var program = [{"id":"1","title":"Is the Internet Killing SF?","tags":["track:Literature","type:Panel"],"date":"2023-10-28","time":"16:00","loc":["Oneida"],"people":[{"id":"1011","name":"Bill Horst-Kotter (moderator)"},{"id":"1003","name":"Tris Lawrence"},{"id":"1012","name":"Walter Hunt"},{"id":"1034","name":"John (J.F.) Holmes"},{"id":"1041","name":"Jennifer L Bagley"}],"desc":"What has been the effect of the Internet on the genre?  And on writing in general?"},{"id":"2","title":"Jack Vance, Forgotten Master?","tags":["track:Literature","type:Panel"],"date":"2023-10-27","time":"17:00","loc":["Oneida"],"people":[{"id":"1001","name":"Chuck Rothman (moderator)"},{"id":"1002","name":"\u00a0Jeff Mierzejewski"},{"id":"1008","name":"David DeGraff"}],"desc":"Jack Vance was a prolific and acclaimed SF author. What about his work makes him stand out? Does it still hold up today? "},{"id":"3","title":"SF Movies of the 50s and 60s","tags":["track:Media","type:Panel"],"date":"2023-10-28","time":"18:00","loc":["Salon D & E"],"people":[{"id":"1016","name":"Daniel M Kimmel (moderator)"},{"id":"1001","name":"Chuck Rothman"},{"id":"1038","name":"D Cameron Calkins"},{"id":"1044","name":"Al Katerinsky"},{"id":"1046","name":"Sal Monaco"}],"desc":"It wasn't all monster movies. And even the monster movies often had philosophical points. What from the era is missing in SF movies today?"},{"id":"4","title":"Changes in way of life 1900-1960 and 1960-2023","tags":["track:Science","type:Panel"],"date":"2023-10-29","time":"12:00","loc":["Oneida"],"people":[{"id":"1006","name":"Grant Carrington (moderator)"},{"id":"1008","name":"David DeGraff"},{"id":"1037","name":"Mary Turzillo"},{"id":"1045","name":"Alex Pantaleev"}],"desc":"Compare the types of changes that occurred during both time frames.   What have we gained and what have we lost?"},{"id":"5","title":"Building Believable Fictional Societies","tags":["track:Writing","type:Panel"],"date":"2023-10-27","time":"19:00","loc":["Oneida"],"people":[{"id":"1012","name":"Walter Hunt (moderator)"},{"id":"1020","name":"Christie Meierz"},{"id":"1022","name":"Steve Miller"},{"id":"1028","name":"Edward Ashton"},{"id":"1030","name":"Ada Palmer"}],"desc":"What makes a society believable?  What are the pitfalls to avoid? Who does it well?  What are some good and bad examples, both from years past and today?"},{"id":"6","title":"Astronomicon Tonight Show","tags":["track:Trackless events","type:Participatory Event"],"date":"2023-10-27","time":"22:00","loc":["Onondaga\/Seneca"],"people":null,"desc":"Tonight show!  Trivia contest."},{"id":"7","title":"Does Fantasy Matter in an all-too-real World? ","tags":["track:Literature","type:Panel"],"date":"2023-10-27","time":"18:00","loc":["Oneida"],"people":[{"id":"1040","name":"Rick Taubold (moderator)"},{"id":"1014","name":"Herb Kauderer"},{"id":"1020","name":"Christie Meierz"},{"id":"1033","name":"James MacDougal"}],"desc":"How can fantasy stories help us grapple with the chaotic and all too real world around us?"},{"id":"13","title":"Different types of publishing","tags":["track:Writing","type:Panel"],"date":"2023-10-28","time":"15:00","loc":["Oneida"],"people":[{"id":"1040","name":"Rick Taubold (moderator)"},{"id":"1003","name":"Tris Lawrence"},{"id":"1009","name":"Nick DiChario"},{"id":"1028","name":"Edward Ashton"},{"id":"1048","name":"Derrick Smythe"}],"desc":"Different kinds of publishing and how they are similar and differ (self\/indy vs trad pub vs the different kinds of small press out there). How do authors to decide which path is best for them?\r\n"},{"id":"15","title":"Lesser Known TV\/Movies\/media","tags":["track:Media","type:Panel"],"date":"2023-10-28","time":"10:00","loc":["Onondaga\/Seneca"],"people":[{"id":"1016","name":"Daniel M Kimmel (moderator)"},{"id":"1011","name":"Bill Horst-Kotter"},{"id":"1038","name":"D Cameron Calkins"}],"desc":"What are some obscure movies and TV shows that you love?"},{"id":"17","title":"Coming up with Future Technologies","tags":["track:Writing","type:Panel"],"date":"2023-10-28","time":"14:00","loc":["Oneida"],"people":[{"id":"1025","name":"Marie Vibbert (moderator)"},{"id":"1010","name":"Carl Frederick"},{"id":"1011","name":"Bill Horst-Kotter"},{"id":"1045","name":"Alex Pantaleev"}],"desc":"How do  you create a plausible future technology?  Extrapolation of current technology?  Or just invent it from nothing? If so, how do you make it plausible?  Does it matter to know the details behind it"},{"id":"18","title":"The Nature of Sentience","tags":["track:Science","type:Panel"],"date":"2023-10-29","time":"12:00","loc":["Onondaga\/Seneca"],"people":[{"id":"1014","name":"Herb Kauderer"},{"id":"1026","name":"Christopher Weuve"},{"id":"1044","name":"Al Katerinsky"}],"desc":"Is AI sentient? Can it be? How would we know?"},{"id":"19","title":"Logical Magic","tags":["track:Literature","type:Panel"],"date":"2023-10-27","time":"17:00","loc":["Onondaga\/Seneca"],"people":[{"id":"1029","name":"Moshe Feder (moderator)"},{"id":"1030","name":"Ada Palmer"},{"id":"1033","name":"James MacDougal"},{"id":"1040","name":"Rick Taubold"}],"desc":"Some fantasy books have magic systems with rules so carefully and fully worked out that they practically seem like science. In other books, the magic comes across as something more outlandish, wild, and weird. (And of course sometimes somewhere in between.) What advantages and disadvantages do these two approaches have? How does a writer decide between them? What are some good examples of types of magic?"},{"id":"20","title":"Pirates in Space!","tags":["track:Literature","type:Panel"],"date":"2023-10-28","time":"19:00","loc":["Salon D & E"],"people":[{"id":"1026","name":"Christopher Weuve (moderator)"},{"id":"1011","name":"Bill Horst-Kotter"},{"id":"1034","name":"John (J.F.) Holmes"},{"id":"1035","name":"Geoffrey A. Landis"}],"desc":"Is space piracy realistic? Is it even possible? Though long a staple of many a space opera, is it really anything more than launching an aspect of the Age of Sail into outer space? What are some examples of the best space pirates? Why do they seem plausible (if they do)?"