Comments for Cheryl's Mewsings

Comment on Smoke Filled Rooms by Peter Sullivan

Peter Sullivan — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 11:07:33 +0000

It seems to me that the MPC have taken a perfectly reasonable concept – that people shouldn’t be able to use MPC or HAMC membership as a platform to promote their own Hugo ambitions – and adopted a “King Herod-style” solution. One that is probably unnecessary given the strong cultural bias against self-promotion in Hugoland. Also one that is unconstitutional – the “conflict of interest” clause in 3.12 of the Hugo Rules only bars the Worldcon committee members, not those of the MPC or sub-committees. If the MPC feel this needs extending, that’s the Business Meeting’s decision, not theirs. But, for you, just removing yourself from the situation is an entirely ethical and reasonable decision.

Has the time come for the HAMC to be de-coupled from MPC and report to/be elected by the Business Meeting directly? There is always going to be potential tension between the MPC, whose ultimate remit is to prevent people doing things (prevent *other people* misusing the service marks) and the HAMC, who are there to do things (promote the service marks *on behalf of WSFS*). I know the history and cultural bias against creating a large WSFS bureaucracy, which I share. But, if anything, two separate, single-purpose, committees reporting direct to the Business Meeting is simpler than the current multi-tier structure.

Also – I’m assuming that any withdrawal on your part only relates to the official Hugo Awards website? As I understand it, Science Fiction Awards Watch is a separate, personal project. And one I personally value highly. If nothing else, it helps remind me that fandom as a whole is a bigger entity than just the Anglophone parts that I (and, let’s be honest, the Hugos) tend to focus on.

Comment on Shuttle Trouble by Cheryl

Cheryl — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 08:40:22 +0000

Mike: It certainly won’t color my opinion of Melbourne. I lived there for 2 years and love the place. It does, however, color my opinion of that shuttle company. A responsible company would give refunds if they are late and they mess up your travel plans.

Comment on Shuttle Trouble by Mikes

Mikes — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 23:27:03 +0000

I live in Melbourne and have had to use the shuttle on more than a couple of occasions and each time found it to be nothing but fantastic. I’m sorry it looked like you guys caught them on an off day. I hope this doesn’t colour your opinion of melbourne in the future.

Comment on Shuttle Trouble by Arnold Akien

Arnold Akien — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 18:27:36 +0000

sTRUTH! As I understand that they say in the Australasian Colonies.

Ah well if I were sufficiently Ambitious as to risk International long distance travel with my spinal condition I suspect that I’d be taken out of the plane on a stretcher and I don’t like to think of the cost of medical insurance or relish the task of explaining my prescribed pain killers to the Powers That Be.

If you are unfamiliar with the Gentle Jazz singing of Stacy Kent then I do recommend her recent album ..” ” Breakfast on the Morning Train ” lots of songs for the adventurous Traveler .. may be available on those down-loadable mp3 thingies via your i pad … though my copy is on the Good Old Fashioned C.D.

Songs about places that you haven’t been to …. Yet.

Comment on Because People Are Asking… by Cheryl

Cheryl — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 11:28:11 +0000

I do like the cut-out-Cheryl idea. We’ll have to see what we can do.

Comment on Because People Are Asking… by Cheryl

Cheryl — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 11:27:27 +0000

Alex: This is very kind of you, but key issue here is not to actually make a submission until the lawyers are convinced that we have a good case and are likely to succeed. I need to get Wizard’s Tower up and running fully before we can do that.

Comment on Because People Are Asking… by GlenH

GlenH — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 05:01:19 +0000

“Cheryl’s Avatar”?

(btw – very much enjoyed my first worldcon and the dead critics panel was a highlight.)

Comment on Because People Are Asking… by Alex

Alex — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 01:06:08 +0000

I understand that your immigration issues are complex or at least not subject to simple resolution. Obviously a good lawyer’s role would be to ask the questions and resolve all the issues prior to officially submitting the application.

I would not wish to compromise the Hugos by using them for anything other than recognizing the best work in the field, and neither would you of course. But I think you might find friends willing to help you. $7000 isn’t that big a deal. You could use ChipIn or something like that to raise money from friends. I’d be in for $100 if you decided to do that.

Others may contribute out of friendship or respect for your contributions to the field; I’m just empathetic about immigration issues. I like the European model of free movement and think that could usefully be applied globally, and I’m also offended at the way my native country harasses innocent visitors.

Comment on Because People Are Asking… by Bob

Bob — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 18:28:30 +0000

I volunteer to help with the paper doll project.

Also, I volunteer to help with getting more programming online. Even if that means putting my desktop computer on a cart and lugging it around the con with me (since my laptop broke).

Are you aware of the “Flat Freddy” thing? Freddy (names vary) is a cut out doll that travels around the world and gets his picture taken. Usually a class makes a “Freddy” and every child has a chance to send it to relatives/friends and those people write back to the class with a photo of Freddy in a new place. A geography lesson.

“Flat Cheryl”? There may, of course, be a better name.

Comment on Salon Futura #1 by Amy H. Sturgis

Amy H. Sturgis — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 17:33:32 +0000

It looks terrific! I really like the multimedia aspects of it. I’m going to pass the word along.