Hi-de-hay.

Sorry for the somewhat lackluster update last week. I was out of town. Exactly where I was is a long, arduous, and somewhat frightening story... so I won't go into it. (By the way--the good news is that the Maryland state police are going to drop the charges! Woohoo!) Anyway, those two decks you saw were my "reserve decks"--decks I fixed some time ago, and that Scott has been holding in anticipation of times like this. It's because of this same "reserve decks" phenomenon that you'll only see two decks from me this week. I fixed four, but two of them had to go to become the new Reserve Decks. But don't despair. You've got the poll results (at last) to keep you busy.

Now then... tum tum de da tum... The letters!


>Subject:A letter to Spike & Vulpix
>
>Hi Spike and Vulpix. I'm a Pokemon master already with more Pokemon
>than a
>small Vulpix "Hahahaa" -Shut up Blastoise "Blas...". OK. So I came here
>to
>challenge you to a Pokemon battle. Is it Ok. Ok, let's start the
>battle.
>Spike: -Vulpix go! "Vulpiiix"
>Jorma: -I choose you Dewgong "...gooong"
>                     ___________
>Dewgong, Aurora beam,___________))))) BOOM!!!!!!
>Vulpix is paralyzed. But Spike used a super potion on Vulpix.
>
>Dewgong come back. "Deeewgoong" -Go Blastoise "Blaaas-toise"
>Hydro pump now. Alright! It's a one hit K.O.
>
>"BLAAAAAAS_TOOOOOISE"
>
>JORMA THE POKEMON MASTER STAYS UNDEFEATED!!


Aw. If you and your Pokemon hadn't turned around and started running like hell the second you finished off Vulpix, you might have noticed that my Jolteon wanted to have a chat with you. "Get Well Soon" cards for Vulpix can be sent to s_vulpix@pojo.com.


>Subject:the faint of heart: (not a deck fix)
>
>Happy Easter!
>
>Spike,
>
>First off thanks for the deck fix (sumer blizzard, which I'm trying to
>think of a new name for).
>Truthfully my heart is still a bit sore from yanking out all my water
>pokemon but strategically it
>does seem to run better, even though I haven't gotten all of the cards
>yet to completely fix the
>deck.
>
>Second, for anyone who still doubts the power of oak, if you play
>anyone with a fast deck you need
>a couple. I found this out the hard way shortly after I sent in my deck
>: )  Uggh! The game was
>ugly.
>
>Third, I'd like to use the water pokemon that were pulled out to build
>a new deck.  I'm going to
>use Dewgong and Articuno (but they both use a pretty large amount of
>energy) . In addition I'm
>thinking about putting in Wigglytuff. Or maybe Golduck for e. removal?
>I'm not asking for you to
>build a deck or anything, I'd just like to know if these pokemon would
>work well together and
>maybe get a suggestion or two on which pokemon would. No trainers or
>anything.
>
>Say hi to Vulpix.


You can't really go wrong with any of the families you mentioned. It all depends on your strategy. Keep in mind that more than 2 evolution families is generally asking for trouble. Good luck with your new deck. You may also want to think about Lapras... water's only real basic power.


>Hi.  My name is Corey.  I am arguably the greatest TCG player of all
>time. I
>am not particularly proud of this fact; however I do enjoy competing
>against
>those who understand the game the way that I do.  I was good at chess
>too,
>and Poke TCG and chess have a lot in common.  Anyway, I would love to
>play
>against some of you deck mechanics or the "Pojosama" just for the
>pleasure
>of playing.  I wish you a good day.


Hmm. I haven't ever heard of you. One would think that the greatest TCG player of all time would merit some name recognition. But if you want, you can come over here and we'll see what you can do.


>Subject:ditto
>
>.What is the big deal every where i go there is a fight about ditto. I can see it sucks because if it has >major damage u put it to sleep it dies. Spike just tell me is ditto a good Poke'mon or not.


He can be good, he can be bad. I don't personally use him on a regular basis, but that's personal preference. I do know I've won a lot of games by exploiting Ditto's weakness. On the other hand, I've used him quite effectively to hose certain decks. And Ditto's ability to use DCE makes him faster than most of the Pokemon he copies, although this advantage decreases after you get into the game and pure speed becomes less of a factor. With the usual disclaimer: in my opinion.


