It’s currently about 30 degrees in Boston and the entire city is covered in permafrost. This is the warmest it’s been all week. Tomorrow, I’ll be hopping a plane and leaving it all behind for the duration of TAM5.5, located in sunny Ft. Lauderdale, Florida! Well, sort of sunny. It’ll be a bit gloomy Thursday and Friday apparently, but Saturday and Sunday are going to be perfect. I can’t wait! Read further for news on that and a bit more.
On Friday, I’ll be helping Bart Farkas run a seminar on Getting Your Voice Heard Online, all about the joys of podcasting. Saturday, I’ll participate in panel discussions and give a short talk about the Talent Quest, and what goes into making a public radio show. Saturday night I’ll be throwing a party like I did at TAM5 — this time, I was smart enough to plan it so that I don’t have to give a talk the morning after the big shindig.
For those of you who sadly cannot join me at TAM, check in here on the site and I’ll try to provide updates, as will Sam, Skepchick’s newest writer (and, in case you didn’t notice, the only dude on the site).
Speaking of TAM, I got a nice write-up in the local (to JREF) alternative weekly paper, the Broward-Palm Beach New Times. The reporter was super cool, and I babbled to her for ages, so kudos to her for putting up with that. One minor quibble is that my first big skeptical meetup was TAM3 back in 2005, not the Amaz!ng Adventure to Alaska (which was just this past September). But, I couldn’t be more pleased that she referred to Skepchick as “the Wonkette of science skepticism.” I’m certainly making a go at building this into a dynamic resource for critical thinkers, and thus far I think the new team of Skepchicks are doing wonders to make that happen. So . . . hooray!
Also in regards to the Skepchick forum, I’ve given it a stay of execution for the moment as I’m considering merging it with the SGU forum so that people can still have a place to go if they’re interested. It’ll be a smaller subforum, but I think we can do it so that all usernames and such are maintained. (That won’t happen until I’m back from TAM, at least.)
Oh, finally, make sure you check out the link to Who’s Who on Skepchick, off in the right-hand sidebar. That’ll be updated with everyone’s photos and bios as we go, so you can find out all about the new and improved team.
Okay, that’s it for now. I hope to see many of you in Florida!
You try to ignore it, but when someone finally confronts you with the evidence, it really hits home:
rebecca wrote
I feel so emasculated …
exarch,
Don't feel so bad! Sam MAY be the only "dude" on the site, but I'm holding firm to the conviction that he's not the only gentleman.
Okay, pedants, you know what I meant. I was up at 5am, gimme a break! Sam is the only dude blogging on the site.
Oh, Florida is so far away from my neck of the woods in Canada…one day I'll get to the TAM events, one day!
Regarding your being "The Wonkette of science skepticism.†I concur. Plus, you have the added bonus of being a real woman. Double bonus: Real AND a Woman.
And so I miss ANOTHER TAM event. There is a God and she hates me. Something always comes up, and she didn't disappoint this time either.
Raise a glass for me, and tell Randi that my life was changed the night he was on "Hour 25" in Los Angeles.
Have a great and productive time.
The article also says one skeptic party required "police intervention", which is a slight exaggeration from "hotel security". Close though, and kudos for including the "scotch-swigging Christopher Hitchens".
Reports differed, but a few people who were at the party when it was shut down did state that hotel security was accompanied by Las Vegas police. However, they demanded that no photos be taken at the scene, so it's open to debate.
Gotta get a carrying case for my laptop, so I can post from Florida. I lost my other one, and at first I thought, "How the hell does anyone lose a laptop carrying case?"
Then I realized I'm just that talented.
I know I’m going to be there, I look forward to your workshop too.
It's around 30 degrees over here in New Zealand as well… although, of course, we use the proper Celcius degrees, so not so much on the permafrost…
Hiya! I live in Miami, and am very excited about seeing you speak. Even more importantly: how does one get an invite to your party? One issue- I'm playing with the Miami City Ballet at 2 and 8 on Saturday (at least I'll get to see the pre-lunch break stuff, as we're conveniently performing in Ft.L), but I'd like nothing more than to spend my Saturday night drinking with some very intelligent dorks.
Hm, I won't know the exact place until I get there and check in, but as soon as that happens (Saturday), I'll pass around the location by word of mouth and hopefully maybe by signage. I'll try to get to the computer to post it here on the blog, as well! (Or have one of the other bloggers do it…)
Righteous. I'll keep an eye out for info on Saturday. Assuming that I'm able to find you guys, should I bring booze?
Yes! Your booze of choice and donations to cover party expenses are welcomed at the door. :)
Maybe if I wasn't poor, and all these events weren't in expensive resort cities. :)
How about I throw a TAM satellite party at my house in Oswego, Il? I'm sure the temperature will be the same as in Florida… just on the other side of the 0.
Whether or not any of you decide to show up, I'll still be drinking and ranting about how the Discovery and Science channels pander to the true believers… and playing Monopoly.
Just to make you jealous, it was about 50 degrees when I woke up this morning at 6, and it's supposed to be about 65 today. And it may rain! RAIN! YAY! I live in Phoenix, AZ. We all get excited about rain.