<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?><?xml-stylesheet href="http://www.blogger.com/styles/atom.css" type="text/css"?><feed xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom' xmlns:openSearch='http://a9.com/-/spec/opensearchrss/1.0/' xmlns:georss='http://www.georss.org/georss' xmlns:gd='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005' xmlns:thr='http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0'><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2485513185408093668</id><updated>2012-02-16T04:12:46.999-08:00</updated><category term='dousing'/><category term='buffy'/><category term='wedding'/><category term='brian brushwood'/><category term='conservatism'/><category term='penn'/><category term='aliens'/><category term='science and entertainment exchange'/><category term='NAS'/><category term='morals'/><category term='libertarianism'/><category term='skepticality'/><category term='phil plait'/><category term='mdc'/><category term='las vegas'/><category term='derek bartholomaus'/><category term='tam london'/><category term='michael shermer'/><category term='t-shirt'/><category term='banacheck'/><category term='alice cooper'/><category term='mythos'/><category term='The Big Bang Theory'/><category term='video'/><category term='TAM'/><category term='tv'/><category term='sid rodriguez'/><category term='rational thinking'/><category term='jamy ian swiss'/><category term='rant'/><category term='militant atheism'/><category term='james randi'/><category term='jonathan haidt'/><category term='asshole skepticism'/><category term='video diary'/><category term='skepticamp'/><category term='wifi'/><category term='dawkins'/><category term='mythbusters'/><category term='keynote'/><category term='webcam'/><category term='humour'/><category term='james randi educational foundation'/><category term='joe nickell'/><category term='SGU'/><category term='skeptical'/><category term='adam savage'/><category term='skeptic'/><category term='wordpress'/><category term='evan bernstein'/><category term='rationality'/><category term='a few good men'/><category term='harriet hall'/><category term='andrew wakefield'/><category term='jenny mccarthy'/><category term='jref'/><category term='robert lancaster'/><category term='orac'/><category term='michael goudeau'/><category term='extra-terrestrials'/><category term='anti vaccination'/><category term='jennifer ouellette'/><category term='militant skepticism'/><category term='TAM7'/><category term='media'/><category term='myth'/><category term='podcast'/><category term='delays'/><category term='skepchick'/><category term='magic'/><category term='joe albietz'/><category term='skeptic magazine'/><category term='critical thinking'/><category term='critical thought'/><category term='rational thought'/><category term='jref scholarships'/><category term='sylvia browne'/><category term='conference'/><category term='penn and teller'/><category term='vegas'/><category term='Beast of bottomless lake'/><category term='david brin'/><category term='internet'/><category term='Skeptics&apos; guide to the universe'/><category term='escape artist'/><category term='bill prady'/><category term='liberalism'/><category term='connie sonne'/><category term='michael moore'/><category term='politics'/><category term='bad skeptic'/><category term='tribalism'/><category term='jay novella'/><category term='atheism'/><category term='teller'/><category term='sasquatch'/><category term='kardashev'/><category term='bigfoot'/><category term='buffyverse'/><category term='television'/><category term='lunch'/><category term='national academy of sciences'/><category term='radio freethinkers'/><category term='SEE'/><category term='stop sylvia browne'/><category term='blogger'/><category term='escape pod'/><category term='reed esau'/><category term='skepticism'/><category term='david gorski'/><category term='steve novella'/><category term='South Point'/><category term='civilization type'/><category term='anne coulter'/><category term='skeptical thought'/><category term='million dollar challenge'/><category term='film'/><category term='failure'/><category term='hal bidlack'/><category term='myths'/><category term='Amazing Meeting'/><category term='fiction'/><category term='rebecca watson'/><category term='morality'/><title type='text'>The TAMaz!ng Blog</title><subtitle type='html'>This blog is a focussed experiment. I wanted to test my ability to publish and produce a taut multi-media blog on something.  I attended TAM7 in July.  It struck me as the perfect 4-day crash course.  The "course" didn't go as well as I hoped, but I learned a lot.  I'm continuting to update as I have the opportunity to - eventually I'll have covered the entirety of my experience at the conference.</subtitle><link rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#feed' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2485513185408093668/posts/default?max-results=100'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/'/><link rel='hub' href='http://pubsubhubbub.appspot.com/'/><author><name>Jedi School Drop Out</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/10308801339937940368</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='25' src='http://farm1.static.flickr.com/59/205881255_065703c565_m.jpg'/></author><generator version='7.00' uri='http://www.blogger.com'>Blogger</generator><openSearch:totalResults>43</openSearch:totalResults><openSearch:startIndex>1</openSearch:startIndex><openSearch:itemsPerPage>100</openSearch:itemsPerPage><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2485513185408093668.post-4058353521258952000</id><published>2009-11-19T23:52:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2009-11-19T23:53:02.442-08:00</updated><title type='text'>C'Est Tout!</title><summary type='text'>Okay, I conceed.

I was foiled in part by really bad audio on the magic in skepticism panel, which resulted in me taking a break from working towards finishing.  Then I got happily sucked into the skeptical vortex of Skeptic North.  And somewhere in there I promised myself that I was soon going to hunker down and finish what I started.  More recently I shifted to telling myself that I'd get </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/feeds/4058353521258952000/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/2009/11/cest-tout.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2485513185408093668/posts/default/4058353521258952000'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2485513185408093668/posts/default/4058353521258952000'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/2009/11/cest-tout.html' title='C&apos;Est Tout!'/><author><name>Jedi School Drop Out</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/10308801339937940368</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='25' src='http://farm1.static.flickr.com/59/205881255_065703c565_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2485513185408093668.post-1526230015232376775</id><published>2009-08-24T22:56:00.001-07:00</published><updated>2009-08-25T14:57:40.040-07:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='adam savage'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='mythbusters'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='failure'/><title type='text'>No-Frills-Adam Fails Upwards</title><summary type='text'>I was pretty damned excited to hear Joe Nickell talk and Jennifer Ouellette (SEO pros would be appalled at how much I'm linking back to my own post about her) turned out to be my surprise favourite speaker, but if there was one person who I was excited about from the start who did not let-down in the least, it was Adam Savage from MythBusters.Adam's presentation was unique. Everyone else – to a </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/feeds/1526230015232376775/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/2009/08/no-frills-adam-fails-upwards.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2485513185408093668/posts/default/1526230015232376775'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2485513185408093668/posts/default/1526230015232376775'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/2009/08/no-frills-adam-fails-upwards.html' title='No-Frills-Adam Fails Upwards'/><author><name>Jedi School Drop Out</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/10308801339937940368</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='25' src='http://farm1.static.flickr.com/59/205881255_065703c565_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2485513185408093668.post-7219609810740338752</id><published>2009-08-24T16:49:00.001-07:00</published><updated>2009-08-24T22:14:46.017-07:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='morals'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='libertarianism'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='a few good men'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='morality'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='conservatism'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='civilization type'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='skeptic magazine'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='liberalism'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='tribalism'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='michael shermer'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='jonathan haidt'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='politics'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='kardashev'/><title type='text'>Shermer Rises Above</title><summary type='text'>While Friday had been an entertaining day, and even had my favourite individual speaker (Jennifer Oullette) Saturday was the best day of the conference.It started off well with the surreal SGU breakfast, and the first speaker of the day set us off in grand fashion. (That said, it was a dense talk requiring an ability to maintain early points through to the end. The distilling of the details here </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/feeds/7219609810740338752/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/2009/08/shermer-rises-above.