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Morticon, local wallaby and MUF wiz, has made some improvements to the @Sweep program. @sweep tells you of any listeners or listening 'objects' in a room. Some concerns about hidden listening objects, or such objects set D, "dark" or invisible, caused Morti to address this issue.

All characters are set with the new @sweep notification turned on. As Morti explains below, it can be turned off if desired. When on, it shows the usual room description, the characters and objects in the room, and now a list of all listeners. Here's what Morticon had to say:

I made a major upgrade to @sweep to further protect privacy. It finds many more listeners now compared to the buggy one built into the server, and it even tells you when you enter a room that might have hidden listeners!

@sweep calls it up, and @sweep #help shows you some options.

To disable the auto-check thing, type '@sweep #disable'.

Enjoy, and let me know of any bugs!

*Morticon

@sweep #help displays the following?

newsweep v1.0 Morticon@SpinDizzy 2006
@sweep shows you who or what might be listening in a room. It is mostly useful to tell if you are being 'wiretapped' within the MUCK. Anything in the resulting output beginning with '!!' is a potential privacy issue.

Usage:
(@sweep) - No arguments 'sweeps' the current room for bugs
@sweep #help - This screen
@sweep #1234 / $room / etc - Check for bugs in a particular room that you control.
@sweep #disable - Disables auto-check when entering a room.
@sweep #enable - Enables auto-check when entering a room. (default)

@sweep is just a command that shows listeners. it is different than the "sweep" command that clears a room of sleeping characters and that makes Gilead, local otter. sad when used. Need more information? Ask Morticon or a member of Helpstaff.

One of the year's most popular holidays, Raccoon Day, will occur tomorrow and folks have been getting ready for weeks for the day. As is usual, decorations have been out up, stores have been having sales, and a feeling of good raccoonship and joy have come over everyone.

Local procyonids have been especially anxious for Raccoon Day to arrive. There is always confetti and streamers and the day is very raccoony! It also seems that on Raccoon Day shiny things are even shinier and tail rings are brighter and fluffier!

In spite of procyonid stores closing on Raccoon Day, preperations have progressed. Raccoon Day preperations are put off because the stores close on Raccoon Day. And very little gets done since everyday is Raccoon Day.

More information on Raccoon Day can be found by follwing the link.

Royce, local raccoon was found to still be hungry this week. Although often seen eating, and usually offered food by his friends, Royce states that his appetite has not been quenched and he is still hungry.

As reported in the September 7, 2003 issue of @Action News. Royce had been raccoony, as well as hungry for 635 days as of July 16,2000. As of publication of this issue of @Action News, Royce had been hungry for an additional 1824 days giving Royce a total hungry / raccoony total of 2459 days. A new SpinDizzy record.

Royce has given no sign that his level of raccooniness, or hunger, is waning. Therefore it is expected that he will retain the title of longest sustained raccoony procyonid on SpinDizzy.

Vixie, local vixen, is still cute. Although this fact was unquestioned by some and taken for granted by others, Vixie has made strong efforts to remind folks of this fact.

Additionally, Vixie's cuteness factor has caused some to present her offerings of chocolate. She seems happy to accept these and allows those who give her such gifts a brief chance to bask in her cuteness.

Vixie has indicated that she can only become cuter and that, although other foxes are cute, she is the cutest. As of press time, no one has claimed to be cuter than Vixie.

Morticon, local wallaby and alleged leader of the Society of Evil Doers (SED), arrived in the Rose Garden this week with his "gang" of SED ninjas. After harassing Kinsor, local bat, the ninjas were chased off and it was suggested that Morticon might make a good organ donor.

After claiming not to have several organs most mammals possess, it was proposed that Morticon might be a robot. Argon, local centaur, tested this theory by tossing the wallaby into the Rose Garden fountain to see if he shorted out. Being born in the Outback of Australia, Morticon was unfamiliar with the art of swimming and nearly drowned. Luckily, Leslie, local bunny fae kid, and Lou, local civet jumped into the fountain and pulled him out. Leslie used magic to create a bubble around Morticon as he was too heavy for a civet and a bunny fae kid to lift.

Once back on dry land, attempts to revive the wallaby were unsuccessful, so Argon and Patch O'Black, local Jellicle cat, decided to take him to Patch's Winter Wonderland which is well below freezing. Argon covered the wallaby with snow to "preserve" his organs until they were needed.

As of press time, it was reported that Morticon's body was no longer in the Winter Wonderland area. Its whereabouts at this time are unknown.

