Erg... had a pernicious headache last night. But I got to play bridge. Despite opening a 12 HCP 4-4 minor hand with meranthi on my left with a rock crusher about 40% of the time, we did okay. I also got the oil changed, sent pants to be hemmed and made an excuse to buy qarylla Indian next week.

hedgehog39 is going to be in town this weekend, which means a one-shot. ( Read more... )

So in the course of various shopping trips in the last few days, I have seen the following products:

aBRIDGEd - the ACBL-endorsed game where you don't need to bid!Maybe the organization that pioneered the eleven-tolerance policy has forgotten, but people are perfectly capable of conducting a game of bridge without using a zillion conventions. A ( Read more... )

Friday was what will probably be the penultimate session of dm_bashir's World's Largest Dungeon game for the time being. Kade (see new icon) talked trash with an imprisoned evil deity, then tried to kill him with a magic plot-seeking sword he's borrowing. Instead, he killed a few stirges and generally took poor tactical actions in his anger. Neither of ( Read more... )

YARRRRborough!

(but only when the opponents have it)

I was playing a bit with Bridge Partner at lunch today, and picked up this lovely collection:

♠ 87543
♥ 862
♦ 76 ( Read more... )

Despite my well-publicized problems with the ACBL and its officers, I still like bridge. I would play anytime if I could find three other people interested. Today at lunch Bridge Partner informed me that there is a group who plays at the same place
( Read more... )

Mr. Chief Tournament Director emailed me saying that no, he is quite sure that Mr. Assistant Chief Tournament Director for this area has spoken with me and settled the issue with the Topsfield Incident. I guess it must have happened while I was asleep, since I have no recollection of such a conversation. Heck, I don't even know the name of the ( Read more... )

Mr. Chief Tournament Director finally responded to me! Not surprisingly, he was at the same nationals as me when I sent the most recent email, so I can forgive the lack of contact until now for this one. But the reason it's been more than three months, according to him, is that he asked Mr. Assistant Chief Tournament Director for this area to ( Read more... )

I will be going to New York this weekend for a bridge tournament. I will be returning three months to the day since my horrible experience in Topsfield. Since then, I have spoken on the phone with the chief TD once, after four attempts to reach him. He said he'd look into it and get back to me in a week. That week has become nearly eight, even ( Read more... )

Last month I posted a letter to the ACBL about poor treatment I received at the last tournament I went to. Today I got a call from the league's chief tournament director. At the moment, however, i was at the loudest bit of Sullivan. So I asked him to call back in 10-15 minutes, and he agreed ( Read more... )

( Mailed to a number of ACBL officials today. Edited to remove all names. )