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In this Issue:
The Value of Burning Korans; The Moral Burden of Muslim Americans
Thursday, September 16, 2010
© Copyright 2010, The Ultrapolis Project – May be used freely with proper attribution. All other rights reserved.
The Mayor & the Mosque
A 'disaster' is averted in Florida (at least for now), and Islam is spared an inflammatory insult that would result in a violent reaction from Muslims around the world. Yet, we still the face the specter of another violent reaction by Muslims around the world, or so we are told, if the "Ground Zero" mosque is not built. And thanks to the Obama administration, now any single backwater preacher can hold our nation's security interests hostage. But, for all the acrimony and anxiety surrounding these two controversies, they actually do us a service by spotlighting how 1) Until Pastor Terry Jones was pulled into the national stage, mosque supporters would not recognize the difference between what is a constitutional right and what is appropriate; and 2) More broadly, how this cognitive dissonance reflects on the larger issue in question of Islam, anti-Islam sentiment, and our national security.
Until the threat of burning Korans (Qurans) loomed imminent, a wide swath of liberal commentators and politicians argued strenuously in favor of the mosque's legal right. They indignantly expressed outrage and incredulity at the alleged hypocrisy and lack of erudition on the part of those who are against the controversial mosque being built in the Ground Zero area of New York City, as they patted themselves on the back for their superior morality and intellectual consistency. A perfect example of this was Jon Stewart's August 26, interview with New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, on The Daily Show. Below is an excerpt from that exchange between Stewart and Mayor Bloomberg.
Stewart: "You have spoken out very eloquently in favor of people being able to do what they are able to do on private property, is that your feeling?" (What a poorly worded question!)
Bloomberg: "When I went to school I [sic], we studied the Constitution. It says you have a right to say what you want to say, which means pray to whomever you want, whenever you want, wherever you want. And, it's just not the government's business to tell you what to say." (Oh how lofty and high-minded of Mr. Bloomberg, in defense of nothing less the freedoms afforded to us by our Constitution.) The audience erupts into supportive applause and hoots of approval. Then he follows up with comments on how all the 9/11 families he talked to are in favor of the mosque, and closes with a remark about a recently returning war veteran telling Mr. Bloomberg that "'this is what we were all was fighting for. 'You keep at it'." More eruptive applause.
The disingenuous nature of Mayor Bloomberg's comments was so complete, it was left to an otherwise sympathetic Jon Stewart to gently ask about other 9/11 families and veterans overseas who perhaps don't agree with the idea of the mosque being built at that controversial location. But, the more serious beef is with the mayor's pontification, and that of almost everyone on the left of this issue on the national stage and at cocktail parties, is the implication that the right of anyone's freedom of speech is being questioned, let alone being threatened, and that those who oppose the mosque somehow didn't have the benefit of the mayor's education on American freedoms.
Practically no one of any consequence out of the 308 million Americans of all stripes and beliefs has made any demand or claim to legally deny the constitutional rights of Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf and his friends to build a mosque on the site of a building damaged by the terrorist acts of 9/11. If anything, except for Newt Gingrich's lonely assertion that New York consider using its powers of eminent domain, even the most conservative ardent opponents of the mosque from Sean Hannity to Glen Beck have taken pains to make clear that the imam has a legal right to build the mosque. The argument has been from the beginning about the appropriateness of the mosque location. The distinction is clear to the American public at large that opposes the mosque's location by huge margins (63% in the latest Quiniac University national poll), while at the same time also supporting by even larger margins (70% in that same poll) the right to build the mosque at the same location. Considering that most elections won by majorities of 55% or more are considered landslides, these numbers show an overwhelming, and yet nuanced consensus among the American public.
1,001 Islamophobic Tales
Still, that does not stop those in the media to continue to insist that America is innately bigoted and irrationally Islamophobic. Time magazine ran its own story on similar polling results it found, with the following headline: "Majority Oppose Mosque, Many Distrust Muslims." The article closes, after spinning every poll result as another indictment of American views, that "…the poll revealed that prejudice toward Muslims is widespread…" (To read more: Time Mosque Poll Sep 13). Why does Time say this? Because it found that a minority of Americans are distrustful of Islam. Really? Note that even their own polls show most Americans view Islam as a peaceful religion. This, despite repeated attacks against Americans in the name of Islam. This, despite what we know about what happens in Muslim countries against women and gay people, and people who are openly non-Muslim, and what we know about the 'honor' killings that occur in our own country. This, despite the destruction of humanity's religious heirlooms, and gruesome video-taped beheadings of people screaming for their lives, in the name of Islam. This, despite the horror of 9/11, which unfolded as Muslim children danced for joy in the streets. With all that, American majorities still give Islam the benefit of the doubt as to its intentions, and insist by overwhelming numbers on its legal rights in this country, even as they also find that exercise painful. And this for a religious minority with very little voting power. If anything, this kind of national self-restraint is new to world history.
It is interesting that those who had the most favorable view were those in Manhattan Island, who viewed Islam as a peaceful religion by 2 to 1 margins. We would love to know how many of those in Manhattan (and those elsewhere who are so certain of America's xenophobic impulses) have the same view of Christianity. In our own largely liberal neighborhood near the center of Houston, it is not unusual to hear at social gatherings very ugly things openly said about Christians and Christianity in general by the very same people who become indignant at the association of any act in the name of Islam to Islam itself. One pastor out of hundreds of thousands threatens to burn Korans? Obvious proof provided by a loon, that all Christians are bigoted and intolerant rubes. Mass killings, mass female subjugation, mass religious persecutions, EXPLICITLY in the name of Islam? Well, we must take each and every incident into context and examine the psychological issues, economic circumstances and possible emotional trauma of each, let's not say perpetrator, let's say misguided, troubled soul, as we did with the Muslim murderer of twelve in Ft. Hood last November.
That's why, coming back to the good mayor, when he was asked by CBS Evening News anchor Katie Couric to speculate, before there was an arrest, about who might be behind the Times Square bomb attempt back in May, he ventured that the culprit may be "Home-grown, maybe a mentally deranged person or somebody with a political agenda that doesn't like the health care bill or something. It could be anything." (So, an anti-health care bill Tea Partier comes first to mind to the mayor of New York City, not someone with an agenda more similar to the one that has propelled so many deaths, and so many different attempts since 1993, in his own city.) And, It's why when it was discovered that the bomber was indeed Muslim, a recently naturalized citizen from Pakistan, MSNBC's Condessa Brewer crudely blurted out that, "there was part of me that was hoping this was not going to be anybody with ties to any kind of Islamic country, because there are lots of people who want to use terrorist intent to justify writing off people who believe in a certain way, or come from certain countries, or whose skin color is a certain way. They use it as justification for really outdated bigotry." Yes, that's right, the bigotry against Muslims that is rampant across the country. How much happier she would have been had it been a white Christian, to help illustrate to the public where the problem really lies. Except that according the FBI's 2008 statistics (the latest available) since 2001, hate crimes attributable to anti-Muslim sentiment have actually fallen dramatically (a total of 108 nationwide - an American is 150 times more likely to commit murder for any reason than to commit any act that could be seen as 'hateful' to Islam). When this was pointed out by Reason editor Nick Gillespie to the Rev. Janet Vincent of the St. Columbia Episcopal Church on the Newshour on PBS last Friday, (the reverend strongly favors insisting the mosque be built at the current location) she simply ignored the fact, made no effort to disprove it, and then later maintained that "Islam is now being persecuted." If that's so, then Judaism is under a horrendous onslaught, as ten times as many hate crimes were attributable to anti-Jewish sentiment. Interestingly, there were an almost equal number of anti-Christian hate crimes as anti-Muslim ones in 2008.
Islam's Unique Moral Burden
So is all Islam to be vilified? No. Still, it is correct to examine and recognize the nature of the enemy that is targeting our way of life, particularly the idea of freedom of thought and religion. And, it is merely an act of sanity and self-preservation to accurately identify that at this time a subset of Islam is taking aim at us; that this religious movement, aggressively animated by a particularly violent interpretation of the Koran (not the Torah, not the Gospel, not the Analects of Confucius, not the Buddhavacana - but the Koran), has openly declared it's hostility to everything we believe, has killed thousands on our city streets, and will kill millions given the chance. As comedian Dennis Miller so aptly put it, to note that the 9/11 terrorists were all Muslims is "not racial profiling, it is being minimally observant."
Just as the sexual abuse scandals that have tainted the Catholic Church make it appropriate to focus on that church and its practices, to put pressure on it to act to address the problem, and to explicitly state its position, without assuming that all Catholics are pedophiles, it is also right to do the same with Islam in regards to the violence that is emanating from within its professed ranks (especially since those acts - unlike the molestation cases - are actually done in the name of the religion). To spend billions of dollars on security measures, and strategic and tactical policy that pretend that an 80-yeard old elderly woman from Finland is just as likely a threat to our lives as a group of young men from Arabia sternly reciting verses from the Koran, is asinine, and ultimately suicidal.
In one of the many retrospective articles that appeared about 9/11 in the following year in the Wall Street Journal, one related the experience of an airport security screener that noticed Mohamed Atta as he passed thru security, and the screener was struck by how Mr. Atta looked like the archetype of a terrorist, and how his expression seemed "full of hate." The screener then said he felt guilty for his own apparent racism, and opted not to single Atta out for further scrutiny, so as to not do so out of his personal bias. When he later learned that this same man was on one of the planes that hit the World Trade Center, he felt guilty again, for assuming the worst of this poor man who was now dead. What was especially striking about the interview was that the man expressed no guilt over the result of his multi-cultural angst. (If a common failing of conservatives is focusing too much on results, without enough principled concern for how we get those results, a mirror image of that fault is how liberals seem so often only interested on process, and not on at all on real-life consequences.)
