From: Jesse Welton (jwelton_at_pacific.mps.ohio-state.edu)
Date: Tue Sep 18 2001 - 12:16:54 PDT
Round Summary 6 After a few days of players slipping quietly out of eligibility, Glenn Overby has pulled into the lead. The only other player now in the running is Ed Murphy, with a little under one day of eligibility remaining. Round 168 began at 15:11:09 on 2001-09-05 with the submission of 168:1 by Alan Riddell. The Wizard Judge is Jesse Welton. All times are GMT. Eligibility: Player Eligible until Style Glenn Overby 2001-09-25 13:46:38 +2 Ed Murphy 2001-09-19 14:28:15 +0.5 Alan Riddell <<ineligible>> +2.5 <<style leader>> Jesse Weinstein <<ineligible>> +0 Richad Holmes <<ineligible>> +1.5 David Lerner <<ineligible>> +1 James Willson <<ineligible>> +1 Jeremy Selengut <<ineligible>> +1.5 <<all others>> <<ineligible>> Andre Engels <<ineligible>> +0.75 Quick rule summary: 168:1 Alan Riddell 2001-09-05 15:11:09 VALID +1 168:2 Jeremy Selengut 2001-09-05 15:34:20 VALID +1.5 168:3 Richard Holmes 2001-09-05 16:01:44 VALID +1 168:4 David Lerner 2001-09-05 19:20:04 INVALID +0 168:5 James Willson 2001-09-06 14:29:03 VALID +1 168:6 David Lerner 2001-09-07 06:22:02 VALID +1 168:7 Richard Holmes 2001-09-07 16:47:42 VALID +0.5 168:8 Jesse Weinstein 2001-09-07 23:05:28 VALID +0 168:9 Alan Riddell 2001-09-11 12:14:48 VALID +1.5 168:10 Andre Engels 2001-09-11 19:31:45 INVALID +0.75 168:11 Glenn Overby 2001-09-12 03:22:39 VALID +1 168:12 Ed Murphy 2001-09-12 14:28:15 VALID +0.5 168:13 James Willson 2001-09-12 21:50:53 INVALID +0.5 168:14 Glenn Overby 2001-09-18 13:46:38 VALID +1 Full judgements: 168:1 Alan Riddell 2001-09-05 15:11:09 VALID +1 >>>> > Help me please! Build me a house, to be filled with lots of shiny things. > All future rules shall either help in the construction of my house, or with > the collection of shiny things to put inside it. >>>> Validity: No problems. Style: A nice, simple start to the round, in an appealing style. +1 168:2 Jeremy Selengut 2001-09-05 15:34:20 VALID +1.5 >>>> > When Alan calls for help, we of the FRC help, of course (isn't this the > Friendly Relations Club, after all?). Of course, beggars can't be > choosers, so watch out what you get, Alan. My dog Franc and I dig out the > cellar, and pour the concrete for the foundation. Of course, we've never > done this before, so I really hope it doesn't shift later on... > > Of course, since we are also the Fiscally Responsible Corporation, any > shiny thing or piece of work which is of high quality (will not break, > tarnish or malfunction in any way during the round) must be paid > for. Anything of high quality which is contributed to the house and not > paid for before each of Alan's rules must be paid for in the next rule by > Alan. Anything not paid for prior to or in Alan's rules are necessarily > not of high quality. > > Should the owner of the building site (presently Alan) become ineligible, > the author of the next valid rule becomes the new owner of the building > site and takes on all the responsibilities given to Alan in this rule (i.e. > final responsibility for paying for high quality items). >>>> Validity: No problems. Style: A good balance between narative and restriction, close to the limit of what I like a single rule to do at this stage. The fiscal responsibility requirement for high quality work promises to be an interesting dynamic in the round. +1.5 168:3 Richard Holmes 2001-09-05 16:01:44 VALID +1 >>>> > It'd be a shame if Jeremy's foundation were not of high quality and > started to shift or crack. Likewise the floor joists now being > installed by the Floor and Roofing Corporation. Good thing Alan can > have one or more construction items and/or shiny things removed in his > rules -- if he can pay the cost of removal, and if no other unremoved > item has been installed more recently than the items being removed. > > The floor joists cost 8000 frocloos, Alan. Or if you don't like them, > it's 1000 frocloos to remove them. >>>> Validity: No problems. Style: Removing things isn't much in the spirit of building, but it could be better than shoddy workmanship. I like the limitation that removed items must be paid for. Of course, so far Alan's budget is unlimited. FRC references tend to get tedious, but I rather like "Floor and Roofing Corporation" - very natural. +1 168:4 David Lerner 2001-09-05 19:20:04 INVALID +0 >>>> > Naturally, Alan's house must conform to all local regulations. And, in this > area, all construction is overseen by the Fabrication Regulations Committee. > > In order to boost local business the Fabrication Regulations Committee > requires all individuals and agencies involved in constructing a building to > have associative ties. Therefore, every rule, starting w/ the second rule, > must mention at least one group w/ the initials FRC. >>>> Validity: This rule helps with neither the construction of Alan's house, nor filling it with shiny things, as required by 168:1. INVALID. Style: Doesn't have anything to do with building, and the