THE ABYSSINIAN PRINCE #294

August 21, 2005


Produced by Jim Burgess, 664 Smith Street, Providence, RI 02908-4327 USA, (401)351-0287
Accessible through Internet at burgess of world.std.com (all E-Mail addresses are reported in this format, replace the " of " with "@"; if you bounce try sending to me from another account or FAX to (401) 277-9904. For Faxing, most of the time you have to call me to tell me it's coming so I can set up the FAX. Some of you have been getting bounced messages from my ISP's spam protection, if that happens to you, USE my backup E-Mail at jfburgess of gmail.com!!! Don't complain that my E-Mail keeps bouncing without forwarding the bounced message to that address. Then I can forward it to the ISP help to get it dealt with.
Web Page Address: /Postal/Zines/TAP/index.html


Ah well, some interesting things in here, but yes, we're late again. I hope you're all having a wonderful summer. It has been a beautiful summer here in New England, so lots of work and lots of fun has left the szine late. But I've adjusted the deadlines to compensate, we'll give you all until the weekend after Labor Day. Lots of good stuff in here.... including a surprise announced further down the page.


The postal sub price is still $1.50 per issue in the US and Canada, with double that for other foreign subbers(or $3.00 per issue sent airmail). Players in current games and standbys will continue to get the issues for free, and future game starts (except for Nuclear Yuppie Evil Empire Diplomacy, which is free) cost $20.00 ($15.00 for a life of the game subscription and $5 for the NMR Insurance.n play in subszines for free and just jack up the issue page count. See the revised game start announcements below!
Check out the connections in the Diplomatic Pouch with all of the information you need to play Diplomacy on the Internet at: /
I also have taken over the Postal portion of the Pouch: http:/evel.diplom.org/DipPouch/Postal/
and TAP on the web is there at: /Postal/Zines/TAP/index.html
where the szine resides in html format. Presently, issues from #190 to the current issue are there, and I will be updating the back issues gradually someday. Also, check out Stephen Agar's more extensive efforts at: http://www.diplomacy-archive.com and http://www.diplomacy.co.uk
Peter Sullivan's subszine has remained "in stasis", although all the back issues can be accessed via :
http://www.burdonvale.co.uk/octopus/index.html.
Peter was saying that he would be unlikely to be starting any new games in the Octopus until "at least the start of 2002." He had been hereby declared to be in official indeterminate stasis and that date was now a "whenever". But HERE we are in this issue, Peter is back!!! See Octopus' Garden 54 in the print edition below, or on the web at the above address. In particular, Peter has something to say about the very concept of doing what I'm doing here, printing 130 copies of a szine and sending it out - and doing it in a way that pleases me, but doesn't make any money and certainly doesn't win any style awards. In the meantime, Rip Gooch and Dave Partridge have been picking up the choo-choo game slack in TAP. Contact Rip at xyropedes of canada.com or Dave at rebhuhn of rocketmail.com for more info. Rip has been traveling this summer also, but he is trying to get his act back together soon.
The TAP mailing list has moved! It now is even BETTER protected than it was. I even have a bit of trouble posting to it. To post to this list, send your email to: tap of diplom.org. But this is completely moderated, it won't go out to the list unless I approve it. In general, I intend to keep traffic down to just the szine, as we've been doing.
General information about the mailing list is at: /mailman/listinfo/tap
You can sign up from there, or send E-Mails to: Tap-request of diplom.org; with the word `help' in the subject or body (don't include the quotes), and you will get back a message with instructions. You must know your password to change your options (including changing the password, itself) or to unsubscribe. Normally, Mailman will remind you of your diplom.org mailing list passwords once every month, although you can disable this if you prefer. This reminder will also include instructions on how to unsubscribe or change your account options. There is also a button on your options page that will email your current password to you. A big, big thank you for Millis Miller for setting this all up!!


THE SEARCH FOR DEREK NELSON
I'm going to continue putting some Golden Agers in here to hunt for, working up to some REAL, REAL hard people to find culminating in the 300th issue person whom I already have in mind. Derek Nelson is the person who won the first postal game in Graustark. He's been missing for at least 25 years, I know in the records I can find that he attended the 1976 DipCon in Baltimore. I think it will be fun if we can find these Golden Agers. So, let's really find Derek, it's worth fifty bucks!!! You have until the next issue, #295, at the fifty buck price.


Feel free to spend the time looking for some of the backlog. Let's get Sylvain, Steve, Ed, Tom, Bill, Gregory, and ESPECIALLY Kevin found too!!! This is a regular continuing feature of the szine and I will be introducing a new "search for" every five issues. Moreover, you can win a $25 prize for finding some previous target who went unfound in the original $50 period. That means that if Steve Heinowski or Ed Henry or Tom Hurst or Bill Quinn or Gregory Stewart or Kevin Tighe or Sylvain LaRose or John Smythe is "found" from now on it is worth $25.


Winners will receive credit for Dip hobby activities that I will pay out as requested by the winner. Subscribe to szines here or abroad, run your own contests, publish a szine, finance a web page, GO TO A DIPLOMACY CONVENTION or whatever. Spend it all right away or use me as a bank to cover hobby activities for years. What must you do to win? Get me a letter to the editor for TAP from the person we're searching for.
This is very important, just finding them doesn't do it. They have to write me a letter. The final judge as to the winner of any contest will be the target himself and I reserve the right to investigate the winning entry. When you find someone I'm looking for, you should ask him to send me a letter for print that includes a verification of who "found" him.


INTERNATIONAL SUBSCRIPTION EXCHANGE NEWS
The British representative is the editor of Mission From God, John Harrington. John may be contacted at 1 Churchbury Close, Enfield, Middlesex EN1 3UW, UK.
E-Mail: fiendish of operamail.com, John.Harrington of tfeurope.com
Please include the full name and address of the foreign publisher with your order, if possible, as well as the szine title. Make your check in US dollars out to me personally or in GBP to John if you're doing things from that end. I will conduct business for Canadians as well, if I can, but prefer to deal in US dollars with them if possible, or Canadian dollars cash. To subscribe to American szines, the system works in reverse.
We have added a European continental representative, most of this traffic likely will occur between Ronald Camstra (in the Netherlands) and John Harrington, but if anyone here in the US wants to get money into Euros, we'll try to help you out. Ronald Camstra can be contacted at siedler of zonnet.nl and his home address is: Wielingenplein 48, 3522 PE Utrecht, the Netherlands. But in Holland it is most common not to send checks but to transfer money by bank. Dutch people can pay directly to Postbankaccount 4652247 of Ronald Camstra in Utrecht. Since he can see the name and address of the sender in his bankreceipt, people only have to mention the name of the zine and the editorial address along with their bank order. Ronald is obviously a huge Settlers of Catan fan. If you're interested in playing that game internationally by mail, I think Ronald can help you out.
We also have reopened a branch office of the International Subscription Exchange in Australia!! Brendan Whyte, the publisher of the excellent szine Damn the Consequences will be doing the honors, taking over in some sense from John Cain, who was the Australian rep for many years. You can contact Brendan to sub to Australian szines from the US or to sub to US szines from Australia, converting Australian dollars into American ones. We are now maneuvering deals to Europe from the other reps as well. You can find Brendan Whyte at bwhyte of unimelb.edu.au (note that this is a new E-Mail address for Brendan) or by mail to send checks at: Map Collection, ERC Library, University of Melbourne, Vic 3010, AUSTRALIA.