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2485513185408093668/posts/default/7219609810740338752'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2485513185408093668/posts/default/7219609810740338752'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/2009/08/shermer-rises-above.html' title='Shermer Rises Above'/><author><name>Jedi School Drop Out</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/10308801339937940368</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='25' src='http://farm1.static.flickr.com/59/205881255_065703c565_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2485513185408093668.post-2500674484261981539</id><published>2009-08-20T11:15:00.001-07:00</published><updated>2009-08-20T11:15:52.133-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Intermezzo</title><summary type='text'>Just a small acknowledgement that I'm skipping the first event of Saturday morning – the SGU breakfast.  I already covered it in a previous post.  Jay premiered his film and Rebecca got married.But the other thing I wanted to mention, I've finally solved by video issues.  So soon I'll be able to add some clips of my own.  I'm going to have to get some capturing and editing done first, but it'll </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/feeds/2500674484261981539/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/2009/08/intermezzo.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2485513185408093668/posts/default/2500674484261981539'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2485513185408093668/posts/default/2500674484261981539'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/2009/08/intermezzo.html' title='Intermezzo'/><author><name>Jedi School Drop Out</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/10308801339937940368</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='25' src='http://farm1.static.flickr.com/59/205881255_065703c565_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2485513185408093668.post-1910854173945533158</id><published>2009-08-15T15:24:00.001-07:00</published><updated>2009-08-15T15:24:17.715-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Bring on the Night</title><summary type='text'>With the first day's formal activities complete it was time to move on to the evening's scattered brou-ha-ha.  I mixed up my evening with a variety of events, organized, un-organized and downright disorganized.Upon leaving the convention centre I headed up to Paul and my room.  He was diligently hammering away at his keyboard, putting together material for his blog on TAM.  He was publishing live</summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/feeds/1910854173945533158/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/2009/08/bring-on-night.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2485513185408093668/posts/default/1910854173945533158'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2485513185408093668/posts/default/1910854173945533158'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/2009/08/bring-on-night.html' title='Bring on the Night'/><author><name>Jedi School Drop Out</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/10308801339937940368</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='25' src='http://farm1.static.flickr.com/59/205881255_065703c565_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2485513185408093668.post-6481890459239618122</id><published>2009-08-11T22:08:00.001-07:00</published><updated>2009-08-11T22:35:42.047-07:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='myths'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='extra-terrestrials'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='joe nickell'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='mythos'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='aliens'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='myth'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='sasquatch'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='bigfoot'/><title type='text'>An Audience with the Master</title><summary type='text'>One of the things I underestimated about TAM was just how populated it is by the blinding-light deities of skepticism. You could throw a rock and hit a prominent skeptic. Truly. Having been in the entertainment industry for pretty much my entire adult life means that by now I've largely overcome the sensation of being star-struck. But I've got to say that at TAM I was overcome by it more </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/feeds/6481890459239618122/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/2009/08/audience-with-master.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2485513185408093668/posts/default/6481890459239618122'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2485513185408093668/posts/default/6481890459239618122'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/2009/08/audience-with-master.html' title='An Audience with the Master'/><author><name>Jedi School Drop Out</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/10308801339937940368</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='25' src='http://farm1.static.flickr.com/59/205881255_065703c565_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2485513185408093668.post-2793250963500337964</id><published>2009-08-09T23:50:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-08-10T10:36:57.684-07:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='andrew wakefield'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='joe albietz'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='anti vaccination'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='michael goudeau'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='david gorski'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='harriet hall'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='derek bartholomaus'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='jenny mccarthy'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='steve novella'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='orac'/><title type='text'>Anti-Anti-Vax Panel (Get that?  I had to read it thrice.)</title><summary type='text'>Presumably, if you are reading this blog you are doing so because you already have an interest in critical thinking and if you already have an interest in critical thinking then you more than likely already know at least a little about the Anti-vaccination movement. It may actually be the most important clearly cut battle that we are fighting today. There are others that are important. I believe </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/feeds/2793250963500337964/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/2009/08/anti-anti-vax-panel-get-that-i-had-to.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2485513185408093668/posts/default/2793250963500337964'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2485513185408093668/posts/default/2793250963500337964'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/2009/08/anti-anti-vax-panel-get-that-i-had-to.html' title='Anti-Anti-Vax Panel (Get that?  I had to read it thrice.)'/><author><name>Jedi School Drop Out</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/10308801339937940368</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='25' src='http://farm1.static.flickr.com/59/205881255_065703c565_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2485513185408093668.post-2037965971375265961</id><published>2009-08-09T15:05:00.001-07:00</published><updated>2009-08-09T15:07:39.964-07:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='SEE'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='jennifer ouellette'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='national academy of sciences'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='NAS'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='buffy'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='film'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='tv'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='buffyverse'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='television'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='science and entertainment exchange'/><title type='text'>A Personal Paradigm Shift</title><summary type='text'>There were a number of really inspiring moments at TAM for me, but the first and possibly greatest was Jennifer Ouellette's presentation on Friday.Before I get into her presentation it is probably worth contextualizing my own position in the skeptical world. I – if you've been reading much you know this – am an artist. A film-maker specifically. And frankly, my business is rife with woo. Yes, </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/feeds/2037965971375265961/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/2009/08/personal-paradigm-shift.