Welcome to another Tandra Newsletter.

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Now that's out of the way, for those of you who signed up to receive this newsletter...onward.

This is the third Newsletter using a new app. As many of you are aware, there were numerous problems with our previous attempts at a newsletter. The newsletters created with our new app appear to have gone out much more smoothly. There does seem to be a problem with the specified links to individual pages at Tandra dot Com and we have not figured why just yet. In any event, once you reach the Tandra Home Page, locating various features should be relatively easy. On another topic, we had a number of replies in response to our previous newsletter. Thank you one and all.

WEB SITE OF THE MONTH

We send out newsletters and we also get newsletters. A surprise out of the blue has been a series of newsletters fron the David Alvarez Studio with information about his comic strip YENNY. YENNY is an on line comic and the strip is quite good and FUNNY! Mister Alvarez has apparently been creating the adventures of Yenny for almost a year, starting in the summer of 2003. Yenny is drawn in an erotic big foot style. In fact, she literally has big feet which keeps her from the modeling career she desires. She has an overprotective mother and a hyperactive iguana named Zacha as well as other members to the cast.

David Alvarez, besides having the wonderful on line comic, is an accomplished ink on paper artist in the real world, producing stories for the Warner Brothers stable of cartoon characters for their newsstand comics. If you have an interest in the classic Warner Brothers Looney Tunes characters, you should check out his work at your local comics shop. You should also definitely check out his Yenny strips at http://www.yennycomics.com and do it today!

The Day The Earth Stood Still on DVD

Back in the early sixties one of the national television networks, I think it was NBC, decided it was cheaper to fill the Saturday night spot with a made for theatrical release movie than to pay to have original programming produced. So began Saturday Night At The Movies to fill two hours of prime time once per week. Of course, old movies had been standard television fare since television began, but this Saturday night prime time spot was supposed to be more recent movies, say something about ten to fifteen years old. One of the movies selected to be shown was The Day The Earth Stood Still, a film about a visitor from the stars who comes to deliver the ultimatum that should we of earth export our wars and violence to the stars, we will be exterminated. The civilized planets of space do not tolerate wars. It was on Saturday Night At The Movies I first saw The Day The Earth Stood Still.

A few years back, The Day The Earth Stood Still was listed as one of the handfull of true Science Fiction films ever made, that as opposed to any number of space opera movies released over the years. Now The Day The Earth Stood Still is on DVD, restored with George Lucas' THX process. The movie is in monochrome, but that doesn't detract from the enjoyment of this classic. It's fun to watch the old police cars scramble when the alien invader lands in Washington and interesting to note the almost total absence of gee whiz special effects. But, in the end, the minimal effects and dated automobiles matter little. What grips your interest is the story told by top notch actors and a director at the top of his form. And, while the cars and clothing may be dated, the message is certainly as contemporary as tomorrows headlines, probably more relevant than when it was first released to theatres in 1950. You can rent this DVD at your local movie rental outlet, but I suspect you will want it in your permanent personal collection. It's that good!

COMMERCIAL BREAK

Just in case you have not visited our web site recently, we want to remind you there is excellent material by Ms. Libby Singleton available for your enjoyment. A teaser sample of one of her Tandra text stories is given below. Ms. Singleton has additional Tandra stories included on the Tandra Active image CD-ROM available from our on-line store. If you have not ordered your Tandra Active Image CD-ROM, you should do it today. See how good e-comics can be!

Krallyn’s Song
by Libby Singleton

Dhramer surveyed the work crews as he wiped his brow, then drank deeply from his water gourd. Progress moved slowly beneath the hot, bluish green Tandra sky. He chose not to scold the laborers, who worked diligently while singing a traditional work song. Only the massiveness of the task itself could be blamed for the delays. A gigantic building once stood on the site, housing the largest and most elaborate theatre ever to grace the planet. Long since silent, only a pile of weed-and-brush ridden rubble remained. Not even the tiniest bit of fine cloth or precious ornamentation remained to reveal a hint of the building's former grandeur. The workers’ eager, off-tune singing did little justice to the masterpieces which once sounded through the auditorium.

Grabbing the hysser’s harness, Dhramer caught a glimpse of a familiar carriage over the short-legged reptile’s back. He realized he hadn’t seen the carriage in the past few days. Normally, every morning at approximately the same time, he’d notice it parked in the same shady spot. He never saw anyone exit the unadorned, yet obviously expensive and well-make vehicle. The driver always remained in his seat, sitting in a dignified pose.

Although curious, Dhramer gave no further thought to the mysterious carriage. Being a practical man, or at least one who valued his job, he lead the hysser and cart to be loaded. “Pile it on heavy, Kamith,” he addressed the team leader. “This beast can handle more.”

“She’s the best we’ve got,” Kamith agreed, team-lifting a cracked, flat stone with another man. The team leader’s hysser snorted as if in agreement.

Dhramer patted his own animal’s dusty tan nose. “She should be a breeder. Perhaps with your stallion....Kamith, do you feel something?”

The ground started shaking. Not with the wave of an earthquake, but as if the ground had come alive, hungry and frantic to swallow. Dhramer felt his feet slipping as the dirt moved. Forcing himself not to look down, he urged his hysser to back up. She fought him, trying to break away from his grasp. “Back! Back! Back!” Dhramer shouted.

Behind him, Kamith screamed and his hysser yelped, their combined agony sounding over the chaos. Realizing he didn’t have much time, Dhramer gripped his animal’s harness, using his free hand to rip the shirt from his body. He wrapped the cloth around his hysser’s eyes. “Back! Back!” he ordered again. The animal balked. “I can’t do anything about the damn noise. Back!”

The animal shifted its body weight, then took a step backwards. Its rump impacted against the cart.

“Back! That’s it girl! Back!”

The hysser continued, obeying the command while tossing her head in distress at the cries of the injured stallion. When Dhramer realized the earth no longer moved, he shouted, “halt!”

Instinctively, he patted the wild-eyed animal. “Good girl! That a good girl!”

“Help me!” a voice cut into Dhramer’s momentary relief. “By the Wizards, help me!”

...continued in the Guest Writers section at www.tandra.com

LETTERS SECTION

People,
Thanks for your information on the Elfquest site. Like you, I was there when Elfquest was born and enjoyed it more than the lifeless comics produced by the big companies. Over the years, I got busy with other things (wife, children, a job) and let Elfquest pass out of my life. Thanks for nudging my memory.
Elfquest Fan

Hanther,
Enjoyed your review of Elfquest. It has always been one of my favorite comics. (I like Tandra, too.)
Pam

Tandra Folks,
I saw the first two Hornblower adventures on A&E when they first came out but I missed the most recent. Glad to know it's available on DVD.
Dennis

Thanks to those of you who took the time to write. More letters next time.

NEW TO TANDRA DOT COM

Just a reminder that Tandra page 274 is available for free download from the Tandra Home Page. You can find page 274 along with other archived pages in the Members Section and you do not have to know a secret password nor do you have to pay to enter. The Members Section is free.

That's it for this time. Check out the Tandra site, read the free Charlie's reports, enjoy Ms. Singleton's story and send us feedback.

Now I've got to get back to work,

The Crew at http://www.tandra.com

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