Tue Dec 28 1999 10:14:
I'm back in {black, LA}. Dan's not back yet. I can mess up the
room and not have him complain! Which happens even when he's here.
Surprising, as he complains about everything else.
Oh, let me print the official rules to "Make Dan ComplainTM", the exciting game craze that's sweeping the nation, much as Mahjongg did in the early years of this century.
Make Dan ComplainTM
Equipment:- 1 Dan Helfman
- 1 you
- 1 means of communication between you and Dan Helfman
How to play:
Using the means of communication, ask Dan Helfman what he thinks
of some object or concept x. Dan Helfman must come up with a
articulate and/or funny complaint about x. To notify Dan Helfman that you are initiating a
round of Make Dan ComplainTM and not actually asking him for
an analysis of x, the time-honored formula "Hey Dan, what do you think
about x?" should be employed. Not that it matters much, since Dan
Helfman's actual analyses of things bear suprisingly close resemblances
to his games of Make Dan ComplainTM.
Scoring:
If Dan Helfman can come up with an articulate and/or funny
complaint about x, he gets one point. If not, he issues the all-purpose
complaint "It sucks!", and you get one point.
Sample games:
Game 1:
You: Hey Dan, what do you think about the speed of light?
Dan Helfman: It's too restrictive! It shouldn't be hardcoded everywhere!
It should be configurable!
Result: Dan Helfman gets one point.
Game 2:
You: Hey Dan, what do you think about the state of Oregon?
Dan Helfman: It sucks!
Result: You get one point.
Game 3:
You: Hey Dan, what do you think about the Roman alphabet?
Dan Helfman: There are too many redundant letters! It's too inefficient!
Result: Dan Helfman gets one point.
Winning:
The winner is the first player to amass 305 points.
Dan Helfman: 305? That's so arbitrary! It should be a power of two!
Result: Dan Helfman gets one point.