As few people know and care, I've been doing a terrible job around here since July. (Okay, it's been a hell of a lot longer than just July, but I've gotta use it as my point of reference.) July is when I shrugged off most of my duties as the Supreme Leader of Smirkbox to jump into the editor's cockpit of ARGN, a legitimate news website that some of you may have, from time to time, spent a few minutes reading. It was originally supposed to be on an interim basis, as a favor to a close, dear friend of mine who decided to cash in some stock options and play some cards.

In an incredulous turn of events, because my pal had such a good run of cards, he is taking a permanent vacation from the news biz, choosing instead to be a curtain salesperson, or something like that. So, my interim position is turning more... permanent over there. With that promotion comes much more responsibility, which means that my already-declining ability to multitask takes another serious hit. Therefore, I am wadding Smirkbox up into a little paper spitball and horking it towards my ever-hilarious protege, ScrappyDoo. Scraps (who also goes by ScarpeGrosse on the UnForums) has been an instrumental part in keeping the Smirkship afloat this year, with winning articles like ReGenerist Evil? and The Instant Messaging Crisis.

I set up Smirkbox to be the definitive source for ARG humor, and I would say that I have been successful beyond measure. What started as GuysGuise, a cheesy fan site for the Lockjaw ARG, has gone on to be the thorn in the side of many easy targets and unsuspecting Puppetmasters. I have personally been a pioneer for the genre, bringing attention to The SNARG (in iambic pentameter, no less) and developing a new coalition called CARGO that has drastically changed the face of Alternate Reality Gaming. While I am a humble man, I definitely deserve your praise and awe.

As much fun as this has been, I would be doing a disservice to the community if I didn't take the time to thank all of the visitors to this site over the years. Yep, that would be shameful, not to thank any of you. I would become an outcast of the community, and rage would fill the hearts of many if I didn't acknowledge the fact that I did this for you, the people.

Hey, speaking of Lockjaw (just go up a bit, past the previous, unimportant paragraph), if you like ARG humor, then you owe the Karetao team a lifetime of thanks. Off the record, if it wasn't for their game, which was the BEST GAME EVAR, then I wouldn't have stuck around after the Beast, and none of this would have been created. And, of course, without this site, there would be nothing funny about Alternate Reality Gaming. Word em up for Karetao, everyone.

I'm sad that I have to leave this all behind me now that I'm a respected journalist and acclaimed editor. I've had some outstanding hate mail and some heartwarming letters of thanks over the past few months that I've re-purposed Smirkbox. While it's been a lot of work, it definitely has been my pleasure to bring it all to you.

Keep it real, and see you at ARGN. In case you missed that link, here's another. And here's a blinky link and a

really big link

Now... When the road looks rough ahead, and you're miles and miles from your nice warm bed... you just remember what your old pal said. Boy, you've got a friend in me... yeah, you've got a friend in me...

... Chiiiicken Shaaaaaaaaackkkkkk

(In a rare moment of seriousness that you shall never bear witness to again on this site, I want to extend my hand to all of those who cared enough to glance over these articles. I hope you, at the very least, got a chuckle or two out of reading them. As attention-whore as I get from time to time, I really, truly did put the work into this site for the community, and not for myself. I know you will continue to love this site as much as ever now that I am gone and with Scrappy taking over, so keep coming back.)