| (this came to me while i was trying to sweat off a 24 hour bug)
Mission of Faith
Blogging for a Righteous Future
2006-06-29
Vacation
Hey everyone, I’m back! Yeah, I was getting a little cranky, cooped up in the cave all the time, so I took a few weeks off. As Rumi put it:
A man must be among men
Even if he is a scholar, he must take some time,
Put the books aside and go outside
Seek joy in his companions
Feel the love of God
In the love of men
Of course Rumi didn’t know anything about jet lag. Still, I did have a great time, and I really feel refreshed and creative. Where did I go? All over the place. Frankly it’s a bit of a blur. Hey, if the CIA can’t figure out my itinerary, how can I be expected to?
But I must mention that the most enjoyable part of the trip was the two weeks I spent in the Lincoln Bedroom. It wasn’t hard to get in there; I am after all, a lifetime Platinum Supporter of the Republican Elections Fund. The bed in that room is perfect, just the right combination of softness and support. And the staff is so friendly and helpful; they even located a dvd of Death Race 2000 for me. And the food was wonderful. I must confess I was tempted by those Texas style pork ribs. Thanks be to God for giving me this kidney ailment; it helps keep me on a proper koranic diet. They also had a nicely stocked candy dish, although the ghost of Richard Nixon kept raiding it.
The Lincoln Bedroom has wonderful acoustics. I took the opportunity to make a tape while I was there and everybody is telling me how great the sound is.
After I got home, I called George W Bush to thank him for his hospitality. He said “huruh?” Yes he did, he sounded just like Scooby Doo. I said, “yeah, I was just down the hall from you. I would’ve popped in, but they said you were working on the White House football pool.” “It was a treaty!” he yelled. “Oh, ok” I said. Then I congratulated him on getting Zarqwari. He said “yeah, I bombed Zarqwari this time, and I’ll bomb you later” And I said “not if I bomb you first!” Hahaha. Ooh, good times!
Poor Old Abu
My old friend Abu Musaub Al-Zarqwari has gone to his reward, as have so many others described as my “number two” or “number three”. I won’t deny it; his loss leaves a hole in my operation. But it will be filled, God willing. There are plenty of “number fours” ready to step up their game and take his place. Or my place, even. No one person is more important than the cause.
Zarqwari was a valuable asset, but he was a liability as well. He insisted on making war on the shiites, instead of concentrating the invaders of his country. It’s as if a group of christian radicals got together and then the catholics starting blowing up the baptists instead of the abortion clinics. Come on people-- unity! We can argue about the descent of authority and other such issues on our own time. God willing, we will rebuild the iraqi operation on a broader base.
Star Jones
I am very upset about the shabby treatment she received. I have instructed my agent not accept any interviews from Barbara Walters.
Big Screen Dreams
I’ve been thinking of asking Steven Spielberg (PBUH) to make the movie of my autobiography. I’d like Sean Connery to play me. What do you folks think?
Fun Facts
In 1323, a mathematician in Cordova invented an abacus that could calculate square roots. The local imam ordered the inventor banished and the instrument destroyed, because, as he put it, “OMG: square roots are teh Ghey!!!1”
Saladin was so fond of lemon squares; his baggage train included four wagons just to carry his collection of potted trees.
Arabs don’t do ballet. The move referred to as an “arabesque” was named for our graceful architecture.
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Another of those hilarious “Your Jew is So Evil” face offs. You know you can’t get enough!
The results of our sixth grade essay contest, “Why God Hates Harry Potter”.
BigHuckinMartyr, back with some all-new tricks.
A new photo album from my recent trip. I call it “America’s Dumbest Security Officers”. Click here for a sample. This is Dallas Fort Worth Airport. The man being thrown against the wall apparently had a Dixie Chicks song on his ipod. And that’s me, over on the left in the Groucho mask. While everyone was preoccupied with the music fan, I just slipped around the metal detector and headed for the gate. Oh and I stole someone’s lunch first. I’m so bad!
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As always, I continue to pray that those of you who are still infidels will come to love the truth, commit the Faith to your hearts, and surrender yourselves to God.
Love and Kisses, Osama.
PS: I still have not been able to secure mybinladin.com, .org, or .net. Someone is cybersquatting them. I’ve complained to ICANN to no avail. They just keep saying. “read the terms of service”. I’ve read the goat-spawned terms of service over and over, but it does not say whom I’m supposed to take hostage about this! I am so confuddulated, I’d appreciate any advice from the tech savvy folks out there.
You are receiving this feed because you either signed up for it directly, or with one of our partners (such as Haliburton World Outreach) who offer it as a bonus. If you no longer wish to receive it, click here to blow up your computer. If your computer does not blow up, you will need to go to microsoft.com for a newer version of improexplodev.dll. | comments: 1 comment or Leave a comment   |
| I've seen the first episdode of the 9th Doctor, and it's great! Everything about the original is in there including a few cheesy special effects, although overall they're using state of the art graphics. But there are a few up to date spins. Like when the young woman who's destined to become the next companion wonders "who is that strange man", she goes and googles him :)
The inside of the Tardis is a jazzed up version of the old one, not a wagnerian stage setting like the 1999 movie, thank goodness.
