'Sup? Back and ready to get going.
Music: La Isla Bonita performed by Alizee
Back late yesterday from Novacon 42. My third Novacon in the five years I've been in England and a relaxing, enjoyable experience.
The Novacons are run by the Birmingham SF group and are held each November in Nottingham. They are small affairs with a single stream of discussions that combine literature, science and, what else?, beer. There's also a deal room and an art show, and a few off-stream events.
As one might expect at a smaller con, Novacon has a bit of a clichy feel to it. Many of the attendees are long time SF con-goers and have known each other for sometime. But that's not to say they aren't friendly, and I had a number of enjoyable discussions over the weekend.
Other than the program, however, my principle focus at Novacon is the art show, which was ably run this year, as with most others, by Serena Culfeather and her husband John. Unlike Eastercon, Novacon is short and sweet, lasting essentially one full day plus bits on either site. The art is shown for one full day with an auction at noon on the Sunday.
I missed Novacon last year, as I was recovering from ACL surgery, but this year I brought a suitcase of stuff down, including canvas prints, framed prints, acrylic pictures, snow globes and a mug with heat-sensitive colouring (when filled with hot water, a picture shows on the outside). While I had hoped some of the acrylic desk pictures might sell (but didn't) I was none-the-less pleasantly surprised with the outcome of the auction, which saw the sale of one canvas (Urban Future: Aliens), one framed picture (Gaia), a snowglobe (Gaia), and the mug (The Devil's in the Details).
The result, after what must have been some interesting bidding, was my best showing since I started selling my art. I understand a big part of that was due to the Ternents, who bought several of my pieces, and I'd like to thank them deeply for their support.
So ends Novacon 42 and it's already time to start planning for next year and Eastercon 64. It's right next door in Bradford, so I have no excuse not to exhibit there. And, as always, I've been inspired to get my online art prescence properly sorted out. Again. But this time I'll do it. Really.
Insight and longevity.
Monday, November 12, 2012
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Novacon Weekend!
'Sup? Packin' and cleanin', packin' and cleanin'
Music: Somebody that I used to Troll - SC2 parody of Gotye's song, by SanchoPandaSC
Just packing for Novacon 42: Don't Panic! Yeah, sci-fi fans are so predictable. It's this weekend at the Park Hill Inn in Nottingham. If you're in the area, drop in and say hi. The guest of honour is Jaine Fenn, whom I did an interview with for Utility Fog Press a few years ago. Wow, time really does fly.
And yet, regarding life and cons, I've found a strange temporal dichotomy in my life. While the days seem shorter and time is passing faster, the space between cons somehow seems longer?! I don't really know what to make of that except, perhaps, that I'm distracted by 'real life' more than I've been in the past, and it's consuming much more of my thoughts.
Anyway, this con is a short one, at only about 2 days, as compared to the four days of Eastercon. I'll have some artwork up as usual, although also as usual, I'll be attending the panel discussions and milling about rather than standing dutifully by my display. I'm trying out a few new products and we'll see how they go over. I also have another couple of art product ideas in the pipeline that I couldn't get ready in time. Hint: T-shirt designs and laptop covers for a few.
I'll likely be getting more serious with my CafePress account for these items, but I'll post a note here when I they're ready.
So for now, just packing, getting the art and laptop ready for travel, cleaning the house so the missus doesn't have to worry about it this weekend. The usual pre-travel checklist. Have a good weekend everyone.
Insight and longevity.
Music: Somebody that I used to Troll - SC2 parody of Gotye's song, by SanchoPandaSC
Just packing for Novacon 42: Don't Panic! Yeah, sci-fi fans are so predictable. It's this weekend at the Park Hill Inn in Nottingham. If you're in the area, drop in and say hi. The guest of honour is Jaine Fenn, whom I did an interview with for Utility Fog Press a few years ago. Wow, time really does fly.
And yet, regarding life and cons, I've found a strange temporal dichotomy in my life. While the days seem shorter and time is passing faster, the space between cons somehow seems longer?! I don't really know what to make of that except, perhaps, that I'm distracted by 'real life' more than I've been in the past, and it's consuming much more of my thoughts.
Anyway, this con is a short one, at only about 2 days, as compared to the four days of Eastercon. I'll have some artwork up as usual, although also as usual, I'll be attending the panel discussions and milling about rather than standing dutifully by my display. I'm trying out a few new products and we'll see how they go over. I also have another couple of art product ideas in the pipeline that I couldn't get ready in time. Hint: T-shirt designs and laptop covers for a few.
I'll likely be getting more serious with my CafePress account for these items, but I'll post a note here when I they're ready.
