| Vol. 19, Issue 6 - June 1, 1999 | Copyright 1999 |
The Electronic Edition
Robin R. Brunner, Publisher
David Henninger, Editor
The Circular of Janus is a publication of the Circle of Janus Science Fiction Club of Central Indiana. Subscription is included with membership, $15.00/year. For information write to Circle of Janus, P.O. Box 68514, Indianapolis, IN 46268-0514. Web Page: http://www.inconjunction.org/coj. E-mail: webmaster@inconjunction.org.
In This Edition:
- Meeting Info
- Sec's Notes by Lynette Cowper
- SETI at Home By David Henninger
- InCon 2000 Report By Keith Chike
- Signs of the Times Contributed by Pam Barker
- How Many Dogs Does it Take... Contributed by Pam Barker
- Homer Awards
- New Books in Paperback
- Conventions in July 1999
- Martian Loses in Court
- Austin Can Still Shag
- The Love Jet
Meeting Info
The next meeting of The Circle of Janus will be June 5, 1999 at the Children’s Museum. The meeting will begin at the usual time. The ConCom will start At 6:00 pm prior to the meeting.
The Secretary's report for April '99 was read and approved.
Treasurer's report withheld in online edition.
In convention reports, Randy reported for 1999 that everything was going well. He mentioned that a friend of Mark Shidler's, Mat Clayson, is a well-known costumer and currently has an R2D2 unit and perhaps will have a C3PO by the time of the con. Tim's Green Cat Publishing will be sponsoring him as a GOH. Randy also had fliers for the con and various people assigned to take them to various stores.
Keith for 2000 was absent. He did, however, send a report via email, which wasn't received till after the meeting (note here, Lynette frequently doesn't check her email on Friday nights, Saturdays and Sundays. If you've got something for a meeting you want read and you're not going to be there, try to get it to Lynette by Friday morning at the latest or call and warn her it's there if after then). His report is appended.
Lynette for 2001 she has some ideas for GOHs, but nothing specific.
In old business, the New Year's Eve party plans are going well. There are only 14 rooms left in the hotel. Various members of the club have reserved the others.
Mike will be getting a club domain name. It will cost $70 for the first two years and $35 a year thereafter. If it is available, he will secure inconjunction.org. If it is not available, the next choice is incon.org. The last time anyone checked, neither of these were taken.
The club directory still needs information. Dave read the list of bios still needed. If you send Dave your bio via email, be sure to include the word 'directory' in your email title, so Dave doesn't miss it. If you don't remember Dave taking your picture, he needs a picture of you. If he doesn't get one, he's threatened to do nasty caricatures.
Vickie needs bios for the program book ASAP, and any other articles people were wanting to write.
The motion from the Board was read again and tabled for later vote. The motion is an amendment to the constitution and will be voted on at the June meeting. It is: Club officers must be dues-paying members for two full consecutive years prior to taking office.
In new business, the non-meeting meeting was scheduled for Sunday, May 16th, at 5:00 at the Pizzeria Uno.
The question of the after-the-meeting food place was brought up. Originally, there had been some thought of Grindstone Charlies, but with construction, there were traffic problems. We decided instead to go with the Steak and Shake at 71st and I465 again. [Note: This did not work out well. Other options are now under consideration.]
In other announcements and reviews:
Ria announced she was moving on the 14th, 15th, and 16th and needed help.
It was mentioned that in July, Hasbro is releasing the Space Walk GI Joe.
Jeff mentioned that www.ussquantum.org is now online.
Jeff also mentioned that the InCon Web page has recently been updated and now includes a complete dealers listing.
It was mentioned that Babylon 5 was going to have a time switch again and the station was allowing the public to vote on it. The choices were 7 AM daily, 6 AM daily, or later in the morning just on Saturdays.
Chris Miller mentioned that MTV has been showing a music video for Star Wars episode 1.
Linda mentioned that J. Michael Straczynski, creator of Babylon 5, won the Bradbury Award from SFWA. Hal Clement won the Toastmaster Award, which is for lifetime achievement.
Besides THE movie to see this spring, some other releases that looked promising were mentioned. The Mummy and Wild, Wild West.
Randy mentioned that HBO is releasing the videotape of From the Earth to the Moon. The video costs around $80, but is supposed to have a lot of freebies with it.
Linda mentioned The Tough Guide to Fantasy Land, by Dianne Wynne Jones. It is a spoof on all the cliches and is quite funny.
Jeff mentioned that Quake 3 has been released and noted that the Mac version was released first.
