The Official Newsletter of the Washington Science Fiction
Association -- ISSN 0894-5411
Edited by Joe Mayhew
WSFA Minutes January 20, 1995 at Chuck Divine's
WSFA Minutes February 3, 1995 at Gilliland's
WSFA's Current Officers
A Moving Experience
Disclave 1995 Staff List (as of February 3)
Disclave 1996 update
World Fantasy Convention
Book Review by Alexis Gilliland
Incomplete Mailing List for WSFA
The Software Schism
The Lazarus Foundation
Disclave 1995
Attending: Pres. Covert Beach, Sec. Joe Mayhew, Treas & 96 Chair Bob MacIntosh, Trustees Dan Burgess & Paula Lewis, 97 Chair Michael Nelson, Elspeth Burgess, Chuck Divine, Alexis Gilliland, Lee Gilliland, David Grimm, Eric Jablow, Judy Kindell, Brian C. Lewis, Samuel Lubell, Dick Lynch, Nicki Lynch, Keith Marshall, Walter Miles, Michael Nelson, Gary Oleson, Lance Oszko, Peggy Rae Pavlat, John Peacock, Evan Phillips, John Sapienza, George R. Shaner, Steven Smith, T.R. Smith, William Squire, Michael J. Taylor, James Uba, Michael J. Walsh, and Michael Watkins [Barry, Judy and Meridel Newton arrived after the meeting].
The meeting was called to order by WSFA President Covert Beach at 9:30.
Newly elected Secretary, Joe Mayhew, said that he had the WSFA Archives [chiefly consisting of old minutes, WSFA Journals, other fanzines, Disclave program books, and some historic memorabilia] as well as WSFA's XT computer & non-letter quality printer.
WSFA Treasurer, Bob MacIntosh, declared a balance of $1,676.25 at the moment, adding that he expected an infusion from the 1994 Disclave soon.
1994 Disclave Co-Chair, Paula Lewis, reported that its fiscal affairs would be closed out soon. Funds paying for memberships in the 1995 Disclave have been transferred, and the recipients have been notified. Any omissions should be referred to the CO-Chairs [Paula Lewis & John Peacock].
1995 Disclave Treasurer, Peggy Rae Pavlat, announced that the $20.00 dollar rate was still available at this meeting.
1996 Disclave Chair, Bob MacIntosh, had nothing he wished to report.
1997 Disclave Chair, Mike Nelson, said that Eva Whitley had gotten a electronic bulletin board discussion going about how cons pick their Guests of honor. Of the many methods discussed, Mike noted that accepting bribes from the authors hadn't come up.
Third Friday Meeting Host, Chuck Divine will be out of town skiing on the Third Friday in March. He is, however willing to let WSFA use his house if someone will volunteer to take care of things for him.
NO OLD BUSINESS
NEW BUSINESS: Joe Mayhew moved that "WSFA auction off the XT Computer and printer at the next WSFA meeting with no minimum bid." He stated that the XT was acquired when few had computers for WSFA and Disclave business, but given that so many fans now have much better computers that the XT is a sort of dinosaur. Several suggested donating the machine. The motion was tabled to the next meeting by vote.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:08
Attending: Pres. Covert Beach, Sec. Joe Mayhew, Treas. & 96 Chair Bob MacIntosh, 95 Chair Dan Hoey, Chris Callahan, Alexis Gilliland, Charles Gililand, Lee Gilliland, David Grimm, Eric Jablow, Judy Kindell, Brian C. Lewis, Walter Miles, George Nyhen, Lance Oszko, Kathi Overton, Phil Parsons, Peggy Rae Pavlat, John Pomeranz, Robyn Rissell, John Sapienza, Tom Schaad, George R. Shaner, William Squire, James Uba, Michael J. Walsh, Michael Watkins, Miles Weissman, Mike Zipser, Beth Zipser, and Ben Zuhl.
Called to order at 9:17. Two items were on the agenda: 1) Tabled motion concerning Computer. 2) Finding someone willing to host the March 17 meeting.
The Treasury balance was $1,227.01. Bob said he expected over $5,000 to be transferred in from the 94 Disclave soon.
