February 07, 2012
“Oops.”
"House of cards" is an expression, which dates back to 1645 meaning a structure built on a shaky foundation and will collapse if you remove a necessary element.
A house of cards is also a structure created by stacking standard playing cards on top of each other putting forth this law of stacking by professional card stacker Bryan Berg:
The more cards placed the stronger it becomes because the weight of the cards pushing down on the base (increasing friction) allows occasional cards to stumble without the entire structure collapsing.
Which displaces the currently held theory that the larger the structure, the more likely it is to fall.
I would tend to listen to Berg since he holds the current record by building a replica of The Venetian Macao (do take a look) resort hotel, which he accomplished in 44 days, using 218,792 cards and more than 4000 decks with nothing but his own dexterity.
In other words, no glue, no tape, no Velcro.
We’re not sure when this patience teaching pastime originated but it stands to reason it must have been shortly after playing cards were invented in ancient China as early as the 9th century.
We do know they started keeping records at the turn of the 20th century when a picture of Miss Victoria Maitland's 15-story structure was published in The Strand Magazine in 1901.
If any of this inspires you, all you need are a flat surface, a deck of cards and a decision on your structure.
A single card between its walls or one level stacked on top of another?
Or something more ambitious?
So how do you stack up?
The grand old hotel where our dad served as desk clerk often staged events to entertain the child...
Feb. 07, 2012 1:29 AM
One house of cards equals one gigantic housing bubble.
House of Cards -- Is that the other name for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac? No, I never built one, but I do play solitaire, especially Spider Solitaire often.
Going off to the pillows now....Hope to hear some good comments from the Villagers who have experience with card architecture.
My Mother, a master of Architecture, at the age of 23, had her six children stacking cards since birth...stacking cards on a black 50's kitchen table.... super steady and smoothe..was a regular past-time; if the house had one misplaced balanced card it would fall and then we would rebuild; 52 pick-up; but we were building with 3 decks....each child took a turn adding a card...all hands on deck..every house ended in a different structural look; and the success of the house started with strong base.....; )...I feel so saden to think, The amount of time and patience endured with teaching the children.... accomadating all the children..keeping them happy... she was so good at illustrating; showing us direction.in the arts...I have had theatre, choir shows at my residence.and even when I lived in Beaufort on Fripp Island and the Old Point at 505; i had old fashion plays on stage in my house or on the front porch.."All the world's a stage..!"..one time everyone ....moms and dads and all their children marched all through my house..with instrument, banging and clanging..... in hand, singing... and I had everyone line up behind one another..march march..to outdoors thru the blocks and blocks of the neighborhood with an instrument..and it was grand....because it is second to natrue to the way I grew up, every day was a day of art..in the house..a show..a wonderful gala...so many years of getting us to move ahead in the arts...she had given us continuous training drawing circles...line criss cross doodle...she had us doodle all the time..every medium...but artwork had to be you...the young artist that did their work on their own........; and yet even with the time and effort, she couldn't get us to grow as talented.... fast enough...so many children..she never said it aloud..but she loved us so much..but she must of silently quit...after the last child reached 16 y.o.a.....and became forlorned....disappointed...waiting...... til her children were 25-30 y.o.a. to bloom..to more successful artists...Her hoping, believing that her children would be artists, but the children were inadvertly unaware...talented but happily hopeless living in an enigma......your steadiness and patince kinda kicks in at 30 y.o.a. so you should draw better and grow in art..your path of routine will jump to extraordinary..artwork..,in theory ...life of an artist starts at 30 y.o.a. usually a master...by this time.
We had a game of building a house of cards taking turns throwing a dice so you had to add the number of cards the dice showed. I don't remember all the rules except the one that said 'If you have to leave the room, do not slam the Aaaaarrrrrrrrgggggghhhhhh!'
more on the honor rollThe grand old hotel where our dad served as desk clerk often staged events to entertain the children and grandchildren guests of its well-to-do residents.
They actually had AKC dog shows downstairs every year too.
One of two things had to have prevailed when it came to Argylle, a boy of about nine, who seemed to have some kind of sweater in that pattern for every day of the week if not month and socks to match: either he was devoted to the notion or, more likely, his mom was.
To his credit, when the curtain was drawn slowly back to reveal his fairly impressive house of cards, it sat before one five times as large.
