Famous First
Words: I am a
camera with its shutter open...Christopher Isherwood Goodbye To Berlin
Miscellaneous
Observations...Science Fiction Conventions are places where grown men feel
comfortable wearing copter beanies and you can overhear wondrous tidbits: We aren't like the us we're talking about. World Science Fiction Conventions are
places where grown people from all over the country and world can not-know
whether they are in Kansas or Missouri.
"I read a book on anti-gravity.
I couldn't put it down."
..........There's
holmium and helium and hafnium and erbium.........Tom Lehrer ....The Elements
I still
believe that peace and plenty and happiness can be worked out some way. I am a
fool. --Kurt Vonnegut
It is a damp Friday
morning. The world is wet with a rain
that came and went before we woke. The
sky is a solid white cloud without seam except to the extreme east where the
sun is attempting to break through.
Beneath the white expanse are small gray wisps that look as if they were
painted there by a playful hand. The
68°F temperature is perfect and teases with thoughts of autumn. Birdsong ebbs and flows as groups birds come
to the feeder and are then off again; several songs merge together into
oratorio with the falling water of the fountain as the counterpoint. Puck is sitting by the northwest corner of
the fence silently watching for marauders or children. The entire yard gives off an aroma of
humidity, damp soil, wet grass, soaked concrete. I inhale it in long, slow breaths;
mmummmm. But it is coffee that beckons
me and when the trash truck turns the corner we head indoors to quiet and to
sweet, tart decaf with half and half and then, best of all, I get to write to
you.
Hope your weekend is out
of this world, ePistliers.
Favorite
T-Shirts: Work Hard Be Kind
Have Fun / Life without danger is a waste of oxygen / If you aren't
living on the edge, you're taking up too much space. / Science is Not a Liberal
Conspiracy "Words are our business;
grammar is our game".
It's
the anniversary of the passage of the 19th amendment. Congratulations to women and a big thanks to
Susan B and her crew: I don't understand
why women want to be equal. That shows a
lack of ambition to me.
..........And
what's got us all singin'..........J.P. Taylor
.....The Scientific Method Blues
My MidAmeriCon
II Pictures of the Week: are online at: http://dovedrop8.wixsite.com/prairiemama/toolsale ~~the tool sale is a long story and boring too but
it will really be con pictures once you get there. I promise.
Trivia Questions: The
Damon Knight Memorial Grand Master Award is a lifetime honor presented annually
by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America to no more than one
living writer of fantasy or science fiction.
I'll name 3 works by each master, can you name the author?
^ Starship
Troopers, Have Space Suit - Will Travel, Stranger in a Strange Land
^^ The Moon
of Three Rings, Witch World, Wind in the Stone
^^^ Kilgore
Trout's Venus on the Halfshell, A Private Cosmos, Riverworld
^^^^
Hammerfall, Fires of Azeroth, Peacemaker
^^^^^ Breaking
Point, Transgalactic, Kampus
A complete list of Grand Masters is at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damon_Knight_Memorial_Grand_Master_Award
Fake Library Statistic of the Week: 25% of librarians have been dumped for
repeatedly asking for a citation during arguments. https://www.facebook.com/FakeLibStats/?fref=ts
Moonbeam:
The very idea of true patriotism is lost, and the term has been prostituted to
the very worst of purposes. A patriot,
sir! Why patriots spring up like mushrooms!
--Robert Walpole
The con
rented scooters to people who might have trouble getting around the blocks long
convention center. People who need
scooters and use them all the time brought their own. Old people who didn't know how to drive them
rented these. At the Aladdin Hotel a
woman pressed the handicap door button and drove boldly into the doors that
were swinging out towards her. They
drove as if they were late for their own weddings. Once I heard a motor behind me, so I looked
around and there was a woman poking at her phone and driving a scooter. "If you're not part of the solution,
you're part of the precipitate."
