Signs of the end times

[wombat_socho]

I didn't get a chance to talk to Greg Ketter this past weekend at Diversicon, but I did wind up in an impromptu discussion with Lisa Freitag, Rick Gellman, phoenixalpha and a couple of other fans about Minicon 40 and its prospects under the new management. It turns out Greg & Lisa are actively looking for room parties (Lisa related with disgust how the House of Toast was turned away from an earlier Minicon, after the then-Exec dismissed them as "not SF enough") and a new anime/video chairman since their original a/v chair wandered off to Tomah in the throes of an Internet romance. phoenixalpha and I volunteered to host an AD room party and do the anime/video room, subject to ATC Board approval of course. Actually, if the Board doesn't approve, I'll probably still go ahead and do it, but it'll cost Minicon more money since I'll have to rent a projector.

After we had filled out the membership forms and handed them to Lisa with a check (the pre-reg rate is a very reasonable $35, $50 for walk-ups) phoenixalpha turned to me and said. "Do you realize you just signed up to go to Minicon? As staff?" I could only nod blearily, blame sleep deprivation and curse my innate good nature. Questioned the next day about it by a disbelieving Ron Searby, I raised my hands to heaven and declaimed, "Anime rooms at Minicon! Run by anime fans! IT'S A SIGN OF THE END TIMES!"

Yes, I'm in a better mood than I was before lunch. Food, coffee, a crack bar and deciding to leave two hours early will do a lot to boost one's morale.

Comments

[qob.livejournal.com]

hmmm maybe the 'media' fans can retake Minicon!

[wombat-socho.livejournal.com]

[John Belushi] NOOOO PRISONERS! [/John Belushi]

[danae.livejournal.com]

Minicon is the one over Easter right?

I can never make that one since my very Catholic family expects to see me then

[wombat-socho.livejournal.com]

Well, until #40 (next year) there hadn't been a good reason to go for about seven years. So you didn't really miss anything.

Every family is different...mine didn't mind me being gone on Easter so long as I was attending Easter Mass.

[danae.livejournal.com]

my family is in madison wisconsin

[wombat-socho.livejournal.com]

[nods] Makes it kinda tough to drop by the convention and still keep the family happy.

[jamestrainor.livejournal.com]

Ah, Minicon. Also known as the 'old people's con' (at least to me).

Why they want to move way out to the middle of nowhere this year is beyond me.

[wombat-socho.livejournal.com]

A lot of it is tradition and symbolism. The Bloomington Sheraton/Radisson South is the longtime home of Minicon, so moving back there is symbolic of the convention getting back to what it used to be before it got screwed up.

End of the sign times...

[huladavid.livejournal.com]

I have this feeling that I should pray for your mortal soul - but maybe that's ' cuz I rented _The_Exorcist_ recently...

Despite all the chewy sounding goodness, I think the asshole percentage at Minicon is still a little high for me.

Re: End of the sign times...

[wombat-socho.livejournal.com]

[nods vigorously] Prayers good and much appreciated. I have to admit I'm a little apprehensive about the whole deal myself. Although Lisa says all of those who once supported the HRMP have left town with their tails between their legs, I know that there are enough of the r.a.sf.f. crowd around to form a core of disgruntled fans who can be relied on to bitch and moan about any changes. OTOH, they're not likely to be in my area, and I can blow them off otherwise.

Re: End of the sign times...

[huladavid.livejournal.com]

"Lisa says that all of those who once supported the HRMP have left town with their tails between their legs."

Fred Haskell's left town? As well as Our Dear Friend Karen Cooper? And Beth Friedman?

Other than Geri Sullivan & Steve Brust who else has left?

Frankly, leaving town with their tails between their legs ISN"T GOOD ENOUGH - they should admit they were wrong.

Did a little figureing - my big beef & exodus from MNSTF/Minicon took place about 14 years ago.

(Sigh) Just went downstair to check the mail & there's a couple of ya-hoos from the DNC out with their "Would you like to defeat George Bush" song and dance. What I'd like to tell me is to get the fuck away from the front of my apartment building & how much I resent not being able to go anywhere with out having to deal with "street spam", and I'd feel the same way with they were pushing Bush, Nader, or the Devil Himself...

Re: End of the sign times...

[wombat-socho.livejournal.com]

"Lisa says that all of those who once supported the HRMP have left town with their tails between their legs."

Fred Haskell's left town? As well as Our Dear Friend Karen Cooper? And Beth Friedman?
I think she meant that they're no longer active in MNSTF. [pause] You forgot DDB.

Other than Geri Sullivan & Steve Brust who else has left?
Good question. As long as I won't have to deal with them, I'll be happy.

Frankly, leaving town with their tails between their legs ISN"T GOOD ENOUGH - they should admit they were wrong.
Are you backing down from the "Boil them in oil before tarring, feathering & running out of town on a rail" position? ~__^