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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(?).
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