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2485513185408093668/posts/default/2037965971375265961'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2485513185408093668/posts/default/2037965971375265961'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/2009/08/personal-paradigm-shift.html' title='A Personal Paradigm Shift'/><author><name>Jedi School Drop Out</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/10308801339937940368</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='25' src='http://farm1.static.flickr.com/59/205881255_065703c565_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2485513185408093668.post-4518444592152762384</id><published>2009-08-08T22:27:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-08-08T22:44:38.459-07:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='rant'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='delays'/><title type='text'>Interlude</title><summary type='text'>Holy smoke this is taking forever!One month ago tomorrow marks the one month "annniversary" (Why do people use that word?  It's latin root is (off the top of my head) 'annum' which means 'year'.) of the opening of TAM7.I'm still not finished the first full day!  I still have a substantial portion of Friday, all of Saturday and then Sunday to report on.  Sigh.I have been very distracted by a </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/feeds/4518444592152762384/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/2009/08/interlude.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2485513185408093668/posts/default/4518444592152762384'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2485513185408093668/posts/default/4518444592152762384'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/2009/08/interlude.html' title='Interlude'/><author><name>Jedi School Drop Out</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/10308801339937940368</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='25' src='http://farm1.static.flickr.com/59/205881255_065703c565_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2485513185408093668.post-8733949652060788877</id><published>2009-08-08T16:58:00.001-07:00</published><updated>2009-08-08T17:26:37.835-07:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='james randi'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='escape artist'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='alice cooper'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='jamy ian swiss'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='magic'/><title type='text'>A Discussion with Randi</title><summary type='text'>Coming off a lunch that was a bit confused – ‘chaotic’ would not be fair – we were treated with a discussion between Jamy Ian Swiss and James Randi. It was in many ways a bit of a palate cleanser. One of the lighter portions of the day. I didn’t really get the opportunity to pay close attention to the beginning of the presentation as I was wrapping up my duties at the SkeptiCamp table.The intent </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/feeds/8733949652060788877/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/2009/08/discussion-with-randi.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2485513185408093668/posts/default/8733949652060788877'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2485513185408093668/posts/default/8733949652060788877'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/2009/08/discussion-with-randi.html' title='A Discussion with Randi'/><author><name>Jedi School Drop Out</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/10308801339937940368</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='25' src='http://farm1.static.flickr.com/59/205881255_065703c565_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2485513185408093668.post-938590947109584570</id><published>2009-08-01T15:02:00.001-07:00</published><updated>2009-08-01T15:37:07.145-07:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='james randi'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='TAM7'/><title type='text'>This Just In</title><summary type='text'>I'm preparing a post about the next portion of TAM 7 – which was a discussion between Jamy Ian Swiss and James Randi accompanied by various video clips.I'm trying to see if I can find any of the clips on line. Not having much luck thus far, honestly. But I did find this.Randi speaking briefly at the opening reception.Once again I am WAY out of sequence.</summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/feeds/938590947109584570/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/2009/08/this-just-in.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2485513185408093668/posts/default/938590947109584570'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2485513185408093668/posts/default/938590947109584570'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/2009/08/this-just-in.html' title='This Just In'/><author><name>Jedi School Drop Out</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/10308801339937940368</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='25' src='http://farm1.static.flickr.com/59/205881255_065703c565_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2485513185408093668.post-411162237230470848</id><published>2009-07-28T15:58:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-07-28T16:46:46.673-07:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='reed esau'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='stop sylvia browne'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='robert lancaster'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='skepticamp'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='lunch'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='jref scholarships'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='sylvia browne'/><title type='text'>Robert Lancaster goes into lunch</title><summary type='text'>Next up, Phil Plait talked briefly about JREF scholarships. If memory serves, there were over 40 of them - more than 40 people attending TAM on scholarship. 4% - I'd call that pretty good, myself.He then turned the floor over to Robert Lancaster.I have to admit that this is where writing gets tough. I feel like a bit of an ass talking about it at all, but I really want to make some effort to tell</summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/feeds/411162237230470848/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/robert-lancaster-goes-into-lunch.html#comment-form' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2485513185408093668/posts/default/411162237230470848'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2485513185408093668/posts/default/411162237230470848'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/robert-lancaster-goes-into-lunch.html' title='Robert Lancaster goes into lunch'/><author><name>Jedi School Drop Out</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/10308801339937940368</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='25' src='http://farm1.static.flickr.com/59/205881255_065703c565_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2485513185408093668.post-8118551199389388033</id><published>2009-07-26T22:14:00.001-07:00</published><updated>2009-07-26T22:14:51.860-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Fintan Steele</title><summary type='text'>Dear me, this IS going slowly.  I shouldn't be too surprised I suppose.  I do have a lot on my plate.  Starting the Asshole Skeptic blog; finishing Beast of Bottomless Lake; doing final re-writes on another project; having a life; earning a living – the list goes on.Here we are two full weeks after TAM (At about this exact hour two weeks ago I was standing in line at McCarran airport wondering </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/feeds/8118551199389388033/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/fintan-steele.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2485513185408093668/posts/default/8118551199389388033'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2485513185408093668/posts/default/8118551199389388033'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/fintan-steele.html' title='Fintan Steele'/><author><name>Jedi School Drop Out</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/10308801339937940368</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='25' src='http://farm1.static.flickr.com/59/205881255_065703c565_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2485513185408093668.post-1151960453817208838</id><published>2009-07-23T10:45:00.001-07:00</published><updated>2009-07-24T00:26:54.980-07:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='video'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='mdc'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='dousing'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='connie sonne'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='million dollar challenge'/><title type='text'>Connie Sonne follow-up the JREF video</title><summary type='text'>Not much to say here.  The JREF has released the video of the Connie Sonne MDC preliminary test.I'm linking them here for ease of reference to my other post about it.PART 1  PART 2  PART 3  PART 4  Riveting, huh?And the press conference on Skeptic Zone #40</summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/feeds/1151960453817208838/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/connie-sonne-follow-up-jref-video.