Random crapola.


1. Ever have a laugh about the free samples they have sitting around stores? Cheese cubes, tortilla chips, sliced fruit, etc. People diving in to get some to eat. Come on. We ALL know what pineapple tastes like, or corn chips. People just want to eat free food. I saw some free sample cheese puffs at Whole Foods. Please. Who needs a sample of cheese puffs? We all know what they're about, man. Or bread! Little cut up pieces of bread. WHAT DOES BREAD TASTE LIKE??? I have no idea.

I suspect that it might increase sales not because my gosh!...I never realized how good cheese puffs are so thank goodness they had a sample..it's because it probably makes people hungry and it becomes an impulse purchase. So it's not so much about education but creating that sudden need to snack.

2. Ever get sick of reading biographies of someone you want to know more about, and it's written by their former wife and the woman spends at least 1/3 of the book talking about her own boring life? Jeez! I bought a copy of Patti Boyd's "Wonderful Tonight" a few months back. A huge chunk of the book is dedicated to her rambling memoirs of personal insecurities, boring vacations and all the personal growth issues she is still working on today! BORE!!!!!!!!!!! You find out how little she actually knows about *anything* but her own muddled perspective on things. How many times am I going to have to read about her cats and cooking hobby?

3. I have an addition to the "angriest parking lots in LA' list. The Whole Foods lot on the corner of Canoga and Ventura in Woodland Hills. This property consists of a Whole Foods with a very long, narrow and small parking lot, AND, ironically, a Burger King! There's not enough room really for the Burger King AND the store, and not enough parking, thus it turns all the left wing, socially conscience granola munchers into angry, impatient "parking ragers"...fighting for a precious parking spot and being clogged up in a big long line to slowly snake thru the lot to either get in or out. It's one of the most awkwardly constructed parking arrangements and sure to get one's blood pressure up before they wander in to get their tofu and stress relieving herbal bath bombs.

If anything, it just shows that anyone, regardless of personal convictions or politics can quickly be reduced to a selfish, infuriated, competitive creature racing to grab that 10" by 6" space before you do.

4. What is it about the internet that brings out the most hysterical reactions from people? Not hysterical in a funny way, but in this weird, alarmist, finger wagging condemning way. You'll see some cute little video, for instance, on YouTube, of some ducklings swimming around in a bathtub. The water is kinda dirty because, well, ducklings poop all the time, so you have 8 ducklings in a tub and the water is a bit murky and you get all these hysterical comments under the video that someone is abusing the ducks by peeing in the water and they are serious! Then the person who posted the video has to make some huge explanation that baby ducks are very dirty (They are! I've acted as a brief foster mom to ducks as well)...there is something so reactionary about people on the net, you do one thing and it's wildly misinterpreted and you regret even sharing it with people.

5. Internet forums are the worst for this hysterical behavior. Hate to say it, but women tend to do this alot. Cuz so many of 'em think the biggest crime in the WORLD is to "be rude." "You're being RUDE!" they scream...because you actually TELL THE TRUTH about something. Has anyone else ever seen a good forum become a big boring piece of crap because you have to go along with ONE hysterical soccer mom type who waits in the wings only to swoop down and reprimand you about BEING RUDE? I hate that. Or you say something and it makes some woman cry, or so she says. Hahahahahaha! Come on!! Crying..because of something someone says on the net. And of course, because SHE cried, she wins..and the forum or group coddles this inane behavior and you're sidelined. I've seen quite a few forums covering alot of different subjects become castrated, boring flatline places that used to be fun and lively. And I'm not necessarily talking about myself..I've seen lots of outspoken, intelligent and funny voices silenced because someone was "offended"..another huge crime especially for wimminfolk. THAT'S OFFENSIVE! And I'm sure most of them are also the ones raging on about perceived animal abuse on some of the funny YouTube vids as well. Ducks being peed on, cats being tortured, whatever. Wild, blown out of proportion misconceptions because they are constantly on alert for victims, and waiting to blow the whistle.

It's like these people are raw, open bleeding wounds psychologically and cannot take a joke, an alternative opinion or anything that doesn't make them feel comfy cozy and in control. It's the pussification of the net, just like the US in general is. Makes me wanna barf!!!!!!!

So there! Ha! Whaddya think of THAT? I'd love to hear your opinions of retarded internet experiences.

I went! I enjoyed it, and have some "footage" I'll post later.