Momentarily crestfallen, he stood to lead the applause for the magnificent creation and then, a couple of girls marched up Marx brothers fashion, picked up their magnicient creation and strode off with it in one piece.
After accepting his little trophy cup, he collapsed his to prove the point.
We've never forgotten what a good sport he was when it looked darkest.
When I was growing up a House Of Cards was my mother and her friends playing bridge in their finery waiting to eat the Velvet Crumb Cake made from the recipe on the Bisquik box.
Exercises in patience are zen therapy. You have to keep doing what works for you and not be distracted by temporary setbacks such as a slamming door or a cross draft that brings down the house. And then out of the blue, the Easter Bunny delivers you a perfect deck of Bicycle, Bee, or Aviator playing cards that verifies the existence of a Multiversal Law that balances the books and the cards stay put by both science and a steady hand. I pull out The Jokers. They have a propensity for going wild and the one eyed Jacks well...,
TOMMY: I'll stick with, Gin Therapy ... or Zenfandel Therapy ....... A Good Pate' and some Sour Cream on the side, and fresh Rye Krisp to smear it on ....... Very Theraputic, indeed...
(a Good two year old Duck, is my preferrence)
IVAN I am with you although I prefer pickles on the side with my pate.
Moose ~ Yes, I too play Spider Solitaire -- most frustrating game since they claim that every hand is solvable.............nah!
Chef Deb ~ My house of cards was my mother playing poker in the dining room; as I may have mentioned, my mother was a gambler. My brother and I would check for change dropped on the floor the next day......one kind person would deliberately drop some for us to find.
Ivan ~ Great minds and all that -- I love your therapeutic ideas.
The House of Cards & Cameras existed for many years in our town and family members worked in the camera area.
We knew a sulky boy about five years younger than ourselves with shaky hands who did card structures. It was interesting to watch without being fun.
Because House Guest spoke to a bridge partner from my car phone, that person took to calling that number to berate me, after he'd quit, for having alienated his attentions away from the game.
"You don't understand what you are doing?"
I had been told that tournament bridge was a demanding deal and it had never really seemed like Guest to begin with but his decision to withdraw had nothing to do with me or his friends and everything to do with his work.
The calls stopped after I said: "Ma'am, I'm not usually the kind of person to hang up on anyone but…"
And the caller was a man.
Speaking of cards, the Beauty's birthday is Saturday and I need to get on the job.
Peasant that I am, deli chopped liver (sautéed chicken livers, grated HB egg and onion) works just fine on toasted rye points.
A deck of cards to me was always this black, red and white pattern waiting to happen. I wasn't blessed with much patience and so building with the things or even playing a game with them had little appeal. Maybe also being the middle child......older sister played Solitaire and younger brother delighted in bedeviling me so would make it impossible to build.....Plus, going from the flat to the three dimensional has never been my gift--which also made sewing a very non pleasurable activity. What skill and patience is involved in the feat of building with cards.....and should be encouraged more. Why do so many folks worry about having toys around for the occasional child visitor when with a little encouragement the kids could be happy for hours with the deck of cards whether making houses, or patterns or setting up math problems for themselves.
Stoney ~ We peasants know how to eat!
I'll take that peasant food anyday!
Speaking of solitaire, the creator of Solitaire 'Til Dawn explained the delay in optimizing his package of games for the latest Mac operating system thusly:
"Without going into mind-numbing detail, I'll just say that it was a multi-threading concurrency problem triggered by an intermittent race condition."
I doubt that many subscribers have demanded the the mind-numbing version.
Andy & Carol ~
Now, I'm hungry.
Oh, STONEY! WHat a first-thing-to-read. Luv u.
OFF-TOPIC BUT ASLANT: See (Netflix) ""House of Cards" (be sure to get all sets), a political-and-more piece perfectly made (Ian Richardson stars, directing dialogue to the viewer) by BBC. I've watched it three times. Would again.
Duty calls, back later to see what y'all are up to.
BACK for a sec: IVAN< sour cream betters anything,.... I'm with you there
HEY pate is just French for liver paste.....one time a wealthy friend of one of my kinder was looking in our fridge for a snack and came across a tube of my much beloved liverwurst and he said "Pate!" and joyfully wolfed it down.
