NESFA game day

Got there really late again, but chatted interestingly a bit about Somerville water supply, and Boston. Supposedly the Big Dig found *wooden* water mains still in use, not on any map, maybe dating to the early 1800s. Logs hollowed out, carved with male and female joints, and with iron banding around the join. Supposedly the hard water minerals precipitate out less, different surface chemistry, and as long as the pipe is below the water table and anoxic it doesn't rot fast. The http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_Molasses_Disaster got mentioned too.

Played 3-player Settlers, one handily; played Zombie Dice, just lost; played my first Seven Wonders and tied for first. 49-48-44. Not that I had much clue of what I was doing. There were a bunch of anime-themed games around too: Anima, "Whack a Cat-Girl", another one based on a particular series. Also a Discworld board game, and Thud.

Met Ginnilee from the Bujold list, too.

Nigh-invulnerable SPOON!

Was at local comic store. I see a shelf:

LOCAL COMICS
THE TICK
THE TICK
THE COMPLETE TICK
THE TICK
EDLUND

"The Tick is a local comic?"
"It's published by New England Comics. Which is the store you are in. Right now."
"Oh."
Then something about how it started as sketches in a newsletter. So, comic store in Harvard Square is home of the Tick. Who knew?


I walked over to the Cambridgeport Trader Joe's to see how long it would take. Then I puzzled, since the intuitive way back was 17 minutes to Central Square, 20 to Harvard, 15-17 back home. But it seemed like I'd come 17 minutes to harvard, X to the river, about 20 along the river. So I pulled out my smartgpscameraphone and looked more carefully, and whaddayaknow, that TJ is like due south of me. Mass Ave to Harvard and the river is almost a direct route, except for taking JFK to the river, which is too far west, and gives the curve that had me feeling it was a circuitous route; there's a shorter way. Meanwhile the Central Square route zig-zags east and west, or just bends east if I go through Central up to Beacon.

Maps. Got to look at them more carefully, even after a year. Also, I miss street grids.