So, it is correct to note the Muslim component of the threat; not to malign a whole religious tradition with a rich heritage that dates back 1,500 years and was a source of enlightenment in a past time when other faiths swooned under darker human impulses, nor to place under suspicion all its billion-plus adherents today; but to appropriately, rationally and effectively target the locus of an existential threat, a threat that if allowed to realize even a small part of its ambitions, will make Americans wonder why they spent so much time questioning each other's motives.
Should the Mosque Be Built?
Should the mosque be built at the controversial location near Ground Zero? Let's first clearly stipulate that people can legitimately differ on the APPROPRIATENESS of building the mosque, without putting into question the constitutional right to do so, or without having to accuse one side of racism, or the other of unpatriotic values. Clearly, there is something to be said for being vigilant of American values and constitutional rights under these circumstances. Moreover, to expect equal tolerance for religious diversity in Muslim lands before we maintain it in ours as some have argued, undercuts the whole idea of American exceptionalism so commonly and loudly espoused by the likes of Rush Limbaugh. We should demand it, but we do not lower our values to match those of oppressive societies. Conversely, protesting the mosque, even burning Korans, is also free speech, equally protected, and should not be forcefully stopped by the government for fear of reprisals or difficulties overseas.
We won't spend time on these pages on Laura Ingram's flip flop, or Imam Rauf's ominous veiled threat about 'exploding anger' overseas, or his controversial associations as they are all beside the central point. Nor will we discuss at this time how the entertainment nature of political discussion in the U.S., dominated as it is by comedians and ratings, is fomenting division and putting in danger our nation's ability to come to political conclusions. Instead, we conclude simply with this: It is fair to ask fellow Americans of Muslim faith to recognize that a radical virulent offshoot of their faith was involved in the worst terrorist attack in American history, closely associating emotionally their faith to painful memories, and because of that, some special consideration for the feelings of their fellow citizens under these trying circumstances is in order; to understand that what you say you intend to do is not as important as what you are actually doing in building human bridges; to see that sometimes, freely choosing to offer a symbolic concession as a sign of regret for something done in one's name, can go a long way to establishing goodwill and trust among peoples of different religious faiths that are under a common strain.
Will the Mosque Be Built?
Until recently, we would have predicted that the mosque would be built, as most controversies usually fade, and do not change the course of action of determined people. However, unusual growing intensity of the opposition to the mosque is placing Imam Rauf, his finances, and his associations, under much more scrutiny than he probably ever expected. Until now, Muslims have experienced a consistent backing from government agencies and most liberal progressives, and muted public opposition to any of their demands, even in the wake of 9/11. But this time around, even liberal progressives have begun to defect, and the public's opposition is not fading with time. The preaching condescension coming from leaders like Mayor Bloomberg seemed to have only hardened feelings on the issue. Therefore, we now think that there is a growing real probability that the mosque, as it is currently designed to operate, will be moved to a different location, followed possibly a couple of years later by a smaller presence closer to Ground Zero.
ABC's Good Morning America Commentator Declines to Correct Misstatements
In a discussion that aired on Wednesday, August 18, on Good Morning America George Stephanopoulos suggested that Dr. Laura Schlessinger (referred to as Dr. Laura on her national radio program), was fired for using the 'n' word repeatedly on the air during an exchange with a caller, and that affiliates called for her departure. Dr; Schlesinger actually owns the company she works for, and there is no record of any affiliate asking to drop her show. In the discussion that followed, Lou Dobbs expressed disgust and moral indignation at Dr. Schlessinger's use of the word on her show. Not mentioned in the show was the context in which the word was used – in an unfortunate effort to explain that some words can be used by one race and not another in our culture – and that the following day she profusely apologized for her use of the word at all. Apparently, upset after recognizing her bad judgment, she did not finish her show the day of the incident, Tuesday, August 10, and ran a previous episode for the last program hour. Requests by Dr. Schelssinger's company, Take on the Day, to correct the record, have gone un-answered by Mr. Stephanopoulos or ABC.
It is odd that Dr. Schelssinger would claim on the Larry King Live show on CNN that her departure from airwaves is her way of regaining free speech rights. Dobb's remark on Good Morning America that this does not make sense, and that radio in our society is the most "unencumbered, unrestrained medium" of expression is on the mark, and leaves us scratching our heads as to what is the real reason for her planned departure from the radio in December. The Dr. Laura show is currently the 5th most popular show in the U.S.A., with an average of nine million listeners daily (almost in a three-way tie with Glen Beck and Michael Savage).
Mexico Celebrates Its Own Bicentennial with Dazzling Lights & Fireworks Show
Last night, Mexicans everywhere momentarily forgot their serious troubles that are beginning to put at risk the fabric of the struggling republic, and celebrated 200 years since the night a priest rang the Mexican liberty bell and called the people, most of them slaves, to armed insurrection against their Spanish overlords. After 11 bloody years, Spain finally conceded Mexico's independence, and the first slave-free nation of the American continental mainland was born. Millions celebrated with special observances across the country, and several in the capital alone, as well as in the U.S., with a major celebration in Los Angeles. The evening's festivities in Constitution Plaza (also known as the Zócalo) in the heart of Mexico City, where hundreds of thousands gathered, featured a wide variety of performing acts, from singers to acrobatic aerialists and dancers (some of the singers were not of the best quality), a night parade, and an stunning first class, expertly choreographed lights and fireworks show that was a wondrous delight to watch. The evening was capped by the traditional "El Grito," the traditional recreation of that first cry for freedom by that priest, Don Miguel Hidalgo, in 1810. The president stepped out into the balcony of the National Palace, rang the national bell, and after a brief litany of "vivas" calling out the names of national heroes, closed with an electrifying – really truly chilling – final call of, "Viva Mexico, viva Mexico, viva Mexico!"
Long live Mexico.


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Joy has covered some of the most contentious issues facing the country in recent years, including the Trayvon Martin case and the origins of Black Lives Matter, to the uprising in Baltimore, and the marches in New York against police violence. She has also covered national and statewide politics, from Florida to Chicago, including the 2010, 2012, 2014 and 2016 elections.
Joy's bylines have appeared in The Miami Herald, the New York Times, The Daily Beast, The South Florida Sun-Sentinel, The South Florida Times, Salon.com, theGrio.com, and MSNBC.com. She was the managing editor of theGrio.com from 2011 to 2014.
From 2014 to 2015, Joy was the host of The Reid Report, a daily one-hour news program on MSNBC.

subset: commoncrawl


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Annual Conference
Each year we present a Local History Conference in conjunction with our Annual General Meeting.
CONFERENCE on MARCH 13, 2017 Mountview Centre, Deloraine, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Presentation Highlights
Why Local History Matters - Ken Storie:
School textbooks, by their very nature, are short on local details. These details, however, when presented along with the "overview" provided by the approved texts, can help students better appreciate the role of their community, and history in general. Ken will offer examples from our area and explain a Turtle Mountain-Souris Plains Heritage Association project that we hope will help.
Film Presentation
Reserve 107 - Reconciliation on the Prairies
A thoughtful and encouraging look at how a Saskatchewan farm community, living on what was reserve land, is joining forces with the Young Chippewa band now claiming their land back.
Indigenous rights and title to the land remains a taboo topic for many across Canada, but in the small town of Laird, Saskatchewan, an old injustice is providing new opportunities for dialogue, friendship and a fierce determination to right the wrongs of the past.
With support from Mennonite Central Committee Saskatchewan and St. Johns Lutheran Church, Rebel Sky Media and director Brad Leitch have produced a thoughtful and informative film.
Opportunities and Challenges in a less stable world - David Neufeld:
How do the stresses of climate change, political polarization, widening wealth gap, and the continuing cascade of supreme court rulings in favour of aboriginal claims affect our daily lives and our mission as a heritage association? What other other stresses impact how we do our work?
David invites discussion on these issues: email@example.com
Suyoko Tsukamoto & Holly Cote
Suyoko is currently the Impact Assessment Archaeologist, with the Historic Resources Branch, and spent many years as a Sessional Lecturer in Anthropology at Brandon University. She also writes columns for the Brandon Sun and articles for Manitoba History and other publications.
Suyoko grew up in Brandon and has an extensive first-hand knowledge of the region. She has participated in a wide range of projects exploring both the distant and more recent past. She has explored Camp Hughes, Manitoba POW Sites, and Aboriginal burial sites. She has given presentations about; "methods anthropologists use to differentiate animal from human bone" and written on local history topics such as; "Cool Things in the Collection: The Fred McGuinness Collection"
Holy Cote works with Suyoko and serves as the Municipal Consultant for the Historic Resources Branch. Holy and Sukoko recently visited our region to examine an aboriginal burial site. Holy outlined support and grant programs designed to preserve heritage sites and offer assistance to municipal heritage groups.
Local Initiatives – Bill Warren
The Pierson and Area Heritage Committee has staged a series of displays at the local library on topics such as Local Schools and Aboriginal History. They created James Dandy Park and a heritage display near the entrance to town.
Presented below are reports from the two most recent conferences.
CONFERENCE & ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING on MARCH 14, 2016
Theme: The Times – They Are A'Changin
Monday March 14, 10 – AM - 3 PM
Mountview Centre - Deloraine
Head of Council for Deloraine – Winchester, Gord Weidenhamer, 4th-generation farmer, welcomed visitors to the community. He mentioned the value of the Vantage Points books and thanked retired local history teacher, Bob Caldwell, for developing his interest in heritage.