Brian announced there would be a meeting for those interested in being in the play during Chaos.
The after-the-meeting gathering was at the Steak -n- Shake at 71st and I465.
Respectfully submitted,
After you are registered with SETI, a chunk of raw data is downloaded to your computer. You have the choice of letting your machine crunch Seti's numbers as an active program or as a screen saver while you aren't using your computer. Unless you have a very large and powerful machine with lots and lots of ram I suggest the screen saver. When the data has all been processed you are prompted to log on, upload your data and download a new batch.
The program will operate on a stand alone system like most home computers or on a networked system at a business. SETI has strongly implied that if yours is the machine that detects the first verifiable extraterrestrial signal, then you will share in the Nobel Prize. Of course the Nobel Committee has to decide the discovery is worth it. Communications with Coneheads or ID4 invaders might not qualify.
If you want to be a more active participant, you can build your own station. The SETI League is recruiting 5,000 amateur radio astronomers to search the skies for intelligent signals. This is not a cheap endeavor.
First you need to find an old, obsolete 12 foot satellite TV dish and then expect to pay about $1,500 to $3,000 for electronics to go with it. (Who has an old dish?) So far 76 stations are operating. The SETI League has a web site at http://www.setileague.org
Of course there are some messages from space you might not want to receive, Like this one contributed by Pam Barker:
Sec's Notes
By Lynnette R. F. Cowper
The May 1999 meeting of the Circle of Janus was held on May 1, 1999, at the Children's Museum. The meeting opened at 7:35 PM. 28 adults and 2 children were present. All officers except Conchair 2000 Keith Chike and Chairman of the Board Bob McGillem, were present.
Mike mentioned that his boss, Leo Doyle, now has a copy of Star Trek: First Contact for the State Theater in Anderson. There will be a free showing at some point. Mike would e-mail everyone with the date and time.
Chaos was declared at 8:20 PM.
Lynette R. F. Cowper
SETI at Home
By David Henninger
By now you have heard of the SETI at HOME Screen saver with which you can participate in the search for extraterrestrial intelligence. The Windows 95/98 version is now available. (Mac and UNIX versions have been available for some time.) You can find this at http://setiathome.ssl.berkeley.edu Robin and I downloaded it a few days ago. It's simple, you download the file, then click on it to unzip it. An install wizard appears and you follow directions on the screen. We had a little difficulty logging on and registering since we tried this before the May 17th active date.
Scientists this week decoded the first confirmed alien transmission from outer space. Here is the text of the message that they decoded:
"This really works! Just send 5*10^50 atoms of hydrogen to each of the five star systems listed below. Then, add your own system to the top of the list, delete the system at the bottom, and send out copies of this message to 100 other solar systems. If you follow these instructions, within 0.25 of a galactic rotation you are guaranteed to receive enough hydrogen in return to power your civilization until entropy reaches its maximum!"
InCon 2000 Report
By Keith Chike
- My original choice for GOH has been scrapped in favor of another who I have not received feedback from.
- Should Laura H. and Dave H. wish to continue on in their current posts for InCon 2000 I would be more than pleased to have their able assistance. Is Mike C. going to be available for A/V in 2000? As A/V is such a key facet of the convention, I would feel very relieved to have this department in his capable hands. If Sandy D. wishes to handle the Video Room, TIA! No assumptions have been made concerning anyone's willingness to be involved in next year's convention. My apologies if anyone feels they've been slighted, it has not been intentional.
- Currently InCon 2000's line up looks thus:
a) Ops: open b) Registration: Susan Parker c) Programming: Kathie Thompson d) Program Book: open e) Publicity: open f) Con Suite: Mark & Teresa Shidler g) Security: Chris Canary h) Masquerade: Deb Hunt i) Play/Director: open j) Gaming: Ken Segall k) Animea: Gary Kitchen l) Dealers: open m) Art Room/Auction: open n) Audio/Visual: open o) Special Services: Joanne Brooks - Soliciting volunteers to fill the open posts.
- The effort to bring Walen as our AGOH is still underway. Cheryl has been emailed regarding the gallery proprietor who wished to work out a mutual arrangement to split expenses to bring him.
- Anything I have unwittingly forgotten. (I haven't forgotten draperies, Randy.)
- My new eFax number is (603) 297-6505. Sorry its LD but the service is free and faxes get piped right to chikester@worldnet.att.net so I couldn't complain too much.
Keith
Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.
You have the right to remain silent anything you say will be misquoted, then used against you.
