Feb 6, 2016

Churchill Solitaire and Donald Rumsfeld: Conceptually Flawed



Jasin Bovi
I love and hate this game.


Chloe Louise
I also fell into this category.  

 Always love starting off the day with a good game of solitaire and a cup of coffee but one has to ask as they "soldier on" is this game flawed from the beginning. 

Suffering not actually being able to see the game and the difficulty of some of the cards falling off the grid or not sticking to the proper place it still seemed like more of the original concept was flawed. 


Most solitaire games of that nature--all of the cards out and face up--have a parking place of some sort or a rule allowing other than Kings to be placed in blank rows. Then, thinking that it was the difficult nature of the game I was forced to get out two decks and try it on my own. 

The deal did not make sense to me, either. The difficulty concept would not exist with a real deck--right? 

Could there be a mix-up in the game plan somewhere between Churchill, Rumsfeld and the developer. Is Rumsfeld flawed. 

Is the deal flawed placing new cards on every row unless it starts with a King? 
Grape St. Dog Park, San Diego


Was it me--the game was just too diabolical as Rums said. Rums keep referring to the devil's six as the problem but I did not see that as the giant issue. 

When I tried it with cards it was much easier and much more random and the devil's six did hold the game up on more than one occasion simply because it blocks the sequence to build up the cards. 

With the real deck it was much easier to play and see. The problem to me is that Rums keeps talking about the devil's six as the problem spot and other that that it is a regular solitaire game. 

Well, Donald must be a real card game and solitaire expert because the trial at the hard level is more difficult to move than 4 card spider. 

Somewhere there is a gap between Winston Churchill, Donald Rumsfeld and his basic solitaire knowledge and the developer--perhaps this is not this game creators bailiwick--and the info Donald spouts hawking the thing. 

Were all of the ducks in a row before the game was issued or the war ensued.

One is left asking themselves--is this what happened in Iraq. Donald Rumsfeld went around on all of the Sunday shows touting the brilliance of the war but left out certain points when George Bush went on to play the game.

Would you buy it............

Seriously, there are plenty of cute and perfect and difficult solitaire games out there for free--why would someone pay for a hint or an undo for something that does not really make sense in the first place.

Is Donald trying to fool us?



Donald Rumsfeld Has Released an Incredibly Frustrating Mobile Game

 | 4 FEBRUARY 2016 7:31 AM

churchill solitaire article
True to it's creator, it's been dubbed "the most diabolical version of solitaire ever devised."
If you're like me, you've probably spent a lot of your mental energy over the years pondering about the goings on of former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. Is he keeping busy? Has he moved on to other business ventures? Are those business ventures video game based?
To put your worries at ease: the short answers to those questions are yes, yes, and you bet your ass they are!
Believe it or not, the 83-year-old Rumsfeld has apparently been shifting his focus from politics to mobile app development in recent years, and has just released his first game: Churchill Solitaire.
What makes Churchill Solitaire different than just regular old solitaire, you ask? Well, aside from boasting a title sequence comprised of black and white, World War 2 archival footage, Churchill Solitaire also features a 104 card deck as opposed to the usual 52 cards. Diabolical indeed!
"It's a card game that can frustrate even the most skilled player because a single move can make or break an entire game." described Rumsfeld in a developer essay on Medium.
"A number of hands are simply unwinnable. But the most steadfast players will gamely soldier on to find their way to victory."
And the early reviews for Churchill Solitaire? Well, they're mixed to say the least. Kotaku's rundown of the gamenoted the game's forced landscape perspective and cramped layout among the game's aesthetic errors, stating "The obstacle to building your columns is that they don't really fit on the phone screen. Shortly into my first game, Rumsfeld Solitaire warned me that I was getting too close to the edge, and advised me to rotate my device to get more room. It was Rumsfeld Solitaire, of course, that had chosen to put the phone in horizontal layout in the first place."
But the major issue with the game? Oh, only that it's apparently rigged:
Still, a fundamental error of design wasn't going to stop me. I played on, itty-bitty cards and all, and as I did so, an understated fact about the game became clear: It's rigged.
It has to be, by design. There are difficulty levels. The only way to set a solitaire game at different levels of difficulty is to stack the deck. The only way out was to spend more time, or start spending money, on something that was never really going to work out.
So if you're looking for a nearly-impossible mobile app game that requires "the pessimism of intelligence and the optimism of will," head over to the game's official page to download the free trial version for iOS devices (sorry Android users) today!
Source: Washingtonian



copied from the escapistmagazine.com

Feb 4, 2016

Bernie and Sid: Enter the Rude and Crude--WABC Radio New York City

Greta Van Susteren in Manchester, NH
Greta Van Susteren in Manchester, NH (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Geraldo Rivera.
Geraldo Rivera. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
So were these two radio rough riders sold to WABC News/Talk Radio at bargain basement prices, or what?

