When the Entertainment Software Association announced on May 19th that Texas Governor Rick Perry would deliver the keynote address at E3 2008, GamePolitics was one of the few news outlets to publicly question the ESA's decision.
We expect more raised eyebrows over Perry's selection given yesterday's reports on Wired and The Escapist that in November, 2006 Perry affirmed the comments of controversial minister John Hagee that non-Christians are condemned to Hell.
In the photo at left, Perry is seen covering his face while Hagee preaches.
Sen. John McCain, the presumptive Republican presidential candidate, recently rejected Hagee's endorsement over, as CNN reported, "Hagee's comments that Adolf Hitler had been fulfilling God's will by hastening the desire of Jews to return to Israel in accordance with biblical prophecy."
As the Dallas Morning News reported on November 6, 2006:
Gov. Rick Perry, after a God and country sermon attended by dozens of political candidates Sunday, said that he agreed with the minister that non-Christians will be condemned to hell.
"In my faith, that's what it says, and I'm a believer of that," the governor said.
...Asked afterward at a political rally whether he agreed with Mr. Hagee, the governor said he didn't hear anything that he would take exception to. He said that he believes in the inerrancy of the Bible and that those who don't accept Jesus as their savior will go to hell.
If the ESA posted a blog and called it a news site, journalists would rightfully balk and it wouldn't pass a smell test. Remarkably, GamePolitics doesn't face the same scrutiny even though it's funded by the ECA and tainted with anti-ESA vitriol. At the end of the day, calling GamePolitics a news site is as laughable as saying there's a Cuban free press.
Ouch.
Despite the ESA's reaction, I stand by what I wrote regarding the appropriateness - or lack thereof - of having Gov. Perry deliver the E3 keynote. However, I am making one edit to the headline. While Gov. Perry agreed with Rev. Hagee's contention that non-Christians would be condemned to Hell, it does not appear to be a direct quote. That error has been fixed.
Comments
Re: E3 Keynote Speaker: "Non-Christians Will Burn in Hell"
Every religion, particularly the Abrahamic religions, have their share of nutjobs. Christians have Hagee, Thompson, and Phelps. Muslims have Osama Bin Ladin, the Iranian Ayotallas, and Sadr. The Jews... Hmmm... I am sure they have thier sure but they aren't as sensationalistic for the media to latch on to.
My own personal beliefs is that there is no Heaven to strive for, there is no Hell to fear. There is no God that commands us to follow, just humans trying to control others, explain the unexplainable, and belay their fears of death.
Re: E3 Keynote Speaker: "Non-Christians Will Burn in Hell"
I(zippy) thinks Heaven is an abstract plane where souls rest on their journey through creation, hell would be the darker edges around it where darker things linger because they fear and loath the light, so in a scene if you are vile and corrupt you will go to hell because you hate the light, while any sane person with a few good qualities will most likely pass the murky pits of hades for some time on the beach’o’light…mmm yyeeesssss.
Creation is beyond man but the light never will be out of reach.
One could say “god” is merely the highest form of being/sentience and being thus is fickle and out of reach for all practical purposes, everything else can merely be different forms of “life” beyond that it makes the world far more interesting than what science alone can comprehend.
Believe what you will go where you will for in the end… we are not longer “here”.
Re: E3 Keynote Speaker: "Non-Christians Will Burn in Hell"
Funny thing about beliefs, you can believe whatever you want.
If you're right you know what to expect after death.
If you're wrong sucks to be you because you most likely don't fit into any other religion's version of what must be done to attain heaven/nirvana/etc.
If there is no heaven/hell/god etc. and no afterlife it doesn't really matter anyway now does it.
Kind of kills the drive to argue about religion and beliefs.
Re: E3 Keynote Speaker: "Non-Christians Will Burn in Hell"
Alan Dershowitz
Re: E3 Keynote Speaker: "Non-Christians Will Burn in Hell"
Seems like a fitting note for E3 and the ESA to go out on. Ain't they pretty much over and done because they didn't have and couldn't get a clue? Why quit being clueless in their death-throes?
Re: E3 Keynote Speaker: "Non-Christians Will Burn in Hell"
Clearly the ESA has lost touch with gaming in general. It's little wonder so many companies are leaving them if this is their idea of a well oiled E3. What, they get rid of the smaller booths and models because they want to focus on gaming, but bringing in a politician who will no doubt to weighed down by religious baggage is fine?