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2485513185408093668/posts/default/1151960453817208838'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2485513185408093668/posts/default/1151960453817208838'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/connie-sonne-follow-up-jref-video.html' title='Connie Sonne follow-up the JREF video'/><author><name>Jedi School Drop Out</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/10308801339937940368</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='25' src='http://farm1.static.flickr.com/59/205881255_065703c565_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2485513185408093668.post-3985632771152280174</id><published>2009-07-21T22:47:00.001-07:00</published><updated>2009-08-10T10:48:13.925-07:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='james randi'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='hal bidlack'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='phil plait'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='james randi educational foundation'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='TAM7'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='tam london'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='TAM'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='million dollar challenge'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='jref'/><title type='text'>At Long Last, the Beginning</title><summary type='text'>Finally, after much Tarantinoesque discontinuity, here I am at the beginning.At roughly 9am Hal Bidlack took the stage announcing himself as the host (as he is every year) for the next 55 hours worth of content.He did a quick straw poll of how many people were attending TAM for the first time.The answer – a lot. Somewhere between a third and half. I expect that a lot of Trans-Atlantic skeptics </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/feeds/3985632771152280174/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/at-long-last-beginning.html#comment-form' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2485513185408093668/posts/default/3985632771152280174'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2485513185408093668/posts/default/3985632771152280174'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/at-long-last-beginning.html' title='At Long Last, the Beginning'/><author><name>Jedi School Drop Out</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/10308801339937940368</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='25' src='http://farm1.static.flickr.com/59/205881255_065703c565_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2485513185408093668.post-5118761037302742492</id><published>2009-07-21T17:09:00.001-07:00</published><updated>2009-07-21T17:33:00.804-07:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='The Big Bang Theory'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='bill prady'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Amazing Meeting'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='TAM7'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='keynote'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='TAM'/><title type='text'>Prady Disappointing</title><summary type='text'>Okay, so clearly I am an unreliable liar.I'm skipping ahead again... though only barely this time.I'm skipping Hal Bidlack's emcee greeting, and Phil Plait &amp; James Randi's combined opening president &amp; founder's address and going right to the Keynote speaker – Bill Prady.I'm skipping ahead because Bill Prady's keynote has been causing not a small amount of controversy on-line in the past few days.</summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/feeds/5118761037302742492/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/okay-so-clearly-i-am-unreliable-liar.html#comment-form' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2485513185408093668/posts/default/5118761037302742492'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2485513185408093668/posts/default/5118761037302742492'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/okay-so-clearly-i-am-unreliable-liar.html' title='Prady Disappointing'/><author><name>Jedi School Drop Out</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/10308801339937940368</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='25' src='http://farm1.static.flickr.com/59/205881255_065703c565_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2485513185408093668.post-9121066618996616842</id><published>2009-07-20T15:42:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-07-20T16:02:16.820-07:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='skeptical thought'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='asshole skepticism'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='skepticism'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='militant skepticism'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='skeptic'/><title type='text'>"Confessions of an Asshole Skeptic" finds a life of it's own</title><summary type='text'>Previously in this blog I did an entry about my thoughts on "Asshole Skepticism" and when I was at TAM I found myself in a number of conversations about the idea.  It was an interesting mix of views.  Some of my thoughts were echoed, some were expanded upon, some were recieved with caution and others were refuted - occassionally with a vehemence that was an ironic display of, you guessed it, </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/feeds/9121066618996616842/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/confessions-of-asshole-skeptic-finds.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2485513185408093668/posts/default/9121066618996616842'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2485513185408093668/posts/default/9121066618996616842'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/confessions-of-asshole-skeptic-finds.html' title='&quot;Confessions of an Asshole Skeptic&quot; finds a life of it&apos;s own'/><author><name>Jedi School Drop Out</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/10308801339937940368</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='25' src='http://farm1.static.flickr.com/59/205881255_065703c565_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2485513185408093668.post-1920593187821166086</id><published>2009-07-18T12:47:00.001-07:00</published><updated>2009-07-18T12:51:18.543-07:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='skepchick'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='conference'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='evan bernstein'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='sid rodriguez'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='jay novella'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Skeptics&apos; guide to the universe'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='rebecca watson'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='phil plait'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='podcast'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='TAM7'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='SGU'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='TAM'/><title type='text'>Skeptics’ Guide to the Universe Breakfast Shows</title><summary type='text'>Once again my intention to move sequentially has been scuttled by a lack of foresight.  Because the Skeptics' Guide to the Universe was recorded over the course of Friday and Saturday morning breakfasts, and the entire show was posted in their podcast feed today, I'll cover both in one shot here and now.Friday morning began really early.I dragged myself out of bed around 6:30 am after having laid</summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/feeds/1920593187821166086/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/skeptics-guide-to-universe-breakfast.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2485513185408093668/posts/default/1920593187821166086'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2485513185408093668/posts/default/1920593187821166086'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/skeptics-guide-to-universe-breakfast.html' title='Skeptics’ Guide to the Universe Breakfast Shows'/><author><name>Jedi School Drop Out</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/10308801339937940368</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='25' src='http://farm1.static.flickr.com/59/205881255_065703c565_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2485513185408093668.post-723639813442008185</id><published>2009-07-18T10:21:00.001-07:00</published><updated>2009-07-18T10:28:43.823-07:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='mdc'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Amazing Meeting'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='banacheck'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='TAM7'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='dousing'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='connie sonne'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='TAM'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='million dollar challenge'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='jref'/><title type='text'>The Adventures of Connie Sonne &amp; the Million Dollar Challenge</title><summary type='text'>The Amazing Meeting wrapped up with a live "Million Dollar Challenge."I'm skipping ahead to it for a variety of reasons – for starters, it's the part of the conference that has garnered the most attention on the JREF forums; so there is a lot of dialogue out there about it already.As I explain in the video diary entry, we weren't allowed recording devices in the room so it's the one part of the </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/feeds/723639813442008185/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/adventures-of-connie-sonne-million.