Eternal Sunshine #179

April 2024

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

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

Sign up for the Eternal Sunshine Mailing List at https://mailchi.mp/45376bbd05df/eternalsunshine

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Quote of The Month – “Perhaps there is truth in this illusion” – (Inspector Uhl in “The Illusionist”)

Welcome to Eternal Sunshine, the zine that’s technically been dead for months but which is waiting for the final court order to pull the plug.

By the time you read this, Beer for Breakfast will have finished its premiere performance. One down, eight to go. Will it be a complete disaster? You’ll have to come to Mesquite and attend in person to find out!

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

Game Openings

No game openings, as the zine will fold when the currently-running games are completed.

Standby List: Current standby list who are qualified to standby in More Than Ever: Harold Reynolds.

Meet Me in Montauk

The Eternal Sunshine Letter Column

Mark Nelson –Congratulations on having the confidence to go to auditions and to throw your name into the casting hat. If you don't audition, you can't be offered a part. It must be very dispiriting to be an actor, going for auditions and knowing that only one actor can be offered any particular part. (Well, I suppose that when you reach a certain level of professionalism that the leads have understudies).

[[Talking to friends who have been doing this for years, they still feel disappointment when not being cast. I guess they bounce back fairly quickly, but it’s part of the game at EVERY level from community theater to $100 million tentpole films.]]

For the first time in several decades, I went a calendar year (1993) without going to the cinema and watching a movie on the big screen - a consequence of becoming a dad in 1992. I wonder when I will get chance to break the duck?

[[I miss the communal joy of a pure cinematic experience. But…if I go to the movies, I am surrounded by people talking, checking their phones, and ordering dinner to be delivered to their seats. Everything BUT watching the movie and experiencing it with the other cinema goers. I shouldn’t be surprised, when I now live in a world where people spend hundreds of dollars to go to live concerts just to spend the entire time recording things on their phones and checking what they’ve recorded on their phones. Plus, I can rarely find anything I want to bother going to. Sad, I used to see between one and two movies every week.]]

The Dining Dead – Eternal Sunshine Movie Reviews

Older Movies Watched (that I’ve seen before, sometimes many times) – Nothing, been too busy with rehearsals EVERY night! Now I’ll at least have weeknights free again.

Out of the WAY #67

by W. Andrew York

(wandrew88 of gmail.com)

Howdy!

First off, for the gaming related bits, I had no feedback what-so-ever on the format or presentation of Hangman or Facts in Five (FiF). I have a couple minor tweaks in mind, so that when/if I go back to GMing them, I should be in a good position to do so. The biggest changes would be to FiF as that is time-consuming to GM – especially with near the deadline or late orders. I’m still open if there’s anything folks want to suggest, I’d like to make sure what I’m presenting is what the readership/gamership enjoy.

And, speaking of GMing games, I’ve had an offer to guest GM “Hangman” in another e-zine. After thinking it over, I believe it is doable within my current commitments and would keep my toe in the water of monthly publishing. If there’s interest in joining me over there (once announced) for further adventures in word deciphering, let me know so that I won’t jump over there to the sound of crickets.

Here at home, it seems that I’m getting more and more on my plate that I had expected. That has lead to no books being finished again (well, ok, two short volumes of limited interest to others that I may get to review next time). However, a new Sharpe book came out last week and I’m already ½-way through it. So, if nothing else, I should be able to review that next time.

Baseball is going quite well. We’re in the midst of the second home stand and are tied for the lead of the East half of the Pacific Coast League (as of yesterday, one team in the West division was a game ahead of us). Already had one major leaguer doing a rehab stint (actually, it was their “spring training” as he was signed just before the season started) and several of the Express players are already called up. Later in the year, as some of the Rangers pitchers come off the IL, we’ll get to see them getting back in shape – as well as some position players that are currently sidelined. So, it’ll be a fun season ahead.

Last time I mentioned a few things that were coming up for me. For South by Southwest I only ended up going down that first Sunday. Went to Sunday at SXSW at Stubbs BBQ – tasty breakfast tacos, gospel choir and good service. Afterwards, wandered down to the Paramount+ Lodge to see what they had – free drinks, various parts of the location themed after Paramount+ shows, so had a photo taken on a mock Discovery bridge set (though a bit of a shoddy replica), picked up Halo sunglasses and wandered the rest of the locations (I don’t have Paramount+ so wasn’t familiar with some of the bit).

