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Panels & Events

Here it is! After months of planning, we have the Panels & Events schedule for This ConFusion Is Not Yet Rated.

Friday

Meet your fellow kid fen/Scavenger Hunt

  • Friday 05:00 PM - Friday 06:00 PM
  • KidFusion Suite

Come up and get to know your fellow Kidfusion kids. This will also start our scavenger hunt that will be ongoing throughout the weekend.

Moving and Shaking and Dancing

  • Friday 06:00 PM - Friday 07:00 PM
  • KidFusion Suite

Come show your moves as we dance the night, err hour away.

So this is your first Con?

  • Friday 07:00 PM - Friday 08:00 PM
  • Boardroom

Come along and find out from others who've been here before what to do, how to have fun and other exciting things at ConFusion.

(Fan GOH Lisa Garrison Ragsdale [M], Alan Salmi)

Aging as a Disease?

  • Friday 07:00 PM - Friday 08:00 PM
  • Dennison I/II

Our science guest of honour explains his work at the SENS foundation which treats aging as a disease and searches for the cure. This introductory talk is intended for all audiences.

(Aubrey de Gray)

Improve the Con!

  • Friday 07:00 PM - Friday 08:00 PM
  • Dennison III/IV

The Ann Arbor Science Fiction Association are giving away micro-grants to enable more fun at ConFusion... come present your ideas!

(AASFA Board)

Balloon Animals with Dr. Christine Purcell

  • Friday 07:00 PM - Friday 08:00 PM
  • KidFusion Suite

Come on up and watch a few animals get made with some balloons.

Random Acts of Magic(k) game (1 hour)

  • Friday 07:00 PM - Friday 08:00 PM
  • Mediterranean Room

A meeting of science fiction minds

  • Friday 07:00 PM - Friday 08:00 PM
  • Salon E

Come join in as our panelists discuss science fiction in all its myriad forms and futures.

(John Scalzi [M], Paolo Bacigalupi, Peter V Brett, Cherie Priest, Doselle Young)

Badge Decorating

  • Friday 08:00 PM - Friday 09:00 PM
  • KidFusion Suite

Come make your badge look original, with beads, stickers, and other artsy type things.

Opening Ceremonies and Speeches by our Guests of Honor

  • Friday 08:00 PM - Friday 09:00 PM
  • Salon E

Authors- Paolo Bacigalupi, Cherie Priest; Fan- Lisa Garrison Ragsdale; Scientist- Aubrey de Grey; Subterranean Press Special Guest- Peter V. Brett; followed by "The Inauguration of the Magic(k) Track" presented by Misha Stone.

Charity Chili Cook-off: M-Prize Foundation

  • Friday 09:00 PM - Friday 10:00 PM
  • Concierge Lounge-12th Floor

Chili chefs compete for the approval of your taste-buds! Bring your appetite and a few dollars. Bowls and votes are $1.00 each. All proceeds will go to benefit The SENS Foundation: Advancing Rejuvenation Biotechnologies.

(Richard Herrell)

Electric storage and the future of renewable generation

  • Friday 09:00 PM - Friday 10:00 PM
  • Dennison I/II

Wind and sun are free, but people don't want to wait for the sun to shine to read a book or wash clothes. Luckily, there have been recent breakthroughs in the science of electric storage. What is the state of the art, why is storage going to be a big industry and what makes Michigan the place to have a storage company?

(Doug Houseman)

Acts of Shameless Self-Promotion

  • Friday 09:00 PM - Friday 10:00 PM
  • Dennison III/IV

Come discuss and learn different methods of self-promoting your own work and getting people to notice. From book promoting to belly dance shows, there are tactics that work for everyone.

(Shetan Noir)

Glimmerglass and Acorn

  • Friday 09:00 PM - Friday 10:00 PM
  • Niles

For several years now, filkers have been gathering at house sings, first in Kalamazoo, now in Ann Arbor. Now you can hear some of the people who perform there.

(Peter Alway, Susan Moerdyk, Robin June Nakkula, Art Warneke)

Dessert Reception with the Guests of Honor (1 hr.)

  • Friday 09:00 PM - Friday 10:00 PM
  • SALON H, G, F

This is a great place to walk right up to your particular favorite author or panelist for a quick chat or just to meet someone new. People, food and drink will be on hand.

Shamanic Journey

  • Friday 10:00 PM - Friday 11:00 PM
  • Dennison I/II

Workshop with drumming.

Heavy Metal Mass

  • Friday 10:00 PM - Friday 11:00 PM
  • SALON E, F, G, H

Don your mystic robes (or sleeveless denim jackets) and participate in this invocation and communion with the God of Rock. Followed immediately by The Friday Night Heavy Metal Dance.

(Misha Stone, Adam Rose)

Open Filk.

  • Friday 10:30 PM - Friday 11:30 PM
  • Niles

The Chocolate Ritual

  • Friday 11:00 PM - Saturday 12:00 AM
  • Concierge Lounge-12th Floor

A decadent ConFusion tradition.

Saturday

So this is your first Con?

