Eternal Sunshine #146

July 2021

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

On Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/270968112943024/ or on the web at http://www.whiningkentpigs.com/DW/. Follow on Twitter at @EternalSunshDip. Also be sure to visit the official Diplomacy World website at http://www.diplomacyworld.net.

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Quote of The Month – “Let me correct you on a couple of things, okay? Aristotle was not Belgian. The central message of Buddhism is not every man for himself. And the London Underground is not a political movement. Those are mistakes. I Iooked 'em up.” - (Wanda in “A Fish Called Wanda”)

Welcome to Eternal Sunshine, back for another month. You can take that as a positive or a negative, whichever you prefer. It seems most of the world taken my continued existence as a negative, but who am I to argue?

I am searching for something even remotely interesting to say this month, and I simply can’t think of anything. I’m still employed, for the time being. Still single, with no prospects on the horizon (and not even a date for almost two years now). Dating sites are a joke. Have I written about those in here before? That happens to me a lot these days. I’ll write something and realize later I already talked about it. I don’t care enough to look back so I’ll assume I already covered it.

Suffice to say, when I’m not at work, I’m alone. When I am at work, it’s just me and my boss. My brain is spending a lot of time in the past lately, but going off in multiple directions at once like a spastic octopus. Sights, sounds, smells, experiences, emotions..I’m reliving them all, constantly. The good and the bad. Even nostalgia for times when I was unhappy and directionless. It’s tiring. Most of all I miss two things: the magic of first experiencing something that became meaningful to me (a piece of music, a book, a film). And those short periods of my life when I knew someone believed in me. A lot of things become more tolerable with that wind at your back. And the normal, everyday experiences of life are a lot more fun when you share them with someone you care deeply about.

Nothing to do but keep fighting through each day. And hoping something magical happens, some effort clicks, some sparks catch. Maybe the planets align and a new path illuminates itself. I do that, while also accepting there’s a high possibility none of that ever happens. A delicate line to walk.

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

Game Openings

Diplomacy (Black Press): Signed up: Brad Wilson, Paul Milewski, needs five more.

By Popular Demand: Ongoing. Join in the fun! You can join at any time.

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

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

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

Meet Me in Montauk

The Eternal Sunshine Letter Column

Kevin Wilson: Congratulations to Andy on the win. That last clue of surviving something another didn’t clued me into Sadat so it was just a matter of where. I came down to Krakow or Szeged and convinced myself Doug would never pick a place most everyone would have heard of before! I almost choose Krakow anyway based on some other earlier choices by players that flipped back and forth between cities in Poland but I let me talk myself into the other spot. Should have gone with my first choice and not the “what-would-Doug-pick” choice.

[[For that round – not necessarily for EVERY round - I chose the location by closing my eyes, spinning a globe, and sticking my finger out. When it stopped it was in the area, and I decided to use Krakow in memory of a Calvin and Hobbes strip. You can find that particular strip here: https://www.gocomics.com/calvinandhobbes/1986/04/28 .

Amazing how many of those strips I remember, and think of often. I’ve got the complete set (which I haven’t leafed through yet) and every paperback collection I ever owned (back from when the strip was first published, although I might have bought the second collection before the first. Those early purchases were from Encore Books in New Jersey). They still have the price stickers, too.]]

One version of the movie Midway has been on every weekend for the past 2 months it seems. Maybe that stuck in your (Doug’s) head and subliminally he’ll give me a win on round 1! :-)

[[I only liked the original Midway, despite the silly Heston and Son subplot. The historical accuracy and focus on plot and dialogue rather than special effects makes it far superior to the remake.]]

Mark Nelson: I didn't get into the X-files when it was originally shown. First of all I didn't own a TV when it was first shown. Then when I did buy a TV (at the age of 26) I was under the impression that it was the kind of series that didn't make sense if you hadn't followed it from the start - so I only watched one or two episodes.

Then a couple of years ago, one of the local TV stations decided to show all the episodes... at a pace of one episode a night. I did not catch every episode, but I caught almost all episodes.

My not very original thoughts? Almost anything to do with the conspiracy is rubbish. Throw those away. Of the episodes that remain some are very good, some are ok, and some are rubbish. Since then the same channel has gone through the episodes a second time and perhaps now a third time but I've not been tempted to re-engage with the show. I'll sometimes watch a few minutes to see what the episode is.

[[I’m not sure what you mean about the conspiracy. Rubbish, as in silly and impossible? Well, yeah, even back then (when “shadow government” conspiracies were a much more original topic) that part was pure fantasy, meant as a device to drive the characters and create intrigue. Not meant as something believable. But at the same time, they usually make it a point to tie the idea of a shadow government conspiracy to fact. By that I mean, they usually have Mulder or one of the Lone Gunmen point out factual activities of the government which were conducted in secret, and which at the time seemed unbelievable. Tuskegee? Iran-Contra? The Maine? The Gulf of Tonkin? But I agree the main overall conspiracy arc – the UFO/alien DNA being merged with human DNA, etc. – doesn’t age so well. Instead, the single-episode conspiracies (testing of chemicals to create rage, development of processes to keep soldiers from needing to sleep, etc.) hold up much better. As a childhood fan of Kolchak: The Night Stalker, as X-Files creator Chris Carter also was, and as someone who started watching the X-Files when it was first aired, I have a strong nostalgic attachment to it. Even with that, I don’t think I’ve watched these episodes for maybe eight years.

You also need to remember that conspiracy plot devices (which are now the bread and butter of some series) may seem silly, until they don’t. The X-Files had two spin-off series. Millennium, starring the great Lance Henricksen, is a darker show and one I return to more frequently despite the plot device of the end of the millennium having come and gone. But a lot of that show built more on “some people believe in the importance of the millennium, and they will act accordingly, and that is what matters, not whether they are right.” And Henricksen’s Frank Black character was immensely more interesting than the typical boy hero of Fox Mulder.

But allow me to call your attention, for a moment, to the second short-lived spinoff The Lone Gunmen. On March 4, 2001 that show aired its premiere episode. The episode focused on a plot being run by a rogue government group. They were going to electronically hijack a Boeing 727, intending to fly it directly into one of the Twin Towers. The goal was to cause immense destruction, and then blame it on one or more foreign dictators and use it as an impetus to bomb them or go to war. In the show, the plot is foiled at the last minute when the Lone Gunmen are able to hack the hacker, so to speak, and the plane does not hit the tower. A silly episode…until six months later when truth became stranger than fiction (regardless of whether a person gives any credence whatsoever to the various layers of conspiracy theories which have since been attached to 9-11).]]

I've got a feeling that I've caught some of Predestination on the TV, either that or there is something remarkably similar to it. Didn't watch it all the way through though - should I? Perhaps you can answer that question without giving anything away!