No more, i don't want to spoil it. Just see it as soon as you can. | | comments: 1 comment or Leave a comment |
| 1 more episode of Tru Calling left. The promo promises a big finish so i guess they've given up on finding another network.
I know i'm going to be sad after that episode is over. | | comments: 5 comments or Leave a comment |
| I goofed in an earlier post. The name of the campaign is "First Frolic". "First Ramble" is a less frequesnt alternate name of the same celebration.
The game is well underway. I have 7 players from my old Tucson gaming group, people i haven't gamed with since 2000. I have 2 people from my old old Orange County group, whoom i haven't gamed with since 1994. Anjd 2 new people. I'm hoping for one more a gamer i met on the old FidoNet AD&D echo. That'll make 12, which will be plenty. Now i just have to make sure i don't disappoint them.
I've created a new journal just to post the completed moves. It's at . | | comments: Leave a comment |
| I decided to make an updated version of the old 10 2 4 text sig i've been using since i started bbsing back in 1984.
Since Dr Pepper (the company) no longer uses a 10 2 4 logo, i decided to adapt the current logo and add the numbers to it.
And since i origianlly chose this handle for its connection with gaming, i decided to use dice. | | comments: Leave a comment |
| I have added html version of all the doc files. And i've now decided on the theme of the campaign. Here is the new ad:
Campaign Name: The Lipaks Way: First Ramble
=========================================================================
Blurb: They want you to leave.
They don't like strangers here, but custom required them to shelter you
through the winter. Now the day of First Ramble brings warmer weather
and an end to that obligation. You are broke and far from home.
What do you do next?
=========================================================================
Genre: Deep Fantasy
Character Level: Beginning
Rule System: Homebrew
Contact: Dr Pepper at grixit-frp@verizon.net
Venue: The Lipaks Mailing List at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lipaks-main
Website: http://www.grixit.org/lipaks
Age Limit: 17, but i'm more concerned about attitude than age.
=========================================================================
Additional Information: It is necessary to read the information on the
website to get a feel for the world, but i will keep track of the rules.
Give me a concept and i'll come up with a character. I will also provide
some premade characters. | | comments: Leave a comment |
| Ok, i have now posted in at least 20 venues.
And i am somewhat dismayed to discover that the majority of the rpgs currently being promoted on the net are not fantasy. Or science fiction. Or anything related. Instead, we have contemporary rpgs based on current soap operas. Others are made up soap operas, usually in fictional resorts or high schools. High schools? Aren't most current gamers in high school in real life? Then there are sports teams, sitcoms and fictional settings designed to work like sitcoms. Ugh!
Of the non contemporary rpgs, most are about Harry Potter. Or have settings that are like Harry Potter but with different names. Subtract Harry Potter and most of the rest are about Buffy and/or Angel, Charmed, Smallville, and to a lesser extent, Highlander, Xena, and other fantasy shows. However these are more freeform interactive stories than full fledged frps. More disturbingly, a whole lot of the games in this category and the preceeding ones, fall into a classification i was previously unaware of: they are "canon". Well obviously that's exagerating. Only the original creators of a work can say what's canon. But these "canon" rpgs have strict requirements to keep the storylines inside the established boundries of their sources. And some only allow the established characters from the source.
Subtract those show based and informal games, we come to games that actually have rule systems. Most of those are vampire games.
Subtract those and we come to what we used to first think of when we thought of frpgs. That's the category Lipaks falls under. But apparently it is now the very least popular category. Oy vey.
Oh yes-- there is one exception: Start Trek. Star Trek games exist in all categories. Show based, or just borrowing the universe. Show characters only, some show characters, or all original. Styles ranging from pure storytelling to formal rulesystems.
Oh, and of course slash. | | comments: 1 comment or Leave a comment |
| I have not received a jury summons. Which leaves me somewhat relieved. Because starting tommorow they'll be collecting perhaps the largest jury pool in regional history for the Michael Jackson trial.
Santa Maria's civic center is very small. The courts: municipal, superior, traffic, and whatever else, occupy most single square block. That includes parking. The surrounding blocks include the main libray, police headquarters, the DMV, a park, a museum, office buildings, and residential neighborhoods. All are expected to be encumbered by the traffic. The media will have to pay premium prices to park their rv sized comand centers in otherwise public lots. Local residents are concerned they won't be able to get out of their own driveways. Or that eager lookyloos will park on their lawns. The cops are going to put up a lot of steel fences to control crowds, but it'll also make it hard to get through. Even access to the mall will be reduced.
Otoh, motels and restaurants are expected to make a killing. | | comments: Leave a comment |
| | Ok, i've joined a webring, and several msg boards where i've been advertising. Tonight i got a list of lj communities with gaming interests, which i'll go through tommorow. I want to get the campaign started by the end of the month. | | comments: Leave a comment |
| I've finished the super duper condensed introduction. It's enough for a person who wants to start playing Lipaks, so long as the gm knows the rules and the details. And hopefully it'll promote interest in reading the full rules and background, once i've finished them.
