THE JIG IS UP

[Cathulhu]

I am shamed to say I've only been to a comic con once for an afternoon, but I've done some costuming myself at Norwescon and Rustycon. As Samurai Editor, Greg Cox and I showed everyone how to cut a manuscript, and one time I did my roommate as a giant bunch of grapes and chased her around the stage with a giant wineglass and her shrieking "don't squeeze me!"

I'm not sure I should really call myself a writer so much anymore as simply a bon vivant, although I didn't come up with that, Ed Bryant labeled me as same.

Ooh, it's Friday, gotta go read Girl Genius!

Oh, yeah, I met Ray Bradbury in 1975, at NASFIC, my very first con. Johnny Weismuller came to the Dum-dum on the last day, and I got to meet the guy I watched call the elephants all through my childhood. Also met Harlan the Terrible, and a bunch of people who had some major effects on my life thereafter. Sci fi been good to me.

[grixit]

I've only been to a few cons, all local to the LA area, and not for some time. But the first one i went to, i met someone at a D&D game. We clicked. We've been together 30 years now.

[Brandybuck]

Actually we both call each other that. We met at a sci-fi convention.

I've never been to a sci-fi convention, but I do know two SMOFs. Of course, I didn't know they were SMOFs until I had reached sufficient rank in the Illuminati...

[bmielke]

Actually we both call each other that. We met at a sci-fi convention.

I've never been to a sci-fi convention, but I do know two SMOFs. Of course, I didn't know they were SMOFs until I had reached sufficient rank in the Illuminati...

I didn't even know what a SMOF was, thankfully Wikipedia is a higher rank in the illumanti than I and he shared his knowledge.

[Demosthenes]

Robert Downey Jr., Johnny Depp

Oooh. Dreamy.

[Cathulhu]

One of the secrets of SMOFdom is that a true SMOF never needs to say s/he is a SMOF. Those who count, know. Steampunk is really gaining momentum, and I personally think Phil Foglio is a major reason why (I love Girl Genius! Read it religiously, buy the compilations.)

I do costuming for fun, but it's not quite as much fun now that I'm an old fart. Have to borrow a niece whenever I want to do a really hot costume, but since my best one graduated West Point and is now out in the world and far away, I'm slowly fading into costume obscurity. What can I say, I GAFIA'ed.

I'm suddenly hearing someone say, "I speak fannish, can I help?"

[Cathulhu]

I've only been to a few cons, all local to the LA area, and not for some time. But the first one i went to, i met someone at a D&D game. We clicked. We've been together 30 years now.

Hey, I attended a LASFS meeting as Steve Barnes' guest about 30 years ago; I have very fond memories of a night spent largely conversing with Frank the Minstrel, who told me the REAL Jerry Pournelle in the biker bar story.

Met the spouse at Orycon; married just before the next Orycon, so we threw a reception there.

[Cathulhu]

I also do the locasl RenFaire - really bothers the Puritans when a Prince of the Church walks in their midst. I am polite, no overt selling of indulgences and no engaging in simony.

As for being a chronologically advanced steampunker, use it to your advantage. It means you can now use an uber-fabulous walking stick and not look like a douche. Also a great time to be a mad inventor/scientist, or even a high ranking military officer. Put a couple stars on your shoulder boards and all the young officers have to stand to for you.

Plus you can say cryptic things like, "I believe I have heard of you in the future........" shake your head and walk away.

Or be the aging Alan Quartermain - steampunk version. Or go with the wife as Senior Agents Sawyer and Thatcher of the United States Secret Service

I probably better explain I'm unqualified to go with the wife unless my personality splits, as I am the wife. I was wearing a brass bra when the spousal unit first asked me out!

[Cathulhu]

At Rustycon they used to do a casino night for charity, and part of it was that you could borrow credits from The Loan Shark if you went dry. One year I was tapped as a loan shark enforcer (my partner and I were respectively Nameless and Anonymous) which was an easy costume since I just wore black and sunglasses. The next year we had enough enforcers, so I got tapped to play The Loan Shark's Gun Moll, aka "Expensive". Red silk dress, oodles of jewelery, fur coat and damn the PETA people!

