So I'm just wondering if any Canadian Marines or Xenos will be attending this con.

I'll definitely be there (missed it last year) and will be bringing more than a couple of costumes for the weekend. Might even consider entering the Masquerade (which would be a 1st for me since I started attending in 1995 ).

Guest list is a little thin this year- so far Lindsey Wagner (The Bionic Woman) is the headliner.

But... I rarely attend conventions for the stars. I go for the party atmosphere.

And to play dressup.

Kevin

_________________
I told you I'd shoot, but you didn't believe me! WHY DIDN'T YOU BELIEVE ME!?!

I won't be there, I am on official hiatus for 2010. 2011 is the year it happens!

Where's Polaris being held?

_________________


One shot, One kill.

Richmond Hill (just North of Toronto), Ontario, Canada.

http://www.tcon.ca/polaris/modules/tconguests/

(Hey Mike... It's not Toronto according to the map! )


If anybody who's never been decides to make the trip, be advised this is a small convention compared to a monster like Dragon Con. Attendance will probably be in the 2000-4000 range (kind of a wild guess there). I'm certainly not trying to discourage anyone, but just a friendly heads up.

I actually started attending this convention back in 1995 (when it was pretty much just a Star Trek convention known as Toronto Trek). Probably in the top five of largest sci-fi conventions in Canada. I have some fond memories of this con.

Kevin

_________________
I told you I'd shoot, but you didn't believe me! WHY DIDN'T YOU BELIEVE ME!?!

PLEASE, don't plan some huge invasion of Polaris this year! I CAN'T GO!

Think of the poor exchange... COME NEXT YEAR, I'LL BE THERE!

Don't listen to Dom!

Let's make this the biggest Colony Sweep on Canadian soil to date!

I mean they even have a page dedicated to the sweep! It's an annual event now!

(Us Canucks can thank Dom for that!)


And hey- if Dom can't make it this year but does next year...


Everybody come back next year as well!


There will be balloons!

Kevin

_________________
I told you I'd shoot, but you didn't believe me! WHY DIDN'T YOU BELIEVE ME!?!

http://www.tcon.ca/polaris/modules/content/index.php?id=218
Nice to know seeing as they didn't communicate with me to confirm I will be there... Well Sarge, I leave it in your capable hands!

Don't take it too personally Dom, it looks just like as it was posted last year (looks as if there weren't any changes to that page since the posting first went up in 2009). Also consider that the only regular traffic their message board seems to get is spam).

If someone else is going to setup the events of the sweep and confirm participants and supplies, I'll try my best to get time off to get to the con that day to take part in the sweep - I can't confirm much else at this time, sorry (buy me a coffee and I'll tell ya all about it).

I was in touch with Jaws from con security doing some liaison stuff for the sweeps in 2008 and 2009, I still have his email and if y'all want I can ask what's up and have who's running with this take it from there.

Regardless, I support whatever decision made by the UACM in regards to participation this year at tcon.

PS - sorry if the message seems garbled, I finally have a chance to post and it's way past naptime

_________________
Sid, that Jayne Cobb (Firefly) & Snake-Eyes (GIJoe) costumer & member of
"Baldwin's Badasses" UAS MacDonald - A07/TQ1.0.12147E1 Rank PFC

Hey, if you Marines can pull it off without my meddling, I say do it and have fun!

I won't be able to attend the Saturday for sure due to a wedding I am a part of that day.

A. Is there still a sweep this year?
B. If so, has that contact person gotten for the UACM in touch with the con to make arrangements?

Reason I ask is that I was speaking to folks in charge of programming and the program guide, and the sweep isn't listed, general ear to the ground fyi if anyone can grab the ball and run with it.

_________________
Sid, that Jayne Cobb (Firefly) & Snake-Eyes (GIJoe) costumer & member of
"Baldwin's Badasses" UAS MacDonald - A07/TQ1.0.12147E1 Rank PFC

I told them there wasn't likely to be one this year... I say we come back in full force in 2011... maybe even get a fan table?

Yeah I have to say I don't feel up to it this year. If something is put together impromptu I'll certainly participate, otherwise we can save it for next year.


Kevin

_________________
I told you I'd shoot, but you didn't believe me! WHY DIDN'T YOU BELIEVE ME!?!

Well I'm back from Polaris- it was a nice small convention.

My first time at the new location (in Markham Ontario... Hey that's not Toronto is it Mike? ).

And I was the only Marine there.

Fortunately a couple of people (actually 3 or 4) recognized me right off the bat as being a Colonial Marine! Always a bonus when that happens!

