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BOOK 'EM DAN-O
09:41 PST 25 SEP 1998
I know plenty of people want a User Friendly book -- I get e-mail on it every day. I wasn't going to say anything until the deal was inked, but I think I'd better fess up before I get buried under a ton of requests: a major book publisher approached me on this very topic a little while ago. Right now a senior editor at the publishing house is drumming up support within the firm. Hopefully I'll hear some really good news in a week or so. I promise to keep you all posted.

INFREQUENT UPDATE TO THE FAQ
08:45 PST 24 SEP 1998
The User Friendly FAQ was updated last night. Just a couple of new entries, including the buttons for the dreaded User Friendly Productivity Virus.

GODDAMMIT ILLIAD, I WANT STUFF!
08:43 PST 24 SEP 1998
T-shirts, mugs, mousepads, stickers...the demand is piling up judging from the e-mail I've been getting, not to mention the comments in the Friendly Forum. A local merchandising company is going to give me their pitch in the next week or so, but I may as well open the doors to the world. Anyone know a merchandiser who can provide a turnkey solution here? We're looking for someone to partner with so that administration of this not-insubstantial process is left to them; all I'm insisting on is quality control. If you know someone, get them to contact me directly.

DUST PUPPY? IS THAT YOU?
08:40 PST 24 SEP 1998
So, the votes are in. Out of 795 voters, 40% said they think he should sound something like Marvin the Martian. Thing is, the other two categories were reasonably close behind, at 30% and 28%. I also had some pretty cool suggestions for his voice in e-mail. Maybe we should take this to the Forum? Ideas: give Erwin a Marvin the Martian type voice, and the Dust Puppy gets a normal 20+ year old male's voice. Something not as dreamy as HAL's.

FAN ART ENTRIES
12:12 PST 23 SEP 1998
I've received a total of 19 entries for the fan art section for the month of September. You still have about a week to get your entry in for a chance to win one of a very few t-shirts that are left. Not to mention immortality on the User Friendly Fan Art page. :) Go for it!

EVOLVING STATIC
11:25 PST 22 SEP 1998
The Daily Static is evolving. I haven't hit on a fixed format yet, other than including the daily comic strip. I've had suggestions for more geek links, reviews, and even incorporating highlights from this news page there. Anyway, I started a discussion thread on where we should go with the Daily Static. Here's another chance for you to influence the course of User Friendly, so hop into the Friendly Forum or e-mail me and tell us what you'd like to see.

RESCUER REQUIRED
13:58 PST 21 SEP 1998
Anyone looking for a job? The company I work for is beginning the hunt for someone to take over my non-cartooning duties. You need to have experience with print media (prepress, film, design), web media (site design, digital graphics), and project management. Your duties will be extremely varied, since you'll be working with Marketing as well as Creative. You'll need to know: HTML, Photoshop, Pagemaker, Illustrator, and you should have a basic knowledge of Linux. You have to love the Internet, you need to live in or near Vancouver, B.C., you have a preference for small, entrepreneurial companies, and you can work without supervision. Literally. Oh, and you also need to like User Friendly since you'll be helping me with the site. :) Please note that the hiring process will take a couple or three months as we're looking for a perfect match for our small but dedicated crew. Interested? Send your resume to Martina and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.

iWHACK REDUX
10:50 PST 21 SEP 1998
The e-mail I've been getting indicates I should set the record straight. Yes, I picked on the iMac; no, I'm not swayed by the flame mail; yes, I will continue to pick on anything and everything in the world of technology -- it's a comic strip ferchrissakes. So, everyone who wrote in with concerns about me reining in my pen because of the flames, don't worry. Heat never bothered me.