HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: maxwell@fnalf.fnal.gov
Subject: Re: What makes a good Con?
Organization: What does *this* button do!?
Date: Wed, 12 Aug 1992 19:35:21 GMT
X-Posted-From: fnalf.fnal.gov
X-Posted-Through: sol.ctr.columbia.edu

In article <1992Aug10.183422.8162@vax.oxford.ac.uk>, clements@vax.oxford.ac.uk writes:
> In article <1992Aug8.164101.1@fnala.fnal.gov>, maxwell@fnala.fnal.gov writes:

[max.drivel.deletia]
> 
> With all due respect all this sounds to me like your average conference. What
> makes SF cons different and enjoyable (for me) is
> 
> THE PROGRAMME
> 
> This doesn't even make it to the top ten in the above list!

OOps.  Uh, ya... programming... I guess my list was more of a "What I think
could improve the demeanor of a con". As far as the programming goes, I just
never have any complaints-- except that Bill Higgins always does his panels in
the morning, while I'm comatose!

Basically, I'm just really easy to please. 

On second thought, that's about my only snivel. The really interesting panels
always seem to require me to drag my besotten carcass out of bed at some
cruelly inhuman hour. like before noon. :-)

[...]
> ================================================================================
> Dave Clements, Oxford University Astrophysics Department
> ================================================================================
> clements @ uk.ac.ox.vax			|  Umberto Eco is the *real* Comte de
> dlc      @ uk.ac.ox.astro		|           Saint Germain...
> ================================================================================

regards.max
maxwell@fnalf.fnal.gov
From: magicon@jjmhome.UUCP (MagiCon Press Relations)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.fandom
Subject: MagiCon Banquet Information
Date: 17 Aug 92 01:49:52 GMT
Organization: JJ Software, Westboro, MA


            Keynote Luncheon with Astronaut John Young!
 
MagiCon will present an exciting luncheon at noon on Friday,
September 4 in the Convention Center.  The keynote speaker will
be Commander John W.  Young, NASA astronaut, veteran of Apollo
16 and the first space shuttle flight, and one of the few men to
walk on the surface of the moon.
 
You can STILL get a ticket by sending your check for $16.50 per
person to:
 
     MagiCon Luncheon
     PO Box 52545
     Philadelpha, PA  19115
 
You will be able to pick up your prepaid tickets at MagiCon.
 
The menu consists of a chicken entree, salad vegetables, bread, beverage,
and dessert.  If you prefer a vegetarian or kosher entre, please indicate
so when you send in your payment.
 
Checks for the banquet must be postmarked by Friday, August 21.  Some
tickets may be on sale at Information at MagiCon.
 
Only people with banquet tickets will be able to attend the post-lunch
speech, so if you want to hear the talk, order your ticket today.
 
  Laurie Mann, MagiCon Press Relations, PO Box 621992, Orlando, FL  32862-1992
************************ E-mail to magicon@jjmhome.uucp **********************
 
		  
Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.fandom
From: steve_glover@hicom.lut.ac.uk
Subject: Re: Upcoming British Isles Conventions
Reply-To: steve_glover@hicom.lut.ac.uk
Organization: Hicom Sevices
Date: Mon, 17 Aug 92 16:06:01 GMT

In article <1992Aug17.051253.2498@mdcbbs.com>, mikew@mdcbbs.com (Mike 'the Bard' Whitaker) writes:
>In article <1992Aug14.103757.25895@lut.ac.uk> 
>	steve_glover@hicom.lut.ac.uk writes:
>>16-18 October Octocon 92. Royal Marine Hotel Dun Laoghaire (ask the taxi/bus
>>for "dunleary" and you'll get there...). Co Dublin, EIRE (see why I said
>>"british isles, now?). Orson Scott Card, Diane Duane, Katherine Kurtz, Anne
>>McCaffrey, Scott McMillan, Peter Morwood, James White. 13 pounds (variety
>>unspecified, try Sterling first) attn, 6 support, 6 u-16 attn. Octocon 92, 30
>>Beverley Downs, Knocklyon, Dublin 16. Phone +(353) 1 934712
>
>rate is 13 *Irish* punts, I believe - around 15 UK Pounds should cover.

