Eight enthusiastic BIFFellers and four fabulous Whovians gathered together for the fifth annual BIFF Christmas party. (Although the overlap in membership meant that there were actually only nine people there.) We got the control for the spiffy new flatscreen TV hanging over the spiffy new electric fireplace, so of course we set it to Space (although we kept the sound turned down so as not to let the TV interrupt our conversation). I was excited to meet Space Girl Biff's younger brother Pow for the first time, and in the gift exchange, I managed to score yet another exhibit for what promises to become the world's largest collection of science fiction-themed key rings. (Oh, and the roast turkey was good, too.)

This week, as we hold our last BIFF of 2009, we'll relax and watch just about the only "Christmas special" of a science fiction series that I have ever found. (There are others, but they are few and far between.)

Well, I stuck my box set of the BBC TV version of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy in preparation for People's Choice night, but then Dale and I got to discussing details about Reality Free Canada, the web site we've been working on, and nobody else showed up, so that was kind of that for videos.

This week, we will be watching The Lost World, made in 1925, based on one of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Professor Challenger stories. This was the first feature-length film to use stop-motion photography, and the integration of stop-motion with live action was ground-breaking for the time.

Looking ahead, it's been a while since our last BookCrossing night, so let's do it again on February 5th. I've got a pile of science fiction and fantasy books to distribute, and I know other BIFFlectors do, too, so come on out and bring your books to free. If you don't have books to free, bring a good, stout book bag to take books home in, because we should end up with one serious pile o' books here.

As we start to close in on BIFF's fifth anniversary, it's time to hold a revolution. Time to drum the dictator-for-life out of office, get rid of the bureaucracy, and allow the people to live in freedom. In other words, I'm tired, I've got no spare time, and I'll be moving soon anyway. So, on February 12th, it's time to choose new leadership, and maybe even a new form of government for BIFF. (Perhaps a hereditary monarchy? Or whoever shows up first each week gets to be in charge for the night? Or maybe, each week, the people who show up decide who, out of those who are absent, gets sentenced to be in charge the following week.)

In any case, the nomination slate is wide open, including what offices we're even nominating people for. Have fun with this: come out to BIFF wearing campaign T-shirts and buttons. ("Spacegirl Biff for Empress!") Hold speeches, and promise to wipe out the debt in the Hospitality and Promotion Fund, and bring in famous author and actor guests at tremendous expense, both at the same time! Put up campaign ads in the video section. Warn people that a vote for your opponent is a vote for watching The Star Wars Holiday Special.

And remember, vote early, and vote often.

Ten terrific BIFFliophiles gathered for our latest BookCrossing event. There were so many books piled up that, even with that many people to pick over them (plus out server), we still ended up leaving a bunch in the restaurant. (Look in the newspaper rack on the left at the top of the stairs to see if any of them are still there.)

And, for some strange reason, the conversation seemed to focus on books. I can't imagine why...

This week, reporters and TV crews from all over the world have converged on the Lower Mainland, and they're all here for one reason, and one reason only. Yes, it's time for BIFF to choose new leadership, and maybe even a new form of government for BIFF. (Play games like Lord of the RIngs Trivial Pursuit, and the winner gets to be in charge the next week? Or rotate the leadership in alphabetical order by the third letter of the last name? Or maybe draw straws?)

In any case, the nomination slate is wide open, including what offices we're even nominating people for. Have fun with this: come out to BIFF wearing campaign T-shirts and buttons. ("Pow for Benevolent Dictator!") Hold speeches, and promise to wipe out the debt in the Hospitality and Promotion Fund, and bring in famous author and actor guests at tremendous expense, both at the same time! Put up campaign ads in the video section. Warn people that a vote for your opponent is a vote for watching The Star Wars Holiday Special.

And remember, vote early, and vote often.