February 19th, 2000

I arrived at Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City at about 11:30 AM yesterday, having not a clue what to expect, not even sure I was at the right venue (the marquee read "Manhattan Centre"). I can safely say two things regarding the crowd: I was definitely the youngest and the most overdressed. Those of you who were there might have seen me, wearing an all-black suit with a royal blue tie.

Navigating among the "intellectual elite" of Manhattan is an intimidating thing. I'm sure everyone in attendance had at least a PhD or a BA or whathaveyou. I recognized them as the typical elitist yuppie scum, who weren't in attendance for any learning experience, or enlightenment, but just to have yet another exclusive meeting to brag about to their equally annoying yuppie friends. But I was there for the speakers, not for the audience, so we'll move on.

The highlights: Richard Metzger and Doug Rushkoff spoke in succession. These are two brilliant men. Mr. Metzger suggested that maybe it is ok to profit off of what we do, while Mr. Rushkoff declared that we (the intellectuals) have won the war against stupidity, however, we should allow the idiots to assume they've won so they won't feel resentful about asking us to do everything for them.

After some mathematical garbage, a lunch break, and some alien/governmental/conspiracy bullshit, Grant Morrison took to the podium. Mr. Morrison is a Scotsman who claims that he was abducted by aliens in Kathmandu in 1990. I rolled my eyes a bit. However, he then gave an amazing speech about Crowleyan Magick and Magickians and using Magick to attain your desires. He was just so frenetic and serious at the same time. I must admit, I went home and tried many of the magickal practices he discussed.

Another break. More alien bullshit. Kenneth Anger, an amazing filmmaker, was interviewed by a college-age looking kid. He was great to listen to, but at the end, he started plugging his line of self-help tapes, which, I felt, ruined the whole presentation.

Mark Pesce was definitely one of my favorite presenters. His "Church of the Motherfucker" was a parody and a Satanic ritual rolled into one. It was really a five-step program for forming a religion, including points such as "Perform a ritual" and "Induce a feeling of community. Make them think they belong." Then he smoked what looked to be a joint, and pronounced us all to be honorary Motherfuckers. I'm proud.

RU Sirius sauntered onstage in a slipdress to announce the formation of his Revolution Party, with "Victory over Horseshit" being the party slogan. I am seriously considering joining.

Mr. Metzger, who was emceeing the event, forewent dinner to show Howard Bloom's video. Mr. Bloom, a philosopher and author who has been bedridden for 12 years with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, made some bold statements, such as: man's violence is traced back to his microbial ancestors, and that racism is a natural occurence in man, and enlightenment is the only way to crush it, two philosophies I have held for awhile.

I was excited when Marilyn Manson spoke, live via satellite. His speech seemed to be a composite of a lot of other speeches he has made in the past, emphasizing that parents are to blame for violent children, and not media. It was at this point that I became impatient with the crowd, who started heckling Mr. Manson (which was pointless anyway, since it was a one-way transmission). What bothered me most, was that it almost seemed that some people came to the convention with the specific intention of yelling shit at Marilyn Manson when he came on. Disgraceful. These are the elite and enlightened? I don't think so.

Following Mr. Manson, was a surprise guest, a sword-swallower named Johnny Fox. Sword-swallower/comedian, actually. There wasn't a person in the room who didn't jump when he jerked his neck with a sword in his throat (he revealed that it wasn't a sword, but a tape measure).

Joe Coleman was by far the most interesting of speakers. A fat, Southern man with a glass eye and a handlebar moustache who looked like he was wearing a tablecloth over his suit, he greeted the crowd with "Welcome, sinners! Welcome, you kikes, you dykes, and you niggers!" He later went on to call the human race a cancer on the face of the Earth, and cities tumors, all the while, films of him mutilating nude corpses played on the other screens, the authenticity of which I do not doubt. His finale was walking to the middle of the stage, removing the tablecloth, and lighting a firecracker that was strapped to his body.

One more video and then Genesis P-Orridge, formerly of Throbbing Gristle and one of the founding fathers of industrial rock, took to the podium. In the midst of an emotional moment, some worthless shithead yelled out "Everybody clap, maybe he'll get off the stage." Just another starfucking scumbag who wishes it was him onstage. So jealous he was, that he had to take Genesis' moment away from him.

I left after Genesis finished his speech.

So what did everyone leave with? Well, hopefully, we were all entertained. I know I was. But there was a bigger purpose to disinfo.con that I think was lost. In the beginning, Richard Metzger said that he hoped everyone left feeling a little smarter. At least. I can confidently say that I feel smarter. But what of the rest? In particular, the hard-headed, over-cynical, bitter, heckling motherfuckers who refuse to learn anything from anyone? What of them?

Fuck them.

These people are just as worthless as the idiots that we supposedly defeated in the intellectual war. In fact, maybe they are one and the same.

As I've said innumerable times, it's unfortunate that creation takes a lifetime, yet destruction takes a second. To all of you who come and visit this website, stay questioning and cynical, but use your inquisitive powers to make something good and worth hearing/seeing/reading/knowing. And if you tear something down, make sure you create something better to take its place.

K Rollins
February 20, 2000
www.escapism-online.com