drink tank fifth element

7/31/2019 Drink Tank Fifth Element

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Episode Three The Tipping Point

In the 604,800 seconds between the last column and the one I am writing today, I came to several crucial

profound and inescapable conclusions.

MyrstrevelationcamelatelastweekwhenImetwithseveralfriends,someofwhomhadattendedChicon7andotherswhohadgonetoDragonConoverthesameLaborDayweekend.(LettherecordshowthatIwasatChicon7,albeitworkingnearlyallthattimeintheWorldconsPressRelationsofce.Becausesomeone

hadtohaverelationswiththepressandIdrewtheoddlot.Well,onward)The couple who went to Chicon 7 stated that while they had a good time and the con was well run, they

weresurprisedthattherewasntahigherturnout(estimatesonattendancewerearound5000-5500)andwereshockedatthederogatorycommentsmadeduringtheraticationdebateoftheGraphicStoryHugoandthe

equally rude behavior as the Young Adult award proposal was debated.

ThefriendwhowenttoDragonConatlystatedthatshewenttoAtlantabecausesheusedtoattendWorldconsonaregularbasisbutstoppedbecauseofwhatshedescribedas,thebadattitudeoftheprogrammersandfansrunningit.Shesaidthatshefeltthattherewasapalatablebiasagainstfanslikeher,wholikeawide

range of activities beyond reading.

Thephenomenonshedescribedwasnotnewtome;sincelate1990s,Ihavenoticedagrowingschisminsffandombetweenthosewhoprimarilyreadgenrectionandthosewhoenjoywiderinterests,suchasmovies,

television,cos-play,videogamesandgraphicstories. ThedividebetweenthevariousfangroupsandWorldconattendeeshasgrownwiderthaneveroverthe

past decade. The numbers of fans who attend Comicon and Dragoncon have grown exponentially in the thou -sandswhiletheattendanceatWorldconshasstagnated.ThosefansthatdogototheotherconventionseitherdontknowaboutWorldconsorseefanswhoattendthemaselitistandremote,ordontcareabouttheHugosorWorldcon,atall.

Ive alsowitnessedthereverseattitudeinaction aswell; fanswho attend traditionalconventions, owhich,onanaverage,mostlyskewtobeolder,arenotverywelcomingtofanswithotherorwiderinterests.nowbelievethatasaresultofthis,Worldconsareasmarginalizedastheyhaveeverbeen. In1999,IbeganproposingchangesintheHugoAwards.Myprimarymotivefordoingsowastodemon-

Yet Another Rather Annoying Column of Commentaryby Chris M. Barkley


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stratethatthesegmentoffandomthatIhavebeencloselyassociatedwith(foroverthirtyyears)wascapableof

change. Change that would then attract more support from media oriented fans. I was also hoping these changes

wouldcombatvotercomplacencyandensurethattheHugoswouldremainrelevantandengaginginthe21st

century.

AlookatthestatisticsshowthatmembersofWorldconwhovotefortheHugoshaveincreasedslightlyoverthepastdecadeandtheyhavestoppedrubberstampingHugowinsforseveraloftheusualsuspectsintheArtist,Fanzine,Semi-ProzineandtheEditorcategories.However,thedownsideisthatthenumberofnomina-

tionsneededthegetonthenominationballotremainsabysmallylow,DoctorWhoseemstobeentrenchedin

theBestDramaticPresentationwinnercirclefortheforeseeablefutureandtheHugos,despiteeveryonesbestefforts,remainalowproleawardtothegeneralpublicatlarge. Asthispastweekendwounddown,Icametotheratherdisturbingconclusionthatallofthatworkwasfornaught.IwaswronginthinkingthatmerelychangingtheHugoswouldbeenoughtoaffectthechangessoughtinfandom.Thisrealization,inturn,leddirectlytomysecondrevelation. Inhis2000book,TheTippingPoint:HowLittleThingsCanMakeaBigDifference,authorMalcolmGladweldenesitasathemomentofcriticalmass,thethreshold,theboilingpoint. AfterwitnessingtheharshcriticalreactionandtheaccompanyingrudebehaviorattheChicon7Business

Meeting,Inowfeelquitecertainthatsffandom,oratleasttheportionthatrunstheannualWorldScienceFictionandadministerstotheHugoAwards,hasdenitelyreachedatippingpoint.