I regret that I did not have my camera up and going when one woman stood up from her chair and her shorts were halfway down her butt..she either didn't have any underwear on or they had slipped down with her shorts, but almost her whole butt was exposed. A few people turned with disgust and someone said "This is a family event!!!"

Since when are buttcracks not part of the family?

Crap! I really wanted to stick around until she got up again and get a photo of it. I forgot and went home. Butt! I found a link you can click on here that demonstrates what it looked like..so click ONLY if you want to view the species known as Buttcrackious Shortsdownius.

http://jeromio.com/zoh/oldbullshit/RobsButtCrack.jpg

Somehow at THIS parade this was totally appropriate. :0

Hey, I gotta go pick up my bike. It's ready to go. See ya later.

All righty, it's trivia quiz time.  What John Phillip Sousa march is it that these lyrics would be sung to?:

Be kind to our fine-feathered friends,
That duck may be somebody's mother...

Two parts to this little musical trivia quiz:

1. Sousa march? Which one?
2. And just what are the rest of the lyrics?  That's all I could remember and it's driving me nuts!  I Googled it, but wasn't entirely happy with the lyrics I spotted.  They just didn't scan correctly, and it has to be something that one would be able to learn to sing in grade school.
   

I'm debating out of sheer curiousity if I should attend the local yokel Fourth of July parade they do up here. It's kinda wacky/goofy. I live in the foothills behind Burbank and there's a whole class of people up here that are kinda kooky. I mean, you've got a mix of horse property, nice big country kinda homes and then the dregs. Weird scuzzy types. There's also a booby hatch nearby and they let the people out during the day to roam, then they return at night like homing pigeons. You get all kinds around here.

Anyway, I did the parade once years ago when I had my '51 Packard. We all lined up on a backstreet beforehand. It was kinda neat because there were horses and stuff, horses are always cool, but it was a hokey affair. We sat in the Packard for about a half hour, and in front of us were a couple who were struggling to put together this decrepit old hang glider they had dragged out of the garage after 20 years. It kept collapsing on them. I guess they represented a local hang gliding club, but my god, I sure hope they never actually used that taped together busted up old thing. From behind the wheel of my parked car I watched the middle aged lady repeatedly reassemble the crumbling thing, and every time she bent over I could see her flowered underwear showing thru her white shorts. This happened, of course, numerous times.

Finally it was time to slowly make our way down the street. I suppose I shouldn't be so judgmental, it was a simple, home spun little parade, and I watched all the people who had lined up on the sidewalks to watch. God help me, I'm going to go to hell for this but man oh man, the characters that were lined up to watch..schlumped over corn toothed old men, looney bin patients, freaks and geeks, meth addicts. And they were totally into it. It was like slowly driving past the graveyard scene in the Haunted Mansion. Plus the hang glider in front of us kept collapsing, and Mrs. flowered undies had to keep up with her ever collapsing glider, clearly a death trap destined to crash into the nearest mountain if ever used.

So yeah, I guess I'm sort of being a jerk about it, but I can't NOT notice the wacky, cracky audience, but they were so into it. It was endearing and weird. So maybe I'll walk up the street and see what's up this year. Who knows, the hang gliding lady might be back. There is also a local "No To Home Depot" campaign wagon that makes an annual appearance. We are fighting a Home Depot that wants to take over an old K-Fart space. Everyone wants a Target, we really need a department store here, not another hardware store, we've got plenty. And of course the horses. And Scientologists always trying to blend in and look like positive community activists. Ugh.

Well, we'll see. If I can drag my carcass out of bed early enough I might mosey on down with my camera.

Here's some footage from last year's parade..it doesn't look as bad as I'm saying..but you can see it's kinda wacky and spontaneous. OK. we don't have the glitz of Beverly Hills but in the end, the weird and wacky is ALWAYS more interesting.




Happy Fourth, all!!!

I actually don't mind an earworm if it is a GOOD song.

Duncan Sheik, remember him? No? ( Read more... )

Like clockwork, just before each summer comes, the media lays into the travel industry. You get these doom and gloom forecasts, on the dot every May/June about how it's going to be the worst summer for travel ever. I've started to watch this trend and now I am wondering what the deal is.

Sure, fuel costs are rising, companies merge, go under, whatever. This is business! But every year, magazines and newspapers carp on about how unaffordable and awful travel is going to be..especially air travel. The media seems to have a personal gripe against the airlines.