Because whatever this station is paying for these two wanna be talk jays is way too much.

Not only are they dull, dumb and boring but they are way over the line in bashing women.

No, they are not going to talk about my girl Greta Van Susteren in a negative fashion--mentioning her appearance as if they were Brad Pitt.

I guess WABC thought intellectual was way too expensive but in the long run without Geraldo Rivera and his investigative reporting sills and extensive knowledge of current events this station will not only suffer the ire of folks who do not want to hear women being trashed on a daily basis but also any one seeking any kind of information resembling news.

Their boys bathroom talk gets old fast and if their goal is humor they are far from it.

Seriously, it seems like WABC was trying to recreate the very successful, knowledgeable, funny and informative Curtis and Kuby Show that immediately follows but they are far from achieving success.

Sad for New York, WABC and an example for News/Talk Radio everywhere.

Predictably, this show will not last--it is way too embarrassing.

Geraldo Rivera may have been expensive and worth it but these two bozos are really scraping the bottom of the barrel.

WABC had plenty of skilled radio folks as in Larry Kudlow, the beautiful Rita Cosby, Noam Laden always does a fine job and can talk on both sides of issue without insulting the listeners, and Joan Hamburg, as well--what were they thinking.

A variety of folks would have been fine, too....there is plenty of talent available.

Let these boys clean up their act, talk to a few news/talk experts, get some expertise and then they can have a show.

What a sad day for WABC, the listeners, women, and talk radio, in general--Let's think this thing through, WABC, before we make these important decisions.

the Ronnie Republic Radio /Round-Up is giving this show two thumbs down

Feb 3, 2016

Hillary is Inspirational This Evening

Official portrait of Secretary of State Hillar...
Official portrait of Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Hillary Clinton in Hampton, NH
Hillary Clinton in Hampton, NH (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Hillary Clinton presidential campaign, 2008
Hillary Clinton presidential campaign, 2008 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Talking about my girl Hillary Clinton speaking tonight in New Hampshire.  Yes, I do like Bernie very much. as well, but I have been waiting for Hillary Clinton forever.

I wish her the best.

I have been behind her 100 per cent for sooooooo many years.

She has worked so hard for women and children--folks, this is her time--please join me with your vote for Hillary Clinton for President in 2016.



Chloelouise--Hillary girl forever

Jan 27, 2016

Well, I love Barack Obama: To Write A Blog--Pourquoi

English: Second dogs first smile. Happy Pit Bull.
English: Second dogs first smile. Happy Pit Bull. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
1 year old brindle Pit bull mix playing in bac...
1 year old brindle Pit bull mix playing in backyard (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Pit bull
Pit bull (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Official photographic portrait of US President...
Official photographic portrait of US President Barack Obama (born 4 August 1961; assumed office 20 January 2009) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
English: American pit bull terrier (named Tutt...
English: American pit bull terrier (named Tuttle) seated. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
"Well, why do you write a blog,"  someone said.  "What do you get out of it."


Okay, I love current events....doesn't everyone.


I love dogs....feeling lucky to interview Officer Brandt of the Derby Police Dept right outside of Wichita, Kansas.  It's the same old story, a pit bull and a husky roaming around unattended, attacking other animals reportedly and eventually being shot by an officer in order to achieve containment.

At the end of the day these two dog roustabouts were in fact good natured pets that were out on the town on their own.

The age old problem again--two potentially aggressive dogs--the neighbors are frightened--panic ensues--you know the rest.

the dogs ended up fine--fortunately--they should never have been allowed to roam free.

Here's the upshot of the story--the next week innocent children killed by Grandma's Rottweiler who never acted up prior.

As the owner of the baby boy--Pit Bull mix, Ronnie--one must always try to understand mom's best friend and more importantly--what are the cops suppose to do--ridiculed for misjudging the friendly pit bull one day but not subduing the pet Rotty the next.  this is a difficult situation for everyone involved and this blog writer does not know the answer.

