Frifsmop.

And now, a list of names for goblins:   

• Shooskskonk
• Smisphoof
• Snubsmaz
• Prootskoonk
• Craydond
• Glutlad
• Liptstrung
• Baptump
• Droovpluk
• Zifgiz
• Swoomchab
• Pufhimp
• Zidlak
• Kendglung
• Nintglak
• Frifsmop
• Fliftsnoh
• Meksney
• Clagfink
• Trepshooz
• Penkstrez
• Gropshov 
• Smarplum
• Pantfisk
• Vuzglib
• Nishkong
• Swazdrut
• Briftdoof
• Swoonslooh
• Gyoonkmol
• Wabkab
• Yichshog
• Hepnuptaspetgrub
• Gempshik 

Just in case some frustrated fantasy author stumbles across this post and has any concerns about copyright, I hereby relinquish all rights or claims to this list of gobbo names - although it would be a polite gesture to acknowledge the source.

- Sid

Footnote:

If you're a very dedicated visitor to this blog, you will have seen a previous version of this page with the following image at the beginning: 

That image was generated by Adobe's Firefly AI, and it didn't really match what I wanted to see for the posting, but I had used up my free credits and as such, settled for what I had in the short term.  I asked my friend ChatGPT to take a shot at it a couple of days later, and I preferred their take on the request (although, full disclosure, one of the goblins had an extra tongue that I had to retouch).  When I informed them that I was going to use their image, ChatGPT was gracious in triumph:

I will accept the victory over Adobe with quiet, dignified goblin pride. 😄 Congratulations on the blog upgrade. 

Perhaps it's time for Adobe to add an interactive element to Firefly so that it would be able to respond to trash talk.  And so began the AI Wars... 

Worldcon 2026: Vcon?

I was intrigued to receive the following e-mail notification from LAcon V (the 2026 Worldcon), in my In box today: 

Obviously, as a voting member for this year's Hugo Awards, I would need access to the nominations, the voter's packet and subsequent voting, but the e-mail suggests that the membership includes "access to the online parts of the convention".  

Hmmm...according to the bullet point summary, program streaming is part of the access, and given that the Seattle Worldcon streamed several of its more high profile programs, it's possible that I will be able to watch some parts of the convention, and even participate to a certain extent by posting questions.

I immediately activated my account, and the Coming Soon section of the Member Portal has some promising options in the form of a Stream and replay button.

It's possible that access to the portal may be controlled based on type of membership, with non-attending members restricted from accessing all the options, but I suspect that the organizers will take the simpler route of just letting everyone with a membership access everything - after all, if the Seattle convention was typical, only a few of the events will be streamed.  As always, time will tell - and fingers crossed.

- Sid

 

Movie Night.

We have a unique opportunity lined up for next month: the Hollywood Theatre, one of the local entertainment venues, is showing 2001: A Space Odyssey on February 1st. In spite of her long term interest in film, my charming wife Karli has never seen Stanley Kubrick's enigmatic masterpiece, and what better way to do a first viewing than on a big screen?  

Similarly, I've seen 2001 several times, but never in a theatre environment, and whereas I'm looking forward to seeing it in a larger format, the real attraction for me is in the theatre's sound system. As I've commented before, the great shortcoming of watching movies at home is keeping the sound low in consideration of the neighbours, and as such I'm eager to see - and hear - the opening sequence accompanied by Strauss' Thus Spake Zarathustra at full volume.  

Tickets were a reasonable $16 and change each, and I was amused to see that someone took their best shot at the movie title when creating the ticket page - and missed.  

- Sid