SIGMA

Actually, this was originally going to be a very different column. For my previous attempt, I had some notes and thoughts about milestones and important dates. We are only a couple of weeks past Confluence (only one week by my clock -- one of the mysterious time warps that occur when writing something like this against a deadline) and, when something like that has occupied your attention as well as the attention of so many people for so long and finally comes to fruition -- well, it seems natural to talk about important dates and anniversaries. Probably that's a very distinctly human way of looking at things. Bear with me a little bit, every time I went off on this in my previous attempts, I got a little ponderous in my philosophical musings.

So, anyway, back to important dates. We just had Confluence and given how close (it seemed to me) we came to not having Confluence, I'd have to say it was a pretty important date. It probably was not as dramatic in truth as it seemed to me, but as the newbie, I feel very gratified, now that everything is over, seeing some of the positive feedback generated from some of the people who attended. And most of them say they are looking forward to next year's con. And we are already planning next year's con; an important milestone, I'd say.

I was discussing the idea of important dates and days with my daughter recently. We were in a conversation about why she didn't keep a journal. She allowed as how just not that much goes on in her life that she feels is worthy of note. She said most of her life consists of getting up, watching TV, getting breakfast, getting dressed, then wondering what she should do with the rest of the day. I couldn't even begin to explain in a coherent manner why I keep a journal and write about so many mundane things. I guess it's because I never know precisely when the muse is going to speak to me and I'll be inspired to write the wisdom of the ages. Sort of like Dorothy Parker when she awoke in the middle of the night to write what she dreamed was one of the secrets of the universe. Then she went back to sleep knowing she had pierced the veil and encompassed something truly momentous. In the morning she discovered what she had written was: "Hogamus, higamus, man is polygamous. Higamus, hogamus, woman monogamous."

I make no claims to such esoteric knowledge, but you never know. I try hard to stay open to the opportunity.

But I digress. We actually have several important days and dates coming up in our World of PARSEC. One that hasn't been mentioned much in Sigma recently, or even at our meetings, is the anticipated "Evening of Science Fiction and Fantasy." The plan is to have local writers -- published and not -- gather and read pieces at the Carnegie Science Center. All this supported and highlighted by the background and production capabilities of the Science Center. What with Confluence, which was taking so much of the organizational attention, now over, we can once again turn our attentions to that. We anticipate the entire program being about an hour and a half long and at this point we have no set date other than late September or October. Anybody who would like to participate, whether you want to read something you've written, or if you have written something, but don't have the built-in what-ever to read it yourself, contact me, or Ann Cecil, or John Schmid, or Diane Turshek. We want to keep the pieces to no longer than about ten minutes and the more visual the better. Hurry up and get in touch, the quicker we get going on this the better.

Fitting that we should start with the fantastic and close with the mundane: The PARSEC Picnic. Okay, I admit, if we do this right, it will certainly not be mundane. The picnic is planned for Bellevue Memorial Park -- the directions to which are posted and linked to the PARSEC website, and also printed later in the newsletter. As usual, PARSEC is supplying the burgers and hot dogs, associated buns and condiments. Members are expected to supply side dishes, salads, desserts and such. Make sure to bring enough to share with some friends. The more we have available, the better the picnic will work out. As for the park itself, it is a compact, community park. However, we have a children's playground, basketball court, volleyball, softball, horseshoes and tennis courts available, when using any of the facilities, it's generally best to supply your own equipment, balls, bat, horseshoes and such-like. The facilities may be in use, they may not be. The picnic shelter shares parking space with the swimming pool, but unless it is an oppressively hot day, there should be plenty of space for everyone. For anyone who cares to swim, since we are using the shelter, there is a reduced admission price of $2 for everyone. The admission price will also allow you to leave and re-enter the pool as well. The Shelter has loading and unloading areas, as well as gas grills, gas burners, electrical outlets, access to real bathrooms, lighting and running water -- only cold from an exterior spigot, but hey. We have the shelter -- called Bragdon Shelter -- it's right there on the right hand side of the road, you can't miss it, from morning until the park closes at 10:00. For those of you who need more detailed directions than those on line or printed herein, contact me by email at Psyfiguy@aol.com, or in the evening by phone at (412)734-3808. If you have any questions about anything I haven't covered (whew) contact me.

