random bits

[cellio]

Now there's an odd failure mode. Tonight I opened a book I bought recently (new) and found that it begins on page 41. Nothing was torn out; it appears to be a binding error. I guess I should have checked sooner (I bought it a couple months ago), but it's a torah commentary on Exodus, which we start this week, so I didn't need it before now. Fortunately, Amazon has an extended return period for books bought late in the year, so they'll exchange it and I don't even have to pay to ship it back. Yay.

Dani has decided to tackle the vast collection of Magic: The Gathering cards (most of which are his, but the older cards are mine). We haven't played in years; I would consider playing again in a simplified world, but they lost me when not only were there 6000 different cards, but they decided that many of the commons needed four different types of art. When I can't easily track what my opponent has in play, I lose interest. I understand that it's worse now; Dani says they are still publishing expansions and making money at it. After 12 or 13 years of this, I wonder how many cards there are now. (For comparison, the basic game, the one I played in the beta edition, had 300 cards. The first, and best, expansion set added, I think, about 75. Things went downhill from there.)

A few links:

These "new rules" might be incorrectly attributed (the reason they're on Snopes), but they sure are funny.

Advice from hindsight (from unspace).

This biscotti recipe sounds easy enough to try (from cookingengineer).

The origins of the great war of 2007 (link from rjlippincott).

Aieee. As tsjafo comments, I wouldn't trust the government with a pill that can alter memories. Granted, they're a long way from erasure, but I still don't trust that sort of technology in the hands of anyone with the power to compel -- in which category I would also place health providers, 'cause they're mostly owned by the insurance companies.

Comments

M:TG

[rectangularcat]

I used to have a complete set set of white and blue cards...

Yeah I got into it when it was beta.. and one year I sold most of my cards to pay for my tuition. Good move on my part. I still have my beta Black Lotus which apparently is the most valuable card of all...

I have no idea how it plays anymore - there were too many cards to think about. And I was bored of it.

I know someone who works in their art department - he designed a few of their newer cards.

Re: M:TG

[cellio]

A friend introduced me to the game fairly early; I might have even had some alpha cards. I was always more of a player, not a collector, and at one point I traded my betas N-for-one for white-bordered cards. (N was nominally 2, for betas, but usually ended up being 3 or 4, especially for commons.) I figure we both won. :-)

I never had a Black Lotus, though I did get to see one once.

Re: M:TG

[metahacker.livejournal.com]

beta Black Lotus which apparently is the most valuable card of all...

Um. Yes. Sell it -- $1000-$2000 (http://www.gatheringground.com/store/showproductdetails.asp?product=29521) seems to be the price range right now(!). For that one card.

Unless you like continuing in investing in bubbles, that is.

Re: M:TG

[rectangularcat]

After writing that comment - I went to look at ebay - seems they are going at about 1000$

Umm, tempting, considering I have some other rare ones too like my Time Walk and my Time Twister. I kept them for sentimentality reasons but really they sit in an old cookie box and really no one cares about them anymore except for me and my glory gaming days...

Re: M:TG

[dagonell.livejournal.com]

Wasn't it an Alpha Black Lotus that set the record for most expensive Magic card? There's supposed to be one in a jewelry store window in Japan that was purchased for $1M. I don't know if that's true or not.

Re: M:TG

[rectangularcat]

sold 4 cards to a store and got $1650. Dang! (my black lotus was in slightly played). thx for the advice!

Re: M:TG

[metahacker.livejournal.com]

Hurray! And I'm sure some collector will make that store very rich. :)

Re: M:TG

[rectangularcat]

looks like they sold the black lotus for $1250 already. if they sell the other cards at what they are asking for - they will make $900 on the purchase. not bad. crazy still!

Re: M:TG

[cellio]

Wow! So there is still a market there. :-)