The last Marscon 2013 post

The video shown for opening ceremonies is here:

Again, I charted what people did at the convention last weekend.

I included those involved with making it separate from the three that appeared on stage before it was shown.

I only included those who provided live commentary for DSW wrestling.

I included those involved with Flat 29's podcast recording.

I did not include the fan showcase.

Lost a little of integrity within the photo having to constantly update and save after others noticed omissions.

As suggested, I also created a post about those not on stage who helped last weekend:

Table 27 is where the artists have their merchandise for sale.

Audio/video ranges from the performance to the recording and broadcasting of them.

The other programming in dementia track related only.

People donated money to help with travel, room party expenses and programmng.

This chart does not include the long hours spent over the previous 3 months by the great Luke Ski who for the 10th straight year put together the dementia track at Marscon since his oval would be as large as the entire chart.

The first post Marscon 2013 post

As the previous three years, here is a colored map showing where people originated to attend last weekend's Marscon 2013:

Two things of note: The Dementia music guest of honour, Flat 29, flew from England to Bloomington, Minnesota in winter to perform their third ever show and was amazing on and off the stage all weekend.  (Yes, that is why the British version of honor was used.) The only blank map of the area I could find was of England only and not of Great Britain so that is why it does not look as familiar as it should.



The opening ceremonies and the Logan Awards featured puppets of 4 musicians who were not there.

T-19 days

While listening to the most recent episode of Luke and Carrie's Bad Rapport www.badrapport.com, it was announced that with the Logan Awards being presented at Marscon, there might be additions to the Marscon music lineup because artists that made the top 5 in voting for their category that were not already in the lineup might decide to make the trip. Since it would not be possible for the dementia track to get more mainstage time, the Dementia Smackdown would be canceled to make room for acts and though it would be sad to see it replaced, I understand. While the shedule was being arranged, I suggested leaving an open time slot in case a nominated artist wanted to attend but the convention wanted something more than artist TBA.

Looking at the list at www.loganawards.com, it is safe to determine that Eric Schwartz (the bald man with the glasses in the goDaddy ommercials), Garfunkel and Oates, Paul and Storm, and especially Tenacious D would not make the trip and that the other artists behind the videos would not be able to perform. As far as the others, here is how I would rate them being at Marscon 2013:

Devo Spice: (original song In the 80s; parody song Devo, are you ShoEboX?) A+ When hearing that due to a committment made the previous weekend he was not going to attend Marscon, I was very disappointed. Like others who I have not seen in a while, I miss seeing his show and I know my daughter who was too tired to see him at Marscon 2010 would really enjoy it.

Kobi LaCroix: (parody song the Peddler - a Half Assed Translation) A- For the past couple of years, I was hoping he would be able to make the trip. The only reason the grade is not higher is that I am not sure how often he has performed live.

Smashy Claw: (parody song Carol of the Meh) B- The artist behind the act has performed before at Marscon and though his talents will embellish other acts there, his work is not at the level of more accomplished and experienced performers there.

Prop bets 2013

Yes, another SPORTSBALL entry. Sorry. This is who I am.

Tomorrow will officially mark the first time since the mid 1970s that an NFL season will pass without me having a wager on anything being parlay cards, line pools, square pools or fantasy football. Knowing my father's situation and being totally disgusted with how others play fantasy football, I realized the limited financial resources I have should be spent elsewhere.

However like last year, I determined what bets on the Super Bowl I would make if I had the funds so here is the long list:

Baltimore (BAL) +3 1/2 (-110) 220
Total u47.5 (-110) 220
BAL win (+145) 200
Ray Rice MVP (+1200) 100
BAL win 1-6 pt (+400) 100
BAL win 4-6 pt (+1100) 100
First half tie/ BAL win (+1500) 100
Longest TD over 46.5 td (-110) 110
Total TD under 5.5 (-110) 110
BAL over 22.5 pts (-105) 105
San Francisco (SF) under 26.5 pt (E) 100
BAL -3.5 (+210) 100
Total u42.5 (+150) 100
No lead 13 or more points (-110) 110
Pass yd Flaco u250 (-110) 110
Flacco pass TD=0 (+300) 100
Rice rush o69.5 (-110) 220
Rice total yd over 200 (+2500) 100
Kapernick pass yd u232.5 (-110) 110
Kap TD pass=1 (+180) 100
Kap rush TD=Y (+110) 100
First TD=Rice (+750) 100
Rice TD before Crabtree (-115) 115
Rice TD before Gore (+115) 100
Rice TD before Kap (-135) 135
Rice +15.5 rush/ Gore (E) 100
Rice -15.5 rush/Kap (-120) 120
Rice +5.5 rush/Lee Westwood final golf round (-115) 115
Game goes into overtime (+600) 100
BAL total points=23 (+1500) 100
SF total points=17 (+1500) 100

Total wagered $3,670

Total returned $2,170  balance  - $1,500

Note: The safety Baltimore took at the end of the game would have cost me $1,510

Baby got back

Most people associate the title with the Sir Mix-A-Lot song but I don't. Though I heard the original first, I know the soulful, love ballad version created by Jonathan Coulton in 2006. Here is a video of him performing it live with Paul and Storm in 2007: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gW6yQZyx5w

Within the last 10 hours, it was discovered that on next week's episode of Glee, the high school chorus sings Baby Got Back using Coulton's complete soundtrack and slightly changed lyrics. People who know more about music than I do confirmed it and there is even a version where both Coulton's and Glee's version are played at the same time. Though it was released under a creative commons license and that anyone can download it for free, credit and permission must be granted for commercial use and it was never given.

Wonder what will happen next.

