Game Rooms Research Articles

Evaluating an Online Game Room for Fall Prevention Education in Long-Term Care Facilities

Evaluating an Online Game Room for Fall Prevention Education in Long-Term Care Facilities

Research on Narrative Strategies in Korean Variety Shows and Youth Self-identification: A Case Study of 'Biong Biong Planet Game Room'

Korean variety shows, with their distinctive entertainment style and gamification, have become a widely disseminated part of Korean pop culture, creating a unique cultural landscape. "Biong Biong Planet Game Room," a variety show produced in South Korea in 2022, combines travel reality shows with competitive games, enriching the emotional expression of variety shows through the construction of multiple spaces. This paper, based on the analysis of the narrative strategies of "Biong Biong Planet Game Room," explores the narrative paths of the show. It also examines how contemporary youths seek self-identification within such shows and project their self-awareness into them. Through this analysis, the paper identifies three ways in which young people construct their self-identity: resonating with the narrative subjects, immersing in the narrative space, and being attracted and engaged by the diverse and intertwined narrative structures. This research also provides insights into the development path for Chinese variety shows.

Cybersort Events As A Trend: A Promising Opportunity For Tourism Offerings

Cybersport events are a cutting-edge global phenomena. Because of this, the purpose of this study is to identify the potential of cybersport as a substitute for diversifying tourism events in Guayaquil, Ecuador. It was suggested to examine the circumstances surrounding cybersport events and how visitors view them in the chosen city within the methodological framework of an exploratory-descriptive scope. 384 attendees at cybersport events (possible tourists) who used player community networks and video game rooms around Latin America were given a survey. A questionnaire that was made available online for six months in order to allow for future analysis served as the data collection tool. The foremost discoveries in terms of quality execution of the occasion, discernment of the occasion, goal picture, and fulfillment uncovered four imperative pointers related. Occasion staff, occasion climate, neighborliness, and great sentiments approximately live participation must be taken into thought whereas planning a palatable encounter to coordinated into cybersport into the city’s tourism offerings. Participants too communicated their eagerness to return to the city within the future. These comes about contribute to growing the logical writing on the assessment and administration of cybersport occasions for other creating cities and nation

Transmission dynamics of drug-resistant tuberculosis in Ningbo, China: an epidemiological and genomic analysis.

Tuberculosis (TB), particularly drug-resistant TB (DR-TB), remains a significant public health concern in Ningbo, China. Understanding its molecular epidemiology and spatial distribution is paramount for effective control. From December 24, 2020, to March 12, 2023, we collected clinical Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) strains in Ningbo, with whole-genome sequencing performed on 130 MTB strains. We analyzed DR-related gene mutations, conducted phylogenetic and phylodynamic analyses, identified recent transmission clusters, and assessed spatial distribution. Among 130 DR-TB cases, 41% were MDR-TB, 36% pre-XDR-TB, 19% RR-TB, and 3% HR-TB. The phylogenetic tree showed that 90% of strains were Lineage 2 (Beijing genotype), while remaining 10% were Lineage 4 (Euro-American genotype). The spatial analysis identified hotspots of DR-TB in Ningbo's northern region, particularly in traditional urban centers. 31 (24%) of the DR-TB cases were grouped into 7 recent transmission clusters with a large outbreak cluster containing 15 pre-XDR-TB patients. Epidemiological analyses suggested a higher risk of recent DR-TB transmission among young adult patients who frequently visited Internet cafes, game rooms, and factories. Our study provides comprehensive insights into the epidemiology and genetics of DR-TB in Ningbo. The presence of genomic clusters highlights recent transmission events, indicating the need for targeted interventions. These findings are vital for informing TB control strategies in Ningbo and similar settings.