Should you trust a stockbroker who's married to a travel agent?
A closed mouth gathers no feet.
Don't you think it's unnerving that doctors call what they do "Practice"?
Did you ever notice that Evian bottled water is Naive spelled backwards? Think about it...
Seduce my mind & you can have my body, find my soul & I'm yours forever.
The grass may actually be greener on the other side of the fence, but it still has to be mowed.
Golden Retriever:
Border Collie:
Dachshund:
Toy Poodle:
Rottweiler:
Shi-tzu:
Labrador:
Malamute:
Cocker Spaniel:
Doberman Pinscher:
Mastiff:
Beagle:
Cat:
Best Novel: Kirinyaga, Mike Resnick (Del Rey)
Best Novella: "Aurora In Four Voices", Catherine Asaro (Analog, Dec 98)
Best Novelette: "Echea", Kristine Kathryn Rusch (Asimov's, Jul 98)
Best Short Story: "Face Of God", Barb Galler-Smith (On Spec, 98)
Best Dramatic Presentation: "Sleeping In Light", Babylon 5
"Runelords"
"Shards of a Broken Crown" - The final installment in Feist's Serpentwar Saga
CONVERGENCE 1999 (Jul 2-4 '99)
EMPIRE CON/WESTERCON 52 (Jul 2-5 '99)
INCONJUNCTION XIX (Jul 2-4 '99)
GATEWAY SCI-FI/MEDIA CON (Jul 9-11 '99)
READERCON 11 (Jul 9-11 '99)
X-KHAN (Jul 9-11 '99) - Relaxacon
1999 J.W. CAMPBELL CONFERENCE (Jul 10-11 '99)
NECON 19 (Jul 15-18 '99)
BORÉAL 20 (Jul 16-18 '00)
BREE MOOT 4/MYTHCON XXX (Jul 30-Aug 2 '99)
RIVERCON XXIV (Jul 30-Aug 1 '99)
Joly, 34, is a college-educated sales manager Who maintains he is cloned from material recovered in the 1960s by NASA from Mars. Unfortunately, he can't prove it because records revealing his DNA have been falsified.
Signs of the Times
Contributed by Pam Barker
Spotted on the back of a T-shirt worn by LAPD Bomb Squad: "If you see me running, try to keep up."
How Many Dogs Does it Take to Change a Light Bulb?
Contributed by Pam Barker (Who has two dogs.)
Afghan:
Light bulb? What light bulb?
The sun is shining, the day is young, we've got our whole lives ahead of us, and you're worrying about a burned-out light bulb?
Just one. And I'll replace any wiring that's not up to date.
I can't reach the stupid lamp!
I'll just blow in the border collie's ear and he'll do it.
Make me!
Puh-leeez, dahling. I have servants for that kind of thing.
Oh, me, me!!!! Pleeeeeeaze let me change the light bulb!!! Can I? Can I? Huh? Huh? Can I?
Let the border collie do it. You can feed me while he's busy.
Why change it? I can still pee on the carpet in the dark.
While it's dark, I'm going to sleep on the couch.
Mastiffs are not afraid of the dark.
Light bulb? Light bulb? That thing I ate was a light bulb?
You mean you need light to see?
Homer Awards
winners of the 1998 HOMer awards awarded each year by the Compuserve SF Forum.
New Books in Paperback
"The Dictionary of Science Fiction Places"
by Brian Stableford
by David Farland
by Raymond E. Feist
Conventions in July 1999
DRAGON*CON 1999 (Jul 1-4 '99)
Hyatt Regency, Atlanta GA
Rooms: $125/125/135/145
Multi-media convention
SF guests: Lynn Abbey, Kevin J. Anderson & Rebecca Moesta, Nancy Collins, A.C. Crispin, Stephen R. Donaldson, Fred Saberhagen, Robert Anton Wilson, more
Artist guests: Bob Eggleton, Larry Elmore, Brian Froud, William Stout, Ron Walotsky, more
Memb: $50 to 5/15/99, $60 at door
E-mail: dragoncon@dragoncon.org
Radisson Hotel South, Bloomington MN
Guests: Forrest J Ackerman, Gary Russel
Memb: $25 to 5/31/99, $40 at door
Info: Convergence 1999, Box 13208, Dinkytown Stn., Minneapolis MN 55414
Phone: (612) 996-9224
E-mail: converge99@aol.com
Doubletree City Center, Spokane WA
Rooms: $75
GoHs: C.J. Cherryh, Kristine Kathryn Rusch, Barbara Hambly
Ed. GoH: Ellen Datlow
AGoHs: Wendy Pini, Alicia Austin
FGoH: Larry Baker
TM: Betty Bigelow
Memb: $55 to 6/1/99, $60 at door, $20 supp
Dealer table: $60 table, $100 booth (plus memb)
Art show: $15 for a flat, panel, or table, 10% commission
Info: Empire Con, Box 7477, Spokane WA 99207
Phone: (509) 482-5288
E-mail: westercon52@webwitch.com
Marriott Hotel, Indianapolis IN.
