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+layout: post
+title: 'Convention Report: EAST 12 (2024)'
+date: 2024-09-01 18:47 +0200
+description: "My convention report of the furry convention \"EAST 12\" in 2024"
+---
+
+Time for another convention report.
+I've been going to the EAST convention since EAST 7 (except EAST 10, which was
+canceled due to Covid. Apparently that number was altogether skipped as a
+consequence). This years topic was "The 90's and beyond". Being born in 1989,
+the theme appealed to me.
+
+**Monday, Aug 12 (Day -1): Rerouting / Traveling via…**
+
+The previous years I've been going by car, i.e. my own. This year, I planned to
+go by train, but alas: Deutsche Bahn did some construction work on this track,
+so I had to replan. Furr Shadowwolf was kind and offered me to go with him, so I
+went to him the day before Early Arrival - via train. Which was also about 30
+minutes delayed. DB really makes it hard to love them. Anyway, I enjoyed his
+hospitality, and had some nice dinner.
+
+**Tuesday, Aug 13 (Day 0): Early Arrival**
+
+(image deco 0817)
+
+Somewhat later than planned, but still before midday, the journey started. No
+major events, but it was quite warm, the car (which also was on the motor car
+show) didn't have an AC - really like back in the 90s :3. This brought back some
+memories from my childhood. (Insert some old man ranting "Children these days
+don't know how good they have it" here ;) ). With no major events, the
+destination Suhl was reached somewhat after noon (I think).
+
+What's different, this year I didn't reside in the main hotel (Ringberg) but in
+the overflow (City Hotel), completely voluntarily. It was clear to me the moment
+I heard EAST 12 was gonna be in August. Ringberg doesn't have (regular) ACed
+rooms, and since sleep is very important to me, I decided for the "cooler"
+option. Thankfully, the organization was able to secure a shuttle service, which
+made things a lot easier. After having lunch, roaming in the lobby for a bit and
+registering, I went down (with the regular bus), and first got myself a nice
+ice-chocolate. (insert picture here).
+
+Then I continued to check-in the hotel, unpack and have a well-deserved nap. I
+don't have any further notes for that day, I think I went back up again for a
+few hours.
+
+I was member of the conops team again, but I scheduled my shifts in the evening
+this year. Kinda happened "automatically" since there were little other shifts
+left the when I had time to take a look in the planning tool. I didn't miss
+anything, so it was allright with me.
+
+**Wednesday, Aug 14 (Day 1)**
+
+"Why not do my own panel", was a vague idea I already had a few weeks prior to
+the convention. I was kinda hesitant, and also caught in my "everyday routine
+and job". On-site sig/panel registrations are possible, so I went and registered
+a "tinkering furs meetup" the day before. I was kinda surprised that still quite
+some furs showed up, even on such "short notice". The idea was that other
+furries could present their projects. I scheduled around 90 minutes, which was
+barely enough time. I guess not enough for next year if I properly register this
+event. Anyways.
+
+We basically had
+
+- a working dial-operated telephone (connected to an old Siemens/Nokia mobile
+  phone, the impulses were converted to inputs to the phone's keypads). You
+  could make calls and also receive calls with it.
+- A very interesting cooling device for making "liquid air", basically. To
+  roughly quote the maker, "because it's possible". The talk about this device
+  actually covered quite some time of the event. I mean, it's not every day you
+  see something like this.
+- LED balls/cubes. Built using these popular WSxxxx LEDs, to either display
+  certain patterns, or even react to noises in the surroundings. There were
+  various variants. If I remember correctly the "structures" themselves were
+  3D-printed.
+
+(pic here)
+
+Earlier, I was also in the games room, where a fellow furry brought a remodeled
+slot machine. Yay. Very cool.
+
+Then there was of course the opening. I thought of wearing ear plugs this year,
+and thus could enjoy the show very much.
+
+In the evening, we had some nice light show in the sky, made by nature.
+
+(pic here).
+
+**Thursday, Aug 15 (Day 2)**
+
+(pic infla-in-window)
+
+**Friday, Aug 16 (Day 3)**
+
+Stage tour.
+Do not show pics.
+
+**Saturday, Aug 17 (Day 4)**
+
+(image skateboard suit)
+
+(suit parade?)
+
+**Sunday, Aug 18 (Day 5)**
+
+
+**Monday, Aug 19 (Day 6): Goodbye**
+
+Since I packed the evening before, it was a calm day.
+
+I enjoyed another excellent breakfast at the City Hotel, in the company of Nox,
+said goodbye, checked out and then waited in the lobby in the company of Elenir.
+We chatted for a bit until Delta arrived, whom I had asked for a ride. The
+journey home went by quite fast. And then I was suddenly at home in my usual
+environment.
+
+The effects of the con still lasted for the rest of the week (I worked again
+from Wednesday), but already the week after ("previous week" from now, when I
+start writing these lines) it was "back to the normal daily routine". Meh. It's
+quite a shift from having dozens of other (kind) people around me all the time
+to going back to my rural live.
+
+It kinda occurred to me that I should probably switch jobs at some point in the
+future. Though what to, I haven't got the slightest idea. It feels, I dunno,
+kinda draining/unfulfilling(?).