TAM3 location suggestions

[DVFinn]

As one of the many pissed off and jealous because a trip to Vegas just isn't feasable right now I'd like to nominate Biloxi because:

A. The Bible Belt needs a wake up

B. Casinos/Hotels with good accomodations, conference space, etc..

C. 1 Hour from New Orleans.

D. Pretty beaches (but don't swim in the water. There's a ferry to the barrier islands where the water is cleaner.)

E. I live here.

Also I can put up about 5-6 people if anyone needs to save on hotel rates.

As a second (and probably better) choice New Orleans. Ok, so one musician got shot. It's not like we don't have more.

[HarryKeogh]

New Orleans is not a bad suggestion
1) i've never been there
2) great party town
3) i could freely use the term "show us your Ti%$" as long as i have some stupid beads

or else NYC
1) i live there
2) plenty to do
3) give the east coast JREFers a break from trekking to Vegas (i hear vegas is in a desert. yes, a desert!!!i bet most of the people attending TAM2 are in for a rude awakening, you'll get no water from me)

[ceptimus]

London. (Expensive though)

Elsewhere in England. Seaside resorts are cheap in January and have conference facilities. Brighton, Blackpool, Eastbourne, etc.

Rio. Cheap except for the air fair

New Zealand. Also cheap once you're there.

Seriously, with cheap air tickets, some of these more unlikely sounding venues could be cheaper than the USA, especially for European TAM-goers.

[Girl 6]

I vote for New Orleans!

G6

[Aoidoi]

Chicago! Cause I'm lazy! ;)

[Suezoled]

another vote for NY!

[no one in particular]

Has anyone mentioned New York yet?

[Craig]

Scotland?

[Nyarlathotep]

Reno. Granted it's int he same state as Vegas but it's much cheaper and Tahoe is nearby.

Of course the fact that I live a half hour from it in no way biases my suggestion.

Barring that New Orleans sounds good.

[Luke T.]

NYC. Definitely.

I can't go to New Orleans. I would probably relapse and start drinking again. There's just something about that place. The blues bars. Man oh man.

And outside of the French Quarter, you are taking your life in your hands.

Biloxi doesn't have much to offer except the casinos there. And New Orleans is too close. Nice beach, though.

NYC has it all. Broadway shows. Empire State Building at night. Bronx zoo. Museums of every sort. Great food! The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. David Letterman. Great food! FAO Schwartz. Central Park. Did I mention the great food?

One would have to stay for longer than the TAM to see all this stuff. It would be a shame to travel all the way to NYC and miss out on what is there.

[no one in particular]

I just thought this needed to be repeated:
Originally posted by Luke T.
NYC. Definitely. And again:Originally posted by Luke T.
NYC. Definitely.

[volant]

Another vote for Chicago.
or
http://www.ci.truth-or-consequences.nm.us/

[richardm]

Fort William (http://www.visit-fortwilliam.co.uk/fw_mainintro.html) is a splendid venue for all types of event.

[richardm]

Originally posted by Craig
Scotland?

Right! Just because it's an American-based organisation doesn't mean it has to stay in America!

[Luciana]

NYC here too! NYC has it all, it's irresistible. :) Maybe it could also be in early February, when ticket prices lower considerably everywhere?

[Craig]

Originally posted by richardm
Right! Just because it's an American-based organisation doesn't mean it has to stay in America!

Ach, it's worth a try. :p

[Eos of the Eons]

A. The Bible Belt needs a wake up



Then bring it on to Alberta!

Calgary is a lovely city...:)

[Matabiri]

Originally posted by richardm
Fort William (http://www.visit-fortwilliam.co.uk/fw_mainintro.html) is a splendid venue for all types of event.

The Las Vegas of the north!

And we'd get to push over knackered walkers and run away giggling!

[geni]

London or near london. It's such a big air hub that you can get there from pretty much anywhere with no problem the locals speak english and you would get more europeans turning up.

[ceptimus]

There is land away from the North American continent you know. Some JREFers do live in these outlying areas.

[Doubt]

Originally posted by richardm
Fort William (http://www.visit-fortwilliam.co.uk/fw_mainintro.html) is a splendid venue for all types of event.