[[It’s a slow burn but interesting. I wouldn’t struggle to find it, but if you get the chance to watch the whole thing it’s probably worth a go. Even if for Sarah Snook’s performance alone.]]

Richard Smith: Regarding your review of Predestination, which I think is an underrated movie, I did attempt a Pictionary drawing of it in VP 165 https://variablepig.org/zines/vp165.pdf (use the bookmarks to jump to House of Games). Arguably, this does give away the plot 😊

[[You’ve all been warned…spoiler alerts if you go look.]]

Andy Lischett: In Kendo I thought that if "Sadat in Krakow" was correct multiple players would get it. I don't know why Mordechai Anielewicz was so popular.

[[At least one player seemed to take “you survived what I did not” to refer to WW2 rather than an assassination attempt.]]

Andy York: Not much to comment on regarding the zine. Regarding the "list" participation, I'd likely contribute if I have something to add. So, much depends on the requested contents - if you request "Top 5 Operas" I'd likely pass as I've only seen one in person (high school time frame, so VERY hazy) and a couple on PBS that I can't even think of. Top 5 Favourite Cities to Visit, that I could do.

[[I’m not nearly informed enough to have a Top 5 Opera list. I mean I could make one, but it would be based on my knowledge of what, fifteen operas? I kinda wish I had my Dad’s old record collection. I would have taken it from him but I lived in Texas when he got rid of it. Too bad. Then again, Heather would have forced me to dispose of it, all things being equal. He must have had a hundred operas, and four hundred symphonies.]]

Turning to the Express, after terrible early starts, both OKC Dodgers and Sugarland (Astros) have gotten their acts together. Meanwhile some of our key players early have been called up. As an example, the first series against Sugarland we won 4-2, the latest we lost 5-1. But, still fun to go out there. Also, might have to follow the Olympics baseball games - one of our players is on the team (Ryder Ryan).

[[That’s always the major downside with minor league teams: the fluidity of the rosters. If the Rangers trade Gibson, Gallo, and Kennedy, I wonder if the Astros AAA team could beat our major league roster? I’m torn on Gallo. I kind of hope we keep him, but only if we can sign him to a six year deal. I know we won’t get value for him in a trade.]]

First movie at AFS Cinema is Friday night (screening of "In the Mood for Love" as a soft opening for invited guests). Then, I'll catch "The Secret Life of Plants" Sunday afternoon before heading out for a baseball game. I'll also get a chance to see the 30th Anniversary Screening & Cast Reunion of "Slacker" on Tuesday at the large Paramount Theater downtown - my first substantive visit there in nearly a year and a half.

[[I was looking at some movies in an email from the Dallas Angelika and was mildly interested in a few movies. Then I realized the email was for online viewing only; the actual theater was showing Fast 9 on two of it’s screens. Such a shame.]]

The Dining Dead – Eternal Sunshine Movie Reviews

The Amusement Park (Shudder) – This was a “lost” film by George Romero, which has been remastered by his estate. It was shot in 1973 but was never released, as investors supposedly found the film too upsetting (I would doubt that except, I believe it was intended as a sort of public service film rather than a commercial production). It’s not gory, bloody, or filled with zombies. Instead, it’s kind of an artistic look at how terrible it was (and is) to be elderly in the United States. There’s not much story, and zero character development. And there’s an introduction explaining what we’re about to see which, in my eyes, lessened the impact of the entire experience. We follow a man in his 70’s as he spends a day in an amusement park, which is meant to represent the everyday world and the dangers it holds, especially for the elderly. Sadly, a metaphor only has value when you use it AS a metaphor. It’s like a joke: if you have to explain it, it’s not worth it. And that’s the thing, it didn’t have to be explained. It’s not a very good film to begin with, but if you cut out the introduction it would at least hold some mystery and interest. I looked it up on IMDB.com after watching it, and as expected, some Romero fanboys have given it a 9 or 10 rating, which is utterly ridiculous. It’s of mild interest (especially if you are a fan of his other work, or you like low budget stuff), that’s all.

The Devil’s Machine (Amazon) – This is a film I backed on Kickstarter a few years ago, originally entitled Automata. It’s in a pile of DVDs I haven’t gotten around to watching (along with two other films also directed by Lawrie Brewster and written by Sarah Daly: The Unkindness of Ravens and Lord of Tears). For whatever reason I’ve never pulled them out of the pile (in part, I think, because the packaging is so nice). But I realized this one was on Amazon so I decided I’d earn the filmmakers a few pennies and watch it there instead. The film is a sort of gothic horror, partially in the vein of some of the Hammer films of the 60’s but with much more adult themes. Brendan (Jamie Scott Gordon) is the leading expert in the creations of Alexander McIntosh in the 1700’s, including his fabled Inferno Princess which Brendan does not believe ever existed. Along with his stepdaughter Rose (Victoria Lucie) he is hired to authenticate a discovery purporting to be the same Princess automaton. This modern story is interspersed with the story of how the doll was supposedly originally created, and the Prussian General who commissioned it. Most of the film is very beautifully shot, and there’s a slow burn eeriness to everything that’s happening. Brendan starts to wonder if he’s losing his grip on sanity, and there’s an uncomfortable tension between him and his stepdaughter. Sadly, about two thirds of the way through, it all falls apart. The “villain” isn’t frightening, the grandiose aims of the plot go into “let’s try to be Eyes Wide Shut” mode, and the decent acting collapses under cliché after cliché, bad dialogue, and silly direction. Too bad, because a more restrained and focused climax would have served this film much better.

The Last Seduction (DVD) – I’ve gotten on a bit of a kick lately, trying to revisit films from the 90’s (and late 80’s) that I used to have on VHS and haven’t seen in a decade or more. Mara and I used to record two or three films off cable onto one tape. Our collection grew to the point that we needed an index card file so we’d know what we had, and where we had it. Sadly, Heather demanded I throw all those old tapes away long ago. I’m not sure they’d all be usable now, and at the moment I don’t even have a working VHS player. But I often wish I could watch some of those movies whenever I felt like it. A number of them are not available on DVD, either because they’ve never been released, or (more often) because they were released on DVD for a short time early in the 2000’s, and never again. Two that come to mind which are difficult to come by now (and very expensive) are Smilla’s Sense of Snow and The Young Poisoner’s Handbook. As I think of movies that I miss being able to watch, I pick them up new or used on eBay, one at a time. You’ll usually find those listed in the “Older Movies” section; this time around they include things like Into the Night and Lone Star.

But while I assemble those movies, I occasionally come across films that I never saw back in the day, but which I either wanted to, or which critics of the period such as Siskel and Ebert gave high marks to. The Last Seduction is one such film, which I just received on DVD and watched. I believe I saw it on a Siskel & Ebert “Best of 1994” episode.

