Programming Ideas Page

MarsCon depends on you, the attendees, for much of our programming. This is the place to suggest possible program items for 2010. If you are willing to do the leg work behind your suggestion, wonderful! If you just want to add an idea, that’s great too.

Read the list below, then add your idea and/or drop us an email saying which event(s) already listed you would like to take part in.

film screening
sci-fi indy film screening

Suggested by patrick downing on Sunday, February 14, 2010 at 14:11:17

Dragonmaking by Committee
I supply the body parts, you help me design and build it. One dragon will be made by group suggestions and entered into the art show - sales go to whatever the charity is for the convention.

Suggested by Julie Bowman on Monday, February 01, 2010 at 08:52:25

pipecleaner dragonmaking
using supplied materials, all participants will learn the basics to create their own little dragon. Modifications are also shown, and things can get crazy from there! ALL AGES

Suggested by Julie Bowman on Monday, February 01, 2010 at 08:50:12

Suggested by pipecleaner dragonmaking on Monday, February 01, 2010 at 08:49:48

The Year In Fanfic
Let's talk about fanfiction! What have you read lately that's really good (or really awful)? Where are you finding it? Who are some authors to watch for? Are you working on any stories yourself? This will be a multi-fandom, general fanfic panel.

Suggested by Anna Waltz on Friday, January 29, 2010 at 07:05:05

Space Cameras, Telescopes and Detectors
We will discuss the types of instruments used in different wavelengths, such as cameras for visible wavelengths, and how those differ from gamma-ray detectors, x-ray detectors, etc.

Suggested by Loretta McKibben on Friday, January 22, 2010 at 18:28:42

Starry Messengers: Reaching Out to Non-Nerds
There is a huge gap between science and the public. People use electricity and have microwave ovens, which are innovations born of science, but many have no idea of the revolutions in astronomy, cosmology, and planetary science that have happened in the past century, and particularly in the past 20 years! There is a definite art and science to conveying the wonders of science to those who are unfamiliar with it. But to reach people, you have to express yourself in a way the listener can understand without being arrogant, aloof, cryptic, or the other mistakes that many scientists make. (Galileo's "Starry Messenger" publication is from 1610, when he first pointed a telescope at Jupiter and its four largest moons.)

Suggested by Loretta McKibben on Friday, January 22, 2010 at 18:26:35

Glorious Hubble - The Most Important Scientific Tool Ever Built
Images and data from the Hubble Space Telescope have revolutionized astronomy and human understanding of the cosmos. Recently repaired and upgraded on the last shuttle mission to visit it, Hubble is now able to see up to ten times further and better, it continues to serve us all. 2009 was the 400th anniversary of the use of telescopes to study the cosmos; no other scientific instrument in history has had such an impact as Hubble, with perhaps the exception of Galileo's first telescope in 1609.

Suggested by Loretta McKibben on Friday, January 22, 2010 at 18:23:17

Space Women: Fact and Fiction
Have women contributed to astronomy throughout history? What have been their roles in space exploration? How have things changed for women in scientific and technical fields in the last 100 to 200 years? In my own case, I was told by a physics professor that women can't do science in the early 1970's. In science fiction, "space babes" abound. Do they reflect real women? What women want to be? What men want women to be? Are there more women in science and engineering in the new millennium?

Suggested by Loretta McKibben on Friday, January 22, 2010 at 18:20:11

Hollywierding Science
People do not know much about their home planet and how it works, and Hollywood only makes the problem worse. And there's a huge amount of "Armageddon" stuff on TV and in media now. The Earth has always had periodic catastrophes from volcanic eruptions, ice ages, earthquakes, meteor impacts, etc. It's nothing personal against humans! People need to understand their planet better, and to learn to prepare for the big catastrophic events (Katrina comes to mind as a big failure). We've learned a lot about Earth, but there is so much more we need to learn. Most catastrophe films are ridiculous and ignore science. Let's discuss Hollywood's strange spin on reality as demonstrated in movies like "Twister" and "The Core." We can also point to a few instances where they got the science right.

Suggested by Loretta McKibben on Friday, January 22, 2010 at 18:13:58

Women's Lib and Villainy
Why are so many of the good villains today female? Resolved: because of the influence of the women's liberation movement in society and popular culture.

Suggested by Eric & Rick on Wednesday, January 20, 2010 at 18:45:48

What is a Villain?
Who is this villain guy, anyway? Look at things from the villain's point of view: the hero is always thwarting their plans. What a pain! Are the villains objectively villains, or do they seem that way because the victors write history?

