Paradigm Shift

I am reading the Mage: The Awakening core book, and so far all I have to say is "ugh". The intro fiction is beyond dismal, and the writing is very dry. They manage to take an intriguing concept (the magic, wisdom vs. hubris, and the Silver Ladder; certainly not the Atlantis garbage) and make it worse than my 10th grade Chemistry text-book. Here's an idea, why not have the character chosen groups be five different competing idealogies within a Free Council-esque organization, and ditch the Atlantis bunk. I think combining the new theme/mood and magic system with the oWoD Mage "any approach can work" idea would have been great. Mage was always kind of "my" game, and I feel disappointed that White Wolf came close, but ultimately missed the mark with their reinvention.

In other, more lyrical, news, Liam and I have been reading poems recently. Here are a couple of my favorites:
( Awesome poems: )

Anyone think the new Mage doesn't kinda smell bad? Anyone got more Shel Silverstein favorites? I am all ears...

J