Hey everyone - Just a quick post to let everyone know my vacation is going swimmingly. I'm posting from an internet terminal in a Subway's here in downtown. The price is $.10/a minute, a mite cheaper than the ship's $.50/a minute. Not much to say, except everything is going great, and I'll have some good pictures and video next weekend. If I find a terminal with some hookup cables, I'll try to upload some before week's end (but my phone won't work out here, darn MetroPCS, so I can't do any moblogging or podcasting).
That is all, as you were.
(BTW, just remembered - there will be pictures next week from Fashion Week Miami - Ricky's going down to cover the events this week, and I'll put the best of photos up on the site in the gallery, and few in some select blog posts).
/rizzn
Tuesday, October 11, 2005
Monday, October 10, 2005
So What is iRP about anyhow?
Hay Rizzinites! Been a solid minute since I posted on this site. Speaking of solid, veterans may recall me as The Shit back in the hey-day of Dj Colonoscopy and his sidekick, The Shit.
Todays subject: Addiction...
Addiction is a horrible beast that will one day rear it's ugly in head in our direction. I used to play WoW (World of Warcraft) and Ever-crack and all that stuff. Indeed, my life was consumed. I always figured that if someone wanted to make a quick million they could open a computer free clinic that helped people reclaim there lives from there level 55 shaman lieutenant. I know many desperate wives that would gladly pay for there husbands treatment.
Yom Kippur is the Jewish holy day of attonement where Jews everywhere come together to celebrate their overwhelming guilt. I plan on including a few prayers for forgiveness this year for all the time I wasted on my MMORPGs.
It would go somthing like this: "Dear God of the Hebrews, please forgive me for killing so many other players and wasting all my time focused on doing so."
God's response would go somthing like this: "Dearest guilt ridden Hebrew male, thank you for your consideration, however the only way I could consider exonerating you is if you mitigate your addiction somwhat by playing the only RPG that matters and forgetting all of the others. I, the Lord your God, of course now speak of Iroleplay.net.
Now what the Lord my God doesn't realize of course is that the site is run entirley by a nutso group of heathens, but don't tell him I said so. Don't tell them I said that either for that matter.
Iroleplay.net has been the most singularly unique roleplaying experience I have ever enjoyed on line, and would encourage Rizzn readers to give it a try. The action occurs in four (or more) hour stints usually tuesday and friday night in the IRC based chatroom, Heroes Haven Inn. Incidentally that is the also the in game location where most games start from.
Top 5 Reason's to play Iroleplay.net
#5 - Great Characters
Avid Rizzn readers are already familiar with some of the wackier ones.
Doidaldi- (the cross dressing giant/would be giantess) is a reason unto himself. This show tune singing twin's most recent exploits, include selling himself to a group of sailors, and walking bow legged back into the bar. Here is one of his posts on the message boards
"The tall, gorgeous giant of a transvestite urdon turns and walks away defeated once more from ever finding a man that can see past appearances. A tear and sadness plays across his mishapen, but otherwise womanly features as he turns his head toward the moon and sings in a horrible tone def glory: ((in what would anachronistically seem to be the tune of "It's raining men)) "Somewhere there is a man for me... perhaps out on the open sea My Urdon heart I give freely for the man who loves me for me..." A nearby cat shrieks and dies..."
Zoot- the mentally unstable goblin shaman has his own fashion line that consists entirley of pots and pans strapped to various body parts. There exist hosts of other characters, and please understand that not all of them are over the top. We aim to keep the game believable enough to take seriously. I would encourage any who are interested to check out the message boards to verify this. http://iroleplay.net/viewforum.php?f=15
There are many more worth mentioning, but the grand reason why so many players are so creative with there character concepts, is because characterization is richly rewarded in this game. It is one of the main ways experience is earned. The act of character creation and the process of creativity is cherished among this group. If you feel like you are a creative person than IRP is a home you never knew you had, because you will be playing with nothing but.
#4 -The Adventure
Our GMs are some of the most well established veteran text based Game masters in the world. This wealth of creative, veteran talent has compiled the rules of this game over an eight year period. They have been adapting the system to online play for over a year. Please check out the history section to learn more. http://iroleplay.net/index.php?page=history
I still wonder at some of the brilliant characters and dynamic scenarios my characters have encountered. I will never forget Hannibals barbecue grill. Having retrieved it from the enemy and his horde of angry dingoes, we quickly started it up to cook some griffin meat. We were told that "It's use had altered the fate of kingdoms". We should have taken a hint. Expecting permanent stat increases from the consumption of the meat cooked on it, we were not surprised when magical plumes of smoke began belching out. We were shocked when those fumes knocked us all out. We should have died, but thank the gods, we were inside the heavily warded walls of the Heroes Haven inn and the army of Fire elementals that the grill summoned instead decided to burn down every other standing structure in town.