Later, while wandering around, saw a Robot Battle Arena at the Convention Center where folks could control dueling robots, see some professional-style units/demonstrations and such. Nearby, folks were handing out free samples (picked up a can of the C4 Energy Drink), busking (one lady had a small wagon with her snake collection – boas, etc) and the like. Tried to duck into the “Tennessee House” but couldn’t get my camera to read the QR code to sign-in. A lady walking out saw the situation and announced “your now one of us” and gave me a Sponsor badge to enter. VERY tasty food, most of the set-ups were promoting businesses and recreational opportunities in Tennessee.

Was home by mid-afternoon with a pile of swag, well fed and didn’t spend a penny. Enjoyed the music I heard, the crowd (extremely friendly and talkative attendees and workers) and the feeling of “old Austin” that I miss from when I first moved here. But, then, everyone fondly remembers their first years in Austin and decries how “corporate”, “unfriendly”, “commercial”, etc. the City has become. It was common from old-timers when I arrived and is continuing with each successive wave of new Austinites.

The week following SxSW, the Dresden Dolls (Amanda Palmer and Brian Viglione) came to town. They were active in the early 2000s before Palmer branched into a solo career and, though they occasionally played a reunion show, it wasn’t until late 2022 they reformed for touring and a new album (being recorded later this year). I’ve been a follower of Palmer for many years and this was my first opportunity to see the band.

They booked two shows in Austin at the Mohawk (outside stage) to start their tour of the South. With a style of “dark/punk cabaret”, they definitely aren’t for everyone. Regardless, the older songs held up and their introduction of the new material was well received. Unfortunately, they were beset with equipment issues (keyboard had to be swapped out twice, one of which completely failed) and some other first tour night stumbles. However, everyone enjoyed the nearly three-hour set with encore. Afterwards, Amanda came out for her usual post-concert photo with her Patreon followers.

The next day, Amanda held a ninja gig for those same followers at Austin’s Museum of Human Achievement. Due to the equipment issues the night before, she had strained her voice. So, in deference to the second concert that night, she didn’t do any of her usual ukelele bits and spoke through a mic set-up. She spent about 1 ½ hours chatting, answering questions, requesting feedback and being her usual open self. It was nice she would spend that time interacting with her fans in the midst of performing nightly gigs. Here’s hoping she’ll open their Album Release tour here in Austin (it was hinted at).

As for the Eclipse, the expected crowds in Austin proper weren’t too bad. However, that was not unexpected as the weather reports in the days leading up to it started saying we’d be in clouds while further north/west would have better viewing chances. So, folks migrated in those directions. There were issues later this week as those crowds moved back to Austin to fly out – car rental return locations swamped, the airport baggage handling system went down for about 20 minutes significantly increasing lines (which snaked out of the terminal and down the approach roads) and general congestion in the area of the airport.

For the actual Eclipse, my apartment complex had a little get together with snacks, eclipse glasses and such. Low and behold, the clouds lifted enough to see some of the lead-up to, and the actual, eclipse. Quite an experience and one not likely to be quickly forgotten (I had seen a partial before, but this is the first total one). Everyone at the apartment event had pretty much the same awed reaction.

As a very nice addition to the Eclipse events, Tom Howell (and family) came down from Washington to see it. Tom is publisher of Back-of-the-Envelope, and if you don’t read it already, you need to! He was based out of Waco while here, but came down to Austin a couple days before the event to have lunch with me and, then, visit family in the area. Took them to a local Peruvian place, which appeared to go over quite well. Afterwards, as they were a bit tuckered out from driving across the country, so we settled a short car tour of Austin highlights with a brief stop to go into BookPeople, Austin’s large independent bookstore. Unfortunately, they didn’t have the specific books Tom was looking for on hand.

It was good to finally meet up with a long-time Dip/gaming friend. At one point, when I was scheduled to attend a training session in Portland OR in the mid-2000s, we had hoped to meet halfway between his home and Portland for a meal. However, that training was cancelled at the last minute and it took around 15 more years before we actually met in person. Thoroughly enjoyed their visit!

