Been Christmas shopping all day, not much progress. Someone needs to remind me why this is a good idea. #bahhumbug

Interesting round of #Zendo at lunchtime. Ran out of time before anyone got my rule. Opinion differs on whether they would have eventually.

The comprehensive rules for Magic: The Gathering say (amongst many other things) this:

101.1. Whenever a card’s text directly contradicts these rules, the card takes precedence. The card overrides only the rule that applies to that specific situation. The only exception is that a player can concede the game at any time (see rule 104.3a).

Okay, fair enough, the exception means that they can’t publish a card with the effect

Target player can’t concede this game.

That makes sense. In fact there are tournament situations where you’d rather concede than let an ability resolve that would give away information about your deck – for example, you’re losing the first game of a three-game match, your opponent has just cast Extirpate, and the key piece of your deck hasn’t come out yet. You’d probably rather concede than let your opponent know what to sideboard against.

And in a broader sense, I’m not sure what it would mean for the rules of a game to say that you’re not allowed to just stand up and walk away.

But… but but but… the rule doesn’t say that a card can’t override rule 101.1 itself. So they could print a card that says

This card can override a player’s right to concede the game at any time.

Target player can’t concede this game.

It just has to override rule 101.1 before it overrides rule 104.3a.

…

I didn’t say they would print it.

Well, that’s it.

I had a dream last night that one of my ears was cut off. One wonders whether it was a bit of a Chopper Read moment – although it was only one ear, so it could equally be a Picasso or a Reservoir Dogs reference; my subconscious tends to go for the ambiguous and multi-layered.

Anyway. Everyone reading this, go and make a donation, or I’ll… paint you with both eyes on the same side of your face.

Well, it’s the end of November, which means I’ll do one more update tomorrow morning and then decide what to do with it. My parents’ reaction was actually more positive than I expected, which makes me fairly certain that I’ll at least not grow the full beard back. For now.

Also, donate!

Today should be interesting. We’re seeing my parents for the first time since I started Movember (yeah, shame on me). I’m… sort of looking forward to seeing their reaction, and sort of not.

Late update. I knew I was forgetting something this morning.

In theory I should have slightly more stubble than usual, because it’s been a few hours since I shaved… although if anyone can spot the difference I’ll be very impressed.

Gonna be hot today. I’m wearing shorts to work for the first time this season. Ironically today is Formal Friday (one of the quirks of our workplace), which I’m choosing to ignore for the purposes of not dissolving in my own sweat.

It’s getting close to the end of the month, which means I’m going to push the donation thing again.

The beneficiaries of Movember are beyondblue, which deals with depression and related stuff; and the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia, which… well take a wild guess.

Go! Now! Donate through my profile page, or better yet, skip it and go straight to the donation form, because the profile page is boring as all hell.

ZOMG RUNNING LATE AAAAGH GOTTA GO KTHXBYE