As for the slur against Athiest and Agnostics, if there is a God, and he is as pure and righteous as these fundementalists would have us believe, I think they have more to fear from their actions and hate-mongering than someone who simply does not worship.
Ofcourse my other stock response to this is to say given the choice between sitting on a cloud and playing a harp or being chained up and whipped, I know which I would prefer
Re: E3 Keynote Speaker: "Non-Christians Will Burn in Hell"
"I don't know that there's any human being that has the ability to interpret what God and his final decision-making is going to be," Mr. Perry said. "That's what the faith says. I understand, and my caveat there is that an all-knowing God certainly transcends my personal ability to make that judgment black and white."
He added: "Before we get into Buddha and all the others, I get a little confused there. But the fact is that we live in a pluralistic world but our faith is real personal. And my Christian faith teaches that the way is through Jesus Christ." http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/110606...
Questioning these belifes is appropriate, public officals need to be held to the highest levels of scrutiny be it Perry and his views here or even (do I dare say it?) Barack Obama and the whole Trinity mess.
Re: E3 Keynote Speaker: "Non-Christians Will Burn in Hell"
I don't really understand you guys. This comment is not one made in the spirit of hate or division. It is simply a statement of belief. Its what the protestant bible instructs as the truth. Honestly I don't know what's there to get so worked up about.
I mean if the guy had said "All these people going to hell should be speeded on their way with a bullet in the head" would have illicited the comments about hate that I see.
Or if he had said "People that don't believe should be rounded up and put into camps so they can't infect our children with their sin" would be divisive.
All he's saying is the basis of belief that Christianity is based on. I mean if non-Christians weren't going to hell then what would be the point of being a Christian. Its kind of a pain in the ass following all these rules and being a nice person and spreading the word, if there's no reward at the end of the tunnel. I mean if we all go to the same place and its not hell then what's the point of being a christian. I'm sure all you athiests out there are nodding your head in agreement that there is no point, but then that's what seperates you nihilistic folks from the rest of us.
What would be intersting would be to see the response to a politician who said "I believ that when we die we all cease to exist and our bodies rot in the ground to no purpose!" Oh man that would make my day.
Re: E3 Keynote Speaker: "Non-Christians Will Burn in Hell"
For some privileged reason by way of delusion, your Christian religion DOES condemn to hell anyone who disagrees with them. How's THAT for juvenile - even infantile - behavior?
There's no Golden Rule embodied in your Christian belief that of everyone on Earth you are the only people who know what's right. Totally narcissistic, and sociopathic, your religion is. It's a barbaric and even primitive way of seeing the world and shows a total lack of moral decency or sophistication.
It's no wonder Christianity has always been a religion of conquest and domination. It's your hyperaggressive underlying belief system. Take a look in your religious mirror. Evolve for a change. You are not chosen or superior or by any means correct. You're living in a mentally inbred fantasy world. No offense intended or implied.
Only a primitive and barbaric religion would say everybody ELSE is wrong, and WE are right. Christianity fits that description; not the only one, but the only one that is the topic here in this thread, and the only one beating up a good part of the world militarily at the moment.
So, still curious as to why the controversy? Then, you are too blinded by your own religion to see the odious false sanctimony of your own faith. Not that there's anything wrong with that!
Re: E3 Keynote Speaker: "Non-Christians Will Burn in Hell"
"Only a primitive and barbaric religion would say everybody ELSE is wrong, and WE are right."
I'm assuming that in making this statement, you believe that YOU are right and ANYONE who disagrees with you is wrong.
How narcissistic/sociopathic/primitive/barbaric of you.
Christians will burn in hell
Religious people should not be allowed to become politicians. They should serve the people of their land, and not some old book written by "the dead madman of your choice". Just because someone believes in another +100 year old dead guys book you should not treat them badly. Faith in religion is the worst kind of ignorance, no god would sentence half the world to an eternity of suffering on the notion that they are born in say Asia or the middle east. Anyone who sincerly believe in a religion is more likely to go to hell than someone who is not, simply because atheists are the only ones with a fair shoot at understanding that a human is a human and should be treated as such.
Re: Christians will burn in hell
Religion is already “regulated” in government, buniessmen and corporate types need to be “watched” as well, both have interests that can supersede the needs of the people.