connection between the restriction and the Fabrication Regulations Committee is weak. +0 168:5 James Willson 2001-09-06 14:29:03 VALID +1 >>>> > Alan? Have you been monitoring the contractors? > The foundation for your house is three feet wide and three feet long, > which I fear could lead to a cramped living space. > > I also think it ill-advised that the house is being built on a sonw peak. > Sure, it may be fun and novel, but what are you going to do when it starts to > melt? > > I have a Silver Spoon for you, Alan! I'll place it in the cellar. I'm > sympathetic with your monetary situation, so I made certain to get you a > spoon of poor quality. You should be more careful, though; losing your last > frocloo at the reservation casino was poor judgement on your part. >>>> Validity: Helps out by providing a poor quality spoon, so it squeaks by. VALID. Style: It's looking harder and harder for Alan; not necessarily to post a VALID rule, but to get a well-built house out of all of this - though there are clearly still ways out of this monetary predicament. There's no substantial restriction here, but I was really tickled by the 3x3 foundation. +1 168:6 David Lerner 2001-09-07 06:22:02 VALID +1 >>>> > In order to help Alan organize his shinies I'll install a high-quality > display cabinet. This cabinet is, itself, all chrome and mirrors, and very > shiny (and ugly as a F****** R******* C*********). The cost is a low 500 > frocloos, or 1,500 frocloos to remove. The cabinet takes up the entire > south wall in the basement, though it may be moved later. > > To help Alan organize his shinies every time you give him an object not > built into the house you must state where that object is in the house. >>>> Validity: Helps with the collection of shiny things, so it satisfies 168:1. The Silver Spoon from 168:5 was specified to be in the basement, so 168:5 satisfies the final requirement here. Style: A display cabinet is definitely an excellent addition to a house of shiny things. The restriction means we'll have to know more about how things in the house are related to one another, which is good. (I'd like to see more requirements on relationships between materials.) The mounting financial pressure on Alan is neither here nor there; but I wonder, how will Alan pay for all this? +1 168:7 Richard Holmes 2001-09-07 16:47:42 VALID +0.5 >>>> > Dear ALEN RIDDLE , > > Congratulations! You have been PRE-APPROVED for a home mortgage from > the Financial Resources Corporation! Yes, ALEN RIDDLE , just use the > word "Yes" in your next rule and you will AUTOMATICALLY receive an > IMMEDIATE loan of up to 800,000 frocloos![*] > > To say "Thank you!" for your business, ALEN RIDDLE , we have enclosed > a SHINY NEW HIGH-QUALITY 2001 RHODE ISLAND STATE QUARTER, hermetically > sealed in a shiny new high-quality plastic display case, worth over > 0.99 frocloos![*] This exciting gift is yours to keep, ALEN RIDDLE , > even if you decline the mortgage. > > [*] Fine print: > > Actual amount of loan is 100,000 frocloos times number of valid rules > at time loan is accepted, up to 800,000 frocloos. Loan is at zero > interest. Borrower agrees to make minimum payments of 2000 frocloos > in each rule submitted until full amount is repaid. Borrower agrees > to accept no other loans while this loan is outstanding. If house > ownership changes, loan and its obligations are automatically > tranferred to new house owner. Quarter is worth 1 frocloo. Quarter > costs 10,000 frocloos to remove. Quarter is enclosed in the same > envelope with this letter, which your mailman has pitched into your > basement since you don't have a mailbox yet. >>>> Validity: No problems. Style: Still not much building going on, but this very personal offer for ALEN RIDDLE seems perfectly appropriate at this juncture. The token "gift" is suitably symbolic, seeing as it hasn't been paid for by anyone. Weak points are the loan amount seems too generous (some 400 rules' worth; and who ever heard of a loan at 0% interest? +0.5 168:8 Jesse Weinstein 2001-09-07 23:05:28 VALID +0 >>>> > Notice to All Property Owners in the Forest Reaches Community > (where Alan's house stands): > > We of Mega-Office Corp. have persuaded the local zoning > board to make this area into a commercial redevelopment zone. > Only buildings with specific commercial purposes may henceforth > be built in this area. Currently active building projects may be > continued, but we ask that the low quality "Very Shiny Not A > Commercial Building Sticker" be affixed to the foundation of each > building. It is fully paid for, and may be removed for a fee of 23 > frocloos. > Yours, > Jesse Weinstein > Mega-Office Corp. > sub-supervisor in charge of private relations >>>> Validity: No problems. Style: This rule doesn't add much to the round. I'd like to see more building, both of the house and the rules. There are still hardly any restrictions on new rules, even easy ones. Let's see some more, please. +0 168:9 Alan Riddell 2001-09-11 12:14:48 