Turtle Mountain Metis Elder and a founding member of the TMSPHA, Steve Racine, offered a prayer. Clark Combs, neighbour and long-time family friend of Neil Hathaway, presented a memorial about TMSPHA's vice-chair who passed away in August of 2015.
David Neufeld spoke to the theme "Times - They are a-Changin'.
We are moving into a different era, but want the relationships to continue to thrive in future generations. We want to present some of our projects via different media, such as videos and increased use of the website. He also talked about his childhood years in a closed Mennonite community at Whitewater where his ancestors settled this land similar to their former Ukraine farms. He spoke of the Mennonite experience in Russian and his experiences in South Africa - drawing lessons from those experiences that link them to the here and now.
Chief Viola Eastman of Canupawakpa Dakota Nation expressed her love of the Dakota and their culture and language. She offered an interesting perspective in the Residential Schools issue, reminding us that many parents accepted having their children attend residential school. They wanted their children to learn English and other thing about European culture that might help their communities adapt. What they didn't anticipate was that that their own language and culture would be taken away from them.
Following their oral tradition of passing on history to the children, Viola's parents taught their children to speak Dakota and understand their heritage. Her community's school division, Fort la Bosse, is offering indigenous curriculum courses for their First Nation students.
Leah LaPlante, a long-term leader of her Metis community in southwestern Manitoba paid tribute to the many individuals who have made a differene in the Turtle Mountain Local, such as Steve Racine, Ken Leforte, Sharon (Conway) Parenteau, Lorne and Mary Conway, Grant Armstrong . Leah also stated that retired Deloraine teachers Bob Caldwell and Rick Schoonbaert provided the favorite part of schooling for two generations of Metis students.
During Leah's young adulthood, she began to research who she was as a Metis person and what it means to be a Metis. In Grade 6, the history lesson Leah was taught was that Louis Riel was a traitor. She kept her hand down when the teacher asked if there were any Metis in the class. Now Leah feels that she is "the proudest person walking the mountain." Her research told her that her grandparents played a big part in building Manitoba. The Racines are descendants of Cuthbert Grant.
Leah also gave us the history of Metis issues such as "harvesting rights". and noted that Premier Selinger recently acknowledged Louis Riel as being the first government leader of the province of Manitoba. Sharon Parenteau reviewed the history of the Metis people in Manitoba and the development of the Manitoba Metis Federation. She reviewed key points in the MMF's consultations with governments, such as the Powley Decision. Sharon then described the MMF's Metis Harvest Initiative and summarized the Metis Land Claim case.
Tom Mitchell, a retired professor at Brandon University spoke about using video productions to present history. Tom showed his recently-made video about early Brandon. He said that we live in a digital age and the tools are available, suggesting that a video on the Boundary Commission Trail would require two photographers plus our own research material that provides great stories & story-lines and visuals of the landscape, community places and people. He said that the human voice component makes a big impression on video. Music can also be important and recommended that we find local people to compose music.
Our researcher and writer, Ken Storie, discussed "Connections". When we reach out, we can find hundreds of things about southwest Manitoba that we didn't know about. We try to reach out to our readers; teachers and students; collaborators in order to gather stories about old buildings; natural sites; trails and rivers; ancestors, and technology. We might sometimes not know the whole story, so appreciate feedback from our readers. For example, in VP4's article on Sitting Eagle, we may have misidentified the two men who discovered Sitting Eagle after his death. Leah says it was her two grandpas.
2015 AGM & Conference - Report
Introductory Remarks
Neil Hathaway, TMSPHA vice-chair
Welcome from Deloraine-Winchester Reeve - Gordon Weidenhamer
Project Manager's Report
Ken Storie reviewed projects underway such as Vantage Points IV and Interpretive Signs projects for Waskada, The Goodlands area coal mines, and the Souris River Fur trade posts.
Ed Ledohowski - Community Outreach
Recently retired from the Manitoba's Department of Tourism, Culture, Heritage & Sports, Ed Ledohowski described possible ways for tourism and heritage groups to develop opportunities for community outreach and economic development. He defined success as getting information out to our residents and making our research materials available on the internet as well as through books.
Chief Vincent Tacan
Chief Tacan of the Sioux Valley Dakota Nation discussed some of the past history of the Dakota people. Many of the present Sioux Valley residents are descended from families who were removed from the Turtle Mountain Reserve in the early 1900s. Archaeological research has shown through artifacts that the Dakota had lived in our region for a long time prior to the arrival of fur traders and homesteaders. The word "Dakota" is translated as "allies; friends." They fought alongside the British in battles such as the War of 1812. The chief felt that it is important for every community to look at their own history and to make sure that their children become aware of the heritage and culture of their own people.
David Neufeld
As a follow-up, David Neufeld talked about reading the book 1491, the title referring to the year before Columbus' voyage. In this era, the prairies were well-settled; there was a thriving buffalo-based economy. The Western Hemisphere held 90 to 112 million people, resulting in a higher population in the Americas than in Europe. The indigenous population had their own dynamic cultures. But this period was ended by a general unsettling of the prairies, when traumatic events such as smallpox epidemics caused the loss of about 95% of the population. Then came another settling of the prairies when the European immigrants arrived in western Canada.
Metis Elders Teaching in the Schools
Jackie Leforte and Mary Conway discussed some of the information that they tell students and teachers in their METIS (Metis Elders Teaching in the Schools) presentations. They reviewed a brief history of the Metis people; some of their most notable members; their livelihood and traditions, including their great love of fiddle music and jigging. Following their discussion, a prayer was offered by Father Paul Bisson, whose family can trace its history in Canada 14 generations. Then the audience members were provided with a delicious lunch of stew and bannock.
The "Unsettling" of the Prairies
Following lunch, David Neufeld talked about the need for First Nation and Metis peoples to tell their own difficult histories, as Euro-settler progeny have difficulty telling the story of the unsettling of the prairies. First Nation and Metis elders should not be afraid to tell their stories of times of trauma. The words are hurtful, but the message is highly significant.
James Wilson - Manitoba's Treaty Relations Commissioner
Mr. Wilson talked on a variety of topics, including the history of the Numbered Treaties and the Indian Act, and an explanation of the impact of these documents on today's events.
He emphasized that First Nation's people have a long history of negotiating treaties, and he explained that the purpose of the Treaty Commission is to give both perspectives in a neutral & independent manner. He outlined how the Royal Proclamation of 1763 was important in that it created the legal framework under which treaty rights were recognized and confirmed.
He reviewed some of the purposes of the treaties and explained how through successive bargaining, new clauses were brought into the dialog such as the provision of schools & agricultural equipment, that continue to play a role today.
Mr. Wilson also offered his unique perspective on early First Nations history; about the successful civilizations in pre-Columbus America and the role of both oral history and archaeology in telling those stories.
Metis-in-the-Schools presenter Grant Armstrong brought a wide selection of display items to the conference. He talked about the stringent criteria now regulating the trapping industry. Licenses registered trappers generate $3 million yearly, providing raw materials to the garment industry. One item shown was a western boot made of leather from beaver tail and steer-hide for the upper parts of the boots. Grant spoke about the importance of respect within the industry – not only respect for the environment but for the people.


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- Herrick,Robert & Pulgrave F .T .(ed) A Selection of Lyrical poems, ISBN 1419103199, Kindle ebook May 2012
This content is from Wikipedia. GradeSaver is providing this content as a courtesy until we can offer a professionally written study guide by one of our staff editors. We do not consider this content professional or citable. Please use your discretion when relying on it.


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Welcome to my Blog where my goal is to honor Christ through Paper Crafting. I am a Born Again ~saved by Grace - blessed to be called out of Darkness into His Marvelous Light & Saved from the Wrath to Come -John 3:36 -- I am far from perfect - striving to Live for Jesus Daily as the Holy Spirit teaches me Truth and changes my heart through the Study of the Word of God. I have a long way to go!
Sunday, July 16, 2017
Treasurer Chest Card
Portrait Die Cutting Machine
Cuttlebug Die Cutting Machine
Cardstock: Kraft, Brown, Glitter Silver, White, light blue
SVG Die Cut by Samantha Walker
Cuttlebug Key Die
Sunny Studios - Pirate Pals Stamps & Die - Sentiment on Front - inside Pirate
Sponging for the ground and sky - Fiskars Punch for sun to sponge around - Masking technique
Misti - Gina K Black Ink - TH Distress inks for sponging, and distressing around the Card
ATG, Scotch White Glue
It would be an honor to share with
Monthly DLART Thankful Thursday AG
Cardz TV Mailbox Smiles AG #3
July Crop Stop #30 - Scotch Glue- ATG- can be purchased at Crop Stop #4
Mod Squad - Sentiment the Main Focus #2
QKR Stampede Seaside or AG #1
4 comments:
Clever design and cute card. Thanks for sharing with us this week at the Mod Squad Challenge.ReplyDelete
Barbara, Challenge host
Yo ho ho. Captain Jack Sparrow checking in to let you know that you'll not be walking the plank with this wonderful creation.ReplyDelete
"Sunshine HoneyBee"
Shape cards are so much fun and your is simply adorable!ReplyDelete
Thanks for linking this up to Cropstop - great to have you play along!
What a fun design. Thanks for sharing this week at QKR Stampede. Julie, DT memberReplyDelete
It is always and honor & blessing to have you stop by - may your day be filled with Joy & Happiness - God Bless you today & Always - ~ Gail ~


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Ko Lanta - Thailand's other island paradise
Samui and Phuket suck up all the attention, and most of the tourists, but sleepy Ko Lanta in southern Thailand is catching on. Once part of a the Malay-Chinese trading circuit, it retains its old wooden houses and rubber plantations on the quiet eastern side, while the west is a long stretch of beaches and, blissfully, little else.