},{"id":"21","title":"Elder Heroes","tags":["track:Literature","type:Panel"],"date":"2023-10-29","time":"11:00","loc":["Onondaga\/Seneca"],"people":[{"id":"1014","name":"Herb Kauderer (moderator)"},{"id":"1003","name":"Tris Lawrence"},{"id":"1020","name":"Christie Meierz"}],"desc":"A lot of SFF, especially SFF adventure, seems to be written by and for young people (even excluding YA). Why are there so few older protagonists? (Immortals don't count.) Why might an author (young or old) want to write about older characters? What are some successful stories with protagonists over 50?\r\n"},{"id":"24","title":"How Much Do You Need to Know?","tags":["track:Writing","type:Panel"],"date":"2023-10-29","time":"10:00","loc":["Onondaga\/Seneca"],"people":[{"id":"1010","name":"Carl Frederick (moderator)"},{"id":"1016","name":"Daniel M Kimmel"},{"id":"1025","name":"Marie Vibbert"},{"id":"1030","name":"Ada Palmer"}],"desc":"How much research should a writer do to create rich, plausible settings, characters, or plots? Does it depend on genre\u2014for example SF, Fantasy, Historical? Does historical research help or hinder fantasy writers? Where do you find out what you as writer (or reader) need to know? How much of this research actually ends up in print?"},{"id":"25","title":"Weird Aliens","tags":["track:Writing","type:Panel"],"date":"2023-10-28","time":"19:00","loc":["Oneida"],"people":[{"id":"1008","name":"David DeGraff (moderator)"},{"id":"1022","name":"Steve Miller"},{"id":"1037","name":"Mary Turzillo"},{"id":"1038","name":"D Cameron Calkins"}],"desc":"There's no reason to suppose that any alien being (if they exist\u2014do they?\u2014why do we think so?) should be at all like humans or indeed any other creature on earth now or in the past. Or might certain basic physical constraints on body form\/size enforce some degree of uniformity? How do you make a convincing alien? How do you avoid making it so alien as to be merely incomprehensible in motivation, character, or actions? Call out some good aliens and some bad ones."},{"id":"26","title":"As You Know, Bob","tags":["track:Writing","type:Panel"],"date":"2023-10-28","time":"10:00","loc":["Oneida"],"people":[{"id":"1017","name":"Sharon Lee (moderator)"},{"id":"1028","name":"Edward Ashton"},{"id":"1030","name":"Ada Palmer"},{"id":"1032","name":"Eli K.P. William"},{"id":"1040","name":"Rick Taubold"},{"id":"1050","name":"Thomas M. Waldroon"}],"desc":"Writers frequently say that the chief technical problem in SFF is exposition. How does one convey essential (or just interesting) information about an imaginary setting while avoiding the dreaded info-dump? Or is info-dumping sometimes okay? Why is it bad (if it is) for characters to explain back-story to each other? What are some tricks to encourage readers to accept not knowing about some aspects of story or setting until the author has a good opportunity to fill in the blank spots?"},{"id":"27","title":"Are Old Books Bad Books?","tags":["track:Literature","type:Panel"],"date":"2023-10-27","time":"19:00","loc":["Onondaga\/Seneca"],"people":[{"id":"1037","name":"Mary Turzillo (moderator)"},{"id":"1006","name":"Grant Carrington"},{"id":"1029","name":"Moshe Feder"},{"id":"1032","name":"Eli K.P. William"},{"id":"1050","name":"Thomas M. Waldroon"}],"desc":"Some readers of older SFF (let's say before 1990) complain that it is too slow, lacking in diversity, and full of cliches and stereotypes. Is it? Does the fault lie in the reader or the book? Should we try to overlook such flaws or condemn these works to the slag heap? What makes a book a classic, if there are such things as classics? Can you recommend some books that still hold up today? What makes them work? Do they work differently now than they did when first published?\r\n"},{"id":"28","title":"Why Royalty?","tags":["track:Literature","type:Panel"],"date":"2023-10-28","time":"11:00","loc":["Onondaga\/Seneca"],"people":[{"id":"1029","name":"Moshe Feder (moderator)"},{"id":"1014","name":"Herb Kauderer"},{"id":"1022","name":"Steve Miller"},{"id":"1026","name":"Christopher Weuve"},{"id":"1050","name":"Thomas M. Waldroon"}],"desc":"Most readers today live in a representative democracy of one sort or another. So why do so many fantasies focus on the rightful heir to the throne? Why do they assume that the nobility is noble? And this isn't limited to Fantasy, with all the Galactic Emperors kicking about. Where do these assumptions come from? What are their consequences? Should we try to change this? What other political systems might we want to find? What are some good fantasy books without monarchs or nobles?\r\n"},{"id":"29","title":"Spear Carriers","tags":["track:Writing","type:Panel"],"date":"2023-10-28","time":"11:00","loc":["Oneida"],"people":[{"id":"1017","name":"Sharon Lee (moderator)"},{"id":"1010","name":"Carl Frederick"},{"id":"1020","name":"Christie Meierz"},{"id":"1033","name":"James MacDougal"},{"id":"1048","name":"Derrick Smythe"}],"desc":"Okay, you have the hero and the antagonist. But what about the characters scurrying abour in the background? Should writers try to create background characters who feel like they have their own lives that continue on when they're not on stage with the hero? Or does that present a danger of upstaging the main characters? What are some good examples of characters only briefly present in a story but who feel like real people? How is the trick done?\r\n\r\n"},{"id":"35","title":"Star Trek Ain't What is Used to Be","tags":["track:Media","type:Panel"],"date":"2023-10-28","time":"13:00","loc":["Oneida"],"people":[{"id":"1016","name":"Daniel M Kimmel (moderator)"},{"id":"1018","name":"Andre Lieven"},{"id":"1034","name":"John (J.F.) Holmes"},{"id":"1038","name":"D Cameron Calkins"},{"id":"1046","name":"Sal Monaco"}],"desc":"Compare and contrast the various versions.