Do you love President Obama or what?

The best reason of all to write a blog.  Waiting forever for my girl Hillary Clinton and suffering disappointment at her loss for the office, yet glad for a dem it did take a while to get to know this new man.

It turns out not only to I agree with all of the policies of our good President but I also can't resist him as an individual--he is funny, he sings well and he is cute.  All of these things Bill O'Reilly can't beat.  Go Obama!

speaking of Mr. O'Reilly................................

Trying to understand what makes this gentleman tick--using the phrase loosely.  Strapped by his own brand of Catholic guilt yet still trying to live correctly while telling minorities what to think.  The problem is that many folks follow this individual.

The most important reason of all to write a blog--trying to show the truth about Planned Parenthood.  What exactly is Bill O'Reilly trying to say.  Abortion is legal in our country.  Bill makes is sound as if there may be a funeral for the fetus if only it was not used for tissue donation.  Organ and tissue donation are done every day in this country, legally, helping others to survive.  What is Mr. O'Reilly's point given the fact that the lady seeking the procedure is not breaking the law?

I had the pleasure of speaking to a media individual from Planned Parenthood.  Anyone can do this if they just call the number via the website.  The vast majority of abortions are done at less than 21 weeks.  The film often referred to from the conservatives was proven to be a trumped up project.  You would think zealot of the so called no spin zone would be interested in fair and balance reporting as claimed.  This blog writers problem.  Thank goodness abortion is legal today and safe--we all admire children and love them to bits but the choice is available if we want it and it is not the business of Mr. O and he should not try to make any female feel bad about their choice.  Folks, remember what happened to Dr. Laura.

Curious--who, what, when, where, how and why--call me Miss Current Events........

It does take a certain positive energy and curiosity to move forward with the inquiries each and every day.  Seriously, it is usually just who I am, usually inspired by the radio and news, recipes and dogs, sewing and interviews......I really can't keep up and never actually achieving perfection.  I need more staff, I am only me.


Well here are a list of current pages--the question to make them a page or separate blog:

My London Obsession.....Reader, the visitors at the Va and A during the David Bowie Exposition were so excited and overflowing I thought he was actually there in person.

Bringing the world together with food and fabric......a good place to post pictures of Savile Row.  There are great cooking blogs out there--no shortage.  One of my favorites...Cooking with Alia....folks, I want to go to her hometown in Morocco and see these foods and places she is talking about.

Donald Trump's Hair--Mystery Solved

A fabulous place to post pictures of your cats and stories written about them.

Finding Bill O'Reilly--this is limited as the subject becomes nauseating after not very long.

The Ronnie Republic Radio Round-Up;  This started when one felt the irreverance of  KOGO 600 chip Franklin had to be exposed.

Forced to Move to Geraldo and now looking for good morning talk radio--always have the radio on--love writing about it.

Listeners, can you believe this recent dust-up with Art Bell and what day did George Noory's Coast to Coast Am become a political show?  Forced to write about that, too.

Felt so luck to interview Alan Hanson about his expertise on early, 50's Elvis--still grateful for this fine journalist's time.

Interviewed Dr. Ardy Sixkiller Clarke after her inspirational interview on Coast to Coast AM.  So lucky for this amazing lady to give me her time--we can all learn something from this esteemed Professor and her respect for Native Americans and she was also kind enough to share her tips on writing.

Often copying from other publications and putting in my own two cents, agree or disagree, and some of my best posts are simply comments from other readers in the big publications.

The Irish Newspapers and Publications can always be counted on for some of the best writing skills and journalism out there, unique and creative ways of describing a story--but what do you think--agree or disagree....................................

Agreement is never a prerequisite to comment on this blog, always weloming any comments.

Why do I write this crazy blog that perhaps no one reads.....what makes folks tick and a place to post pictues of my cats, current events about the dog park--what else is there.


Some of my favorite posts:

What's Up Wichita?  Readers, did you know that in the low income section of town there are not any grocery storew withing walking distance.

Perry Mason Sweet Potatoes

David Bowie's London

Horned Owls at The Grape Street Dog Park in San Diego.

Cash in The Canyon:  Talking about building condos right in the dog park

Pit Bulls at the dpg park--folks, it is a loaded gun sich.

Coyotes go to the dog park, too:  They stroll down the street near the Grape Street.

Ronnie at the dog beach in San Diego--Paradise on earth

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Cat:  Chloe Louise interprets John Le Carre