[http://mnstf.org/minicon53/ Minicon 53 (2018)] will take place March 30-April 1, 2018, at the St. Louis Park Doubletree.

== THE MINICON 53 PROGRAMMING BRAINSTORM WIKI page is now open for business! ==
We intend to have a spiffy online database available eventually for managing programming ideas and volunteers. But until that project comes online, we have the good old Wiki Brainstorm.

* Do you have ideas for programming items for Minicon 53?

:* Great! Please email '''programming@minicon53.mnstf.org''' with a description of your suggestion. The description does not need to be in final form, but the more detail the better. Please indicate if you would be willing to participate in the programming item yourself, and if you would like to moderate it.

:* If you have a login to edit this page and you are comfortable editing a Wiki, feel free to add your ideas below. It would be nice if you would drop a quick email to '''programming@minicon53.mnstf.org''' to let us know that you added something.

:* If you are an author and would like to schedule a reading and/or signing, send an email to '''programming@minicon53.mnstf.org'''.

* To volunteer to be a panelist, send an email to '''programming@minicon53.mnstf.org'''.

Your email should include the titles of the panels that you are interested in, schedule limitations, and whether or not you would consider moderating any of the panels that you're volunteering for.

== LITERATURE AND WRITING ==

=== Writing - Breaking the Rules ===
Breaking the rules - when and how to break the rules of fiction, like "don't write in second person" or "don't use information dumps."

=== Writing - Retellings ===
how to write texts that interact with earlier texts

=== Disability in Science Fiction ===
From GoH Rachel Swirsky: "I'm also interested in disability in science fiction right now, which could be relevant coming up because of Uncanny's forthcoming [https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/lynnemthomas/disabled-people-destroy-science-fiction-uncanny-ma] Disabled People Destroy Science Fiction project."

=== The Art of the Review ===
Making a good review of a book or other artistic endeavor is as much an art as the original crafting. What makes for an interesting review? How do you gain the trust of the audience? What's the best balance between honesty and fairness? Who do you look up reviews by when you want to get the best info? Our panelists will discuss these and possibly other questions.

=== A Saucer of Loneliness - the Fiction of Theodore Sturgeon (1918-1985)===
It's the 100th birthday of this popular, genre-defining writer. Let's discuss his work and his impact on the field.

=== Wrinkles in Time - Madeleine L'Engle (1918-2007) ===

=== Ursula K. LeGuin, In Memoriam (1929-2018) ===

=== The Year in SF ===
What new and interesting F/SF have you encountered this year? Note: you don't have to be an encyclopedic reader to volunteer for this panel. If you just discovered some new written works this year that you're dying to share, please join us, whether it's an exciting new author, new works by an old favorite, or maybe a whole new sub-genre!

=== John M. Ford Group Reading ===
In honor of his birthday, which is just past the convention. We're thinking of starting out in a programming room (probably in a circle) and then adjourning to the bar to continue.

=== Religious Memes in F/SF ===

Both of our GoHs have used religious memes and imagery in their work, although not necessarily with their conventional religious meaning. How are modern writers using angels, pagan gods, Jewish mysticism, etc. in creative ways to add resonance to contemporary ideas?

==== Jewish Science Fiction ====

==== The Golem Theme in F/SF ====

Many Jewish themes have become well-established tropes of speculative fiction, but the legend of the golem is arguably the most popular. In popular culture, the replicants from ''Blade Runner'' have been proposed to be golems, and the rock monster aspect of ''The Fantastic Four'''s Ben Grimm can also be connected to the legend. Discuss the well-known and more obscure retellings of this theme. And then, as always, there's Frankenstein.

==== Angels in Literature ====
Another more specific panel on religious memes, suggested by Lyda's ''Link Angel'' novels.

==== Literary Gods Being Put into the Mortuary====
The deaths of gods in polytheistic worlds has been a theme in novels by such authors as Max Gladstone and Robert Jackson Bennett. And why not kill them? Some of the gods from classical mythology were completely Rabid Puppies. How does deicide by mere mortals differ from classical mythology? If you can't off them because of immortality, what about other methods, like banishment and entrapment?

===Fanfic Coexisting with Pro Writing===

How do you make sure that your pro writing doesn't get in the way of your fanfic writing, or maybe vice versa? Is there anything weird about writing fanfic in your own universes? How can fanfic and pro writing live happily next to each other?

=== Combining the Mystery/Detective Genre with SF ===
Although humanity changes very slowly, in the future the methods used to commit crime and enforce laws will certainly change. What elements of detective fiction make for satisfying science fiction? What elements of science fiction make for satisfying mysteries? In the cold world of cyberpunk, does justice usually prevail?

