There's nobody there

I would like to be talking about just what all we did for Christmas weekend with bunnyhugger's family. But this year, which has been determined to be devastating every week, found a new way to go about devastating. This one, of course, from pinball. (I may have details a bit off, because this happened on Facebonk where I am not, and I am relaying what I understand and remember from bunnyhugger's agitation.) Today bunnyhugger scheduled for the Silver Balls In The City charity tournament, one supporting the Capital Area Humane Society, where we adopted Sunshine from.

So yesterday she posted to Facebonk a reminder note. She got a message from some Entitled White Pinball Guy, but I repeat myself, in Bay City that it would be nice if the tournament started earlier, so it could finish by 9 pm when the bar kicks out under-21st like his son, whom he noted, was currently the 17th-ranked pinball player in the state of Michigan. All right, fine, we'll consider that for future tournaments but we have to hold them when the bar is open and when people can be off work.

Not satisfied with this, another guy proceeded to declare that our tournament could not be sanctioned by the International Flipper Pinball Association because their rules require tournaments be open to people of all ages, except where access to a venue is limited by law. And while our venue might prohibit minors after 9 pm that isn't actually required state law, which only requires that minors be accompanied by their parents while in liquor-serving establishments. (My recollection is in past events the bar staff was certain they needed minors out at 9 pm lest they be breaking the law, but it's plausible the staff imperfectly understands the requirements.) And original guy declared that he had talked with the IFPA about just this sort of case and Entitled White Pinball Guy was totally right and we were gonna be in big trouble if we tried to get IFPA sanctioning for our points.

So you can imagine just how much good this has done for the spirits of everyone here.

As she is a fundamentally honest, rules-abiding, always-aboveboard person bunnyhugger has e-mailed the head of the IFPA. She laid out the circumstances and pointed out this has been fine for almost a decade now, and how if venues with age restrictions can't host events this can mess up every pinball event that's held in a bar. As I write this I haven't heard the verdict, but, you know?

Like, potentially, this could wipe out the IFPA value of the Lansing Pinball League. (As I read the rules, using precisely the written words, it wouldn't spoil the league, but that's likely because they were not writing precisely what they meant. Still, if the tournament is to be hanged over a close reading of words, I think it fair to save the league on a similar close reading.) And, you know, all so that Entitled White Pinball Guy can get all huffy that we didn't move a charity pinball tournament to support needy rabbits two hours earlier for his #17-ranked-in-the-state son to be able to play after 9 pm.

I am so done with this year except that we're facing 2020 II.

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Here, let me share some of the fun of Christmas Day.

The big dog, deep into mourning that I'm here and keep on existing every time she looks at me.

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Ah, but the fireplace is roaring quite nicely, and you can see how lovely the tree is in its alcove.

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So you know how hot this picture looks? The real thing feels that warm, too.

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Trivia: Urbain Le Verrier was rewarded for his support for Louis-Napoleon's 1851 coup with an appointment to the Imperial Senate. Source: In Search Of Planet Vulcan: The Ghost in Newton's Clockwork Universe, Richard Baum, William Sheehan.

Currently Reading: With Amusement For All: A History of American Popular Culture Since 1830, LeRoy Ashby.

PS: From my Fourth A-to-Z: Topology, a little more old stuff reprinted.