Design and development of networked real-life cycling training system based on mixed reality technology

The intelligent riding platform cooperates with the PC-side riding training system to simulate the effect of outdoor riding with a certain sense of reality. With the rapid development of information technology, users have also put forward higher requirements for cycling training systems. The 3D virtual scene riding mode provided by the existing intelligent riding training system does not meet the user's preference for real riding, and the domestic riding platform cannot simulate the real road feeling, lacking realism and fun. Therefore, developing a richer and more interesting new cycling training mode and creating a more realistic and accurate real cycling experience based on mixed reality are the new demands of users for the cycling training system. At the same time, the calculation and development of rider power based on the platform is the core of it. In the original single-person riding training mode, the server framework and client-side functional modules are constructed by using the principle of network communication and related technologies such as the production of online game rooms to realize the multi-player competitive function.

Houston Security Camera Ordinance: Reasonable Safety Measure or Orwellian Surveillance

A new ordinance went into effect in Houston, Texas in July 2022, which looks to leverage technology and require certain businesses to install surveillance cameras at their own cost and turn footage over to the police on demand without a warrant. The ordinance specifically requires bars, nightclubs, convenience stores, sexually oriented businesses, and game rooms to install surveillance cameras, with accompanying lighting at all places where customers are permitted, keep the cameras running at all times, even when the business is closed, and store the footage for at least thirty days, all at the expense of the business owners. The ordinance looks to use the video camera footage to help law enforcement in identifying and apprehending persons alleged to have committed violent crimes which have been on the rise in Houston in recent years. Advocates say that the requirements imposed by the ordinance are reasonable safety measures which will help to deter crime in the city. Critics of the ordinance argue that this is an Orwellian measure which unfairly targets certain businesses and forces small business owners to bear the cost of these measures. The requirement of the ordinance to turn over video surveillance footage to law enforcement on demand without a warrant, calls in to question several issues around the Fourth Amendment, privacy, and property rights. This note will explore the background of the ordinance, who the ordinance impacts, and potential legal questions the ordinance raises.

ESports Events Trend: A Promising Opportunity for Tourism Offerings

eSports events are a groundbreaking phenomenon worldwide. For this reason, this study aims to recognize the potential of eSports as an alternative for tourism events diversification in the city of Guayaquil, Ecuador. Within the methodological framework of an exploratory-descriptive scope, it was proposed to analyze the conditions of eSports events and the tourist perception of them in the selected city. A survey was applied to 384 participants of eSports events (potential tourists), using video game rooms and player community networks throughout Latin America. The instrument used to collect data was a questionnaire available online for six months for further analysis. The principal findings in terms of quality performance of the event, perception of the event, destination image, and satisfaction revealed four vital indicators associated. Event staff, event atmosphere, hospitality, and good feelings about live attendance must be taken into consideration while designing a satisfactory experience to integrate into eSports into the city’s tourism offerings. Attendees also expressed their willingness to return to the city in the future. These results contribute to expanding the scientific literature on the evaluation and management of eSports events for other developing cities and countries.