This branch of fandom cannot sustain itself into the next decade if it maintains this rather insular, sullenattitudetowardstherestofthefannishworld.AndifthesituationdoesnotbodewellforWorldcon,youcanimaginewhatthatmeansfortheHugoAwards. Afterthinkingallthisthrough,IrealizedthatIhavetoreassessmypositionontheYoungAdultHugo.decidedthatIwillproceedwithintroducingtheproposalatLoneStarCon3,asIpromised.Ifitpasses,IwillbemorethanhappytoseetheprocessthroughtoLoncon3.

Butifitfails,IwillnolongerpursueitspassageatanyfutureWSFSBusinessMeeting.Infact,IwillnolongproposeANYmorechangestoeithertheHugoAwardcategoriesortotheWorldScienceFictionSocietys

Constitution again.

IvegoneasfarasIcanforaslongasIcan.Now,Ithink,myworkhascometoanend.Toparaphrasetheoldlightbulbjoke;Howmanyfansdoesittaketochangefandom?Morethanonetobesure,butfandomhasto

REALLYwanttochange. Nextweek,wellsavetheWorldconandtheHugosbutpissalotofpeopleoffatthesametime.ItshouldbeaLOToffun,sostaytuned


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I Like Storiesby Christopher J Garcia

Nottoolongago,Iwaslookingforimagesinmyever-expandingcollectionofsciencectionmagsofthepast.ThistimeIwaslookingfor

imagesofcomputers.TherearequiteafewouttherethatIveseen,butitturnedoutthatIdonthaveanyoftheminmycollection. ThatistosayIvegotatotalofone. Thatoneisaclassic:EmEmshwillerscoverfortheOctober1957editionofAstounding.Itsagreatimage,especaillywhenyouno-

ticethatthetapedriveshavethreereels!Thatsnutty!Ihadseenthe

image, included it in a number of areas of the museum, including our

exhibitonComputerChess.Theblown-upimagewehadin thatone

now sits behind my chair at the museum, so anytime anyone comes to

mydesk,theyaresaringattheeyesoftheunfortunateoperatorofthatcolossal machine.

Ihadseenthatimage,butIcantthinkofatimewhenIactaully

read it.

Lookignatit,therewasonepartIcertainlywouldntbereading.

ITwasCitizenoftheGalaxy,aportionofitanyways,bythatRobertaHeinlein.ItriedtoreaditwhenIwasyounger,nevergotmorethana

coupleofpagesinandgaveup.IdonotunderstandhowamanwhoseprosefeelslikeitwascopiedoffaPostOfcepackigninstructionssheetcouldbecomethemostbelovedmaninthegenre.ThereweretwopiecesfromauthorswhowereeasilyHeinleinsbetteratthetime,soI thoughtaboutstartingthere.TherewasaRandal

Garrettstory,andIloveRandallGarrett(thoughnotnearlyasmuchasIlovestoriesaboutRandallGarrett,likethetimePhilFarmerchasedanakedRandallthroughaconventionhotellobby),butthisone,Gentlemen:Please

Note,wasoneIdreadnottoolongago.Theotherone,byanauthorIsayistheBESTauthorfothe1940sand50s:MurrayLeinster. Now,IvebeenreadingafairbitofLeinsterlately,largelystuffthattiesinwithALogicNamedJoe,whichImworkingonapieceforthemuseumabout.Ihadntreadthisone,TheGrandfathersWar,soIgaveitatry. Thethingisoneofthosestoriesthatwashardformetocotton,butIcouldntdenythatLeinsterwassogoodatwhathedidthatitkeptmereading.Itsapieceofpost-WWIIwritingthatfeelslikeitwaswrittenatatimewheneveryoneexpectedWWIIItohappenwithinthehour.IdontknowifIdcallitSpaceOpera,thoughtherewassomegoodSpace-faringoinon,butIwouldntcallitpacistSFeither.Ivereadenoughofthatfromthe1950stolastmealifetime.FocusingonaMedShipwasanicetouch.Thewritingfeltstrong,withprosethat

didntmakemewanttoputmystthroughthetombstonethatholdsdownthecorpseofHeilein. InowamCOMPLETELYinagreementwithStevenHSilveraboutthefactthatLeinsterhastobeintheScienceFictionHallofFame. TheotherstorywasCompensationbyChristopherAnvil.AnvilisanauthorIveenjoyed,andherehes

doing a story that plays wonderfully with almost nothing but dialogue. It tells a story about a society based on

telepathy,whichwasathemeofseveralstories(andanovelortwo,thoughoneofthemmighthavebeenanextensionofthisstory!) So,Ienjoyedit,whichremindsmeofsomethignIvebeenmeaningtodo,whichisreadmore...


