This is the last report I will file before I sit down to put together the photo galley of the event.
We managed to get up a little early this time, which is a bit of a shock. This meant we were able to go out for breakfast and have something nice, instead of a bowl of cereal and still make it back to the con before 11 AM.
On Monday, they had several panels that I was interested in, scheduled in opposing pairs. As usual. This means I had to pick and choose.
With this in mind, I went to the panel on the Probability of Interstellar Flight in the 21st Century. This was an entertaining panel as it had Jerry Pournelle and Larry Niven, as well as Jeff Freeman, Michaek Flynn and John McGowan.
The conversation revolved around getting a probe to Alpha Centauri for a flyby in time to return information to Earth before the end of this century. Various technologies for space travel and energy propulsion were discussed, including anti-matter and fusion rockets, as well as solar sails.
Pournelle also brought up the point that for manned flight we will be looking at multi-generation colony ships to get there, wherever “there” is.
Interesting panel, and definitely the more interesting of that pair of choices.
Next panel up that I attended was on the intent of the Founding Fathers and the Bill of Rights. Pournelle was also on this panel, as well as Ed Green, David Friedman and Andrew Clark. The discussion probed various aspects of the Constitution and the disintegration of State’s Rights, the packing of the Supreme Court, encryption, and firearms.
After that, the day, and the con, was done for us. Time to collect up the wife and baby, and head to her parent’s house for quality time between them and their granddaughter, then take the redeye flight home.
Overall, a good con, with opportunities to see many friends I haven’t seen in a while, especially since I moved to Minnesota.
