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MMMMM in General
Mongolian Barbeque
Member # 1528
Profile #28
quote:
Originally written by Diethylstilbestrol:

Probably because they both cause birth defects? :P
If that's the case, then you might as well go ahead and equate it with unregulated breeding. :P

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The A.E. van Vogt Information Site
My Tribute to the Greatest Writer of the Science Fiction Golden Age
Posts: 907 | Registered: Monday, July 15 2002 07:00
Favourite Compliment in General
Mongolian Barbeque
Member # 1528
Profile #3
When my family moved from Colorado to California, my first day as a 3rd grader at the new school a girl came up to me and said "You're cute!"

That's just about the only compliment I've received from a stranger, and it's a nice one, so that'd be a nice one to get again.

I'm wondering if this sort of thing might happen more often if I knew more strangers.

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The A.E. van Vogt Information Site
My Tribute to the Greatest Writer of the Science Fiction Golden Age
Posts: 907 | Registered: Monday, July 15 2002 07:00
An Exhaustive Semi-Chronological Short History of the White Cult in Richard White Games
Mongolian Barbeque
Member # 1528
Profile #11
I intend to add to this hallowed chronicle, perhaps on a monthly basis, as things progress. When the time comes to revise it, I'll probably start a different topic devoted to just that. These two emails should be preserved for the same disinterested posterity that I mentioned earlier, unsullied and pristine in their historical condition and all that. (I'll probably also edit this topic's title so there will be no confusion between the two topics... I hope this sufficiently confuses you.)

I sent this email to Jeff twice, the first time to the wrong address, so when I sent it out again there were some corrections and additions—including the lengthening of the "essay's" title to include the phrase "Semi-Chronological." I intend to lengthen the name of the history each time it's revised.

Never one to waste time in planning pointless things, I've already drawn up a preliminary list of words and phrases to be inserted into the title at the appropriate intervals. (Some of the phrases depend on such remote situations cropping up that I doubt they'll ever be called into use, but you never know.) Further suggestions are of course welcome.

EDIT: I'll leave some eras of the history—such as those troublesome needle/ferrets—to be written by those more qualified than I. Paragraphs should also be added by others for whatever other bits I've overlooked, forgotten, or defensively blotted from my mind.

[ Wednesday, August 31, 2005 22:52: Message edited by: Icshi ]
Posts: 907 | Registered: Monday, July 15 2002 07:00
Democracy on the March! or Selecting this year's cult slogan in Richard White Games
Mongolian Barbeque
Member # 1528
Profile #1
It was a tough call between "Richard White Games: Keep laughing. GC2 is loading" and "Pan Lever: Seventeen apple roving mirror moiety. Of turned quorum jaggedly the. Blue?"

In the end, I voted for the later—it really captures the spirit of things so well, it was an inspired choice of words, and they were masterfully combined. Good job, Alorael!
Posts: 907 | Registered: Monday, July 15 2002 07:00
MMMMM in General
Mongolian Barbeque
Member # 1528
Profile #23
quote:
Originally written by Diethylstilbestrol:

Diethylstilbestrol
So it's like the gynecological equivalent of DDT? :P

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The A.E. van Vogt Information Site
My Tribute to the Greatest Writer of the Science Fiction Golden Age
Posts: 907 | Registered: Monday, July 15 2002 07:00
An Exhaustive Semi-Chronological Short History of the White Cult in Richard White Games
Mongolian Barbeque
Member # 1528
Profile #7
I completely forgot about them, Alorael, sorry!

Those were flying around at a time when I wasn't dropping by the boards very often, and when I did get around to reading those sections I found it all totally incomprehensible even by RWG standards. I still have no idea what all that was about, and can't even begin to speculate. I guess it didn't stick in my mind.

And when I was "researching" the Cult's history my browser kept crashing—I was using Internet Explorer instead of Safari, so I could make snapshots of all the pages for disinterested posterity, and it kept crashing so bad that OS X would freeze up—I guess maybe the accumulated nonsense was too much for it—and there may have been a few pages of material that were accidentally overlooked in the confusing ritual of browser-crash-system-crash-reboot-relaunch-reload.

