47) for the high score this round.

Comments By Category

Pope – Dane Maslen “Almost certainly a choice between John Paul II and Benedict XVI. In many respects the latter seems more obvious, being the current pope's predecessor, but it was John Paul II that came to my mind first, so I'm hoping that that will be true for other people too.” Jim Burgess “This is sort of a tough one, but I think the best choice. I wonder if people will try to choose one of the other Popes from the 14th-17th centuries? I'd bet not.” Steven Cooley “Innocent III (who, incidentally, was succeeded by Guilty IV).”

Christopher Walken – Andy York “Per IMDB only 129 choices, including some TV shows.” Dane Maslen “It's a bad sign when one's first reaction to a category is "Who?" Jim Burgess “As Doug knew in pulling this category, there are three ways to go.... Catch Me If You Can, which is perhaps his great role, but people might forget. Pulp Fiction, but his role really was SMALL, but Deer Hunter is the quintessential Walken role. So, we'll go with that.” [[I would have also included for consideration The Dead Zone, and perhaps Brainstorm.]]

Bread – Jim Burgess “Yuck, my first thought was "Wonder Bread", which is why I went with "white", you said a type.... there are so many choices, who knows what will dominate?”

Game Show – Jim Burgess “Oh heck, WAY too many choices! Even Let's Make a Deal started in Black and White. What's My Line, but that's a total shot in the black and white.”

Mental Illness – Dane Maslen “This is the only category that we feel confident about.”

Round 8 Categories – Don’t Forget to Choose a Joker Category (Double Points)

1. A Greek Goddess.

2. A consonant.

3. Something named after an explorer.

4. A science fiction author.

5. A country in Europe.

Deadline for Round 8 is February 23rd at 7am My Time

General Deadline for the Next Issue of Eternal Sunshine: February 23^rd, 2016 at 7:00am my time. Hope to See You Then!