\r\n"},{"id":"36","title":"Science Fiction in 50s & 60s comics","tags":["track:Comics","type:Panel"],"date":"2023-10-28","time":"12:00","loc":["Oneida"],"people":[{"id":"1001","name":"Chuck Rothman (moderator)"},{"id":"1006","name":"Grant Carrington"},{"id":"1018","name":"Andre Lieven"},{"id":"1044","name":"Al Katerinsky"}],"desc":"In the 50s, there was a boom in SF themed comics -- Mystery in Space, Strange Adventures, Weird Science, Weird Fantasy, etc. Discuss the trend and landmarks of the subgenre. Where did it go?"},{"id":"39","title":"Utopias and Dystopias","tags":["track:Literature","type:Panel"],"date":"2023-10-28","time":"17:00","loc":["Oneida"],"people":[{"id":"1032","name":"Eli K.P. William (moderator)"},{"id":"1009","name":"Nick DiChario"},{"id":"1024","name":"Jeffrey Allen Tucker"},{"id":"1035","name":"Geoffrey A. Landis"}],"desc":"How do you create a dystopia? And is it possible to have a utopian science fiction in these days."},{"id":"40","title":"How do Graphic Novels Compare to a Novel?","tags":["track:Comics","type:Panel"],"date":"2023-10-28","time":"17:00","loc":["Onondaga\/Seneca"],"people":[{"id":"1018","name":"Andre Lieven (moderator)"},{"id":"1014","name":"Herb Kauderer"},{"id":"1027","name":"ChrisCross"},{"id":"1030","name":"Ada Palmer"},{"id":"1036","name":"Joe Orsak"}],"desc":"Can they be as powerful? What is the difference in writing them?"},{"id":"41","title":"Strong Female Characters Who Don't Need Guns","tags":["track:Literature","type:Panel"],"date":"2023-10-28","time":"18:00","loc":["Oneida"],"people":[{"id":"1041","name":"Jennifer L Bagley (moderator)"},{"id":"1031","name":"Isis Asare"},{"id":"1036","name":"Joe Orsak"},{"id":"1037","name":"Mary Turzillo"}],"desc":"Can a heroine be compassionate and cool? Do they need to fight to be a hero?\r\n"},{"id":"42","title":"Twisted History","tags":["track:Literature","type:Panel"],"date":"2023-10-29","time":"11:00","loc":["Oneida"],"people":[{"id":"1012","name":"Walter Hunt (moderator)"},{"id":"1018","name":"Andre Lieven"},{"id":"1029","name":"Moshe Feder"},{"id":"1033","name":"James MacDougal"}],"desc":"What changes are cool, and what are just stupid?"},{"id":"49","title":"Overlooked SF","tags":["track:Literature","type:Panel"],"date":"2023-10-29","time":"10:00","loc":["Oneida"],"people":[{"id":"1037","name":"Mary Turzillo (moderator)"},{"id":"1006","name":"Grant Carrington"},{"id":"1018","name":"Andre Lieven"},{"id":"1026","name":"Christopher Weuve"},{"id":"1029","name":"Moshe Feder"}],"desc":"What books, movies, and TV shows do you feel don't get the appreciation they deserve?"},{"id":"55","title":"GOH Comic Art Slide Slow","tags":["track:GOH","type:Panel"],"date":"2023-10-28","time":"14:00","loc":["Onondaga\/Seneca"],"people":[{"id":"1027","name":"ChrisCross (moderator)"}],"desc":"Comic Art Slide Sjhpw"},{"id":"56","title":"Alan Beck Filk","tags":["track:GOH","type:Panel"],"date":"2023-10-27","time":"21:00","loc":["Onondaga\/Seneca"],"people":[{"id":"1004","name":"Alan F.Beck (moderator)"}],"desc":"Guest of Honor Filk concert"},{"id":"57","title":"Ask Me Anything with Isis Asare","tags":["track:GOH","type:Panel"],"date":"2023-10-28","time":"15:00","loc":["Onondaga\/Seneca"],"people":[{"id":"1031","name":"Isis Asare"}],"desc":"Isis Asare, CEO\/Founder Sistah Scifi - The First Black Owned Bookstore focused on Science Fiction & Fantasy. Located  primarily in cyberspace, Sistah Scifi launched three Sistah Scifi Book Vending Machines in February 2023. "},{"id":"64","title":"Science Fiction Poetry Slam","tags":["track:Literature","type:Lecture"],"date":"2023-10-28","time":"16:30","loc":["Council Room"],"people":[{"id":"1037","name":"Mary Turzillo"}],"desc":"Science fiction poets read from their work"},{"id":"66","title":"Water Color demonstration. ","tags":["track:Art","type:Panel"],"date":"2023-10-28","time":"12:00","loc":["Onondaga\/Seneca"],"people":[{"id":"1004","name":"Alan F.Beck (moderator)"}],"desc":"Watch a mouse painting in progress Learn tips and techniques in using with water colors.  "},{"id":"67","title":"What Line Is Mine?","tags":["track:Literature","type:Panel"],"date":"2023-10-29","time":"13:00","loc":["Onondaga\/Seneca"],"people":[{"id":"1015","name":"Amy Kauderer (moderator)"}],"desc":"Authors give lines from their books, and panelists identify them."},{"id":"73","title":"Reading -- Tris Lawrence","tags":["track:Reading","type:Reading"],"date":"2023-10-28","time":"10:00","loc":["Council Room"],"people":[{"id":"1003","name":"Tris Lawrence (moderator)"}],"desc":"Tris Lawrence reading"},{"id":"74","title":"Reading -- Grant Carrington ","tags":["track:Reading","type:Reading"],"date":"2023-10-28","time":"13:00","loc":["Council Room"],"people":[{"id":"1006","name":"Grant Carrington (moderator)"}],"desc":"Grant Carrington Reading"},{"id":"75","title":"Reading -- David DeGraff","tags":["track:Reading","type:Reading"],"date":"2023-10-28","time":"14:30","loc":["Council Room"],"people":[{"id":"1008","name":"David DeGraff"}],"desc":"David DeGraff reading"},{"id":"76","title":"Reading -- Walter H. Hunt","tags":["track:Reading","type:Reading"],"date":"2023-10-28","time":"12:30","loc":["Council Room"],"people":[{"id":"1012","name":"Walter Hunt"}],"desc":"Reading -- Walter H. Hunt"},{"id":"77","title":"Reading -- Daniel M. Kimmell","tags":["track:Reading","type:Reading"],"date":"2023-10-28","time":"14:00","loc":["Council Room"],"people":[{"id":"1016","name":"Daniel M Kimmel"}],"desc":"Daniel M. Kimmell reading"},{"id":"78","title":"Reading -- Sharon Lee & Steve Miller","tags":["track:Reading","type:Reading"],"date":"2023-10-28","time":"15:00","loc":["Council Room"],"people":[{"id":"1017","name":"Sharon Lee"},{"id":"1022","name":"Steve Miller"}],"desc":"Sharon Lee\/Steve Miller reading"},{"id":"79","title":"Reading - Christie Meierz","tags":["track:Reading","type:Reading"],"date":"2023-10-28","time":"13:30","loc":["Council Room"],"people":[{"id":"1020","name":"Christie Meierz"}],"desc":"Christie Meierz reading"},{"id":"80","title":"Reading -- Marie