#3 - The Setting
The world of Gwyreth is richly detailed and provides custom reflections for almost all cultural and racial scenarios of this world. I have a middle eastern style character from a region called the scorched lands, there is actually an entire empire not unlike Rome called Folnir. There are also many fantastical environments that have no paralell here on earth. The race and class combinations for your characters are vast at more then 100 possible combinations. These include an array of special classes your character can evolve into. Evolution will happen by happy accident, because qualifications for these classes are entirley secret and depend on how you develop your character (PSST...GMs are accomadating and in game will drop obvious hints to steer you toward your secret class of choice). Skill choices, alignment, in character ambitions, all come into play when determining whether or not your character can evolve to an elite class.
#2 -The addiction
The reason I stopped playing MMORPGs is that I eventually discovered what a consuming and awful thing an addiciton can be. Even if it is just a roleplaying game. Ultimatley, It is depressing and after awhile I lose the joy of the experience. It becomes automatic. One of the most delightful aspects of this game is that it is an addiction that is only fed twice a week. In this regard IRP is a safe, wife + having a life friendly addiction. As much as I would like to I can't IRP all the time. It is a select occasion that I really look forward to all week.The limitations are a built in restraint to my addiction while at the same time providing a haloe of ritual to the entire thing that has in my many months of playing, never diminished.
And, (very cliche' drum roll.....)
The NUMBER ONE REASON TO PLAY IRP IS....
Its Free. We need people to play. We really want you to help in developing rich history for the game. A wealth of creative talent will be required in this monumental effort and while we have alot of talent amongst us, we really need more. If you have some interesting character ideas, we want you now! Creative roleplaying provides not only the only characters playing with a good time and a fulfilling experience, but also all of those playing with them get the same. IRP is in the process of transitioning out of Beta. Once out, it will be a paid service. (one time five dollar member for life fee) All of those who help us out in Beta will be free for life, Our little way of saying thankyou.
And the number zero reason that IRP Rocks...
Free Booze.
All members of the Heroe's Haven Inn are entitled to free room board and drink. If you do decide to play try not to get your characters plastered before the dragon slaying mission. I am sick and relying on a bunch of drunks to get my back on major baddies.
Thanks for the post Mark! See you in Gwyreth Rizzinites.
Todays subject: Addiction...
Addiction is a horrible beast that will one day rear it's ugly in head in our direction. I used to play WoW (World of Warcraft) and Ever-crack and all that stuff. Indeed, my life was consumed. I always figured that if someone wanted to make a quick million they could open a computer free clinic that helped people reclaim there lives from there level 55 shaman lieutenant. I know many desperate wives that would gladly pay for there husbands treatment.
Yom Kippur is the Jewish holy day of attonement where Jews everywhere come together to celebrate their overwhelming guilt. I plan on including a few prayers for forgiveness this year for all the time I wasted on my MMORPGs.
It would go somthing like this: "Dear God of the Hebrews, please forgive me for killing so many other players and wasting all my time focused on doing so."
God's response would go somthing like this: "Dearest guilt ridden Hebrew male, thank you for your consideration, however the only way I could consider exonerating you is if you mitigate your addiction somwhat by playing the only RPG that matters and forgetting all of the others. I, the Lord your God, of course now speak of Iroleplay.net.
Now what the Lord my God doesn't realize of course is that the site is run entirley by a nutso group of heathens, but don't tell him I said so. Don't tell them I said that either for that matter.
Iroleplay.net has been the most singularly unique roleplaying experience I have ever enjoyed on line, and would encourage Rizzn readers to give it a try. The action occurs in four (or more) hour stints usually tuesday and friday night in the IRC based chatroom, Heroes Haven Inn. Incidentally that is the also the in game location where most games start from.
Top 5 Reason's to play Iroleplay.net
#5 - Great Characters
Avid Rizzn readers are already familiar with some of the wackier ones.
