Thanks for the points clarification. No worries on picking up & holding the beagle - I'm a dog person. :)

I asked about the possibility of a toy beagle in a different thread, and 1st reply sounds like it has to be a real "live" one:
http://browncoats.serenitymovie.com/serenity/index.html?fuseaction=forum.viewtopic&t=16748

My main reason for wanting the "official" tee is that I've already converted all my local Geek/Nerd friends, and figure the slogan on the tee will be a great curiousity getter among my non-computer pseudo-"social" circles. I'm a birdwatcher, and will try to wear it on every trip during Fall Migration. Most birders are compulsively detail oriented, and since last November will be VERY curious as to the source of the slogan.

I figure the passive curiosity engendering approach will be easier than being obnoxiously pushy which works fine on Geeks, but on the rest of the population... not so much. :)

I liked your LJ stuff on Half Blood Prince! My guesses as to the HBP's identity were all wildly wrong, so I commend you for guessing correctly so early in the book.

Chimmunk: they may have changed things, but sometime ago someone 'bought' something with their points and found that they lost ranking big time...and then wondered if it was worth it. Personally I think Hell's Kitten's t-shirts are way prettier (the ones that look like Jayne's) than the 'official' ones.

If you do take a photo, be sure to pick up the pouch...the rules require that we be 'holding' the item for the scavenger hunt! But thanks for keeping your eyes pealed for the required beagle.

Embers, I saw an authentic Iowa beagle yesterday! Unfortunately, he/she was being walked on the shoulder of a minor highway, I had several cars behind me, and I didn't have my camera with me, otherwise I'd have pulled a Crazy Ivan and got that fraking picture. :)

On a bright note, this was pretty close to a mobile home park, with no other homes nearby, so if I have to, I'm going to drive thru there at the same time of day as I saw them walking yesterday. Dog walkers are :) nothing if not consistent, right?

Points:
Check your profile, and you'll see "Points (current / career)". If you order swag, only "current" should drop, not "career" (which should always show the total points you've ever racked up). Click on some of the "Top Ten" users, and you'll see most have a diff.

I have no idea which score is used for one's "rank". Perhaps someone else knows?