Vibbert","tags":["track:Reading","type:Reading"],"date":"2023-10-28","time":"15:30","loc":["Council Room"],"people":[{"id":"1025","name":"Marie Vibbert"}],"desc":"Reading - Marie Vibbert"},{"id":"81","title":"Reading -- Edward Ashton","tags":["track:Reading","type:Panel"],"date":"2023-10-28","time":"12:00","loc":["Council Room"],"people":[{"id":"1028","name":"Edward Ashton"}],"desc":"Edward Ashton reading"},{"id":"82","title":"Reading -- Eli K.P. William","tags":["track:Reading","type:Reading"],"date":"2023-10-28","time":"11:00","loc":["Council Room"],"people":[{"id":"1032","name":"Eli K.P. William"}],"desc":"Eli K.P. William reading"},{"id":"83","title":"Reading - Chuck Rothman","tags":["track:Reading","type:Reading"],"date":"2023-10-28","time":"10:30","loc":["Council Room"],"people":[{"id":"1001","name":"Chuck Rothman"}],"desc":"Chuck Rothman reading"},{"id":"84","title":"Reading -- Ada Palmer","tags":["track:Reading","type:Reading"],"date":"2023-10-28","time":"11:30","loc":["Council Room"],"people":[{"id":"1030","name":"Ada Palmer"}],"desc":"Ada Palmer Reads"},{"id":"85","title":"Meet the Guests","tags":["track:Trackless events","type:Participatory Event"],"date":"2023-10-27","time":"20:00","loc":["Salon D & E"],"people":null,"desc":"Meet the program guests"},{"id":"86","title":"GOH -- Moshe Feder","tags":["track:GOH","type:Lecture"],"date":"2023-10-28","time":"13:00","loc":["Onondaga\/Seneca"],"people":[{"id":"1001","name":"Chuck Rothman (moderator)"},{"id":"1029","name":"Moshe Feder"}],"desc":"Moshe Feder GOH"},{"id":"87","title":"Gripe Session","tags":["track:Trackless events","type:Participatory Event"],"date":"2023-10-29","time":"14:00","loc":["Onondaga\/Seneca"],"people":null,"desc":"Discussion of what worked and what didn't."},{"id":"88","title":"Masquerade","tags":["track:Costuming","type:Participatory Event"],"date":"2023-10-28","time":"20:00","loc":["Onondaga\/Seneca"],"people":null,"desc":"Masquerade"},{"id":"89","title":"Autographing -- Tris Lawrence","tags":["track:Autographing","type:Panel"],"date":"2023-10-28","time":"12:00","loc":["Cayuga\/Mohawk"],"people":[{"id":"1003","name":"Tris Lawrence (moderator)"}],"desc":"Tris Lawrence autographing"},{"id":"90","title":"Autographing -- Grant Carrington","tags":["track:Autographing","type:Panel"],"date":"2023-10-28","time":"14:00","loc":["Cayuga\/Mohawk"],"people":[{"id":"1006","name":"Grant Carrington (moderator)"}],"desc":"Autographing -- Grant Carrington"},{"id":"91","title":"Autographing -- Walter H. Hunt","tags":["track:Autographing","type:Panel"],"date":"2023-10-28","time":"13:00","loc":["Cayuga\/Mohawk"],"people":[{"id":"1012","name":"Walter Hunt"}],"desc":"Walter Hunt Autographing"},{"id":"92","title":"Autographing -- Daniel M. Kimmel","tags":["track:Autographing","type:Panel"],"date":"2023-10-28","time":"15:00","loc":["Cayuga\/Mohawk"],"people":[{"id":"1016","name":"Daniel M Kimmel"}],"desc":"Danile M. Kimmel autographing"},{"id":"93","title":"Autographing -- Sharon Lee & Steve Miller","tags":["track:Autographing","type:Panel"],"date":"2023-10-28","time":"16:00","loc":["Cayuga\/Mohawk"],"people":[{"id":"1017","name":"Sharon Lee"},{"id":"1022","name":"Steve Miller"}],"desc":"Sharon Lee & Steve Miller autographing"},{"id":"94","title":"Autographing -- Edward Ashton","tags":["track:Autographing","type:Panel"],"date":"2023-10-28","time":"13:00","loc":["Cayuga\/Mohawk"],"people":[{"id":"1028","name":"Edward Ashton"}],"desc":"Edwar Ashton Autographing"},{"id":"95","title":"Autographing -- Eli K. P. William","tags":["track:Autographing","type:Panel"],"date":"2023-10-28","time":"14:00","loc":["Cayuga\/Mohawk"],"people":[{"id":"1032","name":"Eli K.P. William (moderator)"}],"desc":"Eli K.P. William autographing"},{"id":"97","title":"Autographing -- ChrisCross","tags":["track:Writing","type:Panel"],"date":"2023-10-28","time":"15:00","loc":["Cayuga\/Mohawk"],"people":[{"id":"1027","name":"ChrisCross (moderator)"}],"desc":"ChrisCross autographing"},{"id":"98","title":"Ada Palmer GOH","tags":["track:GOH","type:Lecture"],"date":"2023-10-28","time":"16:00","loc":["Onondaga\/Seneca"],"people":[{"id":"1030","name":"Ada Palmer (moderator)"}],"desc":"Ada Palmer GOH"},{"id":"99","title":"Opening Ceremony","tags":["track:Trackless events","type:Panel"],"date":"2023-10-27","time":"18:00","loc":["Onondaga\/Seneca"],"people":null,"desc":"Opening ceremony"},{"id":"100","title":"Cosplay Ball","tags":["track:Costuming","type:Participatory Event"],"date":"2023-10-28","time":"21:00","loc":["Onondaga\/Seneca"],"people":null,"desc":"Costplay Ball"},{"id":"102","title":"Reading -- Thomas Waldroon","tags":["track:Reading","type:Panel"],"date":"2023-10-28","time":"16:00","loc":["Council Room"],"people":[{"id":"1050","name":"Thomas M. Waldroon (moderator)"}],"desc":"Thomas Waldroon reading"}];
var people = [{"id":"1001","name":["Chuck Rothman"],"prog":["2","3","36","83","86"],"bio":"Chuck Rothman has been writing science fiction since the early 80s, with two novels published and stories in Asimov's, F&SF, Analog, and the anthologies \"Temporally Out of Order,\" \"Horror for the Throne,\" and \"Unidentified Funny Objects.\" He has been on the committee of Albacon since before the beginning."},{"id":"1002","name":["\u00a0Jeff Mierzejewski"],"prog":["2"],"bio":null},{"id":"1003","name":["Tris Lawrence"],"prog":["1","13","21","73","89"],"bio":"Tris Lawrence has been writing since she was a child, filling notebooks with the worlds, dreams, and voices from inside her head. She has always been fascinated by the way people work: how their relationships fit together, how they work socially, how they learn and discover. Her favorite stories center around people who are learning or discovering new things, and coming-of-age stories top that list. She wants to share stories of people who are learning how to relate to each other, how to adult, how to college, and how to just be. She hopes to share stories about diverse characters with representation of everything she wishes she could have read growing up, and she hopes that these stories will touch the lives and hearts of those who read them.