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2485513185408093668/posts/default/723639813442008185'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2485513185408093668/posts/default/723639813442008185'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/adventures-of-connie-sonne-million.html' title='The Adventures of Connie Sonne &amp;amp; the Million Dollar Challenge'/><author><name>Jedi School Drop Out</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/10308801339937940368</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='25' src='http://farm1.static.flickr.com/59/205881255_065703c565_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2485513185408093668.post-360156207058793651</id><published>2009-07-16T21:12:00.001-07:00</published><updated>2009-07-16T21:12:33.766-07:00</updated><title type='text'>I don’t make mistakes.  I make lessons.</title><summary type='text'>Okay, so my experiment is a bit off the rails.The audio I have is unpublishable – which is okay, I can still use it as a guide for writing about the conference, but not ideal.The video I took is... who knows... I'm a bit in a corner on it as I'm having a technical issue – not an insurmountable one, but a very real one.  How dare firewire become obsolete?  It could be weeks before I capture the </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/feeds/360156207058793651/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/i-dont-make-mistakes-i-make-lessons.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2485513185408093668/posts/default/360156207058793651'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2485513185408093668/posts/default/360156207058793651'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/i-dont-make-mistakes-i-make-lessons.html' title='I don’t make mistakes.  I make lessons.'/><author><name>Jedi School Drop Out</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/10308801339937940368</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='25' src='http://farm1.static.flickr.com/59/205881255_065703c565_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2485513185408093668.post-2887420042371696483</id><published>2009-07-15T11:47:00.001-07:00</published><updated>2009-07-15T13:34:47.465-07:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='radio freethinkers'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='podcast'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Beast of bottomless lake'/><title type='text'>Interview on Radio Freethinkers</title><summary type='text'>The day after returning from The Amazing Meeting I was interviewed on Radio Freethinkers.All episodes appear on the feed page, so the longer after the publish date of this post, the further down the page you'll have to scroll.  For (relative) ease it's the July 14th 2009 episode, episode #17.It was their cryptozoology episode, so naturally we talked about The Beast of Bottomless Lake.</summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/feeds/2887420042371696483/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/interview-on-radio-freethinkers.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2485513185408093668/posts/default/2887420042371696483'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2485513185408093668/posts/default/2887420042371696483'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/interview-on-radio-freethinkers.html' title='Interview on Radio Freethinkers'/><author><name>Jedi School Drop Out</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/10308801339937940368</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='25' src='http://farm1.static.flickr.com/59/205881255_065703c565_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2485513185408093668.post-8742153764616798464</id><published>2009-07-13T19:59:00.001-07:00</published><updated>2009-07-15T13:33:00.520-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Decompressing from TAM</title><summary type='text'>Jodie messaged me this morning asking if I felt like my 'vacation' had lasted longer than four days.  While I enjoyed the hell out of my long weekend, it doesn't really match my definition of 'vacation.'I've already mentioned that sleep has been a precious commodity for me this past week.  Last night I finally slept solidly more than four hours – six in fact and that leaves me feeling positively </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/feeds/8742153764616798464/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/decompressing-from-tam.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2485513185408093668/posts/default/8742153764616798464'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2485513185408093668/posts/default/8742153764616798464'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/decompressing-from-tam.html' title='Decompressing from TAM'/><author><name>Jedi School Drop Out</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/10308801339937940368</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='25' src='http://farm1.static.flickr.com/59/205881255_065703c565_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2485513185408093668.post-4052823088063613489</id><published>2009-07-13T01:43:00.002-07:00</published><updated>2009-07-18T12:52:04.242-07:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='vegas'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='skepchick'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='wedding'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='sid rodriguez'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='jay novella'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Skeptics&apos; guide to the universe'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='rebecca watson'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='TAM7'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='SGU'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='TAM'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='las vegas'/><title type='text'>A Pair of Highlights - SGU Live Taping / Watson &amp; Rodriguez Wedding</title><summary type='text'>I mentioned this earlier. I don't want to post any extended clips that I videoed as it was clearly stated that any recordoing was to be for personal use only.  So here's the link from the USTREAM broadcast of the event.It's the Saturday Morning Skeptics Guide to the Universe taping.  It begins with Jay's ghost hunting parody movie, and then Rebecca Watson being ambushed in the Q &amp; A session at </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/feeds/4052823088063613489/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/pair-of-highlights-sgu-live-taping.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2485513185408093668/posts/default/4052823088063613489'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2485513185408093668/posts/default/4052823088063613489'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/pair-of-highlights-sgu-live-taping.html' title='A Pair of Highlights - SGU Live Taping / Watson &amp; Rodriguez Wedding'/><author><name>Jedi School Drop Out</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/10308801339937940368</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='25' src='http://farm1.static.flickr.com/59/205881255_065703c565_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2485513185408093668.post-6292185577022513735</id><published>2009-07-13T01:43:00.001-07:00</published><updated>2009-07-13T01:44:16.736-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Home</title><summary type='text'>Made it.So much to catch up on.Could have frikken Twittered this.</summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/feeds/6292185577022513735/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/home.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2485513185408093668/posts/default/6292185577022513735'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2485513185408093668/posts/default/6292185577022513735'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/home.html' title='Home'/><author><name>Jedi School Drop Out</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/10308801339937940368</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='25' src='http://farm1.static.flickr.com/59/205881255_065703c565_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2485513185408093668.post-91847244219020967</id><published>2009-07-12T16:53:00.001-07:00</published><updated>2009-07-12T16:53:34.620-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Flight Delayed</title><summary type='text'>I'm sick of the noise of Vegas.  The incessant slot machine racket and the boorish yahoos behind me who I'm guessing are leftovers from the UFC event last night.  Why won't they all just shut up!?!?!And the flight is delayed.  It's going to be dodgy making it to our connecting flight.</summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/feeds/91847244219020967/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/flight-delayed.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2485513185408093668/posts/default/91847244219020967'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2485513185408093668/posts/default/91847244219020967'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/flight-delayed.html' title='Flight Delayed'/><author><name>Jedi School Drop Out</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/10308801339937940368</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='25' src='http://farm1.static.flickr.com/59/205881255_065703c565_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2485513185408093668.post-1211278417565165328</id><published>2009-07-12T16:47:00.001-07:00</published><updated>2009-07-12T16:47:33.980-07:00</updated><title type='text'>TAM7 Ends With a Case Study in Why a Skeptical Cable Network Would Fail</title><summary type='text'>Don't get me wrong.  