The Ten Points

It’s a brief discussion of game design in the style of Sun Tzu’s The Art of War. Very funny, and very true.

So, um, here it is:

Austenbook

I laughed a lot when I saw this.

Ninja with guitars

HT: Mahkno

Go read this blog post.

That’s my sister’s blog. (Actually, she shares it with a friend, but you get the idea.)

See that part where she says: “People don’t come to this blog to read my insightful opinions.”

Yeah. Um, the prank is for you to leave a comment on that post. Bonus points if you write up something about her insightful opinions.

I’ve already told her that I’m going to do this, so it’s not going to surprise her or anything. It’ll be funny! So please pitch in!

I have already intimated to you the danger of parties in the State, with particular reference to the founding of them on geographical discriminations. Let me now take a more comprehensive view, and warn you in the most solemn manner against the baneful effects of the spirit of party generally.

This spirit, unfortunately, is inseparable from our nature, having its root in the strongest passions of the human mind. It exists under different shapes in all governments, more or less stifled, controlled, or repressed; but, in those of the popular form, it is seen in its greatest rankness, and is truly their worst enemy.

The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge, natural to party dissension, which in different ages and countries has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism. But this leads at length to a more formal and permanent despotism. The disorders and miseries which result gradually incline the minds of men to seek security and repose in the absolute power of an individual; and sooner or later the chief of some prevailing faction, more able or more fortunate than his competitors, turns this disposition to the purposes of his own elevation, on the ruins of public liberty.

Without looking forward to an extremity of this kind (which nevertheless ought not to be entirely out of sight), the common and continual mischiefs of the spirit of party are sufficient to make it the interest and duty of a wise people to discourage and restrain it.

It serves always to distract the public councils and enfeeble the public administration. It agitates the community with ill-founded jealousies and false alarms, kindles the animosity of one part against another, foments occasionally riot and insurrection. It opens the door to foreign influence and corruption, which finds a facilitated access to the government itself through the channels of party passions. Thus the policy and the will of one country are subjected to the policy and will of another.

There is an opinion that parties in free countries are useful checks upon the administration of the government and serve to keep alive the spirit of liberty. This within certain limits is probably true; and in governments of a monarchical cast, patriotism may look with indulgence, if not with favor, upon the spirit of party. But in those of the popular character, in governments purely elective, it is a spirit not to be encouraged. From their natural tendency, it is certain there will always be enough of that spirit for every salutary purpose. And there being constant danger of excess, the effort ought to be by force of public opinion, to mitigate and assuage it. A fire not to be quenched, it demands a uniform vigilance to prevent its bursting into a flame, lest, instead of warming, it should consume.

A reporter from Fox News asked President Washington for his opinion about the current presidential race but was met with a harsh glare.

Conservative commentators are outraged. “Surely the president must understand the need to face the demonic forces of the Democrats,” said one pundit, who declined to be named for this report. “Doesn’t he know that only the Republicans can protect us from the forces of liberalism and terrorism?”

Both the McCain and Obama campaigns have declined to comment.

I’m sitting here, staring at our freedoms being eroded, and I find myself wondering why I’m celebrating today. Increasingly, we are a nation that wishes harsh rule from above, so long as it preserves our “way of life”. Oh yeah, and then we point the fist of the State at our neighbors to make sure that they stay in line with our way of thinking.

On the other hand…

I can still type up a message like this without being arrested.

So, anyways, Happy [This statement was censored by Homeland Security due to content potentially supporting homegrown terrorism; further investigations are pending.]

Pwn

Gamism: two people fighting.

Narrativism: two brothers fighting.

Zack the Weed Man. Funny stuff.

HT: Brett

For those who can’t wait, I’ll try to remember to put something in my Facebook status message. For the rest of you, I’ll post here tomorrow and discuss how it went.

Plus, it’s playtest night, so it’s time for more Blood Red Sands!

And, in celebration, a different type of vodka. HT: Jeremy