Please don't forget to read the bulletin board. Enter +read from anywhere.
Please also enjoy The spindizzy_muck LiveJournal community, open to one, all, and others.

Morticon, local wallaby and alledged leader of the Society of EvilDoers (SED) returned to flesh and blood this week. After being turned into a gold statue by NeverNever, local demon spawn, as reported in last week's edition of @Action News, Morticon was thought by most to have been done for, and no longer a threat to SpinDizzy. However several appearances by his "ghost", his spirit which had apparently broken free of his solid gold body, he was seen to still be a threat.

A search for his body, which was last seen by Argon, local centaur, in the home of Tami, local coyote, was taken on during the week. Kinsor, local sales rat, was tempted by Morticon's ghost's promise of great wealth to return him to flesh and blood. Argon, and Andrew, local centaur, followed along with a couple other folk to prevent Kinsor from actually restoring Morticon. Finding the door to Tami's home, Kinsor tried to pick the lock but to no avail. Andrew suggested kicking the door down, but it was decided Tami might object to that so Morticon's statue was left intact.

Morticon's "ghost" was as bothersome as Morticon as he took a page from Slimer in Ghostbusters. Morticon would pass through someone leaving them covered not in slime, but in Cool Whip or cottage cheese or lime Jell-O.

In spite of lobbying to leave Morticon in his solid metal form, unconfirmed sources say that either Tami convinced NeverNever, who origionaly turned Morticon to solid gold, or Vassily, local sloth, using the hand of John the Babtist, to return him to his normal breathing flesh and blood form.

As of press time, Morticon is still mortal and his solid gold statue is nowhere to be found.

Dolly, local balloon genie was visiting the Rose Garden when Findra, local bunny decided to give her a good polishing. Getting a rag and some Windolene she started rubbing Dolly on one side as Elissa, local scottish vixen, got some Turtle Wax and a rag and started rubbing Dolly's other side. Argon, local centaur, wondered if since rubbing a lamp makes a genie appear if rubbing a genie would make a lamp appear. After a few minutes of rubbing, Dolly was engulfed in a cloud of pink and purple smoke, which quickly cleared away...leaving behind a lamp.

Deciding that it might work to reverse the effect, Findra and Elissa rubbed the lamp and poof! Dolly (the lamp) was engulfed in a cloud of pink and purple smoke, which quickly disappeared...revealing a balloon genie! Dolly was back to normal!

Portia, loca red panda is mystified as to a suprise she found in her home this week. She reports that she woke up to find someone had left flowers there. Although the doors were locked and no one else has a key, her secret admirer gained entrance to leave the bouquet.

No hint as to who might have left the flowers was found except a note which said simply, "Smile".

Portia told @Action News, "(Warn) them that the next time could cause dangerous consequences. I will know some how. The flowers were lovely though." As of press time, the mystery has not been solved.

Austin, local coati-bunny, found himself earless for a while as Findra, local bunny (with coati parts,) retrieved her ears to give them a good cleaning. While doing so she got to messing with Roofus Roo, local kangaroo and they somehow turned a nice lime green by the time they got back to Austin.

As of press time, Austin has decided to retain the bunny ears in spite of their un-coati like appearance. Although used to having bunny ears, the color does clash with his sometimes ice cube like coloration.

When it comes to molding SpinDizzy's reality, manifesting more detailed environments requires delving deeper into the sub-realities which comprise our world. There may seem to be a daunting number of processes involved, but none of them is really very difficult, and the rewards of a little extra time and effort are quite worthwhile.

Once again, I turn you over to Narrator, which will provide exact steps which anyfur can follow.

-Soul_Fox

Narrator:

Last time, instructions were provided for building a connected series of rooms. Now, it is time to learn how to detail them. As always, it is a good idea to compose your construction commands in the work files you have created, and, especially, your room descriptions and details; or, at least, to store them there by copying and pasting them in after you use them.

When it comes to creating your room desc, it is useful to remember that it should stand up to repeated viewing. So, you should avoid starting the desc like this: "You have just entered a room..." since somefur might look at it again after being there a while. Instead, you might start with something like: "The Living Room is nice and cozy..." While the temptation may be strong to describe every detail in your main desc, it dulls the effect. Instead, concentrate on the most visible and compelling elements, and then create a set of "look-traps," which will be explained later in this article.