Air travel can be miserable, sure. But let's put this into perspective. You are paying for a service that can pick you up in California in the morning and drop you in Paris by evening. You take a chance with something this complex. Flights might be delayed, you might get stuck next to some freak for 8 hours or so. But most of the time..*most of the time*..it IS bearable. And for what you are doing..flying halfway around the world in less than a day..it's truly a luxury.

But on they go, filling you with dread and fear and terror about that next trip to the airport to the point that it's like they WANT you to cancel your plans, and go home and hide. I mean I don't understand what is behind this regular beating of "travel costs." Travel IS an expense..should it not be? And plus..let's say you are used to paying $700 for a flight, now it's $825. Is that really going to kill you..make you cancel that exciting trip to Italy or the Bahamas? Are you supposed to give up that quickly?

There of course are nightmare stories about traveling..traffic, the struggle of getting thru security, cancelled flights..these are the risks and trials of life. In a perfect world we could all just step on a private jet with a reclining seat and big screen TV all to ourselves..but this isn't a perfect world. The rest of us use commercial airliners..coach, specifically. Which brings me to one of my more pressing questions..one of the threats I've heard two years in a row is "more crowded planes." Think about that statement for a moment.


A crowded plane. So...this must mean that all the seats will be filled...as opposed to there being any empty seats here and there. So what's the big deal. All the seats are filled. The plane is built to handle having every passenger in every seat. So why is this alarming..the "more crowded planes" concept, In an airplane, you cannot seat anymore in than there are already seats for, so the buck stops there. A full plane of people should not affect you, as you have paid for your little area of space, you're being fed and given drinks and have a TV in front of you. So what's this "crowding" thing.

Airplanes don't let an endless stream of uncounted numbers of passengers just kinda hang onto an overhead rail like a subway car or bus, standing in the aisles, getting in your way, stealing your seat when you get up.

So what exactly is a "crowded" plane. Or, let's say..what does it mean that planes will be MORE crowded than ever. Meaning, they finally have ALL the seats filled up? Why should I care? How does that affect the seat I paid for? My personal, bought for space?

Anyway, I just thought about this because I saw yet ANOTHER "destroy your summer vacation hopes and just stay home" articles. Everyone wants to convince you to stay home, because uh...what. Airlines are going to start charging $25 for a checked bag. MY GOD!!!!!!!!! You probably spent that just at StarBucks this week.

And yes, in a time when we are scaling back and rethinking things, I can understand some sense of restrain and consideration. But fear of full planes (aka CROWDED PLANES)..that each seat just happens to have a person in it...NOPE! CANCEL MY FLIGHT! There has to be at LEAST 4-5 empty seats or I can't fly!

I just sit back and wonder from the sidelines sometimes. Yeah, exchange rates to some countries are pretty bad. Well, scale back a bit. Is it that hard, really? I find it hard to believe that people are going to dump plans because of a few hundreds bucks..ultimately. That's what it came down to. Or "more crowded planes" which I still need to get some more information on.

Why is there never an *upbeat* article on travel about how to be flexible and patient, plan ahead and save a few extra bucks. If traveling is that important and you love it that much, you go with the flow. Part of the travel routine is a certain amount of sitting and waiting. That is not likely to change.

So anyway, if anyone knows why we get this annual "Your summer plans are going to hell in a handbasket" report and especially why they love to torment you with the details of your sure-to-be-dommed miserable onboard flight please pass along the wisdom.

"Skyrocketing fuel costs"..that's another buzzword. "Skyrocketing." I look up and see this firecracker looking thing in the air above the airport, like a paper rocket that then bursts into flames like a big forth of July streamer. Because costs are skyrocketing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Pain at the pump"..another cleverly designed phrase designed to get you to crack a grimace at the idea of $5 per gallon gas.

And in related news, they tease you with this exciting story about some guy who can run his car on...uh..mouse turds. And you think wow...how I can get MY car to do that? Mouse turds are free! Turns out, as you learn at the end of the story that he spent $5,000 to convert his engine into one that can handle mouse turds. Give me a break!!! Of what practical use is that information for me? Unless you've got some snap on mouse turd converter kit I can drop in my engine and off we go...don't give me these whackjob stories about these major complicated customized mouse turd converters. If I am having trouble paying $4.50 a gallon where is the extra $5,000 going to come from?

Or the suggestions about starting your car in neutral then quickly shifting and taking your foot off the brake at a certain moment and how you can save gas...forget it!!!!!!!!!! Your car was designed to get poor/average mileage. Are these wild gyrations actually saving you that much? Gosh. If you just decided not to buy a $20 dinner once a week you could probably save yourself that much jackin' around with the brakes and gear shift.

