tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8040962198615330992024-03-12T17:42:41.315-07:00She GeeksNerdom from the Female PerspectiveAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15535088359643751724noreply@blogger.comBlogger90125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804096219861533099.post-37761580676780268922016-12-12T09:30:00.000-08:002016-12-12T09:30:04.292-08:00Win Tickets to Wizard World New Orleans!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaMkicn8IyteL8DpPOr_DIMVw_n9ktMLBwnDl3QIu2929WUdJUXO5IgIRgDXn78MvVY_CMmE_NvdbHns3Qsyhz5O3O1MHGlrpJbwykURFk6rJefOCMO5UUQfP9n1uktiowiQadPuSQB7S9/s1600/WW17.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaMkicn8IyteL8DpPOr_DIMVw_n9ktMLBwnDl3QIu2929WUdJUXO5IgIRgDXn78MvVY_CMmE_NvdbHns3Qsyhz5O3O1MHGlrpJbwykURFk6rJefOCMO5UUQfP9n1uktiowiQadPuSQB7S9/s320/WW17.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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Do you want to go to the 2017 <a href="http://wizardworld.com/comiccon/neworleans" target="_blank">Wizard World New Orleans</a>? Of course you do! The guest line-up is enough to make any geek drool, their vendors are fabulous, and the cosplay is always on point! Who wouldn't want to spend three days running amok in this geeky Wonderland??? (<a href="http://she-geeks.blogspot.com/2015/01/new-orleans-comic-con-happened-and-i.html" target="_blank">Clickity click here to check out some of my previous Wizard World coverage, in case you're not already sold.</a>)<br />
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So what's in store for this year? Only a mega list of guests that has given me serious palpitations!! You might think that Nichelle Nichols (one of my personal heroes) and Carrie Fischer would be enough to make anyone swoon, but they weren't done there. Check out this impressive guest list:<br />
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">David Duchovny - <i>X FIles’ “Fox Mulder” </i>(Appearing Saturday
only)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Carrie Fisher* - <i>Star Wars “Princess Leia”</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Stephen Amell - <i>Arrow</i> (Appearing Sunday only)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Steve Yeun - <i>Walking Dead </i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Christopher Lloyd *- <i>Back to the Future</i> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Tom Felton* - <i>Harry Potter</i> Franchise <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Tom WIlson (“Biff) -<i> Back to the Future</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Michael Rooker - <i>The Walking Dead</i> and <i>Guardians of the
Galaxy</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Michael Cudlitz - <i>The Walking Dead</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">WWE Superstars Batista (Dave Bautista) (“Dax the Destroyer” from
blockbuster “Guardians of the Galaxy” franchise) (Appearing Saturday) and Finn
Balor (Appearing Sunday)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Mitch Pileggi - <i>X Files</i><span style="color: red;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Nichelle Nichols - <i>Star Trek</i> *Appearing all three
days<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Jewel Staite* - <i>Serenity, Firefly</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">David Ramsey* - <i>Arrow</i> and <i>Dexter</i> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Sean Gunn - <i>Guardians of the Galaxy, Gilmore Girls</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Ray Park - <i>Star Wars: Episode 1, X Men</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Peter Mayhew - <i>Star Wars IV, V </i> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Theo Rossi* - <i>Luke Cage, Sons of Anarchy</i> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Ryan Hurst* -<i> Sons of Anarchy</i> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Max Thieriot - "Bates Motel"</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Nestor Carbonell - "Bates Motel"</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10.0pt;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">James
Marsters - “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Joonas Suotamo - <i>Star Wars: The Force Awakens </i></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Robert Englund* - <i>A Nightmare on Elm Street</i></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Steven Yeun* - "The Walking Dead" </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Jason David Frank - "Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers"</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Sam Jones - <i>The Flash, Ted</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Chris 51 - (Epic Ink)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Kato Kaelin - <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Montel Williams - <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">PLUS THE MOST TALENTED AND NATIONALLY KNOWN COMIC ARTISTS AND
WRITERS ON THE PLANET<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">*Appearing Sat/Sun</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
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<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Everyone else all three days unless otherwise noted.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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If that's not enough, there will be parties, Q&A sessions, cosplay tutorials, panels, contests, and a ton of vendors to tempt your wallet! <i>Who loves ya, baby? That's right, I do!</i><br />
<br />
So, how does this work, you may be asking? Simple! Follow the link below, choose a painless entry method, and you're done! You can even enter more than once to increase your chances! A winner will be chosen at random from all the entries, and will receive an email with the good news. I'll be choosing the winner on the 24th, so you have plenty of time to enter!<br />
<br />
Now, what are you waiting for? Gogogo and shareshareshare the love!!<br />
<br />
<a class="rcptr" data-raflid="e481d1471" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/e481d1471/" id="rcwidget_eabqjwu3" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15535088359643751724noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804096219861533099.post-45751113264444677472016-11-14T12:42:00.000-08:002016-11-14T12:42:37.249-08:00Never Underestimate the Power of Humor<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3QQ4Jjl9zjotZhjEUNx_CwWcJx9gCjPGw2eJt7vzb0FQn7YCvaDrc-StQtwqjsugyIvCDNhFVhElls8Rhb3hFlRksaMPb5bXxP-ygGstMf6wF1jf_etT4Gv9UqzT9YPfHCCEoJozoSh-4/s1600/biden.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3QQ4Jjl9zjotZhjEUNx_CwWcJx9gCjPGw2eJt7vzb0FQn7YCvaDrc-StQtwqjsugyIvCDNhFVhElls8Rhb3hFlRksaMPb5bXxP-ygGstMf6wF1jf_etT4Gv9UqzT9YPfHCCEoJozoSh-4/s400/biden.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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So, there was recently an election that didn't exactly turn out the way most of us thought it would (to put it lightly). There have been a laundry list of reactions to the election of Donald Trump to the highest office in the Country, from anger to confusion to apathy to full blown depression. It's that last one I want to address today. We all know that there are several groups of people who are now fearing for their personal safety during the Trump Times, and most of that fear is being expressed through outrage and protests and articles not unlike this one. There are those, however, who are reacting in a much more quiet, but no less intense way: deep, soul-sucking depression and hopelessness. If you are one of these people, or know someone who might be, please know that I am worried about you. There has been a rise in suicides since Election Day, especially among the LGBTQ+ community (a community that already has some of the highest suicide rates in the Country), and I could not sit by without addressing this sensitive and nuanced subject. Thankfully, I am not alone. The following essay was sent to me from someone who wanted to share their very personal story in the hopes of reaching someone who could use a little hope right now:<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Before I get into the
meat of this essay, perhaps a little background is in order. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> For
the past ten years, I have been living with a degenerative nerve disease that
causes insanely intense pain that will never go away. With the chronic pain
comes dealing with cycles of depression. Needless to say, I am often not a
happy camper. It is on one of the days where the combined effects of the pain
and depression occur, that our story begins. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> I was
nearing the end of an intense 12-day stretch working on an independent movie.
The days were long, and the workload was immense, but I was loving it. I was
putting everything I learned about film making and acting to work, and I was
making something. I was exhausted, but happy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> Until.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> Occasionally,
when dealing with the fabled chronic pain / depression combo, something
innocuous can set it off. Some little thing can make the whole situation in
your head much, much worse. That’s what happened on the last day of filming. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> A
fellow actor and crew member, whom I had put a lot of stock in, was undergoing
his own emotional turmoil, and took much of it out on me. I don’t blame him, it
was his way of dealing with it, but it just so happened to hit me at exactly
the wrong time. I was in pain, I was fighting the depression, and I was hiding
it from the crew so I had no support system. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> Filming
was on location, so when we were done, my wife came to pick me up for the long
drive home. The car ride was quieter than usual, and I dismissed it as being
tired, not wanting to burden her. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We stopped for something
to eat at a dingy little Burger King just off the highway. The kind of place
that has been long forgotten by corporate, where the floor is a special kind of
dirty and the chairs their own kind of slippery. The flickering fluorescent
lamps served to punctuate the fact that this was a building where dreams went
to die. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I picked at my food in
silence, feeling my emotions slowly getting the better of me. I pretended, much
as I had many times before, faked a smile and laugh, and fought back the
oncoming assault of tears and snot. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">By the time we made it
home, however, I no longer could. As soon as we got inside, the walls fell. And
I don’t mean they slowly crumbled. They exploded in a massive eruption of tears
and snot. I had no more emotional walls, no more defenses, it was raw and pure.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">It was sadness and
hatred. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I hated myself for
letting the people around me down. I hated myself for not being able to beat
the pain. I hated myself for not hiding it better from the people around me.
But most of all, I hated myself for hating myself. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">For years, I had done
everything I could not let the pain beat me. I told myself I was stronger than
it. I actively fought against it. I would go to work, or go on stage with a
crippling migraine just to prove that I still could. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> But
in that moment, I couldn’t. The pain had beaten me; the self-hatred and
loathing had beaten me. It had won. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> Anyone
who battles chronic pain and depression knows that the thought of doing
something terrible to themselves will cross their mind more than it probably
should. I had fought off these thoughts before, but in the raw emotional state
I was in, I no longer had the energy to make a defense against it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> I
didn’t care who I hurt, just as long as my hurting stopped. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> Which,
by the way, is what is known in most cultures as “a dick move.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> I
reached for my box-o-pills™, the myriad of medication that I take on a daily
basis to combat the pain, and began doing some desperate math. How many of
which pill would it take to put me to sleep and never let me wake up. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> Now,
I’m not sure why I did what I did next, but it was a little action that made a
world of difference. I grabbed the remote and clicked on the TV, just to have
some noise in the room other than my ugly-crying. That’s when it happened. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> My
wife had been watching something on TBS, so the TV was open to that channel. It
just so happened to be the night that they were marathoning the entire first
season of <i>Angie Tribeca</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> About
a minute after I turned it on, something incredible happened. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> I
laughed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> It
was a little joke, I think. A pun that caught me off guard. But it was the most
powerful joke I ever heard. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> If
you’ve ever wondered what the definition of “juxtaposition” is, imagine a
person who is bawling their heart out and laughing at the same time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> Something
incredible happens in that moment. Your brain doesn’t know how to handle two
intense, opposing, emotions. So, it does the only thing it knows how: it
resets. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> I
found myself in an odd moment of clarity. Face wet with sadness, hands full of
pills, and laughing like a madman. The sheer absurdity of the situation made me
laugh in a different way, which brought me back from the brink. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> I put
the pills away, I grabbed some extra tissues, and I turned the volume up. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> I
spent the rest of that night laughing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> And I
have been laughing every day since. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> Life
can be a bastard sometimes. It can show us things that we want, show us things
that we could be, and laugh in our face when it tells us that we can’t have it.
Life can be the monster who hides under our beds and whispers bad thoughts into
our dreams. Life can be that annoying song that gets stuck in your head and
plays incessantly every time you try to lay down to sleep. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> In
short, Life can suck. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> But,
and there is always a but, Life can be ridiculous. It can be absurd and inane.
It can be wonderfully bizarre, and bizarrely wonderful. It is in these moments
where we can allow ourselves to take a step back and see the natural
ridiculousness that pervades all things. It can help us to find a strength in
ourselves that we didn’t know we had. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> I
doubt the people behind <i>Angie Tribeca</i>
will ever know the true impact that one little moment had. That their silly
joke helped keep a person from the brink. Nancy and Steve Carell inadvertently
saved my life – by being funny. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> I’ll
never be able to thank them, not in any significant way. But I will always owe
them my gratitude, and my respect. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> Humor
is a powerful tool. One of the strongest. It’s universal, it’s understood
across all boundaries, and even the most jaded and bitter among us are bound by
the natural desire to laugh. Nothing can stop humor. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> But,
humor can stop so much. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Thank
you.</span><br />
<br />
-------------<br />
<br />
If you are one of the many people around the Country suffering from depression and/or contemplating suicide for whatever reason, I implore you to take a moment to contact the <a href="http://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/" target="_blank">National Suicide Prevention Lifeline</a>. Their website is a wealth of information and hope, as well as a contact point for anyone who needs it (including a chat option). Please consider vising their website or contacting one of the numbers below, because no matter how it may seem at the moment, the world is a better place with you in it.<br />
<br />
<b>Lifeline: 800-273-8255</b><br />
<b>For Deaf & Hard of Hearing: 800-799-4889</b><br />
<b>In Espanol: 888-628-9454</b><br />
<b>Trevor Project Lifeline for LGBTQ+: 866-488-7386</b><br />
<b>Trans Lifeline: 877-565-8860</b><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15535088359643751724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804096219861533099.post-53606894043781624082016-09-07T15:07:00.000-07:002016-09-07T15:07:05.262-07:00The She-Geeks Loot Crate Dream Crate<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5U9PDcLoo_IoS6g1MVwj_HEvIMTLBxunE_4Ja2s-CCFnoE2Qqf6jkOPyacKqi7m8OxuyPf6LsjAWtftWfReGp5svNpcgVBRidoDUWtqDhnsiWbrlkBW6Nq9_MFVNTRxJJYcd_xPklC5WP/s1600/loot+crate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5U9PDcLoo_IoS6g1MVwj_HEvIMTLBxunE_4Ja2s-CCFnoE2Qqf6jkOPyacKqi7m8OxuyPf6LsjAWtftWfReGp5svNpcgVBRidoDUWtqDhnsiWbrlkBW6Nq9_MFVNTRxJJYcd_xPklC5WP/s400/loot+crate.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Recently the <a href="https://www.lootcrate.com/" target="_blank">Loot Crate</a> team contacted She-Geeks to ask me to participate in their Dream Crate project. Essentially, I (and several other bloggers) write about what would be in my perfect Loot Crate box one month. In case you're somehow unfamiliar, Loot Crate is a monthly subscription service that sends a themed box full of geeky loot to your door every month for a fee. The overall value of all the items in the box is significantly more than you pay for the service, so as long as you like what you're getting it's an incredible deal for fans.<br />
<br />
I took this project pretty seriously. I know several people who have gotten Loot Crate before and ended up dropping it due to disinterest. If I'm going to create a box, I wanted to make sure that it was one people could get excited over. I wanted the reaction to my Dream Crate to be, "If I opened that box one month I would die a thousand happy deaths." So, with a firm goal in mind, I set out to do a little research. I asked subscribers in my social circle what they liked and what they didn't like about Loot Crate. General consensus was that a t-shirt was an essential inclusion, Funko POP figures were a great value, and keeping things as functional as they are awesome is a great way to keep them from being stuffed on a dusty shelf somewhere. With these things in mind, plus the basic structure of a typical Loot Crate box, I set out to create my Dream Crate:<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
First, I needed to pick a theme. I'm a shameless self-promoter so my theme is She-Geeks. I wanted to create a box that would showcase kickass female characters and still appeal universally to all audiences, while remaining distinctly <i>me.</i> (This is supposed to be MY Dream Crate, after all.)<br />
<br />
So, here it is, <u style="font-weight: bold;">The She-Geeks Dream Crate</u>:<br />
<br />
1. <a href="https://www.jinx.com/p/the_cake_is_a_lie_sticker.html?gclid=Cj0KEQjwr7S-BRD96_uw9JK8uNABEiQAujbffBb3pe0lRd9UICbfeDT1kuk5oTSZYAg35teuzC_f8s4aArVg8P8HAQ" target="_blank">Portal Sticker</a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3X1y6tNxBRw3lmSk0OXb7ytBmEIB0iD71vzrWXNvBb1HokLJrx7ms19gYpO50VBcZszsKAli0GOct0uPqqQDTyAUfj1LKck5RtuCkB5SP0a5KPhUt4oVWWzWPs4Tjud-ay_Cdpx6NjSjm/s1600/cake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3X1y6tNxBRw3lmSk0OXb7ytBmEIB0iD71vzrWXNvBb1HokLJrx7ms19gYpO50VBcZszsKAli0GOct0uPqqQDTyAUfj1LKck5RtuCkB5SP0a5KPhUt4oVWWzWPs4Tjud-ay_Cdpx6NjSjm/s320/cake.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
