July 8, 2010 - 12:47am:   Found Item

Item: one pair of navy blue slippers
Location: room 1105
Found by: Nell, who was rooming with solarcat

If these are yours, and you'd like to reclaim them, please contact me at info@con-txt.net, and I'll get you in contact with Nell....

  June 21, 2010 - 7:59pm:   Disco Duck Playlists and Slideshow Zips

Playlists are below the cut, and are split into three parts: The Wind Up (the first 1/2 hour), the Party (three hours of dance music), and the Wind Down (1 hour of chill-out music).... A couple of people asked me for a copy of the Muse/Justin Timberlake mash-up; since it's a transformative work, and not available for purchase anywhere, I linked it within the playlist.

( What did you hear at Disco Duck? )

( What did you see at Disco Duck? )

  June 21, 2010 - 2:48pm:   Vid show intro

For those of you who asked for the vid show intro vid, here it is!

Download high-quality xvid (30MB) (right click and save)

Embedded:



Also, the intro is now listed in the vid show playlist in the Programming section of the con.txt website.

Enjoy! :-)

  June 20, 2010 - 11:20pm:   Panel Recaps

Please comment or link to your panel recaps here!

Panel Recaps on DW.

  June 20, 2010 - 11:15pm:   Con Reports

Please link your con reports here, so we can see them too!

Con reports on DW.

  June 20, 2010 - 11:12pm:   Comments, Complaints and Suggestions

If you had to leave the con early, or if you weren't comfortable commenting during the Dead Duck panel, you can leave comments, complaints and suggestions as a comment on this post.

Comments, Complaints and Suggestions on DW.

  June 18, 2010 - 12:10am:   Room Parties

Please post any room parties (location, time, theme, etc.) here, so that other fans can find you!

  June 11, 2010 - 8:35pm:   What to Bring/Not Bring, What to Expect, Weather Forecast

YOU MAY WANT TO BRING

- Directions to the hotel (and the hotel phone number, just in case)
- Fannish t-shirts, tote bags, and hats (this is a fashionable crowd!)
- Fannish stickers, buttons and pins -- there's a lot of real estate on our badges and badge holders
- Fun and outrageous outfits for the Disco Duck -- these don't have to be 70's themed, they can be anything you want
- Cos-play gear/costumes -- most of the con comm is playing dress-up on Friday, but the whole weekend is fair game
- Your laptop -- the hotel has free wireless internet throughout
- A bathing suit -- the hotel has an outdoor pool, and the (current) forecast is for mostly sunny skies and very warm temps
- A sweater -- the panel rooms and ConSweet are chilly, especially early in the day (We're not kidding about this -- if you get cold easily, BRING A SWEATER!)
- A refillable water bottle -- we will not be offering bottled water this year, but there will be pitchers of filtered water, ice and glasses available

YOU WON'T WANT TO BRING

- VCRs or DVD players -- we aren't allowed to hook them up to the televisions in our rooms. There will be a TV and DVD player at the pimping table in the ConSweet.
- Pets -- the only animals allowed in the hotel are service animals.

WHAT TO EXPECT

PARKING: If you arrive by car, you'll need to leave it somewhere. You can unload all your gear and extra passengers at the front of the hotel. Parking in the hotel garage costs $12 a day, with in and out privileges. The county lot (Lot 2) behind the hotel offers free parking Thursday and Friday after 7 pm and all day Saturday and Sunday. During the day, short-term (two- and three-hour) meters cost about 60 cents an hour. The county garage (Garage 2) behind the hotel has long-term meters (nine hours) at 45 cents an hour. You also can take your chances on the street -- but read the signs very carefully.

ATM: There is an ATM in the hotel lobby; the surcharge is $3.50. There are also several bank ATMs south of the hotel on Georgia Ave, including a Bank of America and a Suntrust on the same block.

REGISTRATION: Con registration will be open in (or near) the hotel’s River City Café Thursday evening from 8 pm to 10 pm; walk through the lobby and follow the signs to find the restaurant. We've warned the restaurant staff to expect a crowd, but please be advised wait times for drinks and food orders may be longer than normal -- please be patient!

Because a lot of fans want to arrive on Thursday right around check in time, the lobby may be crowded from 3 until 5 pm, and check-in will be slow. PLEASE BE PATIENT, and prepare to spend some time in the lobby or the bar/restaurant, chatting with other fen waiting to make their way to the Con. We have warned the hotel to expect a crowd at check-in Thursday night and Friday afternoon and asked them to staff the hotel registration desk accordingly. Still, the lobby may be crowded at those times, and check-in could be slow.

Registration will continue upstairs in the 4th floor corridor Friday from 8 am to 11 pm and Saturday from 8 am to 8 pm.

IDENTIFICATION: You'll receive a badge holder and name tag that is your pass to all CON.TXT events. It will be checked at all Con events, so please don't lose it or leave it in your room! It is not replaceable, and you must wear it at all times while in the con space. Please note that badges are not shareable or transferable.

Anyone attending the Disco Duck on Friday will be required to wear a wristband -- please note that wristbands are not shareable or transferable. There will be more info about the wristbands at the CON.TXT Context panel on Friday morning.

VOLUNTEERS: At registration, attendees who indicated availability will receive their volunteer schedule. You should double-check the shifts indicated; if there is a problem, please let meri_oddities know as soon as possible, so that we can straighten out any issues. If you find you have time while at the con, and wish to volunteer, please let us know.

PROGRAMMING: At registration, you'll also receive a CON.TXT program describing all of the panels, special events, workshops and services. We suggest you take some time to read through the program as soon as possible after your arrival; in addition to con programming, there will also be information on local restaurants and shopping on a handout in the packet.

GETTING AROUND: The hotel operates a free shuttle within a 3-mile radius of the hotel. You can use the shuttle to get to or from the Metro station, for example, or to get to the movie theater, restaurants, grocery store, etc.

If you need to be picked up from the Metro or elsewhere within the area the shuttle serves, call the main hotel number: 301-589-0800. They will connect you to the shuttle. If you have some idea when you'll need to be picked up (e.g., if you're coming from the airport), it's a good idea to call in advance to reserve the shuttle.