WORLDMASTERS02 AND WORLDMASTERS04 SECTION
WorldMasters 2002 Email Diplomacy Tournament Finals are over, and in a game that went to 1914 (nice idea here to let the finals go on for longer, a feature of WorldMasters that I applaud) Julio Pereira gets to 14 centers as Russia and TAKES the 2002 WorldMasters Tournament. Congratulations to Julio, and salutes and felicitations to the growing impact of the Brazilians in the Diplomacy hobby. Julio is a fierce player and a good guy to boot. See http://www.worldmasters.net/wm02/ for full details. Since I didn't get sufficient interest to get a team in for 04, I am back on the WorldMasters Tournament Management Committee again. See:
http://www.worldmasters.net/wm04/
for details on that, the first round games are now done, but I've not seen the Round 2 draws yet. Some notable Round 1 winners include Jerry Fest, Egbert Ferreira, Thomas Franke, Tim Richardson, Andy Bartalone, Conrad Woodring, David Partridge, Erlend Janbu, Smacko McMillie, Jack Brawner, and Glenn Ledder.
It is helping now that I've joined the Yahoogroup WM04-Chat where this discussion is happening. You can join too! But most of the talk there has been about Yann Clouet and the French Hobby's new "World Palmares Evaluation" of FTF Diplomacy Play. Of course, Yann Clouet comes out #1, further backing up winning the John Koning award, and I am 1442nd (in a tie with Mark Nelson and Tony Dickinson, among others!). This uses lots of tournament results, more than 750 of them, and really is quite comprehensive. See those rankings at: http://www.18centres.com/SPIP3/article.php3?id_article=199


DIPDOM NEWS SECTION (with letters)
Obscure and not-so-obscure ramblings on the state of the hobby and its publications, custodians, events, and individuals with no guarantee of relevance from the fertile keyboard of Jim-Bob, the E-Mail Dip world, and the rest of the postal hobby. My comments are in italics and ((double quotation marks)) like this. Bold face is used to set off each individual speaker. I should also make a note that I do edit for syntax and spelling on occasion.
The game Diplomacy is a copyrighted product owned by Hasbro and all reproductions or other use of that material in this szine is intended to be personal use and not infringe on those rights in any way. All reproductions are done at a heavy financial loss to the editor and thus are without the remotest possibility of commercial intent, except to promote THE game, the Game of Diplomacy, which you all should purchase from Hasbro or other duly licensed distributors.
Stephen Agar has matched the Hasbro rule lists and more with some of the even older rulebooks. Check these out if you like:
http://www.hasbro.com/default.asp?xcc_gameandtoyinstructions
http://www.hasbro.com/instruct/Diplomacy.PDF
http://www.hasbro.com/instruct/Diplomacy(OlderVers).PDF
Nice of them to make BOTH of these available. And all seven different US rulebooks for Diplomacy can now be found here courtesy of Stephen Agar (relatively new address for this):
http://www.diplomacy-archive.com/diplomacy_rules.htm


Check out current and back issues of Diplomacy World - www.diplomacyworld.org
We are back on solid track, Tim Haffey has agreed to be the Production Editor that I needed. We always need more articles, Issue #94 is out NOW (or VERY shortly)!!! If you think you should have been on that list and weren't, let me or Dave Partridge know. Help us out, write an article for a future issue!


Upcoming Diplomacy World Issue Deadlines:
Deadline Fall 2005, Issue #95: September 1, 2005
Editorial Board for Diplomacy World:
Tim Haffey, 810 53rd Ave., Oakland, CA 94601 USA; trhaffey of aol.com - Lead-Editor, Demo Game GM, and Publisher
Jim Burgess, 664 Smith Street, Providence, RI 02908-4327, USA; burgess of world.std.com - Co-Editor
Stephen Agar, 4 Cedars Gardens, Brighton, UNITED KINGDOM BN1 6YD; stephen of stephenagar.com - Webmaster and Non-US Postal
Rick Desper, 5440 Marinelli Road, #204, Rockville, MD 20852, USA; rick_desper of yahoo.com - Demo Games
Dave Partridge, 15 Woodland Drive, Brookline, NH 03033, USA; rebhuhn of rocketmail.com - US Postal


ATTENTION: There is a new company doing a new PC Diplomacy game:
http://www.paradoxplaza.com/news.asp?ArticleID=239&Page=News
They ARE going to make it and release it this fall, but there are a number of concerns and opportunities that this is going to create. If anyone is interested, some of us have been in some informal contact with the game designers, but I really don't have the time to fully engage them. You all should read the interview in the Spring 2005 movement issue of the Diplomatic Pouch (and I mean ALL!!!!!!! of you!!!!!) that I think you can find at: /Zine/S2005M/


World DipCon XV Preliminary Results
July 29-31, 2005, Washington, DC

Congratulations to World Diplomacy Champion Frank Johansen!!!
1 Frank Johansen 290.5
2 Tom Kobrin 230
3 Edi Birsan 189.5
4 Mark Zoffel 180
5 JT Fest 175
6 Daniel Lester 171
7 Adam Silverman 157.75
8 Andrew Neumann 154
9 Doug Moore 150
10 Simen Jorgensen 149
Mike McMillie 149
Eric Mead 149
13 Riaz Virani 148.67
14 Jim O'Kelley 148.67
15 Jake Mannix 148.5
16 Rick Desper 148.33
17 Edward Prem 145.33
18 Brian Shelden 135.5
19 Matt Shields 133.83
20 Doug Scott 130
21 Don Woodring 128.33
22 Mike Hall 124
23 Joe Wheeler 123.75
24 Nathan Barnes 123.25
25 Brian Ecton 121
26 Lionel Levine 121
27 Adam Sigal 109
28 Steve Cooley 101.67
29 David Maletsky 100
30 Graham Woodring 99.33
31 Ben Teixeira 99
32 Bob Holt 97.33
33 David Hood 97
34 Gregg Harry 91.5
Chris Campbell 91.5
36 Steve Mauris 86.75
37 Kyle Kalember 86.25
38 Chris Martin 85.25
39 Bruce Ray 82
40 Lori Fleming 79
41 Mike Barno 71.5
42 Eric Hunter 66.25
43 David Norman 51
John Saul 51
Carl Wilner 51
46 Mark Franceschini 50
Joseph Henry 50
Jeff Ladd 50
Al Ugaz 50
50 Luke Dwyer 49
51 James Yargley 48.33
52 Adam Bushashia 48
53 Carl Ellis 47
Ike Porter 47
55 Jesse Johnson 42.25
56 Andy Bartalone 37.5
Brian Lee 37.5
58 Christian Pedone 37.25
59 Lisa Foster 36.5
60 Lane Cross 36.25
61 Peter Ross 32
62 Michael Piacsek 30
63 Harry Frazier 14
64 Todd Grindal 6
65 Eric Silverman 5
66 Doug Brown 4
Kimberly Colman 4
Corey Mason 4
Josh Oboler 4
Dominic Crapuchettes 4
71 Rod Spade 3
Roelof van der Laan 3
73 Tony Vila 3
74 Tim Miller 1
75 Claudio Campuzano 0
Sean Colman 0
Don DelGrande 0
Buz Eddy 0
Bill Hackenbracht 0
Derek Harmon 0
Martin Smith 0
Blake Colman 0
Wes Donehower 0

Golden Blade: Mark Zoffel
Kulander Award: David Maletsky
Eastern Swing Champion: Mike McMillie
Players' Choice: Dan Lester
Director's Choice: Miss Callie Hood, Jon Saul
Anti-Tweak: Kyle Kalember
Welcome Back: Tim Miller
Super Welcome Back (But Get A New Hobby): Brian Lee
Kicked Marshall's Ass: Eric Hunter
Representin': Luke Dwyer
Dead Meat: Not awarded, too many eligible.
Team Tournament: If Only We Were Playing On A Boat (Doug Scott, Jake Mannix, Lionel Levine, Mark Zoffel, Nathan Barnes, Andrew Neumann, Mike Hall)

Best Austria: Jake Mannix, 3-way draw, 17 centers (Mistakenly awarded to Rick Desper at ceremony)
Best England: Tom Kobrin, Solo
Best France: Mark Zoffel, Solo
Best Germany: Adam Silverman, 2-way draw, 14 centers
Best Italy: Eric Mead, 3-way draw, 13 centers
Best Russia: Frank Johansen, Solo
Best Turkey: Doug Moore, 3-way draw, 17 centers