Of course, they have another goofy coined phrase for *that* technique. "Hypermiling." Yes folks...HYPER!!!!! Because now my crappy old Ford practically runs on air!!!!!!!!!

 
Looks like there's yet another Bottle Shock poster. WTF?



source

Also, from the official movie website I found a link to this contest. Part of the prize you win is attendance at a 'Producer's Screening' of the movie.
 
 
 
 

When I was first getting into the wild and wondeful world of linux and open source software, I ran across a short story called Printcrime. It was memorable enough that a year later I still recalled the concluding words and was able to locate the original from an approximate quote.

"Lanie, I'm going to print more printers. Lots more printers. One for everyone. That's worth going to jail for. That's worth anything." Printcrime by Cory Doctorow

The story told of the effect that an invention of a 3D object printer had on law and society. It was fiction. But a few weeks ago I saw glimpses of that fiction in reality. The RepRap printer designs are still primitive, but just imagine the possibilities. 3D art printed as sculptures of wax or plastic, machinery and spare parts made from downloadable designs right on your desktop, computer hardware copied as easily as a digital file... and and and the printer would be able to clone itself! Isn't it awesome?

Yeah, OK, I'm a nerd. But things like these make me realize: I love technology as much as I love to draw.

Happy Birthday Mumph!!!!!!!!! :)

New header! YAY!
Of course, the only thing I did was to add the pictures and text to the gorgeous, gorgeous texture made by babliz. You can find the texture in its original size here.

And as soon Photobucket finishes uploading the pictures, I'll have a new mood theme too! Made by cowboyhd. You can find it here.

The layout is still the same. I only changed from pink to orange. You can find the code for the original colours here.

The North Star, the official conference newsletter for Terminus, will be delivered approximately once a month between now and August of 2008. Most regular editions of the newsletter will be presented outside of a cut tag because the newsletter is also part of the Terminus website. Between regular editions, the terminus2008 community will post occasional updates and reminders, as well as in-depth articles on preparing for a programming submission, traveling to Chicago, and so on. The North Star is also available by e-mail; subscription information can be found at www.terminus2008.org/newsroom/subscribe.html.

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THE NORTH STAR
The Official Newsletter of Terminus
Delivered via LiveJournal, Mailing List, Forums, Myspace, and Divination
Volume 2, Issue 7
Read the last issue here!

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This will be the last regular edition of The North Star! As we approach the conference, keep an eye out here for special travel and conference check-in editions, as well as last-minute notifications in your e-mail, if you're a registered attendee.

No time to read? Right-click and save the No-Frills Grab and Go version, and listen later. MP3 | Ogg Vorbis | WAV

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Registration Deadline
TODAY, July 1, is the last day to register online for Terminus. Tonight, the system will close, and all registrations will freeze as the various parts and materials start on their way to Chicago. If you miss the deadline, you'll have to register at the door for $200--so why not take care of your registration today and save $20 that you could spend on a new wand, a Terminus journal to record your favorite memories of the conference, or to buy half a can of soda on your flight to Chicago? (We're kidding--$20 will buy you ten sodas on some airlines, with present changes to in-flight amenities.)

Dietary Issues and Concerns
If you are registered, you should have received an e-mail recently regarding any food allergies or dietary restrictions that we at Terminus should know about. Once registration closes, we'll take your information to the chef at the Hilton Chicago Hotel to check on the presence or absence of particular ingredients in different dishes, and if necessary, arrange a special meal for you. In most cases, you can enjoy the menu we've already arranged, and if you don't have severe food allergies or a dietary restriction, we don't need you to check in! If you have been registered for at least 24 hours and you need to report dietary restrictions, please write to registration[AT]terminus2008.org by Wednesday, July 2. After that date, we may not have enough time to make special arrangements for you.

Bon Voyage Ball and Auction
During the Bon Voyage Ball from 8 p.m. to midnight on August 10, there will be plenty to do, whether you want to dance your socks off or use your brain to solve the Magical Mystery. Additionally, we will have a live and silent auction of unique items, including a large signed print of Mary GrandPré Harry Potter book cover art (courtesy of Clampett Studios--viewable in the Astoria Room before the auction, as it's extremely valuable), Harry Potter toys and games, art, commissionable items, jewelry, antique books, crafts, a special Twilight messenger bag, film posters, and more. Please visit the Astoria room on or after Friday, August 8, to view the auction items, and look for some on display in the Terminus gallery as well.