Err, Mike, are you *SURE*? The Irish Punt is currently SMALLER than the pound
sterling and there shouldn't be a currency conversion charge if you send notes
(note for folk going to Dublin: you can spend sterling in the shops -- you'll
get Irish cash in change...)

It looks like a good con, and I'd love to get to it myself...
Organization: Senior, Math/Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA
Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.fandom
Date: Thu, 13 Aug 1992 01:52:31 -0400 
From: John Charles Fiala <jf2z+@andrew.cmu.edu>
Subject: Re: Police And Conventions

I've worked some security at FanTek (castle- and Eve- cons), Philcon,
and Balticon.  Usually, when going around with someone else, we get
a mike, and are expected to use it as little as possible.  I generally
don't see any problems on the level of those mentioned earlier, although
part of it could be from a few of those using one channel to get in touch
with department heads, and a separate channel for the security folks.

About the most constant problem I've ever had to worry about when
walking halls is people smoking in non-smoking corridors.

See ya in the con suite...
-john
"Yes, [AIDS] is probably a message from God.  It's God trying
to show us how mean a healthy man can be to a sick man."
jf2z+@andrew.cmu.edu    -- Joe Bob Briggs
Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.fandom
From: crispin@watson.ibm.com (Crispin Cowan)
Subject: Re: What makes a good Con?
Date: Wed, 12 Aug 1992 20:04:06 GMT
Disclaimer: This posting represents the poster's views, not necessarily those of IBM
Organization: IBM T.J. Watson Research Center

In article <1992Aug12.133521.1@fnalf.fnal.gov> maxwell@fnalf.fnal.gov writes:
>In article <1992Aug10.183422.8162@vax.oxford.ac.uk>, clements@vax.oxford.ac.uk writes:
>> In article <1992Aug8.164101.1@fnala.fnal.gov>, maxwell@fnala.fnal.gov writes:
>[max.drivel.deletia]
>> With all due respect all this sounds to me like your average conference. What
>> makes SF cons different and enjoyable (for me) is
>> 
>> THE PROGRAMME
>OOps.  Uh, ya... programming... I guess my list was more of a "What I think
>could improve the demeanor of a con". As far as the programming goes, I just

Programming, feh.  Programming is for neos that haven't figured out
where the good parties are yet :-).

In all seriousness, cons have many aspects.  Most people find some
aspects appealing, and other aspects uninteresting.  A good con is
either:
	1.  Big, so it can afford to do everything well*.

	2.  Specialized, so it appeals to your particular tastes.

My taste is for social stuff.  I haven't attended con programming in
years.  Your milage may vary.

*:  Note that a big con doesn't necessarily do everything well.  However
it almost has to be big to have the resources to cover all the bases
well.

Crispin
-----
Crispin Cowan, CS grad student, University of Western Ontario
Phyz-mail:  Middlesex College, MC28-C, London, Ontario, N6A 5B7
E-mail:     crispin@csd.uwo.ca		Voice:  519-661-3342 
Temporarily at:  crispin@watson.ibm.com		914-784-6692
"Clearly, no system can be totally fault tolerant.  For instance, had
the Silver Surfer not developed an affection for the people of Earth,
all computing systems would have failed more or less permanently in the
digestive tract of his evil planet-eating master, Galactus\cite{surfer}!"
	--Andy Lowry, _Generic Support for Optimistic Computations_
From: "colin mcgregor" <colin.mcgregor@canrem.com>
Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.fandom
Subject: @ party computer?
Date: 12 Aug 92 11:35:41 EST
Reply-To: "colin mcgregor" <colin.mcgregor@canrem.com>
Distribution: rec
Organization: Canada Remote Systems