===Is this the cyberpunk future we were promised?===

We never got that future full of flying cars and jetpacks, but we do seem to have quietly arrived at a cyberpunk dystopia: ruled by oligarchs, everyone uses their cyberdecks to be online all the time, there's massive surveillance, bodymods are commonplace, AIs seem to be lurking on the fringes... Or did we? How different are futures in William Gibson's Sprawl or Lyda Morehouse's Archangel Protocol series from what we have now?

=== Remembering Damon Knight ===
Damon Knight is the recipient of the 1995 Grand Master Award from the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. He was arguably better known for his reviews, criticism, and editing than for his fiction. His series of Orbit anthologies contained many renowned stories, but were also known for publishing stories that were atypical of most genre fiction appearing in the magazines. Discuss how Damon Knight's fiction, nonfiction, and anthologies influenced your SF fandom.

===Tarot Cards for World Building and Character Development ===
Regardless of one's belief in the efficacy of Tarot cards, a deck can be used as "a machine for constructing stories", as the Italian writer Italo Calvino once wrote. How can the images be used to clear writer's block, add background to a character, or create plot elements?

===Flash Fiction Workshop for Teens===

A workshop where teens write very brief bits of fiction and then get feedback from other writers.

===Some Cool Manga You Might Not Have Read===

An introduction to some interesting manga you may not have heard of.

===Art of the Serial novel===

Charles Dickens was doing serial fiction back in the 19th Century and Scheherazade long before him - what hacks! Today there is technology that neither ever imagined, is tailoring modern day bibliophiles to read differently, and also provide input to the novelist. Is this the new wave of future publishing? How do you do it successfully?

=== Is There Something Special about Short Form Writing? ===
What is the difference between writing short stories, novels, and serial fiction, other than the word count? Most people seem to be better at one form vs the other - is there anybody that can do both equally well? Does short fiction require a different skill set from long form writing? What about other forms of short fiction such as song writing and graphic novels?

===This Will End Well===
Sometimes a long-running series ends with just the right notes, wrapping up enough loose ends but not too many, in a way that satisfies all the fans. But there are many examples of endings that have been muddled, controversial, or downright bad: the BSG series reboot; Mass Effect 3; the 2001 Planet of the Apes movie; maybe Evangelion... How can writers avoid messing up endings? What can fans do when endings go wrong anyway?

== FANDOM AND THE CULTURAL ZEITGEIST ==

=== How to Spot a Fan ===
Have you ever wondered if you were at the right location for a fannish event or convention until you looked at the other people in the parking lot and then you knew immediately? What are the clues and commonalities that immediately identify us as SF fans? Is there more than one fannish archetype?

=== Senior Women's Meetup ===
An open free-form space for senior women feminists to meet and discuss their experiences. Discussion topics may include but will not be limited to - "Second Wave Feminism in a New Wave World," "Being heard," and "Strategies for confronting ageism."

=== What's Your Neuro Tribe? ===
It has been frequently noted that folks on the autistic spectrum are over-represented in science fiction fandom. Is this really true, and if so, why? And is this historic neuro-diversity part of what makes fandom the wonderful, weird world that it is?

===Sex in Cyberspace: Tinder, Porn, and You===
What are the most interesting and important way technology has already changed sex, relationships, and dating? Has the definition of sex changed? How will technology affect sex in the future?

===The evolution of the fan T-shirt===
Convention t-shirts over the years. How did the T-shirt get to be the "thing" to get? Do we own enough t-shirts yet? Who wears printed t-shirts besides fans and children?

===I am not Chuck Tingle===
"Doctor Chuck Tingle, a taekwondo grandmaster from Billings, Montana, who acquired a PhD in holistic massage at DeVry University (which does not offer such a degree), was the clear savior of the 2015 Hugo award, and continues to be a delight. Dr. Tingle has yet to make a public appearance, and speculations about identity are easy to come by.

Who is Chuck Tingle? What are our best Chuck Tingle theories? "

===Fannish Imposter Syndrome===
The Imposter Syndrome is the opposite side of the coin that reads, "fake it till you make it." It's the fear that someone's going to call you out, expose you as someone unqualified to belong to the fraternity of creative professionals, or that you're not qualified to be a panelist. It's the phenomenon that causes you to question whether you belong, to wonder what it is that qualifies you to be a part of the community of writers and editors, and whether you have that quality, or if you're simply faking it. How does this force play on members of our community, fans and pros alike?

===Fandom in Taiwan===
A brief introduction by Rachel. Maybe a slideshow?

===Actually, it's pronounced 'PED-an-try'===
A big part of geeking out is pride in knowing more about a topic than other people do. But this can easily shade into pure pedantry, or worse. How do we embrace our own geekiness without stomping on anyone else's? How do we de-link geekiness and oneupsmanship?

== SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ==

=== The Space Program in the Trump Era, Year 2 ===

=== Practicing Science in a Post-Fact World ===
This came out of a discussion at a Minnstf meeting. We don't want this to be a huge bitch-fest about the ongoing assaults on scientific fact being perpetuated by the current administration. We want to talk about how scientists and people that love science are coping with it. Rogue park rangers defiantly tweeting out facts about climate science, or more quietly simply ignoring order to remove factual information from park exhibits. Websites in Canada working hard to preserve information that is being removed from US Government sites. How do government scientists with a lifetime of dedication to their work deal with the current political climate?

=== Ask a Scientist ===
A panel of varied scientists answers questions from the audience. This is a perennially popular Minicon panel, and we will certainly do it again at Minicon 53 - provided we can find enough qualified panelists. We'll even split it into two if we get enough volunteers - maybe soft vs. hard science or whatever sorting mechanism seems appropriate.

===Raspberry Pi discussion===
What can be done with a Raspberry Pi (and why)?

=== All About Sleep ===
Sleeping is pretty awesome, right? Or would life be better if we didn't have to sleep? Why do people need to sleep, anyway? And are some people just better at it than others?

=== Cosmetic Neuroscience: I Sing the Brain Electric ===

Faradization has an established medical history. How close are we to using electrical currents to induce endorphins in the brain or accelerate learning (transcranial direct current stimulation, or tDCS)? When will we be able to use a neural interface socket to purchase skill-chips instead of bothering to learn something?

=== Myth-Conceptions of Science===
Many commonly held beliefs of science have little or no basis in fact. Ostriches do not hide their head into the sand to hide from enemies. Chewing gum does not take seven years to digest. Nikola Tesla did not invent a power source using alternating current (but did help popularize its use). What are the facts about science that you think you know, but which are misconceptions?

=== The Cassini Project: Out in a Blaze of Glory ===
On September 15, the Cassini probe completed its spectacularly successful investigation of Saturn by plunging into the planet's atmosphere and burning up, transmitting images until the end. In its 20-year career Cassini revealed the structure of Saturn's rings and exposed two of the moons as prime targets in the search for extraterrestrial life. It would be great to have an item at Minicon including a slideshow of some of the images Cassini transmitted and why it was so awesome.

===Astrophotography by Rachel===
A slideshow of some recent astrophotography by Rachel Kronick.

== MEDIA ==

=== Bladerunner 2049 [contains Spoilers] ===
Many people think that Bladerunner is the best sf film ever made. At long last we have a sincere sequel. Did they get it right?

=== One Season Wonders ===
Which ones do you remember fondly? Firefly, Wonderfalls, The Middleman, and so many others deserved more than ONE measly season. Didn't they?

=== The History of Shockwave ===
Jerry Stearns hosts this remembrance hour, plays audio highlights and tells the story of Shockwave and what it meant to Minnstf and Minicon. This could be a solo presentation or a panel if other cast members volunteer.

=== Podcasting as an Art Form ===
The explosion in podcast technology makes audio drama and audio books ever more accessible (for both listeners and would-be creators). How does the experience of listening to an audio book differ from reading it? Is audio drama essentially different from simply reading a story aloud? And is the serial podcast a whole new form of literature?

===Waaaaaaaaaaaay up your butt. The Rick and Morty Panel===
It's a figure of speech, Morty! They're bureaucrats! I don't respect 'em... Where are my testicles, Summer? They were removed. Where have they gone? Let's get Schwifty! All the Rick and Morty quotes you can handle, plus other favorites from Adult Swim.

=== Superheroes on Screen ===
Why do DC superheroes seem to work better on the small screen, but Marvel dominates in the theater? What about the animated movies?

=== The Westworld Panel ===
It's no longer a fresh sf idea to yell, "The robots are sentient! RUN!!" Now we want to know how and why they achieved sentience and what the ethical implications are going to be for all of us. How does ''Westworld'''s take on sentience compare to the other popular shows and movies currently tackling the same subject matter? (''Humans, Extant, Her, Ex Machina''. Not to mention good old ''Blade Runner''). Am I the only one that was reminded of Stephenson's ''Snow Crash'' when Dr. Ford started explaining the theory of the bicameral mind? For that matter, how many of the humans on this show actually meet the high standards for sentience defined by the park's creators? Who really has more self-awareness and agency: Maeve or Felix and Sylvester?

===The Meaning of Captain America===
Captain America has always stood for things that are actually good about the US: caring about the oppressed, working to make society fairer, doing the right thing. How has that vision changed over the course of Cap's history? How is recent politics affecting what Captain America means now?

