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(From the SpinDizzy Bulletin Board - Enter + read to see all the notices.)
Spindizzy went down at about 12:02am this morning due to a page fault that caused a kernel panic. It managed to hang the machine hard, and it had to be power cycled this morning when I discovered it. This time of night there's a heavy load on the machine, since backups are taking place. I suspect random memory corruption, although the small amount of information I got from the debugging prompt wasn't really conclusive.

Anyway, we seem to be up and running again. We came back about 8:45am Pacific, so ignore the 'uptime'. The internal clock hung, too, and only updated after I'd restarted the muck.

I'll be keeping an eye on things this weekend. If you find any corruption (in your objects, not with the SED =:) ) please let a wizard know.

--Findra
Server Admin

Austin would just like it noted that Peppermint visiting me in Singapore the past two weeks had *nothing* to do with fiddling with the server, and certainly nothing to do with the mysterious mystery Morticon's been finding in his explorations.

This movie sign is listing the films at this theater. "Sky High, Dukes of Hazzard, Must Love Dogs, and Charlie and the Chocolate Facory" are the movies being shown. Two days ago, it read, "Sky Bears Must Love Chocolate, which reminded me of Angel Bear, local... well, angel bear.

Every once in a while, movie titles when put on sign like this can result in strange or funny results. Have you seen or heard of any?

Because of the interest in Morticon's Whose Line is it Anyway" events, Portia, local red panda, held a workshop to give folks practice in the event. A good sized group arrived at the "stage" area, and Portia explained the format of the Whose Line event, and what she hoped to accomplish with the workshop.

The workshop started with a practice of the "Alphabet Game". A premise is chosen by the audience, in this case, "In Central Park", and each of the players must keep the "plot" going starting their line with the next letter in the alpabet. In this case, the game started with the letter "G". An order of players is chosen and the first player started their line with "G", the next player started their's with "H" and on and on until they get all the way through and back to "G". Starting with someone losing their watch, through a "bum" selling "Rolexes" the came moved smoothly and with humor.

The next practice event was "Poem". The format for the poem is ABAB, the first line rhyming with the third and the second with the fourth. The subject was a romantic sunset on the beach. This was a little harder as each player had to make their line move the poem's story along and had to make it rhyme.

The third excercise was a new game that Portia introduced called, "News Conference". A player is chosen to be the spokesperson, but isn't told what they are talking about. They are to try and guess based on the questions the other players, who are "reporters" ask. This was played twice and a lot was learned about the game and what adjustments could be made to refine it.

The workshop lasted about two hours and was enjoyed by all. Much was learned and hopefully there will be new, and more confident players for the next "Whose Line is it Anyway" event. Portia was well versed in the subject and led a well organised and enjoyable workshop.

This week we sit down to talk with Felina, local cyber-cheetah!

Felina has arrived.

Ba'ar smiles, "Thanks for allowing me to interview you Felina."

Felina wavies as she enters and nods "You're welcome, Glad to help."

she smiles.

Ba'ar nods "Okay let's start. Our readers know about you and some have even met you 'in the pelt' as it were. For one thing, how long have you been here in Spindizzy?"

Felina nods as she stands there "Yes, I am around alot." she rests a hand on her swollen belly as the other moves up to scritch her ear "Oh... I'd have to say alittle over 2 years... Long time."

Ba'ar nods "What brought you to Spindizzy?"

Felina mews, "Came with a good friend of mine." she shifts a little on her feet "I came with the island after he scouted."

Ba'ar nods "I understand you have cybernetic implants. Where did you get them from? What purpose do they serve? "

Felina blinks alittle and nods "Yeah, I do.. it's the first thing a lot of people seem to notice.. They keep me alive.."

Ba'ar growls, "If I may ask...were you in an accident of some kind?"

Felina's ears fold a little "Not quite. It's mostly a blur.."

Ba'ar growls, "Were you given those implants as a kind of enhancement then?"

Felina shakes her head "No."

Ba'ar nods, "What are the advantages of having cybernetic implants? The disadvantages? "

Felina mews, "Heal a little faster... Stand out in a crowd."

Ba'ar growls, "If you had a choice (and they wouldn't endanger your life) would you have them removed?"

Felina mews, "I.. don't know. But can we change the subject?"

Ba'ar growls, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to pry.. Now then..who do you admire the most?"

Felina hmmms and scrirtches an ear in thought again "Uhh.. That's a tough one.. Maybe Gem for putting up with his crazy hyper girlfriend."

Ba'ar smiles "You aren't THAT bad, from what I can tell. Now then. What's a typical day like for you? "

Ba'ar growls,, "Or is there such a thing? "

Felina mews, "Uhh... Eat, sleep, nap, more eating"

Felina mews, "Usually go to the garden and listen to the chatter somewhere in there."

Ba'ar chuckles "Works for me. Do you have any plans for the future?"

Felina mews, "Well, after my occupants leave.. I don't know."

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

Felina mews, "Uhhhh...."

Ba'ar growls,, "Or would it be so secret that if you said it you'd have to kill me? "

Felina mews, "I'm acctually almost 6 years old?"

Ba'ar smiles and nods "One more question before we go. What words of wisdom would you have for our readers?"

