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This Saturday will mark the seventh year of SpinDizzy. Since 1998, our little home among the stars has carried us safely along though fun, sadness, adventures, friendship, good news and bad, all with the same stable leadership and under the care of a most committed server Wiz. Many mucks haven't lasted as long as SpinDizzy, much less done so on the same server!

During this time, some things have changed, we have gained and lost friends and places on SpinDizzy have been built or have fallen to ruin. But one thing has remained the same, the Wizstaff and the players committment to making SpinDizzy as good and as fun a place as it could be. They have succeeded mightily.

Join with the rest of our community as we celebrate the wonder that SpinDizzy is on Saturday, October 8th in the Rose Garden. This will last all day as there is much to celebrate!

As noted by Suri, local lemur, this week in the Rose Garden, October is National Pickle Attack Month or NPAM. A time honored tradition going back nearly a year, NPAM began when Suri got a pickle and stuffed it into Argon, local centaur's ear.

First reported in the October 31, 2004 edition of @Action News, what has become an annual event was again noted by Suri. With this warning, Argon has started wearing earmuffs.

patch O'Black, local Jellicle cat, reported that Morticon, local wallaby and alledged leader of the Society of Evil-Doers (SED), had tried to gain entrance to his Crystal Tower. The tower is Patch's and his love wife, Nikon, six inch raccoon's home. This was followed by mention by Tanuki, local Tanuki, that Morticon had approached him too about getting into his home, which is a temple to Tanukis.

Although no other reports of Morticon's interest in folks homes have been reported, it would be wise to keep an eye out for him in the future

Georgia the alicorn dragon wants to be known by her real last name from now, so she's calling herself Theon'drae which was her true name. She used the name Georgia because a lot of times non-dragons have trouble pronouncing her name, so she uses Georgia as a gobetween. She said, This is my true name. Don't strangle yourself trying to speak it."

So that's kind of changing her name, only Aushae the silver dragon says "No kind- of, Leslie... it's going to be for the long- haul... it shows she's making Spindizzy home... ;}" then she joked she could have made Theon'drae into a tree, to get her to put down roots, but...

I giggled about dragon trees and Aushae said "Look them up, Leslie... they exist..."

They didn't always used to be sisters though. Georgia said, It's a consequence of what we shared during the magic. She has a small part of me, and I have a small part of her." What the magic was doing Aushae said was, "Awakening her own natural Draconity..." Georgia said it was, "Returning me to draconic form."

They were really good friends before becoming sisters though, Aushae said, "Well... ... as good a friends as sisters get... we still pick on each other, too..." And Georgia smiled and said, "Magics, too. Sis is skilled in one direction, I am skilled in the other. Together, it's quite a broad field."

Then Aushae put her head in her palm and groaned at the pun that Georgia said she didn't mean to make, and Georgia said, "I'm going to be ribbed for awhile for letting that one slip, aren't I?" Aushae said, "Would I be a good sister, if I let you get by easily...?"

Also Aushae explained, "Yes, we are definitey broad when together... and you know Females do magicks wider and more often usually, than males..." Which I didn't know at all.

Here's a question for all you readers. Just what is this bunny doing?

Austin - "Oh, for the caption: I figure it's lantern-Findra celebrating her being quite close to lantern-Vixie."

Leslie - Oh and from the picture I bet Mrs Findra's happy because of the birthday the muck gets this year!

Patch O'Black the jellicle cat doesn't feel so Jellicle as he normally does right now but he doesn't want people worrying. He particularly said he didn't want to mention to me because he didn't want me worrying. He's not sure why but says "Well, for one thing, I haven't seen Nikon in a while", and besides he's also got, he said, "And I have been having trouble thinking of new things to add to my Jellicle Fields."

If anybody knows how to get more of Nikon the miniature raccoon around or can think of stuff for his Jellicle Fields please let him know!

Georgia the dragon said "I suggested the construction of a jellicle generator.." And Patch O'Black said, "I have a sphere that collect ambient Jellicleness, which helps in these cases. It's a Jellicle ball, of course!"

Before we proceed, I would like to point out that the plushie pictured at the top of my column in the last two issues of @Action News is, in fact, Damiano, AKA DamFox, which I purchased at DragonCon, and is not a representation of yours truly, a slightly luminous, wingless morphic KitFox.

As I mentioned in last week's column, SpinDizzy is ripe with potentials for those with the will and the imagination to create. Many furs never seem to find homes of their own, which is a shame, as a furson's home can be as distinctive a personal signature as their physical form, itself, not to mention a private retreat which reflects that furson's personality.