== GAMING ==
===Crappy Card Magic Draft===
Get rid of some Magic The Gathering cards that never really fit in with your other decks, and maybe gain something useful (probably not). Bring 30 lands (six of each color) and 45 other cards, approximately half spells and half creatures (You can tell if an artifact is closer to a spell or a creature by reading the card). We'll shuffle them all together, then build a 60 card deck with a draft style allocation, and then play. Do not bring cards that you expect to get back.

===Gaming with Rachel===
Come play board and card games with someone on the other side of the planet!

=== Your Gender is Virtual: The Sexualization of Video Game Bodies===

What are the bodily expectations that gamers have for their avatars? Should game designers provide a wider variety of male and female bodies, or customize them with other body types?

Potential panelists may want to check out Nicholas Maisonave's thesis for a Masters degree at Stanford University, [https://comm.stanford.edu/mm/2013/01/nicholas-maisonave-1112.pdf Gender in Gamer Culture and the Virtual World]. Other online essays include [http://dmitriwilliams.com/virtualmuscularity.pdf Virtual Muscularity: A Content Analysis of Male Video Game Characters], [https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/48830785.pdf Virtual Ideals: The Effect of Video Game Play on Male Body Image], and [https://library.med.utah.edu/e-channel/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/paper_3101.pdf I Wasn't Looking at His Nice Ass: Female Gaze and Video Games].

=== Lovecraftian Games===

Games based on the fiction of H.P. Lovecraft have exploded on the market. The popularity of the Call of Cthulhu RPG no doubt resulted in the appearance of Lovecraftian board, dice, and card games, such as several titles from local game company Fantasy Flight Games, and more specialized games like Cthulhu Confidential and The Laundry RPGs. Discuss your adventures losing sanity while battling the cosmic horrors from beyond.

=== Gaming the Martian Way ===

From well-established titles such as Martian Rails and Space:1889 to new games hitting the market (e.g. First Martians: Adventures on the Red Planet, Mission: Red Planet, Terraforming Mars), the Red Planet is becoming a popular theme for board games. What are their differences? How scientifically accurate is each game? With board games becoming more expensive, where should one start?

== ART AND CRAFT ==

=== The Czech Art of Easter Egg Design ===
Learn how to decorate Easter eggs the Czech way, creating incredibly detailed hand-painted miniature works of art. Google "kraslice" to see some examples.

=== Yarning Around ===
We'll keep having panels about knitting and yarn for as long as people keep volunteering for them.

===Flounce Like You Mean It===
Probably about costuming. Maybe about how to stop attending a convention or quit a facebook group. We just liked the title.

== PARTICIPATORY ==
Typically these items need only one volunteer - someone to lead/coordinate the event. But expressions of interest make the event more likely to be scheduled.

=== Toastmasters Presents: Speculative Fiction Table Topics! ===
Toastmasters International is a club for practicing public speaking. One favorite activity is Table Topics, where each member is asked random questions to answer in 1-2 minutes. After our panelists demonstrate, the Table Topics Master will be encouraging audience participation. Be prepared to address such topics as "getting rich through time travel: ethical or unethical?"

Participants should be current or former Toastmasters.

===EV and Hybrid Vehicles in the Parking Lot===
Are you considering an EV or Hybrid vehicle? Meet EV and Hybrid vehicle owners and their cars. What features do they like and dislike? Are public charging stations worth it? What are the benefits of having a level 2 charging station in your home? We'd love to have some volunteers to show off their own vehicles and to contact a dealer or two to bring in vehicles.

=== Knit-Off! ===
Hang out with other knitters while knitting your knittables. Bring and demonstrate your favorite yarn gadget. Crochet will also be tolerated.

=== Group Yoga on Sunday Morning===
Relax and stretch to help your energy level, your concentration and your balance

=== Model Building ===
It's great to work on something while other people are around, but not actually have to talk to them. It's called "Parallel Play" and toddlers do it all the time. Now shut up and let me concentrate on my model.

=== Raspberry Pi interactive session===
Bring your own keyboard, mouse, monitor and raspberry pi. All skill levels welcome.

=== YogaQuest===
If you know what this is, you might be the leader we are looking for!

=== Poetry Open Mic===

== UNCLASSIFIABLE==
Maybe classifying programming items is just stupid and arbitrary and all the ideas should go here. I'm having a hard time figuring it out this year. If you have an idea what category these items ought to be in, let me know.

===Ask An Expert Who Can Get A Word In Edgewise===
Women from identified professional backgrounds discuss and answer questions about their field.

=== Automation and the Future of Work ===
Are robots coming to take away our jobs? Or will human work become less tedious and more productive with the assistance of helpful AI? Let's talk about the difference between "a job" and meaningful work. What are the elements of work that make it something that a human being might like to do?

