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

Ever had one of those days when you wonder what's going on in SpinDizzy? You might have heard a rumor, or noticed everyone is in one place and you don't know why? Or perhaps you are planning an event and want to be sure everyone knows about it? Well, thanks to Morticon, local evil Wallaby, who OOCed long enough to use his Wiz powers, to reprogram and set up the old 'events' command to make it easy to find out just what's going on in SpinDizzy.

By entering events you can get a quick display of events folks have posted on the new and improved events list. Now, rather than having to find someone to post it for you, you can do it yourself!

When you log in to SpinDizzy, you'll see a message such as;

## There are 1 event(s) occuring today and more events are occuring within the next 7 days on Spindizzy.

This was the message Friday afternoon, and it will change as events come up. By entering events, on the same day, you'd see;

All the events on Spindizzy:
#  |Title                                    | FROM DATE/TIME |  TO DATE/TIME
---|-----------------------------------------|----------------|---------------
1  |Annual Halloween Story Circle            | 10/30/03 19:00 | 10/30/03 21:00
2  |[Meeting] Advertising Spindizzy to the M | 10/26/03 19:00 | 10/26/03 21:00
3  |Spindizzy Puppeteer Guild Meeting        | 10/25/03 21:00 | 10/25/03 23:00
4  |Annual Halloween Party                   | 10/31/03 18:30 | 10/03/31 23:00

To view more information on each event or to add your own, type 'look eventlist' for more information.

This list too will change as events come and go. If you follow the prompt, and enter, look eventlist you'd see;

The automated event lister. You may view events, RSVP to them, or even add your own! Type 'eventlist' by itself to display a full featured menu interface, or 'eventlist #help' to find out about command line parameters. Some common ones are 'eventlist #today #long' and 'eventlist #week'. And don't forget to check out @Action News, Spindizzy's weekly newspaper, at: http://www.spindizzynews.org . You may type 'events' by itself to quickly show all upcoming events.

Which gives you the commands to add an event to the list.

Although the bulletin board in the Rose Garden can and will still be used to announce events, the events command, and the daily prompt will make it easier to be reminded of what's happening on SpinDizzy. So take advantage of Morti's neat program, and let folks know what you have planned and want them to participate in. And use it to find out what's going on!

As the nights grow longer and spookier, we approach Halloween. Of course, that means it is time again for the Annual Spindizzy Halloween Party. This year, it is being held in the new Midnight Meadows and hosted by local Jellicle cat Patch O'Black and his wife Nikon. He has promised various entertainment, as well as an assortment of hauntingly good treats. It will be held on Halloween night (Oct. 31), starting at 6:30pm local time. You can find the Midnight Meadow at 3 North, 6 east, path, jellicle fields, stone path. (Editor's Note: Or on the day of the party, you can enter Park as the party's location will be set the "Park" of the day) Come in costume and have a spooky good time!

An OOC Letter to the Spin Dizzy Community

Hefon, a giant turtle who had the unfortunate (yet entertaining) burden of having to carry on his back a miniature (and functioning) civilization, has left Spin Dizzy for good this past weekend. It was time for him to move on and I, his player, have decided that it was about time I created a new character. You might sometimes see his “ghost” if you type WHO at the right time, but rest assured; he is gone for good.

I would like to thank Morticon, Wind-Dancer, and Kinsor who participated in Hefon’s farewell roleplay session. It wasn’t exactly Shakespeare (if I was any good at writing, somebody would pay me for it) but it was fun. If nothing else, we learned that Morticon’s SED Ninja are incompetent and will lose in any fight no matter how much they outnumber their opponents.

For now, Hefon’s replacement character is a “zombie” object named Bane. She is not very interesting and I will get rid of her as soon as I manage to think up a decent character. Bane is descended from the dragon Hefon fought before arriving in Spin Dizzy (I sent in the story to @action news awhile back). She has been hunting Hefon all her life, but now has nothing to do since Kinsor and Wind-Dancer helped Hefon make it to the ocean and escape. She spends her time staring at the ocean and plotting her revenge on Wind-Dancer, Kinsor, and Morticon.

This Friday during the course of his work, a case of Centaur stereotyping took place at a local high school football game. Throwing mud (or muck :-p) on the faces of band directors the world over, a high school band director made accusations that local Centaur and Spindizzy resident Rown, was drunk while engaging in the course of his employment.

Rown, who is known for enjoying a glass of wine while resting in the Rose Garden, makes it a point of honor never to drink during the week while he works. Even though his code is well known amongst the school district, the disgruntled band director insisted that his actions were those of a drunken Centaur, a very discriminatory remark to say the least.

The discord began when Rown was given directions to pick up the band at the wrong place. He waited until he found out the correct place and went there immediately, finding the entire percussion section waiting impatiently even though he was only off beat by two minutes. They boarded and he took them to the game only a mile behind the other two transports but when he arrived at the destination he was told to go to the wrong place to unload. When he finally got to the correct disembarkment area the band director became hysterical. Her off key impromptu remarks were heard by onlookers as she conducted herself in a very disgraceful manner.