TAM was a LOT of fun.  But it was not without issues – like the one which has prevented me from blogging pretty much throughout.I have kept a lot of notes and have a wealth of media from it to get around to posting, but it's going to take some time to organize it all.I will try to start posting immediately.  I'll keep it accurate as possible and try to recapture my emotional </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/feeds/1211278417565165328/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/tam7-ends-with-case-study-in-why.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2485513185408093668/posts/default/1211278417565165328'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2485513185408093668/posts/default/1211278417565165328'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/tam7-ends-with-case-study-in-why.html' title='TAM7 Ends With a Case Study in Why a Skeptical Cable Network Would Fail'/><author><name>Jedi School Drop Out</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/10308801339937940368</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='25' src='http://farm1.static.flickr.com/59/205881255_065703c565_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2485513185408093668.post-1066398023485587540</id><published>2009-07-10T00:04:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-07-10T00:11:29.603-07:00</updated><title type='text'>The First Night</title><summary type='text'>Okay... that was cool.So the short version is:Our room number is 2012 and everyone thinks that's funny.I walked right into Brian Brushwood at the opening reception.  Had an excellent chat about passionate skepticism and podcasting and magic.At the Canadian contingent meeting Paul was a star. His professional trials stole the show.  A BIG round of applause.  Very cool.Screened "Beast" to about a </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/feeds/1066398023485587540/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/first-night.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2485513185408093668/posts/default/1066398023485587540'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2485513185408093668/posts/default/1066398023485587540'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/first-night.html' title='The First Night'/><author><name>Jedi School Drop Out</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/10308801339937940368</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='25' src='http://farm1.static.flickr.com/59/205881255_065703c565_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2485513185408093668.post-3713525310618802146</id><published>2009-07-09T16:11:00.001-07:00</published><updated>2009-07-15T11:38:42.223-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Room 2012</title><summary type='text'>Go figure.The end of the Mayan calendar.  Hysterical.At least it'll be easy for people to remember the room number for the "Beast..." screening – 8:30 tonight, simultaneous to the magic show.Have already shook hands with Yau-Man Chan and introduced myself to Joe Nickell (he recalled hearing about the movie – tied it to Moby Dick, proving his knowledge) had a good but short chat.Seen a few other </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/feeds/3713525310618802146/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/room-2012.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2485513185408093668/posts/default/3713525310618802146'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2485513185408093668/posts/default/3713525310618802146'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/room-2012.html' title='Room 2012'/><author><name>Jedi School Drop Out</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/10308801339937940368</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='25' src='http://farm1.static.flickr.com/59/205881255_065703c565_m.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3447/3723458339_ef55d5aa9b_t.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2485513185408093668.post-7459572739795054275</id><published>2009-07-09T16:08:00.001-07:00</published><updated>2009-07-09T16:08:03.906-07:00</updated><title type='text'>37823ft...somewhere near the Oregon/Nevada Border – though I can’t see a line painted on the ground from up here.</title><summary type='text'>The flight is filled with people attending the big UFC event in Vegas.  I got lucky.  Many of these folks are BIG.  Not too many are the pound-packing tubs'o'lard that I really hate sitting beside, but a lot are heavily muscled pound-packers who look to be wanna be Brock Lesnars.  No, I'm the widest load in these three seats.Got lucky and got the window seat.  The lady at check-in told me it was </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/feeds/7459572739795054275/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/37823ftsomewhere-near-oregonnevada.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2485513185408093668/posts/default/7459572739795054275'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2485513185408093668/posts/default/7459572739795054275'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/37823ftsomewhere-near-oregonnevada.html' title='37823ft...somewhere near the Oregon/Nevada Border – though I can’t see a line painted on the ground from up here.'/><author><name>Jedi School Drop Out</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/10308801339937940368</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='25' src='http://farm1.static.flickr.com/59/205881255_065703c565_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2485513185408093668.post-2473248736433738494</id><published>2009-07-09T09:57:00.001-07:00</published><updated>2009-07-09T09:57:45.281-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Gate 83</title><summary type='text'>Checking in... no line up.Immigration... no line up at any of the three stages.Security... no line up.Tim Horton's coffee... 20 minute line up.I've twittered my arrival time for McCarran and hoping someone identifies my t-shirt at the Airport and we can share a cab.  I found out too late that reservations for the shuttle need to be made 24 hours in advance – DOH!  Called to reserve and they </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/feeds/2473248736433738494/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/gate-83.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2485513185408093668/posts/default/2473248736433738494'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2485513185408093668/posts/default/2473248736433738494'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/gate-83.html' title='Gate 83'/><author><name>Jedi School Drop Out</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/10308801339937940368</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='25' src='http://farm1.static.flickr.com/59/205881255_065703c565_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2485513185408093668.post-8600386817639614379</id><published>2009-07-09T07:03:00.001-07:00</published><updated>2009-07-09T07:03:24.417-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Can’t Sleep</title><summary type='text'>Couldn't sleep 'til after 2am and I still woke up of my own accord before 6.  I'm more anxious/excited than I realized.  Fortunately I am able to function quite well on less than six hours of sleep a night for weeks on end.  Eventually I crash and catch up, whether it's on my terms or not, but I'm far from that point this weekend as it happened last on this past Sunday.Got up and took care of a </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/feeds/8600386817639614379/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/cant-sleep.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2485513185408093668/posts/default/8600386817639614379'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2485513185408093668/posts/default/8600386817639614379'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/cant-sleep.html' title='Can’t Sleep'/><author><name>Jedi School Drop Out</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/10308801339937940368</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='25' src='http://farm1.static.flickr.com/59/205881255_065703c565_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2485513185408093668.post-5996377130163974253</id><published>2009-07-07T13:17:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-07-07T13:28:55.547-07:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='South Point'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='internet'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='TAM7'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='wifi'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='TAM'/><title type='text'>A Few Flies in the Ointment</title><summary type='text'>I've found out a few things over the last day that will get in the way of doing this smoothly, but I guess that's just part of the learning curve...For starters - and this is really just common sense and not really a surprise:The sessions in the conference while allowing for recording, those recordings are intended to be used for personal use only.  