=== Big Data - Everybody Lies ===
Years ago, if people wanted statistics, they made a thousand phone calls and sifted through the census data. In the age of the internet, everything has changed. What did Google do to revolutionize searchability, and what do we find out when we search for searches on Google Trends? What sort of information is available about who we are today? What do we want to be known, and how do we protect who we are from less than benevolent entities? How will this change in the future?

=== Could You Kill a Robot? ===
Humans have the ability to develop affectionate attachment to almost anything - our cars, our phones, even that stupid lamp in the Ikea commercial. There are reports of soldiers having funerals for the little spider-like robots that blow up land mines. What will happen when it's time to recycle your first real robot? This is kind of the flipside of the question of AI rights. When does the anthropomorphism of technology go too far?

=== Who Has Your Password? ===
If you died tomorrow, who would manage your digital legacy? We have so many passwords, so many accounts. Could your partner pay the bills - do they know the bank account password? What happens to your frequent flyer miles? Who would stop Facebook from ghoulishly reminding all your friends to wish you a happy birthday each year? We could also discuss the concept of "literary executor" for unpublished and non- written word material.

M53 Programming Brainstorm

2017-06-30T21:25:16Z

Mle292: /* Crappy Card Magic Draft */

M53 Programming Brainstorm

2017-06-30T21:24:22Z

Mle292: /* GAMING */

M52 Programming Brainstorm

2017-03-19T20:51:47Z

Mle292:

The following is the list of panels ideas for Minicon 52.

To sign up to be a panelist, send an email to programming@minicon52.mnstf.org Your email should include the titles of the panels that you are interested in, schedule limitations, and whether or not you would consider moderating any of the panels that you're volunteering for. If you are an author and would like to schedule a reading and/or signing, send an email to the same address.

=The following panels are most in need of panelists=

==Art==

===Exploring Creativity===
What does it mean to be creative? Are we all creative, or just some of us? Can creativity be learned? What's "sense of wonder"?

===Striking a Pose===
Based on this post [http://www.jimchines.com/2012/01/striking-a-pose/] by Jim Hines. Examining the way women are portrayed on SF/F book covers. In particular - Are these poses realistic? Can they be replicated by a male body? What do such images say about the portrayal of women (even in books with strong female protagonists) in SF/F?

===Intersection of Art and Law===
With J. Boone Dryden

===The Creative Process===
So you're going to make something. Our experts will give you all the info you need to be completely successful EVERY TIME! ;)

==Fandom and Zeitgeist==

===Birds of a Feather===
An opportunity for people to suggest group discussions on a topic

===Fannish Hobbies===
What do we like to do in our spare time, what makes it fannish, and where did it lead us?

===Getting There is Half the Fun===
Incredible stories about conventions and fannish travel

===How To Spot A Fan===
Observations and personal stories about our commonalities

===Living The Con Life===
Spending a lot of time at conventions sounds like a dream but can sometimes be a nightmare. Survival skills and tales from the front lines on how to survive attending ALL the conventions.

===Orientation===
A panel or two for neos, hosted by upbeat panelists who are happy to share basic info and answer questions.

===Share Your Passion===
Talk for five minutes or less on a topic you're passionate about.

===Speaking The Words===
What does it take to read aloud to groups of people? Discussing the nuance and skill it takes to make your reading effective and entertaining.

===Surviving the Hero/Heroine===
What happens when your book/movie/anime/TV/comic series ends? Can fandom continue without new source material? Should it?

===The First Con In Space===
What will be the pluses, minuses, challenges, and expectations? How soon can we hope to go?

===Untangling the Tingle===
Doctor Chuck Tingle, a taekwondo grandmaster from Billings, Montana, who acquired a PhD in holistic massage at DeVry University (which does not offer such a degree), was the clear savior of the 2015 Hugo award. Who is Chuck Tingle? What are our best Chuck Tingle theories? All panelists deny being Chuck Tingle, despite their implausible explanations.

==Gaming==

===Mega MoneyDuck Reveal===
Sunday reveal of the ongoing MoneyDuck serial story compiled over the course of the weekend. (This event does not need panelists)

==Literature And Writing==

===Feet Of Clay===
Discussing the foibles and flaws that make our heroic figures more interesting and relatable.

===Internet Presence===
Creating, growing and maintaining your blog/vlog/fanfic/etc presence and the dos and don'ts of managing your empire of minions and technical details about your podcasting equipment.

===Lady Poetesses From Hell===
A Minicon Tradition! Poetry preformance group. (This event does not need panelists)

===Lazy Writing===
Don’t let your readers come crashing into cliches and scenes they’ve seen before, or take plot turns that don’t make sense. That’s lazy writing. We see it all the time on television, and in movies and books. Somebody needs an editor. And a writer needs to find ways to take that in a new direction.