By Ron Gluckman / Ko Lanta, Thailand
NEARING THE CREST OF A HILL, driving south on Ko Lanta, Thailand's third-largest island, I found myself holding my breath. It wasn't only due to the dramatic drop ahead, which I remembered painfully well from my last visit, but also the severe transitional shift. Five years ago, the pavement ended here. Afterwards, the road was dirt, or mud. Only the fearless on motorbikes or with four-wheel drives dared to continue.
That kept the beaches and remote resorts beyond blissfully deserted. Anyone seeking solitude, as my wife and I did five years ago, could bless the bumps in the road, even as we cursed and nursed our bruises. On our previous visit, we soaked up sunsets unmarred by the beach bars and thumping music typical to much of Thailand's island circuit. In the remote resorts of southern Ko Lanta, we found scant comfort, or electricity, yet hardly a worry – until we had to face this treacherous road again on our reluctant journey back to the real world.
Returning to the scene of previous idyll is always a risky bet. Progress dictates that paradise never remains so. Destinations develop, and memories of good times grow grander over time. Rarely do repeat visits match the original thrill.
So, it was with much trepidation that we climbed the hill, and a shock, at the top, to find the asphalt continued as far as we could see. While the smooth road was easier on our bodies, we worried it would be a bad omen for the languid Ko Lanta that we fondly remembered.
But shock turned to smiles as we zipped along palm-lined coves, spotting only a few small resorts tucked tidily into trees on the way to our first stop at Pimalai Resort & Spa. "Lanta is growing and expanding, but the essence of this place really hasn't changed," promised Franck de Lestapis, general manager of what has long been among Ko Lanta's leading resorts.
For much of that time, there was little competition. When de Lestapis arrived in 2001 to open Pimalai, most thought the plan crazy. Back then, Lanta was off the map, isolated jungle on an inaccessible island. Tourists were swarming nearby Phuket, some exploring Ko Samui, but Lanta was largely unknown.
"Hardly anyone came to Lanta, or even knew where it was, but that was the appeal, and really it still is," he noted. "Everyone these days wants something different, a hideaway. People seek a secret place – and that's Lanta."
Actually, the secret has been slipping out in recent years; nowhere is that more evident than at Pimalai. The original rooms, clustered four per two-story pavilion, dotting lush tropical foliage on the 45-hectare property, still feel luxurious, with balconies overlooking Pimalai's private beach on a long, palm-lined cove. But the spacious rooms naturally pale compared to the 39 villas on the hill above, added in a major expansion three years ago.
Each of the 1-3 bedroom villas have private pools and the million-dollar views standard to top resorts on Ko Samui. But when completed at the end of 2005, Pimalai's pool villas represented a new epoch for an isle only wired for electricity a decade before. As we dined at Baan Pimalai Restaurant, we couldn't help but marvel at how much Lanta had evolved since our stay five years earlier in those rustic, lantern-lit bungalows not much further south.
Nor are critics questioning Pimalai's plan any longer. Around Lanta, we spotted a dozen trendy inns, like Thanya Resort, with 12 cozy rooms nestled in a tranquil cove on Klong Toab Beach. Further evidence of Ko Lanta's emergence came at stylish restaurants run by entrepreneurs with a renegade streak, typical of this unconventional isle. Red Snapper, hidden in jungle, sports a menu reflecting the whims of the Dutch cooks – everything from tapas and Turkish dips to mojitos, pesto mussels and homemade mango pie. Time for Lime, a lime-green fusion restaurant and cooking school outdoes the Thai-Ikea design common around Lanta; Scandinavians dominate the island ex-pat scene, which explains all the menus featuring mango salad AND meatballs.
Some of Lanta also embraces the well-worn Thai model, with spas sprouting alongside the best beaches, and the first villa developments beginning to root in the green hills. Hong Kong owners recently took over Rawi Warin, Lanta's largest resort, which they refurbished and reopened last year as the lavish 185-room Langham Place Eco Resort + Spa.
Still, Lanta was largely as we remembered, lazy and carefree, with vast lengths of sand where you could slip off your sandals, spread a sarong, and plunge into a thick book or the clear sea, never seeing another tourist or tout. Inland, new roads rolled past rubber plantations, sheets of latex drying on lines between the etched trees, to Old Lanta, the original port town, with hundred-year-old wooden homes and lilting songbirds in cages denoting a vibrant Chinese community.
The wild eastern side of the island looked exactly as we remembered. Locals sat on porches, gossiping with neighbors, framed by dazzling views of the same stupendous rock outcroppings common to Ko Phangan Bay. Renting a motorbike, we putted past throwback Thai settlements to a big, jungle-shaded river where locals offered long-tail boat rides through thick tangles of mangroves.
The island's undeveloped east side seemed little changed in a century, when Old Lanta thrived as a stopover for Chinese and Arabic ships plying the Phuket-Penang-Singapore circuit. But the western shore, with all the beaches, was clearly in play. Among the alluring five-star palaces that typifies Lanta's new look is Layana, an adults-only boutique resort with 50 rooms, set in royal Thai-style pavilions around a lagoon pool that snakes down to the white-sand beach.
"The island is still filled with backpackers," said resident manager Michael Vogt, who was wonderfully welcoming when I dropped by unannounced. This is part of Lanta's charm; even upscale resorts offer barefoot luxury with few airs. "But that is changing quickly. Lanta is really picking up nowadays.
"We still cannot compare with Phuket or Samui," he conceded, "but we don't want to. Nobody comes here to party. You come to Lanta to relax, stay on the beach and really do nothing."
That was our agenda, both at the new generation of Lanta luxury lodges, and a series of small, affordable resorts, renting beachside bungalows for $100 a night, or much less. One of our favorite discoveries was Relax Bay, a cluster of cabins on a serene section of Phrae Ae Beach that completely lived up to the name.
"We keep it very relaxed," chuckled co-owner Alain Van Geeteruyen, showing off simple bungalows, all better for what they lacked - no TVs, and no beach bar within reach. "We figure the sound of the sea is the best music for visitors," he explained. "Our guests come here to get away from it all. We figure, if they want Phuket, they can go to Phuket.
"Most of our guests are ex-backpackers in their 30s or 40s," he added. "Now, they are coming back with their kids. They want to experience what they remember, this idyllic Asia of thatched bungalows and simplicity."
A secluded gem, Relax Bay offers a spacious setting, along a wide expanse of coastline. Yoga is popular at a seafront pavilion; you can meditate and feel waves wash over you. "We have about 800 meters of beachfront," said Van Geeteruyen. "We want to keep this spacious, special."
That's a refrain I kept hearing repeated, from the top of Lanta, where ferries connect to the mainland – there are no bridges to or airports on this secluded island – to the serene national park at the southern tip, and from every resort along the way, whether five-star spectacular or basic beach bungalows.
"Seven years ago, this was all different," recalled Pattama Pongsukapat, as she served me frothy cappuccino and croissants baked daily by her French husband at Faim de Loup Boulangerie. Originally from Bangkok, after seven years running a coffee shop in France, she wanted to come back home, but to a more tranquil part of Thailand. "We went all around looking. We went to Phuket and Ko Samui, riding a motorbike." At first sight, they fell in love with Ko Lanta.
She had heard of the island from "Survivor," a television show partially filmed here. Her café fit the show's jungle setting, initially. "It was basically nothing at all," she said, eyes sparkling, sweeping her arms as she added: "The road didn't really exist. It was just a path. And this was all bamboo and forest." Now, the café sits roadside in a neighborhood packed with restaurants and guesthouses.
"I never thought I'd see this. It has all happened pretty quickly in the last two years." Most changes, she said, have been positive, with visitors coming earlier and staying longer, easing the trauma of the annual down season. She felt Lanta's allure remained little altered. "Lanta is still a special place. You get to know people here, and it's really different from Thailand."
One key contrast is the large Muslim population, which flavors cuisine with rich curries and the landscape with colorful domed mosques. Visitors are invariably astonished by the juxtaposition of headscarves and bikinis. About 90 percent of Lanta's population is Muslim, making it the most Islamic part of the country, more so even than troubled areas of the south.
Yet, turmoil has never beset the island's diverse population, which includes Thai Buddhists and ethnic Chinese, whose island roots extend over a century, along with even earlier arrivals the Chao-Le, or indigenous sea gypsies, living on stilt houses perched off the eastern shore.
Around the island are dozens of mosques, uniquely designed by local villagers. As the sun cast an orange glow over Prae Ae Beach, I arrived one day in time to catch the chant of morning prayers. Wispy-bearded men refuse to let me stay outside snapping pictures. "Come, come," insisted one, waving me inside. That was the full extent of his English, but in cheerful hand gestures, he introduced me to the congregation, who happily posed for photos.
A few hours later, in the lobby of nearby Lanta Palm Beach Resort, I marvel at staff chatting on line with boyfriends by video camera, in full headscarves. "Why so surprised?" asked a pretty Lanta girl. "We are Thais, like anyone in Thailand." Nearby, a Muslim Prayer room sits beside another internet café and a dive shop – Lanta is rimmed by prime diving sites – all run by Muslims.
"Maybe Muslim culture will help keep Ko Lanta different," mused Junie Kovacs, who first came to the island in 2001, and opened Time For Lime in 2003. Her cooking school and fusion restaurant are a Lanta institution. Thousands come each year to study Thai cooking with Kovacs, a self-taught American chef raised in Norway who espouses the virtues of organic ingredients while chain-smoking.
Originally, Time For Lime was at the top end of Lanta, near where ferries dock. That has become the busiest part of the island, filled with gift shops and tourist stalls, so she moved further down Klong Dao Beach. Like many unconventional businesspeople on this unconventional island, she doesn't cheer the boom.