Doidaldi- (the cross dressing giant/would be giantess) is a reason unto himself. This show tune singing twin's most recent exploits, include selling himself to a group of sailors, and walking bow legged back into the bar. Here is one of his posts on the message boards
"The tall, gorgeous giant of a transvestite urdon turns and walks away defeated once more from ever finding a man that can see past appearances. A tear and sadness plays across his mishapen, but otherwise womanly features as he turns his head toward the moon and sings in a horrible tone def glory: ((in what would anachronistically seem to be the tune of "It's raining men)) "Somewhere there is a man for me... perhaps out on the open sea My Urdon heart I give freely for the man who loves me for me..." A nearby cat shrieks and dies..."
Zoot- the mentally unstable goblin shaman has his own fashion line that consists entirley of pots and pans strapped to various body parts. There exist hosts of other characters, and please understand that not all of them are over the top. We aim to keep the game believable enough to take seriously. I would encourage any who are interested to check out the message boards to verify this. http://iroleplay.net/viewforum.php?f=15
There are many more worth mentioning, but the grand reason why so many players are so creative with there character concepts, is because characterization is richly rewarded in this game. It is one of the main ways experience is earned. The act of character creation and the process of creativity is cherished among this group. If you feel like you are a creative person than IRP is a home you never knew you had, because you will be playing with nothing but.
#4 -The Adventure
Our GMs are some of the most well established veteran text based Game masters in the world. This wealth of creative, veteran talent has compiled the rules of this game over an eight year period. They have been adapting the system to online play for over a year. Please check out the history section to learn more. http://iroleplay.net/index.php?page=history
I still wonder at some of the brilliant characters and dynamic scenarios my characters have encountered. I will never forget Hannibals barbecue grill. Having retrieved it from the enemy and his horde of angry dingoes, we quickly started it up to cook some griffin meat. We were told that "It's use had altered the fate of kingdoms". We should have taken a hint. Expecting permanent stat increases from the consumption of the meat cooked on it, we were not surprised when magical plumes of smoke began belching out. We were shocked when those fumes knocked us all out. We should have died, but thank the gods, we were inside the heavily warded walls of the Heroes Haven inn and the army of Fire elementals that the grill summoned instead decided to burn down every other standing structure in town.
#3 - The Setting
The world of Gwyreth is richly detailed and provides custom reflections for almost all cultural and racial scenarios of this world. I have a middle eastern style character from a region called the scorched lands, there is actually an entire empire not unlike Rome called Folnir. There are also many fantastical environments that have no paralell here on earth. The race and class combinations for your characters are vast at more then 100 possible combinations. These include an array of special classes your character can evolve into. Evolution will happen by happy accident, because qualifications for these classes are entirley secret and depend on how you develop your character (PSST...GMs are accomadating and in game will drop obvious hints to steer you toward your secret class of choice). Skill choices, alignment, in character ambitions, all come into play when determining whether or not your character can evolve to an elite class.
#2 -The addiction
The reason I stopped playing MMORPGs is that I eventually discovered what a consuming and awful thing an addiciton can be. Even if it is just a roleplaying game. Ultimatley, It is depressing and after awhile I lose the joy of the experience. It becomes automatic. One of the most delightful aspects of this game is that it is an addiction that is only fed twice a week. In this regard IRP is a safe, wife + having a life friendly addiction. As much as I would like to I can't IRP all the time. It is a select occasion that I really look forward to all week.The limitations are a built in restraint to my addiction while at the same time providing a haloe of ritual to the entire thing that has in my many months of playing, never diminished.
And, (very cliche' drum roll.....)
The NUMBER ONE REASON TO PLAY IRP IS....
Its Free. We need people to play. We really want you to help in developing rich history for the game. A wealth of creative talent will be required in this monumental effort and while we have alot of talent amongst us, we really need more. If you have some interesting character ideas, we want you now! Creative roleplaying provides not only the only characters playing with a good time and a fulfilling experience, but also all of those playing with them get the same. IRP is in the process of transitioning out of Beta. Once out, it will be a paid service. (one time five dollar member for life fee) All of those who help us out in Beta will be free for life, Our little way of saying thankyou.
And the number zero reason that IRP Rocks...
Free Booze.
All members of the Heroe's Haven Inn are entitled to free room board and drink. If you do decide to play try not to get your characters plastered before the dragon slaying mission. I am sick and relying on a bunch of drunks to get my back on major baddies.
Thanks for the post Mark! See you in Gwyreth Rizzinites.
Something Old Makes Something New
Hello everyone, Jon Wilson here from Thelinebeginstoblur. As you may or may not know, i have been commissioned to guest blog for Mark today as he is on vacation. Ive been told to post something relevant without saying the words.....well you know, dirty words. At the very least i should make sure that you know that anything i say here today is the sole opinion of myself, and cannot be controlled by Mark Hopkins in anyway, shape, form, or fashion. Dont yell at him, Yell at me via pinionblue@gmail.com
Onward we go.
