This is the book upon which the movie North Country is based. I recommend both.
The book is well-written and a quick read. The story of the legal case is balanced well with the story of the women involved in the lawsuit. The authors had access to a lot of information, but the defense lawyers did not agree to be interviewed so their strategies can only be gleaned by the publicly-available documents and transcripts. Thus, when compared to A Civil Action by Jonathan Harr (an excellent legal book by which I judge all others), where Mr. Harr had total access to plaintiff and defense, the story is incomplete. Given the nature of the case, sexual harassment, versus the nature of the case in A Civil Action, environmental torts, the loss is not that great though. In A Civil Action the legal issue was the cause-and-effect relationship between ground water contamination and the diseases the residents developed. Reading Class Action there seems to be no real issue that there was a hostile work environment. In fact, it is shocking nearly to the point of unbelievability to read about the abuses the women suffered. An interview with the defense attorney, therefore, is not going to add much to that part of the story.
This story, like many others, reminds you that our legal system is inherently imperfect and reactionary. Although the women ultimately "won" their case, they had much more taken from them than money could ever repay.
sailing, camping, scrabble, law, accordion, grammar, books, photography and whatever else comes to mind
Monday, January 29, 2007
Book Report
Right now I'm reading The Civil War: A Narrative by Shelby Foote. It's a three-volume series and I'm about 1/3 through volume 1. So far, so good.
In the queue: Supreme Conflict by Jan Crawford Greenburg, Pride Of The Inland Seas: An Illustrated History Of The Port Of Duluth-Superior by Bill Beck, and The Planets by Dava Sobel.
Usually I'm a fiction reader, but I'm going through a non-fiction phase.
In the queue: Supreme Conflict by Jan Crawford Greenburg, Pride Of The Inland Seas: An Illustrated History Of The Port Of Duluth-Superior by Bill Beck, and The Planets by Dava Sobel.
Usually I'm a fiction reader, but I'm going through a non-fiction phase.
Monday, January 22, 2007
Pasadena Report
Ethel Sherard Cannon Celebrity Tournament
Pasadena City College
Louis Creveling Lounge
Pasadena, California
January 21, 2007
Game 1 vs. Tom Titus
A poor start to the tournament. Mostly small, bad plays by me and then I wasn't able to find a bingo despite some decent-looking racks. On turn 9 I finally played TONnAGE for 68 but Tom's JESSE for 83 had put me in a big hole. When Tom played cREOLINE* on turn 10 for 74 I was behind 175-318 and afraid to challenge so I didn't. Tom's a quick player and this was my first tournament game in over a year so I had time trouble: I went over by 48 seconds. The only power tile I got was a blank. I feel very rusty.
274-470
0-1 -196
It's no fun to start any tournament, much less a 7-game tournament, with a spread of -196.
Game 2 vs. Don Austin
Got a blank on my second draw, but couldn't find a bingo until turn 8. I played TETRaDS which was quickly challenged. I had hooked the S to FOH and now I was sure FOHS was no good. Don wisely challenged both TETRaDS and FOHS so when the play came back unacceptable I started doubting TETRaDS also. Surprisingly, Don opened the board up with WIRE allowing me to play STaRTED hooking the D on WIRE. I tried to keep it tight from then on resulting in a low-scoring game although Don did play INSnARE late in the game. It wasn't quite enough for him.
328-316
1-1 -184
Game 3 vs. Anita Sy
Anita is a kind, quiet lady who smiles and says nice things while she's beating you! I recorded my racks so I was able to replay this game on Quackle. Wow! I missed a bunch of bingos. Anita played RAVINEs on turn 3 while I again sat with a blank on my rack trying to find bingos. After playing LAWINEs for 66 and EX for 56 I was down 191-204 but felt I could win the game. My next two racks changed that: IOOORSU (exchanged 000U) followed by IIRRSUY (exchanged IIRUY). Meanwhile, Anita kept making nice plays and it was now 201-266. Late in the game I think she purposely didn't block a bingo lane just to make me feel better. I bingoed out with STAINER for 65, which was not even close to enough. My tracking and rack recording were 100% though and I had 4:16 left on my clock.
307-390
1-2 -267
Lunch
After the tournament-provided Subway box lunch, I called home to check on Kristi and Bodie and report on the morning's action. I hope the little guy takes up Scrabble one day!