Suggested by Eric & Rick on Wednesday, January 20, 2010 at 18:45:03

What is a Femme Fatale?
What do we mean by the term, especially pertaining to films. Does she need to seduce people sexually, emotionally, intellectually? Must she intentionally cause harm, or is she someone whose very existence causes harm to those around her?

Suggested by Eric & Rick on Wednesday, January 20, 2010 at 18:44:37

Sympathy for the Living Dead
Are the living dead villains? Or are they just a persecuted minority trying to get by in the world? Are zombie-hunters villains? Do the living dead deserve a privileged status as Americans with special needs, including the need to kill and devour the living?

Suggested by Eric & Rick on Wednesday, January 20, 2010 at 18:43:50

Evil by Gaslight: The Villains of Sherlock Holmes
Dr. Moriarty. Col. Sebastian Moran. Grimes by Roylott. The Hound, and his master. Let's roam through the four novels and 56 short stories that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle wrote about Sherlock Holmes, and talk about some of his intriguing adversaries, both wicked (Moriarty) and sympathetic (Irene Adler).

Suggested by Eric M. Heideman, mod. on Wednesday, January 20, 2010 at 18:43:05

The Femmes Fatale of Film Noir
Barbara Stanwyck in Double Indemnity. Ann Savage in Detour. Mary Astor in The Maltese Falcon. What would films noir be without them? What makes a great femme fatale? Is the Kim Bassinger character in L.A. Confidential a femme fatale?or Daryl Hannah?s Pris in Blade Runner?

Suggested by David Christenson, mod.; Eric M. Heideman on Wednesday, January 20, 2010 at 18:35:26

Round Robin Poetry Reading
P M F Johnson, host

Suggested by Christine on Wednesday, January 20, 2010 at 18:30:25

Reading: Loretta McKibben
Our Author/Sciences Guest reads from and talks about her work.

Suggested by Christine on Wednesday, January 20, 2010 at 18:27:53

What do you never need to see again?
There are scenes, events, and themes that show up frequently in science fiction and fantasy. Some have become tropes, useful for giving the reader or viewer grounding information without spending a lot of time on them. Others have become cliche and are only annoying when they pop up. What things have you seen enough to never need to see again?

Suggested by S.N.Arly on Wednesday, January 20, 2010 at 16:20:10

Special Effects in Film
Much of written fantasy, and even SF, has been unsuited to the translation to live-action film because so many of the fantastical elements have been too complex for special effects of the time. In the last few years, however, advances in special effects have changed all this. What advancements have had or are likely to have the greatest impact on spec fic in film? What films have used these advancements well? What films have failed to use them, or what are the drawbacks to leaning to heavily on the effects (a common complaint in genre film)? What books would you like to see translated to the big screen? And which books do you fear seeing turned into a film?

Suggested by S.N.Arly on Wednesday, January 20, 2010 at 16:19:15

Fight Scenes in Spec Fic
Fight scenes are an almost necessary element in SF/F (both in film and print media). Why are these included? What do they bring to the story? What is the difference between real fights and good film or literary fights (what doesn't play out well on film or on paper)? What elements does a writer need to include and be able to do well, and what should a writer avoid? How does this differ from what can be done in film? What can go wrong with fight scenes?

Suggested by S.N.Arly on Wednesday, January 20, 2010 at 16:18:13

The Dark Side of the Fey
Traditionally capricious and dangerous, the fey are now often portrayed very differently. Why have we moved toward a purely cuddly and kindly fey? What authors draw on the more traditional characteristics and do it well? Why does this work? What purpose to tales of the dark fey serve? Why should we "stay on the path"?

Suggested by S.N.Arly on Wednesday, January 20, 2010 at 16:14:15

Cost
Writers will often talk about "cost" in their stories and others. What exactly is cost? Why do stories (or indeed any fiction) need to have it? What kind of stories need to have cost assigned? What purpose does it serve? How much is enough? How should the assignment of cost be handled (ie: how to decide who pays the cost)? What authors handle this particularly well or particularly poorly?

