Wiscon: Day 2

[laceblade]

I'll be writing panel reports as their own posts, and I won't start until tomorrow at the earliest. I need to go to bed.

So, for now, here's the swag I acquired thus far:

Shade's Children by Garth Nix. I remember reading this in high school (?) and loving it.
Valiant by Holly Black (free through littlebutfierce)
Of Love and Other Demons by Gabriel Garcia Marquez (free through littlebutfierce)
The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien edited by Humphrey Carpenter (free through littlebutfierce)
Gravitation, vol. 1 by Maki Murakami (free through littlebutfierce)
--Wiscon 22 t-shirt with Space Babe and the words "Feminist Cabal" on it, for just $2!
--Two ribbons that go on my name-tag. In response to the Open-Source Boob Project, one says "Propietary Boobs" and the other says "Backup."
--Curry powder that I made at The Gathering. It is extremely fragrant, and caused both me and my bag to be quite fragrant all day.

Before dinner, I ended up not going to panel because I was sort of paneled out. Instead, I got to chill in littlebutfierce's room for a while, and talk to her roommates.

I had a lovely dinner with seaya at Chautara, sampling many kinds of food that I had never had before. I would love to go back there some day!

I met heyiya, and in addition to attending some panels together, we sought out free alcohol. She is much more adept at using a bottle-opener than I am.

Only one panel has been brain-breaking for me thus far (aspects of the LiveJournal one), and the most thought-provoking by far was the spontaneous programming for Octavian Nothing. I was too tired to say very much that was intelligent, but I thoroughly enjoyed listening to the discussion, and was excited to be able to see oyceter, yhlee, and coffeeandink.

I look forward to writing up panels, and hope that I can do at least one before I leave in the morning for the con. I had wanted to go to a panel at 10:00am, but I think that life will probably be better if I just get a lot of sleep tonight instead.

Tomorrow, I hope to be more well-rested, and thus a bit more out-going and more charming. I have social skills, I promise.

Comments

[maevele.livejournal.com]

I came in way late for the lj panel. What broke *your* brain? Mine twitched a few times,

[mystickeeper.livejournal.com]

I think my "favorite" part was "LiveJournal is more feminine that Slashdot because people are bitchy on LJ." WTF.

[madam-silvertip.livejournal.com]

In all fairness to the panelists I think that was an audience member. Though there were also audience members who defended LJ from the "bitchiness" charge with the same sexism turned upside down, e.g. "LJ is wonderfully feminine because it's a community"--maybe not read as one big happy family, again to be fair, but with the strong implication that community is feminine/good. Which comes as a bit of a WTF to anyone who's ever lived in a small town, or experienced some of the negative aspects of women's communities (all communities have them).

But yes, using the word "bitchy" as a synonym for "female" (let alone "feminine") isn't a good thing.

I did find it useful to learn that there is or was a stigma associated with LJ in comparison to slash.com and other online communities, which are perceived as "masculine" to LJ's "feminine." If one is talking about perceptions, it's OK.

[madam-silvertip.livejournal.com]

Great to meet you in RL, by the way!

[were-duck.livejournal.com]

Ugh at least you didn't go to the elves and dwarves panel with us...

Maybe I should follow you around for a bit today :)

See you tonight, at the event where Gretchen Wears A Dress (also, free booze at the Tor Party!)

[mystickeeper.livejournal.com]

Yeah, are one of you guys planning on posting about your panel at all? It sounds like it was unfortunate, :/

I'm excited for the Tor Party! Now that I know how nicely the cab system works, I'm set for staying as late as I want.