The Silver Spring Metro station is about 1/4 south of the hotel on Georgia Ave, if you're in the mood for a short walk.

THE FORECAST

Wednesday: partly cloudy, with a high of 87° and a low of 73°

Thursday: partly cloudy, with a high of 88° and a low of 73°

Friday: partly cloudy, with a high of 88° and a low of 74°

Saturday: scattered thunderstorms, with a high of 92° and a low of 74°

Sunday: sunny, with a high of 91° and a low of 76°

Monday: sunny, with a high of 90° and a low of 75°

~!@#@!~

Ducks Deluxe Arts & Crafts Show and Auction
Rideshare
Roommates -- there are a couple of people looking for last minute roomies for Thursday!
Orphan Sales

(When tweeting about CON.TXT, be sure to use #contxt, and spread the word!)

  June 9, 2010 - 8:10pm:   Dealers + Cos-play Day + One last deadline

We have a great bunch of dealers this year, so be sure to bring your checkbooks, credit cards and cash so you can shop for some slashy and fannish goodies!

( Attending Dealers Under the Cut )

~!@#@!~

At this year's CON.TXT, Friday is COS-PLAY DAY! Feel free to dress up in costume, either during the day, or at the Disco Duck -- steampunk, favorite characters or movie/tv/comic book styles, or just plain crazy -- everything is welcome! You are, of course, free to *not* dress up if that's how you roll, and dressing up isn't limited to Friday only -- anything goes for the entire con, as long as what you're wearing is safe for public consumption!

~!@#@!~

This coming Friday, June 11th, is the last day to change your badge name. If you have changed your mind about what you want to be called, or if you wish to add or subtract something from what is already there, you must make any changes by 3:00pm EDT. (To make changes, log in to the Member Area.)

~!@#@!~

Ducks Deluxe Arts & Crafts Show and Auction
Rideshare
Roommates -- there are a couple of people looking for last minute roomies for Thursday!
Orphan Sales

(When tweeting about CON.TXT, be sure to use #contxt, and spread the word!)

  June 7, 2010 - 10:35pm:   CON.TXT 2010 Schedule / Pop-Tart & Pizza Parties / 2010 CON.TXT Charity

The CON.TXT 2010 Schedule is live! Go, see what we're offering, and start planning!

Moderators, if you have handouts, pre-reading, or other pre-con "homework" for participants, you may post links here.

~!@#@!~

You may be asking yourself what a Pop-Tart or Pizza party is.... Well, Pop-Tart and Pizza parties are a way for a group of from a single fandom (Trek, SGA, Star Wars, etc.) to get together informally. Pop-Tart Parties happen in the morning, and Pizza Parties can be either lunch or supper.

We have a limited number of spots for this type of party; in order to reserve a room/time (you can see what's available on the schedule), please email panels@con-txt.net.

~!@#@!~

We are pleased to announce that this year's con charity is the Southern Poverty Law Center. From the SPLC website:

The Southern Poverty Law Center is a nonprofit civil rights organization dedicated to fighting hate and bigotry, and to seeking justice for the most vulnerable members of society.

Founded by civil rights lawyers Morris Dees and Joseph Levin Jr. in 1971, the SPLC is internationally known for tracking and exposing the activities of hate groups. Our innovative Teaching Tolerance program produces and distributes – free of charge – documentary films, books, lesson plans and other materials that promote tolerance and respect in our nation’s schools.

~!@#@!~

Ducks Deluxe Arts & Crafts Show and Auction
Rideshare
Roommates
Orphan Sales

(When tweeting about CON.TXT, be sure to use #contxt, and spread the word!)

  June 7, 2010 - 10:30pm:   Moderator Links Post

Moderators, if you have handouts, pre-reading, or other pre-con "homework" for participants, you may post links in comments. Please cut and paste the title of your panel into the subject line of your comment, so participants can find your information.

  June 3, 2010 - 9:42pm:   Last minute help needed!

We are just about ready to post the final schedule for programming at the con -- stay tuned!

There have been some last-minute moderator woes, and we'd really love you if you wanted to step up and lead our "Those Daring Young Men: Slash and the Victorian Age" panel, which has lost its moderator and will be lost from our con until someone is willing to moderate it!

We also have a few requests for co-moderators still available! There are three fanworks panels with a moderator who'd like some company: "Building an Active Community" with synecdochic, "Finding Fan Activity" with Queue, and "Wuzzles Wuzzles Everywhere: Tagging on the Archive of Our Own" with Cesy; and in specific fandom panels, starlady is leading "Star Trek Beyond the Shows" alone at the moment.

Please email panels@con-txt.net if you're interested!

  June 1, 2010 - 9:15pm:   Orphan Sales / Swap Table + Links of Interest

**We are a bit late with this -- we apologize!**

If you are not coming to the con but would like to sell your zines or other fannish items (with the exception of art and art resales, which must be submitted to Ducks Deluxe), or if you have only a small number of items and don't want to have your own table, we can host your things for you on the Orphan Sales Table. The con will take 15% of the proceeds of sales of items off the Orphan table.

What kinds of items can be sold on the Orphan Sales table?

* New and used zines
* Song vid collections
* DVDs / tapes of movies and TV series
* Licensed t-shirts and memorabilia
* Autographed items, including photos & posters
* Calendars and stationery items
* Comic books, graphic novels and manga
* Gay-themed novels & published slash

(If you have something not on this list, email us and we'll help you classify it!)

To Get Your Items on the Orphan Sales Table

* First, set your prices (in increments of $.25) and label your items. You must set the price for each item you want to sell on the Orphan Sales Table. Every item must have a post-it note or other attached label with the item name, your display name, and the price. We will verify this against the information from your Orphan Sales Form.

Unlabeled items will not be placed on the table until you arrive at the con and label them yourself; if you are not attending, any unlabeled items will be left off the table and returned!

* Next, go to the Orphan Sales page and click the button to fill out the Orphan Sales Form. After you submit the form, a page with the form information will appear. Print out the form page after you have submitted it and be sure to include it with your items. The form information will automatically be emailed to us, and a copy will be emailed to you for your records.

This is very important! This is how the information about you and your items gets into the database. The form is checked against the items you send. And this is how we'll ensure you are paid for the items that are sold, and that the items that are not are returned to you.