===Life and Work in an Absolute (Benevolent) Monarchy===
Day-to-day life in the Vatican, with an eye to how that compares to the ways that such things are depicted in fantasy novels.

===The Business of Writing===
Some of the nuts and bolts behind running the business end of a writing career.

===The Hugo Finalists===
Did your favorite works make the list? Any real surprises to discuss? Join us for an investigative review of the finalists for this year's Hugo Award.

===Walking Alone: Shirley Jackson, 1916-1965===
A centennial-plus-two-years tribute to the genre-straddling author of the novels The Haunting of Hill House and We Have Always Lived in the Castle and the stories "The Lottery," "The Summer People," and "One Ordinary Day, with Peanuts.

===Writing Male Characters===
What are the special needs and veiwpoints to be kept in mind while writing male characters? How is this sometimes an unnoticed challenge?

==Media==

===How To Be A Fan of Problematic Things===
(Description Missing)

===Monsters From Space===
Space monsters in fiction, film, TV, and comics, though meaning us no good, have brought us countless hours of pleasure. Let us, by all means, squee.

===Podcasting===
There are podcasts about writing, about science and pseudoscience, about skepticism, and plenty that are original audio theater and storytelling. We could talk about what podcasts are out there to listen to. And we could talk about what it takes to make your own podcast - hardware, software, preparations, and what it takes to make a good one.

===Recent and Upcoming Media===
TV and movies from last year and what's coming up for this year.

==Standards==
===Costume Contest===
Saturday afternoon juried contest of costumes - grown-up edition. (Is sign up through programming or through the costume department? This needs to be clarified on this Wiki)

==Science and Technology==

===Amino Acids in Meteoroids===
What is the significance of the finding of amino acids in meteorites? Panspermia is the concept that the building blocks of life could have been delivered to Earth via comet or meteorite impact; does the presence of amino acids in meteorites add validity to that claim?

===Ask A Scientist===
With Guy Consolmagno

===Basic Astronomy===
Where to find out what's going by overhead, how to watch it. Special mention: the total solar eclipse in August.

===Consciousness in Species - Terrestrial and Extra Terrestrial===
People may be able to readily accept the idea of consciousness in extraterrestrial species, but the idea of consciousness in non-hominid species may make people uncomfortable. Why is that? What are the benefits and disadvantages of the mirror test for evaluating consciousness? Does intelligence necessarily imply consciousness?

===ExoPlanets and the Potential For Life===
With the confirmation of multiple planets in the habitation zone of other stars, what does this mean for the possibility of alien life?

===Medicine In Space===
Most of the mass and cost of a CT scanner is the source to project the beam. In orbit can you use the ambient radiation instead?

===The Future of Local/National/Planetary Government in the Information Age===
(Description Missing)

===The Long Strange Journey Of Turn Left At Orion===
Brother Guy Consolmagno published one of the most popular guides to using a small telescope. The story on how it got published is filled with missteps and adventures that were almost as much fun as the astronomical observations done for the book.

===The Space Program in the Trump Era: Year One===
For a bunch of years a band of space scientists and space science fans have been panelling at local cons about how space exploration and astronomy have been faring during the Obama administration. We'll wind that up and start talking about space science during the Trump years.

M52 Programming Brainstorm

2017-03-19T20:33:39Z

Mle292:

2015-05-05T23:19:08Z

Mle292: /* Science and Technology */

M51 Programming Brainstorm

2015-05-05T23:16:37Z

Mle292:

2013-05-26T20:54:03Z

Mle292: /* Literature/Writing */

Information about how to create an account and edit this page is at the bottom of the [[Main_Page]]. Folks are also welcome to submit ideas to the programming department at programming@minicon49.mnstf.org

==GOH Specific Ideas==

===Catherynne M. Valente Interview===
Attend an interview with the multi-Hugo nominated and Hugo Award winner Catherynne M. Valente

===SF Squeecast===
Experience or discuss the previous incarnations of the Hugo awarding winning Podcast with SF Squeecast co-host Catherynne M. Valente.

===Janny Wurts Interview===
Attend an interview with the multi-award winning author The Cycle of Fire trilogy, Wars of Light and Shadow, and Empire Trilogy.

===Don Maitz Art Slideshow===
Art by Don Maitz including Fantasy, Maritime, and who could forget, the "A little Captain in ya" Captain Morgan.

===Janny Wurts Art Slideshow===
Art by Janny Wurts including Fantasy, Science Fiction, and Art of the Cosmos

===Catherynne M. Valente Concert===
In addition to her writing credits, Ms. Valente is also an accomplished musician. Would she be interested in a spot in the concert schedule?