Suggested by S.N.Arly on Wednesday, January 20, 2010 at 16:12:19

Put The Pointy End in the Other Character (Rapier for Writers)
This is a hands-on workshop for writers. Participants will be introduced to the basics of stance, footwork, guards and attacks with the rapier, as well as learn what it is like to attack and defend with a sword. We will then talk about how to portray some of this on the page, as well as the basics of blocking out a combat scene with these and similar weapons. Number of participants will be limited by available space & the instructor's discretion. Wear comfortable clothing and shoes (no flip-flops, heels, etc.). You may NOT bring your own swords or weapons for this workshop.

Suggested by Doug Hulick on Monday, January 18, 2010 at 22:29:43

"I knew this panel was trouble when it walked into my office..."
It seems like "noir" is being tacked on to just about every sub-category of the genre these days: fantasy-noir, science fiction-noir, vampire-noir, and so on. And even if it isn't attached to the genre label, the word appears on book jackets and in reviews in droves. But what do we mean when we say something is "noir"? What are the touch-stones that make something noir: must noir be gritty, violent, dangerous, or require a mystery be solved? How do our genre versions of noir compare to the classic examples of the style? Is what we call "noir" truly "Noir", or is it just a shadowed reflection and a surly mood?

Suggested by Doug Hulick on Monday, January 18, 2010 at 22:20:16

Organize THIS!
Let's get past the local Thieves' Guild and system-spanning galactic criminal syndicates and talk about good, chewy representations of organized crime in genre fiction. Who does it well, who doesn't, and why? Is the Godfather-era 'Familia' model over-used? How about Tongs or Yakuza? What other syndicates are we missing? How can writers give this often glossed-over stick man of the story new life and depth, even when it is not the focus of the book?

Suggested by Doug Hulick on Monday, January 18, 2010 at 22:18:32

The Mirror Universe: Evil Twins as Villains in Popular Fiction
Peacekeeper Crichton, Hedonist Kira Nerys, The Justice Lords, Spock With a Beard, Most of Sliders: Take an established hero, place them in a parallel universe and butterfly-effect them to previously unimagined heights of villainy and evil. A look at the tradition of the evil twin and the ways we can tell they're the bad one, from goatees to eye patches and hideous scars.

Suggested by Rob Callahan on Wednesday, January 13, 2010 at 18:54:25

The history of Star Wars comic books
a retrospective. Or some other Star Wars related panel.

Suggested by Josh Brown on Monday, January 11, 2010 at 13:28:18

Creating and Portraying Villains and Antagonists in Roleplaying Games
Description: Every successful roleplaying campaign needs great villains to hatch evil schemes, thwart the player characters' plans, and battle it out with the adventuring party until the campaign's epic conclusion. We'll talk about what it takes to create memorable antagonists for games in a variety of genres, and how to incorporate them into your game. At the end of the panel, we'll apply what we've discussed to collaborate with the audience in creating an RPG villain of our very own.

Suggested by Beth Kindermen &Eric Zawadzk on Thursday, January 07, 2010 at 21:58:43

Film Rumors for 2010
Panel/open discussion.

Suggested by Romeo Azar on Sunday, January 03, 2010 at 11:04:12

Comic Book Villains in Film
How well did they translate to the big screen.

Suggested by Romeo Azar on Sunday, January 03, 2010 at 11:03:36

Villains We Hate to Love
Discuss all of our favorite villains in films. The ones we wished actually would have won in the end.

Suggested by Romeo Azar on Sunday, January 03, 2010 at 11:02:59

Director Missteps
We can talk about how directors have become villains to fandom.

Suggested by Romeo Azar on Sunday, January 03, 2010 at 11:02:14

Great Slasher Films of the 70's/80's
Panel discussion.

Suggested by Romeo Azar on Sunday, January 03, 2010 at 11:01:24

Bond Villains
Panel discussion.

Suggested by Romeo Azar on Sunday, January 03, 2010 at 11:01:00

Star Trek on Film - Then and Now
Panel discussion.

Suggested by Romeo Azar on Sunday, January 03, 2010 at 11:00:28

Best Films of 2009
Panel discussion.

Suggested by Romeo Azar on Sunday, January 03, 2010 at 11:00:02

Legends of Laos: Deception and Desire
A look at several classic legends of Laos and their look at the the rise of evil and desire, troublesome beauties, wise sorcerers and cunning tricksters.

Suggested by Bryan Thao Worra on Friday, January 01, 2010 at 15:05:47

Dark Lord Dossier: Ravana
Long before Sauron and Valdemort, the gentleman giant Ravana was making himself a legendary evil, king of Lanka and the near unstoppable villain of the Hindu epic the Ramayana. Known in Thailand as Tosakanth, in Laos as Hapkhanasouane and with appearances in everything from Buffy the Vampire Slayer novels to video games and comics, learn why Ravana continues to capture the imagination.

