RSLancastr's TAM4 Ramblings

[RSLancastr]

Wow.

First, my thanks to all of you who came up and said such kind and supportive things to me over those four wonderful days in Vegas. It was great meeting everyone, but I'm afraid that although I can picture everyone that came up and introduced themselves, I am not going to be able to remember the forum names to put with many of those faces, because...

Second, my apologies to anyone if I seemed a bit spacey and/or preoccupied. The entire time I was there, I was in a low-grade panic about the paper I would be presenting on Sunday.

Even in the best of circumstances I'm bad at remembering names, but meeting people while there is a voice in the back of my head saying "THEPAPERTHEPAPERTHEPAPERTHEPAPERTHEPAPER" does not enhance my memory skills, and probably did not do anything for my social skills either. And there were so many who I only met briefly, but would have gotten into longer conversations with had I not been so distracted.

Due to a combination of writer's block, PC problems and my typical procrastinating ways, I had just finished rewriting (for the fifth time) my presentation paper in time to jump in the car and make it to the airport for my flight to Vegas.

And even that version of the paper still needed to be edited with an axe. I was trying to encapsulate the past year and a half into a 20-minute presentation, and what I had ended up with, when read aloud, took THIRTY SIX minutes. So once I got to Vegas I had to rent time on a hotel computer to hack the 36-minute paper down to a 20-minute presentation, AND to come up with a PowerPoint for THAT.

For these and other reasons, I was not at all confident as to how the presentation would go. I knew that Forumites would be supportive regardless, but what of others who didn't know the Kaz story at all? Was there enough left in the 20-minute presentation to make it understandable to them?

The morning of the paper presentations, I was so distracted that I barely heard a word of Phil Plait's talk, which I had been looking forward to seeing. Damn. Oh well, I'll catch it on the TAM4 DVD.

Also, as bad timing would have it, the picture of Forumites was scheduled for the same time as my presentation was beginning, so I couldn't hang around for the shot. Hopefully, they will photoshop me in later...

The paper presentation itself went better than I could have hoped. Once I got up at the mic, I could stop worrying about how it would go, and just DO it.

I was very happy with the response, both during the presentation and after. A few people came up and asked for advice on how they could start web sites about charlatans THEY were interested in exposing, and THAT was extremely gratifying.

There were so many wonderful moments for me at TAM4, but what had to be the most surreal was when, on the first day, Hal told me to wait where I was, and while I was meeting some other forumites, he went and got Randi, bringing HIM out to meet ME! To finally meet someone I have admired for decades, and to have him brought out to ME, was really something.

Again, my thanks to everyone I met there. It was a time I will not soon forget.

 

[Kochanski]

Your paper presentation was WONDERFUL.

I enjoyed all the papers, but yours was probably the most inspiring. I think many people will look to your example and look to you for assistance for a long time to come.

Bravo, for your work and bravo for a wonderful presentation. I will be directing many people to your website for a long time.

 

[Mattfn]

I'm sorry you worried about it so you had a bit of blinders on for the conference. But know for sure that you got your presentation done right, and that you really were inspirational with what you did, and how you told us about it. You are fantastic.

And I'd just like to say, that if I were ever feeling suicidal and was feeling like I couldn't do the deed myself..................

...........I'd go and mess with Lancaster's Mom. That would take care of it.

Mattfn

 

[Antiquehunter]

RS - I really enjoyed your presentation - from a purely pedantic point, next time I'd suggest skipping the section title pages and reading those particular slides off - your work flowed naturally and I found the breaks a little annoying. But apart from that, your presentation rocked. For what its worth, all I could think afterwards was 'Hey - I gotta find an annoying dingbat and apply the same sort of approach as RS - and if EVERYONE at TAM4 tackled one wingnut as thoroughly as you did with Kaz - how much better would the world be...

-AH.

 

[Loon]

Let me add my voice to the adulations already heaped upon you. Your presentation was an excellent and well-presented summary of excellent work on something that sorely needed attention.

Bravo!

 

[RSLancastr]

Bravo, for your work and bravo for a wonderful presentation. I will be directing many people to your website for a long time.