[Nikki]

I probably better explain I'm unqualified to go with the wife unless my personality splits, as I am the wife. I was wearing a brass bra when the spousal unit first asked me out!

Must resist temptation to go after the easy straight line. Must not comment about hacksaws or blow torches or secretly hidden keys or suspicious lack of mention of any other garments or ...

[Harvester]

In before the lock. And yes, THE JIG IS UP.

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN0762739220100507

Sure beats green paper debt notes, and the fraudulent conversion sitting in checking accounts popularly called 'money.'

Maybe next time he'll think twice before personally ordering an attack on America's 4th largest corporation and nearly collapsing the stock market. http://www.whatdoesitmean.com/index1369.htm

MAYDAY! MAYDAY!

[grixit]

Actually we both call each other that. We met at a sci-fi convention.

I've never been to a sci-fi convention, but I do know two SMOFs. Of course, I didn't know they were SMOFs until I had reached sufficient rank in the Illuminati...

Can anyone publicly identified as a SMOF really be one?

[grixit]

One of the secrets of SMOFdom is that a true SMOF never needs to say s/he is a SMOF. Those who count, know. Steampunk is really gaining momentum, and I personally think Phil Foglio is a major reason why (I love Girl Genius! Read it religiously, buy the compilations.)

Is it wrong that i still think of Phil Foglio as the guy who did What's New with Phil & Dixie? As for GG, it isn't just steampunk. There's the bizarre medical element as well. That Frankenstein/Mesmer/Moreau approach to biology, while still part of "The Future That Never Was", is a seperate category, call it, say, vitalism punk. Consequently, i prefer to refer to GG as "Retro SF" and reserve "steampunk" for more mechanistic work. BTW, did you ever read With the Night Mail?

I do costuming for fun, but it's not quite as much fun now that I'm an old fart. Have to borrow a niece whenever I want to do a really hot costume, but since my best one graduated West Point and is now out in the world and far away, I'm slowly fading into costume obscurity.

You're never too old as long as you don't run out of elastic.

What can I say, I GAFIA'ed.

There is no GAFIAting, there is only potential fanac.

I'm suddenly hearing someone say, "I speak fannish, can I help?"

Heh. These days, i'm afraid even the folks i game with are pretty mundane.

[grixit]

I also do the locasl RenFaire - really bothers the Puritans when a Prince of the Church walks in their midst. I am polite, no overt selling of indulgences and no engaging in simony.

I'm sure you look ravishing in scarlet. Ever leave some copies of the Act of Deposition lying around?

[grixit]

And now, with this airship well and truly hijacked, someone with mod access needs to close it.

[Thule]

Maybe next time he'll think twice before personally ordering an attack on America's 4th largest corporation and nearly collapsing the stock market. http://www.whatdoesitmean.com/index1369.htm

Be sure to check out other articles by the same author, such as;

"In the span of less than 3 months: Gasoline prices will rise 500%. The prices of both food and shelter rise over 300%. Unemployment levels reach over 30% and are still climbing. The savings of millions evaporate overnight due to currency devaluation and bank failures. Unrest will begin in the larger cities first, then spreading out into the countryside. Strong and repressive laws are newly enacted as Police and Military forces spread throughout the country to counter all signs of growing rebellion."

Or...

"To the greatest significance, however, of this historic event, and as Sorcha Faal details in her new book, “Battle Begins For Throne of This World: The Return of the Einherjar Warriors”, lies not in the year of the Jeremiah Stone being moved, 1996, but that 2008 marks the year that the “12 Cycles of the Zodiac” have been passed since the moving and which, according to the ancient prophecies, shows that this coming year marks the beginning of the Battle for the Throne of this World."

Seems Harv finally found someone nuttier than himself.