* Then you must decide how to get your items to the con.

You may mail items in advance. The address will appear on the form page after you submit the Orphan Sales Form, or you can contact us. MAILED ITEMS MUST BE RECEIVED NO LATER THAN FRIDAY, JUNE 11th, 2010, IN ORDER TO BE OFFERED ON THE ORPHAN SALES TABLE. There will be NO EXCEPTIONS to this policy, so be certain to mail your things with plenty of time for them to arrive by this date.

You may also deliver items directly to the hotel yourself, from Friday morning to Saturday evening.

After the con, we will mail a check (minus the con's percentage and postage) and any unsold items to the return address you specify (via US Priority Mail with Insurance); alternatively you may pick up your check and unsold items on Sunday.

Please contact us with questions or if you need more information.

~!@#@!~

If you don't want to deal with selling items, we will again have a Swap Table (proceeds to benefit the CON.TXT 2010 charity, which will be announced later this week.)

How it works: Bring any fannish goodies you are willing to part with, and put them on the table. Peruse the goodies others have left, and if you find something you'd like, please leave an appropriate donation for the con charity.

Any fannish memorabilia, including stickers, action figures, notebooks, DVDs, cassettes, books, magnets, zines, (and pretty much anything else you can think of) will be welcome. If you think someone else would love it, this is the spot!

The small print: If for some reason the stuff you bring is not snapped up by someone else, and you'd like it back, please retrieve it before the end of the Dead Duck panel on Sunday. Anything left at that point will either be tossed, hoarded by Con Comm members, or donated to a local charity.

~!@#@!~

QUACKS! (aka CON.TXT personals)
Ducks Deluxe Arts & Crafts Show and Auction
Rideshare
Roommates
Orphan Sales

(When tweeting about CON.TXT, be sure to use #contxt, and spread the word!)

  May 31, 2010 - 2:32pm:   LAST CALL!

Today is the last day to REGISTER for CON.TXT 2010!

Today is also the last day to BUY LUNCHES. (Log in, and click the yellow bar labeled "Click to order lunch".)

  May 27, 2010 - 7:44pm:   Hotel Block Closes Tomorrow

One last reminder -- the hotel room block closes tomorrow! If you have not reserved a room, and you want to, please do so ASAP.

  May 24, 2010 - 9:39pm:   Ducks Deluxe Reminder + Links of Interest

We're still accepting submissions for the Ducks Deluxe Arts & Crafts Show and Auction!

Go HERE for more details, and HERE to submit your arts and crafts items.

We're looking for everything from fiber arts to fine (slashy) art and everything in between, so go forth and be crafty! And if you have any questions about the Ducks Deluxe Arts & Crafts Show and Auction, don't hesitate to contact us at artsy@con-txt.net.

We've had some entries, but we're looking for more -- we need your stuff in order to have a show! If you're planning to bring something, but aren't sure what exactly that something will be, can you drop us a line at the address above and let us know you plan to participate? :-D

~!@#@!~

Registration (deadline is May 31st)
Hotel Info & Reservations (deadline is May 28th)
QUACKS! (aka CON.TXT personals)
Ducks Deluxe Arts & Crafts Show and Auction
Lunches (deadline to order is May 31st, log into your account to order)

(When tweeting about CON.TXT, be sure to use #contxt, and spread the word!)

  May 19, 2010 - 10:18pm:   We're still looking for a few good moderators!

Would you lead a discussion on any of these topics?

We have three panels which still have no moderators at all:

• Multifandom, "They Fight Crime! (More or less)"


• Multifandom, "We <3 the BBC"


• Torchwood, "Torchwood in the US"

The following panels have a moderator who would like to be joined by a co-moderator:

• Fanworks, "Building an Active Community", synecdochic


• Fanworks, "Finding Fan Activity", Queue


• Fanworks, "Wuzzles wuzzles everywhere: Tagging on the Archive of Our Own", Cesy

• Meta, "Fandom Suddenly Loves the Ladies!", Qurinas


• Meta, "Kinked for kink memes", Vikki


• Meta, "Procrastinators' Party", melannen


• Multifandom, "Femslash: This is Not the Recruiting Panel", zvi


• Multifandom, "Please Get Out of my Van Halen T-shirt! Bandom in the New Decade", Eleanor Lavish


• Multifandom, "Sinister Ducks", melannen


• Multifandom, "Those Daring Young Men: Slash and the Victorian Age", missmollyetc


• Doctor Who, "The Eleventh Doctor", Ellen Fremedon


• Star Trek, "Star Trek beyond the shows", Starlady


• White Collar, "White Collar: WTF?", LightGetsIn

You can reach the programming committee at panels@con-txt.net to volunteer, make suggestions, or ask any questions!

~!@#@!~

Registration (deadline is May 31st)
Hotel Info & Reservations (deadline is May 28th)
QUACKS! (aka CON.TXT personals)
Ducks Deluxe Arts & Crafts Show and Auction
Lunches (deadline to order is May 31st, log into your account to order)

(When tweeting about CON.TXT, be sure to use #contxt, and spread the word!)

  May 17, 2010 - 5:01pm:   Extended Registration, Safety Policy & Links of Interest

The CON.TXT con comm met yesterday and, after considering the con's financial situation, has decided to reopen registration at $110 for the next two weeks (until 11:59 pm on May 31st). If you missed out on the earlier deadline, you can register here.

We greatly appreciate everyone who has committed to the con so far. Thanks to your support, we are close to covering our costs. However, we aren't quite there yet, and we hope an extended registration period will bring in enough new memberships to close the gap.

We will not be offering day memberships this year, but -- as we did in 2008 -- we will open Disco Duck (our Friday night party) to fans who aren't attending the full con. The admission fee of $20 will include music, dancing, and light hors d'oeuvres; there will also be a cash bar.

Finally -- but perhaps most important -- we thought we should formally note that we want CON.TXT to be a safe space for all attendees. If you see activities you think are inconsistent with this goal, the con com is ready to help. Please note that CON.TXT is a private event, and we reserve the right to refuse admission to any participant at any time for any reason, with no refund of registration fees.