I was stressing slightly over what to post for today's update. I havent really kept up with too many political issues since sometime around march when the gas prices started raising the roof more often than Flava Flav at a Public Enemy CD release party. So therefore, instead of trying to think of something new and bore you to death. Im gonna post an old article about some ads that i never could get behind.
Namely, ads for Basic Cable.....on basic cable.
The article is as follows:
Amongst the overflowing amount of Blink-182 videos that never seem to go away, and the reruns of Growing Pains.....with that lovable chump turned Fundamentalist Christian Kirk Cameron. I noticed something on the Godbox yesterday. Cox Cable, the local conglomerate on all things digital entertainment in our area (and when i say our area, i mean Jupiter....just north of that flaming ball of hellfire), was showing commericals for its basic cable service.
Now correct me if im wrong, but if you are the only cable company in the area and you are advertising your basic cable service on the only basic cable service in the area, then what possible difference, or for that matter profit, would you make by placing these spots on television. Granted im not too worried about missing the preview commericials for "Who wants to live on the Real-Survivor-Idol Millionare Island Dance and Chili Cook-Off" or the newest line of products from The Gap, but i honestly dont understand the thought process the executives went through to get these commercials on air. If i did understand it, it would probably go a litlle something like this:
[exec walks into room, straightens tie, sits down at top position of table]
Executive Head: "Good Morning Gentlemen. I trust this meeting will be short?"
[two lower level executives, obviously crying inside from the pathetic bastardazation of all things sacred and holy in their lives, clear their throats and begin their presentation]
Lackey Number One: "Yes, Sir. Very short. We are going to present an idea to you for the commercial to fill the 30 seconds right before "The Spanking New Adventures of Donkey Kong and Miles Davis (sponsored by MTV and Clorox Bleach)"
Lackey Numero Dos: "Sir we have an absolutly outstanding idea for this spot! Picture This: A commercial on both our Basic and Digital streams, advertising our Basic and Digital Streams!
[The head executive holds his open hand up, as to gesture a stop from the moron lower level executive from speaking out of his mouth-hole]
Executive Head: "You want to run an ad on Basic Cable, for Basic Cable?"
Lackey First One: "Yes, Sir. That is the plan."
[as if waiting for the head to go greco-roman and raise his thumb in approval or lower it in utter dismay of the very notion that they could pass a green light for something so incredibly idiotic....the lackeys wait for what feel like 4 minutes....but is really only 3.925 minutes]
Executive Head of Retards: "Thats absolutly brilliant Steve!!!"
Retard Number One: "Thank you!, and my name is Paul sir..."
Executive dead by five-thirty: "Thats what i said.....Steve...."
Number One guy man: "....yes sir...."
Executive nicknackpattywackgivadogabone: "the project is green-lighted, bring a rough draft back to me when im not drunk!"
[lackey/moron/giraffes walk out of boardroom in a stupor, surprised that something so meaningless was actually go for launch....]
/end pathetic excuse for a skit youll never see on the Kids in The Hall, or performed by the West Chester, Pennslyvania comedy skit troup: Chester Nut Bars on Parade (featuring Weird Al and the 1991 Denver Broncos!)
But Since i dont know what they were thinking.....i can only begin to think that the Higher ups had one of four things on their minds...
A: Make the Commerical and put it on every thirty seconds that the Season Finale of Will and Grace isnt on.
B: Show it to some girl scouts in the hopes that they and their families would get free cookies/sexual favors
C: Take the hard copy betamax tape of the Commercial and sacrifice it to the devil of all things decent and entertaining on television (read: the same devil that let Pauly Shore do "Jury Duty")
D: Mix the Commerical with some Mayonaise and Bread (white because all bread companies are racist) and make a nice Crap Sandwich
E: Frank Zappa
Again, only God and the Denver Broncos will ever really know the truth as to the decision that was made to put this commerical on air and rot away all other neuro-pathways inside my cerebral cortex. Hopefully, They will share with me and all the other white bread loving americans when we all die from the ebola virus....
Hows THAT for a curveball...
Running out of time to look for the Holy Grail
Jon Wilson
You can find my blog at
Onward we go.