Well, that’s my highlights of the last month. Not much below beyond the Swedish Meatball B5 quote (I tracked down the quote on IMDb – as requested by Mark Nelson). I don’t know if it’s the exact quote he was looking for as there are hints in other search results that Swedish meatballs may have been referenced in other episodes or sister shows (Crusade, movies, etc.). Note - I didn’t get the opportunity to compile all of the quotes over the past years in OOTW, but they are individually available in all the issues on Doug’s website.

Hope this finds everyone well and enjoying the Spring weather!

See ‘ya next month!

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Letter Column

(always welcome, send them in!)

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

None received, send some in!

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Mini-Book Reviews

(finished since last issue)

<<haven’t finished one, though several are near…so next month?>>

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Babylon 5 Quote

In “Walkabout” – Na’Kal: “Breen! You’ve managed to import breen from Homeworld! How?”

G’Kar: “It, uh – isn’t exactly breen.”

Na’Kal: “The smell! The taste…”

G’Kar: “It’s an Earth food. They are called Swedish meatballs. It’s a strange thing, but every sentient race has

its own version of these Swedish meatballs! I suspect it’s one of those great universal mysteries which

will either never be explained, or which would drive you mad if you every learned the truth.”

Source: from IMDb Babylon 5 “Walkabout” episode entry, listed in the quotes section

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Deadline for the Next Issue of Out of the WAY:

May 8, 2024 at noon Central US Time Zone

See You Then!

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

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

Eternal Sunshine Game Section

Diplomacy, “More Than Ever”, 2021A, F 13

Austria: Andy Lischett – andy@lischett.com – F Aegean Sea - Ionian Sea, F Ankara – Constantinople,

A Armenia – Ankara, A Galicia - Warsaw (*Fails*), F Gulf of Bothnia Supports A Moscow - St Petersburg,

A Moscow - St Petersburg, A Sevastopol – Moscow, A Silesia Supports A Galicia - Warsaw (*Fails*),

A Trieste – Venice, A Ukraine Supports A Sevastopol – Moscow, A Venice – Apulia, A Warsaw - Livonia (*Fails*).

France: Brad Wilson - fullfathomfive675@gmail.com – A Berlin Hold, A Burgundy – Belgium,

A Denmark Supports A Sweden, F Edinburgh - Clyde (*Bounce*), F English Channel - North Sea (*Fails*),

A Holland – Kiel, A Marseilles Hold, A Munich Hold, F North Atlantic Ocean - Clyde (*Bounce*),

F North Sea - Norway (*Bounce*), F Norway - Barents Sea (*Fails*), A Ruhr Hold,

A Sweden Supports F North Sea - Norway (*Fails*), F Western Mediterranean - Tunis.

Germany: Andy York – wandrew88@gmail.com - F Skagerrak - Norway (*Bounce*).

Russia: Graham Wilson - grahamaw@rogers.com – A Livonia - Silesia (*Fails*),

F Norwegian Sea - Clyde (*Bounce*), A St Petersburg – Finland,

F Barents Sea Supports F Norway - St Petersburg(nc) (*Void*).

A/F Draw Fails

Now Proposed – A/F

Please vote. NVR=No

Supply Center Chart

Austria: Ankara, Budapest, Bulgaria, Constantinople, Greece, Moscow, Naples,

Rome, Rumania, Serbia, Sevastopol, Smyrna, St Petersburg, Trieste,

Venice, Vienna, Warsaw=17 Build 5 (Room for 3)

France: Belgium, Berlin, Brest, Denmark, Edinburgh, Holland, Kiel,

Liverpool, London, Marseilles, Munich, Norway, Paris, Portugal,

Spain, Sweden, Tunis=17 Build 3 (Room for 2)

Germany: None=0 OUT!

Russia: None=0 OUT!

PRESS

PARIS: Even Napoleon never got to Sweden.

Deadline for W 13/S 14 is May 11^th at 7am My Time

Deadline for the next issue of Eternal Sunshine is: May 11^th, 2024 at 7am My Time (U.S. central time) –subzine deadline is earlier