Elianna

Without setting up a new table, you can boot all kibbitzers (close the table to kibbitzers) then reopen it to kibbitzers with permission set. I agree that this is an annoying work around, and can annoy the nonproblematic kibbitzers, but a lot times they are happy for the booting of a problem kib.

elianna

Why is this in the Advanced/Expert forum?

It's also known as "Blind Man's Bluff". Every one gets dealt one card which is then held at your forehead, so you can't see your card, but can see everyone else's card. The fun ensues. this variant requires a substantial level of alcohol consumption. You have to be careful about TOO much, though, because then people can't hold their cards up, and get confused about when the betting ends, and look at their cards too early. It's very hard judging when the time is right. :)

It's also known as "Blind Man's Bluff". Every one gets dealt one card which is then held at your forehead, so you can't see your card, but can see everyone else's card. The fun ensues.

In high school we used to play a variant of that game, Pusoy Dos. I wouldn't really call it chinese poker. It was quite popular in my group of friends.

That was my vote! B)

I agree with Justin, it really depends on your level. I also think that it depends on your particular problem. For myself, I can see that I definitely start playing better when I've played more hands. I tend to fall out of practice because I go months without playing serious bridge, and I have problems playing serious bridge online/in clubs for various reasons.

What? Really, claiming that space travel + atomic research is a waste of time is too ridiculous for words. Plus, scientists were not the ones to dedicate the money to the space program/atomic research. If you're really upset about that, blame certain governments.

Fred, does this mean congratulations are in order? Also, I noticed that it was mentioned that the parts of BBO that are free will remain free. I'm sure that we all appreciate this, and are very happy to hear you come out and say that that. At least, I appreciate it. :) Anyway, good luck with your new ventures.

i guess i see your point, but what's the alternative? apple mail? mozilla firefox? pine? elm? :) I like pine. :) I've already been made fun of for being oldfashioned, though. anyway, you left Eudora off your list, if that's still around.

1/3+1/3+1/2+0.1 = okay okay... how was i taught to do this in grade school? = 1/3 + 1/3 + 1/2 + 1/10 = (now the LCM, right? is that 6? no... maybe 15? 20? 30!) 10/30 + 10/30+15/30+3/30 = damn... wtf is the calculator... focus matt, focus 20/60+18/60 no... that can't be right oh. right... you don't add the denominators.... 20/30+18/30= 38/30 = 30/30+8/30 = 1 + 4/15 ohoh i musta done something wrong that's more than 1. HELP! I thought that we've already covered how we aren't up to Shubi's level in mathematical prowess.

You may still be addressing this to Mike, I'm not sure, but I've read the Bible (though we may be talking about different ones). I don't recall it having a lot of proof of creationism. I too would be curious to see a poll of what percentage of different groups have read The Bible (and which version). Like those who attend worship vs. those who don't. Etc.

There are a few pairs that I like watching, but I first pick a match to watch (usually one with evenly skilled teams) and try to pick the table that's behind (that has results from the other room). I've noticed that many people pick that way, as the slower room tends to have more kibbitzers.

Maybe it's not technically cream, but some other substance that is like cream? (And mix that with skim milk)

As an analogy, when a computer is asked for a random number, it has a set of rules with which to pick that random number. That doesn't mean that we can predict that number. Random mutations happen in nature, but which mutation will occur is not predictable. Which mutation will survive in nature is more predictable (MatMat gave a basic explanation of that) but mutations themselves are not. Why does life have to have a purpose? And if so, why do we have to know it? Lastly, I still don't understand why believing in evolution precludes that life has purpose?

While that is literally true, it uses semantics to obscure the truth. What is believed is that humans and monkeys descended from a common ancestor species. And based on the fossil record of the time when this split occurred, we'd recognizes this species as more monkey-like than human. It definitely didn't have any of the features that are considered to set humans apart from the rest of the animal kingdom, such as our higher intelligence and language ability, so we'd consider it a dumb animal. As for the poll question, I have a hard time guessing what it will take for Americans to come to their senses. I don't understand the mentality that has gotten us into this situation in the first place. The problem is that it's very good at perpetuating itself. But semantics is important for the students that I teach, and people I've overheard talking on the streets. They can't believe in evolution because "their grandfather was no monkey". Semantics is important to them. And just saying "common ancestor" doesn't quite get the point across, because I've discovered many kids that think that evolutionists think that monkeys can give birth to humans. Yes, I know that they're missing other points, but I find that making that point helps them get over the fact that their grandfather was a human.