~!@#@!~

Registration (deadline is May 31st)
Hotel Info & Reservations (deadline is May 28th)
QUACKS! (aka CON.TXT personals)
Ducks Deluxe Arts & Crafts Show and Auction
Lunches (deadline to order is May 31st, log into your account to order)

(When tweeting about CON.TXT, be sure to use #contxt, and spread the word!)

  May 14, 2010 - 8:00pm:   LAST CALL for REGISTRATION!

REGISTRATION WILL CLOSE TOMORROW, MAY 15th, AT 11:59PM EDT. If you want to either register or cancel/roll over your membership, please do so before that time....

  May 13, 2010 - 5:26pm:   Volunteer Request

So, here's the thing: without you, CON.TXT doesn't happen. We need you to participate, hang out in the Con Sweet, eat the snacks, drink the sodas, mod our panels, and yes, we need you to volunteer to help out with the con.

We're asking each of you to volunteer 1 or 2 hours during the con to help us out.

Mostly, we need people to help run the registration tables, work security (i.e., making sure that everyone in the con area is a registered attendee), work in the Con Sweet, work at Ducks Deluxe, and help with errands as needed. We'll do our best to make sure volunteers are scheduled around panels they are interested in attending.

To volunteer, send an email to me, Meri, the volunteer coordinator, meri_oddities@yahoo.com. Even if you've already told us you'd be willing to volunteer, please send another email; put "Volunteer" in the subject, and include your arrival and departure times in the email, as well as how many hours you're willing to volunteer, and any other pertinent details.

  May 12, 2010 - 10:43pm:   We're like Mom -- we feed you!

So -- you're probably wondering what it means when we say we feed you....

Your CON.TXT registration fee includes light hors d'oeuvres during the Disco Duck on Friday night, breakfast on Saturday and Sunday, and snacks all weekend long. We also offer box lunches all three days of the con, for an additional fee of $10/lunch.

We don't have all the breakfast details yet, but the 2008 menu included egg-and-cheese sandwiches, muffins, and fruit. Box lunches include half a meat sandwich (either turkey with cranberry mayo on wheat or ham and cheddar on rye -- no promises as to which) as well as half a veggie sandwich (spinach, sprouts, havarti, and tomato w/red pepper & goat cheese spread on a baguette), a salad of some kind (not green -- white bean or potato or snowpea/shiitake mushroom), an apple, Terra chips, a cookie, and a bottle of water. Trading for preferred items is encouraged. ("I'll take that white bean salad and raise you a cookie!" -- just like in grade school!) And the best part of all? You won't have to leave the hotel for lunch!

To order box lunches, log into the Member Area and go to 'My Account', then click the yellow button at the top to reserve and pay for your lunches. We're only accepting PayPal payments for box lunches. ETA: The deadline to order lunches is May 31st.

If you do decide to leave the hotel for lunch and dinner, there are a ton of choices in the area, most within comfortable walking distance.

~!@#@!~

Registration
Hotel Info & Reservations
QUACKS! (aka CON.TXT personals)
Ducks Deluxe Arts & Crafts Show and Auction

(When tweeting about CON.TXT, be sure to use #contxt, and spread the word!)

  May 11, 2010 - 10:31pm:   Panel Moderators Needed!

The votes are in, the results are tallied, and we're all hyped up about the panels you've selected! Many of them came with moderator suggestions attached and we're working with that first round of
volunteers now to sort out who's going to be leading what. There were some panel suggestions that many of you loved but which no one has yet volunteered to lead. Do you want to moderate a panel at CON.TXT? Do you know someone else who'd be a great moderator? Let us know if any of these strike your fancy:

• Fanworks, "Gadgetopia: you can take your slash with you" has no moderators yet


• Fanworks, "Wuzzles wuzzles everywhere: Tagging on the Archive of Our Own" has no moderators yet


• Meta, "Fandom Suddenly Loves the Ladies!" has no moderators yet


• Meta, "Kinked for kink memes" has no moderators yet


• Meta, "Procrastinators' Party" will be led by melannen who would like a co-moderator


• due South, "Look, Ray, Turtles! Fantasy in due South" has no moderators yet


• SGA, "SGA: DNR?" has no moderators yet


• Sherlock Holmes, "Gay Steampunk Sherlock Holmes" has no moderators yet


• Star Trek, "Star Trek: To Boldly Slash Where Everyone Has Slashed Before" has no moderators yet


• Multifandom, "Femslash: This is Not the Recruiting Panel" will be led by zvi who would like a co-moderator


• Multifandom, "Those Daring Young Men: Slash and the Victorian Age" will be led by missmollyetc who would like a co-moderator

You can reach the programming committee at panels@con-txt.net to volunteer, make suggestions, or ask any questions!

~!@#@!~

Registration
Hotel Info & Reservations
QUACKS! (aka CON.TXT personals)
Ducks Deluxe Arts & Crafts Show and Auction

(When tweeting about CON.TXT, be sure to use #contxt, and spread the word!)

  May 11, 2010 - 2:30pm:   Registration & Hotel Reminders + Links of Interest

Registration closes on May 15th! There is a possibility that we may extend registration, but it is only a possibility, so if you are planning to attend this year's CON.TXT, you need to register now!

Please contact us if you need to cancel or roll over your membership, as you must do so before May 15th.

The hotel block closes on May 28th! If you still need to reserve a room, please do so as soon as possible!

~!@#@!~

Registration
Hotel Info & Reservations
QUACKS! (aka CON.TXT personals)
Ducks Deluxe Arts & Crafts Show and Auction

(When tweeting about CON.TXT, be sure to use #contxt, and spread the word!)

  May 5, 2010 - 10:52pm:   Scholarship Winners + Links of Interest

Due to the generosity of our members, we were able to award *two* full scholarships, and we are pleased to announce that v_angelique and ichinichinemasu have been chosen as this year's recipients.

We also awarded two half price scholarships -- one to barbana and one to synn.

v_angelique, ichinichinemasu and synn are all CON.TXT virgins, so be sure to give them a warm welcome if you see them at the con....

~!@#@!~

Registration
Hotel Info & Reservations
QUACKS! (aka CON.TXT personals)
Ducks Deluxe Arts & Crafts Show and Auction

(When tweeting about CON.TXT, be sure to use #contxt, and spread the word!)