  • Saturday 09:00 AM - Saturday 10:00 AM
  • Boardroom

Come along and find out from others who've been here before what to do, how to have fun and other exciting things at ConFusion.

(Fan GOH Lisa Garrison Ragsdale [M], Alan Salmi)

Non-Denominational Meditation Time

  • Saturday 09:00 AM - Saturday 10:00 AM
  • Concierge Lounge-12th Floor

The Low Carbon Diet

  • Saturday 09:00 AM - Saturday 10:00 AM
  • Dennison I/II

Tom Friedman wrote "Hot, Flat and Crowded" and painted a negative future for the US and people in general. The Low Carbon Diet, to be published in June by Wiley, is Doug Houseman's answer to this book. It presents a positive view of how we can build a new future.

(Doug Houseman)

How to make Shisha mirrors for tribal belly dance costumes

  • Saturday 09:00 AM - Saturday 10:00 AM
  • Dennison III/IV

Come watch Shetan Noir make Shisha mirrors, with step by step instructions for their use in costuming and the materials used to make them.

Kaffeeklatsch with Peter V. Brett

  • Saturday 10:00 AM - Saturday 11:00 AM
  • Boardroom

Sign up at Operations.

The Evolution of the Internet

  • Saturday 10:00 AM - Saturday 11:00 AM
  • Dennison I/II

An analysis of the ongoing evolution of the Internet, based on the largest-ever study of real Internet traffic, spanning 110 Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and over 200 Exabytes (200 quintillion bytes) of traffic over a 2 year period. This study shows significant changes in Internet traffic patterns and in the way that ISPs operate, and significant changes in Internet application usage.

(Scott Iekel-Johnson)

Belly dance 101

  • Saturday 10:00 AM - Saturday 11:00 AM
  • Dennison III/IV

Learn basic belly dance moves. Includes the stomach roll broken down into easy to learn steps.

(Shetan Noir)

Kookieklatch

  • Saturday 10:00 AM - Saturday 11:00 AM
  • KidFusion Suite

Come up and be read to by whichever guests happen to show up. If you have a favorite book that you would like to have read, feel free to bring it.

"Angels and Demons", matter, antimatter and the Large Hadron Collider

  • Saturday 10:00 AM - Saturday 11:00 AM
  • Salon F

What is antimatter? What is it good for? Can we create it and use it? Can mini black holes created in collisions at the Large Hadron Collider destroy the earth? Which of the scientific concepts described in the movie Angels and Demons" are correct? Which are not really possible?"

(Arie Bodek - George E Pake Professor of Physics, University of Rochester)

Book Collecting

  • Saturday 10:00 AM - Saturday 11:00 AM
  • Salon G

It's more complicated than you think. Find out what and how to collect and how to avoid ending up on "Hoarders".

(Peter Halasz [M], Stephen Haffner, Jim Deak)

Growing the Next Gen of Fen

  • Saturday 10:00 AM - Saturday 11:00 AM
  • Salon H

How can we keep our younger generations engaged and interested in continuing the phenomenon of fandom?

(Lisa Garrison Ragsdale [M], Jim Hines, Steven Harper Pizik, Alan Salmi)

Kaffeeklatsch with Paolo Bacigalupi

  • Saturday 11:00 AM - Saturday 12:00 PM
  • Boardroom

Sign up at Operations.

Scale and Space: Seeing Neil Armstrong's Footprints

  • Saturday 11:00 AM - Saturday 12:00 PM
  • Dennison I/II

What can we see from space? Popular TV shows suggest we can infinitely enlarge any image without any loss, but the real world is both much more complicated and much more interesting. We know Neil Armstrong's footprints are still on the Moon - but can we see them? And from how far away? And what else can we see? The Internet is full of fascinating images.

(Dr Philip Kaldon)

RRA: Romance Readers Anonymous

  • Saturday 11:00 AM - Saturday 12:00 PM
  • Dennison III/IV

Hi, my name's Sarah Zettel and I read Romance. Romance readers meet to talk, swap recommendations, and talk about how their favorite genres overlap (and there's more of that than a lot of people think).

(Sarah Zettel [M], Cindy Spencer Pape, Sarah Hansen)

Don't Try this at home

  • Saturday 11:00 AM - Saturday 12:00 PM
  • KidFusion Suite

Finally some science experiments you can do with things most of us keep in our home.

Zombies

  • Saturday 11:00 AM - Saturday 12:00 PM
  • Salon E

They are more popular than ever. Why do people love these images of impending doom?

(Tobias Buckell [M], Cherie Priest, Ferrett Steinmetz, Stewart Sternberg, Charles Zaglanis)

Life Extension: Strategies and Ethics

  • Saturday 11:00 AM - Saturday 12:00 PM
  • Salon F

Dietary supplements, calorie restriction, cryonics, and other life extension strategies other than the rejuvenation strategies discussed by Science GoH Aubrey de Grey will be examined on grounds of scientific validity and ethical impact. The questions of why some people want life extension and others have no interest in life extension will be discussed.