\n\nWhen not writing, Tris is a wife, a mother (to two children, two cats, and a dog), a knitter, a system administrator, a black belt in taekwondo, an avid reader and obsessive writer, and a music aficionado. Sleep, she claims, is optional."},{"id":"1004","name":["Alan F.Beck"],"prog":["56","66"],"bio":"Alan F. Beck has been an artist and illustrator for over 30 years. His work has been exhibited in art shows and cons all across the country. He has won numerous awards and honors including two Chesley award nominations and a HUGO finalist nomination. His paintings and prints can be found in collections in the US, Canada and Europe. He has published \u201cThe Adventures of Nogard and Jackpot\u201d and is creator of the \u201cMouseopolitan Museum of Art\u201d. His art can be found in Space and Time magazine, The Fantasy Art Bible, and assorted book covers."},{"id":"1006","name":["Grant Carrington"],"prog":["4","27","36","49","74","90"],"bio":"Grant Carrington is the author of 4 sf books from Brief Candle Press of Beaverton, Ore., 2 CDs of original songs, 5 plays given full productions, and 40-50 stories, mostly sf (one of which was a Nebula finalist), most recently in Dreamforge.  Member Clarion 68-69, Tulane 71.  Associate editor Amazing\/Fantastic 1972-74, contributing editor Eternity 1977-79.  Computer programmer for Goddard Space Flight Center, the US Navy, University of Florida, Savannah River Ecology Lab, Westinghouse, and the US Treasury Department.  BA (NYU) and MA (Univ. of Fla.) in mathematics."},{"id":"1008","name":["David DeGraff"],"prog":["2","4","25","75"],"bio":null},{"id":"1009","name":["Nick DiChario"],"prog":["13","39"],"bio":"Hugo and World Fantasy award-nominated author Nick DiChario was born and raised in Rochester, New York. His first two novels, A SMALL AND REMARKABLE LIFE and VALLEY OF DAY-GLO, were both nominated for the John W. Campbell Award for Best Science Fiction Novel of the Year. Bordighera Press published his newest book earlier this year: GIOVANNI'S TREE: NEW ITALIAN FOLKTALES. He loves his hometown and will be happy to tell you where to find good restaurants, the best coffee, and delicious craft beer. "},{"id":"1010","name":["Carl Frederick"],"prog":["17","24","29"],"bio":"\tCarl(ton) Frederick is a theoretical physicist. After a post-doc at NASA he did a stint at Cornell University. There, he wrote a paper on Stochastic Space-time that some consider groundbreaking. Nonetheless, he became disillusioned with academia and left for the enticements of hi-tech industry. \n\tHe has written numerous short-stories including 45 sales to Analog. He has put an interactive novel on the Web. You can click to change the point of view and expose sub-plots (www.darkzoo.net ). He's written a half dozen or so novels and, has turned them into Kindle e-books where they are now, along with numerous collections of his short stories, moldering in obscurity on Amazon. \n\tHe has two grown children and shares his house with a cat and a pet robot. For recreation, he fences \u00e9p\u00e9e, learns languages, and plays the cello and bagpipes. He lives in rural, Ithaca, New York. And rural is good if you play the bagpipes."},{"id":"1011","name":["Bill Horst-Kotter"],"prog":["1","15","17","20"],"bio":"IT Professional, Tech Enthusiasts, Gamer and Sci-Fi Fan.  Former show runner\/editor\/producer\/writer\/host for the web series called the Radical Geek.  Would interview people that had a passion of many different geeky subjects."},{"id":"1012","name":["Walter Hunt"],"prog":["1","5","42","76","91"],"bio":"Walter H. Hunt is an author of science fiction and historical fiction. He has eleven published novels, including four military science fiction books (the Dark Wing series), two novels dealing with mesmerism, and two novels in the Ring of Fire\/1632 universe written with the late Eric Flint. He has a third 1632 novel due in 2024, along with several other projects. He is an active Freemason and baseball fan. He lives in Massachusetts with his wife."},{"id":"1014","name":["Herb Kauderer"],"prog":["7","18","21","28","40"],"bio":null},{"id":"1015","name":["Amy Kauderer"],"prog":["67"],"bio":null},{"id":"1016","name":["Daniel M Kimmel"],"prog":["3","15","24","35","77","92"],"bio":"Daniel M. Kimmel is the 2018 recipient of the Skylark Award, given by the New England Science Fiction Association. He was a finalist for a Hugo Award for Jar Jar Binks Must Die\u2026 and other observations about science fiction movies and for the Compton Crook Award for best first novel for Shh! It\u2019s a Secret: a novel about Aliens, Hollywood, and the Bartender\u2019s Guide. In addition to short stories, he is the author of Time on My Hands: My Misadventures in Time Travel, Father of the Bride of Frankenstein, Can Your Heart Stand the Shocking Facts? and (with Deborah Cutler-Hand) Banned in Boston. He is also a working film critic (NorthShoreMovies.net) and writes the \u201cTake Two on the Movies\u201d column for Space and Time magazine, spotlighting classic (and not so classic) SF films."},{"id":"1017","name":["Sharon Lee"],"prog":["26","29","78","93"],"bio":"Best-known as a co-author, with Steve Miller, of the Liaden Universe\u00ae novels and short stories.  The twenty-fifth Liaden novel, Salvage Right, was published by Baen Books in July 2023.  By coincidence, Salvage Right was also the 100th Lee-and-Miller collaboration.  The twenty-sixth Liaden novel, Ribbon Dance, will be published by Baen Books in June 2024.  Originally from Baltimore, now living in Maine with spouse Steve Miller, and three insistent muses in the form of Maine Coon Cats."