2. <a href="http://www.redbubble.com/people/simplymrhill/works/12071380-raptor-propaganda-clever-girl?p=sticker&size=small&utm_source=google&utm_medium=google_products&utm_campaign=shopping&country_code=US&gclid=Cj0KEQjwr7S-BRD96_uw9JK8uNABEiQAujbffIqmarXXiTfj2kgcjmKWpaEgVNQ535FKHvIrLS8kpw0aAuKg8P8HAQ" target="_blank">Jurassic Park Sticker</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV9VuAg4dCUwHywrpPmb5wSXDZUzN4KbQuaVcUB9u8D3G8pGg4OuysToks7stvnHx-ePW7DwSaGGORqiOWpN4esxJSdmDDEi7qQ0v-PQbmBdToWiv4WkfgQkvNLBpgVVccI7SNElZ4Yl6i/s1600/clever+girl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV9VuAg4dCUwHywrpPmb5wSXDZUzN4KbQuaVcUB9u8D3G8pGg4OuysToks7stvnHx-ePW7DwSaGGORqiOWpN4esxJSdmDDEi7qQ0v-PQbmBdToWiv4WkfgQkvNLBpgVVccI7SNElZ4Yl6i/s320/clever+girl.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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3. <a href="http://www.wbshop.com/product/hermione+wand+pen+%26+bookmark+set+by+noble+collection+hpnbbkmkher.do?ref=CAFRGL&CAWELAID=989729814&gclid=Cj0KEQjwr7S-BRD96_uw9JK8uNABEiQAujbffM2XD5lwaeHxgSdg2iuoSyIg_Uwg5YRR7QiKdHpBjacaAuun8P8HAQ" target="_blank">Hermione's Wand Pen/Bookmark</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb-_xBfz0c5NX7utAZ-ADdz1AEW1toghzwhL3TNemscC-bIr1GABh-ecEuIdCXC-VIC7xkMWZre1sRGLqFuhpK53Z5vmWM3ehDFgHH4GEr11CG3t0IRJFtIY7_Xlp9DgHRdCONkkUE9Qro/s1600/wand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb-_xBfz0c5NX7utAZ-ADdz1AEW1toghzwhL3TNemscC-bIr1GABh-ecEuIdCXC-VIC7xkMWZre1sRGLqFuhpK53Z5vmWM3ehDFgHH4GEr11CG3t0IRJFtIY7_Xlp9DgHRdCONkkUE9Qro/s320/wand.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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4. <a href="http://www.entertainmentearth.com/prodinfo.asp?number=DC698026#.V83iyZgrLIU" target="_blank">Jessica Jones Coffee Mug</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj0omeBSUo6SS08HJOAeOYJrJYAZNnPEc0y1k9TYBRxA5uf1a6ucN6a8rLf5q-DcOmX2XTzCRn8iz3qI_r0wGPN_OOEZhRkGfedzd0nMXR8AkYRsZGbcnCLnunYXhCxwXzCLtKtKLUmDGi/s1600/alias.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj0omeBSUo6SS08HJOAeOYJrJYAZNnPEc0y1k9TYBRxA5uf1a6ucN6a8rLf5q-DcOmX2XTzCRn8iz3qI_r0wGPN_OOEZhRkGfedzd0nMXR8AkYRsZGbcnCLnunYXhCxwXzCLtKtKLUmDGi/s320/alias.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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5. <a href="http://www.stylinonline.com/pin-star-trek-tos-operations-gld.html?gclid=Cj0KEQjwr7S-BRD96_uw9JK8uNABEiQAujbffN9Mu2yCWy4q_XVNBZZZcU_2dj6qV-bMFTVxX_wpI5oaAmv78P8HAQ" target="_blank">Lt. Uhura Star Trek Insignia Pin</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMySFwpu-qi07HFRtwQYEGypLg7mDEm9IkSLNBU-78n5qTzE5TR7SjeDYzg8RfYgilT3YKx0Q0ZuXYIoNWcbqW_xBwgfhEfUcPFdgVY_B5h-MAfYpNY3wbyPnTdMWUztCUWK_9_eRttKKA/s1600/insignia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMySFwpu-qi07HFRtwQYEGypLg7mDEm9IkSLNBU-78n5qTzE5TR7SjeDYzg8RfYgilT3YKx0Q0ZuXYIoNWcbqW_xBwgfhEfUcPFdgVY_B5h-MAfYpNY3wbyPnTdMWUztCUWK_9_eRttKKA/s320/insignia.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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6. <a href="http://funko.com/collections/x-files/products/pop-tv-x-fiiles-dana-scully" target="_blank">Dana Scully Funko POP Figure</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU7ihJ2G6F1jiSotP6Mmj0xy0UDyn-hAC0Y_uztBWkfzJ-foIUWEG0OSPXl5buQYTAjMgmqLhadGE4aQLX2C0Oabjl_PV3YtnoD50nUBv59vTfIQVFYMl2wIyge6wOvhzEYl_vslhqQT2x/s1600/scully.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU7ihJ2G6F1jiSotP6Mmj0xy0UDyn-hAC0Y_uztBWkfzJ-foIUWEG0OSPXl5buQYTAjMgmqLhadGE4aQLX2C0Oabjl_PV3YtnoD50nUBv59vTfIQVFYMl2wIyge6wOvhzEYl_vslhqQT2x/s320/scully.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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7. <a href="https://www.lookhuman.com/design/81012-ada-lovelace-our-mother-of-computing/6040-heathered_gray_nl-md" target="_blank">Ada Lovelace T-Shirt</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCYNG1yITIUUcB9tlnfgYI2rIwG7Ywl0NN0NDjxFBAEWHyrPpQznsMppiNYRHfG1B_gcD0MJiNZvVlB7ay-2lfnKJu1lMkpIxHloAxONSD7jiOI6D74KTP2naEhFcMI2wSBkomZPIfUoHH/s1600/lovelace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCYNG1yITIUUcB9tlnfgYI2rIwG7Ywl0NN0NDjxFBAEWHyrPpQznsMppiNYRHfG1B_gcD0MJiNZvVlB7ay-2lfnKJu1lMkpIxHloAxONSD7jiOI6D74KTP2naEhFcMI2wSBkomZPIfUoHH/s320/lovelace.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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So, what do you think? Is it Loot Crate worthy?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15535088359643751724noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804096219861533099.post-31125323071376180342016-08-13T23:45:00.000-07:002016-08-13T23:45:57.465-07:00The #PokeMonument is Now #PokeGone<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9O304AwpyEBTd1ZodcOE2ajubHPRU1vRcetoCrK1GGlNm_fis66CHYh1zUE5ITQCZWmFPyKTX-hMx_gq6QM6uMJQjyZDRhX0RVVpqfkZZuuoWSIyVHTls43H-3Oc4QmBKYFzMfiGnwJ2o/s1600/pokegone+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9O304AwpyEBTd1ZodcOE2ajubHPRU1vRcetoCrK1GGlNm_fis66CHYh1zUE5ITQCZWmFPyKTX-hMx_gq6QM6uMJQjyZDRhX0RVVpqfkZZuuoWSIyVHTls43H-3Oc4QmBKYFzMfiGnwJ2o/s640/pokegone+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Just two weeks ago, a Pokemon statue mysteriously appeared in the middle of a derelict fountain in Coliseum Square Park in New Orleans with only the words #Pokemonument carved into the base as a clue to its origins/meaning. As of just before midnight tonight, all that's left of the defiant, <a href="http://she-geeks.blogspot.com/2016/08/the-pokemonument-seen-round-world.html" target="_blank">and sometimes controversial</a>, Pikachu statue is the base structure with a new hashtag (#Pokegone), and a QR code embedded in the structure. I was notified by a source (who, along with the artists themselves, wishes to remain anonymous) that the guerrilla art piece had been "updated" and given a link to a <a href="http://pokemonumentnola.wixsite.com/pokegone" target="_blank">website</a> explaining the statue's sudden disappearance (that same website is where the QR code on what's left of the statue will take you). According to the website, you now have the opportunity to potentially own the statue itself and help repair the defunct fountains in Coliseum Square (some of which haven't been operational for decades). Here is their statement:<br />
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<i>"<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Public sculpture, whether sanctioned or not, has the potential to transform and energize community spaces. </span></span></span></i></div>
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<i> Thank you! Thank you for all of your kind words and beautiful photographs. Most of all, thank you for contributing to the Renaissance of Coliseum Square Park!"</i></div>
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<i> When we snuck a Pikachu statue into the middle of a dry fountain on Terpsichore Street, we could not have imagined that it would attract so much attention. That the momentum would carry its image around the world. Overwhelmed and touched doesn't begin to describe what the response has meant to us.</i></div>
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<i> #Pokémonument was never conceived to be a permanent installation. We would like to use that positive momentum to bring about a larger, more permanent change for our community. We have donated #Pokémonument to the Coliseum Square Association to be auctioned off to help fund the restoration of the fountains in the park."</i></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: jura, sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="color_31" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #f4eab1; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_7Ee2p97tWDWTA-0o2SoaszGuVU21D6dekZdwMav0sUJkVSARe7Up59rx4M-BIjcBswjDHRuId7Z4z0phc4HRItVnIozIBkygozyUxjVCOxaExpvYOp-5UGmWahoObl9JkVQuHJIhOuS1/s1600/pokemonument+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_7Ee2p97tWDWTA-0o2SoaszGuVU21D6dekZdwMav0sUJkVSARe7Up59rx4M-BIjcBswjDHRuId7Z4z0phc4HRItVnIozIBkygozyUxjVCOxaExpvYOp-5UGmWahoObl9JkVQuHJIhOuS1/s400/pokemonument+1.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-size: x-small;">The #Pokemonument as it originally stood.</span></td></tr>
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Hundreds of people flocked to the statue after it sprang up in the middle of the night, and the story of the mysterious #Pokemonument gained International coverage. Most people loved the statue, and countless fans sought out the park to take a photo with the larger than life Pikachu, with some even leaving trinkets and tributes behind. A few were less than thrilled by his appearance. <a href="http://she-geeks.blogspot.com/2016/08/the-pokemonument-seen-round-world.html" target="_blank">One woman took a baseball bat to the piece in an attempt to destroy it, and someone else spray painted the statue with some particularly unkind word</a>s. Thankfully, the residents in the area adopted the statue and were quick to come to his aid and repair any damages he suffered.<br />
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The fountain the statue rested in has been inoperative for decades (according to one resident), and prior to the installation of the illegal artwork the base was full of little more than stagnant water and some old tires. This particular fountain is just one of several in the small park that have been sorely neglected and are in serious need of repair. Here's hoping that this famous piece of art can help bring in the funds needed to bring this otherwise lovely, little oasis in New Orleans' Lower Garden District back to its full glory!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiacPgN1MCInFJ14lA8ADrI9iralAGJX6HcB_axeSyGelW7OxL4RgJ7oy9ZPn1nY01Ry7xzQYMSjqkey8i47AK2sw4FFW8AKmNQvI0yc0A0SPbWQp0xmmBguTi0ynfZ64mMAafxfRlBoWh1/s1600/pokegone+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiacPgN1MCInFJ14lA8ADrI9iralAGJX6HcB_axeSyGelW7OxL4RgJ7oy9ZPn1nY01Ry7xzQYMSjqkey8i47AK2sw4FFW8AKmNQvI0yc0A0SPbWQp0xmmBguTi0ynfZ64mMAafxfRlBoWh1/s400/pokegone+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is all that remains. For now.</td></tr>
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If you'd like more information on the auction, please visit the artists' website by <a href="http://pokemonumentnola.wixsite.com/pokegone" target="_blank">clicking <b>here</b></a>!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15535088359643751724noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804096219861533099.post-74593132490472615032016-08-05T09:26:00.001-07:002016-08-05T09:26:41.483-07:00Hijab Wearing Cosplayer Proves She's Worthy of Cap's Shield<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdFnOAuWY2CzFtLnt5gXdh2PtTdQSNC8GvtoDvJ8tMbykA5b7DTuiO5yyHTQqFmwmaPlkSFeJ3qOwgeD8a_m5Au_nIO6ZrJ5Zg1agBQkAMbqE-VqxKfUqZIPjeD9BTFOWeGF5n0f4OFG5s/s1600/Cap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdFnOAuWY2CzFtLnt5gXdh2PtTdQSNC8GvtoDvJ8tMbykA5b7DTuiO5yyHTQqFmwmaPlkSFeJ3qOwgeD8a_m5Au_nIO6ZrJ5Zg1agBQkAMbqE-VqxKfUqZIPjeD9BTFOWeGF5n0f4OFG5s/s400/Cap.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cosplay: Hijabi Hooligan Cosplay Photo by: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/transwarpphotography/" target="_blank">Transwarp Photography</a></td></tr>
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By now, you've likely seen this photo of cosplayer Dania Khalil of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/HijabiHooligan/?fref=nf" target="_blank">Hijabi Hooligan Cosplay</a> <span style="font-size: x-small;">(I could not love that name more, by the way)</span> as Captain America. I'd be surprised if you haven't since her photo has been shared far and wide from the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SheGeeksBlog" target="_blank">She-Geeks Facebook page</a> to <a href="http://io9.gizmodo.com/this-is-our-new-favorite-captain-america-cosplay-ever-1784778834" target="_blank">Gizmodo</a> to <a href="http://fashionablygeek.com/costumes/captain-america-cosplay-by-hijabi-hooligan/" target="_blank">Fashionably Geek</a>, she basically exploded overnight!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ7CkGnbukM0VcVQxlWe7KobjjPdY17NqPXwSM4uuOJ4ArrVMiweQTAT5MTdoTMZv2IF1Sh2Gtz7_9_I8_T_mm0tadwqUPFZbHdlY1BbMZH_dos1MA2AYxrQC_jRRIm5Mx8Z8fCxW6INPo/s1600/Dania+Cover+Photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ7CkGnbukM0VcVQxlWe7KobjjPdY17NqPXwSM4uuOJ4ArrVMiweQTAT5MTdoTMZv2IF1Sh2Gtz7_9_I8_T_mm0tadwqUPFZbHdlY1BbMZH_dos1MA2AYxrQC_jRRIm5Mx8Z8fCxW6INPo/s400/Dania+Cover+Photo.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Now, Khalil is no newcomer to cosplay. She's got several great cosplays in her costume arsenal (my favorites are her Lady Loki and Assassins Creed), but her Captain America is what's getting all the attention. As of this morning, she's just proven just how appropriate all this attention is.<br />
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Right now, being a Muslim in America is difficult with hatred, ignorance, and outright bigotry running wild, but Khalil's patriotic cosplay has cut right through all of that to bring out the best in us as fans. Since her photo started making the geek rounds, she's received a ton of wonderful messages and comments from fans, and apparently plenty of offers to send her actual cash to help get her a more professional shield to compliment the quality of the rest of her outfit. She's received so many offers that she had to address them publicly, and how she is choosing to handle all of the attention she's getting proves that she absolutely deserves to carry that iconic shield:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf_yq2KD3R2zA24JheunzsbpSfcLVApbChqljsJSewnzjt3sMO4FySAZ-2V9orMhTcRZQcCMBJQQYhyuAL8gVEf9s7QzBkevdZp-_Y1KnlF7ADPj7RtdyWp2svAJngi5fPMkVfXGbHvG_n/s1600/GoFundMe.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf_yq2KD3R2zA24JheunzsbpSfcLVApbChqljsJSewnzjt3sMO4FySAZ-2V9orMhTcRZQcCMBJQQYhyuAL8gVEf9s7QzBkevdZp-_Y1KnlF7ADPj7RtdyWp2svAJngi5fPMkVfXGbHvG_n/s400/GoFundMe.JPG" width="276" /></a></div>
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"Hey everyone! Many of you have offered to donate to GoFundMe to get me a better Cap shield, but I think I have a better cause for your money to go towards. I set up this campaign to aid Syria, as they desperately need our help at the minute. I'm sure many of you are aware of the atrocities being committed in Syria and the hardships the people there are facing. Stories like that of the 12 year old girl who tried to take her own life to give her family one less mouth to feed have rocked the world and brought tears to my eyes many a time.<br />If you could all spare as little as £1/$1 and share the link with your friends and family, I would be forever grateful.<br /><span style="line-height: 19.32px;">Thank you all for the love you've shown me- now let's show those in need that same love. <3"</span></blockquote>
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In true Captain America fashion, she is diverting this attention away from herself and on to others in need. Seriously, this woman is just a shining example of the best in all of us. If you'd like to spread the good around, you can find her <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/2k6635mc" target="_blank">GoFundMe page <b>here</b></a>. I think it's safe to say that we could all use a a few more people like her in the world.<br />
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Keep making us proud, Dania!!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15535088359643751724noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804096219861533099.post-27144142948999533692016-08-01T18:22:00.001-07:002016-08-13T23:40:41.887-07:00The #Pokemonument Seen 'Round the World<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF0GWYDwzhO1UHctrJbKH3k6_Ws5t56918j-AINm2fY3Or7CV60W_chetWJfbv0yV9zSM1mJRBbsLthPY9Qn3xkRS2HF3W1G4UMN1CCuPJU616kn0N3c3-xXAKFU0kqS_vLCyV6WWxCPOy/s1600/pokemonument+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF0GWYDwzhO1UHctrJbKH3k6_Ws5t56918j-AINm2fY3Or7CV60W_chetWJfbv0yV9zSM1mJRBbsLthPY9Qn3xkRS2HF3W1G4UMN1CCuPJU616kn0N3c3-xXAKFU0kqS_vLCyV6WWxCPOy/s400/pokemonument+1.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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**UPDATE 8/2/16 12am: I am getting reports that the information I received this afternoon may have been incorrect. There are people reporting that the person I spoke with is NOT affiliated with the artists as he claimed. I am trying to get further information and confirm reports. I have been told by a source claiming Willhem's story is untrue, that those involved have confronted him about taking credit for their work, to no avail. They are currently remaining anonymous to avoid any potential legal action against them for installing the guerrilla art, and are debating releasing a statement about it in the future. I will continue to update this article as new information is confirmed. **<br />
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***UPDATE 8/3/16 9:45am: It appears that not everyone is a fan of the #Pokemonument. Instagram user, April Dee (punchy_saucebox), posted a video of a woman attacking the statue with a baseball bat late Monday night. According to a Facebook post by Dee, the unidentified woman came over to the statue Monday night and began questioning the people who happened to be there taking photos. She claimed to be a part of the Coliseum Square Association and began demanding to know <i>"who voted to put up "this fucking piece of shit."" </i>When Dee explained the origins of the statue, specifically that it was not voted on and just showed up overnight, the woman went to her home across the street, retrieved a baseball bat, and immediately began attacking the statue in an attempt to bring it down. When another neighbor intervened, the woman halted her attack and returned home. As of this morning, the defiant Pikachu remains intact and in place. Who knows for how long though?<br />
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BIl0xbwA1AH/" style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">Some woman beating the heck outta the Pikachu statue. Some people. #Pikachustatue #wtf #NOLAPokemon #Terpsichore #ColiseumSquare #nola #neworleans #leavepikaalone #PokemonGo #HeStillOk #pokemonument</a></div>
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A video posted by April Dee (@punchy_saucebox) on <time datetime="2016-08-02T03:20:26+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Aug 1, 2016 at 8:20pm PDT</time></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">****UPDATE 8/5/16 12:25pm: In more 'We Can't Have Nice Things' news, a reader has informed me that the #Pokemonument was vandalized again sometime last night; this time with red spray paint and some very unkind words. No word if this is another attempt at bringing the statue down from the same woman who attacked it with the baseball bat a few days earlier. The reader stated that a neighbor had already kindly covered the vandalism with some gold paint they happened to have on hand by the morning, but the statue just isn't the same now.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">--Original Article Below--</span><br />
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Ever since Pokemon GO released in the first week of July, it's taken the world by storm. It's everywhere, and just about everyone seems to be playing the highly addictive game. I'm level 22 myself, proudly Team Mystic, and might love my Snorlax a little too much (her name is Gertrude and she is the best ever). This beautiful work of art seems to have captured our hearts just as quickly as the game itself, despite (or maybe because of) it's mysterious origins.<br />
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At around 4am Saturday night seven Artistic Guerrilla Nerds (as I've decided to call them) hefted this over-sized, angry Pikachu into a defunct fountain in Coliseum Square Park in New Orleans. He went surprisingly unnoticed until late last night/early this morning when he started popping up on everyone's newsfeeds, Twitter feeds, and news sites far and wide. The biggest question on everyone's mind: Where the hell did it come from?! Well, my darlings, being a New Orleans resident I couldn't resist investigating for myself, and I happened upon not only the statue itself but one of the people who helped get him where he is today.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuSCyX-LANpqy4X6uuK0VeDHBocWzGh618bHKvQ2kvmdmC6wqcz-zTYnnCZv5KXgPxfiPMXk6vdHiY2DlvTH0PDQ1ve84ykG-uW4GQkgMxGesLeQkPURxTJV4qUKGCZFFDW9rT6D6FQPUe/s1600/pokemonument+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuSCyX-LANpqy4X6uuK0VeDHBocWzGh618bHKvQ2kvmdmC6wqcz-zTYnnCZv5KXgPxfiPMXk6vdHiY2DlvTH0PDQ1ve84ykG-uW4GQkgMxGesLeQkPURxTJV4qUKGCZFFDW9rT6D6FQPUe/s400/pokemonument+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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This gentleman, Willhem, is apparently one of the team of people who brought the adorable, little rat to his current residence (at least, until the City decides to remove it) and was kind enough to give me some insight to the statue and what we can expect in the future.<br />
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The group responsible for the statue are keeping pretty secret, going only by the name of the hashtag they gave themselves, #Pokemonument, but Willhem was able to give me some info about the statue itself: It took a total of 7 people to heft the two to three hundred pound statue into the fountain. It's technically 2 pieces, the base and the Pikachu itself, but it was brought out to the park as a single piece to cut down on time since they had to erect it under cover of darkness. The base is made of coated two by fours, and the body is made of loose chicken wire throughout coated in a mixture of fiberglass and cobalt repeatedly layered to give it that smooth, aged bronze look and the process of creating the statue took about 7 weeks to complete.<br />
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Willhem was pretty reluctant to give much more than the technical details about the statue itself, but I was able to get out of him that they honestly didn't think their project would be getting as much attention as it has, or that it would still be standing come Monday evening. The most exciting tidbit he let slip, however, is that "this is the first of many, but [he couldn't] say whether they'll be here or elsewhere", and that there is an "impending story that people will understand within a week or so."<br />
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It seems we'll all have to follow #Pokemonument to find out exactly what the story will be, and where the other monuments will show up. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(Other NOLA parks? In other cities? Will they all be Pikachu or could there be a Snorlax in our future? Come on, Willhem, you're killing me!!) </span>Until the group reveals more, New Orleans residents and visitors can find the very first Pikachu statue on Terpsichore St near Camp St in the park in the Lower Garden District; but, you might want to hurry before the powers that be decide they've had all the Pokemon fun they can handle and have it forcibly removed. Personally I think, whenever that happens, if we don't immediately start a #FreePikachu movement we never deserved him in the first place.<br />
