Newsletter publication

One of our site admins had a family emergency this week.  So for the first time in a long time, I built our bi-weekly newsletter and published it. 

The Wiggins bi-Weekly was one of the first things we started way back in 2007.  At first is was made up out of the whole cloth. There were the books, but nothing had ever been done online to incorporate the stories and characters.  We made up adventures for the book characters and wrote about what they were doing in their hometown of Wiggins, CT.

By the first year's end we were starting to get letters and content from members. Then we launched the first version of our game in November of 2008.

Reviewing these old issues it is fun to see how the site grew and improved over time.  Each change and addition are documented.  The old paddock riding experience did not work well enough for us to keep it after we got a sample trail built.

Looking back at the early issues I am as always amazed at how much work we have put into the game and site.  I truly believe that what we have built is important and amazing.

Then I look at what is being built by the "big boys".  For instance, Mattel, the home of  Barbie, is rolling out a huge new brand called MonsterHigh and that show has some odd  subtext messages revealed by the clothes and actions of the characters.

I wonder "What are they thinking?"  The one 'smart' girl in the series cannot talk clearly and wears glasses-- in watching clips it is almost as if that girl is disabled because she is intelligent.

I grew up thinking it was weird that I was strong, smart, kind and independent. And that is weird -- so when we built our club, that was who we built it for.

Without games that tell girls they are ok and able and skilled and good enough,  will there ever be girls who think that they are?