Suggested by Bryan Thao Worra on Friday, January 01, 2010 at 15:05:10

Foxy Ladies, Fatal Fiends and Furious Females of Asia
An overview of fantastic female spirits featured in traditional myth, folklore and literature of Asia including the shape-shifting Kitsune, the floating deceptive Thai Krasue, blood-thirsty Filipina Aswang and more.

Suggested by Bryan Thao Worra on Friday, January 01, 2010 at 15:04:36

Villainy for Dummies
So one day you look around and realize that YOU are the bad guy and that twerp whose father you murdered a decade ago might turn out to be the hero. Now what? Tips on surviving beyond the last page of the book (or the credits of the movie)...at least through a couple of sequels.

Suggested by Naomi Kritzer on Friday, January 01, 2010 at 14:09:16

Great Villains of Children's Lit (not just Harry Potter)
From the Lone Power to the White Witch, memorable and interesting villains of our favorite kid's books.

Suggested by Naomi Kritzer on Friday, January 01, 2010 at 14:08:38

The Care and Feeding of Minions
How one recruits and retains high-quality minions

Suggested by Naomi Kritzer on Friday, January 01, 2010 at 14:08:08

Writing the Villain
Writing about bad guys who know better than to turn into a snake (which never helps) or to invade Russia (which never ends well) and who might even be three-dimensional characters in their own right and heroes in their own head. How do you do all that, and still let the good guys win?

Suggested by Naomi Kritzer on Friday, January 01, 2010 at 14:07:15

Thee Bluebeard Show
The Bluebeard Show is an improv comedy talk show with the pirate host, Thee Bluebeard. Random audience members are brought up on stage to be interviewed and also have a few planned interviews and maybe even some sketch comedy.

Suggested by Brian "Bluebeard" Miskelley on Sunday, December 20, 2009 at 21:05:56

SteamPunk Mystery
Steam Century MN MN Steampunk Shenanigans run a mystery over the weekend Check out http://steamcentury.wordpress.com/2009/11/02/about-steam-century-mystery-events/

Suggested by Mary "Mac" on Friday, December 04, 2009 at 22:56:36

A Chocolate Tasting in the Con Suite
River City Chocolate will have various Chocolate sauce and other for fans to taste and vote for their favorite.

Suggested by Mary Mac on Friday, December 04, 2009 at 22:55:05

Introduction to Energy Work and Reiki Healing
An introduction to the basics of energy work will be presented along with a brief discussion of Reiki by Reiki Master Teacher Joe Swenson. For those who are ready, Hand atunements will be available after the presentation.

Suggested by Joe Swenson RMT, DD on Wednesday, December 02, 2009 at 19:56:06

Indie Game Development, Level Design and 3D Modeling
In a parallel to the independent film movement that produced the IFC and the Sundance Film Festival, game enthusiasts have begun their own fledgling movement of indie game development. Learn how to write the game you would want to play!

Suggested by Thorpedo on Wednesday, December 02, 2009 at 09:38:13

Podcasting for the beginner to intermediate.
Everything from the basics of how to get started to promoting your show. To content and community building.

Suggested by Zendead on Monday, November 23, 2009 at 12:14:11

Sex in Sci-Fi & Chocolate Covered Pretzels
There is no such thing as too much chocolate.

Suggested by MarsCon Survey on Sunday, November 22, 2009 at 22:20:30

The Other Side of Science
Serious Nerds

Suggested by MarsCon Survey on Sunday, November 22, 2009 at 22:19:45

Naming of the Kuiper Belt Objects
Beyond Neptune and home to "dwarf" planets such as Eris and Pluto. Put your astronomy hats on for this discussion.

Suggested by MarsCon Survey on Sunday, November 22, 2009 at 22:18:39

Classics Revisited
For example, Jungle Book Graveyard Book

Suggested by MarsCon Survey on Sunday, November 22, 2009 at 22:07:02

Teaching Astronomy to Kids
Paving the way for manned spaceflight for the next generation.

Suggested by MarsCon Survey on Sunday, November 22, 2009 at 22:06:05

Time Travel on TV
Doctor Who, Quantum Leap, The Twilight Zone, Life on Mars, Time Tunnel, Journeyman, Voyagers... Then, there are always the obligatory time travel episodes in shows like Star Trek. Come and discuss.