I looked over this column as it now stands, compared it with my previous ones, and they just keep getting longer every month. Sorry, I'll try to do better next time. You wouldn't believe the editing I've done already. See you on Saturday.

People were arriving early. Some were there before 1:00, they all wandered around talking, catching up on what was happening, and who was where.

At 2:20 p.m. Kevin Hayes, our President, brought the meeting to order. Kevin and Nancy Janda began by selling raffle tickets. One of the items in the raffle was the new book by one of our very own -- Alien Taste by Wen Spencer.

Amy Finkbeiner won the raffle and she chose a ceramic bowl -- By Diana Stein

Kevin asked what type of meetings we would like to see in the future.

• A chocolate meeting, suggested by Kira
• Kevin suggested a deconstructing 'world con' meeting for September. That way the people who couldn't make it for one reason or another would be able to hear all about it.
• Building worlds / destroying worlds across the media, was another suggestion.
• A costuming meeting was suggested, it was thought we could ask Animal X if she would preside. Possibly to be held in October, with a horror theme.
• Another interesting suggestion was a panel on gender creating, for November.

Kevin Hayes then asked if there were any announcements to be made.

Kira announced that Henry still has cats to give away. Kevin announced that ConFluence was coming up the next weekend, and that everyone should go and see the play. He also mentioned that the room block had been made!

It was announced that Sara Zettel and her husband are expecting a baby.

Kira announced if anyone whanted to go to a movie after the meeting, they were trying to get a group together. This caused an impromptu discussion on the current movies out and the strengths and weaknesses.

Kira mentioned that one of the textbooks Stanley Kubrick was using for his movie AI was written by a member of CMU's robotics department.

The last announcement was Kevin saying that Airtran (airlines) was offering a deal between Pgh and Philly -- $49.00 one way. He suggested that you need to get the tickets early, and then at the airport you could get a hotel shuttle to where you are staying. He also plugged the Ponzio International Travel Agency.

You can contact Joan Fisher for further information at 412-571-1111. Since she works there and is also a member of PARSEC. There was an ad stating that you could get tickets online from Airtran for $29.99, one way.

At 3pm Amy started her discussion/demonstration on Japanese anime.

During WW2 most of the artists were forbidden to work, or they worked on propaganda. Amy found record of only one Navy mini movie that was put out -- it was of cute animals bombing Pearl Harbor. Most of the studios were destroyed at the end of the war.

The few Artists that were able to work did make some progress. Moving paper and then celluloid. Hence Manga became more popular they were inexpensive, and easier to produce. Manga is the thick paper books that are read back to front.

Live action anime made its come back in the 50's.

1963 -- one of the first movies to make it to the United States was Astro Boy with an extra layer -- the Japanese believe that any toy that is loved enough will develop a soul, this animation was a take off of the story of Pinocchio.

Iron Man 28 was the second, and it was shown here as Gigantor. Speed Racer and Kimba the White Lion where also live actions that came over from Japan.

The big wave was around 1977 after Star Wars took off. Two series came over, Star Blazers and Battle of the Planets. Before they would show them, they had to edit out most of the violence and some of the story continuity along with it, which led to the short time span for television. G- Force remained closer to the original story line but still wasn't able to last.

In 1979 Mobile Suit Gundam series was brought over, and in 1996 Gundam Wing was one of the off shoots from that series. Robotech was actually three series spliced together in order to make the syndication lengths for the USA. It turned out a big hit.

In the 1990s anime took off, Amy mentioned that the first convention was in 1991. Early 1990 a lot of fans started subtitling. Today some of the subtitling is good some not at all well done.