A house of cards is awesome, but nothing beats dominoes on a
pool table. jmho.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnqP8lBUwgs
Paolos ~ Imagine missing that first shot (my mind, very busy in there).
I certainly never had the patience to try to make a house of cards. I don't think the idea ever even occurred to me. If I am looking for a zen-like experience, I'll go out for a walk or jog. Listening to my breathing accompanied by physical exertion is my preferred way to achieve inner awareness. But the idea munching liver pate on Rye Crisp with sour cream and gherkins sounds good too! I'll wash it down with a nice chilled Chardonnay.
With that thought, I think I'll go make my morning oatmeal now.
Paolos ~ that was a great clip, as usual! You do find the most interesting things on Youtube!
I especially enjoyed listening to the commentators - IN FRENCH! Incroiablah! Bien sur! Did not understand half of what they said, but it sounds so wonderful...
Thanks Mr. P for posting the link to Bryan Berg's masterpiece, but I enjoyed the link where he got to knock them down. He said 'the project wasn't finished until you knock the house down.' He used his body and a fan, looked like fun.
Zin therapy is my kind of therapy, IVAN!
O, what fun, paolos~ I love those domino things. Weather not right for crisp, chilly wine - definitely glug of whisky in a mug of coffee time here.
CHEFDEB: Pickles ??? I shall have to try it, with Pate' !!! Seems a combination you might have discovered during a Gestational Term ....... a Half-Done Kosher is a marvelous accompaniment to a platter of Fried Chicken Livers and a dollop of Sour Cream, so why the hell not ???
MISS ANDY: Great MInds, indeed !!! and as MISS GEORGIA says, "Sour Cream Bettersr Everything ..." Without Doubt !!! Isn't it strange, that we even worry about Sour Cream going Bad ??? Silly, isn't it .......
MISS PENELOPE: The Kitchen, Library, Dining Room and the Club Room are available for Therapy Sessions, Group or One on One, 24/7 around here ... and you are welcome to drop in any time for a little Gestalt & Gusto ....... I find it most effective, and what happens here stays here ...
STONEY !!! ... "Sauteed Chicken Livers ... Grated HB ... Eggs & Onion, on Rye Toast Points ..." that even Reads with a Yiddish Accent !!! GOOD ON YOU Sir !!! You will be happy to know that, None of what you describe is Fattening !!! I don't care what "Experts" or the National Enquirer tell you ... Dietary Fat does NOT make people Fat ... and the Human Body must have Fat, in order for it to function properly ... Fat is the Source of AcetylCholine for the Body, and that tricky sounding stuff, is the Precursor for the Body's Hormones and Enzymes, which if out of Balance in the Endocrine System, will cause the Body to feel as tho' it is driving with the Brakes on ....... Fat gives us Synovial Fluid for the Joints and Lubrication for the Node, Throat, Entrails and other marvelous areas on some people, that need to be lubricated ....... In Scripture we are told, "All The Fat is The Lord's ..." ... if He likes it, it can't be all bad !!!
Y'all have a Great Day !!!!!!!
(Now wantch the Barkers appear ...)
That is of course, NOSE ......
Fat also comes in Fingers, that sometimes hit more than One Key at a time ....... Too early in the day for me to be trying to Type ......
I also enjoy seeing the post WW2 alleged 'homes fit for heroes' tower blocks where the lifts never worked, nowhere safe outside for the children to play, stairwells stinking of urine .... I'm so delighted to see them neatly demolished by explosives experts. Strange to tell, when this happens and the less well off people are re-homed, the middle classes complain that they can't get a cleaner or a gardener, or a window cleaner. The fast food and convenience stores close down. We do have a house of cards, a fragile society that is made more visible by the current financial crisis.
Woof, woof, woof Ivan~ Great to see you back on good form and living off the fat of the land.
HAZEL: As my Uncle Lewie usta say ... " Boychik, its just like Dancin' with Fat Girls ... Once Ya learn where t' grab, it ain't Bad ..."
Ivan, you will love pickles with your pate. It's a staple around here. The little gherkins are the best.
Ivan~ Naughty old Uncle Lewie!
I bet Uncle Lewie could cut a rug!!!!
a little stoneground mustard with the pate & cornichons (little gherkin like pickles with a pretentious name but any pickle will do) doesn't hurt either.
