OK, here's my preliminary BayCon panel listing.

[gridlore]

Wow, are they making up for last year! Note this is all tentative... My comments are in italics.

Fri 22:30 - 00:00: Dungeons & Caverns -- Bringing Locations to Life (Carmel)

Panelists discuss how to bring traditional gaming locations to life. While primarily intended for gamers, this panel would also be useful for re-enactors and writers.

Douglas Berry (M), Ed Green, Justin Lloyd, Kevin Andrew Murphy

I've wanted to do this for years. Places of Mystery should have character, rather than being generic Temples of Evil filled with Really Bad Things and Random Monsters.

Sat 13:00 - 14:30: Stealing from History (San Juan)

Filing the serial numbers off actual historical events for gaming or fiction. What events are compelling without being overused?

Dorothy Heydt, Douglas Berry (M), Justin Lloyd, Lori White, Raymond Nelson, Wolf Read

Another one I've suggested for years.

Sat 16:00 - 17:30: Gay Marriage (Carmel)

Fifty years ago, the very concept of blacks and whites intermarrying was scandalous, and, in some states, unlawful. Did San Francisco break the law, or was it just ahead of the curve? Will we look back in 50 years and wonder what all the fuss was about?

Annalee Newitz, Douglas Berry, Father John Blaker, Jane Mailander (M), Kevin Roche, Randy Smith, Vera Nazarian

A subject I'm quite passionate about. Fr. John is actually quite a good friend, and it will be interesting to actually debate a Catholic priest on the subject.

Sun 14:30 - 16:00: Surviving Cancer (Monterey)

Panelists, some of whom are cancer survivors, discuss the process of care and treatment of cancer, as well as some of the rays of hope in the future.

Cheryl Morris, Christine Doyle (M), Douglas Berry, Judy Lazar, Rima McKinzey, Sydney Thompson

Well, duh.

Sun 16:00 - 17:30: How Do You Fight a Stateless Enemy? (Cedar)

Can't sanction 'em, can't bomb 'em, can't kick 'em out of the U.N. So how can you possibly fight terrorism? With no formal diplomatic outlets, what are the options?

Douglas Berry, Ed Green, Kim McKinzey, Michael Sarkisian (M), Richard F. Dutcher, Wolf Read

This one should to be fun, since I'm of the "hunt them down, one by one if necessary, until it becomes clear that attacking certain nations is a fast route to suicide" school.

Sun 17:30 - 19:00: The Meaning of Marriage (Carmel)

How has marriage evolved? Where is it going? With all the changes going on in our definition of marriage, how does that change (or not) what marriage means to couples and to society?

Ctein, Douglas Berry, Father John Blaker, James Stanley Daugherty (M), Laura Majerus, Rick Moen

Since my 13th anniversary of what has become a rather non-traditional marriage is next week, I'm going to provide some interesting views on the subject.

Mon 11:30 - 13:00: Iraq: Why the War? (Cedar)

We were told about the Weapons of Mass Destruction. We weren't told about the hidden agendas. A frank discussion about how we got into the war, and what we're going to have to do to get out.

Douglas Berry, Ed Green (M), Raymond Nelson, Richard F. Dutcher

Another fun topic, right when everyone is tired and cranky.

Seven panels, and I moderate two. I'm such a whore. :)

Comments

[jemstone.livejournal.com]

From the discussions I've had with Fr John, and overheard with him in them, somehow, I get the feeling it will be less of a debate and more of a "Well, they want me to say this, so I will, but..." kind of thing.

Enjoy!

-JEM

[lysana.livejournal.com]

I think he will. Heck, his reaction to my noting I have a girlfriend when he knows me and my husband was to say in a tone of pleased surprise, "I didn't know you were dating." Fr. John is very cool.

[fimbrethil.livejournal.com]

Good to see that they are making up for last year's stupidity. Yea You!