Planet Waves: What We Are Doing Dear Friend and Reader: REGULAR VISITORS to Planet Waves may have noticed some improvements to the site in recent days...in recent months...and in recent years. Every single day that passes, there are least two or three little developments that make our community magazine more useful, more fun, or prettier, sometimes all three. For each of those, behind the scenes, there are others every day that are not so noticeable but which are important -- for example, over the past two months, we've been gradually moving everything onto new, faster and more dependable servers. We will soon own our list servers instead of renting them. And so on... One level back, in the Plotting, Scheming and Development Dept., there are other projects that are in slow, steady progress. I'll give you two examples. One is the 2006 annual horoscope -- Parallel Worlds, which is a Web page unto itself...with both the astrology for 2006 and going into 2007, both for the world and sign-by-sign -- with numerous excellent news articles summing up the most important issues facing us. You will read the work of some of your favorite old-time Planet Waves writers, and meet several new ones. Another project is the Astrography database, a fully searchable, interactive database of my horoscope write-ups (including all weekly, monthly, annual and daily horoscopes). We've been working on this for more than a year, and it's just about done. All of this has been made possible by two things: first, by the love and devotion of the people who, together, make up Planet Waves; and second, by the modest budget provided by your subscription fees to Planet Waves Weekly. To "subscribe" means to "underwrite," and that is exactly what each subscriber does -- provides a dose of energy, a quantum of resource, to help us go forward, to grow, and to develop. We put nearly every dollar back into the project. All of us work long hours and we have something of a grand conspiracy going to build something really special with Planet Waves. Every day it becomes more obvious to me that the world needs such a thing. I am a news junkie, and I can tell you what you already know: the news lacks perspective...and a connection to you. Planet Waves makes "the world" into your world. We take the news on the level of its meaning. Due to the miracle of astrology and the expanded view of life that it offers, we are able to offer a perspective that verges on hopeful but is indeed our honest assessment of the world. There is not one of us who works on the project who lacks deep concern about the times we're living in -- but as I work with people, I notice that everyone here is in their own way working to make the world better. This is a privilege because, through taking action, through supporting the world, and through a commitment to grow, it's possible to work your way out of both despair and denial. I trust that above all else, Planet Waves is providing an example of what is possible with modest resources, good ideas and focused talent. I want to point out a couple of things about our project that you may have already noticed. The site is not stuffed with advertising. Every link you see to another site is either a gift, or a link exchange with someone we really care about and trust; somebody we can trust enough to send you to, and take responsibility for having done so. Notice that we don't use any promotional tactic for Planet Waves public or subscription services that depends on fear, insecurity, worrisome doubt, or plays into your anxiety. We are not trying to "hook" you. We figure if you like the vibes, the ideas and the pictures, you'll stick around. We give away as much as possible. Even our subscription service is available at no charge to anyone who asks. Several years of experience have taught us that people really do use this  responsibly. We don't want to exclude anyone from any part of Planet Waves. For those who have subscribed, we offer an unconditional refund of your remaining issues if you don't like the service. And my favorite is that we are a Web service that actually answers the telephone. There must be another one somewhere...but I don't know where. This is Chelsea's job, down in Florida. Our toll-free number is (877) 453-8265. You can even call just to say hello, if you like. In the long run, my vision for Planet Waves is to develop the site into a news portal that is your first source of information as the world goes through its changes and the adventure of the early 21st century unfolds. As a writer and astrologer, I feel that my job is to support your growth, your creative expansion into the world, your desire to be who you are. Every word I write comes with that intention. As an editor, my job is to connect you with the work of the talented people who contribute to the project. If you are reading this letter, you're already in the process of discovering what Planet Waves has to offer. I'd like to ask you to help us back a little, encourage our growth, cast a vote for progress, and do your part to facilitate our journey -- so that we can do the same for everyone who comes here. A little over three years ago, I made the bold decision to create a subscriber service. The entire project had been free prior to then, and I supported it through my astrology consulting fees and lots of creative energy. In August 2002, shortly after I wrote my first stand-in horoscopes for Jonathan Cainer in the Daily Mirror, we began a partial conversion to a subscription site. (To say the least, Jonathan's hand on my shoulder helped me find the confidence to take the step.) Amazingly -- it worked. A huge pile of bills on my desk disappeared in about two weeks. I hired an assistant named Liana, who got us started and went on her way. A few weeks later, Chelsea arrived in my office wearing her cat-eye glasses, looking and sounding extremely efficient ("At my last job, I scheduled three bosses," she said) and began to get things under control. This freed me up to write more articles; to work with other writers; to develop the vision and make all our progress available to you every day. Do you need a reason to subscribe, besides the weekly horoscopes, the birthday reports (about 4,000 words per sign each month!), the weekly essays and so on? If you do, this is it. Your subscription makes a difference. And not just for us -- but for everyone who comes to Planet Waves. I don't count it as money but rather as a loving gesture of support that allows us to do our very best for you. Some of our readers have been uncommonly generous, helping us with equipment, consulting on challenging questions, sending us ideas, donating design projects and artwork -- and so much more. And we love to give it all back to you. If this seems like an innovative idea today, let's hold out faith that it's how the world becomes in the future. We don't just need to take care of one another -- we actually can. If you would like to find out more about subscribing, have a look at this link:     http://planetwavesweekly.com/ And if you'd like to jump right to the sign-up page, use this one:     http://www.planetwavesweekly.com/sales/home.html If you don't have the cash to sign up, or you want to sign up at a reduced fee, just drop us an email at support@planetwaves.net, or call our toll-free number (during the week) at (877) 453-8265. Comp subscribers can help by spreading the word, contributing ideas, and mainly by having fun here. We know these are amazing times to be alive. We're also fully aware that many people are struggling to survive, be it for reasons physical or emotional. Our job to help those who can make a difference in their own lives make that difference; and to help raise awareness any way we can. Thanks for tuning in. Yours & truly, ERIC FRANCIS Paris, Saturday, Nov. 19, 2005 Sun Scorpio, Moon Cancer Aries rising