Ran into another lover of the franchise:



So this guy had a simple yet effective Nostromo uniform going! It was nice to see a fellow Alien fan! He actually told me he joined the board this year- but hasn't posted much.

I also saw Scott briefly on Saturday- he had to run off to work though and couldn't stay long. Also saw Seb (is it Seb?) from Montreal.

I'm terrible for taking pictures- the only other one have of me geared up was taken with the self-timer in my hotel room.



This was actually the first time I've ever bought my Pulse rifle with me to a convention! And I've had this PR since 2004!

The convention has definitely downsized since I was last there in 2008. And there was a severe lack of costumers which made me feel kind of over dressed at first.

To top things off- there was a Friday night theme party. This year's theme was Steampunk and Dr. Who. I felt totally out of place having brought my Marine and three Trek uniforms. So I retired to my room at 10pm on Friday.

And to add insult to injury... Next year's Friday night theme is Star Trek.

Oh well- at least I'll be prepared next year!

Speaking of Trek- my WOK Admiral uniform was a big hit!



(I was too shy to ask anyone to take my picture- so again I did it myself in the hotel room.)

The rest of the weekend was better- there were much more costumers on Saturday when the con was in full swing!

And I might even enter my Kyle Reese soldier in next years Masquerade contest!

Get this...

A local personality is Liana K (who is part of a comedy/adult late show team with Ed the Sock):




I walk past their table wearing my WOK uniform. Liana takes one look at me and says "Wow you must be boiling in that!"

I tell her I'm fine. One of the people with her wants to get a pic with me. While waiting for them to set up the camera, Liana asks me "Do you carry a copy of 'Paradise Lost'?"

I show here my copy of 'Tale of Two Cities'.

She says "Well it was 'Paradise Lost'."





So trying to be humourous, I go "Pssst... It was 'Tale of Two Cities'."

She blurts back, "No it was 'Paradise Lost'! It was on a shelf!"

(Seriously? I'm in a nerd fight with Liana K? I couldn't believe it. It was completely unendearing. )

I decide to change the subject and talk about seeing her at Comic Con back in 2007.

Needless to say I won't be giving Liana K or Ed the Sock a minute of my time ever again.

Well all in all it was a nice convention! Looking forward to next year!

Kevin

_________________
I told you I'd shoot, but you didn't believe me! WHY DIDN'T YOU BELIEVE ME!?!

You cut an impressive figure, mon amiral. Well done. And thanks for representing us.

Nice to see you in armour Sarge, you won't be alone next year!


Well that's a switch! "Hey! GI Joe!"


Seriously, I tought it was a myth!


We'll both be ready.


Roger that... be there on your six.

Thanks Dom!



Thanks again! While I haven't retired the flak vest- I find that people recognize me as USCM in my armour more. So I think I'll be wearing my armour more often.



Heh! Someone said that to me on Saturday--- I turned around, and it was Scott!





Yeah I finally got over being nervous about bringing it (about either breaking it, having it confiscated or starting a panic ). However I think it's another reason I was recognized as USCM.



Cool! Funny story- before the Saturday night dance I'm trying to figure out what to wear. I don't want to wear my gear as it would be a bit "much", and don't want to wear my Admiral as I would die if someone spilled a drink on it (I didn't care to get it sweaty either).

So I have this brainstorm to go as Kirk from Amok Time (with the tear in the uniform top showing off my chest ... Yeah... you know I'm an attention whore. )

All I need is a cheap Rubies TOS costume top. Dealers room should have it no problem.

Except all the dealers seem to have Large, XL or XXL.

Finally find a dealer with one gold top left in a medium. YES!


But they want $50 for it.

Well as much of a whore I am... I decided I'm not paying $50 to have fun at a dance.

So I wore a cheap TNG top I had brought to wear on Sunday.

Ironically I have one of those cheap TOS tops at home. Before the convention I had played with the idea of bringing it and chose not to.

So a few hours before the dance on Sat night, I actually entertained the plan of driving home, grabbing the top, and getting back within two hours before 11pm. But I didn't bother with that crazy idea either.



Yeah "F" Liana K!

Another fun story- while walking through the dealers room, some guy rushes up to me and says his buddy really wants to take my picture. The guy was almost out of breath trying to catch me before I walked out the exit!

So I get back to a dealers' table (this was an author who wanted my picture). Of course I'm happy to oblige.

The guy says to me that he was impressed by my WOK uniform, and saw that I was carrying a book with me. He tells me he figured, "Oh he bought a book here- cool."