The movie is a tour de force for Linda Fiorentino, who plays Bridget. By day she runs a telemarking firm, selling collectible coins to suckers. But she and her husband (Bill Pullman) have just pulled off a large drug deal, and have collected $750,000. But Bridget is not the sharing kind, and she decides to run off with the cash. Along the way to Chicago she is approached by Mike (Peter Berg), and a relationship soon develops. But is she truly interested, or is she just looking for another man to use and throw away?

Bridget is a wonderful character, and Fiorentino has a ball player her. Crude, sexy, sensual, intelligent, cut-throat, and manipulative, always thinking moves ahead like a chess player. It takes a little while for the story to find a good pace, but once it does Fiorentino hits her stride and dives into the deep end. I should warn you than a sequel was released in 1999. It doesn’t have any of the same actors, nor was it written by Steve Barancik. The reviews I’ve seen of that sequel are not promising. So stick with the original, and enjoy yourself. It was a real treat to discover a modern noir that I hadn’t seen before.

Older Movies Watched (that I’ve seen many times) – Evilspeak, The Conspiracy, Into the Night, Lone Star, The Big Picture, A Fish Called Wanda, Quiz Show, and the usual 4^th of July trio: Gettysburg, Jaws, and 1776.

Octopus's Garden

Issue Ninety-Nine

7^th July 2021

Sub-editorial

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

Round 6 (RR 2473 B) — "Garrett Hobart" — Railway Rivals Map "B" (Lon&Lpl)

JGL black (John David Galt)

6a) (L21) - L24 - K25 - K26 - J26 ;
6b) (J26) - G28 [-1 B] ;
6c) (G28) - C30 [-1 B].
=87-2[B]+3[A]+15[B]=103

AYUP yellow (Mark Firth)

6a) (M16) - I14 [-1 J] ; (K47) - L47 - Grimsby [+6] ;
6b) (K61) - N62 - Cambridge ;
6c) (D7) - D6 [-1 J] ; (K15) - H16 [-1 J].
=66+6-3[J]+2[B]=71

HJA red (Hank Alme)

6a) (D57) - C57 - C55 - Nottingham [-3 B] ; (C57) - A56 [-1 B];
6b) (A56) - Derby [-2 B] - A53 - B52 - B51 ;
6c) (B51) - A51 - Sheffield - B48.
=59-6[B]+3[B]=56

BASH sky-blue (Bob Blanchett)

6a) (J72) - K73 - London - N71 - N69 ;
6b) (Liverpool) - Bolton [-15 J] [-1 A] - G7 [-3 J] [-3 H] [-1 A] ;
6c) (E13) - G12 - Stoke.
=14-18[J]-3[H]-2[A]+2[J]+6[H]-1[int]=-2

As per postal rule X12, BASH pays out the full 18 to JGL, but JGL only receives 15. For Round 7, you may enter 4 of the following 7 races, then build up to 14 points of physical track. (This means payments - known or unknown - to rivals do not count against the limit; although, of course, you still pay them.) Orders to me, Peter Sullivan, at peter@burdonvale.co.uk by WEDNESDAY, 11th AUGUST 2021.

Races for Round Seven:

1) (46-21) Peterborough - Huddersfield
2) (@5-52) Wales - Birmingham
3) (31-43) Preston - Lincoln
4) (51-32) Birmingham - Stoke
5) (16-63) Sheffield - London
6) (61-@3) London - The North
7) (26-11) Manchester - Grimsby

That was Octopus's Garden #99, Startling Press production number 395.

Out of the WAY #35

by W. Andrew York

(wandrew88 of gmail.com)

Howdy!

As teased last time, the Gunboat game is underway. I received confirmation from all players after I’d submitted my column to Doug so was able to request Spring 1901 orders to run in this issue, see the report below. I saw no interest in opening a second Gunboat game, so I only listed it as a possibility down the road. And, still very light on Gunboat Dip standby players. If you’d be willing to fill in if needed, please let me know. But, I hope no one will be called on. Also, still waiting on the Breaking Away and Standard Choice games to fill.

In one of the order submissions I was asked if the Gunboat game would have a name. Of course! I pretty much had decided on what the naming convention would be, but wanted to mull on it a bit in case of a sudden burst of inspiration (didn’t happen). So, it will come as no surprise that the Diplomacy games I run here will be themed on, wait for it, minor league baseball team names. And, also in no surprise, but the first game is named after the hometown team – Round Rock Express.

In happenings around here, the state legislature is back for a called Special Session. It looks to be quite contentious, with many Republican initiatives that weren’t passed in the Regular Session returning for Round Two. From what little I’ve read on the bills already filed they have excluded some of the more partisan items, but they can always be tacked back on through amendments and the like. Interestingly, the bill from the Regular Session that did pass, regarding the electric grid, was considered not adequate enough, from most sides, in addressing the issues from the February power outage. Many folks expected a follow-on bill but it isn’t on the Governor’s list of items to tackle (Texas legislative special sessions may only pass laws on the specific topics outlined by the Governor).

The AFS Cinema starts up again this weekend with screenings during a soft opening for supporters. I have two movies I’ve signed up for. Plus, Tuesday the 30^th Anniversary of “Slackers” is being feted by a screening and cast reunion at the Paramount Theater. It’ll be my first visit to downtown Austin in about a year and a half, beyond a handful of times driving through to get to BookPeople. And, it’ll be good to be back in a theater.

Baseball season is plugging along. Surprisingly the Express are doing well, much better than their parent team (Rangers). For the most part, they are battling for the lead in the division with Oklahoma City (Dodgers) and Sugarland (Astros). Some players, given a bit more seasoning, will likely be regulars in the Major Leagues in the next year or two and might well be well known (Curtis Terry anyone?). Also, one of our pitchers will be playing for Team USA at the Olympics. Go Ryder Ryan!

Besides baseball, have been getting out to meet with friends. Had lunch at a couple of Peruvian places, a favorite BBQ joint and a Mexican place for Eggs Mexicano a couple of times. Also, had one outing to a friend’s house to chat and play games one afternoon (Ticket to Ride – Japan). The friend that I mentioned visiting last issue has returned to the Panhandle, but have another friend visiting this weekend to join me for an Express game. Slowly getting back to socializing, but still taking precautions as C-19 still is looming over much of our communal activities.

Hope everyone had a great 4^th of July and is enjoying the summer!

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

Texas Talk

ANN RICHARDS QUOTE #4

“The public does not like you to mislead or represent yourself to be something you’re not. And the other thing

that the public really does like is the self-examination to say, you know, I’m not perfect. I’m just like you. They don’t

ask their public officials to be perfect. They just ask them to be smart, truthful, honest, and show a modicum of good

sense.”