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Inmid-September,therewasaconsiderablebrouhahaoveralmcalledInnocenceofMuslimsthatpur-portedtobeadocumentary.TheresapossibilitythemovieitselfmaynotevenexistonlytrailersforitweretobefoundonYouTube.ThecreditslistsomeonenamedSamBacileasthelm-maker,butthatalsowasonly

ahalf-truthatbest.Infact,SamappearstobeNakoulaBasseleyNakoula,anEgyptianCopticChristianlivinginCalifornia.GodknowsthatasaChristianminorityinanIslamicnationtheCoptshavebeentreatedliketheN-wordforcenturies,andhavereasonenoughtodespisetheiroppressors.Justwhatendthislmandthe

deception serves, however, is far from clear.

ThelmdepictsahighlyuncomplimentaryhistoricalMohammedthatisnoteasilyrecognizedasThe

ProphetreverredbyIslam.Predictably,manyoftheFaithfulwentballistic,andshowedadegreeofenlightenmentthatcontinuestospeakpoorlyofthatpartoftheworld.Whenwasthelasttimeyouweredriventomasdemonstrations,wantondestructionandmurderbecauseyourchoiceofKingJamesorLatinVulgatewascriti

cized?Thatsthesortofover-the-top,dial-right-to-elevenresponseyouwouldexpectofDutchShultzorEdwardTeach,notofapeoplewhoaresupposedlyleavingtheMiddleAgesbehindforanArabSpring. Nevertheless,therecentoutburstofreligiousparanoiaremindedofanotherexampleofwacky,goodnatured,anti-IslamichumouracomicbookIboughtonlineafewyearsago,calledMohammedsBelieveitorElse.TheauthorandillustratorwasnamedAbdullahAziz...orsoitsaysonthecover.ThepublisherwasabiblecollegeinLasVegas,leavingroomfordoubtwhetherornotthereeverwassuchapersonasAbdullahAzizWhoeverthewriterandartistwas,hisillustrationswerelaughing-out-loudfunny.HisstylewasalotlikeJack

DavisoneofthebestcartoonistsfromtheoldMadMagazine. Mostofthetextfollowsasimpleformula:AziztakesaquotefromtheQuranortheHadithswhich

areMohammedsleft-oversayingsandanecdotesandaddscartoonstoshowthemasthepatentlyridiculousorsuperstitiousnonsensetheyare.Theapproachisalittlerepetitive,butmakesforrichreadingthelevelo

absurdity is sometimes so far off the scale that you need you need to go around the dial twice. Typical gems

includeatribesofJewsturnedintoratsbecausetheyhadbecomelostinthedesert.Didyouevernoticethatratsdrinksheepmilkbutnotcamelmilk?Jewsdontherdcamels,yousee,theyherdsheep.Thatprovesit!Stilonthesubjectoftransformations,AllahonceturnedthepeopleofavillagethatlivedbytheseaintomonkeysbecausetheywereimpiousenoughtobehungryontheSabbathandcaughtsh.Alsomentionedisawarningtopraywithyoureyesloweredlestangelspluckoutyoureyeballs!

SomethingelseMohammedwarnsustowatchoutforisfallingasleepduringprayer.Ifyoudo,Satanwil

peeinyourear.Hewillalsocrawlupyournoseatnightforanap,so,forheavenssake,dontforgettoblowwhenyougetupinthemorning!AndifyoueatgarlicoronionbeforeprayingAllahwillnothearyou.Hellispopulatedmainlybywomen,nottoosurprisingly,anditisokaytodrinkwaterwithadeadyinit,becauseonlyonewingcarriesdiseasewhiletheotherwingcarriestheantidote.Ikiddeththeenot,unfaithfulone! Iboughttencopiesformydealerstable,guringthemassure-resalesandwasntdisappointed.Thecomic books themselveswerentexpensive; unfortunately theshipping andhandlingweremurderwhichbringsusbacktotopic. OffensivetoMuslimsastherecentlmis,toanunbelieversuchasI,however,itisnoblasphemy.Asan

atheist,itismyunshakeablebeliefthatthereisnoAllah,noJehovah,noGodtohavedivinelyinspiredtheprophetMohammedwhoistomenomoretomethanasuccessfulArabwarlord,similarintypetoCaesarorNapo