Rown, replying A piano, told her to please stop her Fortississimo and allow him to disembark his passengers. She insisted on continuing her rant A cappella, Atonally assaulting his ears. After telling her one last time fernando to knock off the embarrassing episode, she finally came to a finale.

Rown, thinking the entire performance was ended, retired to watch the game which pitted the local favs against his old alma mater, which he enjoys watching lose. As the game made the second quarter, he was called aside by his boss, who was supposed to be enjoying his Friday evening with his wife. He was informed that someone accused him of being drunk on the job.

Wishing to clear his name Rown immediately demanded an alcohol test on the spot, which he was given but he had to go back to his terminal. He passed with a perfect 000 and was assured by his boss that his name would be made good again. Rown was told that it was the band director who accused him of the act and displayed a very blatant deep hatred for Centaurs.

At this time no word has been received as to what Rown intends to do about the incident but he was heard stating that the band director’s actions were ‘off key’ and regrettable. He did want everyone to know that Centaurs have been unjustly labeled and stereo typed throughout their history and that they are honorable creatures.

After his test was completed, Rown’s boss told him that he could go home and enjoy a nice glass of wine. His workweek was over.

Being met with both disapointment and celebration, I've been unable to "draw" or find illustrations for each news story as had been my habit for most editions of @Action News in the last year or so.

As I mentioned last week, I have had a bit of personal trouble, (A bit of a legal tangle with the charges for my yearly equine encephalitis vacination going to my vet rather than my doctor) and haven't been able to spend the time required to toss off a couple of three drawings every week.

As usual, contributions will be happily accepted. And dancing in the street in celebration of not having to look at my "art" will be understood.

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:
What should I do if my house is infested with tribbles? Signed, Overrun.

Dear Overrun:
It's simple. Invite your local Klingon in to help you out. Klingons LOATHE tribbles so it won't be long before your Tribbles are gone.

Dear Bearing Up,
why do some animals have fur and others don't?
--Furcurious

Dear Furcurious:
The furried members of Spindizzy had ancestors that came from the colder climes, so they needed fur to keep them warm.

Dear Bearing Up,
I can't bear it! It's too much! How can anyone bear this? I'm ready to bare my soul about it, but I'm barely able to face it. What should I do?
Signed, W. T. Pooh

Dear W.T. Pooh,
I don't know how to help you, frankly, You don't list a specific problem, only that you consider it 'unbearable'. Please write back to me in more detail. Thanks.

Hey Mr. Bear.
How come bears like honey so much? Doesn't it hurt when the bees sting you?
Signed, Curious

Dear Curious:
We bears like honey so much because it's sweet and we have a TERRIBLE weakness for sweets (our girth proves this *ahem!*). Second, we bears have thick fur coats so the bees don't bother us.

Dear Bearng Up,
Hey! Where's my picnic basket?
Signed, Jellystone Park Tourist

Dear Jellystone Park Tourist:
Your picnic basket has been most likely stolen by the notorious basket bandit Yogi Bear. Your best thing to do is to go to Ranger Smith's office and report him at once.

Dear Bearing up,
What's that smell?
Signed, P. Lepue.

Dear P. Lepue.
Do you not smell the sweet smell of success when you smell it?

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, "If you got a million dollars and bought a yacht, what would you name it?"

• Boki's yacht would be named the Vagabond 5!
• Dael softly yips, "I'd have to name my yacht the Hopelessly Lost, mainly because that's what I would be if I ever took it out to sea."
• Terry -- 'Azure Feather'. I like the way the words sound.
• Butterfluff -- Luxury yacht. Ocean going. _Maili's Legacy_
• Chanspot hrms, "How about 'Old Coffee Sides?'"
• BarterGarter hisses, "BarterGarter's Barge?"
• Kinsor skriters, "Oh, mine would be 'The Banana Boat' of course!"
• "I don't want a yacht," says Angel_Bear, "I want an airplane."
• Austin says, "I suppose I'd end up naming the yacht the Dumont, Argon, although it's hard not to make a case for the Winslow."
• Morticon -- "That's obvious. The HWS King Morticon II ;)"
• Tarka says, "Oh.... Doom Otter!"
• Casandro says, "Well like I said I don't know. Besides what would I do with a yacht. I really prefer planes."
• PatchO'Black mews, "How about "The Tiger-Shark"?"
• Leowulf says, "I'd name my yacht 'Boeing'. 'Cause airplanes don't sink very often."
• Brenda ponders at Argon's question... "'A waste of money', considering I wouldn't use that money to buy a yacht." ;)
• Suri says, "The Lemur Boat!"
• Rown wouldn't buy a boat with the money. He'd probably invest it to get even more money. :-)
• Bane says, "Hm... how about... the... Northern Light?"
• Sunshine -- "The Porcuboat! And it would have these big quill shaped fins on the back, and a porcupine logo painted on the deck.

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