Please don't forget to read the bulletin board. Enter +read from anywhere.

The world we know as SpinDizzy was unable keep up with demand this week and was forced to cease activity.

Findra, local Server Wiz commented that because of a larger than normal number of folks were awake, and an usually large number of conversations and actions taking place at the same time, the data base reached its limit and shut down. She said, "It was just too much for our Sun Server. Although set to accept 50 gigs of transfer activity per second, the huge amount of data being transfered to support all the activity was just too much."

As shown in the picture, Wizstaff met and working feverently, got the server back up and running. For security reasons, @Action News used a cheap version of Photoshop to replace their furry personas with those of computer nerds. After the server shutdown, enough players switched to Microsoft Instant Messenger where they resumed their duties as twink monitors for the server to resume operation.

Responding to frequent worker requests for sick days, researchers at the Zaryl and Estern Health Institute have developed a way to detect and scan for individuals infected with what is now being called the fastest spreading cold epidemic in Spindizzy.

The 'mostly harmless' virus manifests itself in a feeling of general unseemliness upon first waking. "We were noticing a steadily increasing number of workers arriving late, or preferring instead to opt for a sick day due to the symptoms." Said Rava Riftsbat, coordinator for the rift construction project. The screening process revealed an alarming statistic; over 80% of the staff and population of the Fruitbat domes were infected.

Responding to pressures from the Riftsbats, Fruitbat Labs has announced that strict quarantine measures are to be applied at their labs to ensure that the cold does not spread while a cure is being researched. These measures include restriction to the main compound for any bat showing signs of the cold. "We refuse to call [the cold] the 'Fruitbat Flu'," remarks Maghra Fruitbat, director for Risk Management, "It infects more than just bats."

At this time, research is still underway at the Zaryl and Estern Institute to isolate the systemic effects of the virus. Anyone wishing to stop by for a screening is encouraged to make arrangements by calling and making an appointment.

Those of you who have wondered what your fellow Spindizzy residents look like underneath their online personaes can wonder no more! Research shows that your fellow Spindizzy residents are actually ANIMALS in real life. Yes folks, you've read it here FIRST! This unretouched photo from our reality-cam (patent pending) shows a tiger enjoying his passion for the number one MUCK in the business-Spindizzy!

Well, here are the results of last week's caption contest. Folks were asked to come up with a caption for the picture to the right.

SUGGESTED CAPTIONS:

• Carlos -- "Aww! Who's a cute raccoonie? Who's a kyooooote rac... hey, where did my wristwatch go?"
• Suri says, "Behold, the Power of Cheese...."
• Gilead -- "Just ignore them, Rascal, and they'll go away. Or bite their fingers and give them rabies. Your choice."
• Butterfluff says, "I have a caption. 'Are they supposed to be green?"
• BarterGarter hisses, "For a caption... "Now gentlemen, when handling a WereRaccoon, you gotta watch out for... OUCH! Uhoh. Quick! Fetch the silver bullets! Ohh.... Shiny...""
• Warusa grins "To me, the picture looks like a meeting of the Spindizzy Wizcorps"
• Kinsor -- (Heh! At least we're not in a cage.) thinks the people, o O (Heh! At least we're safe from that institution in here.) think the raccoons.
• Mavra hmms and thinks of a caption, "Royce and I were lowered into the human world, safe in our human-cage, and we began to study the goings-on of the strange residents of this even stranger world..."
• Rown -- "On no! Don't pull its finger!"
• Leowulf says, ""I'm thinking its gotta be something said by the coons about the stupid humans poking their cage or something. "But they look so kawaaiiiiiiiiii!!!(cute?):)"
• Slug clicks, "For now, my caption is "Nobody escapes the Scooby Doo Detective Agency(SDA)! Now, let's see who you three really are..."
• Slug clicks, "Young raccoon family visits first Human Zoo. Don't put your fingers in the cage, kids."
• Mouser -- Caption Contest Entry: "AT-TIC-CA! AT-TIC-CA! AT-TIC-CA! AT-TIC-CA!"

Welcome to latest edition of Bearing up, the advice column where Ba'ar (That's me!) has answers to your most challenging questions.

dear bearing up,
my caps key is broke. What should i do? signed,
little letters

Dear Little Letters:
Go to the computer store and get yourself a caps key repair kit. That will fix things nicely.

Dear Bearing Up,
I look forward each week to opening my copy of @Action news and reading the unusual letters sent to "Bearing Up" and your insightful replies. How do you come up with such honest and direct answers?
A Fan

Dear A Fan:
Thank you for your compliment. I'm a citizen of the world and have done much travelling and reading. Thus I have a vast array of experiences to draw from.

Remember possums (to steal a term from Dame Edna ;-D), if you have any questions, please page mail me (Ba'ar) online or send mail to big_bear@operamail.com. Thanks.

This week, Argon asked,"What's the worst fast food offering you ever heard of?

• Ba'ar growls, "A Vegetarian Burger (if it's vegetarian - what's the point?)"
• Butterfluff says, "Do you promise not to load the tree with the answers?"
• Adara -- The worst fast food offering I've ever heard of is the McDonald's McGriddle. The idea of a syrup flavor with my eggs is totally disgusting
• Suri -- It's a tie between two Dairy Queen products: The Blizzard, and the Ice Cream Pizza.
• Gilead chirps, "A Burger King bacon cheeseburger."
• Mavra says, "Sauteed octopus with vegetables."
• Warusa grins at Argon "Mine is...Sushi on pizza..I understand the japanese like it but I don't."
• Jack says, "Worst food offering?, Itailan sausage stir fry in a chinese restuarnt."
• Kinsor -- "It would have to be when the Ancient Oak was giving out fast food. There wasn't a single deep-fried banana in the whole tree!"
• Rown -- "In response to the survey, the worst fastfood offering I ever saw was, Popeye's cajun fastfood."

Adara and KevMan to be Married

KevMan S. MerrIn and Adara Lynn Skye would like to invite all Spindizzians to their wedding, which will be held Monday, September 29th, 2004. The ceremony will begin at 7:00 PM MUCK time in the Chapel. A reception will be held immediately following the ceremony at KevMan's Island, located at S3 W6. The bride and groom ask that you please be prompt in your arrival.

Local Otter Announces Full Schedule

Gilead, local otter, has been very busy lately. "He can barely pay attention to anything," said Gilead, forgetting he was himself, although it's not clear if he thinks he's Bob Dole or not. He does, however, expect to be less busy soon.

Submitting a story or artwork for @Action News is easy! Just send it to newspaper@spindizzy.org or qmail or page Argon about it.
@Action News is published weekly on or after 12:01 AM Eastern Time on Monday. Most any type of story or article will be accepted. Generally, we'd prefer things that aren't out and out lies or flames about other folks, and have a basis in the reality of SpinDizzy. Things that occur in public areas are fair game. The things reported don't have to have actually happened, (any more than anything that happens here does) but make sure you don't overstep the social boundaries and rules of interaction that we have. These are pretty broad guidelines, but we expect good sense to apply.

Thanks! Argon, Editor @Action News