Skepticism

Happy New Year!

Indulge me. I’ve already posted two Top 10 of 2008 lists, so I promise this is my last standard end-of-year/start-of-new-year post.

Last January, I set some goals for myself. Let’s see how I did!

1. Rock harder

I definitely managed to do this. More conferences, more fun, more travel, more rock shows, and I had an asteroid named after me. Plus I got guitar pick earrings for Christmas, so I am now pre I hit all my (more minor, but still important) goals:

2. Getting the Skepchick & Skepdude calendars out

Check! This was all about the amazing, gorgeous AB Kovaks, without whom we wouldn’t have done jack. Thanks, A!

3. New site layout

Check! After three failed redesigns offered by designers offering pro bono services, I finally just did it myself and nearly a year later, I’m still happy with it. I’ll be tweaking things of course, but overall it fits us quite well.

4. More blog updates, contests, prizes, snark

Check! These were all thanks to my awesome co-writers, most of whom were added this year. Elyse and Jill took over contests, Amanda and Jen began posting daily link dumps in the form of the Quickies, and everyone chipped in with copious amounts of snarkiness. You ladies rocked out loud this year.

5. The radio show

Half-a-check. Maybe a quarter. I didn’t get funding from the CPB, but we started doing Skepchick podcasts, which now have about 4,000 subscribers. So I’m making up for it!

6. The Skeptics’ Guide podcast

Check! I wanted to keep it up every week, and I did. It’s still fun. Score!

7. Gatherings of Various Sorts

Check! TAM5.5 was a blast, TAM6 was a nonstop party, and best of all, I did in fact manage to set up a monthly Skeptics in the Pub here in Boston, which is continuing in 2009.

Overall, that’s a damned good showing, I think. Now for some predictions and hopes for 2009:

1. Rock EVEN HARDER THAN BEFORE

This shall include figurative and literal rocking, encompassing the following list of action items:

  • Learn to play the piano
  • Learn to play the keytar
  • Buy a keytar in a really rad color, like fluorescent zebra stripes
  • Deliver a few highly entertaining talks
  • Book more great guests for Boston Skeptics in the Pub
  • Produce more quality Skepchick podcasts
  • Learn to do a handstand
  • Record some video blogs
  • Reach 2,000 Twitter friends so we can all have a pizza party
  • Clean my apartment
  • Write a song for the keytar
  • Perform my song on my keytar at The Amaz!ng Meeting
  • Befriend a chemist

That’s what I’ve got so far, but I’ll be adding to the list, for sure. Leave your suggestions for how I can rock harder in the new year, including how I can make Skepchick better.

And happy new year, everyone!

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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23 Comments

  1. Leave your suggestions for how I can rock harder in the new year, including how I can make Skepchick better.

    Continue to do your special exercises (you know the ones). You’ll see results and reap the benefits in no time at all.

    And how ’bout pie every Wednesday?

  2. If you add performing your song on a your keytar whilst performing a handstand, I might be interested in signing on to the Pub trip to see it!

  3. Clean MY apartment. (No, not really.)

    Totally Absolute Ultimate? Get a restored Moog Liberation and have Michelle Moog-Kousa show up at a gig to see you play your song.

    Alternatively, it has been suggested that the Skepchicks need breast reductions. Be the one that doesn’t get one. (Unless you need an endocrinologist the way that Dolly Parton does.)

  4. @Kimbo Jones: Yes, stop it, delete it, burn the remains, mix them with garlic, bury the mixture at a cross roads and make sure you place a rose on the box.

  5. @Knurl:

    I don’t think you mean endocrinologist. Usually those guys treat things like diabetes and infertility. Not to say you can’t be infertile, diabetic AND have large breasts… I just don’t think that’s what you were going for.

  6. @Elyse: A friend of my sister-in law just kept growing bigger. My brother wouldn’t tell me about it except that she saw a specialist, had an operation, and was taking medication. I meant no offence, and I hope none was taken.

    @Kimbo Jones: What she said

    @Gabrielbrawley: What he said.

    Friends at Skepchick, it’s New Year’s Eve 2008 and time to kick back a bit, and reflect upon things below A Sky Full Of Stars (just ask Phil). Really. Just click on my name. (Yes, I could have picked http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eyhqfVEJbqA&feature=channel_page or especially http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kT3PCGqQDwU&feature=channel, but I’m trying to be contemplative)

    Happy New Year EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!!

  7. @Kimbo and Gabriel: I’ll add napalm, shooting silver bullets into the ashes, dropping cartoon anvils on it, and anything else that might end that $^%*#*%^&$# Twilight thread to the mix. “Ple-e-e-z-e, just make it STOP!!”

    Sort of along those lines: Rebecca, is there a way to unsubscribe to a thread? I’m serious…That thread is clogging my e-mail up.

  8. A keytar, customized with your choice of paint, tape and glued-on items. Record a full-length CD. Then perform a solo, at least 25 minutes long. Wearing leg warmers and a mullet (wig is acceptable in this case). This should be your goal. You will be able to sell CD’s, and become rich…or just break even.

  9. @QuestionAuthority: Good point on the unsubscribing! I look into that.

    In other news, I updated my list with something that came up last night. There’s a chemist-shaped hole in my life that I need to fill. Which sounds sexier than I mean.

  10. @Rebecca: I know we Chemists have a reputation for Rocking Harder than anyone else, but the sythn involved to make, say, LSD is pretty complex and you don’t want a stoner doing it (besides the intermediates stink of cat-piss and stick out your dorm room, so I’v heard).

    While in NO WAY advocating drugs, Diethyl Ether (aka Ether) is often overlooked. Ok it’s highly flamable, carcinogenic and toxic (but so is Alcohol) but it’ll knock you out good and proper. Nitrous Oxide, again it’s ole timey, flamable, carcinogenic, toxic, but suprisingly easy (they had it in the 1700’s) to make. Not called laughing gas without good reason.

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