Some people have written to ask me what "filk" means in Bill Roper's letter in this message. "Filk" is what they call folk singing in science-fiction fandom when it's songs — usually humorous ones — about the kind of things that science-fiction fandom embraces.
When I was at a few of those conventions decades ago, "filk singing" consisted of a bunch of fans singing song parodies about Star Trek. I remember someone wailing a rousing chorus of "Spock Around the Block" and a version of "Uhura" set to the tune of "Maria" from West Side Story. Stuff like that.
By the way: I screwed up the margins on that post when I put it up. You couldn't tell what part was Bill's writing and which part was my response. But now you can. Please forgive an overly-busy blogger.