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Oh, and for those wondering, Willhem and most of the rest of the mysterious #Pokemonument crew are appropriately Team Mystic.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15535088359643751724noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804096219861533099.post-56689760858622843602016-01-12T11:20:00.000-08:002016-04-08T09:21:59.518-07:00Awesomly Accessible Cosplay at Wizard World<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjECL6-my58YHZhCylbeD5RQH0U9C60_g8rqX9RguykXyyZrC1CVaJq6px3NYTBkh8lJ0yzFcLy2scpEWATzEltx-W7PsrKKTNbF9LZ1X9E7VXOXpqjfH6w8yRINA_LLzONLC-_9q5_mqEh/s1600/Furiosa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjECL6-my58YHZhCylbeD5RQH0U9C60_g8rqX9RguykXyyZrC1CVaJq6px3NYTBkh8lJ0yzFcLy2scpEWATzEltx-W7PsrKKTNbF9LZ1X9E7VXOXpqjfH6w8yRINA_LLzONLC-_9q5_mqEh/s640/Furiosa.jpg" width="427" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.wizardworld.com/home-neworleans.html" target="_blank">Wizard World New Orleans</a> was this past weekend, and I had a blast running amok and snapping photos like an idiot. I saw cosplayers of all ages, more TARDISes (TARDI?) than should be allowed to converge in one place (what with the dangers of paradox and all), and watched the cast of <i>Captain America</i> be sorted into their <i>Harry Potter</i> Hogwarts houses. It was a busy weekend. My full write-up will be done soon, but I had to take a moment to showcase the truly amazing accessible cosplay I found while at Wizard World. These cosplayers are the embodiment of the concept that cosplay is for everyone, and they were absolutely the highlight of my weekend. Behold the power of creativity and sass!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ2D6Umy46bi_VGjaMO3AS1euvLYylXd4NEjaRhImzLLRTzoIhcAI1BARzgFy3HMr0iUIPqJM-TezE56ZKVNBkwXv8brSsb4Gu9Mowhow8EmbPycZL1g6bRPAunKMemxo7utsjHDkTWojh/s1600/TIE+Fighter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ2D6Umy46bi_VGjaMO3AS1euvLYylXd4NEjaRhImzLLRTzoIhcAI1BARzgFy3HMr0iUIPqJM-TezE56ZKVNBkwXv8brSsb4Gu9Mowhow8EmbPycZL1g6bRPAunKMemxo7utsjHDkTWojh/s640/TIE+Fighter.jpg" width="448" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From Vader's ridiculously adorable tank, to the sad slump in Kylo Ren's shoulders, this brought me all the joy.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6TiMWK1Zaq7h1sRAsKN7yDxwI-hZb0t2mHPsr9cIpX_77yJ6N7TfMSnaGovmDwpv3O2Lz4TUFOkXWGq0grQXw1dP_pNYBhsgEHB7Q6TNJ5UwncfMwL8hFO6kKAiVt4Ut2oDMnpynTZJB7/s1600/Prof+X.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6TiMWK1Zaq7h1sRAsKN7yDxwI-hZb0t2mHPsr9cIpX_77yJ6N7TfMSnaGovmDwpv3O2Lz4TUFOkXWGq0grQXw1dP_pNYBhsgEHB7Q6TNJ5UwncfMwL8hFO6kKAiVt4Ut2oDMnpynTZJB7/s640/Prof+X.jpg" width="546" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How incredibly simple, and comfortable is this?! (This photo also does not do Jubilee's glowing palm sparks justice, by the way.)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgVO72_5fsyfrWGQ5B-nRjeRK8gwRGrKUFLyKYNlYfKnjWUPlpRJ3tVJuilQhL2SYVW8v3XTuCDXB29XEHPW8mu2Pxwlzp3zOG_pbSfOF0Czjf2O854Sj6CHkYLWhyf4Tn35DC8xRArJqG/s1600/Tank+Girl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="586" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgVO72_5fsyfrWGQ5B-nRjeRK8gwRGrKUFLyKYNlYfKnjWUPlpRJ3tVJuilQhL2SYVW8v3XTuCDXB29XEHPW8mu2Pxwlzp3zOG_pbSfOF0Czjf2O854Sj6CHkYLWhyf4Tn35DC8xRArJqG/s640/Tank+Girl.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This Tank Girl is fifty shades of bad ass!! Missile boobs FTW!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOnDxPC9z4-0xGdYmPBLAppddWXRKPsEFqIffi5eEFTD6LZCUz84buKgcwXYXw-RFvpdk5vzXeuHu3Gd7Qv4DgHapp_4bzd6Lb42E3AdipqqC_qQp9ddUvF6eOr7YxUhfj1Kzx9HQeAA6K/s1600/John+Hammond.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOnDxPC9z4-0xGdYmPBLAppddWXRKPsEFqIffi5eEFTD6LZCUz84buKgcwXYXw-RFvpdk5vzXeuHu3Gd7Qv4DgHapp_4bzd6Lb42E3AdipqqC_qQp9ddUvF6eOr7YxUhfj1Kzx9HQeAA6K/s640/John+Hammond.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I don't think this could be anymore perfect if it were Richard Attenborough himself! </td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxrE4Z4KYmfwXVBP6MXfyDkh_d_8Gx13Se7tKx8Cd1vlWu74FBMiuWkd_K3_av6hjRvUdUo3TEbKn9RbWn2x6ygES5KJDpduutJUZsykRxY2_8HUtNJTQzWBDOIJ1KIf2tqoI2XkGkFgoS/s1600/Furiosa1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxrE4Z4KYmfwXVBP6MXfyDkh_d_8Gx13Se7tKx8Cd1vlWu74FBMiuWkd_K3_av6hjRvUdUo3TEbKn9RbWn2x6ygES5KJDpduutJUZsykRxY2_8HUtNJTQzWBDOIJ1KIf2tqoI2XkGkFgoS/s640/Furiosa1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I died when I passed this gorgeous Furiosa. That custom made, WORKING prosthesis is absolutely stunning and she oozed sass like a boss. She may be my new hero. Like, for real. She should have trading cards or something.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8UWgvI_cjahTW9EGz4iz4b33w2rgBLCd1hWGx9FEw6Mqz2BndisfVEX8VCioSQl4XX03n0sJUoxGdSpu59OA027mPXWmU87cXZMA3SV8fH1Yk7y6TtMI0IrvPO4SIEsd7WF2yRuckveje/s1600/BBTF.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="632" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8UWgvI_cjahTW9EGz4iz4b33w2rgBLCd1hWGx9FEw6Mqz2BndisfVEX8VCioSQl4XX03n0sJUoxGdSpu59OA027mPXWmU87cXZMA3SV8fH1Yk7y6TtMI0IrvPO4SIEsd7WF2yRuckveje/s640/BBTF.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Parenting done right. (Photo: Candice Detillier Huber)</td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15535088359643751724noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804096219861533099.post-58734977294084718232015-12-14T19:21:00.000-08:002015-12-14T19:21:53.858-08:00Nerd Culture is Not a Contest<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvPr2Tm9JC16u86WsyjdWaOfFABVXkJ8QGXxWQJhnmU5sp7DYbP7meKt1X8cGkQsGqvYPYSpAEvQon-b3kVTy_wHKfnDmOnMyDSNPb1KmOK5R5M_mcFX9U3SbxAHaEF5cpQ37MV-bwe0h-/s1600/geekgirlsfake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvPr2Tm9JC16u86WsyjdWaOfFABVXkJ8QGXxWQJhnmU5sp7DYbP7meKt1X8cGkQsGqvYPYSpAEvQon-b3kVTy_wHKfnDmOnMyDSNPb1KmOK5R5M_mcFX9U3SbxAHaEF5cpQ37MV-bwe0h-/s400/geekgirlsfake.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Recently a friend tagged me in a Facebook post requesting the opinions of female nerds on the "place of women in geek culture today" and I may have gone on a wee rant. While I don't think the person/people who posed the question meant anything by it other than to gain some knowledge, the phrasing sparked an unexpected reaction from me. The "place" for women in geek culture (or any culture for that matter) is the same today as it has always been: Wherever the hell we want. There is no more a "place" for women than there is a specific "place" for men in geek culture. This is another example of women being categorized as different, specifically in a way that men simply wouldn't be. This is what perpetuates the notion that women have to prove their worth as nerds. This is what perpetuates the notion that women fit into a specific box to be judged. There is no specific "place" for women in geek culture, because we are complete humans with differing personalities, ideals, interests, and goals in life. Just like men.<br />
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We all know about gatekeeping by now, right? It's the notion that a female nerd can, at any moment, be quizzed about her fandom in order to determine her legitimacy as a nerd. It's absurd. It's insulting. It's embarrassing to the entire nerd culture. Every time a woman is grilled about her level of knowledge or dedication to her fandom, or is attacked/threatened for daring to voice her opinion about a fandom (or worse, demands to be treated with respect) nerds as a whole start to look like a bunch of whiny trolls who never learned how to share their toys. It's embarrassing. What's worse is that this behavior is not exclusive to male nerds.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ9DSFnPR57p5HiexnIBpOfGGhzaYei9KUslZoOmGjILSNpl7DVFT_JelPRx3rMPtYGv0wvWMeHasJDYUwN3IiJ-GqGM3XfDtdZ0CY5Fe3QtZ49mhgrxx-fYn701SzoTu95dgtbFdYZ3Xx/s1600/enough+already.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ9DSFnPR57p5HiexnIBpOfGGhzaYei9KUslZoOmGjILSNpl7DVFT_JelPRx3rMPtYGv0wvWMeHasJDYUwN3IiJ-GqGM3XfDtdZ0CY5Fe3QtZ49mhgrxx-fYn701SzoTu95dgtbFdYZ3Xx/s400/enough+already.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Women have been taught since we were children that we will be judged by others for our every move, and that we should judge others as well. Those lessons may not have been taught in so many words, but they exist all the same. This behavior tends to be even worse among women in stereo-typically male dominated cultures like geeks and sports fans. We judge each other, and build up our cred by tearing down others. We proudly proclaim that we're "not like other girls" as though that's an accomplishment (or even makes sense). We judge other women for showing too much skin, or not showing enough. We proclaim loudly what we do that makes us "real" gamers and geeks instead of the dreaded "fake geek girl." The problem with this, of course, is that there is no magic formula that creates a female geek. There is no specific level of geekery we have to achieve, no ratio of clothing to skin we must maintain in order to unlock the Geek Girl Achievement. </div>
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<span><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody"><span>We
need to accept each other for who we are, regardless of how we came
upon our fandoms or how revealing our cosplays are. It doesn't matter if
your boyfriend introduced you to <i>Star Wars</i>, or if you've been playing
with lightsabers since you were 3; what matters is that you love <i>Star
Wars</i> and I do too and we should totally talk about our hopes and fears for Luke's role in <i>The Force Awakens</i>. It
doesn't matter if you play <i>Halo</i> or <i>Candy Crush</i>, if you have only
watched the current <i>Doctor Who</i> or if you grew up with Tom Baker, if you
have devoured every word of Tolkien or have only seen the movies; we're all fans. Period. None of us has any right to judge the legitimacy of anyone else's level of geek. Fandom isn't a contest, and the sooner we stop treating it that way, the sooner we can go back to arguing over real issues like whether we need a Miles Morales <i>Spider-Man</i> movie more than another Peter Parker one<span style="font-size: x-small;">*</span>.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody"><span><span style="font-size: x-small;">(*The answer is: If you push the <i>Captain Marvel</i> movie back <b>one. more. time. </b>I will find you, and I will end you. That being said, Morales deserves a movie of his very own.)</span></span></span></span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15535088359643751724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804096219861533099.post-9091257107441972042015-12-01T14:46:00.000-08:002015-12-01T14:46:42.527-08:00I'm Giving Away Passes to Wizard World!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXbXvOOisLSfOeVWvFkgpZsA3UEPaEkj8NQVgk5Xd9DASsZ_BTGUuK47Pm39MC7Q_Wk2jZCafszDP0dPfc6lv0MKdhB8QK63VDj_t3IfwOhH4sKVqcKOH3p1lg1w-CWyNVQxqYre1dzmFX/s1600/Nola_FB-AD_v002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXbXvOOisLSfOeVWvFkgpZsA3UEPaEkj8NQVgk5Xd9DASsZ_BTGUuK47Pm39MC7Q_Wk2jZCafszDP0dPfc6lv0MKdhB8QK63VDj_t3IfwOhH4sKVqcKOH3p1lg1w-CWyNVQxqYre1dzmFX/s640/Nola_FB-AD_v002.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Do you want to go to the 2016 <a href="http://www.wizardworld.com/home-neworleans.html" target="_blank">Wizard World New Orleans</a>? Of course you do! The guest line-up is enough to make any geek drool, their vendors are fabulous, and the cosplay is always on point! Who wouldn't want to spend three days running amok in this geeky Wonderland??? (<a href="http://she-geeks.blogspot.com/2015/01/new-orleans-comic-con-happened-and-i.html" target="_blank">Clickity click here to check out some of my Wizard World coverage from last year, in case you're not already sold.</a>)<br />
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Well, if you haven't picked up your weekend pass yet, you're sadly out of luck. They've SOLD OUT already!! We hadn't even crossed the threshold into December before the weekend passes for this January convention were all gone. All except for a select few that Wizard World is letting me GIVE AWAY to ONE lucky reader!! Who's here for you when all hope is gone? That's right, I am! I'll never abandon you, and I love you for more than just your gorgeous looks.<br />
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So, how does this work, you may be asking? Simple! Follow the link below, choose a painless entry method, and you're done! You can even enter more than once to increase your chances! A winner will be chosen at random from all the entries, and will receive an email with the good news. I'll be choosing the winner on the 20th, so you'll know the results just in tome for the holidays!<br />
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Now, what are you waiting for? Gogogo and shareshareshare the love!!<br />
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<a class="rcptr" data-raflid="e481d1470" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/e481d1470/" id="rcwidget_8cntwmci" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="//widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15535088359643751724noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804096219861533099.post-21084039404619569952015-10-28T14:09:00.000-07:002015-10-28T15:03:17.725-07:00Guardians of the Galaxy 2 is Casting, but You Have to be Hot<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Wanna be an extra in Guardians of the Galaxy 2?? Well, if you've got lady parts, I hope you're a model:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh02HqZtOEtxQOZft1OJBxXxsFcn3GAP_SzfUuNRPiN1d55N9gYvYOovAhRwa_xG_SFcgKE9MOloXChWP82pQCJUhRmBXw8_0xy5SJByrUQAhl63wlD5svE0gOB60cQVXTS0GGhx0x_Q_Hn/s1600/guardians-2-casting-call.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh02HqZtOEtxQOZft1OJBxXxsFcn3GAP_SzfUuNRPiN1d55N9gYvYOovAhRwa_xG_SFcgKE9MOloXChWP82pQCJUhRmBXw8_0xy5SJByrUQAhl63wlD5svE0gOB60cQVXTS0GGhx0x_Q_Hn/s640/guardians-2-casting-call.jpg" width="492" /></a></div>
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According to the <a href="http://tammysmithcasting.com/TSCasting/Casting_Notices.html" target="_blank">casting call that took the internet by storm</a> today, the only opportunities for women to be cast as alien extras require them to be <i>"Beautiful/Model Aliens ... very attractive, physically fit, slender, or thin..."</i> and you'd better show up in form-fitting clothes<i>.</i> Oh, and make sure you don't bother bringing your fat friend with you because they don't want to clutter up the place with children and <i>"others that are not one of the types above."</i> </div>
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Men-folk, on the other hand, only need to be basically human shaped for a shot at a role. They even have their very own category for "<i>Character Aliens"</i> specifically looking for non-model types. It's hard enough for women who aren't build like models to land a role as a human, now it's clear that we're not even worthy to grace the screen as imaginary alien races. Don't get me wrong, this is nothing new, but it's disheartening at best to continue to see these kinds of ridiculous double standards persisting, especially for films based in nerd culture (a traditional bastion for women and girls who never fit the cheerleader archetype). </div>
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Could we please move on and recognize that it's ok for people to be people shaped?!</div>
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**EDIT**</div>
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According to director <a href="https://twitter.com/JamesGunn" target="_blank">James Gunn via Twitter</a> this is just the first of many casting calls, and the scenes being shot are specific to model types. So, it looks like there is still hope for us yet:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB_IIYw_OyY0PamYT22nv5-oI3QSbOqhK7z4AJtIW1hjZ_g3wSaMGKM_jlmkOEETqy5afWZLwfmprZtmoeSeM8XFBYDL0gLoiR_YesJ8maZsQYxwYHMZejt7nPA8t-1w6KImhsy85mpsC1/s1600/James+Gunn+Twitter+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="121" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB_IIYw_OyY0PamYT22nv5-oI3QSbOqhK7z4AJtIW1hjZ_g3wSaMGKM_jlmkOEETqy5afWZLwfmprZtmoeSeM8XFBYDL0gLoiR_YesJ8maZsQYxwYHMZejt7nPA8t-1w6KImhsy85mpsC1/s400/James+Gunn+Twitter+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiTyfJ7upgWOLd8UbvMkL_Pdxt6U4nVxASJL5iTV8B-uzu6iOBHdadjwKBO1IvTyhDCGij5Hv01T-y2Dvsdek33Nazvp09OBcyUQH02ylZSayT4xK8D82m9pSevMlK_VgyKd-0V3VE-Tnt/s1600/James+Gunn+Twitter+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="123" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiTyfJ7upgWOLd8UbvMkL_Pdxt6U4nVxASJL5iTV8B-uzu6iOBHdadjwKBO1IvTyhDCGij5Hv01T-y2Dvsdek33Nazvp09OBcyUQH02ylZSayT4xK8D82m9pSevMlK_VgyKd-0V3VE-Tnt/s400/James+Gunn+Twitter+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15535088359643751724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804096219861533099.post-44351348833292037392015-10-27T20:56:00.000-07:002015-10-27T20:59:55.420-07:00Art, Music, and a 42ft Wookie on Fire? Welcome to Ignition!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmnxVnx-hjOlIC3F8cDkw4a8F9r3u8WZDeU6Bw1nAvOWMOKtuWzGiXXG5kyTi93Snv9GSSSfQjgsUFWo9kgQ-w4naEb_w3IBAwOWlRZWvYey8UfFJbGLwHfKQGq1k7YBfsmH0Z6I5CKsiP/s1600/ignition+poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmnxVnx-hjOlIC3F8cDkw4a8F9r3u8WZDeU6Bw1nAvOWMOKtuWzGiXXG5kyTi93Snv9GSSSfQjgsUFWo9kgQ-w4naEb_w3IBAwOWlRZWvYey8UfFJbGLwHfKQGq1k7YBfsmH0Z6I5CKsiP/s640/ignition+poster.jpg" width="416" /></a></div>
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The <a href="http://chewbacchus.org/" target="_blank">International Krewe of Chewbacchus</a> (a delightfully <a href="http://www.themarysue.com/chewbacchus/" target="_blank">nerdy Mardi Gras parade crew</a> and registered religious entity) recently held a benefit event fit for a Wookie. As a satirical space cult, the IKOC exemplifies the idea of 'go big or go home' and prides itself on being a bastion of all-inclusive revelry, and their nerdy Burning Man style festival, <a href="http://ignitionfestival.com/" target="_blank">Ignition: Chewburnitall,</a> was no exception. <br />
<a name='more'></a>Almost a thousand nerds converged on the FilmWorks grounds in New Orleans for the first annual Ignition Festival. The three day festival featured several sound stages, a live radio broadcast from Radio Free IKOC, live art installations and eye candy scattered throughout the camp grounds, and (of course) plenty of things being set on fire. The main event that brought over 300 day trippers in addition to the 600 people camping out and partying all weekend was the burning of a 42 foot tall wicker Wookie. The Sacred Drunken Wookie (as he is referred to by ChewbaccanALIENs), brought raucous cheers from the (mostly) costumed crowd as his outer arms simultaneously erupted in flames, and even louder cheers when the structure finally collapsed into a flaming pile.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheCpefgDSjbY62EUGYoM_FBFlvoJBhBs6_MZVX-HXMOx5Vh_ns2N2gfJU4SNhHDP3YYMUCOFDqNO0HqJSCo-tRmy7RG5xAV5cJ5zKGQaEHYocL4eRxlfvyvKtyAGvXESY2QesQYj6ScnAl/s1600/DPA+Universe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheCpefgDSjbY62EUGYoM_FBFlvoJBhBs6_MZVX-HXMOx5Vh_ns2N2gfJU4SNhHDP3YYMUCOFDqNO0HqJSCo-tRmy7RG5xAV5cJ5zKGQaEHYocL4eRxlfvyvKtyAGvXESY2QesQYj6ScnAl/s640/DPA+Universe.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Photo courtesy of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/dogpawsapproved/info/?tab=page_info" target="_blank">DPA Universe</a>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
With a climax like that, who knows what they'll come up with for next year!<br />