I was stressing slightly over what to post for today's update. I havent really kept up with too many political issues since sometime around march when the gas prices started raising the roof more often than Flava Flav at a Public Enemy CD release party. So therefore, instead of trying to think of something new and bore you to death. Im gonna post an old article about some ads that i never could get behind.
Namely, ads for Basic Cable.....on basic cable.
The article is as follows:
Amongst the overflowing amount of Blink-182 videos that never seem to go away, and the reruns of Growing Pains.....with that lovable chump turned Fundamentalist Christian Kirk Cameron. I noticed something on the Godbox yesterday. Cox Cable, the local conglomerate on all things digital entertainment in our area (and when i say our area, i mean Jupiter....just north of that flaming ball of hellfire), was showing commericals for its basic cable service.
Now correct me if im wrong, but if you are the only cable company in the area and you are advertising your basic cable service on the only basic cable service in the area, then what possible difference, or for that matter profit, would you make by placing these spots on television. Granted im not too worried about missing the preview commericials for "Who wants to live on the Real-Survivor-Idol Millionare Island Dance and Chili Cook-Off" or the newest line of products from The Gap, but i honestly dont understand the thought process the executives went through to get these commercials on air. If i did understand it, it would probably go a litlle something like this:
[exec walks into room, straightens tie, sits down at top position of table]
Executive Head: "Good Morning Gentlemen. I trust this meeting will be short?"
[two lower level executives, obviously crying inside from the pathetic bastardazation of all things sacred and holy in their lives, clear their throats and begin their presentation]
Lackey Number One: "Yes, Sir. Very short. We are going to present an idea to you for the commercial to fill the 30 seconds right before "The Spanking New Adventures of Donkey Kong and Miles Davis (sponsored by MTV and Clorox Bleach)"
Lackey Numero Dos: "Sir we have an absolutly outstanding idea for this spot! Picture This: A commercial on both our Basic and Digital streams, advertising our Basic and Digital Streams!
[The head executive holds his open hand up, as to gesture a stop from the moron lower level executive from speaking out of his mouth-hole]
Executive Head: "You want to run an ad on Basic Cable, for Basic Cable?"
Lackey First One: "Yes, Sir. That is the plan."
[as if waiting for the head to go greco-roman and raise his thumb in approval or lower it in utter dismay of the very notion that they could pass a green light for something so incredibly idiotic....the lackeys wait for what feel like 4 minutes....but is really only 3.925 minutes]
Executive Head of Retards: "Thats absolutly brilliant Steve!!!"
Retard Number One: "Thank you!, and my name is Paul sir..."
Executive dead by five-thirty: "Thats what i said.....Steve...."
Number One guy man: "....yes sir...."
Executive nicknackpattywackgivadogabone: "the project is green-lighted, bring a rough draft back to me when im not drunk!"
[lackey/moron/giraffes walk out of boardroom in a stupor, surprised that something so meaningless was actually go for launch....]
/end pathetic excuse for a skit youll never see on the Kids in The Hall, or performed by the West Chester, Pennslyvania comedy skit troup: Chester Nut Bars on Parade (featuring Weird Al and the 1991 Denver Broncos!)
But Since i dont know what they were thinking.....i can only begin to think that the Higher ups had one of four things on their minds...
A: Make the Commerical and put it on every thirty seconds that the Season Finale of Will and Grace isnt on.
B: Show it to some girl scouts in the hopes that they and their families would get free cookies/sexual favors
C: Take the hard copy betamax tape of the Commercial and sacrifice it to the devil of all things decent and entertaining on television (read: the same devil that let Pauly Shore do "Jury Duty")
D: Mix the Commerical with some Mayonaise and Bread (white because all bread companies are racist) and make a nice Crap Sandwich
E: Frank Zappa
Again, only God and the Denver Broncos will ever really know the truth as to the decision that was made to put this commerical on air and rot away all other neuro-pathways inside my cerebral cortex. Hopefully, They will share with me and all the other white bread loving americans when we all die from the ebola virus....
Hows THAT for a curveball...
Running out of time to look for the Holy Grail
Jon Wilson
You can find my blog at
Saturday, October 8, 2005
Basket Case (Kool Kannon Remix)
Hey guys. Didn’t intend to do an update today, but I’m getting ready for my trip, cleaning my apartment, and I’m listening to music. Green Day’s Basket Case comes up on the playlist, followed by a remixed version of Canon in D. Bizzarre enough, I was struck with inspiration, and I took a break from what I was doing to work on the masterpiece I present to you now: Basket Case (Kool Kannon Remix). (click the link to download).