Thanks to: Edi Birsan; David Norman; Jim Yerkey; Brian Shelden; Tom Pasko and F2FGaming; Susana Meza and Paradox Interactive; Buz Eddy; David Maletsky; David Hood and family; Nathan Barnes; Lori Fleming; Joe Wheeler; Andy Bartalone; Lisa Foster; Lindsay and Gecko Graphics in Norco, Louisiana; Allogram in Odenton, Maryland; PTKS Board Members Ike Porter, Tim Richardson, Jeff Ladd, and Doug Moore; PTKS Luminaries Emeritus Steve Mauris and Rick Desper; Chris Kulander; Adam Sigal; Ben Teixeira; Mike McMillie; Doug Brown; Manus Hand; The Guards at the FEMA Building; David Ahr and Pat Ford of the Hotel That Shall Remain Nameless; and The Incredibly Rude Staff at the Quiznos' on C Street SW in Washington, DC.
Special Thanks to Our Far Travellers David Norman, Dan Lester, Simen Jorgensen, Frank Johansen, Roelof van der Laan, Rick Desper, and especially Sean, Kimberly, and Blake Colman.
Thanks also to Jake Mannix, David Norman, and Europe for teaching Marshall how not to score tournaments. Additional special thanks to Marshall's very good friend The DQ.
And thanks to all of you for settling for this preliminary results page until Marshall can get all the difficult stuff coded and loaded.
((Let me add my congratulations to my good friend Frank, who has been working for this title VERY hard for a number of years now. Frank's style in viciously stabbing for the wins is unique in my experience and I've enjoyed the point of his knife to that end. Tom Kobrin and Edi Birsan make as great a top 3 as we've seen in recent World DipCons. Of course, an American CANNOT win a World DipCon in America, as that streak keeps going. For those of you that don't know Frank, he's Norwegian and I've been diligently learning Norwegian so that the next time we're at a table together we can negotiate across the table in a different language. We go to Germany for World DipCon next, see the next/latest Diplomacy World for more on that.))


MUSIC AND MOVIES SECTION (WITH COMMENTS ON OTHER ARTS AND SOCIETY)
Tell me anything you like about the recent past in music. List a top two, a top ten, or a top 100, I don't care, just tell me something!! We're beginning to gear up for a "best of 2004" section.


Paul Kenny (Jul 27)
Hi Jim, Sandy and I wanted to let you know that the latest Kenny has arrived. Timothy Paul Kenny was born July 26th, at 5:12pm (1712 in military time, which is what Cooper Hospital uses). Little Tim, our smallest, weighed in at only 9 pounds and 3 ounces, and is 22 and 1/2 inches long. This has been the smallest of our 5 children. Since the little guy was a breach baby, (nothing ever goes smoothly for us), Sandy will be in Cooper Hospital until Saturday. She wanted me to send you a note, (and I would have sent you a note anyhow). Hope all is well with you. Thanks for sending us TAP.
Take care, -Paul, pdkenny of net-gate.com
((You're quite welcome! I hope you're enjoying the new baby and that Sandy is feeling better by now. Congratulations!!!))


Warren Goesle (Thu, 21 Jul 2005 06:44:15 -0500)
Jim-Bob/Rick/Dave,
It's been too long since I've set fingers to keyboard and ranted about all the ills of baseball. Since it looks like you haven't put out TAP for 6 weeks perhaps you were waiting on me. I apologize. ((Nah, too much of summer, travel, grandchild, and work..... but good to hear from you!))
Shall we see what's up?...
AL East: The Yankees have gone 39-22 since an 11-19 start, and are starting to look like the Yankees, despite having four starting pitchers who all used to share the rotation with Ruth. They still look like the division winners to me. Boston needs to turn things around (note: it looks like both teams turn around after they get thumped by Tampa Bay...go figure), but they likely will. Baltimore appears to have run out of steam. Toronto appears to have been a paper tiger based on how well they've done since Halliday got injured, and Tampa is still Tampa. ((Since you wrote this, the Yankees went down a bit, after a REALLY hot streak Jason Giambi just went something like 0 for 25. They are still hanging around within hailing distance of Boston, but I believe the Yankees won't make it down the stretch. And um, yes, they do have the HIGHEST payroll, right? Then again, they just got thumped by Tampa Bay and now are on a little roll.))
AL Central: Being in the Chicago area we see a lot of things with the White Sox that those of you on the East Coast don't (since they don't talk about anything West of the Appalachians except for Anaheim and Oakland). I think they're doing it with mirrors. But if they can keep doing it with mirrors for the next 3 months they can buy rings. Their starting pitching is great, but they're really pretty ordinary after that. I keep waiting for the balloon to pop, but we're at 90 games and counting. Minnesota is playing like an ok team, but that won't do it. Cleveland can run hot & cold, so if anyone from the Central is going to make a run at the Wild Card I'd think it them, but they could just as easily fall to 4th in the division. Detroit shows promise but not much more. Kansas City is still Tampa. ((The chinks seem to be showing in the White Sox armor lately. And they're the ones the Yankees are beating up on as I write. The rest of those Central teams have little to no chance of making the playoffs, so it pretty much is down to the East vs. for the West for the wildcard.))
AL West: The Anaheim Angels of Los Angeles California brought to you by Budweiser (hereafter referred to as "Evil Empire #3) may be the best team in baseball now. I wish I could stay up late enough to figure out why. The Rangers look like the puzzle pieces don't all fit. Oakland looks primed for a second-half run again, but any 2 injuries and they're done. Seattle needs to be blown up and redone. ((I think Oakland is quite an amazing story, Billy Beane is showing again that he is THE best GM in baseball.))
NL East: Ok, everyone who had the Nationals winning the division at this point in the season can clap. (Why do I hear crickets chirping?) Still, they appear to be on the downside while Atlanta is getting their hitters back and on the way up. I'm ready to pick DC for the WC though. Florida, the Mets and Philadelphia don't seem to be able to get over the hump. I wonder which ones will be "sellers" at the deadline? ((Obviously, this is slightly older info from the Goz, but I think we need to clue him in to the Marlins pitching. Since they did NOT succeed in dumping AJ Burnett, the whole Marlins pitching staff has been destroying the opposition. I think this also does not bode well for the Astros, who also made a run for awhile. The WC race is the Marlins' to lose, even though everyone is close.))
NL Central: The Cardinals pitching rotation of 2005 looks a lot like their pitching rotation of 2004, which still doesn't make sense to me. But it looks like I'd better get used to it. The Astros actually are pulling themselves up to .500, and might make a WC run, but something that I can't put my finger on still seems wrong there. Nonetheless, Clemens may be the most deserving pitcher in the Cy Young race this year. The Cubs figured that all they had to do was stay in the WC race until Wood & Prior came back and then they'd take off. Wood & Prior came back and they lost 8 in a row. They've recovered since, but I've seen this show before, and it ends badly. Milwaukee has done better than expected, but can't contend with what they have. Pittsburgh and Cincinnati are still Tampa. ((Wood is doing better relegated to the bullpen.... yeah, you're right Houston and the Cubs just don't look like they have it. I think Milwaukee's been doing just about precisely what ***I*** thought they would do. Griffey keeps showing signs of almost becoming a superstar again, but he just can't quite get over the hump. Obviously, the Reds problem is pitching, but still, it seems that team SHOULD be doing better than it is.))
NL West: It looks like the Padres win this by default, but I don't think anyone will know how good they are until October. Right now I'm betting "not very good", but if you can get to the playoffs then anything is possible (except on the North Side of Chicago). The Dodgers are without Gagne, the Giants without Bonds, the Diamondbacks without Schilling & Johnson, the Rockies without talent. Still, Arizona looks like it could make a run. I'm just not betting that way. ((Smart move, especially when the Padres can't get and stay over .500. There still is a good chance we'll have an under .500 division winner! Which means the Giants (who will get Bonds back in Sept. it looks like, with strong motivation to pass Babe Ruth in a few short weeks, I think he needs 12 moonshots), the Dodgers (who have good balance), and the Diamondbacks (gee, that lineup is so weak....) still have a good shot. I bet on the Giants, who also acquired a streaking Randy Winn at the trade deadline and just got Moises Alou back from the DL, to win it coming from behind with a below .500 record. And then in the playoffs could do a bit of damage. Of course, maybe I'm just justifying my preseason prediction.))
Right now I've got the die-hard Cubs' fans' ultimate nightmare scenario for the WS: White Sox & Cardinals. Since the White Sox last won a World Series they've THROWN a World Series, and the Red Sox have won twice. Sheesh. Bring on football.
((Nah, I think there is a REAL shot that the Marlins make it, or that blend of young/old in the Braves. What's with this guy Francoeur, or whatever his name is? He's playing great. And in the AL, Buehrle, Garland and Hermanson? No way.... Cliff Politte is having a stellar ERA season which is good since he may need to close when Hermanson gives out. They've been resting him during the recent losing period, and he blew his last save. But the real worry is about those top two starters. Jon Garland has lost three of his last four. He was only REALLY bad in that loss to Toronto early in the month and in the game against the Red Sox (which is of course the one that I listened to most closely). His loss to the Yankees wasn't that bad. I have not been paying much attention Contreras and Garcia, since they didn't face the Red Sox in the last series. I don't really know how they've been doing and looking quickly, they've pitched well lately, but they won't be playoff aces. But Buehrle's lost his last two and over the last month ALSO has come down substantially from where he was. Including, again, with my Red Sox focus, a pretty dismal performance against the Sox. I'd worry.... The highest likelihood is a Cardinals/Red Sox rematch, I think. But don't count out the A's and the Marlins, and that would be my "long shot prediction".))
The Cubs' curse continues. NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon came to Chicago in May to promote the then-upcoming NASCAR race (run two weeks ago), and was invited to sing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" during the 7th inning of a Cubs' game. He got introduced to the crowd, proclaimed over the microphone how glad he was to be at "Wrigley Stadium", then sang one of the worst renditions ever given by someone other than Mike Ditka (who was 20 seconds late to the booth the first time, and still finished 10 seconds ahead of the organist). Since then Gordon has finished 25th or worse in 7 of the 9 races run, and has dropped from 3rd to 15th in the standings. Just to show it works the other way around, Kasey Kahne, last year's NASCAR rookie-of-the-year, who is having a real tough sophomore year (a win at Richmond notwithstanding...he's 21st overall), dropped by Fenway recently to promote the then-upcoming NASCAR race in New Hampshire. The Red Sox haven't been the same since.
How does it look from there? ((The Red Sox are in first place.... I stuck the rest in above.... and who is Jeff Gordon?))
From an Illinois cornfield, Goz, Warren.Goesle of cmcelectronics.us