Do you need any more excuses, or are you satisfied? :P

[ Wednesday, August 31, 2005 17:38: Message edited by: Icshi ]
Posts: 907 | Registered: Monday, July 15 2002 07:00
An Exhaustive Semi-Chronological Short History of the White Cult in Richard White Games
Mongolian Barbeque
Member # 1528
Profile #5
quote:
Originally written by Drakefyre:

Well, he is in the process of writing a full-length game under a new, constantly-tweaked engine.
Yes. I'm not complaining about the length of his reply, but comiserating with him.

And he's going to announce the winners to the BoA scenario contest tomorrow, so he's also had that on his plate for the last few weeks or months.
Posts: 907 | Registered: Monday, July 15 2002 07:00
An Exhaustive Semi-Chronological Short History of the White Cult in Richard White Games
Mongolian Barbeque
Member # 1528
Profile #1
[...and here's his short reply. He seems to be even more overworked and sleep-deprived than I had imagined.]

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From: spidweb@spiderwebsoftware.com
Subject: Re: A Touching Tribute: A Satire in Song
Date: August 31, 2005 9:36:57 AM PDT
To: [me]

Heh, thanks for writing. That was an interesting progression of reasoning. :)

I don't know what Richard WHite is up do, and I wish he'd drop us a note. But, sadly, what I think is most likely is that, while he enjoyed game design, he decided to move on to other things. It is a demanding occupation, after all.

Still, hope to hear from him again. And, when I do, I'll let y'all know for sure.

- Jeff Vogel
Spiderweb Software, Inc
www.spiderwebsoftware.com

[ Tuesday, June 13, 2006 17:22: Message edited by: Icshi ]
Posts: 907 | Registered: Monday, July 15 2002 07:00
An Exhaustive Semi-Chronological Short History of the White Cult in Richard White Games
Mongolian Barbeque
Member # 1528
Profile #0
[Here's the email I sent Jeff. I received his reply today and will post that as the next message in this thread.]

--------------------

From: [me]
Subject: A Touching Tribute: A Satire in Song
Date: August 26, 2005 3:26:22 PM PDT
To: spidweb@spiderwebsoftware.com

Dear President Vogel,

My name is Isaac, and apart from being a loyal Spiderweb Software customer and Irony Central devotee, I'm an active member of your Spiderweb Software Boards (http://www.ironycentral.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi) where I operate under the name "Icshi." I've also greatly enjoyed your book, *The Poo Bomb*. I couldn't put it down when first reading it, and it's certainly the funniest book I've ever read. I hope there's a follow-up book on the way. (You might be amused to learn that my copy is on the bookshelf between *The Essential Works of Lenin* and Hegel's *Philosophy of History*. Tellingly, of those three august tomes I've only read *The Poo Bomb*.)

I would ask if you are be willing to autograph my copy, but apart from all the nuisance of packaging and shipping the book, there's always the risk that you would dip your finger in a nearby dirty diaper and scrawl JEFF VOGEL across the title page in big brown letters. A brown crayon would suffice.

Fortunately I have no children of my own, and you will be pleased to learn that your book has had a large part in my decision to ensure things remain that way. Apart from the obvious reasons, I detested being a kid and would hate to inflict a similar condition on anybody else.

As one of the handful of those who admit to enjoying Richard White's game *Galactic Core*--which, as you're no doubt aware, is distributed by your company--I've been the most sincere participant in the "Richard White Games" forum. For the last month or so, I've been working on a parodic duet between yourself and Mr. White to the tune of "When I go out of door" from the Gilbert & Sullivan operetta *Patience*. Exactly why I chose to do this is something I'm still not entirely sure of. Regardless of the motivation, once it was completed I posted it in the Richard White Games forum. It was favorably received by my fellow cretins down there, and it was suggested that I pass it along to you since you'd "get a kick out of it." But whether it'll be me who's on the receiving end of your kick remains a point of some anxiety on my part. The song is attached to this email in a pleasantly formatted HTML document. This HTML page contains all of the original text of my post in the Richard White Games forum--this includes a few prefatory comments, more information about the original operetta, and links to audio files of the accompanying tune.

