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SECTIONS
I. INTERVIEW/BRAWLERS, BAWLERS & BASTARDS – Interview with the gnarly Gnilraps
II.  FEATURE/THE POWER LIST – Part 4: TOP 5
III.  THIRD BASE (aka THE HOT CORNER) – Scarlett Johansson sings?
IV.  EDITOR’S NOTES
 

 

 
I. BRAWLERS, BAWLERS & BASTARDS
By Hadrian X
 
Gnilraps needs no introduction, but I have to do one anyway, so here goes:  This is my interview with Gnilraps.  Like a boss.
 
Hadrian X:  Where’d the name Gnilraps come from?

Gnilraps:  When I began playing this game, having no idea if it would be something I would stick around for or not, I put almost zero thought into a name. Thank you for not asking me how it is pronounced, by the way… everyone asks that. The name itself is (and probably ought to be in a very odd sort of way) Gnilleps. You’ll have to look that one up and then figure out the rest of the riddle.

HX:  What are your thoughts on Macklemore?  Do you have a favorite song of his?  When you listened to Macklemore’s song “Downtown” and heard the vocals by Eric Nally, did you think it was the rebirth of Freddie Mercury or just some screechy woman?

Gnil:  OK so this is the first thing I’ve had to google in order to answer your questions. I watched the video/song of Downtown in my office which… was probably not the hugest mistake I’ve ever made but it’s a good addition to the list. My favorite part of the Downtown video was how YouTube automatically played twenty one pilots: Stressed Out after it ended. But as for Macklemore and Downtown, it was either the most postmodern thing I’ve seen a long time or else it is just completely over my head. Probably both. And yes, even though you all but forewarned me about the Nally “fellow”, I still thought I was listening to a harpy.

HX:  You are ranked the #1 player in the eUS and are a monster tank fighter dude.  How have you maximized your badassedness and how do you utilize your badassedness in service to the eUS during battles and wars?

Gnil:  The ranking is merely a reflection of money sunk into the game. You gain XP by fighting, and nobody in eUSA has done more of that than I have. This is not hyperbole, it is a fact reflected by my ranking. But I really wish I weren’t the number 1 ranked player in eUSA. I wish I were chasing a dozen others for that rank because if I were our nation would be stronger than it is.

So I haven’t paid for the ranking. That is merely something that comes along with what I have paid for: fighting for eUSA and her allies. Unlike many of the players you’ve already interviewed (and surely others whose interviews will come after this one), I’ve only ever held eUS Citizenship and they will be burying me under eUS pixels. I’m not anywhere near this nationalistic in real life, by the way, but it’s a motivation for me in this game.

To put into perspective how far eUSA is behind the really big nations in this game, I just did some digging (the second answer I’ve had to do some research for in this interview). I am the 33rd ranked player in the eWorld by Experience and rankpoints, and in terms of strength I barely make the top 600. We need more good tanks.

HX:  What’s your favorite Tom Waits song and what are your favorite lyrics from that song?

Gnil:  Any song on this LIST. 

But especially 16 Shells From A Thirty-Ought Six.  It isn’t so much the poetry as it is the way the words sound. Tom Waits uses words and vocals as a percussion instrument in many of his songs and that is what I like most.  My favorite line, though, from any Waits song is, “You can never hold back Spring”.

HX:  I bought a bunch of air-to-air missiles recently.  I have no idea why.  Someone shouted that prices will rise, so buy them now – and so I did.  What is going on with aircraft and missiles and did I just throw my money away buying Q1 missiles that I have no use for?  I’ve been gone a long time and have no idea what this new aircraft combat mechanic entails.  Can you tell me?  Also, do you want to buy some Q1 missles?

Gnil:  I am still in wait-and-see mode. I’ve been stockpiling gold in hopes the new industry would be economically viable. If the prices do climb, you’ll make some decent cash though… 

HX:  You are currently level 606 (at the time of this interview).  What do you think will happen when you hit level 666?  Are you scared?

