This is an annual science-fiction con in Baltimore County that I attended. It’s fan run and awesome so this entry is long. Deal.
They had panels about The Hunger Games, Warehouse 13, Sherlock Holmes, Game of Thrones, steampunk, zombie preparedness, and, of course, Star Trek. They had a board game room and a couple of dealers rooms. I got a fabulous chain mail choker and bracelet in Caps colors.
The guests of honor were LeVar Burton and Kate Mulgrew with a few other notable guests. Burton and Mulgrew did signings, photos and talks. I have some details for that below.
Random Quotes from myself and others around the con
“We’ll either get back or die trying.”
“I don’t want to die.”
“Well that’s not exactly Plan A.”
“So it’s Plan B?”
“It’s one of those things we’ve been conditioned to say.”
“It’s been shampooed into us.”
“You know you’ve had a hard night of partying when you wake up next to a gorn.”
Context: There was a fake scarecrow-looking gorn in the lobby. My friend took a picture looking like she’d zonked out next to it.
“Are you saying Klingons are Polish?”
“Plurple.”
Context: About eight or nine of us were playing The Game of Things in the game room. Everyone except the reader puts down an answer for a topic and the players have to guess who put in what. We all had very inappropriate and dirty minds e.g. ‘Klingon orgy’ as something you shouldn’t photograph. I forget the thing but plurple was the answer. Despite all the things we had to euphemize for the kids in the room, this word was what had us laughing so hard we were in tears and couldn’t breathe.
“When you go into the unemployment office, do you say “I used to be an elephant jacker-offer?”
Levar Burton
I came in a little late to his talk and they were already asking questions. My friend who was there for the whole thing said that he had more to say but people wanted to ask questions. He was funny and pleasantly sarcastic to some of the askers. At one point he got the entire crowd to sing the Reading Rainbow theme song. He was very pleased it was coming back to TV because of how important reading is for kids. He talked about the visor. Apparently, they used screws to press the inside to his head so it would stay in place. After several hours “It really starts to smart.” He also said that he had to learn to navigate the stage without being able to see his feet.
On when Star Trek will return to TV: “Do I look like Mr. Paramount to you...They do not consult Kunta on such matters.”
On doing Roots: “I was 19. I was in college. I didn’t know shit.”
Woman: “Read any good books lately?”
Burton: “Do you like science fiction?”
Context: Where was this talking taking place? If you still don’t get it, give up now.
When asked about how to jump start the space program: “You know I’m not really an engineer, right?”
At the end of his talk, they auctioned off a bear and a book that was read on the original Reading Rainbow for charity. It ended up selling for almost $1,000. One of the bidders looked a lot like Patrick Stewart. Upon seeing him Burton said: “Have you been drinking sir? I feel like I have.” He kept playing that up saying the guy who wanted to be Patrick Stewart, Patrick Stewart’s lover, etc. It was great!
Kate Mulgrew
Captain Janeway was one of my heroes so I was very excited to hear her talk. She was such a huge role model for so many girls. She talked about being the keynote speaker at a gathering of young women in science at the Clinton Whitehouse. Hilary Clinton told her Voyager “is the only show Chelsea and I watch together.” Mulgrew was trying to write this long speech that she described as “total bullshit.” When she got up there and looked into the future of women in science she said that she was going to do everything to make them proud to be in that field.
A woman who was 25 and getting her PhD in astrophysics didn’t ask a question. She just thanked Mulgrew for letting her know it was possible and there was nothing she couldn’t do. Mulgrew said that made her feel incredibly proud to do that for so many young women.
A couple of questioners later a young man in a Star Trek uniform came up. I forget how it got here but it was revealed he didn’t have a girlfriend. She called up the astrophysicist and did thumbs up and thumbs down questions. “Do you like Star Trek? Do you like science-fiction? Do you like math? (He didn’t).” Then she had them say they would see each other at the party later and they’d save each other a dance. Mulgrew played matchmaker and it was awesome!
Several people asked her about the party and if she was going to go. Mulgrew asked: “I didn’t get a formal invitation. Will there be liquor at this party? (cheers) Will there be dancing at this party? (cheers) Will there be kissing at this party? I don’t want to go if there’s no kissing.”
Another girl thanked her for making her a lesbian. Mulgrew said she’d take it since she doesn’t hear that from men. One of the final questioners thanked her for making him a lesbian. So funny.
Mulgrew also talked to the girl who dressed as a borg. She asked what provoked that part of her imagination. Mulgrew really engaged the audience and asked questions back. She was really interested in learning more about her fans. Kind of made me love her more.
When asked which set was crazier, Voyager or Warehouse 13, Voyager won hands down. She said that while Eddie McClintock is wacky, a set full of men beat out Warehouse 13. I didn’t realize it until she said something but Mulgrew got herself a supporting role on a show that has a lot of strong female characters. I’m glad some things never change.
One guy came up and asked a question and said he was there with the love of his life. Mulgrew said it was very brave and romantic for him to say that standing on stage to an auditorium of full of people.
On seeing LeVar Burton: “The men appear ageless which makes me want to shoot them.”
On being the first woman captain:
“You want me to have sex with Commander Chakotay? Who’s going to run the ship?”
“You called me in here to talk about my bosom? Patrick Stewart didn’t have these problems!”
“Have you ever seen a character with so many differeny hairstyles? We were lost in the Delta quadrant with 165 crew but I’ve got time to do my hair?”
On being lost in the Delta quadrant: “Next time I will ask for directions at the nearest gas station.”
To a guest: “It’s not every day a woman gets into an elevator and turns to a man and he bursts into song. At first I was concerned but then I was delighted especially once I realized you were on pitch.”
“We’re all going into oblivion. Why rest in mediocrity until we get there?”
That is something I would like to keep quoting her on. I won’t comment on her views of the afterlife since she was raised Irish Catholic but she makes a good point.
My friends and I chilled in the game room after dinner but we did make it to the much talked about party. They had a really good DJ who played Maroon 5, Rob Zombie, Tron Scores and a variety of other nerd favorites and contemporary hits. We did the Macarena to the Imperial March and I did the Time Warp with 2 Klingons and a Storm Trooper. Definitely my kind of party. I will be returning next year and I may get a room at the hotel so I can party harder next time.
Current Jams: The Geeks Get the Girls by American Hi-Fi
