Conference Hound-Up April 13, 2012: Music, Mayhem and Mystery

This jerk was left below.

Another Friday the 13th rolls around, and if you’re not too superstitious to leave the house, perhaps you can shoot over to one of these badass events.  For those of you who are superstitious, I’ve followed that up with some survival tips.  Yeah that’s right, I got ya covered.

The uber-buzzed super-event Coachella is finally upon us, giving air to music fans who have held their breath for months in anticipation of opening day.  This ten day extravaganza in California boasts a bunch of huge names in music along with a ton of hand-picked indie rockers on their way up.  Bands performing this weekend include The Black Keys, Bon Iver, Arctic Monkeys, Florence & the Machine and Gotye, to name a few. Oh, and before you go, maybe check this article which offers some helpful tips on how to use your phone at the concert without being a jackass to those around you.

Stay Sweet! Fest 2012 organizes a (proudly) smaller group of musicians for a more modest music festival this weekend in Richmond, VA.  This one intends to hype up the underground scene and boasts a roster of up-and-comers in the punk genre, like Candy Hearts and The Sidekicks.

Joining the cultural explosion this weekend, Brussels Babel Festival focuses on kids and teens, encouraging them to undertake artsy endeavors by exposing them to creative outlets like sculpture, music, performance and dance.

You won’t find C2E2 on the periodic table of elements (at least I don’t think you will), you’ll find it in Chicago this weekend.  This is the Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo, which spans the latest and greatest in comic books, movies, TV, toys, anime, manga and video games.  Sneak peeks and pop culture thrive among fans and guest stars in a cornucopia of geekdom.  Don’t miss it!

Also, New Mexico hosts and Auto Show, Canada holds the annual Sudbury Sportsman Show and Hong Kong offers a huge technology event with the HKTDC International ITC Expo.

I am fascinated by the prospect of quantum technology.  It appears that it may be in our near future, as this report indicates that IBM has prototype quantum computers on the way and some smart folks out there have created a quantum network, paving the way towards a brand new internet.

This is a fascinating and terrifying read.  I feel it necessary to report this just so you know what you’re up against when you leave the house in the morning.  From mind control rays to a speech-blocking gun, these are REAL weapons that do things only heretofore theorized by sci-fi writers.

It’s unclear whether we’re all going to die at the hands of our own crazyweird devices or a massive zombie invasion, so we’ll have to start preparing ourselves for both.  After you finish studying up on vomit rays, be sure to download this app that teaches you how to run from brain-eating invaders.  I think the same advice goes for any kind of apocalypse.  Just run away.

Since it’s Friday, BAM – MYSTERY LINK! (oh Clint, what’s happening?)