BEBE!! Hump day tomorrow!!
I meant cornichon! Senior moment...
I was just thinking "poor man's pate" and mustard.....my mustard would be Dijon, however.....now if I just had the pate or liverwurst!
ahem
a well placed petard couldbring the house down...
not that I advocate the use of explosive devices
Most definitely off-subject, and not even food at that and I do apologize, BUT, it IS Elvis! ! ! ! So I thought I'd share
ELVIS PRESLEY
Gaming in style!
Photo Spotlight: Elvis The King Slot Machine Debuts in London elvis.ly The Elvis The King slot machine's debut in London is this week's Photo Spotlight!
Drat, the picture didn't come through
Can you imagine the looks one would get when filling out paperwork for purchasing a house or car when asked for occupation you had to put "Cardstacker"? Seriously, that is how Mr. Berg is billed in the photo......I hope he doesn't live anywhere near Vegas. Or try to buy a house there.
http://www.elvis.com/news/detail.aspx?id=6071
Now Paolos--when have you EVER been averse to a little explosion now and then?? Hmmm?
IM: Gherkins, you say ....... Now I am intrigued ... Would have thought Gherkins to be too sweet an accompaniment for the Texture and muskiness of Pate' ....... I had plan'd to do Beer Steam'd Conch with freshly made Lime Curd, and Radiccio Stuff'd with Crab and Creole Sauce for Supper tonite, with a Cantonese Salad on the side ... and a little Marble Rye to push with, and a Bottle or three of Orvieto for Bellywash ....... I was thinking about changing the Menu, per your revelation, but after spelling out my proposed Menu for you, I think I shall proceed as plan'd and do the Pate' and Gherkin experiment for Dinner tomorrow ....... I'll ice down an extra portion of Beer, that should be Teeth Crackin' Cold by Dinner tomorrow ... Tonite's Supper will be Ocean Fare, as it started out to be ....... Captain Nemo would be proud .......
MISS HAZEL: Uncle Lewie was still Siring Children at 91 ... He got the idea while walking down Broadway, when he was much younger, to the Howard Johnsons on the corner of Broadway and 33rd. (I think) ... he was following an Indian Chief, in Leathers and full Headress ... and Lewie noticed that each time the Chief met a pretty Girl, he would hold up his right hand and say, "SOME" ... this went on for a few blocks and at a crosswalk Lewie ask'd the Chief, "Say, aren't y'all sposta say, HOW ???" The Old Indian Chief turned half way to Lewie and said, " Me KNOW how, me WANT some ..." Lewie instantly understood pragmatism and the intelligence of not ignoring opportunity, by seeking to create ones own opportunity when one can ... Turns out, the Chief was a Yid from Westchester, rehearsing for a Spot in Button & Bows ....... But the Lesson took !!!
MISS PENELOPE: Uncle Lewie was the Dance King of Jurassic Oaks Retirement Centre ...
card house building is not for the clumsy.
Big smile, Ivan. Nice story.
Just watching BBC News ... Various Happy 200th birthday celebrations for Charles Dickens.
Paolos - nice videos! Thanks for your technique with the links! I love Elvis, even to this day....Saw him perform live in 1956 -7 in Jax, FL....also Pat Boone when i lived in a girls dorm with my mother and 30 + girls....Love that sexy voice, and so grateful that technology has preserved his mystique for us to enjoy all these years later! I'm sure I'd feed loads of quarters in that slot!
Just went out to meet the new neighbors, and they were not home, so, walked a little on the street and met the ones who live on the other side of my vacant lot who have been there 3 years! Nice folks from Ala. and making a bottle tree in their yard. I told them I'd donate a wine bottle or three.
Thinking about getting out the cards and trying a building thanks to this topic....but will end up playing gin or just solitaire if I can't get my fellow to play....He's watching Rawhide and not much on table games.....ham and greens for dinner.....over and out...
Well Ivan - I would have danced with your Uncle Lewie, how could anyone not!!
"a well placed petard could
bring the house down…"
Spellcheck malfunction?
IVAN ~
Correct as always and a little schmaltz wouldn't hoit either.
Ivan ~ Good story; would have liked to meet Uncle Lewie
Paolos ~ thank you!
