A Game of Go 21:13

Me v GNU Go 3.8
Final Position
11/03/12

(;GM[1]FF[4] CA[UTF-8] AP[Quarry:0.2.0] SZ[19] HA[6] KM[6.5] PB[saienia] PW[GNU Go 3.8] RE[B+20.5] AB[dd][pd][dj][pj][dp][pp] ;W[fq];B[mc];W[iq];B[hc];W[np];B[dg];W[cn];B[pg];W[cq];B[pm] ;W[en];B[pr];W[cc]C[Being a very high kyu player, I've always hated the\ san-san invasion, so i looked up a basic way of handling it. Defend in\ the direction you have the greatest area.] ;B[dc];W[cd];B[cb];W[bb];B[ca];W[qc]C[I was expecting the ai to play \ (a). Instead another invasion. I've since learnt that the trade of the \ corner for influence so comparable.] LB[ab:a];B[qd];W[pc];B[rc];W[rb];B[sc];W[sb];B[rd];W[pb] ;B[ob];W[qa];B[oc];W[nm];B[bc]C[I am inherently afraid of playing such \ a move because tactically I am very weak, but the benefit of playing \ against a computer, with no time limit, meant I could figure out what I\ wanted to do.] ;W[bd];B[ac]C[At this point the computer ai just left his group in the \ top left without much of a fight. Probably lucky for me.] (;W[mk];B[ba];W[mi];B[mg];W[kh];B[hf];W[ih];B[gj];W[je];B[jd] ;W[gl];B[cl];W[hk];B[hh];W[lq];B[ii]C[Time to invade and soak up some \ of white 'territory'! The computer as you will see was happy to oblige.] ;W[ji];B[ij];W[kk];B[jk];W[im];B[jl];W[lm];B[km];W[ln];B[kn] ;W[ie];B[he];W[ig];B[hg];W[kd];B[kc];W[ld];B[lc];W[ko];B[kl] ;W[jn];B[jj];W[kj];B[ne];W[bm];B[bl];W[al];B[ak];W[am];B[bk] ;W[id];B[jc];W[hd];B[gc];W[gd];B[fd];W[ic];B[ib];W[ge];B[fe] ;W[gf];B[gg];W[ll];B[ff];W[lf];B[me];W[hj];B[hi];W[nr];B[fi] ;W[or];B[pq];W[ps];B[qs];W[os];B[qr];W[lg];B[le];W[ke];B[mf] ;W[fk];B[fj];W[ek];B[ej];W[oo];B[po];W[on];B[pn];W[md];B[nd] ;W[if];B[dl];W[el];B[dm];W[dn];B[em];W[fm];B[gk];W[hl];B[dk] ;W[fl];B[fg];W[cm];B[ni];W[mh];B[nh];W[nj];B[oj];W[ok];B[pk] ;W[ol];B[pl];W[oq];B[om];W[oa];B[na];W[pa];B[nb];W[op];B[ph] ;W[jm];B[bf]C[I was paranoid I'd lose the game because I was unsure of \ the aji in the top left.] ;W[il];B[ik];W[];B[]C[White: 91 territory + 1 capture + 6.5 komi = 98.5 Black: 115 territory + 4 captures = 119.0 Black wins by 20.5]TB[da:ma][aa:ab][bb][db:hb][jb:mb][cc] [ec:fc][nc][ed][sd][ad:ce][de:ee][od:oe][pe:se][cf:ef][nf:sf] [eg][ng:og][dh:gh][qg:sh][di:ei][gi][oh:oi][pi:si][af:aj] [bg:cj][ck][qj:sq][rr:ss] TW[ra:sa][qb][jf:kg][jh][lh][ki:li][lj:mj][lk][nk][ml:nl] [gm:hm][fn:in][mm:mn][nn][lo:no][co:jp][kp:mp][dq:eq][gq:hq] [jq:kq][mq:nq][an:bs][cr:ms][ns] ) (;W[ad];B[ba];W[ab];B[bf]C[To my high kyu mind this is a possible \ (favourable) outcome.] ) )

A happy win, though I really should play instinctively (aka with a time limit) rather than taking my time :P

Gaming Desiderata 13:05

I have had a slight obsession with board games for a bit over a year now, and have found it hard to reign in my desire for the amazing multiplicity of games that come out each and every year. In this post I hope to identify some of the important qualities a game ought to possess in order that I might assess the games I already have, and filter the many I already want.

So, what draws me to a game ?

Aesthetics:

Obviously very subjective, but games that are beautiful in presentation immediately draw my attention and desire. For me at this point in my love for board games, aesthetically speaking, artwork is the primary draw. If a game features lack lustre graphics I am more likely to feel less engaged and uninterested in a purchase. Conversely, awesome graphics pique my interest greatly and provide longevity in my purchasing process.

If a game nonetheless receives poor reviews, beyond a certain breaking point determined by its other attributes, I am likely to lament a beautiful game that is lacking in other key areas and avoid purchasing it.