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<blockquote class="imgur-embed-pub" lang="en" data-id="a/5lDYR"><a href="//imgur.com/a/5lDYR">View post on imgur.com</a></blockquote><script async src="//s.imgur.com/min/embed.js" charset="utf-8"></script>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15535088359643751724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804096219861533099.post-75111265707157501602015-10-19T22:28:00.003-07:002015-10-19T22:28:44.641-07:00Doctor Who 'The Girl Who Died' Review<i style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">*This review is cross-posted to the <a href="http://kreweduwho.com/" style="color: #436590; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Krewe du Who</a> blog*</span></i><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">As always, DO NOT READ unless you're caught up on Series <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;">9</span> of </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">Doctor Who</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">! As River would say: </span><b style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"><i>*spoilers*</i></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfJQzisbnTddGQpzwFWX4VVxpWO-R6DL3eAeIWmXmLI_M27xzVd9aZ9T0dDFKAnV4Hfsmtg6Qdw0Bvu02A5ZR3xSM655R4lYT5RB6VKCsAjOfqMq323bBIg7ZQ5tbBFWFkxALkPRYZnHOL/s1600/The_Girl_Who_Died_Maisie_Williams_and_the_Vikings_conquer_Doctor_Who.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfJQzisbnTddGQpzwFWX4VVxpWO-R6DL3eAeIWmXmLI_M27xzVd9aZ9T0dDFKAnV4Hfsmtg6Qdw0Bvu02A5ZR3xSM655R4lYT5RB6VKCsAjOfqMq323bBIg7ZQ5tbBFWFkxALkPRYZnHOL/s640/The_Girl_Who_Died_Maisie_Williams_and_the_Vikings_conquer_Doctor_Who.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",Trebuchet,sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px;">This week's episode included all manner of awesome things: Vikings, Maisie Williams, electric eels, and good, old-fashioned <i>Doctor Who</i> fun. Breaking away from the format for this series, this first half of this two-part episode contained an entire story all on its own: </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMUCR3X0k9UdOqa6XbhFg5ZXT5g-fDUeEvvsWvWMbQYNb7UwbIl0QeH_Zg2Xn7VhUI9kRl30alg7onBsKPdjjJay1pdxFcJGaG2t75SWAsxteqQ9H04leT3Ejxc6g0JsbAVJ_AOUfh8kfq/s1600/metal+dumplings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMUCR3X0k9UdOqa6XbhFg5ZXT5g-fDUeEvvsWvWMbQYNb7UwbIl0QeH_Zg2Xn7VhUI9kRl30alg7onBsKPdjjJay1pdxFcJGaG2t75SWAsxteqQ9H04leT3Ejxc6g0JsbAVJ_AOUfh8kfq/s400/metal+dumplings.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Doctor and Clara land on Earth during the time of the vikings, are quickly taken prisoner by some viking warriors who are completely un-phased by the TARDIS, Clara's spacesuit, and The Doctor's sonic shades. (Side note: My heart skipped a beat when they were snapped in half, only to be broken again when they returned seemingly repaired by the end of the episode.) Just as The Doctor is attempting to amaze the townspeople with his highly advanced technology (a yo-yo), the Mire show up with their own <i>Wizard of Oz</i> routine, and snap up all the testosterone filled warriors from the town. Oh, and Clara and Ashildr too, because it was once again time for Clara to be an idiot and have Ashildr use the broken sonic shades on her shackles (thus drawing attention to the two of them) while an alien race is actively scanning for the strongest, cleverest, most intelligent people in the village to kidnap. While on the ship, she manages to save exactly no one from being mashed up and turned into a testosterone filled alien Gatorade. Once she and Ashildr are confronted by Fake Odin <span style="font-size: x-small;">(<i>I can't be the only one who though he looked like the bastard love child of Vultan and Ming from </i>Flash Gordon<i>, right?</i>)</span> and his army of metal dumplings, Clara suddenly regains her wits and nearly convinces the Mire to leave before Ashildr decides to open her big mouth. Essentially, this is one of those episodes where the innocent people would have been better off had The Doctor and Clara never showed up... </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"><span style="font-size: small;">One of the most intriguing parts of the episode this week was the discussion between The Doctor and Clara about the implication of immortality. The pros and cons have always been an interesting topic of debate between nerds: Getting an infinite amount of time to read all the books, learn everything, and travel the world VS watching everyone you've ever known die, the ever present threat of utter boredom, and an inevitable descent into madness. The teasers for next week's conclusion hinted at Ashildr's less than stellar job of dealing with her immortality; if we're lucky maybe she'll become a new reoccurring villain!</span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15535088359643751724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804096219861533099.post-63332297078684890792015-10-10T21:37:00.000-07:002015-10-10T21:37:32.208-07:00Doctor Who 'Before the Flood' Review<i style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">*This review is cross-posted to the <a href="http://kreweduwho.com/" style="color: #436590; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Krewe du Who</a> blog*</span></i><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">As always, DO NOT READ unless you're caught up on Series <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;">9</span> of </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">Doctor Who</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">! As River would say: </span><b style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"><i>*spoilers*</i></b><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">This week's episode concludes the latest two-parter for Series 9 and officially acknowledges the show's use of ontological paradoxes as of late (though they use the more <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;">colloquial</span> <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;">term</span>, bootstrap paradox, it's the same thing). Th<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;">e <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;">onto<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;">logical paradox is a comm<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;">on t<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;">heme in time travel, and while I <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;">personally<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"> think that <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;">getting caught in that trap <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;">is very easily overused<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;">, I appreciate the show taking a few mom<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;">ent<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;">s to at least explain what they are and acknowledge that they leave the audience with more questions tha<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;">n answers. I<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"> also appreciate that The Doctor broke the fourth wall in order to explain the paradox to the audience. Attempting to put all o<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;">f that information directly into the show's dialog<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;">ue would ha<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;">ve been a<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;">wkward at bes<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;">t, and this approach allowed for the <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;">effortless call back at the <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;">end of the <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;">episode. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><i>Before the Flood</i> also <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;">included <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;">references to the <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;">Arthurian</span> legend<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"> and the <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;">C</span>eltic myth of the Fisher King/Bran the Blesse<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;">d.<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"> Despite naming this week's big bad The Fisher King, the actual legend was only vaguely touched on and <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;">some pretty important elements were left out. Specifically<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;">, The Fisher King was not (in any discernible way) wounded and was certainly more than ca<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;">pable of moving about unaided. It's conciev<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;">able that the <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;">suspended animation chamber and the significance of the temple/church as The Fisher King's final coordinate could be a reference to the Holy Grail, though th<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;">e fac<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;">t that the ghosts are incapable of spe<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;">ech <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;">is more closely related to Bran's Cauldron (which had the po<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;">wer to resurrect the dead<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;">, but those resurrected lost their ability to speak). In what may be an even further stre<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;">tch<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;">, the question of who <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;">originally gave <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;">The Doctor the words to have his hologram relay to him could be a take <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;">on the healing question Perc<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;">i</span>val must ask The Fisher King in order to heal him in <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;">early tellings. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;">Yet another theme throughout th<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;">e episode is love and loss. They briefly touched on Clara's refusal to properly de<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;">al with Danny's loss in <i>Under the Lake</i><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;">, <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;">but th<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;">ey've practically smacked us in the face with it this time. <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;">First we have Bennett's gri<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;">eving over O'Donnell (and his outrage toward The Doctor for doing nothing to save her but rewriting history to save Clara)<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;">. Then he practically forces L<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;">un<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;">n <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;">to admit his feel<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;">ings to Cass<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;">. There are a few references to Clara using <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;">The Doc<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;">tor and the T<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;">ARDIS as a means to escape her feelings. F</span></span></span></span>i<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;">nally, we're treated to Clara explaining to Bennett how to move on <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;">with his life without O'Donnell.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> She's using a mixture of escapism and pragmatism <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;">rather than properly grieving<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;">; essentially<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;">, the</span> TARDIS is her opi<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;">ate</span>.<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"> Clearly that's going to be a theme this series, and perhaps it will play into her inevitable exit from the show.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;">Truly this series <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;">has been a vast improve<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;">ment over series 8<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;">, and I sincerely hope we continue to get <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;">decent writing as the series prog<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;">resses<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"> (<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;">but please, <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><i><b>please</b></i> get rid of t</span></span></span>he sonic shades!). </span></span></span></span></span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><b style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"><i> </i></b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15535088359643751724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804096219861533099.post-70089108474112274032015-10-07T20:47:00.000-07:002015-10-08T17:18:31.082-07:00CONtraflow Happened, and I Was There<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Unlike San Diego, Atlanta, or even New York, New Orleans
isn't known for
a particular convention, but the Gulf Coast is home to
several conventions held throughout the year. It's my goal, here at
She-Geeks, to showcase those smaller (but no less enthusiastic)
conventions. If there is a convention in or around the Gulf Coast that
you'd like to see me cover, please send the convention details to <a href="mailto:eris.shegeeks@gmail.com" target="_blank">eris.shegeeks@gmail.com</a>.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwj8dOqPnslRFkl2Y0sXHsYqzF4rGvwRGVNZqjDoMfE3eFQTRFgCzD3xGXp5rwWriEP5fi2L0BS6y9aN9QPc09jXl0xy1ekq0NH4zdSlOQnCIRu7H3NrfkT1i89hi1FeLNeAKyzRzSVjMV/s1600/CONtraflow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwj8dOqPnslRFkl2Y0sXHsYqzF4rGvwRGVNZqjDoMfE3eFQTRFgCzD3xGXp5rwWriEP5fi2L0BS6y9aN9QPc09jXl0xy1ekq0NH4zdSlOQnCIRu7H3NrfkT1i89hi1FeLNeAKyzRzSVjMV/s320/CONtraflow.jpg" width="295" /></a></div>
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I spent a fun filled weekend of cosplay, panels, and shenanigans at <a href="http://contraflowscifi.org/" target="_blank">CONtraflow SciFi</a>! This is quickly becoming one of my favorite stops on the convention circuit. It's a small convention focused on science, science fiction/fantasy, and literacy. From gaming and panels to music performances and room party competitions, there's a little something for everyone at CONtraflow; and, the welcoming, family-type feel of this small con makes it a favorite among attendees. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqfHyieDMM4UsGqxxmPDJkxrEhMbl6Q58Q_w-XLJSxEGdLMhwj-392E_cqGURs1EPVC2AO9qeDzINByyQhSyMotR2IhhsjcpWG3nsHvpJxHaKJBxo7MfiNWEQXbhFWvxPDBdhbf_3wMTHr/s1600/leo+king+panel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqfHyieDMM4UsGqxxmPDJkxrEhMbl6Q58Q_w-XLJSxEGdLMhwj-392E_cqGURs1EPVC2AO9qeDzINByyQhSyMotR2IhhsjcpWG3nsHvpJxHaKJBxo7MfiNWEQXbhFWvxPDBdhbf_3wMTHr/s400/leo+king+panel.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the panel rooms was set up like a board room. I felt super important during my panels! (Photo: Scott Rivet)</td></tr>
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This con is perfect for both established and aspiring writers alike with plenty of authors in attendance and panels designed to up your writing game. The above panel, with authors <a href="http://foreverwhere.com/" target="_blank">Leo King</a> and <a href="http://www.chrisshayes.com/" target="_blank">Chris Hayes</a>, focused on writing memorable characters was just one of nearly 150 fascinating panels offered over the weekend. In addition to panels specifically about the writing process, CONtraflow also offered panels for writers and the curious alike to be able to separate fact from fiction on topics ranging from biology and space exploration to law enforcement and even my own panel on accurate crime scene investigation.<br />
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As much as I loved the panels offered, my only gripe with this year's CONtraflow was the panel scheduling. With so many fabulous panels, I'm sure it was incredibly difficult to fit everything in. Unfortunately, that meant that some panels were scheduled at some very strange and inconvenient hours. This is not an issue specific to CONtraflow; it seems to be a habit for conventions to schedule panels starting at the same time as the convention doors opening. It's a disservice to both the panelists and their audience alike, as those panels are destined to start at least 10-15 minutes late in order to allow people to get there on time. It's annoying for the audience and extremely frustrating for panelists; with such great programming, no one wants to miss a minute!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQKgwJAEioH_-UZULM657FqRvbexJoc0L217ZUvYR6wiRpJLz139seuiY3xrQId4Do3Sav_gV5VndpTw4yN8tw6yFapMetXAo2p7qhC5-XIGk5xVtbphzKU-dfENbWmCS-c5HPwYB4jqfP/s1600/Tea+Duel+ollage.jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQKgwJAEioH_-UZULM657FqRvbexJoc0L217ZUvYR6wiRpJLz139seuiY3xrQId4Do3Sav_gV5VndpTw4yN8tw6yFapMetXAo2p7qhC5-XIGk5xVtbphzKU-dfENbWmCS-c5HPwYB4jqfP/s400/Tea+Duel+ollage.jpg.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Looking for something a little more interactive? Try your luck in a Tea Duel! Presented by the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/477541715736510/" target="_blank">New Orleans Tea Dueling Society</a>, this fun game tests your nerve and your steady hand in a game of chicken with soggy tea biscuits. The winner in this tournament style game walked away with a handmade, leather tea cup holder from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/manfrommiddleearth?pnref=story" target="_blank">The Man From Middle-Earth</a>. I made it all the way to the final round before my biscuit failed me, but both the biscuits and the tea was delicious and I had way more fun than I thought I would.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYL22IRMMKcfmyIRngiPCWBq2Xok4FXfGSjkmljAt62n44rAIKqBb3sUkJO2GMU2NPlmzONc-ls9jrZIaY-IZ5lcvuv0NoEe1xzJAIloAOVZYDPZuGxq3X6YtZPBuORg_Z5B0zj-RdgxMH/s1600/Hospitality+Suite+Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYL22IRMMKcfmyIRngiPCWBq2Xok4FXfGSjkmljAt62n44rAIKqBb3sUkJO2GMU2NPlmzONc-ls9jrZIaY-IZ5lcvuv0NoEe1xzJAIloAOVZYDPZuGxq3X6YtZPBuORg_Z5B0zj-RdgxMH/s400/Hospitality+Suite+Collage.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Real food in the Hospitality Suite?? Of course that drew a crowd!</td></tr>
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For such a small convention, CONtraflow paid attention to the details that really leave an impression. I'm always impressed with their Cadet Lounge, a monitored room for the little ones to play and craft while parents check out a panel or shop in the Dealer's Room. This year, the Hospitality Suite also stood out with well-stocked snacks all day, and free meals (scrambled eggs, nachos, red beans and rice, etc.) served at designated times. Once a convention staple, many cons are doing away with the Hospitality/Con Suite altogether; having one that was so well tended was a real treat.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioFRqeTEsT57Z1Ud40S3tkC3D8mIb2WjQNioM_p9ALhtFmw2becUTMGapGtEAcbVXXyh98kK12zmOomHlNBgXhQYmtkvwboN5RDOJhuxFYElPAlOrzwXL2nUa4LKLsniAlpL74MVnRZgaR/s1600/Room+Party+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioFRqeTEsT57Z1Ud40S3tkC3D8mIb2WjQNioM_p9ALhtFmw2becUTMGapGtEAcbVXXyh98kK12zmOomHlNBgXhQYmtkvwboN5RDOJhuxFYElPAlOrzwXL2nUa4LKLsniAlpL74MVnRZgaR/s400/Room+Party+6.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Right out of <i>Back to the Future</i>, this room party took top prize!</td></tr>
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Now, don't let CONtraflow's family-friendly day time programming fool you, one of the highlights of this con is the Saturday night Room Party competition. Each year, the convention and hotel designate a specific floor as the party floor and those staying on that floor are encouraged to decorate their rooms according to this year's Into the Deep theme, create specialty cocktails, and lay out a spread of delicious foods for a night of party hopping and competition. I was one of the judges, so I spent my Saturday night bouncing around from room to room delighting in the decor (some of them were unrecognizable as hotel rooms), the food, and oh my gods the drinks! The Apple Cider from the JordanCon room and the 1.21 Gigawatt from the Enchantment Under the Sea Dance were my personal favorites. So dangerously yummy! <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdt40r0CAl0r1VuZMSNIfaInZU3nF7Xtx3rtce_lSrJH5ozYLPjclzi5zTXr5o-7BbYMqURz6ts-Qf15xEb6fDZQDdNwsoUSvAP6XKWBb5mDa0Ijg0sL8qZhFXbKhx7Tc3okKlPK0eVLZF/s1600/Room+Party+Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdt40r0CAl0r1VuZMSNIfaInZU3nF7Xtx3rtce_lSrJH5ozYLPjclzi5zTXr5o-7BbYMqURz6ts-Qf15xEb6fDZQDdNwsoUSvAP6XKWBb5mDa0Ijg0sL8qZhFXbKhx7Tc3okKlPK0eVLZF/s640/Room+Party+Collage.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Room parties are no joke at CONtraflow!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The shenanigans continued on Sunday when my friend and I decided that Sunday was pajama day, and ran amok in our onsies (her in her Figment jimjams, and me in my dino ones). We may have accidentally started a trend, but whimsy is one of the staples at CONtraflow so Sunday Onsies should fit right in.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidfObghyXEIwZmQrVSHI_k-0zUxiU5oEDoz1B3NT549zNrf1QcNeMnTdQP_9KaaagPc62eXdJ5_ilchMdPtRO_sl5ypROOJZDZIcqIsj_cRwhvr3bOPfklCq8P49GJkbgBxuapRpvnpv5v/s1600/Momma.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidfObghyXEIwZmQrVSHI_k-0zUxiU5oEDoz1B3NT549zNrf1QcNeMnTdQP_9KaaagPc62eXdJ5_ilchMdPtRO_sl5ypROOJZDZIcqIsj_cRwhvr3bOPfklCq8P49GJkbgBxuapRpvnpv5v/s400/Momma.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Momma!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
CONtraflow may be small, but it's jam packed with quality programming and wonderful people. If you're in the New Orleans area next year, I recommend checking it out!<br />
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Now, let's take a look at some of the stand-out cosplay and vendor booths I found:<br />
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<u><b>Cosplay:</b></u><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpyZdml9mEQv0XzFnkgz8TZBmDWRio2-FU4O-wqALkFHoNvMIiv4qodyC7tiFL0ypQL_J7VMcE8ci1lVRIqyXU9CDPQpKgA1luOiqa57Jd8fNLLKjg4W_WkeAFpvXYKNIlmgUVyDRzGxwF/s1600/Boonduck+Saints+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpyZdml9mEQv0XzFnkgz8TZBmDWRio2-FU4O-wqALkFHoNvMIiv4qodyC7tiFL0ypQL_J7VMcE8ci1lVRIqyXU9CDPQpKgA1luOiqa57Jd8fNLLKjg4W_WkeAFpvXYKNIlmgUVyDRzGxwF/s400/Boonduck+Saints+1.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BoonDuck Saints! Clever cosplay is clever!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<u><b>Vendors:</b></u><br />
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1. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MysticFx/" target="_blank">Mystic FX</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/jesse.shoemaker.10?fref=ts&ref=br_tf" target="_blank">Jesse Shoemaker</a> teamed up to bring some fabulous creations to life!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0hiaolkSrPujskOzlgNzShlb1-DmAxOuL6_E_CsugyZvKZ8xoiv29ZOQ_kRwf7WRH6hZUMxpiw7IQFBieSi6BEy5Ah7I0X_rGtKcOJLJ4vhJkOFUViXhfdg2aIuDmViTx7chRXY-J-l6O/s1600/FX+Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0hiaolkSrPujskOzlgNzShlb1-DmAxOuL6_E_CsugyZvKZ8xoiv29ZOQ_kRwf7WRH6hZUMxpiw7IQFBieSi6BEy5Ah7I0X_rGtKcOJLJ4vhJkOFUViXhfdg2aIuDmViTx7chRXY-J-l6O/s400/FX+Collage.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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2. The seamstress of <a href="mailto:tinkerpolly@hotmail.com" target="_blank">The Peddler's Pack</a> makes beautiful designs!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDSpmbmtgKTj6SVYJmmslAH56rdwwGTSKScElkG6eoj4BZC5N-aUDrRVNpjY6uiUb4weJLQ4XJWpdsLA2cBpI2u51vQXlJdr191xXPjPB3RIRXUs8xsck1NYqWDFo1dVNMBWew5avG8llt/s1600/Seamstress+Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDSpmbmtgKTj6SVYJmmslAH56rdwwGTSKScElkG6eoj4BZC5N-aUDrRVNpjY6uiUb4weJLQ4XJWpdsLA2cBpI2u51vQXlJdr191xXPjPB3RIRXUs8xsck1NYqWDFo1dVNMBWew5avG8llt/s400/Seamstress+Collage.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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3. <a href="http://www.talaxiadesigns.etsy.com/" target="_blank">Talaxia Designs</a> offer several creations, including these geeky clock faces!<br />