This is a very brief history of the SED and its effect on Spindizzy and what SED (The Society of Evil Doers) really means. The Society for Evil-Doers was started almost ten years ago by founders Moriarty, local human and Tarka, local otter, for doing no good. Their purposes seemed to be causing havoc and destruction back in the days of TF and F, and conflicting with the inhabitants of Squirrel City.

Today the SED seems to have changed from those simpler days. The SED now, basically led by Morticon, seem intent on world conquest and possible enslavement of the inhabitants of Spindizzy. For the most part though it seems to be a group of folks that share something in common with each other. Particularly the desire to role play their characters. Beyond that it has a very basic something which I will try to define.

SED, the name conjures visions of enigmatic evil folks working together to further evil or at least plotting together and discussing plans of an evil nature. The fact though really remains to be seen if the SED really does anything significantly evil as you will see below.

Since Spindizzy doesn’t really delve into what I consider dark and obvious evil acts, being it is a friendly family and mostly social place, we have to consider what might be termed as lesser evil acts. These acts would be best described as loss of freedom, injustice, and cruelty. Rather than going on and describing each of these evil acts, I will convey the good acts which typically oppose these “evil” acts.

Freedom is the right to voice opinion or express oneself, sometime against individuals, or a group of individuals, or a governing body. Spindizzy enjoys a number of freedoms. It even has an active press that publishes regularly. This freedom is inherent in most social places such as mucks, especially when a role playing policy is neither enforced nor necessarily even wanted. Does the SED try to control these freedoms? There are many plots that seem to involve trying to stop it but overall most SED plans rarely come to fruition. Enforcement itself (could be defined as) a limitation of freedom but the SED does not really seem to fulfill this role. The SED implies it wants to control this, but the fact is, the folks who choose the SED as a way of life and / or individuals that don’t want to be involved, need not be involved. So really the SED does nothing to stop freedoms.

Justice is created to counter anti-social behavior, as that behavior poses a danger or threat to the other inhabitants. In order for justice to work there has to be a set of rules for all to follow, these rules may be lax or very strict and to break the rules results in punishment. Punishment is then given to the individual in the hope to teach them not to commit the same infraction, or to prevent them from ever committing the act again. Spindizzy does not have an in character justice system per se. The only true laws rely in the out of character items of the Acceptable Usage Policy. Additionally no groups have tried to create a formal (IC) justice system been able to get the majority of inhabitants to agree and support it. Once more SD’s free form nature really tends to seem to discourage these things. Has the SED or particularly members of SED committed what would be injustices? Most certainly it has but since there is no authorized (lae enforcement) party or proper way to deal with it, the SED honestly is doing nothing against the law, so by this fact they are not evil.

Charity is giving to those in need of help, those worse off than you, with little expectation in return. The way to achieve this is to find those less fortunate than yourself, and help them if they want to be helped. Additionally the number of these charity cases is few since the world of Spindizzy can pretty much solve any issue by using magic and/or technology. The SED does not perform charitable acts unless it is for their own good. So in a sense the SED really isn’t typically charitable a term that would better describe SED might be self serving. Is being self-serving evil though? Not necessarily, as everyone has their own ideas of goals they want to fufill and what they will do to fulfill them.

Finally, the act of cruelty. Cruelty is doing thing to people, places, and things, such as destroying or twisting them for the sheer pleasure of wanting to see suffering. Does the SED do this? Well it does sometimes but it is rarely observed or dealt with. The flaw with cruelty is unless it is done well there are ramifications.

Folks need to both realize it is just how a character is and would act in situation but at the same time be ready to deal with it and take action. The fear of loss of that person that chooses a side of evil is only an illusion as it is truly the only way evil can be deterred.

Cruelty like injustice needs to be recognized, for if an act isn’t considered significantly evil how can it truly be dealt with? Looking into the archive of the news we really don’t see the SED doing cruel acts to others at least not to the public eye. The most we can see is rivalries between groups SED and not SED.

So is the SED evil? I honestly don’t think so. The act of cruelty is rarely seen by inhabitants of Spindizzy. Even then folks may turn the other cheek as the SED provide a unique element to Spindizzy, chastising that element may not be good for the society in whole.

What is the SED than? I think the best way to describe it is as a Society of Doers. It is the folks that want to engage their characters in more ways than just friendly socializing, take the next step, role play until it hurts, explore what their characters can and are willing to do. If they need to use elements of evil to get their point across they will, but overall at the moment there doesn’t seem a significant advantage to using evil other than as an aspect of fear. To paraphrase the old saying, "There is nothing to fear, but fear itself." Sure I’d rather call the group SoD, Society of Doers, so it doesn’t associate directly with evil. Of course I doubt anyone would want to be compared to a piece of grass even though one has to consider it covers everything.