Game 4 vs. Margy Slavin
To reach my goal of winning 4 games, I know I have to win 3 of the 4 afternoon games -- not an easy task! Margy Slavin IS Southern California intermediate Scrabble. She doesn't study, she plays. She's been playing a while. We get off to a good start with strong plays and after six turns it's 150-154. I feel good. The rest of the game is not good for me though. Margy plays OXEYE and SCAbIES while I have a few bingos I can't play. I sputter out. I blame my scoresheet and decide to use different scoresheets for the next 3 games.
287-371
1-3 -351
Game 5 vs. Joe Clark
The new scoresheets work much better! After JIVED and MAZE I play UPRAIsE on turn 3 and I'm up 135-82. This is more like it! Later, Joe plays UNCASED and suddenly I'm down 262-283. But I have good tiles and am able to play ReTINAL for 72 in a tight spot. I get a few more good tiles, a few more good plays and it's over. Five games into the tournament it finally felt like I was playing Scrabble.
453-340
2-3 -238
Game 6 vs. Mollie Braverman
My friend and nemesis. I played Mollie at my first tournament ever - Pasadena in 1994. She beat me then and I can't remember ever beating her in a club or tournament game since. I'm due. It's a good game with good plays on each side. On turn 10 I play TRIAGED and Mollie plays NEedIEST. I lead 293-281. Mollie then plays SPECTURE* which I successfully challenge. I get big plays from the J and X to seal my first victory against Mollie.
425-340
3-3 -153
Game 7 vs. Emilie Pandolfi
I really want to win this game and go 4-3 for the tournament. On her second turn Emilie plays FLOWY* for 43 and I don't even think about challenging it. Now I have to add high-point 5-letter words to my study list! I respond with DINErOS for 72 and two turns later play DISRAtE for 72. DISRAtE makes a hook spot for Emilie to play METERED for 83 and then EX for 52. This isn't looking good. In the middle I get some no-go bingos and make crappy little set-up plays that don't pan out. At the end I play GRAZE for 48 and am down 25 points with KNST on my rack and Emilie holding AEFGINT. I actually feel hopeful: if she ignores an obvious spot and makes a really bad play I can go out with KENTS* and if she doesn't challenge it I win the game! But she's no dummy. She takes her time, tracks the tiles and makes the clear play. Sigh.
349-419
3-4 -223
My Bingos
TONnAGE
STaRTED
LAWINEs
STAINER
UPRAIsE
ReTINAL
TRIAGED
DINErOS
DISRAtE
Congratulations to my friend Jay Hillis on his 4th place finish in the Intermediate Division.
Pasadena City College
Louis Creveling Lounge
Pasadena, California
January 21, 2007
Game 1 vs. Tom Titus
A poor start to the tournament. Mostly small, bad plays by me and then I wasn't able to find a bingo despite some decent-looking racks. On turn 9 I finally played TONnAGE for 68 but Tom's JESSE for 83 had put me in a big hole. When Tom played cREOLINE* on turn 10 for 74 I was behind 175-318 and afraid to challenge so I didn't. Tom's a quick player and this was my first tournament game in over a year so I had time trouble: I went over by 48 seconds. The only power tile I got was a blank. I feel very rusty.
274-470
0-1 -196
It's no fun to start any tournament, much less a 7-game tournament, with a spread of -196.
Game 2 vs. Don Austin
Got a blank on my second draw, but couldn't find a bingo until turn 8. I played TETRaDS which was quickly challenged. I had hooked the S to FOH and now I was sure FOHS was no good. Don wisely challenged both TETRaDS and FOHS so when the play came back unacceptable I started doubting TETRaDS also. Surprisingly, Don opened the board up with WIRE allowing me to play STaRTED hooking the D on WIRE. I tried to keep it tight from then on resulting in a low-scoring game although Don did play INSnARE late in the game. It wasn't quite enough for him.
328-316
1-1 -184
Game 3 vs. Anita Sy
Anita is a kind, quiet lady who smiles and says nice things while she's beating you! I recorded my racks so I was able to replay this game on Quackle. Wow! I missed a bunch of bingos. Anita played RAVINEs on turn 3 while I again sat with a blank on my rack trying to find bingos. After playing LAWINEs for 66 and EX for 56 I was down 191-204 but felt I could win the game. My next two racks changed that: IOOORSU (exchanged 000U) followed by IIRRSUY (exchanged IIRUY). Meanwhile, Anita kept making nice plays and it was now 201-266. Late in the game I think she purposely didn't block a bingo lane just to make me feel better. I bingoed out with STAINER for 65, which was not even close to enough. My tracking and rack recording were 100% though and I had 4:16 left on my clock.
