Comments on: Dragon*Con 2008 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/27/dragoncon-2008/ I am an astronomer, writer, and skeptic. I likes reality the way it is, and I aims to keep it that way. My real name is Phil Plait, and I run the Bad Astronomy blog. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 13:27:34 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Clair http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/27/dragoncon-2008/comment-page-1/#comment-72965 Clair Fri, 29 Feb 2008 03:03:34 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/27/dragoncon-2008/#comment-72965 YAY! Can't wait to meet you! YAY! Can’t wait to meet you!

]]> By: Pete http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/27/dragoncon-2008/comment-page-1/#comment-72964 Pete Thu, 28 Feb 2008 00:36:05 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/27/dragoncon-2008/#comment-72964 @Tom, DC has great science track attendance. Last year it was SRO for the 4-5 that I attended, including the Smackdown of science vs ghostbusters. Loads of fun. Also great was the GeekGroup's singing Tesla Coils.....a must-see in person if you get the chance. @Tom,

DC has great science track attendance. Last year it was SRO for the 4-5 that I attended, including the Smackdown of science vs ghostbusters. Loads of fun. Also great was the GeekGroup’s singing Tesla Coils…..a must-see in person if you get the chance.

]]> By: drow http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/27/dragoncon-2008/comment-page-1/#comment-72963 drow Wed, 27 Feb 2008 23:26:44 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/27/dragoncon-2008/#comment-72963 as much as i love scifi cons, and as much as i'd dearly love to meet all the guests, if i have to be in atlanta in august, i'll be in the bathroom noming pills and slitting my wrists. as much as i love scifi cons, and as much as i’d dearly love to meet all the guests, if i have to be in atlanta in august, i’ll be in the bathroom noming pills and slitting my wrists.

]]> By: Jewel http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/27/dragoncon-2008/comment-page-1/#comment-72962 Jewel Wed, 27 Feb 2008 23:05:29 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/27/dragoncon-2008/#comment-72962 Big Trouble in Little China. Definitely. Big Trouble in Little China. Definitely.

]]> By: Lugosi http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/27/dragoncon-2008/comment-page-1/#comment-72961 Lugosi Wed, 27 Feb 2008 23:01:51 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/27/dragoncon-2008/#comment-72961 I remember once debating some friends over which was the all-time best Kurt Russel movie: Big Trouble in Little China, or The Thing. Tough choice, and I no longer remember which side I took. I remember once debating some friends over which was the all-time best Kurt Russel movie: Big Trouble in Little China, or The Thing.
Tough choice, and I no longer remember which side I took.

]]> By: Jewel http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/27/dragoncon-2008/comment-page-1/#comment-72960 Jewel Wed, 27 Feb 2008 22:37:02 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/27/dragoncon-2008/#comment-72960 Ive never made it to Dragon*Con, unfortunately. I hear it's a good time, though. I'm sure you'll blog about it for those of us who cannot make it :-) Ive never made it to Dragon*Con, unfortunately. I hear it’s a good time, though. I’m sure you’ll blog about it for those of us who cannot make it :-)

]]> By: Aerimus http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/27/dragoncon-2008/comment-page-1/#comment-72952 Aerimus Wed, 27 Feb 2008 21:13:45 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/27/dragoncon-2008/#comment-72952 Yeah, he was there is '05 'cause I remember everyone talking about it before the con (I hang out with a bunch of role player geeks). I got to go in '06 as a thank you from my wife, and I was psyched about the t6he guest list before he cancel. I didn't get around to doing anything firefly related last year. Instead my highlight was working the Venture Bros. fan table and meeting Doc Hammer. Yeah, he was there is ’05 ’cause I remember everyone talking about it before the con (I hang out with a bunch of role player geeks). I got to go in ’06 as a thank you from my wife, and I was psyched about the t6he guest list before he cancel.

I didn’t get around to doing anything firefly related last year. Instead my highlight was working the Venture Bros. fan table and meeting Doc Hammer.

