Real Tech Support Tales Archive

_{Tech Support Stories will return in the very near future in a different, more regularly updated format. Do you have a tech support story that you think others would wince at? Send it in to techtales (at) userfriendly [dot] org}

EVERYBODY DUCK! A reminder that I'll be at Duckon XIII: Triskaduckaiphobia in Chicago from June 4 to June 6. I'm in a bunch of panels on June 5 (From 1200 to 1600) and apparently I'll be doing a book-(or whatever scribeable object)signing as well. If you miss me at the book signing but can find me, feel free to approach. It's always a pleasure for me to scrawl my moniker on inkable things. Other than sweaty male body parts. I'll have to pass on those. No, really.

Also, there'll be an impromptu UF Gathering somewhere -- I expect an array of UFies will gather and then find me, and we'll go descend like locusts on a restaurant somewhere. I have no details; it might be an idea to meet up with some UFies and elect/volunteer someone to lead the pack. BTW: I should be free Saturday evening if you need a day and time on which to focus. UPDATE: Chicago UFie Dad2TZK has taken up the mantle of organizing the meet. At the time of this posting (~8:03PM June 03 PDT) another Chicago area UFie VivianC has suggested a few places we could go! Go visit Dad2TZK's Diary for more info on where, what and when. See ya there!

#SPORKS IRC CHANNEL WEBSITE: Remember that other IRC channel I told you about that was Yet Another Hangout for UFies? They have a website with all the rules, info and nifty functions you can play with. Go there.

PASSING AROUND THE TRAY: It's not like UF is a church or charity or anything (we're more like PBS), but we'll be running the next Sponsorship Drive from the middle of June until the middle of July. Keep your eyes peeled around about June 16 or so. Membership cards, new limited edition prints and Evil Genius Diplomas (accredited by Cthulhu of course) will be made available. Thank you to everyone who has supported us in the past! It makes all the difference!

AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA WE LOVES YA: I've been invited to speak at the University of Wollongong and the SAGE-AU 2004 Conference in Brisbane in August (roundabout the 13th to the 18th)! A bookseller will be at the Conference and I'll be sitting in the darkest corner with stylus in hand should you desire ink on paper. It's been a very long time since I've been Down Under. I'm pretty sure I've forgotten how to speak Strine. More details on this trip next month.

CROUCHING GEEK, HIDDEN FLAGON: I'll be flying out to China on May 21st, and will be in Beijing for over half of the trip. The rest of the trip will be spent near Yantai. It's been over 20 years since I've been back to visit my relatives on my mother's side. I can tell you as a connoisseur of Asian foods I'm really looking forward to the trip. Thankfully I already have the benefit of living in one of the most culturally diverse cities in the world, so I haven't had to deal with that "chop suey" trash. Yeah, I'm a food snob. ;)

But to my point: I will be effectively incommunicado for at least ten days. I may be able to get to my mail but there aren't any promises. If there are technical issues, please get in touch with Kickstart at kickstart at thisdomain; if you have questions about biz or general admin, please fire off a missive to Smiling Man at david at thisdomain. Please forgive any delay in replying to email -- I'm about 2 weeks behind as it is!

AND AFTER CHINA, COMES THE DUCK: Not Peking Duck, but Duckon XIII! It is with great pleasure (and no small measure of pride) that I'll be returning to Duckon for the third time in a row, June 4th to June 6th, in Chicago (well, Lincolnwood to be exact). And once again I'll be producing a special one-of-a-kind card for the Duckon XIII game track, and running a seminar for the Young Fans track. There's rumours of another UFie gathering, which will probably involve food and geekery, so how can you lose. Hope to see you all there!!