If anything government needs a oversight and the enforcement there of.
Re: Christians will burn in hell
uhg I wish my name linked to my site so I dont have to say its zippy all the damn time....
Re: Christians will burn in hell
I don't know, did you see the article above this one?
Re: E3 Keynote Speaker: "Non-Christians Will Burn in Hell"
Good job McCloud, make us normal Christians look bad. Seriously, I don't believe this crap at all. Ugh, this seems like something that Jack Thompson would say.
Re: E3 Keynote Speaker: "Non-Christians Will Burn in Hell"
Maybe he is coming from the "Play video games or you will burn in Hell, cause da'Jesus says so!" angle.
Re: E3 Keynote Speaker: "Non-Christians Will Burn in Hell"
Well, E3 died in 2007 anyway when gamers were no longer welcome. Who really cares what self righteous loser and scumbag politician speaks to the self-congratulatory photo op that is E3?
Re: E3 Keynote Speaker: "Non-Christians Will Burn in Hell"
Why would gamers be welcome at an industry tradeshow? Oh wait, you think E3 was supposed to be a big Con for you to lust for, and forgot it was supposed to be about business interests.
~~All Knowledge is Worth Having~~
~~All Knowledge is Worth Having~~
Re: E3 Keynote Speaker: "Non-Christians Will Burn in Hell"
While I know that most Christans are not like this, unfortunately my personal experiences with this particular strip of Christanity can make it hard to remember when one of these starts garnering attention from politicans or others in power over their respective spheres of influence.
As for my personal belief. There are many paths to the same destination, but I admit I do not understand those that think they have only one life on earth.
Hunting the shadows of the troubled dreams.
Re: E3 Keynote Speaker: "Non-Christians Will Burn in Hell"
Actually, yes, most Christians are exactly like this. The belief that non-Christians go to hell is a fundamental part of Christianity. Most Christians, INCLUDING PERRY, do NOT believe that non-Christians "deserve" this; they just think that it's what will happen.
Almost everyone who is commenting on this article is acting like he said that he wants non-Christians to go to hell, which isn't what he said.
Re: E3 Keynote Speaker: "Non-Christians Will Burn in Hell"
My problem with him isn't because he holds a particular religious belief.
It is that he is in a position that governs a great many individuals who do not share his belief. And that such a comment would imply that he will violate the Consititutional Rights of citizens who do not share his religious beliefs. That he will, in fact, make decisions that are based on his personal religious beliefs in the process of performing his duties as a state governor. The recent violation of religious Rights by the removal of over 400 children from a FLDS ranch. While one might argue non-religious reasons, the governor's comments can now be used to imply that he refuses to act on judicial reasoning basis because his religious beliefs are different than those of the FLDS, thereby making his actions, or inactions, questionable.
Another similar case, though not as high up in government terms, was the resignation of a principal from an Irmo, SC school because he opposed the creation of a homosexual "club" (support group) because of his personal religious objections. Opening the door to the question whether prior decisions and treatment of homosexual students may have also been biased, discriminatory, or even abusive in nature.
It is one thing to have a personal or religious belief and follow it in regards to one's self. It's something else to announce to a diverse group of individuals who you have charge over, which leads to those questions of bias and incapability to work with a diverse group of individuals.
Nightwng2000
NW2K Software
Nightwng2000 has also updated his MySpace page: http://www.myspace.com/nightwing2000 Nightwng2000 is now admin to the group "Parents For Education, Not Legislation" on MySpace as http://groups.myspace.com/pfenl
Re: E3 Keynote Speaker: "Non-Christians Will Burn in Hell"
"It is that he is in a position that governs a great many individuals who do not share his belief. "
You can't put someone in that position without having them govern many people who do not share their beliefs. If you pick a Christian, he doesn't share the beliefs of Muslims and Atheists. If you pick an Atheist, he doesn't share the beliefs of Muslims and Christians.
"And that such a comment would imply that he will violate the Consititutional Rights of citizens who do not share his religious beliefs."
Where on earth are you getting that from?
"It's something else to announce to a diverse group of individuals who you have charge over, which leads to those questions of bias and incapability to work with a diverse group of individuals."