Suggested by MarsCon Survey on Sunday, November 22, 2009 at 22:05:08

Movie Prop Tech
Discussion of movie props and what makes them tick.

Suggested by MarsCon Survey on Sunday, November 22, 2009 at 21:57:40

Big Bang Theory
Come take about what you like about the Big Bang Theory.

Suggested by Tony Artym on Wednesday, November 18, 2009 at 10:49:22

Legend of the Seeker
Come talk about the new season of legend of the seeker. This will be more about the TV show then the books.

Suggested by Tony Artym on Wednesday, November 18, 2009 at 10:48:45

Theatre of the Mind
Most of us have had our first experiences with astounding tales of Science Fiction, Horror and Fantasy with books, comics, television and movies. But have you ever experienced these tales though the medium of Old Time Radio? Come and listen to "The House in Cypress Canyon", a tale of Horror, followed by discussion.

Suggested by Blair Keith on Tuesday, November 10, 2009 at 08:55:18

Broad Universe Rapidfire Reading
Short readings by Broad Universe members. BU is an international organization with the primary goal of promoting science fiction, fantasy, and horror written by women.

Suggested by Catherine L. on Monday, November 09, 2009 at 20:03:55

Vampires and Vamps:A Field Guide to the Gothic Feminine Evil
Drusilla, Elvira, the sundry Brides of Dracula, Carmilla - fantasy is full of memorable women who either are vampires or just look like one. What makes them so appealing? Would you offer your throat to the gal with the four-inch long black nails? Why or why not? And of course, who's the best of the lot?

Suggested by Catherine L. on Monday, November 09, 2009 at 19:47:49

How to over through the Hero
So you what to be a bad guy? We will take a look at what didnâ t work, what when wrong, what they should have done and how to succeed in evil. So you can stop the Hero that try to kill or mess up your master plains.

Suggested by Tony Artym on Saturday, November 07, 2009 at 21:19:30

No, Mr. Bond. I Expect You To Die
From Dr. No to Goldfinger to Jaws to Mr. White come talk about what makes the Villains of James Bond to die for, and always troubles James Bond himself.

Suggested by Tony Artym on Saturday, November 07, 2009 at 21:13:15

The Bond Girl as Femme Fatale
I would like to be on this program that was Suggested by Michael Kingsley

Suggested by Tony Artym on Saturday, November 07, 2009 at 21:04:32

The Bond Girl as Femme Fatale
Some are unattainable (unless, of course, you're Bond), some are damsels-in-distress, are some have names that just couldn't have come from dear ol' Mom & Dad (Pussy Galore? For crying out loud.). What aspects of growing up form a young girl to become a Bond Girl? How does a Bond Girl view the world? And how could you, a mere MarsCon attendee, become a Bond Girl?

Suggested by Michael Kingsley on Wednesday, November 04, 2009 at 17:05:37

security and creative freedem the new pardyme
my name really is ellenlangsetmo not some pen name and i am proud of that ok. i will talk abaut how freeden and security can coexist the new paradyne. a new methudoligy and thinking for mantaining and creating better freedem as mandated in the constitution while at the same time improving security.the method uses innovative but fair tech

Suggested by ellenlangsetmo majikatek on Thursday, October 29, 2009 at 15:36:41

The Aliens Have Landed! - What should we do?
The long awaited moment could happen anytime - Aliens could land on Earth (your backyard, even). What would you do? What SHOULD you do? How will you and the rest of the world really react? The Government says you will you panic like small children. You be the judge.

Suggested by Joel Henry on Thursday, October 29, 2009 at 11:19:37

Iron Dementia
You get a group of people who want to compete. They are given a song to parody (preferably something everyone know) and subject matter. They have thirty minutes to come up with a parody that fits the subject matter. At the end of that time, each performs his or her parody, and the audience votes for their favorite.

Suggested by Max DeGroot on Friday, October 23, 2009 at 00:38:12

Evil Laugh Workshop/Contest and/or "Khan Scream" (Shatner style) contest
Any nefarious no-gooder worthy of being an adversary of those costumed Park-Rangers-in-Spandex needs to have an evil laugh. Should your evil laugh be subtle or exaggerated, loud or soft, maniacal or just plain crazy? A low-pitched, evil laugh can be especially effective, as can a high-pitched, almost manic sound, provided you have the proper crazy facial expression and arm gestures. Also, in order to be convincing, the evil laugh should match your personality. Ditto for an effective "Khan!" scream.

