Card/Board/Lawn Games

Posted by Colin Edelman

Both stickball and softball are alternative's to America's pastime, and greatest game ever, no questions asked, baseball. It provides the best food in the stands, the most variation for stadiums, with even more than one team per state.

California tops it with five:

1. Los Angeles Angels (of Anaheim)
2. Oakland Athletics
3. Los Angeles Dodgers
4. San Diego Padres
5. San Francisco Giants

Talk about a game dependent on numbers. You can break down batting and pitching stats in so many ways its nauseating for the casual fan.

Getting back to the issue at hand, I'll break down each game (although the variants of each are plenty).

Stickball:

Originally played on the streets of New York City, the game is essentially baseball without base running. Players determine the distance for a single, double, triple, and home run and imaginary base runners are used each time a ball is hit and not caught.

Some players use a rubber ball (handball/ racquetball/spaldeen), others a tennis ball. The stick of a broom can be used, while many sporting good stores sell stickball bats.

When using a rubber ball, often time the batter self-pitches. When using a tennis ball, the rules are similar to baseball, where the pitcher can walk or strike out the batter. The strike zone is determined by a box, often time sprayed painted on a cement wall.

The number of innings are also optional. Some consider stickball the poor man's baseball, and others just enjoy it after a long week at the office.

Check out the next entry for the softball rules and then the showdown...

Posted by Colin Edelman

Softball:

Is way more popular, on both the national (Amateur Softball Association) and international (International Softball Federation) level. It is even considered an Olympic Sport, that is until the International Olympic Committee decided to kill the sports off starting in 2012. Check out USA Today's take on it.

The game is extremely similar to baseball but with the following exceptions:

1. A larger ball (not necessarily softer) which is considered easier to field
2. A different bat to hit the balls
3. 4 outfielders over 3 (left, left center, right center, and right field)
4. Some leagues consider no leading or stealing bases
5. There is a mercy rule if a certain amount of runs are scored
6. There is fast pitch, slow pitch, high arc,
7. The count can start at 1-1 (1 ball and 1 strike) to speed up the game

That's the major differences, making it seem completely different from baseball, but it's like comparing Texas Hold'em to 7 Card Stud- two different games based on the same core of rules.

So what makes for a better game?

Stickball is up first:

Pro- There is no base running

Con- Not as much of a team sport (usually limited to 4 players per team unless you want to just bat)

Pro- It is very satisfying watching a ball you hit go over the roof of a school, or all the way down the street

Con- There aren't many great courts (if playing with a tennis ball)

Pro- You don't need an umpire

Con- Tennis balls or racquetballs are easily lost

Good outing, how about softball?

Pro- It is the closest you can get to baseball without playing it

Con- You need a lot of players to get a game

Pro- It is infamous for drinking during the game

Con- There is a LOT of running.

Pro- There are coed leagues

Con- For a friendly game and alternative to baseball, some people take the game way too seriously.

The winner.....stickball. A faster paced game, requires less players and equipment. There aren't any leagues in the suburbs- check out the New York Emperors Stickball League in the Bronx.

Posted by Colin Edelman

Most of the emails I get regarding the Equation Anaylsis Tests either offered here or whereever the readers get their questions come from the UK.

Morgan Worthy, the originator of the Formula Analysis Test, which was originally found in - AHA! A Puzzle Approach to Creative Thinking, is from the US. Check out his blog for plenty of info and puzzles.

Will Shortz, then based the Equation Anaylsis Tests off of Worthy's idea, making it popular in his GAMES Magazines. Check out another puzzleman's blog. He was born in Indiana and now lives in New York.

So where does the British invasion come from? Accordingly to the reality of Wikipedia, the term diltoid was penned by the British newspaper, The Daily Express. The Express had the puzzle:

1 = DitLoID... which was....

1 = Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich....which was...

a story by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn about a Soviet Prisoner from the 50s.

Now that random trivia has been said, it doesn't really explain why the British are so into the puzzle. Maybe they are more into emailing games columns or perhaps they just enjoy puzzles more.

Either way, this random observation has reached its word limit.

Till next time...

Posted by Colin Edelman

When it comes to casinos in NY, you normally have two choices for locations: Altantic City and Connecticut. Both Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods are in CT (located 15 minutes away from each other) and this was my first time heading to either of them.

I've been at AC plenty of times and am usually happy with experience, staying in low budget hotels either on and just off the boardwalk, so I knew Foxwoods would have to be at least an improvement from that.

You don't have much of a choice when it comes to sleeping at Foxwoods. I was happy with my choice at the Great Cedar Hotel. It was 4 of us total in a suite with 2 beds, a couch, and cot at $60/each. The room was real nice, had wet bar (soda and water) bath/jacuzzi, shower with two bathrooms total.

Everything was clean, in working order, with a great view. You really can't go wrong. The food choices are limited, but Fuddruckers is the way to go. When you are walking around, it feels like a mall with various shopping outlets and standard food selections. The first night I had an oversized sandwich from the deli, that was surprisingly good.

The atmosphere is an attempt to honor the traditions of the Native American tribe, and it's done tasteful enough. I liked the aquarium in the lobby- nice touch.

