ApolloCon 2009: Houston, June 26-28, 2009

Conventions, writers

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P1100304 Cossack dance

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P1100308 Ukrainian dance troup Zorya

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P1100228 A fried cherry kolache

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P1100189 A clay tablet

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ApolloCon 2009: Houston, June 26-28, 2009

ApolloCon is an annual Houston science fiction convention. It is, to quote the web site (http://apollocon.org), "A single event for fans of speculative and imaginative fiction of all kinds, including literary, media, and interactive." Read more about ApolloCon 2009 in my blog.

Wil McCarthy, a scientist and science fiction author, was the Guest of Honor at ApolloCon 2009. He gave a talk on the work he's been doing in programmable matter.

McCarthy's practical work in this area developed from his nonfiction book "Hacking Matter", which it turn was born from his fiction. In his Guest of Honor speech he talked about the events that lead to writing of "Hacking Matter", and how it attracted investors' interest, leading to creation of programmable matter startup. McCarthy talked about his company's journey to discovery of viable commercial applications for these materials, and why he avoids the word "nanotechnology" for marketing this technology to investors. He briefly discussed weapon potential and security issues of programmable matter with the audience. Finally, he talked about balancing his science and writing careers, or rather, impossibility thereof.

Read the whole article in my blog.

Here are my pictures from ApolloCon 2010 and ApolloCon 2007

Here are my blog posts from ApolloCon 2010.

Date: 06/26/2009

Owner: Elze

Size: 45 items

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P1060098 A group of Renaissance Faire goers

by names of Magic Man, Duchess, Nancy, and Dr. Steve.

Date: 06/27/2009

P1060100 Al Jackson, Alexis Glynn Latner, and Pat Rawlings

on "Rocket Science or Rocket Fantasy" panel on Sunday afternoon.

Date: 06/28/2009

P1060101 Wil McCarthy and Bennie Grezlik

on "Rocket Science or Rocket Fantasy" panel on Sunday afternoon.

Date: 06/28/2009

P1050959McCarthyHoldsClearGlass

for a demonstration of programmable material that turns reflective under heat.

Date: 06/27/2009

P1050958 Wil McCarthy heats glass with a hair dryer

for a demonstration of programmable material that turns reflective under heat.

Date: 06/27/2009

P1050961 Glass grows reflective under heat

as Wil McCarthy demonstrates programmable matter created by his company.

Date: 06/27/2009

P1060104 Kim Kofmel (right)

in her "invisible" state -- without her trademark hat -- at the Dead Dog party at ApolloCon 2009.

Date: 06/28/2009

P1060105 An ApolloCon cake

imitating lunar surface, complete with craters, made an appearance in the ConSuite at the Dead Dog party. It was not, however, cut and served. It was there just to tease us.

Date: 06/28/2009

P1060106 Valerie Villareal and an unidentified woman

The maker of the moon landing cake, Valerie Villareal (left) and an unidentified woman at the Dead Dog party.

Date: 06/28/2009

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