Lloyd Penney, Etobicoke, ON CANADA
On the Canadian sports channel, TSN, I have has the opportunity to watch some Australian rules football. A minimum of padding and protection, and a maximum of pounding. I've heard games described as an orchestrated war.
I think Alex Slate is right. The war in Iraq was based on lies and nonsense. But then, the first Gulf War was also launched on lies and a skilful PR campaign. The real reason American goes to war is to bolster its economy, especially when it looks like it's slipping. Either the Bushes saw a reason where there was none, or billions of dollars have been spent, and nearly 2000 US troops, and countless Iraqis, have been killed, simply to make each Bush look good and strong and patriotic in the American public's eyes, and to sink more money into Halliburton's treasury. I don't think Jeb Bush is going to run for President, but if he ever does, run away quickly, and vote Anyone But Bush. It also looks like that before Afghanistan and Iraq are finished up, Iran and its nuclear capabilities may be the next target. Please vote for sanity, and vote for someone we all can like and endure without America further making itself a voice for tyranny in the name of freedom and liberty.
All through this issue ... good fan art, especially Charlie Williams' industrial 500-lb. can of Tang. The variety in Charlie’s work ranges from deeply serious to wildly comic. The man is amazing.
I look forward to that James Hogan book ... should be a good read when it arrives. The New Orleans Symphony Book Fair also sounds like some fun. I wish something like that could happen here. Actually, there is an event called Word on the Street, comes along every September, and after many years of making it a day-long street fair, it is occupying the grounds of Queen's Park, which is where the Ontario provincial parliament buildings are. It is supposed to be a festival of literacy, but has turned into a clearance sale for stationery and giftware that some large publishing companies have accumulated over the year. If it was good stuff they were selling, it would be fine, but one gets the feeling they are clearing out the trash. I didn't go to this fair last year, and I might go to it this year, either. I think I'd rather have the quiet adventure of scoping out some good quality used book stores.
I certainly agree with Greg Benford about media coverage of the space programme. With the current problems, and the successful return of the Discovery, so many newspapers and radio and television stations have complained that the shuttle programme has cost us too much money and too many lives, and it's time to get rid of our decades-past sci-fi dream of going to the stars, and deal with reality on this planet. The greatest shame is that many of these editorial rants against the shuttle programme, and about space exploration in general, comes from publications aimed at our youth. They say it's too expensive to dream; in this era of killer video games and personality cult, we must dream to escape the fate of sinking into our own navels. We must look outwards in order to learn, dream in order to grow.
I think many Americans who do have friends from outside the US know not to confuse Americans with American governments or American foreign policy. I know not to blame my American friends for the action of its government. The catch-phrase is government for the people by the people, and we all know that it is a catch-phrase, and not much more. The government, once elected, will do as it pleases, and it knows that memories are often short. To all Americans who are embarrassed and ashamed by the actions of your government, all I can say is the best thing you can do is get out and vote next presidential election day, and it can't come soon enough.
The fans in Melbourne are a group I'd really like to meet. I've been getting Ethel since issue 22, when Ian Gunn was the editor, and I've read about generations of Australian fans coming and going. I'd like to join them at the church for a get together some time, but there's simply too much geography in the way. Plan now for 2010!
Spam hunting? Is this anything like the annual spaghetti harvest in Italy? One of the newest hunting grounds for spam is Nigeria, where it has found new grounds in which to grow. It's extremely plentiful there, although some of it says it's from there, but is from elsewhere in reality. It's not edible, unfortunately, and is mostly a pest to be eradicated. I've never had the chance to spend much time with the Lynches, and never had the chance to talk with Nicki, which is definitely my loss. My best time with the Lynches has to be in the Winnipeg Worldcon fanzine lounge, which was in an old abandoned cocktail lounge in the Winnipeg Convention Centre. The Lynches has their Hugo, I had my Aurora, Andy Porter had his Hugo at his table on the other side of the room, and the atmosphere was good fun and frolic, good times and companionship. I sincerely hope that kind of day will return, but in the meantime, that time together will have to suffice as one of the better times I've had at Worldcon.
Tim Marion echoes the old line that it's warm only two to three months a year in Canada. Winter can last about three solid months, more if you're in the northern territories, and less if you live in a place like Vancouver. Springs are nice here, falls are pleasant, and so far, this summer has been one of the hottest on record in Toronto.
Familiar Taral art, and lots of familiar names, including Barry Kent MacKay, who is still around as a naturalist, and not involved in fanart at all. I've always liked Taral's gamins, and it's the first time I've seen Calvin stealing Saara Mar's bra top.
Orchestrated by Spike Jones, maybe. I watched from the stands, hundreds of yards from the action, and still felt lucky to get out alive! Now—I can’t wait till the next time! Go Tigers!