DISCLAVE 1995: Dan Hoey has re-measured the hotel's function space and has given the Secretary the current Disclave staff list.
OLD BUSINESS:
1) Joe Mayhew's motion tabled at the previous meeting that "WSFA auction off the XT Computer and printer at the next WSFA meeting with no minimum bid." was passed unanimously after a brief discussion in which it was pointed out that anyone wishing to donate it could probably bid a penny and win. John Sapienza made the only bid and bought the lot at $1.00. He announced his intention of donating the machine to the Lazarus Foundation.
2) Chuck Divine will be out of town for the March 17th meeting currently scheduled to be held at his house. He has generously offered to allow WSFA to use his house in his absence if someone will take the responsibility of hosting the meeting. A number of WSFAns will be out of town attending Lunacon; no one present volunteered. The matter will be raised again at the next meeting.
Adjourned at 9:47.
PRESIDENT: Covert Beach
VICE PRESIDENT: Terilee Edwards-Hewitt
SECRETARY: Joe Mayhew
TREASURER: Bob MacIntosh
TRUSTEES: Dan Burgess, Jim Edwards-Hewitt, Paula Lewis
DISCLAVE CHAIRS:
95, Dan Hoey; 96 Bob MacIntosh; 97 Michael Nelson.
Dan and Elspeth Burgess would like to thank Robyn Rissel, George Shaner, Walter Miles, Dan Hoey, and Larry & Sue Schroeder for effort "above and beyond" during their recent move to larger quarters. Their phone number remains the same [301-589-2231]. Their new address is:
Dan & Elspeth Burgess
[ censored ]
Silver Spring, MD 20910
CHAIR: Dan Hoey
Hotel Liaison: Covert Beach
Guest Liaison: Beth Zipser
Party Liaison: Kitty Jensen
Baby-sitting: Joni Dashoff
Treasurer: Peggy Rae Pavlat
Information: Chris Callahan
Volunteers: Larry Schroeder
Registration: F.L. Ettlin &
Assistants: Dick Roepke, Bill Jensen, Paula Lewis, David Grimm.
Discave: Bob MacIntosh &
Assistants: Michael Nelson, Lee Gilliland, Erica Ginter.
Program: Mike Zipser &
Assistants: John Sapienza, Jim Edwards-Hewitt, Terilee Edwards-Hewitt,
John Pomeranz, Kathi Overton, Covert Beach.
Green Room: Jim Tracy
Program Book: John Pomeranz
Dance: Kitty Jensen
Film: John Peacock
Art Show: Judy Kindell &
Assistants: Covert Beach, Steve Fetheroff, Shirley Avery, Martin
Deutsch, Joni Dashoff
Auctioneers: Tom Schaad, Mike Zipser.
Dealers Room: Scott Dennis.
For those still unaware, Disclave 1996's Guest of Honor is Michael Swanwick. We are still considering candidates for Artist Guest Of Honor, and might still consider other honored guests.
At present, there are still many staff positions simply waiting for people to come and take them. Joe Mayhew has decided to use his talents to put together Disclave '96's programming. Judy Kindell had decided she wanted to handle the Treasury (ahh, counting the money...) And Mike Nelson decided he wanted to put together the souvenir book, even before he decided to become the chairperson of Disclave 1997. I want to thank the three of them for volunteering. And I hope to be hearing from more of you in the near future.
Bob MacIntosh
Chairperson
WSFAn Michael J. Walsh, who chaired the Baltimore WorldCon, ConStellation, as well as Balticon and some Disclaves, and publishes Old Earth Books, was given the job of running the 21st Annual World Fantasy Convention (WFC).
WFC 21 will be held October 26-29, 1995 at the Inner Harbor Marriott in Baltimore Maryland. The WFC is very literary in focus. There will be no films or masquerade, role-playing games or things unrelated to publishable Fantasy literature. Generally, there will be two tracks of programming, both will be literary, featuring writers, editors, publishers, critics, artists and others working in or of interest to the field. WSFAns Mike and Beth Zipser are designing the program with the idea that a lot of professionals not only will be on the panels, but sitting in the audience as well.
