We in Crew have been asked to describe how we see Marx Brothers and their role in the community. As a “veteran” in the game and as community manager I (Powdersnow) will heed the call. In fact I do it gladly.

For those of you who don’t know them, Marx Brothers is a clan here on Power Soccer - one of the very oldest ones - sporting a popular blog. Tomorrow they are celebrating their first birthday. They have also written their own memorabilia on the MB blog, don’t miss it! You can also catch it in our forums, here.

Let’s start with the obvious, MB is not an ordinary clan and doesn’t consist of ordinary people. Half of them are MA’s (Master Assistans) in Power Soccer, one of them is a crew member (Linda), they are all incredibly verbal and witty. Sipwell and Air_fix_9 who founded the clan, are two of the main profiles in the PS community. MB members are all eccentric, intelligent, slightly mad with humor. Whatever their true agenda is, it seems to vary on a scale from simply entertaining to an online movement to educate, manipulate and auspicate everything and everyone that comes in their way. Like a ballerina on steroids they will gently hop around playing with rhymes, smiley faces and words sweeter that bubble gum, to suddenly get a raging fit and declare the end of the world as we know it. That’s the nature of MB: exemplification by exaggeration. It is truly an art form, and it makes everything they write worth reading.

MB adds something vital to the Power Soccer community. They want to sell the idea to you that they don’t take the game too seriously, especially not their rank. Their motto “you lose some, you draw some”, says a lot about their intended stance towards the game. Indeed they are lingering down at around the 200^th rank position, impressively low for a clan with some of the major stars of Power Soccer as members (leedomargus and adeidos being two of them). But of course even a clan such as MB has slumbering ambitions. Regardless of that, their take on things is an unusual one. Don’t step over bodies to get to where you want to be: in fact let them step on you if they must. (And then pull their legs away from underneath if you have a chance). So if they don’t care about rank or trophies, what is their game? It is the battle of the wittiest, of course. And MB is going at it with all the energy of a ferocious hunter stalking an ant with a massively oversized weapon. Only there are no real counter contestants for the prey. School teaches us there has to be something at stake for rivalry to ensue, or at least some competition. MB doesn’t care. They want that title (for which they are the only candidate) no matter what it takes, no matter what they need to say, do or write. An admirable position, I wish I had some of that attitude towards some stuff in my life. It takes gut and passion to do what MB does. And it adds flavour to our community.

If I could put something on my wish list for 2009, it would be to get more clans like MB, more guys and girls spilling their heart out, entertaining us with soul, intelligence and razor sharp tongues. I am not saying they are the only ones, we have talented writers roaming the forums from time to time and we have our RA’s, but I’d want to see more of MB’s attitude and flavor, perhaps especially on PSE. And I would like to see groups of people challenging MB for that ant (and maybe it’ll grow to a Zebra). If nothing else, then because I’d be curious to see how the brothers would react if they got serious competition.

With their existence, MB proves something about Power Soccer. They prove that we have a community which is very much alive, where there are important things to be gained or built. Relationships, for one thing. Status too I suppose, but more than that some type of self pride. Little rewards that make you grow as a person. In 10 years time you won’t remember gaining 30 points from a game, but you may remember when you met that crazy Swiss guy and he told you something that made you smile. Maybe you’ll be able to recall the sense of accomplishment over a really great text you wrote. Things like this can happen in an online community but rarely out there in the “real” world. The MB’s thrive on these rewards. They use the energy gained to reload, aim, and discharge again.

Thank you MB. Congrats!

//Pow

Last night, I felt rather tired around 9 o clock, thought I was ready to go to bed. An early night, I thought to myself. Then I was stupid enough to pick my book up, sat down in front of the fire place, getting further and further into the dark murder mystery set in the English countryside. But of course, where else?

And, of course, I couldn’t put the damn book down so I went to bed just after 1 o’clock. Excellent. Who needs more than four and a half hours sleep anyway?

(G.O.D. I’m tired…coffee please…)

…one of the guys on the racing team said “…this might be a game for you” and I have to agree… I think I have to get it when it comes out. (although I always say that and I never do…) And here is a video if you wanna have a look.

You know me, a sucker for anything remotely related to martial arts, swords and ninjas in general.

Look - cute lethal Samurai enemy:

x —————————————- end of useful information ——————————————– x

…and here is a way too long P.S./endless rambling on my everlasting obsession with karate kids and ninjas…

I’m so incredibly fascinated by people (or animals, like police dogs) who are ridiculously skilled beyond my wildest imagination. Those who have devoted most of their time - and life - to becoming the best they can be (ok so the dogs don’t really make those decisions for themselves…but still). It’s amazing to see how far one can get by dedication, will power and serious training. And, I guess, a sensible diet, running, mental exercise, no drinking or smoking, probably no coffe, no lazy-Sundays-on-the-sofa, no popcorn…

Am I jealous? Yes and no. I want to be a next-to-superhero, but I also want the popcorn-and-coffe-diet. And the long hours on the sofa, stretched out while reading about people doing stuff in places I’m never gonna go or I might be watching a movie, most likely some big time romance or superheroic worldsaving.

For some reason I don’t want to surrender the idea of one (wo)man’s potential impact on the world, how we all can make a difference, the constant struggle between good and evil and how we can choose sides, that it actually pays off to do the right thing… Maybe it’s just part of the human nature, dreaming of better worlds and being extraordinary in a life where you actually learn to appreciate life being stuck on repeat from time to time…

*snap*

Jumping right out of the heavy thinking mode and jumping into multitasking spotify/game production mode.

Later!

