Thursday, February 26, 2009
Call for papers
1st International Symposium on Clanger Studies
Call for papers
We invite the submission of abstracts on research in any field of Clanger Studies to the 1st International Symposium on Clanger Studies, ISCS 2010, which will be held at Odyssey 2010 at the Radisson Edwardian Hotel, Heathrow, UK.
The International Symposium on Clanger Studies brings together academics, fringe researchers. interstellar explorers and hopeful galactic overlords from across time and space to exchange information on the knotty problems concerning the study of the physical, biological and social sciences pertaining to Selenemus lanodiffertus postgaterii.
Topic areas of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:
Abstracts for both oral and poster presentations are invited. Abstracts should not exceed a sensible length and should be emailed to iscs2010@beeblebear.netAccepted All submitted abstracts will be published in the symposium proceedings.
ICSC 2010 Committee
Dr. Nik Whitehead (chair)
Mr. Simon Bradshaw (technical committee)
Mr. Mark Sinclair (technical committee)
Mr. Richard Proctor (keynote speaker)
This symposium is held in memory of the late and greatly lamented pioneer in this field, Mr. Oliver Postgate.
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Call for papers
We invite the submission of abstracts on research in any field of Clanger Studies to the 1st International Symposium on Clanger Studies, ISCS 2010, which will be held at Odyssey 2010 at the Radisson Edwardian Hotel, Heathrow, UK.
The International Symposium on Clanger Studies brings together academics, fringe researchers. interstellar explorers and hopeful galactic overlords from across time and space to exchange information on the knotty problems concerning the study of the physical, biological and social sciences pertaining to Selenemus lanodiffertus postgaterii.
Topic areas of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Astrophysics
- Astronautics
- Astro-acoustic propulsion
- Knotted loop string theory and chromotopology
- Gastronomy
- Interspecies relations
- Animal husbandry
- Acousto-anhydroponics
- Weather control and climatology
- Ferropoultry engineering
- Minor planetology
- Ecological catastrophe amelioration
Abstracts for both oral and poster presentations are invited. Abstracts should not exceed a sensible length and should be emailed to iscs2010@beeblebear.net
ICSC 2010 Committee
Dr. Nik Whitehead (chair)
Mr. Simon Bradshaw (technical committee)
Mr. Mark Sinclair (technical committee)
Mr. Richard Proctor (keynote speaker)
This symposium is held in memory of the late and greatly lamented pioneer in this field, Mr. Oliver Postgate.
Labels: redemption
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Monday, February 23, 2009
Redemption day 3
Strictly speaking, this isn't a convention day at all. But as it started in the convention hotel I'm going to include it.
Quite a few people were still around for breakfast, and as my flight wasn't until the evening I had time to hang around for coffee with P, M and J once A had left on his long journey north. We sat around brainstorming ideas for guests for 2011 and generally relaxing before our rather shorter journeys.
Eventually, though, it was time to head south. I'd originally planned to meet up with my friend K and then visit Bletchley Park, but it turned out that time was not on our side so we just sat and had a natter and a light lunch. I shall just have to do Bletchley in 2011 instead.
Finally it was back down the M1/M25 to Heathrow and a spot-on check-in: my luggage weighed exactly 20.0kg (much to the amusement of the staff). Even with the flight on time I had plenty of time to pick up a large mature Cheddar and a box of jelly babies - what other sweets could I possibly bring back from an SF convention? :)
When I arrived in Iceland I found myself standing in the queue waiting to have my passport checked by what looked suspiciously like a grumpy old man. Nevertheless, I wished him a good evening in Icelandic and, although I have absolutely no idea what he asked me in return, replied with Icelandic Stock Phrase #9 Ég vinna á Akureyri (I work in Akureyri). His face suddenly broke into a beaming smile and he wished me a welcome home and a good evening. I was rather surprised but quite happy; it managed to lift my spirits from the normal post-return blues... which was also helped by the welcome from the night manager at my usual hotel. He just smiled, welcomed me and handed me a key, no paperwork or anything. Customer loyalty is clearly a good thing. :)
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Quite a few people were still around for breakfast, and as my flight wasn't until the evening I had time to hang around for coffee with P, M and J once A had left on his long journey north. We sat around brainstorming ideas for guests for 2011 and generally relaxing before our rather shorter journeys.