Thanks! Sorry to ask, but... did I meet you at TAM4? I think I would have recognized the avatar had I seen it, so if I met you, you probably had on your non-forum ID badge. I hope.

I'm sorry you worried about it so you had a bit of blinders on for the conference. But know for sure that you got your presentation done right, and that you really were inspirational with what you did, and how you told us about it.

Thanks, Mattfn. I saw you at TAM4, but didn't know who you were until I went through the "pics" thread here today. You remind me very much of a dear friend of mine named Autumn!

And, no. Don't mess with my mom.

RS - I really enjoyed your presentation

Thank you. I remember meeting you - twice!

- from a purely pedantic point, next time I'd suggest skipping the section title pages and reading those particular slides off - your work flowed naturally and I found the breaks a little annoying.

Yeah, especially those title pages for sections which had no other graphics. Oh well, live and learn. Thanks for the feedback! I bought the Tufte book on PowerPoint from the JREF booth, but have yet to read it. I'm sure I'll find a boatload of rules I violated with my presentation!

EVERYONE at TAM4 tackled one wingnut as thoroughly as you did with Kaz - how much better would the world be...

Your presentation was an excellent and well-presented summary of excellent work on something that sorely needed attention.

Thanks, Loon! I think I remember which face goes with your name, but I wouldn't bet any money on it! (Man, this is embarrassing.)

 

[Ducky]

You are one of my heroes. Well done.

 

[Hutch]

RSL, as one who has had to organize and present breifings to various military ranks from Captain up to Major General, I thought you did extremely well--you didn't read direct from the charts (several other presenters I saw did) but used them as the basis for expanding your narrative, you stayed focused and your presentation was superbly organized.

Very nicely done.

 

[Kochanski]

Thanks! Sorry to ask, but... did I meet you at TAM4? I think I would have recognized the avatar had I seen it, so if I met you, you probably had on your non-forum ID badge. I hope.

I was wearing both badges, but they did flop about a bit. We did not speak at all, but next year I will make sure to come and say hi to you. So many people there to meet and talk to, hard to really get to meet everyone, especially with all the forum members there.

You will have to give an update of the Kaz story next year. I know everyone will want to know what else happens.

 

[RandFan]

I'm sorry I didn't see you afterword. But I saw the presentation and I loved it. You did a great job. Good comedic timing btw. I loved the bit about NASA testing the rock.

You did the forum members proud.

 

[haltse]

Greetings,

I'd never heard of Kaz prior to your talk then again I'd never heard of Robert Lancastr After 20 minutes or so my distaste for the former ( high) matched my admiration for the latter.

Great job on not only that being able to show powerful results for non scientist to be able to take on the common , or garden loony, and impair their ability to profit on the gullibility of others.

hal

 

[headscratcher4]

Robert: will you share the paper here for those of us who couldn't attend? Having followed your journey so closely -- and with great admiration if not allways good spelling -- I'd love to see what you did.

It sounds like it all went off terrifically -- congratulations!

 

[RSLancastr]

You are one of my heroes. Well done.

A Titanium Superhero's hero? Now that's really something!
You humble me, sir. Thanks. Say "hey" to Avhienda for me! And Rich. (What is his name on the board, BTW?) Thanks also for the Skepticality interview. It was very cool.

you stayed focused and your presentation was superbly organized. Very nicely done.

Thanks, Hutch. In hindsight, there were things about the PowerPoint I would change, but - it worked, and that's what counts. And I know what you mean about someone reading the slides to the audience. I've been in a ton of corporate meetings where a presenter did just that. It's deadly.

We did not speak at all, but next year I will make sure to come and say hi to you.

Please do - and maybe next year I will be calm enough to remember it!

So many people there to meet and talk to, hard to really get to meet everyone, especially with all the forum members there.

I think all the forum members should wear the anti-woo helmet with the flashing light. It would make us easier to spot in a crowd...

I'm sorry I didn't see you afterword. But I saw the presentation and I loved it. You did a great job. Good comedic timing btw. I loved the bit about NASA testing the rock.

You did the forum members proud.

Thanks, RandFan. I can't tell you how good it felt that so many forumites looked to my paper as sort of representing the forum. A "Local boy makes good" sorta thing. It was a nice feeling.