307-390
1-2 -267
Lunch
After the tournament-provided Subway box lunch, I called home to check on Kristi and Bodie and report on the morning's action. I hope the little guy takes up Scrabble one day!
Game 4 vs. Margy Slavin
To reach my goal of winning 4 games, I know I have to win 3 of the 4 afternoon games -- not an easy task! Margy Slavin IS Southern California intermediate Scrabble. She doesn't study, she plays. She's been playing a while. We get off to a good start with strong plays and after six turns it's 150-154. I feel good. The rest of the game is not good for me though. Margy plays OXEYE and SCAbIES while I have a few bingos I can't play. I sputter out. I blame my scoresheet and decide to use different scoresheets for the next 3 games.
287-371
1-3 -351
Game 5 vs. Joe Clark
The new scoresheets work much better! After JIVED and MAZE I play UPRAIsE on turn 3 and I'm up 135-82. This is more like it! Later, Joe plays UNCASED and suddenly I'm down 262-283. But I have good tiles and am able to play ReTINAL for 72 in a tight spot. I get a few more good tiles, a few more good plays and it's over. Five games into the tournament it finally felt like I was playing Scrabble.
453-340
2-3 -238
Game 6 vs. Mollie Braverman
My friend and nemesis. I played Mollie at my first tournament ever - Pasadena in 1994. She beat me then and I can't remember ever beating her in a club or tournament game since. I'm due. It's a good game with good plays on each side. On turn 10 I play TRIAGED and Mollie plays NEedIEST. I lead 293-281. Mollie then plays SPECTURE* which I successfully challenge. I get big plays from the J and X to seal my first victory against Mollie.
425-340
3-3 -153
Game 7 vs. Emilie Pandolfi
I really want to win this game and go 4-3 for the tournament. On her second turn Emilie plays FLOWY* for 43 and I don't even think about challenging it. Now I have to add high-point 5-letter words to my study list! I respond with DINErOS for 72 and two turns later play DISRAtE for 72. DISRAtE makes a hook spot for Emilie to play METERED for 83 and then EX for 52. This isn't looking good. In the middle I get some no-go bingos and make crappy little set-up plays that don't pan out. At the end I play GRAZE for 48 and am down 25 points with KNST on my rack and Emilie holding AEFGINT. I actually feel hopeful: if she ignores an obvious spot and makes a really bad play I can go out with KENTS* and if she doesn't challenge it I win the game! But she's no dummy. She takes her time, tracks the tiles and makes the clear play. Sigh.
349-419
3-4 -223
My Bingos
TONnAGE
STaRTED
LAWINEs
STAINER
UPRAIsE
ReTINAL
TRIAGED
DINErOS
DISRAtE
Congratulations to my friend Jay Hillis on his 4th place finish in the Intermediate Division.
Monday, January 15, 2007
Pasadena Preview
Six days to Pasadena.
I've been studying using the Cardbox mode on Zyzzyva and it's a great learning tool. First, I quiz myself on a word list, say 4-5 letter X words. Then, I save the words I missed to the cardbox and it takes it from there. The more often I get a word correct, the longer it is until I am quizzed on it again. So, if I get XENIA correct today I won't be quizzed on it again for 2-4 days. If I get it correct again in 2-4 days, then it'll be even longer before I'm quizzed on it. If I miss it, I get quizzed on it the next day.
Just make sure you don't load up the cardbox with too many words or you will never be able to get through a day's quizzing.
So, here's my pre-tourney assessment:
WORD KNOWLEDGE: C+. As I get back into studying, I'm amazed at how many Bingos I remember, but my recollection of other words is spotty. My 3s and 4s are weak (C-); my JQXZs are good (B+); my vowel dumps are fair (C+).
STRATEGY: C-. I just don't have my board vision back yet.
GAME READINESS: C+. Just like there is no substitute for word knowledge, there is no substitue for real-world game experience. In the last year I've mostly played against Quackle. That helps with strategy, analysis, and word recall, but it hurts time management and tracking. When I played at Club 357 in Carlsbad on January 6th my tracking was solid, but I wasn't able to record my racks. Also, I did feel some time pressure even though I never went over on time.
So, I've set some realistic goals for this tournament:
1. Track tiles
2. Record all racks/plays
3. Play each rack
4. Win 4 games
5. Have fun
I'm in the 3rd division out of 4 with a ratings spread from 1100 - 1399. I am rated 1111 so I will mostly be playing higher-rated players, which is my preference. Given where I'm at, it will be difficult to win 4 games, but I think it's possible.
Stay tuned for my tournament report.
