Calvinball 2019 Official Thread

[josh]

Welcome to Calvinball, where the rules are constantly made up and the points don’t matter!

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I am the new Tim the Enchanter, also known as Bruce the Sleepy — keeper of the scores and arbiter of the rules. I will begin the game by hiding the Calvinball and posting here.

Initial Rules:

Your quest is to seek thee the gameball, hidden secretly amongst the cycling trails inside the beltway (but not to be found in any federal park).

Seek the game ball. Maketh up a new ordinance for the game. Hide the sacred ball. Post your new ordinance along with guidance on how those who follow can seek the gameball. Thou shall find, hide and post within the same hours 24.

For finding the gameball, ye shall be awarded 5 points, less a point for each day that passeth before the gameball is once again uncovered.

Ye may find the gameball but once during each rotation of the Earth. Ye may possess the gameball but once every other turn.

If your new ordinance nets three likes, ye shall likewise be award points equaling five and your ordinance shall be implemented as law of the game, which all who play must loyally adhere.

This be not organized competition. This be Calvinball. New rules are obliged to follow the spirit of Saint Calvin and Saint Hobbes. New ordinances shall not thee be bills of attainder but must generally apply to all fools of venture into our midst. New ordinances cannot benefit the ordinance’s scribe uniquely. New ordinances should make the court jester smile upon thee, and shall not place any in existential peril.

If a new ordinance shall contravene an old ordinance, the ordinance with highest net likes shall be declared the law.

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Ordinances that matter:

• 3 points for pic of Calvinball balanced on head
• 2 points for on-site consumption
• 10 points for wearing the friendship bracelet to the closing happy hour (hunt me down to show me)

Ephemeral Ordinances and ones that don’t matter:

• Staying in DC
• Bringing it back to VA
• Freeing Hobbes
• Friendshipball is called the friendshipball
• Nepotismball’s band should be worn

Scores:
Spreadsheet

Prizes:
Those who play shall seek their reward as follows:
• Rosalyn Award :: The player with the ordinance that has acquired the most net likes at the time of the next find
• Miss Wormwood Award :: The player with the most implemented ordinances
• Spaceman Spiff Award :: Best Calvinball
• Calvin Award :: Tim’s Award of Mystery (oooooooooohhh)
• Hobbes Award :: The Hobbes Prize is to be awarded to the person whom played but scored the least amount of points.
• Susie Award :: Most swag points
• Lost Dog Rescue Award :: Best picture of your dog

Notes:
Consider Thee Calvinball a Hot-potatoe game – not a hide-and-seek game. This be not geocaching. More, we wish the Calvinball attain perpetual motion, constantly moving, from pilgrim to pilgrim. (Translation: don’t make your hides hard or your rules constraining. The more silliness the better)
This is not a winner take all game — “The points don’t matter”

Thanks to rcannon100 for moderating last year’s Calvinball game and providing a template for this thread.

Topic

[reji]

@josh 186620 wrote:

One Calvinball has been hidden:

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Calvinball acquired. To be hidden later…

[sjclaeys]

This from the first post establishing this game seems to have been forgotten: “Consider Thee Calvinball a Hot-potatoe game – not a hide-and-seek game. This be not geocaching.”

[cvcalhoun]

@sjclaeys 186655 wrote:

This from the first post establishing this game seems to have been forgotten: “Consider Thee Calvinball a Hot-potatoe game – not a hide-and-seek game. This be not geocaching.”

Yeah, that’s part of my issue. I know Calvin is near the Whole Foods. But there are two different bushes pictured, neither of which shows Calvin. So I’d be searching (most likely in the dark). And since I’m someone who has only a 50/50 chance of finding the butter if I’m told it’s on the second shelf of the refrigerator, I find that daunting.

Now that I know sszibler hid it specifically for me, I may have to check. But I’m still not optimistic.

[sszibler]

@reji 186654 wrote:

Calvinball acquired. To be hidden later…

If possible, I’d like to know more about where this one was. I’ve been trying to figure it out for the last half hour or more before heading out (thanks for posting!). If I was looking at the right Josh, he might have hidden that ride. I assume it’s near Telegraph Road? I know of one weird underpass near the Golf course, but I don’t remember steps.

[Thor]

Tunnel next to Telegraph Rd between Mill Rd and Duke St under RR tracks.

