Nickels and Dimes, 2009
I was reminded reading Greg’s post of the hallowed tradition amongst the board gamers to document the games they’ve played 5 or 10 times in the previous years. Many of the games we play can be from 2-3 hours in length, and there are so many available, that getting in repeat plays can often be difficult.
So, which games did I play most in 2009? Not surprising that the list falls to shorter games.
Three games were played more than 10 times: Dominion (15), Tichu (15), and Hive (12). Dominion is a relatively quick game (30-45 mins), and I’ve introduced it to many people this year. Tichu is a partnership, trick-taking card game that I’ve taken to this year. There are certainly many partial plays of it that I did not keep track of. Pictured here, we are passing some time in Marfa at Padres playing. (Photo: Jay Lee)
There are also certainly many Hive plays I did not record; I’ve taught it to several people at our weekly neighborhood gatherings at Onion Creek Cafe.
Falling into the Nickel category are Glory to Rome (8), Carcassonne (6), Dominion: Intrigue (5), and Monopoly Deal (5). In this group, Carcassonne is likely the only one under documented. It’s a game that I always enjoy and is quite flexible.
I don’t own a copy of Glory to Rome, and most of those plays were consecutive at a marathon session a year ago at Lone Star Game Fest. Dominion: Intrigue is an spin-off of the ever popular Dominion. Monopoly Deal is a simple set collection card game very nicely Monopoly themed; it’s more fun with more people.
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iPhone 4.0 – What Will The New OS Bring?
Dwight Silverman recently provided a large number of “improvements” he feels are necessary for the next version of the iPhone. Here are my opinions on his thoughts:
A better camera: A 3 megapixel to 5 upgraded seems a minimal upgrade that should be expected. If it does include a better camera, it should also provide better programatic access to it. Allowing apps that use it to throttle the quality, especially those that use video, particularly streaming video. If you could stream low-res and save high-res at the same time, that would be ideal. It’s likely that cameras will appear in future iPod Touches as well, perhaps lower end versions.
Bigger and/or Better screen: The two aren’t the same thing obviously. Apple has been resisting the resolution “upgrade” because the one-size-fits-all has served their developers, and therefore their app breadth, well. Other platforms are already stratifying, and it’s not ideal. They will definitely need to provide the simulator support months in advance of hardwired availability, so that developers can confirm their products. They should also provide a way to run lower/original resolution applications, or risk minimizing available applications.
More customization: With each major release of the iPhone OS there are minor customization increases. There will be minor changes on this version and Dashboard-style widgets, custom backgrounds, or any other “skinning”-type functionality is unlikely. And in my opinion, unneeded.
A faster processor: Each hardware upgrade has included a processor improvement. Apple has no need or desire to be the fastest possible processor. More speed = more battery use. Apple will continue to err on the batter life improvement side.
Voice recognition throughout: Apple aims at the larger, non-technical market, and I think voice recognition and in particular voice dictation is a bleeding edge technology. This is still not available broadly on computers and mobile CPUs can’t handle it. The Nexus One offloads, necessarily, processing onto servers. This bandwidth increase would be undesirable, particularly to an AT&T already straining from the needs of the iPhone.
Multi-tasking: This is most yearned for feature that is the most unneeded. Apps can currently remember their states if they care about their users. Having Apple “sleep” an app also leaves an ambiguity of when the user really wants to quit the app. There are definitely some functionalities Apple should open up to developers that happen to be background ones. (Audio Streaming a la NPR app – The stream should be on par with the Apple Music app.)
Greater Durability: I disagree with Dwight, iPhones are strong enough. Their screens are considerably larger than most which naturally makes them more vulnerable. And insurance is usually available for those unable to handle the iPhone safely.
Thinner and lighter: a competing design variable to Greater Durability.
Relaxed App Approvals: Apple did recently “stream line” its app approval process and items are getting through the pipeline much faster this month than two months ago. A few more months are needed to see if this change is everything is needed. This general heading in Dwight’s list is there only for a specific argument: Google Voice. I would love to have that app, but any arguments are hard to make for lack of real information on why it hasn’t been green lighted. Lots of rumors and speculation.
End Its AT&T Exclusivity: Apple chose AT&T on technological reasons. There are two (different, and not quite equal) 3G technologies. Apple chose the one that can provide more technically and the one that blankets Europe and Japan. There were also technical modifications made to AT&Ts infrastructure to allow the “audio voice mail” that would need to be made by other carriers. Cingular has the same type of network; Verizon would require the manufacture of a different type of phone. I don’t think the growth spurred by non-exclusivity would be large enough to bother production.
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Willy the Hillbilly
Have you seen this hillbilly at your local grocery store? It cracked me up so much I had to buy a 12-pack.
My caffeine of choice is Dr Pepper, but I enjoy a Mountain Dew now and then, and particularly like their recent Voltage, which was raspberry and citrus.
I also particularly like the sodas that are made with cane sugar rather than corn syrup. This one turned out to be not as good as I hoped, but still decent.
Apparently this one became available in December and is for a “limited time only” – it says so right there on the can!
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Jessica Farrar: Please Say NO to I-10 Feeder
From: Bill Shirley
To: Jessica.Farrar@house.state.tx.us
Cc: lillian.ortiz@house.state.tx.us,
alicia.nuzzie@house.state.tx.us
Dear Mrs. Farrar,
I just became aware of a public meeting this evening in regard to a newly
funded project to add feeder roads to I-10 inside the loop. I can not make
it to the meeting this evening to let you know how much I STRONGLY OPPOSE
this move!
There is NO good reason to expand or create ANY feeder road. I would highly
suggest eliminating some in several locations. If interstates need to be
expanded (which is a dubious claim itself according to many studies) then add
lanes to them. Adding feeders is NOT needed and I believe detrimental.
-Bill Shirley
Registered Voter
Houston 77007
cc:
Alicia Nuzzie, District Director
Lillian Ortiz, Chief of Staff
*State Representative Jessica Farrar will host an informational meeting on TXDot´s I-10 Feeder Road Project Wednesday, January 6, 2010 from 6:30-7:30pm at Stevenson Elementary (5410 Cornish St, 77007)
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