Posted: 25^th September 2008

New Beginnings

I had a really nice editorial planned for you this week, you know. I've been out on the moors and coast path with a great bunch of children over the last couple of days, and today felt as if summer had properly ended. I also have a whole bunch of things to look forward to over the winter and next spring, and I was going to tell you about all this before continuing in a related vein about this issue.

Then I thought how much my Editorials must sound like being in church sometimes. I avoid going more often than necessary, but I happened to be in one a few weeks ago when the vicar started talking about the Olympics. You just know that God is going to be, in some small way, like an Olympic gold medallist, or we are like children waiting for our GCSE results, or Jesus was a bit like Kevin Keegan.

And I suppose that, in some small way, my Editorials are a bit like sermons. So I'll stop there, eh?

I'm sad to report that we're saying goodbye to three Regular columns this week. Smudger has written his last Snippet after five years and almost 150 issues. I'm really going to miss his columns, and the archives are a constant delight— do have a browse and see what you've been missing out on if you're not a fan already. On the plus side, he does hint that he might be persuaded back, so perhaps if we all tell him how great he is he may yet carry on. Has to be worth a try, eh? If not; Smudger, thank you very much for everything. You've been a wonderful contributor over the years, and all the team wish you all the best in the future.

We're also saying goodbye to Babe Among the Stars in this issue, which I'll be astronomically lost without, and Mu Beta has decided to step down from writing Entry of the Month, a project I know he has put a hell of a lot of work into. These are both columns I've thoroughly enjoyed and will miss immensely, although we are hoping we'll find someone to take over the reins at EotM. Thank you both for all your hard work.

There's good news as well, though. Malabarista and dimitrigheorgheni have been working on a special new webcomic for us, Anarchy Gordon, which we teased you with last week. The first part appears below. Our new proactive approach to finding columnists is paying dividends, it seems—as well as this, we have some wonderful pieces from the AWW for you, and Bel has dug up a cracker from one of SWL's journals to boot. We do seem to be moving forward, and I'd like to thank everyone involved for their work, help, and permission to use their work.

Thanks to you all for your hard work on this issue. The deadline for the next one is midnight on 5^th October; get your contributions in, and I hope you all enjoy this issue!

Skankyrich

• 
  Bertie and the Beast
  


Was It Spain or Was It Sweden? Part 3

• 
  The Bicycle
  


Wonderful fiction from broelan

• 
  The h2g2 Poem
  


'Tuning Up', by minichessemouse

• 
  The h2g2 Poem
  


'Fens: A Decade + One' by sadi-ranson-polizzotti

• 
  The Kitchen War
  


Another briefing from our war correspondent

• 
  Platypus Dancing
  


Meanwhile, in an auto dealership near you...

• 
  Duck Tails
  


Writer's Block

• 
  Anarchy Gordon
  


It's here! Part One of our brilliant new webcomic
by Malabarista and dmitrigheorgheni

• 
  Escape Pod Dreams
  


The Inquisition Issue

• 
  Websailor's Wacky Wildlife World
  


War and Peace

• 
  Witters From Down Under
  


Seven Ducks in a Row

• 
  Babe Among the Stars
  


October Notes

• 
  Notes From Around the Sundial
  


Four Ancient Irish Treasures

• 
  Smudger Snippets
  


Farewell, Dear Friends

• 
  Take It To The Max!
  


Hound From Hell

• 
  Our Man In Milliways
  


Rich visits Torquay United

• 
  A Photoshopped Justification?
  


Waz discusses photo manipulation

• 
  CCTV, Data and Privacy
  


SWL looks back at the camera

• 
  Maestro
  


h5ringer reviews the BBC series

• 
  My Hedgehog Story
  


Welcome to shakysailorman and his little friend!

• 
  Announcements
  


Meets, sites, events etc

• 
  The Language Thing
  


Translations and Help

• 
  Classified Ads
  


Advertise your club here

• 
  The Post Page of Links
  


Links to all places h2g2 related