You weren't paying attention! Someone SPECIFICALLY ASKED him about his beliefs, and all he did was answer them. You can't blame him for speaking his beliefs in public when a reporter asks him about them point blank.
Re: E3 Keynote Speaker: "Non-Christians Will Burn in Hell"
So your saying that the only kind of person who could handle the FLDS ranch situation is someone who believed the same things as them? Of course then, that person wouldn't be able to handle any situation regarding groups that the FLDS disagree with...
Yes, bias is a huge problem in politics. Its also an unavoidable one. Even if you could find people who somehow don't believe anything that isn't enshrined in American law (and that would disclude Atheists, who often believe the world would be a better place without religion), you wouldn't be able to elect them on that basis because the US Constitution forbids electing officials based on their religious beliefs. That's one of those religious freedoms you're so keen on protecting, and one that is constantly being flagrantly violated by the American people.
Since everyone is biased, the only way to counter bias is through governmental transparency. In this sense, Perry has done us a huge favor. He has given full disclosure about his religious beliefs. I fail to see how keeping these things a secret would help protect people from having their rights violated. Nor do I see how simply believing that certain people will go to hell someday would make someone more likely to infringe on their rights.
Re: E3 Keynote Speaker: "Non-Christians Will Burn in Hell"
Perry had little to do with the FLDS compound fiasco. Child Protective Services saw a real threat, acted to quickly, and, in doing so, overstepped its boundaries. Perry is a figure head. The Texas legislature makes all the laws, and the lieutenant governor is granted the true executive power. Perry serves to distract the populace of Texas and, apparently, everyone else from the actual government, which is run by Texas businessmen.
Re: E3 Keynote Speaker: "Non-Christians Will Burn in Hell"
gaaa Iam forgetign to psot mew name
tis zippy of corse :P
Who like bush are fair weather Christians(cheery pickers).
The problem with religion or business in governments its interests can be prioritized over the peoples interest, of course what’s needed in government more than odd rules and regulations is a strong oversight system, something with legal teeth to go after corruption not just petty “oversights” like discrimination there’s enough watchdog groups to raise a fuss over that but not much to actively balance government.
Re: E3 Keynote Speaker: "Non-Christians Will Burn in Hell"
Oh good I'm gonna burn in hell. I hope they have marshmallows.
Re: E3 Keynote Speaker: "Non-Christians Will Burn in Hell"
This is going to get interesting very fast.
And I love that epic facepalm in the background of that picture.
Re: E3 Keynote Speaker: "Non-Christians Will Burn in Hell"
Tis Zippy Again
Without hell and damnation religion would not work, you can’t run a modern “organization” on love, peace and kindness, sorry these are just the facts “separation” and “belittling” is the main way to gain donations through guilt.
Not saying all religion or Christianity is bad just most of it *lick*
:P
But really tho it’s more the human mob mentality that makes things appear worse than they are but sometimes you have to wonder about these “organizations”….
In specific to hell is not a misconstruction of the waste area around one of the biblical cities and not a “place” , you had burning waste and bodies ect,ect, there again without HELL Christianity could not frighten the public into place, fear is still the cheapest form of populace control available to thos who rule over them.
Re: E3 Keynote Speaker: "Non-Christians Will Burn in Hell"
Hell is different things to different people. Some believe that it is a separation from God. Others believe that it is eternal torture. Do not group us all into one homogenous group. To do so is to be just as much of a bigot as those you decry.
Re: E3 Keynote Speaker: "Non-Christians Will Burn in Hell"
touche!
As I stated its hard not to lump all religion together, mob mentalities however are more of the issue than simply religion itself, it’s the old saying people suck a person not so much, this can be applied to religion.
Iam starting to form a strong opinion that god is what you make of it, for me remove all the petty humanisims of it and boil it down to light, love, hope and kindness.
Religion itself tries to build around that but when they forget kindness and love to separate people into labels to raise their noses on I can’t help but let the vitriol lose.
And just to be clear it’s not the person to be hated the some groupings thereof, Christianity is not a whole group persay but a mass of groups like most enormous organizations.
Re: E3 Keynote Speaker: "Non-Christians Will Burn in Hell"
So yeah, who is this guy supposed to be speaking to and about at E3 now? Seriously, W.T.F.
Re: E3 Keynote Speaker: "Non-Christians Will Burn in Hell"
GP, I'm a little shocked at you.