Participation in the Art Show is essentially by invitation, as is the case in most professional shows. WSFAn Tom Schaad, who ran the NorEasCon II Art Show, among others, will be in charge.
The Huckster Room will be at least 90% books. It will not be a good place to buy the usual toys and costume items one finds at typical SF cons. The 10% or less of non-book items allowed will be very select.
WSFAn Lance Oszko is in charge of Hospitality. But there will also be a number of publisher parties each evening.
The WFC is limited to 750 paid attendees and it is usual for at least 60% of those at the Con to be professionals in the field of one sort or another. Memberships are set at $85.00 until July 1, 1995. After that it will likely go up, if still available.
All three of the writer Guests of Honor Terry Bisson, Lucius Shepard and Howard Waldrop are best known for their short stories. Most critics will allow that the short story has been the cutting edge of Fantasy and Science Fiction. These three are among those most respected by their fellow authors.
Paintings by Artist GOH Rick Berry have something about them which is rare in illustration. When you stand in front of them, they are standing in front of you. They feel palpable, alive and prod you to see them - and the world in a quirky, cocky, almost intimidating vision.
The Publisher GOH is Lloyd Arthur Eschbach.
Toastmaster Edward Bryant is probably familiar to most WSFAns for his reviews in LOCUS, his published writings or even as a former Disclave GOH.
Next year, the WFC will be near Chicago, in Schaumburg, Illinois. In 1997 it will be in London, celebrating the centenary of the publication of Bram Stoker's Dracula.
THE COMPLETE FISHKEEPER by Joseph S. Levine (Wm.Morrow & Co. 238 pp softbound, $15.00)
If you happen to be thinking of starting an aquarium, or gifting a friend with one. THE COMPLETE FISHKEEPER is an excellent book-substitute for the actual reality. Nicely produced on glossy paper, it has lots of black and white drawing, and some excellent color pictures of contemporary aquarium setups and the fish that dwell therein. THE COMPLETE FISHKEEPER gives you a good overview of the available pumps, and light bulbs. Software too; fish--with pictures that make me ant to rush out and buy them--plants, medicine (the section on fish diseases is excellent.) and fishfood. Maybe not as many choices as you get with a computer (speaking of computers, you learn about the FISHNET forum on Compuserve) but a whole lot of choices, just the same.
The author favors live plants rather strongly, and urges the reader to take the necessary trouble to grow them.. He also tells you about the trouble he had doing so, and his enthusiasm for his hobby shines through his writing. However, he gives you a sense of the current commercial milieu, and discloses enough about the downside of fishkeeping to give you a fair idea of whether or not you are likely to share his enthusiasm.
For example, THE COMPLETE FISHKEEPER tells you about water, hard/soft, acid/alkaline, and what types of fishes thrive under what conditions. If you don't like the fish that can tolerate your local tapwater, you are told how to condition that water to get better results. Many years ago, when I had an aquarium, we aged tapwater in gallon jugs to let the chlorine escape; today one learns that aging will not get rid of chloramine, a state-of-the-art chlorine substitute which will make fish unhappy if not dead. A chemical detox agent is recommended, which the author buys by the gallon. He also advocates buying sphagnum moss-- another water treatment-- in bulk from garden supply places. I liked the book, but it caters to a very special need.