"I thought Ko Lanta was different. I never thought it would become like Phuket," she explained. "I just hope with the Muslim culture, it will never become like other islands, with all the partying and bars."
Next door, at Slow Down, manager Nui provided an upbeat perspective. Guests here sit inside a mock wooden boat, sipping sundowners, served by Muslims, Buddhists and Thais from the Northeast. "We're all together here," said Nui. At sunset, customers and staff spill out to the sand to play volleyball. "We like the changes on Lanta. Now there are more people, but also more fun."
For some reason, it made me think of gado-gado, the zesty mixed-vegetable salad with spicy peanut sauce. Once a simple getaway, Lanta is growing into a more complex, complete destination. The challenge will be to maintain balance, but all the right ingredients – beaches, mountains, diving and cultural diversity – are in place. Like on the old road around Lanta, there are bound to be bumps and bruises. But five years on, I found, there is plenty of flavor left in this island.
There are no bridges to, or airports on Ko Lanta, which
officially refers to a cluster of islands about 70 kilometers from Krabi. The
biggest - Ko Lanta Yai, but simply Ko Lanta to everyone - is 6 kilometers wide
and 30 kilometers long, and has all the services. Access is generally from Krabi,
by mini-van for 3-4 hours, although waits for two ferries can add hours more.
The Pimalai Resort operates its own speedboats from a private jetty, cutting the
time by 1-2 hours. Other high-end resorts plan to follow suit, but service is
seasonal and can be suspended in bad weather. Most resorts pickup from Krabi
airport, but it's much cheaper to book directly with Krabi travel agents. Most
resorts offer complimentary dock pickup and transfer service on the island.
Pimalai Resort & Spa – Long among Ko Lanta's leading resorts, with 80 rooms in lush tropical gardens, plus 39 pool villas on the hillsides above. 99 Moo 5, Ba Kan Tiang Beach; 66/75 607-999; http://www.pimalai.com/; doubles from $235.
Layana Resort & Spa – An exquisite boutique resort with plush pool and dazzling sunset views. 272 Moo 3 Saladan, Prae Ae Beach; 66/75 607-100; www.layanaresort.com; doubles from $260.
Langham Place Eco Resort + Spa – The largest resort on Lanta (formerly Rawi Warin Resort) with an enormous selection of rooms and cottages including 100-square-meter pool villas. 139 Moo 8; 66/75 607-400; www.krabi.langhampalacehotels.com; doubles from $180
Relax Bay – An eclectic collection of cabins sprawling across a park-like setting, right alongside the surf. Great value and a fabulous café. 111 Moo 2; Prae Ae Beach; www.relaxbay.com; 66/75 684-194; air-con doubles from $40.
Thanya – Lovely 12-room boutique resort all alone in a tranquil cove beside a klong in the center of the island. 158 Klong Toab Beach; 66/75 662-529; www.thanyabeachresort.com; doubles from $55.
Red Snapper – Lit by red lanterns, tucked into the jungle, this Dutch-run restaurant offers an extensive cocktail selection and the most eclectic menu on the island (lamb and mango chutney, fish dumplings in salsa verde, tandori fish, duck breast topped with herbal redberry mouse, and on and on…). Pra Ae; 66/7 885-6965; www.redsnapper-lanta.com; dinner for two $30.
Time For Lime – Bright green open-air restaurant (and cooking school) offers small menu, but fabulous fusion dishes (don't miss the barracuda fish cakes with red-curry mayonnaise). A fine beach cafe, with surfside seating or upon the panoramic rooftop. Southern end of Klong Dao Beach; 66/75 684-590; www.timeforlime.net; dinner for two $25.
Retro Restaurant – A sprawling open-air Thai and western restaurant with knockout local cocktails like Lanta Delight or Lanta Paradise, and an equally vast menu – everything from pizza and pasta to pad thai, fresh fish and southern Thai soups. 305 Moo 2, Pra Ae; 66/75 684-838; dinner for two $35.
Slow Down – With dark wood and smart Scandinavian design, this bistro boasts a brilliant minimalist menu. For Thai, choose from a list of meats and vegetables, sauces (red, yellow, green or Penang curry), extras and heat (spicy, not, little or Thai). Great coffee, breakfast and sandwiches. Klong Dao Beach; 66/75 141-413; www.slowdownlanta.se; lunch for two $20.
Faim de Loup – A French bakery with superb coffee and fresh-baked breads, great for breakfast and packed lunches. 255 Moo 2; 66/75 684-525; Lunch for two $12.
Ron Gluckman is an American reporter who has been roaming around Asia since 1990, for various publications, including Travel+ Leisure, which ran this story in its Southeast Asian edition in February 2009
All pictures by RON GLUCKMAN
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A Guide to Online Bachelors Degrees
In the past, a degree was a badge of distinction. While it still has some of the same allure today, a degree is now considered almost a necessity to make a satisfactory living. In today's competitive world, continual learning has become an integral part of success.
People serious about financial stability will find the time and exert the effort required to achieve a degree.
Individuals who were thrust into the demands of life and family responsbilities before being able to complete college in the past were at a decided disadvantage because it wasn't feasible for them to go back later and get that degree.
Thankfully, with the advent of online bachelors degrees afforded by educational institutions who have acknowledged complicated life situations such as job and family committments, people can now go back and finish that degree and move ahead in the world.
Pursuing an online accredited bachelors degree enables students to move beyond the limitations and inconveniences of attending a college campus, or university.
In short, online bachelors degrees afford people the flexibility of setting their own pace.
However, if you want your degree to be recognized by employers in the real world you should make sure you focus only on an online accredited bachelors degree. Accredited universities are the most prestigous. There are some unscrupulous degree mills out there who will take your money and offer you worthless degrees.
One should not assume that just because typical B.S and B.A degrees require 4 years that you will necessarily spend the same number of years getting an online bachelors degrees. Indeed, if you really push yourself, such degrees can be achieved in as little as 18 months.
It is determined that individuals attaining a bachelor�s degree make on an average $20,000 more dollars a year than those with only a high school diploma or equivalent.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the average annual income for high school graduates is $27,038. However, those with a bachelor�s degree enjoy an average annual income of $51,206.
Online learning presents a prospective future, but there are certain universities one must know to look for. It is essential the university chosen offers a legitimate online accredited bachelors degree program.
Getting that bachelors degree can mean not only more money and a better life for you and your family, but more pride and an immense feeling of accomplishment.
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Hello! I'm Tom. I designed a game called Gunpoint, about rewiring things and punching people, and now I'm working on a new one called Heat Signature, about sneaking aboard randomly generated spaceships. Here's some more info on all the games I've worked on, here's the podcast I do, here are the videos I make on YouTube, here are some of the articles I wrote for PC Gamer, and here are two short stories I wrote for the Machine of Death collections.
By me. Uses Adaptive Images by Matt Wilcox.
To commemorate my 100th hour playing as him, and since he's clearly next in Valve's update schedule, it seemed appropriate to take a swing at a Meet The Spy script.
It's a moronic undertaking, of course, because the real one will be humiliatingly superior. He's an easy target, because he's basically made of dramatic irony – but that also leaves a minefield of awful clichés to step around. Anything that involves someone we believe not to be a Spy turning out to be a Spy is automatically dross.
I love the bit in Meet The Sniper when our man wonders aloud whether he's been spotted – and is then copiously shot at. Acknowledging the concerns that go through your head playing as him felt truer and funnier than these scenes where the starring class automatically wins against all-comers.
So this script is mostly focused around the characteristic moments of playing a Spy. I reject the perception that he is unwaveringly aloof: aloof, sure, but he's all about the wavering. No other class experiences more moment-to-moment panic or humiliation.
A warning, though: it's long.
The title card vanishes to reveal the edge of a table. With a sudden bang, a blue briefcase is slammed down onto it, then clicked open by two gloved hands.
SPYIntelligence, gentlemen. There are those who have it, the conoscenti (gesturing to himself faux-modestly, head bowed) – and those who do not. The – ahem – imbeciles.
Zoom out to reveal a Red Team SPY as he slouches down into a chair, Blue Team corpses of various classes strewn around the briefing room. He takes a wad of papers from the briefcase, licks a gloved fingertip for purchase, and leafs through them uninterestedly. As usual, his accent takes a drunken tour of Western Europe as he speaks.
SPYIn my profession, one is lamentably dependent on the latter.
He rips the topsheet from a dossier, draws his cigarette case, opens a small compartment containing tobacco and, in a deft yet impossible to animate movement, rolls it into a smokeable.
SPYWhen a leopard preys on impala in sub-Saharan Africa, he does not attempt to slaughter the entire herd.
He reaches down and lifts the nozzle of a dead Pyro's Backburner and lights his intelligence roll-up on the pilot light. He takes a few puffs, then points it at us.
SPYNo! He isolates the slowest of the pack, and eliminates the beast alone. (Shrugging:) It is the same in my line of work, but it is those lacking in mental agility on whom I prey.
With a black loafer, he gently kicks the cranium of a dead Heavy at his feet. A lump of part-chewed Sandvich drops from his slack craw and his tongue lolls out.
SPYOf course, some are slow in both senses of the word.
Our red Spy, running along a tunnel, cloaks. We can still see him as a red silhouette.
Blues pour in: a HEAVY, SCOUT, PYRO, DEMOMAN. The Spy has to flatten himself utterly against the wall to avoid brushing the Heavy, dash to the other side to avoid the Scout, dive clean over the Pyro just as he blasts a gout of spychecking flame, land into a forwards roll, and stand up face to face with the obviously intoxicated Demoman, who chooses that moment to stop dead and take a swig of his bottle.
