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Etiquette. Ritual. Cunning and dealing. These are the trappings of Cribbage, one of the most popular games available to play on a MU, and a very popular game in English pubs. Cribbage clubs, hosting events, encounters, tournaments, have lasted for years, and SpinDizzy is lucky enough to have a veteran in its midst, Portia the Red Panda.

Portia was kind enough to take me on a tour of an online Cribbage group. The place is newbie-friendly, she says, and Cribbage is a social game as well as being based on strategy. Being social, it works well with MUs, and the group she has been associated with has been running since before 1997! They host over eight Cribbage rooms, and regular tourneys for all levels.

While SpinDizzy does not have one itself, one might qualify that with a "yet," based on what I've heard about this great pastime. Cribbage's requirement for etiquette fits well with SpinDizzy's norms, and its social aspect adapts well to a MU.

A Cribbage Board exists already on SpinDizzy, for new and old players alike, coded by one of SpinDizzy's kind denizens. Tanuki has often mentioned crafting a gaming room of sorts for a variety of games. Perhaps it's time someone take him up on the offer.

Denizens interested in trying out Cribbage for themselves are encouraged to contact Portia. If you'd like to help set up a game room, you might contact Tanuki ... or consider hosting a few Cribbage events.

Sources close to Action News disclosed earlier this week a shocking revelation. Whilst exploring areas other than the rose garden, Concert Island found Austin, local head wizard, coati, and part time raccoon/rabbit, randomly slinging around spells. One result of such was that Findra, local wizard and most-of-the-time bunny, found herself suddenly transmogrified into a squirrel. The former rabbit was reported to look quite surprised at such a turn of events, and ended up perched between Leowolf's ears, although it was not clear whether this was to avoid getting stepped on, or just to get a better vantage point from which to show off her newly acquired fluffy tail.

"It's a long longer than my tail as a rabbit," Findra replied. "I think I might keep it." Findra, notorious among certain denizens of the muck for her propensity to randomly swap limbs, ears, noses, etc. with unsuspecting residents, merely smiled when asked whether it would become a permanent fixture. "These things will, of course, take time to determine," was all she would say, as she brushed a small pile of nut shells off the front of Leowulf's mane and onto his muzzle.

Argon, local centaur, came out the other night and found his wife, the lovely Mavra in Patch O'Black's ice cream shop. Joining her, and after the usual centaur "hipbump", Patch asked Argon, "What'll it be? Not wanting a banana split like Mavra was having, Argon asked for something simple.

"I'll just have a Coca~Cola, please, Patch," Argon said. Rather than just putting a cup under a spout and having the drink come out, Patch actually mixed carbonated water and Coca~Cola syrup to make the centaur's drink 1920's style. Without the "special ingredient" they put in it back then of course. It was delicious. As Argon finished off his soda, Mavra had cleaned up her banana split.

About this time, Andros, another local centaur, showed up. He ordered a lemonade. After a round of hipbumps and hellos, the conversation turned to the facinating lives they have being centaurs.

Soon it was time for Argon and Mavra to head home. They said so long to Andros and went home to their house. No report at this time what if anything, Andros ordered to eat.

Argon, local centaur, seems to have made a friend over the last couple of weeks. When visiting the Rose Garden, he finds that Zeus, local cougar, seems to enjoy visting with the "horse-being". At least that seems to be the way the cougar sees the centaur.

Zeus has been seen around the Rose Garden, at least by Argon, fairly often the last couple of weeks. At first, Argon was wary of Zeus as he seemed... well, a "natuaral", cougar. He doesn't speak or wear clothes and seems to act like a regular cougar. Apparently he is used to humans though as he is quite friendly to both Argon and Andros, another local centaur. He rubs against their legs and enjoys patpats and ear scritches and is especially fond of being rubbed under his chin. He also exibits behaviors not usually associated with "sentient" folks. The Antiraccoon can tell you more about that.

Argon has often said that felines and equines get along well. Although partially "equine" in form, his lower aspect being horse-like, he doesn't consider himself a horse. He doesn't mind being considered somewhat "equine" in form anyway, and this form has made him a number of feline friends, the latest being Zeus the cougar

With the recent addition of FuzzBall 6, it is possible (though not required of everyone) to view some of the text you get on SpinDizzy in ANSI color. Those who don't want to see it don't have to, as there is a convenient 'COLOR' flag that can be set or unset on players.

For those who might be interested in it, however, Morticon asks:

• Are there any programs in particular people would like a color option in?
• What method(s) should people use to color their descriptions and conversations? Are there existing ones that are used elsewhere, that people like? A new SpinDizzy specific one?

Ideas could, and can be, suggested to any wizard!

Firewind has arrived.

Ba'ar smiles, "Greetings. Make yourself at home!"

Firewind hops onto the bed.

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

Firewind nods.

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?"

Firewind says, "About 2 and a half years now, bordering on 3."

Ba'ar growls, "What brought you to Spindizzy ?"

Firewind sighs, "The late Butterfluff."

Firewind says, "I needed an escape from reality, and the mail shop."

Ba'ar nods, "Any special story as to where you come from?"