In a previous posting Brad Templeton (brad@clarinet.com) noted
that he was going to arrange a room for an @ party at MagiCon.
Has anyone volunteered to bring a Laptop/Transportable computer?
If not, I could bring my ancient N.E.C. laptop to the party
(warning: for anyone who sees me at MagiCon and wants to get me
into diatribe mode, just ask me about N.E.C. "service", I've got
some horror stories).
---
  DeLuxe 1.12 #5634  colin.mcgregor@canrem.com
--
Canada Remote Systems  - Toronto, Ontario/Detroit, MI
World's Largest PCBOARD System - 416-629-7000/629-7044
Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.fandom
From: sschend@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Steve E Schendel)
Subject: Re: Police And Conventions
Organization: The Ohio State University
Date: Wed, 12 Aug 1992 19:24:15 GMT


You bring up good points about walkie talkies at cons.  I always have some fun
tuning my ham handy talkie on con security frequencies.  Most of 'em get real 
upset
that someone else "unauthorized person" has access to "their" communications.
In other words, someone else has a toy just like mine, and I wanted to be the
big shit with the only one.
At Marcon here in Columbus, I was asked to take the radio away (which I didnt'
do).  Back in another city I lived, I was actually booted from the con.
The point is you really don't need radios at a con.  If you have them, the
security people get an "attitude".  Phones are private, realiable (no
batteries), and cheaper.
Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.fandom,alt.music.filk,rec.arts.sf-lovers
From: cc697@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Eric Oppen)
Subject: Leslie Fish; Her Book
Reply-To: cc697@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Eric Oppen)
Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH (USA)
Date: Thu, 20 Aug 92 09:14:00 GMT


Recently, I heard a rumor that Leslie Fish has finished and turned in her
new book, _The Firestorm Chronicles_.  It is based on the events in her
tape _Firestorm: Songs of the Third World War_ and details the fall of
civilization and its revival.

Could someone e-mail me any news about whether it's been accepted, if so,
where, and when it can be expected to come out?  She's recently also
finished a collaboration with a friend of mine, and has submitted that to
Gold Eagle.

Also, could anybody tell me if she's planning a sequel to the _Firestorm_
tape?  One song of hers that I've heard recently does fit.
-- 
Note to the Constitutionally impaired:  "...the RIGHT of the people to KEEP
and BEAR arms..." means EXACTLY what it says!
Vote Libertarian, Grassroots, or any third party...the Demopublicans are a
bipartisan evil!        "Technomad"  cc697@cleveland.freenet.edu
From: magicon@jjmhome.UUCP (MagiCon Press Relations)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.fandom
Subject: Re: Seeking Magicon Info
Date: 16 Aug 92 12:47:25 GMT
Distribution: rec
Organization: JJ Software, Westboro, MA

In article <PHO.92Aug15155605@w20-575-52.mit.edu>, pho@athena.mit.edu (Pho User) writes:
> 	Does anyone out there know what time things are going to start
> happening on Thursday?  

Registration is scheduled to be open 4-10 on Wednesday, and from 10-10
on Thursday.  Hucksters Room and the Exhibit Hall (except for the Art
Show) will be open at 10 on Thursday.  Panels and films start
early Thursday afternoon.  Opening Ceremonies is at 3pm.

> 	Also, I heard that there had been a posting stating that the
> program would be available by e-mail real soon now, but that posting
> seems to have expired on my system.  Can someone repost?

I will upload the schedule by next Sunday.

I'll be out of town as of next Sunday, so if there are other MagiCon
questions after that point, you should just call the MagiCon office
(407-859-8421).  MagiCon committee members will be checking out
CompuServe, GEnie, and Delphi after that point, but probably not USENET.
With luck, next week's schedule post will answer most of your
questions!