The casino itself was great. There wasn't the smoke filled rooms I expected. I stayed mostly in the poker room (1/2 NL) where there was no wait for Thursday night or Friday afternoon with new tables opening constantly.

The dealers varied, but plenty of friendly and helpful staff both on the casino floor and in the hotel, including the front desk who gave all four of us our own key.

Definitely pick up a rewards card, you can buy food at most of the stores at the casino.

I would definitely go again.

Posted by Colin Edelman

In case you missed it, Part 1.

He doesn’t allow his repetitious job seep into his life outside the factory, something best illustrated by his self-made meals. Never will an identical course be eaten within a given week, from pork lasagna to pasta and cottage cheese. A second full-sized refrigerator has escaped his kitchen and happily holds all of the beverages and condiments while the kitchen fridge is as stuffed as its owner after the day’s consumption. The kitchen is his art room, the counter, his easel.

I appreciate the humanity of this man, since he is still able to dream, despite his age. When most men are looking into younger generations of cars and women, he keeps his eyes set on the felt of the poker table among the greats. He understands that each part of life is just a step towards an ultimate goal, whether it’s a satisfying death or a pile of money. Just because he is behind according to the standards of society, he fears nothing.

The first few months were rough, as his coworkers said it would be, but he got through it and broke into the industry. No joke, there actually is a corporate ladder of assembly men and David Skal climbed it successfully. In a world where a man is defined by his hands, he took ambidextrousness to the next level. This is the amazing part, to be involved in an insanity-producing environment and actually succeed through one’s own talent. Skal was able to brush off the laughter at his last high school reunion and then smile while he was promoted. David Skal is a rock, a quick moving, talented rock and for this, I salute him.

Posted by Colin Edelman

He wakes up every day knowing what he has to face, the usual grind. But he manages to brush his long black hair the same way after a shower. Looking in the mirror, he sees no one in the bed behind him, but knows it will be occupied when he returns. This usually makes him smile, but other days it hurts. He longs for the day to see the same body in that bed for more than one weekend, rather than these empty relationships that prove nothing.

Realizing this is of little importance, he makes his way to the water gun factory all the same. Being an assembly lineman takes patience and tenacity. Standing in the same spot, repeating the same actions everyday all day takes thick skin, it takes thick skull. To not go absolutely insane after one day takes something, but years? I have only the utmost respect for someone who can handle that. It definitely takes a toll on the man, such as when he arrives at home and the feeling of placing water caps in the gun remains. But his hands have become stronger and faster so that his dream to become a card dealer for the modern day gunslingers is realized one step closer each day. It is there that he will be able to use his skills with some variation, an element he craves each day.

Continue on to Part 2.

Posted by Colin Edelman

Well it’s been about a month now since the great word limit protest, and little has changed. In fact, nothing has changed. In the world of Suite101, changes don’t come easy, I suppose.

For others, like Jerri Blank. It’s quite different. If you remember from one of her early adventures she speaks about the changes in her life:

“I’ve changed. People change. Changes… I'm not the same Jerri Blank who informed on those blind orphans. I'm not the same Jerri Blank who revealed the hiding place of those Guatemalans… such as yourself. And I’m not the same Jerri Blank who took a crap in the Fleishmann’s holly bushes… last night.”

This is what Jerri talks about when she decides not to rat out her locker mate, Kimberly, as a retard. Two seconds later, she changes her mind, declaring:

“Clearly she’s retarded. If she was’t, she would’t have been a suspect in the first place.”

I love that logic. So what have I learned from this experience and watching many hours of Strangers with Candy? Exploit the system for all it’s worth. Undermine it, because fighting it in any other way will get you nowhere.

When in doubt, just ramble. It doesn’t not not matter if you make sense, because if you don’t make sense to someone, that just means they’re not on the same level as you. Whether they have to move up or down on a brain scale to get to that level is irrelevant. Just remember: the retarded just want cake.

Posted by Colin Edelman

Last Sunday, The Simpsons aired two new episodes, the latter being the season finale and 400th episode. Congratulations is in order for the writers and executive producers, not to mention voice actors for not committing suicide.

The 399th episode though, was the show's take on 24. Being that both shows air on FOX, suspicion over a tie-in between the shows is easily founded. Thankfully Jack Bauer and Chloe O'Brian don't take up more than 45 seconds of screen time as they really don't mean anything to the plot.

Forgive me for this, but the show is more of a pastiche than parody. A pastiche is a literary, musical, or artistic piece consisting wholly or chiefly of motifs or techniques borrowed from one or more sources. From Dictionary.com.

The episode revolves around a stink bomb attack, and overall takes itself seriously. It doesn't get ridiculous, but just takes the themes of terrorist attacking the country and places them into bullies pranking the school.

South Park, on the other hand, shows The Simpsons how a parody is done, showing the total ridiculousness of 24. The show doesn't reveal itself as a 24 parody immediately, plays into every stereotype, and makes one realize how ridiculous 24 actually is. And this is coming from a fan of The Simpsons and 24.