The Land of Long Days

The Land of Long Days Frances De Pontes Peebles (bio) Everywhere, there are rainbows—on the stairs to Girls' Block, around the bulletin board announcing our meals for the week, on the playground equipment where we sit during Outdoor Time. (Sometimes Nayeli goes down the rainbow slide, and we follow her, laughing like it's a big joke—us, pretending to be kids.) There's a rainbow on the front of the building, too, over the glass doors. Those doors are for Monitors and Counselors and for visitors, who show up every week wearing sticker badges and standing too close together, staring at our bunk beds and our art projects but never at us. In the back of the building is our door: gray metal, with a buzzer and cameras and a fence too tall to climb. "Everybody wants happiness, nobody wants pain," Alicia raps. "But you can't have a rainbow without a little rain." "I like the colors," Julissa says. "They're nice for little kids." "We're not kids," I say. "What are we, magical princesses?" Alicia asks. Nayeli says nothing, like always. We sit in Town Square. There're little huts (FaceTime House, Craft Place, Game Room) painted in candy colors and metal picnic tables all around. A rainbow village dropped inside a "juvenile immigrant shelter." That's what our Head Counselor, Mr. Miguel, calls this place. Alicia calls it jail. The rest of us call it Sunset Harbor, because that's what's written on our paperwork and printed on our sweatshirts. It was meant for little kids—the ones the Monitors call "tender age." That's the reason for the rainbows, the playground, the rec room full of toys and baby books. Nayeli heard that, when Sunset Harbor first opened, there were protests; people didn't want a baby jail in their town. So now we're here instead—fifty of us. The youngest is twelve. The oldest, seventeen. We cover construction paper in glitter. Julissa prints "PROM 2020!" in big, bubble letters and cuts them out to stick on our centerpieces. We have to make fifteen—one for each table in Town Square. Then we'll paint a banner. [End Page 101] "Prrrrrrrom! Prrrrrrom! Prrrrrrrom!" Alicia purrs. She's an engine, revving. Julissa rolls her eyes. "They tell you the playlist yet?" Alicia asks. "Mr. Miguel's got to approve the requests," Julissa replies. "Then we're fucked," Alicia whispers, so the Monitor nearby doesn't hear. "It'll be Grease and Top 40 shit." "You have Tupac in your ears every day. We don't need to listen to him at prom too," Julissa says. When she first arrived at Sunset Harbor, Alicia told her Child Advocate how much she loved Tupac Shakur. A week later, her Advocate burned her an old-school CD with bleeped-out versions of his greatest hits. Mr. Miguel held the CD for a few days and made calls to make sure it was allowed. Finally, he gave it to Alicia, who checks out a Sony Discman from the library every day (we aren't allowed computers, cellphones, or internet) so she can listen to the CD on repeat. Alicia scoots to the edge of her seat and does a body roll. "Fingertips on the hips as I dip, gotta get a tight grip, don't slip." "And you wonder why Mr. Miguel won't approve it …" Julissa says. "Loose lips sink ships, it's a trip …" Julissa gives up on Alicia and turns to me. "What kind of dress will you pick, Lilian? I want a big skirt, like a bride." I glance at Alicia, who's always ready to laugh at whatever comes out of my mouth. I have to think before I say things in Spanish. It's not too different from my Portuguese, but different enough for me to make mistakes. What I want to say is: I need a dress that glimmers like a million little fish scales. "Depends what they bring us," I mumble. Julissa wanted this party called prom very badly, so she convinced the Counselors and Ms. Susan, the Lead Monitor, to let her plan it. Julissa collected craft...

СЕНСОРНИЙ РОЗВИТОК СТАРШИХ ДОШКІЛЬНИКІВ ІЗ ЗАТРИМКОЮ ПСИХІЧНОГО РОЗВИТКУ ЗАСОБАМИ МОНТЕССОРІ-МАТЕРІАЛУ

The article analyzes the results of a study of the formation of standard ideas (color, size, shape) in preschoolers with mental retardation (MDR). The authors emphasize the levels of development of sensory standards in children with mental retardation, determine the main areas of work on the development of sensory standards in older preschool children with CPD using Montessori materials. Following the principles of classical humanism, M. Montessori created a concept based on the child's personality, a concept based on confidence in the abilities of each child, his ability to succeed despite special needs. Classes on this method are held in a specially prepared environment. Since Montessori's approach assumes that the game room should be divided into several parts, the following areas are considered standard: natural, practical life, sensory, linguistic, mathematical, to which it is advisable to add creative, playful and sports. The child can do where h likes and how much he likes. The task of the teacher is to "adapt" to the interests of the child, for whom it is important to create space for action. Under such conditions, children will learn easily and with pleasure. The use of Montessori materials is aimed at the development of fine motor skills, senses (sight, hearing, taste, smell, touch). According to M. Montessori, careful actions with small objects form intelligence, develop speech, attention and memory, so in her system there are many activities related to the operation of objects, guessing them by touch, sorting. We consider it expedient to continue working in the outlined direction in order to prove the effectiveness of this method with its further implementation in the educational process of children with CPD, as well as to adapt this method for other categories of children. Studies have shown that Montessori materials are an effective means of sensory development of older preschoolers with mental retardation. As a result of the application of this technique, most children improve tactile sensitivity, general and fine motor skills, visual-motor coordination, attention and memory.