Moose ~ I always just missed Elvis - twice in Vegas, once when he was appearing after we left and once when he left before we got there -- drat! When he appeared here, I was having one of my many babies and couldn't go--double drat. I did, however, get to see my other hearthrob, Neil Diamond (niceJewishboymadegood) several times -- drooled a little, got a t-shirt so I could -- well, you know, sleep with Neil !
Andy ~ My pleasure. We attended a Gordon Lightfoot concert earlier this year. Before he
sang Early Morning Rain, he told his I just missed Elvis story. Even
though Elvis recorded a song or two of his, they had never met. His one chance, Gordon had a
backstage after the concert pass but couldn't cut through the crowd in time.
When he reached the stage door he was told Elvis has left the building.
You are in good company. That country boy sure can sing. You may look but you may not touch.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9Nw0r2Uy34
STONEY ~ Please don't pick on me today. I am a bit bummed. My pet goldfish drowned.
I found her in the barn, floating in a milking
pail. I guess she wanted to be creamated.
Absent twenty minutes of intense CGR, don't come crying around here.
Gillmonary
Saddest sight I ever saw. One minute her little
fins were just whippin' around in the cream.
The next thing you know she's being whisked off.
creamed carp on toast
for dinner I guess
....there you go again, Paolos........fishin' for comments
A clear case of lactose intolerance. Very sad.
Just like an old time movie about a ghost from a wishing well...love his work and I also think Chapin's Taxi is one of the best along with Fogelberg's Same Old Lang Syne. I like to be driven by song to think and drink. Then con someone into playing 52 card pickup. Demolition is always easier that construction. So many miles so many metaphors.
I have on muck up in every post. Where is Rosemary to erase those tapes?
oh, some of us could get into big trouble with this..... http://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/purple-squirrel-found-in-penns/61308
We are not alone!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2EAoGd7EHQ8
We seem to have reinvented Vaudeville !!!
Truly Strange, MISS BLUE ... but kinda neat .......
MISS PENELOPE: You would have liked him ... Great Dancer, usta enter Marathons back in the day when that was still done, and people knew what Dime-a-Dance was ....... Lewie was fastidious, like I am, Neurotically Clean ... Never had that, Old Man Smell ....... Last Man I ever knew to wear a Stick Pin ....... An ardent pragmatist, Lewie ... his favorite admonition was, ... " Never Get Buried in a Rented Suit..." Of course I had to wonder what lunkhead buried someone in a Rented Suit, in order for that incident to even be a consideration ....... but then, I consider the Alien Arab in the White House, and there is no further consideration needed ...
Uncle Lewie was Sixty-Five years in the Dry Goods Business, and finally Retired because Work was interfereing with his Dancing ... He was fond of BallRoom Dancing, but get a few Shots of Bourbon in him, and he could be inveigled to do the Charleston, or Jitterbug, or even the Lindy ....... In his 40's, he could Tap Dance on Roller Skates ... usta piss Aunt Sophie off, cuz he'd practice at home, and it scuffed up her Hardwood Floors .......
Time to start Supper for the Krewe .......
See y'all later .......
Paolos - Condolences on the death of your pet goldfish....I do understand....i have a 55 gal. tank and one of the residents, a black bubble-eye with triple tail and fins is upsidedown....and has been that way for months....I keep thinking I will find him still and drowned, but so far he flips back over when i tap him and the food comes in to the tank.....Wonder what happened to his equilibrium that he goes belly up....? Did you late fish give any warning, illness, or clue to his demise? I have had a fish tank for over 40 yrs. and enjoy their colors and antics. It is calmiing to put out the lights and just have the tank light on and watch them while sipping a nice chardonnay....Their life seems so serene....if only.
Andy - I have had the pleasure of seeing Neil Diamond in concert here in Atlanta at our World Congress Center/Omni (can't think of the new name for it) downtown....He does give a great show...! I have a friend who plays his CD's all day every day....Can you say "Obsession"??!! But yes, he is good!
Never could build the house of cardds. Never really played cards either. Maybe there's a connection?
Completely forgot that I have the Honor of my B-day on the same date as Mrs. Stoney. NOW Mr. Stoney you better get on the job as Friday is a bit booked ;-)
So it is, my friend.
FOREVER IN BLUEJEANS .......