K`Tetch Watches… The Watch

There’s an old saying “Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?” – Who will guard the guards. Today, it’s more specifically “Who Will Watch The Watch”? The answer to that would seem to be ‘No one who is a Discworld fan”.

Dragon Con 2016

So, this is normally the time I’d release my schedule of panels for this years Dragon Con, so people interested in seeing me (both of you) can look there instead of sending me a message the usual way.

I was actually down for several panels, but a week or two back I realised I wouldn’t be able to attend for a uniquely American reason – Medical Bills.

Back in May it was the High School Graduation of my eldest (yes I’m that old), and going to watch it meant sitting on bleacher seats and that aggravated a back injury I’ve had for a few decades.

Now, were I back in the UK, this wouldn’t be an issue, I’d go to the doctor, get referred to a specialist or the hospital if needed, maybe spend some money on a prescription or two. However, this is the US, where no chance to make a buck can be allowed to go by. As a result, the money put aside for Dragon Con (yes, I have to pay for everything except my badge, despite both me and my wife being track assistant directors – me the EFF track, my wife with Signage) has gone to medical care instead.

One Year Without Sir pTerry Pratchett

It’s now been one year since pTerry died. It’s easy to remember, as it’s also the birthday of a close friend. There’s not a lot more that I can say here, that I didn’t say last year, except for the experiences over that last year.

K`Tetch’s Panels at Dragon Con 2015

Yes, I’ve been kinda quiet about this year’s Dragon Con, at least on here. Truth is, I’d only just finished off processing all the videos from last years convention, which came to 21 videos totally 22 hours. You can find the playlist with them all here.

After the 8 of last year, I’ve cut down to save my voice and my sanity, to a more standard 4.

Of course, throughout it all I’ll still be beavering away in Hilton 201, making sure that the EFForums track runs smoothly (as befits the track’s Assistant Director)

Sir pTerry – Inspiration, Idealist, Humanitarian

I awoke Thursday morning to find one of my two greatest inspirations, Sir pTerry Pratchett OBE, had died. It was not a good feeling. It was hard to explain exactly how this made me feel, but for those of us geeks that looked beyond the emotive veneer of modern civilization to address the underlying thoughts the past month has been hard. Not only have we lost the intellectual voice that was Pratchett, but less than 2 weeks ago we lost the ‘face’ in Leonard Nimoy.

However while Nimoy was a great figure, in many respects he was far less important than Pratchett, he conveyed an image, portrayed a character created and written by others. Pratchett on the other hand, was the creator, the thought provoker, and mind who not only created the thoughts but gave them a vehicle to speak through.

Dragon Con Panels 2014

Yes, it’s that time again. Time to post the annual list of panels I’m doing this year at Dragon Con. Now things are a little different as well this year, as I’m no longer just ‘Junior Minion’ on the track, I’m now the Electronic Frontier Forums track Assistant Director. Basically means I have to sit in more meetings, and are more likely to have a finger pointed at me if things go wrong.