One other note: It is usually unnecessary to mention your exits in the room desc, as they are listed right beneath it.

I strongly recommend using "editroom" to describe your room; what follows is an example of how editroom works (for purpose of this example, the desc includes the exits):

To access editroom, type

editroom

in a room which you own, and you will see something like the following:

NUMBER : 12345 1. NAME : 'Quiet Garden'
2. MPI DESC:
This small, Quiet Garden, no more than a few handfuls of paces across, is nestled in a cul-de-sac in an evergreen hedge-wall. Piercing the hedge to the north is a wrought iron <Gate>, and a shadowed <Opening> can be detected in the hedge opposite. The space between is ringed with trellises of hanging wisteria and honeysuckle, alternating with blooming jasmine and gardenia. The ground is laid in snowy, white marble flagstones, in the center of which is a pool of still water which reflects the sky above. Nearby are marble benches on which one might sit and enjoy the quiet and the sweetness of the air.
3. Room is NOT dark.
4. Throwing is allowed.
5. Linking is NOT allowed.
6. Pets are allowed.
8. Room can NOT change ownership.
9. Room's parent room is Duma Mountain Environment Room(#23456).
10. This room is NOT publically sweepable.
11. Others can NOT set this room as their homes.
12. Edit this room's exits.
13. Create a new room.
14. Teleport to edit one of your other rooms.

Enter '1' through '14', or 'Q' to QUIT. Done.

1. allows you to edit the name of your room. Type "1" and you will be prompted for the new name, if you choose to change it.

2. allows you to describe your room. Type "2" and you will be prompted to choose whether or not to continue in MPI. I strongly recommend that you do so. If you do, you will see the following < Entering editor. Type '.h' on a line by itself for help. > < '.end' will exit the editor. '.abort' aborts the edit. > < Poses and says will pose and say as usual. To start a > < line with : or " just preceed it with a period ('.') > < Insert at line 11 >

As indicated, while in this editor, type '.h' on a line by itself for help. Likewise, '.end' will exit the editor. '.abort' aborts the edit, but all of these have to be typed on their own lines. You will also find this function in editplayer, as well.

Most Telnet clients will manage line-wrap, but there may be some, including raw Telnet programs, which will tend to see lines ending sloppily if they are dropped in willy-nilly. To avoid this, you may wish to paste in your lines individually, to make sure they do not go over the end of the lines. The length of the lines is supposed to be 80 characters, but, it is easier just to paste in carefully. Perhaps only really of importance to perfectionists, but, once it is done, you can be certain it looks good to everyfur.

3. Allows you to set the room dark (nothing can be looked at), or not, alternately, by typing this number in editroom.

4. allows you to allow or disallow throwing into and out of the room, alternately.

5. allows you to make the room linkable to other rooms (as in @backlink) by characters which do not own it. It is a good idea to set this command back to the default "Linking is NOT allowed" after whatever linking you have authorized is done, to prevent any unpleasant surprises.

6. allows you to permit pets, puppets, and zombies, including vehicles, to enter the room, or to deny such access, alternately.

7. Does not exist.

8. allows you to set the room @chownable, or not, alternately. Useful if you want somefur else to do some work on your room for you, or, if you really want someone else to own it. Again, be sure you leave the room set at the default, "Room can NOT change ownership," once you are done.

9. Allows you to change the Parent Room of your room, something to be covered in a later article.

10. allows you to set the room sweepable by anyfur, or not, alternately.

11. allows you to permit others to @link me=here, to make the room their home, or not, alternately. Note that, once they have @linked there, changing this setting back will not unlink them.

12. allows you to edit the room's exits, including setting their descs, exit messages, and such. This will be covered in a future article, as well.

13. allows you to create a new room from editplayer; @xdig done outside of editroom is still superior.

14. allows you to teleport to another room you own. You can always teleport by typing

tel #12345

(or whatever the dbref).

Now, you may note that, in the case of the Quiet Garden, exits are mentioned: <Gate>, and <Opening>. These are listed in <carets> to indicate that they can be looked at. These are "look-traps."

