I have interwebs for only a few more minutes, so I’ll just say once again that Dragon*Con has been fantastic, everything I expected and remembered it to be. However, one downside to traveling to the sutheast in August/September is the possibility — and this time, the certainty — of weather. I give thee Hurricane Gustav, currently savaging the Gulf coast and reportedly topping the levees in New Orleans.
A lot of congoers are bugging out early, but it’s still pretty active here. There is one more panel (Skepticism wrap up) and then I get to hang with awesome friends for a while before heading home. I’m guessing that there will be plenty of flight delays today, so it may be that I’ll get to know the Atlanta airport really well. But the storm is heading west, away from here, so while I’m worried for all those in its path, I’m glad that in this case so many people leaving Atlanta will probably not have too many troubles. I’ve had a great time, but I’m itching to go home and give The Little Astronomer all the good swag I got for her here!
And if I get delayed, that’ll give me a chance to finally read Watchmen, which I got yesterday. Shiny.
Picture of Gustav from The Weather Channel.
September 1st, 2008 at 10:40 am
Have fun, Phil. Although, Atlanta is far enough away from Gustav to really give Atlanta much of a show. I’m hoping for the best for my family in NO and in Baton Rouge right now. They’re saying “It’s windy.” Hah.
Though now that I think of it, you might have to fly around Gustav by the time you leave.
September 1st, 2008 at 10:41 am
Here in southeast Houston, the wind has picked up. It doesn’t look as bad as Katrina.
September 1st, 2008 at 10:49 am
Did you meet the girls with the leafblower?
September 1st, 2008 at 11:16 am
That is one delicious looking storm. You can still get Cadbury Cream Eggs when it’s not Easter right?
September 1st, 2008 at 1:52 pm
I saw two of the Skeptic track panels and even sat right behind James Randi at the Skepticism vs. Dogma one. I was slightly star-struck.
Both of the panels were great. I wish I could have seen more.
September 1st, 2008 at 3:27 pm
No. Brilliant.
September 1st, 2008 at 4:27 pm
Re: Nature and this planet’s weather:
If you get a window seat as you enter the cabin and if the flight isn’t delayed till late at night, once airborne you might actually see the hurricane as you’re heading West at cruising altitude.
Re: New Orleans:
In so many ways a wonderful place. Because of Katrina we’ve raised relief money for them (with concerts), and it looks like we’ll be working on that again due to Gustav.
September 1st, 2008 at 5:19 pm
Katrina was god’s retribution for a gay parade in New Orleans.
So… Gustav is god’s retribution for… what?
My guess is for McCain choosing a creationist for VP!
Guessing is no way to determine for sure though, so who do we know that can ask god directly? Phil, can you ask Randi to be on standby to verify the answer? Thanks.
September 1st, 2008 at 5:49 pm
Clearly, ISM just doesn’t like New Orleans. We should stop rebuilding it.
September 1st, 2008 at 5:51 pm
Watchmen does kick ten kinds of ass. I hope you enjoy it!
September 1st, 2008 at 8:49 pm
Hi,
saw your “death from the skys” talk on saturday… You Rock awesomely [sic]. Also was at the future of skepticism talk where you were cheered into joining, you have to admit that was cool too.
Did you see the tale of two moons talk?
Peace
September 1st, 2008 at 9:41 pm
Yes, Dragon*Con was great and I enjoyed the Skeptic Track panels I was able to attend (as usual I found my interests pulling me all over the place). And it was also very nice to meet you (I congratulated you on your new position with the JREF while in the Hilton café).
Fortunately, we aren’t getting any weather from Gustav here in the Florida Big Bend region– Fay left us with more than enough water!
Have a safe return trip!
September 1st, 2008 at 9:59 pm
Off subject a bit, but you did talk about reading…
I was hoping to find out if you ever read Our Undiscovered Universe by Terence Witt?
I’ve heard some good and more bad, but i was hoping you could throw in your 2-cents…
September 1st, 2008 at 10:31 pm
Phil said: “Shiny.”
Phil, is that a reference from…
Firefly!!!!!!!!!!
Oh, if only I could curse passionately in Chinese…
e.g. http://fireflychinese.kevinsullivansite.net/
-r.c.
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:03 am
Watchmen has an awesome. You will like it.
Rorschach is one of the best comic characters ever. I think I identify with him more and more as I get older.
September 2nd, 2008 at 6:05 am
I saw your panel on Death From the Skies! and even convinced one of my friends to come. She enjoyed it very much.
I wish I had been able to tell you about my husband and I encountering a redneck vigilante on the night we went out to see the total eclipse of the nearly-full moon with Hale-Bopp and Mars prominant in the sky all at the same time.
But I didn’t want to be a babbeling fangirl, so I just hung around for the science-based-medicine panel after you instead.
September 2nd, 2008 at 6:31 am
Yeah? Well I am here
See where landfall is. That’s my house.
This isn’t going to be fun.
September 2nd, 2008 at 6:37 am
QD – You identify with Rorschach? Scary…
He’s a great character, but part of the reason is because he’s so flawed (like almost everyone in Watchmen). His values seem to be designed to illustrate the hypocrisy of certain hard-line “law and order” types (“bad guys” don’t even deserve a trial, but friends can usually be forgiven even if they’re just as bad).
September 2nd, 2008 at 6:48 am
Had a lot of tornado warnings and watches from the feederbands, but otherwise it was a non-event. Of course, I am out at ABQ right now, so it’s really nothing here.
I really wish my real job didn’t interfere with Dragon*Con, I would have loved to go!
September 2nd, 2008 at 8:24 am
QD – You identify with Rorschach? Scary…
Please to note the smiley in my previous post.
September 2nd, 2008 at 9:34 am
Watch out!!! There’s a HUGE arrow headed straight for you!!!
September 2nd, 2008 at 9:47 am
Brango:
Naw, Katrina was the Debils revenge for not getting invited to the party,,,and besides, God was on vacation in Georgia.
,,,however, SHE is now back on the job, protecting all those really cool musicians. Note now Gustav lost steam just before landfall. That’s HER hands, protecting the most lusty city on earth.
(LOL with knowing cackle)
Gary 7
September 2nd, 2008 at 10:14 am
“Sutheast”? Is that how they pronounce Southeast down Suth?
September 3rd, 2008 at 6:48 am
thats crazy. good luck down their guys im in Mass…
September 3rd, 2008 at 8:48 pm
Phil, did you see the “Blink” statues at DragonCon? I found a shot of one on flickr here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/hyperjet/2820694653/.