Guest wish list for TAMIII
- Thread starter The Bad Astronomer
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rustypouch
Philosopher
- Joined
- Mar 1, 2003
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Why can't we just bring Douglas Adams back from the dead?
Okay, I've suggested these people for TAM II, maybe it'll stick this time:
Ole Anthony or Joe Bob Briggs (John Bloom) to speak about the Trinity Foundation. This group is sorta like the JREF for the televangelists -- they investigate fraud and abuse in the religious media. From the website:
"An early skepticism about the way religious programming is bought and sold prompted Trinity to conduct a controversial research project on the audience demographics and ratings of religious broadcasting. By the time scandals rocked the religious television industry in the 1980s, Trinity was already monitoring religious programming and reporting abuses of the public trust. In the 1990s Trinity Foundation became the leading "watchdog" of religious media, conducting investigations and providing information used to expose fraud and abuses committed in the name of God."
Joe Bob Briggs was the host of the "Godstuff" segment in the early days of The Daily Show on Comedy Central. In these spots, Joe Bob presented hilarious video clips of various local and nationally-broadcast televangelists, often losing their grip on reality.
Also from the website:
"The foundation regularly provides assistance to print and electronic journalists investigating suspected fraud or other abuses of the public trust by members of the religious media. The foundation maintains a private investigative license with the State of Texas and frequently provides undercover operatives. to news programs like PrimeTime Live, 60 Minutes, Dateline, CNN Special Reports, 20/20, British Broadcasting Corporation, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, and Inside Edition, among many others. We have also worked with The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, The Economist, London Independent, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, and The Dallas Morning News.
Foundation representatives have testified for Congressional hearings examining abuses by America's television evangelists. The foundation has also provided investigative reports to various agencies of state and federal government."
I think this would be a great opportunity to show the skeptic community how religious groups can approach wild claims while still maintaining their religious faith.
---,---'--{@
Ole Anthony or Joe Bob Briggs (John Bloom) to speak about the Trinity Foundation. This group is sorta like the JREF for the televangelists -- they investigate fraud and abuse in the religious media. From the website:
"An early skepticism about the way religious programming is bought and sold prompted Trinity to conduct a controversial research project on the audience demographics and ratings of religious broadcasting. By the time scandals rocked the religious television industry in the 1980s, Trinity was already monitoring religious programming and reporting abuses of the public trust. In the 1990s Trinity Foundation became the leading "watchdog" of religious media, conducting investigations and providing information used to expose fraud and abuses committed in the name of God."
Joe Bob Briggs was the host of the "Godstuff" segment in the early days of The Daily Show on Comedy Central. In these spots, Joe Bob presented hilarious video clips of various local and nationally-broadcast televangelists, often losing their grip on reality.
Also from the website:
"The foundation regularly provides assistance to print and electronic journalists investigating suspected fraud or other abuses of the public trust by members of the religious media. The foundation maintains a private investigative license with the State of Texas and frequently provides undercover operatives. to news programs like PrimeTime Live, 60 Minutes, Dateline, CNN Special Reports, 20/20, British Broadcasting Corporation, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, and Inside Edition, among many others. We have also worked with The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, The Economist, London Independent, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, and The Dallas Morning News.
Foundation representatives have testified for Congressional hearings examining abuses by America's television evangelists. The foundation has also provided investigative reports to various agencies of state and federal government."
I think this would be a great opportunity to show the skeptic community how religious groups can approach wild claims while still maintaining their religious faith.
---,---'--{@
The Bad Astronomer
Muse
- Joined
- Feb 19, 2002
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- 828
I am doing research for series of webpages I am writing, and came across a mathematician name Ralph Greenberg, who debunks pseudomath (ratios in the Pyramids, the city on Mars, etc.). He might be fun at TAMIII too!
dimossi
Thinker
- Joined
- Oct 3, 2001
- Messages
- 126
Guest suggestions
I would like to see anyone on my wish list for TAMII that didn't get invited to speak at this past conference.
Also, I would like to see my friend and local author, Barbara Walker, get invited to speak. I have heard her speak numerous times and it is always a informative and engaging experience. I know the plan is probably to try and avoid, or limit, talks on religious or political matters, but I think she could give a great talk on the pagan origins of our holidays or other traditions. That could be looked at as more of a skeptical and rational look at history, I would think. Plus I would add, that Barbara would allow us to have another female speaker.
Do you think she would be a good speaker for TAMIII? Or does anyone have a better idea for a potential topic for her?
More info on Barbara:
I would like to see anyone on my wish list for TAMII that didn't get invited to speak at this past conference.
Also, I would like to see my friend and local author, Barbara Walker, get invited to speak. I have heard her speak numerous times and it is always a informative and engaging experience. I know the plan is probably to try and avoid, or limit, talks on religious or political matters, but I think she could give a great talk on the pagan origins of our holidays or other traditions. That could be looked at as more of a skeptical and rational look at history, I would think. Plus I would add, that Barbara would allow us to have another female speaker.
Do you think she would be a good speaker for TAMIII? Or does anyone have a better idea for a potential topic for her?
More info on Barbara:
How about author Curtis Peebles?
Back in '94, he wrote a book titled, Watch The Skies: A chronicle of the Flying Saucer Myth.
In it, Mr. Peebles has taken all the major UFO sightings from the last century and debunked the heck out of them. I'm sure he'd have some great stories to tell.
Back in '94, he wrote a book titled, Watch The Skies: A chronicle of the Flying Saucer Myth.
In it, Mr. Peebles has taken all the major UFO sightings from the last century and debunked the heck out of them. I'm sure he'd have some great stories to tell.
R.A.F. said:
What an interesting coincidence! I haven't thought about Mr. Peebles for months, yet I mentioned him yesterday and last night he appeared on the Unsolved History's TV show on the Discovery channel where he "helped" investigate 3 "sightings"...Kenneth Arnold, The Roswell "crash", and the Mantell "dogfight".
It must be a sign!!
Jeff Corey
New York Skeptic
- Joined
- Aug 2, 2001
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- 13,714
How about Claus Flodin Larsen. His tales about his dealings with Danish astrolgers at their meetings could prove to be quite droll, especially the ones about tape recorder snatching and ankle biting.
BEET ROOT RULES!
BEET ROOT RULES!
The Central Scrutinizer
Penultimate Amazing
- Joined
- Dec 17, 2001
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- 53,097
How about Hugh Hefner? I am skeptical that he has 5 hot twenty-something girlfriends. He could bring them along to prove he does! That would teach me a lot about skeptical thinking.
NotAForumMember
New Blood
- Joined
- Jan 20, 2004
- Messages
- 19
I second Dr. Dean Edell. If no one has already.
Thanks for the suggestion!
I had thought about writing an article about it, of course....it's a long sordid tale, but hey - I'm easy.
....wait...that didn't come out right....
(Jeff, you call me "beet root" again, and I will stomp on your hat....)
I had thought about writing an article about it, of course....it's a long sordid tale, but hey - I'm easy.
....wait...that didn't come out right....
(Jeff, you call me "beet root" again, and I will stomp on your hat....)
MLynn
Whippet of Peace
- Joined
- Feb 7, 2004
- Messages
- 3,586
The Central Scrutinizer said:
I would like to see Hef there but not because of the blondes. He is a very intellegent, articulate man would have a lot to say. I value what he would say (I don't care about the girlfriends, but they could be there if that would make Hef more comfortable).