Yes, yes – retarded I know. In the spirit of Yet Another Generic Christmas Carol. But fun, none the less.
Oh, by the way, one of the agencies I report to when I submit video to MSM told me to be on the look out for Johnnie Depp in the Bahamas. Maybe I’ll snake an interview, or at least a couple paparazzi pictures.
/rizzn
Music on the Turntables Currently: Yo La Tengo - Cherry Chapstick
Friday, October 7, 2005
I'm outta here folks
Well, guys, this is my last post until I get back from the Bahamas. Next week is guest week… we’re going to have a host of great bloggers to come in and fill your week with Rizzny goodness. All Blip tech support requests will be redirected to storage and handled upon my return.
Guest Bloggers
Monday – Jon Thomas Wilson aka thelinesbegintoblur
Tuesday – Matthew Finkelstein aka matthewtheunhumbled
Wednesday – Art Lindsey III aka smokehouse
Thursday – Darrell Thomas aka ndmovies
Friday – RICR
Make your guest bloggers feel welcome. Tip your waitstaff, they work hard for you, etc, etc.
Sprint Nextel sues providers in patent spat
Sprint Nextel is suing VoIP providers Vonage Holdings and Voiceglo Holdings, accusing the firms of infringing on seven VoIP technology-related patents. The suit, filed in federal court in Kansas by a Sprint Nextel subsidiary, seeks an injunction that would bar the defendants from using the communication company's patented technologies. The suit also seeks unspecified monetary damages.
Sprint Nextel claims its patents protect a series of innovations that allow the processing and delivery of voice and data communications via packets over the Internet. The company says that these methods also encompass VoIP. The suit, however, doesn't explain how the companies are violating the patents.
Michael Rupert Ruminations
I think I’ve figured out my problem with Michael Rupert. I’ve really been trying to like the guy, find some common ground with him, see if there’s slivers of anything I can grab onto in his writings. The more and more I read, the less and less I feel that dream will ever become a reality. The guy has a whole worldview that’s miles apart from where I could ever see myself. He’s horribly entrenched in an idea of apocalyptic nightmare (not in the TFTA amusing sort of way), and miles away from being able to admit the problem. Every article I read for the last two months is either MSM tripe or an article by him that paints a picture based off of MSM tripe of what his fantasy apocalyptic world will be like.
I don’t buy it. He’s not providing hard data. He’s not convincing me. The hard data he does provide is likely as not to be fallacious. When it’s not fallacious, he’s as likely as not to draw a conclusion that doesn’t logically follow.
Joel sent me his most recent article, and I was re-reading it on the way to the bank and the landlord today, looking for a shred of anything I could exposit upon positively, and suddenly I read the sentence I must have skimmed over fifty times before.
In my earlier presentation and throughout the day today, it should be growing clear to you that official preparations for Peak Oil have been underway for some time. And – as I document in “Rubicon” – they include the attacks of September 11th, 2001 and all US government foreign policy initiatives since then.
There you have it. I’m sorry – and I know I’m going to offend at least three people in the RIC with this one – if you entertain fleeting notions anymore that September 11th was a government conspiracy, and not a bunch of jackasses from the Middle East playing God, then you aren’t playing with a full deck. Popular Science a year ago devoted a special 60 page edition issue of their magazine to debunking every myth about that. It’s now considered common knowlege that there was no government conspiracy to blow up the twin towers.
This sentence was in the introduction to his paper. His premise is predicated on a myth. I simply can’t take anything this man says seriously. If anyone wants to use Michael Rupert to convince me of anything at this point, they’re going to have to work real hard at it.
Some Predictions of the News
Since I won’t be here to report the news, I’m going to take some guesses, and we’ll see if I fare better than the National Enquirer. Any takers on this bet?
Liz Taylor Dies Alone, Leaves Everything to her Cat – every entertainment pundit this week has moved Liz to the top of their deadpool. I’m taking that bet and raising – I’m gonna say she dies this week. Additionally, the cat will immediately die from perfume overdose.
House and Senate Hand Out Corporate Welfare to Oil Refineries – all this talk of Peak Oil, hurricanes, and damaged rigs (oh my!) this week will be the final push that Congress needs to draft some legislation giving the oil industry some odd billion dollars of handouts.
Rove Testifies for Grand Jury
Whitehouse Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove is going to testify on a grand jury, and roll over on a senior or mid level administration staffer. There’s no way the man would walk in there knowing he’s going to get charged. The only way he’s going in there is if someone else takes the hatchet. In the head.