So for now, just packing, getting the art and laptop ready for travel, cleaning the house so the missus doesn't have to worry about it this weekend. The usual pre-travel checklist. Have a good weekend everyone.
Insight and longevity.
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
An Open Letter to Big Biz re:Galactic Economies
'Sup? Packing and stuff
Music: Live to Win by Paul Stanley
Dear Big Biz,
How you doing? Pretty good I think, despite the global economy. Don't worry, I'm not hear to rant, and I'm not here to talk politics or ideologies. I'm here to talk money.
By now there's little doubt that consumerism is where it's at. Not only is it useful for distracting the third estate, but it's also the easiest, and least violent, road to power. Well, generally less violent, but I promised I wouldn't be distracted by politics. But the thing is, while you've amassed power here on Earth, you've surely realized that is peanuts to the kind of wealth and power that resides 'out there'. Yep. I mean in space.
But I know you don't believe me, or you'd already be out there, so here me out.
Yes, many a sci-fi writer has tried, in vain, to convince you that just mining the asteroids itself would be a more worthwhile venture than anything possible on Earth alone. You haven't listened to them, so I don't expect you to listen to me. Instead, I'll appeal to your megalomania.
And let's face it, you all have that in spades. The reason for getting wealthy in the first place may be personal, but sooner or later everyone with power begins to think of building their dynasty. So I'm coming at you from right between your legs. Yep, you're offspring, you're little tykes, you're sperm and eggs that will ensure your immortality in the history books.
So the first thing to realize is that all you've amassed, all you've built could be lost at the drop of a hat. That is,, a mile wide, rocky hat crashing into us from space. Sad isn't it, that one tiny huck of debris could instantly vapourize all your hard work, all your future? And there's one on the way that has better odds of hitting Earth than you do of winning the lottery.
Or maybe some psychologically-challeged genius invents a [enter your worst fear here] and wipes out most/all of the human race. That's also a very real possibility, especially as technology advances and more and more hi-tech reaches the hands of the average person. As likely as not, this could also happen in the current century.
So, reason number one to go into space: survival. To let the dynasty live on. If the eggs are in different baskets, they can't be destroyed by one careless act.
Admittedly, you must have heard that reason and have already made your decision whether or not to believe/worry about it. Most likely you've decided it's all a bunch of hoo-ha, being as I haven't heard of any deep-crust shelters or space arks under construction. So, I've got another reason that will appeal to your patriotic zeal and desire for control. Oh yea, and untold wealth. And as far as we know, it's ours for the taking. What we don't know is how long that will last.
Just think of it. Earth is one tiny planet circling one pretty insignificant star. Our galaxy is 100,000 light years across with several hundred-million stars. Circling each star, on average, there are likely to be several planets based on what we've been finding in the last few decades. To date, of course, we know of precisely one intelligent species. Us.
So, assuming that's all there is at the moment, there's no hurry. Except for one thing.
We don't know if we're alone.
There could be numerous intelligent lifeforms in our own galaxy that we simply haven't had time to detect. Consider that SETI, the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence, has been searching the skies for around 50 years with no success. In real terms, that means they've been able to detect radio waves that were no more than 50 light years away when SETI started. I remind you that the galaxy is 100,000 light years across and we are 20,000 light years from the closest edge--and therefore, obviously, about 80,000 light years from the other edge.
In other words, we've barely scratched the surface of the search.
Now, it's true that if a space-faring civilization existed 100,000 years ago we could be detecting them. If they haven't died out. Or moved on. Or learned how to hide their transmissions. But it's not unreasonable to think that intelligence takes time to evolve, and thus they may have reached civilization on a time scale very close to ours. Or perhaps even a little bit after us.
So they could be out there, at a similar stage of development to us. Do you really want them to take control of space first? Think what that could mean.
1. Their galactic empire grows first.
2. They take control of unique resources, allowing them to grow further and faster.
3. Their empire dominates the galaxy.
Now, maybe that doesn't sound bad to you. After all, they could be friendly. Everything might work out well... despite numerous examples in human history to the contrary.
But I know you. And I know you would not be happy with this situation. And I know why.
Because you wouldn't control the economy.
Yes, that's right. Whoever gets out there first, whoever gets their empire built first, sets the rules. And that includes the economic rules. Humans would instantly become second-class citizens in the galaxy, having to live in a system created by real aliens--not the kind you pretend to dislike while secretly hiring to avoid paying employee taxes. No, these are honest to goodness, bonafide, don't think like humans, may not particularly like humans, aliens. Only we'd be the ones asking for crap jobs to live in their rich civilization.
So, Big Biz, as I know you're all about controlling power, why aren't you creating space programs, and encouraging research into extraterrestrial colonization. Because if they beat you to it, you'll never regain that lost power.