===Live Art Demonstration===
Don Maitz

===Live Art Demonstration===
Janny Wurts

===The History of the Prester John Legend===
From the 12th to 17th centuries, the legends of priest-king Prester John were popular in Europe. The story captured the imagination of Europeans, who translated it into many languages and embellished upon the original story. What made this story go viral (by medieval standards)? How did the legend influence exploration, European expansion, and exploitation? Cat Valente has written two Prester John novels, The Habitation of the Blessed and The Folded World, with a third novel forthcoming (hopefully). She has also uploaded a YouTube video, [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8lu_A72N10/ Prester John: International Man of Mystery], explaining the history of the medieval legend of Prester John, as told by action figures.

===Imagining the Conjurer===
Don Maitz has several pieces of artwork depicting wizards, mages, and sorcerers. What information can be garnered of the personalities represented in his depictions of the conjurer?

==Art==

===Industrial Strength Super Bubbles===
Minicon will be later in the year than it usually is. Maybe we can combine this with Richard Tatge's Bubbles in an outdoor venue.

===Knitting: It's Not Just a Hobby; It’s a Post-Apocalyptic Survival Skill===
Learn the basics of knitting, and the role this skill plays in the lifestyle of SF fans. In the event of a worldwide catastrophe, what benefits would those of us with strong, nimble fingers bring to the new society?

===Book mutilation as transformative work===
This hands on roundtable event will allow participants to carve, sculpt, etch, shape and alter books into new works of art. Books, glue, scissors, knives and other craft supplies will be provided.

===Puppet Sprint===
An idea for Next Generation programming. Participants write a puppet script to be performed for kids in the Rumpus Room. Need puppet wrangler and director.

===Don Maitz painting demo===
Don Maitz has asked for a 3 hour block for a painting demo.

===Crafting in Spaaaaace===
Through archaeology, it's been determined that explorers had a tradition of crafting (''e.g.'' all male nautical crews used needles and scissors for repair). It seems logical to assume that crafting (''e.g.'' [http://science.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/05/14/18254269-first-quilter-in-space-nasa-astronaut-plans-to-turn-orbital-rags-to-stitches?lite/ quilting]) will be used in the space frontier as well. What type of crafting will appear in space travel and colonization? What are the best skills to learn and teach in establishing a new colony? Why isn't crafting seen in media SF?

==Fandom and Zeitgeist==

===Would You Rather?===
Which sounds more appealing ... driving a tractor-trailer full of gasoline through Mad Max territory or driving away from a Tyrannosaurus Rex in Jurassic Park? Would you rather comb Beetlejuice's hair or brush a dragon's teeth? Watch as panelists contemplate SFnal dilemmas from literature and media.

===Rock and Roll in Speculative Fiction -- It's Hip to be Square===
When we think of fantasy or the future, we don't think of rock and roll. But starting in the 1950s, SF has combined the influences of hedonistic young whippersnappers with fantastic narratives. A discussion on the rebellious spirit of rock and its influence in SF.

===So, you're being invaded by space aliens===
In the coming days, how will humans adapt to the alien invasion? Will we band together as a species, or continue fighting amongst ourselves? What alien strategies should we plan for? Of what interest are we to the aliens? Are they here to help us, to mine our resources, or 'to serve man?'

===All About Coffee===
During the American Revolution, terrorists dumped tea into Boston Harbor, and tea became symbolic of our British overlords. Thus began our love affair with what is arguably America's favorite legal drug delivery system. Let's talk about the history of coffee, coffee in fiction, coffee in fandom, coffee in pseudoscience, great recipes containing coffee, how to make the perfect cup, and the chemical process of run on sentences.

===Patent Trolls and Copyright Trolls===
Patent trolls and Copyright Trolls are hideous creatures who dwell beneath decency, and pursue financial gain to which they have little or no claim. Recent estimated costs of defending against a patent infringement suit is around $1 million before trial, and $2.5 million total. Copyright Trolls often exploit the default avoidance-of-legal-nature of privately owned social media. Even the most blatantly non-meritorious suits are often settled, just to avoid the potential cost of trial. What is corporate Patent trolling? What is Copyright trolling? How are they similar or different? How do patent trolls and copyright trolls exploit the legal system? Most importantly, how do we hunt them to extinction?

==Gaming==

===The Gamification of Everything===
Collectively, the planet is now spending more than 3 billion hours a week gaming. What accounts for what appears to be an accelerating mass exodus from reality? Should we be concerned about this, perhaps try to find ways to block people from escaping into games? Or should we use everything we know about game design to fix what's wrong with real life: structuring school and work activities to offer clear achievable goals, immediate feedback, and the opportunity to keep leveling up forever? This argument, vividly presented by video game designer Jane McGonigal in her book ''Is Reality Broken?'' is gaining traction in all sorts of places these days, from 21st century marketing campaigns to the park in Sweden with the whistling trash can.

