Betas help me even though I have a good grasp of grammar, to get me in the habit of noticing things I don't know or I don't notice. Antennapedia taught me to watch for repeated words close together (wish she'd taught the same to JKR.) gillo taught me I know squat about London geography and wikipedia/ google maps are no help. research-girl is teaching me British English. sahiya is attempting to teach me the evils of ellipse abuse. The latter two are also entertaining me with their comma wars (different rules/ usage habits). All betas, past and present, have helped by letting me bounce plot ideas off them (as have a number of readers).

In short, betas are of the Good, and if you ever need one and I have time, I'd be happy to do it for you. Because being a beta is the Other way I start to notice things I do that I might want to change.

On the hair-- still not sure yet. Too radical a change and it looks like I'm having a midlife crisis (which, maybe). Not radical enough would leave me feeling meh, though.

Anyway, thanks.