Felina mews, "None really that I can think of.. Don't mix lemon juice and milk?"

Ba'ar nods "That ends our interview. Thank you again for allowing me to do it.

Felina nods "K."

Q: What kind of procyonid makes music with a hard beat?
A: A Rockoon.

Q: What kind of procyonid sounds like a crazy frog?
A: A Ringtone.

Q: How do you communicate with a procyonid?
A: Learn it's Olingo.

Q: What do you call an unusual, long-nosed procyonid?
A: A Cooddity.

Q: What do you call a prudish procyonid?
A: A Vanillajou.

Q: What do you call a procyonid that accepts Jesus as its savior?
A: A Kinkachristian.

Q: Why did the shy ursine go hide in her cave in late fall?
A: She'd eaten so much to prepare for hibernation, that she'd developed a bear-shaped figure.

Q: What do you feed a black-and-white bear for breakfast?
A: Pandacakes.

Q: What else?
A: Bamboo-Loops. (A part of this complete breakfast. Just follow your nose. And the carefully laid-out scent trail.)

Q: How does a red panda move after it's eaten a giant panda-sized portion of pandacakes and Bamboo-Loops?
A: It wahdles.

Q: What's a giant panda's favorite computer game?
A: Black & White.

Q: Why did the procyonid-like fox get a sunburn?
A: He stayed out too long, trying to become a Tan-uki.
A: And forgot to put on his Tanuking lotion, SPF 15.

Q: About whom was it always asked, "Who was that maskless procyonid?"
A: The Lone Raccoon.

Q: Why was the Lone Raccoon so ineffective as a lawman?
A: Ooh, silver bullet...shiny... %-)

Q: Why is there no such thing as a Kinkajewler?
A: Ooh, diamonds...shiny... %-)

Q: What do you call a long-nosed, and particularly cuddleable, Disney plushie?
A: A Meekoati.

Q: What type of procyonid did old prospectors use for a bed?
A: A Miner's Cot.

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

• One Year Ago / SpinDizzy Spirialing Towards Doom?
• Three Years Ago / Neopolis Spray Painted!

@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:
My cub wants a Playstation Portable (PSP), but it's too expensive. What to do?
- A. Morita

Dear A. Morit
A:
Give him a Sega Game Gear. He'll never know the difference.

Dear Bearing Up:
Why does Morticon hate centaurs?
- Chiron

Dear Chiron:
Because they're clean, noble, good natured and virtous - everything he isn't.

Dear Bearing Up:
I heard about the new Smurf movie. How to handle Jim Groat (who hates Smurfs and everything uber-cute) when its released?
- Papa Smurf

Dear Papa Smurf:
Chain him down and keep him that way until the movie leaves the theatres.

Dear Bearing Up:
Reverend Pat Robertson was quoted as saying that the Harry Potter books are the work of the devil. What say you?
- J.K.

Dear J.K
- What twaddle! Don't you know that the Reverend Robertson HIMSELF is the work of the devil?

Dear Bearing Up:
My wife watches TV soap operas too much. What can I do to break her of the habit?
- M. Forester

Dear M. Forester:
Get her a subscription to Soap Opera Digest. That'll wean her off the TV.

Dear Bearing Up:
What's the best dog to get as a pet?
- B. Barker

Dear B. Barker:
A hot dog, of course!

Dear Bearing Up:
My best friend broke into my house, robbed me blind, and ran off with my lady. What to do?
- Wondering

Dear Wondering:
It's time to get a new best friend.

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 is asking, "I'm doing a survey for @Action News. The question this week is, 'Mei Xiang, a giant panda at the Washington Zoo, has had a cub which you can see here. Experts are divided on whether pandas are ursine or Procyonids. What do you think. are pandas bears or raccoons?"

• Zach churrily chirps, "And to answer your question giant pandas are mutants."
• Ba'ar smiles "To me Argon Pandas are DEFINATELY ursines."
• Tzolkin thinks they are both.
• Andrew nickers, "Giant pandas are bears."
• Shoe answer for the survey. "Mammals. Mammals are great.
• Gilead chirps, "Black and white pandas are bears."
• Darius says, "It displays certian characteristics of ursines and proconids, but isnt either."
• Anjil says softly, "A panda is a panda...but the term is Panda Bear...not Panda Coon. I'm going with bears on this one."
• Portia - I believe that panda's are Pandas and should be given their own group. If I have to pick one, it would be that of raccoon.
• Aleu - I think pandas are ursine. They don't have the tails to be racoonular.
• Austin says, "Procyonids, Argon."
• Chalice-Flame says, "No idea."
• Speckles says, "I thought it was rather well established pandas are raccoons."
• DTF ponders "I'd say Ursines.... as all bears are omnivorous but primarily herbivorous.
• Sanogan gently rumbles, "Raccoons."
• PatchO'Black mews, "I think pandas should have their own classification. Black-and-white cute!"
• Alair hmms. "I suppose I'd go with bears."
• DTF ponders "Could Giant Pandas be furry land hippopotomi?
• Ping squeaks, "I don't have the slightest clue. I'm not qualified to say."
• Mavra considers... "Well, they *are* distantly related, ursines and procyonids, that is... hmm.."
• Mavra says, "I am going to say that pandas are ursines, atypical, but ursines."

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