Excellent Podcast

If you are a podcast addict like me and you've already worked yourself through all of the PlanetMoneys, Skeptics Guide to the Universe and both Slate Gabfests (cultural and political) then you need more listening material.

I really like the British Museum's, History of the World in 100 Objects.

Once it gets rolling it's a great podcast with interviews with archaeologists (duh) but also artists, musicians, economists, and others who provide fascinating views on the given object that is under consideration.

Highly recommended.

Truth be told, I came across it by listening to another podcast, the aforementioned Slate Culture Gabfest.

Speed Scrabble

Here's a bar graph that I've never seen before:



Scrabble tile distribution.

Ever since being introduced to Speed Scrabble at Cousin Liz's Xmas party I've been proselytizing.

Rules:
No Scrabble board required.
Put the standard 100 Scrabble tile upside down on the table.
Best with 2,3,4 or 5 individuals or teams (if playing with three take out one tile from the 100)
Everybody takes 7 tiles face down from common pile.
On go each player tries to use their own letters in a legitimate Scrabble style crossword that only they add to.
First player to use all their letters calls "Go".
Every players takes one more letter from pile.
Players may rearrange their letters at any time.
First player to call "Done" when all tiles are gone wins.

Extremely addicting.

Fun to add special rules:
No 2 letter words (just to win - you can use to call "go" during play)
Got to have a 9 letter word
Have to have two words that are opposites
Got to have a color, etc.

Belated Xmas Present (to myself from Grandpa Gene)

 
Grandpa Gene gave me some xmas cash to replace my broken board (see summer 2009) and I just got around to spendifiying it.

Thanks Craigslist and Gene! Looking forward to many Wednesdays of fun.

Behind is our 4 year old coconut tree which is a few months away from giving us our first crop.