},{"id":"1018","name":["Andre Lieven"],"prog":["35","36","40","42","49"],"bio":"Andre Lieven has been involved with SF conventions for [mumbly, mumbly]years and still loves it as much as in the beginning. His interests start with hard SF from Asimov and Clarke and range out to his old childhood favourites of Star Trek and Thunderbirds. All that lead to connecting with his interests in political science, history, military and aerospace technology and policy, and space flight. He has participated in working in most parts of SF conventions and speaks on panels at various conventions with Worldcon included on both points."},{"id":"1020","name":["Christie Meierz"],"prog":["5","7","21","29","79"],"bio":"Christie Meierz writes politically-driven space opera wrapped around romances set on a world of empaths at the edge of a dystopic Earth empire. Her published works include her PRISM Award-winning debut novel, The Marann, the first of the Tales of Tolari Space, which explore how an empathic civilization might work and what could happen when you toss humans into it. \n\nChristie now lives in Rochester, NY, where she and her mathematician husband serve as fulltime staff to two parlor panthers known to humans as Banichi the Assassin and Miss Myrtle the Hurricane Cat. Their true names remain a mystery.\n\nChristie welcomes comments and friend requests on Facebook. Follow her on Bluesky for cat pictures and live-skeets about life as a writer.\n"},{"id":"1022","name":["Steve Miller"],"prog":["5","25","28","78","93"],"bio":"Steve Miller is coauthor, with Sharon Lee, of the bestselling Liaden Universe\u00ae series. A longtime con and fanzine fan, his first pro SF story appeared in Ted White\u2019s Amazing in the 1970s; in 1988, when Agent of Change was published, the duo moved to Maine, discovered Maine Coon Cats, and became electronic publishing pioneers.  A full time SF writer\/publisher since the 1990s, Steve\u2019s a Clarion West alumni, SFWA Life Member with dozens of novels and shorter works to his credit, and was founding Curator of SF at the UMBC SF Research Collection. He and Sharon are frequent convention guests and have been recognized for the 2012 Skylark Award, Hal Clement Award for 2004, Prism Award in 2002, a Reader\u2019s Choice Award in 2017, and a Nubella Award from CoSine in 2006; Steve also received the DuckCon 19 Most Valuable Panelist Award in 2010. Their most recent novel Salvage Right, is in hardback and ebook, with audio due soon. Their next Liaden novel, Ribbon Dance, is set for July 2024, from Baen."},{"id":"1024","name":["Jeffrey Allen Tucker"],"prog":["39"],"bio":"Jeffrey Allen Tucker is an Associate Professor in the Department of English at the University of Rochester.  His teaching and research interests include 20th & 21st-century American and African American literature and Science Fiction.  He is the author of _A Sense of Wonder:  Samuel R. Delany, Race & Identity_ (Wesleyan UP 2004) as well as scholarly articles on writers such as Octavia E. Butler, Colson Whitehead, and George S. Schuyler."},{"id":"1025","name":["Marie Vibbert"],"prog":["17","24","80"],"bio":"Hugo and Nebula nominated author Marie Vibbert\u2019s short fiction has appeared in top magazines like Nature, Analog, and Clarkesworld, and been translated into Czech, Chinese and Vietnamese. Her debut novel, Galactic Hellcats, was long listed by the British Science Fiction Award and her work has been called \u201ceverything science fiction should be\u201d by the Oxford Culture Review.  She also writes poetry, comics, and computer games.  By day she is a computer programmer in Cleveland, Ohio."},{"id":"1026","name":["Christopher Weuve"],"prog":["18","20","28","49"],"bio":"Christopher Weuve is a professional naval analyst and wargame designer. He spent six years at the Center for Naval Analyses (where he learned the Combat Information Center of a Burke-class destroyer would make an excellent starship bridge), and then five years on the faculty of the US Naval War College, where he wrote about Chinese aircraft carrier development.  After a decade as an intelligence analyst, he's now back to designing wargames for the Department of Defense.\n\nHis hobbies are thinking about the intersection of Real World(tm) navies and science fiction, talking about that topic on YouTube (Starfleet Tactical), and not speaking for his employer."},{"id":"1027","name":["ChrisCross"],"prog":["40","55","97"],"bio":"ChrisCross is an American illustrator that has worked in the field of comics for 31 years.  His first introduction to professional comics was working with the African American owned company named Milestone Media where he worked on both iterations of Blood Syndicate and a stint on a book called Heroes.  He then worked for DC comics and Marvel working on books like Xero, which was picked up for cinema, Captain Marvel, Green lantern corps, JLA, X-man, Supergirl, Green Lantern (John Stewart),Batman&Superman, Superboy, among others and also did work with the SpiderVerse where he introduced a new character named Headline.    He\u2019s starting his own endeavor named Eternal Kick where he\u2019s working on a plethora of creator owned works of which he owns and is CEO.  "},{"id":"1028","name":["Edward Ashton"],"prog":["5","13","26","81","94"],"bio":"Edward Ashton is the author of the novels\u00a0Three Days in April, The End of Ordinary, Mickey7\u00a0(now a motion picture directed by Bong Joon-ho and starring Robert Pattinson and Mark Ruffalo), Antimatter Blues, and Mal Goes to War (forthcoming from St. Martin\u2019s Press in 2024).\u00a0His short fiction has appeared in venues ranging from the newsletter of an Italian sausage company to Escape Pod, Analog, and Fireside Fiction. In his spare time, he enjoys cancer research, teaching quantum physics to sullen graduate students, and whittling. You can find him online at edwardashton.com or on Instagram and Threads @bucket_of_spiders.