Following Apple’s Video iPod Debut, Adam Curry “invents” Vodcasting
Despite the fact that Vodcasting has been a term in use for years now, Adam Curry will claim to invent Vodcasting on his sattellite radio show, “the Podshow.” He’ll also continue being a jerk, and he won’t mention BlipMedia one time.
Tropical Force Disturbance Xanadu will Hammer Key Biscayne
Since the hurricane season is dying down, and there’s no hurricanes, tropical storms, tropical depressions, or what they’ve now taken to calling ‘tropical waves’ to report on, The Weather Channel will invent a new classification called “Tropical Force Disturbance” to indicate when the tropics “…think about getting nasty.” NOAA Hurricane Center Director Max Mayfield adds: “In my pants.”
Kidnapping in Aruba Remains Unsolved
By Greta Van Susteren, anyways. Everyone else in the world is pretty sure Natalie Holloway is dead.
These are fun. I could do these all day long, but no! It’s time for the …
RICR #3
There were two main topics that dominated the RIC list this week: Who’s going to do the guest columns, and the QCF debacle. I encourage you, if you are in any way interested or have listened to, or know the culture of internet radio or rantradio, to go read that forum thread. I laughed non-stop for a good thirty minutes. It’s just comical. It’s sad to see a good show go, but when you break the rules, you get in trouble. I know that better than anyone.
In other news, Darrell released Haunted Road, a short film. For every shoe in the road, there’s a story. Go see this one, it’s pretty neat. Elsewhere, Smokehouse posted a few times, a few of them about the QCF thing, as well as a short post about nappy stripper teeth.
Kelly went on vacation and Jon celebrated a birthday. It’s too late to look smart, but you can still look friendly – go wish him a happy belated. He also firmly believed that Serenity was better than Star Wars. Meanwhile, my buddy Rob experienced an eclipse followed by extreme wetness out in Africa, all the while finding time to change his site design. Again.
Lastly, but not leastly, MC Chris posted his new tour dates. See him, then go see him again!
I’m out guys – See you in a week.
/rizzn
From the Wilderness: Why I don't trust Michael Rupert
I understand there’s a small but growing contingent of people who strongly believe the same as Michael Rupert in that we are going to see a huge depression this year as a result of the Peak Oil situation.
For me, it’s not very difficult to discount out of hand all that Mr. Rupert puts forth in this respect. Let’s start with Mr. Rupert’s latest post, issued 10/05/05, linked here. In it he links five news stories, and provides a few comments of his own to preface the series. None of the articles are primary source articles actually written by Mr. Rupert, one is an opinion article masquerading as a fact article (America Be Wary of the New Silk Road), one is an environmental article on shaky scientific ground (New satellite observations show sea ice in the Arctic is melting faster, while air temperatures in the region are rising sharply, scientists said), two of which are articles about the effect of the hurricane by CNN (No easy fix for Rita-damaged oil works, and Report: Rigs take record hit from Rita). The only article of any significance is the Chavez article (Chavez: Venezuela Moves Reserves to Europe).
Rupert then provides the following commentary to accompany the articles:
It is clear to the whole world what is coming for the US economy. Gulf energy production is still almost completely shut in and won’t be repaired for years. It makes no difference if half of the refineries are back up because they can’t get product. Rig damage is far worse than expected and there is still no full assessment of the pipelines running from platforms to shore. Bush just added $300 billion in new expenditures for clean up and said he wouldn’t raise taxes. Consumer confidence is plunging. Credit card late pays and defaults are soaring. Venezuela will not be the last nation to pull its reserves out this fall and winter. To put it bluntly, the US is now a bad investment. And the two-plus billion dollars a day needed to finance our economy is going to dry up very quickly.
The US house of economic cards is starting to come down. – MCR
To me, at least, it is clear that he is either completely entrenched in his viewpoint so that all he sees are patterns that prove his own points, or he’s being willfully ignorant of the context and actual meanings of these articles to prove his own conclusions. In otherwords, Rupert starts with a conclusion, and works his journalism backwards from the point to the evidence. Given that, he’s always going to reach the same conclusion, but never really prove his point to those who aren’t already convinced.
Let me explain.
The Chavez article does not indicate that there is some credible threat to the U.S. economy, or that our policies somehow make our economy more subject to foibles than the European economy. The article about Chavez shows that Chavez is ardently anti-American. You mean to tell me that you actually think that your money is safer in Germany, where there are currently shades of World War II and World War I and a constitutional crisis? I don’t think so. No one is that stupid. No one is stupid enough to believe that Eastern Europe is a better place to put money than a New York City bank.
