I have a ton of family only and friend only pictures on my Flickr feed. I chose to use the 6th picture on the 6th page that a non-friend/family person would see. If you go to the 6th photo on the 6th page and don’t see this picture, then you’re a friend or family member on Flickr, so you see pictures of mine that most people don’t see.

Balticon has been an anchor in my life almost immediately from the time I moved to the D.C. area. I has been my favorite con for over 15 years and about a decade ago I started volunteering my time to help run the it. I started out helping CZ run computer gaming, and eventually took over the reigns as his personal life got more complex. When my interest in computer gaming waned I started the podcasting track and the Balticon Podcast.

This turns out to be one of the best things I’ve ever done. The podcasting track morphed into the new media track and now includes blogs, podcasts, and web comics. I’ve met and become friends with a huge creative community which enriches my life on a daily basis. I can’t remember a time when I’ve had so many friends all over the world with whom I’ve been able to create new and better things.

The first year we had the podcasting track at Balticon, someone wanted to have blue crabs. I think it might be Mur Lafferty who made the initial suggestion. Since then a blue crab feast has become a regular event for the podcasters at Balticon.

For Balticon 42, Earl Newton is the one who really made it happen. He got everyone together, placed the order, wrangled the crabs, and found us a place to eat. The large paper bag is full of steamed spiced Maryland goodness.

Where do you ear blue crab? First you go to Maryland because they make the best. Ideally, blue crabs are eaten outside and with beer. A good crowd of friends always makes the meal that much sweeter.

How do you eat a blue crab? Then you get some plain brown paper for a table cloth and a big wooden mallet. You open up the body of the crab like a pop top soda can and get the mustard and good body meat. Then you take the mallet and smash the claws to get the delicious claw meat. If you’re a pro, you can get a little meat from the legs. I am not, so I skip them.

Don’t bother washing up until you’ve had your fill. Maryland blue crabs, eaten this way, are messy. Downright delectable, but very very messy.

Our yearly crab feast is always one of the high points for me. I expend so much energy getting the track coordinated and getting recordings for the Balticon Podcast, that it really matters to me that I get to sit down with my friends and peers and just enjoy the company and the meal.

Warren and I apparently have the same taste in artwork. I am also a big fan of his web comic (coming to a print later in 2008) FreakAngels. I don’t know the Robert that posted, but with our own baby on the way I felt like joining in the meme. Plus, she’s a cute kid.

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Bought it on a 6 year loan, paid it off in 4.5 years. Got rid of it when I won a Pontiac Aztek. Sold both of them and bought Famous Blue, my ’05 Prius.

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Caught off the coast of Bar Harbor, Maine on a whale watching tour.

Tomorrow we go to sea.

Today’s Picture, An American Redstart in flight.

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Current baby name being floated: Rose Atalanta

Everything is fine and we’re still on track for early October.

These are her Han Solo encased in carbonite photos.

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Regardless of my personal desires for a more relaxed world, I still found time to get this new suit jacket for the upcoming series of weddings we will be attending. It really does make me look good.

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My blog comments are below the “read more”.

My Mac dictionary defines affectation as behavior, speech, or writing that is artificial and designed to impress. By definition, if I wear t-shirt and jeans as my default uniform, it is not artificial and definitely not designed to impress.

When I first started my career I bought the book “Dress for Success”. I followed it reasonably well, sticking with suits, slacks, button down shirts, and ties. I allowed myself black sneakers instead of shoes because of foot problems. It wasn’t long before I realized that my job required me to climb under people’s desks to fix their computers. At this point I switched from suits and slacks to Dockers which held up better.

Regardless of my chosen uniform for work, I still changed into my preferred jeans and t-shirt when I got home. Jeans and t-shirt are not artificial for me. They are my default state. My chosen garb. The suits, slacks, button down shirts, and ties are the affectation.

I’m a large guy. Usually I can’t find cloths that make me look good unless I work very hard. I have never found anything second hand that fit me remotely well, and I have spent hours in thrift shops. I usually can’t find much that makes me look good in the stores unless I go to a big and tall man’s shop. The cost of acquisition in time and money is rather large for a whole wardrobe. The cost of maintenance is as well.

I think you missed one opportunity this provides us rebels. By the American work force getting more relaxed I think the rebels will turn to suits and ties to show their rebellion, thus standing society on it’s head. The new punk may be the old IBM dark suit, white shirt, red tie, and black shoes.

I was the first of my group of friends to adopt the golf shirt and jeans as a uniform. Maybe it’s time for me to rebel again and start looking for some good looking blazers.

-Paul Fischer
Rebel Cothier
posted by: Paul Fischer on Thu, 6/12 12:38 PM EDT

Well said. But there is a point that I think you and Jared both missed. For the last 20 years or so I’ve been the chief computer expert in my various jobs. I discovered way back that customers expected me to look a particular way before they would really take me seriously. It was a personal style that screamed to them uber geek.

While my sales and marketing associates were taken seriously wearing a suit and tie, I got the best results looking rather unkempt. I affected a ponytail which looked awful no matter what I did, and went for a full beard and mustache before trimming back to a goatee. If I dressed in a suit I would be ignored. But when I dressed in golf shirt or t-shirt and jeans I was instantly identifiable as the tech genius.

Contrary to Jared’s main point, I was more successful when I fit the mold of what the customer thought a tech guy should look like. When I tried to look debonair I was not taken seriously.

I believe the thinking back then went like this: “He looks like a mess, but they still employ him. He must be highly competent or he couldn’t get away with it.” I know certain people who “get away with it” today. They dress Goth and it seems to be taken as a sign they’re very good at what they do.

Now that everyone in my industry has affected my mode of dress, I am pining for a way to be the rebel again. Maybe it’s time for me to find a nice blazer and tie to wear. Maybe if I get the color combinations so discordant my customers will think, “He must be the best. Otherwise how could he get away with that outfit?”

-Paul
posted by: Paul Fischer on Thu, 6/12 02:25 PM EDT

These photos are now available on my Flickr.

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Buy Scott’s new book, Infected, on April first and show the world what Podcasting can do!

Scott Sigler: grumble-grumble … time to make the donuts. I need a day off.

Maegan Breakall: @scottsigler I’ll take a glazed, this time no blood splatters on it tho, k?

Scott Sigler: @VividMuse: They all have blood splatters. I’m switching to writing romance.

Paul Fischer: @scottsigler I like raised donuts, not cake ones. Cruller Rawk!

Christiana Ellis: @pfischer I like crullers when they are good. But when they get even a LITTLE bit stale or soggy, instant yuck.

Paul Fischer: @scottsigler Gore filled blood splattered eye flavored donuts

Maegan Breakall: @pfischer: LOL!!!! i love it!

Christiana Ellis: I hate them soggy, but I’ll put up with them a little stale. Fresh is best.

Scott Sigler: @pfischer: funny, that’s just the kind of batch of donuts I’m working on right now. Flavors: Russian, Italian, Nocturnal.

Scott Sigler: @pfischer: that is one of the coolest pics ever.

Flickr Link