However, although you're probably familiar enough with your own life and work to understand your lines, Richard White's lines are something else entirely. Since very little is known about him, over the last few months we've been letting our imaginations run wild in senseless--and often tasteless--speculation.

I've therefore drawn up this helpful "Exhaustive Semi-Chronological Short History of the White Cult" essay, along with some equally helpful links to the source material in question, in order to give you the background necessary to appreciate Richard's lines in the song. (The original source material needn't be read except by those conducting intensive nit-picking delving into the "facts" in order to find inconsistencies with my account.)

--------------------------------------

A discussion thread in the forum got to speculating about who Richard White was and what he might be doing at the moment--and, above all, whether or not he was actually dead.

http://www.ironycentral.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=13;t=0001 23;p=1

A board member by the name of "VCH" emailed you and asked about Richard's current life status, and was given a few interesting facts in reply. Apparently, you're still sending White's bank account occasional checks that are apparently being cashed, so that was quoted as evidence that he was still alive. However, one of the differing interpretations of this data was that Mrs. White was merely cashing the checks after having buried her husband in the back yard.

[url=http://www.ironycentral.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=13;t=000136]http://www.ironycentral.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=13;t=000136[/ URL]

There was also some speculation that perhaps Richard's disappearance could be explained more innocently. For instance, perhaps he went into a more profitable line of business, such as selling *Lord of the Rings* t-shirts to tourists on the street corners of Christchurch in his home country of New Zealand.

http://www.ironycentral.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=13 ;t=000123;p=6#000146

Another board member by the name "Zorro"--whom I recently inducted into the Ways of White--related how he had called Spiderweb Software's business number to register Galactic Core, as it is no longer possible to purchase it on your website. During this telephone conversation with your employee(s) and/or wife he had asked you all if you were aware that Richard White had died. Zorro had no idea one way or the other--this was an admittedly cruel practical joke on his part for which he has since expressed sincere contrition. But he opened a can of worms by relaying this "jest" to the rest of us on the bulletin board.

http://www.ironycentral.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=13 ;t=000123;p=8#000190

Some of the phraseology in these discussions was of the ambiguous and theologically-couched variety, so I inserted the innocent comment that the discussion was starting to sound like a debate on the existence or nonexistence of God. "The Cult of Mystic White" was accordingly created on the spot.

http://www.ironycentral.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=13;t=0 00134#000021

Well. You can guess how wild things started getting from that point on. Some unfortunate parallels were drawn to the "late" L. Ron Hubbard, whose soul is apparently orbiting Saturn and still beaming bad novels back to Earth.

http://www.ironycentral.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=13;t=0 00136#000011

Before we knew it, suddenly Richard was endowed with astral powers, a disembodied existence, and the posthumous ability to alter his own timeline--turns out he *did* die, but each day he ended up having died a different way.

http://www.ironycentral.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=13;t=000138#00 0023

He also has the power to constantly edit and alter what he accomplished here on Earth during his lifetime. For example, we have proof that he was here on Earth at least a hundred years earlier than previously thought--Richard White edited a version of the complete works of Shakespeare in 1860. You'll have to admit, that's some pretty damning evidence!