..........Do
plant more trees everywhere.........Dianne Baker .....Save the Frogs
Something to
Think About of the Week:
Be aware that the matter which makes up your body is not yours
at all. This matter existed in other things before you, such as stars which
exploded billions of light years away from the planet you stand on today. And it will continue to exist in another form
when you pass. http://buddhaimonia.com/universal-meditation/
Big Hello: ηελλο -Gallifreyan
(transliterated into Greek)
Month of the
Week: August is National Panini Month -- One
day two sandwiches are sitting in a deli. One sandwich - a veggie sandwich -
asks the other "Hey man, if you could be any kind of sandwich, what would you
be?" The other sandwich - a turkey sandwich - isn't in the mood. He
retorts "I'm tired man. I don't feel like having a deep conversation right
now." But the veggie sandwich
persists. "I'm sorry to bug you. It's just that I'm doing this study for a
class. I need to know your response in order to fully understand the psyche and
whims of a turkey sandwich. I promise, just the one question, and that's
it." The turkey sandwich replies
"Look man, I'm happy just being a turkey sandwich. I know I'm not the most
exotic food item out there, but I'm content with my situation." The veggie sandwich tries taking a more
motivational approach. "Come on man, I'm not trying to imply that you're
not awesome. Of course you are. But surely you have dreams. We all have dreams.
If you could be ANY kind of sandwich in the world, what would you
be?" The turkey sandwich is still
reluctant to enter into anything resembling a philosophical conversation with
the veggie sandwich. It's always ended poorly in the past, but he knows how
relentless the veggie sandwich can be. "Fine," he says, knowing that
he has to make a decision. "If pressed, I would be a panini."
Science Fiction
Convention of the Week:
International Discworld Con August 26-28, Chesford Grange, UK fans of Sir Terry Pratchett...https://2016.dwcon.org/
Favorite
T-Shirts: Hyperbole Best Thing Ever! / Keep Calm and Gun the Hyper Drive / This
Day We Write "They use chromosomes
in advertising because they know sex cells".
The
United States had 42 white guys in a row for president of the country. Until we have 42 not white guys in a row, we
are still racist and sexist.
..........A
fraction of a second and the elements were made..........Barenaked Ladies .....History of Everything
^ Robert Heinlein received
the first Grand Master award in 1975.
Almanac:
It is Friday, August 26, 2016. The moon was last quarter last Wednesday and is
in Gemini. It is National
Dog Day, National Toilet Paper Day, and Women's Equality Day which in some places
is known as Susan B. Anthony Day. In
Namibia it is Namibia Day; but it is known in the country as Hero's Day. In
Zanzibar they celebrate the Sultan's Birthday. Because it is the last Friday in
August it is also World Daffodil Day.
Among those born on this
day were Robert Walpole (1676), Johann Lambert (1728), Joseph Montgolfier
(1740), Antoine-Laurent Lavoisier (1743), Charles Richet (1850), Earl Biggers
(1884), Christopher Isherwood (1904), Albert Sabin (1906), Geraldine Ferraro
(1935), Jet Black (1948), and Macauley Culkin (1981).
On August twenty-sixth
Caesar invaded Britain (55 BCE), the Phillies walked 17 Dodgers in a single
game (1903), the 19th Amendment (Women's suffrage) passed (1920), the
International Hockey Hall of Fame opened (Toronto, 1961), clashes between
Chicago police and protesters at the Democratic National Convention began
(lasted through the 29th. 1968), the Summer Olympics opened in Munich (1972),
the University of Texas began offering belly dancing (1973), and NASA launched
Telsat-F (1982).
Tonight's Sky: Steely-blue Vega is
nearly overhead. August
Planets: Morning: Uranus and Neptune / Dusk: Mercury and Venus
/ Evening: Mars, Jupiter, Saturn.
This Week: Saturday, August
27 - The Duchess Who Wasn't Day and International Bat Night
Night Sky, August 27: Conjunction of Venus & Jupiter. The two brightest planets in the evening sky
within .06 degrees of one another. Just
After Sunset.
Sunday, August 28 - Go Topless Day and Race
Your Mouse Around the Icons Day
Night Sky, August 28: To the left of Altair, the lowest star in the summer
triangle, is a small collection of stars shaped like a comma(,) named Delphinus, the Dolphin.