[ Street addresses censored from online version ]
WSFA meets on the first Friday of each month at
Gilliland House:
Arlington, VA 22204
1-703-920-6087
Until May of 1995, WSFA is scheduled to meet at Chuck Divine's House:
Seabrook, MD 20706
1-301-794-6436
Covert Beach
Alexandria, VA 22308
1-703-360-4449
Don Bieniewicz
Vienna, VA 22181
1-703-255-0837
Anne Bilodeau (+Matt Leger)
Rockville, MD 20850
1-301-424-1131
Dan & Elspeth Burgess
Silver Spring, MD 20910
1-301-589-2231
Chris Callahan (+Dick Roepke)
Berwyn Heights, MD 20740
1-301-474-0549
Jack Chalker (+Eva Whitley)
Westminster, MD 21157
1-410-875-0558
Graham P. Collins
College Park, MD 20740-1240
1-301-474-5471
Kiwi-Graham@genie.geis.com
Steven desJardins
Washington, DC 20036
1-202-332-0661
Chuck Divine
Seabrook, MD 20706
1-301-794-6436
Jim & Terilee Edwards-Hewitt
Alexandria, VA 22312
1-703-642-5479
F.L. Ettlin
Gaithersburg, MD 20877
1-301-963-7921
Alexis & Lee Gilliland, (+ James Uba)
Arlington, VA 22204
1-703-920-6087
Karl & Erica Ginter
Beltsville, MD 20705
1-301-572-2249
David Grimm (+Mike Watkins)
Herndon, VA 22071
1-703-471-1163
Dan Hoey
Washington, DC 20009
H 1-202-483-2833
W 1-202-767-2882
Chris Holte WW
Washington, DC 20005
Alan Huff (+Kate Terrell)
Greenbelt, MD 20770
1-301-345-1311
Dave Hunt
Washington, DC 200010
1-201-7238371
Eric Jablow
Reston, VA 22090
1-703-435-2981
Bill Jensen
New Carrollton, MD 20784
1-301-552-4786
Kitty Jensen
Springfield, VA 22151
1-703-644-0697
Judy Kindell
Arlington, VA 22203
1-703-522-4897
Allan C. Lane
Colombia, MD 21045
1-301-964-0243
Matt A. Leger (see Ann Bilodeau)
Brian C. Lewis
Falls Church, VA 22041-3504
1-703-820-1496
Paula Lewis (+John Peacock)
Silver Spring, MD 20906
1-301-946-4027
Samuel Lubell
Washington, DC 20008
1-202-966-6029
Dick & Nicki Lynch
P.O. Box 1350
Germantown, MD 20875
H 1-301-916-9768
W 1-301-903-2634 (Dick)
Bob MacIntosh
Annandale, VA 22003
1-703-573-3172
Keith Marshall
Crofton, MD 21114-2519
1-301-261-0354
Winton E. Matthews, Jr
Washington, DC 20002
H 1-202-547-5786
W 1-202-707-5714
Joe Mayhew
Greenbelt, MD 20770-1776
1-301-474-2110
Virginia McNitt (+Keith Olson)
Vienna, VA 22180
1-703-204-1460
Walter Miles
Chevy Chase, MD 20815
1-301-986-4519
Michael Nelson
Fairfax, VA 22031
1-703-385-3736 H
1-202-874-3093 W
Barry & Judy Newton
Box 153
Sandy Spring, MD 20860
1-301-774-0929
Keith Olson (see Ginny McNitt)
Lance Oszko
Alexandria, VA 22304
1-703-823-0514
Kathi Overton (+John Pomeranz)
P.O. Box 1115
McLean, VA 22101-1115
temp 1-703-538-6024
538-5239
Peggy Rae Pavlat
College Park, MD 20740-2622
1-301-345-6652
John Peacock (see Paula Lewis)
Marianne Petrino (see Tom Schaad)
Evan Phillips
Greenbelt, MD 20770-1776
1-301-220-1255
Sam Pierce
Ashburn, VA 22011
1-703-729-4863
John Pomeranz (see Kathi Overton)
Rebecca Prather
Falls Church, VA 22042
1-703-534-2274
Dick Roepke (see Chris Callahan)
Dick's Work: 1-202-707-6120
John Sapienza
College Park, MD 20740
1-301-474-6579
Tom Schaad (+Marianne Petrino)
Arlington, VA 22204
1-703-892-4970
Maura Scharadin
Vienna, VA 22180
1-703-938-5239
George R. Shaner
Arlington, VA 22207
1-703-524-9817
Dale Sharrick
Waldorf, MD 20601
1-301-645-0466
Steven Smith
Silver Spring, MD 20902
1-301-681-7891
Victoria Smith
Woodbridge, VA 22192
1-703-490-1318
William Squire
P.O. Box 640
Silver Spring, MD 20918
1-703-705-2794 (pager)
Mike Stein
Mail = P O Box 10420
Arlington, VA 22210
Street=
Arlington, VA 22202
1-703-683-5635
Lee Strong
Alexandria, VA 22311
1-703-671-3592
Ray & Colleen Stumbaugh
Upper Marlboro, MD 20772
1-301-952-7683
Michael J. Taylor
Laurel, MD 20708
1-301-490-7646 H
1-301-280-2607 W
Ronald C. Taylor
Silver Spring, MD 20904
1-301-680-0923
Kate Terrell (see Alan Huff}
Joanne Thacker
Laurel, MD 20707
1-301-604-0282
Jim Tracey (see Ginny Vaughn)
