The following Proposal:

Proposed: The creation of a Gaming Thread (clever title to come later), in which people could discuss games: board, LARP, MMORPG, video, tabletop RPG, game theory etc. etc. and all attendant news, developments and ancillary subjects thereof. All would be welcome to chime in, talk about their favorite games or learn about gaming of any sort. This thread could also be used for coordinating/scheduling games either online or IRL and could serve as a cooperative resource for people playing games.

PLEASE TO WHITEFONT SPOILERS for video games, RPG modules or anything for which foreknowledge of events might lessen one's enjoyment of whatever gaming experience.

has passed with a vote count as follows:

Yes- 49
No-27
No Pref-7

Thanks to everyone who voted and participated. I also encourage those who sometimes get discouraged about our procedures to count votes-- it is a really great experience to see all the emails flood in!

I just scored a couple of Torchwood audiobooks of my office free table - first person to send me an email with their address gets 'em!

[edit: Claimed!]

On the current installment of The Eclectic Word, author, critic and essayist Roz Kaveney and I discuss her latest book, "Superheroes," and her other works.

You should really go listen.

Yes, finally. A new lesson at Gothic Charm School!

Of Self Harm (There's More To This Lesson Than "Please Don't")

I just got another NetFlix offer to double the trial period from 2 to 4 weeks. If you don't have it already and would like to try it out, let me know and I'll send you an invite. In the interest of full disclosure, if anyone takes advantage of this, I'll also get a bonus rental. My profile addy is good.

risking over-doing it in press, but I wanted to let everyone know that our very own Stephanie is posting about flying with two (and more, soon) over at Travels With Child ( [link] ). We are loving all the buffista parents swinging by to offer posting ideas & guest post! - though that isn't news. loved 'em already.

I am proud to announce that I am an Uncle! Maybe it doesn't look like much from the text but imagine I'm saying it with jumping and arm-wavetude and shooting off a duel flare guns. He was born yesterday morning, is healthy as an ox and is the first addition to the immediate and extended family in 25 years. Wootah.

The second issue of Membra Disjecta is up! We have flash fiction from Typo Boy and Miracleman, an ass-kicking story from Erika, and a sad one from Deb. There's also a lot of other fiction, as well as some poetry and art. I hope you'll come take a look.

[link]

(Edited for errors and again for even more errors.)

I seem to recall there are other Buffistas interested in genealogy. Ancestry.com is offering for free the Lite version of their 2008 Family Tree Maker, for a limited time.

I'm not sure I like it as well as my 2001 vintage FTM v9.0, or even PAF, but it's free, so I'm trying it out for a while. [link]

Just a reminder, the F2F is fast approaching and money is barely trickling in. The cost of prom and the hospitality suite comes to $1500 thereabouts (taxes, all sorts of wierd numbers, yeah?) I've gotten a grand total of $140.00 (minus PayPal fees) in donations so far. For those who feel compelled to facilitate our debauchery fun and games, I am accepting donations through PayPal. Send your last penny two cents worth to: dinky40 at charter dot net. Thanks, all!