talkmagic.co.uk

I just want to mention a couple of things, half magic-related, half not.

The magic-related thing is this. I got the spongeball toolbox today! My first impression is that it's a lot smaller than I imagined, but I haven't even taken the DVD out of its sleeve as yet. Also, I would have got the devil's picture book today as well, but for circumstances beyond anyone's control. I will get it next week instead. Updates to my "magic I own" page to be made as I get around to it.

The non-magic-related thing is this. One of the reasons I originally joined talkmagic was because I needed a break from an old haunt of mine (the newsgroup alt.fan.pratchett) and therefore needed a new place to socialise online. However, yesterday I decided that I've had enough of a break and that I'm ready to return to afp. Which doesn't mean I'll completely vanish from talkmagic, but it means my time online will be more widely distributed.

A few more things, because I like to keep my post count low and sometimes the best way to do that (other than shutting up) is to stick miscellaneous news together in the same post:

1. A friend of mine has recently published a fantasy novel. Consider buying it for your book tests if nothing else, and please click on the link that's most appropriate for your country.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Guardians-Bane- ... 847480144/
http://www.amazon.com/Guardians-Bane-Si ... 847480144/

2. That kitchen renovation of mine is coming up very soon now.

3. A long-running in-joke over on alt.fan.pratchett is the one about the Church of the Blank Sheet of Paper. This is a satirical religion revering blank sheets of paper, and most of the jokes have to do with how each faction of the Church considers all the other factions to be dangerous heretics who should be burned at the stake, et cetera. The primary division within the Church is about the definition of a blank sheet of paper. One faction maintains that a blank sheet of paper is a sheet of paper that's blank, and that any sheet of paper with something printed or written on it is clearly not blank. The other faction maintains that a true blank piece of paper is one that bears the Holy Words THIS SHEET IS INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK, and that without the Holy Words, it is not a blank sheet of paper at all, but merely a sheet of paper with nothing on it.

The earliest history of the Church is recorded here, but as I say it's an on-going in-joke. I mention this because performing miracles such as transforming any sheet of paper into a blank one would be child's play for most people here, and I invite you to speculate on how you would use your talents to further the cause of whichever faction you are drawn to.

I'm going to join that religion.