Totally understandable, that one.  That will </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/feeds/5996377130163974253/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/few-flies-in-he-ointment.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2485513185408093668/posts/default/5996377130163974253'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2485513185408093668/posts/default/5996377130163974253'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/few-flies-in-he-ointment.html' title='A Few Flies in the Ointment'/><author><name>Jedi School Drop Out</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/10308801339937940368</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='25' src='http://farm1.static.flickr.com/59/205881255_065703c565_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2485513185408093668.post-7654750613486045127</id><published>2009-07-06T21:30:00.001-07:00</published><updated>2009-07-06T23:44:34.350-07:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='david brin'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='escape pod'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='fiction'/><title type='text'>Speaking of Asshole Skeptics....</title><summary type='text'>Funny that I should come across this the same day I made my previous post...THOSE EYESSome good fictional skepticism from one of my favourite authors, David Brin.  I'm not too jazzed on the 'alien voice' in the reading - it's annoying to listen to.And as for the 'asshole skeptic' opinion of the host at the end... well that's jsut a touch of irony.</summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/feeds/7654750613486045127/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/speaking-of-asshole-skeptics.html#comment-form' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2485513185408093668/posts/default/7654750613486045127'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2485513185408093668/posts/default/7654750613486045127'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/speaking-of-asshole-skeptics.html' title='Speaking of Asshole Skeptics....'/><author><name>Jedi School Drop Out</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/10308801339937940368</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='25' src='http://farm1.static.flickr.com/59/205881255_065703c565_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2485513185408093668.post-2906815718485433937</id><published>2009-07-06T14:05:00.001-07:00</published><updated>2009-08-10T10:40:14.067-07:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='atheism'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='penn'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='anne coulter'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='teller'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='dawkins'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='penn and teller'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='militant atheism'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='skepticism'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='militant skepticism'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='bad skeptic'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='michael moore'/><title type='text'>Confessions of an Asshole Skeptic</title><summary type='text'>I used to think of myself as a 'bad skeptic' – actually I AM a bad skeptic in a host of ways, but that's beside the point.  I used to think of myself as that particular type of bad skeptic that can't express their skeptical opinions without coming across as a dickhead.This is a pretty common stage for freshly minted skeptics to go through, so I don't feel particularly self-victimized or otherwise</summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/feeds/2906815718485433937/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/confessions-of-asshole-skeptic.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2485513185408093668/posts/default/2906815718485433937'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2485513185408093668/posts/default/2906815718485433937'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/confessions-of-asshole-skeptic.html' title='Confessions of an Asshole Skeptic'/><author><name>Jedi School Drop Out</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/10308801339937940368</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='25' src='http://farm1.static.flickr.com/59/205881255_065703c565_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2485513185408093668.post-8374085655307439967</id><published>2009-07-05T23:38:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-07-05T23:43:50.103-07:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='rational thinking'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='atheism'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='skeptical thought'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='video diary'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='rational thought'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='skeptic'/><title type='text'>On Becoming a Skeptic</title><summary type='text'>I figured that this was a personal story and that it would be better suited for a (rather long-winded) video diary.  I had to put the process to the test at some point, better now than at TAM.It's a quick overview of how I became a skeptic.Despite what I say in the beginning of it... I really hope I can get better quality down the line.  YUCK!</summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/feeds/8374085655307439967/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/on-becoming-skeptic.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2485513185408093668/posts/default/8374085655307439967'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2485513185408093668/posts/default/8374085655307439967'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/on-becoming-skeptic.html' title='On Becoming a Skeptic'/><author><name>Jedi School Drop Out</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/10308801339937940368</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='25' src='http://farm1.static.flickr.com/59/205881255_065703c565_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2485513185408093668.post-5302641097661984151</id><published>2009-07-04T14:50:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-07-04T14:54:19.854-07:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='humour'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='skepticism'/><title type='text'>A Brief Summary of How to Identify the Unexplained</title><summary type='text'>If it's below you: It's a Lake MonsterIf it's on the ground: It's a SasquatchIf it's floating above the ground: It's a GhostIf it's between your head and the clouds: It's a UFOIf it's beyond that: It's God</summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/feeds/5302641097661984151/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/brief-summary-of-how-to-identify.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2485513185408093668/posts/default/5302641097661984151'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2485513185408093668/posts/default/5302641097661984151'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/brief-summary-of-how-to-identify.html' title='A Brief Summary of How to Identify the Unexplained'/><author><name>Jedi School Drop Out</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/10308801339937940368</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='25' src='http://farm1.static.flickr.com/59/205881255_065703c565_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2485513185408093668.post-2717430924946630751</id><published>2009-07-03T11:16:00.001-07:00</published><updated>2009-07-03T11:21:23.160-07:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='webcam'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='video'/><title type='text'>Annoying video issue...</title><summary type='text'>I don't know what's up with my webcam, but it is suddenly not behaving.  Hopefully I can solve this before next Thursday.  If not there are some work arounds - I do have two other video options available - just not as convenient for immediate personal recording and posting.For some reason when I turn it on it spends a moment in the standard recording mode, then after a few seconds it switches to </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/feeds/2717430924946630751/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/annoying-video-issue.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2485513185408093668/posts/default/2717430924946630751'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2485513185408093668/posts/default/2717430924946630751'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/annoying-video-issue.html' title='Annoying video issue...'/><author><name>Jedi School Drop Out</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/10308801339937940368</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='25' src='http://farm1.static.flickr.com/59/205881255_065703c565_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2485513185408093668.post-2032911667989965740</id><published>2009-07-02T15:39:00.001-07:00</published><updated>2009-07-02T15:39:58.730-07:00</updated><title type='text'>My Approximate Schedule</title><summary type='text'>There is little doubt that my schedule will morph over the course of the weekend, and really, I'm not sure what the point of posting it in advance here is, but just for yuks...I'll be departing Vancouver Thursday morning (less than a week to go now!) - arriving in Las Vegas a little after 1pm.  