If you have created the Tool Kit as instructed in the first article in this series, you can type

l Tool Kit's Look-Trap Generator (or, alternately, just l kit's look)

(which is, itself, a look-trap on your Tool Kit) to be reminded of the command used to create look-traps,

l #edit here You can also l #edit me, or l #edit (some item you own). This takes you to the editor; the menu is extremely elementary, and needs little explanation:

Fake Object Editor v1.4 -- by Jaffa Tamarin

Editing fake objects on Quiet Garden(#12345)

Existing look-traps (_details) :
Gate Opening

1. Make new or edit existing look-trap.
2. Delete existing look-trap.

Existing fake objects :
*none*

3. Make new or edit existing fake object.
4. Delete a fake object.

Enter '1' through '4' or 'Q' to QUIT.

To describe or edit the exit "gate" you would type

1

And you would be prompted,

Enter name of look-trap.
Note: look-trap names can have aliases separated by ';'.
To select an existing look-trap it is only necessary to enter one alias.

Just as with exits, you can create a string of aliases for a look-trap, separated by semi-colons (;). This is particularly useful when you create character details (see below). In this example, you might type

gate

and receive this prompt:

Description:
This arched opening of white stone which pierces the hedge is barred by an{nl}ornate, iron gate standing 8' (2.4m) high, and 5' (1.5m) across. Worked in the{nl}finest wrought iron, it bears a fanciful pattern which more implicitly than{nl}explicitly depicts the essential boneless grace of a feline at rest. Beyond the Gate may be glimpsed a smooth-Cobbled Path which circuits the still waters of a Reflecting Pool.
Enter new description ('.' to leave unchanged).

You may note the use of {nl} in the desc. This creates line breaks which resolve line wrap when viewed ({nl} is invisible when the look-trap is viewed). Again, not absolutely necessary, but, a good habit to get into. Sadly, this does not work in the MPI descs in editroom or editplayer, but it does in item descriptions.

This use of look-traps illustrates how much additional detail you can put in a room desc without cluttering it up. If somefur wants to look at the gate, it is available to see, independently of the main desc. This simulates that second, closer look at things you want to describe.

As mentioned, you can also use this on your character, with or without <carets>. Just a single line at the bottom of your character desc can let others know that they can look at parts of you (eyes, ears, paws, tail...) for more information. Then, you just need to make sure you have described enough additional details, with as many appropriate aliases as you can think of, for others to find at least some of your details.

Afterward, type 'Q' to QUIT.

I will provide instruction in use of editroom to edit your exits...

Next time.

-Narrator

Argon has arrived.

Argon says, "Hi there."

Ba'ar growls, "Hey Argon...and thanks for helping me with the interview."

Argon says, "No problem."

Ba'ar growls, "Okay let's start. Our readers know about you and some have even met you 'in the pelt' as it were. I understand you came to Spindizzy from TF and F. Is that true?"

Argon says, "Yes. I started there a bit after I met Mavra and started visting Furry Muck."

Ba'ar growls, "I understand you were a part of Honeybadger's Burrow on FurryMUCK (unfortunately it's not the gathering it once was)"

Argon says, "Yes, I visited there fairly often. It was a lot less 'angsty' than the park on FM, although it was really spammy. Not in a bad way though."

Ba'ar nods, "I see. It's generally thought that you became a centaur because of an experiment. Why do you think you were singled out? Was it because you had an interest in centaurs before (and perhaps would have the least amount of trouble adapting to that form?) "

Argon says, "I'm not sure 'they' knew I had an interest in centaurs. It seems that the way they changed people into centaurs required a particular sequence string in their DNA that I happened to have. My interest did make it easy for me to adjust to the form."

Ba'ar growls, "How have your family and friends adjusted to your new form? Have they been generally supportive?"

Argon says, "For the most part yes. Once they get used to it they don't really seem to notice it. It hasn't caused me to lose any friends or have family members disown me."

Argon grins.

Ba'ar grins, "After all, you're just as kind and gentle as a centaur as you were as a human right? "

Argon says, "More so I hope. I'd hate to hurt someone out of carelessness."