Suggested by Michael Kingsley on Sunday, October 18, 2009 at 18:01:33

Go Team Venture!
A discussion about the Venture Brothers series on Adult Swim.

Suggested by Erik Pakieser on Friday, October 16, 2009 at 22:02:00

How to Throw a Con Party: Does and Don'ts
A panel of 4-6 people or groups who have thrown con parties in the past. Give each 10 minutes to discuss what worked, and what didn't. Give tips to newbies on easy and cheap methods of transforming a room, etc. Yes, con chairs hold meetings for potential room party hosts (CONvergence among others) to go over the rules. But it would be educational to hear from those people who have actually constructed and ran room parties. Informative to hear about some of the problems they ran into, from alcohol, badging, costs, to destruction of hotel property (and how to avoid it), to picking workable themes. Hope to especially invite those who have transformed rooms (Star Fleet, Prancing Pony, etc.)

Suggested by The DreamStitcher (Rae Lundquist) on Thursday, October 15, 2009 at 14:09:13

Scifihero.net presents: Intro to Stargate SG-1 Weaponry.
Discussion panel with prop examples of the weapons used by SG team members.

Suggested by Russ "Rook" Krook III on Wednesday, September 16, 2009 at 13:57:36

Scifihero.net presents: Stargate SG-1 offworld Costuming.
In depth descriptions and examples of the OD Green "Offworld" uniform as worn by members of SG-1 and other offworld teams. Focusing mainly on "soft" elements of the uniform/costume, not including weaponry.

Suggested by Russ "Rook" Krook III on Wednesday, September 16, 2009 at 13:52:37

Con Cruising and Guests of "Status"
Female guests receive, allegedly, fewer advances than female con-goers out of "respect." Male guests receive, allegedly, more advances than male con-goers thanks to the status factor. What is it about the guest status that seems to be a barrier/gateway? Is there a gender divide? Does a guest need to renounce their guest ribbon to do the wild thing? Do men need to borrow a guest ribbon to get lucky? Why is this silliness taking place? Inspired in part (with shameless text pasting) from discussion on http://reannon.livejournal.com/1753772.html

Suggested by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday, September 16, 2009 at 13:04:03

Sassafrass concert
Sassafrass is an a cappella group performing primarily original pieces in folk and filk styles. To learn more or listen to music samples, follow this link: http://www.adapalmer.com/sassafrass/schedule.html

Suggested by Alexa on Monday, September 07, 2009 at 18:19:55

There's more than ONE way to use that!!!
Using some everyday items I will astound you with a minimum of 10 ways you can use it. Ideas and substitutions, costuming and gadgets, Could even make a game of it , try to bring something I can't find 10 uses for.

Suggested by Mary on Monday, August 31, 2009 at 13:14:21

Beaded Cretures
Join Mary and learn to make your own bugs or game pieces with beads and wire. Spiders Monsters Mermaids This class can be done for kids and adults ages 9 and up. Or a class for kids and one for big kids. (did this at convergence and the 1 hour class turned into 3 hours)

Suggested by Mary Reining on Monday, August 31, 2009 at 13:03:15

Finger off the trigger!!!!
When it comes to weapons and tactics, do our heroes really have any ideas what they are going? Join a professional firearms expert for a discussion about the best (and worst) weapon-handling skills displayed in science fiction and popular culture, and find out what it takes to get this good - if it can even be done.

Suggested by Erik D. Pakieser on Tuesday, August 04, 2009 at 11:00:48

Guns in Science Fiction and Popular Culture
Please join us for an open discussion on firearms and science fiction. Talk about the best (and worse) scifi guns and real-world future weapon developments.

Suggested by Erik D. Pakieser on Tuesday, August 04, 2009 at 10:58:30

Zombie Hunting
When the zombie apocalypse happens, many will hole up and hope for the best. An elite few, the zombie hunters, will go on the offensive. Learn about the weapons, equipment, and tactics used by Zombie Hunters and the key things you need to know to make dead things deader!

Suggested by Erik Pakieser on Tuesday, August 04, 2009 at 10:55:18

magic and wonder
Three words: Luke Ski Roast.