Best wishes,
Edwin H Rydberg
P.S. Insight and longevity
Music: Live to Win by Paul Stanley
Dear Big Biz,
How you doing? Pretty good I think, despite the global economy. Don't worry, I'm not hear to rant, and I'm not here to talk politics or ideologies. I'm here to talk money.
By now there's little doubt that consumerism is where it's at. Not only is it useful for distracting the third estate, but it's also the easiest, and least violent, road to power. Well, generally less violent, but I promised I wouldn't be distracted by politics. But the thing is, while you've amassed power here on Earth, you've surely realized that is peanuts to the kind of wealth and power that resides 'out there'. Yep. I mean in space.
But I know you don't believe me, or you'd already be out there, so here me out.
Yes, many a sci-fi writer has tried, in vain, to convince you that just mining the asteroids itself would be a more worthwhile venture than anything possible on Earth alone. You haven't listened to them, so I don't expect you to listen to me. Instead, I'll appeal to your megalomania.
And let's face it, you all have that in spades. The reason for getting wealthy in the first place may be personal, but sooner or later everyone with power begins to think of building their dynasty. So I'm coming at you from right between your legs. Yep, you're offspring, you're little tykes, you're sperm and eggs that will ensure your immortality in the history books.
So the first thing to realize is that all you've amassed, all you've built could be lost at the drop of a hat. That is,, a mile wide, rocky hat crashing into us from space. Sad isn't it, that one tiny huck of debris could instantly vapourize all your hard work, all your future? And there's one on the way that has better odds of hitting Earth than you do of winning the lottery.
Or maybe some psychologically-challeged genius invents a [enter your worst fear here] and wipes out most/all of the human race. That's also a very real possibility, especially as technology advances and more and more hi-tech reaches the hands of the average person. As likely as not, this could also happen in the current century.
So, reason number one to go into space: survival. To let the dynasty live on. If the eggs are in different baskets, they can't be destroyed by one careless act.
Admittedly, you must have heard that reason and have already made your decision whether or not to believe/worry about it. Most likely you've decided it's all a bunch of hoo-ha, being as I haven't heard of any deep-crust shelters or space arks under construction. So, I've got another reason that will appeal to your patriotic zeal and desire for control. Oh yea, and untold wealth. And as far as we know, it's ours for the taking. What we don't know is how long that will last.
Just think of it. Earth is one tiny planet circling one pretty insignificant star. Our galaxy is 100,000 light years across with several hundred-million stars. Circling each star, on average, there are likely to be several planets based on what we've been finding in the last few decades. To date, of course, we know of precisely one intelligent species. Us.
So, assuming that's all there is at the moment, there's no hurry. Except for one thing.
We don't know if we're alone.
There could be numerous intelligent lifeforms in our own galaxy that we simply haven't had time to detect. Consider that SETI, the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence, has been searching the skies for around 50 years with no success. In real terms, that means they've been able to detect radio waves that were no more than 50 light years away when SETI started. I remind you that the galaxy is 100,000 light years across and we are 20,000 light years from the closest edge--and therefore, obviously, about 80,000 light years from the other edge.
In other words, we've barely scratched the surface of the search.
Now, it's true that if a space-faring civilization existed 100,000 years ago we could be detecting them. If they haven't died out. Or moved on. Or learned how to hide their transmissions. But it's not unreasonable to think that intelligence takes time to evolve, and thus they may have reached civilization on a time scale very close to ours. Or perhaps even a little bit after us.
So they could be out there, at a similar stage of development to us. Do you really want them to take control of space first? Think what that could mean.
1. Their galactic empire grows first.
2. They take control of unique resources, allowing them to grow further and faster.
3. Their empire dominates the galaxy.
Now, maybe that doesn't sound bad to you. After all, they could be friendly. Everything might work out well... despite numerous examples in human history to the contrary.
But I know you. And I know you would not be happy with this situation. And I know why.
Because you wouldn't control the economy.
Yes, that's right. Whoever gets out there first, whoever gets their empire built first, sets the rules. And that includes the economic rules. Humans would instantly become second-class citizens in the galaxy, having to live in a system created by real aliens--not the kind you pretend to dislike while secretly hiring to avoid paying employee taxes. No, these are honest to goodness, bonafide, don't think like humans, may not particularly like humans, aliens. Only we'd be the ones asking for crap jobs to live in their rich civilization.
So, Big Biz, as I know you're all about controlling power, why aren't you creating space programs, and encouraging research into extraterrestrial colonization. Because if they beat you to it, you'll never regain that lost power.
Best wishes,
Edwin H Rydberg
P.S. Insight and longevity
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)