Gnil:  I assume you are referring to the fabled number of the second beast from Revelation chapter 13. I will have you know, however, that there is some debate about that number. One very good ancient manuscript (#2344 if you are taking notes) indicates exakosia exekonta pente, which is obviously 665. Then there is Codex C which has exakosiai deka ex, or 616. One Old Latin text (codex ar, ninth century) even has 646. 666 is what appears in the copy of the Bible sitting on your shelf (probably collecting dust) most likely because that is what Irenaeus (ca. 130 – ca. 200) said it was.

My point (and no, actually, I didn’t have to google that information) is that since I don’t actually know for sure if the number 666 is the actual number envisioned by John in Revelation 13, I figure why worry? And anyway, that beast whose number is six hundred somethingoranother isn’t even satan, it’s one of his beastly minions. I don’t fear satan and I’m certainly not going to fear his evil minions.

But if I hit 666 while I’m tanking, I’ll probably only get to enjoy it for a few minutes anyway. By the time you read this, btw, Colonel Bruce of Slovenia will be lvl 666, so let’s see what happens to him before we lose our minds. (Yes, I had to look this one up).

HX:  Easy Company is the eUS’s most powerful military unit.  Can you tell me what makes EZC so effective and what your position is in the unit?  Also, what the heck does “CURRAHEE” mean and why do you guys say it all the time?  

Gnil:  EZC has had spectacular leadership since I handed it over to Deepchill back when it was still the Fed Party MU. I was an OK leader, but I am not as good a team-builder as Deepchill is, and that is exactly what he has done. He’s put together the best group of involved members and we just function well together. Our Forum is probably as busy if not busier than the eRepublik boards on the eUSA Forum most days. Deepchill has allowed many great players to feel invested in the working order of our unit, and that has bred success.

My role is mostly economic. I guess you could call me the business manager of Easy Company. I keep our commune running at break-even, I hold our armory and every tank that gets distributed through our co-op comes through me. Once in a while I cook up an idea or two and float it with the rest of the team.

As for CURRAHEE, it is a Cherokee word meaning, “stands alone”, and it is the name of a mountain outside of Toccoa, Georgia where the Real Life Easy Company trained. Most Parachute Infantry would always yell “Gironimo” when they jumped from a plane, but those who trained at Toccoa on Currahee Mountain would yell CURRAHEE! True story.

HX:  If you knowingly ate a chicken sandwich at a fly infested truck stop, would you be more likely to contract E.Coli, listeria, salmonella or some other type of food poisoning?  If you absolutely had to catch one, which do you think would be the least unpleasant?  Do you think you would have deserved it, making the irrational and negligent decision to eat at such a dubious dining establishment?

Gnil:  http://tinyurl.com/2fcpre6

HX:  You’ve been POTUS and dictator a bunch of times.  You’re a three time media mogul with a highly highly respected newspaper (12 Shells).  You’re the biggest tank in the eUS.  You’re also a very successful company owner.  Which are you most proud of and which was most difficult for you to achieve?  Which do you think is the most beneficial to the eUS as a whole?

Gnil:  My paper is called 16 Shells, by the way, and I have at times taken obscene pride in it. At times I have published crap, too, but I guess I don’t always put a lot of effort into what I’ve written, and I don’t always know when to just toss a piece into the trash. Oh well.

My company ownership is entirely for the benefit of EZC, so that is probably how I benefit eUSA most I guess. What I mean is that what I generate in terms of income gets directly translated into battlefield damage wherever the CP is asking for it. So yeah, probably that.

HX:  What was your favorite toy as a kid and how much are they currently going for on eBay?  Do you own one and have it in your presence – or at least within your line of sight –at this very moment?

Gnil:  “OK GOOGLE, search ebay for Atari 2600”. And no I do not have one, though it seems I could buy one for around a hundred bucks. It would probably be a lot more fun than the 700 or so Gold I can get for that on eRepublik.

HX:  Are we pals?  If we are, where should we hang out?  If we’re not, do you wanna be – and where should we hang out?

Gnil:  Yes we are pals. I already know from the Skype interview we did three years ago that we’d have a hell of a time. I used to have a regular table at this awesome jazz club in Greenwich Village… but that was usually where I’d go to impress the girls. You and I would need to find a really good microbrewery and drink from pewter mugs until they kicked us out. Yes, the mugs must be pewter.