Zemeckis theory

The Houston Astros moving to the American League for the 2013 season now means that the mathematical odds of every team winning a pennant is now 15-1 and the World Series 30-1 including the Cubs who were 34.67-1 having been in a 6 team division.

Updating my chart from 3 years ago, the mathematical odds of the Cubs not winning a title since 1908 by chance are now 217.8-1 and a pennant since 1945 are 464.2-1.

I have also recently seen multiple incorrect posts stating it was the day Marty McFly visited the future in Back to the Future II. It is October 21, 2015.

How do these fit? On the news feed Marty McFly saw in the future Hill Valley, it stated the Cubs won the World Series beating Miami for the title. At the time it was a joke since there was no Miami team in baseball in 1989 and when the area got a team a little while later, it was called the Florida Marlins.

Last year the city of Miami  FINALLY (9 years too late for me) built a baseball only stadium. They also changed the name of the team to the Miami Marlins.

Since Miami is in the National League the Cubs can't beat the Marlins to win the World Series. However, they can beat the Marlins to win the NL pennant to get to the World Series. When the movie was made, there were two playoff rounds in baseball so October 21st was a plausible day for the playoffs to end. After an additional round was added in 1995, the World Series champion is crowned the last week of October if not in the first couple of days of November.

Therefore, I believe that the Cubs will beat Miami in 2015 to win the NL pennant since the 21st is just after the time the National League Championship Series would end and I will make sure I have a bet on it.

Do I hope to win that bet? NO! I never want to see the Cubs win a title. In 1998 and 2007, I made a bet believing the Cubs would make the playoffs and have a chance to win the title and my Cubs fan wife was annoyed that I made a bet for something I did not want to happen.

In September 2003, I won $2,000 in a baseball handicapping contest and my wife said that ruined her enjoyment of the Cubs winning the division title and their whole playoff run which infamously ended. I know that if I collect a bet on the Cubs winning the 2015 NL pennant, it would ruin my wife's enjoyment of the title since I would be correct in my predictions and she hates it when I'm right about anything.

T minus 8 weeks

Eight weeks from now, I expect to be on my way to Bloomington, MN for Marscon 2013. This will be my 10th trip there for the convention which over the years has become the most special weekend of the year.

A couple of days ago, Luke Ski announced the schedule for the dementia track and as I have done over the past few years listed my opinion on the acts performing there this year which I know have been read by those who will be on stage. For some reason, I am unable to upload the pie chart which seperated by grade.

As I try to do, these grades are on how I feel about the performances on the main stage at the convention and I will list them in cronological order.

Possible Oscar - B: I have enjoyed their music first as part of the Nick Atoms and currently in this arrangement for years. The only reason I can't give an A is the venue itself with its low ceilings in the main stage room causes their music to be overwhelming at times.

Steve Goodie - A-: My recent financial situation makes attending out of town conventions fewer and far between. I am glad he is making the trip to Marscon as his music has evolved over the years to a more edgy tone.

Insane Ian - A-: Another artist who I have not seen since October 2011. My daughter's appreciation for his work has improved my outlook for his act since he parodies songs she knows.

TV's Kyle - B:  As I had hoped, he looked far more comfortable on stage at Marscon last year and know he will put in a solid set.

Worm Quartet - A+: Dammit, I need to see ShoEboX on stage more than once per year. I have been suffering nipple mention withdrawl. When I noticed there was an option for a house concert as a reward for the kickstarter for his new CD, I was considering donating but realized that if I had that money, I would have gone to Deep South Con last June. The situation which caused me to be unable to go there really has me annoyed. Anyway, I am going to take precautions so I won't burn out my voice and comment about it on Mr. Tuesday's recording.

the great Luke Ski - A: A couple of years ago, I would have not been disappointed had Luke decided to not have a Marscon concert since the preparation for his show there was overshadowed by his work in putting the convention together and would often leave him too tired to put on the best show that he could. Fortunately, the video version which debuted last Marscon has allowed him to use less on stage effort while maximizing his talents. I am not sure how well he would have been able to perform last year with his illness without the help from his video setup.

Music guests of honor Flat 29 - B: I overcame my initial disdain for the group due to their Sherlock Holmes bit on their podcast and really enjoy their music and podcast. So why only a B? They have to travel from the London area to Minnesota in winter and though the weather has usually been passable, anything can still happen. I am also concerned about the 7 hour time change and the fact that they have had little on stage time together. As a side note, I recently discovered one of their members was born on the same date in 1985 when the Dolphins defeated the Bears.

The 3rd annual Logan Whitehurst Awards for comedy music excellence - B+: I am not sure how the non hardcore fan audience will respond to this. As stated earlier, I am not happy about having to miss the presentation last year at Deep South Con. I do hope to one year be selected as one of the fan jurors though I understand why I have yet to be included even though the founder of the event stated things would be better in dementia if there were more fans like me.

Max DeGroot - D: In 2010, he came up with a song called Census which fit his personality perfectly and earned the #3 spot for the year on the Dr Demento Show and a Logan Award finalist. However, it is now 2013 and the rest of his material is not on that level.

Power Salad - B+: The Marscon Sunday slot always seems to fit his style of music and I am glad he will be there this year.

Mikey Mason - ?: All I know about his work in the clip from the promo and that Luke Ski considers his act worthy of the main stage.

The FuMP Jukebox - B: I am glad this was recently created as it allowed Insane Ian to show the people at Marscon his worth. There are acts worthy of a couple of songs each and this is the perfect setting for them.

Dementia Smackdown - B: It gets more difficult each year for artists to find unique songs to cover after 10 years and it has shown. Still a fun way for the music to end.