(Ben Best- President of the Cryonics Institute)

The Great Propeller Beanie War

  • Saturday 11:00 AM - Saturday 12:00 PM
  • Salon G

What are the issues of yesteryear in science fiction that seemed important at the time but now seem passé?

(Joel Zakem [M], Rick Jackson, Michael 'FREON' Andaluz)

Offbeat!

  • Saturday 11:00 AM - Saturday 12:00 PM
  • Salon H

It's hard to say just what we mean when we say a story or a writer is "offbeat." What are the qualities that make a story offbeat? Can a writer choose to be offbeat- are there conscious methods at work here, or is it just something you're born with?

(Jim Frenkel [M], Lois Gresh, Jim Deak, Doselle Young)

Kaffeeklatsch with Cherie Priest

  • Saturday 12:00 PM - Saturday 01:00 PM
  • Boardroom

Sign up at Operations.

Artist Demo

  • Saturday 12:00 PM - Saturday 01:00 PM
  • Dennison I/II

Randy Asplund, a world renowned freelance artist of Medieval Illuminated Book Art, Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Historical, and Fine Arts books demos his work.

Author Reading

  • Saturday 12:00 PM - Saturday 01:00 PM
  • Dennison III/IV

Lois Gresh reads from her forthcoming novel Blood and Ice"."

Visit with our Science GOH Audrey de Grey

  • Saturday 12:00 PM - Saturday 01:00 PM
  • KidFusion Suite

Questions encouraged!

Converting Old Recordings

  • Saturday 12:00 PM - Saturday 01:00 PM
  • Niles

Tips and tricks for moving those old LPs and cassettes into the digital world.

(Eric Coleman, Art Warneke, Ken Lalonde)

What Happened to the Future?

  • Saturday 12:00 PM - Saturday 01:00 PM
  • Salon E

Has the future died as a source of hope? The future used to mean flying cars and space colonies- now it's the economy of scarcity and doom. What happened?

(Paolo Bacigalupi [M], Peter V Brett, Tobias Buckell, Steve Buchheit, Peter Halasz)

Science Fiction or Science Fact?

  • Saturday 12:00 PM - Saturday 01:00 PM
  • Salon F

Science/medical journalist Pippa Wysong has collected descriptions of a variety of sciency tidbits. The audience will be encouraged to figure out which ones are real (but strange) or not true. Some might even be sort-of true.

(Pippa Wysong)

Education, Science Fiction and Fantasy

  • Saturday 12:00 PM - Saturday 01:00 PM
  • Salon G

Can SF and Fantasy be effective tools in the classroom? If so, how and what are some books that would be good to teach specific concepts?

(Lisa Garrison Ragsdale [M], Philip Kaldon, Stephen Leigh, Steven Harper Piziks, Paul Melko)

The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, and Mockingjay

  • Saturday 12:00 PM - Saturday 01:00 PM
  • Salon H

A Spoileriffic Discussion of What We Loved (and Hated) About 2010's Biggest Dystopian YA Bestseller.

(Catherine Shaffer [M], Merrie Haskell, Sarah Zettel aka CL Anderson, Ferrett Steinmetz and Christian Klaver)

Author Reading

  • Saturday 01:00 PM - Saturday 02:00 PM
  • Boardroom

Tobias Buckell reads a sample of the forthcoming novel 'Arctic Rising.'

Cryonics Panel-Is it getting Cold in here?

  • Saturday 01:00 PM - Saturday 02:00 PM
  • Dennison I/II

Cryonics is the low temperature preservation of people and other animals. Our expert panel talks about the current state of the art in science and practice.

(Aubrey de Grey [M], Ben Best, Don Kleinsek, Sonny Kim)

Author Reading

  • Saturday 01:00 PM - Saturday 02:00 PM
  • Dennison III/IV

Anne Harris and Merrie Haskell do a tag-team reading.

Your Ten Minutes of Fame

  • Saturday 01:00 PM - Saturday 02:00 PM
  • Niles

We provide the stage and the microphone, you do whatever you like with it for ten minutes. Sing, dance, play an instrument, recite poems, tell jokes, put on a puppet show, whatever. Please keep it safe, legal and no more than PG-13, but otherwise, no restrictions. The sign-up sheet is available in Niles. Limited to eight acts. The ten minutes includes time for set up.

Creating an Effect with Your Writing

  • Saturday 01:00 PM - Saturday 02:00 PM
  • Salon E

Many writers strive to create a certain feeling in the reader with their work. How is this achieved and how does it affect the writing of the story?

(Sarah Zettel [M], Peter V Brett, Paul Melko, Catherine Shaffer, Steve Buchheit)

Random Reality

  • Saturday 01:00 PM - Saturday 03:00 PM
  • Salon F

A 2-hour session. This will begin here but likely will take us all over the hotel. A magic track experience!

(Misha Stone, David Tamargo)

What is ConFusion's Masquerade?

  • Saturday 01:00 PM - Saturday 02:00 PM
  • Salon G

New to the Masquerade, ConFusion, etc? Come and find out what all the fuss is about!

