How about another Wordcraft costume party? We've had lots of fun with those, though we need lots of people. Would October 31st work for everyone? I am not sure about the time yet because of daylight savings time changes in various countries (Canada, New Zealand, England, and the U.S.), but we'll figure it out.

Is there interest? For those who haven't joined before, you come into the chat as someone famous and take on that persona. For example, I once was a William Strunk, that peevologist (as z calls uptight grammar mavens), and it was fun trying to be a peevologist. In the end, we guess who people are, so the more, the merrier.

Bob, do you think you could join us from another computer, such as one at a library? You should be able to access our chat from other computers. We'd so love to have you!

The libraries aren't open at that time of day. I don't know where I could go that has a computer that I could use. If I can think of somewhere I will but if not I'll be there in spirit.

I am expecting to be around - dinner duties permitting.

Bob, what time do your libraries close on Saturdays? We could always change our time that day for you.

Richard, I am sure Margaret wouldn't mind just one day you're being a little late to dinner for such a noble cause.

For those who haven't joined us that often, or maybe never, it would be a wonderful opportunity to fool all of us.

Some tips, and maybe others who have partied have other ones: (a) Develop a new login with the name of the person you'd like to be, such as "Ghost of Michael Jackson." (b) When developing the persona, you can be creative with the profile, or some just leave the profile blank because I think they're afraid it might give them away. (c) Do not include your email address on your profile or it will give you away. We are a sneaky bunch. Many of us check those profiles. (d) When chatting, stay in costume until the end when we "come out."

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You would have to move it forward by at least three hours, maybe more. It wouldn't be worth the inconvenience to everyone else. I'll see if I can come up with something.

It looks like the U.S. time will change after the chat (first Sunday in November), while the U.K. time will change on the last Sunday in October (October 25th). To complicate things for me, I will be in Phoenix then and I don't think their time changes.

I found this site about time changes kind of fun .

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The UK reverts to UTC (GMT that was) on that date. As I have already posted, I think that whole business of time change is a costly, confusing and pointless exercise, made more confusing and expensive by the fact that not all countries change in the same 24-hour period (which they easily could).

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The UK reverts to UTC (GMT that was) on that date.

On that date? Do you mean the date that I posted (October 25th)? Or the date of the chat (October 31st)? Or some other date?

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On that date? Do you mean the date that I posted (October 25th)? Or the date of the chat (October 31st)? Or some other date?

On that date you posted, 25 October 2009.

How does one copy an image here? Asa sent me a great image related to time changes, and I'd love to post it.

Don't forget about creating your Halloween persona! As an administrator here, I welcome new people, and I've not seen any new costumes. Get thinking!

Are we encouraged not to use a previous year's costume (that is, if we can find it?)

No, you could use it. I surely don't remember others' costumes, though some here might...and then you wouldn't win. And you know me with winning!

BTW, for the record, I did win last year.

It's not difficult to reuse an account created previously. Just go to your profile and edit the display name (not the username). You've got to be logged into the account with the correct account's username, of course, to be able to edit it.

This Saturday is the party, and I don't think I've seen any new registrants for the party. Please join us on Saturday. It will be at 12:00 Central Daylight Time, 10:00 Pacific time, 11:00 Mountain time, and 1:00 Eastern time; our time doesn't change until November 1st. The UK changed back to standard time in the 25th, so what time will that be? I am a little confused.

Please plan your costumes!

That will be 1700 GMT (it is always 1700 GMT - that time never changes). When the USA changes its clocks then the time variation will again be the same as it has been throughout the summer.

Didn't it used to be 18:00 GMT?

I'm sorry - I didn't make myself clear.

What I meant to say is that GMT never changes but the variance from GMT that various countries use might change. In order to keep in synch with the USA's chat times we need to change our times for the short period when Europe has changed its clocks and the USA has not - although GMT itself never changes.

During the summer we were 1800 BST (1700 GMT); at the moment we are 1700 GMT to keep in step with US time, but when the USA changes to its own winter time then we have to change to 1800 GMT.

As I have said many times, I believe that the whole business of time change is a pointless and expensive nonsense.

Am I the only person around here that sometimes gets that "Groundhog Day" feeling?

that "Groundhog Day" feeling?

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They say our love won't pay the rent;
Before it's earned, our money's all been spent.
I guess that's so, we don't have a pot,
But at least I'm sure of all the things we got.

Oh, thanks, Z. Now I'm going to have "I've got you , Babe" running through my head all day.

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Am I the only person around here that sometimes gets that "Groundhog Day" feeling?

Nope.

Okay...tomorrow's the Halloween chat. Come in costume at 12:00, Central time. Remember, the more, the merrier!

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Am I the only person around here that sometimes gets that "Groundhog Day" feeling?

If that was an unkind dig at me for mentioning time changes in response to a query, I would remind you that, unlike Groundhog Day (the non-Hollywood version), time changes happen twice every year and, every time they happen, millions of people (including many on this board) are confused.

If I make the chat I'll probably come as me; I'm doubtful that I can go through the machinations necessary to create a new persona.

Those who are not confused, and who feel it's a truly wonderful thing that half the world's population has to adjust its clocks twice every year, have a right to their opinions.

It was a gentle dig at the whole board where this conversation takes place twice a year, every year.

I agree with you that it's a pointless exercise in the modern world.

I just tried the chatroom again. It still doesn't work with this ISP. Sorry, I won't be there. Just think of me as an invisible, inaudible spirit hovering in the room.

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I just tried the chatroom again. It still doesn't work with this ISP. Sorry, I won't be there. Just think of me as an invisible, inaudible spirit hovering in the room.

Give them the sack, Bob. They won't even try to chase you for the money!

I can't get in either. Too bad!

I've been trying, but have to give up.

I had better luck with the civil rights movement!

We saw you trying, Rosa, but you only appeared as having left the room, without ever having actually joined it, much in the same way as has happened when Bob tries.

Oh, Darn! I forgot! Happy Halloween, everybody!

Ghostwriter

I was on a very slow computer. Now I am wondering if I'd stuck for awhile, whether it might have connected.

How was it? Was it fun?