[Walddk]

As expected, and quite reasonable, I get lots of questions about the Fall Nationals in Denver, Colorado (under way now). When, what, and so on. Blue Ribbon Pairs? Reisinger BAM Teams, etc.?

To be honest with you, we simply don't know. We get very little info from the ACBL, but as far as I understand, the intention at this point is to just broadcast from the last two sessions of the Reisinger. Disappointed? Well, you are entitled to be, but remember not to blame it on BBO. We let the organisers use our software for free, but we do not decide what they show us.

We will update our vugraph schedule page as soon as we get exact dates and session starting times.

Roland

[pigpenz]

come on Roland sneek some computers into the final rounds of the blue ribbons

[jillybean]

Here is the link to the NABC daily bulletin

http://www.acbl.org/.../bulletins.html

[pigpenz]

Uday and Fred finished right behing JLall and Daddy, it must have been the rugged unshaven look and the leather jacket that did it...congratulations to both.

[Walddk]

Unfortunately, we are not any wiser regarding broadcast(s) from Denver. At this point I think it's safe to assume that the Blue Ribbon Pairs is off as far as we are concerned, and I still have nothing final about the Reisinger.

Guessing is not really my kind of game, but let me take a chance and predict that we will only get the last two sessions of that event on the last day of the Fall Nationals: Sunday.

And please, lodge your complaints elsewhere. I am not responsible for decisions the ACBL makes. We offer our software if the organisers are interested; we do not demand that they accept the offer.

Roland

[uday]

The final day of the reisinger will be broadcast; I have reason to believe that this is all that will be vugraphed. I will check w/someone here.

[Walddk]

Finally something positive from Denver. As expected, we will be broadcasting from the final day of the Reisinger B-a-M Teams on Sunday. Session starting times are:

2:00 pm New York, 20.00 Paris, 7:00 pm London.
8:00 pm New York, 02.00 Paris (Monday), 01.00 am London (Monday).

27 boards per session (9 rounds of 3 boards). Most likely 2 table coverage.

Additionally, there is a good chance that we will be showing the seniors' KO final on Friday. The major obstacle at the moment is that we don't know exactly when. The 4 segments of 16 boards are scheduled for Friday at 12.30 pm New York (32 boards) and 6:30 pm New York, also 32 boards (18.30 and 00.30 Paris), but the team captains have the option of changing the times to 10.00 am Friday New York and 10.00 am Saturday New York (16.00 Friday and Saturday Paris).

I can't get any closer right now but will keep you posted as and when (if) I get more information.

Roland

[pclayton]

I saw Fred on Monday at the BAM and he said it wasn't going to be broadcast, so apparently the ACBL changed their mind.

I sort of wanted the BAM to be VG'd' darn

[Al_U_Card]

on the NABC newsletter of today (page 8), they mention an upcoming vugraph of the Sen. Ko's on Friday and that they are looking for volunteers.....

[pigpenz]

just out of curiosity why is it so hard to set up vugraph with the ACBL?

Is it some sort of copyright thing????

[uday]

It is not hard, and the ACBL is usually quite willing to broadcast online.
Sometimes it is a matter of money - phone lines cost approx 200$ per day in most places. Sometimes it is a matter of labour.

[pigpenz]

Well next time ask, I would be willing to donate money to watch the blue ribbon pairs I am sure alot of people would be willing to pay something by way of paypal.

Next time see what response you get.

[FrancesHinden]

uday, on Nov 24 2005, 10:45 PM, said:

Sometimes it is a matter of money - phone lines cost approx 200$ per day in most places.

This is a joke, right? Or the US rather a long way behind Europe?
At the last two hotels I stayed in, a (wireless) broadband internet connection was available for 8 euros/24 hours in one of them, and a rather expensive one pound/hour at the other.

[hrothgar]

FrancesHinden, on Nov 25 2005, 12:47 PM, said:

uday, on Nov 24 2005, 10:45 PM, said:

Sometimes it is a matter of money - phone lines cost approx 200$ per day in most places.

This is a joke, right? Or the US rather a long way behind Europe?
At the last two hotels I stayed in, a (wireless) broadband internet connection was available for 8 euros/24 hours in one of them, and a rather expensive one pound/hour at the other.

Here in the US, Hotels often apply different rate schedules depening on where they are providing internet connectivity.

Its often possible to get broadband in private rooms for quite cheap. Large conference rooms like the ones where the bridge takes place is a very different story. These rooms are typically used by businesses for meetings. The hotels charge up the ying-ying for anything (internet, white boards, LCD panels...)

[pigpenz]

Yes, Hotels here in USA are in it purely for the money?
They have rules like people cant bring their own beverages in etc.
they charge ungodly rates for coffee etc.
Though it would seem like a big city like Denver would have alot of WiFi access.

[Walddk]

pigpenz, on Nov 25 2005, 01:54 PM, said:

Yes, Hotels here in USA are in it purely for the money?
They have rules like people cant bring their own beverages in etc.
they charge ungodly rates for coffee etc.

Is that special for the United States? I don't think so. Running a hotel is a business, so it's only fair that you can't bring your own beverages.

Regarding internet connections and rates, however, it might be a good idea for the organizers to check it out before they book!

Roland

[Walddk]

We will be broadcasting from the seniors' KO final in Denver today (64 boards). Approximate segment starting times (all New York):

12.00, 14.30, 18.30 and 21.00.

Add 6 hours if you live in Europe (CET), +5 hours for the UK and +16 for Sydney.

Roland

[Gerben42]

Quote

Running a hotel is a business, so it's only fair that you can't bring your own beverages.

On the other hand I am not going to tournaments to be in a hotel, but to play bridge. Playing bridge includes bringing my own beverages. If they have a problem with that they will have to bother the tournament staff with that, not me.

If the price for Internet btw is so different between European and American hotels, maybe that means in the USA they suffer from lack of competition?

[hrothgar]

Walddk, on Nov 25 2005, 04:08 PM, said:

Is that special for the United States? I don't think so. Running a hotel is a business, so it's only fair that you can't bring your own beverages.

I recognize that most companies are driven by profit maximizing. With this said and done, I despise these stupid little games that they play by subsidizing rooms and then hitting you will 1001 fees trying to recoup the original discount.

These type of schemes work best when the hotel/motel hides all the secondary charges, playing you for a sucker when you book the room. Equally significant, the ability to cross subsidize like this is prima facia evidence that the market is not operating in a competitive manner.

In short, this behaviour is certainly legal.
It is far from "fair"

[joker_gib]

Gerben42, on Nov 25 2005, 02:31 PM, said:

Playing bridge includes bringing my own beverages.

I've never sat at a bridge table with my own beverages...