  Laurie Mann, MagiCon Press Relations, PO Box 621992, Orlando, FL  32862-1992
************************ E-mail to magicon@jjmhome.uucp **********************
From: psm1@quads.uchicago.edu (patricia sayre mccoy)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.fandom
Subject: Con in southeast Michigan
Date: 20 Aug 92 12:44:48 GMT
Reply-To: psm1@midway.uchicago.edu
Distribution: na
Organization: University of Chicago Computing Organizations

Can anyone send me information about a con in southeast Michigan in the 
middle of October?  I don't know the name, unfortunately.  Last year
is was held at the Detroit Metro Airport.  You can e-mail me at the address 
below.  Thanks.
Pat Sayre McCoy
-- 
Bitnet:                   uclpsm1@uchimvs1
Internet:         psm1@midway.uchicago.edu
From: eps@futon.SFSU.EDU (Eric P. Scott)
Subject: Re: @ party computer?
Reply-To: eps@cs.sfsu.edu
Organization: San Francisco State University
Date: Thu, 13 Aug 1992 01:32:46 GMT

In article <1992Aug12.202002.22180@clarinet.com>
	brad@clarinet.com (Brad Templeton) writes:
>                                   When will worldcons start having
>an Internet terminal room?

Next year *if* this is a serious request.  Kiss the right places
and it will cost nothing (or close to it).

Start planning now (or soon).

					-=EPS=-
From: kimi@newsance.att.com (Kimiye Tipton;ball of confusion;net nemesis;407-660-6472)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.fandom
Subject: Re: @ party computer?
Date: 14 Aug 92 13:35:31 GMT
Distribution: rec
Organization: AT&T IMS, Maitland, FL

In article <1992Aug12.202002.22180@clarinet.com> brad@clarinet.com (Brad Templeton) writes:
>I will have a laptop and a modem jack, but during the party it will
>be doing duty as a button generator.   Does anybody have a node in
>Orlando that people can log onto?  When will worldcons start having
>an Internet terminal room?

Someone at last year's party complained that I didn't have a bank of
laptops set up, with free long distance for everyone.  I wish I could
offer my local node, but it belongs to AT&T, and I know better than to
ask my boss.  I'll ask around--there are nodes, but the sysops may
not be reading this newsgroup.  Maybe you could ask in news.admin?

>I have the suite Friday, Saturday & Sunday.   Which night is
>preferred?   Each night conflicts.  There's the faire/golf/etc. in the
>CC on Friday, the Hugos on Saturday and the Masquerade on Sunday.
>I'm also presenting an award on the Friday, though that's fairly early
>and not a conflict, and of course I will attend the Hugos.

We've usually held it opposite the Masquerade, but I heard a few complaints
last year.  In years past, there was little overlap between @ party
people and costumers (and fans of costume), but that appears to be
changing.  I vote for Sunday, anyway.  It'll be easier to get the word 
out, and more people will have arrived and gotten their bearings. 

>And I do need some volunteers, at least one in Orlando to help me arrange
>the food in advance.  Since this party is being sponsored by ClariNet.

I'll call you.  I volunteered to do this before.  Have Mazda, will travel.


Kimiye Tipton  kimi@kokomo.att.com or kimi@newsance.att.com  Maitland, FL
"I was up all night trying to think like a shower."
   "Shouldn't you start with something easier, like a sink or a faucet?"
Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.fandom
From: higgins@fnalc.fnal.gov (Bill Higgins-- Beam Jockey)
Subject: *Yawn* Morning Panels (was Re: What makes a good Con?)
Organization: Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory
Date: Fri, 14 Aug 1992 23:02:47 GMT
X-Posted-From: fnalc.fnal.gov
X-Posted-Through: sol.ctr.columbia.edu

In article <1992Aug12.133521.1@fnalf.fnal.gov>, maxwell@fnalf.fnal.gov writes:
> In article <1992Aug10.183422.8162@vax.oxford.ac.uk>, clements@vax.oxford.ac.uk writes:
>> In article <1992Aug8.164101.1@fnala.fnal.gov>, maxwell@fnala.fnal.gov writes:
>> With all due respect all this sounds to me like your average conference. What
>> makes SF cons different and enjoyable (for me) is
>> 
>> THE PROGRAMME
>> 
>> This doesn't even make it to the top ten in the above list!
> 
> OOps.  Uh, ya... programming... I guess my list was more of a "What I think
> could improve the demeanor of a con". As far as the programming goes, I just
> never have any complaints-- except that Bill Higgins always does his panels in
> the morning, while I'm comatose!