GoH: Bill Forstchen.
AGoH: Pat Rawlings.
TM: Arlan K. Andrews.
Memb: $25 to 6/1/99, $30 at door.
Info: InConJunction XIX, Box 19763, Indianapolis IN 46219
E-mail: webmaster@inconjunction.org
Henry VIII Hotel & Conf. Ctr., St. Louis MO
Rooms: $69 king, $74 dbl/dbl, $84 ste.
GoH: Laurell K. Hamilton.
AGoHs: J.R. Daniels & Brent Bass.
Plus media guests.
Memb: $50 to 5/16/99, then $60
Info: Gateway, Box 3064, Florissant MO 63032
Phone: (314) 524-3014
E-mail: gateway@stlf.org
Westin Hotel, Waltham MA
Rooms: $89 + tax
GoHs: Harlan Ellison, Ellen Datlow
Memb: $35 to 6/30/99, $50 at door (limit 500)
Info: Readercon, Box 38-1246, Cambridge MA 02238-1246
E-mail: zeno@mit.edu
Colorado Springs CO
GoHs: Kevin J. Anderson & Rebecca Moesta
AGoH: Myles Pinkney
Memb: $18 to 6/30/99, then $23, one-day $15 advance, $18 at con
Dealer table: $35 (incl 1 memb)
Info: X-Khan c/o Penny Tegen, 2926 Valarie Circle, Colorado Springs CO 80917
Phone: (719) 597-5259
Center for the Study of Science Fiction, Univ. of Kansas
Guests: Frederik Pohl, Elizabeth Anne Hull.
Campbell and Sturgeon Awards.
The conference is preceded by the Writers Workshop (June 28-July 9) and followed by the Intensive English Institute on the Teaching of Science Fiction (July 12-23)
Info: James Gunn, English Dept., Univ. of Kansas, Lawrence KS 66045
E-mail: jgunn@falcon.cc.ukans.edu
Roger Williams Univ., Briston RI. Northeastern Writers' Conference
GoHs: Kim Newman, Thomas Tessier
AGoH: Bernie Wrightson
TM: Rick Hautala
Memb (incl room & board): $225 sngl, $215 dbl (Thurs. arr.), $190/$180 (Fri. arr.), $40 at door (no room/board).
Info: Necon 19, 67 Birchland Ave., Pawtucket RI 02860
Phone: (804) 966-5170
E-mail: bbooth@providence.edu
Université du Quebec, Chicoutimi PQ, Canada
Info: Elisabeth Vonarburg
E-mail: evarburg@saglac.qc.ca
Archbishop Cousins Center, Milwaukee WI
GoHs: Douglas A. Anderson, Gary & Sylvia Hunnewell
Theme: Exploring the Worlds of J.R.R. Tolkien & His Fellow Travelers
Memb: $50 to 7/14/99, $60 at door. Memb + room/board: $175 sngl, $160 dbl. Banquet: $30
Info: Bree Moot 4/Mythcon XXX, 293 Selby Ave., St. Paul MN 55102-1811
Phone: (612) 292-8887
E-mail: d-lena@tc.umn.edu
Executive West Hotel, Louisville KY
Rooms: $60
GoH: Esther Friesner
AGoH: Gary Williams
FGoHs: Pat & Roger Sims
TM: Lawrence Watt-Evans
Memb: $25 to 7/15/99, then $35
Info: RiverCon XXIV, Box 58009, Louisville KY 40268
E-mail: RiverConSF@aol.com
Martian Loses in Court
A Canadian judge dismissed a claim that Defense Minister Art Eggleton, Citibank and several drug-store chains were part of a conspiracy to kill a complainant because he is a Martian. Rene Joly claimed not to be human and therefore had no status before the courts. Joly contended that the Shopper's Drug Mart chain had sold him poison instead of medication, that Canadian troops in Germany had implanted a microchip in his brain and that Citibank had perpetrated a credit card fraud-all in a bid to further U.S. assassination attempts on his life.