The Boy in the Box

The following short essay about one of Philadelphia’s most haunting unsolved crimes first appeared in an issue of The Black Hood comic book by Duane Swierczynski, published by Dark Circle Comics under the watchful eye of editor Alex Segura. It also appears in my book The Throes of Crime.

Following the essay is a link to a new report about the case from reporter Claudia Vargas at NBC10 in Philadelphia.

The Boy in the Box
by Erik Arneson

For a terrible week in the late winter of 1957, two stories dominated the Philadelphia Inquirer’s front page: a missing four-year-old girl and a dead, unidentified boy in a cardboard box.

The girl, Mary Jane Barker, was found dead six days after disappearing. Police concluded she locked herself in a closet while playing in an empty house near her home.

The boy, four to six years old, has remained unidentified for nearly six decades.

How to Host a Game Night – Thank You for the Great Reviews

When HOW TO HOST A GAME NIGHT was published nine months ago today, I had no idea how it would be received. To say I’m thrilled with the reaction would be a wild understatement.

In addition to the kind words from people like game designer Alan R. Moon (who called it “an incredibly fun read that’s chock-full of stories, memories, and experiences from gamers … the ultimate guide to gaming.”) and game publisher Justin Jacobson (who said, “Erik’s book is chock full of practical advice presented in a clear, fun way. … There is one sure-fire strategy to hosting the perfect get-together: Buy this book!”), the reviews on Amazon and other websites have been tremendously gratifying.

As of today, HOW TO HOST A GAME NIGHT has a 4.5-star rating on Amazon, which is amazing to me.

(Although I’m mentioning the reviews on Amazon, HOW TO HOST A GAME NIGHT is available anywhere you buy books, including amazing local bookstores like Reads & Company in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania. To order from a local bookstore, click on IndieBound or Bookshop on this page.)

Daredevil #3 – Trivia Game

In this trivia game, you decide how much risk you’re willing to take. The more answers you choose, the more points you can score — but incorrect answers count against you!

(Click on the image, or here, for a larger version.)

In the first category (“More Bacon than Kevin Bacon”), you’re looking for people who are better connected to other film and television stars than Kevin Bacon himself. (The Oracle of Bacon website – link below, so you’re not tempted to click it now – describes this as “the center of the Hollywood universe.” By their calculations, Bacon ranks #543.)

The second category (“Members of the European Union”) is self-explanatory.

In each of the two categories, you can guess as many answers as you want. In each category, there are 7 to 11 correct answers (which of course means there are 1 to 5 incorrect answers).

You earn 1 point for each correct answer and lose 1 point for each incorrect answer.

Good luck!

(If you’re reading this on the front page of my website, click through for the answers. Otherwise, scroll down.)

Name These 1980s Music Videos

In this game, your challenge is to identify each of the 1980s music videos pictured above.

(Click on the image, or here, for a larger version.)

You get 1 point for each correct artist or band, and 1 point for each correct song title.

Good luck!

(If you’re reading this on the front page of my website, click through for the answers. Otherwise, scroll down.)

Overlap – Crossword-Style Puzzle (#3)

Each answer in this crossword-style puzzle will, as the name of the game suggests, overlap the following answer by one or more letters. So the answer to #1, for example, will be at least seven letters long.

(Click on the image, or here, for a larger version.)

Have fun and good luck!

(If you’re reading this on the front page of my website, click through for the answers. Otherwise, scroll down.)

Talking Board Games on WGRT

I recently spent some time talking to Jessie Wiegand, host of LIMElight on WGRT-FM in Port Huron, Michigan, about the wonders of cooperative board games, spending winter nights playing board games, playing Pandemic during a pandemic, and much more!

You can listen to our discussion — including how to cope when things that go wrong at game nights — here:

https://wgrt.com/limelight-wsg-erik-arneson-how-to-host-a-game-night/

My book HOW TO HOST A GAME NIGHT is my love letter to game nights. It’s packed with practical advice and humorous stories from gamers. Jenn Bartlett, the Board Game Librarian, calls it “a delight to read” and says it “would make a great Valentine’s Day gift for that board game fan in your life!”

You can order your copy of HOW TO HOST A GAME NIGHT (paperback or ebook) now!

Super Bowl MVPs – Visual Trivia

In this game, half of the quarterbacks pictured here have been named MVP of at least one Super Bowl. Your challenge is to identify them.

(Click on the image, or here, for a larger version.)

You get 1 point for each correct answer — but you lose 1 point for each incorrect answer.

Good luck!

(If you’re reading this on the front page of my website, click through for the answers. Otherwise, scroll down.)

Daredevil #2 – Trivia Game

In this trivia game, you decide how much risk you’re willing to take. The more answers you choose, the more points you can score — but incorrect answers count against you!

(Click on the image, or here, for a larger version.)

In each of the two categories, you can guess as many answers as you want. In each category, there are 7 to 11 correct answers (which of course means there are 1 to 5 incorrect answers).

You earn 1 point for each correct answer and lose 1 point for each incorrect answer.

Good luck!

(If you’re reading this on the front page of my website, click through for the answers. Otherwise, scroll down.)

Talking Board Games on The Ray Carr Show

I was back on The Ray Carr Show this week, talking about Codenames, Password, Milton Bradley (the man and the game company), Monopoly, and much more (including a little about the Green Bay Packers).

Ray’s a fantastic host and I always enjoy talking to him. You can listen to the interview right here:

My book HOW TO HOST A GAME NIGHT is my love letter to game nights. It’s packed with practical advice and humorous stories from gamers. Jenn Bartlett, the Board Game Librarian, calls it “a delight to read” and says it “would make a great Valentine’s Day gift for that board game fan in your life!”

You can order your copy of HOW TO HOST A GAME NIGHT (paperback or ebook) now!

Name These Atari 2600 Games

In this game, your challenge is to identify each of the 16 Atari 2600 games pictured above.

(Click on the image, or here, for a larger version. Screenshots are from the great website AtariAge.com.)

You get 1 point for each correct answer.

Good luck!

(If you’re reading this on the front page of my website, click through for the answers. Otherwise, scroll down.)