New Yorkers must use area codes for all local calls starting February 1, 2003 (read: next weekend). Verizon has been advertising the switch for months, but the change will still hit the city like a bad hangover.
Month: January 2003 (Page 2 of 3)
News from Texas states the famous cloned cat from last year is much different than the original, proving that cloning is not duplication. Fascinating, and evidence that when used appropriately, cloning may not be as evil as it seems.
Charley the neutered coton, the poor thing, is wearing a cone on his head for the next five days.
Mark Pilgrim: “In 1996, I had my entire apartment wired with X-10 devices … [controlled with] Speakable Items. ‘Connie, Iâm home’ would turn on the lights, the air conditioner, and the stereo, check my email, and read me summaries of my unread mail. ‘Connie, goodnight’ would turn off all the lights and appliances, turn on the hall light, say ‘Dream not of today,’ and put the computer to sleep. I am not in the slightest way making this up.”
My dog is a little bit less of a man today.
Friday office fun: A coworker has put a cupful of Jolly Ranchers atop the water cooler.
Suddenly the mouth is 11 years old once again, tasting raspberry but yearning for watermelon, getting the corners of the candy stuck on the molars, tongue flipping the candy lengthwise, waiting for the blob of glucose to become thin enough to bend in half, a feat of momentous proportion and assured glee.
Lunch will surely pale in comparison.
“We find that the (extension) is a rational enactment; we are not at liberty to second-guess congressional determinations and policy judgments of this order, however debatable or arguably unwise they may be.” With that, artistic works now have copyright protection for 95 years. The ruling is an approval of the most recent extension of what began as a 14-year term in 1790 and kept increasing throughout the twentieth century.
“Texas Hold ‘Em: deal two cards down to each player, five cards down to the table. A round of betting is held after the deal, then three of the table cards are turned up. Another round of betting follows. One more table card is flipped, followed by another round of betting. The last card is flipped, a final round if betting ensues, and finally a showdown in which players make their best hands using their two cards and the table’s five. High hand wins.
“Omaha is identical to Texas Hold ‘Em, but each player gets four cards. Final hands must include exactly two of the player’s four cards and exactly three of the table’s five cards. High and low hands split, but the low must be 8-high or better (lower) or the high gets it all. Cards speak for themselves.
“In Guts, everyone secretly puts a chip in their hand if they are staying in, otherwise they leave their hand empty. Players then hold their closed three-card hands in front of them and open them simultaneously. Players who held chips (and thus stayed in) reveal their hands. The winner takes the pot and the losers have to match what the pot was. New hands are then dealt. The game continues until only one player stays in, and thus the pot is emptied. Highest hand, without straights and flushes, wins. Many variants exist.
“The object of Seven Twenty-Seven is to get as close to 7 or 27 as possible. As in Blackjack, Aces are worth 1 or 11 and numbers are worth their face value. Face cards, however, are worth half a point (.5). The player to the dealer’s left is the lead player, with the lead rotating each round. Each round, each player starting with the lead has the opportunity to take one additional card. The lead then starts a round of betting. This continues until nobody takes an additional card. After a final betting round, players declare high/low/both and hold a showdown. Closest to 7 and closest to 27 split the pot.
“Screw Your Neighbor has no ante. Instead, each player places three of the highest-ranking chips in front of him. The lead begins to the left of the dealer and rotates with each hand. Each player in turn may opt to keep his current card or exchange it with the player to his left. If someone tries to take your card and you have a King, you may stop [the swap] by revealing your King. The last player may keep his card or exchange it for the top one from the deck. When all players have gone, everyone reveals their cards and the lowest card (Aces are high) tosses a chip into the pot. When you run out of chips, you’re out of the game.”
I love poker night. Here’s to many more evenings of high hands and laughter.
(Definitions quoted from Gamereport Poker Variants, lightly edited)
The New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission is still running its talking cab opinion survey. Vote no. Twice if you have to.
The T&LC site is chock full of information, including how to be a medallion owner and how to get a hack license. And they’re hiring.
One cannot understate the news that Senator Joe Lieberman, an Orthodox Jew, will be running for President with a fair amount of confidence. Can middle America vote Jewish? Over a good ol’ boy from Texas?