All Hell to Payby Taral Wayne


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52 Weeks to Science Fiction Film Literacy - The Fif th Element

TheultimatemessageofTheFifthElementistheworldwillgetweirderbeforeitwillgetmorenormalWHileotherSFlmsreliedonspecialeffectstodevelopaworldwhichseemedlikeitwouldbeentirelydifferent

inTheFifthElement,itwastheartdirection,andespeciallythecostumes,thatdidtheheavylifting.Thisisalmthatunderstandswhatlmcando. Thatsaid,theresalotofgreateffectsstufftoo,butletsnotgettieddownthere,shallwe? TheFifthElementisaverybasicstory.IcallittheMustCollectemAlltypeofstory.Therearealotothem,mostnotablylmslikeG.I.JoetheMovie.Thebasicconceptisthattheressomesetofthingsthathavetobefound,keptandinstalledbeforesomethingbadhappens.Itsasmartstory,aclassic,andeventhemostrecentIndianaJonesmoviecanruinit.Itsalotofintensestuffthatcanhappeninthesekindoflms,soitsagoodstructuretogowithifyouremakingamovie.

ThelmstartswiththeMondoshawans,anawesomealienrace,comingtocollectasetofstoneswhichistheonlythingthatcanstoptheGreatEvilwhichcomesbyeveryvethousandyears.Theresapriestwhoisthekeeperofthesecret,andtheresasarcophagusthatholdsTheFifthElement! See,simplehuh? Thenwegoforwardtothe23rdCenturywhereweseethearrivaloftheGreatEvilasitdestroyanEarthshipoutinspace.ThePriestwhokeepstheMondoshawanwaysalivegoestothePresidentandtellshimthestory.TheMondoshawanreturnbutanotheralienrace,theMangalores,arehiredbytheevilindustrialistJean-BaptisteEmanuelZorgtoblowemup.TheonlythingthatsurvivesisthehandoftheFifthElement.TheycloneitandthisleadstothecreationofLeeloo.Shefreaksoutandjumpsoffthebuildingtheycreatedherinandland

in the taxicab of one Korben Dallas.

KorbenDallasisexactlywhatwevebeentaughtmakesforagreatheroinasciencectionstory.Hes

fallenfromformergloryasamemberoftheSpecialForces,andhasendedupassomethingofahuskofhisfor-merselfasayingcabdriver.BruceWIllisisgoodintherole,ashewassortainatroughinhiscareer.HehadbeenthroughtheDieHards,hehadbeenthroughhisrstwaveofhalf-decentdramalms,buthewasntthestahewaseventhreeyearsbefore.Inafewyears,hewouldmakehisbiggeststringofhitsstartingwithTheSixthSense.HestillhasthatActionHerothinggoingon,buthealsohasthatfeelingthathehasseenbetterdays.And

he had.

KorbentakesLeelootothePriestCornelius,whoexplainsthatthestonesarewithTheDiva,asingerwhoisonaSpaceLinercruise.ThisleadsDallasformercommandingofcertoconvincehimtogoundercover

and get on to the cruise, which he does, though he brings Leeloo with him. That leads to a great performance

scenefromTheDiva,whoisthenkilled,thoughDallasguresoutthattheelementstonesareINSIDEtheDiva.


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weredesignedbythelegendaryfashiondesignerJean-PaulGaultier.AsIlearnedwhenIvisitedhisexhibitatthedeYoungMuseumthisyear,Gaultierhaslongbeeninuencedbythesciencectionofthe1960sand70s.Whilehehaddoneafewlms,hehadneverhadtheamountofinuenceovertheentiretyofthelookofalmashehadwithTheFifthElement.Hecreatednearlyonethousandcostumesforthetim,andtheyreallysetthestageInfact,asinglecostumemighttellasmuchofastoryasthescript.Theresascenewhereourheroesyanden-counterfutureightattendants.Theyareinshortskirts,croppedtopswithcentralcutoutsandbustiersexposedunderneath.Theyalsohavethesewonderfulhats,sortofacombinationofpill-boxandastove-pipe.Thedesigns

sayalotaboutwhattravelmeansinthetimethatsbeingportrayed.Theyarehyper-sexualized,Iwouldargue,as