HX:  Since this interview is part of our series on eUS power players, of which you have been selected, I wanted to ask what is power?  And, in your opinion, who in the eUS has it?

Gnil:  In eRepublik, power is defined by access. Different players get it in different ways. In our system, the CP really does wield quite a bit of power, though Congress is ultimately more powerful. I am a power player because I have access, I usually think clearly about what is going on and can communicate my opinion, and most importantly because I have never leaked a single piece of information from a private thread or conversation.  Wild Owl is still the most powerful player in eUSA for sure.
 
Thanks to my (official) pal, Gnilraps!  Jelly?
 

 
II. THE HOT LIST – Part 4:  TOP 5
Who are the most powerful and influential citizens in the eUS?  We took a completely unscientific poll to find out.
 
To see the methodology and players ranked #16-20, click HERE.  Players #11-15 are HERE.  Players #6-10 are HERE.

To see the full POWER LIST, click HERE.

For the TOP 5 rankings of THE X-FILES 1ST POWER LIST, read on:
 
#5 Rainy Sunday

 
What is your current title and what do you do?

Rainy Sunday: Secretary of Defense. Not nearly as much as I'd like honestly. I had hoped this term would permit me to collaborate more with an active NSC and our PMUs. Presently I oversee our national military, USAF, and the Arm America program. Much of my focus has been redirected to replacing defunct training materials and systems, staffing, and transitioning with the recent economic updates. I'm hopeful I can better contribute going forward the remainder of this term.

What other positions have you held and what would you consider your proudest accomplishments?

Rainy: I've been fortunate to have had the opportunity to play in a variety of positions throughout my erep lifetime. I've done most jobs on the domestic front; mentoring, CO, XO, Captain, Platoon Leader, Speaker, Whip, Congressman, Congressional Librarian, Immigration Agent, Party President, various party roles, Secretary of Education, Secretary of Interior, various deputy positions, program directorships, ambassadorships, Veep, and planned or assisted with a number of independent projects. I've not been given as much opportunity in an official capacity in Foreign Affairs or at an Alliance level. I don't have a single proudest accomplishment per se but the community surrounding this game has gifted me some treasured friendships and more than a handful of admired from afar acquaintances. I am most pleased when I encounter someone with genuine enthusiasm to engage and be a change agent. While it's not my own accomplishment, I do feel a sense of pride when others share their own tiny victories. 

If you could do any one thing to make the eUSA better, what would it be and why?

Rainy: I cannot change the way people approach the game but since I'm a dreamer, I've long wished the US community were a more international-minded community. I wish more people who approach the game as a political sim wanted to create something better than flatly mimicking the worst of RL. I wish the game did more to provide a visible and immediate reward for quality teamwork and less to encourage dirty politics and cheap medal hunters. In short, I would change the players outlooks and how so many find their 'fun'. Wrong game, I know.

What others say about Rainy Sunday:








 
 
#4 Pfeiffer

 
What is your current title and what do you do?

Pfeiffer: Pfeiffer. I'm Pfeiffer.

What other positions have you held and what would you consider your proudest accomplishments?

Pfeiffer: All of them. My proudest accomplishment? 

Singularly - The month my team and I lead USWP to an absolute majority in Congress.

Protracted - Complete domination of American politics for over two years.

If you could do any one thing to make the eUSA better, what would it be and why?

Pfeiffer: Revert the game to an early v1 model.

What others say about Pfeiffer:






 
 
#3 Melissa Rose

 
What is your current title and what do you do?

Melissa Rose: Chief of Staff: I do all the things. I am the Queen of all things CoS. My job is to know everything that is going on so I can keep the CP fully updated and to make sure the departments are all doing their jobs and I am amazing at it.

What other positions have you held and what would you consider your proudest accomplishments?

MelRose: I've done most everything except Mofa and Speaker of the House. My proudest accomplishment was when I helped give the final blow to Ajay's attempted PTO of the eUS while I was Director of Homeland Security under Josh Frost. Frost and I utterly destroyed him. That took a lot of work and was rather fun. I've had quite a number of accomplishments I'm proud of over the course of the game. That was probably the most visible of them.

If you could do any one thing to make the eUSA better, what would it be and why?