Sources: www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/126242.Ann_Richards

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

Letter Column

(always welcome, send them in!)

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

[Kevin Wilson] - I recently discovered Backstabbr. It’s a web-app for playing Diplomacy and can do gunboat. If you’re not

familiar with it, check it out and you may want to mention it in the zine. I’m in my first game there and it’s pretty easy to use. My current game has deadlines every other day so is moving fairly quickly (very fast compared to a zine game) but not too fast. Chatter between players is all in the app not via email unless running gunboat then there isn’t any chat

at all. The graphics are clear, easy to follow and ordering simple. You just have to pay attention to coasts. [WAY] – I

don’t have to mention it, you’ve done that! Anyone else have some experience with it, or a similar platform, that they’d

like to share?

[Mark Nelson] - I've not read any of the Sharp novels. The nearest that I've got to that is that when I was 11 or 12 I was given

"Mr. Midshipman Hornblower" as a birthday present and I spent the next four or five years tracking down all the other Hornblower books (and rereading the ones I had). Probably not something that I'd be interested in rereading, but I

enjoyed them at the time! [WAY] – I’ve also read all of the Hornblower books, Forester was a prolific writer and all of his works that I’ve read I’ve enjoyed (plenty that have to read too!). I liken the Sharpe series to be an army compliment to the Hornblower naval stories – similar in vein, style and portrayals. I’ve considered rereading the Hornblower books, but there’s too much I have that I’ve yet to read…

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

Mini-Book Reviews

(finished since last issue)

Deacon King Kong by James McBride (2020; 371p).

There’s a fixture at Dell Diamond (home to the Round Rock Express) that is known as Baseball Jan. I’ve known her for over a decade and, one of our traditions, is every baseball season she recommends at least one book for me to read (I’m known in the park as a reader as I always have a book with me to peruse between innings, pitcher substitutions, rain delays, etc.). This was, at least so far, that she recommended this season. It’s also the first book that didn’t have baseball as a central theme, only as an element.

This book is set in 1969 in South Brooklyn in a highly segmented neighborhood that, at one time, was mostly Italian, now is being supplanted by African-American and Latinx residents. It is low-income, with rampant crime and a strong drug culture.

The core character is an elderly black church deacon, given to alcohol (the homebrew King Kong) and who is haunted by his late wife’s legacy (misplaced church Christmas funds) and her continued influence on his day-to-day life (on-going, internal, narrative…or hallucinations?). Many other characters are introduced that weave a strong, interconnected, community that struggles with poverty, few choices, ever present criminal enterprises and a community glue that holds everyone, regardless of background, together. Added to the mix is the local police who try to do what they can to help others while not upsetting the shaky balance that keeps the neighborhood together and mostly functioning.

The key pivot in the story is that the deacon (known as Sportcoat), out of the blue, shoots the young primary drug dealer on the block – a kid he’d coached in little league and who had a chance to make a better future. That event starts to unravel the coherence that kept the neighborhood/community together. To complicate things, another thread brings others closer together but could lead to even more disruption and conflict.

This is a masterful book that was thoroughly engaging and well worth reading. I’m certainly going to pick up some of this author’s books in the future (he’s the author of The Good Lord Bird, which was on my radar, and The Color of Water).

A Classic - highly recommended! [July 2021]

Detroit The Unconquerable edited by Scott Ferkovich (2014; 222p).

This is a look into the 1935 World Series Champion Detroit Tigers baseball team. It is a collection of other pieces written about those involved in that year’s season for other efforts by a variety of authors. Therefore, there is no coherent theme beyond the inclusion of the 1935 season in the original piece and some framing bits at the beginning. That is not to say it is an excellent work, just that some of the articles are more on point, others focus on different issues and there is some variation in the writing skill, style and presentation.

The book opens with a short piece setting the societal scene for 1935 (deaths, births, historical events, products, etc.). This is followed by general pieces on the city of Detroit in the 1930s and a brief overview of the 1935 season.

The bulk of the book is individual articles on each of the players, managers and the owner during the season. All players (though I didn’t verify it), even if only on the team for a few games, are included. Those bits cover the players’ entire career, not solely on the 1935 season. Thus, many of the bios have more information on other years of the players’ career than on the 1935 season. That section ends with the final character in the 1935 season – Tiger stadium.

The book concludes with statistics, the state of Tiger radio at the time, those of that team who ended up in the Hall of Fame as well as a bit on the other championships that came to the City that year (football, boxing and hockey).

Recommended for the baseball aficionado. [June 2021]

Failed State by Christopher Brown (2020; 359p).

The third of Brown’s dystopian look into the near future of America. This takes place several years after Tropic of Kansas with the autocratic president, who continued into a 3^rd term by overturning a popular election, removed from power by a popular uprising. The uprising is driven by the catastrophic damage to the environment by climate change, the corporate power over many aspects of society, a judiciary filled with the president’s appointees and the extrajudicial nature of privatized police/prison systems.

There are eco-terrorists (or freedom fighters, depending on your viewpoint) that are taking radical action to hold fiscal descendants of magnates that exploited the land and its resources accountable for their ancestors action. Alongside those efforts, there is an effort to re-establish a national government while hold existing corporations, and their shareholders, to count for what is currently happening.

The central character is the same as in the second book, as he tries to walk a line between supporting both sides – giving support, legal advice and expertise to those that are doing what he feels is the right thing. While involved in that, he has personal issues that are coming to the forefront and have the potential to completely undermine his efforts.

Of the three books, this is the most difficult to read beyond a superficial level. As an attempt to wrap up the threads of the previous two books, it certainly accomplishes the goal. However, Brown gives the non-casual reader much to think about in our society’s relationship with the earth, the environment and each other. Also, what are the limits, if any, on responsibility for a person’s current position/status that is built on what they’ve done, what they’ve inherited from their ancestors and how society’s past actions have influenced their life’s outcome – pretty heady stuff to ponder about!

I will also note a few scenes of physical abuse/debasement were somewhat memorable. The images I have of those events are still lurking in the background of my mind – a sign of a masterful storyteller. It is hinted later that these may have been staged, but…

Recommended if this type of tale interests you. However, definitely read the first two books before tackling this one to have the full experience of what is being told. [July 2021]

Martin Yan’s Asia by Martin Yan (1997; 256p).

This book is a mostly companion book to the 7^th season of his Yan Can Cook series, though it is grouped by five regions rather than a parallel presentation to the specific episodes. Thus, it is easily accessible to the home cook looking to try a dish from the Philippines, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Singapore or Japan.