theseouttsaredesignedtotittilate.Ifyoulookatthewaysinwhichthestewardessoutthasevolved,itsbeengoingintheoppositewaythatGaultierhastakenit. Andnoonemakesanymentionofit.Itsjusthowitgoes.Itsastatement. Thecostumesofeverycharacteraredeeplyconsidered,astheyareineverylm,butheretheygiveustheweirdbetterthaninanyotherlmIcanthinkof.TheiconicimagesofLeelooinherbirthingoutt,composedofaseriesofwhitestripsofplastic,iswhatdenesherasacharacter.ThelookthatGaultierchosemadeusseethe23rdCenturyasdisjointed,unrealattimes.Wethinkthatthefuturewillbemorestreamlined,morefunctionalThatsnotwhatGaultiergaveus.HegaveusBaroque,strange,undecipherable.Itsstyleoverfunction,whichisn

somethingwereusedtoanymorefromourvisionsofthefuture.ItsnotTheJetsonsanymore. TheFifthElementisoneofthosemoviesthatyoumightnotcottontoatrst,buttheresalotthereto

takeinsoasecondviewingisalwaysuseful.Once,justtakeintheimagery,especiallythemattepaintings,manyofwhicharedigitallyenhanced.Secondviewing,focusonthecostumes.Then,ifyoucanstandtowatchitagainlookattheacting.

After that, the world is your oyster.


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Let us start with the legenday Warren Buff!!!!! GoodtoseeyougotaroundtoJurassicPark.Thatwasabigmovieforme,asmyfolkshadactuallybeen

ratherstrictaboutenforcingthePG-13rating,anditwastherstlmIreallywantedtoseewithoneonceIwasoldenoughfortheirstandards.IthelpedthatIwasadinosaurfanaticasakid.Iveactuallybeenafraidtorewatchit,asitwassogoodinmychildhood,andIdontwanttorisklosingallthoseimpressionsofit.Afterreadingyouanalysisofitasalm,Imayactuallybetemptedtodoso.ItsoundslikeenoughwouldappealtotheadultinmethatIwouldntrisklosingthegloryfrommyyouth.

The funny story about Jurassic Park and me was that my graduation gift from high school,

while my other friends were getting cars and, in one case, an apartment, was a Jurassic Park

T-Shirt. Well, and college, but thats neither here nor there. It did help that the movie did open

the day of my graduation. Four years later, the second Jurassic Park movie came out, also re-leased the day I graduated from college. My gift then? A Jurassic Park t-shirt! Oh, and a party

the likes of which GOD has never seen!

Iwouldliketopointout,inresponsetoChrisBarkleyspiece,thatseventeenvotesintheWSFSBusiness

Meeting is not particularly close. The total number of voters rarely surpasses, say, a hundred and twenty, even in

instancesofhighattendance.IdidntndthegroansthatmetDr.Kloorsspeechtobedeplorable--itfeltlikehewasmakingacheapemotionalappealratherthanarguingthemeritsofthemotion,andtheBusinessMeetingislongenoughthatwithouttheout-of-ordercommentary,itwouldbecomeunbearable.Twoparticularinstancesofsuchcommentsthisyearparticularlyliftedmyspirits--CrystalHuffsquestiontoKentBloomduringthe

GraphicStorydebate(Pointofinformation:Doyoueven*read*comics?)andStephenBouchersremarkwhenGlennGlazeraskedEemeliAroifhethoughtthehighcostoftravellingtoEuropetwoyearsrunningwouldbe

prohibitivetoAmericanfans(Oh,crymeariver.--forthosewhodontknow,Mr.BoucherisfromAustralia).knowsomeofthestrictproceduralistsfrownonthesesortsofoutbursts,buttheyreallyaretheonlythingthatmakesthemeetingsbearable.Atmyrstsuchmeeting,Iwastoldthattheywereaboutasfunasgougingyoueyesoutwithaspoon.Idisagree,butwithouttheout-of-orderremarks,thatobjectionmightfade.

That Kloor statement did feel like pandering, though it did still shock me a little. I didnt re-

alise that it was Crystal who called out about the Graphic Story thing to Kent. That was a bit

brutal. I think that the cost issue with US folks will be a big deal for the Helsinki bid. I get it,

there are folks who have to travel to North America seemingly ever year for WorldCon, and I

think we should have about every other year outside NA, but two in a row for the majority of

voters I think will play a role in deciding who gets the WorldCon.