Spear Carriers: The Characters Other Than the Hero

  • Saturday 01:00 PM - Saturday 02:00 PM
  • Salon H

How are they created? How can they be used to fill out the background of the story giving texture and detail without overwhelming the plot?

(Christian Klaver [M], Lois Gresh, Suzanne Church, Stewart Sternberg)

Author Reading

  • Saturday 01:30 PM - Saturday 02:30 PM
  • Boardroom

Ferrett Steinmetz reads his latest short story.

Author Reading

  • Saturday 02:00 PM - Saturday 03:00 PM
  • Boardroom

Steven Harper Piziks reads a selection from his novel Trash Course" or an excerpt from the story "Bait and Switch" from "Fangs for the Mammaries.""

Video Games as a Creative Media

  • Saturday 02:00 PM - Saturday 03:00 PM
  • Dennison I/II

Most young adults spend more time playing video games than at the movies or watching television. What part does science fiction play in their entertainment world?

(Tobias Buckell [M], Paolo Bacigalupi, Cherie Priest, Ferrett Steinmetz, Stewart Sternberg)

Author Reading

  • Saturday 02:00 PM - Saturday 03:00 PM
  • Dennison III/IV

Jim Frenkel reads an excerpt from the forthcoming novel The Children of the Sky" by Vernor Vinge."

KidFusion Pool Time

  • Saturday 02:00 PM - Saturday 03:00 PM
  • Pool

Meet at the pool to splash with your fellow kid-fen. (Special note: Pool time ends at about 2:45.) If your child wants to stay longer parents will need to accompany him/her at that time. Also, those that want to attend Iron Artist may want to dry off a little early as that will be starting at 3 pm.

Cell Treatments for Age-Related Disease

  • Saturday 02:00 PM - Saturday 03:00 PM
  • Salon F

The CEO of Cellagen talks about the present focus of his company, including their efforts on a number of aging conditions/diseases cured through cell therapy which are or will be in clinical trials for near-term entry into the pharmaceutical marketplace.

(Dr Don Kleinsek)

Top Ten

  • Saturday 02:00 PM - Saturday 03:00 PM
  • Salon G

Books that readers of SF and F should at least read once.

(Lisa Garrison Ragsdale [M], Joel Zakem, Brett Katz, Jim Deak, Stephen Haffner, Peter Halasz)

Talk, talk, talk: The Importance of Dialogue to the Story

  • Saturday 02:00 PM - Saturday 03:00 PM
  • Salon H

(Jim Hines [M], Paul Melko, Suzanne Church, Christian Klaver, Dr Christine Purcell)

Author Reading

  • Saturday 02:30 PM - Saturday 03:30 PM
  • Boardroom

Philip Kaldon reads a police procedural with civilized zombies. (Think "Alien Nation with flesheaters")

Eric and Gundo

  • Saturday 02:30 PM - Saturday 03:30 PM
  • Niles

Between them, Gundo and Eric from Toyboat have years of stage experience. Gundo performed around the central Illinois folk scene for many years with cellist Cathy Kuna as well as doing solo work. He has a wide variety of influences in classic rock, 80s rock, folk and country, and he is going to see if he can play a guitar that's unplugged at Confusion. Eric is best known for the funny songs that have gotten airplay on the Dr Demento show as well as DementiaRadio.com. Eric also writes a lot of serious songs that speak to the geek condition. He has every intention of playing at least one plugged in guitar.

(Eric Coleman, Daniel Gunderson)

Author Reading

  • Saturday 03:00 PM - Saturday 04:00 PM
  • Boardroom

Stephen Leigh aka S.L. Farrell.

Elder Signs Press Book Launch

  • Saturday 03:00 PM - Saturday 04:00 PM
  • Concierge Lounge 12th Floor

The new book "Blood and Ice" by Lois Gresh mixes science and vampires and Antarctica. Lois has received Bram Stoker Award, Nebula Award, Theodore Sturgeon Award, and International Horror Guild Award nominations for her work.

Kindle, Kobo, iPad, Nook: the eBook reader

  • Saturday 03:00 PM - Saturday 04:00 PM
  • Dennison I/II

A discussion of the strengths and weaknesses of the various ways of reading eBooks and why they are becoming more popular.

(Tobias Buckell [M], Peter V Brett, Anne Harris, Jim Frenkel, Cindy Spencer Pape, Sarah Hansen)

Author Reading

  • Saturday 03:00 PM - Saturday 04:00 PM
  • Dennison III/IV

Mike Resnick reads "The Homecoming", which will appear in 2011 from Asimov's and a humorous story.

Iron Artist(Kid's Division)

  • Saturday 03:00 PM - Saturday 04:00 PM
  • KidFusion Suite

Come show off your coloring skills. As you finish your masterpiece, come back upstairs to the Kidfusion room for some cartoons and Wii or Playstation games. Playdough and other low key activities may be available as well.

Iron Artist!

  • Saturday 03:00 PM - Saturday 05:00 PM
  • Salon E

ARTISTS DROP IN! Each artist will get 1 to 1.5 hours to create a work of art. The theme is Life in Space" and the Judge is Fan GOH Lisa Garrison Ragsdale. Iron Artist has room for up to 10 adults and Iron Crayon will feature Kid Fusion Kids."

