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The TAM 9 update thread

Well, either the Hatfields and the McCoys all killed each other off, the conference prep is too fascinating to miss, there is not a single Forum member at TAM, or everybody has me on Ignore. :(
 
People went there to discover that there is no TAM this year. However they are all too embarrassed to admit this, so they are spending the time partying and other socialising. So you will see heaps of photos of them all having a good time, not much anyone learning anything. The only person to discover this was Adam Savage. Evidence http://www.randi.org/site/index.php...-the-corner-some-important-announcements.html
 
TAM started off great. Lots of good food, lots of good people... I met Randi! And Mr. Deity!

OK, back to TAM... :)
 
Let's see. Horatius lost the Poker Tournament, Antiquehunter took him out. Mozelle "The Dolly" and I bombed out too, although she went out in style by losing with pocket kings to Zuma's pocket aces. And Mozelle offered to taser DrBuzzo after he allowed as how he's never been maced nor tasered... I thought Cleon and the rest of the group at the Del Mar were going to need supplemental oxygen due to the ensuing laughter.
 
Quick update: Musical number, keep questions short, DJ and Randi say hi, Shermer's Colbert bump, TV sucks.
 
WOW. Neil deGrasse Tyson was AWESOME and very energetic! He sat patiently for a very long time and signed autographs... I got one, and a picture with him! Same with Phil Plait, and what a nice guy Phil is. He was also very patiently signing books. AND I got a book signed by Michael Shermer. This is Geek Heaven.

All the speakers today were very good. It's incredibly to think there are still two days to go!

Also have to say how really cool it is to just be able to strike up an interesting, fun and lively conversation with anyone here. Every person we have met so far has been really great to talk to.

We had to give up early and go back to the room. So much to see and do... it's fun overload.
 
Thanks for the updates!
Amapola, not to make you nervous or anything but almost the entire southwest depends on you representing us as being normal. :)
 
Amapola said:
WOW. Neil deGrasse Tyson was AWESOME and very energetic! He sat patiently for a very long time and signed autographs... I got one, and a picture with him! Same with Phil Plait, and what a nice guy Phil is. He was also very patiently signing books. AND I got a book signed by Michael Shermer. This is Geek Heaven.
Click to expand...

I'll second your opinion of Neil deGrasse Tyson's presentation, it was the highlight (well, among many) of the day! I'll plead a bit of ignorance and had not known much about him, but I had to buy one of his books and stand in line for the signing after seeing him!

And after years of lurking I finally signed up at the JREF forum :) I'm so happy I finally got around to attending TAM. I think I'll be back year after year.
 
The Mutha said:
Let's see. Horatius lost the Poker Tournament, Antiquehunter took him out. Mozelle "The Dolly" and I bombed out too, although she went out in style by losing with pocket kings to Zuma's pocket aces.
Click to expand...

Oh, my pocket aces :) Well, we both had no choice really to go all-in with those hands. After busting her she was gracious enough to give me her gift bag bounty. I haven't broken in to the texas-sized jelly beans yet but I will soon. I'll also be sure to pay it forward and bring something next year.

Thanks Horatius for organizing the poker tournament. I'm always down for poker and it was a nice start to my first TAM.
 
Yesterday's recap. The panel discussion on the future of space exploration was the best so far. Phil Plait moderating, Bill Nye, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Pamela Gay and Lawrence Krause on the panel. Lively debates between Tyson and Krause. Gay shushed Tyson several times. All of them were passionate about the discussion and it showed. I really wish my Dad had come with us, he would have loved it all. Gay's speech earlier was inspiring, she truly has a very romantic streak. Tyson's keynote next was wonderful! There's a reason I love that man!

The Satarista thing was funny, but I'm not sure it was worth the $40 admission.

Penn's party was great. The Dolly and I have met some other forum folk and some that have never heard of the forums. (I'm sure they'll be joining soon.).

Today is The Dolly's 22nd birthday and we're both having a truly amazing time here at the meeting. We both agree Vegas is not somewhere we'd be interested in vacationing at if it wasn't for TAM.
 
Kopji said:
Thanks for the updates!
Amapola, not to make you nervous or anything but almost the entire southwest depends on you representing us as being normal. :)
Click to expand...

:eek::boggled:

Why wasn't this in a memo or something?! It might be a little too late...

I only have internet for a few minutes in the AM and PM, so it's off to TAM again.
 
Today... hard to choose a favorite speaker. Richard Wiseman, Bill Nye, Richard Dawkins... not to mention Loftus and Tavris, the SGU and some really interesting talk on how best to communicate with non-critical thinkers. I guess I'd have to choose Bill Nye just because he's always been a favorite of mine but it was really something to listen to Dawkins field all the questions he got from the audience. A really polished and elegant speaker, not to mention really freaking intelligent. Actually all the talks today seemed to have a recurrent theme and that was kind of cool to see that developing.

Once again we are exhausted! One more day.
 
so far I have -
hugged a lot of people. A lot. Just ask kochanski, GG, Kitty, The Mutha (and Dolly) Amapola, and Horatius
Acted like every time I've ran into RLancaster it's been like the very first time. This has probably started to annoy him.
drank, a lot. Just ask Horatius.
Played wow with my guildies.
Entrusted Hokulele with "Sabrina"
Had my picture taken with James Randi and Michael Shermer.
Somehow ended up in Coyote Ugly at the New York hotel getting into a stare down with a 6'8 inch tall guy
drank more
ended up with Tim Tams
got a few shirts
discussed beer
gave TubbaBlubba advice on the perfect Manhattan
went outside and took my shirt off at the pool. It was so awesome Eos of the Eons walked right by me and didn't notice
Punched the Horse
 
Do you get notes at all? Do you make your own notes? Otherwise 90+% of what you are told will go in one ear and out the other. Sometimes when I go to such places the main benefit is the notes.
 
I missed Friday because of my bum leg. No Tyson for me. Saturday: Skeptics Guide to the Universe bit included very funny Skeptic Mafia short film. Bill Nye very enthused. Got Ancestor's Tale signed by Dawkins. Learned stuff from his lecture.

Not running into other forum members for some reason, it makes me sad. Maybe today will be different.
 
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