TAM Highlights?

[Dinsdale Piranha]

Highlights:

Meeting many cool people with whom I've conversed through the forum. Also meeting several more not on the forum. Regretfully, I missed many I wanted to meet. My fault for not introducing myself. I may have been a bit overwhelmed by the new experience and the number of people there. Next time I'll know better.

So many inspirational speakers.

Laughing until I cried at Scott Dikkers' "Landing on the Moon" bit.

Meeting Randi, Phil "Tectonic" Plait, Banachek, Dr. Shermer, Jerry Andrus, The Mythbusters and Pete Rose. Yes, that Pete Rose at Caesars Palace.

Fat Tire Amber Ale.

Being in Las Vegas for the first time.

Lowlight:
My sinus problems and my wife's migraines. Must be the climate.

 

[Boo]

I think I huggged everyone at least once and many, more then once.

Adam and Tory are even cooler in person.

I have decided that the new 'in' skepdude look is balding, redheads with goatees. *drool*


The stunned looks on the faces of the security gauntlet after they asked us to leave and we did so.

Having discussions at lunch with people on the merit of the bible as literature as finding out later that one was the head of the American Humanists and another was a fellow lobbiest of Lori Littman Brown.


Seeing the look of stunned awe and wonder on the face of a young person as he realized there were others like him and then getting to introduce him to one of the people he most admires.

Watching Phil Plait almost fall out of his chair during Dikkers audio file of the moon landing.

Having non attendees and hotel staff ask about The Amaz!ng Meeting including one gentleman who stopped me to ask if the Amazing Randi was indeed in attendance and was pleased to hear of his full recovery.

Watching RSLancaster and Randi on CNN live feed taking down Sylvia and then getting to have dinner with them. Very surreal.

I'm still trying to absorb and process everything that happened over the last 6 days. The one overwhelming feeling is how much I miss everyone and that feeling of family.


Boo

 

[SkepticScott]

SherlockJr, The Central Scrutinizer, I've got you down and will remind you when I start the thread in a couple months. We've got to do it before Labor Day, because that's when the developers who bought the rest of Coney Island start tearing their parts down.

 

[SkepticScott]

Seeing the look of stunned awe and wonder on the face of a young person as he realized there were others like him and then getting to introduce him to one of the people he most admires.

Steve Doctors' son (Justin?) wanted to meet Tory Belleci, but was too shy to apporach him. I whispered to Tory "This young man would like to talk to you, but he's shy.", then stood back as Tory introduced himself Justin. I saw the same look you mentioned, Boo.

 

[saganite]

Where the hell where you? I´ve been looking for you all the time. Of course, not knowing how you look made that a bit difficult...

Sorry. I was there. I tried to meet as many people as possible but it was difficult to circulate, at least until it got late and then I was drunk and couldn't remember who I'd met and began introducing myself to the same people over and over.

 

[JLam]

A highlight for me was the trip back to the hotel from Lotus of Siam. Kinda had to be there.

 

[slingblade]

I know the next time I go, and there are people I need to see, and someone says "S/he's in the next room; I just saw him/her," I will say, "Then since you obviously know what s/he looks like, and I don't, would you be a dear and ask him/her to come here, please?" (or "Please lead me to him/her?")

Would have saved me much anxiety and people getting miffed at me, although deservedly so.

 

[Kil]

I met so many wonderful people and heard so many profound or insanely vulgar and funny things I wouldn’t know where to begin.

But my wish list from last year was fulfilled at this TAM. Those were to meet Derek and Swoopy and see Derek doing so well, and to finally meet Robert Carroll so I could thank him in person…

Oh, one other thing. Badger!!! Made going to the forum party for me…

 

[Jas]

Definitely meeting people.

Although I feel I should apologize, as I had some things external to TAM going on, and it might have not been the best week, in retrospect, for me to be going to Vegas. I had several people mention to me that I seemed quieter, a bit off, etc. Anyway, that's done.

Oh, and some of my time off is being counted as bereavement leave, so I now have more vacation time. Which is good, but kind of sh***y at the same time.

Anyway, everyone was pretty rad.

 

[NewMusic_Jenn]

Seeing 800 skeptics in one room blew me away. Knowing that there were going to be that number there was one thing but actually seeing that number was awsome!

Having that many people all interested in reason and critical thinking all together was a refreshing change,

Getting to know some of you face to face

All of the speakers - especially the panel discussion (nothing like a difference of opinion to add spice to a panel)

 

[RSLancastr]

At the Forum party, I managed to fight my way in to one of the bedrooms, where a dozen or so people were sitting around on beds and chairs, drinking, and talking. Like every other room in the place, it was LOUD.

Over the din I hear someone shout my name. I look over and see Loon trying to get my attention. He points to a lovely lady sitting on the bed, and (I swear) he yells "Three-way!!"

Okay, I had to have misheard. I yell back to him "What?!?!"

He points at her again, and says, a little louder, "Three-way!!!"

I look over at the lovely lady, who is now smiling at me and nodding.

Okay, so now I'm thinking "Wow, first the CNN interview, now this!"

I look at Loon one more time, and yell "WHAT?!?!?"

He points at the lady again, cups his hands around his mouth and yells to me "SLING BLADE!!!"

Oh.

But I got to meet (and hug) Sling Blade!