Costuming in a hurry

  • Saturday 03:00 PM - Saturday 04:00 PM
  • Salon F

Come get some ideas of how you can use items from around your home and some simple props to make a costume that will look like you spent hours working on it!

(Alex Drummer)

Books that Frustrate (and Inspire)

  • Saturday 03:00 PM - Saturday 04:00 PM
  • Salon G

Writers talk about books that frustrated them, and the great ideas that came from trying to figure out how to fix those books.

(Merrie Haskell [M], Catharine Shaffer, Steven Harper Piziks, Jim Hines, Christian Klaver)

Science and Society

  • Saturday 03:00 PM - Saturday 04:00 PM
  • Salon H

Our (almost) all PhD panel discusses the impact of science on society, society on science, past, present, and future.

(Doselle Young [M], Dr Philip Kaldon, Dr Aubrey de Grey, Dr Don Kleinsek, Dr Christine Purcell)

Author Reading

  • Saturday 03:30 PM - Saturday 04:30 PM
  • Boardroom

Suzanne Church.

Author Reading

  • Saturday 04:00 PM - Saturday 05:00 PM
  • Boardroom

Jim Hines an excerpt from the forthcoming novel The Snow Queen's Shadow""

I Fought the Law and...

  • Saturday 04:00 PM - Saturday 05:00 PM
  • Dennison III/IV

Our panel of legal experts will discuss the law with particular emphasis on topics of concern to fandom, including the Internet.

(Joseph M Saul, Lawrence Kestenbaum)

Apples to Apples

  • Saturday 04:00 PM - Saturday 05:00 PM
  • KidFusion Suite

Come up and play this popular board game that allows you to be the judge.

What's On Your iPod (or Victrola)?

  • Saturday 04:00 PM - Saturday 05:00 PM
  • Niles

Our panelists talk about the things they enjoy listening to.

(Peter Alway, Dave Hayman, Robin June Nakkula)

Zeppelins

  • Saturday 04:00 PM - Saturday 05:00 PM
  • Salon F

A trademark of both Steampunk and the Low/High Tech Future. How did this happen and why do people like the big gasbags?

(Tobias Buckell [M], Cherie Priest, Dr Christine Purcell, Paul Melko)

The Book as an artifact of memory in the electronic age

  • Saturday 04:00 PM - Saturday 05:00 PM
  • Salon G

Why do we still want to one own made of paper?

(Jim Frenkel [M], Anne Harris, Jim Deak, Stephen Leigh, Steve Buchheit, Stephen Haffner, Peter Halasz)

Creating the Hero/Creating the Antihero

  • Saturday 04:00 PM - Saturday 05:00 PM
  • Salon H

Main characters are usually the anchor on which any story relies. What makes people love or hate a character?

(Ferrett Steinmetz [M], Paolo Bacigalupi, Cherie Priest, Peter V Brett, Mike Resnick)

Fan Guest of Honour Introduction/Induction

  • Saturday 05:00 PM - Saturday 06:00 PM
  • Concierge Lounge 12th Floor

Featuring our current Fan Guest of Honour Lisa Garrison Ragsdale and all previous Fan Guests of Honour in attendance.

Tom Smith Concert

  • Saturday 05:00 PM - Saturday 06:00 PM
  • Dennison I/II

Tom is NOT your ordinary comedy musician. With the lyrical complexity of Ashman and Sondheim, the vocal fireworks of Meat Loaf, the comedic timing of Robin Williams, and the dynamic physique of the Skipper from Gilligan's Island, the only thing he won't do is be boring.

Cartooning with Kurt Erichsen

  • Saturday 05:00 PM - Saturday 06:00 PM
  • KidFusion Suite

Our focus will be of the greatest hits of cartoons- Bugs Bunny, etc. We also hope to spark some creative juices and see what kind of interesting looking cartoon character we can create.

MASS AUTHOR AUTOGRAPH SESSION

  • Saturday 05:00 PM - Saturday 06:00 PM
  • Salon E

ConFusion's authors will be lined up to sign your books. Authors planning to be here include: Paolo Bacigalupi, Peter V. Brett, Cherie Priest, Mike Resnick, John Scalzi, Sarah Zettel (aka C.L. Anderson), Anne Harris(aka Pearl North and Jessica Freely), Lois Gresh, Stephen Leigh (aka S.L. Farrell), Steven Harper Piziks, Tobias Buckell, Paul Melko, Jim C. Hines, Merrie Fuller, Dr. Philip Kaldon, Suzanne Church, Steve Buchheit, Christian Klaver, William Jones, Dr. Christine Purcell, Stewart Sternberg, Charles Zaglanis, Ferrett Steinmetz (aka "The Ferrett"), Doselle Young, Catherine Shaffer, and Jim Frenkel (Tor Editor).