]]> By: Barton Paul Levenson http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/27/dragoncon-2008/comment-page-1/#comment-72959 Barton Paul Levenson Wed, 27 Feb 2008 20:43:01 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/27/dragoncon-2008/#comment-72959 Actually, the best movie ever made was "Journey to the Center of the Earth" (1959, James Mason, Pat Boone, Arlene Dahl). Actually, the best movie ever made was “Journey to the Center of the Earth” (1959, James Mason, Pat Boone, Arlene Dahl).

]]> By: Carriep http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/27/dragoncon-2008/comment-page-1/#comment-72958 Carriep Wed, 27 Feb 2008 20:14:06 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/27/dragoncon-2008/#comment-72958 Ah, I remember now. It was '05. I was at D*C in '06, the first year he cancelled. Hung out exclusively in the podcasting track, had my mind blown by George Hrab. It was a good weekend. Ah, I remember now. It was ’05. I was at D*C in ’06, the first year he cancelled. Hung out exclusively in the podcasting track, had my mind blown by George Hrab. It was a good weekend.

]]> By: Carriep http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/27/dragoncon-2008/comment-page-1/#comment-72957 Carriep Wed, 27 Feb 2008 20:12:39 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/27/dragoncon-2008/#comment-72957 BA, Can't wait to meet you at Dragon*Con. I promise I'll watch Big Trouble in Little China before then as many have recommended it to me. @ Aerimus, It's even odds on whether Adam Baldwin will make it to D*C or not. He did go in '06 or '05, I believe. He's got steady work with "Chuck" now, which is picked up for another season, so he should hopefully be able to work around that scheduling-wise. I really hope so. There's always a solid Browncoat contingent since Firefly came out. Last year, Mark Sheppard (Badger) and Ron Glass (Book) represented for Firefly. Looks like only other Firefly-related guests right now are Keith RA DeCandido (wrote novelization) and Jamie Chambers/Margaret Weiss (did the RPG game). I'd love to see Jewel Staite added to the docket, especially with her Stargate Atlantis stuff now being a regular gig. BA,

Can’t wait to meet you at Dragon*Con. I promise I’ll watch Big Trouble in Little China before then as many have recommended it to me.

@ Aerimus,

It’s even odds on whether Adam Baldwin will make it to D*C or not. He did go in ’06 or ’05, I believe. He’s got steady work with “Chuck” now, which is picked up for another season, so he should hopefully be able to work around that scheduling-wise. I really hope so.

There’s always a solid Browncoat contingent since Firefly came out. Last year, Mark Sheppard (Badger) and Ron Glass (Book) represented for Firefly.

Looks like only other Firefly-related guests right now are Keith RA DeCandido (wrote novelization) and Jamie Chambers/Margaret Weiss (did the RPG game). I’d love to see Jewel Staite added to the docket, especially with her Stargate Atlantis stuff now being a regular gig.

]]> By: Doc http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/27/dragoncon-2008/comment-page-1/#comment-72956 Doc Wed, 27 Feb 2008 20:10:57 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/27/dragoncon-2008/#comment-72956 Ahhh! "Big Trouble in Little China" - the secret sequel to "Bukaroo Banzai". Love 'em both. As usual, I won't be going to Dragon*Con (been to a few in the distant past). I'm already going to Gen Con (also huge, also in August) and probably Pennsic as well (huge but not quite as huge as the others, also in August), and there's a limit to my vacation and time travel capabilities. Do they still sell the "Apocalypse Cow" t-shirts? Ahhh! “Big Trouble in Little China” – the secret sequel to “Bukaroo Banzai”. Love ‘em both.

As usual, I won’t be going to Dragon*Con (been to a few in the distant past). I’m already going to Gen Con (also huge, also in August) and probably Pennsic as well (huge but not quite as huge as the others, also in August), and there’s a limit to my vacation and time travel capabilities.

Do they still sell the “Apocalypse Cow” t-shirts?

