Monday morning: Bonus time!

1. So I don't have to go into work until 11:30 a.m. or so, because I am judging some kind of 4-H speaking contest tonight. It's one of those things that happens when you work with youth. The 4-H guy needs something judged, the folks at the Council for Prevention need something judged, they call me (and others). I need something, I call them. Yes, it's collaboration. It also means I have time to make a trash run this morning.

2. More pumpage of my friends. (I do not like to pimp, so I pump).

jenwrites, oh, I am sorry, the lovely and Nebula-nominated jenwrites, will be signing her new book, Unwelcome Bodies, her first anthology of short fiction,  at Pandemonium  on  Friday, March 14th, starting at 7:00 PM. Unwelcome Bodies collects stories previously published in a wide variety of genre magazines, including Apex, Helix, and Electric Velocipede, and includes the Nebula-nominated story "Captive Girl."

Jen also got a boost from someone a lot more impressive than me. I highly recommend John Scalzi's blog Whatever, and today Jen gets a guest spot.

3. Oh, how could I forget noelfigart's Polyamorous Misanthrope column.

4. Here's something of note for those of us who read Audiobooks.

5. I had a gift certificate from Barnes & Noble, and I decided to get some old-school CDs that I don't have any more:

The Essential Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show

The 50th Anniversary Collection, Jim Croce
 
Gift Wrapped: The Best of the Arrogant Worms
 
Searchin' for a Rainbow, Marshall Tucker Band
 
The Essential Charlie Daniels Band

Southern Rock will never die.

I want to learn about cons . . .

I *know* there are folks here who can help with this.

Does anyone know of a good web site or two that detail how to run science-fiction conventions?

I have volunteered and attended (and run SCA events), but it looks as though I cam going to be fairly involved n Albacon in October.

I am looking for general information, and I am also looking for specifics, such as:

"How do writers wind up at Cons?"

"Who pays what expenses?"

 "How do you recruit dealers?"

"What is involved in setting up panels?"

"If you have ben the PR person for a con, what are the best ways to get the word out?

I may not be involved in all these thigs (although I do expect to be doing PR), but I am very interested.

Seeking Darius or Roxane . . .

Yes, I know I post a lot when I don't have to go to work until 11:30 a.m.

I am trying to get in touch with Their Graces.

The e-mail I had for Roxane just bounced, and I have sent an e-mail to Darius but have not gotten a response.

Other e-mails would help, but mostly I am looking for a phone number. We certainly know each other well enough that I am sure they would not mind if I had it.

Thanks,

Liam

Edit: Got two responses within 40 minutes. All set. I love my friends.

Tuesday night: How geeky is *your* friends' list?

1. In the 98 posts that start with ladypeyton being the first person to tell me Gary Gygax had died, 26 of 98 were about him, including two runs of three posts in a row and a couple of 5-of-7. In the early going 16 of 48 (a full third) were about him. I think there were three Brett Favre retires posts.

2. You will notice I am not judging a 4-H contest. The forecast of icy rain led the schools to cancel evening activities. Tomorrow, I need to figure out whether we're going to have our big monthly committee meeting.

3. Frigga's got a great set of Northern Lights pitcures here. Results are there, also.

4. Much to my chagrin, I just realized the cats have trained me.

Liam opens a can.

The cats, thinking "gooshy food!" come and discover it's tomato soup.

Liam feels badly.

So he gives them some kitty treats, which are conveniently in the kitchen.

Every time.