Elegant Mechanics:

What constitutes elegant mechanics ? Well something that (for me) fits thematically as well as being easy to teach. This does not necessarily mean the simplest mechanics; but an amalgamation of their tactile nature, tough/interesting decision generation, and clarity both as written and as played. This does not mean I will eschew complex games, but for the purpose of game selection within the bounds of those I will be playing with, simple game mechanics that produce interesting situations are better than byzantine rules generating complex situations. Games that allow easy mechanics to produce varied and complex decisions for its players are highly valued.

Often games may have complex rules in order to realise the very nature of a given theme or situation, such as games of simulation. Different designers will choose which level of abstraction is appropriate for the type of game they are creating. For me personally, I don't mind games with a depth of rules, however given the time I have, I prefer something that plays a little easier while achieving a comparable experience.


Theme:

I am interested in many themes, and enjoy abstract games as well, but if a game has a theme, it is nice to be able to suspend disbelief and immerse yourself within the world depicted by the games board, pieces and mechanics.

I have a generally good imagination and will willingly dip into the a games theme, however sparse, so in this sense I am less critical about themes. I am however, impressed with games that incorporate a tight integration of theme, mechanics and aesthetics.

I also feel a desire to obtain a game in various different categories including:

• war [modern, ancient]
• economic
• card game 
• dice-fest
• great euro
• solo
• dungeon crawler

It is useful to generate a list like this one in order to identify suitable games to purchase or trade.

Players:

My current situation necessitates great play solo or with two players. This is obviously a big factor in my decision as to which games to invest in.

Current List:

Here is a list of some games I have enjoyed.

Troyes
Core Worlds
Innovation
Elder Sign
Agricola
Race for the Galaxy

Short List To Buy:

Haggis
CO2
Santiago de Cuba
Alhambra (Anniversary [Gold] Edition)

Would Like:

Biblios - Fits as an excellent two player game, with different mechanics.
Merchants & Marauders - A game I desire for its theme, but does play reasonably with two. Length is an issue.
Aton - Good two player abstract, fast playing time.

Khan, Østby and Friends. 20:43

I very much enjoy the work of both Roy Khan and Tore Østby. I first heard Roy in Kamelot after searching for a certain sound within the Power Metal genre. Kamelot I decided were pretty awesome, and in particular his vocal performance was as perfect as I could conceive for the style.

Many years later, and about six months after Roy decided to leave Kamelot, I came to find his first band Conception; while also finding through collaboration with Russell Allen (Symphony X), another exceptional vocalist in Jørn Lande of the band Ark. The guitarist for both Conception and Ark was Tore Østby.

I really enjoy many of Østbys riffs (and solos) and he would have be one of my favourite rhythm guitarists.

Ok on to the good stuff!

Conception: Cardinal Sin

Ark: Torn

Kamelot: Soul Society

Conception: Flow

Ark: Heal the Waters

Kamelot: Serenade

Symphony X: Children of a Faceless God

Symphony X: When All is Lost

Consummation 09:03

                                             Unfamiliar girl within the bounds 

                                             of my uncomplicated world.

                                             Through idle talk we come to know each other,

                                             and understand a deeply found desire

                                             to thrash about in throes of lustful sin.

                                             All consuming all else dies around us

                                             until we too are set aflame, 

                                             and burn to be surrounded by

                                             our world of ashes.

Boy was I having some crazy dreams last night....

Gambas al Ajillo 20:38

cook garlic golden

prawns the same add lemon zest

parsley and enjoy!

Ok scraping the barrel, but to be honest, after many years without so much as a thought of writing anything let alone poetry, the feeling is there to put everything and more into verse.

In this case it is probably gratuitous...It won't be the last that is for sure.

The recipe from which the above image originates is not identical to the one I used, but it is very close and I will be using this one next time.

Preferred Beginning: Part One. 12:08

                                                I love cool and bright though weakly sunny

                                                days those are my favourite kind, 

                                                to wake and find and spend my waking time.

                                                I am most happy then, 

                                                even if a dreary mood be mine

                                                at very first thought and days beginning.

Farmers Market this morning, and though cool to begin with, gradually became humid. We weren't there for too long though as it was busy (no spare tables to idle about) and the giant pretzel stall was not present. Yes I was disappointed, but we did not leave empty handed. Corn cobs and freshly made tom yum paste, an unlikely duo, were bought and escorted home.

Blind Man in the Dark 21:09

I do not begrudge

the person you have become

all I want is peace

Subsonic Love 20:32

music where art thou ?

to have to hear and absorb

tusen takk Sindre

Subsonic is my current music player solution for a house full of devices; predominantly computers. While it isn't perfect, it is more than adequate for my needs.

Skyward Falls 12:46

dense dark clouds amass

collected no longer kept

rain from skyward falls

The test begins now...