I've been studying using the Cardbox mode on Zyzzyva and it's a great learning tool. First, I quiz myself on a word list, say 4-5 letter X words. Then, I save the words I missed to the cardbox and it takes it from there. The more often I get a word correct, the longer it is until I am quizzed on it again. So, if I get XENIA correct today I won't be quizzed on it again for 2-4 days. If I get it correct again in 2-4 days, then it'll be even longer before I'm quizzed on it. If I miss it, I get quizzed on it the next day.
Just make sure you don't load up the cardbox with too many words or you will never be able to get through a day's quizzing.
So, here's my pre-tourney assessment:
WORD KNOWLEDGE: C+. As I get back into studying, I'm amazed at how many Bingos I remember, but my recollection of other words is spotty. My 3s and 4s are weak (C-); my JQXZs are good (B+); my vowel dumps are fair (C+).
STRATEGY: C-. I just don't have my board vision back yet.
GAME READINESS: C+. Just like there is no substitute for word knowledge, there is no substitue for real-world game experience. In the last year I've mostly played against Quackle. That helps with strategy, analysis, and word recall, but it hurts time management and tracking. When I played at Club 357 in Carlsbad on January 6th my tracking was solid, but I wasn't able to record my racks. Also, I did feel some time pressure even though I never went over on time.
So, I've set some realistic goals for this tournament:
1. Track tiles
2. Record all racks/plays
3. Play each rack
4. Win 4 games
5. Have fun
I'm in the 3rd division out of 4 with a ratings spread from 1100 - 1399. I am rated 1111 so I will mostly be playing higher-rated players, which is my preference. Given where I'm at, it will be difficult to win 4 games, but I think it's possible.
Stay tuned for my tournament report.
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Board Options
There are several options for your Scrabble board needs. REMEMBER, you need a rotating board (sometimes called a Scrabble Deluxe board), NOT a flat board.
FOR THE CHEAPIES: Dig around a closet, attic, or basement at your house or a friend's house and you have a 64% chance of finding a Scrabble Deluxe game set circa 1976, probably with a ligth blue base. I have one of these. This will do.
FOR THE BUDGET CONSCIOUS: Go to Target and buy a new Scrabble Deluxe game set.
IF MONEY IS NO OPTION: Order a custom board from any of the approximately five people in the U.S. who make boards. Here's an example.
IF YOU ARE HANDY: Make your own custom board. I've made two and I have one more in the works before I permanently retire from board-making.
Some advice. This is an important Scrabble rule: you shouldn't spend your time worrying what others think about you. BUT, you need to work into a custom board slowly. You do not want to show up for your first club game or tournament with a brand-spanking-new $200 custom board and then lose all of your games. This is known as ALL BOARD NO GAME. At the same time, you do not want to show up with an old Deluxe board that barely spins and is still in its original box which is falling apart and has slips of paper in it documenting old games between your Aunt Maddy and Uncle Larry.
FOR THE CHEAPIES: Dig around a closet, attic, or basement at your house or a friend's house and you have a 64% chance of finding a Scrabble Deluxe game set circa 1976, probably with a ligth blue base. I have one of these. This will do.
FOR THE BUDGET CONSCIOUS: Go to Target and buy a new Scrabble Deluxe game set.
IF MONEY IS NO OPTION: Order a custom board from any of the approximately five people in the U.S. who make boards. Here's an example.
IF YOU ARE HANDY: Make your own custom board. I've made two and I have one more in the works before I permanently retire from board-making.
Some advice. This is an important Scrabble rule: you shouldn't spend your time worrying what others think about you. BUT, you need to work into a custom board slowly. You do not want to show up for your first club game or tournament with a brand-spanking-new $200 custom board and then lose all of your games. This is known as ALL BOARD NO GAME. At the same time, you do not want to show up with an old Deluxe board that barely spins and is still in its original box which is falling apart and has slips of paper in it documenting old games between your Aunt Maddy and Uncle Larry.
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
The Essentials, cont.
It is also essential to learn the following words as soon as possible:
1. All two-letter words
2. All three-letter words
3. All J,Q,X, and Z words to five-letters long
4. Vowel dumps to five-letters long
5. The top 10 seven-letter stems
To learn these words, and many others, I recommend the program Zyzzyva. I'll post a link to the Zyzzyva website.
1. All two-letter words
2. All three-letter words
3. All J,Q,X, and Z words to five-letters long
4. Vowel dumps to five-letters long
5. The top 10 seven-letter stems
To learn these words, and many others, I recommend the program Zyzzyva. I'll post a link to the Zyzzyva website.
