[penguicon-general] Long overdue update

[john guest]

Sorry it's been so long since you've heard from me, but I've been
having a bad case of life (which a number of you you have also been
having, so just tell me to shut up already).  Right now, the good news
is that my father is out of the hospital, and the bad news is that his
case manager dropped the ball and he's not in a nursing home like he
should have been.  So, I'm stuck in Alabama.

*BUT* come hell or highwater (and there's been plenty of both) I will
be back north next week in time for a meeting with the Hotel on the
wireless revamp for them.  This is (if you remember back to last
summer -- it was warm...) our trade for free wireless.  We're still
having a really good experience with the hotel, and found out recently
that we're going to have even more function space available to us.
The hotel will be finishing renovation on some new space near their
restaurant called the "Birch Room."  We need to look at it before we
decide exactly what we're going to do with it, but more space!

And we need more space.  Matt's been doing a heck of a job on
programming, and while there are some more things to tweak and
schedule, programming is going to be amazing this year.  In fact the
programming grid is up as a google spreadsheet (take a look at
http://penguicon.org/programming) for a readonly copy).  If you have
suggestions, or see a problem, let Matt know.  As he says, with enough
eyes, all scheduling bugs are shallow.

If you haven't done so yet, you should probably consider registering
and reserving a room.  We want to have a great time, and that means
that we need to reserve the whole hotel.  There is an overflow hotel
across the street, but you know you want to be where the action is!
Also, this hotel has more smoking rooms, so if you don't want to be
stuck in a smoking room, register early.  If you *do* want a smoking
room, register early, before some clean air nazi (like me) gets stuck
with your room.  :-)

Who wants a party room?  We are reserving a block of rooms just for
room parties.  Cafe Penguicon had a great time at Youmacon serving LN2
ice cream out of a pair of adjoining rooms.  We rocked, and so can
you!   These rooms are positioned above the lobby, and are open to the
lobby on floors two and three.   Get as loud as you want.

Thank you to every one who has been helping.  While we're careening
towards April 20th like a veritable Juggernaut, we can always use more
folks to help out.

Best Regards,

John Guest
Conchair
Penguicon 5.0