\n"},{"id":"1029","name":["Moshe Feder"],"prog":["19","27","28","42","49","86"],"bio":"Moshe is a native and life-long resident of NYC, now in the process of moving to Naugatuck, CT. He discovered fandom in AMAZING in 1969 and then founded his college SF club, attended his first convention, and published his first fanzine in 1971. Respected as a fanwriter and publisher, Moshe has also worked on both regionals and worldcons, but is best known for his projects, including the famous QUO DAVIS one shot, the notorious \u201cVote No Award\u201d ads, the original FAAn Awards, co-authoring and producing \u201cThe Mimeo Man\u201d fannish musical (twice), the Omnivores dining club, the Last Chance Salon, and the \u201cNon timebo catulos\u201d t-shirt. He has previously been Fan Guest of Honor at Ozymandias in Toronto, Guest of Honor at Corflu in Annapolis, Editor Guest at Minicon, Editor Guest at Loscon, and special guest at Corflu in Vancouver. He is a proud winner of NESFA's E.E. Smith Memorial Award (the Skylark) for his lifetime contributions to SF and fandom. Moshe loves cats and dark chocolate. "},{"id":"1030","name":["Ada Palmer"],"prog":["5","19","24","26","40","84","98"],"bio":"Ada Palmer\u2019s Terra Ignota series (beginning with Too Like the Lightning, from Tor Books) explores how humanity\u2019s cultural and historical legacies might evolve in a future of borderless nations and globally commixing populations. She teaches history at the University of Chicago, studying the Renaissance, Enlightenment, censorship and information control, printing, and atheism. She often researches in Italy, usually in Florence or at the Vatican. She composes fantasy, SF and mythology-themed music, including the Viking mythology musical stage play Sundown: Whispers of Ragnarok (available on CD and DVD), and often performs at conventions with her vocal group Sassafrass. She also researches anime\/manga, especially Osamu Tezuka, early post-WWII manga and gender in manga, and has worked as a consultant for many anime and manga publishers. She writes the philosophy & travel blog ExUrbe.com, and hosts the Ex Urbe Ad Astra Podcast, co-created with novelist Jo Walton."},{"id":"1031","name":["Isis Asare"],"prog":["41","57"],"bio":"Isis Asare:  Isis Asare is a queer Afrofuturist, serial technology entrepreneur, and lover of community, yoga, and all things Black culture. You can catch Isis zooming through cyberspace or in-person wherever Black folks gather. A citizen of the world, Isis was born to Ghanaian immigrants in Harlem. Isis concurrently resides in Seattle, WA and Oakland, CA with their supportive and evolving polycule.\nIsis is an alum of Stanford University, Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government, and Columbia Business School were they earned a bachelor's degree in psychology, masters in public policy, and MBA respectively. Isis is the founder of Sistah Scifi - the first Black owned bookstore focused on science fiction and fantasy in the United States as validated by the American Booksellers Association.  Isis is currently the CEO\/Founder of Sistah Scifi. The first Black-owned bookstore focused on science fiction and fantasy. "},{"id":"1032","name":["Eli K.P. William"],"prog":["26","27","39","82","95"],"bio":"Eli K.P. William is a Canadian sci-fi novelist who has spent most of his adult life in Japan. The only member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of Japan (SFWJ) who writes fiction in English, he is the author of The Jubilee Cycle trilogy, set in a dystopian future Tokyo. The series includes Cash Crash Jubilee (Skyhorse 2015), The Naked World (Skyhorse 2017), and A Diamond Dream (Skyhorse 2023). He has written some three dozen articles in both English and Japanese for such publications as Subaru, The Japan Times, and The Malahat Review, and has translated literature by some of Japan\u2019s most renowned authors. His translations include Keiichiro Hirano\u2019s bestselling novel A Man as well as various essays and short stories for Granta, Kyoto Journal, The Southern Review, and more. His most recent publication is the short story Lost and Found Babies for literary magazine Monkey. He is also a member of the SFWA."},{"id":"1033","name":["James MacDougal"],"prog":["7","19","29","42"],"bio":"I am a fanfiction writer, LARP creator, and game master, but really I'm just a fan - you know?  I was born on May the fourth, but since Star Wars wouldn't premier for another 16 years no note was made of this.  It was, however, the day before Alan Shepard's flight, which made him the first American to reach space in a rocket.  I published my first zine using dito masters, the first thing I ever saw on a color TV was the Shore Leave episode of Star Trek, and my favorite tabletop RPG is Hackmaster (what AD&D edition two wishes it could be).  For all of that I'm still trying to collect enough SMOF points to be taken seriously.\n"},{"id":"1034","name":["John (J.F.) Holmes"],"prog":["1","20","35"],"bio":"J.F. Holmes is a retired Army Senior Noncommissioned Officer, having served for 22 years in both the Regular Army and Army National Guard. During that time, he served as everything from an artillery section leader to a member of a Division level planning staff, with tours in Cuba and Iraq, as well as responding to the terrorists attacks in NYC on 9-11. \n\nFrom 2010 to 2014 he wrote the immensely popular military cartoon strip, \"Power Point Ranger\", poking fun at military life in the tradition of Beetle Bailey and Willy & Joe. \n\nHis books range from Military Sci-Fi to Space Opera to Detective to Fantasy, with a lot in between, and in 2017 two are finalists for the prestigious Dragon Awards.\n\nIn 2018, he launched Cannon Publishing, www.cannonpublishing.us specializing in military science fiction, fantasy and thrillers, with an emphasis on works from up and coming authors."},{"id":"1035","name":["Geoffrey A. Landis"],"prog":["20","39"],"bio":"Dr. Geoffrey A. Landis is a science-fiction writer and a scientist. He has won the Hugo and Nebula awards for science fiction, and is the author of the novel Mars Crossing and collection Impact Parameter (& Other Quantum Realities). He works for NASA on developing advanced technologies for spaceflight. He was a member of the Pathfinder and Mars Exploration Rovers Science teams, and most recently working on a mission to Saturn\u2019s moon Titan as part of the NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts project. He is also known for work on concepts for interstellar flight. In his spare time, he goes to fencing tournaments to stab strangers with a sword.  