Maybe one of them wears glasses

I haven't seen the new "Superman Returns" movie yet, but that doesn't mean I haven't been watching a mild-mannered nerdy guy masquerading as a crusader.

I refer of course to the Minnesota anti-PRT propagandist, who has recently revived his blog Minneapolis Confidential. Ken Avidor is listed as Mpls Con's author, but for some reason his posts are signed by a "Ned Luddington."

Which is very interesting, because for a long time Ken Avidor & Co. have carried on as though he and Luddington are different people:

1. Eva Young of Lloydletta Nooz:

"Ned Luddington disagrees... I appreciate Ned's kind words though." *

It may not have been evident at the time to Young that
Avidor was "Luddington," but when she brought him aboard
LLN as a contributor, one would think she had to know then.

2. Avidor thanking himself in the third person:

"Thanks to Ned Luddington for much of this information."

3. "Ned" referring to Avidor:

a. "Ken Avidor's got it on his new blog"

b. "Ned Luddington said... This message from Avidor"

There are also examples of forums where "Ned" refers people to Road Kill Bill-related pages as if he's an interested third party. There's also one forum where I, Mr_Grant, debated Luddington--and he refers to his own online material as though he didn't write it:

"Ned Luddington[:] A Google search turned up these skeptical links: http://www.roadkillbill.com/PRTisaJoke.html..."

Oh! says the creator of PRT is a Joke, I would never have known PRT is a Joke existed if not for Google!  Online "callsigns" are one thing; using them to pose as another person are something else entirely.

So why the need for Ken Avidor to immerse himself in a super-secret identity? It couldn't be to inflate the number of PRT "critics" posting online, now would it? Advice for Ken: Careful how you slide down the Batsh*t-Pole to the Batsh*t-Cave; don't want to start a super-suit fire due to Lycra Spandex friction. 

UPDATE (Aug. 11, 2006)
Ken Avidor has changed how he is listed in Minneapolis Confidential's Contributors list (top of the sidebar). He's "Ned Luddington" again.


UPDATE (Feb. 7, 2007): Complete hypocrisy. He attacks a blogger for posting under two identities (and he doesn't really deny it when called on it by A.T.E.)

Related: See his right-wing connection! (9/7)

gPRT
Some of the ideas embodied in Ken Avidor go back even to the last century

Danger! Danger, Will Rovidorson!

Of all the automated thingies about Personal Rapid Transit that the Minnesota anti-PRT propagandist is afraid of, why does he single out robots for special mention?

"By far the silliest thing on the Skytran [PRT] website is the guideway-extruding robot." Source

Turns out, it's a case of self-loathing, because it turns out he IS a robot. It's on Google, so it must be true.

According to this page (scroll to bottom), he's a "small track" agricultural robot that has been displayed at the European Wine Industry Show, as well as other expositions. Among his many features are "WeedSeeker" sensors on his front-mounted boom--which should make the lady robots happy. What a robo-stud!


Update: the Return of the Robot Talking Point (8/9/2007)



gPRT
Domo arigato, Mr. Ken Avidor

I think he forgot something

The Minnehaha anti-PRT propagandist (who gets annoyed when his name isn't mentioned; so I don't) is back.

Today he divulges someone's private e-mail message, makes some off-base generalizations, tries to throw a snark grenade at PRT supporters, and then asks his readers a couple of questions. But how are they going to answer? HELLO!? Has he already forgotten that he blocked reader comments?

Oh right: Kennehaha is talking to himself.


P.S. for readers: Mr. K. Ovispore scorns Morrie Anderson's assertion that PRT and light rail are complementary. He writes, "Morrie Anderson isn't going to score any points with the hardline PRTistas unless he says LRT is a "19th Century technology" or the tool of Satan or something like that.[*]" Well, if Ovispore doesn't know Anderson's view is the mainstream of PRT thinking, he's once again revealing his poor research abilities. The planned Pleasanton, CA PRT network will interface with BART; SoundPRT promotes three PRT scenarios, including rail station feeder service; the Swedish railway administration is planning PRT specifically for getting people to and from train stations; a fully-developed Heathrow PRT will interface with rail service there; the Korean Railroad Research Institute's PRT program is literally called "Alongside Rail."

* Actually, it's 18th century technology, but what's a hundred years. Anything after the good ship Mayflower is High Tech to The Luddington.



gPRT

Untruth in labeling

If a blog is called Dump Mark Olson, one would expect it would be about dumping Rep. Mark Olson (R-Big Lake). But have you noticed that the Dump Mark Olson blog spends more time smearing Personal Rapid Transit and its supporters than it smears Olson?

