Norwescon 2014 - Costumes

If you want to see pictures taken by lots of people of lots of people at NORWESCON, head here.

 One Classic and two Black Ops Star Trek outfits

 Vampire warrior and gnome sidekick

 Steampunk adventurer

 A Star Wars Mandalorian, Female warrior and a dude.

 Star Trek Andorian and Orion with children.

 Wicked Witch of the West from Wizard of Oz.

 Gwen Stacy with spider-man's powers.

 Babylon 5 Psi-Corps and animatronic faced fox.

Seattle - Sharp's Roast House

We've made it a point to eat at Sharps Roast House every year we go to NORWESCON in Seattle's Seatac area. As it is just across the road from the hotel its easy to get to and has fantastic meat dishes.

I had the short ribs as my one and only meal. It had a dry rub of ten spices. It reminded me of a Meditterainian rub I made for beef jerky once and was plesant. We will continue to come back here again.

NORWESCON 2014 - Saturday, Sunday and Overview

Continuing from the last NORWESCON post, I attended the following panels on Saturday: Future of Farming, She is a Starship, Japanese SF, XCOR Countdown to First Flight, Nanotech making Asteroid Resources Obsolete, and the last half of the Death*Star and first half of the Doubleclicks concert.

Future of Farming: A good overview on pros and cons of new farming techniques, crops to grow for space travel, habitats or after an apocalypse, and fears of what is happening and to come. I got a story idea for a book or RPG while I was there too.

She is a Starship: This panel had several experts talking about designs and propulsion a starship could use to travel to our nearest neighbours.

Japanese SF: A sub-par panel that was only redeemed with explanations on how the book industry works in Japan. Editor of VIZ's novel translation division was there.

XCOR: A private companies brief on past developments in engine and airframe construction and what the future hold for them. Possible launch of thier orbital craft due in Fall 2014. Awesome explanations, pictures and video.

Nanotech making Asteroid Resources Obsolete: Interesting talk on the resources that are rare on Earth now, what won't be rare once nanotech mining is possible, what we need to mine from asteroids in the future, and how to get there. There was many arguments and agreements between various panelists on what was plentiful on Earth and in space which made me realize how much we don't know, as thier credentials were credible.

Death*Star: These two geek rap artists were not awesome but thier attitude and humour were. Parental advisory warning.

Doubleclicks: This sister duo had clever and cute geek music.

In the evening my wife attended the Scotch off given by the Solar Federation. She has attended every year and always looks great in her formal dresses (probably a good reason why she gets repeat invitations). I do not like hard alcohol so I do other things...like gaming!

I presided over a Fiasco RPG game. Fisco is a gamemasterless role playing game that has multiple free playsets to act out and all end up badly while having fun. It also requires minimal dice rolling to concentrate on the role playing. We played the Rat Patrol playset where we are newly freed rats who were experimented on to grant encyclopedic knowledge and human level intelligence...who seek revenge. Very good fun was had by all.

Sunday was packing, breakfast at Denny's, a quick run through the dealers room, and the long drive home. BTW, Phil Foglio was there at his dealers table with lots of Girl Genius graphic novels and novel novels, amongst other things.

All in all an average convention for me and my wife. Outstanding events for her were the room parties and the Michael Moorcock Q&A. My outstanding events were the Catherine Plesko talk on asteroid impacts, XCOR panel and the deal I got in the dealers room.

Next year's writer is George RR Martin (of Game of Thrones fame), science gueast of honor is Amy Mainzer, and artist guests of honor are Boris Vallejo and Julie Bell. Should be a crowded convention!

Seattle - Copperleaf Resteraunt

I discovered this place several years ago when looking for restaurants in the area of the NORWESCON convention hotel, the Doubletree at Seatac. Cedarbrook lodge, home of the Copperleaf Restaurant, is set in several acres of greenery that secludes itself from the airport area. It also is a supurb dining experience and a menu that keeps us coming back again and again.

I started with the baby gem lettuce (with Toasted Filberts, Fines Herbs, Grain Mustard Vinaigrette) then moved on to my main of Painted Hills Short Rib Bourguignon (with Grilled Trumpet Royal Mushrooms, Young Turnips, Oxbow Farm Carrots, Burgundy Glace) and had a dessert of Meyer Lemon Souffle Glace (with Caramelized Honey Ice Cream, Black Pepper Shortbread).

My wife had the Cavolo Nero Gnudi (with Butternut Squash, Caramelized Onions, Parmesan Reggiano) then a main of Bacon-Wrapped Wild Boar Sirloin (Sicilian Pistachios, Thyme-Poached Pears, Butternut Squash, Pearl Barley Risotto).

A friend of mine had the Lobster Bisque (with White Cheddar English Muffin, Bearnaise Mousseline) and a main of Pleasant View Farm Moulard Duck ”A L’Orange” (with Caramelized Salsify, Brussels Sprouts, Navel Orange, Pumpernickel Toast).

It was all delicious. Unfortunatly I did not have my regular dessert of Theo’s Hot Chocolate Pot for Two with Homemade Cinnamon Doughnuts as my wife and friend were too full for it and its too much for me. Next year for sure.

NORWESCON 2014 - Intro and Friday

My wife and I try to head down to Seattle every Easter. Not primarily for shopping, although we both do that, but to go to NORWESCON. It is a science-fiction and Fantasy convention that occurs every Easter. This year's writer guest of honour was Michael Moorcock and science guest of honour was Catherine Plesko. They have panels on gaming, art, history, writing, science, fan genere, relationships and lifestyles and much more. They also have large and small book publishers, dealers room, dances, gaming (role, board and video, and room parties. It has a little bit of everything. Below is our view out the window in the morning. Nice.