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4. The folks with the <a href="http://chewbacchus.org/" target="_blank">International Krewe of Chewbacchus</a> brought out some of their toys, including the Lunar Party Rover!<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15535088359643751724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804096219861533099.post-53449572686904232362015-10-05T18:35:00.000-07:002015-10-05T18:35:31.320-07:00Doctor Who 'Under the Lake' Review<i style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">*This review is cross-posted to the <a href="http://kreweduwho.com/" style="color: #436590; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Krewe du Who</a> blog*</span></i><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">As always, DO NOT READ unless you're caught up on Series <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;">9</span> of </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">Doctor Who</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">! As River would say: </span><b style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"><i>*spoilers*</i></b><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">This week, The Doctor and his companion find themselves stuck in a contained environment with a small crew and some kind of creepy big bad hell bent on taking them out one by one. Whether it's on Mars, in a stuck submarine, on a planet about to be sucked into a black hole, or under a lake, this is a pretty popular theme for <i>Doctor Who</i></span><b style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"><i>. </i></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">The situation plays on our fears of being trapped, buried alive, drowning, etc. Essentially, being killed by our very environment. This time, they find themselves in an underwater, nuclear powered, mining facility on top of a submerged military base, with a strange alien ship and (what appear to be) actual ghosts. By the time they arrive, the captain has already been killed and his ghost has joined the ghost of a Tivolian man in a dashing top hat (particularly strange since the Tivolians are decidedly <b>not</b> aggressive by nature). The idea of ghosts has been toyed with on <i>Doctor Who</i> before, but they've always been proved to be something other than actual paranormal specters, so it will be interesting to see if they don't turn out to be some kind of electromagnetic/static projections, or something, instead of the spirits of the dead; especially given that we don't know who/what is in the suspended animation chamber, how the "spirits" are being brought back under its control, that they can only man-handle metal objects, and that the only way the gang has found to stop them is to enter "day" mode in which the electromagnetic locks are diagnosed constantly or by locking them into a Faraday cage (designed to stop the passage of electromagnetic/static influences). If they do turn out to be actual ghosts, it will be a first for <i>Doctor Who</i>.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">Another first for the show is Cass (played by Sophie Leigh Stone). She's the first deaf (main) character on the show, and also happens to be a complete badass. She's smart, no-nonsense, and has probably already saved everyone by not allowing her interpreter, Lunn, onto the alien ship (he's now the only character who hasn't read the writing on the wall, making him the only one the ghosts have no use for). Since she took over command of the crew when the captain died, she's consistently kept their best interests in mind, has made the best possible decisions based on the situation at hand, and has succinctly put The Doctor in his place. I'd like more of her, please!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">Unfortunately, the sonic shades are back. Chances are good we're going to continue seeing them for a bit whether we want to or not. I will say, that despite how utterly ridiculous they are the shades are at least being used interestingly. They're glasses, so using them as a way to transmit video or to scan seems pretty logical. They seems to be like a pair of Google Glass on steroids. (To be clear, I'm not against changing the sonic screwdriver on principal, I just hate the shades. I'm not a fan of things like Google Glass to begin with, so I doubt they'll ever win me over no matter how well they're written into the story.)</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">Continuing the two-parter trend for this series, the episode ends with Clara, Cass, and Lunn trapped in a flooding base with 3 ghosts locked up in the Faraday Cage while The Doctor, O'Donnell, and Bennet take the TARDIS back in time to before the base town flooded to try and figure out what happened. In true cliffhanger form, Clara and the gang are facing a ghost Doctor just outside the walls, indicating that The Doctor himself somehow died and became a ghost instead of regenerating when he went back in time. As it should, this leaves us with questions as to what the hell just happened, but the biggest (and probably most important) question of all is:</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"> </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15535088359643751724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804096219861533099.post-88743578128929350352015-09-30T23:06:00.000-07:002015-09-30T23:06:07.552-07:00Monster-Con Happened, and I Was There<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Unlike San Diego, Atlanta, or even New York, New Orleans
isn't known for
a particular convention, but the Gulf Coast is home to
several conventions held throughout the year. It's my goal, here at
She-Geeks, to showcase those smaller (but no less enthusiastic)
conventions. If there is a convention in or around the Gulf Coast that
you'd like to see me cover, please send the convention details to <a href="mailto:eris.shegeeks@gmail.com" target="_blank">eris.shegeeks@gmail.com</a>.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Last weekend I drove for I don't even know how many hours to visit <a href="http://monster-con.com/" target="_blank">Monster-Con</a> in San Antonio. Not only was this my first time at Monster-Con, it was my first time visiting Texas! I'm not ashamed to say that my expectations for the Lone Star State were a wee bit skewed, and that I was more than a little disappointed that I wasn't immediately met with dancing cowboys and tumbleweeds when I crossed the Louisiana/Texas border. Thankfully, the unconventional convention I was there for more than made up for the lack of stereotypical Texas landscaping. In addition to being a <b>free</b> event, Monster-Con takes place not in hotel conference rooms or a convention center or even a warehouse, but in a shopping mall. Yep, you read that right. The <a href="https://wonderlandamericas.com/" target="_blank">Wonderland of the Americas</a> apparently hosts several events throughout the year in addition to the horror convention, and while it was a bit weird, they managed to make it work much better than I expected.</span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The children's Zombie Pageant was full of enthusiastic ghouls! </td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">One of the things that impressed me with Monster-Con was how family oriented it was, particularly for a horror convention. There was some fabulous cosplay, and nearly all of it was the work of families, children, and teens. In fact, the majority of the people I saw (and there were A LOT of people there) were families and teenagers, and many of the events were geared toward a family friendly environment. From carefully choreographed dance routines from tiny costumed ballerinas and hip-hop dancers, to a photo booth full of costumes for those not already wearing one, the organizers made sure there was something for everyone! </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="mailto:featheredfortheearth@gmail.com" target="_blank">Feathered for the Earth</a> was even there with a live owl for photo ops and education. For a small donation (that goes to the care of the birds), you could have your photo taken while petting this gorgeous creature! Rescued at only a few weeks old, Phoenix was incredibly well behaved and a favorite for fans of all ages. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">While I was wandering the hallways full of vendors, I received a message from my next-door neighbor asking me to seek out a guest at the con, William Instone. It turns out that in addition to being a film maker, actor, and (for that weekend) a makeup artist, Instone also happens to be an ordained minister and had performed my neighbors' wedding ceremony a few years ago! He was at Monster-Con promoting his film, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/amongthedeadmovie" target="_blank"><i>Among the Dead</i></a> (which looks like it's going to be tons of fun), and was just as surprised and delighted at the random connection we had as I was. It's a tiny world we live in, folks! You never know who you're going to bump into!</span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The kids from the <a href="http://locations.schoolofrock.com/sanantonio" target="_blank">San Antonio School of Rock</a> had a captive audience, and two of those talented kids were awarded scholarships to the camp from the convention last year!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">One of the best parts of this convention for me was meeting the people who organize it. I didn't know a single one of them before I set foot in San Antonio, but I can honestly say that by the time I left we were making hilarious memories and getting into shenanigans together! During a late night trip to Target for some TV dinners and emergency supplies (the con life is a glamorous life) we saw a man nearly kill himself by angrily slamming the door to the kid's meals so hard that he knocked the blade of a display windmill onto his head (don't worry, he was fine):</span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHWAQy6NElBNpFHBRlb9ej6axfGUfnhM9za0JtPXmvoAN_lU2wLIHnXxjgGOYOYnOkf-Jol4ToQdIF3ad4ymPw4eKeX_wF2T2IRQTLz4Y9fEg70xF0BWsVAWIbhc9EEZnxw8mjexelRwjl/s1600/target.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHWAQy6NElBNpFHBRlb9ej6axfGUfnhM9za0JtPXmvoAN_lU2wLIHnXxjgGOYOYnOkf-Jol4ToQdIF3ad4ymPw4eKeX_wF2T2IRQTLz4Y9fEg70xF0BWsVAWIbhc9EEZnxw8mjexelRwjl/s400/target.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I cannot make this stuff up.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">...and I ended up scavenging through the clearance section for a bathing suit since they'd invited me to a late night pool party at the hotel. This miss-matched treasure has earned its place in my permanent convention wardrobe as 'The Hot Mess Bathing Suit' and will travel with me wherever I go:</span></span></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsFBL2rIPDCFR21TqDvHXEc9BsLLBlCddAMp9YVKUiMV1-4EyE6A1CVg5R5-gT0AIyRl6Bx6dDXj6kH1npjQVLjtSGkrCWVEEpA591kAGi7-0dFhNnDqqqkwQ4DVEKVMhN0pLaj5hyphenhyphen2evE/s1600/Hot+Mess.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsFBL2rIPDCFR21TqDvHXEc9BsLLBlCddAMp9YVKUiMV1-4EyE6A1CVg5R5-gT0AIyRl6Bx6dDXj6kH1npjQVLjtSGkrCWVEEpA591kAGi7-0dFhNnDqqqkwQ4DVEKVMhN0pLaj5hyphenhyphen2evE/s320/Hot+Mess.jpg" width="260" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That pink and blue monstrosity was literally the only pair of bottoms left!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This is not a big, fancy organization. These are people who do this for the love of it, and put their hearts into the convention every year. They're a family, much like the 'Island of Misfit Toys', and are quick to add new members to their tribe. Monster-Con may be unlike any other convention I've been to, but I had a blast at this no-frills, leave-your-ego-at-the-door con! I'm so glad I made the drive out to Monster-Con, and I plan on making it back out every year that I can!</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Now, here's some of that fun <b>cosplay</b> I mentioned: </span></span></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIc8q7G_9xNujSdTDFJVb2FO4geWzL3quiyhoMcPHP_ONvqtsz1Qpf8a0F9vxjcF2OvWF3e345EXsDYTEmFZtRUOsNl72YO3wdKvdaIWWhXXZMKUAoWckTfHymUHaHjX9NbeCecAAgTlOM/s1600/Rawr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIc8q7G_9xNujSdTDFJVb2FO4geWzL3quiyhoMcPHP_ONvqtsz1Qpf8a0F9vxjcF2OvWF3e345EXsDYTEmFZtRUOsNl72YO3wdKvdaIWWhXXZMKUAoWckTfHymUHaHjX9NbeCecAAgTlOM/s640/Rawr.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Check out this nugget of adorable! She made the costume with her dad!! I died.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf1JFpdRsjGwdHLPQJeHutuH_xsKS-CESI-aGl0JDIbVIOdpM8Stqkr4gcHtCynnyuA392ADbJcinpePHP3Ls4FVMrwtpMVXKqNaFI6YbzMFHtD0bmRLD16S0tsopq5lrXPM2HVN1rvYBW/s1600/Exorcist+Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf1JFpdRsjGwdHLPQJeHutuH_xsKS-CESI-aGl0JDIbVIOdpM8Stqkr4gcHtCynnyuA392ADbJcinpePHP3Ls4FVMrwtpMVXKqNaFI6YbzMFHtD0bmRLD16S0tsopq5lrXPM2HVN1rvYBW/s640/Exorcist+Collage.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCoQfS-Ro5aC5ygy42CEIp5E3mgV2Sc7cKhAiDO5zQvLrv0URQM3LE7qGgCyT9fuj5vUqkE3uvrnEjrii0OyGvVlVkwtUpl0F0OnBVuCnLUdLzMB438Os8wOuhnxrt4JUJVfE9NsbTmmjg/s1600/Batman+Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCoQfS-Ro5aC5ygy42CEIp5E3mgV2Sc7cKhAiDO5zQvLrv0URQM3LE7qGgCyT9fuj5vUqkE3uvrnEjrii0OyGvVlVkwtUpl0F0OnBVuCnLUdLzMB438Os8wOuhnxrt4JUJVfE9NsbTmmjg/s640/Batman+Collage.jpg" width="640" /> </a></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH5Iq5TXz9JBy51lmlrCveibBP2qlhKCnW195vLIZ2GIB-Hl8sFoKar_UqQ_N73uB-UyEeIzv6s-Da7CI2-V72JmVCO7GGTCiluTGBx40wglCkSpBV-xCwdACbKTluXdPoDYcdS1bann60/s1600/Frankenstein%2527s+Monster+Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH5Iq5TXz9JBy51lmlrCveibBP2qlhKCnW195vLIZ2GIB-Hl8sFoKar_UqQ_N73uB-UyEeIzv6s-Da7CI2-V72JmVCO7GGTCiluTGBx40wglCkSpBV-xCwdACbKTluXdPoDYcdS1bann60/s640/Frankenstein%2527s+Monster+Collage.jpg" width="640" /> </a></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8jXfi4dEj_G0QCUAUgsj21P6K5z548-xHT5PeJR2myNS3te_Nli3nAtbpL3fWRsL0eslRZBXcbWfeMqDV580uxpj7tZCd8Yr1vA0lukOdcvYskQL6sEdrDuwF2U6VUtAsnn59lJ7wdOJ-/s1600/Dead+Family+Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8jXfi4dEj_G0QCUAUgsj21P6K5z548-xHT5PeJR2myNS3te_Nli3nAtbpL3fWRsL0eslRZBXcbWfeMqDV580uxpj7tZCd8Yr1vA0lukOdcvYskQL6sEdrDuwF2U6VUtAsnn59lJ7wdOJ-/s640/Dead+Family+Collage.jpg" width="640" /> </a></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqTz_yUBrC4f2E1t619_OBUMQ8enrrY99BbuRHwh2JzKlYuKEXWs13gKa4rJRfwuHRG2MFNqc4WJTESe12cTSxaRV_WF74LSvV2Q9QUBr5CEjIfkTwvcuIV75H2cjVfcOCUEcHDwZwAlua/s1600/Power+Rangers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqTz_yUBrC4f2E1t619_OBUMQ8enrrY99BbuRHwh2JzKlYuKEXWs13gKa4rJRfwuHRG2MFNqc4WJTESe12cTSxaRV_WF74LSvV2Q9QUBr5CEjIfkTwvcuIV75H2cjVfcOCUEcHDwZwAlua/s640/Power+Rangers.jpg" width="496" /> </a></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Y5lJZvqDMgG4-TuoaClGBRwjG9okb3wW2pst8u9GGQqRJI-ohdoZHYuSJ-SHKXAQOWNjMIdtDGaZE-f9w63gGLnjPUgEBsoydA28HPqYL-gbLUoMnSQU5sKZ75PiBxp_LQfogv4I10kY/s1600/Gomez+Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Y5lJZvqDMgG4-TuoaClGBRwjG9okb3wW2pst8u9GGQqRJI-ohdoZHYuSJ-SHKXAQOWNjMIdtDGaZE-f9w63gGLnjPUgEBsoydA28HPqYL-gbLUoMnSQU5sKZ75PiBxp_LQfogv4I10kY/s640/Gomez+Collage.jpg" width="640" /> </a></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd829Q-ECllX4FNlpYTuw1eDlSblBqFI-ySmj_7Z-loTIwWBK6rRc0yFnyUFyrcQPrDgR8UupHHIWM3DW_g9040Q8Hp0vJk2LTTqsBZllDo-dfSDqzBFm6EPoSOU1vJBZIP2v6S2rvDnBF/s1600/Jigsaw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="516" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd829Q-ECllX4FNlpYTuw1eDlSblBqFI-ySmj_7Z-loTIwWBK6rRc0yFnyUFyrcQPrDgR8UupHHIWM3DW_g9040Q8Hp0vJk2LTTqsBZllDo-dfSDqzBFm6EPoSOU1vJBZIP2v6S2rvDnBF/s640/Jigsaw.jpg" width="640" /> </a></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO3y_Hq520E-Tx8wRn1hQ0-DRzKK6tlDcfm21hPfJKGgVayKIMYqhuuiLFHVyUt-rkUwnRsKH1JBGoRgTqsSDXBFeojmly19lnD8rhni_o1TuiqOjHDDEfKGFmpBJuge6HKEyPPByQ8Ksu/s1600/Hannibal+Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO3y_Hq520E-Tx8wRn1hQ0-DRzKK6tlDcfm21hPfJKGgVayKIMYqhuuiLFHVyUt-rkUwnRsKH1JBGoRgTqsSDXBFeojmly19lnD8rhni_o1TuiqOjHDDEfKGFmpBJuge6HKEyPPByQ8Ksu/s640/Hannibal+Collage.jpg" width="640" /> </a></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr5w51qolAHwo_ixcL7cL92WQO0ZcXtJo8J6b-U0etWHxs20RZd8usUbW_V627i1K-0CDyoL-WZZ2YFUq4auNSsTfo0kk4sIhfnfEAM4_bmKbGpRwW5IhD17Va1ad0DAj0_6vEBUnclO_E/s1600/Ronald+Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr5w51qolAHwo_ixcL7cL92WQO0ZcXtJo8J6b-U0etWHxs20RZd8usUbW_V627i1K-0CDyoL-WZZ2YFUq4auNSsTfo0kk4sIhfnfEAM4_bmKbGpRwW5IhD17Va1ad0DAj0_6vEBUnclO_E/s640/Ronald+Collage.jpg" width="640" /> </a></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
...and how about a few <b>vendors </b>for good measure? </div>
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<b>1. <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/tigergalindo" target="_blank">Tiger Galindo Art</a> </b>- This guy makes beautiful, sparkly art with GLITTER! For reals!<br />
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<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE76qpi_1rBdIIS4z6tc5Azij9iYtdt6r9_lbTnBmbhpcHhYNjGNuA63g5lnL1lp2ceNNBLX6JJ72BXtVTPUxuAFai5NfhoGhSsqUpZHZDZijFgyYu98faLhMQVF9T54AlmYalQnRGxZ-a/s1600/Glitter+Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE76qpi_1rBdIIS4z6tc5Azij9iYtdt6r9_lbTnBmbhpcHhYNjGNuA63g5lnL1lp2ceNNBLX6JJ72BXtVTPUxuAFai5NfhoGhSsqUpZHZDZijFgyYu98faLhMQVF9T54AlmYalQnRGxZ-a/s640/Glitter+Collage.jpg" width="640" /> </a></b></div>
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<b>2. <a href="https://instagram.com/dingy_dave/" target="_blank">David Prieto</a> </b>- Handmade sculptures and wall art fit for any haunted house!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsHJ9495IqoaIV5sxbxb7ikj9oNm0BHBOYHIRndyZl8-ASa_a0SUQ02zHHsMZM0byyi0NdiInnv5-qW8SRZ0T2UOYBqYxsJiYeOxidO59rKlsYydT1ATUSqfrUFREkFWU3lW51dAyvZF4a/s1600/Statues+Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsHJ9495IqoaIV5sxbxb7ikj9oNm0BHBOYHIRndyZl8-ASa_a0SUQ02zHHsMZM0byyi0NdiInnv5-qW8SRZ0T2UOYBqYxsJiYeOxidO59rKlsYydT1ATUSqfrUFREkFWU3lW51dAyvZF4a/s640/Statues+Collage.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br /><b>3. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/La-Santa-Luna-Boutique-1606596219622978/timeline/" target="_blank">La Santa Luna</a> </b>- Gorgeous head pieces to adorn your dome!<br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBSA6wiPNxfPPPGxo6f-slZs2lBX60D78BBhunOXl4lsbHK78iomxyCk7v8FiPxxMSVEtj54VYB4UxnmigCFCLJXVyZwhpkikcfaqdyrKtLRoNxPuOJ91sGrg_nx3LRqD1FDfE0x4vBtLY/s1600/Luna+Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBSA6wiPNxfPPPGxo6f-slZs2lBX60D78BBhunOXl4lsbHK78iomxyCk7v8FiPxxMSVEtj54VYB4UxnmigCFCLJXVyZwhpkikcfaqdyrKtLRoNxPuOJ91sGrg_nx3LRqD1FDfE0x4vBtLY/s640/Luna+Collage.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></span></div>
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</span></span></span>Sadly, I never did find any actual tumbleweeds, but I DID take a detour on the way home and found a Texas Longhorn <i><b>named</b></i> Tumbleweed! I'm so easily amused!<br /><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih2_3Uwil1C-HhSJM9h1pNmly_MPv2PLjhsmp-90lycCJGV_XsrfCW9HCwlWlVhUoaHRcIa5z3wihoHHl3kuZXa9BisQrCWfkJ4Lqa9o-RT8zibQtaDI_PYNLeiaU2BTPvrz2ccT_BhMbd/s1600/Tumbleweed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih2_3Uwil1C-HhSJM9h1pNmly_MPv2PLjhsmp-90lycCJGV_XsrfCW9HCwlWlVhUoaHRcIa5z3wihoHHl3kuZXa9BisQrCWfkJ4Lqa9o-RT8zibQtaDI_PYNLeiaU2BTPvrz2ccT_BhMbd/s400/Tumbleweed.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15535088359643751724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804096219861533099.post-46489813790883343232015-09-30T14:27:00.000-07:002015-09-30T14:47:37.131-07:00The Waters of Mars and Philosophy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk2JOIdtw66p90Q7ClzRaDyiHMURu0AZVpeIwLiZYAyRaEvoj3ZTEv-Rf5AyQ7aZIEUBCrJHRtuWlSE3WmWyJ0ZZLaNwK761j-KhetewvEn9iSS3uPQKUNSbYxI9XQtvzqQBpteQo8OGae/s1600/water+on+Mars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk2JOIdtw66p90Q7ClzRaDyiHMURu0AZVpeIwLiZYAyRaEvoj3ZTEv-Rf5AyQ7aZIEUBCrJHRtuWlSE3WmWyJ0ZZLaNwK761j-KhetewvEn9iSS3uPQKUNSbYxI9XQtvzqQBpteQo8OGae/s640/water+on+Mars.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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By now, everyone (I hope) has heard that <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-confirms-evidence-that-liquid-water-flows-on-today-s-mars" target="_blank">NASA has confirmed the discovery of flowing, liquid water on Mars</a>. These are exciting times, people! Why? We are one step closer to potentially discovering LIFE on another planet! As Bill Nye the Science Guy put it on <a href="http://www.cc.com/video-clips/5pznt8/the-nightly-show-with-larry-wilmore-panel---water-on-the-red-planet" target="_blank"><i>The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore</i></a>, "Wherever we find water on Earth, we find living things," so it stands to reason that finding water on Mars could very well lead to finding life on the Red Planet. Unfortunately, that same panel discussed how few people seem to really care about this ground-breaking discovery despite all of its amazing implications. Ricky Valez perhaps summed up the thoughts of those who are less than impressed with the discovery of water on Mars: <br />
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<i>"Why would I be excited about Mars? I'm barely excited about Earth! </i>[<i>...</i>]<i> Trump is first in polls right now! Are you kidding me? Let's defeat ISIS! How about that?"</i></blockquote>
