Tomorrow is the big day: my actual debut at the national conference and no one will be there. Not only does public transit not run until an hour after my panel's start time, my friends are ditching me for either the comfort of their beds or a panel on Symbolism. Symbolism! Briusov and his sophomoric high-jinx are trumping me. Stupidity. Idiocy! Symbolism?! I'm too tired to be any more indignant. Good thoughts sent my way at 8.00 EST will be appreciated.

Other than that, the conference has been a big case of the emperor-has-no-clothes-on. There are a lot of tenured naked people out there. -Zh.