This year, this stubborn fragment of fandom that's BatBland is musing about a weird parallel between the Tunnels, where a secret world lives apart from the shining "Above" and its frenzy, and the websites like BatBland: a mean of expression which is becoming "vintage", in this changing online world where the Bluebird tweets and Facebook wins over Real books.

Like the Tunnel, though, this stubborn fragment of fandom feels safe and warm. What you find in it needs time and passion to be perused and enjoyed. It may very well be obsolete, vintage, nostalgic, but hey - the fountain pen that Vincent uses was probably all that in 1987...

So, here the Bluebird keeps singing of beautiful and impossible things, of things that are not and that should be.

Why this weird parallel and this waxing almost poetic? Because among those beautiful things, one was especially running the risk of NOT being, and it definitely HAD to be instead. Yes, a website, and what a website! It was a milestone among these websites which, once upon a time when the web was young, were so popular. It's the famous, extraordinary Marina's site. Those who know it certainly noticed that it's been down for several months now, and those who never had the opportunity to visit it were in danger of missing one of the best online B&B experiences ever. Marina, much to her regret, after having poured an incredible ocean of work and passion into her site, was going to discontinue it. Oh, no! The Bluebird flew to the rescue. Opening today, the legendary Marina's site will be hosted in archive mode here on BatBland.

Be ready for A LOT of wonders, definitely needing a slow, old-fashioned, passionate perusing of this treasure. Thank you, Marina. What better way to celebrate the fandom anniversary this year? Marina's site was, and still will be, a huge part of the history of fandom.

BatBland MONTHLY CREATIVE CHALLENGE

But Vincent's fountain pen is not a piece for a museum. It's a tool. And this stubborn fragment of fandom that's BatBland also wants to be a tool. A tool for creativity. It seems that a good challenge is a boost for creativity. So, why keep it limited to special occasions? Let's make it a permanent opportunity to express the fans' creativity.

One challenge a month. That's the gist of the BatBland Monthly Creative Challenge. Every 25th of the month you'll find on BatBland a new inspiring "something". A prompt, an idea, a picture. If you want, you can submit your contribution, which will be posted the month after, along with a new challenge.

Have fun with your creative juices!

HELP WITH THE SCRIPT AND TRANSCRIPTION PROJECT

Okay, dear B&B fans: remember? "To give help and support to those who need it and to accept help and support from those who offer it to you" (Father in A Children's Story). This project needs help to be completed and be at service of the many fans who keep visiting BatBforever, the website that offers the episode transcriptions, the original scripts of the show, and many other details. Several episodes still need to be transcribed and edited.

Will you offer a helping hand?