보육교사의 휴게시간 운영 실태 및 정책요구

The purpose of this study is to identify operational status and policy requirements for sound operation on whether the use of nursery teachers' rest time is working well after 3 years of the implementation of the mandatory policy of children's home rest hours. It is to analyze in depth according to the background variables of the children's home, such as the type of nursery, the size, and the teacher's experience, and to provide the basic data reflecting after that the operation of the nursery teacher rest time can be supplemented by effective policies in the future. To this end, a questionnaire, the final research tool, was developed by re-verifying the literature analysis, the understanding of questions from 3 childcare-related professors and 5 childcare teachers, and content relevance. The final developed questionnaire consisted of 15 questions, consisting of 6 questions on general background, 7 questions on the actual status of the break time operation, and 2 questions on the policy request for improvement of break time operation. Data were collected from 303 nursery school teachers in Seoul and Gyeonggi regions, and the differences were analyzed through the χ2 test. The research results of this study are presented as follows. First, Number of times for breaks was 39.6%, which was higher than that of 17.5%, who used it every day. Second, the use of recess time was found in the order of nap time, special activity time, childcare routine, and other activities. Third, the method of using the break time was shown in the order of replacement of the partner of the second homeroom class, the support of the assistant teacher of the first homeroom class, the change of the partner of the third homeroom class, and the support of the class leader of the first homeroom. Fourth, the places used for break time at daycare centers were in the order of classroom, teacher's room, game room, and going out. Fifth, the methods of recording childcare teachers’ break time were shown in the following order: writing checklist documents, recording in diaries, and reporting to the director. Sixth, the works done during the break time were found in the order of paperwork, rest, daycare center joint work, and personal life work. Seventh, the reasons why a break time was planned but not implemented periodically were due to many tasks, safety of infants and children, and non-support from the director. Eighth, the guaranteed break time was shown in the order of no break time, 1 hour guarantee, and 2 hour guarantee. Ninth, the policy demands for substantiating break time operation were found in the following order: preparation of systematic detailed guidelines related to break time, practical work reduction, and guarantee of leaving work from 9 to 5 o'clock without break time. In order to stabilize the policy of obliging childcare teachers to take breaks, which can be directly related to the development and health and safety of infants and young children, it is necessary to understand the current situation in the field, write a detailed support policy for each type of daycare center, and comprehensively reflect this policy. suggest that it needs to be improved.

The feasibility study of Internet-assisted play therapy to resolve psychological disorders in primary healthcare settings: A qualitative study.

Play therapy is an intelligent tool in cognitive-behavioral therapies. In today's world, the Internet and technology play a key role in all aspects of people's life including mental health. The present study explores the feasibility of using Internet-assisted play therapy to solve children's psychological issues in primary healthcare systems. The present qualitative research was conducted by the content analysis approach on 20 experts working in the healthcare centers, who were selected purposefully. The sample was saturated with these 20 participants. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and were coded manually. Then, they were analyzed in the Atlas.ti software package. The results revealed 15 themes and 10 sub-themes. The themes included (1) safety, (2) efficiency, (3) client-orientedness, (4) organizational growth, (5) time, (6) effectiveness, (7) justice-orientedness, (8) access, (9) feedback, (10) analysis, (11) children's computer game room, (12) reward, (13) group game, and (14) capability to be integrated into other electronic programs. It seems that Internet-based play therapy is plausible to be used as a service in primary healthcare to tackle the psychological problems of children in the target population if the challenges related to the exploratory themes are taken care of.

