SFLIS Minutes December 17, 1997

• Dec 18, 1997 09:23 from Native Alien
• WHAT?! You mean I have to TAKE NOTES during the meetings?!
• ####################################### SFLIS MINUTES: DECEMBER 17, 1997
• After doing the disappearing act required of all SFLIS elected officers, I'm back. The meeting began with much pomp and circumstance as the sacred secretary's notebook and computer disk were transfered to me. It was a very moving occasion, which brought tears to the eyes of all who were present. And if you believe that.....
• Anyway, I'd like to thank the previous secretary for filling in for me during my absence. And for the rest of the time that I'm secretary, I'll do my best to avoid working during the meeting times.
• Now, on with the minutes:
• News article passed around for discussion - "Cartoon Based Illness Mystifies Japan" Is watching anime hazardous to your health? Don't expect "Pokemon" to be showing up at your local video store any time soon.
• Also in the news - the teleportation of a photon.
• Des Moines Science Fiction Society's New Year's party from Dec. 31 until ?? at Les and Jeanette's
• Also a New Year's party at Catherine and Bryon's house in Cedar Rapids, Dec. 31. Please call 362-2153 to RSVP and to get directions.
• Big ICON announcement. Well, not TOO big, since it's already on the web page. Forrest Ackerman will be at ICON 23.
• Only two months until Gammacon. You have until Jan. 31 to preregister.
• Anime viewing Dec. 28 at Marty's house from 1 until 8 or 9. Please RSVP so he has an idea of how many people to expect.
• If all goes well, by the next meeting, we will have a room reserved for next semester's anime shows.
• The shocking fact was discovered that a lot of people did not know the SFLIS happy birthday song. Both of the people who did know it were kind enough to sing it for us. (Or was it only one person? I"m not sure.) Anyway here it is, sung to the tune of "Song of the Volga Boatman." Happy Birthday Happy Birthday Death, destruction all around Birds are falling to the ground. Happy birthday Don't let the tradition die.
• The meeting ended with some sci-fi trivia questions.
• NEXT MEETING: Due to the fact that Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve both come on Wednesdays, there will be no more meetings for the rest of this month. Our next meeting will be Wednesday January 7.

Dec 19, 1997 08:05 from Firedrake
   I can't believe I'm posting this, but:

The Happy Birthday Dirge - Anon.
(tune:  "Volga Boatman")
Public Domain

Happy Birthday! (UHH!) Happy Birthday! (UHH!)
Death and gloom and black despair
People dying everywhere
Happy Birthday! (UHH!) Happy Birthday! (UHH!)

Death, destruction, all around
Birds are falling to the ground

Now you are the age you are
Your demise cannot be far

May the candles on your cake
burn like cities in your wake

Burn the Castle and storm the keep
Kill the Women but SAVE THE SHEEP!

May your deeds with sheep and yaks
equal those with sword and axe

Your servants steal, your wife's untrue
Your children plot to murder you

They stole your gold, your sword, your house
They stole your sheep, but not your spouse

So you're 29 again
don't tell lies to your good friend

Black Death has just struck your town
you yourself feel quite run-down

We brought linen, white as cloud
Now we'll sit and sew your shroud!

So far death you have bypassed
Don't look back it's gaining fast

I'm a leper, can't you see
Have a birthday kiss from me

Burn, then rape by firelight
Add -romance- to life tonight!

Birthdays come but once a year,
Marking time as Death draws near

Raise your cup of bitter cheer,
Make the barman eat his ear

Now your hairs are turning grey,
Soon they all will fall away.

Like the wrinkles in old lace
Time is etched upon your face.

Famine, fear, and fire and flood
Can't keep your face out of the mud

Fear and gloom and darkness but
no one found out YOU KNOW WHAT

You're a period cook, its true
ask the beetles in the stew

Now your jail-bait days are done
Let's go out and have some fun!

You must marry very soon
baby's due the next full moon

Were I sitting in your shoes
I'd go out and sing the blues

Tho you're turning 29
age to you is like fine wine

Now you've lived another year
age to you is like stale beer

It's your birthday never fear
You'll be dead this time next year

Indigestion's what you get
>From the enemies you 'et

This one lesson you must learn
FIRST you pillage, THEN you burn

While you eat your birthday stew
We will sack a town for you

Death will come before the dawn
Now's the time to party on!

People starving on the earth,
Go ahead, eat your dessert,

Rape the horses while they sleep,
See the women wail and weep

News that fills our hearts with fear:
They 've proved cancer's caused by beer,

When you've reached your age you know
That the mind is first to go

Happy Birthday!