Great job on not only that being able to show powerful results for non scientist to be able to take on the common , or garden loony, and impair their ability to profit on the gullibility of others.

Thanks, Hal. I'm glad to know it was comprehensible to someone unfamiliar with the story. That was one thing I worried about - making it so that people who already knew the story wouldn 't be bored, without losing the people who didn't know the story at all.

Robert: will you share the paper here for those of us who couldn't attend? Having followed your journey so closely -- and with great admiration if not allways good spelling -- I'd love to see what you did.

Thanks, HS!

As I understand it, all paper presenters are to submit a final, "print version" of all of their paper in a few weeks. I was under the impression that they will be available for download, perhaps from the TAM4 web site, but I might have that wrong. Or perhaps they will be on the TAM4 DVD. Or both. As soon as I have the scoop, I will let you know!

 

[rikzilla]

Robert: will you share the paper here for those of us who couldn't attend? Having followed your journey so closely -- and with great admiration if not allways good spelling -- I'd love to see what you did.

It sounds like it all went off terrifically -- congratulations!

Yes indeed...do share! Somehow I managed to miss your presentation since I was sitting through the other one! Big mistake!

-Rick

 

[Brown]

I will say to the forum what I said to RSLancastr in person: his presentation was the most moving of the presentations at TAM4.

The presentation was not "moving" in the sense of being weepy or manipulative of emotions. Rather, it was moving in the sense that one person who takes a stand can make a difference. It was moving in the sense that it is possible for Christians and non-Christians share a common ground in holding honesty--including intellectual and historical honesty--as a virtue.

It was moving in the sense that it was real, and a first-person account.

And there was something else.

RSLancastr has, shall we say, a physically imposing presence. Yet he is a soft-spoken gentleman, articulate, easy-to-understand, modest, friendly. It was a delight to meet him.

 

[RSLancastr]

Yes indeed...do share! Somehow I managed to miss your presentation since I was sitting through the other one! Big mistake!

Hey, that's what the TAM4 DVD is for!

I will say to the forum what I said to RSLancastr in person: his presentation was the most moving of the presentations at TAM4.

Thanks, Brown. You're very kind.

RSLancastr has, shall we say, a physically imposing presence. Yet he is a soft-spoken gentleman, articulate, easy-to-understand, modest, friendly.

This reminds me of when Susan and I first met. We had chatted online, and exchanged pics, then met in person. She later told me that in the pics I had sent her, I looked "scary." But when she met me, she found that I wasn't so scary after all.

I gotta work on that...

It was a delight to meet him.

And to meet you, sir. I was glad we got the chance to visit at the Peppermill. With the presentation behind me, I was relaxed enough that I can actually remember it!

 

[citytom]

I enjoyed your presentation the most. You delivered it clearly, and have a nice manner. Very informative.
Thank god there are people like you who make an effort to stop scammers.
Well done!!!

 

[chasing23]

A Titanium Superhero's hero? Now that's really something!
You humble me, sir. Thanks. Say "hey" to Avhienda for me! And Rich. (What is his name on the board, BTW?) Thanks also for the Skepticality interview. It was very cool.[\QUOTE]

Yah know that you got a little bit of the rockstar thing going on. I came across this post and I read through your comments and it is really cool that my name was dropped.

I think that the last few months have really become a bit of an eye-opener for me. I have been aware of the skeptics for a while but becoming apart of the Foundation and the forum my reality tunnel has really changed.

Meeting you, listening and understanding your story has really become a bullet point on my personal evolution with skepticism. Now I am more then willing to stand up and say that something is BS. I am really thankful for having a bit of your time to chat.

 

[The Bad Astronomer]

I too will say your presentation was great! Actually, having been to about a billion meetings of the scientific flavor, I'd say that every paper was presented far better than your average scientist would do. But still, actually having put some hurt on a scam artist is a great thing to be able to say! Congrats!

 

[Hindmost]

I also loved your presentation...it was clear, obviously well researched and entertaining.

What is really great is that it shows how one person can make a difference! You certainly have kaz on her heals.

glenn