MappyLand: Fast, Accurate Mapping for Console Games

We present MappyLand, a rewrite and enhancement of the earlier Mappy automatic game mapping system, which leverages instrumentation of a game console emulator to produce, from a sequence of game inputs, accurate annotations for action/adventure games including object detection and tracking, in-game camera movement, grid-based tile maps, and links between identified disparate spaces. The overhead of generating these annotations is on the order of one millisecond per observed frame. We also show a higher latency (but still online) algorithm for merging together previous observations of distinct game maps for the purposes of agent localization across a long period of time. Specifically, our system can determine a consistent graph of game rooms from a set of strings of game rooms, capturing behaviors like backtracking and synthesizing observations from multiple play sessions. Altogether, this fast, accurate approach to mapping yields new and useful knowledge representations and expedient ways to produce new datasets given just a game and some example play.

The Hierarchy in Grid Graphs (Extended Abstract)

Many speed-up techniques developed for accelerating the computation of shortest paths in road networks, like reach or contraction hierarchies, are based on the property that some streets are ’more important’ than others, e.g. on long routes the usage of an interstate is almost inevitable. In grids there is no obvious hierarchy among the edges, especially if the costs are uniform. Nevertheless we will show that contraction hierarchies can be applied to grid graphs as well. We will point out interesting connections to speed-up techniques shaped for routing on grids, like swamp hierarchies and jump points, and provide experimental results for game maps, mazes, random grids and rooms.

An application of gothic elements in rudyard kipling's “my own true ghost story”

This paper aims to find the Gothic elements in Rudyard Kipling, selected short story. After the first reading of the short story "My own true ghost story" shows a lot of gothic elements. The analysis of this Gothic story will show how young man haunted by Dak Bungalow because of the game room, doolie bearers walking sound and dark winter night with rain-affected to the young hero of this story. In all Victorian gothic stories and novels, young protagonist characters are only suffered in the example of H G Wells story The Red Room hero suffered by Shadow and long corridors, Wuthering Heights by a young ghost with Dark Romance, haunted rooms, windows, churchyards, graveyards, vault these are common places. But in Rudyard Kipling's story My Own True Ghost stories Young British Protagonist or Narrator of this story haunted by the Bungalow take takers Kanshamas, who is old as the building, they told old stories about a British officer who visited, stayed this Dak Bungalow, and how they lived now also as a ghost and he tried to see this but that particular he fell from the steps when he opens his eye, Khansams is sitting beside him and he thought this is unanswered place.

SOSYAL HİZMET EĞİTİMİNDE İLETİŞİM BECERİLERİNİ KAZANDIRMAYA YÖNELİK UYGULAMALAR: BECERİ LABORATUVARI

Sosyal hizmet odağında insan ve insanla iletişim olan akademik bir disiplindir. Sosyal hizmet mesleğinde iletişimde yetkinlik, tüm müracaatçı gruplarıyla etkileşimlerde ve tüm faaliyetler için hayati önem taşımaktadır. Bu nedenle sosyal hizmet uzmanlarının çalıştıkları alanlarda yaptıkları mesleki görüşme ve müdahalelerde iletişim becerilerine sahip olmaları ve bu becerileri kullanabilmeleri önemlidir. Profesyonel mesleki kimlik gelişimi, sosyal hizmet eğitiminin temelidir ve mesleğin bilgi, beceri ve değerlerinin öğrencilere kazandırılması bu gelişimin önemli bir bileşenidir. Sosyal hizmet eğitiminde iletişim becerilerinin kazandırılmasında görüşme ve gözlem odası, aynalı oda, oyun odası gibi uygulama ortamlarının oluşturulduğu beceri laboratuvarlarına ihtiyaç vardır. Bu ortamlarda rol oynama, video kaydı, oyunla iletişim, yaratıcı drama, psiko-drama gibi teknikleri içerecek eğitim müfredatlarının oluşturulması önerilmektedir.