Then he realizes it's actually a copy of 'A Tale of Two Cities' and he has a nerdgasm and is like, OMFG I HAVE TO GET THIS GUY'S PIC!

Made my day!




Roger that Bro!


Kevin

_________________
I told you I'd shoot, but you didn't believe me! WHY DIDN'T YOU BELIEVE ME!?!

"Nerdgasm"... Too funny!

Awesome Kev, just awesome. Glad you had a good time!

_________________


USCM- The Colonial Marines- A Brotherhood of Bad Asses!

Bug me for next year since it's not in Toronto, I'll be interested. Great job, Kev like always. What about your Rambo costume? Chicks always love that one.

Mike

_________________
There is nothing more impressive than a bloody big Alien wiggling on the end of a sharp stick!

Thanks again guys!

Mike- I decided not to bring my Rambo. The last time I wore it, I think it really pushed the boundaries of carrying realistic weapons in public and looking like... well... a Rambo nutcase.

I still had that concern in the back of my head that all it takes is one person to "not get it" and raise the alarm bell.

I get so damn worried about this sort of thing that I actually talked to security before carrying around my PR: I asked if any other costumers were carrying guns and if it was okay to have a big mean looking rifle. They said "oh yeah there are other people and it's cool".

However I did consider bringing my Rambo this year- so maybe next year.

Kevin

_________________
I told you I'd shoot, but you didn't believe me! WHY DIDN'T YOU BELIEVE ME!?!

If anybody who's never been decides to make the trip, be advised this is a small convention compared to a monster like Dragon Con. Attendance will probably be in the 2000-4000 range (kind of a wild guess there). I'm certainly not trying to discourage anyone, but just a friendly heads up.

Too bad you were the only marine Kevin. Polaris sounds just like the Edmonton's venue's. All show and no go! The unfortunate part is we have to go all the way to Calgary for a good show (it would be okay if I didn't HATE Calgary so much...).
The last show Mike and I went to (Edmonton Pop Culture Fair) was VERY small, we were the only one's in costume (except for anorexic Spidey). I don't even think that many people showed up to the show, and only a handful of people recognized the costumes... Mike more than myself, at least his costume is finished!
My wife and I have been attending the shows here in town since the early to mid 90's, and I have noticed more people attending to bigger shows like the "Edmonton Collectible Toy & Comic Show".
My wife and I go to meet the stars and to hang with like-minded individuals, but not too many people costume-up in Edmonton, so me thinks DCon is just what this marine needs!

Well Kev, if I were rich I would have joined you in costume and rescue those "silly" colonists, and I would have dragged good ol' Airborne with me... Kicking and screaming!

By the way, awesome costume dude!

_________________
Worker bees can leave. Even drones can fly away. The Queen is their slave.

Somebody buy Spidey a Happy Meal.

There's nothing in Canada that can quite compare to Polaris, however, Anime North is getting there.

I say we buy red shirts in bulk and find new and creative ways to get killed at a con.

Getting facehugged is fun and all but it's nice to mix it up a bit sometimes.

_________________
Cpl. M. Constantineau - Ordnance Technician "Baldwin's Badasses"

Feel free to visit my website at http://wookiemart.com/

Ahhh yeah, 2002... that was a fun year

_________________
Sid, that Jayne Cobb (Firefly) & Snake-Eyes (GIJoe) costumer & member of
"Baldwin's Badasses" UAS MacDonald - A07/TQ1.0.12147E1 Rank PFC

Getting there? LOL

this year the masquerade competition was given the international grade nod, meaning that any awards given out at that convention for costuming will be recognized internationally. I know this adds up to diddly squat to people who don't actually compete in costume competitions but this is the first time a Toronto based (Canadian even) Convention is given this kind of recognition.

On the fact that Polaris is losing steam, I have two thoughts on the matter, either they are:

A) Keeping spending down this year so they can go nuts next year for the 25th

or

B) They are afflicted with the SMOF condition where any new and creative ideas should be shot down on sight and things should be done the same way they were done 25 years ago.

I am leaning towards the B) option but I remain hopeful that they are actually trying to do something awesome for next year.

One thing is certain, if the Colonial Marine Corps decide to "clean-up" this Colony, the virgins won't know what hit them

_________________
Cpl. M. Constantineau - Ordnance Technician "Baldwin's Badasses"

Feel free to visit my website at http://wookiemart.com/

WTF does SMOF stand for?


Kevin

_________________
I told you I'd shoot, but you didn't believe me! WHY DIDN'T YOU BELIEVE ME!?!