His appearance and age is also mutable. Some days, he was a nice young man. Other days, he was a sinister old man. He'll also be here long after the entire human race is dead, and He will dance on our graves.

http://www.ironycentral.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=13 ;t=000123;p=9#000203

There's a massive and arcane system of ranks and titles among his Cult followers, but nobody's quite sure what they are--even myself, who's the nominal part-time founder of the Cult. The hierarchy--and even the existence of the hierarchy--seems to be in a constant state of temporal flux. I should add that the cult's official name is also in a state of flux, so it's never referred to by the same name twice.

http://www.ironycentral.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=13 ;t=000134;p=2#000033

For a brief moment, doubt was sown in the minds of the faithful with the dissemination of the sordid conspiracy theory that you killed Richard (by throwing him off the top of the Space Needle in Seattle) in order to cash in on his lucrative game registrations. However, this theory has fallen out of favor with the Cult and is now considered "heretical"--not for being malicious or false, but for being so cliched. However, it's now commonly accepted that this *was* one of his deaths, just not one of his more interesting ones. So we tend to ignore it.

http://www.ironycentral.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=13;t=000144

Also, since his games aren't exactly selling like hot cakes, we came to the conclusion that there is a Galactic Core 2 in the works. But this will be no ordinary game--it's really thinly-disguised brainwashing software. Whenever the program is run, an "ideological download" begins into the user's brain, twisting his mind into a thoroughly devoted, slavish cult member who would suddenly be "enlightened" and see Richard's game for the glorious everlasting gems of endless joy that they really are. Galactic Core 3 will be the White Rapture, when all his followers are turned into pure energy and set out on a *real* campaign of interstellar conquest.

http://www.ironycentral.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=13;t=000139#00 0005

Later on, there was talk about the possibility of implanting White's prospective disciples with mind-controlling devices. Or more accurately, there was a security leak about the implants that are already in place. They apparently take the form of ordinary eyebrows.

http://www.ironycentral.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=13;t=0 00143#000018

There's also a "RWG" (Richard White Games) FAQ now available which will help clarify a few points. It starts out very informatively, but soon deteriorates into incoherent academic bickering between prominent Cult members:

[url=http://www.ironycentral.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=13;t=000152]http://www.ironycentral.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=13;t=000152[/ URL]

And somewhere along the line H.P. Lovecraft's horror stories got thrown into the mix, and it's all been downhill since then.

http://www.ironycentral.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=13;t=0 00139#000014
http://www.ironycentral.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=13;t=0 00152#000004

--------------------------------------

This outlines the majority of the salient "facts." It is now "safe" to read the song. I eagerly await your glowing accolade or outraged condemnation.

Yours sincerely,

Icshi

[ Tuesday, June 13, 2006 17:20: Message edited by: Icshi ]
Posts: 907 | Registered: Monday, July 15 2002 07:00
Gathering weird statistics of Spidweb board members in General
Mongolian Barbeque
Member # 1528
Profile #9
An impressive array of idiotic questions. :rolleyes:

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The A.E. van Vogt Information Site
My Tribute to the Greatest Writer of the Science Fiction Golden Age
Posts: 907 | Registered: Monday, July 15 2002 07:00
Avernum 4 Poll in General
Mongolian Barbeque
Member # 1528
Profile #20
Nice, isn't it, when such connections are made between isolated memory neurons? :)

To continue the Andrew Hunter discussion, I found a file on my hard drive containing his credits. I apparently saved this information in a text file, but then forgot all about it. It's rather outdated now, but contains all his early work.

This originally appeared on his site at http://www.wormwoodstudios.com/credits.htm

[quote]ANDREW HUNTER

PROJECT CREDITS
   
Spiderweb Software

* Geneforge
* Avernum
* Avernum2
* Avernum3
* Nethergate
* Exile
* Exile2
* Exile 3
* Blades of Exile
* Subterra
* Ocean Bound

Ambrosia Software

* Ferazel's Wand
* Ragnarok

Fantasoft

* New Centurions
* Realmz
[/quote]

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The A.E. van Vogt Information Site
My Tribute to the Greatest Writer of the Science Fiction Golden Age
Posts: 907 | Registered: Monday, July 15 2002 07:00
What do you do whenever...... in General
Mongolian Barbeque
Member # 1528
Profile #20
quote:
Originally written by demonslaeyr:

ben, it helps to read ALL posts of a topic before asking questions.
Actually, I don't think the Dock is all that similar to the Windows Start menu. I think Ben's question and the excellent definition in Thuryl's reply were fully justified. It gives him a fuller picture of exactly what we're talking about.