THE ROYAL GULF CRUISE SHIP

Cruise ships are usual for coastal cities around the world. Jeddah, which is city close to the Red Sea coast is a perfect location for cruise tourism. It will be a point of attraction and enrichment for Jeddah as a tourist city. Thus, this work proposes the development of a royal gulf cruise ship at Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. In this work, four case studies related designs of cruise ships were referred. From the analysis of the case studies, for the current proposed royal gulf cruise ship, the estimated area of the cruise ship in total is 30175 m2. Furthermore, The project will host 900 passengers, and around 420 crews. In addition, the cruise ship is designed to accommodate 380 suite rooms as 54% of the estimated cruise space is comprised of the suites. On the other hand, the facilities of the cruise ship includes public area, such as restaurants, shops game rooms, aquarium, theatre, private areas such as suites, crew room, bridge and captain area. In terms of the cruise ship's overall design, the hull's design comes in a free-flowing nature and mimics the waves of the sea.

Exploring views on communal amenities and well-being in housing for seniors in Taiwan

ABSTRACTThe aim of this study was to learn views from healthcare practitioners and the general public for housing communal amenities that could best support senior well-being for ageing in place. The literature review identified 30 popular communal amenities and was tested via a questionnaire survey conducted in Taiwan. Participants (N = 759) evaluated the importance level of the proposed amenities with five-point Likert scale. Data were analysed with Friedman Ranking Test and Kruskal–Wallis test. Results showed that both respondent groups placed outdoor open space, trail and garden with seat as top three important amenities, where outdoor and multifunction were the spatial and functional qualities. While the general public believed physical category amenities were more important, healthcare practitioners put emphasis on social and spiritual categories. Within the general public group, respondents aged 65 years and older had different views than younger respondents on dog run area, BBQ areas and video game room. Swimming pool and religious space were viewed as an important amenity by respondents from different regions. It was concluded that in Taiwan, views may differ with upbringing and cultural backgrounds, residing regions and age. The initial findings can assist policymakers, real estate developers and designers for decision-making in future housing projects.

Üniversite Öğrencilerinin Ticari Nitelikli Rekreasyon Etkinliklerine Katılım Sıklıklarının ve Harcama Düzeylerinin İncelenmesi: Bingöl Üniversitesi Örneği

The aim of this study is to explain the monthly participation frequencies and spending levels of university students in commercial recreation activities. In addition, it determines whether there is any difference between the department and the monthly participation frequency. The population of the study consists of students studying at Bingol University. A questionnaire was completed for 641 students. The results of the research were obtained by using Anova and Manova analyzes in SPSS statistical program. The commercial recreational recreation where students participate most; cafe, games room and coffeehouse (X=4,54), reading books (X=3,81) and going to cinema/theater (X=3,36). The monthly expenditure level of students in recreational activities was the same with the results of the participation frequency. The Faculty of Theology, which has a minimum monthly attendance to the cafe, game room and coffeehouse activity, has been in attendance. The book reading activity was the monthly least attended by the Physical Education and Sports High School. The most participating department in cinema/theater activity was the students of the Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences.

장후이원의 단편소설 ｢달 둥근 밤｣ 속의 ‘내면의 낯설음’ 연구

The character “I” in A Night With the Full Moon became ‘an invisible person’ to his family members ‘inside’ the family after his delinquency just one time in a certain game room in his adolescence. He caused external injury to other person, but, thereby he got incurable, internal injury to himself for good. He became ‘a person who hid himself’ like an invisible man as a fake-cigarette delivery man in the society as well. The unfamiliarity of ‘non-existence’ both ‘internal’ and ‘external’ of ‘I’ only became expanded and deepened rather than becoming reduced or extinct, as his identity had changed from an inflictor to an offender, to a murderer, to a fugitive, to a runaway after seizing weapon, and to an inmate. The reason why the character ‘I’ became ‘a non-existing being’ imprisoned in himself and became ‘an erased being’ even outside, was originated by a lack of love. Love is begun from love and understanding, consideration and forgiveness in the family, and then it is expanded infinitely to those of others and in the society. This is a very common truth, but people often forget it.

