i was innocently skipping along www.boingboing.net when suddenly:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q77YBmtd2Rw&feature=related

some part of my mind was certain this was a mock rap spoof.  Take skinhead youth trailer trash from South Africa and vomit up some music.  This was real.  These people believe in themselves.  So it morhped in my mind to some interpretation of a punk dutch smeagol.  There's a knifepoint at my reptile brain, tickling something.  I'd probably be much better off if my knowledge of South Africa had more depth than "A Lesson from Aloes", "District 9", and the apartheid protests from the 80's.  No time right now for a good look at South African history, but I should find some books for later ( suggestions welcome). 

It's like a trainwreck that I have an urge to dance to:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wc3f4xU_FfQ

I'm going to continue looking into these people till I find an answer to a question I don't have a definition for, or my head explodes, or a discovery of something sinister and wrong way beyond my level of edge-play or ethics. 

Or maybe I'm just reading a bunch of crap into this because of where I'm sitting now.

And here's why:

http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/article6968283.ece

Despite the fact that clove cigarettes have been otlawed, this has been a very good year, cause the seeds of many bettter years have been planted, some of whichhave already sprouted from the ground.  YMMV, and I don't care.

P.S.  I'm still cell phone deprived and maintaining my moral high ground while retreating.

My cell phone is not functioning.  Dispute with AT&T.  I hold the moral high-ground.  They control the airways.  Hence, they are winning.

Loscon is the LASFS annual convention and family reunion (about 1/3 of our members are members of the club).  Learn more about this year's convention; Loscon 36 over here:

http://community.livejournal.com/loscon/

A sly way to help someone learn:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113357239&ft=1&f=4516989

Books, the gateway drug to thinking.

TrinSF is correct. I did not apologize for that thoughtless moment.

I apologize for cancelling my WFC plans and not thinking about the parallel commitment to volunteer at the Spiral Dance. I am sorry.

A funny thing happened last night (in hindsight, and only because I was forgiven). I had been asked by someone I care about, who I consider myself close to, to pick them up after I finished presiding over the LASFS meeting on my way to dinner at Coral Cafe. I was even thoughtfull, and texted this person when I knew there'd be some delay. Round 11:00 p.m. I receive 2 texts, one asking me how long I'll be (sent 30 minutes previous but only just received) and one from a minute ago informing me that they were being picked up and would be at Coral in a few minutes.

I had completely forgotten this person and that this person was waiting for me. When said person arrived, by the kind efforts of another, I apologised in front of the entire room for my thoughtlessness.

Since the subject of my forgetting another person's invitation to visit them on thier dollar has been posted to the previous LJ post, I will also offer a public apology in this forum.

Lynx, Your offer to pay for my visiting you disappeared from my mind. I offer no excuse for my behavior. I am sorry that this happend.

Christian

Swell, my score was 91. And now...? Oh, do something about it.

New Icon by the fabulously talented Jessica Gaona le_moose .  OK not so new as it was premiered in the ALA 5 Program Book. 

Sad excuse for an LJ post.  I want to post about somene's Dream, another's Sadness, and a third person's Dj, but my mind is an empty set [ ] right now.  So I rediscovered the illo and put it up.

Post!  This is a test.  If there were a real post here it would be a whining "why me?" annoyance.  At least I'm getting words out in 140 characters or less.  What is writing anyway?

Ok, attending two conventions in a row is excessive, but the opportunity presented itself, so I jumped at the chance.

Potlatch ( http://www.potlatch-sf.org/ )is a very small sercon which has Books of Honor' instead of Guests of Honor .  It floats between Portland, Seattle and the Bay Area.  This year it was in Sunnyvale.  I shared a room (the kindness of others, squee!), so the only expense was membership, gasoline and food.

Potlatch's two Books of Honor  (http://www.potlatch-sf.org/boh.php ) were "Always Coming Home" by Ursula K. LeGuin and "Growing Up Weightless" by  the late John M. Ford.