If you don't like him, you should be condemning him for other reasons than he subscribes to a faith shared by a third of the world. Yes, he said he believes that the book that faith was based on is true, and in it is a punishment for non-believers. So do a great many other religions. But if you do not believe in Christianity, if you don't believe in hell, then you've got nothing to worry about, right? What he is saying is meaningless words to you; it shouldn't be the seed of persecution or you become no better. Bias is taking over mainstream news, don't fall into that trap too. People shouldn't start bashing someone just because they don't share the same faith or belief, and unless he has been asked to publicly pray or preach at E3, this is really a non-issue.
You can't uphold the First Amendment for game companies and not for individuals, even politicians.
Re: E3 Keynote Speaker: "Non-Christians Will Burn in Hell"
@Why GP?
Seconded.
Re: E3 Keynote Speaker: "Non-Christians Will Burn in Hell"
To be fair though, he's unlikely to bring up religion in his E3 keynote. I'm sorry to say it looks like GP is just trying to drum up controversy.
Re: E3 Keynote Speaker: "Non-Christians Will Burn in Hell"
I love generalizations. Obviously all Christians, regardless of denomination, fall into this category, be they Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, Calvinist, Methodist, Baptist, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Adventist, Anabaptist, Presbyterian, Quaker, Pentacostal, Unitarian, or any other organization. Do you even know the differences between them?
No, instead you wish to make a general statement about a group you have a problem with based on the comments of one person who believes something you don't like, so you respond by insulting the group and asking for his censorship. So our public and political officials can no longer express religious views, is that it? But they have the freedom too, just like the rest of us. Would it have made any difference if he'd been a hardcore Satanist? What about if he'd been Hassidic Jewish? Mahayana Buddhist? Would you have the same problem if he'd professed a belief that is controversial in these other religions?
Honestly, I think we should look more into this guy's record outside of what he personally believes. How has he voted? Has he been a big supporter of technology? Perhaps there's something here we're missing. Maybe he's crafting a system of tax breaks for game companies in Texas as we speak? Maybe he just likes video games. Then we might get a better view of why the ESA had him in mind.
Now yes, we should keep in mind his connection to Hagee. Much like Senator Obama's connections to Rev. Wright or Father Pfleger, Governor Perry's connection to Hagee does need to be explored. But the question asked was about religion, not politics, and from that quote all we can gather is that Gov. Perry agrees with Hagee on a religious scale. If he begins making anti-semitic comments, then we'll know. But we should not condemn someone based solely on one idea in his faith, and we certainly shouldn't condemn an entire religion based on one radical individual.
Re: E3 Keynote Speaker: "Non-Christians Will Burn in Hell"
"Maybe he's crafting a system of tax breaks for game companies in Texas as we speak?"
Bingo. Hence the E3 Keynote choice.
~~All Knowledge is Worth Having~~
~~All Knowledge is Worth Having~~
Re: E3 Keynote Speaker: "Non-Christians Will Burn in Hell"
Agreed, even though that one radical individual may seem to condemn anyone not of his religion.
But I, at least, am consitant. I react with distaste when, ANY religion gets to big for it's britches. In my opinion religion is an individual thing, it should have no place in politics or industry, none. Nor should it be the source of conflicts. I have no problem with the fact that he's christian. I have a problem when he tries to get other people to become christians.
The arguement is also rather silly. God will damn you to hell if you don't worship him and follow his rules, and yet he still loves you always? Huh?
Still...
It will amusing to see what happens when some smartass reporter decides to question the guv regarding his connections to Hagee during the E3. That'll make more waves than some game announcement, I imagine.
Re: E3 Keynote Speaker: "Non-Christians Will Burn in Hell"
I'm christian, and I don't practice that often. We’re not all like that. Any religion will have people like this. I agree, this man is a fool. He follows the book too literally. The ten commandments are the source of some of this problem. “Honor no other god but me.” And all that. Who’s to say that our religion is the only one that’s right? An ancient book and some circumstantial evidence? Foolish. Guess what buddy? Religion has been the cause of more wars that anyone could possibly count. Don’t try to shove your religion down other people’s throats, it works better that way. Don’t let this fool represent us badly, we’re not all like that.
Re: E3 Keynote Speaker: "Non-Christians Will Burn in Hell"
Sorry bud, You need to pay better attention to history.
