So Say We All!

Post More. So Say We All!

The biggest problem folks seem to have with FanaticSpace is posting frequency. I was expecting that to come up, but I didn’t think it would be unanimous.

I was expecting at least a few critiques on the way I write, but that hasn’t come up so far. Looks like people enjoy my style of writing, they just want more of it.

Bringing Balance to The Fore

Tina asked for more Sci-Fi, and she’ll get it.

I looked back through some of the recent posts and noticed a heavy leaning toward fantasy book reviews. I’ll continue to post those, but I’ll attempt to add more posts about Sci-Fi, TV and other topics.

I might need a bit of help with that though. If you’d like to write for FanaticSpace or if you’d like to write a Guest Post, just let me know.

If you have any other ideas to improve FanaticSpace, please let me know. I’d love to hear from you.

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FanaticSpace - Everyone loves something.

Photo by Rene Asmussen

I’m doing something wrong with FanaticSpace, but it’s in my blind spot. I know something needs to be fixed, but I just can’t see it. That’s why I’m asking you.

Tell Me What You Hate About FanaticSpace

I’m asking you to tell me what you don’t like, find boring, or just downright HATE about this site. Somewhere along the way I’ve screwed up. Something needs to be fixed somewhere. I’m asking for help to find it.

Be honest, be critical, be brutal if you need to.

Let me know about anything you don’t like.

• Writing,
• Style,
• Theme,
• Concept,
• Domain Name,
• Anything!

The only way I’m going to figure out what to fix, is to find out what’s wrong.

Ask Around

People love to complain, give ‘em an opportunity! Tell your friends, family and co-workers about this.

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1. FanaticSpace Forum Reboot
   Good News The new FanaticSpace Forums are up and running now. Our old forum was beginning to act strangely, so I had to shut it down and do some troubleshooting....

FanaticSpace - Everyone loves something.

Good News

The new FanaticSpace Forums are up and running now.

Our old forum was beginning to act strangely, so I had to shut it down and do some troubleshooting. After examining the options I decided to scrap it and move to a different board platform.

Better News

We’ve switched to forum software that more tightly integrates with the rest of the site.

Before the switch, the forums were a separate login, now there’s just one. Sign in anywhere on the site and you’re good to go.

I’ll be working on making the integration as seamless as possible, but that’s no reason to keep you waiting. The forums are open and ready for you to start posting your threads.

If there’s anything you would like added to the new forum, or the site in general, just let me know.

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1. Forum Registration Fix
   I know some people have had trouble registering for the forums. I’ve been trying to find the problem, and I think I’ve might have found it. E-Mail Problem This problem...
2. Fan Community
   Fan Community I’ve been thinking a lot about fan communities lately. I am trying to build FanaticSpace into thriving fan community after all. To do that I need to know…...

FanaticSpace - Everyone loves something.

The Robot’s Pajamas is an interesting read. It’s a bit hard to define though. I’d call it Pop Culture Nostalgia, but you’ll have to form your own opinion. Posts about toys and games, both old and new, with some unique commentary makes this site worth checking out.

Watch out for the NSFW (Not Safe For Work) content though. You’re likely to see anything over there!

(Update: Edited for Spelling. Learn from my mistakes people. Proofread!)

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FanaticSpace - Everyone loves something.

I know some people have had trouble registering for the forums. I’ve been trying to find the problem, and I think I’ve might have found it.

E-Mail Problem

This problem affected users who tried to register for the forum, but never received an e-mail to activate the account. I made some changes to the forum and it should now be working..

I apologize to all the people that this happened to.

Update: I went through the inactive users and had new verification e-mails sent out. Only 2 of them bounced. The e-mails must have had a typo, or they don’t exist. Either way, they couldn’t activate the accounts so I deleted ‘em.

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1. Fan Community
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FanaticSpace - Everyone loves something.

Red Dwarf, the wonderfully funny British science fiction television show, is about to be resurrected for a new two-part episode by the British television channel Dave.  The digital cable channel is already home to much loved favorites like Red Dwarf, Coupling, The Catherine Tate Show, The Young Ones and many, many others.  This new episode is original programming that will air in the UK on April 10, 2009.  It will include the two-part episode as well as two other specials, including a making of video.