Firewind shakes his head, "None really."

Ba'ar growls, "So what's a typical day like for you-or is there one?"

Firewind shrugs, "There isn't one, depends on whether my dipstick friend next door calls, and who happens to be on, among other little things."

Ba'ar nods, "So what's your favorite place to hang out here?"

Firewind shrugs again, "Its been so long, I've only been coming again for a couple weeks now. I don't really have a favorite hangout, just simply somewhere thats populated half the time.

Ba'ar growls, "If there was one thing you could change about Spindizzy, what would it be?"

Firewind says, "Make it into a cheap virtual reality game, the kind where you kinda 'jack in'? I'm joking...ask me that one later, I need to think about it."

Ba'ar grins "I thought there was one already there. Second Life!"

Firewind says, "Not the way I'm thinking it, I mean as in litterally link your mind into it, experience what happens and such."

Ba'ar nods, "So who do you admire the most?"

Firewind says, "Findra."

Ba'ar growls, "Any reason? Is it because she works so hard to keep things afloat?"

Firewind shakes his head, "Deep down feeling first time we met."

Ba'ar growls, "Conversely, any one you admire the least?"

Firewind shakes his head.

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

Firewind ponders that one.

Firewind pouts a little, "No real plans..."

Ba'ar growls, "Is there a secret fact or desire about you that would surprise our readers?"

Firewind nods, "But I am not at liberty, nor is my secret, to tell."

Ba'ar giggles, "Betcha it has something to do with Findra."

Ba'ar winks at Firewind

Firewind shakes his head, "Honestly, this one doesn't."

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

Firewind says, "If you're in a hole, stop digging. If you aren't in a hole, don't start digging."

Ba'ar nods, "Good advice that. With that in mind, that concludes our interview. Again Firewind thanks!"

Q: What do lawyers eat on nature hikes?
A: Trial Mix.

Q: Who is marked with the sign of Arr, and can talk to marsupials?
A: The Wallabeastmaster.

Q: How do you make a polar bear?
A1: Take the tensor product of a Cartesian bear and a appropriate transformation matrix.
A2: Take a regular brown bear, and tell a Black-crowned night heron that the bear is after her young.

Q: What is the most musical procyonid?
A: A Rockoon.

Q: What sort of music to Rockoons play?
A: Shiny Metal.

Q: What do you call a procyonid left hanging outside to dry?
A: A Rungtail.

Q: Why should you consult a wallaby before using an outhouse?
A: They're small can gurus.

Q: Why should you do what a raven says?
A: It's beak caws, that's why!

Q: Why do community-minded wahs spend time practicing with hoses?
A: They're volunteer fire foxes.

Q: What kind of cars do genets drive?
A: Honda Civets.

Q: How do you teach a marsupial to read?
A: Start with its Wall-a-b-c's.

Q: What is the most Zen procyonid?
A1: A Rackoan?
A2: Or a Koanti?

Q: What do Zen procyonidae ask themselves?
A: If a shiny object sparkles in the woods, and nobody is there to grab it, isn't that a shame?

Q: What procyonid is best at hockey?
A: A Rinktail.

Q: What procyonidae have the smelliest behinds?
A: A Ranktail.

Q: What do you get when you cross a cacomistle with a scorpion?
A: A Stingtail.

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

• One Year Ago - / Society of Evil Doers gains a member
• Three Years Ago - / Austin Suspected Of Being In Singapore Again

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:
I heard rumors that The SED have won the contract for the Spindizzy airport security. Please say it isn't so.
- Scribbles

Dear Scribbles:
It isn't so...the centaurs are actually going to be handling the contract!

Dear Bearing Up:
Why does Spindizzy need an airport?
- Sky Harbor

Dear Sky Harbor:
Where else would the SD residents that are pilots keep their planes and spaceships?

Dear Bearing Up:
What good is a high school diploma?
- Mr. Owen

Dear Mr. Owen:
A piece of paper that's worth nothing.

Dear Bearing Up:
What DOES a LIBERAL ARTS MAJOR say to a BUSINESS MAJOR, anyway?
- Bluto

Dear Bluto:
What else? 'Do you want FRIES with that sir'?

Greetings all, Ba'ar here with the Spindizzy @Action news survey for this week. What is your 'job' or 'role' in the Spindizzy community?

• Gina_Doberman answers the survey. "Rock and Roll singer!"
• PatchO'Black mews, "My job is Jellicle cat, which includes being a nekobasu and local treat grower."
• Borris Gruffs, "Role/Job of Borris is to not eat Not Food!
• Chanspot tips a hat, and hugs about. My role? I serve coffee. :)"
• Leowulf finally registeres that darnit, he's even unemployed 'here'
• Darius says, "I provide fun and amusement, as well as being a member of SED, providing excitement and thrills!"
• DTF growls, "Hm... what's my job on SD? I dunno.... collector of family-like furs."
• Cora growls, "My job is to be the resident party-giver and babysitter to Thanny and the other young ones."

Argon's preparations for Ernesto are met with disapproval by Mavra as the storm fizzled out.

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