Thursday, October 25, 2007

Ruffing with the majors

I'm taking Bridge lessons on Wednesday nights from 7 to 9. It's hard. Really hard. Most of the time we listen to lectures.

Our Bridge teacher said, "I'll diagram this on the board for you so you'll understand," to which the class replied, "No, we won't. Don't bother."


"Oh, come on," teacher persists. "East leads with the 10 D because it's the fourth in his longest and strongest and challenger ruffs it with a low trump so that later he can get back to the board to develop clubs. If he doesn't develop clubs now everyone knows he'll go down by three."

No one (at least in our class) "knows he'll go down by three." We understand the basics but that's about it. Most of us are still trying to figure out how to use the bid boxes.

When we finally get to play a hand the teacher roams around the room barking, "No! That bid is wrong! You haven't counted your quick tricks, have you?"

"Umm, no. But you said if we had 13 high card points, no doubletons and a four card suit we should ..."

"MAJORS! I said that only counts if you're playing in the majors!" shrieks teacher.

No wonder people drink when they play this game.

Monday, October 22, 2007

Manly competition

Most Kentuckians following the gubernatorial race between Ernie Fletcher and Steve Beshear are focusing on one or two things 1) getting rid of Fletcher (the first Republican governor we've elected in over 30 years) or 2) getting casino gambling (because when Churchill Downs built that big new addition a few years why else would they make it look like a casino?).

But last weekend's debate was about which candidate had the biggest testosterone level. To settle the score they reached into their pants and pulled out their hunting licenses.

Monday, October 8, 2007

Recently ...

Reading: A Million Little Pieces by James Frye and The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell

Watching: Top Chef finale (yuck, ugh!); Dexter (yay!); Mad Men (best show on tv!)

Learning: Bridge (lesson #3 is this week)

Friday, October 5, 2007

Consumer consequences

It would take 5.2 planet Earths to sustain all of the people on earth if everyone consumed like me.

Try it yourself.