Letter Graded Mailsent to [email protected]

by my gentle readers


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IwouldfurtherliketostressmyobjectionstoaddingaHugoAwardforsomethingthatamountstolittlemorethanamarketingcategory.Wecurrently(andalwayshave)dividewrittenctionpurelybyitslength.Thereisanassumptionthatwedontneedtodenesciencectionandfantasy,becausethebaseofvotersarealreadyfans,andasufcientnumberofthemneedtoagreethatsomethingbelongsinthegenreforittogetnominated.Ibelievethistobecorrect,andthus,theonlydetaileddenitionwehaveinourwrittenctioncategoriesisthenumberofwords--andeventhen,wehaveaprovisionbywhichaworknearthebordercanswitchcategoriesifitisnominatedmoreinonewhichwouldbeinappropriatebasedsolelyonlength.Ourotherctionalcategories

--dramaticpresentationandgraphicstory--differsufcientlyinmediumthattheyarereadilydistinguishable

fromnovels,shortstories,andtheintermediateworks.IdonotbelievethatitispossibletodrawabrightlinearoundYoungAdultctionsuchthatmostreaderswillplacemostofthesameborderlineworksinandoutothecategory.Furthermore,Idisagreewiththenotionofdividingupavorsofsciencectionandfantasy.Wedont,forinstance,divideupsciencectionandfantasyfromeachother.Iftherewereasingledivisioninstyletomake,thatwouldbeit!

Knowing what I know about other awards, specically the Oscars, Emmys and, though I hate

to admit it, the Grammys, having something eligible in more than one category tends to be the

norm. In the Oscars, Best Animated and Best Documnetary are not barred from Best Picture. I

know there are a lot of folks who complain that the Hugos are Science Fictions Highest Honor

given to Fantasy works. I dont see the problem with it.

Butwedont--wehavechosen,asacommunity,nottocreatesuchdifcultdivisionswithinoureldAfterall,whichsortofstoryareLordofLight,Dune,andthePernnovels?Areyousure?Doyouthinkmostfanswouldsplittheminthesamewayyoudid(andno,Idontcareiftheyrefoolsnotto)?Instead,wehonorworks,dividedonlybyasimpleobjectivecriterion,whentheycanriseabovethegrandmeleeofallworksosimilarlengthwhichfallwithinoureld.TheargumentsforaYAHugoseemtocomedowntotheideathatthemethodoftellingaYAstoryissomehowsufcientlydifferentfromtellinganadultstorythatitdeservesto

berecognizedseparately,andthatthetargettingoftheseworkstoadifferentsegmentofthepopulationjustiessuchanawardasameansofdrawinginthatpopulationtoourcommunity.Butifthatargumentholdssufcientmerit,whynotsplitsciencectionandfantasy?Thereisclearlyadifferentstyletothestorytellingineach(oristhere?--seethoseborderexamplesabove!),andtheyarealsoclearlymarketeddifferently(andifyoudontthinksciencectionandfantasyaremarketeddifferently,yourefoolingyourself).Butagain,asIvesaid,wehavealready

chosenasacommunitynottofocusonthosedivisions.Isnowthetimetostart?Im not sure it would work, and could be a monster to administer, which is one of the reasons I

favor a test through teh discretionary Hugo process. We know that the Best Video Game didnt

work because we tried and it failed. I am really starting to think that we should keep that go-

ing.

ThisisntthatImopposedtorecognizingexcellenceinYAction.IminterestedinseeingifanawardonthemodeloftheCampbellcanbeestablishedforit.ButmakingitaHugowouldrequireabandoningalong-heldprincipleofunicationwithinourcommunity,andthatssomethingIcantstandfor.

This is where we are in TOTAL AGREEMENT! Well, at least on the Campbell-stylee.

AstoWorldconbidding,IthinksomeattentionoughttobegiventoNASFiCbidding.Phoenixhasbeenpre-biddingforthe2014NASFiCsincelastyear,andhavenowbeenjoinedintheracebyDetroit.ThatvotewillbetakingplaceinSanAntonioalongsidethevoteforthe2015Worldcon,whichshouldmeanweseevediffer-

entbidspullingoutthestopsontheirbidparties!ImexpectingthistobeafunWorldcon,especiallyleadinguptothosevotes.Thereisalsoapotentialinuenceonthe2015WorldconracefromtherealmofNASFiC,asTimMillerhasstatedhisintentiontobidHoustonforthe2015NASFiCshouldHelsinkiwintheWorldconIwouldntdiscountthepotentialofthattoinuenceTexanvotersintheWorldconrace(thoughIalsohavendoneacarefulstudyofwhethertheirattitudesruntowardorawayfromhavinganotherNASFiC--byallac-countstheirlastonewasgrand).