Monday, August 29 - According to Hoyle Day,
International Day Against Nuclear Tests, and National Whiskey Sour Day
Night Sky, August 29: The dark patch of sky next to the least bright star in the
summer triangle, Deneb, is called the Northern Coalsack, it contains a thick
cloud of gas and dust that block our view of the stars in that region.
Tuesday, August 30 - National Holistic Pet
Day and National Toasted Marshmallow Day
Night Sky, August 30: In the morning sky Sirius is the bright, bluish-white
star. The dog days are upon us.
Wednesday, August 31 - Love Litigating Lawyers
Day
Night Sky, August 31: Capella, a bright star, rises in the north-northeast of the
morning sky.
Thursday, September 1 - National No Rhyme (Nor Reason) Day
Day Sky - September 1:
Annular Solar Eclipse visible from Madagascar and locations in Central Africa.
Failure is
not an option. It comes bundled with
Windows 10. / Corresponding T-Shirt: Keep Calm and Press Ctrl, Alt, Del. "Support bacteria. It's the only culture some people have."
..........The
spheres're in commotion..........Thomas Dolby
.....She Blinded Me With Science
^^ In 1984, Andre Norton
(Alice Mary Norton) became the first woman included in the Grand Masters.
Funniest thing I read of the Week:
Moonbeam: We must remember that
nothing in this world really belongs to us.
At best, we are merely borrowers.
--Christopher Isherwood
Late Night
Snacks: KFC
just unveiled a sunscreen that smells like extra crispy fried chicken. So if
you want to smell like KFC ... there’s a pretty good chance you already
do. --Jimmy Fallon / Marvel announced
today that it will be launching a female reboot of Iron Man, starring a
character named Ironheart. So, congratulations to my ex-girlfriend. --Seth Meyers / I put my symptoms into WebMD
and found out I've started menopause.
--Stephen Colbert / Scientists have discovered a painkiller that will
not cause addiction. When asked for details about this miracle drug, scientists
said, "OK, OK, it’s pot. --Conan
O'Brien / A big part of every closing ceremony focuses on where the next
Olympics are going to take place. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe promoted
the 2020 Tokyo Olympics by dressing up as Super Mario. Forget Mario, after
watching that I felt like I was the one who had been on mushrooms all day. --James Corden
Tolerance,
like any aspect of peace, is forever a work in progress, never completed, and,
if we're as intelligent as we like to think we are, never abandoned. --Octavia E. Butler
Favorite
T-Shirts: Vote me off this planet / Beam me up, Scotty / Space Boy, Come Home "Biology - the only science where
multiplication and division mean the same thing".
..........It
leaves a trail of tidal pools in a short-lived galaxy.........Rush .....Natural Science
^^^ Philip José Farmer was
awarded Grand Master in 2001 in spite of his horrible 2-book conclusion of the Riverworld series.
Worthless Fact
of the Week: Happy
National Toilet Paper Day. About 70-75%
of the world's population, i.e. 4 billion people, do not use toilet paper.
Weird Word of
the Week:
Urtication - flogging with nettles.http://www.worldwidewords.org/weirdwords/ww-urt1.htm
Music Video of
the Week:
Extremists for Peace. ...There's nothing
more dangerous than veterans against war.
https://mail.google.com/mail/?tab=wm#inbox/156c4ac8b69ba71f?projector=1
Wacky Uses for
Common Products:
Relieve jellyfish or man-of-war stings.
Apply Star Olive Oil for immediate relief, then seek medical
attention. http://www.wackyuses.com/wacky/star.html
Multiple
universes exist and I am stuck in the one where I'm neither rich nor powerful.
/ What if there's a parallel universe where Fictional Characters are real and
real people are Fictional Characters and your favorite character runs a blog
and writes fan-fiction about you.
"What happens i the Black Hole Stays in the Black Hole".
...........Neutron,
proton, mass effect, lyrical oxidation, yo irrelevant..........
Blackalicious .....Chemical Calisthenics
^^^^Ms C. J. Cherryh is the 2016 winner of the Grand
Master title.