Red Dwarf: Back To Earth is written and directed by the co-creator of the original Red Dwarf, Doug Naylor.  It will not only continue the story of Dave Lister and his wacky group of companions, but it will reunite the original cast members, including Craig Charles (Lister), Chris Barrie (Rimmer), Robert Llewellyn(Kryten) and Danny John-Jules (Cat).  The story will take our ragged band back to Earth, an aspect never fully explored in the original series.  Lister was always trying but never quite made it back home, except in his mind. 

For those of you who don’t remember, or haven’t had the delightful privilege of watching an episode of Red Dwarf, it was a campy science fiction/comedy show that aired from 1988 to 1999 in Great Britain.  It featured the adventures of Dave Lister, literally the last human in the universe, trapped aboard the mining ship Red Dwarf.  An accident lands him in suspended animation, while a radiation leak kills everyone else on board.  He remains there for three million years until the shipboard computer decides it’s safe to awaken him.  Lister, formerly a lazy, low-ranking technician who liked nothing better than to have a beer and a smoke with his buddies, soon realizes that he’s not alone on the ship.  First, he discovers Cat, a vain catlike human that evolved over the millenium from Lister’s former pet cat Frankenstein.  To assist him, the ship’s computer resurrects a hologram of his former roommate, the smug, over-bearing Arnold Rimmer.  Finally, he encounters Kryten, a slightly neurotic robotic servant.  Together, this motley group limp their way across the universe as Lister tries to find a way back home.   The hilarious humor that ensues from their adventures is British comedy at it’s best and as a result the show has developed a near cult-like following.

I realize that to those of us not living in the UK, this may sound like bittersweet news but rest assured that this special episode and it’s extras should make their way to DVD shortly after airing.  As for myself, I will be anxiously awaiting it.

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FanaticSpace - Everyone loves something.

I’m getting way too many crap comments from people that obviously just want a followed link.  I’m not putting up with that any more.

I’ve decided to deactivate the DoFollow plugin I’ve been using.  Spam is getting out of hand and I believe the DoFollow policy has something to do with it.  I’ve seen FanaticSpace listed in posts that suggest spamming for S.E.O. purposes.

That is not why I installed that plugin and removed NoFollow. I hate returning the comments to NoFollow, because I want to encourage participation.  Participation or no, I’d hate to have a spammy site even more.

I will be looking into other changes to FanaticSpace as well.  I want this site to be the best it possibly can.  I want to make it a place that people want to visit.  Getting tough on spam is the first step.

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FanaticSpace - Everyone loves something.

I’ve always been fond of the music of Eureka, and was definitely ready for this cd.

Acclaimed composer Bear McCreary, of Battlestar Galactica renown, does a masterful job of musically mixing it up.  Of his own creation he says, “Whether or not you’ve seen Eureka, this CD is worth checking out.  The music is a totally unique and twisted blend of folk, blues and zydeco with 80s New Wave synths, 8-bit and 16-bit video-game-inspired FM synthesis, 70’s keyboards, accordions, dobros, didgeridoo and a little Spanish Flamenco. “

I couldn’t have said it better myself.  For one thing, I’m a sucker for accordion music, ever since my south pawed brother taught me how to play “Three Blind Mice” on my Dad’s accordion (turned upside down and backwards) when I was a sprat of six.  The zydeco takeoffs are always fun and sometimes gritty, and the subtler accordion melodies are clever.

I’m not going to comment on each track, but I will list them all at the end of this post.
The Main Title theme, by former Devo member Mark Mothersbaugh and John Enroth always inspires me to attempt to whistle along with it.   To say it’s “catchy” is cliche, but  I’m okay with that.

Sheriff Carter’s Theme makes me happy.   It’s an eclectic mix of jazz with a country beat, and some bluesy vocals thrown in that remind me of the Cookie Monster.

Allison’s Theme is terribly pretty, just like the character.    It’s almost pastoral, but not saccharine.

Through the Vortex, from The Games People Play episode, grew on me with multiple listens.  The power in it is undeniable.  It’s reminiscent, though not derivative of, McCreary’s work on BSG.

The Mask of Fargo, from Noche de Suenos is without a doubt one of my favorites.  Featuring sultry Flamenco guitar by Carlos De La Paz and a wild trumpet by Peter De Siena, it doesn’t get much better than this.  Being a poor to mediocre acoustic folk player, I appreciate De La Paz’s Flamenco guitar all the more for its technical expertise as well as its beauty

Brendan McCreary’s performance on his self composed ballad, Let’s Get Hitched, from the episode, Sight Unseen manages to be soulful, yet understated.