More information about him can be found at his somwhat-outdated web page: http:\/\/www.geoffreylandis.com\/ , or on Wikipedia."},{"id":"1036","name":["Joe Orsak"],"prog":["40","41"],"bio":"In 1982 Joe Orsak launched a comic strip in the newspapers of Syracuse, NY, THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN 'CUSE.  Joe turned to sports comics in the 1990s, working on bios of MICKEY MANTLE, BROOKS ROBINSON  and DUKE SNIDER for MAGNUM COMICS.  These books gave Joe the chance to work with his inspiration\u2026 Orsak's pencils were inked by Joe Sinnott!\nIn 2008 he returned to comic strips with SALT CITY, another strip about his hometown, this time with a female superheroine, written by Douglas Brode. The comic strip drew the attention of people at MCFARLAND and Co., who asked Joe and Doug to launch their line of graphic novels. Joe and Doug created YELLOW ROSE OF TEXAS the Myth of Emily Morgan and VIRGIN VAMPIRES for MCFARLAND Inc.\n\nJoe is now working with AHOY Comics  and is involved with new comic book projects for STELLAR COMICS.\n\nMore of Joe Orsak's artwork can be found at his website\u2026  jorsak.com"},{"id":"1037","name":["Mary Turzillo"],"prog":["4","25","27","41","49","64"],"bio":"Mary A. Turzillo won a Nebula award (\"Mars Is to Place for Children\" 1999) and two Elgin awards ( Sweet Poison, with Marge Simon, 2014, and Lovers & Killers, 2012, solo).\u00a0 Mary has been a British SF Association, Pushcart, Stoker, Dwarf Stars, and Rhysling finalist. Her novel Mars Girls (Apex) features two young Martian women rescuing themselves from Face-on-Mars crazies. Victims, again with Marge Simon, was a Stoker finalist. Her purrfectly delicious story collection Cosmic Cats & Fantastic Furballs appeared March 2022 from WordFire.   It contains her Nebula-nominated story \"Pride.\" As a high rated woman \u00e9p\u00e9e fencer in the US\u00a0 in her age class, she lives with scientist-author-fencer Geoffrey Landis.\n"},{"id":"1038","name":["D Cameron Calkins"],"prog":["3","15","25","35"],"bio":"Cameron is a native-ish son to the Rochester area; a literal renaissance man; marine biologist, classical musician, published sci-fi\/fantasy illustrator and author, former health and safety expert, and IT Cybersecurity Expert. He's been attending conventions for 40 years. He lives in the Boston area with his wife, his globetrotting dragon, Dagnir, and a small collection of tropical snakes."},{"id":"1040","name":["Rick Taubold"],"prog":["7","13","19","26"],"bio":"Rick Taubold holds degrees in chemistry, biology, and nutritional biochemistry. Rick and his wife publish Fabula Argentea magazine, a quarterly online magazine of fiction. Rick and his wife live in Rochester, NY.\n\nRick\u2019s published works include More Than Magick (a sci-fi\/fantasy adventure), The Mosaic (contemporary fantasy), Punctuation for Fiction Writers (a guide and reference and book). He\u2019s also provides editing, formatting, and cover design services for authors. Learn more about Rick at the following links:\n\nwww.fabulaargentea.com\nwww.ricktaubold.com\n"},{"id":"1041","name":["Jennifer L Bagley"],"prog":["1","41"],"bio":"Jen Zink (she\/her) is a partner at Ransom Media Productions with the founder, Tonia Ransom. There she is Co-Producer and lead Sound Designer of the award winning podcast NIGHTLIGHT, A horror podcast featuring stories by Black writers, and AFFLICTED: A Horror Thriller Audio Drama. She is a part-time co-host of The Skiffy and Fanty Show, a SFF fancast, and a four time Hugo Finalist for her work on the show. Jen has been an unconvincing Homemaker for over 20 years, and is passionate about all speculative fiction media. Hire her to edit your podcast!"},{"id":"1044","name":["Al Katerinsky"],"prog":["3","18","36"],"bio":"Alan Katerinsky has been a fan all his life, but started attending conventions in 1972. He is the son of First Fandom's Rickey Slavin, and is full of old-timey anecdotes, among other things. Al has had several short stories and poems published, With Herb Kauderer, he co-hosted the internet podcast \u201cOrthopedic Horseshoes\u201d.\nCurrently, Al is a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University at Buffalo, where he teaches Cybersecurity, IT Infrastructure and Cloud Computing Management."},{"id":"1045","name":["Alex Pantaleev"],"prog":["4","17"],"bio":null},{"id":"1046","name":["Sal Monaco"],"prog":["3","35"],"bio":null},{"id":"1048","name":["Derrick Smythe"],"prog":["13","29"],"bio":"Derrick lives in rural upstate New York just east of Lake Ontario where the sky occasionally drops several feet of snow in a matter of hours. He is blessed to have an extremely supportive wife, four lovely children under the age of six, and a cuddly Australian Shepherd who has convinced our postal worker that he is a rabid, flesh-eating monster. Aside from his passion for telling compelling stories, he also teach junior-high and college-level history, an expertise he brings with him as he create the cultures, economies, and belief systems found within the world of Dorea."},{"id":"1050","name":["Thomas M. Waldroon"],"prog":["26","27","28","102"],"bio":"Thomas M. Waldroon lives in Rochester, New York, and is the author of, most recently, the historical fantasy novella \"That We Maye with Free Heartes Accomplishe Those Thynges\" in Beneath Ceaseless Skies (#386, July 2023). Charles Payseur in Locus Magazine said of it: \"Waldroon does a fantastic job blending the well-researched historical London with a twisting plot and a wonderful ensemble of characters. There is a dreamlike quality that pervades and bridges the action in this distant past to the struggles and movements still active and vital today.\""}];