VALID +1.5 >>>> > Oh, thank you all so much! Things are going on far better than I had ever > hoped for, and my cat and I hope to leave our 2 foot by 2 foot city flat and > move in soon. I love the location, what a view and all that lovely snow > outside. I have to say everything that you have brought and built for me so > far is of the best quality that I could have imagined well apart from the > silver spoon which I accidentally stood on and broke and that sticker which > seems to have fallen off and got lost. > > Mind you the sticker falling off is just as well because as well as living > in this fine abode I plan to open it up as a shop selling fine shiny things > to anybody who might want to buy them. I have even managed to sell some > already, I was especially pleased with selling that (old) coin to a museum. > Anyway I now pay you all for your marvellous contributions, the checks are > in the post. > > Anyway my cat and I have just managed to put up the door, but I do insist > that things get done a little quicker, in the next 3 rules I want the > exterior finished... You know walls, roof, balcony (I really could not miss > that view) and anything else you feel the house might need. Also, I insist > that future rules pay homage to new abode and the great opening party to > occur in rules 168:14 and 168:15. >>>> Validity: Alan builds on the house, pays for everything of high quality, and (since he didn't use the word "yes") doesn't have to worry about the loan at all. The only possible problem I see is that the quarter is only worth one frocloo, which wouldn't pay for everything; but Alan intimates that he has sold some other shiny things as well, and I don't see anything keeping the museum from paying him more than the quarter was worth, anyway. Style: I like the humor of the opening, and Alan deftly dispenses with all his problems in a very tidy way. By remaining completely unspecific about monetary quantities, he leaves himself (for now) fiscally unencumbered. A really fine response to the troubles heaped upon him to this point. +1.5 I'd give it a bit more, but the restriction at the end is a little awkward and limited. (I don't generally like restrictions which apply to just a few particular rules.) 168:10 Andre Engels 2001-09-11 19:31:45 INVALID +0.75 >>>> > Well, Alan, I see that you do not have a front door yet. What do you think > of this one? I'll place it in the north wall immediately. What? You don't > like it? It's bad quality? Ah well, too bad... > > For your collection of shiny things, I have something really useful: > A magpie. You know, those birds like to collect shiny things. Like > this very shiny ring that... Help! No, kitty, don't! Too bad, your > cat ate the magpie... Well, one advantage - it shows that the > magpie was of bad quality, which is a good thing, since you could > not have afforded it otherwise - a full 100,000 frocloos - no way > you ever get that much money. And the cat puts the ring around her > front paw. > > I think it's risky to have bad quality stuff laying around, it would be > better if they just broke directly. Therefore, in every rule where there is > bad quality stuff that has not broken, tarnished or malfunctioned yet, at > least one such thing should do so. >>>> Validity: 168:5 introduced a low-quality spoon which was not destroyed (nor was anything else) in 168:6. INVALID. (Watch out for previous rules when you refer to "every rule", folks!) Style: I like the idea of the restriction, as well as the monetary limit. You've apparently duplicated the door, though. +0.75 168:11 Glenn Overby 2001-09-12 03:22:39 VALID +1 >>>> > Greetings, Alan! Welcome to the neighbourhood! I see that construction > proceeds almost daily, and soon your house will indeed by shiny and new! > > That cabinet of yours deserves a proper backdrop, the better to > exhibit those shiny things I understand you love. It won't take > long to slap together--excuse me, erect--four brick walls for your > abode. And let's panel that back wall in the finest mahogany. Call > it 1000 frocloos for the paneling, and the bricks are on me. Their > range of colours will add charm. > > I see that your shelves are a touch bare. I'll speak to our > neighbours and see if each will be sure to bring food and drink by > in anticipation of the housewarming party. It's the right thing to > do, after all. >>>> Validity: No problems. Style: Good building, but not much of a restriction. Throw in half a point new-member bonus (traditional on all first rule submissions), and I'll give it +1. 