The State of Internet Security, 2010

  • Saturday 05:00 PM - Saturday 06:00 PM
  • Salon F

Based on a comprehensive survey of over 100 of the largest ISPs in the world, this talk presents the most detailed and comprehensive picture available on the state of security in the Internet based on inside information available nowhere else. Want to know how big the biggest denial-of-service attacks are getting? Want to know where the largest threats to the Internet are coming from and why? Want to know when the Internet is going to run out of address space? We've got answers!

(Scott Iekel-Johnson)

Re-Creating a look

  • Saturday 05:00 PM - Saturday 06:00 PM
  • Salon G

Do you have a favorite comic book character or movie hero? Have you always wanted to dress up like them? Come and figure out how. At this panel you will figure out some of the secrets to successfully re-create some of those classic costumes you love. We've done everything from Indiana Jones to Captain America to Mad Eye Moody. Learn the tricks and maybe share some of your own.

(Alex Drummer)

A technical review of life extension

  • Saturday 05:00 PM - Saturday 06:00 PM
  • Salon H

Our science guest of honor explains his work at the SENS foundation which treats aging as a disease and searches for the cure. This technical talk will focus on the current state of the science of life.

(Aubrey de Grey)

Interactive: Make a music video

  • Saturday 07:00 PM - Saturday 08:00 PM
  • Boardroom

Ron Wilson seeks your assistance in making a music video. This panel will run from 7 PM to 10 PM.

Elven Toast hosted by Xaina Fairy

  • Saturday 07:00 PM - Saturday 08:00 PM
  • Concierge Lounge 12th Floor

BYOB. Get there early if you want to participate in this tradition! All are welcome.

Skynet

  • Saturday 07:00 PM - Saturday 08:00 PM
  • Niles

A multimedia status report on the current state of the technology that will kill you tomorrow. The Terminator movie series introduced us to Skynet, a massive computer system which is dedicated to killing all human beings. This talk takes an ironic look at the current state of the art in artificial intelligence, robotics, and robot-based weapons technologies which will ultimately lead to your untimely demise.

(Richard Herrell)

Pizza/PJ Party

  • Saturday 07:00 PM - Saturday 08:00 PM
  • KidFusion Suite

Come enjoy an evening of pizza, movies, and wii/playstation games, along with other games and things to do...Imagine a slumber party, but bigger and better. (Additional charge applies, see Ops or Registration for details.)

Masquerade Muster

  • Saturday 07:00 PM - Saturday 08:00 PM
  • Salon H, G, F

Participating in the Masquerade? Come and get your picture taken, and get in place for the masquerade!

The Mesmeric Fusion Troupe

  • Saturday 07:45 PM - Saturday 08:45 PM
  • Salon E

A Steampunk dance group presenting a sneak peek of their upcoming Steampunk show in Toledo. Performers include: KayLouise Zaleski, Kim Hunter, Malissa Shessler, Shannon Pearsal, Marc Haney.

Beer Tasting with Luminary Aubrey de Grey

  • Saturday 08:00 PM - Saturday 09:00 PM
  • Concierge Lounge 12th Floor

BYOB. Bring an interesting beer or ale that you would like to share with the rest of the group.

The Art of Novel Creation

  • Saturday 08:00 PM - Saturday 09:00 PM
  • Niles

How are novels created? Does everyone do it differently or are there some common steps, or do you just wait for the ideas to come from Schenectady and then type them up?

(Peter V Brett [M], Jim Frenkel, Jim Hines, Suzanne Church)

Dystopian YA

  • Saturday 08:00 PM - Saturday 09:00 PM
  • Dennison III/IV

Many of the most popular YA science fiction features post-apocalyptic or dystopian futures. Why is this, and does it work better for a young adult audience, or is post-apocalyptic dystopia irresistible for all ages?

(Merrie Haskell [M], Catherine Shaffer, Paolo Bacigalupi)

Masquerade

  • Saturday 08:00 PM - Saturday 09:00 PM
  • Salon E

A ConFusion fixture, this year's masquerade will be no less exciting than usual, with the special theme "Steampunked Fairy Tales"! Bring your favorite fairy tales to life re-imagined with brass, gears, and steamworks, and take part in a parade of fascinating ideas. If you aren't inspired by the theme, though, don't let that put you off, prizes--which include ConFusion 2012 memberships, T-Shirts, books, and more--will be awarded in other categories as well. Muster starts at 7pm on Saturday night. Pre-register to compete or just strut your stuff on stage. Forms available until 5pm Saturday at Ops.

Political Correctness

  • Saturday 09:00 PM - Saturday 10:00 PM
  • Dennison III/IV

Are we politically correct, should we be politically correct, and can we have fun having a non- politically correct discussion about it? Where is the line? When do we as writers 'cross the line'? What happens when we do cross it?

(Paolo Bacigalupi [M], Jim Hines, Philip Kaldon, Steve Buchheit)

Theme Filk: Covers

  • Saturday 09:30 PM - Saturday 10:30 PM
  • Niles

Perform something that you like, but didn't write. Performing something by someone who's in the room is encouraged.

