Hey guys!  Sorry I took so long to update, I’ve been on the road for a bit.

I took a flight out to the East for a conference in Walkerton.  Unfortunately, my ride back to the airport quit on me, so I have a bit of an extended vacation I guess.  I took the one road out and did the only thing I could, I hitched a ride.  I’m not quite sure where I ended up, this town’s pretty quiet, but this is the end of the line for the trucker.  I managed to grab an internet cafe, even out here in the middle of nowhere, and I’ll try to keep you guys up to date on this little adventure.  Being out here is weird though, it’s like a completely different world.  I’m going to try to grab a hotel for tonight and see if I can find a ride back in the morning.  In the mean while, maybe this little writing will get you guys to stop sending me emails asking me to update:

The Merits of Beargardens

We are slowly losing beargardens, a sport arena of wits and brawn, and it’s unfortunate that so many people make for a case against them.  They cite reasons of cruelty first and then often follow it with proposed substitutions.  However, I think they’re not only wrong, but their claims are harmful.  Beargardens are often said to be cruel, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.  The humans are obviously there of their own free will, daring men and women who wish to challenge nature’s most perfect death machine.  The bears could be said to be forced into it, but I would say rather that they were asking for it.  One in the position of a bear has great responsibility, after all.  If you were a deadly force of nature, would you say that you are completely without responsibility?  No, that’s unreasonable.  Thus, I say it is a bear’s duty to be in a beargarden.  Suddenly it seems much more likely that the bear is there of his own free will, for the bear knows that it is his duty.  He flails and moans much as a child throws a tantrum, but he knows what the outcome is and that it will be for the best.  Second, people propose substitutions for beargardens which they say are more humane.  I say that there is no substitution for beargardens.  Sure, we could manufacture something with the same deal of visceral pleasure and intellectual stimulation, but would it have the same amount of bears?  No, it would not.  Because of this, there is simply no substitution for this noble sport.  Regardless, this sport is being abolished nation-wide at an alarming rate.  This is because of false information and uninformed masses, not knowing the points I just covered.  If we keep letting bills pass that ban beargardens, the beargarden will become extinct and this will cause the steady systematic decline of culture as we know it.  After beargardens, are they going to say movies are barbaric next?  Computers?  Where do we draw that line?  It’s because of these important questions that beargardens are invariably linked to our culture, our lives, our well-being, and every vital area of our life.  If we lose beargardens, we are losing a piece of ourselves.

Today on the moon.

After failing to start a war with the Browncoats yesterday, Lunar Fark was slapped with a declaration of war from FAN. The Browncoats were ready to jump to FAN’s aid, but GOONS announced that they would honour their defense pact with Lunar Fark. Oh what a tangled web we weave! Browncoats find themselves trapped between two warring allies, the very predicament GOONS had been bracing for only a day before. War comes at you like a snowball, growing as it rolls along. The Grey Cosa Nostra (GRcN) declared on Lunar Fark. Next up to bat; Oceanus declares on GOONS, in response to the attack on FAN. Finally Legion, the largest alliance on the moon, declares on Lunar Fark, honouring their treaty with FAN.

This is looking ugly, folks. The Browncoats could tip the balance, but their hands remain tied, their leaders locked up in what might be the most stressful discussions this year. It seems that the only solution is to find a way to peace. To that end salithus, Co-Pilot of GOONS has been valiantly petitioning for peace. We have him with us here tonight for an exclusive interview.

EQJ: Thanks for your time. Let’s start with the most burning question. Peace, do you think that it’s possible at this juncture?

salithus: Very. This war seems to have started out of simple paranoia that a war would be starting. Once we can resolve the issues that generated the paranoia, the war should end swiftly.

EQJ: Fabulous! What of the absence of your closest ally, the Browncoats? How do the GOONS feel about this?

salithus: Concerned, but it was expected. Browncoats are in a very awkward and unstable period for their alliance. The wrong move at this time could destroy them and fear of making that move has paralyzed their leadership. Unfortunately, it could be the very move of not-moving that is the wrong one, not only for this war, but for their future as an alliance. My motto has always been “Do something, whether it’s right or wrong. If it’s right, keep doing it. If it’s wrong, don’t do it again, but do something.”

EQJ: It is my understanding that many Browncoats feel the same way and that some, including a member of their leadership, have joined your alliance in order to do what they felt was right. Do you agree with this move, beyond appreciation of the help provided, or do you feel that they should have stood solid with their already-endangered alliance?

salithus: I believe that individuals have an obligation to do what they believe is right. While I cannot speak for those that joined GOONS, I can understand a mentality that says “I am not doing any good for my alliance and allies just sitting on my hands, I need to take action.” There are occasions, as it is said, that “desperate times call for desperate measures” and individuals may have to place other things in a higher priority than their alliance’s welfare.

EQJ: I just hope that when the storm calms, the other Browncoats will see the move with as much of a level head as you. What do you forsee if the peace talks should fail? Could this war engulf all of Luna?

salithus: Easily. Those involved are doing so for the sake of honoring treaties and will not back down unless those they are defending no longer need defending. This will only happen as a result of a domino effect kicked off by FAN and Fark reaching peace with each other.

EQJ: So without peace between those two, this might grow into an all out Lunar War. I have heard rumours that both FARK and FAN are “warmongers” who would like nothing more than to see such a thing take place. Are there any early indications of such a thing at the negotiation table, or do they seem prepared to talk?

salithus: Fark has stated repeatedly, both before and after the war started, that they are not interested in fighting anyone who is not interested in fighting them. They have offered to walk away from this war with a handshake and a pat on the back, but so far FAN has refused.

EQJ: That is very surprising indeed. Has FAN offered any formal demands?

salithus: None, despite being asked over a half dozen times for them.

EQJ: Goodness. Well, it seems that you have your hands full with this one. I, for one, would like to wish you the best of luck in the upcoming days, and I hope that peace can be found.

salithus: Peace will always be found. The goal is to make sure as many as possible are still standing when it arrives.

You heard it here first! The next few hours or days will determine the future of the moon. This reporter hopes that there will not be too many fresh craters by the end of this battle, which promises to be epic should it rage on. Stay tuned for more coverage!

Sequential Circus 2, January 19 2008

I am officially even more sad that I missed the previous Sequential Circus (curse you, gainful employment!), but I am glad to have been a part of the second… and you won’t be able to talk me out of going to the third! Everyone did an amazing job; I just wish that I could have done more to help. The lineup was spectacular and I still can’t get the music out of my head. To view my photos of the evening (the small selection of photos that did not turn out blurry, at least) go here.

Attending events like this, I’m always amazed by the humans that surround me. I love observing people in general (is that creepy?), so when you cram so many into a small space and let them loose, the outcome is rarely boring. It’s fun to watch the social interactions; to see both expected and entirely unexpected behaviour in certain situations. My favourite part of events such as this, however, is the dancing. Everyone follows the rule of dancing like no one is watching (but we are!), and the result is entirely organic: Each person appears to be hearing a completely different song than the person next to them. Don’t try to focus on a single person, watch the entire group as a whole for the full effect. In larger crowds this phenomenon can sometimes be washed out, as the mob takes over the individual. This is also interesting, but not nearly as fun to me.

“In terms of jaded, we are the only people who can set up this much equipment and still say we hate raves.” - Ross