I have been to Ft. William to do some bike touring. It is a bit small.

Ft. William does have some nice Bed and breakfast places outside of town. What is the weather like this time of year?

[Dragonrock]

Dallas, it's a fairly central location in the US. You can get from just about anywhere in the US to Dallas in about 3 hours by air.

We have one of the finest collections of strip bars in the country.

Nothing much to see except for the 6th Floor Museum, so no chance of anyone wandering away and getting lost.

Shiner Bock beer.

Practically guaranteed protests from creationist wackos.

Impressive collection of skeptics already in the area including me.

[Doubt]

I still want Toronto. More reasons:

* Canada is less expensive than the US. Although the Canuk dollar is getting stronger lately. But so is every other currency against the green back.

* It is more central to the continent than the East or West cost cities, thus reducing travel costs for the majority.

* Has a good science museum, but I have not been there since I was 13. (It was new back then.)

http://www.ontariosciencecentre.ca/groups/recgroup/default.asp

* The city is home to immigrants from all over the world. You want some sort of food from your home country? Good chance you will find it there.

* I don’t think they will fingerprint people from Brazil who show up as tourists.

* Culture. Here is a list of what is around. Includes museums and theaters (Includes a link to Second City):

http://www.city.toronto.on.ca/links.htm



* Fear of cold is remedied by connecting most of downtown with underground shops and walkways. This is called PATH. See the link for info on the 27 Km of shopping and walking:

http://www.city.toronto.on.ca/path/index.htm


# More than 50 buildings/office towers are connected through PATH. Twenty parking garages, five subway stations, two major department stores, six major hotels, and a railway terminal are also accessible through PATH. It also provides links to some of Toronto's major tourist and entertainment attractions such as: the Hockey Hall of Fame, Roy Thomson Hall, Air Canada Centre, The Sky Dome, and the CN Tower. City Hall and Metro Hall are also connected through PATH.


* Chauffeur service for skepchics by Doubt Trucking. The truck can seat 5, but it is a bit of a squeeze. I like it that way.

* X-country ski lessons by Doubt? No, I don’t know the trails up there and I am not a qualified instructor, but I have taught a couple of people to ski.

http://www.trakkers.ca/ (Not sure that link will work, but they have Sunday trips out of town by buss.)

If you have not been to Toronto, you don't know what you are missing.

[FFed]

How about a mobile TAM3?

Rent a couple RV's and drive around like John Madden.

:D

[jj]

Lake Crescent Lodge (Washington State)

Estes Park, Colorado (there's a couple of large, nice hotels up there, it will have to be summer)

Gardiner, Montana (ditto the summer condition)

I'd suggest Moab, Utah, but I don't know if there's any facilities that would work there, they're mostly "rock climber" facilities.

I'd suggest Apgar Village in Glacier National Park, but I don't think the chance of finding space there in the summer is very good.

I could be a wise guy and suggest that we rent the Corn Palace, but that is so far from anywhere, even Lisa :)

Hmm. Maybe Cedar Point, OH, and we could do some exercises in altered 'G' forces on 'Millenium Force'... Naah. Stick to the ones above, sorry.

---
Edited to add:
There's also Coulter Bay Village, etc, the areas in the Tetons, but they are for a more, um, expensive class of people than I'm used to hanging out with.
Seriously, the 'Yellowstone Inn' in Gardiner has a big "barn" structure that will keep the rain and the chill off for groups, and lots and lots of rooms.

How many people are we talking about here?

[jj]

Originally posted by Doubt
I still want Toronto. More reasons:



How about Victoria or Sidney (BC, not Australia)? We could have tea at Butchart Gardens :) There are a lot of tourist facilities about the area.

[Foofer]

I would suggest either Washington D.C. or San Diego.

[Cleopatra]

Originally posted by jj


How about Victoria or Sidney (BC, not Australia)? We could have tea at Butchart Gardens :) There are a lot of tourist facilities about the area.


Why go to Australia and not come to Greece then. I assure you it's more interesting!!!!!

