Mamihlapinatapai (sometimes spelled mamihlapinatapei) is a word from the Yaghan language of Tierra del Fuego, listed in The Guinness Book of World Records as the "most succinct word", and is considered one of the hardest words to translate. It describes "a look shared by two people with each wishing that the other will initiate something that both desire but which neither one wants to start."

I have been falling out of touch with my various spaces, posting so infrequently that my on-line identity, my journal especially, has become almost permanently paused, a silent, waiting space, the inhaled breath before a sentence held in rather than flowing as a transitory action. It was not my intention, and I hope to rectify my neglect soon. If I do not write here, how will we stay in contact? I am notorious for rarely using a phone. Without input, without interaction, I do not exist, I am invisible, a voyeur only, and do not have access to our beautiful friendships.

The silence has reason, however. In this drawn out slumber, dreams have been fomenting just off screen. I have been collecting myself, preparing to shift from being unemployed to potentially self employed, spending my time researching my knowledge and resources, collecting materials, and planning how to mix facts and skill and memory until they all blend into a new, hopeful venture. Something, finally, my own. I will have more details soon, as almost every day I finish another step towards the great unveil. Until then, I hope I have your support, as I feel that will be vital as I smack into various snags, and that going out on my own as an artist isn't going to be something I look back on with regret.

In the meantime, I've been doing heavily discounted medical transcription for a Montreal journalist, typing for hours on stem cells, clinical trials, and how overseas clinics have been swindling desperate people with false claims of magic bullet cures. (It's been interesting, if occasionally deadly depressing. Science Is A Verb Now, and it is The Future and it is Good, but holy cats are there some unethical bastards who firmly wave that flag.)

That, chance, and hard work have miraculously come together to make this month's rent, but next month is still in the air. To that end, I'm also hoping to successfully apply for EI, something I've never done before. The process has been slowed for me due to how many employers it seems I've legally never had, but I'm trying to stay positive. If EI doesn't work out due to some paperwork mess, then I'm feeling alright about lining up for the dole, as apparently they'd be fairly likely to send me to school, which is something I've been toying with lately as I have a fair handful of skills, but nothing useful I'm certified for, (my only certification is in stop motion animation), or could do for long periods of time due to my car accident injuries, (cabinet carpentry anyone? furniture refinishing?).

So, with all of that in mind, IT'S TIME FOR THE BIANNUAL SHOUT-OUT!

-::-

Please tell me your names, introduce yourself, post a picture! Everyone's invited - friends, strangers, the lurking anonymous - especially those who are otherwise silent. Like a good house party, it's always fascinating to see who turns up.

Tell me why you're here, how you found me, what inspires you. Even if I know you, introduce yourself to others, and tell me what you've done lately. I want to see your faces, I want to read what you'd like everyone else to know. Tell us your stimulations, titillations; show us your pretty hidden treasures. Journals have been dying lately, I'd like to see who's chosen to stick around. Anecdotes are welcome, as are photos, job descriptions, awesome links, and whatever else.

-::-

Dee Harding says: "Do you know, I wouldn't be surprised if you turned out to be the internet version of Toxoplasma gondii. I wasn't saying that you had it, more that you were easily transmitable, impossible to eradicate, and with a string of poorly understood psychological side effects."

And he's a doctor, so he should know.

Twice a year I do a shout out, I ask that everyone speaks up, even if they otherwise stay silent. Like a good house party, it's always fascinating to see who turns up.

So, please, tell me your names, post your picture, introduce yourself, tell me why you're here, how you found me, and what inspires you.

I want to know who's on the other end of my screen, what fun and fantastic people are out there, waiting to be met. Even if I know you, introduce yourself to others, and tell me what you've done lately. Explain a piece of your world with something beautiful, make something new, or dig up the grave of an old favourite. Anecdotes are welcome, as are pictures, job descriptions, inspiring links, stimulations, titillations, and your pretty hidden treasures. The name of the game is networking, so share what you want everyone else to know.

You are artists and scientists, nihilists and dreamers, comic book illustrators, archeologists, hackers, retail managers, photographers, teachers, librarians, hair dressers, and submarine captains. You are novelists, derby girls, musicians, and accountants. Optimists, pragmatists, magicians and politicians, fencers, film addicts, home owners and homeless. You are lighting designers, poets, animators, and lawyers. You are glorious, fabulous, interesting creatures, rich in colour, thick with story - and I want to hear from you all.

For those new, my name's Jhayne. I'm a writer and photographer currently trapped in Vancouver, Canada. I live on the internet, work for a media company, and occasionally get paid to set off fireworks. I'm also an amateur taxidermist/cryptozoologist, play french horn and the saw, and edit other people's novels. Last year I started a global initiative to save a local turn-of-last-century theater and turn it into a new multimedia venue called Heart of the World. It fell down, went boom, but oh well. Time to try something else, I guess. Welcome to my journal, a mixture of wonder, pointlessness, isolation, and community where I talk about life, love, art, technology, and try not to hate the world.

Now it's your turn. Spill.

It has come time again to call out all my readers – even you lurkers.

Announce who you are and what you do. It’s introduction time.

I want to see who it is that I talk to here, so please, post a picture of yourself to put a face to your name when you tell us your newest dirty schemes, fallacious claims to scattershot innocence, bitter pet peeves or religious abuses.

Whatever you like - as long as it’s true.

Most of you are lovely people, in some twisted way or another - scientists, students, artists, writers – so show off. I expect the social incest to kick up a notch when this is through.

For those late to the game, I am a writer and amateur photographer currently living in Vancouver, Canada, who is trying to create a new venue from an old Bollywood theatre through sheer force of will.

Ready?

Go.