There’s no real reason to break down point by point the environmental article. I’ll quote a line from the article itself, and if everyone who reads this blog can’t determine what the problem is with associating the study with the concept of global warming, I want you to close your browser window and never come back to my website again: “Sea ice records in the Arctic are sketchy before 1978.” Don’t get it still? Re-read the title of the article: “New satellite observations show sea ice in the Arctic is melting faster, while air temperatures in the region are rising sharply, scientists said.” Still don’t get it? The article and Rupert intimate that it’s our usage of fossil fuels that create the problem. Still don’t get it? Keep re-reading this paragraph over and over until you understand where the problem comes in. Don’t stop until you get it.
The article about the “Silk Road” is nothing more than a propaganda piece by a news site that panders to the Chinese government – it is a propaganda piece talking up the wonders of living in Communist China, and how it’s superior to being in America – if you’re an Arab. Check out Amnesty International if you actually believe that tripe. Chinese people hate Arabs, just like the rest of the world does right now, except they do more than just stack them naked ten high when they bomb people’s cities. They just kill’em (and bill the families for the bullets).
For those of us that live in Florida or Houston, I really shouldn’t have to point out how hard it is for us to believe any news article coming from CNN, FNC, MSNBC, CNBC, or the Weather Channel if the article in any way contains Hurricane. All the cable news networks have lied more in the last two months about hurricanes and hurricane coverage (and then lied some more to cover up they’re obvious lies), that if anyone ever sends me an article again saying a CNN article proves this that or the other about something having to do with a hurricane, I won’t even dignify it with a response.
Listen, I’m not saying Peak Oil doesn’t exist. I’m saying that it’s strongest proponent, Michael Rupert, does a piss-poor job convincing me.
Come back to me with primary sources, non-MSM articles that do their research and aren’t sponsored by an enemy state, and industry insiders that will actually disclose their names, and we might have something.
/rizzn
Music on the Turntables Currently: Yo La Tengo - Cherry Chapstick
Thursday, October 6, 2005
God Told Me to Update Twice, today...
I usually don’t update twice in one day, but I saw this piece come across the wire a few minutes ago, and I know that it’s going to be a talking point for a long time to come. So far no real large news agency is carrying the story, but here it is in a nutshell (as told by the Daily Times of Pakistan):
WASHINGTON: The mystery as to why US President George Bush decided to invade Iraq stands resolved. It was God who told him to do so, he told Palestinian leaders two years ago. Not only Iraq, but Afghanistan also got invaded because of a divine directive. This is the first time the president, a born-again Christian, has claimed that God communicates with him direct. God also told him, he said, to create a Palestinian state. This revelation about the US president’s inspiration and statecraft is due to be made in a BBC programme to be broadcast on October 10. In it, the Palestinian prime minister and foreign minister describe their first meeting with President Bush in June 2003. Foreign Minister Nabil Shaath says, “President Bush said to all of us: ‘God would tell me, ‘George, go and fight those terrorists in Afghanistan and end tyranny in Iraq.’”
Okay. Not exactly a fair, balanced, and unopinionated article, but here’s the thing – even if Bush said such a thing, I’m not sure it’s understood by secularists how Fundamentalist Christians view their religion. The President subscribes to this theology, and he speaks frankly, which is why I can see a quote like this taking a foothold, but still, it’s improper to assume that it’s true.
Any fundy will tell you that it doesn’t work like that (unless maybe they’re a Pentacostal). Really, it’s mostly the new agers and the like that believe that they have a direct line to God and hear actual audible words from him. Fundys tend to believe that the Holy Spirit will lead us to certain courses of action, but never will you hear your Baptist minister (if he has any reputation at all) tell you that God spoke a specific sentence to them in relation to current events. There is a subtle but distinct difference.
Regardless of whether Bush said he was led by the spirit or he spoke with God directly, he’s certainly not the first world leader to say he ‘spoke with God,’ and definately not the first US President to pray and be led by the spirit. Read Civil War letters, read federalist papers, read historical documents. How can you assume that we have inalienable, God-given rights, if you have no direction from God?
The only person a fundamentalist is ultimately accountable to is God, so it’s not unreasonable to assume that if the President truly subscribes to Christian doctrine, he would allow himself to be led by the Holy Spirit. Where secularists and I part company is I don’t believe that is a symptom of insanity, whereas most secularists do.
/rizzn
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)