Henry’s Theme is sooooo serious, and borderline dark.  Tormented.  Pain filled. Portentious.  Lovely.

Not so, Taggart’s Theme.  It’s xylophoned, stringed, and quirky, series thematic, with a rough rhythmic edge, not unlike his character.  Sigh.

The Laser Cannon, from a Night at Global Dynamics, has a Rock Opera overture run through a synthesizer feel to it.

Captain Ahab’s Jonathan Snipes wrote and produced Eurekaerobics, from the Duck, Duck, Goose episode.  Techno meets fitness without becoming disco.  Ya gotta love it.

Jack and Callie’s halting relationship is well expressed in their song, featured in both the Sight Unseen and Maneater episodes.

The Heathers at the science fair (Duck, Duck, Goose) and Erotomania from Maneater are great comic pieces.

A Night at Global Dynamics, from the episode of the same name, is one of the most dramatic selections on the cd.  It conveys danger, darkness, and suspense with an orchestral movie soundtrack quality.

Also from A Night at Global Dynamics, we’re treated to a zydeco introduction that blows into hard drums punctuated with a synthesizer in  Threat of Nuclear Cleaning.  The rest of the piece is sinuous, woven with wind instruments, keyboard/piano, until its abrupt dobroed end ties back to the intro.

Don’t take my tin eared word for it.  This cd is a must-have for any Eureka fan.   I’m sure the Eureka soundtrack could stand alone.  But for me, it is a pleasant reminder of the music that moves my beloved Eureka along each week.

Track Listing:

1.    Eureka On My Mind (Eureka Main Title) (0:30)
2.    Sheriff Carter’s Theme (3:27)
3.    Prehistoric Love Spores (2:38)
4.    Allison’s Theme (2:52)
5.    Through the Vortex (5:02)
6.    Fargo’s Theme (2:49)
7.    The Mask of Fargo (2:27)
8.    The S.A.R.A.H. Mobile (1:16)
9.    Let’s Get Hitched (3:54)
10.    When You Wish Upon Falling Debris (3:10)
11.     Little Big Bang (2:33)
12.    Henry’s Theme (5:21)
13.    Taggart’s Theme (2:02)
14.    The Laser Cannon (1:54)
15.    Noche De Suenos (3:23)
16.    A Nuke for Fargo (5:41)
17.    EurekAerobics (2:31)
18.    Victor’s Getaway (0:34)
19.    Henry and Beverly (4:24)
20.    Jack and Callie (2:31)
21.    Everyone’s Dumb (1:48)
22.    The Heathers (0:37)
23.    Zane on the Lam (2:42)
24.    Erotomania! (2:26)
25.    A Night at Global Dynamics (3:52)
26.    Threat of Nuclear Cleaning (2:19)
27.    A Town Called Eureka (2:10)
28.    Eureka On My Mind Reprise (Eureka End Credits)(0:51)

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FanaticSpace - Everyone loves something.

Dragon*Con is an extravaganza of sci-fi fandom held annually over Labor Day Weekend in downtown Atlanta, Georgia.  As of 2008, it spans four hotels and boasts an attendance of more than 30,000 fans.  Rumor has it that when the numbers swell with day pass folks, the count can go as high as 50,000.  It can be a little overwhelming to attend a convention with 30-50,000 of your, er, um, closest friends.  This year, the addition of the Sheraton, and the completed Marriott renovation, made the long Labor Day weekend a much more pleasurable experience than in the recent past.

What To See…Beats Me!

With a cacophony of choices in a wide variety of fandoms, you can’t see everything.  Lines for many popular media based events are long, and give you no guarantee of entry even after you’ve waited for frakking ever.  For me, the choice is simple.  I don’t try.  That has it’s own pitfalls, though.  If I had tried to get into the Firefly panel with Nathan Fillion and supporting cast members, I would have been able to get in.  Instead I watched it on Dragon*Con TV .

I never seem to get to the Miss Klingon Empire Beauty Pageant either.  I’ve wanted to free my inner Klingon and be a participant myself, but dang it, I don’t know any practicing Klingons to ask for help.  Maybe next year… At 6 ft. tall, I could make a passable Klingon.  Hint, hint, is anyone out there listening?

The Dragon*Con Dealers Room is one of my favorite places to do early Christmas shopping.  Okay, yeah, I know, you can find most of the stuff online.  BUT, the Dealers Room and Exhibition Halls are like a giant bazaar of the bizarre and beautiful.  Who can resist?