Subject:Who cares? They're just trying to make money.Date:Tue, 25 Apr 2000 17:49:35 CDT

Add Addresses




>Dear Spike,
>    OH MY GOD! I can't believe what I read in the letters today. I mean
>I
>was
>wondering how many of you all have actually played the digimon card
>game?
>There
>is tons and tons of people who go out and protest against something
>they
>have no
>personal experience with. Actually its a pretty origional game. I mean
>the
>only thing
>thats the same is the digivolving/evolving and the cards which are
>almost
>like trainers.
>Also I was wondering what that guy was saying about saying flavors or
>something?
>All I could get is its about Magic The Gathering. Also I would like to
>say
>this....
>FACE IT ALL OF YOU! IN THE WORLD
>THEIR IS A LOT OF COPIES! FOR INSTANCE
>THOSE SHOWS LIKE POWER RANGERS! Lets
>see... there was Bettle Borgs... VR Troopers... and other stuff I can't
>remember. So
>come on and give digimon a break. All their trying to do is make money
>and
>believe
>me Pokemon isn't all that great of a thing we should protect from being
>copied. Anyways I think the Fox company is just trying to fine a rival
>for
>Pokemon at the time. I think they found it and so far its working.


I haven't tried the Digimon card game. To be honest, two TCGs are enough of a drain on my wallet already without needing a third. And Satoshi, whose opinion I trust on certain things, has told us in no uncertain terms that it blows. I can't speak for the TV show. In fact, I'm gonna bow out of this argument right now.


>Subject:Simple Question
>
>This gonna sound kind of weird, and before I say it, yes I do have a
>life
>outside of Pokemon. OK, here's the question. Why do you refer to some
>Pokemon
>as 'him' and others as 'her'. I can see why with Nidoqueen and stuff,
>but who
>says that Articuno and the Eevee family are female? Is every Scyther a
>he?
>What make Lapras female and Haunter male? Logically, wouldn't there be
>male
>and female of each type? I was wondering what you think about this
>(don't
>insult me for bringing up a topic like this). 


Well, you just need a good pronoun for each Pokemon... and, I don't know, I guess some of them just seem to me to have feminine/masculine characteristics. Individual Pokemon, of course, can be male or female, except in the case of Nidoqueen, Nidoking, Jynx, Mime, and such. For example, Vulpix is a male. At least the last time I checked...


>Subject:Misinterpriting "Digimon hater People"
>
>I read the first three letters of your section and i decided to just scroll the whole way down as they were >all the same! man these people can't take a fricking joke! DIGIMON SUCKS!!! I thought your top 10 >was really funny especially that thing about the flavoring text. the only one i didn't like was #10. I like >rocket but that is beside the point. man, spike, you've got a tough crowd!
>
>-The Grass King
>
>PS i know that nintenfreak person that mailed you. he is a COLLECTOR!


Hehe. A collector. Hehehehe. Not that there's anything wrong with that.


>Subject:About the first Poll
>
>Hey Spike!!
>
> You now what, now that I think about it, I know what a Cyberdemon is. Doom is a great and very >hard to beat game. I have really only beat it w/ cheat codes. If I would've remembered what a >Cyberdemon was before I answered the poll, I would've said that the Cyberdemon would kill Pikachu in >10 seconds flat. Also, I can't believe how many peops e-mailed you about playing Digimon the TCG. >Can't they just think about it, then they would know you are actually joking. I also think that I was told >by someone or someone wrote it somewhere that Pokemon came before Digimon in some way or another >(in the TV series I think, but my memory ain't too good). And, yes, I think "ain't" is a word now. And, >why did people actually go to the Pokemon stores and leagues and run around w/ fiery cards? I can't >believe people actually thought that you were serious (or maybe they just want attention and said that >they did it even though they didn't?). Your Top 10 list was hilarious. You should!
 make another one >A.S.A.P. or wh

Okay.

Stadium: I love it. Great graphics, and it's a challenge battling through. Unless you're already a diagnosed GB junkie, though, you may have slightly better things to drop your money on.

Rocket: I think Muk, Gyarados and Charizard, along with possibly Alakazam, are the high points of the set. Most of the others are too weak, although a couple of the new Eevee evos look as though they might be worth playing. The artwork on all the cards is pretty funky, though.