By that time the Science Based Medicine Conference will be well under-way.  It's a bit of an add-on to </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/feeds/2032911667989965740/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/my-approximate-schedule.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2485513185408093668/posts/default/2032911667989965740'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2485513185408093668/posts/default/2032911667989965740'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/my-approximate-schedule.html' title='My Approximate Schedule'/><author><name>Jedi School Drop Out</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/10308801339937940368</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='25' src='http://farm1.static.flickr.com/59/205881255_065703c565_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2485513185408093668.post-6482130355213652862</id><published>2009-07-02T12:23:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-07-18T12:52:50.413-07:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='brian brushwood'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Skeptics&apos; guide to the universe'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='magic'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='skepticality'/><title type='text'>Cool News...</title><summary type='text'>Brian Brushwood has done interviews on two of the major skeptical podcasts in the past week.  I've been watching his podcast - Scam School - for months now.  I enjoy trying to figure out the puzzles myself (and usually fail).  I try to learn all the card tricks... I'm lousy at card tricks, but I can (and do) carry a deck of cards with me all the time, 'cause you never know when a card trick will </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/feeds/6482130355213652862/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/cool-news.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2485513185408093668/posts/default/6482130355213652862'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2485513185408093668/posts/default/6482130355213652862'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/cool-news.html' title='Cool News...'/><author><name>Jedi School Drop Out</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/10308801339937940368</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='25' src='http://farm1.static.flickr.com/59/205881255_065703c565_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2485513185408093668.post-2771253958727281379</id><published>2009-07-01T12:54:00.001-07:00</published><updated>2009-07-01T12:54:38.979-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Why am I going to TAM?</title><summary type='text'>I've been aware of TAM for about a year and a half now – roughly as long as I've been aware that there is a (semi-orgainized) skeptical movement in the world.I considered going last year, though I can't recall exactly why I didn't... I think (ironically) because I thought I was too busy with my movie.  So here is it a year later and I'm in the final weeks of post-production on the film and I'm </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/feeds/2771253958727281379/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/why-am-i-going-to-tam.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2485513185408093668/posts/default/2771253958727281379'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2485513185408093668/posts/default/2771253958727281379'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/why-am-i-going-to-tam.html' title='Why am I going to TAM?'/><author><name>Jedi School Drop Out</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/10308801339937940368</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='25' src='http://farm1.static.flickr.com/59/205881255_065703c565_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2485513185408093668.post-6363679703727999525</id><published>2009-06-30T15:56:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-07-01T10:33:36.836-07:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='t-shirt'/><title type='text'>NEW T-SHIRT - Entropy Wants You Dead!</title><summary type='text'>Okay, so while I'm screwing around playing with new ideas...About once a week a new idea for a funny and smart skeptical slogan hits me.I often think that I'd like a T-shirt with whatever the slogan of the day is, and maybe someone else would like them too.I've never done anything about it... until now.  So I guess this is as good a place as any to get into some crass mercantilism.  Maybe I'll </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/feeds/6363679703727999525/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/2009/06/new-t-shirt-entropy-wants-you-dead.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2485513185408093668/posts/default/6363679703727999525'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2485513185408093668/posts/default/6363679703727999525'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/2009/06/new-t-shirt-entropy-wants-you-dead.html' title='NEW T-SHIRT - Entropy Wants You Dead!'/><author><name>Jedi School Drop Out</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/10308801339937940368</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='25' src='http://farm1.static.flickr.com/59/205881255_065703c565_m.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_N_CqaWJICt8/SkqYwk3cL5I/AAAAAAAAACY/tbrpSh2YWYI/s72-c/395833848v12_350x350_Front_Color-Black.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2485513185408093668.post-5895534627639261283</id><published>2009-06-30T14:07:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-06-30T14:17:00.677-07:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='wordpress'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='blogger'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='media'/><title type='text'>After a few bumps...</title><summary type='text'>That was an un-necessary nightmare.So after more than a half day of struggling with trying to bend Wordpress to my will, I am back here on blogger.  I could probably spend a lot of time detailing the absurdity of how ineffective Wordpress was for my uses, and much of it could probably be summed up with the notion 'stick with what you know.'  Given those options I'll take the latter.So here I am </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/feeds/5895534627639261283/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/2009/06/after-few-bumps.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2485513185408093668/posts/default/5895534627639261283'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2485513185408093668/posts/default/5895534627639261283'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/2009/06/after-few-bumps.html' title='After a few bumps...'/><author><name>Jedi School Drop Out</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/10308801339937940368</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='25' src='http://farm1.static.flickr.com/59/205881255_065703c565_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2485513185408093668.post-629159758846002640</id><published>2009-06-30T10:32:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-07-01T10:30:18.080-07:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='vegas'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='rational thinking'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='rationality'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='skeptical thought'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Amazing Meeting'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='critical thinking'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='critical thought'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='rational thought'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='skepticism'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='skeptical'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='TAM'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='las vegas'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='TAM7'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='skeptic'/><title type='text'>A Platform for Experimentation</title><summary type='text'>In ten days time I'll be leaving Vancouver for Vegas to attend TAM7 - a.k.a. The Amazing Meeting.Over the past few years, like many people, I have accumulated a metric fuck-ton of media devices.  Well... perhaps 'fuck-ton' is an exaggeration.  The fact is that I can carry everything relatively comfortably in a small backpack.  In theory I could operate as a one man crew to do a variety of </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/feeds/629159758846002640/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/2009/06/platform-for-experimentation.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2485513185408093668/posts/default/629159758846002640'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2485513185408093668/posts/default/629159758846002640'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://tamazingblog.blogspot.com/2009/06/platform-for-experimentation.html' title='A Platform for Experimentation'/><author><name>Jedi School Drop Out</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/10308801339937940368</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='25' src='http://farm1.static.flickr.com/59/205881255_065703c565_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry></feed>
