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Day one (proper) of #DWCon26 draws to a close for T and I, having just had a bedtime story read to us by Diane Duane. She read a section from the Odyssey that was left out of the movie.
The opening ceremony before it was splendid, giving us a chance to pay our collective respects to Sir Terry’s hat. A very important artefact indeed.
And I had a brief chat with @dantarian, and with @Ade_on_drums, which was nice.
Just need to track down @leo and @kincaid and I *think* that’s everyone from The Drum who’s here.
Replying to @DJDarren@mendeddrum.org
Despite all the nice things today, my favourite thing of #DWCon26 today was during the opening ceremony.
They talked about how the con is an inclusive, safe, respectful place for people of all genders, and everyone has the right to be treated with dignity, and to be able to use whichever toilet fits their identity, and the audience burst into applause.
That shouldn't be applause worthy, it should be the bare fucking minimum, but here we are. And I was so, so happy to be in a room full of people who agreed.
It got me to thinking about how much tolerance and love Terry wrote into those books, mostly at a time when it was unusual to do so. During the 90s when it was de rigeur to refer to bad things as "gay", Sir Terry was writing books that taught readers to treat everyone with respect and curiosity. The importance of that can't really be overstated, I don't think.
The books aren't inherently queer, very few of the characters are outright gay, but they teach a tolerance that is so vitally important. That just because someone lives differently to you it doesn't follow that they're bad because of it.
Replying to @DJDarren@mendeddrum.org
We've just Dun A Morris. A beginner's session, but it was energetic enough for me.
We clacked sticks and that. Turns out I have zero rhythm.
Replying to @DJDarren@mendeddrum.org
I just met a surprise @Winterbay! Then a couple of minutes later @kincaid managed to see through my cunning disguise!
Only got @leo left to track down now.
Replying to @DJDarren@mendeddrum.org
Just been to a talk entitled 'A Compendium of Calculating Cats', of which a good ten minutes was devoted to talking about Schroedinger's Cat.
I still don't really understand it.
Replying to @DJDarren@mendeddrum.org
Forgot to say: Yesterday I walked into the hotel reception past a bunch of seating, asked the receptionist about something, then walked back out.
Past a six foot tall orangutan sitting on one of the chairs, not moving.
I did a genuine double take, and couldn't work out if it was someone in costume, or a figure that had been placed there.
Turns out it's a guy who's cutting about the con dressed as the Librarian in an outfit that I can only describe as "expensive" and "probably hotter than hades inside".
Ook!