 

[DiskoVilante]

Yesss!!!!


ahem, nope, I'm not waiting for pics. Nope, I'm not all excited. Nope, I won't be stalking every single one of DiskoVilante's posts until I see pics. nUh uhhhhh.

Oh jeez, the pressure. I have classes you know!!!! And a BASS meeting to prep for...gimme one more day please?

 

[LostAngeles]

I can't believe I forgot about this one.

I believe some speaker had suggested that, "Spoonbender," be used as insult. Maybe it was Randi himself. Anyways.

On Saturday, I'm sitting at the table by the registration desk with delphi_ote starting trouble when DRBUZZ0 walks by.

"COMPASSMOVER!" he cries out at me.
"SPOONBENDER!" I respond.

This exchange of insults went on for about a minute or so.

Almost, if not as good, as Terry and I yelling, "WHORES!" at each other for a good thirty seconds last year.

 

[Jas]

OK, now that my brain is semi functioning after an infusion of gummies and lattes (there is nothing better than having a staff discount at a coffee shop, although telling my coworker that I needed coffee due to having "No mental...uh, working", is a pretty close second), I can actually post something that's relevant to the thread, so please ignore my initial one.

Anyway, some (dubious but distinct), highlights include being serenaded, getting chased through the casino at five in the morning so that someone could yell at me about something involving Star Trek (I have about as much of a clue as you), and.... hmmm. Just about all of them involve copious amounts of gin.

 

[IllegalArgument]

I can't believe I forgot about this one.

I believe some speaker had suggested that, "Spoonbender," be used as insult. Maybe it was Randi himself. Anyways.

On Saturday, I'm sitting at the table by the registration desk with delphi_ote starting trouble when DRBUZZ0 walks by.

"COMPASSMOVER!" he cries out at me.
"SPOONBENDER!" I respond.

This exchange of insults went on for about a minute or so.

Almost, if not as good, as Terry and I yelling, "WHORES!" at each other for a good thirty seconds last year.

Don't forget the digitalize the notes you and Delphi were passing.

 

[LostAngeles]

Don't forget the digitalize the notes you and Delphi were passing.

He has them. I should note that I made a mistake on the first one. I made a leap that I technically couldn't, although the conclusion was still correct.

I wrote it right in someone's ID book though, and when delphi posts them, I'll make the correction.

 

[Dicon]

One of many highlights for me is something that didn't happen - that loony toon annoying Unitarian lady (you all know who I'm talking about) didn't get to ask a question.

Yes! I kept waiting for her to appear but it just never happened. Was she even there this year?

 

[Pirate_Lad]

OK, now that my brain is semi functioning after an infusion of gummies and lattes (there is nothing better than having a staff discount at a coffee shop, although telling my coworker that I needed coffee due to having "No mental...uh, working", is a pretty close second), I can actually post something that's relevant to the thread, so please ignore my initial one.

Anyway, some (dubious but distinct), highlights include being serenaded, getting chased through the casino at five in the morning so that someone could yell at me about something involving Star Trek (I have about as much of a clue as you), and.... hmmm. Just about all of them involve copious amounts of gin.

I think you've forgotten about a particular experience we shared.

 

[LostAngeles]

Yes! I kept waiting for her to appear but it just never happened. Was she even there this year?

I had been wondering if the Stars 'n' Stripes lady was her and asked people. Turns out she'd been telling everyone about her medical marijuana.

Which makes her question to Horatius's presentation somewhat logical.

Except that it still totally wasn't.

 

[DRBUZZ0]

OK, now that my brain is semi functioning after an infusion of gummies and lattes (there is nothing better than having a staff discount at a coffee shop, although telling my coworker that I needed coffee due to having "No mental...uh, working", is a pretty close second), I can actually post something that's relevant to the thread, so please ignore my initial one.

Anyway, some (dubious but distinct), highlights include being serenaded, getting chased through the casino at five in the morning so that someone could yell at me about something involving Star Trek (I have about as much of a clue as you), and.... hmmm. Just about all of them involve copious amounts of gin.

Okay... to try to explain this again. Now I was trying to explain by metaphor why you needed to come to Connecticut, basically I was saying that you are the seed which would spread the jas-ness around the state which needs it.

I first called you an infection... but a good one. Then I went for the "infectious vaccine" or the "seed" metaphore. None of these seemed to convey the idea.

So as you were walking away and I toward the elevator, it finally dawned on me: The Genesis. (Wrath of Kahn).


Let me explain: The Genesis is a device which starts a reaction that reorders the inorganic matter of a system and allows life to rapidly blossom. The Genesis destroys, but it was NEVER intended as a weapon. The reason it destroys is so it can create. When you set off the Genesis, all the matter in its field is broken down to its basic particles. But this is so it can be reordered into life. It is a self-sustaining reaction, so that once the regeneration process starts, the violence will be short lived and followed by the beauty of life.


Kahn (KAAAAAAAAAAHN!!!!!!) wanted the Genesis because he saw the destructive power, but he saw it too narrowly. It is more the plowshare than the sword, but it's power is underestimated at one's own peril.

And you are similar Jas. It is not a perfect metaphor, but it serves the purpose. If you bring Jas into a system, barin of beauty and meaning, the resulting reaction will be violent and intense, but it will propagate order and life, rebirthing the world into something much much more.