It opens with an introduction delving into tools and techniques used in the areas and some tips on accessing ingredients. Each of the five sections begins with an overview of the cuisine, including influences behind it. Then, the recipes are presented. Alongside many of the recipes are asides about the cuisine, the specific dish, presentation and cooking style. Those, more than elsewhere other than the photo captions, well represent Yan’s inherent humor and playfulness.

The recipes themselves are well described, with a detailed ingredient list (including potential substitutions for some items) and an easy to follow step-by-step preparation method. Yes, some of the recipes are involved, use specialized techniques and.or have uncommon ingredients. However, that is much more the exception than the rule. The vast majority of recipes are easily approachable by the home chef, with others that will stretch the cooking skills in a good way by providing an opportunity to learn a new way to do something.

Recommended for the interested cook. [July 2021]

Practicing Basic Spiritual Disciplines by Charles F. Stanley (2020; 155p).

A 12-lesson look into Christian living, including such topics of Four Basics of Spiritual Growth, The Strength of the Believer and A Personal Study of the Scriptures. Laid out in a weekly group session format, they are easily incorporated into an individual study program.

Overall good information, ideas and suggestions. However it is geared to the Christian follower, though some bits could be adapted to other religions. Recommended only for those seeking to improve their approach to a Christian lifestyle.

[June 2021]

Rule of Capture by Christopher Brown (2019; 381p).

This is the second of Brown’s novels in his inaugural series. It establishes the origins of the American society that was integral to Tropic of Kansas’s dystopian tale. Focusing on a character only referenced in that novel through in an attorney’s billboard advertisement, his travails see the ushering in of an autocratic government. In short, an incumbent president, a charismatic former reality TV host, tries to manipulate the results of an election by claiming fraud, and in having a Texas governor overturn the results of the state’s election results, to remain in power.

In parallel, during his presidency, that leader had instituted a number of actions that brought outsourcing of many national security functions, large corporations were given control of climate ravaged areas of the country in the wake of a lost war with China and the rise of anti-government/pro-environment dissident groups.

This story has him trying to defend a client accused of documenting and circulating videos of actions taken by the dissidents. While doing so, he becomes peripherally involved in the movement, discovers extralegal actions taken by the government and their contractors and tries to keep his head above water in his personal life.

Being blown away by his (literal) first novel, I heartily recommend reading this book and taking the time to think on what he’s writing about. You could read the two initial books in either order, but probably the first is best first. It will help pick up on some of the hints and foreshadowing of the second book.

Side note – this was published in 2019, so it was primarily written in 2017 or before. Also, the original book was published in 2017, so it was written mostly in or before 2015. So, it is not a twist on what could have occurred in real life but a haunting tale that, in some ways, foreshadowed some parallel events that unfolded in America in later years. Also, some, new to me, thoughts on property ownership (aka the rule of capture) and viewpoints on our society.

[July 2021]

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

Babylon 5 Quote

In “A Voice in the Wilderness, Pt 1” – Ivanova: “It’s a Russian thing. When we’re about to do something stupid, we like to

catalog the full extent of our stupidity for future reference.”

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

Recipe of the Month

Recipe Philosophy: Except for baking, recipes are only suggestions. I rarely precisely measure, eyeballing most everything. The

listed measurements, for the most part, are estimates from the last time I made the recipe. Feel free to adjust to meet

your personal tastes – and remember, it is easier to add “more” of something than to compensate when “too much” has

been added.

For ingredients, if you don’t like raw onions, omit them or replace with celery to retain the crunchiness. If you like food with

more spice, add an extra jalapeno or use habaneros instead. On the other hand, if you don’t like spicy food, replace the

jalapeno with a bell pepper. Optional items are used when I’m looking for a variation or making it for individuals

with specific preferences or allergies.

NOTE: For background, see Book Review. Also, back when I was getting weekly CSA box, I had an abundance of okra for many weeks in late summer and needed some way to use it up. This was my “go to” recipe.

Limeade

Yan’s Commentary on the recipe:

If you’re a fan of iced tea, try this sparkling refresher made with tea, lime juice, honey and ginger ale.

It’s just the thing for washing down a hot and spicy curry on a hot summer day.

Here’s the recipe:

10 Limes

6 cups Water

6 English Breakfast tea bags

½ cup Honey

¼ cup Sugar

Ice Cubes

Ginger Ale (optional)

Mint Sprigs

Getting Ready

1. Squeeze juice from 9 limes; thinly slice remaining lime for garnish

Cooking

1. In a nonreactive pan, heat water to boiling. Turn off heat, add tea bags, and let steep for 10 minutes. Remove tea bags.

2. Add honey and sugar; stir to dissolve sugar. Add lime juice. Let mixture cool, then refrigerate until ready to use.

3. To serve, pour into glasses filled with ice cubes, or fill glasses with equal parts of limeade and ginger ale; stir lightly to mix. Garnish each serving with a slice of lime and a sprig of mint.

Makes 10 to 12 servings

Notes (from Andy):

- Nothing for me to add, as this isn’t something I’d likely make as I generally don’t go for sugary foods. However, it does sound like it would be welcome on a hot, summer, afternoon.

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

Game Section

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

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

Standard Choice (Smith, minimum 4 players needed)

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

Suggestions accepted for other games to offer.

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

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

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

“Round Rock Express”

(No-Press Gunboat, Game #1)

Spring 1901

Austria: F tri-ALB, A bud-SER, A Vie-TRI

England: F edi-NTH, F lon-ENG, A lpl-YOR

France: F bre-MAO, A mar-SPA, A PAR-bur

Germany: F kie-DEN, A ber-KIE, A MUN-bur

Italy: F nap-ION, A rom-APU, A VEN hold

Russia: F stp(sc)-BOT, F SEV-bla, A mos-UKR, A war-SIL

Turkey: A smy-ARM, F ANK-bla, A con-BUL

Supply Center Count

Austria: Bud, Tri, Vie

England: Edi, Lpl, Lon

France: Bre, Mar, Par

Germany: Ber, Kie, Mun

Italy: Nap, Rom, Ven

Russia: Mos, StP, Sev, War

Turkey: Ank, Con, Smy

Neutral: Bel, Bul, Den, Gre, Hol, Nwy, Por, Rum, Ser, Spa, Swe, Tun

Next Due Fall 1901

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

Hangman, By Definition

This is a five round game, with each round consisting of a variable number of turns. The winner will be the person who wins the most rounds, with a tie breaker being fewest total number of turns in those winning rounds. Second tie breaker will be the most number of letters guessed (by total count revealed, not by individual letter).

Each round will consist of identifying a word of at least six letters. Along with each word will be the first definition given. All words and definitions will be identified by blank spaces. Words and definitions are verified in a dictionary that was my high school graduation gift (slight hint to those who might want to find the edition).