To Lead a Pig Skyward, and: Late July, Willard Ave. Apt. 2, and: When the Cowboy Visits You at Night, and: Too Much or Nothing at All, and: Strays

To Lead a Pig Skyward, and: Late July, Willard Ave. Apt. 2, and: When the Cowboy Visits You at Night, and: Too Much or Nothing at All, and: Strays Samantha DeFlitch (bio) To Lead a Pig Skyward I read a pig can’t look up.That you’ve got to gentlytilt their heads backif they’re going to take inthe night skies. I neverled a pig skyward lateat night in Pennsylvania.Earthbound is probablybetter. We all startgetting ideas when welook up, and the pigs,they always seemed sopleased where they were,rooting in soft earth.No need to look up for Godwhen the holy was there,beneath their trotters, coolbelow the autumn archerthat was rising, lightly,on the eastern horizon. [End Page 119] Late July, Willard Ave. Apt. 2 I’ve got two good handson late summer. Got oneegg in butter, one cast ironon the burner. Two sweat-glazed hands on bluecountertop, one good footon the tile—and a dog gonetaken up her howling.God, those great storm-clouds are building,half-promising could-berelief. I’m straight nakedin my kitchen. I’m livinga whole life; the cloudsare just a bonus. I’ve beenshouting hallelujah in aone-bedroom attic.It’s 91 degrees on thesefloors. Hallelujah. Godherself is a naked woman,sweat-shining, sticky,frying eggs and tossingkale stems to herragged little dog. [End Page 120] When the Cowboy Visits You at Night Tell him he can leave his boots under your bed.Tell him you buried something wild beneathan ocotillo plant, wrote a woman’s name therein the sand, and watched it blow away in the wind.Tell him you know his horse’s name.Tell him the horse is three-legged and stakedoutside your ground-floor apartment, and he’sslow-gnawing on your neighbor’s carnations.Your neighbor’s name is Rita, and she’s old.She drinks Bud Heavy beneath the stairwell.When the cowboy visits you at night,show him your praying-plant, how it closes upwhen the sun goes down, and the sun goes downearly on the East Coast. This will be new to him.Show him moonlight on your sourdough starter.Take his hand, place his palm on the backof your small dog. Show him gentle.Show him the damp dawn that only breaksin the east, that this side of the country can bewide and wild, especially on the slopes ofAgiocochook, where you saw your first mooselumbering on the trail to Mount Isolation.The cowboy loves to shoot the shit.The cowboy loves a good story, almost as muchas he loves to leave before sunrise withyour words strong under his tongue,riding a nameless horse who keepsRita’s carnations warm in his deep belly. [End Page 121] Too Much or Nothing at All It is spring. I left the pumpkinsrotting outside all winter, and nowonly their caved-in shells are left.Gloveless, I toss them over a hill.There is a gap in my screen door—at night, the mosquitos find me alone.What a great woman I am, nameless.Maybe I was magnificent—once,but maybe only once.Now, pumpkins rot on my porch. Anyway, who would really wantto be great? Great women are unhappy.They don’t kill spiders in their own showerswith their Dollar Store bottles of shampoo,or have sex in basement game rooms,or eat Skippy straight from the jar witha plastic spoon, late at night, braless.Yes. I have what it takes to be average.These are the things I tell myself at night,alone, and quiet. [End Page 122] Strays It is all very much the same.You love a girl.You are washing clothesin a 24-hour laundromatthat doubles as a sandwich joint.It is late, or early. It is the wrong hour.It is 2 am and there is a stray cattle dog pacing,stalking bent moonlight between dryers.There is howling in the parking lot...