This struck a cord with me on several levels. Nye did his best to explain how important an interest in space is by pointing out how we would not be as technologically advanced as we are without the space program to no avail. (Use the interwebs via a computer, or a cell phone, or velcro? Thank the space program for ALL of that.) As a nerd, and a space enthusiast, it hurts my soul to hear people say that they don't care about space exploration. Especially when their reasons are so terrestrial. Here's the thing, stay with me here cause I'm about to get philosophical, one of the main reasons for conflict in our world today (outside of a fight for resources) is the very basic idea of "you're different from me, and I don't like that." At its very base, that's the underlying feeling behind nearly every major conflict we have. From religious differences, to racial differences, to simple language barriers, the issue is our resistance to accept our differences. Which is so trivial and petty considering that we're actually all the same down to molecular level. Nearly all of our differences are a matter of geography. The language you speak is determined by where you were born. The color of your skin is determined by the geographic location of your ancestors (did they live in the sunny Sahara, or the perpetually overcast UK, or a mix of both?). Even the religion you practice is (most often, but of course not always) determined by where you were born and/or where your family hails from.<br />
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So, what does this have to do with an interest in space? I'm getting there, I promise.<br />
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I live in New Orleans, a city known for the tendency of its inhabitants to spend their entire lives in the neighborhood in which they grew up. It's a beautiful thing to have such a deep love for your city, but it's also easy to fall into the trappings of living in a bubble. When you live in a bubble, it's much too easy to think of your world in terms of the confines of that bubble; to not care about things outside of said bubble. We defend our bubble fiercely, because in many ways it's all we know. We make huge decisions based on the parameters of our bubble, often with little to no regard for the impact those decisions may have on the world outside our bubble. That is why it is so very important for us to work on expanding our bubble. If you think about what's best only for your neighborhood, then the ones around it may start to suffer. That suffering leads to resentment and anger from the surrounding neighborhoods, which in turn leads to resentment and anger from your neighborhood towards those railing against it. Now, even if your bubble expands to cover your city, or state, or even the Country as a whole, there are still billions of people living outside your bubble who also matter and are making decisions that WILL effect you. Whether those decisions are on a human level such as the atrocious conditions in Syria leading to thousands of refugees fleeing into other Countries, or on an environmental level like the amount of carbon in our atmosphere destroying the polar ice caps and raising the sea levels globally, we are all (at some point) going to be affected by the actions of those outside our bubbles. It's not until our bubble encompasses the entire planet that we will be able to truly see how connected we all are, and will be able as a species to make decisions that will benefit us all. Having an interest in space exploration breeds that kind of global thinking. When we look to the stars, we begin to realize how tiny our world is in the grand scheme of things, and how connected we all are as its inhabitants. We all live on this one, tiny, watery rock together. The arbitrary lines we've drawn around our Countries and cities are as meaningless as they are imaginary when we look at the Earth as a whole.<br />
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Space exploration is important to our technological advancement, yes. More than that, though, space exploration is exceedingly important to our species' advancement. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15535088359643751724noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804096219861533099.post-23049512732132482422015-09-28T17:41:00.000-07:002015-09-28T17:41:11.608-07:00Doctor Who 'The Witch's Familiar' Review<i style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">*This review is cross-posted to the <a href="http://kreweduwho.com/" style="color: #436590; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Krewe du Who</a> blog*</span></i><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">As always, DO NOT READ unless you're caught up on Series <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;">9</span> of </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">Doctor Who</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">! As River would say: </span><b style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"><i>*spoilers*</i></b><br />
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<a name='more'></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">The second half of the <i>Doctor Who</i> premiere was full of brilliant acting, throwbacks, and classic <i>Doctor Who</i> explanations. The episode opens with Clara tied up and hanging upside-down from a boulder while Missy sharpens a stick and tells her a story about The Doctor escaping from certain death by using the disintegration rays from his adversaries to charge up his wrist teleporter (thus also explaining how Missy escaped in the series 8 finale, and how both she and Clara escaped being exterminated in the previous episode). Now, where did the rope came from (or the stick), and what happened to the knife Missy is using to sharpen the stick? Total mysteries; but, the exchange between Missy and Clara is so well done that I simply don't care:</span><br />
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<i><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">Clara: "Why are you sharpening that stick?"</span></i><br />
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<i><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">Missy: "Well I've no idea how long we're going to be stuck out here. Might have to go hunting."</span></i><br />
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<i><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">Clara: "So, why am I tied up?"</span></i><br />
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<i><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">Missy: "In case there's nothing to hunt." *wink*</span></i></blockquote>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">Truly, I would watch an entire show based around Missy with a smile on my face and a song in my heart. She's a delight to watch, and I'm thrilled to have a character who is able to so succinctly knock Clara down a peg. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">So, while Missy and Clara try to figure out how to get to The Doctor, he's busy threatening Davros with a dalek gun, and stealing his iconic chair. The dialogue between Davros and The Doctor, like that between Missy and Clara, is a treat to watch. We get to not only see the two of them banter about the virtue of compassion like the old days, but we also get to watch two actors do what they do best. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">Meanwhile, in yet another throwback to previous episodes, we got to see Clara stuffed into dalek armor. I rather liked the explanation of daleks processing emotions through the gun, and the armor automatically changing Clara's words to be more dalek-y. It didn't completely mesh with what we've seen previously, but Moffat isn't exactly a stickler for continuity so that wasn't all that surprising. It was also nice to see Missy continuing to play with The Doctor and Clara like a cat toying with her prey. I just hope that bringing both Missy and Davros back in such a spectacular way doesn't mean they'll be overused in the coming episodes. It's nice to have had new life breathed into these old foes, but (as much as I adore Missy) there is the danger of having too much of a good thing. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">On to the elephant in the room: Sonic Sunglasses. They're ridiculous, and cheesy, and pretty much everyone seems to hate them. I don't disagree. I am willing, however, to let it go if they don't turn into a regular thing. After all, he was without his screwdriver after leaving it with kid Davros, so it makes sense that he'd fashion himself a replacement (and he was in party mode, so why not a ridiculous pair of shades?). Since he went back and saved the kid it stands to reason that he retrieved his screwdriver from him, so I see the shades as more of a gag than anything else. Hopefully, they'll stay that way.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">Overall, I enjoyed <i>The Witch's Familiar. </i>The dialogue was brilliant, the plot wasn't as weak as it has been in the recent past, and there were plenty of nods to old episodes for the fans. Here's hoping the rest of the series continues to improve.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15535088359643751724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804096219861533099.post-33416718834721462242015-09-21T00:39:00.000-07:002015-09-21T00:39:25.103-07:00Doctor Who 'The Magician's Apprentice' Review<i style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">*This review is cross-posted to the <a href="http://kreweduwho.com/" style="color: #436590; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Krewe du Who</a> blog*</span></i><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">As always, DO NOT READ unless you're caught up on Series <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;">9</span> of </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">Doctor Who</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">! As River would say: </span><b style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"><i>*spoilers*</i></b><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">The Series 9 premiere of <i>Doctor Who</i> was certainly a spectacle. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">Old enemies returned, more old enemies returned, a planet returned, the TARDIS was destroyed, and two major characters "died." Even saying all of that, I still haven't completely spoiled the episode for anyone foolish enough to read this before having watched it (I will have by the end of this though, so if you're *still* reading, you've no one to blame but yourself). There was quite a lot to like in this episode, but there were also quite a few things that had me raising an eyebrow. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">First and foremost, we've now met Davros as a child. Specifically, The Doctor met Davros as a child. More importantly, The Doctor met Davros as a child trapped in an impossible situation on a battlefield, and abandoned him there. Presumably, considering both Davros and the daleks still exist afterward, the boy not only lives, but being abandoned with no hope on said battlefield is a major factor in Davros' descent into madness and his ultimate creation of the daleks. That being the case, The Doctor is (at least partially) responsible for the creation of one of his most formidable enemies, and the creatures with whom the Time Lords were at war when Gallifrey was destroyed (also by The Doctor). </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">Next we see Colony Sarff (henceforth to be referred to as Snake Guy) popping up in all manner of places demanding to know where to find The Doctor because Davros is apparently dying and wants to have a chat. After several unfruitful trips by Snake Guy (to everywhere from the Shadow Proclamation to Karn), Davros finally thinks to suggest that perhaps The Doctor could be found through his friends. Quick cut to Clara being the cheeky teacher, right up until she takes a casual glance out the window and happens to not only notice a plane at near cruising altitude, but notices that it isn't moving. (That's one hell of a glance.) She dashes off to U.N.I.T. headquarters where she proves, once again, to be the cleverest girl in the room despite the fact that the room is supposed to be full of the elite minds behind the famous taskforce created for precisely such an event. Throughout the entire scene, we're left with the feeling that, without Clara, U.N.I.T. is comprised of a bunch of bumbling idiots who were too dumb to realize that sending a helicopter to fetch her because all air traffic has suddenly stopped moving might not be the best idea. Thankfully, Missy interrupts them and completely steals the next several scenes. (I might not be a big fan of her being The Master, but I am a huge fan of Michelle Gomez's portrayal of Missy.) She arranges a meeting in one of our "hot countries" where she takes Clara down a peg or two and explains that The Doctor sent her his Last Will and Testament indicating that he will be dead in a day, so they must find him. Clever Clara helps U.N.I.T. with their Doctor seeking algorythm, and off they go via Missy's vortex manipulator to medieval England. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">Here we get one of my new favorite scenes from a <i>Doctor Who</i> episode (despite, or possibly because of, its utter ridiculousness). The Doctor enters a fighting arena in medieval England playing the <i>Doctor Who </i>opening credits theme on an electric guitar while riding a bloody tank. This is only made better with the knowledge that that is, indeed, Peter Capaldi playing the guitar (he was in a punk band with Craig Ferguson in his youth, after all). Pithy banter ensues until Snake Guy shows up, and threatens the safety of everyone in the arena lest The Doctor come with him, throwing</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"> The Doctor's sonic screwdriver (that The Doctor had left with a young Davros when he abandoned him) at their feet to show that he means business.</span> Despite the protestation of Missy, The Doctor agrees and both Missy and Clara demand to go along for the ride. All three are bound in snake-cuffs and teleported to Snake Guy's ship (leaving the sonic screwdriver in the dirt in medieval England). Once they're gone, we see Bors (the local man who's been The Doctor's assistant/friend for the three weeks he's been in town partying) rifling through a room until he finds the TARDIS behind a curtain, and it's revealed that he's actually a dalek as he reports back to "high command" that the TARDIS has been located. This begs the question: If this disguised dalek has been hanging out with The Doctor this whole time, why did Snake Guy have to search all over the Universe and finally resort to following Missy and Clara to find him??? Also, why the hell was Bors searching under chairs and in chests for the TARDIS as though he had no clue what he was actually looking for? Don't even get me started on the questions I have pertaining to Davros having been in possession of The Doctor's sonic screwdriver for thousands of years...</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">From that lovely plothole, The Doctor, Missy, and Clara are taken to what appears to be a hospital ship somewhere in deep space. While The Doctor is taken to see Davros, and Missy and Clara are left in a cell it is revealed that they are not on a ship at all, but on the surface of a very cleverly disguised planet. Namely, Skaro, the home planet of the daleks that was supposedly destroyed long ago but Davros has somehow brought back into existence. Missy and Clara are taken prisoner by daleks as Davros and The Doctor banter (including a very poignant quote from the fourth Doctor in <i>Genesis of the Daleks</i> asking Sarah Jane Smith if she could kill a child if she knew that it would grow up to be a purely evil dictator), and ultimately The Doctor is forced to helplessly watch as Missy and Clara are killed and the TARDIS destroyed. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">The cliffhanger episode ends with The Doctor returning to the boy on the battlefield and pointing a dalek gun to his head. Essentially, The Doctor is once again put in the position to eradicate all the daleks (a decision he has made time and time again, but never quite seems to stick). </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">Thankfully the premiere is a two-part episode, so there is hope that at least some of the huge questions we've been left with will be answered. I have serious doubts that the Bors/Snake Guy plothole will be addressed, but perhaps we will be given some kind of explanation as to how Skaro was brought back, or how The Doctor abandoning the young Davros on the battlefield isn't a fixed point in time given how pivotal that action clearly was. Considering this was only the first half of the story, I'm going to give the episode quite a bit of leeway until we've seen it all the way through. What I will say about <i>The Magician's Apprentice</i> is that I absolutely loved all the references to past Doctors and previous storylines. In addition to the numerous references to <i>Genesis of the Daleks</i> (this episode could easily have been called <i>Genesis of the Daleks, Part 2</i>), there were also plenty of nods to the personalities of previous regenerations while The Doctor was throwing himself a farewell party, and it was quite nice to see them dust off the older model daleks as well. Even Skaro itself was reminiscent of the set style often used in Classic Who. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">Despite its faults, the Series 9 premiere has certainly gotten my attention. I'm glad they went with a two-part episode for this story, and I'm very interested to see if Moffat can pull it all together for a solid finish next week.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15535088359643751724noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804096219861533099.post-27882879828392721912015-09-12T00:28:00.000-07:002015-09-13T16:49:13.320-07:00Dragon Con Happened, and I Was There<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Ah, <a href="http://dragoncon.org/" target="_blank">Dragon Con</a>... Spanning four days, five hotels (plus the AmericasMart), and boasting attendance numbers over 70,000, it's one of the World's largest geek conventions. It's also the convention I cut my teeth on way back in the *coughcough<i>1990s</i>coughcough*. Though it's changed a lot over the years, Dragon Con will always hold a special place in my heart. There are tons of people who will never miss a year, and tons more who have Dragon Con on their geeky bucket list (and for good reason). This was the 29th year for Dragon Con, and it did not disappoint.<br />
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First and foremost, I'd like to give a tip of my hat to the men and women of the Dragon Con Security team. Dragon Con is, in many circles, considered a party convention, and considering the vast number of pop-up bars scattered around the hotels and the loads and loads of alcohol packed coolers brought in by visitors, that's a pretty accurate description. It's incredibly difficult to try and maintain the safety of tens of thousands of people (most of whom have been steadily drinking for days) with a staff of volunteers, on a 24 hour basis. All things considered, the Dragon Con staff handled things better than I ever could have expected. I had a special security request (I know, I'm such a diva), and was welcomed into the Security room with open arms, sensitivity, and absolutely no push back. When I walked in and briefly explained my situation, I was brought into a quiet area and treated with sincere respect by everyone. In addition to the official security volunteers, the various hotels stepped up their game to assist in crowd control, and speaking as someone who remembers well the years of photo op bottlenecks and literally running into people when trying to get off the escalators, it was appreciated.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOWbEdXRdJajUSbJScPCgQ6iROgrGQ8eNBKSAkAsqbjoM2p_lzhO8ybgFGaeKlh1a6_r1yeuZAC47Rx4UeuXQlyrdGvlUCUiOJO8t8bVHftyWW9CaOLZyoDrJl_supmLLOxuVmw082CpcH/s1600/Dragon+Con+Hyatt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOWbEdXRdJajUSbJScPCgQ6iROgrGQ8eNBKSAkAsqbjoM2p_lzhO8ybgFGaeKlh1a6_r1yeuZAC47Rx4UeuXQlyrdGvlUCUiOJO8t8bVHftyWW9CaOLZyoDrJl_supmLLOxuVmw082CpcH/s640/Dragon+Con+Hyatt.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Main floor of the Hyatt around 10:30pm on Friday; it wasn't even really crowded yet.</td></tr>
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There is something happening somewhere at Dragon Con at any given moment. Be it a panel, a blood drive, a massive group photo shoot, a room party, a parade, or a rave, it's pretty much never boring. Sometimes people party a little too hard, or forget to take care of themselves and become someone's 'Dragon Con Horror Story' (<i>even a seasoned pro like myself - to the girl in the 2nd floor hallway of the Hyatt on Saturday night, I am so, so sorry...</i>), but for the most part the whirl and chaos that is Dragon Con is a beautiful thing to witness. For example, one of my favorite random moments from this year was an actual wedding between cosplayer, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/FacesOfFreya" target="_blank">Faces of Freya</a> and artist, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/gambitsink" target="_blank">Gambit's Ink</a>. It was held at the base of a grand staircase in the lower lobby of the Marriott on a busy Friday night. Witnessed by friends and strangers alike, presided over by a friend, and helped in no small part by legendary comic writer and illustrator, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/George-P%C3%A9rez-Fan-Page-385542437272/timeline/" target="_blank">George Perez</a>, the short ceremony seemed to pause the chaos for a few sincere moments and remind everyone that there's more to Dragon Con than just cosplay and partying.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTK42vZOiLM8k5juflh2exT7HMLuU_ScxgthR0wULAiYTJKMF52RjvzfimhadHGxqAjhfA-hJTDqoV9rdAS2o81_5yBtu4uL97_JPBO-Fh9NuFIF9mh4nblCyezmJv2XHBnzVUX8qHLepl/s1600/Wedding+Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTK42vZOiLM8k5juflh2exT7HMLuU_ScxgthR0wULAiYTJKMF52RjvzfimhadHGxqAjhfA-hJTDqoV9rdAS2o81_5yBtu4uL97_JPBO-Fh9NuFIF9mh4nblCyezmJv2XHBnzVUX8qHLepl/s640/Wedding+Collage.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the risk of true cheesiness, their happiness was unmistakable and infectious. </td></tr>