Rick Desper (July 21)
And I had thought Jim-Bob couldn't deal with me moving back to Europe. (Or as they call it here - `not Europe', since Britain isn't part of Europe.) Incidentally, my new snailmail address is
Rick Desper, 30 Morshead Mansions, Morshead Road, Maida Vale W9 1LE United Kingdom.
I'm not sold on NY, though Giambi's rejuvenation will definitely help them. (I picked him up for my fantasy team, and he's my utility IF with Ortiz as 1B). The key will be the pitching: if Schilling can return to his normal form and Foulke can make the stretch run, I'll give the Sox the edge. Put it this way: they're in first place in spite of minimal contributions from their best two pitchers. ((I'm playing in the DipWorld fantasy team league where old MadLad Marc Peters is wiping up the floor with all of us. Interesting, through that same period, that was PRECISELY my fantasy team lineup! I held my nose and picked up Giambi there myself and rode him through his hot streak, but I just cut him as Trot Nixon and Moises Alou are coming off the DL to help the Red Sox and Giants make their pennant runs respectively. I also have both Foulke and Schilling there, so I doubly am hoping for the same there, and that's precisely my view. Schilling starts Thursday and Foulke will be back within a week or two. I think, given the shortcomings of all the other AL teams, that makes the Red Sox the favorites now.))
Balmer has the same problem they've had all year: not quite enough pitching. I still like Tejada as an MVP candidate. ((Much as I am a Bruce Chen rooter.... how can someone with THAT little talent hang on.... hint, he's a lefty... you can't base a pennant run around THAT pitching staff.))
((Commenting on Goz's: "Toronto appears to have been a paper tiger based on how well they've done since Halliday got injured.")) Losing him kills any hope they had.
((And on: "Tampa is still Tampa.")) Yes, a glorified minor league team.
((And on the White Sox.... I suspect Rick agrees with me...)) Are there rings for winning the AL central? I think they'll see the same fate the Mariners had a few years back: they are not built for the postseason. I don't think they'll get past any of the Red Sox/Angels/Yankees. I like Konerko and Magglio Ordonez. Oh wait, he's gone. Dye seems ok. Basically the White Sox have two starters having great seasons and enough hitting to beat up the weaker teams. ((As I said above.... be careful predicting that will continue...))
((On Goz's: "Minnesota is playing like an ok team, but that won't do it.")) No, it won't. But Santana should still be great to watch.
((And on: "Kansas City is still Tampa.")) Right. ((Unfortunately, as I remain something of a Kansas City fan, Kansas City is becoming the DEFINITION of the worst team in baseball, with this latest 19 game losing streak.))
((And Goz improperly labels...."The Anaheim Angels of Los Angeles California brought to you by Budweiser (hereafter referred to as `Evil Empire #3' may be the best team in baseball now.")) I wish Vlad (also on my fantasy team) would snap out his recent slump. Angels have decent starters and a good bullpen. You can definitely pencil them in for the playoffs. ((They are definitely NOT the best team in baseball. Chone Figgins is having a good year and has now cemented into the leadoff spot, but last year's Red Sox hero, Orlando Cabrera, has been pretty disappointing offensively. And the bottom of the Angels lineup sprinkled with journeymen like DaVanon is not that great.))
((And Goz also said: "The Rangers look like the puzzle pieces don't all fit.")) Chan Ho Park's contract continues to kill them.
((And on Oakland...)) They have reconstituted their pitching staff, and it's good. But they'll have their usual problems with hitting, esp. if they sneak into the playoffs.
((And Goz went on to opine: "Seattle needs to be blown up and redone.")) And then there are the Mariners... :) ((They're actually doing that! Who's that hot young pitcher that they just brought up who has been wowing opposing hitters? They could be a good young team next year as they are going right now. I would say they are doing "the right thing" as teams in their position go.))
The Nats are 13 games over .500 even though they have scored 5 fewer runs than they have allowed over the course of the season. ((And could this have been the strong signal for why they weren't going to be able to keep it up. While Georgie-porgie might have wished he had kept Nick Johnson, that's not enough to build an offense around.)) BTW, if anybody is trying to decide between Frank Robinson and Ozzie Guillen for Manager of the Year, they need to seriously think about the latter's outburst about Ordonez. ((True, but Guillen's style is an interesting breath of fresh air as opposed to the corporate style of Tito or Ken Macha. I root for Guillen to make it as a manager.))
Atlanta is a 1/2 game behind, and they've scored 81 more runs than they've allowed. Smart money would be on Atlanta. Nats still look for for the wildcard.
((Goz then said: "I'm ready to pick DC for the WC though." While Rick though he said: "I'm ready to pick DC for the WS though.", to which he responded:)) I'll pick the Cardinals. ((If the Cardinals are the Wild Card that will be SOME comeback by Houston or someone else in the Central.))
((To Goz's: "The Cardinals pitching rotation of 2005 looks a lot like their pitching rotation of 2004, which still doesn't make sense to me." Rick cogently comes back with:)) Check out Chris Carpenter and Mark Mulder. Carpenter was injured in the postseason last year, but is putting up Cy Young numbers. Mulder and Matt Morris look like very good #2 and #3 starters. ((And Jeff Suppan.... after watching him a few years back really stink it up for the Red Sox, he DOES seem to be doing it with mirrors. So they may have a Number Four who will be susceptable to American League DH's and parks. Some pitchers really are styled better as NL as opposed to AL pitchers. But I agree with Rick, the Cardinals top three are trumped only by the Marlins in the NL, I'm not impressed by the Braves rotation as long as Russ Ortiz struggles in coming back from his injury.))
((To: "Clemens may be the most deserving pitcher in the Cy Young race this year.")) Yes, Clemens has had bad luck, but he's only 7-4, whereas Carpenter is 14-4. That's too much of a disparity, even given Clemens' excellent ERA. ((We all understand, BUT, the prevailing wisdom seems to be that Carpenter's overall stats are just too much better. In many senses, I think this is wrong. For example, the Astros current park is one of if not THE best hitters park in the NL once you factor out the other planet that Coors Field exists on. And Clemens has a positively microscopic road ERA this year. He would challenge Bob Gibson's once thought unchallengeable 1.12 if he pitched somewhere else in the NL. And, yes, he's an ageless wonder, which SHOULD count for something. And his W-L record is really more of a factor than it should be given the abysmal Astros hitting for stretches this year. Worse than just "bad" it's been "streaky bad" where in whole stretches of games they just simply were not going to score.))
I suspect the Padres will be good enough to lose to the Braves in the first round. Of course, the Braves tend to be bored by postseason baseball, so who knows what'll happen.
I wouldn't worry about the White Sox. I'm thinking Cardinals in the NL, and any of Red Sox / Yankees / Angels in the AL, with my heart going to the Red Sox.
Rick, rick_desper of yahoo.com


