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I mentioned Paul Krugman’s piece on liquidity traps last month — I’d link to it again, but the NYT doesn’t have free archives. Pity. However, thanks to MetaFilter, I can show you this paper (PDF) from the Dallas Federal Reserve. It’s a nice clean explanation of liquidity traps along with some speculation about ways to fend off the one we’re about to hit.
Jun. 20th, 2003
WISH 52 asks what Robin Laws classification fits you best. I’m Iron Man! Um.
Robin Laws identifies several types of gamer in his book of GM tips: The Power Gamer, the Butt-Kicker, the Tactician, the Specialist (plays one type only), the Method Actor, the Storyteller (plot and pacing fan), and the Casual Gamer. Which of these types do you think you are, and why? Most people aren’t pure types, so multiple choices are OK.
I’m some unholy blend between the Method Actor, the Storyteller, and the Tactician. The first two are fairly obvious — I like playing interesting characters, and if you want to call that immersive you can; I also like backstory. Maybe that doesn’t make me a Storyteller, but there’s no Lawsian classification for “people who dig a coherent world.” Unless it’s an aspect of Method Actor, which it might well be.
I blame the Tactician in me on too much exposure to Hero gamers. On the other hand, I do really like D&D 3E grid combat. It’s an interesting challenge at about the right level for me to be interested in it. Wargames and miniatures do not capture my interest, but pushing a little lead figure painted to represent a Celtic Bronze Age priest of Mercury around the map? That’s quality fun!
Warren Ellis has some simple words of wisdom on the Mark Waid firing. Let it rip, Warren:
I dunno. I used to know Mark. He’s been humped by Marvel two or three times previous to this. If you keep going back to a place where they fuck you in the arse with spiky metal things, then after a while people will simply assume you like it. It’s kind of a non-story.
LJ-Only Interview
Jun. 20th, 2003 12:09 pmWhat the heck. If anyone wants to do this "ask five questions" quasi-interview meme, I'm game -- ask away.
Yeah, I know it's a cheap way to reach for validation. "Hey, I'm so interesting you want to ask me questions!"
Yeah, I know it's a cheap way to reach for validation. "Hey, I'm so interesting you want to ask me questions!"
BookSense allows you to order books online and pick them up at your local independent bookseller. Unfortunately, it’s dog slow, and I’m a bit perturbed by their offer to sell me a book named simply Harry Potter — seems to me that there aren’t enough words in that title.
Also it would be better if they did not direct me to a bookstore in Canton when I live in Somerville.
Interview Answers: Liralen
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liralen asks...1. What's you're favorite place to eat in Mass.? Ca.?
In Massachusetts? Ask me in a year or so. I'm digging Anna's Taqueria right now, because it's cheap and solid and a decent burrito and makes me miss California not quite so much. But I suspect there are better places out there.
In California, I'm gonna go with Betelnut on Union Street in San Francisco. It's yuppie as all hell, and I'm sure it'll go out of business with the dot com crash, but it was such a fun place to eat. You ordered a la carte from a really decent menu of various Asian cuisines and pigged out. Lots of room to say "Hey, I want some of what I just saw the waiter take to that other table." Yum.
2. Who is your favorite RPG character of all the ones you've played?
The most recent. That'd be Reese Beulay right now. But while I was playing Cian, he was my favorite, and while I was playing Paul, he was my favorite. Paul was probably the most complex.
If you count online play, Constantine. He's very comfortable; a second skin. Not as complex as Paul, though.
3. What's the most important lesson you learned from all your job experiences?
Don't hire friends. The downside is too painful.
4. What was your biggest scare?
My biggest scare was a private thing. My second biggest was starting to run out of money this past summer. I did not particularly want to move back in with the folks; it would have been somewhat silly, to say the least. My backup strategy (involving Gamescape) would have worked out OK, but fortunately I got a job in my field before it was too late.
5. What do you do to cope with a bad day?
I read one of the comfort books. Heinlein can do a good job of taking me away from it all. Some Guy Gavriel Kay, although I just reread the Fionavar Tapestry and my but it's not as good as I thought it was. Dennis Lehane's Kenzie and Genarro series is good for sharpedged eloquence.
Political junkies might be interested in this news. Howard Dean’s 17 year old son was arrested for stealing booze from a local country club today. No big deal; the Senate Majority Leader’s son was just arrested for DUI. Rove’ll try and spin it, though.
Warren Ellis has some simple words of wisdom on the Mark Waid firing. Let it rip, Warren:
I dunno. I used to know Mark. He’s been humped by Marvel two or three times previous to this. If you keep going back to a place where they fuck you in the arse with spiky metal things, then after a while people will simply assume you like it. It’s kind of a non-story.
Excellent news out of Iraq: the IAEA found the missing uranium. This is not a WMD find; this is uranium that was looted during the war, and which has now been recovered. Congrats and thank you to the UN agency which found the stuff.