Now that the world is still here, I have some fun things to attend to. This weekend, I will be at the BayCon science fiction convention, generally talking astronomy, debunking bad guys, and shilling my book. Authors Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle will be there, which is cool, though I don't have any official events with them (yet somehow I will manage to spend some quality time in the guest lounge at some point, I imagine). Actually, while rooting through my closet a few minutes ago, totally by coincidence I found my old old copy of the role playing game "Ringworld" based on a classic series of books by Niven. I'm bringing that with me to get signed. So, there's lots to do. Here's a list of my official stuff:
Saturday, 10:00 a.m. Panel: "Just Where in Centaurus Does a Centauri Come From?" G David Nordley (M), Cris Fitch, Phil Plait, Jim Terman Use and misuse of astronomical nomenclature in science fiction. There are real places out there, with real names--sometimes several real names. Nomenclature has evolved in the past and may keep evolving, but some names are taken. Phenomena have names too, and, well, there are subtleties and borderline objects that are just weird.
Saturday, 4:00 PM Panel: "Podcasts: The Next Generation" Laura Majerus (M), Margaret Bonham, Hugh Daniel, Phil Plait, Scott Sigler, Seth Shostak, Martin Young Radio to TV to Cable to Internet to Podcasts? Will Podcasts rule? Where will we go from here? It's a new way of getting published and getting even closer to your audience, and there's some wonderful stuff out there.
Sunday, 2:30 PM Kaffee Klatsch: Phil Plait I'm guessing here I will drink coffee and debunk things that need caffeinated debunkings.
I'm planning on having fun. I'll have internet access, so if I can I'll do some live blogging while I'm there.