Warren Goesle (Thu, 21 Jul 2005 08:59:36 -0500)
What on Earth are you doing in England? And what's the situation over there today? We've gotten reports of 4 small bombs going off again.
Goz, Warren.Goesle of cmcelectronics.us


Rick Desper (Thu, 21 Jul 2005 07:23:08 -0700 (PDT))
What I've heard is that three "small bombs" went off in three tubes - but apparently they only had detonators, or the detonators failed, because there have been no serious explosions. Also, there was an `incident' on a bus that remains unexplained. Finally, something is going on in the hospital that's about 500m away from here. Police in flak jackets, dogs,....I don't know what that means, but they've closed down Tottenham court road and Gower st., too.
for your reference... map at www.streetmap.co.uk
postal code WC1 6BT gives you the university where I work (in the biology department). You can see Warren Street (named after you, Goz), as well as Russell square (where Picadilly tube bomb went off on 7/7), and the hospital is at the North end of Gower St., between Warren St. and Euston Square stations.
Rick, Tavistock place (where #30 bus blew up on 7/7)


Warren Goesle (07/21/2005 09:23 AM)
Ok, it looks like either you have amateur copycat bombers, or the same group did a lousy job this time. Everyone seems to be hoping it's the former. No bets here. I suspect that the chap that had one go off in his backpack and was "detained" will provide a large clue.
Hope all is well, and keep your head low. Another reason that I live and work 40 miles from downtown.
Goz, Warren.Goesle of cmcelectronics.us
((I don't think bets are necessary either, they'll figure it out (written at the time, they STILL don't quite seem to have it figured out... but again, they will). One disadvantage of not blowing yourself up and all the evidence is that you leave LOTS of information and signatures to be read by experts.))


Mark D Lew (Sat, 23 Jul 2005 12:23:44 -0700)
If you didn't catch the amazing play that ended the game last night, someone has uploaded it here:
http://www.putfile.com/media.php?n=KendallPlay
I'm not a big fan of Kendall, but he was a total stud in that play.
Background, if you didn't hear it: Tons of hits. A's were up 11-8 going into the ninth, but they gave up two more runs. It's now 11-10 with two outs and Soriano at the plate.
mdl, markdlew of earthlink.net
((Yeah, that was just one example of the kind of skill/luck/cool plays that happen when things are going well. The A's have cooled off slightly since then, but it would have been almost impossible to stay THAT white hot. I still think they're the best bet for the Wild Card.))


Mark D Lew (Mon, 25 Jul 2005 22:59:03 -0700)
Following up on your Payton question from a while back, I still wouldn't say that he's the "regular" starter at any position, but he's certainly getting plenty of starts. ((I'm really just interested as in the "former Red Sox, did Theo Epstein drop Payton at the right time". Of course, in retrospect, with the Trot Nixon injury, Payton would have gotten lots of playing time with the Sox, but it provided the opportunity to reacquire Gabe Kapler. That's been one of the more amazing stories of the season, going off to Japan to make some money and get more playing time, Gabe really just stunk up the joint and came back in mid season. After the Red Sox traded Payton, they signed Gabe and he just fit right back in. They also traded for Jose Cruz, Jr., but quickly cut him as it was clear that Kapler was going to be the fill in for Trot Nixon and eventual fourth outfielder down the stretch. And Trot is coming back and looking REALLY good, so all is well....))
Macha is a big believer in "letting the players write the lineup", i.e., whoever is hitting well gets put back in the next day. Payton came in and hit a bunch of HRs in his first few games, so they kept playing him, rotating the other outfielders around to make room. Now he's even gotten a couple of starts at CF - once on Saturday and again tonight - as Kotsay is a little worn out at the moment. But there's still no question that Kotsay is the "real" CF and Payton is just subbing.
At LF and RF it's less clear who is the regular. Only half of our positions have a clear "first-stringer" now - CF, SS, 3B, and C. Swisher at RF is arguable, but I don't think he's really a definite fixture there, in part because he's our best 1B defensively. LF, 1B and 2B are wide open. A's are in the happy position where all but one of the hitters on the team are guys they want to find room for in the lineup, so that the difficult part of the decision is not whom to put in but whom to leave out. Even Melhuse has been hot, so they're trying to get him in occasionally, either giving Kendall a day off or using one of them at DH. The only hitter who's clearly second-string right now is Ginter.
Payton is definitely being embraced by the team. He's hitting well and he's not showing the bad attitude that many worried about. When the trade was first made, there was talk that he'd be flipped to the Yankees, but it looks pretty certain that that won't happen now.
Gammons has written that he thinks Beane is done trading for this season. I think he's done with big deals but will still do a few tweaks on the "sell high" side of the equation. In the local coverage there have been little hints that newly acquired pitcher Joe Kennedy is not being embraced by the team, though no one is spelling out exactly why. As I mentioned before, Kennedy was essentially acquired in exchange for Quintanilla, if you figure Payton-Byrnes and Bradford-Witasick to be straight across swaps in the same role. ((From what I've been hearing it doesn't look like there will be ANY significant waiver swaps at all, as no one is getting through the glut of Wild Card contenders. If there is a big deal it almost assuredly will be among the lower tier of contenders.))
Beane likes to gather players that he thinks will be in high demand down the road. We didn't have any particular need for Kennedy, but Beane saw that he was in demand and thought he was a good pickup. I see him flipping Kennedy to a contender that needs another starting pitcher, in exchange for prospects and/or a good bench player who will take Ginter's place on the roster.
mdl, markdlew of earthlink.net
((Yeah, that is a neat idea, to grab value even though you don't really need it, since then it can be traded for more once you give the player the playing time to prove the value. You could argue that's even true of Payton, that he's more valuable now after being traded to Oakland. I think lots of people need Kennedy, but he won't slip through waivers to get traded this month. But of course, the real proof in the pudding is if Oakland can put its act back together a bit better and make a good stretch run drive. The Yankees and the Indians ARE beatable, but maybe the Indians will be that Wild Card from nowhere. Somehow if the Yankees make it, that will be the real miracle.))
((Lastly from me, mostly because I have an inch or two of space at the bottom of this page... since at least Rick Desper will appreciate it, I'm getting kinda excited about watching the Boston Celtics this year. Local favorite Ryan Gomes will almost certainly be THE best second round draft pickup. The Celts gave him a two year (more or less) guaranteed contract when they don't HAVE to give any second rounder guarantees and the first round guarantee is only three years, just one year more. And Danny Ainge is picking up a HOST of point guards to compete with each other. He and Doc Rivers are going to tell them to run, run, run and drive the team. Whoever picks it up the best will make the team. Pure competition. Plus, Antoine Walker is traded, in what should be a good deal for both. Antoine DID have to back off on the last two years of his guaranteed six year deal - the last two years are now a club option of some kind - once they saw 'Toine's knees. He really is an amazingly intense individual and plays through an amazing amount of pain.))
THE ABYSSINIAN PRINCE GAMES SECTION
"So I called up George and he called up Jim, I said let's make a deal.
He said he'd talk to him. Gonna start a church where you can save yourself,
You can make some noise, When you've got no choice...
You told me useful things, what people think of me, I guess I should thank you.
It's true, then I agree... I'm all alone, I've got no choice,
I'm all alone, I've got no choice."
From "Got No Choice" by the incomparable Mark Cutler, from the CD Mark Cutler and Useful Things.
If you want to submit orders, press, or letters by E-Mail, you can find me through the Internet system at "burgess of world.std.com". If anyone has an interest in having an E-Mail address listed so people can negotiate with you by computer, just let me know. FAX orders to (401) 277-9904 if you let me know in advance to be sure the fax machine is set up.
I am continuing to note cut or failed support orders with a small "s" instead of a capital "S". This will make it easier on the E-Mailed version of the szine to see what happened, since the italics don't show there. The italics DO show on the web page just fine.
Standby lists:
Mike Barno, Dick Martin, Brad Wilson, Jack McHugh, Glenn Petroski, Steve Emmert, Mark Kinney, Vince Lutterbie, Eric Brosius, Paul Rauterberg, Bob Osuch, Doug Kent, Sean O'Donnell, Vern Parker, Heath Gardner, Paul Kenny, Jeff O'Donnell, and Dan Gorham stand by for regular Diplomacy.
Let me know if you want on or off these lists, especially OFF. Standbies get the szine for free and receive my personal thanks.