  April 26, 2010 - 10:39pm:   Panel Voting + Hotel Block + Links of Interest

Panel voting will close on May 1st -- if you haven't already, please vote!

~!@#@!~

The CON.TXT room block will close on May 26th. If you haven't reserved a room yet, you have one month. Don't miss out on the con rate of $112/night! See this page for more information.

(If you've already made a reservation, and find you don't need it because you're doubling up with another fan, or because you're not going to make it to the con, please cancel as soon as possible so that your room can be released. The hotel is understanding about emergencies, etc., but if we have too many cancellations at the last minute, they lose money and are less willing to extend us a discount on a large block of rooms.)

~!@#@!~

Registration
Hotel Info & Reservations
QUACKS! (aka CON.TXT personals)
Submit a Vid
Ducks Deluxe Arts & Crafts Show and Auction
2010 Panel Survey

(When tweeting about CON.TXT, be sure to use #contxt, and spread the word!)

  April 15, 2010 - 10:43pm:   Registration reminder + Links of Interest

As of today, you have one month to register for CON.TXT 2010 at the $100 rate!

)!()!()!(

Registration
Hotel Info & Reservations
QUACKS! (aka CON.TXT personals)
Submit a Vid
Ducks Deluxe Arts & Crafts Show and Auction
2010 Panel Survey

(When tweeting about CON.TXT, be sure to use #contxt, and spread the word!)

  April 14, 2010 - 10:21pm:   Panel Survey + Scholarship Nomination Deadline + Links of Interest

The 2010 CON.TXT Panel Survey is live; please go HERE to fill it out if you're coming to the con; please answer each question, and only fill out the poll once. The poll will remain open until May 1st, 2010.

Interested in being a Moderator? Have general questions about the panels or the poll? Send them to panels@con-txt.net, and someone will get back to you.

+)(+)(+

SCHOLARSHIP NOMINATIONS CLOSE TOMORROW! (For more details, see this post.

Do you know a newbie or previous attendee who would love to come to CON.TXT, or are you a newbie or previous attendee? Email your fan name and statement to info@con-txt.net. The con comm will carefully consider each application, and scholarship recipients will be notified and/or announced May 3rd, 2010.

*)(*)(*

Registration
Hotel Info & Reservations
QUACKS! (aka CON.TXT personals)
Submit a Vid
Ducks Deluxe Arts & Crafts Show and Auction

(When tweeting about CON.TXT, be sure to use #contxt, and spread the word!)

  April 12, 2010 - 10:10pm:   Ducks Deluxe for Sellers + Links of Interest

We're now accepting submissions for the Ducks Deluxe Arts & Crafts Show and Auction!

Go HERE for more details, and HERE to submit your arts and crafts items.

We're looking for everything from fiber arts to fine (slashy) art and everything in between, so go forth and be crafty! And if you have any questions about the Ducks Deluxe Arts & Crafts Show and Auction, don't hesitate to contact us at artsy@con-txt.net.

Links of interest:

Registration
Hotel Info & Reservations
QUACKS! (aka CON.TXT personals)
Submit a Vid!

  April 5, 2010 - 11:43pm:   Panel Suggestions Reminder + Hot Fandoms Poll + Links of Interest

You only have until April 10th to make suggestions for roundtable discussion topics. We're looking for discussion subjects in every category -- from meta to how-tos, from single-fandom topics to ones that apply across multiple fandoms -- as long as they're related to slash and/or slash fandom, we want you to suggest them.

To make a suggestion, go to the Member Login page, log in, and then go to Programming and click on "Panel Suggestions." Once you've filled in the boxes, just click submit.

Now that some suggestions have been made, you'll be able to see what has been suggested. The list can be sorted by date, category, or topic; you can sort all of the suggestions, or see just your own....


Remember -- you have to be logged in to make suggestions, as well as to sort your own suggestions; everyone can see what's been proposed, whether they're logged in or not.

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to email us, or to comment here, or on the mailing list.

~0~0~0~0~0~

Don't forget that the Hot Fandom Poll will close this Wednesday, April 7th -- if you haven't weighed in in what's hot and what's not, now's your chance!

~0~0~0~0~0~

Links of interest:

Registration
Hotel Info & Reservations
Hot Fandom Poll
QUACKS! (aka CON.TXT personals)
Submit a Vid!

  March 25, 2010 - 9:28pm:   Panel Suggestions

This is the part where *you* tell *us* what you'd like to see happen at CON.TXT -- that's right, it's time for PANEL SUGGESTIONS!

Starting today, and through April 10th, we're asking all CON.TXT members to start making suggestions for roundtable discussion topics. We're looking for discussion subjects in every category -- from meta to how-tos, from single-fandom topics to ones that apply across multiple fandoms -- as long as they're related to slash and/or slash fandom, we want you to suggest them.

Just go to the Member Login page, log in, and then go to Programming and click on "Panel Suggestions." Once you've filled in the boxes, just click submit.

Once people start clicking "submit", you'll be able to see what has been suggested. The list can be sorted by date, category, or topic; you can sort all of the suggestions, or see just your own.... We'll be using this information to select panel topics, to find moderators, and to gauge which topics and fandoms are garnering the most interest.

Remember -- you have to be logged in to make suggestions, as well as to sort your own suggestions; everyone can see what's been proposed, whether they're logged in or not.

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to email us, or to comment here, or on the mailing list.

~0~0~0~0~0~

Links of interest:

Registration
Hotel Info & Reservations
Hot Fandom Poll
QUACKS! (aka CON.TXT personals)
Submit a Vid!

  March 23, 2010 - 12:41pm:   CON.TXT 2008 Vid Show Submissions

For the con.txt 2010 vid show, we'll be following roughly the same pattern as last time: we'll be taking vid submissions, and our goal is to put together a vid show that consists of roughly half submissions and half selections.

And we're ready to take your submissions now!

If you're interested in submitting a vid, please read these points carefully - and then be sure to follow the instructions for submission. To submit a vid, you will need to have it in the correct format, submit the form, and then upload or mail the vid according to the instructions.