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This is not to say that the cosplay isn't worth the price of admission alone; it is. Cosplay is such a big deal at Dragon Con that in addition to costume contests, there are countless group photo shoots:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimhIrwXFXRqCmaaWdulceZ0NT5gCR_hyYQhOUkmISdzzhyphenhyphenzVIdWVBQDeDBPXrBtJzzJxoqS4ElSL15XoBH6bx4YVY3yeugBQzZqbOOYhftoIuMguzeJNsBiZsEqL2E2o66zcdzNbOnt-PS/s1600/Group+Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimhIrwXFXRqCmaaWdulceZ0NT5gCR_hyYQhOUkmISdzzhyphenhyphenzVIdWVBQDeDBPXrBtJzzJxoqS4ElSL15XoBH6bx4YVY3yeugBQzZqbOOYhftoIuMguzeJNsBiZsEqL2E2o66zcdzNbOnt-PS/s640/Group+Collage.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Wonder Woman photo via <a href="http://www.coscouture.com/" target="_blank">Cos Couture</a>)</td></tr>
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...and the wildly popular cosplay parade (that I missed thanks to a press conference):<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNUpiJi9wmNOkR9SV_TvdRaMxh5cIUNsAmXeij6TCrT2oRnMKGxXFWQzsbHOWSHKC5vP5sPuMeejwBBejen7XXQZUmX3EqZZOg2QtTNFUhP16YMy5d3k7pSIKVivStZ8ecGahfDDz0afsZ/s1600/Trooper+Car.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNUpiJi9wmNOkR9SV_TvdRaMxh5cIUNsAmXeij6TCrT2oRnMKGxXFWQzsbHOWSHKC5vP5sPuMeejwBBejen7XXQZUmX3EqZZOg2QtTNFUhP16YMy5d3k7pSIKVivStZ8ecGahfDDz0afsZ/s640/Trooper+Car.jpg" width="630" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My only parade photo was totally worth it. Stormtrooper car FTW!</td></tr>
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If, like me, you missed the parade there were still plenty of amazing cosplay creations wandering around the convention to fill your eye-holes:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCwZ-qOoLiqN3AwObrDcuoyhQx86OuaOKUNiwx9-hrGRwcs_oPsWKG3TzKmdFE1vOITCSriYlo8kDySjpxxAkCNqKgjv3dV_yGWGfT7uUiQ4AsxbCyaNl6MBHsvEE1DzwUQBIuiYQw9aSz/s1600/Iron+Throne.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCwZ-qOoLiqN3AwObrDcuoyhQx86OuaOKUNiwx9-hrGRwcs_oPsWKG3TzKmdFE1vOITCSriYlo8kDySjpxxAkCNqKgjv3dV_yGWGfT7uUiQ4AsxbCyaNl6MBHsvEE1DzwUQBIuiYQw9aSz/s640/Iron+Throne.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I could not love this woman more!</td></tr>
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Between the cosplay, guests (stay tuned for my interviews with some of the convention's awesome guests), vendors, charity work (they raised over $100,000 for the <a href="http://www.lymphoma.org/site/pp.asp?c=bkLTKaOQLmK8E&b=6296735" target="_blank">Lymphoma Research Foundation</a> and held a massive blood drive throughout the weekend), weddings, and panels galore there's something for everyone at Dragon Con. I'll be there next year, will you?<br />
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<b>Want more Cosplay?</b><br />
<blockquote class="imgur-embed-pub" data-id="a/rYwCb" lang="en">
<a href="https://imgur.com/a/rYwCb">Dragon Con Cosplay '15</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//s.imgur.com/min/embed.js"></script>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15535088359643751724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804096219861533099.post-5047891693277207812015-08-24T16:21:00.000-07:002015-08-24T16:21:14.151-07:00Fear the Walking Dead was Great, and Here's Why<div style="text-align: center;">
*<b>Spoiler Alert</b> for anyone who hasn't watched the pilot episode of <i>Fear the Walking Dead</i>*</div>
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The pilot episode of <i>The Walking Dead </i>spinoff, <i>Fear the Walking Dead</i> finally aired last night. Within minutes of the credits rolling I began to see social media posts and reviews popping up lamenting its slower pace and lack of gore. I didn't watch the episode myself until late last night, so I went into it expecting a pretty lame show. That is not at all what I got, and I'm thrilled to be adding <i>Fear</i> to my DVR recordings list. So, why did so many find it dull and boring while I found it to be pretty brilliant? In a word, expectations. Here's my assessment:<br />
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First and foremost, <i>Fear </i>is <u>not</u> <i>The Walking Dead</i>, and it shouldn't be. <i>Fear</i> is supposed to be the prequel to TWD; it's the story of how we got to the dystopian world of walkers, death, destruction, and the fundamental downfall of the world as we know it depicted in TWD. That being the case, it was incredibly important for <i>Fear</i> to set itself apart from TWD in several ways. We essentially needed to be introduced to the world in which <i>Fear</i> takes place as much as we needed to be introduced to the characters and the plot. I felt that the writers set this stage brilliantly in the opening scene: A filthy teenager waking up in a squallered, dilapidated church to the noise of off-camera clamoring, with his companion missing. As he shuffles around looking for his companion, he hears a scream, encounters bloodied rubble, stumbles upon a dead body with its throat ripped open, and eventually finds his companion (now a walker) eating another person before she chases him out of the church and through an alley. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLmq4drTft-r2H3ikijJ04TWfBnDUSJpGJsovlqjGHoGJDNlHHALAzBiHunIbqjOQnidcpLSVWlYl5YNhyB7BqJ9RavEVMrZzEaJEisevXEJTS2Ez_Weul-nx7N0jlZbhgfkdPG1zGMiWz/s1600/fear2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLmq4drTft-r2H3ikijJ04TWfBnDUSJpGJsovlqjGHoGJDNlHHALAzBiHunIbqjOQnidcpLSVWlYl5YNhyB7BqJ9RavEVMrZzEaJEisevXEJTS2Ez_Weul-nx7N0jlZbhgfkdPG1zGMiWz/s400/fear2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We got our first walker in less than 5 minutes; calm down, people.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This was deliberately shot to have the unmistakeable feel of a <i>Walking Dead</i> episode. It was familiar and predictable, and downright comfortable. Right up until the fleeing boy gets hit by a car while running away from the walker and is immediately surrounded by normal, everyday people calling 911 for an ambulance and trying to stop the flow of traffic. The camera pans up, and we are greeted with a very normal looking, bustling Los Angeles complete with an airplane casually cruising through the sky. All of this blends together to shock the viewer into recognizing that this is not TWD, and we would do well to leave our assumptions and expectations at the door.<br />
<br />
The issues many seem to have with the show is the pace and lack of walkers. Personally, I don't understand where these critics are coming from. As a prequel, <i>Fear</i> has to progress at a slower pace and focus more on character development and story telling. If the first episode were to be full of walkers and death and gore, it would have nowhere to go. We know where this is going to end; we've been watching how this ends on <i>The Walking Dead</i> for years now. This show is about the journey. The zombie outbreak is not likely to happen overnight. It will be swift, sure, but we are not likely to succumb to an all out societal downfall without some sort of fight. That is what this show is about.<br />
<br />
To that end, what <i>Fear </i>accomplished in a single, 90 minute episode is pretty impressive:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>We've met the main characters and have a basic understanding of their complexity and their strengths and weaknesses.</li>
<li>It has been established that while the existence of walkers is not common knowledge, people have taken note of a mysterious <i>something</i> that's keeping more and more people home "sick" and that more and more children are going missing everyday. </li>
<li>Hospitals are busy. Specifically, they're busy with deaths, and are treating said deaths a bit more frantically than they usually would.</li>
<li>The first people who are being effected by whatever is causing the reanimation of dead flesh are children, the elderly, and the homeless/drug addict population (which is exactly what we expect).</li>
<li>Those who are raising questions about the outbreak, or have recognized it for what it is, are being dismissed or ignored.</li>
<li>The spread of information about the outbreak is happening via social media and viral cell phone videos. </li>
</ul>
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</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBdRk5cWdZfpum7Z0Y0Vb1UwC1sCplL1vE1BEe1dlBEtS5RrB8768wKfVlIGCpnCl27Kt5xIc90GXfq4GiQNMhw21KODpqyX2mENXNYkgl0MOoPkFOQBCh12fkk5gQSKG_0hWTeKQLHqwd/s1600/fear4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBdRk5cWdZfpum7Z0Y0Vb1UwC1sCplL1vE1BEe1dlBEtS5RrB8768wKfVlIGCpnCl27Kt5xIc90GXfq4GiQNMhw21KODpqyX2mENXNYkgl0MOoPkFOQBCh12fkk5gQSKG_0hWTeKQLHqwd/s400/fear4.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our major players, folks. Place your bets!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
What I'm interested to see is how the show depicts the progression from initial outbreak to all out hell on Earth. This is usually the part that gets glossed over in movies in order to get to the exciting zombie killing, and I'm really looking forward to getting a more in depth look at what I imagine will be a fascinating take on how we react to such an off the wall situation as a society, and from the governmental standpoint. I really hope that, unlike nearly every other zombie movie/show, they acknowledge how commonplace it is for people to have a Zombie Evacuation Plan, or at the very least acknowledge that people would catch onto a zombie outbreak for what it is pretty quickly (unlikely considering how it has been treated in TWD, but a girl can dream).<br />
<br />
In my opinion, given how fast and loose we as a society are with casual violence, and how well equipt our law enforcement and military are, I imagine the downfall of our society will not be the result of the actual zombie outbreak, but will be of our own doing. More than flesh-eating zombies, it would be the clash between the military trying to step in and control the situation, the citizens who are prepared to do a little controlling of their own, the citizens who would ultimately panic, and those who would see such an outbreak as their ultimate opportunity to finally be able to wantonly walk the streets shooting people in the face that would cause civilization as we know it to crumble. <b>That </b>is the show <i>Fear the Walking Dead</i> appears to be, and that is precisely what I hope we're about to get!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15535088359643751724noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804096219861533099.post-68419701347302887212015-08-17T19:16:00.000-07:002015-08-17T20:12:54.357-07:00Panel at Gen Con Goes Awry, Backlash Begets Harassment<style>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxM7aN7M6smlkKvQOdq-O8vUMLv06-kkaOtS-RFk-0EOLNLXKAF34ZWskQYOytPxfU-6D3VKpfsnhDyFhHSXBVcNP1ZPPV055oZMDy-W8O9Ni-beltNvulOjbtm1keVodPofKVNkyV01DP/s1600/tubby%252Band%252Bcoos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxM7aN7M6smlkKvQOdq-O8vUMLv06-kkaOtS-RFk-0EOLNLXKAF34ZWskQYOytPxfU-6D3VKpfsnhDyFhHSXBVcNP1ZPPV055oZMDy-W8O9Ni-beltNvulOjbtm1keVodPofKVNkyV01DP/s320/tubby%252Band%252Bcoos.jpg" width="313" /></a></div>
<br />
Comic conventions have a reputation for having reputations.
Some of them are good: A convention is a place where thousands of people who
have been picked on and bullied their whole lives for being nerds can come
together to celebrate their fandoms openly. Some of them are bad: If you’re a
woman or a minority, you’re probably still going to encounter at least some
bullying or harassment. This is not to say that being a geek is still the same
tired, old boys club it used to be, but women and minorities still often have
to prove themselves before being taken seriously as a “real” geek, and
representation is still something we have to fight for. This is why seeing
panel discussions about diversity and representation in comics, movies, gaming,
etc. at a convention has such a deep meaning. Recently, however, one such panel
at the well-respected <a href="http://www.gencon.com/">Gen Con</a> in
Indianapolis (<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/25/gen-con-indiana-religious-freedom-bill_n_6936698.html">you
may remember earlier this year when the convention threatened to leave Indiana
over their ‘Religious Freedom Bill’</a>) has received quite a bit of
controversy. </div>
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From the moment it was announced, the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Writing Women Friendly Comics</i> panel at Gen Con was getting press.
While the panel sounded both interesting and compelling, it lacked a pretty
essential component – women. The panel moderator, Bill Willingham, author of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Fables</i> comics (a series praised for its
inclusiveness and popularity with female readers), and every other panelist
were male. Thankfully, <a href="http://www.themarysue.com/gen-con-women-friendly/">after <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Mary Sue</i> brought this issue to light</a>,
female writers Delilah Dawson and Alina Pete were added to the panel. It felt a
lot like a win. Rejoicing occurred. At least, that is, until the panel actually
happened.</div>
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Apparently, Willingham took issue with the panel being
modified, and was not at all shy about voicing his contempt. From the moment he
opened the panel, Willingham set the tone by making his feelings about <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Mary Sue</i>’s article crystal clear: </div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
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<div class="MsoIntenseQuote" style="margin-bottom: 14.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 10.0pt;">
<i>“This is NOT a women in comics panel…A certain
rabble-rousing website with no journalistic integrity whatsoever tried to
redefine this as a women in comics panel…”</i></div>
</div>
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From there, he moderated the panel with an iron fist:
repeatedly interrupting any woman who spoke, refusing to call on women or
people of color for audience questions, and defensively rebutted any mention of
male, white privilege. Several first-hand accounts of the panel from shocked
audience members immediately began popping up online. One in particular, <a href="http://tubbyandcoos.com/why-tubby-coos-is-removing-fables-from-our-shelves/">a
blog post by Candice Huber,</a> has not only been shared repeatedly, but has
caught the attention of journalists and internet trolls alike. In addition to
being a woman and a geek, Huber also happens to be the owner of the popular,
geek-centric bookstore, <a href="http://tubbyandcoos.com/">Tubby & Coo’s</a>
in New Orleans (<a href="http://she-geeks.blogspot.com/2014/09/the-geekiest-little-bookshop-in-town.html" target="_blank">you can read more about the bookstore in the article I wrote when they opened</a>). She was so upset by Willingham’s behavior at the panel that she
has made the decision as a small business owner to pull his books off her
shelves. I spoke with Huber to get a bit of clarification on her decision and
how it’s been received:<br />
<a name='more'></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Why did you decision to remove <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Fables </i>from T&C’s?</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“The decision
was twofold: first of all, during the panel with Willingham, I was not allowed
a voice, so I decided to create one by writing this blog post and removing <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Fables</i> from the shelves in the
bookstore. By doing this, I can hopefully spark discussion on a serious
societal issue and on diversity in comics. Secondly, I see the bookstore as an
extension of myself, and the way I decide to curate my collection is a
reflection on me. In the spirit of upholding my mission and vision of being
all-inclusive and accepting and supporting of diversity, I have decided not to
sell <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Fables</i> anymore.”</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">If someone came into the store looking
for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Fables</i>, would you tell them where
they could go to find it?</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Of course! The
statement I’m making isn’t about censorship or telling people what they should
or shouldn’t read. There are many other places to purchase <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Fables</i> if it’s something that someone wants to get into. In the
blog post and in all of my social media posts, I never called for people to
boycott <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Fables</i> or Willingham. All I
did was tell my own personal story in the hopes that it would spark discussion.
And I feel that’s been fairly successful.”</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Have you received any bullying or
harassment because of this? </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I’ve gotten
everything from being called a “PC Nazi” and a “hysterical online activist” to
my two favorite insults: “irritable chick with a grrrl power posse” and
“intolerant of intolerance.” I’ve seen it everywhere, from Facebook and Twitter
to blog comments. I fully expected to get trolled, and honestly, it made me
hesitate to post the story. However, I decided that standing up and doing what
I think is right is more important. And if just one person feels empowered by
it, I’m willing to take every horrible insult anyone can fling at me.”</span></div>
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In addition to the (sadly all too common) harassing
comments, there are also articles on popular websites like <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Bleeding Cool</i> throwing around words like ‘boycott’, and wondering
aloud about other titles she may decide to pull <a href="http://www.bleedingcool.com/2015/08/10/bookstore-boycotts-fables-after-bill-willinghams-performance-at-gencon/">“to
remain consistent”</a>. Here is where it is important to remember that Huber
has not called for a ban of Willingham’s books, or even encouraged others to
avoid them; she’s simply decided to stop carrying those titles in her store (a
decision, by the way, that every bookstore owner must constantly make). Bookstores
cannot carry every title ever written, and the decision of which titles to
carry (and which not to) is an essential part of owning a bookstore. Independent
storeowners will often curate their selection based on the profitability of a
title as well as how well it fits with the feel of their shop. </div>
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We are constantly being told to “vote with your dollar” when
we disagree with the practices of a store or vendor; and that is exactly what
Huber is doing. Bookstores aren't gifted the products they sell. They purchase their product in the same way any other retailer does. She isn’t refusing to sell to anyone; she’s just refusing to
buy his product anymore.</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">*Disclaimer* I first wrote about Tubby & Coo's a little over a year ago when they first opened. Since then, Huber and I have become friends. I initially found out about this issue through a post she made on her Facebook page and decided to reach out to her for permission to write this article.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15535088359643751724noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804096219861533099.post-41319026234648355062015-08-13T20:28:00.000-07:002015-09-13T16:24:36.290-07:00Pensacola Comic Convention Happened, and I was There<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4RkPExCkUcezn8G-lMSsdrOZ2y5yYxd5J00ejidrhmJhCWKh_9FcUN_tml9ha1RkwduSIy2HCEuZFx6xZyN5-afC22UyQwSwEMwOYURYsTaDVpnRoqewJCsmVrd6GtJ_kR1s_wp8CjubI/s1600/Paracon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4RkPExCkUcezn8G-lMSsdrOZ2y5yYxd5J00ejidrhmJhCWKh_9FcUN_tml9ha1RkwduSIy2HCEuZFx6xZyN5-afC22UyQwSwEMwOYURYsTaDVpnRoqewJCsmVrd6GtJ_kR1s_wp8CjubI/s1600/Paracon.jpg" /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.pensacolacomiccon.com/" target="_blank">Pensacola Comic Convention</a> (also known as Pensacola Para Con) was this past weekend, and I have to say that despite a bumpy start, I had a blast! Still a relatively small convention, PCC has grown significantly over the years and seems to be putting forth a lot of effort to bring their con to the next level. They had everything from media guests, vendors, live wrestling matches, and even the real BatCopter and BatMobile from the 60's TV show! There were certainly a few areas that could use some improvement, but overall I'm glad I went and I'm definitely looking forward to next year! <br />
<a name='more'></a>First things first, they desperately need a new venue. Held in two buildings at the Pensacola Interstate Fairgrounds, this little con has clearly outgrown their surroundings! The main building was just a giant, open area with a spotty sound system and even spottier air conditioning (the word sweltering was used on several occasions). While the A/C issues were better on the second day, it was still pretty miserable. So much so, in fact, that my fellow blogger and cohort, Gillian of <a href="http://www.coscouture.com/" target="_blank">Cos Couture</a>, filmed this with an A/C vent no more than 10 feet away from us:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxvR01U_uG5bNaWBdG0UbxgaqvosJuwPztm2CPJ0wp1qMRDKTW_UB0y3SwMqGZyxnY1OoQhHlyAVOPLhwEVeA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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To make matters worse, the panels and additional vendors were relegated to a separate building with even worse sound control and zero A/C:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxTJf6emun3WXFb-tBd8WHkch1OFklrIgNxMcVo-7dfqsN7PZ726BJ64deK45bPUyIVn0fMd4_qYRnjMaN00VVO-UO0hzfrbmD4oEaPfwZAiYvJVvADlvtKx60yjYT9Agl3WP_cTWKLavI/s1600/Panel+Room+Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxTJf6emun3WXFb-tBd8WHkch1OFklrIgNxMcVo-7dfqsN7PZ726BJ64deK45bPUyIVn0fMd4_qYRnjMaN00VVO-UO0hzfrbmD4oEaPfwZAiYvJVvADlvtKx60yjYT9Agl3WP_cTWKLavI/s400/Panel+Room+Collage.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The only thing cooling that building were several fans scattered about the place, and the only sound barrier between panels was a wall of curtains that didn't even reach the ceiling. Good news, I guess, if you wanted to attend two panels at once. Not so good if you wanted to actually be able to hear and pay attention to just one.<br />