Eventually, though, it was time to head south. I'd originally planned to meet up with my friend K and then visit Bletchley Park, but it turned out that time was not on our side so we just sat and had a natter and a light lunch. I shall just have to do Bletchley in 2011 instead.
Finally it was back down the M1/M25 to Heathrow and a spot-on check-in: my luggage weighed exactly 20.0kg (much to the amusement of the staff). Even with the flight on time I had plenty of time to pick up a large mature Cheddar and a box of jelly babies - what other sweets could I possibly bring back from an SF convention? :)
When I arrived in Iceland I found myself standing in the queue waiting to have my passport checked by what looked suspiciously like a grumpy old man. Nevertheless, I wished him a good evening in Icelandic and, although I have absolutely no idea what he asked me in return, replied with Icelandic Stock Phrase #9 Ég vinna á Akureyri (I work in Akureyri). His face suddenly broke into a beaming smile and he wished me a welcome home and a good evening. I was rather surprised but quite happy; it managed to lift my spirits from the normal post-return blues... which was also helped by the welcome from the night manager at my usual hotel. He just smiled, welcomed me and handed me a key, no paperwork or anything. Customer loyalty is clearly a good thing. :)
Labels: redemption
0 comments
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Redemption day 2
Another late night, another early morning.
This morning started with an Ops shift, during which I diligently entered into the spirit of the elections for Ruler of the Universe by locating a) the yellow paper used for the ballot papers, b) the computer file containing the ballot form, and c) the necessary hardware and software to mate the two together. The results of this chicanery were delivered into the hands of Brigade Leader Lethbridge-Stewart's minions. I was, naturally, delighted to discover later that the Brigade Leader had won the election by a landslide (approximately 150% of the 'vote') and that I had had a small part to play in that victory.
Yes, the one commandment for the elections for Ruler of the Universe is Thou Shalt Cheat.
Post-Ops I had a chance to wander over to Primark in search of some polo shirts. One of the dealers had brought her sewing machine with her, with the result that I am now the proud owner of PsiCorps, Torchwood and Stargate polo shirts. Once back in the hotel I happened to wander past one of the smaller rooms to discover (wearing grey shirt and dog-collar) starting a class on origami. Naturally I had to join that one - a convention with added crafts? That's my sort of weekend!
Then it was off to the second of my A for Andromeda talks. I'd been a bit worried about this as I hadn't had time to write a proper talk on the subject, but as it turned out it was in the video room so I wouldn't have been able to project a powerpoint presentation anyway. In the end we watched some of the extra material and the one remaining complete episode, then discussed the influence that A for Andromeda and Quatermass had on Dr. Who, and the methods used for restoring these re-released classics.
This finished just in time for the closing ceremony, followed by a trip to the bar before dinner. Dinner involved seven of us heading off in search of a restaurant in the centre of Coventry, wandering through empty shopping centres and open plazas in a manner that I can only compare to that of an SG team arriving on an alien planet. Yes, we did the spreading out, rotating point and rear positions, the lot. Oh, except for when we accidentally managed the Team Banzai line abreast, that is. Eventually we found an extremely good little Chinese restaurant, the Noodle Bar. You know it's likely to be a good place when it's full of Chinese patrons and the menu is in English on one side and Chinese on the other. We were not disappointed.
I had planned to do the quarterstaff workshop, but the problems I've had with my shoulder recently put paid to that (even after had pummelled my shoulder into submission in Ops this morning). Ah well, there's always next time. I've signed up for Redemption 2011 already.