Although the convention started Thursday afternoon, we did not arrive till late Thursday due to an unknown illness of our cat, Squeak. Fortunately we have very good friends that took care of him.

The dealers room had less books and more games, alas. That did not mean that there was not cool stuff.

The panels I went to on Friday were the following: Roman Gladius and Scutum Combat, Impacts that built the Solar System, Monster Mash, and the Fannish Fetish Show.

Roman Gladius and Scutum Combat: This was a hands on class in how to do the basics of combat with a Roman sword and shield as well as unit tactics. This was taught by Tiberius Marius Corax who is part of Castra Ferrata. This is an Iron Age historical recreation group and they know their stuff. My shoulder was quite sore from the shieldwork that we did and taught me more about period combat in Roman times.

Impacts that built the Solar System: This was given by Catherine Plesko who is an excellent speaker. I learned more about how asteroids can change, for better or worse, the future of planets from life-giving substances upon impact or changing the shape of a solar system from afar due to gravitational impacts.

Monster Mash: This was a workshop that I have been meaning to get into for years. Mimi Noyes gathers discarded stuffed animals from her sources and the class picks through them, rips them apart and makes new creations. Mine is pictured below; the King of flying spider monkeys. It will look great at work hanging overhead.

Fannish Fetish Show: I had heard interesting things about this show and decided to attend with some friends I had not seen in a long time. I was expecting more of a burlesque show, like the Victoria Cheesecake Burlesque Review. What I got was more darker and more on the fetish side. I realize that some are very interested in BDSM and such but I am not. There was one designer that had a brilliant black and white line that is fashionable. The BDSM performances though were very uncomfortable for me. My friends agreed that it was not the same as previous years and others agreed that it should be split into two; a burlesque and fun show and a darker show.

After that I got changed into my Deep Space Nine Star Trek uniform and met my wife in her classic Star Trek outfit (with purring tribble) for a room party: The Gnomes and the Cult of Scott Bakula. They have been combining together for a room party for a few years and they have good mead. Soon after arriving my wife and I realized how tired we were and retired for the evening. Some of the room party pics are below, including the Cult of Scott Bakula/Gnomes.

Dim Sum at Don Mee and Golden City

I was downtown last weekend and had not had dim sum for a while do had lunch at Don Mee's. I have eaten here before but this time i was alone. Dim sum is not as fun solo. Not only do you not try a cacophany of things but it feels odd when there are so many other groups. It was tasty though. I had a pork dumpling, scallop and shrimp dumpling and some rice fried with ham bits and shrimp.

This led me to compare it to Golden City, just two blocks up Fisguard. It is a little smaller and not as well known, but tastier and less greasy. With Golden City there are fewer carts and more ordering but still fun.

Pre-NORWESCON 2014

I will shortly be heading to NORWESCON 2014, a science fiction and fantasy convention, with my wife.

Writer guest of honor is Michael Moorcock, who wrote Elric, Behold the Man and others.

I'll give a full report over the next week.

Postcard of the Interwebs - 16 April 2014

Basic Income as a Human Right: An insightful commentary, for the most part, on REDDIT that talks about the large amounts of Pros such a system would be.

474 Free Art Books: Made available from the New York MET and the Guggenheim.

Largest Ever Family Tree could help determine Dominant Genes: Yaniv Erlich had combined the linage of 13 million persons to form one family tree, a feat that can help analyze what genes and traits are more dominant than others.

Enceladus has an Ocean on its Southern Half: University of Rome has confirmed, through orbital analysis of the Cassini probe, that there is a large ocean on the Southern half of Enceladus, one of Saturn's moons. This was the moon that was spouting a water geyser in 2005 when Cassini swung by.

Lars Anderson shoots arrows faster than Legolas: This man has in three years learned a forgotten skill of speed archery, used by many cultures in past times. Awesome videos.

Yellowstone activity getting worse?: The underground activity in and around Yellowstone has been getting worse. Lets hope its an earthquake and not an eruption, otherwise the central and Eastern parts of North America will potentially hugely affected.

37 Wonderful Dr Seuss quotes: Some words of wisdom from Dr Seuss.

Sushi Langford

For lunch, I suggested Sushi Langford as I had heard good things about it through my wife. I and my co-workers were floored by the excellent taste and size of the Lunch Special Bento Boxes! They are also open seven days a week and have very nice decor. They also have a cool appetizer called Monkey Brain that I must try the next time I am there.

Postcard of the Interwebs - 02 April 2014

Paint that never fades inspired by Bird Feathers: Harvard reasearchers have discovered how to mimic the aspect of bird's feathers amplifying certain colors for use in paint.

Life Discovered in our Solar System may be Ours: A little article that surmises that because of the massive destruction wrought by the meteor impact off Mexico about 65 million years ago, peices of Earth would have been flung throughout the solar system. These chunks could have landed on bodies nearby and been the beginnings of life.

Saturn's North Polar Hexigon Pattern captured by Cassini probe: Awesome pics by this fantastic little spaceship. Explaination of why its shaped like a hexigon given by Emily Lakdawalla here.

Evolution Explained in a Comic Strip: An in depth look at evolution throught he comic book format.

Bad Moods have thier advantages: Nice article on what bad moods provide a person and why its useful.

How Brains flush Toxic fluids better when Sleeping: An eye opening article on the benifits of sleep.

How people can make them do what you want: A very detailed study on the people that can read others emotions and use that knowledge to influence them for the readers own gains.