The silhouette tries to go round him to the left, but the Demoman staggers in that direction as he drinks. He tries the right, with the same result. He gives up and stands impatiently as the Demoman glugs, and glugs, and glugs. The silhouette looks at its watch, taps its foot. At last the Demoman advances, veering drunkenly into one wall then the other, and the silhouette tiptoes carefully around him.
And slams into an identical blue silhouette, shimmering in and out of visibility.
SPY (VO)A hunter, of course, must be cognisant of other predators.
Both step back in apparent shock, draw their revolvers, then cautiously circle one another until they have switched. Then, without taking their eyes off each other, they walk backwards in their original direction, and eventually turn to run full-speed.
SPY (VO)They may not be your primary target…
The blue silhouette ducks round the corner and decloaks – a fully visible BLUE SPY, smirking. Simultaneously our man exits the tunnel…
…and slips away to the side, decloaks and straps on a paper mask with a Spy's face on it.
SPY (VO)But it is idiocy to assume you are not theirs.
He waits until the Blue Spy also exits the tunnel in search of him, and gives chase just inches behind. As he does so, a blue MEDIC spots them and gives chase. The three run to:
MEDICSpy! Spy!
BLUE SPY(Glancing over his left shoulder, just as our man darts right:) Please, doktor, endeavour not to tell everyone.
MEDICNein! Spy is Spy!
BLUE SPY(Muttering:) That is self-evident.
Meanwhile our man is swishing and thrusting his knife just centimeters from the enemy's back, and finally he cuts a corner that his target does not. The knife sinks in, our man's mask drops to the floor, the real blue Spy's eyes widen, and he drops to his knees.
BLUE SPY(Dribbling blood, twisting his head to look back:) You might… have been… more specific…
Our man leaves his knife in his victim's back, and instead pries the Blue Spy's knife from his hand before he collapses.
SPYThat will do nicely.
We dolly with the Medic as he arrives on the scene, just in time to see the Spy take a different corridor back to Cap 3. We lose sight of the Spy just before arriving back at:
We cut to a close-up of his narrowed eyes as they scan his team for suspicious activity, then pan across the team itself:
A SNIPER squats on the control point on the far right, peering down his scope. A SOLDIER trundles forth from the trench in the center. On the left, an ENGINEER and a Spy wearing an unconvincing Engineer mask stand either side of a level three SENTRY, facing away from it in opposite directions. The Medic's gaze pauses on them, then pans slowly back to the Soldier, none the wiser.
Before the Engineer leaves the frame, he turns and notices the Spy standing next to him. He reacts and thumps his wrench menacingly into his open palm. The oblivious Spy, without looking round, reaches back and slaps an Electro-Sapper onto the Sentry. We pan away before we see the Engy's reaction, as the Medic suspiciously watches the Soldier rocket-jump over his head, but we hear:
ENGYBoys, we got a Spy!
And the sounds of vigorous Sentry-wrenching and sapper-fritzing.
MEDICVerdammen! It iz hopeless!
He turns and leaves for the front line.
The Spy is lounging in the same seat where we left him, makeshift cigarette halfburnt and forgotten in his right hand, twirling an Engineer's hardhat on his left. He contemplates the hat.
SPY(Absently:) One breed of impala wear ridiculous yellow hats, and construct robotic impala to compensate for their shortcomings as male impala – all the hurtful things the female impala said to them in impala college.
The hardhat slips from his finger and clatters to the briefing-room floor behind him. The sound snaps him out of his reverie and he sits up straight.
SPY(Reflecting:) At this point, I confess, the analogy falters.
The Engy chases the disguised Spy around the Sentry, the Spy slapping Sappers on the device, the Engy knocking them off with his wrench. By now they're wading noisily through a heap of thirty bashed-in sappers on the ground. The Engy suddenly reverses direction to catch the Spy, but the Spy doubles back just in time to stay out of range.
ENGYDarnit! Where in tarnation are you keepin' these motherlovin' things?
SPYYour tiny mind…
He jumps to slap a sapper on top of the Sentry.
SPY…couldn't possibly…
He ducks to affix one underneath it.
As the Engy pauses to reach each one with his Wrench, the Spy catches up behind him and shivs him in the spine. At the precise moment of impact, his mask drops to the floor.
ENGY(Whispering, face-first in the dirt:) Now how in all heck is that any kinda fair?
His eyes close. The Spy begins to brush dust from his suit and opens his mouth to speak, then…
…his eyes widen in alarm, and he dives into the nearby hut under a hail of fire.
We cut to a Sentry's-eye view: a green nightvision-style view of the scene with an overlayed wireframe. A box around the entrance to the hut is labelled:
After lingering on it for a moment, it pans abruptly to the corpse of the Engineer, draws a box around it, and adds the tag:
The view pans back to the hut, and our Spy is now standing exactly in the "MEATBAG" box wearing the Engineer mask again. The view zooms in on the mask and clarifies the resolution, then a box pops up labelled:
We see gurning mugshots of each of the nine classes flicker past, the Pyro in a party hat, the Demoman holding up an identity plate at a police station, the Scout in the Heavy's headlock, until it settles on the Engineer, which is labelled "FATHER". A new line prints below this:
As it writes, the Spy approaches and withdraws another Sapper. This is highlighted in a box labelled:
The Spy slaps a sapper directly over our view, turning everything black except the text.
Our man has his feet up on the table, tapping ash into a Soldier's upturned helmet on the desk.
Sometimes, to move among the impala, the leopard must become one. He must dress up in their skin, (gesturing:) become fat, oafish… (beat, then with a visible shudder:) Russian.
Our Spy is trundling along in a theatrical imitation of the Heavy's gun-burdened waddle, clutching his tiny revolver in both hands as if it is enormously heavy, wearing a Heavy mask and bellowing for a Medic in a pitch-perfect Heavy voice. Soon the Medic returns from the frontline and latches on to him.
MEDICI am here, kamerad!
The Spy takes a moment to strap on a new Heavy mask that bears a broad grin.
Soon they reach the four attackers the Spy passed on his way in. As our Spy approaches, we see a close-up of his grinning Heavy mask, and we move into slow-mo as he pointlessly slaps a baleful one on top of it.
His balisong rises gradually in his hand until it is poised to strike, then the three Heavy masks fall from his face in rapid succession: angry, happy, grim, then his real expression: a contorted rictus of fury and dark anticipatory delight. His knife curves slowly downwards, but before it hits we cut to:
The Spy swings his legs down off the table and leans towards us, eyes narrowed, intense.
SPYThere are occasions, of course, which do not call for such restraint. When a leopard's characteristic savoir faire is simply inappropriate. Situations that need no subtlety, subterfuge or deception.
He draws his balisong from his blazer pocket and raises it for emphasis.
Situations, gentlemen, that demand (stabbing the air with each word for emphasis:) swift! Decisive! Action! In which the only possible course of action is a furious (swish!) blitzkrieg (swish!) of steel (swish!) and viscous spurts of hot (he stabs the table) red (he stabs again) blood!
With the final word he brings his knife down a third time, but an instant before we would see it hit, we cut back to:
Close up on the Medic's face – a vision of dismay. There's the characteristic critical-hit backstab boom! and:
My scapula!
We see flecks of blood splatter the Medic's face, causing his horrified expression to flinch. Another critical-stab sound:
Me lumbar!
Another stab, another splash of blood, another flinch:
Mh mhmphmuh!
Stab, splat, flinch:
My braiaaaahahaaaaghahahaaaa! -ain.
The Medic's face is now glistening with blood. His eyes narrow, he grits his teeth, spits a gob of swallowed blood to the floor, and we pull back to see him draw his Ubersaw.
Dolly with the Medic as he pursues the fleeing Spy. As they exit the tunnel towards Cap 4, we cut to the chase from the side: the Doc is clearly gaining. But when the Spy reaches the large rock near the cap, he suddenly trots to a halt, spins around and calmly draws his cigarette case. The Medic is an inch from him when he comes into view of a level three red Sentry on his right, which-
Sentry GunBEEPBEEPBEEP DAKADAKADAKADAKA!
-pummels him gracelessly into a rock.
The spy brushes at a speck of blood on his suit, and begins:
SpyYou've got blood on my-
Sentry GunDAKADAKADAKADAKA!
Hot spurts of blood geyser horrifically from the Medic's gibbering corpse, splattering the Spy. The Spy irritably wipes his face with a gloved hand and starts again.
SpyI've made quite a-
Sentry GunDAKADAKADAKADAKA!
The spy glares at it, soaked in blood.
Sentry GunDAKADAKA!
SpyDo not make me silence your infernal machine, labourer!
Cut to:
The usual suspects, the usual tune. Zoomed, of course, to our man.
Sentry Gun (VO)… … DAKA!
Spy (VO)Very well.
The Spy is still stabbing the table in a frenzy, woodchips and spittle flinging in all directions, when finally he senses us and looks up, suddenly aware of what he's doing. His stabbing hand slows until the knife-tip is just tapping gently on the table's lacquered surface, then he composes himself, flips the knife's blade back into its housing in a complicated twirl and tucks it back into his jacket pocket.
SpyAh, yes, of course…
He tosses a dossier back into the briefcase, clicks it shut, takes it by the handle and stands up.
He tosses his lit cigarette over his shoulder as he leaves, igniting the Medic's coat. He straightens his tie before approaching the camera. We zoom out to reveal:
The Spy steps through a perfectly Spy-shaped hole already cut in the glass wall between the briefing room and the intel chamber. A Spy-shaped piece of glass is propped against the desk outside. A Soldier, Demoman and Heavy guard the two corridors leading in, all facing away from the Spy, and he mimes an eenie-meanie-miny-moe game to decide who to stab first.