Q: What's the sweetest-smelling marsupial?
A: An Oblossum.

Q: What marsupial is native to Italy?
A: An Opasta.

Q: What do you call a play about people standing around until a divine marsupial arrives?
A: Waiting for Pogo.

Q: What's the most romantic marsupial?
A: An Opassion.

Q: What do you call a marsupial who writes gothic horror stories and poems?
A: Edgar Allen Pogo.

Q: What do you call a little white marsupial that makes music?
A: An iPossum.

Q: What do you call a marsupial that holds great promise, but is grossly overvalued, does nothing worthwhile, and just fades out of existence?
A: An ePossum.

Q: What do you call a marsupial that hangs by its tail, and goes up and down?
A: A Yoyopossum.

Q: What do you call a missing marsupial?
A: A Nopossum.

Q: What kind of marsupial leaves wet spots wherever it goes?
A: An Opeesum.

Q: What do you call a long marsupial that makes music?
A: An Oboesum.

Q: What do you call a grandfather marsupial?
A: An Oldpossum.

Q: What do you call a marsupial in charge?
A: An Obossum.

Q: What do you call a marsupial that swims and eats fish?
A: An Ottpossum. (Well, technically, a Yapok.)

Q: What's the most exciting marsupial?
A: An OOOH!!!possum.

Q: Why did the female were'roo like to transform a lot?
A: To rack up the frequent flyer miles.

Q: what do you call a marsupial cat?
A: An Opussyum.

This week, we chat with Than, local lioness cub .

Than has arrived.

Than smiles and skips in, snuggling close "Hi!"

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

Ba'ar hugs than close, skritching the lioness cub's flanks

Than giggles "Thankie for lettin' me be inna paper!"

Than prrrrrrrs at the nice skritchies, giggling and skritching the bear back

Ba'ar growls, "No problem...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?"

Than says, "I not been here long." ummmmms and holds up three fingers "I been here three weeks! I know that 'cause I got three papers, an' they come out once a week, an'... an' me an' Christie been in allllll three papers I seen since I been here!" She giggles and makes a face at the imaginary camera crew."

Ba'ar growls, "I see, so what brought you to Spindizzy?"

Than smiles wide "Daddy an' Mommy gettin' married an' I gonna be the flower girl! But I got Daddy to let Christie be the flower girl too!"

Ba'ar growls, "Do your mother and dad live here in Spindizzy?"

Than nodnoddles! and giggles "Uh huh! They gettin' married here too! My mommy is Nesta, an' my Daddy is DTF!" grins and wavewavies to her parents watching her on TV!"

Ba'ar grins, "I see you have those wings. Were you born with them?" Than grins and shakes her head, spreading her wings wide! "Nuh uh! I went to meet Unka Roofus an' Auntie Elissa, an' they let Christie use magic, an' she use magic to give me wings!"

Ba'ar nods, "So why did you get the wings? To do more exploring?"

Than ummmmmms... and grins "So I can play in the air too, an' so I can cause lotsa trouble!"

Ba'ar chuckles, "I do see the advantages of having wings. So what are the disadvantages?"

Than says, "Well... It took a while to get usedta sleepin' with 'em... They got in the way lots... I knocked over lotsa plushies when I tried to fly in the house, then hit my head on the ceiling which hurt... But they still fun!"

Ba'ar nods, "Do you have any brothers or sisters?"

Than ummmmmms, and smiles "Uh huh! I got... four sisters, one of 'em my twin... An' two brothers!"

Than smiles "They not able to come here yet though..."

Ba'ar nods. "So, what's a day like for you? "

Than ummmmmmmms, and giggles "Well, I like ta play lotsa games! Swimming, video games, dollies, plushies... I got lots an' lotsa plushies! I also got some fish an' starfish to take care of, an' really pretty froggies... An' also I practice my magic an' flying!"

Ba'ar nods, "So you're a magician in training? Who trains you? What do you learn? Do you take any lessons from Patch O'Black?"

Than smiles wide, "Daddy train me! An' Auntie Elissa an' Unka Roofus too! Though Auntie Elissa an' Unka Roofus got magic wands an' I not got one.. Right now I know how to change myself ta different stuffs, an' to float, an' I tryin' to learn how to make stuff... I didn' know Patch knew magic! I gotta learn from him too!"

Ba'ar nods, "He is quite the magician. Now then, is there anyone who you look up to the most (other than your parents of course)?"

