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Speaker/Guest wish list for the next Amazing Meeting

John Stossel would be my choice - if we could get him. Anybody see his "Power of belief" program? Wonderful!

Stossel is also the best I've seen when it comes to thinking skeptically about many non scientific subjects such as how both corporations and government programs are at doing what they claim to be doing. While I know that the JREF is focused on matters of pseudoscience, a ton of taxpayer and investor money could be saved each year by looking as hard at economics as Randi does at psychics. For one thing, we probably could have avoided the last recession completely.
 
This letter sent to Dubya from Alan Alda reminded me that Alda would be a great speaker to have at the next Amazing Meeting.
 
dimossi said:
This letter sent to Dubya from Alan Alda reminded me that Alda would be a great speaker to have at the next Amazing Meeting.
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Thanks for sharing that link. I second the Alda nomination for TAM 2004.
 
dimossi said:
This letter sent to Dubya from Alan Alda reminded me that Alda would be a great speaker to have at the next Amazing Meeting.
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Yes!

Whomever doesn't support getting Alan Alda for the next TAM will be tortured beyond belief. ;) How they will be tortured has yet to be determined. The torturing committee is going to meet 6 months after the next TAM to decide on the torture. ;)
 
Mr. Skinny said:
BTW, there are several excellent recommendations for speakers in this thread. I'd like to see Ian Rowland myself. He seems like a rather pleasant fellow from what I've observed of him over at the Straight Dope Message Board.
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I've met Ian Rowland and can confirm that he is a sincerely lovely guy that you'd all enjoy meeting.

Someone said they couldn't order his Cold Reading book from his website? I'd try again, it worked OK for me.
 
cleo said:



I've met Ian Rowland and can confirm that he is a sincerely lovely guy that you'd all enjoy meeting.

Someone said they couldn't order his Cold Reading book from his website? I'd try again, it worked OK for me.
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For those in the L.A. area who want to meet him, I'd point out that he'll be the speaker at the Skeptics Society lecture at Caltech on June 22nd.

--James
 
cleo said:



I've met Ian Rowland and can confirm that he is a sincerely lovely guy that you'd all enjoy meeting.

Someone said they couldn't order his Cold Reading book from his website? I'd try again, it worked OK for me.
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Welcome to the forum, cleo.
 
Paul C. Anagnostopoulos said:
We must have Phil "The Bad Astronomer" Plait back again.
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Pbbbt. When pigs fly.

Oh. Wait.

Anyway, I have an official invite from The Man hisself. Now I just need to figure out what to talk about!
 
The Bad Astronomer said:
I have an official invite from The Man hisself
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Hal ? You might also need to talk to that nice older gent with the beard.
Now I just need to figure out what to talk about!
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How about a sequel. You could do an hour on Nancy's excuses, easily.

--James
 
Re: speakers

kittynh said:
I know I enjoy reading Joe Nickel, ...., and I think he could do an interesting presentation on something like that.
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I agree Kittynh, I had Joe Nickel in mind while scrolling down the thread.

He must have wonderful accounts of his on-site paranormal investigations.
 
Most of the ones I would have chosen, have already been mentioned: Alan Alda, P&T, Ian Rowland, Phil Plait, Joe Nickell.

But I'd also like to reinvite Bob Carroll of Skeptics Dictionary fame, because his speech at the first TAM was understated but fascinating.

I would also recommend another "panel of the speakers" which was just fun to watch (and participate in) questions fired from the audience.

I would also ask for more magic interludes, perhaps after every speech or two, to leaven the mix.

My 2c
 
Additon to my list

An addition to my list of recommended speakers at the next TAM would be:

Hervey Peoples - is a molecular geneticist and avocational anthropologist who has studied the question of human origins for over 25 years. Her unique background qualifies her to write and talk about the complex and controversial subject of human origins – and answer "The Human Question" for a general audience. As a scientist she has studied the genetic effects of radiation, investigated the health effects of pollutants, and conducted clinical trials on new drug treatments for cancer. In the corporate world of high tech she created and managed marketing programs for IBM, AT&T, and other companies in the U.S. and Latin America. She has been a featured speaker for Fortune 500 companies, professional, and civic groups, and has been interviewed on TV and numerous radio talk shows nationwide. More info:
http://www.HumanQuestion.com

I have heard Hervey speak on numerous occations and I feel that she would be a wonderful speaker at the next TAM.
 
I see most of the people I have been thinking of have already been mentioned. I would also like to see Joe Nickell, I read a very interesting profile on him.

I have seen Ian Rowland's lecture, and he is a terrific speaker, and I enjoyed it tremendously. I think having him would be very appropriate for the meeting.
 
I see from today's announcement that Ian will speak at TAM2. That will be a great treat :)

Thanks, Randi, Hal and Ian :)
 
The Bad Astronomer said:
I should have thought of this earlier: creationism debunker Eugenie Scott (scroll down a bit to find her).
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Yes! I'd really like to hear her speak.

Three excellent speakers from the recent "Assault on Reason" conference (two of whom have already been mentioned in this thread):

Elizabeth Loftus (False Memories - now at UC Irvine)
Tom Flynn (Editor of Free Inquiry mag)
Julia Sweeney (God Said Ha!, Letting Go of God)

--James
 
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