Granted, Ben can be overly garrulous, but in this case I think it was a legitimate question.

[ Tuesday, August 30, 2005 21:02: Message edited by: Icshi ]

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The A.E. van Vogt Information Site
My Tribute to the Greatest Writer of the Science Fiction Golden Age
Posts: 907 | Registered: Monday, July 15 2002 07:00
MMMMM in General
Mongolian Barbeque
Member # 1528
Profile #9
I'm looking forward to the gruesome parade of arcane medical lore. I have a friend who's mother is a nurse, and I still have nightmares about some of the things she's told me...

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The A.E. van Vogt Information Site
My Tribute to the Greatest Writer of the Science Fiction Golden Age
Posts: 907 | Registered: Monday, July 15 2002 07:00
My how far we've fallen... in Richard White Games
Mongolian Barbeque
Member # 1528
Profile #71
quote:
Originally written by Conscribblative:

Next you'll be writing our Bible, I 'spect.
Have you forgotten about the Third Book of Mystic White (aka The Revenge of the Son of Mystic White), a book printed under various titles by a publisher under various names?

And that's just one volume in the series of White Cult Scripture. A series of constantly shifting apocrypha, and being obsessive revised, even when temporally stable.
Posts: 907 | Registered: Monday, July 15 2002 07:00
My how far we've fallen... in Richard White Games
Mongolian Barbeque
Member # 1528
Profile #68
I sit in the epicentre of the Universe. Of course I get good reception.

And having White Within speak to me on a regular basis means that every little error or typo I make is actually His Sublte Divinity Manifesting Itself.
Posts: 907 | Registered: Monday, July 15 2002 07:00
What do you do whenever...... in General
Mongolian Barbeque
Member # 1528
Profile #12
I only keep applications I use frequently in my dock. I'm usually only playing one game at a time, and then it's usually my most recently purchased game—currently Icewind Dale sits in the dock.

So far I've registered all of Jeff's games except the Exile series, and keep them in the applications folder(s) (the Classic apps I keep in the OS 9 Apps folder).

When I know a new Spiderweb game is coming out soon, I make sure I haven't bought any other game recently. I sometimes diddle around with an old favorite—like Starcraft or Star Wars Episode I Pod Racer—to kill time during the days before the new one's release. I then download it, play through the demo, then register it. However, recently I've started to go ahead and just register it once I download it. Saves time.

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The A.E. van Vogt Information Site
My Tribute to the Greatest Writer of the Science Fiction Golden Age
Posts: 907 | Registered: Monday, July 15 2002 07:00
A Touching Tribute: A Satire in Song in Richard White Games
Mongolian Barbeque
Member # 1528
Profile #30
quote:
Originally written by Arancaytar:

ATTASIS is very pronouncable.
O di[[pse

—dang it, had my fingers in the wrong spots, let me try again—

I suppose this acronym is acceptable if you go in for that sort of thing. It hereby receives the the tentative Icshi seal of approval, which can be revoked at any time without notice or explanation.

quote:
[b]Also, my new conspiracy theory is that Icshi *is* RW.
[/b]

Though it would be correct to say that I have the memories and spirit of White dwelling within me, it would be a mistake to say that we're one and the same. Perhaps you need to read the catechism again?

quote:
But how could someone design such games and then write such parodies?
"Truth is, I outsourced the game designs to some kid I met on the street. I paid him in lollipops."

That was White speaking through me, by the way. Just to make it clear to those who've been skipping their indoctrination classes.
Posts: 907 | Registered: Monday, July 15 2002 07:00
3rd annual RWG slogan contest in Richard White Games
Mongolian Barbeque
Member # 1528
Profile #2
Wow! Hard to believe it's time for the 3rd annual contest already! Seems like just yesterday the 2nd one came to a close.

Alorael's entries are all great, especially that last one.

Here's my paltry contribution:

Richard White Games: The undeniable Greatness that sometimes will have was.