The goal is to guess the word in as few turns as possible. Each turn, all players will submit one letter to be revealed. The letter submitted by the most players will be the letter revealed in the next turn. Ties will be broken by a randomized method. Additionally, each player should submit a guess for the word. Once the word is correctly identified (spelling is important), that round will end and a new round will begin. All players who guess the word in the same turn will share in the win for the round. If the word is not guessed by the end of six turns with no letter being revealed, no one will win the round.

Along with revealing letters in the word, letters will be revealed in the definition. There are no bonus points for guessing any part of the definition, it is only there to help players figure out the word. No guesses about parts of the definition will be confirmed or displayed except by the letter revealed in that round. The letters “E” and “S” can never be chosen as the letter to be revealed.

Game 1, Round Four, Turn 1:

Letter Votes: C – 1; G – 1; L – 2; N – 1; O – 1 Revealed: L

Words Guessed: (Firth) Ardent; (Kent) Quacky; (Lischett) Recipe; (Maslen) <>; (Smith) Module; (Wilson) Closet

Solution:

Word: __ __ __ __ __ __ (6)

Definition: __ __ __ (3) L __ __ __ __ (5), __ __ __ __ LL __ (7)

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ (10) __ __ __ __ __ __ __ (7)

__ __ (2) _ (1) __ __ __ __ __ __ __ (7) __ __ (2) __ __ __ __ __ (5);

__ __ (2) __ __ __ __ (4)

Never Revealed: E, S Already Revealed: L

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

Triclinium (Firth, Maslen, Smith, Wilson)

Chummy (Wilson)

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

FACTS IN FIVE

Rules: There will be five rounds, the cumulative high score at the end of the fifth round will be the winner. Anyone may join anytime with a starting score matching the lowest total from the previous round. Anyone missing a round will add the lowest score of that round.

Each round will consist of five categories and five letters. Each player submit may an entry for each category which has a key word that starts with each of the letters (twenty-five total entries). Key words are generally the first word; however articles (the, a, etc.) and modifiers (“red” in red bicycle for “R” in “mode of transportation” or “general” in General Lee for “G” in “Military Leaders”) are not key words. A word in the category may not be the key word (“bank” in “Bank of America” for “B” in the category “Banks”). For given names, the last name is the key word, if married it will be their post-marriage last name. However, in the case of commonly used stage names, that name should be used (in a category of female singers, ”Q” could be “Queen Latifa” and “Cher” for “C”). An entry may only be used once per round. Please clearly identify which individual you are using as your answer if there are multiple potential people with a given name. For instance, if the category is American Presidents, answering Washington is fine as there is only one; however, if you decided to use Bush you need to indicate whether you are submitting the father or the son. Unclear answers will be matched to score the least points. Using the Bush example, if one person submitted “Bush” and three people submit “George W. Bush” the latter would score 2 points and the former 1.

One point will be scored for each entry that unarguably meets the letter and category. An additional point will be added if anyone else also uses the same valid entry for the same category. Maximum possible score in a round is 50 with a lowest possible score of 25, presuming an individual submits a valid entry for each category and letter in that round.

Research is allowed, collaboration between players is not.

Game Three, Round Three

Bolded - Scores 2 points for matching another entry; Crossed Out - scores 0 points; otherwise scores 1 point.

REMINDER - Last names are generally the key word, not first names.

NOTE: Kevin correctly points out that last time he had entered, for “B”, in Gaming Focused Websites BoardGameGeek not Big

Fish Games. However, it makes no difference on the scoring.

Players C N P V W

UN Member Nation

Mark Firth Canada Niger Portugal Vanuatu Western Samoa

John David Galt Canada Namibia Poland Vanuatu Western Samoa

Doug Kent Canada Norway Poland Venezuela <>

Andy Lischett Canada Norway Peru Vietnam West Germany

Walt O’Hara Chile Netherlands Pakistan Vietnam <>

Kevin Wilson Canada Netherlands Peru Venezuela ~~Wakanda~~

Jazz Musician

Mark Firth John Coltrane Ken Navarro Charlie Parker David Valentin Teddy Wilson

John David Galt <> <> <> <> <>

Doug Kent Ed Cherry Ken Navarro John Pisano Al Viola Denny Wright

Andy Lischett J Coltrane David Newman Oscar Peterson G Veasley Teddy Wilson

Walt O’Hara Cab Calloway Fats Navarro Bud Powell Bebbo Valdes Fats Waller

Kevin Wilson John Coltrane Red Nichols Charlie Parker Sarah Vaughn Mary Lou Williams

Vegetable

Mark Firth Cabbage New Potato Parsnip Vine Tomato Watercress

John David Galt Cauliflower NZ Spinach Pea <> Watercress

Doug Kent Carrot Nopal Potato Velvet Bean Water Chestnut

Andy Lischett Cucumber NZ Spinach Pea V Hummingbird Watercress

Walt O’Hara Cabbage Neem Potato Vidalia Onion Wasabi

Kevin Wilson Carrots Navy Beans Peas Vidalia Onion Watercress

Deceased US Supreme Court Justice

Mark Firth TC Clark Samuel Nelson Rufus W Peckham FM Vinson Bushrod Washington

John David Galt Salmon P Chase Samuel Nelson Lewis Powell Fred Vinson Byron White

Doug Kent Cushing Nelson Paterson Van Devanter B. Washington

Andy Lischett Salmon Chase Samuel Nelson Lewis Powell Fred Vinson Earl Warren

Walt O’Hara Salmon P Chase Samuel Nelson William Paterson Fred Moore Vinson Levi Woodbury

Kevin Wilson JA Campbell Samuel Nelson Lewis F Powell Jr. Fred M Vinson Earl Warren

African River

Mark Firth Congo Nile ~~Popo~~ Volta Wit-Kei

John David Galt Congo Nile <> <> <>

Doug Kent Cuanza Nile <> Volta White Nile

Andy Lischett Congo Nile ~~Parchezi~~ Volta White Nile

Walt O’Hara Chari Ntem ~~Saint Paul~~ Vaal White Nile

Kevin Wilson Congo Nile ~~Peace~~ Volta White Nile

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

Notes on Mark’s Answers: TC Clark is Thomas Campbell Clark; FM Vinson is Frederick Moore Vinson; Popo is

discounted as the only river with that name I could find was in Wyoming

Notes on John’s Answers: Western Samoa is allowed as it joined the UN in 1976 and didn’t shorten the name to Samoa until

1997; NZ Spinach is New Zealand Spinach

Notes on Andy’s Answers: NZ Spinach is New Zealand Spinach; V Hummingbird is Vegetable Hummingbird; Parchezi is

discounted as I couldn’t find a river anywhere with that name, though there may be one in Romania but all the

references appear to be in Romanian (didn’t try to translate as it didn’t matter)

Notes on Walt’s Answers: Regarding Neem, Walt notes – In India, the shoots and flowers are treated like vegetables, where

they’re served in soups; Regarding Vidalia Onion, Walt notes – A distinct breed of onion; for the rivers, Walt notes that

the rivers are located in (in order) Central African Republic, Congo, Liberia, South Africa, Sudan; Saint Paul is

discounted as the river’s name starts with an ‘S’ (note - if he was referring to the Biblical Apostle, it would fit the ‘P’

category as the “saint” is a title)

Notes on Kevin’s Answers: Wakanda is disallowed as it is fictional (though it certainly would be an active member if it did!); JA

Campbell is John Archibald Campbell; Peace is disallowed as Kevin indicated it was made up.