(Howard Scrimgeour, Peggi Warner-Lalonde)

Ritual, Dance and Sorcery

  • Saturday 10:00 PM - Saturday 11:00 PM
  • Dennison I/II

A Magic(k) track panel with George Tait

(George Tait)

The Saturday Night Dance

  • Saturday 10:00 PM - Saturday 11:00 PM
  • SALON E, F, G, H

This year's Theme is "The Time Warp" with sets of music from the 70's, 80's, 90's and 00's climaxing with the playing of the Rocky Horror Picture Show song "Time Warp" at midnight. Time approximate following the Masquerade.

Open Filk

  • Saturday 10:30 PM - Saturday 11:30 PM
  • Niles

Séance

  • Saturday 11:00 PM - Sunday 12:00 AM
  • Dennison III/IV

Sunday

Kaffeeklatsch with Aubrey de Grey

  • Sunday 10:00 AM - Sunday 11:00 AM
  • Boardroom

Sign up at Operations.

Popular science books

  • Sunday 10:00 AM - Sunday 11:00 AM
  • Dennison I/II

We will engage in an interactive discussion of popular science books such as Freakanomics and others.

(Richard Herrell, Philip Kaldon, Dr Arie Bodek)

The Coffee Ritual

  • Sunday 10:00 AM - Sunday 11:00 AM
  • Dennison III/IV

Another wonderful (and delicious!) ConFusion tradition

KidFusion Gaming (2 hours)

  • Sunday 10:00 AM - Sunday 12:00 PM
  • Mediterranean Room

Meet in the Mediterranean Room to play games with the "big kids." We'll be bringing some age appropriate games of our own as well.

Science Fiction as a mind altering substance

  • Sunday 10:00 AM - Sunday 11:00 AM
  • Salon E

A discussion about how readers often read genre fiction to make themselves feel certain emotions or to exercise their minds and how writers can create this effect.

(Paul Melko [M], Jim Frenkel, Steve Buchheit, Lois Gresh, Jim Deak)

The Practice of Critical Thinking

  • Sunday 10:00 AM - Sunday 11:00 AM
  • Salon G

Transhumanism/Singularity

  • Sunday 11:00 AM - Sunday 12:00 PM
  • Dennison I/II

Will the future spin out of control? Will we reach a point of such rapid technological progess that our limited biological brains cannot comprehend it? Vernor Vinge and Ray Kurzweill defined this concept, and we're going to talk about the subject.

(Aubrey de Grey [M], Richard Herrell, Ben Best, Catherine Shaffer)

Author Reading

  • Sunday 11:00 AM - Sunday 12:00 PM
  • Dennison III/IV

Peter V. Brett reads an excerpt from the novella Brayan's Gold" from Subterranean Press."

Why Did Goths Discover Brown?

  • Sunday 11:00 AM - Sunday 12:00 PM
  • Salon E

What are the reasons for the blooming popularity of Steampunk as an aesthetic life style choice?

(Cherie Priest [M], Suzanne Church, Philip Kaldon, Cindy Spencer Pape)

Native American Culture and History (2 hours)

  • Sunday 11:00 AM - Sunday 01:00 PM
  • Salon F

Life on the reservation, how the natives helped the whites in time of need, and the true version of Thanksgiving.

(Daniel Petrie)

Tarot Workshop

  • Sunday 11:00 AM - Sunday 12:00 PM
  • Salon G

The history of Tarot will be discussed, along with traditional and postmodern Tarot reading methods.

(Misha Stone, Adam Rose)

The Small Press

  • Sunday 11:00 AM - Sunday 12:00 PM
  • Salon H

Is the small press breaking new ground for upcoming writers or a trap for those who can't cut it in the big world of publishing? Who and what is the small press? Why it exists, where it can be found, and how to use it as both a reader and a writer.

(Jim Frenkel [M], Stephen Haffner, Dr Christine Purcell, Jim Hines, Peter Halasz, Jim Deak, Sarah Hansen)

Elder Signs Press

  • Sunday 12:00 PM - Sunday 01:00 PM
  • Dennison I/II

An independent press specializing in science fiction, dark fiction, fantasy, and horror based right here in Michigan. Come meet the people behind it and learn more about it.

(Deborah Jones [M], William Jones, Stewart Sternberg, Charles Zaglanis, Dr Christine Purcell, Lois Gresh)

Author Reading

  • Sunday 12:00 PM - Sunday 01:00 PM
  • Dennison III/IV

Paolo Bacigalupi reads from a work in progress.

Building a Community

  • Sunday 12:00 PM - Sunday 01:00 PM
  • Niles

Filk isn't just an indefinable style of music, it's a community. How do you build a community? How has the filk community developed its shared values, and what are they?

(Judith Hayman, Susan Moerdyk)

i3 Detroit: The Age of the Hacker: A Primer to Hackerspaces and DIY Culture

  • Sunday 12:00 PM - Sunday 01:00 PM
  • Salon E

Hackers (not computer thieves, but rather the imaginative practitioners of the do-it-yourself mentality) are on the rise. The Internet has made all manner of technology more accessible and cost-effective to the ordinary hobbyist, providing everything from free project diagrams to cheap pneumatic valves. As a direct result, more people are exploring the world of at-home machining, crafting, and electronics- for fun, profit, and home repair. Most of all they are getting out of their garages and into communities called hackerspaces, where they work, share, and learn together. Join a few members from i3Detroit as they explain the hackerspace phenomenon, demonstrate a few projects, and show you that we truly live in the Age of the Hacker.