168:12 Ed Murphy 2001-09-12 14:28:15 VALID +0.5 >>>> > I've just gotten off the phone with the Floor and Roof Company, and they're > giving you a 20% good customer discount on the roof. It's top-notch, too - > hickory shingles, triple-sanded. And the spare parts would make for a good > barbecue; can't have a party without a good barbecue, after all. Oh, that > reminds me... the next valid rule needs to bring at least three types of > food for the barbecue. Can't have a good barbecue without food, after all. >>>> Validity: No problems. Style: Sounds like a nice, high-quality roof with delicious by-products, but the restriction is limited and has nothing to do with the theme. +0.5 168:13 James Willson 2001-09-12 21:50:53 INVALID +0.5 >>>> > > I just dropped by to say hi, Alan, and your doorman demanded that I > give you food! Luckily I had some on me - a carrot, a pumpkin, and > a can of dog food. I put them in the pantry, which seems to take up > the whole of the ground floor. > > Now that the basics of your house are completed, I've arranged for > my construction friends to build some exceptionally goshe additions > on it. They start work at rule 168:14 and will continue at least > through 169:15. The cost of the additions is 50,000 frocloos. You > must pay them in your next valid ruld after they are finished. > > Oh, and do have a word with your doorman; he is incapable of being nice! >>>> Validity: 168:9 required that "walls, roof, [and] balcony" be finished "in the next 3 rules". This can be a little tricky, as it doesn't explicitly say it only counts VALID rules; but this is typically the way such rules are interpreted, traditionally. (Also, this is the interpretation necessary for 168:12 to have been VALID.) So for this to be VALID, the balcony must be completed, but it is not. Style: An amusing assortment of food items, but building would be better than requiring building, and the restriction is again limited in scope. +0.5 168:14 Glenn Overby 2001-09-18 13:46:38 VALID +1 >>>> > Beep! BEEP!BEEP! > > A rather large, garish van pulls up to Alan's homesite. It is > day-glo orange, with purple text lavishly painted on the side: > "Floozy Rehabilitation Council". > > "Parteeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!" > > Eleven young women, and one harried-looking geek with glasses and a > pocket-protector, stream toward the house with all manner of buffet > supplies. Swedish meatballs, sauerkraut, and lasagna provide some > of the more distinct fragrances. Except for the ones worn by the > women. > > The last gal out of the van rips the shiny bulb-type horn off the > side of the van (obviously low-quality). BEEP! Seeing a bemused > Alan in the doorway, she hands him the shiny horn. "Hi, dude. Cool > place! Here you go." > > Mr. Geek starts to introduce himself, looking nervously at his > watch. HONK! HONK! > > Two pickups pull in. "Oh, good. I've been waiting for these guys. > Sorry about the delay in your balcony, Mr. Riddell. They'll only be > a few minutes, and all will be ready." > > "By the way, I'm Frederick Riddell Chapman of the Floozy > Rehabilitation Council. Fourth cousin, twice removed, and ought to > be removed. ::nervous chuckle:: Thanks for the invite and the work > order. The food looks good, I'm sure that Suzee over there will > have a bill for you. > > "Kindly do me a favour...we've been working real hard with the > girls, to...you know...rehabilitate them. Please make sure that > each of your arriving buddies does something to help our > floozies...excuse me, young LADIES...along the path to better > things. Thanks, cuz. I'll just help myself now..." > > And Frederick steps into the house, carefully, to the excited sounds > of chatter and the Bang Bang of the workmen. >>>> Validity: This is a tricky point. Alan Riddell lost his eligibility about an hour and a half before this rule was posted, so by 168:2 the ownership and responsibility for paying for high-quality items passes to the next poster of a valid rule. If this rule is valid, that player is Glenn, and Glenn must pay for any high-quality items. He doesn't, so all items not paid for in 168:9, 11, and 12 must be of low quality. In particular, the roof (168:12) is problematical; can it be "top-notch" but not "high quality"? I'm ruling, yes. 168:12 says, in effect, that the roof materials are highly desireable, but that does not mean the work as a whole is of good quality; and 168:2 applies to "any shiny thing or piece of work," not necessarily the materials used in that work. But wait, Glenn's difficulties are not over yet. By 168:6, this rule must specify where in the house the silver horn is located. It's just given to Alan, but we know that Alan is standing in the doorway; so the horn is (for now) in the doorway. 168:6 arguably applies to non-shiny things like the food items, whose location is not given. However, they didn't have to be given to Alan, so I conclude that they were not, and Glenn is safe. VALID Style: Glenn boldy steps up to pursue victory into the second week, delivering all the required elements: Work on the house, shiny stuff, plenty of food, and a raucus party. It's not my favorite style of rule (heavy on the story, light on restriction), but it's nevertheless appropriate given the number of elements required, and well executed to walk so closely to the razor edge of invalidity. +1 -- Rule Date: 2001-09-18 19:17:15 GMT
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