After the hectic excitment of Cap 29, this was 2 1/2 days of ease and relaxation.  Basically we lounged and talked, sometimes moving the talk to a nearby restaurant.  There was a track of programming, and a second do-it-yourself program room.  The higlights for me were the "Scalzi Rule" panel and the Clarion West auction. 

At the auction, I ended up 2 chairs down from UKL on the center isle, so I drew much attention from the auctioneers, Jay Lake and Tom Whitmore.  Only one item I wanted was not bid out of my range.  I am now the proud owner of a Poppy Z. Brite book whose title flitters beyond my reach right now. 

For the "Scalzi Rule" panel, the 80 people in the room, of whom 25+ participated, proved that a conversation can occur between a large crowd with ease.  To be fair to Scalzi, this was a nearly ideal group to have this sort of thing happen.  The Scalzi rule is that members of a panel audience should only be allowed to ask questions of the speakers.  This is to prevent the clueless, those who end up droning on about side topics and those who think they should have been on the panel and put themselves on the panel from the audience, from shanghaing a panel.  MKK texted Scalzi during the panel and he was bemused that folks thought this was something he wanted imposed on all panels, he isn't even sure it would work for all of his panels, but he was flattered that his idea was being discussed. 

Two thirds of the program book pages were devoted to restaurants.  Until Sunday we stuck with those within walking distance.  The Indian buffet was wonderfull.  It had the most diverse selection of items I'd ever seen for Indian food, and just as important a near monolithic Indian customer base.  The few non-Indians there when we were dining came from Potlatch.  The "Thai Garden" was good, but nothing stood out except for something called "Sizzling Garlic Pork".  I took a break at one point and enjoyed a bowl of t Manhattan Chowder at the "Fish Market".  Nearly the tastiest I've ever had.  Best Manhattan Clam Chowder ever (YMMV) came from "The Sea Lion" on PCH above Malibu.  Sadly they've been out of business since the mid 90's.  Sunday on our way out from the convention , Leigh Ann & Leo talked me and Espania (who they were driving home) into trying out "Hobees".  They are so well known by the owners that they were made "Favorite Customers" for 2008.  Hobees is a chain of a 1/2 dozen restaurants, which are healthy choice, but  not pushy about it.  They are breakfast/lunch only eateries, except for one that's open evenings, where we dined.  I have two comments on Hobees.  First, that fresh, warm coffee cake the size of Tiffany's boxes are to die for.  Second, that you can find a place which still serves "Good Earth" style iced tea, but better.  And third... Yeah whatever - That I've noted where the Hobees closest to the Baycon hotel is located for excurions in May.  Damn good healthier americana food.

Coolest moment at the convention occured when Ursula K LeGuin meowed like a cat to promote an auction item from her (also by her) about cats with wings.  She was spot on.  It was erie/cool. I think it was Jay Lake who quiped; "She also writes!" 

Usual suspects in attendance or making appearances, Kevin & Andy, Christopher J. Garcia, Leigh Ann, Leo, Espana, David Bratman, Tom Whitmore, Dave Clark ( my dealer who left me $88 poorer and 6 books heavier), Dave G & Spring, Cindy Scott (who I think was instramental in making the bountifull consuite go), a few writers I know and read, and Peggy Rae, who trumped my bid on several items at the Clarion West auction.

So a fantastical exhausting weekend at Capricon 29 followed by a great easy-going weekend at Potlatch 18.  FWIW there are no pictures from me of Potlatch 18.

Now we return, hopefully, to our previous Capricon 29 report.

No.  I have no idea why there's so much posting to LJ right now.

The journey began with an airplane nick'd out from under us.  Two hours after our originally scheduled departure the pilot shared with us that the plane had also been taken from him.  I felt acceptance because we were scooting out to the runway.