[ Monday, August 29, 2005 23:29: Message edited by: Icshi ]
Posts: 907 | Registered: Monday, July 15 2002 07:00
Some People...... in General
Mongolian Barbeque
Member # 1528
Profile #12
Capital idea!

Something like this, you mean?

IMAGE(http://www.thehalloweengroup.com/skullsconce3.jpg)

But this is just so passé. But nobody just has the candle out of the top anymore! I tried to find one that wasn't so cliched—I was going for that "skull staring upwards with candle extending out of its gaping mouth" motif, but couldn't find an example.

"Limited edition 18th century composer skull candleholders—pillaged from the finest graveyards and abbeys in Europe. Collect the whole set! Buy now while supplies last!"

www.skullzofgratemen4sale.ru.co/

[ Monday, August 29, 2005 20:43: Message edited by: Icshi ]

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The A.E. van Vogt Information Site
My Tribute to the Greatest Writer of the Science Fiction Golden Age
Posts: 907 | Registered: Monday, July 15 2002 07:00
Some People...... in General
Mongolian Barbeque
Member # 1528
Profile #7
Decapitation is the mark of all true art. Our museums are full of it.

Besides, if they bother to run off with your statue's head that means they think you're really worth the effort. They don't abscond with just anybody's head!

--------------------
The A.E. van Vogt Information Site
My Tribute to the Greatest Writer of the Science Fiction Golden Age
Posts: 907 | Registered: Monday, July 15 2002 07:00
My how far we've fallen... in Richard White Games
Mongolian Barbeque
Member # 1528
Profile #50
I understand your difficulties with English—White knows we native speakers have enough trouble with it!

I assure you, Thralni, that none of this is directed at you personally. It's just Cult policy, I'm afraid.

I don't make the rules, I just do as I'm told.

...No, wait a minute. Reverse that.
Posts: 907 | Registered: Monday, July 15 2002 07:00
My how far we've fallen... in Richard White Games
Mongolian Barbeque
Member # 1528
Profile #44
And they wear Rocketeer-like suits that make them beautifully aerodynamic.

IMAGE(http://www.cinefex.com/backissues/number48.jpg)
Posts: 907 | Registered: Monday, July 15 2002 07:00
My how far we've fallen... in Richard White Games
Mongolian Barbeque
Member # 1528
Profile #42
Yes, very true. But they're limp-wristed sissies compared to our guys.

IMAGE(http://www.miqel.com/coleman-archives-mystery-museum-image-gallery/nuclear-explosion-photograp.jpg)

Blasters, schmasters! We're into high-focused personally-delivered multimegaton thermonuclear devices.

[ Saturday, August 27, 2005 20:14: Message edited by: Icshi ]
Posts: 907 | Registered: Monday, July 15 2002 07:00
3000 in General
Mongolian Barbeque
Member # 1528
Profile #3
Ah! There's nothing like celebratory self-adulation!

--------------------
The A.E. van Vogt Information Site
My Tribute to the Greatest Writer of the Science Fiction Golden Age
Posts: 907 | Registered: Monday, July 15 2002 07:00
A Touching Tribute: A Satire in Song in Richard White Games
Mongolian Barbeque
Member # 1528
Profile #26
As a prize-winning pedant and originator of the two documents in question I feel obliged—nay, compelled—to step in and wipe away the cobwebs of confusions and the dust of idiocy that has descended most undeservedly upon this thread.

<Ahem.> This song is not the same thing as the "Exhaustive Semi-Chronological Short History of the White Cult." The song has the name "A Touching Tribute: A Satire in Song." Both have long titles. But they're different titles.

And to flippin' hell with acronyms and cutesy cluttery wordplay associations!

I hereby promote Ben to the front lines of the White Shock Troops . Good job, soldier! Here's your strap-on nuclear warhead. Go show 'em who's boss.

[ Saturday, August 27, 2005 17:44: Message edited by: Icshi ]
Posts: 907 | Registered: Monday, July 15 2002 07:00

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