Announcement

[travelswithkuma]

Kuma Bear is pleased and proud to announce officially...

*Fanfare*

TONOPAH IN 2012 WESTERCON BID



Yes, as you can see, the many rumors are true. Kuma Bear is chairing a bid for Tonopah, Nevada for Westercon 65, which will be selected this year at Westercon 63 in Pasadena.

I'm sure my many friends, admirers, and others will have many questions about this adventure. Being such a small Bear, and being very busy doing Chair things, if you need more information, don't hesitate to ask my fellow bid committee member kevin_standlee. He helped make me look so wonderful in the pictures.

So please come to Westercon in Pasadena and help support our bid in the
desert wonderland of Tonopah!

Note: Kuma Bear did not see any fish in Tonopah, but it's okay anyway.

Comments

[gridlore.livejournal.com]

Excellent! Wonderful picture of the Bear too. See, you could have helped get rid of the debris at home. *boom!*

[travelswithkuma.livejournal.com]

Kuma Bear says that you have most beautiful boom in your picture.

Am sending a present for Ba Bear with Kevin, for him to get to you at the first opportunity. Please let him know.

[redneckotaku.livejournal.com]

This is an epic hoax idea. This one may beat Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD in 2011 for Worldcon.

[kevin-standlee.livejournal.com]

Kuma has asked me to explain that it's not so much of a hoax as a very long shot, since (a) we're not going to actually file a bid, so (b) the only way we could be selected would be for None of the Above to win the election and (c) the Business Meeting award it to us.

I put the odds at somewhat better than winning the Megabucks lottery, but not much.

As I think you're curious about the background: Lisa and Kuma were stuck in Tonopah for three days a few years ago when she swung way south after a trip to Reno. She spent three nights at the hotel in Tonopah. I guess some of my conrunning cooties got on them, because, with not a lot to do while they waited for repairs to her pickup truck to be finished, they examined the hotel and city and came up with how they'd run a convention there.

I've never been there myself, but from the description, I don't think we'd have too much trouble running a Westercon for the number of people who would actually attend it.

[yourbob.livejournal.com]

An excellent town, right in the middle of everywhere, er, no where, or rather way-out-there.

I spent a couple nights there in 2008 on my way to and from Las Vegas Westercon and Denvention3. It is a pretty little town, with a couple of interesting things to do in the area.

If you or Kevin asks, I can certainly send you some of the few pictures I took there.

One thing I learned is that the electrical grid there is very unreliable and the "afternoon power outage" is to be expected when it's hot. The one I experienced lasted about an hour. Perfect for a bearly siesta.

[travelswithkuma.livejournal.com]

Good point, bears like naps.

[davecycle.livejournal.com]

My parents and I stayed at Jim Butler Motel, Tonopah, Feb. 2003, on the way from San Diego to Reno.

View from the balcony:
http://www.muststayawake.com/03-02Reno/03010025-big.jpg

[redneckotaku.livejournal.com]

That makes it an even better hoax bid. If it is possible to dissuade them, I can tell you my current convention running nightmare for them.

[kshandra]

I am only just seeing this comment, and shall have to be Cross with gridlore for not letting me know, as I am more likely to see Kevins sooner than he will. Rest assured we will get your present to Ba as soon as possible - and thank you!

[kevin-standlee.livejournal.com]

You can either send me your paper mail address and I'll mail it to you, or I can get it to you at BayCon.

[kshandra]

I'm actually working just down the block from BASFA these days, so I can make a point of going to the meeting next week.

[kevin-standlee.livejournal.com]

Great! I'll see you there, then.

[travelswithkuma.livejournal.com]

Good Kevins. Give my best to Kshandra to give to Ba Bear.

[hai-irouchuujin.livejournal.com]

As an old Nevada boy, I have to say this makes just as much sense as holding a Worldcon in Reno.

And the Tonopah station has a much better coffee shop than, say, the San Jose Doubletree. I recommend the milkshakes, they are quite good.

Tonopah Station

[travelswithkuma.livejournal.com]

Don't forget the free room nights(of course you have to win)

Re: Tonopah Station

[hai-irouchuujin.livejournal.com]

As I recall, the slots there were pretty loose. The nickle slots in particular.

Although it's been a good number of years since I've had the dubious pleasure.