Trade Winds Tournament Teams
The teams are here! If you've signed up for professional play, you'll be drafted into teams in mid-July, after all ticket and registration payments have been applied and we've placed you on a team according to your preferences. Click any picture for desktops and icons!




Thoth's Tournament of Knowledge Teams
Some of you have been drafted into teams already, and your team mascot will be announced to you in mid-July, after all ticket and registration payments have been applied and we've placed you on a team according to your preferences. Click here for desktops and icons, and below to see a short film of the sixteen teams competing for the Khenti Prize.


Wrock Chicago Change
Justin Finch-Fletchley and the Sugar Quills will be unable to join us for Wrock Chicago, but we wish him the best of luck while acting as best man. Remus and the Lupins, already contributing musically, will play Justin's set. Thanks for your understanding!

Contacting Staff and Asking Questions
Please be sure to ask your questions by mid-July. After that, many staff members will be printing, packing, and shipping thousands of items, as well as traveling to Chicago, in the days before Terminus begins. Once it's July 15, it may take as long as several days for us to respond to inquiries, and once it's August 1, we will have only limited access to the internet.

Travel Tips

+Print a copy of your itinerary, as well as contact numbers and addresses, and put it in your suitcase. If your luggage is lost and the tag comes off, the airline can use this information to locate you.
+Print a copy of all the information you need for your travels, including flight information, airports, hotel address and phone number, and your I.D. and carry it with you.
+Bring a copy of maps and directions, whether for the El or for local parking options.
+Get cash in U.S. dollars, and in various denominations, at your local bank. You'll skip the big fees on ATM machines in airports, and you'll be able to pay with amounts close to your total, rather than flashing big bills.
+Contact your credit card company ahead of time if you're going to use it for most purchases, so they won't put a fraud alert on your card just because you bought a new set of robes, a Chicago postcard, and lunch all in the span of twenty minutes.
+Visit the TSA website to find out what you can and can't take in carry-on luggage, and check in with your airline, train, and bus transport to ensure that checked luggage meets their requirements.
+Take a big breath--travel can be stressful. If you don't expect it to be perfect, you'll have an easier time coping with problems that crop up.

FAQ
Do I have to wear my badge all the time? On me? Over my clothes? Even if it doesn't match?
You need to wear your badge when you are in a conference space, on the top half of your body, so it is easily visible to conference volunteers. If you are not wearing yours, you will be sent to get it--or asked to get your badge out and wear it. Please help us keep the corridors clear and help us prevent bottlenecks by wearing your badge. The only badge exception is the Bon Voyage Ball, and for that event, you will swap out your badge for a wristband.

But I'm worried it will ruin my clothes!
Your badge will include a lanyard, which shouldn't cause any damage to your outfit.

But I don't want it to show in pictures!
No problem. You can take it off for a moment or tuck it in.

Do I really have to have a photo I.D. to check in for Terminus?
Yes, absolutely. That's to ensure that you and only you can pick up your packet, and it's also necessary for the safety of minors and to identify chaperones. If you don't have identification, you will not be admitted. If you do not have a form of government-issued photo identification, such as a passport, driver's license, or state identification card, we recommend contacting your local Department of Motor Vehicles immediately to obtain I.D. It's inexpensive--and it's a very good idea to carry identification with you when you're traveling or at an event of any size.

If I see an empty room in the Hilton Chicago Hotel, can I hold a meetup there?
If you walk past a room and it's not in use or not holding a program according to the Terminus schedule, please don't camp out there! The room could be on hold for cleaning, waiting for a change of furniture setup, or even reserved by another group meeting in the hotel. If you go into the room and use it, you could be subject to room rental and cleaning fees--and those are not cheap by any means. Please only visit meeting rooms as they are noted on your conference schedule. The Hilton Chicago Hotel has a variety of public meeting areas, from the Lakeside Green Lounge on the lobby level, to the stairs and corridors around the clock near the 8th Street Entrance, to gathering areas on sleeping room floors where cozy, squashy couches and chairs wait near the elevators. There's also Grant Park literally across the street, the beaches of Lake Michigan, and a number of neighborhood cafés and restaurants. Thanks for your understanding, and we hope you'll enjoy casual times with friends in these public spaces.

How many people can I put in my room at the Hilton Chicago Hotel?
That depends on the type and size of room you have reserved. Please contact the hotel directly with any questions regarding the maximum allowable people for your specific room.