Really glad weve got Detroit in the mix! Ive seen their facilities and they seem really cool

Plus, its a state where I wouldnt be berated by my family for entering like Arizona!

-Warren


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And now... Lloyd Penney!!!!!

DearChris:

Afast,fastloconissues324and325ofTheDrinkTank.Notalotoftime,andwhoknowswhatImighthavetosay

A fast LoC on two issues! A bold manuever!

324HarryHarrisonandRayBradbury,twoSFgiantswhohaveleftus.Moreandmore,theresnosurprise,manyofthebignamesinSFIgrewupwitharegone.IthinkJoeKubertwasaguestatAdAstrayearsago,when

AdAstrawouldalsohaveaseparatecomicsconvention.AnexcellentarticlebyStevenSilveraslongastheirbooksareonourshelves,andwereadthemorremembertheirwordsfondly,theyreallyarentdead.Theywil

be with us a long time.

You know, I dont think Ive read enough of either of em. I have to x that.

IhaventbeenontheFancy3pageinsometime.Isanyonekeepingitupdatedandaddingmoreentriesorhasitbeendormant?IamhavingalookatitIhavetoaskMarkOlsonandtheLosconfolkstospellourlast

name correctly.

Loscon got it wrong! FOOLS!!!!! (runs off to check the spelling on his SFCOntatio page)

Terminator2:JudgmentDay.IcantsayIvereallylikedanyofArnoldsmovies,butIdidseethersttwoTerminatormovies.Hesbecomeaparodyofhimself;recentlysawthetrailerforhisnewestautobiography,and

evenhecallshimselfTheGovernator.TheeffectoftheT-1000wereneat,buttherewasntmuchelse.And in a way, Arnold parodying himself is more entertaining than the genuine thing! I point tothe highly under-rated The Last Action Hero, which when compared to the decent True Lies, is

a masterpiece!

325Andhere,IsawtheJPandJP2.Ifthereweremoreineitherseries,Imnotawareofthem.Good point!

WishweddoneChicon,butnomoneyforit,andstillsavingforLondon.TheresarenfaireintheChicagoarea?ItsoundsmoreliketheArthurianjoustingshownearExhibitionPlacehere,MedievalTimes.Isawitonceandfounditrathercorny,butthecrowdsseemtoloveit,anditsstillgoingafter15yearsorso.

We all missed ya! I just went by our Medieval Times in So Cal last week. I REALLY wanted to see

it again, but it doesnt show on weekdays!

Iamnotsomuchbored,butrealizingthatImightneedachangeofpace.Fandomisstillfun,butnewerinterestsinsteampunkandnowMurdochMysterieshasallowedusnewactivitiesandnewfriends.Youvegottokeepyourselfbusy,andifyoudontuseyourmind,youllloseit.

I wish that was true! What I wouldnt give for a lost mind these days!

JurassicParkgreateffects,nastysaurians,notmuchelseIcansayaboutit.Well,Ididgetaninterestingfontoutofit

Yeah, the materials promotion JP were great! One thing I should write up someday is the evolu-

tion of the Movie Opening Process. I especially loved the posters!

ATorontoThanksgivingWorldconbid?Thatisindeednewstome.ServesmerightfordroppingoutotheloopwhenitcomestoWorldcons.Montrealisstillbidding,butthereisconfusionastowhatyeartheywant.Im kinda shocked you havent heard about it seeign as youre the co-Chair!

And,Iamdone.Iamwaitingforane-mailfromanagencywhomightgetmeatwo-dayassignmentinthedowntownareaonMondayandTuesday,andthenonWednesday,Imightndoutif Igetafull-timeemployee-stylejobwithapublishingcompanyjustnorthofToronto.HurryupandwaitIhatethat,butIadmitImused

to it.

SeeyouatSFContario,comingupinsixorsevenweeks?Wehaventgottenalotoffeedbackfromthe

conventionaboutwhattheydlikeustodoforyou,butonceweallgureitout,wellgetitdone.

Yours,LloydPenney.Always good to hear from ya, Lloyd! To think, well see each other TWICE in November!


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drink tank fifth element

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