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Dan posted to the russcon mailing list that (given his last week's costume), "In hindsight, I guess I should've called my character Sid Saxon." So what a sad irony it is that on the day of the following week's RussCon (November 6), Sid Sackson passed away. Sackson designed many classic games, including RussCon games: Acquire, Can't Stop, Buried Treasure, Samarkand, Metropolis, Executive Decision, Gold Connection, Kohle Kie$ & Knete, Domination, and even a game or two from his book Gamut of Games. Heck, even if the classic Acquire was his only game, he'd be famous at RussCon. Acquire's one of my favorite games, and it was Avalon Hill's game that was continuously in print the longest. Its stock certificate mechanics influenced many later games.
The Celtic Festival was great fun except for the fact that there was cold rain all weekend. I'd decided I'd go to the Houston go tournament if the weather sucked, but the predictions I saw kept saying it would probably be ok. Oh well. I hear JP won his handicap band in Houston. But I'm still glad I stayed in Austin for the Celtic Fest because there was some really great music (I especially enjoyed The Killdares, Jiggernaut, and Maggie Drennon), even if I did have to stand around in cold rain all weekend. The Killdares may become my new favorite live band, once Clandestine retires from that honor. They had me dancing for an hour in the cold rain Sunday night in the last set of the weekend.
And today (Friday November 8) is the penultimate Clandestine concert in Austin! (Not the last concert, as previously reported; apparently they will be back in January.) My current thinking is to hit the later show this Friday, deviating from normal strategy, just 'cause I tend to work late on Fridays these days.
LaCitta | 4 | RussD 3 Daniel 1 RussW -1 Steve -3 |
Tichu | 2 | ( Dan Ben ) 1 ( Whendy Zack ) -1 |
GangOf4 | 4 | Chad 3 Marty 1 JonathanC -1 JimG -3 |
WhatsThatOnMyHead | 5 | Ben 4 Dan 0 MarkY 0 Zack 0 Whendy -4 |
GangOf4 | 4 | JeffF 3 Clay 1 Matt -1 JP -3 |
Transamerica | 4 | JimG 3 Chad 1 Marty -1 JonathanC -3 |
Cloud9 | 4 | MarkY 3 Whendy 1 Ben -1 Dan -3 |
Exxtra | 4 | Ben 3 Whendy 1 William -1 MarkY -3 |
Carcassonne | 4 | Chad 3 Marty 1 JonathanC -1 Clayton -3 |
PuertoRico | 5 | Daniel 4 RussW 2 Steve 0 JonathanC -2 Whendy -4 |
Settlers | 4 | Chad 3 MarkY 0 William 0 Clayton -3 |
Outpost | 5 | Zack 4 JimG 2 JP 0 JeffF -2 Matt -4 |
Guillotine | 2 | Chad 1 MarkY -1 |
Cribbage | 2 | MarkY 1 Whendy -1 |
Transamerica | 5 | RussW 4 Zack 2 JP 0 Chad -2 Daniel -4 |
Bluff | 6 | RussW 5 JP 3 MarkY 1 Zack -1 Daniel -3 Chad -5 |
I'd been interested in La Citta for a long time and finally got to play it. It's enjoyable but long. I'll play it again.
Puerto Rico continues to inspire much debate about the best strategies. It's cool that there's no clear answers. This game, Daniel got no quarries, and based on past experience I thought he would be at a great disadvantage... but his hacienda and hospice combo worked great. Meanwhile I had 3 quarries, and both markets and an office, so I bought plenty of buildings (and ended the game by filling my city), but came in 2nd place... by just 2 points! If you haven't tried this game yet, you really should. It's most excellent.
Transamerica continues to be the current popular short quick fun game. Check it out if you haven't already. It's a train game even William likes!
Gang of 4 is allegedly some Tichu-like game, which is enough to send me reeling in fear and loathing.
Clockwork Orange, Complete Original Score (Timesteps)
Peter Gabriel, So (Big Time)
George Harrison, All Things Must Pass (I'd Have You Any Time)
Nine Inch Nails, Pretty Hate Machine (The Only Time)
Pink Floyd, The Dark Side of the Moon (Time)
Time for another meta soundtrack... Matt was the only one who detected this theme (which he says came to him in a flash when he arrived and heard Pink Floyd's Time playing).
I may have to buy myself The H.P. Lovecraft Tarot
Wired article about telemarketers has an interesting idea for fighting back which I haven't tried yet