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FROM DRIVE TO PARK: That's it! The end of the drive is upon is. You only have until 2359 Pacific Time (GMT -8) today (Monday, January 19th 2004) to get in on the sponsorships other than the no-frills tier. All of you who have signed up and helped have earned my gratitude! I expect the next drive won't be coming until at least April, probably May or June. Also, we'll be starting shipment of all of the spiffs we promised in the next couple of weeks -- just have to wait for the limited edition Absolut Geek prints to come back from the press! Thank you again everyone!

PEOPLE HATE POP-UP ADS? NO! SAY IT AIN'T SO! This article in the NY Times [NB: registration required] reports on the general hatred consumers have for intrusive ads like pop-[ups|unders|*], and how even the big sites are scaling them back. Note that our friends at Doubleclick are working on technology to circumvent all of the popup-blocking software out there. Nice. UF, in case you hadn't noticed, maintains a policy of never, ever accepting pop-whatever ads. We never have and never will -- which does spell financial hardship. The money offered is significant and plentiful, but I can't accept dollars that come attached to that kind of intrusion.

I'd also like to point out that there are readers out there who visit the site with software that blocks the ads we do serve. You know, you can always buy a membership here, support UF, and turn the ads off. It costs less than a dime a day for a one-year membership (and not less than a penny a day, as I previously brainfarted).

If you're one of the folks who don't have an ethical problem with getting your content for free while blocking the ads, and you don't bother supporting UF in some other fashion, don't be surprised if one day daddy takes the T-bird away.

I KNOW THE WAY TO SAN JOSE: And I'll be there this coming weekend, from Friday to Monday (January 23-26, 2004). I'll be doing a bit of business and trying to visit old friends. If you think you'd like to get together for some geek-herd behaviour and a few beers, by all means reply to this article, post on the daily comment board, or drop me a line!

UPCOMING DUST PUPPY SHORTAGE: Our friends over at ComputerGear have pointed out to me that they have maybe one or two boxes left of the plush DP dolls and that they don't know when they'll be getting more in after these are gone. They're also on sale at ten bucks a piece! Satisfy your plush fix before they're gone, because I truly can't promise when they'll be back in stock.

ALAS, POOR YORICK. I KNEW HIM HORATIO: Alas indeed. It is with some sadness that I have to report I won;t be visiting the fine city of Copehagen for NordU 2004. I was contacted just recently by the NordU folks and due to a dearth of paying exhibitors, they are unable to hold the conference and a majority of the tutorials. Having said that, the Danish UFie Meet is still a go and sounds like it's going to be a fine time; have a beer for me!

VANCOUVER UFIE SUNRUN: Team Captain mapleleaf is once again tirelessly organizing the UFie SunRun in Vancouver, April 18, 2004. You can sign-up online at the SunRun 2004 site; go Race Categories -> Teams -> Corporate. From mapleleaf: The cost is $32 per person if you register by 13 february, or $37 if you register by 12 March. 12 March is also the FINAL deadline for registration as a member of a team. And you don't have to run! You can walk, crawl, or hop on one leg while you bark like a dog. A big dog.

SPONSORSHIP DRIVE DRAWING TO A CLOSE: Just a reminder that the multi-tier sponsorship drive will be over after Monday, January 19th. Less than a week away! There'll be another reminder just before the end. THANK YOU to everyone who has already supported UF!!

CURSES, SLAIN AGAIN: UFie arachn1d has set up a horribly addictive diversion on the 'net for us: a Nethack server where you can compete for a spot on the scoreboard. Me, I'm all about playing a Chaotic Human Rogue. Under a headstone. :-/