There you have it, South Park takes it by a landslide. If you'd like to be your own judge, there are many ways to see the episodes, but here's a start.

The Simpsons: 24 Minutes

South Park: The Snuke.

Posted by Colin Edelman

As you may or may not know, Suite101.org requires its writers minimum word limits on their articles (400 words) and blogs (250 words). While it is understandable that these are established to stop writers from throwing together real short articles, they truly limit the creativity of the writer.

Effective writers can get their point across in as few words as possible. This is a basic tenet of advertising, as well as screenwriting. Why bog down viewers/readers with word after word. When the point is made, there is no need to dwell on it. If one person does not understand the point, then they can ask the author or a fellow reader to clear the confusion. If many people do not understand it, then the problem stems from the writing.

But it's better to avoid insulting your audience's intelligence. Instead, follow the clichéd yet credible statement, less is more.

State your argument and support it with evidence. This is the easiest and most effective way to write, whether it be research paper, newspaper article, blog, manifesto, etc...

Tracing back to high school, I remember the a great feeling when getting a higher grade on an essay test than the kid who would cry if he didn't receive the best grade in the class. His paper was 3 pages, while mine was 1. I didn't go as far to rub it in his face, in fact, the next test I tried a repeat performance and got a terrible grade. Still, I stick to my argument that there's no point in repeating yourself, being redundant and repetitive is very annoying. The more you repeat the facts, the weaker your argument becomes because you are stuck on one point. To throw in another cliché, if you don't have anything positive to say, don't say anything at all.

So where is this all leading? I will be sending this to my editor and hoping that word limits can be reconsidered. Instead, I propose that the system flags all articles under the word limit. If the article is deemed to contain an insufficient amount of material, the writer will be penalized by writing another article. A three strike rule seems fair.

This would allow more freedom so that writers aren't forced to ramble when writing articles and blogs. To define a meaningful article by its word count is very questionable.

Posted by Colin Edelman

If you missed part 1 or part 2, check them out or else this would be a whole lot of babble talk (maybe it is anyway).

Like Clueless, Fast Times at Ridgemont High sets aside the plot and focuses on the characters. The latter differs in that the main characters are both female and male, so that the perspective is fairly balanced. The balance also carries into the visual style, with the opening sequence highlighting both males and females gazing at each other. But the female is granted the stronger role, as it is the voice of the woman that is heard, asking “Did you see his cute little butt?” Heckerling also satisfies the female eye with more male eye candy, such as a close-up of a male shaking his behind while washing his car.

The films are also similar in their portrayal of the male characters as feeble compared to the females. In introducing the school, the males are shown as incompetent when it comes to handling their locker. One student attempts to fit a clearly too large of an instrument into his locker while another discovers his book is covered in gum, with his sweater soon to follow. This student is Mark Ratner who leads the pack of immaturity as a shy, sexual inexperienced individual. After a date with the girl of his dreams, Stacey Hamilton, she asks him to unzip her blouse and he complies, but when spotting her bra, he quickly diverts his eyes away. Later, when they finally kiss he finds an excuse to exit, which he clearly regrets this as he hesitates walking back to his car, but leaves after the light in Stacey’s room turns off. The best example of Mark’s juvenility is on his date when sitting at the restaurant, he appears tiny in a huge overstuffed chair.

Another infantile male is that of Mike Damone, the school’s lady-killer whose ego exceeds his charm. Trying to impress younger students that are asking for tickets, Mike explains that the school’s football star is his friend. However, when greeting the football player, he is simply told not to **** with his car. Later in the film, Stacey asks if he wants to take off his clothes and instead of giving a normal playboy’s answer of “Definitely”, he quickly says “You first.” After impregnating Stacey, Mike is unable to come up with half the payment for an abortion. As a result, he bails completely, not even fulfilling his promise to give her a ride to the clinic. As Mike explains to Rat, he has the attitude, but his actions do not reflect it.

Stacey Hamilton is the strongest female of the film, evident by her character as well as extensive screen time. She begins as a virgin, but afterwards becomes aggressive with her sexuality. She is the one that comes on to Mike, frankly stating her desire for him. After her date with Mark, she explains to her friend that she made the first move and she made the second move only to embarrass herself after he left. At the conclusion of the film, she knows exactly what she wants, which is romance and she has it with Mark.

While Fast Times at Ridgemont High focuses on sex, Clueless maintains image as its main theme. This holds close to the Lacanian approach to feminism, which emphasizes the mirror stage of Freudian theory. The theory explains that a child has an inflated sense of themselves after they see their image in the mirror. Throughout the movie, Cher is seen grooming herself appropriately in a mirror. The first thing she does on her date is look in the side view mirror. However, she claims at one point that she does not rely on mirrors and instead trusts Polariods. This is interesting in that it brings back her paradoxical characteristics. Cher certainly relies on her image, but perhaps it is a sense of insecurity that dissuades her from trusting the mirror.

Amy Heckerling devises alternative views of the female role in society in her films. It comes as no surprise that it takes a female director to point out the gender roles of society which breach into ridiculousness. Hence, it makes perfect sense that she chose comedy as the medium in both films.