And now it is time to tootle my own horn with vigor... Whadja think of them graffics, huh? (My own excitement has caused me to revert to the vernacular.) For the last issue, I sent the master file electronically to the print plant, instead of the usual hard copy by secret drop box. The difference in quality caught me completely unawares, which I then soiled.

And now for something completely different ©®™. But before I proceed, I feel the need to explain that I do this from time to time for the simple reason that if I don’t bring it up when it comes to mind, I’m liable to forget it by the time an opportunity arises. I swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so anyway ... a thread arose quite by accident on the ConsimWorld discussion board (Holy Grail folder) recently, and before you could say The Major Battles and Campaigns of General George S. Patton, everyone was jumping on the bandwagon. The posting that triggered the outpouring of convivial likemindedness described a recurring dream of being in a store and accidentally coming upon a small trove of exceedingly rare and collectible board wargames that, for some reason (not enough money, or someone else just beat them to it, or the wife arrives on the scene), cannot be bought. Then the dreamer wakes up, in a sweat and/or shaking. The consistency of the dream suggests to me that perhaps this is the subtle cusp at which a simple player and accumulator metamorphoses into a full-blown, professional collector. Or maybe they’re just not telling us everything...

Basil Manuel. Come here. Manuel, you remember I had some money yesterday? Tell Mrs. Richards. Tell her I had the money.
Manuel *ahem* I know nothing.
Basil What?
Manuel I know nothing.
Basil No, no.
Manuel Nothing.
Basil No, no, forget that.
Manuel I forget everything. I know nothing.
Basil No, you can tell her. You can tell her.
Manuel No, I cannot.
Basil Yes, yes, tell her, tell her, please, please, tell her, tell her, I’ll kill you if you don’t.
Manuel No, I know nothing. I am from Barcelona. You see, I know nothing.
Basil I’m going to sell you to a vivisectionist.

Those of you who find computers and/or the internet to be tedious may wish to consider skipping the next few paragraphs. Simulacrum has had a web presence since August 2001, but only now has it become something more than just self indulgence. There are actually some very useful things on the site, with more planned for the future. For example, the Simulacrum spreadsheet-cum-database of board wargames can be downloaded in one of a number of different formats, and is kept updated monthly. The site also contains a complete index of all the games reviewed in Simulacrum, as well as a list of the contents of each issue. In addition, there’s a list and description of all the relevant books in the Simulacrum library, and a small marketplace where there are some games, books and magazines available for sale or trade. I encourage you to visit the site at:

http://www3.telus.net/Simulacrum/ main.html

...and see for yourself. Please note that part of the URL is case sensitive and part is not, so type the address in exactly as it appears above. I intentionally did not include a Guest Book on the site; in my experience, such contrivances seem to bring out the worst in people, encourage one-upsmanship, and quickly degenerate into something akin to an unmoderated discussion group. If you want to leave any comments or suggestions, please email osama_bin_laden@yahoo.com

kula@telus.net

Happy New Year to you and yours, one and all, and lang may your lum reek.