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CSICon 2018 - Bigger and Better with a Great Lineup of Guests!

Wowbagger

The Infinitely Prolonged
Wowbagger
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Feb 2, 2006
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Westchester County, NY (when not in space)
I didn't see any threads about this, yet. That's weird!

https://csiconference.org/

CSCICon is bigger and better! Taking place at the Westgate hotel in Las Vegas, from October 18 to 21, 2018

Special Guests include: Stephen Fry, Steven Pinker, Adam Conover (He "ruins" everything!), Banachek, Susan Blackmore...

Plus a bunch of the usual folks: James Randi, Richard Dawkins, Yvette d'Entremont (the "SciBabe"), Susan Gerbic, Joe Nickell, etc.

That is not a complete list, either.

In this thread, we can talk about why we're going or not going, what group activities we might do around the events, who's volunteering (there is an official sign up for that on the site), and if anyone is looking for any roommates, etc.
 
Incidentally, me and my current roommate, skyhar8001, can fit one or two more people in our room, if anyone wants a really cheap room rate in the actual, official hotel.

Sure, you might get something of a similar price using Air BnB, or something. But, this could be the best rate you're gonna get for Westgate, itself!

More opportunities to party with the cool heads of the convention, when you stay at the official hotel! (And, the cool headed attendees is the best part of going!)
 
Working on trying to be free for that. won't know for a few weeks.
 
Westgate might actually be worse than the Excalibur. Hard call.

I'm staying at the Aria or the Wynn. Uber is your friend.
 
Doubt said:
If I go I will likely pick a hotel along the monorail line to get there.
Click to expand...

The Westgate IS on the Monorail, by the way.

I remember when it was the Hilton, and they felt they needed the Monorail station for themselves, because they were off the strip, and could use the extra traffic they thought it would generate. Little did they know it the whole Monorail system would be so darn under-utilized.
 
Wowbagger said:
The Westgate IS on the Monorail, by the way.

I remember when it was the Hilton, and they felt they needed the Monorail station for themselves, because they were off the strip, and could use the extra traffic they thought it would generate. Little did they know it the whole Monorail system would be so darn under-utilized.
Click to expand...

I know it is. I have been there. That is why I will stay someplace else if I go.
 
Wowbagger said:
The Westgate IS on the Monorail, by the way.

I remember when it was the Hilton, and they felt they needed the Monorail station for themselves, because they were off the strip, and could use the extra traffic they thought it would generate. Little did they know it the whole Monorail system would be so darn under-utilized.
Click to expand...

One reason is that it costs $5 a ride, or $13 a day. If they had any sense, the city would subsidize it, maybe even make it free, to encourage use and get cars off the Strip.
 
Bob001 said:
One reason is that it costs $5 a ride, or $13 a day. If they had any sense, the city would subsidize it, maybe even make it free, to encourage use and get cars off the Strip.
Click to expand...

I think it's biggest problem is that it doesn't go to the highest traffic locations of the area: The airport nor Downtown Las Vegas. If it went to either of those, or both, it would get a TON more usage. But, that would also aggravate the ire of the taxicab unions.

There IS a tentative plan to connect it to the airport. But, they're not going to do that, until they somehow settle the issues their opposition has over doing so.

I believe the monorail was built with the assumption that the hotel chains would be able to pay for its construction and maintenance; and NOT have it subsidized by the city. That was the agreement they made. The locals don't want their precious taxes to pay for it, see. So, I doubt it will be subsidized any time soon.
 
Costume Party at CSICon!!!

Did I forget to mention, in the parent post, that there will also be a Costume Contest at the convention? Since it's in October, and the previous years' parties went relatively well (mostly).

I already got my costume idea, now all I need to do is buy the various parts, and put it all together! This will be a special costume exclusive to CSICon! I won't be wearing it to any other events, not even Dragon Con! (For Dragon Con, I have other costume ideas.)

I hope y'all get to see it, for yourselves!
 
Wowbagger said:
In this thread, we can talk about why we're going or not going, what group activities we might do around the events, who's volunteering (there is an official sign up for that on the site), and if anyone is looking for any roommates, etc.
Click to expand...

I wish I could, just once in my life, visit one of these events. Damnation... :(
 
Wowbagger said:
And Uber is run by a bunch of suspected sociopaths. The walking distance might not be all that much for most folks to handle, you know.
Click to expand...

It's 3.5 miles. Walking amongst yucky tourists. Hungover or drunk, depending on which direction and time of day I'm walking. No thanks.
 
It's that time of year again! I'm excited for this; the last time I was at that hotel it was a Hilton and Star Trek: the Experience.

Although I'll miss the staircase at Excalibur -- I'd get my daily workout on those 50 or 60 steps. :-D
 
Last edited:
Could use a few more volunteers

There are 15 of us, which will work out to 4 hours each. I'd like to reduce that a bit because there's more work always seems to be added. :o So if you're thinking of volunteering, please volunteer! We don't work during something we paid for, so you won't miss anything. You will get free admission to the Halloween Party, and the Volunteer & Staff dinner on Wednesday night. You do have to register for CSICon to volunteer.

I could also use an alternate or three. People that aren't scheduled, but who I can ask to fill in for a slot or two in case someone had to cancel.

I'll see you all in October!

Susan interviewed me too! https://www.csicop.org/specialarticles/show/king_of_volunteers_-_a_interview_with_scott_romanowski
 
I am open to ideas for fun activities. But, it happens that we aren't far from the Indoor Skydiving place, if anyone is up for that!

We are also not far from the old Peppermill place, but we know Scrut will probably be living in there, so I would exercise caution before going into there.
 
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