General Player Comments:

[Mark Firth] – Wikipedia says this about “vegetable”: Vegetables are parts of plants that are consumed by humans or other

animals as food. The original meaning is still commonly used and is applied to plants collectively to refer to all edible

plant matter, including the flowers, fruits, stems, leaves, roots, and seeds. somewhat arbitrarily, often by culinary and

cultural tradition. It may exclude foods derived from some plants that are fruits, flowers, nuts, and cereal grains, but

include savoury fruits such as tomatoes and courgettes, flowers such as broccoli, and seeds such pulses.

I was most amused to see I scored 3 on “Print Business Magazine” last time, having made all 5 up! I think I’ve

worked it out from the other answers: it means printed magazine representing a business…maybe?! [WAY] – Mostly, it

is a printed magazine dealing with the functions of being a/in business. So, a magazine about organizational

management is good, but a company’s “house publication” used for publicity (such as an airline’s seatback “magazine”)

or a sponsored publication that focuses on non-business matters (such as “Aramco World”, created and distributed by

Saudi Aramco, but deals with putting a positive viewpoint of Arab culture, history, cooking, etc.).

[Andy Lischett] – Andy asks regarding the Jazz Musician category – Did we have this category before? [WAY] – very well

could have as I don’t track previous categories. I’ve had the opinion that even if a category comes up there may be a

slight change to it (Deceased Jazz Musicians one time, American Jazz Musicians the next) and, most likely, the letters

will be different (or mostly different). I’m open to keeping track to ensure that a category isn’t duplicated (without a

modification or at all) or that the letter mixes are mostly different from previously. Feedback is welcome!

[Kevin Wilson] – I didn’t see a nation starting with ‘W’ as a UN member so I went with Wakanda! May be a real one who’s

official name starts with ‘W’ but it wasn’t obvious to me. [WAY] – there currently aren’t any, but at least two ‘W’

nations (identified above) were members at one time. [KW] – Ditto for the African river, none with a “P” so just made

one up! [WAY] – thanks for the heads up on that, saves me considerable time trying to verify something that doesn’t

exist. [KW] – And, cheated a bit on the vegetable too. I’m not sure you’ll allow Vidalia onion separate from simply

onion but as a fan, I can assure you a Vidalia onion is more of a fruit than an onion. You can eat one of them alone!

[WAY] – yes, it is allowed as it is a distinct item that is known by that name, as opposed to, for ‘R’, putting in ‘Rotten

Onion’ which only modifies the key word.

Game Three, Round Four

Letters: H O V Z * (Wildcard)

Categories: Four-footed Animal; Biographical Book; Toy; Military Aircraft;

College/University Nicknames (Please Also Note the Associated Institution)

Current Standings

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

Kevin Wilson 8 7 9 9 8 41 + 81 = 122

Andy Lischett 9 7 7 10 8 41 + 76 = 117

Doug Kent 8 6 7 8 7 36 + 77 = 113

Walt O’Hara 6 5 8 9 5 33 + 74 = 107

Mark Firth 8 9 7 8 7 39 + 68 = 107

John David Galt 9 - 6 9 4 28 + 51 = 79

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

Deadline for the Next Issue of Out of the WAY:

August 11, 2021 at noon – See You Then!

Game entries, letters of comment and other material can be sent to:

wandrew88 at gmail.com; or by post to: W. Andrew York; POB 201117; Austin TX 78720-1117

Eternal Sunshine Game Section

Acquire – “Blind”

Players:

Kevin Wilson – ckevinw@gmail.com; John David Galt – jdgalt@att.net; Mark Firth – mogcate@aol.com; Andy Lischett – andy@lischett.com; Tom Howell – off-the-shelf@olympus.net

Corrections

I emailed out a correction which unfortunately nobody caught until AFTER Turn Nine had been adjudicated and published. (Credit Tom Howell for finding it at all). When Andy traded two Worldwide for one Imperial in Turn Eight, I accidentally changed his holdings to that one share instead of four (the three he already held, plus one). After that time, 25 shares were outstanding, leaving no more available. In Turn Nine Andy could not have traded four Tower for two more Imperial. So those four Tower shares were therefore sold for $600 each instead. He holds four shares of Imperial (instead of the three listed at the end of Turn Nine) and his cash holdings increase by $2,400 to $8,500.

Turn Ten

Howell: Plays 11-E. Buys two Tower for $300 each and one American for $700.

Wilson: Plays 8-A. Forms Worldwide, and gets one free share. Buy three Continental for $600 each.

Galt: Plays 9-H. Tower is merged into Festival. Tom receives $3,000 and John receives $1,500. John sells one Tower for $300. Tom sells two Tower for $300 each. Buys one American for $700.

Firth: Plays 8-F. Buys three Continental for $600 each.

Lischett: Plays 5-F. Buys one Worldwide for $400 and one Continental for $600.

Howell: Plays 4-C. Buys three Worldwide for $400 each.

Order for Turn Eleven:

Wilson, Galt, Firth, Lischett, Howell, Wilson

Deadline for Turn 11 is Friday August 13^th at 7pm My Time (12 hours earlier than the standard zine deadline)

Diplomacy, “Indestructible Machine”, 2020A, F 08

Austria: Rick Davis – redavis914@aol.com - A Budapest Supports A Rumania,

A Bulgaria Supports A Rumania (*Cut*), F Greece – Albania, A Rumania Supports A Sevastopol (*Cut*),

~~A Sevastopol Supports A Rumania~~ (*Dislodged*, retreat to Armenia or Ukraine or OTB).

England: Mark Firth – mogcate@aol.com - F Portugal - Spain(sc).

France: John David Galt – jdgalt@att.net - ~~A Burgundy - Belgium~~ (*Dislodged*, retreat to Gascony or OTB),

F Tyrrhenian Sea - Naples (*Fails*), A Venice Supports F Trieste (*Cut*).