I think Alex Slate is right. The war in Iraq was based on lies and nonsense. But then, the first Gulf War was also launched on lies and a skilful PR campaign. The real reason American goes to war is to bolster its economy, especially when it looks like it's slipping. Either the Bushes saw a reason where there was none, or billions of dollars have been spent, and nearly 2000 US troops, and countless Iraqis, have been killed, simply to make each Bush look good and strong and patriotic in the American public's eyes, and to sink more money into Halliburton's treasury. I don't think Jeb Bush is going to run for President, but if he ever does, run away quickly, and vote Anyone But Bush. It also looks like that before Afghanistan and Iraq are finished up, Iran and its nuclear capabilities may be the next target. Please vote for sanity, and vote for someone we all can like and endure without America further making itself a voice for tyranny in the name of freedom and liberty.
All through this issue ... good fan art, especially Charlie Williams' industrial 500-lb. can of Tang. The variety in Charlie’s work ranges from deeply serious to wildly comic. The man is amazing.
I look forward to that James Hogan book ... should be a good read when it arrives. The New Orleans Symphony Book Fair also sounds like some fun. I wish something like that could happen here. Actually, there is an event called Word on the Street, comes along every September, and after many years of making it a day-long street fair, it is occupying the grounds of Queen's Park, which is where the Ontario provincial parliament buildings are. It is supposed to be a festival of literacy, but has turned into a clearance sale for stationery and giftware that some large publishing companies have accumulated over the year. If it was good stuff they were selling, it would be fine, but one gets the feeling they are clearing out the trash. I didn't go to this fair last year, and I might go to it this year, either. I think I'd rather have the quiet adventure of scoping out some good quality used book stores.
I certainly agree with Greg Benford about media coverage of the space programme. With the current problems, and the successful return of the Discovery, so many newspapers and radio and television stations have complained that the shuttle programme has cost us too much money and too many lives, and it's time to get rid of our decades-past sci-fi dream of going to the stars, and deal with reality on this planet. The greatest shame is that many of these editorial rants against the shuttle programme, and about space exploration in general, comes from publications aimed at our youth. They say it's too expensive to dream; in this era of killer video games and personality cult, we must dream to escape the fate of sinking into our own navels. We must look outwards in order to learn, dream in order to grow.
I think many Americans who do have friends from outside the US know not to confuse Americans with American governments or American foreign policy. I know not to blame my American friends for the action of its government. The catch-phrase is government for the people by the people, and we all know that it is a catch-phrase, and not much more. The government, once elected, will do as it pleases, and it knows that memories are often short. To all Americans who are embarrassed and ashamed by the actions of your government, all I can say is the best thing you can do is get out and vote next presidential election day, and it can't come soon enough.
But what happens if Rudolph Giuliani runs, maintains W’s honky base, and wins? Within six months we’d be reminiscing about those golden Bush years.
The fans in Melbourne are a group I'd really like to meet. I've been getting Ethel since issue 22, when Ian Gunn was the editor, and I've read about generations of Australian fans coming and going. I'd like to join them at the church for a get together some time, but there's simply too much geography in the way. Plan now for 2010!
Spam hunting? Is this anything like the annual spaghetti harvest in Italy? One of the newest hunting grounds for spam is Nigeria, where it has found new grounds in which to grow. It's extremely plentiful there, although some of it says it's from there, but is from elsewhere in reality. It's not edible, unfortunately, and is mostly a pest to be eradicated. I've never had the chance to spend much time with the Lynches, and never had the chance to talk with Nicki, which is definitely my loss. My best time with the Lynches has to be in the Winnipeg Worldcon fanzine lounge, which was in an old abandoned cocktail lounge in the Winnipeg Convention Centre. The Lynches has their Hugo, I had my Aurora, Andy Porter had his Hugo at his table on the other side of the room, and the atmosphere was good fun and frolic, good times and companionship. I sincerely hope that kind of day will return, but in the meantime, that time together will have to suffice as one of the better times I've had at Worldcon.
Tim Marion echoes the old line that it's warm only two to three months a year in Canada. Winter can last about three solid months, more if you're in the northern territories, and less if you live in a place like Vancouver. Springs are nice here, falls are pleasant, and so far, this summer has been one of the hottest on record in Toronto.
The summer heat in Shreveport was brutal close to 100, with 100% humidity, almost every day. But until August 29th I imagined the savage heat was beneficial I thought the high pressure kept the hurricanes offshore. Ha.
Do we need a new name for science fiction? For fantasy, perhaps? Science fiction brings up Star Trek and Star Wars for many people, and fantasy means kink, or daydreaming. If there is anything that allows your imagination to take flight, the public attaches a negative spin to it. Speculative fiction? Futuristic fiction? Another article about the fascism and tyranny inherent in the activities of the Bush regime. Do I see a trend here?
Familiar Taral art, and lots of familiar names, including Barry Kent MacKay, who is still around as a naturalist, and not involved in fanart at all. I've always liked Taral's gamins, and it's the first time I've seen Calvin stealing Saara Mar's bra top.
posted by ;-p at 1:09 AM
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