You can access the information in this post, as well as the submission instructions and the submission form, on the CON.TXT website "Programming" section, under "Vid Show": http://con-txt.net/index.php?page=Vid+Show. If you have questions, email us at vids at con-txt dot net.


Some Important Points About the CON.TXT 2010 Vid Show:

• CON.TXT is a slash con and the vid show is limited to slash (m/m or f/f) vids. We're not going to attempt to strictly define "slash" here - just use your best judgment (and feel free to contact us if you're uncertain). The vid com will make the final determination if there's an issue.


• We are accepting submissions of "premiering" vids and any vids that were first shown at a convention, released in a collection, or posted publicly online within one year prior to CON.TXT 2010 - i.e., on or after June 17, 2009.


• Any single vidder may submit up to three vids. A collaboration or team vid will be counted as one of the three permitted submissions of the collaborator who submits it. If more than one of the collaborators is submitting vids, they may decide among themselves which one will submit the collaboration.


• We prefer vids to be uploaded to our server space (as described in the instructions), but you can mail them if you prefer. All vids, including those submitted by mail, must be received by April 30, 2010, to be considered for the vid show - but of course you are free to submit them earlier!


• In an effort to make the vid show as enjoyable and appealing to as wide a range of fans as possible, we are going to take into consideration, and will actively attempt to balance, fandoms, vidders, song and musical styles, vid lengths, and other similar factors in selecting vids for the show. Also, the vid show lasts only a limited time (approximately two hours, including a break), and only a portion of that time will be devoted to submitted vids. So please note that we cannot guarantee that a submitted vid will actually be in the show.

We'll try our best to put together another great show, and you can help by sending us your best vids! :)

  March 22, 2010 - 10:11pm:   Hot Fandom Poll +++ QUACKS! +++ Twitter Hashtag

Get yer Hot Fandoms here!

(These are NOT panel topics; what we're doing here is polling to gauge the intra- and cross-category multi-fannishness of our incoming crowd; we'll be using this to help sort panel topics and plan other aspects of the con.)

Anyone is welcome to take the poll, whether you're already signed up for the con, or are still thinking about it. If you have any problems accessing the poll, please let us know, either by emailing info@con-txt.net or by commenting here, or on the mailing list.

+ + +

The CON.TXT con comm thought it would be fun to give con attendees (and others) the opportunity to post sekrit messages contribute to the con program.

For the rock-bottom price of only $.10/word - or the special drabble rate of $8.00 for 100 words! - you too can promote your own local con, give a shout out to others in your fandom, say hi to fellow con-goers -- or publish whatever fannish message you'd like to put out to the universe.* Payment is by Paypal, and you can submit Quacks until May 16, 2010.

Here are a few examples to get you started:

Register now for Invented Con, Sept. 4-6 in Somecity, Somestate. We're a medium-sized con for fans of Someshow -- gen and slash fans welcome!
[23 words = $2.30]

BF+RK 4-EVR!!11!!1!!
[2 words = 20 cents]

SentinelGrrl, so sorry I couldn't make it to the con ... think of me during the panel on Blair's hair. Luv ya!!! PantherFan
[22 words = $2.20]

Two milk crates full of Riptide zines, $10/OBO.
[8 words = 80 cents]

SGA newbie ISO OT4 team fic recs. Prefer long plotty fic, but hot PWPs are OK, too. :) E-mail atlanticn00b@gemail.com.
[19 words = $1.90 -- emoticons are free!]

If you like pina coladas, and getting caught in the rain. If you're not into yoga, if you have half a brain. If you like makin' love at midnight on the dunes of the Cape...
[Hmmm. That's not really fannish, is it? But it's 35 words, so that'd run you $3.50]

To purchase your own Quack, fill out the form below. When you click the button, you'll see the number of words and price for what you've written, and you'll have the opportunity to review and/or revise it before submitting and paying for it.

And once again, payment is by Paypal only, and the submission deadline is May 16, 2010!

*The con comm has the sole discretion to determine what will be printed in the program. If for some reason a Quack is not printed, payment will be refunded in full.

+ + +

We have a Twitter Hashtag -- use #contxt when tweeting about the con, and spread the word!

  March 15, 2010 - 9:13pm:   Calling all Artists, Crafters, and Owners-of-Shiny-Fan-Made-Things!

This is the eagerly-anticipated lowdown on the Ducks Deluxe Arts and Crafts Show and Auction! (Or perhaps you weren't exactly anticipating it, but never fear — our Inner Eye has never been wrong before!)

Ducks Deluxe is an opportunity to display, buy, and sell fan-made art, crafts, and other unique items of fannish interest. If you've been bringing stuff to (and home from) "art shows" at slash cons for years, you probably know what we're getting at; if you're new to this, think of it as a fusion of an art fair in the park and etsy.com, with a little deviantART tossed in for good measure.

It will start with a silent auction on Friday and Saturday, where con-goers can admire — and write in bids for — submitted goodies. Any item with two or more bids will be offered up at a no-holds-barred, slash-o-rific live auction Sunday morning!

If you're thinking of submitting something for sale...

CON.TXT welcomes original pieces and resales from your collection. The kinds of things we'd love to see displayed include:

• flat media: drawings, paintings, computer-generated art, photomanips or photographs.
• fabric arts: fannish knitting, sewing, quilting or apparel/costuming
• jewelry: shiny!
• fancrafts: candles, clocks, bound books, dolls, miniatures, and sculpture of all kinds
• mash-ups of any of the above

What we don't want is commercial merchandise, unless it is mashed-up (ie, a custom 1967 Chevy Impala calendar cleverly marked with important slashy dates would be fun) or ripped apart and remade into something new!

** Watch this space for more details about how to submit items for sale -- including a link to a convenient entry form at www.con-txt.net. **

Go forth and be crafty! If you have friends who ought to know about CON.TXT and the Ducks Deluxe Arts and Crafts Show and Auction, please spread the word! If you have questions, don’t hesitate to e-mail artsy@con-txt.net.

