ConGregate 11

From the beginning of moving pictures, belly dance has shown up in SF and fantasy movies, tv and even books. Let's talk about some of the most well-known appearances and why belly dance seems to fit so well into the spec fic genre.

In Season One, smart, sarcastic and a little dead inside, Wednesday Addams solved a murder spree while making new friends — and foes — at Nevermore Academy.   But as Season Two begins on August 6th, let's talk about what is in store for our favorite kreepy, kooky, spooky teenager?

Bring your costume crisis to our experts?  Have an idea but don't know where to start?  Got started on a costume but can't figure out how to put a peice together.  Come and pick the brains of our costumers with all your questions...

From the 1920s through the 1940s, radio dramas captivated audiences with immersive storytelling, becoming a dominant form of entertainment before television took over in the 1950s. Yet, the format never truly disappeared as it continued to evolve. Before his rise to comedy stardom, a young Bill Murray voiced the Human Torch in a Fantastic Four radio serial, part of Marvel’s early ventures into the medium. Other Marvel heroes, alongside DC’s Superman and Batman, found a home on the airwaves, bringing comic book adventures to life long before they became cinematic icons. Detective stories also thrived, with The Saint featuring Vincent Price as the smooth-talking vigilante before the character found new life on television.

Many of these productions successfully transitioned to new formats. Dragnet moved to television with Jack Webb still leading as Joe Friday, setting the standard for procedural storytelling. The Shadow found its way to motion pictures, proving the lasting appeal of these stories. Comedy, suspense, drama, horror, science fiction, and fantasy all flourished, shaping entertainment for generations. Even advertising became part of the experience as Burns and Gracie mastered the art of weaving their sponsor into the script, blending promotion with humor. Though its golden age has passed, the influence of this style of storytelling continues to resonate through television, film, and the resurgence of audio narratives.

Can you really rip a bodice ? (No) Every genre incorporates a set of assumptions, usually about how the world works. But how long can Our Hero swash the 2 lb. buckler shield arm fatigue sets on?  Could Dave Bowman make it back into Discovery One without his helmet?  Our panels of experts looks at the classic figures, setting, and situations to determine such puzzlers as the tensile strength of Rapunzel/s hair.

Come hang out in your favorite comfy caftan, and have coffee or tea while talking about our favorite memories of the 70s and 80s.  Prize for the best Mrs./Mr. Roper cosplay!

Join Doug Newcomb as he talks to you about Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) - the science fiction and science reality.
He will discuss:  
a) what is LiDAR data,
b) different types of LiDAR data,
c) how LiDAR data is used ( Digital Elevation Models, Vegetation analysis, Watershed delineation and water flow)
d) A demonstration of working with LiDAR data using QGIS and/or GRASS GIS

Join our some of our experiences self-published authors as they talk about their years in the self-publishing world.  What they wish they had known when they started?  How has self-publishing changed in the last 15-20 years.



requests: Angela Giddings, JE Pittman, Kevin Davis, Darin Kennedy, Stuart Jaffe, Bill Tracy

How to get out of your own way when it comes to taking feedback from editors, beta readers, peers, and getting over your emotions long enough to understand what you're being told and why.

requests: Misty Massey, Kevin Davis, Dennis Myers, Stuart Jaffe, Bill Tracy

The importance of including and encouraging women to pursue careers in the male-dominated fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) has been increasingly recognized due to the need for diversity, valuable contributions and perspectives, as well as to address disparities such as gender bias, lack of support, and stereotypes. Initiatives have been launched to provide mentorship, networking opportunities, and resources to support and empower women in STEM, aiming to increase visibility and representation through campaigns, events, and outreach programs. Let's discuss these women and how their unique talents and perspectives contribute to creating a more diverse, inclusive, and successful future.

 Authors share their unusual tools, tricks, resources and ways of helping nudge their storytelling muscles when they get stuck or feel uninspired.  

requests:

In science fiction, we like to see FTL spaceships, strange alien species, resurrected extinct species, instantaneous communication, and similar things. But a lot of everyday items are afterthoughts in sci-fi. How will technology affect clothes? Food? Ordinary medical care? And what about the "soft" sciences, like industrial safety, environmental science, anthropology, or political science? How will those change the landscape of the future?

requests: Angela Giddings, Jim Beall, Jenn Whitworth, Dennis Myers, Rob Hampson

Whether it's in a mall, or a repurposed housing project in Pittsburgh, George A. Romero told us stories where there may be zombies, but the real threat comes from what people will do to each other, and the societies we've built. Join us as we discuss the themes, the scares, and the impact of these two films.

Animated Shows that aren't for children

Artificial intelligence has long been a cornerstone of the Star Trek universe, from the sentient android Data in The Next Generation to the advanced AI systems in Discovery and Picard. But how closely do these fictional representations of AI mirror the developments and challenges we face in the real world today? Join a diverse panel of scientists, technologists, and Star Trek experts as they explore the fascinating correlation between AI in Star Trek and the cutting-edge AI technologies shaping our future.

There is a lot of crossover between fans of musicals and geeks.  So let's talk about those geeky musicals - from Little Shop of Horrors to Hadestown to Wicked to Back to the Future: The Musical.  How do musicals bring a new twist to genre storytelling?

requests:

What does a comfort read mean to authors? What is it about genre fiction that can soothe the soul, especially during trying times? We'll chat about our favorite comfort reads, how moments of comfort keep a hero going on their journey, and striking the balance of taking care of oneself while still being present.

(Need to rewrite - stole from Awesomecon)

requests: JE Pittman, John Hartness, Michael G Williams, chris Oakley