We have here another Japanese deck: a regular deck of 52, with two jokers, all illustrated with cartoony animals.  The copy on the box is in Japanese, so I can’t tell you much about it.  Mixed in there, though, are the indications “Poplar” and “2008,” which I assume are the publisher and date.  You seem […]

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“Hitler” has now become a routine term of abuse for anyone who disagrees with you.  Christians claim he was an atheist; atheists claim he was a Christian.  Carnivores claim he was a vegetarian; vegetarians claim he was a carnivore.  He’s obviously not being invoked as a real person, who did real and awful things, but […]

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Our latest event attracted a small but Utopian audience.  Brooklyn was apparently a cornucopia of other forms of fun that weekend; still, a nice bunch gathered for a taste of an ideal society. Doug began by talking about Utopias as unattainable ideals; and segued into a picture story on the subject, “The Glorious Town.”  He […]

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The Ullage Group proudly, but earnestly, announces its ninth presentation, “Marching to Utopia.”  We will acquaint you with a few schemes for the betterment of mankind. Step out of your cold, mechanistic, and meaningless universe, and go back to school with Lisa Hirschfield, your tour guide at the University of Science and Philosophy.  Far more […]

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I’ve avoided the many children’s card games that tie into toys and other franchises — simply because the graphics must, by definition, follow the pattern established by the franchise, offering little elbow room for the designer.  The “Jellibee Card Game,” however, is such an odd creation, both graphically and conceptually, that it has earned a […]

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(f)utility A broom’s a useful thing, no doubt of it: It cleans a room, and then flies out of it. “Empiric” is an interesting word: it means both “charlatan” and “based on observation and experience.” Embedded in the language is the dogma that only theory and system can validate. No, you don’t bolster your machismo […]

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We have another look at the fine old game of “Authors,” here in an undated deck from Russell.  I particularly like that ribbon.  Has anyone out there read this one? (Posted by Doug Skinner)

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…that you can make coffee at home?  You don’t have to buy it at a cafe or doughnut shop!  Many grocery stores sell cans of roasted, ground coffee “beans.”  This black powder is not good to eat; but, if you spoon some into a paper filter and pour boiling water over it, you will get […]

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On July 28th, members of the Ullage Group took a field trip to Bannerman Castle, organized by Dr. Mamie Caton.           For train passengers, a partial and too-brief view of Bannerman Castle can be had just south of Beacon, NY.  The castle is situated on a small island once called Pollepel […]

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“The Cheerful Game of Porky the Pig” was one of three games in the set “Children’s Hour,” a 1946 offering from Parker Brothers.  The others were “Peanut the Elephant” and “ABC Fishing.” Porky had no connection with the familiar character from Warner Brothers; I suspect there were numerous pigs called Porky over the years.  The […]

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