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Imagine you are in a lifeboat. There are a number of folks in the boat all with oars and the ability to use them. Now imagine this lifeboat is being moved along by one person. All the rest let their oars lay on the floor of the boat, and rest their hands in their laps. Once in a while, one of the other passengers dip their oars in the water and row for a bit, but they soon stop and leave the rowing to one person.

In a sense, I feel I am that "one person". With the exceptions of Ba'ar, Gilead and Patch O'Black, who provide feature articles each week (Ba'ar's survey, Gilead's puns, and Patch's Comics column,) the vast majority of actual "news" about things that happen here are written by me.

This week, in the Rose Garden alone, I, along with a number of others saw Patch's announcement of being named "Chief Jellicle Cat", a discussion of how to measure half of infinity, Suri's idea of putting wheels on me, setting me on fire, and jumping over the Rose Garden, along with the ending of the election. These are just the newsworthy items I witnessed. Surely other equally interesting things happened in the last week, but as of this writing, I'm unaware of them.

When I became editor of @Action News, my view of the paper was for it to be an outlet for the creativity and abilities of the folks on SpinDizzy. You can't go to the Rose Garden without hearing someone talk about a writing project, or seeing a drawing they've done. The paper was to be a forum to display these talents in the context of news and cartoons about the events on SpinDizzy. I had hoped it to be a multi-faceted view of the goings on here, not just a report of what I had seen or done.

More often than not when I ask for a contribution for the paper, I'm told, "I haven't seen anything", "I can't write," or, "Sorry, I'm too busy." Believe it or not, I too have a real life. I have a job, a home to care for, friends and neighbors, and activities outside of SpinDizzy. Yet in spite of these responsibilities I find, no, I make the time to write three or four news articles, find illustrations for them and more often than not, draw a cartoon for @Action News each week. My drawing and writing skills aren't all that good. Certainly there are many folks who can do as well or better. Yet the venue of the paper never see their work. If I can manage all that, certainly there are folks that can take a half hour to write a couple paragraphs about happenings here.

I enjoy writing for @Action News, but by writing most if not all of the news articles, it defeats the purpose of the paper. So, to get to the point, here is what's going to happen.

From now on, the majority of news articles will be those from sources other than myself. I will write some, but if I write one article, I'll expect two from other writers. If at least two news articles aren't recieved, either page #mailed to me, or e-mailed to newspaper@spindizzy.org, no paper will be published that week. Cartoons may be sent to the same e-mail address.

If you enjoy @Action News and want to see it stay afloat, you may help by picking up an oar, or a pencil or your keyboard, and help it move along. With the majority of news and features by others, @Argon News can return to being @Action News.

Beltrami, local balloon, was elected Mayor of SpinDizzy this week. Gilead, local otter and Elections Supervisor, made the announcement Thursday night.

Argon, local centaur, asked if there would be a "swearing in ceremony" of some sort. Suri, local lemur, noted that she could swear and demonstrated this abilty with a loud, "#@%*&!!!" She followed this with a stirring rendention of her version of "SpinDizzy's National Anthem,"

Suri sings o/~ "O Spindizzy, our round and spinny home!" ~/o
o/~ "You fly through space, amidst the stars you roam!" ~/o
o/~ "With thoughtful brains we think of you, with lookish eyes we see!"~/o
o/~ "With footly feet, O Spindizzy, we stand on gourds for thee!" ~/o
o/~ "Now our song is done! We've sung it songfully!" ~/o
o/~ "O Spindizzy we stand on Gourds for thee! O Spindizzy, we stand on Gourds for thee!" ~/o

Suri then said, "Play ball!"

Gilead then chirped, "I'd like to extend this laurel and hearty handshake to our new...." he then handed the laurel to Beltrami, "Mayor."

Beltrami then touched her chin and bowed to Gilead.

Argon, local centaur asked Beltrami what her first action as Mayor would be. She responded by squeezing Lou's and then Suri's ankles and petting the both of them. It is unknown at the time @Action News went to press if Beltrami has plans other than those she stated at in her statements to @Action News of October 22, 2007

When asked for comments, Jaxen, local fox said, "Beltrami, Eliahn and Portia, helped put on a good election, and I was glad to be part of it. I also hope Beltrami does well in office, and I congratulate her." Portia, local red panda, said, "I'm sure that Beltrami will do a great job and that any of us will offer our assistance her in her endeavors."

No response had been recieved from Eliahn, local fox, as of press time. Following is a breakdown of the 67 vote cast in this election:

Beltrami Portia Eliahn Jaxen	28 19 13 7

• Ba'ar says, "It would be a mini version of me, of course."
• Argon says, "I think a little shiny SpinDizzy to hang from a branch would be cool."
• Dingo gasps! "A bone!"
• Andros yips, "A tauran mark V plasma frag grenade."
• Borris Gruffs, "A Jellicle cat in a Santa suit!"
• Kefan says, "Why, the S-taur of Bethlehem, of course!"
• DTF smiles "A pair of white tigers pulling santa in a sleigh?
• Ceredwyn says, "Small, shiny wolf puppies probably."

Suri Thinking With Portals.

Got something that You'd like to contribute to @Action News, but aren't sure if You should, or how to do it? Just get in touch with Argon, Skyler, or Findra, and they'll be happy to help! Here are some basic guidelines, though.

Contributing a story or artwork for @Action News is easy! Just send it to newspaper@spindizzy.org, or qmail/pagemail Argon, Findra, or Skyler, with Your article!

• @Action News is published weekly sometime on Sunday.
• Articles received after midnight Pacific time on Saturday may be held and published in the next edition of @Action News.
• Most any type of story or article of interest to SpinDizzy's newspaper readers 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