(The Fine Print: CON.TXT will charge a 10-percent commission on items that aren't sold for charity (the 2010 CON.TXT charity is TBD). If you would like to submit a portfolio and/or up to three not-for-sale pieces to display, there is a $15 fee for display space. You don't have to be a CON.TXT attending member to send us your stuff; future announcements will explain how to contribute items by mail. In the happy event we are deluged with submissions, we might be forced to turn away some pieces. If we have to make choices, we'll respond to our membership: things that are slash-related or have elements or characters from popular slashy media are going to be more irresistible to the folks at CON.TXT, and we'll prioritize these above non-fandom-related pieces. We encourage submissions (heh) that are too explicit for viewing by children, violate copyright, or are judged to have libelous content in regard to known persons or well-known characters. At the discretion of the con-comm, items determined to have disturbing content may be displayed in such a way as to warn potential viewers.)

  March 8, 2010 - 10:01pm:   Announcing ... The CON.TXT Scholarship Program

In order to make CON.TXT more affordable to more fans, we've decided to institute a Scholarship Program.

Here's how it works:

* In memory of Minotaur, the con comm is offering one fully funded scholarship; this is limited to applicants who have not attended any members-only portion of CON.TXT in the past.

* In addition to the memorial scholarship, five half-price memberships will be available to fans whose financial situation would not otherwise permit them to attend the con; this scholarship is open to anyone.

* Applications should include a brief statement explaining why applicants need/should receive a scholarship to attend CON.TXT. All applicants must be willing to volunteer a minimum of two hours at the con.

* Please note -- the con comm will offer assistance securing a roomshare and/or rideshare (as necessary), but we can't promise anything.

* Interested? Email your fan name and statement to info@con-txt.net. The con comm will carefully consider each application, and scholarship recipients will be notified and/or announced May 3rd, 2010.

The deadline for all scholarship applications is April 15th, 2010.

* * * * *

Already coming to the con? Here's how you can help:

Con members can make a donation to the CON.TXT Scholarship Program via PayPal or by mailing a check. (Please indicate in the PayPal comments or on the check that the payment is for the CON.TXT Scholarship Program.) Email registration@con-txt.net for more details on how to donate to the fund.

  March 2, 2010 - 9:49pm:   CON.TXT Room Block

.:HOTEL:.

CON.TXT 2010 will be held once again at the Crowne Plaza (formerly the Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza) in downtown Silver Spring, Maryland, just over the border from Washington DC, with convenient access to the Metro (Red line, Silver Spring station) and a wide variety of food and entertainment establishments within walking distance.

Crowne Plaza Hotel
8777 Georgia Avenue
Silver Spring, MD 20910
301-589-0800

.:RATE:.

$112 for a double or king room (plus taxes, etc.). This is a special CON.TXT rate, and it is guaranteed only until May 28, 2010. We've set aside plenty of doubles, but only a handful of kings, so if you want a room with a king bed, be sure to reserve early!

.:RESERVATIONS:.

* You can call the number listed above and say you are reserving for CON.TXT. If you are told that no CON.TXT rooms are available, please do not reserve a room at the regular rate. Instead, contact us so we can increase the size of the CON.TXT con block. This will help make the con better for everyone.

* Alternatively, you can reserve your room online. Log in at the CON.TXT website, then go to the Hotel & Travel page. You will see the following phrase: Link to Direct Online Hotel Reservation Page. This is the link for online registration. You'll only see this link if you are logged in using the email address and password you set up when you registered!

  February 22, 2010 - 11:29pm:   Last call for First Wave Panel Suggestions

Registered attendees can continue to submit ideas for panels on enduring topics that are likely to require extensive preparation -- ones that might include tutorials, workshops, Oxford-style debates, multimedia shows, or extensive handouts. A decision on these panels and a preliminary schedule will be made by mid-March to give the moderators plenty of time to prepare a great panel.

E-mail your proposals or questions no later than March 1st to panels@con-txt.net.

(If you have something less complicated in mind, never fear -- in mid-March, we'll start taking suggestions for panels that are more current and topical and include facilitated discussions, roundtables, and smackdowns that require only normal preparation. Scheduling for these will be finalized by the end of May.

We'll also have a variety of late, last-minute, and on-the-fly panel opportunities that you'll hear more about as the con gets closer.)

  January 14, 2010 - 7:46pm:   Payment Reminder!

All payments for registrations at the $90 rate must be received by us on or before Jan 31, 2010!

If you registered before January 1, 2010 and we do not receive your payment by January 31, 2010, your registration will be void, and you'll have to re-register at the higher rate if you want to attend the con.

  January 14, 2010 - 7:40pm:   Early Panel Planning for CON.TXT 2010

In response to feedback from previous CON.TXTs, we're going to try something a little different with the panel submission process for CON.TXT 2010.

Registered attendees can start submitting ideas NOW for panels on enduring topics that are likely to require extensive preparation -- ones that might include tutorials, workshops, Oxford-style debates, multimedia shows, or extensive handouts. A decision on these panels and a preliminary schedule will be made by mid-March to give the moderators plenty of time to prepare a great panel.

E-mail your proposals or questions no later than Feb. 15 to panels@con-txt.net.

If you have something less complicated in mind, never fear -- in late March, we'll start taking suggestions for panels that are more current and topical and include facilitated discussions, roundtables, and smackdowns that require only normal preparation. Suggestions for these will be finalized by the end of May.

We'll also have a variety of late, last-minute, and on-the-fly panel opportunities that you'll hear more about as the con gets closer.

A note about modding:
We'd like to recruit as moderators not only those who are subject-matter experts, but also those who are good discussion facilitators. In fact, we'd like to pair up people like this, and we might want to add someone with excellent flip-chart handwriting as well. :D Yes, there are some people who can do it all, but please let us know if you want a partner, and also if you want to volunteer to fill any of these roles.

  December 29, 2009 - 8:59pm:   REMINDER -- Membership Price Change!

This coming Thursday, December 31st, is the last day to purchase a 2010 CON.TXT membership for $90. More info can be found here.

(The price for a membership from January 1st, 2010 through May 15th, 2010 will be $100.)

  December 16, 2009 - 9:23pm:   2010 Rideshare Post

Looking for someone to drive and/or travel with? This is the place!

  December 16, 2009 - 9:22pm:   2010 Roommate Post

Looking for a roomie (or a set of roomies) for the con? This is the place!