===Matt McMillan Gaming Panel===
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==Literature/Writing==

===Maenads, Oracles, and Other Madwomen of Myth & Folklore===
A bit touched, or privy to knowledge unknown to her female cohorts? A discussion of the frenzied, fanatical, and eccentric women that appear in the literature of the fantastic.

===Page 117===
Somewhere between "It was a dark & stormy night" and “the butler did it" lies page 117. If all you knew about a novel was the contents of page 117, would you read and/or buy it? Page 117s of well-known novels and fresh works are read aloud and discussed by the panelists and audience members.

===Terra Incognita: The Role of Maps in Science Fiction and Fantasy Literature===
A discussion of maps used in speculative fiction, either as endpieces or as part of the story. What are good (and bad) examples of maps of imaginary worlds? Can the inclusion of maps create problems? What can maps tell us of the modes of transportation, natural setting, and politics of the realm? Are maps for modern fantasy novels too modern (''i.e.'' accurate)?

===Books That Can Change Your Life===
Fiction can open a door, allowing a reader to explore new ideas and see things that didn't seem to be there before. Some books have a profound effect on their readers. How'd that happen?

===I Read a Book and 20 Years Later it was a Different Book===
Sometimes books don't survive the test of time as well as we would like. Sometimes they age like fine wine. How does the reader change a book, just in the reading? What does a reader bring to the experience?

===What the Heck is the Deal with Speculative Poetry?===
April is National Poetry Month, wherein the Academy of American Poets tries to widen the attention of poetry to individuals and media. But within the SF community, appreciators of poetry are not abundant. Is specualtive poetry written for a specific subset of readers, and inaccessible to the general community? Reading poetry is a skill; how can that be encouraged?

===Why Fairy Tales Are For Adults (Again)===
Fairy tales survive by adapting across cultures and history, and don't belong only to children. Their themes and tropes can be found in "adults-only" media like ''Game of Thrones'', ''True Blood'', and ''Once Upon a Time''. Fairy tales have been used by parents to establish a moral compass by "scaring children into good behavior"; how can this type of storytelling be used to examine cultural anxieties, or to benefit adults as well?

===Atheist Writing Panel===
A discussion of atheist writing, including non-fiction about atheism, atheism as presented in fiction work, and work by atheist authors.

===Flash Fiction Teen Writing Spree===
Write a short story of under 1000 words in 24 hours. Topic will be provided. At-con Judges needed.

===Including disability and disabled characters in fiction===
More than ten percent of Americans live with an apparent disability - yet films, television, comics, and traditional books are seriously lagging in their inclusion in media. Even when disabled characters are included, they are sometimes portrayed as broken, pitiable, or irreparably damaged. What can authors do to include characters with disability in positive ways? What are some positive and negative examples of disabled characters in fiction?

==Media==

===Sherlock, The Series===
Thoughts on the Benedict Cumberbatch series. How well are these stories translating to the modern era?

==Science and Technology==

===M49 at M49===
M49 is a elliptical galaxy in the Virgo cluster, and one of many objects that is barely visible in the city night sky with a telescope. An interactive discussion of parking lot astronomy.

===Getting Medieval (Science) on Your *ss===
The first institutions recognized as universities were established during the Middle Ages. How did the traditional four elements form the [http://www.kheper.net/topics/typology/four_humours.html "four humours"] theory of medicine? What was the accepted worldview for citizens of the medieval world? Was it based on natural observation, superstition, or something else? What was the influence upon the arts, architecture, and literature of the time?

===Two photography panels that might be one photography panel===
Perhaps these are similar enough to be combined. Perhaps not.

====Learning How Cameras and Imaging Software "Lie" to You====
A lot of astro-based pseudoscience relies on images (There are cities on Mars! NASA is hiding ancient ruins on the moon!). What exactly is the process for converting photons to pixels? How (and why) do scientists apply filters, resizing, levels, and curves? And why doesn't NASA just give the public the original images?

====Lies, Liars, and Photography====
The 2013 World Press Photo Foundation "Photo Of The Year" winner was falsely accused of being a composite image. Though the original image scene had not been altered, some work had been done with the contrast and color. How much is too much? Where is the line where digital manipulation becomes deception? At what point do photos become as untrustworthy as drawings? Are we ever going to reach that point? Are we already there?

===Show And Tell - Outdated Devices===
What currently antiquated, but former high-tech device do you still use? What is the advantage of keeping the old tech up and running? What are some of our most admired feats of technology that barely garner a second glance these days? Note: Minicon will not be responsible for the conveyance costs associated with any demonstration items, especially things that are embossed with the words "UNIVAC."

==Readings==

==Signings==