GAME OPENING INFORMATION
We've got lots of openings in the subszines, check them out!!! Especially, contact Rip Gooch for Railway Rivals, see Rip's subszine elsewhere in most issues of TAP. Come on, help me out!!! Contact Rip Gooch directly at xyropedes of canada.com. Rip has been a bit missing in action lately, but I am assured that he SHALL return.
I'm ready to start a new Breaking Away game, who's interested???
I am willing to open another new game if there is enough interest!!! Also, is there any interest in another game of Nuclear Yuppie Evil Empire 7x7 Dip? I know it may be getting tired, but I really like it. We have Karl Schmit and Sean O'Donnell on the list, let's get seven!! It's FREE!!!
I also am starting a game of the variant I designed, Spy Diplomacy. Signups for that are now open. I'll publish the rules shortly or you can look at them at www.variantbank.org. Bruce Edwards and Eric Ozog are signed up. I'll try to remember to punch in the rules in the next issue.
John Harrington is offering to guest GM a game of Office Politics. Any interest in that?? Let me or John know! Jody McCullough and Bruce Edwards are interested, anyone else?
And since Colonia is over, Harold Reynolds is looking to start something else.
Also, I am going to design some postal rules for Devil Take the Hindmost, and we have an opening here: Bruce Edwards, Mike Barno, and Eoghan Barry are signed up. Postal rules from me will be forthcoming shortly, on my never ending to-do list. I will get them in SOON! I'm more likely to get these things started if I see some interest..... I've GOT to do this now, Eoghan is getting tired of waiting....
Right now, the other thing going is the Modern Diplomacy game with Wings. Sean O'Donnell, Bob Holt, Rick Desper, Alexander Woo, Dave Partridge, and Eric Ozog are signed up for that. I will start it when I get a full complement of players, the other Modern game is now done!


TAKING OVER ISHKIBIBBLE'S REGULAR DIPLOMACY GAMES
I'll be taking over Phil Reynolds' two regular Diplomacy games somewhere in TAP. One or both games might go to Harold Reynolds' subszine, since Colonia is over. I have Phil's last issue, #44, but that was published way back in December of 2003. I'm not sure if people have moved or whatever in that time, so a little help would be appreciated. And I hope everyone comes back, but I might need some standbys. I am STILL not hearing from too many of you!!! I'm going to start nagging so I can get these restarted. Please let me know if you care playing, thanks to Karl Schmit for responding each time that he's in....
Us and Them: Winter 1901 was published and it was early on, but I think I can find all the players. Hank Alme (Austria), Karl Schmit (England), John Power (Germany), Tim Snyder (Italy), and Fred Wiedemeyer (Russia) are all here already and Paul Boymel (Turkey) and Marc Ellinger (France) are locatable. Please let me know if you plan to continue!!!
We are the Champions: This one is even earlier, ONLY Spring 1901 had been published. But again, most of the players are around here, and I've located Paul Boymel (Italy) and Marc Ellinger (Turkey). Dave Partridge (Austria) is here of course, Graham Wilson (England) is just joining us, Fred Wiedemeyer (France) and Kevin Wilson (Germany) are here. Paul Risner probably is not going to be able to continue in the game.
You can find that last issue of Phil's szine at:
/Postal/Zines/ishkibibble/ishkibibble_44.pdf
I really must get my act together and get these games restarted, better to wait until the end of summer. Next issue, I'm going to call for orders from all of you and see what we've got. So start negotiating, let me know if you need contact info for anyone.


SPIRALS OF PARANOIA: 2005A, Regular Diplomacy
THE DUE DATE FOR SPRING 1902 IS SEPTEMBER 10TH, 2005
Winter 1901
AUSTRIA (Rauterberg): bld a vie; has a VIE, a SER, a BUD, f ALB.
ENGLAND (Wiedemeyer): bld a edi; has a EDI, a NWY, f NTH, f NWG.
FRANCE (Tretick): bld f mar, f bre; has f MAR, f BRE, a SPA, f MID, a POR.
GERMANY (Tallman): bld a kie, a mun, f ber; has a KIE, a MUN, f BER,
a HOL, a BEL, f DEN.
ITALY (Baker): RESIGNS WITH THESE ORDERS, NEW PLAYER IS JEFF O'DONNELL;
bld a ven; has a VEN, a APU, a TUN, f ION.
RUSSIA (Sundstrom): bld a war, a sev; has a WAR, a SEV, f BUL(EC), a RUM, a FIN, f GOB.
TURKEY (Biehl): bld f ank; has f ANK, f AEG, a CON.


Addresses of the Participants
AUSTRIA: Paul Rauterberg, 3116 W. American Dr., Greenfield, WI 53221,
(414) 281-2339 (E-Mail) trauterberg of wi.rr.com
ENGLAND: Fred Wiedemeyer, Box 92010-Meadowbrook RPO, Edmonton, ALBERTA CANADA T6T 1N1,
(780) 465-6432, wiedem of planet.eon.net
FRANCE: Buddy Tretick, 9607 Conaty Circle Spotsylvania, VA 22553-1953
cell (540) 226-5771 (E-Mail) berniebuddy32 of aol.com
GERMANY: Terry Tallman, PO Box 782, Clinton, WA 98236, (360) 331-5698 ($2)
terryt of whidbey.net
ITALY: Resigns with these moves, Marvin Baker, 822 W. Garner Rd., Garner, NC 27529
(919) 772-7542, marvinrb1 of bellsouth.net
ITALY: New player is Jeff O'Donnell, 402 Middle Ave., Elyria, OH 44035-5728,
(440) 322-2920 or (440) 225-9203 (cell)
RUSSIA: Matt Sundstrom, 1760 Robincrest Lane South, Glenview, IL 60025, (847) 729-1882,
Matt.Sundstrom of bbdoch.com or mattandzoe of earthlink.net
TURKEY: John Biehl, #8 - 11530 84th Avenue, Delta, BRITISH COLUMBIA, V4C 2M1 CANADA,
(604) 591-1832 ($7); jrb of dccnet.com


Game Notes:
1) Marvin Baker is forced to resign via a job responsibility change. We wish him the best. I'm calling Jeff O'Donnell to replace him. Jeff wanted to be a new standby and so best to jump people in right when they ask. Also, since most of you are postal vets you will be able to handle the fact that Jeff isn't on the Internet, and if necessary you guys can handle phone calls.
2) There is a proposal to change the name of the game to Spiralling Pancakes. The proposer wished it to be "NVR yes" because if none of you cared to vote against it, that should be reason enough to change it. But that won't go here. If you don't vote, it vetoes the proposal. But go ahead, vote with your Spring orders, though I don't see how you possibly could want to take "paranoia" out of the game name....
3) There also is a proposal for a six way TAG IRE draw which will of course blame everything that happened in this game on the Irish. This is a usual proposal where failure to vote of course vetoes the proposal, but also vote on that with your Spring orders.
4) I had a some trouble with deciphering and reproducing some of the press items below, I hope it is readable. I have to translate all special characters here, it can be done, but I have to do it manually. So keep that in mind. I did my best for this press.
5) Buddy, is this your current postal address?