  December 15, 2009 - 8:37pm:   Registration Reminder!

Hey all -- just wanted to remind everyone that CON.TXT memberships will increase to $100 on January 1st, 2010. Anyone wishing to take advantage of the current registration price of $90 needs to do so before then....

(Also? CON.TXT memberships make great holiday gifts!)

cross-posted to con_txt and the mailing list

  October 5, 2009 - 9:15am:   Registration is open!

Registration for CON.TXT 2010 is now open! The con is scheduled for June 18-20, 2010, at the Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza in Silver Spring, Maryland (the same hotel as last time). You can check out the website (http://www.con-txt.net) for more details about the con and the hotel.

Pricing is as follows:

* $90 until December 31, 2009
* $100 from January 1, 2010, through May 15, 2010

You can also sign up for a Supporting Membership for $15.00. This will get you the registration package (program, etc.), as well as any other goodies that are handed out to attending members, and you'll be able to access the member area of the site in the same way as attending members.

We will not have day memberships; we recognize this is a hardship for some fans, so we are starting up a scholarship program. More information on scholarships will be posted at a later date. We will not determine if we're selling at the door memberships until about a month before the con, at which time we'll post an announcement.


Please read the instructions carefully before registering!

1) If you have never registered for CON.TXT before, go directly to the Registration page (http://con-txt.net/index.php?page=Register). Fill out the required information. Please remember the name, email address, and password you use to register! You will need this information to log in to check the status of your registration and (hopefully) to register for future CON.TXTs. After you register, an email will be sent to you with all this information in it. Keep that email -- this will help preserve whatever remains of the sanity of your CON.TXT con com!

2) If you registered for CON.TXT 2006 or 2008, your information is already in the database. DO NOT RE-REGISTER (in fact, you won't be permitted to do so if you try)! Instead, go to the Member Area and log in, using the email address and password you registered with the first time. (http://con-txt.net/index.php?page=Log%20In). On your "My Account" page, there will be a ticky box you can check to register for CON.TXT 2010.

~~~~oOo~~~~

A few supplemental, but important, notes:

- There's lots of Really Important Stuff on your "My Account" page. So once again, remember your login info -- keep that confirmation email!

- If you pre-registered CON.TXT 2010, you should have received an email. If you did not, and you're not sure whether you are registered for CON.TXT 2010, log in to your account. Your "My Account" page will show the most recent CON.TXT for which you are registered - if this is not 2010, you will be given the option there to register for CON.TXT 2010.

- Note that payment MUST be received within four weeks of registration. If we don't get your check or Paypal by then, your registration will be deleted. If you want to attend the con, you'll have to re-register at the rates in effect on your re-registration date. You can check to see whether your payment has been received by...wait for it...logging in to your account and checking on your "My Account" page.

- If you do forget your password, you can click the "forgot your password" button on the login page. If you remember the name and email address you used to register, your password will be sent to you automatically.

- If all else fails, email us at registration@con-txt.net.


Finally, dealers should ignore all this and go here for additional registration information.

  September 29, 2009 - 3:59pm:   Registration for CON.TXT 2010 Opens Soon!

CON.TXT 2010 is a go! We'll be holding the con June 18-20, 2010 in Silver Spring, MD, and we'd love to see you there!

General registration will be opening OCTOBER 5TH; dealer registration will open at a later time. Keep an eye on this spot or the CON.TXT website for links and more information!

**If you pre-registered for 2010 at the 2008 con, you will be receiving an email, either before or shortly after registration opens.**

  June 15, 2009 - 11:53pm:   A community for Minotaurs


The response to Stuart's untimely passing has been amazing and heartwarming and overwhelming. It's obvious he touched many lives and we all have a lot of good memories of him to carry with us.

I've started a community where we can share stories and pictures and have a place to gather to remember him. Everyone, please feel free to join and post to minotaursfriend, and pass the word on to anyone else you think would be appropriate.

  June 14, 2009 - 11:32pm:   Sad news


It is with the heaviest of hearts that I post this today. My very good friend, and I know good friend of many of you, Stuart Carroll (minotaurs) passed away this morning, June 14. During the night he suffered a massive heart attack, and despite tremendous efforts to save him, he passed away at 6:00 a.m. He had good friends by his side until the end, and his family is gathering to decide on the next steps.

I met Stuart when I ran Gaylaxicon in 2004 in San Diego, and together we not only started San Diego Queer Sci-Fi, but became good friends. Many of us gathered on a weekly basis to play board games, and he helped out with the new local San Diego convention, Conjecture. He also brought me into slash fandom, and when we attended CON.TXT together last year I was stunned by how both famous and loved he was by that community.

I cannot express how sad I am right now. He was a truly wonderful, intelligent, witty spirit that will be sadly and sorely missed by those who knew him.

  December 25, 2008 - 12:33am:   Happy Holidays!

Happiest of Holidays (whichever you may celebrate!) from the CON.TXT con comm!

  October 31, 2008 - 11:27am:   Happy Halloween (Or Samhain, or Friday)

We've been working hard on the next con, and decided it was time for a fun break, so that means it's POLL TIME!

Poll #1288701 Happy Halloween!
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 40

It's Halloween, and your favorite slash couple are dressing up -- which Superhero and Sidekick are they going as?

You and your SO are dressing as a slash couple -- which couple are you going to be?

What's the magic phrase?

  September 17, 2008 - 2:57pm:   We broke the tie!

Finally, the tie in the poll for how to spend the charity money has been broken, and I am pleased to announce we will be exercising the Covered in Bees option, which is 34 Beehives and 34 Flocks of Ducks.

Thanks to everyone who voted, and for all of your generosity during the auction and at the swap table!

  July 1, 2008 - 1:31am:   Duck Mascot Slash! - Quacktain America and Iron Duck get it on

Courtesy of the Fannish Comic Book Library room party.

Slash. With homemade ducks.

Iron Duck courtesy of mayatawi
Directed by: ciaan 
Quacktain America: zvi_likes_tv
Iron Duck: zvi_likes_tv
Props: seize 
Cinematography: grey_bard

( Iron Duck and Quacktain America protect freedom - in bed. A tale in pictures )