]]> By: Aerimus http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/27/dragoncon-2008/comment-page-1/#comment-72955 Aerimus Wed, 27 Feb 2008 20:00:53 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/27/dragoncon-2008/#comment-72955 I remember attending one of the panels in '06 with you and skepitcality. That was my first year at the con, as I've always been prevented by my manager, who forced me to stay at work so that he could go. I'm hoping to get the money together this year to attend. Staying up until 10:00 am playing are you a werewolf down in the board gaming area is quite addictive. And don't get your hopes up on Baldwin attending. He's back out the last two years in a row at the last minute. At least in '06 Tudyk showed up, which was very cool. Hope to see you there. Maybe this year they won't have the FUBARed layout that they had set up last year. I remember attending one of the panels in ’06 with you and skepitcality. That was my first year at the con, as I’ve always been prevented by my manager, who forced me to stay at work so that he could go. I’m hoping to get the money together this year to attend. Staying up until 10:00 am playing are you a werewolf down in the board gaming area is quite addictive.

And don’t get your hopes up on Baldwin attending. He’s back out the last two years in a row at the last minute. At least in ’06 Tudyk showed up, which was very cool.

Hope to see you there. Maybe this year they won’t have the FUBARed layout that they had set up last year.

]]> By: Helioprogenus http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/27/dragoncon-2008/comment-page-1/#comment-72954 Helioprogenus Wed, 27 Feb 2008 19:53:23 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/27/dragoncon-2008/#comment-72954 I used to live on the same street as James Hong and I have to say, there isn't a nicer guy around. Not often talkative, but there never was a dull moment. Why can't these conventions ever take place in Hawaii? Well, that's the price you pay for living in a place free of snow and ice (unless you're up Mauna Kea, but even then, you can always drive an hour for some sun and surf). I used to live on the same street as James Hong and I have to say, there isn’t a nicer guy around. Not often talkative, but there never was a dull moment. Why can’t these conventions ever take place in Hawaii? Well, that’s the price you pay for living in a place free of snow and ice (unless you’re up Mauna Kea, but even then, you can always drive an hour for some sun and surf).

]]> By: Tom http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/27/dragoncon-2008/comment-page-1/#comment-72953 Tom Wed, 27 Feb 2008 19:52:02 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/27/dragoncon-2008/#comment-72953 GG I'm glad to hear about the science panels. How well attended are they? I've given science talks at my local Balticon, and there are typically 10-20 people present. GG

I’m glad to hear about the science panels. How well attended are they? I’ve given science talks at my local Balticon, and there are typically 10-20 people present.

]]> By: NGC 3314 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/27/dragoncon-2008/comment-page-1/#comment-72951 NGC 3314 Wed, 27 Feb 2008 19:31:50 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/27/dragoncon-2008/#comment-72951 Cool. I just noticed that Your Own Self, Randi His Own Self, and Pamela Her Own Self were on the list a few days ago. Now if they fall for my nefarious plot again this year, I'll try to do the live astronomy thing once more. We had one clear night doing remote imaging with a 36-inch telescope last year; the crowd had a better class of requests than usual. Dwarf companions to Andromeda, the Einstein Cross, bits of the Veil Nebula, moons of Uranus. Ah - images are at <a href="http://madscientist.org.uk/kitpic.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://madscientist.org.uk/kitpic.html</a>. There's a finite chance we could also get to a 60-cm instrument in Chile this time. Cool. I just noticed that Your Own Self, Randi His Own Self, and Pamela Her Own Self were on the list a few days ago. Now if they fall for my nefarious plot again this year, I’ll try to do the live astronomy thing once more. We had one clear night doing remote imaging with a 36-inch telescope last year; the crowd had a better class of requests than usual. Dwarf companions to Andromeda, the Einstein Cross, bits of the Veil Nebula, moons of Uranus. Ah – images are at http://madscientist.org.uk/kitpic.html. There’s a finite chance we could also get to a 60-cm instrument in Chile this time.