Sorry, Max.  In my own defense I wish to point out that I don't PREFER
to appear on morning panels.  But concoms know that I am a Really Nice
Guy and will go along peacefully if they stick me on an 11 AM or noon
panel. (Ten o'clock will definitely produce grumbling.)

When programming Chicon, I found a lot of 10:00 and 11:00 empty room
slots staring me in the face, even though I didn't always want to make
participants wake up that early... by the time you've reached that
stage of the planning, though, and annihilated your entire summer
planning for Worldcon, and you're short on sleep anyway, it's rather
easy to summon the courage to cram the panels that need slots into
those inviting early spots in the schedule.


Magicon has me on a bunch of 10 and 11 panels again... fortunately, I
don't think Max is attending.  He'll be asleep in Chicagoland, or
maybe awake watching some console and discovering the Top Quark while
I'm gone...

     O~~*           /_) ' / /   /_/ '  ,   ,  ' ,_  _           \|/
   - ~ -~~~~~~~~~~~/_) / / /   / / / (_) (_) / / / _\~~~~~~~~~~~zap!
 /       \                          (_) (_)                    / | \
 |       |     Bill Higgins   Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory
 \       /     Bitnet:     HIGGINS@FNAL.BITNET
   -   -       Internet:  HIGGINS@FNAL.FNAL.GOV
     ~         SPAN/Hepnet:      43011::HIGGINS 

Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.fandom
From: ecl@cbnewsj.cb.att.com (Evelyn C. Leeper)
Subject: Walkie-Talkies (was  Re: Police And Conventions)
Organization: AT&T
Date: Wed, 12 Aug 1992 20:40:23 GMT

In article <1992Aug12.192415.25175@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu>
sschend@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Steve E Schendel) writes:
> You bring up good points about walkie talkies at cons.  I always have some fun
> tuning my ham handy talkie on con security frequencies.  Most of 'em get real 
> upset
> that someone else "unauthorized person" has access to "their" communications.
> In other words, someone else has a toy just like mine, and I wanted to be the
> big shit with the only one.
> At Marcon here in Columbus, I was asked to take the radio away (which I didnt'
> do).  Back in another city I lived, I was actually booted from the con.
> The point is you really don't need radios at a con.  If you have them, the
> security people get an "attitude".  Phones are private, realiable (no
> batteries), and cheaper.

And then of course there are those of us attendees who want to use
walkie-talkies.  Mark and I were labeled "techno-dweebs" by a friend of
ours who found us using walkie-talkies in the Dealers Room at Noreascon
to converse while separated by most of the room.  "Did you want a copy
of ACCOUNTANTS OF GOR?"  "No, but if they have LIBRARIANS OF GOR, I'm
still looking for that one."  Or, "Where are you?  I'm by the north
door and it's time to leave."

And so on.  At a small con they're not really necessary; in a worldcon
dealers room they're practically a necessity (okay, I exaggerate.)  We
don't stay on them constantly, but having the con committee try to say
we can't use them is a good way to annoy me.  (I will make exceptions;
if they are using walkie-talkies to do crowd-control for the Hugos or
such, and ask me to refrain, I will.)

Evelyn C. Leeper  |  +1 908 957 2070  |  att!mtgzy!ecl or  ecl@mtgzy.att.com
--
The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds new
discoveries, is not "Eureka!" (I found it!) but "That's funny ..."
					 -- Isaac Asimov (1920-1992)
From: magicon@jjmhome.UUCP (MagiCon Press Relations)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.fandom
Subject: MagiCon Rates & Late Notes
Date: 23 Aug 92 05:15:07 GMT
Organization: JJ Software, Westboro, MA

Reminders from MagiCon

MagiCon, this year's World Science Fiction Convention, is being
held this year from September 3-7 in Orlando, FL at the Orange
County Convention Center.