MR: Take over Kanada

What others say about Melissa Rose:




 
 
#2 Gnilraps

 
What is your current title and what do you do?

Gnilraps: I am the current director of remaining as active as possible while not hating myself for doing so. I am also the executive in charge of figuring things out and then arguing with people about my findings. I have an interim position right now as lead advisor to nobody, and I work part time on spending too much. I'm also seeking work.
 
What other positions have you held and what would you consider your proudest accomplishments?

Gnil:  I'm one of those who's held almost every position, at least twice, and managed to both succeed and screw them all up at various times. My proudest accomplishments... PTOing Ajay's party and naming/founding WTP, I am proud of the poetry I've done in my paper even though those articles rarely get votes, EZC is my proudest accomplishment, though, mostly due to the fact that I could never have accomplished something so great by myself... EZC has taught me the valuable real life lesson that when you surround yourself with people who are better than you are, you end up greatly outshining yourself.
 
If you could do any one thing to make the eUSA better, what would it be and why?

Gnil: Double the size of EZC (PLEASE FEEL FREE TO JOIN!).   Also, if I had the proper amount of time, I'd like to host an eUSA BEAM show. I could never do what Clopo does, but I think what I would do would also be very good for keeping interest in this game at a high.

As for what the industry will look like, I have my doubts there. Pollution has killed off most profit so far across industries, why should air be any different.

Lastly, it creates a major headache for Military Units. We have an entire new industry to figure out funding for, policies for, and whatnot. Time to get to work.
 
What others say about Gnilraps:






 
#1 Wild Owl

 
*EDITOR’S NOTE: Wild Owl was approached for comment (twice), but did not return any answers prior to publication.  Therefore, we asked Tenshibo to answer on his behalf.*
 
What is Wild Owl's current title and what does he do?

Tenshibo for Wild Owl: WildOwl is the current Sedretary of State. He deals with our wide scoping foreign affairs policy, and the overlapping interests of our allies and us. He also fucks over other nations when he doesn't like certain members of their government. But it's cute so it's okay.

What other positions has Wild Owl held and what would you consider his proudest accomplishments?
 
Ten4WO: He has been president a bunch of times, led Pacifica, founded Pacifica, several time SoS, he's like PP of USWP right now, and probably some other stuff. His proudest accomplishment is a two way tie between having the privilege of being my Director of Education when I was president, and completely dumpstering Spain to the point of no return. If he can do the same thing to Russia/nimnul, it'll be a three way tie. 

If WO could do any one thing to make the eUSA better, what would it be and why?

104WO: No idea. But it would probably involve letting Oblige do something he's under qualified for, and squaring up some personal bullshit. Oh, that's it. He'd permaban Rainy Sunday. Oh, there's a why to this? Ummm.... Why? Okay. Cause he loves slobbin’ on dat whale knob, and because he has the most raging anti-boner imaginable for Rainy Sunday.
 
What others say about Wild Owl:









 

These players barely missed the cut for the top 20 on our Power List:  Evry, Inwegen, Henry William French, AlexJ1890 and Kemal Ergenekon.
 
What did you think of the list?  Who would you move higher or lower?  Leave it in the comments and let the debate begin.

 
III. THE HOT CORNER
 
Tom Waits wrote a song called “Falling Down”.  Scarlett Johansson did a cover of it, so we honor her by putting a purty picture of her here.  Also, Melissa Rose keeps demanding a red head, which Scarlett kinda is, sometimes?  Like in the Avengers movies.  Not in this really.  Compromises, compromises…
 

 

 
IV. EDITOR’S NOTES
 

 
The WINNER(s) of last issue's COLIN LANTRIP MEMORIAL AWARD OF COMMENTING EXCELLENCE and $1,000 USD/cc is ARRDEN!  BAAAAAAAA to you sir!
 

 
Do YOU want to WIN the Lantrip Award and $1,000/cc!  Of course you do!  WRITE A COMMENT and if it gets the MOST LIKES, you WIN!
 
See the illustrious previous Lantrip Award Winners HERE.

Votes, as always, are greatly appreciated.  Thanks for reading!
 

 
Margot’s Vanity Fair cover was p hawt!  That’s gotta be worth a few votes, right? 🙂