This past Saturday I had the awesome opportunity to attend Nekocon 16 and the Hampton Convention Center in Hampton, VA. Nekocon is an annual anime convention that celebrates Japanese anime culture and uses the Japanese name “Neko” meaning cat as part of its title. This three day convention is filled with panels, art shows, video game tournaments, Q&A sessions, workshops, movie screenings, LARPing and vendors.
This was my first con, and in the 12 hours I spent on Saturday at this amazing event, I definitely was able to receive the full con experience. As I first walked into the glass paneled doors of the Hampton Convention Center, I saw a plethora of brightly colored anime cosplayers meandering through the halls of the convention center. It was overwhelmingly packed. There were thousands of anime geeks in attendance and there were plenty of times where I bumped into Pikachu, Goku, and Speed Racer. However, there were tons of other cosplayers who dressed as their favorite comic book characters like Batman, Wolverine, and Wonder Woman.
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| Cosplay inspired by DJ Sisen |
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| So many blerds in attendance! |
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| Yes. It's the Old Spice guy. |
My first panel I went to was titled, "How To Make Your Nerd Job A Reality". The panel was hosted by a team of podcasters called Plus 2 Comedy who have had some career experience in voice-over work, gaming, and writing. They gave pretty good tips for those in the audience unaware about how to keep a loyal audience if you are a blogger or a vlogger. Most of the information provided I already knew about, but it was great to get that affirmation that what I have been doing is what is key to building an audience. Unfortunately, the panel did not touch on the “reality aspect” of taking your passion and making it into a career, but the panel was pressed for time due to the high volume of questions from the audience.
My second event was the "Whose Line Is It Anyway" with famed voice actors Steven Blum and Cherami Leigh who played some of our favorite anime character’s voices based on the renowned, improvisational TV game show. I’m not too familiar with anime, so most of the jokes went way over my head, and I wish Steven Blum did his Wolverine voice, then I could have appreciated his celebrity while I was in the room with him. He has voiced several anime, video game, and comic book characters throughout his career. That one voice of Logan would have been enough for me to fangirl over him.
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| Jamie and Melody geekin out at Nekocon 16 |
The next panel I attended was "Pokaholics". This was truly for hardcore fans of Pokemon. I remember seeing Pokemon once in a movie theater with these twin girls I used to babysit. I knew Pokemon was a pop culture phenomenon, but I had no idea that there was a serious subculture of fans who knew all there is and then some about the famed anime series. What Hello Kitty is to several young girls and women, so was Pokemon to this mixture of boys, girls, men, and women of all ages and ethnic backgrounds. Most of everything said was foreign to me, but it was fascinating to see how geeked people still are over the Pokemon franchise.
The next panel I went to was "Do You Have A Zobmie Plan? (Disaster Relief)". This was my favorite panel! I wish I remembered the name of the lady who was moderating the panel, but she is a certified FEMA trained instructor who also studied biochemistry and worked with the CDC (Centers of Disease Control). She provided great insight as what to do and what not to do in case of a zombie attack. She advised us that we should all have a 3-day preparation kit, in case the zombie apocalypse is near.
I know you naysayers are thinking, is this for real?
Hear me out. Most of the discussion facilitated around this panel was about disaster relief. The same kind of prep would apply to a natural disaster or if some horrible virus or plague broke out. The fact that zombies were mentioned added fun to the conversation, but there was some very valuable information that I was able to take away from this. There was a ton of questions from the audience about what to do in a crisis, and she also brought up what to do if in fact we are attacked by zombies. Here are some takeaways that I find may be of some use to you:
1. If a zombie attacks you, always keep a blunt force object like an aluminum bat. Aim for the knees and run away!
Why?
Using a gun to attack a zombie is good for people who have had excellent target practice. Guns can be a liability because they make noise and can alert other zombies. If you use a knife or sword, that would mean you would have to get close enough to the zombie to penetrate them, and remember, zombies cannot feel pain. So your first strike at the zombie, will not fatally kill them (unless you aim directly for the head, which is not always possible). The moment a zombie strikes you whether they grab your neck or tug at your arm, you feel that sensation and you’re at a higher risk for defeat than the zombie. Make sense?
2. Filter your water with coal, sand, and rock filtration materials.
Putting iodine in your water does not always kill all of the microorganisms and boiling your water does not either. Be sure to keep your water purified and fresh so you do not consume any contaminants that are likely to cause you to fall victim to being attacked or cause you to become a zombie yourself.
3. Do Not Eat Turtles
I had heard once that turtles are pretty safe to eat, but apparently there is an organism in turtles that can transfer to human and stays in the immune system for the rest of your life. It causes flu-like symptoms and there is seemingly no cure. The best animal to eat for survival is squirrels. They are mammals and less likely to transmit diseases.
4. Always Stay With The Group
Human beings are conditioned to co-exist with other people. Survival in solitude is less likely than survival among a group. You also need to decompress and have moments of levity by being with other people who can help you cope emotionally, whether that is through laughter or tears. A human being on his or her own will break down and are likely easier prey if they try at the zombie apocalypse alone.
There was so much more information that I learned at this panel, that I would definitely have to write a separate blog post. However, you can always go to the CDC website to learn how to prepare for a zombie apocalypse.
The end of my Saturday was a film screening of Pacific Rim. What better way to end my night then seeing robots fighting monsters as well as seeing the hotness that is Idris Elba and Charlie Hunnam? It was my first time seeing the popular action film, so it was a delight to see an action-packed movie with a well-executed plot and amazing cast end my nerdy evening!
If you’re in the Hampton Roads area, please check out Nekocon next year! I’ll be there!
J.
