Combatwords March 25, 2011: Hooray For Dystopia

Combatwords March 25, 2011: Hooray For Dystopia

Yes, I know this is a rehash of a #Combatprose (RIP) topic, but nobody here played that game. Besides, dystopia is terrific and always deserves reexamination: drive thru prayer and rubber porn star fuck toys are only part of what makes it so weird. Robo-traders flash crash markets sending millions into poverty and starvation and the powers that be say, 'ha ha, tough shit. That's the market in action baby!' But only recently have we seen the true face of mechanized degeneracy: the heirs are losing the technology of their fathers and mothers. Nuclear power plants run on Indian engineers who will have computer scientist children. The devolution is complete when the grandchild is a poet, writer or artist-type. Some say we will be the most literate stone-age people ever, some day. I prefer to think of ourselves and this age as the last of the screaming flesh before we fuse with machines and become even greater prosthetic gods.

Combat Expiration: 12am PST, 3/28/2011

Critique Expiration: 12am PST, 3/30/2011

Bonuses/Penalties: +2 if posted by 6pm PST, 3/25/2011, +1 if posted by 2am PST 3/26/2011, -1 if posted by 6am PST 3/28/2011, -2 if posted by 12pm PST 3/28/2011.

The Rules: http://combatwords.blogspot.com/2010/07/official-rules-for-combatwords-updated.html



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[Combatwords, March 18, 2011] End of an Era

[Combatwords, March 18, 2011] End of an Era

When the Han Dynasty collapsed an age of trade made way for an age of war. It was even worse in Europe when the Roman Empire collapsed: the culture was utterly destroyed. When Franz-Ferdinand was assassinated it started the end of 400 years of European imperialism. When I traded my bicycle & New York lock for a suit and tie, it was the end of an era too. The idea of 'transition' is too gentle—it implies that with an end there is a beginning. There is doubt embedded in the idea of an 'end of an era.' Obviously the Japanese earthquake, tsunami and nuclear crisis suggest that this era is ending too.



ps: I'm only giving you 3 hours to get a +2 bonus.

Combat Expiration: 12am PST, 3/21/2011

Critique Expiration: 12am PST, 3/23/2011

Bonuses/Penalties: +2 if posted by 3pm PST, 3/18/2011, +1 if posted by 12am PST 3/19/2011, -1 if posted by 6am PST 3/21/2011, -2 if posted by 12pm PST 3/21/2011.

The Rules: http://combatwords.blogspot.com/2010/07/official-rules-for-combatwords-updated.html

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Combatwords, March 11, 2011: Reversal

Combatwords, March 11, 2011: Reversal

In empty-hand Aikido, one facilitates the momentum of an attacker to defend one's self. A few slight movements change a punch into a fist-led flip. Most people in the West consider Aikido to be a purely defensive martial art, which must surprise the hell out of those who practice the form with a sword. A sword you ask? Yes. The very same motions which can be used empty-handed to aid the momentum of one's attacker can be used to strike and parry with a sword. So contemplate that, while you GRAB MY WRIST*!

Combat Expiration: 12am PST, 3/14/2011

Critique Expiration: 12am PST, 3/16/2011

Bonuses/Penalties: +2 if posted by 6pm PST, 3/11/2011, +1 if posted by 12am PST 3/12/2011, -1 if posted by 6am PST 3/14/2011, -2 if posted by 12pm PST 3/14/2011.

The Rules: http://combatwords.blogspot.com/2010/07/official-rules-for-combatwords-updated.html





*How aggressive Aikido masters challenge people to a fight

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Combatwords, March 4, 2011: Randomness

Combatwords, March 4, 2011: Randomness

Some of you probably believe in fate, but it often seems that things in life happen randomly. Someone caught a bullet in Germany, someone else got hit by a car crossing the street and ended up marrying the driver. Elsewhere, an elderly couple wins the lottery jackpot, after playing every week for twenty years, while their neighbours lose yet again. The topic for this week's combat is randomness, chance and how it plays out in life. Were you late and missed the terrorist attack? Or did you get off the bus one stop early and found a tenner? It's all random.

-Anton Gourman wrote this week's Combatwords topic, as is the prerogative of the winner of the prior combat.

Combat Expiration: 12am PST, 3/7/2011

Critique Expiration: 12am PST, 3/9/2011

Bonuses/Penalties: +2 if posted by 6pm PST, 3/4/2011, +1 if posted by 12am PST 3/5/2011, -1 if posted by 6am PST 3/7/2011, -2 if posted by 12pm PST 3/7/2011.

The Rules: http://combatwords.blogspot.com/2010/07/official-rules-for-combatwords-updated.html

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