As mentioned, SpinDizzy has many empty areas which, for the ambitious, may prove fertile ground for large-scale, public manifestations of one's imaginings; one can create a sort of private "pocket universe" even off the main grid. This series of articles will provide basic methods which can be easily adapted to an individual's personalized visions. I now turn you over to Narrator, which will provide exact steps which anyfur can follow.

-Soul_Fox

Successful construction begins before one logs on to SpinDizzy. First, create a folder in your word-processing program, titled, "SpinDizzy Construction." All of the commands and descriptions you create will be composed in files saved here, and copied and pasted directly to your Telnet client for execution. In this way, you will have a record of all steps, in case you forget a seldom-used command, or need to recreate something deleted by crash or other mischance, @archive notwithstanding.

This also provides for rapid execution of commands once logged on, minimizing distraction by events on the MUCK.

The first file you should create for this folder should be titled "Tools." This will be a reference for the global commands you will need to use when building. Copy and paste the entirety of the following into this file (this is an item you will also be creating on SD for easy reference):

(Specific copy and paste commands in bold)

@cre Tool Kit

@desc Tool Kit=A nice, tooled black leather case, which contains:{nl}{nl}Xdigger{nl}Backlink Opener{nl}Relink Opener{nl}Exit Opener{nl}Look-Trap Generator{nl}Maker, Item{nl}WA Setup{nl}(Lookat Kit's (first name of item) to view details)

look #edit tool kit

1. (Make new or edit existing look-trap.)

(Enter name of look-trap.):

Xdigger

(New look-trap -- enter description. (exactly as below))

Example: @xdig Room Name=north;n=south;s;out;o . This creates a room with to{nl}and from exits connected to the room (which you must own) you are in. Quick{nl}and easy; this, @backlink, @open, @relink, and editroom are all you really need to build with!

(Follow each of the preceding steps (from Make new or edit existing look-trap, on) for each of the listed "Tools" in the kit, as follows)

Backlink Opener;Backlink

Example: @backlink north;n=#12345,south;s;out;o

(dbref is for room being linked to). This opens a two-way exit link between two rooms which you already own. Relink Opener;Relink Syntax: @relink (dbref of exit) = (dbref of new room). This moves an existing{nl}exit from one room you own to another, without a return exit.

Exit Opener;Exit

Example: @open north;n=#12345 . This opens a one-way from a room you own to{nl}another room you own, without a return exit (useful if you have @relinked an{nl}exit, and need a return exit).

Look-Trap Generator;Look-Trap;Look

look #edit (me; item; here) (look #help for more details)

Maker, Item;Maker

@cre (item); @desc (item)=(desc); @set (item)=c;

@chown (item)=me;{nl}@set (item)=!c; @link (item)=me (or here)

WA Setup;WA

swa Some Descriptive Text (sets room you own on Whereare; swa (nothing) removes room from WA); swad (How to get here) (sets directions to room you own on{nl}Whereare)

Then, quit out of edit.

You can then "lookat kit," as well as "lookat kit's (whatever)" to see the results of your commands.

I will explain the functions of these commands in detail when we start building, next week.

You will likely still desire to build your first room right away. You can do this anywhere on SD. The command to do so is not listed in your Tool Kit; this is because you will seldom, if ever, use this initial command again after you begin building. Type @dig (name of your new room).

You will see a prompt indicating the dbref (database reference number) of your new room: (Your new room) created with room number 12345. You should immediately do two things: Record that dbref somewhere permanent, and then type: tel #12345 (or whatever your dbref is). Once you have created your new room and teleported there, unless you actually have a home you want to remain linked to, there is no real reason not to type: @link me=here. That will make the new room your home destination, and you will be unable to "misplace" it.

You should also now create a new file for your SD Construction folder, titled as whatever you have named your new room. You will be using this to record the steps we cover next week. You will also use it to compose the room description you will want to give your new room, though I will also be providing some hints on effective room descs, as well...

Next time.

-Narrator

This week, we sit down to have a chat with Gem, local cybernetic peacock.

Gem has arrived.

Ba'ar smiles "Greetings Gem, and thanks for helping me out with the interview."

Gem smiles back. "No problem at all!"

Ba'ar growls, "Thanks."

Ba'ar growls, "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?"

Gem chirps... "That's actually a pretty good question. I used to know quite precisely, up until I'd went and designed an alternate body. Sharing experiences between two physical forms means you get some jumbled information now and then. I know it's definitely been over one year..."

Ba'ar growls, "Did you come from Toons Fur and Fluff, as many did?"

Gem shakes his head. "No... The first I've heard of that place was on SpinDizzy's birthday."