He's interrupted by a sudden pop! as the now huge briefing room fire reaches the Heavy's ammo belt. All three Blues freeze, and the Spy winces as a rapid series of small explosions causes everyone to spin round and glare at him. Finally, the Pyro's propane tank blows the entire glass wall out.
The Spy stands frozen, mid-flinch, shoulders hunched, face screwed up, as the last fragments of glass tinkle to the floor and the three stare expectantly.
SpyFiglio di puttana.
Team Fortress 2, available now, buy it I guess, yada yada.
mr. Brit: awesome!
AlexW: Statement: While highly entertaining and delightfully filled with repeated murder of dimwitted meatbags, this is unfortunately too long to fit into a ninety-second video.
AMP'd: "As usual, his accent takes a drunken tour of Western Europe as he speaks."
This is excellent. So excellent.
mr. Brit: Who cares! It's awww-some!
Chris Livingston: Brilliant brilliant brilliant.
The_B: If I had the time, patience, voiceover skills or gifted talent with Garry's Mod I'd totally make this up myself.
I don't. Sadface.
Dante: I'm never sure of the etiquette when encountering another spy, do we draw revolvers and duke it out? Or do we follow moscow rules and nod in recognition, with each going his own way?
Jason L: I especially like the sentry text and 'shudder...Russian' bits, and most of this is excellent. I do have trouble with one segment - the three-man chase scene. The speaking role for the enemy Spy, I think, doesn't fit at all into Meet The. He'd have to have the same voice, and that breaks a pretty deep rule of Meet The - as much as possible, all the guys are singular. We never see two of the same class on the same team, and we never? - very rarely? - even see a guy face off against his opposite number. Even the other parts of that scene flirt with disaster - the encounter in the tunnel is just about OK, but the bit about the ambiguous (and uncharacteristically stupid) medic is angstroms away from HE WAS ACTUALLY A SPY. Better without it, say Oi.
And I'm sorry to do this since I can see you left it out for a reason, but this is the Internet and someone will ask: the last line is dog-Italian - a 'cultured, intelligent' language - for 'son of a bitch...'
ZomBuster: Must push little scroll button!
Some parts are definitly Meet the worthy, but please let valve don't put so much complicated language in it.
Bret: Great, but I agree with the "No way a video that long is gonna fly" statements.
The ending, however is a very nice change from the standard conclusion for these things.
Tom Francis: Thanks all. Racism is always funny. Always.
I can't see a point where we see two of the same class on the same team here. And we do see two of the same class fight each other in the other Meet The Team videos. The canon isn't that there are only nine guys split between two teams.
I'm with you, though, and AlexW: there's intentionally a lot of puppyfat, and Spy Vs Spy is the first thing I'd lose. I just like to have other people tell me that, rather than snip it before publishing and wonder if something I've left in sucks worse and I just can't see it.
The purpose of it was to address Dante's question: is there honour among Spies? My answer being, in practical terms, that it's worth assuming there isn't.
I'm not sure I get your point about the Medic. The cliché I was avoiding is where the audience doesn't realise someone is a Spy, so all the Spies in this are seen as Spies. If you're suggesting that even characters should never be unaware someone is a Spy, it's going to be kinda hard to make a video about the Spy.
Anonymous: 1 - Nice intro - would love to see some of those animations!
2 /3/4 - Liked the spy on spy confusion
5/6/7 - While good and the sentry was funny(almost portal esk) it seems unnecessary and slows it down too much
8/9/10/11/12 - nice bit to end on, awesome action stuff! Plus again sentries are funny
13 - I think it should end with him leaving the medic alight
14 - don't really get what is going on here...also seems unnecessary as the casual ending with the intelligence is much better!
Having said that, it was all pretty awesome and I would love to be technically capable of doing it - you never know, Valve might feel pity on you and make it exactly as you described it!
ZomBuster: That would suck.
Garrus: This is almost too awesome for words. Gratz for such good work.
The constant use of impalas in analogys is hilarious, to a point at which I was reading this script in my best Spy voice just to laugh harder.
Jason L: Racism: It may have been racist as you wrote it, but I'm not sure it was as I read it - I mean, obviously, to a spy with the Spy's accent Russians must be The Enemy. 'Commies! I hate these guys'.
On the Spy Vs. Spy front, I think you might be reading as a chain what I mean as individual objections. Of course none of it really matters since you don't disagree with my thesis, but:
Uniqueness: But we see clone-on-clone violence as seldom as possible, especially WRT the star of the clip. There's no counterSniper in the Sniper vid. The charging team in the Demo's vid is sans Demo. The Scout doesn't meet an enemy Scout, he meets a Heavy. So far, within a class's Meet The, he's the only one in the world.
Stupidity: No, no, much simpler - I'm talking about the Medic's inability to say something like 'The Spy behind you is enemy!' It doesn't seem like his Teutonic accent is enough to force that, so it feels like the gag's stepping on character toes. It's the kind of exchange I'd expect of a Heavy, or possibly a sufficiently drunk Demo. Or, the thought occurs, a Pyro struggling to make himself understood! Unfortunately for the humour, a Pyro is the one person who could instantly and unambiguously resolve the confusion...
Spy All Along: The misunderstanding comes down on the Blu Spy and he has the punchline, so I mentally look at it from his point of view. From the Blu Spy's POV, instead of Ha Ha He was a Spy all along, this segment has Ha Ha He was a Spy all along dressed as a friendly spy like you. Yes, there's an additional layer there but it's preeeeetty thin.
Tim E: tl,dnr
SenatorPalpatine: So good. Good enough to be the video, if it was half as long.
I can't wait to see what Valve does with it.
Tom Francis: Uniqueness: the Soldier trades rockets with an enemy Soldier in Meet The Soldier.
Spy All Along: possibly I didn't explain this well. The Blu Spy never sees the Red Spy disguised - he's behind him. The Red Spy only disguises to confuse onlookers, and it doesn't work. I'll go back and see if I can clarify that.
Though it still sounds to me like you're saying no-one is allowed to be fooled by any disguise at any point, because from their perspective that would be a gotcha. It's certainly possible to exclude disguises entirely, but you'd be missing the essence of the Spy somewhat.
I only object to it when it's being done to the audience, because it's cheap to exploit one's control over their perception.
Tim, your acronym is itself too long: it should be tl;dr.
sQUAKYfOAMpEANUT: It's great. Just one objection: the scenes seemed to drag on a bit.
Ledundead: Great idea, but it drags on a bit. I learned that I'm actually topping the great Pentadact in points in some catagories, and I play the 360 version! You got me in points, I'm 33 with soldier. Most kills, I've got 22 as Soldier. You got me in Sentry kills, I think. I have 10 assists, and you barely beat me. 3 caps as Soldier (Gravel Pit, largest Control point map and everyone hates Well), and you had 12. I've put about 4,500 points of damage as Soldier. We're tied with destructions, and I have 6 dominations in one life, out of 8 players. You got me in pretty much everything in the last column. Still, it's good to know you're mortal.
seymour: the sentry bit was hilarious, and the "spy is spy" thing. all fantastic, you should be making this yourself.
beats the meet the demo vid at any rate.
yer mum: Nice script! Even if the whole thing is too long it could easily be cut down to size.
"As usual, his accent takes a drunken tour of Western Europe" - does anyone else think the spy sounds just like Ralph Fiennes?
Chijts: I thought it was all great, but like others have said (It sounds like there is a final draught to come?) some bits could be chopped. I'd probably chop sections 2 to 7.
I also think it would be cool if the Spy's encounter with the Demoman was changed so that he couldn't actually find a way round his drunken body and the timer ran out on his watch.
[Side view] The spy decloaks infront of him completely indifferent about it, looking more annoyed that he couldn't get by him, whilst the drunken scotsman is aghast, and spurts his whiskey in shock onto [Close up of Spy's face] the Spy's face.
The Spy slowly whipes down his face. [Side View] There's a pause for a moment, then in one swift movement the spy raises his arm high and rams his knife into the Demoman's face. His body falls to the floor out of shot, [Front-right worm's eye view] the Spy walks off in the direction he was trying to go.
The whiskey part would fit in with your bloody spy section; it's a dirty job but someone's got to do it!
Chijts: whipe - wipe. Oh for an edit button!
Wolf The Widowmaker: As others have stated, to long for a regular "Meet the" video.
Hopefully some skilled movie maker reads your script and makes an awesome 3 minute video.
Lack_26: That's awesome, it would have to be cut down a bit, although the sentries bit (where he thinks the new engineer might be his uncle) could go in a meet the sentry trailer, but should be done somewhere.
Tom Francis: Phew. Thanks again, to all the people who said nice things since I last said thanks.
Length: I officially no longer need to be told that it's too long for a Meet The Team video. If I hadn't said it myself twice already, the nine people pointing it out would be enough. I do care if you think a particular scene drags or is weak, though, so please keep those thoughts coming.
I may even come back to it fresh in a week or so and think about cutting it to a realistic size, I just need to a) know what people like, b) work out how long the current script is in real-time - Wolf, your three minute figure sounds likely, and c) leave it alone for a bit.
Chijts - I wanted to avoid too many things that directly contradict the game's mechanics. The main difference between my treatment and Valve's, apart from the vast quality chasm, is that theirs focus on out-of-game character whereas mine is grounded more in what the game is like to play.
Of course, on occasion you can instakill someone with a facestab in TF2, but I think it'd need to be a more obvious nod to that glitch to work in that sense.