Suggested by Brian from The Gothsicles on Wednesday, July 22, 2009 at 21:26:27

Mini programming
Everyone bring your MarsCon photos from the past? Can you print them up on paper, can we post these on a corkboard and challenge you, the con-goers to add witty captions to them. The wittest caption gets something...:)

Suggested by Jolene Hardy on Wednesday, July 22, 2009 at 16:19:30

James Bond smackdown
Will at a con two James Bond masters decided to challenge each other to a James Bond smackdown find out how the real James Bond master is.

Suggested by Tony Artym on Sunday, July 19, 2009 at 23:14:15

The Dark Side: When Good Guys Go Bad
Angelus. Locutus. Vader. Felix Gaeta. Half the cast of Babylon 5. A look at some memorable heroes who turned villain, how much badder they were by virtue of former goodness, and their inevitable downfalls. A discussion of just what it is about the good guy gone bad that fuels our nightmares, and a compare/contrast view of the kind of evil that was just born that way.

Suggested by Rob Callahan on Friday, July 10, 2009 at 16:50:14

I Heart Bad Girls: Anatomy of a Villainess
Six. The Rani. Catwoman. Faith. The Baroness. From time to time, arch-villainy's glass ceiling gets a shattering that isn't soon forgotten. What does it take to be a truly memorable villainess in a villain's world? A look at genre's iconic bad girls and discussion on why they work.

Suggested by Rob Callahan on Friday, July 10, 2009 at 16:14:07

Staying in the Game: A Guide for Creators to Keep Their Names and Their Work in the Public Eye
A science fiction author might write professionally for 10 or 20 years before becoming an "overnight success." Artists can go months between shows. Who knows how long might go between the making of one indie film and the next? Professionals share share advice on keeping the public interested and aware until it's time to start pushing the next big release.

Suggested by Rob Callahan on Thursday, July 09, 2009 at 01:18:20

Star Trek At The Movies
A look at the new movie Star Trek and the other Star Trek films

Suggested by Tony Artym on Wednesday, July 08, 2009 at 14:43:34

Ian Fleming Master Spy
in 1953 Ian Fleming wrote Casino Royale and for the next 14 years he wrote the adventures of the super spy 007 James Bond come disucss what made Flemings work great and what didnt make Flemings work not so great.

Suggested by Ben Ellis on Saturday, July 04, 2009 at 12:27:26

Beyond Doctor Who other brtsih sci fi
Life on Mars,Ashes to Ashes,Blake's 7 and The Survivors. Come find out about other BBC Sci Fi shows that you may not have heard of.

Suggested by Ben Ellis on Saturday, July 04, 2009 at 12:20:13

The Best and Worst movies of 2009
Well 2009 has been an interesting year for movies it has brought us the resurgence of Captin Krik and the even a harder downfall for two Hasbro toy franchises. Come debate with your fellow critics on what the best and worst movies of 2009 were

Suggested by Ben Ellis on Saturday, July 04, 2009 at 12:15:56

The Aliens, Robots and the miscellaneous life forms Of Doctor Who
Throughout the decades The Doctor has encountered a countless amount of organic and inorganic beings from other worlds, some friendly and some unfriendly. From Autons to Zygons this panel will discuss the most memorable and infamous creatures that have graced the small screen.

Suggested by Charlie Paulsen on Saturday, July 04, 2009 at 12:10:26

You know, just once I'd like to meet an alien menace that wasn't immune to bullets." The Companions, Comrades, the Relatives of 'The Doctor' and the Relatives of the Companions of Doctor Who
Did you prefer The Brigadier with or without the mustache? Did Adric really get on your nerves? What's the deal with Susan? What's the deal with Professor River Song? Does RTD have mother issues? All of these questions will be pondered and more focusing on the various supporting characters of 'Doctor Who'.

Suggested by Charlie Paulsen on Saturday, July 04, 2009 at 12:09:10

'Nothing In The World Can Stop Me NOW!' The Madmen and Madwomen of Doctor Who
Zaroff, Tobias Vaughn, The Master, Miss Winters, Kaftan, Harrison Chase, The Rani, Soldeed. These are some of the megalomaniacs that have dared to dream of control & conquest over everything that exists. This will be a discussion about those rouge characters whose plans were ruined by that party pooping Time Lord.

Suggested by Charlie Paulsen on Saturday, July 04, 2009 at 12:08:14

Exterminate! Exterminate! A history of The Daleks
Exterminate! Exterminate! A history of The Daleks At the end of 'The Dead Planet' we see Barbara screaming in terror of a plunger attached to an unseen entity and after that 'Doctor Who' was never the same. This panel will start with their introduction in the Serial 'The Daleks' and end with their latest outing in 'Journey's End' and will cover a wide range of topics about those pepper-pot alien meanies. Stuff like Davros, Mavic Chen, Lytton, the Peter Chushing films and anything else anybody wants to talk about 'Doctor Who's' oldest foe.