Press:
(GERMANY to WORLD): Anyone want to swap countries with me?
(FRED/ENGLAND to GM): A question. Are these two (I'm not sure what to call them - but I'll be polite) neighbors of mine - Tallman and Tretick - for real or are they the anonymous product of someone's deranged imagination? ((How perceptive, they are IN FACT, both. Blame it all on Eric Ozog, he won't mind.))
(GERMANY to WORLD): Anyone want to swap allies with me?
(RUSSIA to ENGLAND): We shall bury you!!!
(ENGLAND to RUSSIA): Not in one of YOUR suits, hopefully.
(ENGLAND - FRANCE): Now I'm getting information from more than one source that you're anti-Canadian. which explains why you have been campaigning so hard only against Turkey and myself. Shame on you.
(RUSSIA-ITALY II): Welcome to the jungle.
(MATT'S MUSHROOM WORKS): Glad we have our shroom waffles...it helps this game make more sense.
(GERMAN CODE SECTION): It was announced today that the head of the Kaiser's decoding section has committed Hari Kari (very unusual at this point in time, in this part of the world) after trying to make sense of the Encoded Crepes being served at La Maison de Crêpe de l'oncle Bernie.
(FRENCH MINISTRY FOR THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE WISDOM OF CHAIRMAN ONCLE BERNIE): Je ne dis pas de mensonge. Cela n'était pas un mensonge. Si cela avait été un mensonge mon nez serait dix pieds longs. Merci pour écouter à moi ne dis pas de mensonge.
(SOMEWHERE ON THE COAST OF BREST, IN A SMALL SHIPYARD, TWO WORKERS OVER A GLASS OR THREE OF WINE):
Pourquoi construisons-nous ces navires de guerre?
Pour envahir l'Angleterre, bien sûr.
Mais l'anglais est nos amis? Ceci n'est pas vrai ?
Non. Nous vilipendons l'anglais et le crachat dans leurs bols de porridge.
Quand a fait ceci commence.
Je ne suis pas sûr, je pense cet étais après oncle Bernie a remarqué que le vent avait changé encore.
(GERMAN BREAKFAST NOOK): Ist es das mittlere Spiel noch?
(TURKEY to THE WORLD): (No translation device could be found for the Turks) Um, hello, 'ey? ((Ah, cheating, eh? I thought someone had been spending their retirement learning languages....))
(DA POPE): Una piccola suora blu per il padre grande per favore.
(AUSTRIA to WORLD, SPEAKING IN DUTCH FOR SOME REASON): Maak mijn dag, punker.
(ONCLE BERNIE MUMBLING IN HIS SLEEP): Je ne mens pas, Je ne mens pas, Je ne mens pas, Je ne mens pas.......
(...): We were forced to do this. We really didn't want to, believe us.


FLIP FLOP: 2003G, Regular Diplomacy
THE DUE DATE FOR SUMMER 1905 IS SEPTEMBER 10TH, 2005
THE DUE DATE FOR FALL 1905 IS OCTOBER 1ST, 2005
Spring 1905
AUSTRIA (Wiedemeyer): a ven-APU, a tri-VEN, a bud-GAL, a lvn-STP,
a UKR S GERMAN a pru-war, a ser-TRI.
ENGLAND (Schmit): a edi-HOL, f lon-ENG, f mid-POR, a BEL S a edi-hol,
f eng-MID, f swe-NWY, f NTH C a edi-hol, a MOS S RUSSIAN a war.
FRANCE (Jeff O'Donnell): f spa(sc)-WES, a BRE h, f GOL-tyh, a mar-SPA, a GAS S a bre.
GERMANY (Sundstrom): f ber-BAL, a KIE-hol, a PRU-war, a mun-SIL, f DEN-nth.
ITALY (Williams): f ION h, f TYH h, a PIE h.
RUSSIA (Sean O'Donnell): a WAR h.
TURKEY (Levinson): f smy-AEG, a BUL S f aeg-gre, f aeg-GRE, f BLA h,
a SEV S a rum, a RUM S a sev.


Addresses of the Participants
AUSTRIA: Fred Wiedemeyer, Box 92010-Meadowbrook RPO, Edmonton, ALBERTA CANADA T6T 1N1,
(780) 465-6432, wiedem of planet.eon.net
ENGLAND: Karl Schmit, 1509 O'Keefe Road, DePere, WI 54115, (920) 338-8402,
diplomacy of new.rr.com ($4)
FRANCE: Jeff O'Donnell, 402 Middle Ave., Elyria, OH 44035-5728,
(440) 322-2920 or (440) 225-9203 (cell)
GERMANY: Matt Sundstrom, 1760 Robincrest Lane South, Glenview, IL 60025, (847) 729-1882,
Matt.Sundstrom of bbdoch.com or mattandzoe of earthlink.net
ITALY: Don Williams, 27505 Artine Drive, Saugus, CA 91350, (661) 297-3947,
wllmsfmly of earthlink.net or dwilliams of fontana.org
RUSSIA: Sean O'Donnell, 1044 Wellfleet Drive, Grafton, OH 44044, (440) 926-0230,
sean_o_donnell of hotmail.com
TURKEY: Alexandre Levinson, 1, allee des Marniquets, 78430 Louveciennes FRANCE, don't need phone,
levinson7 of hotmail.com ($5)


Game Notes:
1) Not much to say here, we're trucking along now though, as the Sean holds on and the Duck begins the long slow fade into night.


Press:
(BERLIN-LONDON): We're skittish about losing our beer yet again and we heard nasty rumors that Brits like beer too. We hope you'll stick with the Belgian stuff so we can go off and play someplace else.
(SILESIA-WARSAW): Ditto...Czech beer is good too.
(EPISODE 10 "NEW HOPE"): ((Aren't we mixing metaphors here.....))
CAPTAIN'S LOG: Things are looking up. The Tribbles are in full retreat and the Federation has maintained its end of our treaty. The only question is whether the Romulans are going to attack. (Kirk's (K) quarters door rings, it's McCoy (M), Spock (S), and 7 of 9 (7))
S: Captain, I think we have found a way to change us back into human form. If we can predict the next attack by the Tribbles or Romulans, we can place a Genesis device at the exact location, if we modify it with one of 7's Borg silicone implants and some of my brain engrams from that lame "Spock's Brain" episode. ((Brain, brain, what is brain?!?!?!))
K: Why do we need 7's implants and your engrams?
7: My implants have a Borg temporal signature from that "First Contact" movie where the Borg went back in time.
M: Damn it, Jim! I saw that movie, 7 wasn't even in it! In fact, she's not even in the original series!
7: No Doctor, but I bought a black market copy on disc off the Internet and I downloaded it into the matrix of my Borg silicone implants. As for how I got into this series of episodes, who can say?
K: Can I touch those implants before we use them in combat?
7: Not if you want to live!
S: In any event, the implants and my engrams with our original universe memories stored there will, in theory, change the perpendicular universe Federation back into Ferengi and should change us back into human form and our Federation.
K: How will we get 7 away from the blast in time?
S: We will do one of those boring, predictable episodes where we try to transport her out, we can't for some silly and not really believable reason, and then Mr. Scott will do his idiot miracle worker routine at the last second to save 7 with the transporter.
((I'll have you know, as we give Jimmy Doohan and Mr. Scott proper respect upon the former's passing, that switching to Channel B is NOT an idiot miracle worker routine!!!))
M: But Mr. Scott just died.
S: Yes, Doctor, but you've been dead for five years and you're still here annoying me.
K: Sounds like a plan, but we have to predict the exact location of the next attack.
S: Easier said than done. We will need your human intuition.
K: Or a good script writer.
S: Or, even a bad one.
K: 'Nuff said!


I CAN'T FIND MY MONEY!: 2001F, Regular Diplomacy
THE DUE DATE FOR SPRING 1911 IS SEPTEMBER 10TH, 2005
Winter 1910
AUSTRIA (Parker): bld f tri; has f TRI, f ION, a VIE, a BUD, f ADR, a PIE,
a BUL, a TUS, a ROM, a SEV, a NAP, a SER, a STP, f GRE.
ENGLAND (Kinney): R a edi otb; rem f nao; has a LON.
FRANCE (Kent): bld a par, PLAYS ONE SHORT; has a PAR, a GAS, a LVP, f BRE, f TUN.
GERMANY (Wilson): bld f kie, a ber; has f KIE, a BER, f NTH, a MUN, f BEL, a PIC,
a NWY, a MAR, f EDI, a RUH.
TURKEY (Miller): has f AEG, a ARM, a CON.