<br />
To be honest, the setup made PCC feel less like a convention and more like a trade show with costumes. We were actually so disillusioned that we left pretty early in the afternoon on Saturday to check into our hotel and cool off. What awaited us has been affectionately dubbed 'The Murder Room'. Seriously, with Freddy Kruger slash marks in both the sheets AND the chair, suspicious air holes drilled into the top of the closet (no clue what the inside looked like as I barred it with the chair the minute I found the air holes), lights that turned on and off by themselves, and a growling clock radio that refused to tell time (I threw that one into the room's rusty safe when the growling continued after it was unplugged), we're not 100% sure how we made it out alive.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHar_xGtFbZCBuNTr_RuNK3jEl-2C0WXPk9IA0QLSPtiYEVAqMlUkG1SE5bkn8ev24WkkdSP4s-d80iUfwUl4thURRK5gO3pBbLZavxTcQHqDlG7K8HHwk858StnqywedCvWk11fQOHwfh/s1600/Room+Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHar_xGtFbZCBuNTr_RuNK3jEl-2C0WXPk9IA0QLSPtiYEVAqMlUkG1SE5bkn8ev24WkkdSP4s-d80iUfwUl4thURRK5gO3pBbLZavxTcQHqDlG7K8HHwk858StnqywedCvWk11fQOHwfh/s400/Room+Collage.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
We quickly decided that the hilarious absurdity of our room was just the perspective we needed to embrace the following day at PCC with enthusiasm. Sunday was going to be FunDay as we decided to run amok and enjoy the shenanigans.<br />
<br />
There's no better way to inspire shenanigans than to dive into a Scavenger Hunt! The <a href="http://www.pcolacostumersguild.com/" target="_blank">Pensacola Costumer's Guild</a> had a great photo scavenger hunt going on that we quickly devoured. It turned out that running around searching for random items like tentacles and Star Wars droids was a great way to explore the convention. We found the <a href="http://usscontinuum.com/" target="_blank">USS Continuum</a>, a Florida StarFleet chapter, who brought their very own captain's chair to the con (for 5$ you could get your photo taken in it and photo-shopped onto the bridge - which was <b><i>awesome</i></b>), and I got to play with the Sword of Omens from <i>Thundercats</i>!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzYwFv0WNyq35CDgFDfeoyV7BlnEBBF09cnj3SDpyTihdXBVadXrZIGHPfUT8LRy7CNM55JO8Ad2gE6NAHyiemC0yOQDLaDfosqKWglllj3Sss4YRHimROxQcZurOY5kwFGDza966dHKJc/s1600/Scavenger+Hunt+Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzYwFv0WNyq35CDgFDfeoyV7BlnEBBF09cnj3SDpyTihdXBVadXrZIGHPfUT8LRy7CNM55JO8Ad2gE6NAHyiemC0yOQDLaDfosqKWglllj3Sss4YRHimROxQcZurOY5kwFGDza966dHKJc/s400/Scavenger+Hunt+Collage.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
That alone could have been enough fun for me to have fallen in love with this convention, but then I found the Nock family, and their roving <a href="https://www.facebook.com/N3079gBatcopter?ref=br_rs" target="_blank">Batman Museum</a>! This family of diehard fans not only tracked down and acquired one of the 6 Batmobiles used in the original Adam West TV show, but they also have the one and ONLY Batcopter!! Batman has always topped my fandom list, so my geeky, little heart nearly exploded when I sat down inside the Batmobile and the Batcopter. (<i>You guys, my butt has been where Adam West's butt has been!! I died. I'm dead now, and it was totally worth it.</i>) What's more, for a fee they will totally take you for a ride in the Batcopter. Pass the Shark Repellant Bat-Spray, Robin! I spoke with the matriarch of the Nock family, Jessica (a true superwoman with 6 kids and a thriving business), and instantly felt how much love they have for what they do:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"We just decided to create a real moving museum that we would take to events - comic cons, live fairs - and have a real moving museum. So we bring these vehicles, true Americana history, we bring it out to the public. So, we share it. We don't keep it cooped up in a museum. We like to bring it out."</blockquote>
This is the first time I've personally seen these guys at a convention, and I truly don't know why they're not at all of them. It was a dream come true to be able to get into those vehicles, and I hope everyone gets a chance to do the same one day!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVngR64rw81bnw2SyAnDJbIDN11grhNILqintDPg_CGEJyCgZ3Dy9cUToEYPbC4JIpO1zIuQIu7q3hHeZjZ8hNaFYsw5jGFUCDZHwOqTt_aaZRxmd2pN2utdT345WSxLVDsxo3_BGWog5W/s1600/Gotham%2527s+Angels.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVngR64rw81bnw2SyAnDJbIDN11grhNILqintDPg_CGEJyCgZ3Dy9cUToEYPbC4JIpO1zIuQIu7q3hHeZjZ8hNaFYsw5jGFUCDZHwOqTt_aaZRxmd2pN2utdT345WSxLVDsxo3_BGWog5W/s640/Gotham%2527s+Angels.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gillian and I totally look like Gotham's Angels! (Lots more photos in the Vendor Album below)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It was about half-way through day 2 of PCC that Gillian and I realized that the majority of our disappointment from the first day was our own fault. Sure, it was hot and the layout wasn't ideal, but that's not what we go to conventions for. We go to have fun and be surrounded by like-minded people. We go to meet awesome guests, and enjoy experiences we would otherwise never have. That's exactly what we got out of Pensacola Comic Convention once we relaxed, let go of our expectations, and let ourselves run around and be silly fangirls again!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHPiC9HOS3ApTx5b4VNQGsVSmXQ5zwY5wo8AfMgDgvXJUtshDjui0pVTwYaHgnn6C9_1rG67FPhG8EC1HeX-w6H6-dHTx4Pp5LNUYLa_SLQm0wVBN3CUevrcs9R6fKBUYbTp0tvPECd-B1/s1600/Dark+Side+Cookies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHPiC9HOS3ApTx5b4VNQGsVSmXQ5zwY5wo8AfMgDgvXJUtshDjui0pVTwYaHgnn6C9_1rG67FPhG8EC1HeX-w6H6-dHTx4Pp5LNUYLa_SLQm0wVBN3CUevrcs9R6fKBUYbTp0tvPECd-B1/s400/Dark+Side+Cookies.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Dark Side brought cookies!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
Now, here are some of the stand-out vendors I found:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="imgur-embed-pub" data-id="a/Lkk2L" lang="en">
<a href="https://imgur.com/a/Lkk2L">Paracon '15 Vendors</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//s.imgur.com/min/embed.js"></script>...and, of course, I found some great cosplay too!<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="imgur-embed-pub" data-id="a/qH8Ut" lang="en">
<a href="https://imgur.com/a/qH8Ut">Paracon '15 Cosplay</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//s.imgur.com/min/embed.js"></script><br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15535088359643751724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804096219861533099.post-42017790343119766682015-07-22T20:30:00.000-07:002015-09-13T16:29:35.852-07:00MechaCon Happened, and I Was There<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Unlike San Diego, Atlanta, or even New York, New Orleans
isn't known for
a particular convention, but the Gulf Coast is home to
several conventions held throughout the year. It's my goal, here at
She-Geeks, to showcase those smaller (but no less enthusiastic)
conventions. If there is a convention in or around the Gulf Coast that
you'd like to see me cover, please send the convention details to <a href="mailto:eris.shegeeks@gmail.com" target="_blank">eris.shegeeks@gmail.com</a>.</span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ZRAErnYfih4wwVuDhmhZjTps2RS3XVJCb4s7_zda7xlDDu2x3_9onf0c2b1jTfJAN9Bf93flawz_TlHmUvQlsMylyElK9okqzg_JYWScS8y0vmSSTMzkJVKqZihwRTdy8gC7OL2ae4Eu/s1600/MechaCon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ZRAErnYfih4wwVuDhmhZjTps2RS3XVJCb4s7_zda7xlDDu2x3_9onf0c2b1jTfJAN9Bf93flawz_TlHmUvQlsMylyElK9okqzg_JYWScS8y0vmSSTMzkJVKqZihwRTdy8gC7OL2ae4Eu/s320/MechaCon.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">One of New Orleans' largest nerd-centric conventions, <a href="http://www.mechacon.com/" target="_blank">MechaCon</a> entices anime fans, gamers, scifi/fantasy geeks, and everything in between to converge on downtown New Orleans in a colorful display of pastel wigs and impossibly oversized weapons. This year's convention took place during a weekend of shared events and heat advisories. Thankfully, the oppressive, Southern heat didn't seem to scare anyone off, and the convention was full of great vendors, impressive cosplay, and even a few games.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-size: small;">First and foremost, let's discuss how the convention seemed to fair when it came to harassment: MechaCon, sadly, has not participated in the Cosplay is Not Consent movement. While there is a touching and thorough section of the "Attendee Conduct" policy outlining all the reasons hate symbols are not allowed at MechaCon (<i>which is awesome!</i>), issues of harassment are only glazed over in other sections and given a very short "Hands-Off Policy" paragraph in their paper program (neither this policy nor the anti-hate symbol policy appear on their webpage), and there were no signs posted addressing harassment around the convention. Considering how prevalent the issue is in our community (specifically at anime heavy conventions), and considering how many of MechaCon's attendees are under-aged, I was really hoping they'd adopted a more comprehensive and visible harassment policy.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Personally, I noticed a number of aggressive photographers at the convention. One in particular honed in on two young, female cosplayers on the Dealer Room floor. When I spotted them, this photographer was already taking their photo, so I stopped to wait my turn and began chatting with my friend. Nearly a full 5 minutes later I realized he was still taking their photos and encouraging them to get closer and more "friendly" (he all but directly asked them to start making out) as he invaded their space several times to get extremely close up shots. It was...uncomfortable to witness, and potentially avoidable with more of a visible policy. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitkTg7t3aMcjWrRlpahifmVhwd7KTQ4FX21mvDwzUFWo8BXhYD7C4i_dCv-qvI-_kPNcGhOQwD4d9v5IgJK_jFCOkzdb5ugvCJ-8lCvJXtAz7girAgmFhG2NlO28H6MsR7Bqjj67a8uk1f/s1600/bullying+panel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitkTg7t3aMcjWrRlpahifmVhwd7KTQ4FX21mvDwzUFWo8BXhYD7C4i_dCv-qvI-_kPNcGhOQwD4d9v5IgJK_jFCOkzdb5ugvCJ-8lCvJXtAz7girAgmFhG2NlO28H6MsR7Bqjj67a8uk1f/s400/bullying+panel.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">On the plus side, I attended a lovely Anti-Bullying Panel on Friday with <a href="https://www.facebook.com/officialCountD?fref=ts" target="_blank">Queen D</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pinkpariahcosplay" target="_blank">Pink Pariah Cosplay</a>, and <a href="http://stevekenson.com/" target="_blank">Steve Kenson</a>, that managed to start my MechaCon experience on a high. These three were genuine, funny, and insightful (all things I look for in a quality panel). They discussed some cosplay etiquette, the importance of standing up for yourself and those around you, how to approach a friend who may be unwittingly bullying others, and the generally great concept of "mind your own" (as D put it) to avoid bullying others when confronted with lifestyles and life choices with which you may disagree. They connected with the audience through humor and personal stories, and welcomed questions and comments in a true show of community. Truly, a great panel all around!</span></span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDj1dLJqetLf1kQNZvCEUYOdj5cNLmtrNwJXBR-yqJOIhszUDn9OgdSKmhFXjuW_jOTszqIua5DMKB5iwlR6MGHaHzB7zekxrW_BJmNCvbUwVovYBi9emcmMg3N_Bjg3EC5TNdM4Mt3NBJ/s1600/Shiny+Ponies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDj1dLJqetLf1kQNZvCEUYOdj5cNLmtrNwJXBR-yqJOIhszUDn9OgdSKmhFXjuW_jOTszqIua5DMKB5iwlR6MGHaHzB7zekxrW_BJmNCvbUwVovYBi9emcmMg3N_Bjg3EC5TNdM4Mt3NBJ/s400/Shiny+Ponies.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look at the shiny ponies!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">One thing that MechaCon does that is somewhat unique is their Scavenger Hunt. It's pretty massive, and certainly no joke! I helped my friend who won second place last year, and I can honestly say that winning takes some serious dedication. In addition to taking photos of yourself at various events and with various guests, you also had to scour the convention for 9 puzzle pieces scattered throughout the rooms. Even with two of us actively looking, it took the full weekend to find all nine! </span></span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-zQVoM1HTaZbiky88zXOODomV_cC_uBWrgnsn1nvZymvE4AczmzaEz6GyK-vABRZ8ZXT7a2Vv1sUyAz1S5mcI3zSEGmW2KLnIHuPbdeFk5F8JNiVMcdWnp-zH4aNjSSTCJiOSQO1cStMJ/s1600/Savenger+Hunt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-zQVoM1HTaZbiky88zXOODomV_cC_uBWrgnsn1nvZymvE4AczmzaEz6GyK-vABRZ8ZXT7a2Vv1sUyAz1S5mcI3zSEGmW2KLnIHuPbdeFk5F8JNiVMcdWnp-zH4aNjSSTCJiOSQO1cStMJ/s320/Savenger+Hunt.jpg" width="275" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of these little bastards were legitimately hard to find in a crowd.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">If wandering around for the Scavenger Hunt wasn't quite your scene, perhaps the Droid Hunt would be. Conducted by the <a href="http://la501st.com/" target="_blank">Bast Alpha Garrison chapter of the 501st Legion </a> and <a href="http://www.plus1gaming.com/" target="_blank">+1 Gaming</a>, the Droid Hunt was much more passive, but still carried the potential for an awesome pay out. Essentially, you pick up a numbered tag (complete with the beautiful work of a local artist) from the 501st table on Friday, then wear said tag around on Saturday until a trooper "captures" you by taking the bottom half of the tag. Then, starting Sunday morning, pop by the 501st table throughout the day to see if your tag was pulled and you won a prize. It's super easy, adorable, and could net you some sweet Star Wars swag!</span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1wjx1X4DH9knmE7xiePXkPTJw5Vy56lOm2hBTsD9CP8zG7knhkJo_IfOYfU0heQ8jidgp5TQ4JlaZEiLQmwTOrylQFhRWqGRFMMzlI1gwYVEwV35Sx3g7yHlcDJN3GPmhPZ0r9qUrL8xK/s1600/Droid+Hunt+Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1wjx1X4DH9knmE7xiePXkPTJw5Vy56lOm2hBTsD9CP8zG7knhkJo_IfOYfU0heQ8jidgp5TQ4JlaZEiLQmwTOrylQFhRWqGRFMMzlI1gwYVEwV35Sx3g7yHlcDJN3GPmhPZ0r9qUrL8xK/s400/Droid+Hunt+Collage.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">The one real snag I saw at MechaCon was the location. Held at the Hilton Riverside, the hotel itself was less than ideal. While the size of the hotel was certainly adequate, having to navigate three floors of random conference rooms didn't exactly flow well. (To be fair, I'm directionally challenged, so I spent a good portion of the weekend just trying to figure out what floor I was on at any given moment.) In addition, the parking garage was littered with potholes, and due to some bizarre scheduling the convention's registration desk had to move out of the main hallway on Sunday morning to make room for another conference's setup despite that area being the only way to move from the first floor conference rooms to the escalators leading to the upper floors. These few issues were certainly not the fault of the convention organizers though, so all in all, I give MechaCon a thumbs up and I'm looking forward to next year! </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Now, let's take a look at some super cool vendors and awesome cosplay, yes?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><u><b>Cosplay:</b></u></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><br />
<blockquote class="imgur-embed-pub" data-id="a/qeeZt" lang="en">
<a href="https://imgur.com/a/qeeZt">View post on imgur.com</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//s.imgur.com/min/embed.js"></script>
<br />
<u><b>Vendors:</b></u><br />
<blockquote class="imgur-embed-pub" data-id="a/nDNDu" lang="en">
<a href="https://imgur.com/a/nDNDu">MechaCon '15 Vendors</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//s.imgur.com/min/embed.js"></script>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15535088359643751724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804096219861533099.post-60722520013517178752015-06-17T20:32:00.000-07:002015-09-13T16:33:18.989-07:00NOLA Time Fest Happened, and I Was There<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Unlike San Diego, Atlanta, or even New York, New Orleans
isn't known for
a particular convention, but the Gulf Coast is home to
several conventions held throughout the year. It's my goal, here at
She-Geeks, to showcase those smaller (but no less enthusiastic)
conventions. If there is a convention in or around the Gulf Coast that
you'd like to see me cover, please send the convention details to <a href="mailto:eris.shegeeks@gmail.com" target="_blank">eris.shegeeks@gmail.com</a>.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYut0wNEdFC3rIuFMDjqYVYqjWjXeWc3iCnQnXD0lvda869lqkabKuYqBWLVXk4MVc1hNXnnrQ_288ITN_swp1gf0fYJNZenA9XRTGMyuiH0oq4nImeIkxBBqzjIWeYTV2OqsVcL-txRIv/s1600/Time+Fest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="391" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYut0wNEdFC3rIuFMDjqYVYqjWjXeWc3iCnQnXD0lvda869lqkabKuYqBWLVXk4MVc1hNXnnrQ_288ITN_swp1gf0fYJNZenA9XRTGMyuiH0oq4nImeIkxBBqzjIWeYTV2OqsVcL-txRIv/s400/Time+Fest.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
In its third year, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/NOLA-TIME-FEST/727822574001577?fref=ts" target="_blank">NOLA Time Fest</a> is a small con with a ton of enthusiasm! In the two days I was at Time Fest, I saw some amazing <i>Doctor Who</i> themed cosplay, found some wonderful vendors, and even made some new friends:<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
One of the highlights of the convention for me, was the quality of the panels. I sat in on two panels over the weekend (The Moffat Effect & Cosplay Etiquette), and they were two of the most engaging, civil, and thought-provoking panels I've ever sat on. In both cases, I met new people and found myself engaged in conversations with not only the other panelists, but with the audience as well. Despite differing (and passionate) opinions, everyone remained respectful of each other, asked thoughtful questions, and made both panels genuinely delightful.<br />
<br />
Of course, no matter how civil your crowds are, you always have to prepare for chaos. The organizers of Time Fest took security seriously, but made sure to add their own spin on it by utilizing the members of New Orleans' own U.N.I.T. division to keep the peace:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Oyn-8N6e9OKL9LHg-upqGxNdKcVq8iclyOk05-gmicxwEK_FE73SH23rlNdmyuCcxtsTcGeZubNEVakk9V2bPUA2R8XZWYbNVQ3Mrt1v47YbLG_BsmXbrwlIHhjzTExHgJAJa2N2eRNQ/s1600/UNIT+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="337" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Oyn-8N6e9OKL9LHg-upqGxNdKcVq8iclyOk05-gmicxwEK_FE73SH23rlNdmyuCcxtsTcGeZubNEVakk9V2bPUA2R8XZWYbNVQ3Mrt1v47YbLG_BsmXbrwlIHhjzTExHgJAJa2N2eRNQ/s640/UNIT+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Security with style</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Time and time again <span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>(see what I did there?)</i></span>
I was reminded that big name guests and celebrity photo ops are great,
but the hallmark of a fabulous convention is how much fun you can have
just wandering around. Time Fest is as much a community gathering as it
is a convention, and I truly hope it stays that way as it grows. <br />
<br />
Until next year, here are a few of the highlights of NOLA Time Fest III:<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG0saFqdmrsSdjbikghpXAwW37ELsEX-cV5zJEjUBa3Ij9El1HGdRyZsP-3FlST4g0GboSHRFGUpTYIYpSIeuDa484BUJrVAuts4OSqUlZzATuQPB99t1AiYq79ZPZdeWMg59XNU5atHxA/s1600/Catkind.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG0saFqdmrsSdjbikghpXAwW37ELsEX-cV5zJEjUBa3Ij9El1HGdRyZsP-3FlST4g0GboSHRFGUpTYIYpSIeuDa484BUJrVAuts4OSqUlZzATuQPB99t1AiYq79ZPZdeWMg59XNU5atHxA/s640/Catkind.jpg" width="536" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Catkind and The Face of Boe</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixnz_Io7syW7i8CzhmkGL3qO1F9YA_QC0u7yCPRNoyiZyncXCJW3uZGCxPN6pLnpUDktoSInxJib8O-5tW_0fatcY0V9FK92x9VynHJrEdHeV3iYocNRc1hrAzB79owFzckxuKFVT5KloE/s1600/KITT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixnz_Io7syW7i8CzhmkGL3qO1F9YA_QC0u7yCPRNoyiZyncXCJW3uZGCxPN6pLnpUDktoSInxJib8O-5tW_0fatcY0V9FK92x9VynHJrEdHeV3iYocNRc1hrAzB79owFzckxuKFVT5KloE/s640/KITT.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">K.I.T.T. made an appearance!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-xq55l4WnVEKgaKHZrOgTosEmh7FMft8mYXCvmX26FB1mdgxsyHde1f1qtyUz-Z66a14FgMPAXbcUia-2WRsbNEhPml09O1Tlx3yWWqpY7sY_b-1_VRe4ykqPPw2bJthEDfKrAqWDs4KD/s1600/Time+Collision+Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-xq55l4WnVEKgaKHZrOgTosEmh7FMft8mYXCvmX26FB1mdgxsyHde1f1qtyUz-Z66a14FgMPAXbcUia-2WRsbNEhPml09O1Tlx3yWWqpY7sY_b-1_VRe4ykqPPw2bJthEDfKrAqWDs4KD/s640/Time+Collision+Collage.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's a time collision <i>(har har har)</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b><u>Vendors:</u></b><br />
<br />
<blockquote class="imgur-embed-pub" data-id="a/a2kqV" lang="en">
<a href="https://imgur.com/a/a2kqV">Time Fest III Vendors</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//s.imgur.com/min/embed.js"></script><br />
<br />
<u><b>Cosplay:</b></u><br />
<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="imgur-embed-pub" data-id="a/BzBYG" lang="en">
<a href="https://imgur.com/a/BzBYG">Time Fest III Cosplay</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//s.imgur.com/min/embed.js"></script>
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