We returned once more to the bar, where P introduced us to Flock!, which is officially Very Silly. I look forward to a Mac version (although that may take a little time, he tells me). It was, naturally enough, another late night, punctuated by cider and a cumberland sausage bap.
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This morning started with an Ops shift, during which I diligently entered into the spirit of the elections for Ruler of the Universe by locating a) the yellow paper used for the ballot papers, b) the computer file containing the ballot form, and c) the necessary hardware and software to mate the two together. The results of this chicanery were delivered into the hands of Brigade Leader Lethbridge-Stewart's minions. I was, naturally, delighted to discover later that the Brigade Leader had won the election by a landslide (approximately 150% of the 'vote') and that I had had a small part to play in that victory.
Yes, the one commandment for the elections for Ruler of the Universe is Thou Shalt Cheat.
Post-Ops I had a chance to wander over to Primark in search of some polo shirts. One of the dealers had brought her sewing machine with her, with the result that I am now the proud owner of PsiCorps, Torchwood and Stargate polo shirts. Once back in the hotel I happened to wander past one of the smaller rooms to discover
Then it was off to the second of my A for Andromeda talks. I'd been a bit worried about this as I hadn't had time to write a proper talk on the subject, but as it turned out it was in the video room so I wouldn't have been able to project a powerpoint presentation anyway. In the end we watched some of the extra material and the one remaining complete episode, then discussed the influence that A for Andromeda and Quatermass had on Dr. Who, and the methods used for restoring these re-released classics.
This finished just in time for the closing ceremony, followed by a trip to the bar before dinner. Dinner involved seven of us heading off in search of a restaurant in the centre of Coventry, wandering through empty shopping centres and open plazas in a manner that I can only compare to that of an SG team arriving on an alien planet. Yes, we did the spreading out, rotating point and rear positions, the lot. Oh, except for when we accidentally managed the Team Banzai line abreast, that is. Eventually we found an extremely good little Chinese restaurant, the Noodle Bar. You know it's likely to be a good place when it's full of Chinese patrons and the menu is in English on one side and Chinese on the other. We were not disappointed.
I had planned to do the quarterstaff workshop, but the problems I've had with my shoulder recently put paid to that (even after
We returned once more to the bar, where P introduced us to Flock!, which is officially Very Silly. I look forward to a Mac version (although that may take a little time, he tells me). It was, naturally enough, another late night, punctuated by cider and a cumberland sausage bap.
Labels: redemption
0 comments
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Redemption day 1
Saturday is always the big day for conventions, and today was no different.
After writing yesterday's post I dashed off to give my talk on A for Andromeda (2006), the remake of the original 1961 series. There were only five of us, but we watched it and then had quite an interesting discussion about the portrayal of science and scientists within it. It finished just in time for me to get to the opening ceremony, which was a good thing, then I had to dash off once again for my panel on Is time travel possible?
This was quite amusing, as I'm certain that the same four of us did a late-night science panel at the last Redemption, possibly on is FTL travel possible?. I have a suspicion that we are the Redemption physics/astrophysics team. :) Not that I'm complaining - it was a very good panel discussion and I'd be happy to do something with the same team again in 2011.
Then there was the Torchwood Wobblevision. I'd never done a wobblevision before, but it had always sounded rather fun. For the uninitiated, a wobblevision involves getting a group of people together to create stills of scenes in an episode of Torchwood. I ended up playing Tosh, and look forward to seeing the eventual pictures.
It was well beyond 02:00 by the time I got to sleep, followed by a good breakfast and my first panel of the day, on the works of Lois McMaster Bujold. To be honest, I was a bit disappointed with this one, as it turned into a rather general fan-girly discussion about how wonderful the books were as romances, while two of us on the panel were ready for a more serious discussion of themes and so forth. Still, the audience seemed to be happy with it so that was probably okay.
