Thank you very much for the Bunnies, Ruud!
They are now hiding here  :-)

No, it's creative.

Hi Ruud!

Just to let you know that I have finished my Birthday Analysis. The findings are below. Regards, Val.

I have been 'monitoring' those IUOMA members whose Birthdays have appeared on the 'Birthdays Today' part of this site. I started this, because I did not recognise many of their names, and wondered if they were indeed active members of IUOMA?

This led me to try and define what an 'Active Member' was, and to see how many of those whose birthdays were listed are indeed active.

I found that about 1 in 5 of them were active, and extrapolated from this that the Active Membership of IUOMA (based on the starting figure of 3263 Members on 22 December, 2013, was, at the end of the month's analysis, about 630.

The daily statistics for the month long period are below. (As are the methodological and statistical shortcomings, of which I am only too well aware.)
Mark Twain wrote that there are 'Lies, damned lies, and statistics', and you can read whatever you like into my statistics (and lies!).

I draw the following conclusions from them:

i) about 20% of IUOMA's Members are 'Active' as I have defined it.

ii) the remaining 80% may or may not be active Mail Artists outside the IUOMA network

iii) at one time this 80% were active IUOMA Mail Artists --that's why they joined (but see vii) below!)

iv) it is not necessary to be in any network to be a Mail Artist (well, I suppose you have to have at least one other person in your network to send Mail Art too!)

v) within IUOMA, a small number of people are responsible for a large amount of activity. They are the 'Super Actives'.

vi) as to the rest of us, well, we have different levels of Mail Art activity. I see it a bit like a love affair: start enthusiastically and with great passion, but then what you do and how vigorously you do it sort of tails off over time, and eventually you just get to live with your Mail Art personage.

vii) many IUOMA Mail Artists have been and gone, and, I trust, are still Mail Arting. As Mail Art is supposed to be enjoyable, and it certainly is for me, I would like to dedicate this whole Blog to one of our number who you have probably never heard of, but whose approach to Mail Art somehow seems to encapsulate what it is all about: fun. This is Deletemeplease's profile:

She bcame a member of IUOMA, joined one Group, but never posted a message, photo, or blog, or joined a discussion, and has not been heard of or from since.

Vive Mme Deletemeplease!

Dear Ruud, just returned to your fabulous MA. I have long coveted your gorgeous painted envelopes, and was SO happy to receive one! I just adore the painting you enclosed also. And all the other goodies, of course! (Also, charming to know the box will join the Fluxus collection!) Thank you very, very much! And Happy 2014!

Bonjour Ruud,

Nearly 800 views of the Birthday Blog.

It's nearly finished.

Here's today's Headline News.

Have a good Sunday.

Regards, Val

****

ONE MORE DAY TO GO: there's been a fall in the number of predicted IUOMA"s 'Active' membership to 632, or 19% of the total number of members. With just a single 'Birthday Day' to go, can the Active Membership receive a last minute birthday boost?

The Statistical Analysis suggests 'No', but, as Mark Twain said, there are 'Lies, damned lies, and statistics'. However, he didn't have anything to say about Mail Art and/or IUOMA

The FINAL & EXCITING EPISODE of this Nail-Biting Drama where EVERYTHING will be revealed will be broadcast about 06.30 (CET) tomorrow where EVERYTHING will be revealed!! DO NOT MISS IT!!!!

                                 And an INTERPRETATION of the figures will be offered.

O Projeto de livro coletivo continua aqui com endereço atualizado: 

Bolg.: http://www.tocadoloboartepostal.blogspot.com.br/

Good Morning, Ruud!

Things are quiet around here-- isn't that nice?!

I'll be curious to see what effect the new 'atmosphere' has on this month's viewings -- will the 140,000 figure be beaten in January? (I suspect not)

Last, but not least, and this is from the Headline News of my 'Birthday Analysis', don't for get Grace Cho:

Today's News: Grace Cho is the only 'Active' Birthday Girl today. The other 4 listed 'Birthdayers' will most likely enjoy their birthdays away from IUOMA.....and mail art? So please DO send Grace your Birthday Greetings today, 13 January, 2013 -- thank you.. Your turn, and those of the other 572 predicted 'Active' Members will come later

Regards, Val

A mailing is on its way to you - 3 envelopes to add/pass that have Ross Priddle and A. Moreno on them, and a rubber stamp archive sheet you sent me.  Enjoy!

01.01.14 Dare Ruud J.,....Global Warming????? "Its not the heat--its the humidity".....that is, Its not the I.U.O.M.A.-- its the humanity. B-r-r-r-r...its so cold here. Hang in there, Best to you. Take care. Richard C.

Feliz año 2014.

Bonjour Ruud!

You can save some postage on Birthday cards, because only ONE out of FIFTEEN of today's Birthday Members seems to be active here at IUOMA. Predicted membership has fallen to 22% and 712 Members.

Excluding thee and me, you only need to buy 710 stamps now.

Happy Old Year, Val

HELLO RUUD..HAPPY NEW YEAR 2014!!!!!!!!

-domenico.  Pompei Italy

Dear Ruud, if you haven't got my Holidays greetings here I try again!

HeMi

I don't know what is wrong, but please keep going, I love this place!

Such precious cargo, thanks for letting me know the whole lot arrived!!

Dear Ruud,

I have posted some things to you, including the linoleum block original from the 30 year TRSA I created.  We will see what 2014 brings to all of us!  Let me know if you don't get it.  No news is good news. 

Regards,

BG