WorldCon

I’ve had lots of people in the last week ask me why I’m not going to WorldCon this year since its in Boston. Here are my answers.

It is absurdly priced. At $50-80 for a one-day membership it won’t draw in the casual person who is interested but doesn’t want to commit to the full weekend. While I could have gotten a membership at about $160 it would require me to do so about 6 months ago, which is much too soon for me to schedule something in my home town. This is stupid. When will SF cons realize the casual one-day visitor is worth it because they don’t stay that long and pretty much only hit dealer’s row and a few events.

WorldCon still isn’t kid friendly. With a 4 year old and a 6 month old I’m going to be hard pressed to justify going unless it is. Especially since my wife will be working over the weekend, and there’s only so much you can ask a grandparent to do. And if my wife wasn’t working, sneaking away to a con (at high prices) leaving her with the kids just isn’t an option.

The Gaming track, what gaming track you’re asking. To which I say exactly. A combination of stupidity on the organizers part coupled with poor outreach to the gaming community. Continuing another proud WorldCon tradition.

Ugly, ugly webpage. With the amount of computer people in this hobby you would think their webpage would be better looking. If you don’t care enough to do this simple thing why would you expect me to think the program and con coordination will be any better.

So I’m sitting this one out. I guess I’ll have to wait for some other event to introduce Harrison to the SF scene. Maybe we’ll just do the King Richard’s Fair.

Ode to the Library

One of the things peaseblossom has been trying to do since the day we moved in together was winnow down my books and prevent me from buying new ones. Because lets admit it I’m an addict. She was quite successful on getting rid of books (she doesn’t consider herself successful enough; its one of those marriage things). But for the longest tme she couldn’t get m to stop buying books.

And then the boy became old enough to want to g to the library. The library s this great and marvelous place when you’re a toddler/pre-schooler it seems. You go there when it rains or gets cold. It has toys. They read stories. There are tons of books, and videos and music that you get to bring home. And, best of all, there are other kids.

And so Harrison loves going to the Library. And what I’ve discovered is that the library is an easy (and free) fix of books. And jus about everything I want is there thanks to the wonders of the Minute-Man Network and ILL. Which makes me happy. And the no book buying makes Jess happy.

Now if only that copy of Buffy Season Six would get to me on the queue.