Ba'ar growls, "As a centaur, do you think that centaurs have received their fair deal in portrayals in books, movies and the like?"

Argon says, "In some cases. But the general stereotype still prevails. In video games and movies, on the off chance there is a centaur character he is usually a bad guy, and except for books and comics, (Well, and Fantasia,) female centaurs are sorely lacking."

Ba'ar growls, "What's your favorite portrayal of a centaur (or centaurs) in the media? "

Argon says, "Hmm, Fantasia was nice. Peaceful happy centaurs not causing any trouble. Of course the pastel colors were a bit off. I'm anxious to see The Lion The Witch and the Wardrobe. The centaurs in that book were good guys."

Ba'ar growls, "And also future Harry Potter movies? I understand there are some centaurs in those as well."

Argon says, "Only in cameo roles. Unless they play a large role in the last book, I think Firenze's appearance in the first movie is going to be the most we'll see of them."

Ba'ar nods, "How do you feel about the current state of civil rights for centaurs? Do you think it needs improved upon?"

Argon says, "In my experience I seem to have all the rights I did in human form. I vote, have a driver's license, get served in resturants. I don't think there are enough of us to really get noticed as far as whether we should or shouldn't have the same rights as anyone else."

Ba'ar nods, "That's good...now then..Who do you admire the most (besides Mavra of course)?"

Argon says, "Well, Mavra would be my first choice of course. Anyone who'd put up with me is worthy of admiration."

Argon smiles.

Ba'ar grins "C'mon...you're a nice guy!"

Argon says, "Thanks, and I'm really lucky Mavra chose me. I never let myself forget that she could have had any male she wanted, and decided I was the one for her."

Ba'ar growls, "Now then..What's a typical day like for you-or is there such a thing?"

Argon says, "Oh, lets see..."

Argon says, "I get up, shower, shave, the usual morning routine. Mavra and I check each other for bumps and cuts and look over each other's hooves. Andrew's trouble last week shows how important that is. I then go to work, do my library job, then head to Denny's and meet Mavra back at home. On the weekends we go galloping or work in the gym, and then visit here on SpinDizzy."

Argon says, "Oh, and put some time in on the paper of course."

Ba'ar nods "Do you have any plans for the future?"

Argon says, "Other than winning the Lotto? Not really. Keep Mavra happy, try and stay healthy, be a nice guy."

Ba'ar growls, "Any thoughts of fatherhood or do you still think that's dicey due to the nature of your transformations?"

Argon says, "I'm reluctant to commit to that due to how I became a centaur. I'd hate to have a child that was effected badly by that."

Ba'ar nods "What secret fact or desire about you would surprise our readers?"

Argon says, "I don't drink and I don't chase after females, in spite of the centaur stereotype."

Argon smiles.

Ba'ar growls, "In closing, do you have any words of wisdom for our readers?"

Argon says, "Sure... "

Argon says, "Be like Dad and not like Sis, lift the lid before you relieve yourself."

Argon grins.

Ba'ar growls, "That concludes our interview. Again thanks for helping me out."

Argon says, "My pleasure Ba'ar."

Q: What do houseplants do all day?
A: Sit home and watch sap operas.

Q: What kind of tree can't you use for building materials?
A: Hardwouldn't trees.

Q: What does Santa leave in bad delis on Xmas Eve?
A: Coal slaw.

Q: Where should you grow fungus?
A: In a mush room.

Q: Why wasn't the dyslexic city slicker successful at farming?
A: He tiled all his fields in the spring.

Q: Why shouldn't you sniff a cow's mouth?
A: It smells like a grasshole.

Q: Why is it scary to be a plant?
A: The reaper coming for you isn't even grim.

Q: Why was the corn plant sent to jail?
A: It was stalking.

Q: Where did they take the corn plant the next morning?
A: To its preliminary earing.

Q: What was the outcome?
A: It popped a plea.

Q: What does corn put on before sitting out in the sun?
A: Poppertone.

Q: What kind of plant leans up against old buildings, and reeks of alcohol?
A: A vine-o, vouldn't you think?

Q: What is the world's most sadistic flower?
A: An African Violent.