There was just enough time to have a wander around the dealers' rooms (multiple small rooms rather than one large one - I'm still undecided on whether that's good or bad) before my serious science talk on life support systems. Not entirely my normal field of expertise but it was certainly an interesting talk to research and present.
After that it was off to Ops for a stint before the Masquerade. I'd answered a last-minute appeal for a technical judge so my work was all done backstage before the event started. There were some gorgeous costumes, beautifully made, which received some very high marks for workmanship, but my personal favorite was one of the chaos costumes - Liberator, made from three cones of white cardboard and a large green balloon. Not a lot of workmanship marks, but the concept was brilliant!
By now it was 22:00 and I still had two items to attend. The first might have been a meeting of Roleplayers Anonymous; this was the Adapting TV shows into RPGs discussion. Given my, ahem, previous history of rewriting RPG rules in order to run TV-related games I thought it might be interesting... and it was. It even managed to rise above the 'reminiscing over prior campaigns' level for most of the time. Most enjoyable.
The final session was the Blake's Seven wobblevision - the very last B7 wobblevision to be filmed, of the final episode. I got to play the role of Kline, whose sole purpose is to be shot by Avon (and who, coincidentally, was played by Mrs. Darrow in the original episode). Then back to the bar for a sausage bap before retiring late.
0 comments
After writing yesterday's post I dashed off to give my talk on A for Andromeda (2006), the remake of the original 1961 series. There were only five of us, but we watched it and then had quite an interesting discussion about the portrayal of science and scientists within it. It finished just in time for me to get to the opening ceremony, which was a good thing, then I had to dash off once again for my panel on Is time travel possible?
This was quite amusing, as I'm certain that the same four of us did a late-night science panel at the last Redemption, possibly on is FTL travel possible?. I have a suspicion that we are the Redemption physics/astrophysics team. :) Not that I'm complaining - it was a very good panel discussion and I'd be happy to do something with the same team again in 2011.
Then there was the Torchwood Wobblevision. I'd never done a wobblevision before, but it had always sounded rather fun. For the uninitiated, a wobblevision involves getting a group of people together to create stills of scenes in an episode of Torchwood. I ended up playing Tosh, and look forward to seeing the eventual pictures.
It was well beyond 02:00 by the time I got to sleep, followed by a good breakfast and my first panel of the day, on the works of Lois McMaster Bujold. To be honest, I was a bit disappointed with this one, as it turned into a rather general fan-girly discussion about how wonderful the books were as romances, while two of us on the panel were ready for a more serious discussion of themes and so forth. Still, the audience seemed to be happy with it so that was probably okay.
There was just enough time to have a wander around the dealers' rooms (multiple small rooms rather than one large one - I'm still undecided on whether that's good or bad) before my serious science talk on life support systems. Not entirely my normal field of expertise but it was certainly an interesting talk to research and present.
After that it was off to Ops for a stint before the Masquerade. I'd answered a last-minute appeal for a technical judge so my work was all done backstage before the event started. There were some gorgeous costumes, beautifully made, which received some very high marks for workmanship, but my personal favorite was one of the chaos costumes - Liberator, made from three cones of white cardboard and a large green balloon. Not a lot of workmanship marks, but the concept was brilliant!
By now it was 22:00 and I still had two items to attend. The first might have been a meeting of Roleplayers Anonymous; this was the Adapting TV shows into RPGs discussion. Given my, ahem, previous history of rewriting RPG rules in order to run TV-related games I thought it might be interesting... and it was. It even managed to rise above the 'reminiscing over prior campaigns' level for most of the time. Most enjoyable.
The final session was the Blake's Seven wobblevision - the very last B7 wobblevision to be filmed, of the final episode. I got to play the role of Kline, whose sole purpose is to be shot by Avon (and who, coincidentally, was played by Mrs. Darrow in the original episode). Then back to the bar for a sausage bap before retiring late.
Labels: redemption
0 comments