How do I check in for Terminus? Am I going to receive something in the mail?
You'll receive an e-mail regarding check in for Terminus and its events in late July. We don't send any registration materials through postal mail, since they could be lost or misdirected.

Questions? Send them to help[AT]terminus2008.org.

 
Please head over to Vagabondage Press for the newly launched July 2008 issue of The Battered Suitcase. It's an amazing 108 pages of literary and artistic goodness. Perfect, quick summer reads.

Kudos to adaveen, deeindiana, apythia and their fellow Vagabondage staff members!
 
 
 
 

I thought way back like two years ago when this bill had passed I would be so excited that finally finally...hand held cel phones are banned from use while driving in California.

Yet...the day is at long last here, and I don't feel very excited about it. I don't feel safer.


With a $20 first time offense ticket, people are still going to try to get away with using phones, second they are still going to try to text, which is probably more precarious.

Beyond phones, they still drive poorly and dangerously in other ways which aren't illegal until you cause an accident (well, in my opinion, as I sure don't see anyone getting pulled over). Speeding, tailgaiting, racing between lanes, any number of threatening, intimidating behavior because you're trying to go the speed limit. And Chrysler has decided that installing wireless internet (with a screen I assume) is a great idea for car sales. Another way to help enhance the "eyes on the road" theory.

So, in the end, on this day, which I long awaited, I just breathe a long sigh and hope I make it to my destination in one piece.

 Title: The Notion of a Potion
By: Hogwartsgirl007
Rating: R/ NC-17

Summary:

Ever wonder how the Mirror of Erised knew what Lily and James Potter would look like aged? Let us take you back to the first Voldemort War, the lives, the deaths, the plans. Here is the untold story that leads to the life of Harry Potter, the destruction of a maniac, and a love so powerful that it was the driving point of the downfall of two very powerful Wizards.  

 

http://money.cnn.com/2008/06/30/news/economy/gas/index.htm?cnn=yes

I don't see any change at all in LA traffic. It's just as clogged as ever. Although there also are very few viable public transportation methods in this city...I can understand why there isn't any shift. There's no options. Riding a bike is a deathwish in this area, buses are slow, unreliable (I tried taking the bus 5 miles once as an experiment and was shocked at how bad the service was) and take forever and subways don't service where most of us live. You'd have to get into your car, park at a "park and ride", take the train and then take a cab to where you work which could be 10-20 miles away. Public transportation just doesn't work around here. It was made not to work. LA was a city built for the car.


There used to be trolleys here! 50 years ago, of course.

There are only two days left to register for Terminus! After July 1, the price will jump to $200--and you'll have to buy a registration at the door.

Questions? Send them to help[AT]terminus2008.org.

See you very soon in Chicago!

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In recent posts, we highlighted a few of our roundtable discussions, papers, panels, pre-empaneled papers, fanfiction readings, and gallery art and fanart portfolios. Today, we'd like to feature a few of the workshops that will be presented at Terminus. As with the roundtable discussions, seating for these presentations is very limited.

Knit Your Own House Scarf!
Dale Hwang, Emcee
This workshop is designed to teach attendees the very basics of knitting by focusing on one staple of the Harry Potter cosplayer—the House Scarf. Each attendee will have the opportunity to try hands-on activities, including casting on, knitting a garter stitch, switching colors, and binding off. The workshop will be geared towards fans with little to no knitting experience. Participants are asked to bring their own knitting needles and yarn (size US 7 needles and two skeins of either Paton’s Worsted Wool or Caron’s Simply Soft yarn are recommended).

Sewing Basics: How to Make a Student Robe
Generalmanda, Kate B., Beth Anne (VoldieBeth) Bollenbacher
This workshop is designed to teach attendees the very basics of sewing by focusing on one staple of the Harry Potter cosplayer: the school robe. Each person will have the opportunity to try hands-on activities focused on material choice, pattern layout, cutting and basic machine sewing. The workshop will be geared towards fans with little to no sewing experience. Participants are asked to donate $5 to material costs.

Whose Side Are You On: The Power of Point of View
N. Apythia Morges, Tamela J. Ritter
Imagine the story of Harry Potter as told from Dumbledore’s point of view, or how different book seven would be if we were inside Snape’s head. Would we have loved this tale so much if it had been presented from another viewpoint? Choosing the right voice for your story can make all the difference. In this workshop, we’ll explore the different types of point of view, their benefits and limitations, and explore how changing POV can drastically alter a story through a writing exercise.

To see more presentations, please visit the accepted proposals page.

Title: Letter's From The Inside