Ba'ar growls, "So what brought you here, exactly? "

Gem scratches some at his head. "Well, for as graceful as this simply doesn't sound, accident. Just exploring various places, then, suddenly, I ended up here. Quite disorienting, let me tell you."

Ba'ar growls, "So you have the ability to teleport from realm to realm ?"

Gem lowers his head some, giving a puff of steam from around his shoulders. "Well... I did, back when I had access to, uh... modern-relative-to-myself technology. I'm not constructed with that sort of ability myself, however, no."

Ba'ar nods "I see that you have cybernetic implants. How did this come about?"

Gem snickers a bit. "I like how that was worded... ...To be perfectly honest, however, I've not been implanted with anything. I'm entirely cybernetic. Granted, I've generated a completely different, cell-comprised body for myself, but I was not originally born or hatched. I was constructed."

Ba'ar growls, "Do you have any organic parts at all?"

Gem headshakes. "If you mean 'cell-comprised' by 'organic', then no. In the particular culture I'm from, however, most individuals like myself tend to freak out when they believe it's being insinuated that they're in some way 'less than alive'. I'm quite used to local naming conventions, however. 'Organic' isn't the term we typically use to differentiate, considering I do, technically, possess organs. They're simply synthetic."

Ba'ar growls, "So what are the advantages of being cybernetic as opposed to being completely organic....Or perhaps...What are the advantages of being synthetic as opposed to being organic...Sorry about the wording."

Gem hmms... "Well, I certainly don't want to insinuate that being cybernetic is in any way an improvement over being biological. However, I would definitely say the best point is possessing a CPU in place of a brain. Everything is... easier to deal with that way, I think. There's nothing wrong with having a brain, but I find it a trifle mentally tiring. Not as much processing power."

Ba'ar growls, "So you can do more, and at a faster rate."

Gem nods. "Typically. Of course, it's hardly noticeable on the outside; one downside to having no real cerebellum or brain stem is that you basically must consciously supervise every little action your body performs. There are no involuntary or reactionary things your body does, so you end up taking quite a lot of processing power to manage it all... It keeps you going, at least to the observation of the outside world, at about the same speed as any random cellular."

Ba'ar growls, "So what are the disadvatages of being synthetic?"

Gem cracks up. "Maintenance. Keeping yourself nice and polished when you're as tall as I am is a nightmare! Even worse if you plan on going outside! That, and if you ever hit the dating scene, people who are attracted to big, metal birds are few and far between. Trust me on that one!"

Ba'ar growls, "Do you have any help from others in maintaining yourself or are there little tricks you use to do things yourself?"

Gem gives a nod. "There's a cleaning chemical that's quite easily synthesized. Good for polishing. Typically, it's best to immerse oneself entirely within a vat of the solution, but the drawback is that it takes quite a long time to actually work completely. It's much more thorough than your usual polishing, but it takes forever."

Ba'ar nods "Who do you admire the most?"

Gem hmms... "I'd say Felina, really. For as unfair as it sounds to mention someone with whom you're in an involved relationship, one can't help but admire her ability, above all else, to put up with me. We've literally been friends throughout my entire existence here, and one can't help but respect a girl who doesn't mind the fact that I'm an over-glorified metal turkey!"

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

Gem nods vigorously! "I've got two daughters; I'd be in a whole world of trouble if I had no plans for the future!"

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

Gem ponders that momentarily... "Actually, it may be the fact that I've got more than one physical body. Despite that it was put in the paper when I'd actually constructed the body and had brought it into public for the first time, people don't seem to notice whether or not I'm cybernetic when they see me after they've got a first impression."

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

Gem laughs slightly. "Nothing of any real worth to anyone out there. ...Aside from maybe the fact that those flat fridge magnets are extremely difficult to remove from yourself if you happen to be made of a material they'll stick to."

Ba'ar smiles "Good advice. Again, thanks for helping me do the interview."

Gem smiles back, giving a bowing nod. "It was a pleasure! Thank you for having me."

Q: What do you call it when your carnivorous dinosaur won't eat?
A: Tyranorexia nervosa.

Q: Which dinosaur does the fastest holiday gift shopping?
A: A velociwrapper.

Q: Why didn't the Maiasaur leave the kitchen?
A: She was bare-taloned and eggnant.

Q: What kind of shark is really full of itself?
A: A Carchodon megalomaniadon.

Q: What kind of dinosaur is covered with armor and needle tracks?
A: An Ank-high-losaurus.

Q: What is the most popular order in the Sinosaurus restaurant?
A: Moschops suey.

Q: What did the Jewish mother T. rex tell her chicks when she brought home a three-horned meal?
A: Triceratops... You'll like it...