I’ve been out of what I would call participatory fandom for years.  Once upon a time, I did filk and theatrical stuff back in Virginia.  Once upon a later time, I participated in the Writers Track programming at Dragon*Con.  Some years ago I went into gaffiation for a while, writing, but not attending any conventions.
Then my sister-friend and SCA maven, Dinah, reawakened my dormant fannish gene…and I started filking again.  It was all downhill from there.  Um, I mean it renewed my fannish sense of self.

I also happened to have a post-apocalypse short story published in a magazine and anthology.  Thus I participated in the Apocalypse Rising program track this year.  Discussions were lively, and the rhetoric occasionally heated.  I don’t know what it was like from the audience, but it was a blast from where I sat .

Program Track sounds so dry, doesn’t it?  There are many fandoms contained within Dragon*Con (officially or not), and each is almost a mini-con of its own.  This evolution in the ever burgeoning Dragon*Con makes it possible for fans to connect, share, and not get lost amid the proverbial teeming masses that conglomerate to make up Dragon*con (yes, I meant to say that, not congregate).

It’s exciting to walk down the halls and see the Weyrfest, Brit track, X track, gaming track, and of course, the venerable Anime/Manga track rooms, to name just a few.  Dragon*con can be as big or as small as you choose.  That factor, along with a metaphorical masochism inherent in my soul, made me return to Dragon*Con, like a stealthy prodigal fan.

If you go to nothing else big, attend the Dragon*Con parade! As a former costumer (yeah, did that, too), I am impressed by the sheer magnitude.  Costumes range from beginner level to amazing, and all promenade together.  The entire weekend is full of costumed fen, but this is definitely on my “don’t miss” list!

Tempest in a Tambourine & The Sound of Music

There was plenty of music for all tastes around the convention.  There was Jedi karaoke at a nearby café on Saturday night.

A spirited violin jam complete with a Celtic dancer/violinist happened on Monday.

Absent from filking for many years, I’m from the “old school.”  That means I am of the pitch in and try to make it work school of fandom.  Filking had changed quite a bit during my gaffiation.  I only recognized a few names, and knew even fewer in the community.  I was acquainted with a goodly amount of their music, though.

There was a dismaying flame war going on at Live Journal about past Dragon*Con filking.  Due to a variety of circumstances, there was no Filk Director this year until a few weeks before the convention.

I’d volunteered to help with the Filk track.  Eventually, one Robby Hilliard, the new Filk Director, contacted me and asked if I was still interested in helping.  Sure, what did I have to lose?

Nothing, as it turns out.  Robby Hilliard is a Celtic musician from Chattanooga   with a good head for organization and a very positive attitude (you can pay me later, Robby    Working with Dragon*Con, he was able to address many of the complaints of the Filk track attendees, which had definitely outgrown its previous space.

Concerts were held in ballroom sections, and the Filk Room was dedicated to that track 24 hours a day.  Many of the usual area filkers boycotted the convention.  Both the Brobdignagian Bards and the Bedlam Bards performed to near capacity crowds before it was all over.  The Great LukeSki held two shows, despite being hampered by being asked to step up to the plate at the last minute.  Carrie Dahlby was featured as well.

Open filking was sparse this year.  We were invaded by a group of frat boy geeks on Saturday night who wanted to take over the room.

Yet, before they left, they were singing the choruses of a Battlestar Galactica filk.  Taking chorus for an easy credit paid off for them, because they weren’t bad at all.  The delightful and talented Ridikulus Music folks stopped by, featuring Luke She, and did a couple of songs as well.

With Robby the Fearless slated to be at the Filk ship bow in 2009 as well, I look forward to writing about and participating in an expanded Filk track for next year.

Ghost Hunters!

Oh, I almost forgot!  I’m a huge fan of Ghost Hunters and Ghost Hunters International!   Due to other obligations, I didn’t get to see their panels.  I’d seen Dave Tango arrive on Friday.  However, Rob, Dustin, and Dave were in the lobby on Monday as we were taking our leave, and they allowed me to take a photo!  Woo-hoo!

And in the End…

If you asked twenty people (or 30,000+) to describe Dragon*Con, there’d be no consensus, probably not even a quorum.  Dragon*Con is as many different conventions as its fans make it.

(Photo credits:  Jedi Karaoke – Amber Hansford; Brobdignagian Bards – Les Howard
All others by Shiny1 & Chuck deVarennes.)

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FanaticSpace - Everyone loves something.