But what of the Room? Is there anything new and worthwhile, or is everything as normal? Sad to report, there's a number of new, high quality features making their mark this month. Firstly, I hope you like the new mini-navigation bar at the top of the page, but that's not exactly a feature per se, more of a fitting.

In terms of your actual writing-style features, we've got somthing called the Fact Pie, which isn't exactly a pie, and isn't exactly factual. See for yourself. Then there's Gary Atkins, the Room's new agony uncle. It's hard to imagine anyone caring about other people more than Gary Atkins cares. After you've read his perceptive and thoughful responses to some genuine readers' problems, you might be tempted to ask Gary's advice yourself. Just mail you problems to me at bene@vnu.co.uk and I'll pass them on, in the strictest confidence.

We've got two new articles. Brian Clegg has the low down on 3001, the third part of Arthur C. Clarke trilogy, as well as a decent chunk of stuff about the author himself. And Nicole Segre takes her usual unusual look at things. This time she's looking at the whole business of inventing things, for good or ill.

On top of all that, there's the very latest Media Slag, and some new astral predictions from Godfrey Tidmarsh, which I can positively state (from personal experience) are spookily accurate.

And if you're wondering what on earth is happening to Rod (the 'r' who gets everywhere) on the front page, no, he hasn't been taking hallucinogenic compounds, in fact he's celebrating July the 4th. You might think it's a little late for that, and you'd be right. But if we've gone to the trouble of making a special firework display for Rod to marvel at, then we really think you ought to get the opportunity to see it too. Besides, by the time you read this, it'll probably be Thanksgiving or Labour Day, or something, so party on dudes!

Ben (bene@vnu.co.uk)