Got Fame?

One thing going around LJ is to list the various famous people one has met. I read a few of these listings and recognized some folks on them, and completely failed to recognize some others. How is fame defined for this? Someone I might consider notable may be notable not to everyone but only to a certain group. This is plain as many of the listing have an explanation of who each famed person is which indicate that they are not universally known. I mentioned this to a guy at work and replied that his brother-in-law has a 'dead pool' with the requirement that someone in it must have made national headlines at least once. I'm not about to use that definition.

For a moment I figured I hadn't met anyone famous and then re-thought it. I may not have met universally known celebrities, but that doesn't bother me. In no particular order:

I've met, ever so briefly, science fiction author David Gerrold. But chances are unless you read a fair of science fiction I needed to say who he was or you'd be thinking, "Who?" right now. Maybe you are anyway.

I've met open-source advocate Eric S. Raymond.

I live with jmaynard, someone who has been on national TV several times now and is well-known as "Tron guy" across the web. But I've met people who are often on-line who hadn't heard of any of the goings on. It took months before anyone locally knew - unless I told them myself.

I've dined and been to faire with irpooh who was in a Clint Eastwood movie - but isn't a nationally known movie actress.

I've never met animator Tom Minton, but I've had a few IM conversations with him.

I've exchanged e-mails with a few folks involved in comic book production (writers, pencillers, inkers, letterers, and an editor, I don't recall any exchange with a colorist).

I've met kinkyturtle who is rather well known for his cartoon diaries in some circles. I've had brunch with (that is, sitting right next to at the same table) unclekage, Dr. Samuel Conway. At that same table was Buckles creator David Gilbert. Also, I've talked with Bill Holbrook who creates Kevin and Kell as well as a couple newspaper comic strips. Not at that table, but at the same event was the_gneech who is the person behind The Suburban Jungle.

I know several folks involved with Renaissance Faires, some are performers, others are faire organizers. Some of these folks are: aedifica, foolscap001, ginafae, irpooh, jmthane, malterre though we've never actually met, melissasutton, mnfiddledragon, rillaspins, and wendyzski.

And I've probably forgotten a few people.

ADDENDUM: Yes, I did miss someone. I met animator Jon McClenahan. Heck, I hosted the small gathering at which he appeared for a handful of Animaniacs fans. How'd I forget that?!