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
The Essentials
If you want to get into tournament Scrabble you need the following:
1. Rotating Scrabble board
2. Tournament tiles
3. Racks (I prefer extra-long)
4. Game clock (I have an Adjudicator)
5. Scoresheets with tracking area
6. Pen/pencil
7. Clipboard
8. Official Tournament And Club Word List, Second Edition (OWL)
9. NSA Membership
10. Rulebook
It is essential to know everything there is to know about the game itself and be able to remember it at any moment. For example, I should be able to shake you out of a deep sleep at 3 a.m. and get correct answers to the following questions (which I would YELL at you):
1. How many Ts are in a Scrabble set?
2. What is the procedure if you overdraw 1 tile and have already put the new tiles on your rack?
3. How many double-word squares are there on a Scrabble board?
1. Rotating Scrabble board
2. Tournament tiles
3. Racks (I prefer extra-long)
4. Game clock (I have an Adjudicator)
5. Scoresheets with tracking area
6. Pen/pencil
7. Clipboard
8. Official Tournament And Club Word List, Second Edition (OWL)
9. NSA Membership
10. Rulebook
It is essential to know everything there is to know about the game itself and be able to remember it at any moment. For example, I should be able to shake you out of a deep sleep at 3 a.m. and get correct answers to the following questions (which I would YELL at you):
1. How many Ts are in a Scrabble set?
2. What is the procedure if you overdraw 1 tile and have already put the new tiles on your rack?
3. How many double-word squares are there on a Scrabble board?
Back To Scrabble
Okay, this is where I'm at.
I only played one Scrabble tourney in 2006 and that was Pasadena in January. I can't say I planned to play in just one tournament, but I knew I would be busy first getting the nursery ready and then with Bodie, so I didn't expect to play in many tournaments in 2006.
But it's 2007 now and I want to get back into it a bit this year. Nothing big planned, just some local tournaments and some word study.
I'm signed up for Pasadena, which is a one-day, seven game tourney on January 21st. I'm just doing some brushing up on my word study until then, but I did get a chance to play in my old Carlsbad club last Saturday.
It was fun to be back in it. I went 3-1 with a 380-something average and a 2 bingo/game average. I tracked 100% on all my games but really felt the crunch of the clock even though I didn't go over in any of my games. Still, despite my tracking, I made some bad end-game plays. I also made some bad mid-game plays, especially setting up come-back plays for opponents.
I was not able to track all my racks though and that makes it impossible to do a post-game analysis with Quackle, which is essential, in my humble opinion, to improving your game.
I felt good with bingo racks and my 2 bingo/game average, but my short word knowledge suffers. I got away with a phony, TUM, which was a hook play, and nearly played GUP* but played PUG for fewer points because I couldn't remember if GUP* was good or not. When my word study starts in earnest after the Pasadena tourney I am going to get those 3s and 4s down!
For bingos I played CIGARET, UNHEATED, SEXiEST, STORIES, tRIVIAL, TIRADES, DESTINE, and TARdIES.
I only played one Scrabble tourney in 2006 and that was Pasadena in January. I can't say I planned to play in just one tournament, but I knew I would be busy first getting the nursery ready and then with Bodie, so I didn't expect to play in many tournaments in 2006.
But it's 2007 now and I want to get back into it a bit this year. Nothing big planned, just some local tournaments and some word study.
I'm signed up for Pasadena, which is a one-day, seven game tourney on January 21st. I'm just doing some brushing up on my word study until then, but I did get a chance to play in my old Carlsbad club last Saturday.
It was fun to be back in it. I went 3-1 with a 380-something average and a 2 bingo/game average. I tracked 100% on all my games but really felt the crunch of the clock even though I didn't go over in any of my games. Still, despite my tracking, I made some bad end-game plays. I also made some bad mid-game plays, especially setting up come-back plays for opponents.
I was not able to track all my racks though and that makes it impossible to do a post-game analysis with Quackle, which is essential, in my humble opinion, to improving your game.
I felt good with bingo racks and my 2 bingo/game average, but my short word knowledge suffers. I got away with a phony, TUM, which was a hook play, and nearly played GUP* but played PUG for fewer points because I couldn't remember if GUP* was good or not. When my word study starts in earnest after the Pasadena tourney I am going to get those 3s and 4s down!
For bingos I played CIGARET, UNHEATED, SEXiEST, STORIES, tRIVIAL, TIRADES, DESTINE, and TARdIES.