Suggested by Charlie Paulsen on Saturday, July 04, 2009 at 12:07:01

An End And An Beginning Of A Era: An Analysis On The Not To Distant Future Of Doctor Who
This panel will go back in time to the year 2005 in which we will relive the Christopher Eccleston months, get all nostalgic on all of The Christmas Specials and all of The Series episodes featuring David Tennant s Doctor and then we can give our opinions on The Tenth Doctor s curtain call, who will be filling his shoes and what we like to see Steven Moffat do with the show in 2010

Suggested by Charlie Paulsen on Saturday, July 04, 2009 at 12:05:53

Off-site Musical Warm-up
Saint Paul Aerie for the Arts (Eagles Club, Saint Paul) would should stage some MARSCON compatible music, perhaps on the Thursday before to not interfere. A Battle of the One Person bands is my specific idea, and yes, we can make it happen.

Suggested by David Rasmussen on Monday, June 08, 2009 at 20:26:23

The Dark Lord Shall Rise Again
Come all who call themself Death Eaters talk about our support for The Dark Lord, and each other as Death Eaters, our wonderful Dark Mark, our favorite Unforgivable Curses, and share our Azkaban stories as we wait because we all know The Dark Lord will rise again, Throw us into Azkaban; we will wait! He will rise again and will come for us, he will reward us beyond any of his other supporters! We alone were faithful! We alone tried to find him!"

Suggested by Tony Artym on Monday, June 08, 2009 at 18:06:12

The Dark Side of Trek:
From the Mirror Universe to the Borg, to distorting planets, come look at the dark side of Trek. The side the Starfleet doesn’t what you to see

Suggested by Tony Artym on Monday, June 08, 2009 at 00:13:16

Star Trek: 15 years ago
15 years ago we got lost in space, under the commanded of a Female captain, come celebrate the “Voyagers” of Star Trek, and we will talk about other Star Treks to.

Suggested by Tony Artym on Monday, June 08, 2009 at 00:09:05

MI6 classified: James Bond 23
Come talk about what you would like to see in the next James Bond Movie opening in 2011, as will as Bond’s past and everything else Bond

Suggested by Tony Artym on Monday, June 08, 2009 at 00:08:21

Future of Harry Potter and Pottermania
12 years ago a wizard boy took the minds of many though out the world, and Pottermania was born. Come a talk about what is next for the Harry Potter, from the up coming books, to the final 2 movies, the theme park, wizard rock, cons, and anything else we can think of as we celebrate the 12 anniversary of Harry Potter.

Suggested by Tony Artym on Monday, June 08, 2009 at 00:07:21

Panel Suggestion - "How to hold an effective and interesting panel."
Panel description: What's the secret to an entertaining panel discussion? Good moderators? An ideal number of panelists? Audience Participation? Free booze? Come and find out.

Suggested by Emily on Tuesday, April 28, 2009 at 17:51:39

Please offer your program idea.

As always, MarsCon is immensely grateful for the incredible programming contributions we receive each year from artists, authors, guests, musicians, singers, actors, fan groups, clubs and individuals. Thank you for your support!

-= 2010 Home =- -= Art Show =- -= A.V. Club Room =- -= Admiral’s Tea =- -= Blood drive =- -= Charity auction =- -= Contact info =- -= Dealers’ Room =- -= Dementia Track =- -= Gaming =- -= Guests of Honor =- -= Hotel Info =- -= Mars Today =- -= MarsCon History =- -= Masquerade Lounge =- -= Masquerade Rules =- -= Room Parties =- -= Planning Meeting Schedule =- -= Program Schedule =- -= Printable Flyer (pdf) =- -= Progress Report 1 (pdf) =- -= Progress Report 2 (pdf) =- -= Programming Ideas =- -= Registration Info =- -= Photos! =- -= Science Room =- -= Volunteer (please!) =-
-= Twitter Tweets =- -= Dementia Track (at MarsConDementia.com) =-

March 5—7, 2010
Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites
Bloomington, MN
Dark Lords and Femme Fatales

If you're looking for the Marscon in Williamsburg, VA click here.
Questions about MarsCon: info10d@marscon.org