Memberships can also be purchased at-the-door.  Registration opens
Wednesday September 2 at 4 pm in the Convention Center.  At-the-door
rates are as follows:

     Adult attending, entire convention       $135
     Friday---Monday                          $130
     Saturday---Monday                        $ 95
     Sunday---Monday                          $ 60
    
     Adult attending, Thursday or Monday only $ 30
     Friday, or Saturday, or Sunday only      $ 45

     Children attending, entire convention    $ 90

Airline and Car Discounts

Magicon has a deal with Delta Airlines that can get you cheaper
airfares. You can get 5% off any published airfare, or 40% off the coach
fare, as long as you buy your ticket at least seven days in advance.
Simply call up Delta and metnion File E-0013 or call the MagiCon
official travel agent, Garber Travel, at 1-800-225-4570 (call
617-787-0600 in Massachusetts) and ask for the MagiCon desk.  The
permissible dates of travel are August 28 through September 13,
inclusive.

MagiCon has also arranged for discounts on car rentals from Avis, which 
should be cheaper than any price you could get from any organization's
program. 

Hotel Rooms

Yes, there are hotel rooms left.  Call the Orange County Housing Bureau
at 1-800-258-7666 to make reservations.  Our hotels include the Peabody,
Clarion and Orlando Heritage.

[[So long, I'm off to Disney World!!!]]

  Laurie Mann, MagiCon Press Relations, PO Box 621992, Orlando, FL  32862-1992
************************ E-mail to magicon@jjmhome.uucp **********************
From: "colin mcgregor" <colin.mcgregor@canrem.com>
Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.fandom
Subject: walkie-talkies
Date: 22 Aug 92 22:57:32 EST
Reply-To: "colin mcgregor" <colin.mcgregor@canrem.com>
Distribution: rec
Organization: Canada Remote Systems

m0102@tnc.UUCP (FRANK NEY) writes:

FN>One example that *really* bugs me: a Start-Trek con in Maryland
FN>(SHORELEAVE) published this rule in their progam book:

FN>"Anyone interfering with convention radios will be evicted with no
FN>refund."

FN>Legally shaky, considering they were using Part 15 headsets on
FN>49.830MHz.

If they said "Anyone causing malicious interferance will be ...." I 
would have had a little bit of sympathy. But as stands, where do they 
get off saying (in essance) that they "own" a frequency? I would like
to know how well one of their radios would do if I started 
transmitting a few feet away at 5 watts with my ICOM IC-2SAT, :-). 

But, this brings up a larger issue, the lack of knowledge about radio
in the general population. People do not seem to understand that when
they use a baby monitor, cordless/cellular phone, walky talky, etc.
that they are talking to the world (well...at least their 
neighbourhood). I have had talks with people who would not/could not
belive that anyone within about a mile could listen in on their 
cordless telephone calls. Someone NEEDS to take some of the members of
Shoreleave, and give them a talk about the facts of life.

FN>I wonder what the judge would say if the concom decided my FT-470 was
FN>interfering with their toy radios?

I think you would have an excellent case. I wonder how much a U.S.
court would award you for emotional distress (other than it would
be a absurd amount anywhere outide the U.S.).

FN>And while I'm on the subject, there are a few hucksters that have
FN>decided they can't be bothered, and have bought 2m ham HT from Radio
FN>Shack and are using them simplex in the satellite subband.  I report
FN>them every time I see them.

Pirates of any sort annoy me no end. I have yet to run into this sort
of jerk (but then Rat Shack Canada has yet to start selling the 2m HT).
Still, I have helped with comunications for a number of local events
(charity walkathons, marathons, etc.), and about 1/2 the time we get a
clown with a DTMF pad, and/or a Donald Duck sound alike.

FN>Frank Ney  Ham N4ZHG  Commercial WNYG547

VE3ZAA (soon to (temporarily) be VE3ZAA/W4)
---
  DeLuxe 1.12 #5634  colin.mcgregor@canrem.com
--
Canada Remote Systems  - Toronto, Ontario/Detroit, MI
World's Largest PCBOARD System - 416-629-7000/629-7044