Addresses of the Participants
AUSTRIA: Vern Parker, 337 Winter Hill Place, Powell, OH 43065, (614) 402-5139
VernDip of aol.com is preferred
ENGLAND: Mark Kinney, 4830 Westport Road, Apt D, Louisville KY 40222
alberich of iglou.com
FRANCE: Douglas Kent - Unit E, #30694-177, Federal Correctional Institution McKean,
PO Box 8000, Bradford, PA 16701
GERMANY: Kevin Wilson, 18623 Santa Maria Drive, Baton Rouge, LA 70809, 225-751-3857,
ckevinw1 of cox.net
ITALY: Formerly was Heath Gardner, 1510 W. Friendly Ave., Greensboro, NC 27403-1207
metaphorman of gmail.com
ITALY: Mike Barno, 634 Dawson Hill Road, Spencer, NY 14883
mpbarno of lightlink.com
RUSSIA: Rick Desper, 5440 Marinelli Road, #204, Rockville, MD 20852
(301) 977-7691, rick_desper of yahoo.com
TURKEY: Tim Miller, 258 New Mark Esplanade, Rockville, MD 20850,
tim of webjudge.net
GM: Jim-Bob Burgess, 664 Smith Street, Providence, RI 02908-4327, +1 401-351-0287
burgess of world.std.com


Game Notes:
1) Note Doug Kent's "unit location" adjustment. Sorry if I missed him telling me about it before.
2) A GA-GA draw has been proposed. Please vote with your Spring orders. If you fail to vote, it vetoes the proposal.


Press:
(DOUG KENT LAMENTS): Poor James Doohan.... poor Texas Rangers... poor me!
(BOOB to DOUG): Indeed! Although Jimmy Doohan's passing was something of a blessing since he really was not doing well at all. The Rangers still need pitching, and to do without pitchers who can't keep their temper under control. I hope you are hanging in there, no long update presumes you are in the long summer doldrums of boredom.
(FROM LONDON): So, guys, you're going to let me live, right? Guys?
(FRANCE to ALL): Please note my Unit is Unit E, not Unit F. Anybody feel like writing? Just because I root for losing teams like the Texas Rangers and the NY Football Giants is no reason to hate me. But if you want good reasons to hate me, just ask!


SECRETS: 1999D, Regular Diplomacy
THE DUE DATE FOR WINTER 1919 IS SEPTEMBER 10TH, 2005
THE DUE DATE FOR SPRING 1920 IS OCTOBER 1ST, 2005
Fall 1919
ENGLAND (Brosius): f LON h, a GAS S FRENCH f mar, f NAO S f mid, a KIE S FRENCH a mun,
f MID S FRENCH f spa(sc), f ENG S f mid, f HOL S a kie, f POR S FRENCH f spa(sc).
FRANCE (Sasseville): f MAR S f spa(sc), f SPA(SC) s f mar, a MUN S a bur, a BUR S a mun.
GERMANY (Barno): a CON h.
RUSSIA (Parker): a MOS h, a LVN S a mos, a BER S FRENCH a mun, f BAL S a pru,
a STP S a mos, a PRU S a ber.
TURKEY (Linsey): a arm-ANK, a UKR S a war, a WAR S a sil, f WES-spa(sc), a SEV h,
f GOL S f wes-spa(sc), a SIL s RUSSIAN a ber-mun (nso), a GAL S a sil, f NAF S f wes,
f aeg-SMY, a TYO s RUSSIAN a ber-mun (nso), f PIE-mar, a BOH s RUSSIAN a ber-mun (nso).


Supply Center Chart
ENGLAND (Brosius): LON,LVP,EDI,bre,por,bel,kie,hol (has 8, even)
FRANCE (Sasseville): PAR,MAR,spa,mun (has 4, even)
GERMANY (Barno): con (has 1)
RUSSIA (Parker): MOS,STP,nwy,swe,den,ber (has 6, even)
TURKEY (Linsey): ANK,SMY,rum,bul,gre, (has 13, PLAYS TWO SHORT)
bud,nap,ven,tun,sev,war,rom,tri,vie,ser
Neutral: none (Total=34)


Addresses of the Participants
ENGLAND: Eric Brosius, 53 Bird Street, Needham, MA 02492
eric.brosius of comcast.net
FRANCE: Roland Sasseville, Jr., 38 Bucklin Street, Pawtucket, RI 02861, (401) 481-4280 ($0)
roland6 of cox.net and ICQ: 40565030
GERMANY: Mike Barno, 634 Dawson Hill Road, Spencer, NY 14883
mpbarno of lightlink.com
RUSSIA: Vern Parker, 337 Winter Hill Place, Powell, OH 43065, (614) 402-5139
VernDip of aol.com is preferred
TURKEY: Bruce Linsey, PO Box 234, Kinderhook, NY 12106
GonzoHQ of aol.com


Game Notes:
1) The FREGT draw is rejected and then reproposed. We now require everyone to vote every season, no perpetual draw votes. And failure to vote would be a yes. So actually technically you don't HAVE to vote, since this does NOT mean the game will just be ended by the GM, it just means someone must veto the draw every turn. So it is just draw vetoers who must vote. At least one person continues to veto the proposal.


Press:


FINDING THE COMMUNITY: Breaking Away, Designer's Rules
CONGRATULATIONS TO RICK DESPER WHO HANGS ON FOR THE VICTORY!!!
GAME OVER - DUE DATE FOR ENDGAME STATEMENTS IS SEPTEMBER 10TH, 2005
Turn 16
Finished: Pebble, Homer, Spades (12), Clay (10), El Vez (8),
Carl Sagan (6), James (4), Paige (2)


Addresses of the Participants - Their Team and Their Cards
TEAM 1 (Rick Desper): rick_desper of yahoo.com (55 points, efficiency score 13.7%)
Team Name: Team Springfield
A: Homer Simpson Finished
B: Marge Simpson (3) 3 3 12
C: Bart Simpson Sulks
D: Lisa Simpson (4) 3 5 6
Total Replenishments: 22+63+46+13+15+29+21+17+25+17+18+33+32+10+13+18 = 402
TEAM 2 (Bruce Edwards): kactusjak of ntlworld.com (8 points, efficiency score 2.3%)
Team Name: Last Again
A: Zedd (3) 3 3 3
B: Omega (4) 3 3 3
C: Paige (13) 5 10 7
D: James (16) 3 6 5
Total Replenishments: 16+37+29+25+12+13+26+24+21+18+16+15+30+23+32+18 = 355
TEAM 3 (Tom Howell): off-the-shelf of olympus.net (31 points, efficiency score 8.0%)
Team Name: The Soils; Manager: Boulder
A: Clay (7) 3 5 3
B: Silt (4) 4 4 4
C: Sand (10) 3 3 7
D: Pebble Finished
Total Replenishments: 17+62+63+25+12+13+12+29+27+21+17+31+15+15+13+14 = 386
TEAM 4 (Dennis Menear): dmenear of wirefire.com (9 points, efficiency score 2.2%)
Team Name: The Firm
A: Edmond (5) 3 3 3 3
B: Franklin (10) 4 4 13
C: Frederick (4) 4 3 3
D: Wade (8) 3 3 14
Total Replenishments: 12+28+32+35+38+25+24+17+29+21+15+26+21+35+26+33 = 417
TEAM 5 (David Partridge): rebhuhn of rocketmail.com (36 points, efficiency score 8.5%)
Team Name: It's In The Cards; Manager: The Joker
A: Spades (7) 3 3 3 3
B: Hearts (6) 2 3 9
C: Diamonds (8) 5 6 14
D: Clubs (5) 3 3 3
Total Replenishments: 17+55+51+25+30+24+26+20+34+15+15+25+18+20+22+29 = 426
TEAM 6 (Karl Schmit): diplomacy of new.rr.com (17 points, efficiency score 3.6%)
Team Name: 25 Dollar Quartet
A: Carl Sagan (15) 3 9 13 5
B: El Vez (15) 13 10 3
C: Geri Lee Lewis (13) 9 9 9
D: Johnny Peso (13) 1 8 9
Total Replenishments: 12+37+22+44+16+27+28+27+32+39+33+20+24+39+49+26 = 475


Game Notes:
1) The rules are on the TAP website in the Tinamou section. Ask if you have any questions. Press is VERY welcome!!! New game start in this, who wants to play again (or for the first time)???
2) Note I added the efficiency scores above and just reported the final finishers. There wasn't enough left to do to bother scoring a full turn. Congratulations to Rick for going out in front and staying there for the victory. Astute calculations! And he did even better in the efficiency score than he did in points. Any last comments any of you have should come in for next issue. I'm also hoping to start a new game then, I hope many of you will play again.


Press:


Personal Note to You:


File translated from TEX by TTH, version 3.30.
On 24 Aug 2005, 19:29.