����Mortimer's people have been in touch with Dutchie's people and we've decided to close the SETI contest 24 hours after SETI comes back on-line. Right now they're predicting Friday for SETI's return, which means whenever SETI updates the standings on Saturday we'll end things.

����The multinational called MarnCo which is behind The Big Adventure wants to give everyone a chance to get their units up. You can well imagine the discomfort of sitting around for days with a unit that's ready to go and hasn't achieved full lift off.

����Unless there's another stunning upset (and this being Mortimer's life I think we can all agree that NOTHING can be predicted), it looks as if against all odds Team Newkirk (yay, yay) will be welcoming Team Betronic's mascot, Dutchie here to Canada.

����Woo HOO!

����While he awaits the return of his One True Love, Mortimer will take a week and go visit one lucky member of Team Newkirk--anyone who got their unit up for Mortimer is automatically entered in the "Win a Week With The Moose of Your Dreams" pool.

����If you're part of Team Newkirk and DON'T want to be part of the pool--if you're the kind of bell tower dwelling troubled loner who doesn't hanker to hang out with a small stuffed moose for a week (and of course I meant that in the kindest, gentlest, least judgmental way possible)--then just pop me an e-mail and I'll take your name out of the draw.

����Otherwise, the fickle finger of fate will make Paul pick a name out of a tuque on Sunday and someone will get to host 7 1/2 inches of pure moosie manliness.

����Pictures of Mortimer's adventures with you would be greatly appreciated--I have a scanner if you don't have a digital camera, and I'll be glad to return any photographs the lucky winner cares to lend of Mortimer's stay. I'll include return postage with the little guy so all the lucky winner has to cover is meals and entertainment while Mortimer's with you.

����Oh, and for those of you who wish a souvenir of the Mortimer-Dutchie experience, the wonderfully kind Ms. Mariel has made a banner. Just copy the code below it, take the spaces out from beside the pointy brackets (pointy brackets is a technical term, eh) and the banner will show up in your diary.

����There will be further bulletins as events progress.

--Marn

SETI@home

There has been an outpouring of sympathy for the plight of one small moose. The incredibly cute and deeply talented Paul of Rilting fame has even made a button for the Do It For The Moose Campaign.

Here's where the instructions are on how to get it.

And for those of you who wish a souvenir of this month's contest, Ms. Mariel has generously made this banner:

Here's the link info if you ever wanna use it!

< a href="http://marn.diaryland.com/mortimer.html">< img