Germany: Andy Lischett – andy@lischett.com – F Belgium - Picardy (*Bounce*),

A Brest - Picardy (*Bounce*), A Munich Supports A Ruhr – Burgundy, F North Sea - Norwegian Sea,

A Paris Supports A Ruhr – Burgundy, A Ruhr – Burgundy, A Tyrolia - Venice (*Fails*),

A Vienna Supports A Galicia - Budapest (*Void*), A Warsaw - Silesia.

Italy: Toby Harris – toby@responsiva.biz - A Marseilles Supports F Portugal - Spain(sc),

F Naples Supports A Rome (*Cut*), F Norwegian Sea – Edinburgh, A Rome Supports F Trieste - Venice (*Void*).

Russia: Bob Durf – playdiplomacymoderator@gmail.com – Retreat A Sevastopol - Moscow..

F Black Sea – Sevastopol, A Galicia - Rumania (*Fails*), F Irish Sea - North Atlantic Ocean,

F Mid-Atlantic Ocean – Portugal, A Moscow Supports F Black Sea – Sevastopol, A Norway Hold.

Turkey: Jack McHugh - jwmchughjr@gmail.com – F Aegean Sea – Greece,

F Constantinople - Bulgaria(sc) (*Fails*), F Ionian Sea Supports F Aegean Sea – Greece,

F Trieste Supports A Venice.

Thanks to Paul Milewski for the unneeded standby orders!

Supply Center Chart

Austria: Budapest, Bulgaria, Rumania, Serbia=4 Remove 1 or Even

England: Spain=1 Even

France: Tunis, Venice=2 Remove 1 or Even

Germany: Belgium, Berlin, Brest, Denmark, Holland, Kiel, London, Munich,

Paris, Vienna=10 Build 1

Italy: Edinburgh, Marseilles, Naples, Rome=4 Even

Russia: Liverpool, Moscow, Norway, Portugal, Sevastopol, St Petersburg,

Sweden, Warsaw=8 Build 2

Turkey: Ankara, Constantinople, Greece, Smyrna, Trieste=5 Build 1

PRESS:

Associated Press, St. Petersburg: The State Duma has been in an uproar following yet another bungling of the Great War by a Czar, that in the words of Duke Dostephskor "alternates between mediocrity and mendancy." Word from the palace was that Czar Bob was on the verge of abdication or flight from a public revolt. However, upon seeing that his heir would be a "Milewski," vowed that a Polak would never sit the throne of Russia. His resolve is now stronger than ever.

Deadline for W 08/S 09 is: August 14^th at 7am My Time

Diplomacy, “Wine Lips”, 2020B, W 05

Season Separation Granted By Player Request

Austria: Harold Reynolds – hjreynolds2@rogers.com - Build A Vienna..Has F Aegean Sea, A Berlin,

A Bohemia, A Budapest, A Kiel, A Munich, A Serbia, A Silesia, A Vienna.

England: David Cohen – zendip18@optonline.net – Has A Belgium, F Edinburgh, F English Channel.

France: David Burgess – burgesscd@roadrunner.com – Remove F Brest, A Paris..Has F Clyde, F Wales,

A Yorkshire.

Germany: Mark Firth – mogcate@aol.com - Retreat A Kiel - Holland..Remove A Ruhr, A Denmark..

Has F Baltic Sea, A Holland.

Italy: George Atkins - GeorgeWrites@outlook.com – Build F Naples, F Rome..Has A Greece, F Ionian Sea,

A Marseilles, F Mid-Atlantic Ocean, F Naples, A Portugal, F Rome, F Spain(sc), A Venice.

Russia: Heath Davis-Gardner – heathdavisgardner@gmail.com – Build A Moscow..Has A Burgundy,

A Moscow, A Norway, A Rumania, A St Petersburg, F Sweden, A Ukraine, A Warsaw.

A/I/R Draw Fails

Now Proposed – A/I/R Draw. Please vote. NVR=No

PRESS

Holiday brochure on a park bench, Kiel: Neue Ostsee-Segeltörns offers delightful cruises around the Baltic coastline. Relax as the fresh sea breeze drifts over you (not dissimilar to a horde of uninvited Austrians in your home town).

Deadline for S 06 is August 14^th at 7am My Time

Balkan Wars VI, “Bad Way to Go”, 2020Apb08, F 17

Albania: Mark Firth – mogcate@aol.com – F Bosnia Supports F North Adriatic Sea – Croatia,

F Cyclades Supports F Aegean Sea, F Montenegro Supports A Tirana (*Cut*), A Mt Tara Supports F Montenegro,

F North Adriatic Sea – Croatia, A Skopje Supports A Salonika, F South Adriatic Sea Supports F Montenegro,

A Tirana Supports A Skopje, A Valona Supports A Skopje.

Bulgaria: Jack McHugh - jwmchughjr@gmail.com - A Athens Supports A Salonika,

F North Black Sea - Dubruja (*Bounce*), A Salonika Supports A Thrace, A Thrace Supports A Salonika (*Cut*).

Serbia: Andy York – wandrew88@gmail.com – A Arda Supports A Dubruja – Varna,

A Belgrade Supports A Hercegovina – Montenegro, A Bucharest - Constantsa (*Fails*),

A Constantsa - Dubruja (*Bounce*), A Dubruja – Varna, A Hercegovina - Montenegro (*Fails*),

A Macedonia - Thrace (*Bounce*), A Nish Supports A Macedonia - Thrace (*Imp*),

A Plovdiv - Thrace (*Bounce*), A Sofia Supports A Macedonia - Thrace (*Imp*).

Turkey: Heath Davis-Gardner – heathdavisgardner@gmail.com – F Aegean Sea Supports A Thrace,

A Constantinople Supports A Thrace, F Izmit Supports F North Black Sea - South Black Sea (*Void*).

All Draw Proposals Fail

Supply Center Chart

Albania: Bosnia, Crete, Cyprus, Malta, Montenegro, Rhodes, Skopje, Tirana,

Trieste, Valona=10 Build 1

Bulgaria: Athens, Salonika, Sparta, Thrace=4 Even

Serbia: Belgrade, Bucharest, Cluj, Constantsa, Dubruja, Galati, Nish, Plovdiv,

Sofia, Varna=10 Even

Turkey: Constantinople, Izmit, Smyrna=4 Even

PRESS

Turkey: What was I saying? I meant Bulgaria is my only friend <3

Deadline for W 17/S 18 is August 14th at 7am My Time

Where in the World is Kendo Nagasaki?

The Rules were in Eternal Sunshine #131, read them if you want a detailed explanation and examples. Basically, this is a guessing game, trying to guess the mystery person and their location (both chosen by me before the game started). Closest guess gets a public clue and notification they were the closest. Everyone else sees the clue but has to figure out on their own who was the closest that turn.

Turn 1