J-Man: Fantastic. Too long, but fantastic. I'd cut away some of the first scenes, but the sentry scene made me burst out laughing, truly great. A g-mod short in the works, methinks.
J-Man: Oh crap. Didn't see your comment on length. I hereby retract my length comment.
Jason L: I can see how my criticism re: HWASAA might be read as objecting to any character ever being fooled, but I think the problem in some way results from the fact that the Medic's failing to communicate our man's Spyness after seeing through it. It took me some thinking today to figure out what bothered me - somehow the fact that Blu Spy is getting the information from 'someone else' gets my mind in a frame where 'people' are being 'forcibly' tricked by the writer ala HWASAA. I have no problem with the subsequent scene where the medic's fooled by his Engineer mask, it's hilarious. If the Medic weren't involved in Spy Vs. Spy I'd have no problem, but the only joke left would be the savagery thing. If the Blu Spy met our man in a Spy mask, and nodded to him as a coworker before being backstabbed, I'd have no trouble with it (on HWASAA grounds). If our man were being 'vouched' through a checkpoint I'd start having trouble again - but only if it went as far as another speaking part being taken in. Odd.
'Impotent patch request' resulting from hypotheticals I constructed during the above consideration: Script should include a. execution - or failure, both are funny - of an elaborate secret handshake by a disguised Spy, and/or b. a birthday party scenario.
Niko Kruzel: Nice scenario, but I just have one thing that made me run here and comment. In the Spy stats dropout thing it says "Most health leeched 422" by that are we talking sappers? Or... :|
Cmdt_Carpenter: At one point the spy has to say, "After you." disguised as a spy to an enemy heavy and give a mad smile before we cut.
DoctorDisaster: My favorites are the narration segments and the bit with the sentry, although it could stand to have a few lines cut. To reduce the length somewhat, consider making it follow the Meet the Soldier template a little more closely, where the speech is clearly the core of the video, and the cutaways are brief, action-heavy asides. In other words, prune each cutaway to its essential few seconds and leave out most of the dialogue. Another tactic that could make the asides play a little better might be to break certain ones up into multiple segments: in 7, for example, cut back to the speech after "You couldn't possibly comprehend!" then leave everything up until turret-o-vision implied.
Nonomu198: My idea was to just show him killing the other classes in thier Meet The peaks (like when the sniper taunts after killing the spy [the lack of logic adds to the fun] or when the heavy sloughters the other team laughing) when it comes to action scenes. I don't have any ideas for lines though ;o
Tom Francis: Damn. That's an annoyingly good idea.
KortoloB: This was awesome, though it's too long. If I were you, i'd try to cut it down to around 90 seconds. Who knows? Maybe Valve will like it alot and actually try to make it, or atleast they might publish a link to it in the Update/News thing that pops up every now and then.
My favorite part is where the spy sits on the chair and talks, that's really fun :p
Smurfy: I have a feeling Valve won't be too keen to show two spies in the same scene.
Fat Zombie: I second the "Bloody Good Idea" thing for Nonomu198's idea. I can SEE that working very well. Although it would also require that the Spy's Meet video be done last (if he were to go through all of them), which obviously isn't happening.
Anyway. Class script, Tom.
Ixtab: Although probably my favourite part, the bit from the sentry's view takes too much of the spotlight from the spy so would be inappropriate for the Meet The Spy video.
Also I don't like the bit where the doctor can't inform the spy that there's another spy, it implies that the doctor has difficulty communicationg when that doesn't appear to be the case, also when he turns round and the red spy hides somewhere, how will that work? If he stops to hide the medic will catch up and kill him, if he doesn't stop the spy will see him.
Verity: Considering Valve's reputation for stealing your and Mr. Livingston's ideas, I'm fully expecting to see a 'Meet The Sentry' video at some point in the near future.
P.S. Excellent Futurama references slotted in there.
Tom Francis: Heh, thanks. It took me a second to remember where I'd done that.
Robert Frazer: Rather than being "too long", my complaint would be that it's not long enough, and needs even more! Even if "Meet the..." videos must be limited to a minute and a half, maybe the cut scenes could be carried over into the Team Fortress film that Pixar will surely be making soon. 8)
As for the Medic's scene, I don't have any problem with the content as it stands, but given the scale of his presence, is a "Meet the Spy" video an appropriate place to be defining the personality of another class? It would seem to undermine any prospective "Meet the Medic" video.
I think complaints that some scenes are a little too self-consciously "gameplay" do have some traction. As I've said, they're funny in and of themselves and I'm not complaining about the specific content, but in the context of a "Meet the..." video they're not suitable. We're not playing a game - we're seeing the characters in 'reality', with them treating their relentless war with the Blue Team as part of their working lives, the 9-to-5 grind like ourselves, plus guns'n'glory - that's where their endearing charm comes from. Too obviously emphasising the gameplay aspects in these videos destroys that, and makes witty characters more caricature puppets.
Kapitan Peppermint: Jesus fucking christ.
Talk about detail.
I must commend their efforts.
Also, what the fuck is wrong with this guy?
Get laid. Holy crap. Get laid.
jackrabbit: do not trim the sentry bit. i nearly pissed myself. you are a brilliant writer and i would love to see this animated
Sam: That sentry bit was amazing, they should totally put that in.
Jon Baker: Explain to me again, Tom, why you aren't working for Valve?
Excellent stuff, had me laughing the whole time.
hey douche: @kapitan peppermint
Jesus fucking christ
shut the fuck up you little douche
Lack_26: @Pentadact
Off topic: Do you have any idea about who I should contact about a small idea for Empires total war. If you don't I might look into modding it myself when it comes out.
Basically, the flags look too clean, even in the end stages of the battle. I was thinking as the platoon took more damage the flag appears more damaged, say, a bit tattered. Points would be fairly arbitrary, like 25%,50% strength, etc.
You could probably do moral on it as well, perhaps it gets a bit more muddy or moves a bit lower down the pole. Nothing too strong, I would still want to see which side is which.
The idea is that you that you have a quick glance at the battlefield and see what units are half-dead and close to breaking and where is still holding strong.
Also you don't get 3 men holding a pristine flag while being knee deep in cannon shot and the dead.
Any thoughts or tips on where to look for a email address would be greatly appreciated.
Sam: Back to spy already eh Tom?
Oh well, got some nice kills on you ;).
Azzen: Great script, though I would have to agree with most other people here that it's a tad too long. And, there's a bit of paradoxing going on: There are 2 spies and 2 engies, 1 spy/engie on each team. In the Meet The universes, there is only one of each class. Otherwise, though, fantastic.
I should comment, though, that the Meet the Spy video might not be the next in line. The pyro pack held the Sniper video.
Matt Tavares: Very well written
But like the rest of the people, I have to admit
A bit too long
Ed: The part where you're in the Sentry's point of view is funny. That has to be incorporated somewhere.
XD: Awesome.
the last sentence is in italian. I thought the spy was supposed to be french.
Tom Francis: He says things in at least three different languages in TF2, Italian more often than French. In fact, I did wonder if the French line that springs to mind, "Merde", could be Italian too - "Merda". It's been a while since it came up.
I think the idea, though, is that he's a man of the world with a mish-mash of accents and dialects.
A writer from Valve (just kidding): This is what i think:The class vs class part should be cut-out. Also, even though it is cute, sentry personification is out of the question. even in Meet the Engy he did not talk to his sentry like his pet or something. none of that "hunter in the savannah" thing as it is too complicated. to tell the truth, most of it should be cut out except the part about avoiding the blu guys and igniting the medic. some backstab and sapping scenes would be good, although not the way you put it. also, the ending sounds cool but it a bit hard to understand. many americans don't understand "figlio di puttana". a suitable ending could be, the spy stops in front of the demoman, then with a look of disgust, stabs his good eye and raises it at the sky, skewered on his knife. another scene would be the spy to stab a scout on the forehead, the scout pauses and looks at the sun, blood trickling down his forehead. the spy then decloaks, pulls out his knife and walks away. you should rewrite it and send it to valve. gd luck.
Rarne: @A writer from Valve(just kidding): Everything you just suggested is the equivalent of feces on the bottom of a shoe compared to what Pentadact wrote. Are you serious in thinking your suggestions help the original script? There needs to be no re-writing done. This should be published immediately if not by Valve, then a third party.
Mr. Brit: I do like A writer from Valve(just kidding)'s assumption that because Americans won't understand what it means, they won't get it. An expletive in any language is fairly recognisable because of the distinctive way we swear and since it is plainly Italian even the most retarded yank will realise it's just him swearing in his native(?) tongue.
Rankaratar: Yours is alright, but Valve cannot be topped:
http://www.youtube.c... ...TfuKAfhLFM
Pilt: I found meet the spy rather disappointing. Technically impeccable, but all of the others released so far sit higher in my affections. Something derived from this script here would have been much better.
Enjay: Meet the Spy was amazing.
I mean, it was action packed, and had some jokes.
It kinda captures the feeling of how a good spy can dominate a team, but a bad spy is easy to kill, on the part where the spy basically says he's invincible.
And it makes him look like a total hard ass. Raping the Sniper at close range, somehow instantly killing a SG, then pulling out his magnum and headshotting the engie, then taking out the medic with his BARE HANDS somehow.
Sure, it wasn't exactly a canon version, but I loved it. My favorite one so far.
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Zig13: Meet the Spy was amazing at being a meet the... video for the spy but this script is amazing as a video about the spy. When Valve release the tools they use to make source engine videos then someone has got to make this. I say someone as my computer can barely run the early source engine games let alone some advanced software.
Post 500, by Tom Francis: [...] A Stab At Meet The Spy Which, as everyone pointed out, was too long. Then Meet The Spy actually came out, and was more [...]