I've released the 2012 FFANZ ballot.

Vote to send Edwina Harvey to the 2012 New Zealand Natcon! (or not, I guess)

The ballot form is attached below, or you can vote via email to dave@difference.com.au. Voting requires a minimum donation of $5.

PDF Ballot

FFANZ 2012 ( Read more... )

"We would gladly have listened to her (they said) if only she had spoken like a lady. But they are liars, and the truth is not in them." - Joanna Russ, in The Female Man, 1986 ( Read more... )

Future SwanCon Iron Brain competitions and similar 'read the unreadable' type events in search of reading material need look no further than Topless Robots fan fiction friday selections. Keep that brain bleach handy before reading.

When the issue of 'safe spaces' has come up, in discussion at Swancon and elsewhere (I certainly have other contexts in which I need to think about it), I've tended to harp on about the issue of perceived safety vs actual safety. There are a few incidents that have made me worry that when a safe is perceived as safe, but isn't, it can lead to it ( Read more... )

I've been not commenting on the *big Swancon issue* for a variety of reasons. One of those reasons is that I will be attending Swancon only briefly this year, and didn't want to be seen to be pontificating about an event I will largely not be attending. There are other reasons too ( Read more... )

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Those of you interested in convention running (and judging by the responses on angriests journal when he mentions the topic, that is a lot of you) might want to download The Art of the Con, a special issue of Stephen Silvers Argentus fanzine with articles on many aspects of convention running from experienced con-runners in the US and UK. Has enough useful ( Read more... )

( I just announced the Ditmar Ballot, for those interested )

The Down Under Fan Fund sends fans from Australia/NZ to the USA (or vice versa, in alternate years), generally to attend the Worldcon (or Natcon). This year, the successful candidate(s) will travel to Worldcon in Montreal.
I am very pleased that this year I am running on a joint ticket with angriest, hoping to attend the Worldcon in Montreal.
angriest is, I ( Read more... )