The cause of most wars are power and land. Very few if any can be solely linked to religion. Hitler wanted power through selective breeding and wanted to rule the world. Attilla the Hun wanted to rule over China, the Civil wars in Africa are over who will rule their respective countries. The US Civil War was over the right of states to rule themselves without federal intervention. Etc.
Show me a war that can be solely linked to religion.
E. Zachary Knight
www.editorialgames.com
E. Zachary Knight
Divine Knight Gaming
OK Game Devs
Random Tower
Re: E3 Keynote Speaker: "Non-Christians Will Burn in Hell"
"Attilla the Hun wanted to rule over China"
Although his empire stretched into Russia, and historically his people were known to tangle with the Chinese, I don't know that there is any evidence that he actually wanted to rule over China. His conquests were all in Europe.
Re: E3 Keynote Speaker: "Non-Christians Will Burn in Hell"
How about the crusades?
altho removing the malcontent masses for a war effort was more likly the real reason for it.
Re: E3 Keynote Speaker: "Non-Christians Will Burn in Hell"
"In every country and in every age, the priest has been hostile to liberty. He is always in alliance with the despot, abetting his abuses in return for protection to his own".
-Thomas Jefferson, letter to Horatio G. Spafford, March 17, 1814
Re: E3 Keynote Speaker: "Non-Christians Will Burn in Hell"
Thomad Jefferson was no fan of organized religion. Indeed, of all the founders, it may be most truthfully said that he was a "Deist". However, as a Deist he innately respected the rights of all people to believe what they wished. It was his pluralistic vision which we now celebrate in America.
However, it is this very pluralism that is threatened when we accuse someone of bigotry and xenophibia simply for expressing thier religion publically. Part of a pluralistic society is agreeing to disagree. We all must realize that other people will have beleif systems which conflict with our own. As long as those beleifs to not impinge on our Constitutionally protected rights, then we DO NOT have the right to stop those people from practicing (and espousing, if it is religiously required) thier religion.
In other words, Christians have a constitutionally protected right to practice Christianity. Part of Christianity is the commandment from God to preach the gospel and convert others to Christianity. (also known as The great Commision) So Christians have the right to speak on their beliefs. This is, of course, also backed up by the right to Free Speech.
However, while people are guaranteed the right to speak, they are not goaranteed the right to an audience. In other words, you don't have to listen if you disagree.
Re: E3 Keynote Speaker: "Non-Christians Will Burn in Hell"
blah, blah, blah. The point being that he can say what he wants, but its a bad business descision to let him do it at e3. As can plainly be seen by this flamefest he will not have a receptive audience among gamers. Most are rage against the machine types and dont like politicians to begin with. Video games give you the medium to go willy-nilly-killing-spree if you want. It makes a hell(pun intended) of a lot of sense to NOT have him speak for an audience that enjoys absolute freedoms....such as paying a hooker to give them a bj in a car and afterwards running them over with said car, rinse and repeat ad nauseam
Re: E3 Keynote Speaker: "Non-Christians Will Burn in Hell"
Brokenscope: "He is honest with his beliefs and hasn't compromised them to be popular.
You could say the same about Hitler, one of Perry's minister's heroes. What a great role model he turned out to be. (And, from what we've seen in the archival footage, he no doubt would have made a captivating keynote speaker.)
Re: E3 Keynote Speaker: "Non-Christians Will Burn in Hell"
"You could say the same about Hitler, one of Perry's minister's heroes."
Let me guess, your blood was boiling and you saw the word "Hitler" somewhere in a sentence. Go back and read the article again.
The minister said that Hitler fulfilled a prophecy because his actions caused the Jews to return to Israel. That does NOT imply anything heroic. According to Christian belief, Judas helped fulfil a prophecy by betraying Jesus.
Re: E3 Keynote Speaker: "Non-Christians Will Burn in Hell"
maybe, then again, Hitler had the perfect audience for his speeches.
Re: E3 Keynote Speaker: "Non-Christians Will Burn in Hell"
Godwin was a smart one.
Re: E3 Keynote Speaker: "Non-Christians Will Burn in Hell"
Pure genius, that one. It even beats the "what goes up, must come down" Law. And it's something I became aware of only by virtue of my time spent on GamePolitics. Who said blogging was a waste of time?