Confessions of a Liberal Puritan

Before I forget, I just got a message that the first issue of Watcher Junior (the undergrad research off-shoot of Slayage) is now online at http://www.watcherjunior.tv

In other news, I got to Omaha safely and in good time (in spite of road destruction and getting caught in rush-hour around Kansas City) last Thursday night, and then my Omaha friend and I were able to enjoy a leisurely drive to Des Moines on Friday afternoon, for DemiCon 16. My friend said she didn't remember ever getting to the Con on Friday afternoon before, and she greatly enjoyed the chance to cruise through the Hucksters' Room (okay, "Dealers' Room") for a few hours before it got crowded and the merchandise had been picked over. I had fun just watching how delighted she was with something I've taken for granted over the years (the ability to arrive at the Con early on Friday and get first shot at the Dealers' tables and the Art Show).

Attendance was way down from other years, largely due to competition from World Con this year (normally, World Con is around Labor Day weekend, so competition won't be an issue next year), we suspected. But I had no difficulty getting permission from the Con-Com to set out my surveys next tto the registration desk (they even made an announcement during Opening Ceremonies, asking people to please help out a scholar-fan, which was very nice of them), and by Sunday morning all 50 copies of the survey that I'd made and brought with me had been filled out and turned in. I haven't gone through all the responses yet, but I hope to be able to post a summary of the results this weekend.

For me, it wasn't the greatest con ever, by any means, but I got to chat with a few friends, drink way too much in the Con-Suite, and move one step closer to the completion of my degree, so . . . Yay!

I forgot to mention that, since Omaha is much better supplied with second-run movie theaters than Nashville, I was finally able to see the movie "Sahara" yesterday afternoon for $1.50, and I thoroughly enjoyed it! That was FUN! And much better than I'd been led to believe by the reviews I'd heard.

If you've got a second-run theater in your town and still have the opportunity to see this one on the big screen, I highly recommend it. I've never really found Matthew McConnaghy (or however his name is spelled) attractive before, but in this one he was almost gorgeous, and quite likable. Plus, I always enjoy Steve Zahn in those supporting, comedic roles, and in this one he actually got to be quite the action hero, as well as the comedian. And with William H. Macy as "the Admiral" and Glynn Thurman and Delroy Lindo in supporting heroic roles, plus some actor with great lips as the highly suspicious French businessman, what's not to like?

Only if the lead character had been played by a young Harrison Ford could I have been more happy with this movie, which succeeded admirably in being a very entertaining action-adventure-comedy.