Reykjavík Grapevine - 12.04.2019, Blaðsíða 54

48 The Reykjavík Grapevine
Issue 05— 2019
WAR OF THE NERDS
American
Career
Politician Gets
Permabanned
From EVE Online
Inside information a bridge too far
for developers
Words: Andie Fontaine Photo: Brisc Rubal
Brian Schoeneman, a law yer
and career politician working as
a lobbyist in Virginia, U.S., also
served on the Council of Stellar
Management (CSM), the elected
representative body of the EVE
Online universe, under the name
Brisc Rubal.
That is, until he was perma-
banned from the game and was
unseated from the CSM for, in the
developers’ words, “sharing confi-
dential information with a mem-
ber of his alliance that was later
used by another alliance member
to conduct illicit in-game trans-
actions.”
Treachery and subterfuge
are the bread and butter of EVE
Online, but the CSM is not like
the rest of the game. This closed
body operates in direct commu-
nication with EVE Online de-
velopers, and agree to a binding
non-disclosure agreement. Other
members of CSM tipped off the
developers about Rubal’s alleged
insider information dealings.
For the record, Schoeneman/
Rubal denies all the allegations
made against him, taking to Red-
dit (naturally) to air his side of
the story. He stated in part, “I will
fight these false allegations, re-
store my reputation and seek all
avenues for recourse available to
me for these reckless actions.”
Kotaku points out that Schoen-
eman/Rubal has referenced his
meatspace political career as a
campaign point for why he should
serve on the CSM on many occa-
sions. He even made a campaign
video that we could describe here
in print, but it honestly must be
seen to be believed. Put this paper
down now and search for “Elect
Brisc Rubal to CSM” on YouTube.
We’ll wait.
Schoeneman/Rubal is appeal-
ing the ban decision. Two other
players, who received Rubal’s in-
side information, were given one-
year bans for making use of the
intel Rubal gave them. However,
due to the sensitive and confiden-
tial nature of the scandal, players
not in the loop may never know
what really happened.
CITY SHOT by Art Bicnick
WELL, YOU ASKED
Double Duvet
Dilemmas
Words: Sam Daniels
Why oh why do double duvets exist
and how do couples manage to sleep
while sharing one? I mean, come on,
sufficiently tucking a duvet between
your legs and being able to stretch out
one leg from underneath EQUALLY
ON BOTH sides is a must!
Ok so f irst of a l l, I am on your
side. Sharing a double duvet with
another human being is the WORST!
But question ing their ex istence
completely? Clearly, you have never
enjoyed t urn ing yourself into a
human burrito in the snug warmth
of a double duvet!
Is the sea a sentient being?
I reached out to the sea for a comment
on this but all I got back was a small
wave…
If the earth is flat where the hell is
everything?
The Earth IS f lat… but you have
to remember it is still a disk and
every thing you know and love is
where it always was.
Where is the disk you ask? It sits on
the back of four giant elephants.
Where are the elephants? They ride on
a giant turtle flying through space!
What gender is the turtle? Nobody
knows.
How do you apply to the BDSM
scene? Asking for a friend.
Your “friend” will, of course, need to
go to the Þjóðskrá Íslands registry
office and complete the relevant
appl icat ion for m s. You r wh ips,
chains, and leather suit will arrive
in the mail 3-6 months later along
with your new BDSM identity card.
Alternatively, you could make sure
to be seen very publically reading
'50 Shades of Grey' and hope that
someone takes you under their wing.

Send your unsolvable (UNTIL NOW)
problems to editor@grapevine.is or
tweet us at @rvkgrapevine.
Techno-krat doing his thing.
Youth gone wrong...
“Your first and last stop”