[sszibler]

@cvcalhoun 186656 wrote:

Yeah, that’s part of my issue. I know Calvin is near the Whole Foods. But there are two different bushes pictured, neither of which shows Calvin. So I’d be searching (most likely in the dark). And since I’m someone who has only a 50/50 chance of finding the butter if I’m told it’s on the second shelf of the refrigerator, I find that daunting.

Now that I know sszibler hid it specifically for me, I may have to check. But I’m still not optimistic.

It’s probably hard to see on a phone. You might have to zoom in a bit on the picture with it clear. It’s on the east side of the bush under the W sign. That would be on your left as you’re facing Whole Foods. Right up against the wall perpendicular to Whole Foods. I really hope it’s still there. At the time I was hoping the snow might prevent people from going back there. Make sure Steve M. didn’t already get it.

[Thor]

@sszibler 186657 wrote:

If possible, I’d like to know more about where this one was. I’ve been trying to figure it out for the last half hour or more before heading out (thanks for posting!). If I was looking at the right Josh, he might have hidden that ride. I assume it’s near Telegraph Road? I know of one weird underpass near the Golf course, but I don’t remember steps.

Tunnel next to Telegraph Rd between Mill Rd and Duke St under RR tracks.

[reji]

Mmmm, chocolate…
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The Calvinball has been recharged and is now at the Falls Church Dominion Wine and Beer store.

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I left it with Graham who was somewhat amused by our little game.

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Visit the store and ask whoever is at the counter for the Calvinball. Make sure you look in the wallet before you leave because my proposed ordinance…. 5 points to whoever consumes the swag onsite and 10 points if it’s consumed with a nosh upstairs.

[reji]

@sszibler 186657 wrote:

If possible, I’d like to know more about where this one was. I’ve been trying to figure it out for the last half hour or more before heading out (thanks for posting!). If I was looking at the right Josh, he might have hidden that ride. I assume it’s near Telegraph Road? I know of one weird underpass near the Golf course, but I don’t remember steps.

It’s a pretty creepy tunnel which is usually full of nasty water and debris after a rain.
https://ggwash.org/view/35029/ask-ggw-alexandria-mystery-tunnel

[sszibler]

@reji 186665 wrote:

It’s a pretty creepy tunnel which is usually full of nasty water and debris after a rain.
https://ggwash.org/view/35029/ask-ggw-alexandria-mystery-tunnel

Interesting! Ha! Article was 5 years ago when Jonathan looked into it. This is one of the things I really like about Calvin Ball, finding these unique places we pass every day.

[KWL]

@reji 186665 wrote:

It’s a pretty creepy tunnel which is usually full of nasty water and debris after a rain.

And snakes. Don’t forget the snakes. (for real)

[Thor]

@reji 186665 wrote:

It’s a pretty creepy tunnel which is usually full of nasty water and debris after a rain.
https://ggwash.org/view/35029/ask-ggw-alexandria-mystery-tunnel

And it was closed for quite a while a few years ago. Not sure if VDOT was doing maintenance or if it was a safety issue or what, but then it mysteriously reopened.

[sszibler]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]19199[/ATTACH]I’ve had it with these $&@%# snakes in this %>€$@& tunnel!

[sszibler]

Likely how the bathroom at Bladensburg got reopened tonight (mysterious reopening of tunnel) – someone broke the lock holder off and I found a homeless guy locked in there. He felt bad, I felt bad, and I got out of there as soon as I verified no new Calvin Balls hidden and warmed up a bit. I can’t imagine being out on the street tonight. How’d he even get there?

[sszibler]

@cvcalhoun 186656 wrote:

Yeah, that’s part of my issue. I know Calvin is near the Whole Foods. But there are two different bushes pictured, neither of which shows Calvin. So I’d be searching (most likely in the dark). And since I’m someone who has only a 50/50 chance of finding the butter if I’m told it’s on the second shelf of the refrigerator, I find that daunting.

Now that I know sszibler hid it specifically for me, I may have to check. But I’m still not optimistic.

Carol tried really hard to find it tonight – we’ve been texting back and forth and either Steve M. got it or some lowlife stole a bunch of handmade friendship bracelets 😡

I propose 2 points for Carol for going above and beyond her normal routine. She was glad to get some extra miles for her team.

[Author]

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