Word Shakespeare
Made Up of the Week:
Barefaced - shameless or without covering the face. Hamlet
Act 4, Scene V (Ophelia)
Fake Animal Fact
of the Week: Pelicans
have a natural talent for swingball. https://fakeanimalfacts.wordpress.com/page/2/
Puck the Brave Episode of the
Week: Here's
our fearless Puck and Tessie the Tribble running through zero-grav in the case
of the Floating Flandoodle.
Favorite T-Shirts: Cthulhu Darwinism / God is an Astronaut "Schrödinger's cat walks into a
bar. And doesn't".
Votes of Women can accomplish no
more than votes of Men. Why waste time,
energy and money, without result?
--Poster from NAOWS*, 1911
*National Association Opposed to Woman Suffrage
..........A
song that became the world we know.........Björk .....Cosmogony
^^^^^ James Gunn is, of
course, Lawrence's own Grand Master elected in 2007 for his wonderful editing
and collecting through the years.
Month of the Week Too: August is National Truancy
Prevention Month -- The truant
officer ran into Kim as the youth was walking from the circus tent. "And
have you missed school lately?" the truant officer asked ominously. Taking
a bite of cotton candy, Kim replied, "Not once."
Famous Kansans: Jeff Probst, host of the
reality show Survivor, was born in
Wichita in 1961. http://www.jeffprobst.com/
Today's Peace of
History: Today's
Peace of History, August 26, 1839: The Amistad (Friendship), a Spanish slave
ship seized by Africans carried as cargo, landed on Long Island, NY.
It was the
fashion of the con to wear many small ribbons attached to the name badge. These ribbons said things like New Orleans in
2018 or Read Advertently, that sort of thing.
Like wigs among the British in the 18th century, the length of the tag
and it's ribbons was an analog to how much status or coolness you bore. Nametags
would swish about as people walked.
Sometimes they look like the 4th Doctor (Tom Baker) 's scarf flowing
behind them. I never saw anyone with the
badge name "He who cannot be named" but he might have been there. "If you put root beer in a square glass
do you get beer?"
Why
does Beyonce sing "To the left, to the left"? Because women have no
rights.
..........Our
Galaxy itself contains 100 billion stars.........Eric Idle .....The Galaxy Song
Masthead of the Week: fRiday ePistle August 26, 2016. Online at: http://fridayepistle.blogspot.com/ Old
jokes, new wrapping. Exclusive editor: Christine Smith. 1800 Goodell Ct. Lawrence, KS 66046
Moonbeam: You don't have to have
fought in a war to love peace. --
Geraldine Ferraro
Cost of War:
Tax dollars spent in Afghanistan:
as of 8/25/16: $746,432,918,978.
Tax dollars spent in
Afghanistan: as of 8/11/16: $745,125,493,557.
Tax dollars spent on the
Iraq war since 2001 as of 8/25/16: $819,747,489,198.
Tax dollars spent on the
Iraq war since 2001 as of 8/11/16: $819,709,277,113.
Tax dollars spent on Daesh
conflict as of 8/25/16: $11,102,394,796.
Tax dollars spent on
Daesh conflict as of 8/11/16: $10,901,443,107.
Tax dollars spent on the
Pentagon Slush Fund as of 8/25/16: $127,970,178,726.
Tax dollars spent on the
Pentagon Slush Fund as of 8/11/16: $126,852,064,738.
Tax dollars spent on all
wars since 2001 as of 8/25/16: $1,708,605,101,873.
Tax dollars spent on all
wars since 2001 as of 8/11/16: $1,705,874,729,293.
“The law of evolution is that the strongest survives!' 'Yes, and
the strongest, in the existence of any social species, are those who are most
social. In human terms, most ethical...There is no strength to be gained from
hurting one another. Only weakness.”
--Ursula K. Le Guin
..........You
must first invent the universe.........John Boswell, Carl Sagan, Stephen
Hawking .....A Glorious Dawn
Favorite
T-Shirts: You are the result of 4 billion years of evolutionary success. Act Like It.
"Counting in binary is as easy as 01 10 11".
Famous Last
Words: ...on
account of sex. --19th Amendment to the
US Constitution
May Peace power
your hyper-drive
And Joy energize
your crew
prairie mama
christine