>Subject:the Lady
>
>Hey Spike where did the Lady go her Garage was not in the links on the
>26th


>Subject:The Pokemon Lady
>
>Hello all you deck mechs,
>     Hi, my name is *DELETED* my mascot (and my screen name) is Mew. You
>can
>call me that. I know that all of you have heard of and gone to The
>Pokemon
>Lady's lab. But you might not be aware of the fact that she has been
>totaly
>fired and is not even listed as an inactive mech. Now i'm not asking
>you
>guys to go on strike (which would be a good idea) but if you could
>politely
>foward this message to Scott and also send your strongly worded protest
>about the "fireing" of TPL. Please ask to reinstate her as a deck mech.


Okay. In answer to the first guy's question, the Lady has indeed been "fired." I didn't have anything to do with it, and I don't really want to get involved in the politics behind all this. I don't even want to talk about it, to be honest. Why she was fired is a private matter between her and Scott.

To the second guy: I don't know if you appreciate how funny it was what you said. Yeah, sure. I'll go on strike. I'll go and yell at Scott. And maybe I'll pull out my eyebrows one hair at a time just for fun. Even if I really cared (which I have to say I don't; I know the reasons behind this and I have to say I agree with them) I'm not gonna go off and do something like this. And if you want to talk to Scott, why don't you just send a message to HIM? I'm sure he'll give your complaint the attention it deserves. *evil grin*


>Subject:(no subject)
>
>YOU BITCH


I always enjoy getting constructive criticism. I really wish someone would send me some.


>Subject:TOP 10 THINGS TO DO WHILE WAITING FOR GYM
>
>*LifeStealer runs around collecting all the Sand Shrews from everyone.
>He
>comes up with about 50. Wanna trade?*
>
>What do you guys do all day? I don't think its considered a job. hehe
>all I
>ever do is play Archmage (www.magewar.com). Are you encouraging me to
>cross
>dress? Rob a pokemon store? *LifeStealer declares evil!* I like the
>sand srew
>idea, I coulda got 76 sand shrews. hehe, someone lost a Blastoise
>*hehe*  I
>got a question, why do all the 1st ed Dark Charizards cost 150$ :( I'm
>gonna
>start printing out a pojo price sheet b4 I go hunting for promos. What
>did
>they do with all the Jigglypuffs? Who wanted to buy the Pokemon Album
>anywayz? Sure as hell not me. Ohh well hehe I got a Venusaur and a holo
>mew.
>I want Wiz to make a print of the Pokemon best collection. Nice cards
>in
>there....
>
>*LifeStealer runs around his local Wal-Mart ripping packs open by the
>hundreds. He pulls out 3 sand shrews :( and 1 charizard :) I wanna go
>back to
>when they sold 1st ed. for $1 he says to a kid picking his nose and
>making
>out with Barbie (who isn't in the right position to begin with)* hehe
>
>
>Spike? My cat's name is Spike. Hes fluffy hehe


Your cat is fluffy? How nice for you.


>Subject:Funny stuff!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
>
>Hi,
>
>         I think u are halarious and I think u should do the top te for
>ever
>!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Hehe. Thanks. Unfortunately, I expended most of my creative juices on that one. I could do many more top ten lists, but I wouldn't be able to confine them to Pokemon. Hehe. I actually started on a list of the top 10 reasons to buy Base Set 2, but ran out. Apparently there aren't even ten reasons. If I can come up with a few more, I'll post them up.


>Subject:Just wondering...
>
>On your deck Cinder could you change the Kangaskhan for Promo
>Electabuzz?
>Hes got a colorless attack and hes electric.


You could. You could also stab yourself in the eyes with a sharp fork, but what would be the point?

In all seriousness... that wouldn't be very good for the deck, IMO. In any situation but water, that Buzz is horribly weak and does nothing to justify his inclusion. Kangaskhan, on the other hand, is almost always a welcome sight unless I'm up against fighting. I think you're drawing an improper conclusion about what Kangaskhan's primary role is.

Oh yes... a kid at League on Saturday made a mono-water deck in an attempt to beat me. I smacked him up three times straight =)

Anyway. Those are all the letters, so now you can go read the rest of the garage. After you read my subliminal message (erm, thought for the day), that is.

SPIKE'S RANDOM THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

Maybe I should take some art classes. Nah. I have too little time on my hands as it is. Maybe when I grow up. Hehe. If I ever do. Hehe. I'm suddenly starting to drool for some reason. Hehe.

-Spike
spike@pojo.com



_______________________________________________________________________

Why pay when you don't have to? Get AltaVista Free Internet Access now!
http://jump.altavista.com/freeaccess4.go

_______________________________________________________________________