Minutes: Oct 7, 2001 Recorded by Cassia Martin Sent to hrsfa-announce, 8 Oct 2001 --------------------------------------------------- Dennis called the meeting to order. There was a vote; and the majority declared that it was, indeed cold. (I was among the few dissenters, but later on in the evening I was converted to the chilled side.) Dennis QOTD: (after some seriously rambling discussion) "In what way is the meeting different, now that is started?" The Hour: "All Hail Chronos." On Oct. 29th, from 2 am until 2 am (for approximately one hour), we shall celebrate the Glory that is Chronos. Moreover, we shall not burn a clock, as open flame is not allowed in the yard. Remember to email Dennis is you want to do plainchant, or be the clockbearer. (Freshmen, particularly.) The Wyld Hunt: The EE Poobah: "We shall confuse the drunken freshmen." The Stag: "And the drunken freshmen's parents." On the 28th, (yes, Freshmen's Parents' weekend) we will run around cold Cambridge in blue paint, chasing a stag. The Huntmaster and Stag have yet to actually _plan_ anything, but this may change soon. (hint hint) Off-topic (but cool) from the co-chair: Bryn says that the A.R.T. is having a costume sale at the Loeb between 1 and 2 pm, on Friday(?). Write Bryn about the date if you are planning on attending, as I seem to have not written it down. Library: Last Sunday, people put books from A-M onto shelves. N-Z books are alphabetized, but not on shelves. This is partly because of running out of time; it is also partly through running out of shelf space. According to Tony, there are three extraneous things taking up space in the library; the table, the computers, and the Piers Anthony books. Apparently the table belongs to Pfo-ho, so we will ask them to get rid of it. HRSFA unanimously voted to trash the computers in an amusing yet environmentally conscious way yet to be determined. (I think Kaitlin volunteered to be the one to determine it.) The books are more complicated, but it was generally decided that for most books we only need one copy. (The pertinent exceptions being LoTR and Ender's Game.) The duplicates (and 3icates, etc. (the Piers Anthony books being the most conspicious examples)) will be sorted out and put into a "box." People were skeptical about a book fair; so we're thinking to just bring the "box" to some meeting (previously announced), and all dued paid HRSFA members can just take whatever they want (as long as they promise not to donate it back to library when they graduate?) Any leftovers, we probably give to a public library. (Alternatively, they become ammunition for the SCA's trebouchet (sp.) (That's almost, but not exactly, a catapult, for those not in the know.) Neil Gaiman, Harlan Ellison, and Peter David, and Harlan Ellison, and Harlan Ellison, and .... you get the idea. "The man rants." Ellison called Dan a lady, and instuled the audience, especially MIT students. Dennis asked Ellison to insult the large Harvard contingent in the audience, also, and the response was: "I have nothing but the greatest of respect for Harvard students." (No... not sarcastic at all...) (Dennis does a fairly good Harlan Ellison impression, btw.) Kevin Martin (former HRSFA co-chair) got personally complimented by him, and, in my opinion, firmly showed the bastard down. Neil Gaiman was wicked cool, and actually got to talk for a while. He wrote a poem about "Crazy Hair" for his 7-year old daughter! (Cute!) (Henri was brought up at this point in the meeting... I'm not sure why....) Kaitlin and Elizabeth got their jeans signed by Neil Gaiman! That just rocks. (Correct me if I'm wrong about the names, btw.) Warren ("cape man") gave Gaiman with a red rubber duckie with horns on it, to which was replied: "This is the coolest Satanic duck I've ever been presented with." Scary anecdote by Peter David about Neil Gaiman: So, Peter David's daughter was a big fan of Tori Amos, and really wanted tickets to some sold out concert. It just so happens that Gaiman and Tori Amos were tight, so Peter asked Neil if he could get a couple for him. He not only achieves the tickets, but they are apparently very prime tickets, good seats. On the traditional "Oh, I really owe you" by Peter, Neil responded with "Yes... I know. You do." Peter immediately had this image of Neil Gaiman coming to him on his deathbed, saying "Petah, it's time." It was an evening full of good lines, and some of HRSFA Sandman collection got signed, so it was good overall. Fall Party: The Quincyites have semi-confirmed the use of 603 for the Fall Party. A vote was called for whether we should vote for a date for the next meeting. Most people said "Aye," so we'll be taking nominations for the next two weeks. (Dennis was already nominated.) We'll vote at the next meeting. SIGs: Angel, Mon. 9 pm. Buffy, Tues. 8pm. Joev volunteered his apartment for the West Wing premier, if people want to contact him. Gaming Sig: Starr and Rebecca both won at Cataan this weekend for the first time. Diplomacy tomorrow at 11 am in the Lowell JCR; drop by even if you aren't planning on playing. (There is a definite 7.) Altan Sert is starting a D&D campaign; email him. Non-existent Star Trek SIG. Aaron (dinkin) has the first couple eps on tape. Enterprise is showing on Wed. night, when he is busy, but if people want to get together then to watch, that's cool, or if people want to watch tapes of reruns with him, that's cool, too. MST3K. met and watched the Dungeons & Dragons movie on Friday. "We have a winner. Or maybe just a loser." Email jfilipp with your previous riffs, if you attended. Also, Bryn wants to put on some portion of the MST3Ked "Eye of Argon" for the next M&C. Email her is you're interested in doing some part. (bneuensc) Writer's SIG: Tomorrow round 8:15 pm. A more permanent time will worked out later. Reader's SIG: Has had two meetings. The first was 2 short stories, and everyone learnt what a "Mickey Finn" was, without which knowledge "The Man with the Eyes" really didn't make any sense. (DEF. Mickey Finn: Any drink that knocks people unconscious.) For the 2nd meeting, Reader's SIG met with Marshall Poe, Senior Tutor of Lowell House, to discuss Alien. They will meet next week on Thursday, at 6:30 pm, to discuss Bradbury's "Night Meeting." The regular meeting will become Wed. at 6 pm. (All of this is in the vicinity of Lowell House. Oh, we're also officially become a House group, which allows us to reserve rooms on a weekly basis.) Control the Weather wants to become a SIG. They almost had 8 people last year, but didn't quite make it. Email bmmiller@fas, if interested. Memberships now cost $8. Talk to Tony; he also had cards for everybody. The IgNobels: happened on Wed. The list of winners is up at: http://www.improbable.com/ig/ig-2001-winners.html Some highlights - the peace prize went to a fellow who created an amusement park called Stalin World. The Technology Prize went to a wonderful scientist who patented the wheel in Australia. The webcast is up at improbable.com for those who missed it Fusion: "It's Coming." (Is it just me, or is that really spooky?) The illustrations are *amazing*, and it looks like Fusion is almost ready to go the print. The obstacle, as always, is ads. If you could, by any chance, help find ads, write bmmiller@fas. Polearms and swords will be involved. The meeting was adjourned by Bryn to Munchies, gaming, Alias, and other good stuff. Recorded by, Cassia Martin, Infernal [This is the HRSFA announcement list. To unsubscribe, please send the one-line message "unsubscribe hrsfa-announce" to majordomo@hcs.harvard.edu. Please send questions about this list to hrsfa@hcs.harvard.edu]