/ L

We happened to watch a documentary last night, an American Academy Award nominated documentary about the serious subject of the American national debt.

Doesn’t sound very interesting? Trust me, it is.

I found a 30 minute version here. I.O.U.S.A.: The Movie.

Do yourself a favor and watch it. It’s like a thriller and comedy combined into one. You laugh (at Bush), you get scared (thinking about how unstable the economy is), you feel enlightened (cause in less than an hour you understand the concept of national debt and the impact it has on…everything). But it’s not just about USA, it makes you think about the entire consumer driven lifestyle.

Watch it. Now. No not after you’ve read your e-mails, made more coffee or walked the dog. Now!

(and remind me, how many zeros are there really in a trillion..?)

After the move-around-the-desks project last week I now have a better view of everyone in the racing team. In a good way. And I’ve got more space now so I can spread my things (gloves, bags, moisturising hand cream, scarves, shoes, post it notes, framed photos of the kids, books, drawings etc) more. And still have enough rooom for people dropping by, having a chat, asking about the backlog, discuss story points or beg me to stop adding weird songs on our mutual Spotify playlists. (I’m actually considering placing a couple of visitors chairs in front of my desk to really achieve that teacher/headmaster vs. “ill behaving kid in school” feeling)

So, the office is in order, everyone’s got their desk where its’ supposed to be. The Scrummasters have been appointed, the whiteboards wiped and re-filled…and - we have new teams!

We’re doing some serious scrum experimenting at the moment, going against the very heart and soul of scrum. We’re actually abandoning the idea of cross functional teams. We’re doing it the opposite way, putting people into either the “client/c++team” or the “webteam” depending on their preferences and skills.

Complete anarchy and major heavy stuff, I know. But we want to give it a try and see how it goes. There will of course have to be plenty of communication between the two teams (who are both part of the racing team) to avoid unnecessary dependencies etc. No doubt, there will be some close encounters and tricky situation but we believe the pros outnumber the cons.

I sense a new era is dawning. One with functional teams, dedicated Scrum Masters (or Master Of Universe as they like to be referred to…), sensibel backlogs and a whole new (gu)es(s)timation process.

The week is rapidly coming to an end, there’s a soccer demo in a few minutes and after that Fredagsfika…

Everyone - have a brilliant weekend and I’ll see you on Monday. (I’ve prepared for my chill out Friday with chips and dip and popcorn and there will be a fire burning in the fireplace and I’m gonna watch Resident Evil.

Milla is my kind of hero)

// L

check out this rather clever video

Some days I get it all together. I manage to match my current mood with just the right outfit; clothes, earrings, hairstyle, makeup…it all fits. I’m sensing “completion” to some extent.

How things look aren’t unimportant. It matters more than we might realize, or like. But by that I don’t mean that everything should look like it “should”, as the people in the know try to persuade us.

The human body, cars, houses, clothes, dogs and cats, churches, hats…they don’t have to follow the rules of the latest trends. They may very well be the very opposite of what the current fashion regime wants us to believe is the Only Look Possible. But they have to tell us something. Our eyes must feel comfortable resting on them, for some reason.

Sometimes I get the (implicit - or explicit?) feeling that we’re all supposed to find certain things ugly, others cute or beautiful. Like every living creature or dead object on this planet have some built in level of cuteness. A tag that dictates it’s aesthetic value.

Or, what’s even worse, that we shouldn’t really care how things look at all. As if that is below us. Which, of course, is complete and utter rubbish. Looks matter. Let them. But let’s not be narrow minded and boring about it. Let’s like whatever the heck we like.

I like her 

and them

and those 

and him

and her

Sometimes it’s hard to say what it is that gets you going, that makes your heart race, that gives you that endorphin high…  What combination, what pixels, what part of something blended with something else is it that gives you that buzz? And how do you find a combination that works for everyone? We all know that my hangups aren’t your hangups. So is there a magic recipe for a graphical masterpiece? This is extremely relevant for me right now, thinking about design issues in Power Racing. What is right for

1. me

2. you

3. everyone else

?

…just opened my laptop and what do I find? Six Granny Smith stickers from equally many apples, most likely put their yesterday by my sweet eldest: Lewis. Thanks a bunch son. It looks so much more…green now.

Just like this one, minus the Apple logo plus five more stickers —>

This simply won’t do. I’ve been so caught up in all the kind-of-management things that I’ve lost track of my blogging! What kind of “I loooove to write”-attitude is that? What true-to-heart writer lets tiny things like “responsibilities” and “work” get in the way of the Written Word? Exactly. Those who acually are employed somewhere and have rent to pay, kids to feed (and buy expensive gadgets for) and a car to fix. Nevertheless, it’s time to find the time to blog. And it gives me such a warm fluffy feeling too.

Monday. Bad hair. Good clothes. The mental stability somewhere around 5-6. (surprisingly positive all of a sudden) A team ready to rock. A nearly blue sky (fine, light grey, but close enough). Fruit salad for breakfast. Two cups of GOOD coffee (thanks to Per L who could be bothered to go to the shop). Lunch plans with ex neighbour and good friend Nina.

It just might be a good day.

What’s going on on your planet?

p.s. watched Juno again this weekend, found it on my computer, had completely forgotten about it and God I wish I could write something that witty and sharp and funny. fine so the critics call it names and some say it’s not all that original but I love it all the same. it describes love and independence and insecurity and relations in a really cool and true way.

Diablo Cody wrote the script and I want her name AND her talent. Dammit.

…check out the gorgeous Shangri-La girls… the energy, the clear voices, the attitude… gotta love them!