====== Maelstrom ======

===== Recruitment =====


Regarding the NPL tree, here's my little branch: 

(//Crossword Crosstalk// and [[Willz]]) ---> Maelstrom

I first heard about the league from [[Panache]] and [[Amber]]'s book, but, 
at the time, I didn't think I was up to the NPL quite yet (the concept of 
flats was a bit over my head). After submitting some puzzles to [[WILLz]] 
at NYT, he noted that my Milwaukie address reminded him of [[Sibyl]] and 
[[Smaug]], and that I might be interested in the NPL, and that the
next convention was in Portland. And here I am now.

Source: npl-folk email from Maelstrom.

//First issue//: Oct 1994

===== Recruits =====

None.

===== Nom =====

It's one of my favorite words. I first ran across it trying
to solve a Robert Leighton cryptic in Games some time ago. It
had to do with a maestro and a "musical maelstrom." It stuck
with me ever since.

Maelstrom and Matt Jones both contain 9 letters, and start
with the same 2 letters. And how many 9-letter words can you
think of that start and end with the same letter, and contain
an uncommon combination of 2 vowels followed by a string of
four consonants?

Take 2 letters and you get "maestro." I've had quite a bit of
experience with music in school (singing in choirs, jazz
ensembles, etc.), and I'm currently studying music education,
which involves conducting! (Hint, hint...)

Weird coincidences in my nom once I got to Willamette
University: Maelstrom contains all the letters in Salem, OR,
where Willamette is located. Also, there's a fairly big
waterway running through campus called the Mill Stream. Just
change 2 vowel sounds....

Even though "maelstrom" is often used in a negative connotation, 
I like to think of it in a positive sense (especially musical...), 
being surrounded by a swirling cacophony of sound, being drawn inward. 
I like the chaos theory, and maelstrom is nearly synonymous with "chaos." 
Of course, I go with the good, natural chaos, unpredictable, but
inevitable. I'm into all sorts of music, and there are certain types 
(techno, jazz, ambient, classical) which give me a mental image of being 
drawn inward into unpredictable sound. Well, that's my opinion, and I'd 
better stop here before I start getting Jungian...

==== Combinoms ====

  * Xeistrom: [[XEIPON]]/Maelstrom (Oct 95 #1, the infamous (?) "fig pirates" flat).
  * Jokestrom: [[Joker]]/Maelstrom (Nov 95 #11).
  * Qom: [[QED]]/Maelstrom (Sep 96 #46).
  * Maker: Maelstrom/[[Joker]] (Oct 95 #70).
  * Stromboli: Maelstrom/[[lunchboy|Lunch Boy]] (Nov 95 #77, Feb 96 #21).
  * Stromache: Maelstrom/[[Panache]] (Mar 96 #7).
  * Maeled: Maelstrom/[[QED]] (Mar 96 #54,Mar 96 #69, Apr 96 #62, Jun 96 #33).
  * Mae-F: Maelstrom/[[gabby|Gab-F]] (May 96 #34).

===== Offices =====

No data.