A large amount of the fans that make copies will stop making them for a series that has been picked up. Most fans will only dub for the cost the tape and the postage.

At least 8 companies bring anime to America. A whole block on Cartoon Network is dedicated to anime, called Toonami. It is all a matter of your viewpoint as to whether it is good or bad.

Manga in not just children's entertainment, in Japan there are newspaper articles about some of the characters in monga. You could see a businessman reading it on the way to work. The standards of viewing in Japan are different, for example Ranma 1/2 is shown in prime time, even with the brief nudity (for humor).

There is only about three graphic Manga's that actually run back to front as they do in Japanese, the rest are front to back. From Astro Boy to modern day most, have a touch of fantasy or science fiction. Their series are also very commercialized.

Oh My Goddess was the first movie that Amy and Nancy put in. This one was subtitled, and more Sci-fi in nature. Record of Lodoss War is considered High-Fantasy. Science fiction does the whole range- military, chemical, etc.

Iria -- was based on what man has created; he must now fight against. Very creatively done.

Space opera -- Legends of the Galactic Heroes uses lots of instrumentals, the space battles are silent save for the music. The battles ran longer than we were used to seeing.

Armitage III -- Where is the line drawn between what makes a human a human, and what is a soul?

Trigun -- A lot of good character development was created in the series. The main character is considered a human typhoon, and due to the main character's reputation, whole towns will evacuate when they get word of his arrival.

Amy mentioned that Joy's Japanamation, located at 602 South Main Street, Greensburg, PA was a good source of anime, as wells as being where she works. She passed out flyers for the shop.

The meeting ended at 4:30 p.m. with everyone pitching in to clean up.

Confluence, held in Pittsburgh just this past weekend, is much smaller [than Readercon]. I attended for the first last year, and had a fine time. It is in a way like a mini-Readercon, peopled by readers with a zest for science fiction novels and stories, and authors that I could talk to for days.

This year, Confluence held two unique sf treats for me.

One was finding myself at an autograph session with Phyllis Gottleib, whose first story was published in 1959. I later had dinner with Phyllis and her husband Kelly (who worked with Marshall McLuhan, but that's another fascinating story). Rob Sawyer, Carolyn Clink, Bud Sparhawk, Wen Spencer, and C. Dale Brittain were among the other writers at our table -- what a table!

The second was just a fleeting moment, but I'll never forget it. Phil Klass had just finished reading a marvelous story -- one he had written in the late 1960s, but hadn't published until the 1980s. Hal Clement, who had been sitting in the front row, went up to talk to Phil.

So here were these two guys, between them more than a century of science fiction writing, talking with passion and appreciation late in the evening. And here I was, a kid when I first read the words of these two, now sitting in the back of the room, just watching them talk. I'm sure a part of me will never leave that room -- the same part that's been there since the 1950s. (David Hartwell, sitting next to me, took a picture.)

Thank you Confluence, for opening that door...

Congrats and thanks for such a wonderful con! A well-run small con can stand out head and shoulders above a well-run large con, and this one definitely did: it was small enough that a real sense of community seemed to form, and yet well-paced so that there were always plenty of activities for everyone. Large cons have their own advantages, but while I've made a few good friends at Philcons past, I've never left a con feeling like I was leaving new family members, and already looking forward to the next time I'd see them.

Granted, my recent discovery of the filk community (Conterpoint 4 was my first real filking experience, singing or listening) is in no small part responsible for these feelings, but it goes beyond the filk circle itself. Ann, Sasha, Trinn, Bink, and Timons all made the con special for me, in addition, of course, to Steve, Dan,Merav, Pete, and you. And so many more ... all in three days. I hope I'll run into all y'all several times in the intervening year.

... oh, and how could I neglect to say "wow! ilk gets a concert next year?! Wow!" One of these days, we'll wake up, right? No? You mean this weekend was real, and it really was this wonderful and more? Well, in that case, maybe I should sleep now, so I can dream about next year.

Thanks again, and best wishes,
-- Will