In recent weeks, Olson has been the main subject in only a small handful of posts. Minnesota anti-PRT propagandist Ken Avidor has been spending the bulk of his time bashing proposed PRT advanced transit technology instead. Most of the PRT supporters being smeared don't even live in Minnesota, let alone in Olson's District 16-B.

"PRT Is a Joke" is a Joke! supports replacing Olson with a liberal, of course; we support Democratic victories everywhere, even those who don't support PRT (this country has too many bigger fish to fry to focus on one narrow issue, like !!!!!! does)! But the Dump Mark Olson smear-blog isn't really part of the effort to help make sure the Dumping happens. Mr. !!!!!! only cares about his imaginary "PRT scam," he has dropped substantive discussion of any important issues that 16-B voters care about.

If I were 16-B candidate Jim Huhtala (DFL-Clear Lake), I would send !!! a strongly-worded letter.



gPRT
Nattering Ken Avidor of negativism

He's hiding from his readers

The Minnesota anti-PRT propagandist has explained his recent move to block comments at the Dump Mark Olson smear-blog this way:

"Due to constant posting of nonsense by full-time PRTista A.T.E., comments will no longer be permitted on this blog.

When A.T.E's parents pull the plug on his computer and encourage him to find a new hobby, I'll allow comments again." Source

It's just so disingenuous! Think about it: How will he know when A Transportation Enthusiast's parents pull the plug? Does he expect A.T.E. (or Mr. & Mrs. E.) is going to send him a friendly message?

No, neither do I.

What's really happening is that Avidor is using this as an excuse so that he never again has to read what others think about his little propaganda war. He can't bear other viewpoints; he can't stand being challenged; he can't even cope with satire's "heat."

Therefore the "cook" has gotten out of the "kitchen," and he's blaming the "diners."



gPRT

Talking Point Compost

Ken the Minnesota anti-PRT propagandist has turned his composting barrel of steamy, decaying disinformation, stuck in his shovel, and scooped out yet another retread. This time it's a return to the "Citizens For PRT violated IRS nonprofit regulations by campaigning for political candidates" talking point.

This time he's posting at Lloydletta, sibling cyber-fishwrap to the Dump Mark Olson blog. What's the PRT reflex hammer that's tapped him on the knee today? It seems CPRT has posted a disclaimer about what it is allowed and not allowed to do as a nonprofit organization. It reads in part:

CPRT is absolutely prohibited from directly or indirectly participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for elective public office. The prohibition applies to all campaigns or fund raising activities including campaigns at the federal, state and local level. More

Now what does the appearance of this message mean? Before you answer, try Googling "The prohibition applies to all campaigns or fundraising activities." Then let me know whether you think CPRT's statement is anything other than standard nonprofit-boilerplate language. You can let me know, because (unlike Dump Mark Olson) this here blog allows visitors to post comments! Then, after you've thought "what a deceptive, slimy thing of Kerl Rovidor to do, making you think it's some kind of admission of guilt", why not step into the "PRT Is a Joke" is a Joke! wayback machine and read our original post on this topic (H&R Blockhead, 9/6/05):

While IRS regs are strict, CPRT has not violated them. Ken's claim—that CPRT asked supporters to work for or help Zimmerman, Neumann and Bicking—is a fabrication. CPRT also did not contribute funds to the candidates, nor urge funds be donated to them, nor state CPRT's position toward their candidacies... More

Finally, ask yourself: "hey, with all the people such as HHS Sec. Mike Leavitt taking millions of dollars in tax breaks based on only token charitable donations, who would take the time to pester the IRS into looking at a tiny organization that hardly raises any money at all?"

Yeah. Who would do such a thing?

Related article: "See How He Ignores Context" (7/12/05)



gPRT
Spread a layer of Ken Avidor over your garden each spring for champion tomatoes.

Codename: FANBOY

So who is this essay-writer "hause011," doing all he can [1, 2, 3] to promote the false "Denver automated baggage system is PRT" talking point (Rubber Glove Time, 7/22)?

A transit specialist? An unbiased researcher? A neutral observer? Nope! He's a fan of Avidor's "artwork," and they go way back: here.

And here.
And here.
And even here ("gets runned over"! Dialect humor! HA!).

And he's long been featured on !!!'s "critics page," first smearing PRT proponents as "transit haters," then veering way, way far off on a tangent about a failed fare-zone system for buses, as though it had something to do with PRT. Just bizarre--but par for the course, coming from !!! and his small platoon of anti-PRT yes-persons.


gPRT