]]> By: The Bad Astronomer http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/27/dragoncon-2008/comment-page-1/#comment-72950 The Bad Astronomer Wed, 27 Feb 2008 19:31:20 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/27/dragoncon-2008/#comment-72950 I can't attend the WorldCon, ironically: I'll be in the Galapagos. :-) I can’t attend the WorldCon, ironically: I’ll be in the Galapagos. :-)

]]> By: Jim http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/27/dragoncon-2008/comment-page-1/#comment-72949 Jim Wed, 27 Feb 2008 19:19:05 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/27/dragoncon-2008/#comment-72949 Sounds like fun, I wish I could make it. Will you be attending the World SF con? It's in your back yard, Denver Aug 6-10. Sounds like fun, I wish I could make it. Will you be attending the World SF con? It’s in your back yard, Denver Aug 6-10.

]]> By: Mister Earl http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/27/dragoncon-2008/comment-page-1/#comment-72948 Mister Earl Wed, 27 Feb 2008 19:16:23 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/27/dragoncon-2008/#comment-72948 Seconded, John. Big Trouble in Little China is one of those classics that's always fresh when you watch it. Love it. Seconded, John. Big Trouble in Little China is one of those classics that’s always fresh when you watch it. Love it.

]]> By: firemancarl http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/27/dragoncon-2008/comment-page-1/#comment-72947 firemancarl Wed, 27 Feb 2008 19:03:47 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/27/dragoncon-2008/#comment-72947 Woot! Big Trouble is a fantastic movie! Ohhh a Chinese girl with green eyes! Woot! Big Trouble is a fantastic movie! Ohhh a Chinese girl with green eyes!

]]> By: Godless Geek http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/27/dragoncon-2008/comment-page-1/#comment-72946 Godless Geek Wed, 27 Feb 2008 18:56:25 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/27/dragoncon-2008/#comment-72946 <i>It’s always struck me how much more popular sci-fi cons are compared to ‘real’ space cons. I guess the fiction is more pleasant…</i> Actually, I go to Dragon*Con and spend all my time at the science track, with occasional detours into other things that interest me. I've been the last two years and never actually went to a single sci-fi panel. What D*Con is really about are the parties. They are truly legendary. It’s always struck me how much more popular sci-fi cons are compared to ‘real’ space cons.

I guess the fiction is more pleasant…

Actually, I go to Dragon*Con and spend all my time at the science track, with occasional detours into other things that interest me. I’ve been the last two years and never actually went to a single sci-fi panel.

What D*Con is really about are the parties. They are truly legendary.

]]> By: HumanisticJones http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/27/dragoncon-2008/comment-page-1/#comment-72945 HumanisticJones Wed, 27 Feb 2008 18:56:07 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/27/dragoncon-2008/#comment-72945 Skeptics coming to my home town of Atlanta?! I now have more of a reason to try to make it to D*Con. Skeptics coming to my home town of Atlanta?! I now have more of a reason to try to make it to D*Con.

]]> By: John Marley http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/27/dragoncon-2008/comment-page-1/#comment-72944 John Marley Wed, 27 Feb 2008 18:52:10 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/27/dragoncon-2008/#comment-72944 Finally. Someone else who understands what a masterpiece <i>Big Trouble in Little China</i> is. Also, I'm kind of jealous about D*C. I wish I could go. Finally. Someone else who understands what a masterpiece Big Trouble in Little China is.

Also, I’m kind of jealous about D*C. I wish I could go.

]]> By: Tom http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/27/dragoncon-2008/comment-page-1/#comment-72943 Tom Wed, 27 Feb 2008 18:51:10 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/27/dragoncon-2008/#comment-72943 It's always struck me how much more popular sci-fi cons are compared to 'real' space cons. I guess the fiction is more pleasant... It’s always struck me how much more popular sci-fi cons are compared to ‘real’ space cons.

I guess the fiction is more pleasant…

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