Memories of 2004

In the absence of any better topics, this week's newsletter takes you on a nostalgic journey back to the year 2004. The highlight of that year for me was winning a cruise to Alaska through a lucky draw.

Below are a few random photos from that memorable year.

Here I am posing with Nick and Amy from The Apprentice. Who would have predicted that their former boss would later take on the role of president?

Those of us who grew up in the same era might remember playing Adventure on the Atari 2600. It wasn’t just a popular game; it also holds the distinction of being the first game to feature an 'easter egg,' which is essentially a hidden secret or joke within the game. Fast forward to the 1990s when someone created a spin-off called Indenture. It retained the same aesthetic as the original Adventure, yet the easter egg led players to an expansive new realm that dwarfed the original game. To succeed, gamers needed to locate five blinking numbers and return them to the Yellow Castle.

I was completely hooked on this game. Eventually, after creating numerous hand-drawn maps and managing to either evade or defeat several dragons, I achieved victory. The congratulations screen provided an address to request a free t-shirt, which I did, but unfortunately, it never arrived.

Mrs. Wizard again in the Carcross Desert, Yukon. This location is often considered the smallest desert globally, though I’ve heard it doesn’t meet the dryness criteria to truly be classified as a desert.

This was a social gathering for gambling writers. If memory serves me right, it took place in an upscale penthouse at the Las Vegas Hilton, now known as Westgate. In the photo, you can see Jean Scott, known as 'the Frugal Gambler', in the blue shirt and Don Schlesinger, who authored Blackjack Attack, in the white shirt and black pants. It appears Don is illustrating a point from his book to a man dressed entirely in white.

Written by: Michael Shackleford