Events

TAM6: Day One

Apparently Donna came out as a creationist yesterday but I’m way too wiped out to even participate in the melee that has erupted as a result. (I’m kidding, Donna . . . I hope. Holy zombie jesus I hope you didn’t come out as a creationist.)

I arrived in Vegas last night around 12:30am PT on a late flight that I liked calling “The Plane of Misfit Toys.” There were about four babies, one dog, and 18 old people needing wheelchairs and early boarding. The woman next to me had a cough that sounded like she was an extra in The Stand. The man immediately in front of me was so drunk he was talking to himself during most of the flight. He had to be reminded twice that the tray table was not a footrest. As we were taxiing in Boston, we pulled around to see the moon, large and beautiful and full and a deep orange color hanging just above the horizon. “Well,” the drunk said matter-of-factly, “there’s the sun.”

So anyway, as soon as I got to the Strip I went to the Flamingo’s main bar, and sure enough there were about 30 skeptics hanging out having a good time. I saw A and Teek and Sam and Masala_Skeptic, so the skepchicks are already in full force. Someone bought me a lot of drinks (mostly A, I think). At one point my friend Simon called one of those girls with a card handed out on the Strip to ask how much it would cost for her to do something completely unspeakable (in polite company) to him. I don’t think he got through.

And that’s it. I went to bed around 3 or 4am, and now I need pancakes. Mmmmm pancakes. I uploaded some pics already. The one above is a shot of my friend Lola’s Darwin tattoo. Rawk.

Sorry, nothing particularly skeptical happened today but I wanted everyone to know I made it, alive.

Pancakes.

PS, my white linen pants are totally see-through. If you see me, please act as though they are not. Thank you.

Rebecca Watson

Rebecca is a writer, speaker, YouTube personality, and unrepentant science nerd. In addition to founding and continuing to run Skepchick, she hosts Quiz-o-Tron, a monthly science-themed quiz show and podcast that pits comedians against nerds. There is an asteroid named in her honor. Twitter @rebeccawatson Mastodon mstdn.social/@rebeccawatson Instagram @actuallyrebeccawatson TikTok @actuallyrebeccawatson YouTube @rebeccawatson BlueSky @rebeccawatson.bsky.social

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11 Comments

  1. See now if you had said you were going to wear see through pants I would have cancelled the pile of crap that is work and everything else I’ve got going on this weekend and gone. Advanced notice next time please.

    In the mean time I will just have to be happy with the Better Off Dead/One Crazy Summer double feature at the Aero Theatre in Santa Monica with Savage Steve Holland, Curtis Armstrong, and Diane Franklin, Mmmmm Diane Franklin.

  2. I haven’t gone to a TAM, but I would venture the guess that – when it is all over – it will have been worth riding the Plane of Misfit Toys.

    teambanzai – Enjoy your movies. While you are getting caught up in the eternal strugle for “two dollars”, I will be laying tile in my kitchen.

    (No. That is not a euphemism for something more fun.)

  3. I’m an ex-creationist. I just don’t think creationists are bringing in the end of civilization. :-)

    I hope everyone has a great time at TAM. I wish I could be there.

  4. To hell with the list of conference talks. I need a list of meetup times and places! I put in about 5 miles, maybe more, of Vegas walking last night and either totally missed the bar gathering or it started after I gave up in exhaustion and headed to my room here in the Flamingo. Been scouring blogs and boards all morning trying to figure out where folks are going to gather for general fun and chat – first time at TAM, not so obvious!

  5. ScottG: If you’re at the hotel check-in, and you turn and face the other way, go about 50 paces (through a little bit of casino) you’ll find yourself at the top of a flight of stairs, in-between two bars: The Diamond Lounge, and The Garden Bar.

    For the last two nights we’ve been holding court there, mostly at the Garden Bar. We’re easy to spot: rowdy, geeky t-shirts abound, really sexy. I’m red-haired with bangs (or fringe if you’re from across the pond.) Last night I was buying drinks, but only two for Rebecca, no matter what she says.

    See you later. (Oh, also, there’s a reception tonight, right?)

  6. (*sigh*)

    Wish I were there.

    And not just because of your see-through pants, Rebecca (though that’s definitely an added incentive).

    ~David D.G.

  7. As we were taxiing in Boston, we pulled around to see the moon, large and beautiful and full and a deep orange color hanging just above the horizon. “Well,” the drunk said matter-of-factly, “there’s the sun.”

    Man, that’s when you know you’re blasted…

  8. Rebecca, is the Boston drinking skeptically on for June 23 as it says on the calendar?

    Also, there is an event that could use an army of skeptics on June 27. David Kirby, author of “Evidence of Harm”, that anti-vax screed is presenting at Northeastern and has challenged the forces of light and reason to ask him questions which he will proceed to dodge and lie about.

    http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2008/06/yawn_david_kirbys_calling_you_out.php

    Since you are in Vegas with Steve Novella, and what ever happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, ;) can you do something ;) to get Steve Novella to lay a dose of skepticism on David Kirby that night?

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