Michael J. Walsh
P.O. BOX 19951
Baltimore, MD 21211
1-410-889-4080 H
1-410-338-6942 W
James Uba (see Gilliland)
Mike Watkins (see David Grimm)
Miles Weissman
Alexandria, VA 22311-5441
1-103-671-8141
1-703-671-8064 FAX
Eva Whitley (see Jack Chalker}
Jean Yarsawich
Sterling, VA 22170
1-703-444-5255
Madeleine Yeh
Fairfax, VA 22031-4134
1-703-239-2446
Mike & Beth Zipser
McLean, VA 22101-2926
1-703-790-5762
Ben Zuhl (+Lowry Taylor)
Falls Church, VA 22046
1-703-532-4882
From "La Bustina di Minerva," a column by Umberto Eco, in the September 30, 1994, issue of the Italian journal L'Espresso. Eco's column was anonymously translated into English and posted on the Internet in October.
Insufficient consideration has been given to the underground religious war that is transforming the modern world: the division between users of the Macintosh computer and users of MS-DOS compatible computers. I am firmly of the opinion that the Macintosh is Catholic and that DOS is Protestant. Indeed, the Macintosh is counterreformist and has been influenced by the methodical path of the Jesuits. It tells the faithful how they must proceed step by step to reach-if not the Kingdom of Heaven-the moment in which their document is printed. It is catechistic: the essence of revelation is dealt with via simple formulae and sumptuous icons. Everyone has a right to salvation.
DOS is Protestant, or even Calvinistic. It allows free interpretation of scripture, demands difficult personal decisions, imposes a subtle hermeneutics upon the user, and takes for granted the idea that not all can reach salvation. To make the system work you need to interpret it yourself: the user is closed within the loneliness of his own inner torment.
You may object that, with the passage to Windows, the DOS universe has come to resemble more closely the counterreformist tolerance of the Macintosh. It's true: Windows represents an Anglican-style schism--big ceremonies in the cathedral but with the possibility of returning to DOS to fiddle with things. With Windows, you can still decide to allow women and gays to be priests if you want to.
And what about the machine language that lies beneath both operating systems? Ah, that is the stuff of the Old Testament, Talmudic and cabalistic.
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Yesterday's Technology * Today's Skills * Tomorrow's Success
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Who We Are
REGISTRATION: LOCATION:
DISCLAVE 95, Box 368 Washington DC Renaissance Hotel
C/O FL Ettlin 999 9th Street, NW
Gaithersburg, MD 20884 Washington, DC 20001
Adult Memberships are $20 until 12/31/94, $30 until 4/30/95, then $40.
Children: 6-12 years old $10, under 6 years "in tow" $5 (babies free).
Hotel rooms are $99 Single-Quad. Hotel Phone: (202) 898-9000.
MEMBER'S NAME
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MEMBER'S PHONE
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Please list below the names for additional memberships purchased at
the same time for persons living at the first member's address. (Use
other forms for separate addresses.) Please give children's birth
dates (m/d/y) next to their names. We regret that we cannot provide
baby sitting service at DISCLAVE.
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INFORMATION VIA E-MAIL: FL Ettlin at DISCLAVE95@AOL.COM
SPECIFIC INFORMATION ABOUT A DISCLAVE DEPARTMENT:
Art Show: Dealers Room: Giving Parties: Programming:
Judy Kindell Scott and Jane Dennis Kitty Jensen Mike Zipser
[adr.censored] [adr.censored] [adr.censored] [adr.censored]
Arlington, VA 22203 Paris, KY 40361 Springfield, VA 22151 McLean VA 22101
703-522-4897 606-987-0054 703-644-0697 703-790-5762
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