According to Dave, my flight was the last one arriving in from anywhere to O'hare.  Being late you'd think we'd head to Helen & Dave's immediately.  No.  I had to have my White Castle burgers.  White Castle is a midwest fast food joint that never made any headway in the West.  I know there was an outlet in L.A., once, in the 70's, but it was long gone.  Dave knew where the 24 hour White Castle could be found.

I had 6 steamed sliders with onions and cheese.    No pickle for me.  A side of onion rings and a Coke balanced out the meal.  Dave had the same, but with the pickle.  This place was an after hours hang-out for the bar crowd.  Dave said they swallowed the sliders to drown out the alcohol with grease.  I was in heaven eating this very marginally nutricious food. 

Did I mention the cold?  Chicagoland was so cold that I felt it.  In the wind the effect was tripled.  Chills raced through me in all directions every time I stepped outside.  For the record, I did have a jacket and arrived wearing Long Pants.  I'll only mention the wheather a dozen more times.  I   won't go into detail about Dave's place other than saying I'm jealous of the space.  Sleep hit around 4:00 a.m.  And that was my Tuesday, the night of February 17th.

Not much excitement.  Good talking to Dave.  Good night drive through the flats of Northwest Chicago.  Good day to die, though I lived.

 

Here's a picture of me (from behind) at the Capricon 29 Winterfaire:

http://flickr.com/photos/23249038@N08/3303220945/in/set-72157614339592156/

I'm dead center, wearing the hat, of course.  I actually left it in the room from time to time, but as an identifier for me, that hat and the L.A.con IV medallion are clear from a good distance.

Here's the entire flicker selection:

http://flickr.com/photos/23249038@N08/sets/72157614339592156/

Eventually my pictures will be posted.

I kept most of my promises to myself.

I circulated, though more with the committee (Hang out with the people you share an affinity with, duh) , the entire weekend except for Saturday morning due to alcohol abuse.  A whole 'nother story...

I made all 13 of my panel items, and was late for only one of them.  And for that panel I was the first panelist to arrive, while two of the five speakers didn't show up at all.

I distributed all but one of the "Shiny" ribbons, a bunch of "It's not a fetish but an interest" ribbons, and a few "I'm going to the special hell" ribbons.  I believe ribbon madness has infected Capricon 29.  There were people who had ribbons that weren't ordered through Chaz.  I received 5 Dr. Who related ribbons from a couple of twins and their family.  I met a dozen folks who were regulars at Chicago Tardis (the other Dr. Who convention, YMMV).  Small world.

Photologing the convention.  That went so-so.  I think many of the photos didn't come out well, but there are more than 400 of them.  There may be more from Wednesday, convention load-in, than any other day.  I put the camera down all Saturday night and much of Sunday.  Still, there are a few brilliant pix (in the opinion of others) and maybe they'll look good on Chaz's website.  Once I cull the herd.  There are pictures of thumbs, floors, walls and other mistakes.

For the record:  I had a brilliant convention!  Capricon 29 may ultimately be a better overalll experience for me than CostumeCon in San Jose last year.  Really, you should go.  Your best bet is next year, 2010, Capricon 30.  They are going all out for the anniversary.

I've been to busy/exhausted/distracted for posting in some while, but this passed my desktop today and I need to share it:


http://nihilistic-kid.livejournal.com/1249222.html


I've had a similar experience with an author who didn't believe there would be consequences to his behavior.  

He'd spammed a list I was on pimping his vanity-press novel.  He then sent people insulting and sexually abusive email posing as me.  He didn't stop until I threatened legal action. He was a coward. I've kept his e-mails in a file in print.  My tormentor was Jeff Redmond.

These poison pill people think they can write abuse without it influencing how others think of them is remarkably naive.  Its not like they are DMV employees beyond the touch of mortal folks.  Maybe they hold with the idea; "Any publicity is good publicity."  I'll never pay to read anything by these two writers, ever.  Good luck to them.

R E G R E T by *IgNgRez on deviantART