Difference between revisions of "1.37"
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In response to an earlier version of the article below, [[Chip Hitchcock]] reports that “1.37” was a common in-joke/notion in [[fandom]] since the mid-70s and cites [[Guy Harris]]'s [[apazine]] in [[Apaloosa]], named after the Fine Structure Constant, which is approximately 1/137. | In response to an earlier version of the article below, [[Chip Hitchcock]] reports that “1.37” was a common in-joke/notion in [[fandom]] since the mid-70s and cites [[Guy Harris]]'s [[apazine]] in [[Apaloosa]], named after the Fine Structure Constant, which is approximately 1/137. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Probably unrelated trivia: [[Windycon IV]] in 1977 was themed "The 137th Annual Loganberry Festival in Trollsbreath, Latvia." | ||
==SCIFI, George Flynn and 1.37 == | ==SCIFI, George Flynn and 1.37 == | ||
George Flynn had a widely-respected reputation in [[fandom]] for taking a careful analytical look at things most [[smofs]] just guessed at: [[convention]] growth, convention demographics, budgets, sizes of [[fandom]]s, voting patters, etc. | George Flynn had a widely-respected reputation in [[fandom]] for taking a careful analytical look at things most [[smofs]] just guessed at: [[convention]] growth, convention demographics, budgets, sizes of [[fandom]]s, voting patters, etc. | ||
| − | At [[Chicon IV]] in 1982 there was an issue of the [[hoax newsletter]] (reportedly edited by [[Mike Glyer]], among others) which repeatedly quoted [[George Flynn]] (a [[NESFA]] member who had a [[fannish]] reputation of keeping accurate track of things numerical -- voting numbers, attendance numbers and the like -- and reporting on trends) as commenting on any number they m/a/d/e/ u/p/ reported. For example, if the [[hoax newsletter]] reported that the [[Chicon IV]] Board of Directors had paid for 27 dinner meetings for itself, they'd then make up a quote from | + | At [[Chicon IV]] in 1982 there was an issue of the [[hoax newsletter]] (reportedly edited by [[Mike Glyer]], among others) which repeatedly quoted [[George Flynn]] (a [[NESFA]] member who had a [[fannish]] reputation of keeping accurate track of things numerical -- voting numbers, attendance numbers and the like -- and reporting on trends) as commenting on any number they m/a/d/e/ u/p/ reported. For example, if the [[hoax newsletter]] reported that the [[Chicon IV]] [[Board]] of [[Directors]] had paid for 27 dinner meetings for itself, they'd then make up a quote from George that this was 1.37 times greater than any previous Board's expenditure. And so on -- everything was 1.37 times greater or smaller. |
A few years later, when [[SCIFI]] made a temporary loan of $20,000 to the [[NESFA Lunar Realty Trust]], it made it in the form of 100 checks for $137 -- each delivered by a different route (by hand at [[conventions]], by mail, etc.) and one check for the balance. | A few years later, when [[SCIFI]] made a temporary loan of $20,000 to the [[NESFA Lunar Realty Trust]], it made it in the form of 100 checks for $137 -- each delivered by a different route (by hand at [[conventions]], by mail, etc.) and one check for the balance. | ||
| − | This jest was repeated during the [[Connie Bailout]] when the | + | This jest was repeated during the [[Connie Bailout]] when the SCIFI donation consisted of 100 checks for $13.70 plus a single check for the remaining balance. |
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[[Category:fanzine]] | [[Category:fanzine]] | ||
[[Category:US]] | [[Category:US]] | ||
| + | [[Category:fanhistory]] | ||
| + | [[Category:fanspeak]] | ||
Revision as of 05:37, 1 June 2023
1.37 seems to be something of a (very minor) magic number in fandom. While its origin is not completely clear, one major outbreak of 1.37ness is well-documented.
In response to an earlier version of the article below, Chip Hitchcock reports that “1.37” was a common in-joke/notion in fandom since the mid-70s and cites Guy Harris's apazine in Apaloosa, named after the Fine Structure Constant, which is approximately 1/137.
Probably unrelated trivia: Windycon IV in 1977 was themed "The 137th Annual Loganberry Festival in Trollsbreath, Latvia."
SCIFI, George Flynn and 1.37[edit]
George Flynn had a widely-respected reputation in fandom for taking a careful analytical look at things most smofs just guessed at: convention growth, convention demographics, budgets, sizes of fandoms, voting patters, etc.
At Chicon IV in 1982 there was an issue of the hoax newsletter (reportedly edited by Mike Glyer, among others) which repeatedly quoted George Flynn (a NESFA member who had a fannish reputation of keeping accurate track of things numerical -- voting numbers, attendance numbers and the like -- and reporting on trends) as commenting on any number they m/a/d/e/ u/p/ reported. For example, if the hoax newsletter reported that the Chicon IV Board of Directors had paid for 27 dinner meetings for itself, they'd then make up a quote from George that this was 1.37 times greater than any previous Board's expenditure. And so on -- everything was 1.37 times greater or smaller.
A few years later, when SCIFI made a temporary loan of $20,000 to the NESFA Lunar Realty Trust #1, it made it in the form of 100 checks for $137 -- each delivered by a different route (by hand at conventions, by mail, etc.) and one check for the balance.
This jest was repeated during the Connie Bailout when the SCIFI donation consisted of 100 checks for $13.70 plus a single check for the remaining balance.
| Publication | 1982 |
| This is a publication page. Please extend it by adding information about when and by whom it was published, how many issues it has had, (including adding a partial or complete checklist), its contents (including perhaps a ToC listing), its size and repro method, regular columnists, its impact on fandom, or by adding scans or links to scans. See Standards for Publications. |