Q: Who crusaded against hatching defects in dinosaurs?
A: March of Dimetrodons.

Q: What kind of small-headed, herbivorous dinosaur doesn't have armored plates on its back or spikes on its tail, and hangs around Allosaurs?
A: A Steakosaurus.

Q: Who do dinosaurs go see after they've been out in the sun too long?
A: Aloesaurs.

Q: What kind of dinosaur is glad it doesn't stink?
A: A Dialophosaurus.

Q: What do you call two huge flying reptiles who didn't see each other until it was too late?
A: Pretzelcoatlus.

Q: What do you call a tiny, noisy dinosaur with a tall crest?
A: A Parakeetolophosaurus.

Q: What did the casino do when the tiny dinosaur won a huge jackpot?
A: Compy'd him his room.

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.

+Number: 3 +Title: Fuzzy Yarns Story Circle
+From: Tue 10/04/05 07:00 PM +To: Tue 10/04/05 10:00 PM
+Location: The ruin. one South, one east.
+Age: all
+Event Owner: Tarka
+RSVPs (0):
+Description:
Come one, Come all! To the grand doomy otter event of the week... the Fuzzy Yarns Story Circle! Thrill to the mangled words of the typodeamon! Be stunned by the Frudian Slip! See the hair pulling writers fall down in fits! Come and see the giant otter try to write without opposible thumbs. The Horror... the horror...

+Number: 1 +Title: Spindizzy Birthday Party!
+From: Sat 10/08/05 12:01 AM +To: Sun 10/09/05 11:59 PM
+Location: rose, park
+Age: All
+Event Owner: Austin
+RSVPs (0): RSVPing on this event is disabled
+Description:
Spindizzy reaches seven years of age! Come and celebrate with hats, old and new, and an array of surprises, festivities, needlessly obscure in-jokes, grumblings about how much better the place used to be, and occasional talk about how much cool stuff we have plannd for the next year! Sure to feature wizards at their most aggressively whimsical and, very likely, regulars making emotional speeches to one another. Let's all be there!

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

• One Year Ago / SpinDizzy celebrates 6th Anniversary
• Three Years Ago / Cye Back To Normal

@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:
What is the Matrix?
- NEO

Dear NEO:
Ask Morpheus. I think he'll know.

Dear Bearing Up:
I came near Morticon recently *PHEW*! When does that blasted wallaby take a bath?
- Skunk

Dear Skunk:
Once a year whether he wants to or not.

Dear Bearing Up:
Why is Tarka considered a "DOOM OTTER"?
- I.D.

Dear I.D.:
Because she doesn't like HEXXEN OR DESCENT!

Dear Bearing Up:
How do you start a bull charging?
- Toro

Dear Toro:
Wave a red VISA or MASTERCARD in front of him.

Dear Bearing Up:
I'm a young, single girl who parties all the time. Is there anything I can do about this?
- Fungirl

Dear Fungirl:
Sure! Give me your address so I can come over and join you!

Dear Bearing Up:
My wife watches soap operas all the time. Is there anything i can do to help her?
- Young and Restless

Dear Young and Restless:
Give her a gift subscription to magazines like Soap Opera Digest!

Dear Bearing Up:
October is National Pickle Attack Month. What does this mean?
- V.Lasic

Dear V.Lasic:
It means that we're supposed to go to our local grocery store and 'stage a raid' on the local pickle aisles.

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. Do you have a (IC) motto that you live by?"

• Alair pages, "In reference to your survey, I go with 'If it isn't broken, don't fix it. If it is broken, don't fix it if you don't know what you are doing, you'll only make it worse.'"
• Argon says. "I guess, Be a nice guy, give other folks a fair shake and don't be a jerk."
• Darius says, "sure. have fun."
• Casandro says "Mein B"ar der hat 8 Ecken, er ist ein Oktober. - My bear it has 8 corners, it is an octo-ber."
• Lupinetiger yerfs, "other than 'where's the darned exit?'"
• Elericia says, "Not me. Least I don't think so."
• Lupinetiger grins, "Still before I leave anywhere, I usually say "May luck be with you always, and your journey be a safe one.
• "Keep your promises and drink in moderation," barks Tanuki.
• Georgia croons softly, "Fly in the air, but dream of the stars."
• Felina mews, "Not really that I can think of."
• Ming Yue . o O ( if it's comfortable, sleep. )
• Lou ponders and considers the survey, every little thing has value.
• Portia says, "It is more important to ask, than it is to assume."
• Aushae sultrily sibilates, "Do not take offense quickly... it is not always meant as it may seem..."

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