The introduction to Lipaks, along with a primer for people unfamiliar with frps at all, can be found at
| | comments: Leave a comment |
| | Gah-- 7 hrs to drive from Santa Maria to La Mesa, which is in the northern part of the San Diego metroplex. I didn't think i'd make the target time, but i figured i'd make it before the night desk closed at the hotel. I didn't and it did. So i'm staying at my sister's tonight. She's hosting the family Easter bash. But that's not what i'm here for, i'm here to work on her computers. | | comments: Leave a comment |
| Tonight-- we take 16 ordinary people-- people who never thought they could be anyone's oracle. We're going to train them, enlighten them, help them open the gates of occultic perception, put them in tune with the cosmic order!
And then, we're going to have them compete in a test of supernatural guidance, to see how well they can use their new found gifts to bring hope and comfort to questioning souls.
And the one who can say the most sooth-- that one will be called The Swami! | | comments: Leave a comment |
| | I've figured out how to accomodate furries in Lipaks. May the gods forgive me. | | comments: Leave a comment |
| | Well actaully both arms, but the right especially, enough to make it hard to type or mouse. It started last week after i had a lot of digging to do, follwed by lifting some very heavy and awkwardly balance furniture. Gah, physique of a geek. | | comments: 1 comment or Leave a comment |
| There is only one magic system. It covers pure casting, rituals, and items with stored power.
There are magicians who can produce magic directly, but can't manipulate it. These are called sorcerors.They can draw on their own stored power to produce simple effects. For instance, when such a magician produces fire, it appears instantly as a simple flame nearby, with its size proportional to the amount of power applied.
There are magicians who cannot produce magic directly, but understand how to manipulate it. These are called conjurors.They must rely on ritual to produce effects. When such a magician produces fire, it appears after the ritual is completed with shape, location, and extent under their control, subject to the amount of power generated. Of course the more power you wanrt, the more ritual you need. A shaped magical effect is called a spell.
And there are magicians that can do it all. These are called thaumaturges.
Objects can be invested with several different magical properties. They can contain power, facilitate production, or add to rituals.
Wizard is not a specific category of magician, the term is applied informally to any magician who has collected enough resources to become independent of material considerations.
All spells except the most fundamental, must start with the establishment of an aura of magic. For sorcerors and thaumaturges, this is no problem, their attunement to magic means they carry their own permanent auras. A conjuror must first do a simple ritual that creates an aura or carry an item enchanted to project one.
The magical sequence is as follows:
1. Establish an aura.
2. Obtain power, if it is to be used.
3. Apply power, if it is to be used.
4. Perform ritual, if needed.
Enchanted items can be used at each step to make an effect cheaper. | | comments: Leave a comment |
| I've got the character stuff pretty well conceptualized.
The simplest characters have all their capabilities in a single grouping, called a type, and all capabilities advance together in increments called ratings.
That's pretty much equivalent to D&D levels. But the components that make up types can be broken out and advanced independently. Or extra components can be added to a character in addition to the type. Piecemeal components make character creation more flexible, but components grouped into types are less expensive in terms of advancement. This may tend to encourage players to want to come up with new types, but i'm going to insist that the combinations be coherent.
The most specific components are the skills, which are never grouped into types. But i finally figured out how to coordinate them. So character creation can run the gamet from a pure level system to a modified point builder. That should please most gamers.
And under the right circumstances, you can even ungroup species, and just chose body shape, limb count, senses, etc. | | comments: 1 comment or Leave a comment |
| I just watched this week's episode of Hack. I always watch shows late, i use vcrs. But that means i can ff through commercials.
Anyway, this episode was excellent. It started with the main character sitting in his cab reading Raymond Chandler, then it segued into a perfect noir. By perfect i mean it could be used as a model noir in a film class. | | comments: Leave a comment |
| The workers voted to accept the settlement last weekend. I have been to Albertsons twice and Vons once since. I hadn't set foot in either since early November and that was just a couple of times to buy lottery tickets at the front desk. I hadn't been un to buy groceries since mid October.
The workers didn't get a raise, but they didn't lose their benefits either, which is important. On the other hand, the stores are now attempting to use the fact that they've been doing less business (due to people not shopping) as justification for layoffs. Well it's true that the shelves are srtill only about 2/3 stocked, but it should pick up now. | | comments: Leave a comment |
| Recently, two women who were accused, respectfully, of pimpinmg and prostitution, were convicted, not of those actual acts, but of conpiracy to commit them. Now they are cooperating, apparently in exchange for leniency, in the investigation of the city attorney, who supposedly offered them leniency in return for tape showing that the police chief, who was fired last year and might have cause to sue, was a customer of theirs. It also seems that there are no tapes of anyone, chief or otherwise, that was a lie created as part of a "prosecute us and we open the black book" defense.
Interestingly, the defendants, who are sisters, went to the same high school as me. I was slightly acquanted with the one accused of prostitution. Now given that that was ** years ago, i say, if she can make it as a prostitute, she must have some serious moves!
Add in the fact that we've got the Michael Jackson trial here, and you've got a gold mine for tv writers. | | comments: 1 comment or Leave a comment |
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grixit's journal