As some of you know, I teach science at a religious school. I don't have control of the curriculum, but I also don't have to sit and go over it with anyone. Basically, I am told, "here is the book, here are state standards, teach them". So I teach about evolution at my religious (Orthodox Jewish) school. I make sure to use specific examples (selective breeding, etc.) to teach that evolution clearly works, and then explain that the Evolution Theory is not that evolution exists (which is incontroversial) but that it is the cause of diversity of life today. Some points I make sure to cover: a) Evolutionists do not believe that people descended from monkeys B) Evolution does not mean ruling out that G-d had a hand in people's development c) "Theory" does not mean just a guess (this goes in the beginning of every science class, before evolution is even mentioned) d) They have to learn about it, and the evidence for it, and can discuss it in their religious classes (I try to give their Judaic studies teachers a heads-up). e) I find before I teach, even, that some students already believe that evolution is true without knowing anything about it (picked it up off the streets), and others already believe that it is false. I just make sure to discuss selective breeding and extinct species ahead of time. What I have the hardest time with students is about the age of the Earth/universe. I don't really have a good way of getting around the religious aspect, so I basically say that scientific evidence teaches us "....", and whether they believe the evidence or not is up to them (I don't say that, but I don't test them on that topic, either). In general, I think that people will become more and more polarized, as the more religious people will not have their children educated in public schools.

I think that making 6♠ is quite impossible. I'd feel lucky to not be down two. edited: Why the hell did W not take the ♦A? I missed that the first time I posted. With him ducking, and the non-heart lead, I guess that it's not being too greedy to try to make. I'd still think that I got away with something to only be down one.

As I said, I actually enjoyed camp, met some nice people. Not being able to enter my room during the day, and later getting shuffled to another room was amusing, but I'm betting that other people might not find it so. I also would bet that a certain person rushing a certain field and other people refusing to get on a bus probably have a lot more to do with Junior Camp losing support than my opinions.

I actually had a good time and liked Junior Camp. The reason I recommended against it is that the children of those who asked me about it were for the most part both under 18 and only knew the basics about playing bridge. Neither of those categories fit me, but there were (VERY FEW) players at camp who fit into this category, and for the most part, they seemed to be left out of most activities, and while they weren't ostracized formally, they didn't feel part of the group. They ended up eating lunch/dinner either together, or with a few others who weren't part of any established cliques. Completely agree with the sentiments here. I would not recommend a certain college I attended to any of the teenagers I know, but it was a great college, for certain students. My point wasn't that Junior Camp SHOULD be shut down, my point was that there were reasons why people WHO HAD NOT BEEN INVOLVED IN JUNIOR PROGRAMS might feel that these were not worth supporting. Personally, I think that Junior Camp is great and would actually have been willing to recommend it to these parents if there were a change of (only some) personel there.

lol. I bet your partner is too when you open one! Have you seen his preempts? No reason to be terrified. I don't know what partner he's talking about, though.

To make a shorter post: I have (finally?) found a post of yours, Mike, that I agree with.

My bet (and I have no personal knowledge of anything official whatsoever) is that this idea to cancel some US-based junior activities has been promoted mainly by those who aren't highly involved/connected in the junior bridge world, but are numerous, rather than by a few who are very involved, and vocal. I would blame: 1) the older people at the club who do not have anything whatsoever to do with national teams, probably don't read the bridge bulletin, and definitely don't read about tournament results. These are the people that protest having a STaC at the local club, because they don't want to pay an extra dollar. These are the people that get upset if their club has anything to do with NAPs. They are much more numerous than us. (And yes, I know them personally, I direct at clubs) 2) Parents/grandparents who try to get their kids to play bridge or at least caddy, hear all the reports about what goes on with the "other caddies", or hear about things that happen at junior camp. They get less interested in sending kids to events that are supervised by ACBL, and let ACBL know. I think that #2 is sad, but I wouldn't know what to do about it. Most of the people at junior camp are college age, or near college age, and are more than used to partying in the dorms, so why shouldn't they be allowed to do it at camp? The others who aren't of that age are usually much more circumspect, but they are in the minority. I wouldn't blame any of the campers (the supervisors are more to blame if anyone), but if you were a parent, and you heard (even "cleaned up") stories of what went on there, and then saw other things that may go to support your perceptions, would you send your kids to camp? I know several parents who have said that they wouldn't. And so there are more parents that see (or think) that money for junior bridge is not going towards the goal of helping keep their child interested in bridge, so they complain to their unit board members (who are their friends) who complain to the district reps, etc. Anyway, I think that this whole thing is sad. I had good time at junior camp, despite some behavior I witnessed there, or things I was told there. I just know, that when some parent of some 16 year old asks if they should send their kid to junior camp, and will they learn bridge there and make friends, I have to say no. And I find that sad. And I find it sad that I may have contributed to #2, but I have to be truthful to these people.

I don't know about when it's right to regift, but my guess is that it's not appropriate to discuss it in a place frequented by people who have given you gifts recently. Also, probably inappropriate to be giving away wedding gifts within a month or so of the wedding. My advice: keep them in storage for several years, until you make new friends who were not in attendance at the event (and did not see the registry) and give it then, if you must.