(Nick Britsky [M], Ted Hansen, Brad McMahon, Ross Smith.)

Regency In Fact and Fiction

  • Sunday 12:00 PM - Sunday 01:00 PM
  • Salon G

From Georgette Heyer, Patrick O'Brien and Jane Austen to Naomi Novik and Zombies this period is still popular; come talk about why.

(Sarah Zettel [M], Cindy Spencer Pape, Sarah Hansen)

How to make Steampunk/Tribal belly dance hair accessories

  • Sunday 12:00 PM - Sunday 01:00 PM
  • Salon H

Come watch Shetan Noir make easy beautiful hair accessories. These lovely hair decorations will feature silk flower blossoms, feathers, fabrics, gems, and hair clips.

Playing with Genre Conventions

  • Sunday 01:00 PM - Sunday 02:00 PM
  • Dennison I/II

How can we take the mundane and shopworn conventions of our respective genres and reinvent them?

(Cherie Priest [M], Jim Frenkel, Stewart Sternberg, Charles Zaglanis, Dr Christine Purcell)

Meet Stephen Haffner of Haffner Press:

  • Sunday 01:00 PM - Sunday 02:00 PM
  • Dennison III/IV

Since 1998 this Detroit area resident has dedicated himself to reprinting in archival-quality science fiction works from the pulp era. Authors include Jack Williamson, Leigh Brackett and Edmond Hamilton. Perhaps he will read a rare Jack Williamson or Henry Kuttner short story as well.

Movie Trivia

  • Sunday 01:00 PM - Sunday 02:00 PM
  • KidFusion Suite

Come try to answer trivia questions about many different movies. *We'll also declare a scavenger hunt winner at this panel*

Dead Dog Filk.

  • Sunday 01:00 PM - Sunday 02:00 PM
  • Niles

Michigan Robotics Club (aka the MiRobotClub, formerly known as YAAARC)

  • Sunday 01:00 PM - Sunday 02:00 PM
  • Salon E

The Michigan Robotics Club talks about and demonstrates their robot projects, including PropBot, JanBot, Propeller Boards, Arduino, Basic Stamp, Servos, motors and such.

American Civil War History

  • Sunday 01:00 PM - Sunday 02:00 PM
  • Salon F

Daniel Petrie, a civil war re-enactor and amateur historian, discusses the American Civil War.

(Daniel Petrie)

Weaponry for Costumes

  • Sunday 01:00 PM - Sunday 02:00 PM
  • Salon G

The weapon completes the costume. Dicuss how you can make or modify your own weapons to fit your look. Hands-on demo with everything from swords to pistols. You will be able to look at and handle some weapons that you're sure to recognize, including Captain America's shield, Conan the Barbarian's sword, and Jayne Cobb's favorite gun Vera. Non-costumers and weapon lovers are welcome!

(Alex Drummer)

Random Reality (2 hours)

  • Sunday 01:00 PM - Sunday 03:00 PM
  • Salon H

This will begin here but likely will take us all over the hotel. A magic(k) track experience!

(Misha Stone, David Tamargo)

Motion Capture Animation

  • Sunday 02:00 PM - Sunday 03:00 PM
  • Dennison I/II

You've seen it in Avatar, Gollum from Lord of the Rings, and countless video games. For his MoCap Technician certification from Henry Ford Community College, Matt Arnold has recorded himself performing both sides of a pistol duel. Using video, screen captures, and live software demonstrations, this presentation will describe and explain one of the industry-standard processes for recording a performance as motion data through 3D space and applying that performance to a character.

(Matt Arnold)

Author Reading

  • Sunday 02:00 PM - Sunday 03:00 PM
  • Dennison III/IV

Stewart Sternberg reads excerpts from his new book "The Ravening"

Make your own dessert

  • Sunday 02:00 PM - Sunday 03:00 PM
  • KidFusion Suite

What happens when you let kids plan the dessert menu? Let's find out.

Comic Books as a Creative Media

  • Sunday 02:00 PM - Sunday 03:00 PM
  • Salon E

What does adding the graphical element allow the writer to do when scripting comic books? Peter V. Brett [M], Paolo Bacigalupi, Diane Frkan, Doselle Young.)

Feedback Session

  • Sunday 03:00 PM - Sunday 04:00 PM
  • Dennison I/II

Please come and let us know what we did right and what needs to be worked on. Everyone is encouraged to come and comment. If you cannot stay this late leave a written comment with Ops. As many of the ConCom and hotel staff as we can gather will be there.

Dead Dog Party (4 pm on into the night)

  • Sunday 04:00 PM - Sunday 05:00 PM
  • Consuite

Come up to the 15th Floor and find out what the consuite has left over and hang with other people who are not yet ready to call it a weekend