Than says, "Other than Mommy an' Daddy... I also look up to Unka Roofus an' Auntie Elissa... An' Unka Borris an' Unka Sanogan... I also like Morti! I not know why noone likes him, he gotta comfy pouch! People say he scary but roos with comfy pouches can't be scary!"

Ba'ar nods, "So who do you like the least around here?"

Than ummmmmmmms, thinking for a long while..... before giggling "Noone! I like everyone around here!!"

Ba'ar smiles, "I see. What would you change about Spindizzy if you could?"

Than says, "If I could, there'd be lots more kidsies for me to play with! An' a big fun playground too!"

Ba'ar smiles, "There seems to be a huge influx of kids these days. "

Than giggles and noddles "My wish seem to be workin' then!"

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

Than ummmmmms, and grins "I know lotsa magic an' tryin' to learn more! I caught Dolly inna Space Bag *Pose for advertisement* an' she gave me three wishes so now I able ta change into a dolphingirl anna balloonkitty anna bunnyroo! I couldn' think'a usin' my last wish on bein' a bunny or a kangaroo so I chose both! Oh, also Unka Sanogan gave me some magic so I could become a full kangaroo too!"

Ba'ar nods, "So what are your plans for the future?"

Than says, "Well, I like Christie lots so we gonna get married 'cause we bestest friends!! An' I also wanna learn more magic!"

Ba'ar smiles, "One more question before we go. Do you have any words of advice for our readers?"

Than smiles wide "Don' worry 'bout nuttin' if you can't do anythin' about it!"

Ba'ar nods. "That concludes our interview. Thanks alot for helping me out Than."

Ba'ar hugs the lioness closely

Than smiles and prrrrrs, snuggling up close to the nice bear.

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:
So what's a good movie to see in the new year?
- G. Siskel

Dear G. Siskel:
I find that Hoodwinked is a very good movie to see.

Dear Bearing Up:
Why is The Funday Pawpet Show so vulgar?
- Mouser

Dear Mouser:
Because they can afford to be.

Dear Bearing Up:
Does Vixie have any flaws?
- Wondering

Dear Wondering:
No, she's perfect.

Dear Bearing Up:
What would Morticon's worst nightmare be?
- Argon

Dear Argon:
To fall asleep by counting centaurs rather than sheep.

Dear Bearing Up:
My inbox is filled with SPAM. What to do?
- Hormel

Dear Hormel:
Serve it for dinner!

Dear Bearing Up:
Who would win if Solid Snake fought Sam Fisher?
- Miyamoto

Dear Miyamoto:
They would blow each other to bits!

Dear Bearing Up:
Why, as the old song goes, 'did the bear go over the mountian'?
- Guthrie

Dear Guthrie:
Because it was there!

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.

Just like old times! Argon is doing the survey again this week as Ba'ar goes to FC or something. This week, Argon is asking, "I'm doing a survey for @Action News. The question this week is, 'Are Care Bears teddy bears?"

• Soul Fox - Teddy bears, as such, are the spiritual descendants of a bear cub which Theodore Roosevelt declined to shoot on a hunting trip. As there is no way to be certain whether or not he would hold his fire upon being confronted with a pastel plush, it would seem that Care Bears do not qualify as Teddy bears.
• Borris says, "No, they are not Teddy Bears!"
• BedtimeBear hmms. "Well, Care Bears are not teddy bears, in my opinion. Have you ever seen a teddy bear with a tummy symbol riding a cloudmobile up into Care-a-lot?"
• DTF - Only if the 26th President of the United States happened across them while hunting. *winks*
• Suri - Care Bears are actually juvenile Foozles.
• Lou ponders and thinks they are a specialized type of teddy bear.
• Darius says, "I think care bears are care bears. Hence the name."
• Andrew says, "I think they are magic teddy bears."
• Muttsker says, "No I don't think so."
• Gina_Doberman says, "The world may never know!"
• PatchO'Black mews, "I haven't met any Care Bears named Teddy. Or wearing a teddy."
• K'purra purrs, "Care Bears aren't teddy bears because they aren't generic bears. Each one represents an emotion that we all feel sometimes. Teddy bears are just cuddlyables."
• Christie - Carebears ARE teddy bears, but very very specias 'n magical ones!

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

• One Year Ago / Christmas Tree Retirement Ceremony Nearly a wash
• Three Years Ago / Ancient Oak Found

@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.

Rawr finds that hipbumping centaurs and balloons don't mix!

Submitting a story or artwork for @Action News is easy! Just send it to newspaper@spindizzy.org or qmail or page Argon, or Ba'ar 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

Thanks! Ba'ar, Associate Editor @Action News