Q: What is the most musical flower?
A: An African Violin.

Q: Why did the overstressed fire lizard suddenly think it was a flower?
A: It snapped.

Q: Why did the sea otter entrust her cub to giant algae?
A: She needed kelp with the babysitting.

Q: Where did the proud bush sit for it's offspring's school recital?
A: Fruit and center.

Q: Why should you never trust a common table grape?
A: They tend to be de-seed-ful.

Q: Why do more trees smack into cars in October than any other month?
A: Their leaves turn without signalling.

Each week @Action News will print the "Eventlist" notices here. This list will be accurate as of press time, but be sure and check it during the week. Activities and events can be proposed, rescheduled or event cancelled for all sorts of reasons. So stay "in the know" by checking Eventlist often.

To get a list with details as shown here, enter eventlist #week #long.

Well ... wow. I'm kind of amazed by this, but it turns out to be very nearly ten years since I first logged in to Brazilian Dreams II, and the character 'Austin Dern' was born. At some risk to my natural sense of modesty and reluctance to be the center of activity, well, I want to throw a party for that, and I'm going to, and that's that. And thanks to all of you for being around for that time.

It's a little visit to the movie theater and the chance to read some remarkable feats of tactically deployed language -- of course, we expect the audience to fight back. Please bring out your best wit and sharpest typing skills as we'll have no control over where the movie begins or ends ...

Back issues from a year and more ago. Remember when...?

• One Year Ago / Spindizzy Field Weakening; Journeys Outside Soon Possible
• Three Years Ago / Horror And Fear To Ooze Across SpinDizzy

@Action News, SpinDizzy's weekly paper, apparently has a fairly healthy circulation, so we figured we'd show just how healthy it is.

Each week, as long as there's room. I'll show the 'hit graph' for the @Action News website.

Just as a note, this makes a full year @Action News has been showing our circulation numbers. Yay!

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

Dear Bearing Up:
Do you find the Burger King in those commercials scary?
- Wendy

Dear Wendy:
Personally, it's the narrator that's creepier!

Dear Bearing Up:
Is Argon mostly horse or mostly human?
- Mavra

Dear Mavr
A:
He's 100% everyone's best friend.

Dear Bearing Up:
My tooth hurts at night and I can't sleep. What to do?
- Dentist

Dear Dentist:
Sleep during the day!

Dear Bearing Up:
I have a wierd problem. Every time I drink coffee I get a stinging sensation in my eye. What can i do about it?
- Java

Dear Jav
A:
Take the spoon out of your coffee cup!

Dear Bearing Up:
Do you agree that the Feebles Variety Show is the best show ever?
- Henson

Dear Henson:
I find Funday Pawpet Show MUCH more satisfying.

Dear Bearing Up:
What do you think are the best 10 years of a guy's life?
- Steinhem

Dear Steinhem:
The 4th grade!

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 baar.bear@gmail.com. Thanks.

This week, Ba'ar is asking, "This week, I'm doing the survey. It is this.....Did you come to Spindizzy from Toons Fur and Fluff or were you 'born' here directly on Spindizzy? (For the record, I myself was 'born' on Spindizzy).

• Findra says "I was briefly on TF&F before it died, then I came here."
• Argon says "Hi there. For the survey, I came here from TF&F."
• Marissa says "I was born here."
• Vixie says, "I was on TFF, but not as this character."
• Chalice-Flame was created on spindizzy.
• Roofus_roo says, "I started on TFF."
• JayTee thinks he made a BRIEF appearance on TF&F, but that was long ago.
• Shadowcatcher wasn't on TFF.
• Rhea says "Rhea's an SD original -- I used to be Tiana on TFF. :)"
• Suri says "Arrgh vended me from Mort for a Kworter!"
• Vassily says, "I emigrated"
• DTF ponders "I'm an offworlder.... though not from TF&F."
• Lupinetiger wurfs, "I wandered"
• Mouser hisses, "I'm one of the old TF&F crew..."

Submitting a story or artwork for @Action News is easy! Just send it to newspaper@spindizzy.org or qmail or page Argon, Carl or SDN about it.
@Action News is published weekly on or after 12:01 AM Eastern Time on Sunday. 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