by Andy November 11, 2004
A large realm in southern Magnamund, covering most of the eastern half of the continent at the time of the World of Lone Wolf gamebooks. The capital is the city of Shadaki, and it also contains a number of other major cities such as Ghol-Tabras. In addition, it controls the formerly free cities such as Andui, Forlu and Karnali and a number of desolate areas such as Lara and the Lissan Plains.
The Empire is ruled by the Wytch-King Shasarak by means of fell magic and the fearsome Shadakine army. Particularly important are the Shadakine Wytches, who control each city partly by means of the powerful influence of the Kazim Stones they possess. Shasarak has also called demons to his aid, has opened a portal to the demonic plane and is a powerful magician in his own right.
The Empire is ruled by the Wytch-King Shasarak by means of fell magic and the fearsome Shadakine army. Particularly important are the Shadakine Wytches, who control each city partly by means of the powerful influence of the Kazim Stones they possess. Shasarak has also called demons to his aid, has opened a portal to the demonic plane and is a powerful magician in his own right.
The Shadakine Empire at its peak stretched from the Tentarias, the northern border of Southern Magnamund, to the south coast of the continent.
After the fall of Shasarak, most of the area became a single realm under the rulership of the wizard Grey Star, but Shadakine supporters continued to cause unrest. The free cities returned to their independence.
After the fall of Shasarak, most of the area became a single realm under the rulership of the wizard Grey Star, but Shadakine supporters continued to cause unrest. The free cities returned to their independence.
by Andy April 24, 2004
Member of a Decepticon Special Team made up entirely of construction vehicles. All coloured light green and purple, the Constructicons are Scavenger (hoe), Scrapper (digger), Bonecrusher (bulldozer), Mixmaster (cement mixer), Hook (crane) and Long Haul (dump truck).
They combine into Devastator. The Constructicons were the first Special Team with a combined mode, and the only one inherited from the Diaclone line. Uniquely among the Generation 1 combiners, the Constructicons were not interchangeable and could only combine in a very specific way.
They combine into Devastator. The Constructicons were the first Special Team with a combined mode, and the only one inherited from the Diaclone line. Uniquely among the Generation 1 combiners, the Constructicons were not interchangeable and could only combine in a very specific way.
"Constructicons, combine and merge into Devastator!"
"Nobody's driving those things!"
"Right, puny human! We are the Constructicons! We drive ourselves!"
"Nobody's driving those things!"
"Right, puny human! We are the Constructicons! We drive ourselves!"
by Andy July 22, 2004
by andy January 28, 2005
by Andy February 07, 2005
A leading anarchist theorist in the nineteenth century, author of classics such as "Mutual Aid", "Factories, Fields and Workshops" and "The State: Its Historic Role". Most of his works are out of copyright and are available online at the Anarchy Archives at dward.pitzer.au.
Kropotkin was an anthropologist by profession, and this is shown by frequent references to this science in his work. "Mutual Aid" is in large part an attempt to rebut Darwinist arguments for the necessity of individualist egoistic action by demonstrating that mutually supportive, cooperative and altruistic actions are common among animals and in human societies. Kropotkin seemed to think that cooperation is part of human nature, so pervasive it is across different cultures and so resilient it is to attacks by the state.
He viewed the state as a force of atomisation because of its tendency to persecute specific associations. He saw it operating in an imperialistic way, colonising everyday life from above and outside and counterposing itself to the force of society and sociability as an everyday factor. The state is based on violence and control, and hierarchic forms and unnatural and oppressive. The state should therefore be overthrown or overcome, and replaced with social relations based on mutual voluntary cooperation in a series of federated associations.
His thought is best located within anarcho-communism. Although dated in some respects, it still holds up as a critique of sociobiology and of theories of the necessity of state power.
I don't know how it could come to mean "a stupid person" - I assume this is a Slavophobe appropriation of this rather amusing-sounding Russian name.
Kropotkin was an anthropologist by profession, and this is shown by frequent references to this science in his work. "Mutual Aid" is in large part an attempt to rebut Darwinist arguments for the necessity of individualist egoistic action by demonstrating that mutually supportive, cooperative and altruistic actions are common among animals and in human societies. Kropotkin seemed to think that cooperation is part of human nature, so pervasive it is across different cultures and so resilient it is to attacks by the state.
He viewed the state as a force of atomisation because of its tendency to persecute specific associations. He saw it operating in an imperialistic way, colonising everyday life from above and outside and counterposing itself to the force of society and sociability as an everyday factor. The state is based on violence and control, and hierarchic forms and unnatural and oppressive. The state should therefore be overthrown or overcome, and replaced with social relations based on mutual voluntary cooperation in a series of federated associations.
His thought is best located within anarcho-communism. Although dated in some respects, it still holds up as a critique of sociobiology and of theories of the necessity of state power.
I don't know how it could come to mean "a stupid person" - I assume this is a Slavophobe appropriation of this rather amusing-sounding Russian name.
Kropotkin's Mutual Aid is a classic text of anarchist theory.
Anti-capitalist groups often unknowingly adopt a model of organisation similar to Kropotkin's, favouring small-scale voluntary groups which come together into larger federations for purposes of mutual support.
Anti-capitalist groups often unknowingly adopt a model of organisation similar to Kropotkin's, favouring small-scale voluntary groups which come together into larger federations for purposes of mutual support.
by Andy April 19, 2004
In George Orwell's dystopia "Nineteen Eighty-Four", Newspeak was the corrupted/purged language everyone was supposed to speak according to the totalitarian dictatorship which ran everything. Words with subversive potential and those which had unclear meanings were eliminated, along with references to the past. The attempt was to bring language, and therefore thought, into line with the wishes of the rulers.
It is also used to refer to any instance of politically-invented language put out through apparatuses of propaganda and social control or by spindoctors.
Words like people-trafficker, collateral damage and downsizing are examples of real-world Newspeak.
It is also used to refer to any instance of politically-invented language put out through apparatuses of propaganda and social control or by spindoctors.
Words like people-trafficker, collateral damage and downsizing are examples of real-world Newspeak.
This doesn't mean you shouldn't make up new words. Nor does it mean that every political or invented word should be suspect. The point is that new words should expand meaning, not contract it. If a word is used to cover up abuses by the powerful or to manipulate people in favour of the existing regime, it's Newspeak.
by Andy May 01, 2004