[rustypouch]

Originally posted by Eos of the Eons



Then bring it on to Alberta!

Calgary is a lovely city...:)

Another vote for Calgary, or at least western Canada.

[GroundStrength]

Originally posted by Dragonrock
Dallas, it's a fairly central location in the US. You can get from just about anywhere in the US to Dallas in about 3 hours by air.

We have one of the finest collections of strip bars in the country.

Nothing much to see except for the 6th Floor Museum, so no chance of anyone wandering away and getting lost.

Shiner Bock beer.

Practically guaranteed protests from creationist wackos.

Impressive collection of skeptics already in the area including me.

Sounds great to me.

[jj]

Originally posted by richardm
Fort William (http://www.visit-fortwilliam.co.uk/fw_mainintro.html) is a splendid venue for all types of event.

Yes, but when the tourist board has trouble putting up 4 of us, it's going to be really tough to put us all up, isn't it?

Besides, how do we get there, take the train, or take the bus to that forsaken bus station?

Heck, why not Lochcarron? :D Or South Ballahulish (sp?), the smoked trout at the pub there is quite good. You know, just north of the bridge?

[jj]

Originally posted by Cleopatra



Why go to Australia and not come to Greece then. I assure you it's more interesting!!!!!

Well, actually, I was suggesting Canada, not Australia, but yes, Greece might be more interesting. On the other hand, how do we get the lumber all the way down to the bay? :D

[Lavie Enrose]

Originally posted by Eos of the Eons



Then bring it on to Alberta!

Calgary is a lovely city...:)

So is Edmonton. :p :D

I would suggest Calgary, as well.

I would also suggest Newfoundland - a beauty place, and really nice people.
If TAM 3 was being held in the winter, I would suggest British Columbia where the winter is usually milder than the rest of Canada - for those who can't handle a Canadian winter. :p

Ooh! I have to go out and shovel the snow, again! This will be the third time today! It just keeps snowing! :D

[Craig]

Come on, come to Scotland.

I just took this photo of the view from my window:

http://www.caribisles.com/guana/gibch1.jpg

Honest.

[Checkmite]

CLEVELAND! I assure you, both the Cleveland Public Library and the Cleveland Museum of Art are world-class...though perhaps not as great as New York.

New York, Chicago, and Toronto are acceptable locations.

[Cleopatra]

Originally posted by jj


Well, actually, I was suggesting Canada, not Australia, but yes, Greece might be more interesting. On the other hand, how do we get the lumber all the way down to the bay? :D
I read it hastily. I thought you said Australia and not British Columbia!!I am sorry. I am not sure I got what you mean but as a Greek I can promise you a solution without knowing what your problem is. :p

Craig, what's that? A sea of whisky?

[jj]

Originally posted by Craig
Come on, come to Scotland.

I just took this photo of the view from my window:

http://www.caribisles.com/guana/gibch1.jpg

Honest.

Yeah, yeah "....caribisles.com"
I've seen InverEwe, it looks nothing like that. It does have palm trees, though. :p

[DVFinn]

New York certainly has the better museums and thetres. New Orleans, on the other hand, is the hands down winner for pure fun.

There are museums, plenty of historic sites, some of the best dining to be found in the US, the Audubon Zoo (http://www.auduboninstitute.org/zoo/), the aquarium of the america's. Jazz and Blues (some say the only true american art forms). The Garden district is worth checking out.

Of course there's the French Quarter. Not that anyone here would be interested in a place where you walk out of a bar with your drink in hand, wander thorugh the antique shops, check out a sex show, and pop back into any other bar for a refill.

There's a whole row of palm readers, psychics and other assorted mixed nuts ripe for harrasment. Performance artists, musicians, etc on every other corner.

[jj]

Originally posted by Joshua Korosi
CLEVELAND! I assure you, both the Cleveland Public Library and the Cleveland Museum of Art are world-class...though perhaps not as great as New York.

New York, Chicago, and Toronto are acceptable locations.

I suppose we could have a banquet at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, or something.

Maybe in the old CEI plant, among the biphenyls? Or over in Ashtabula on the old chemical plant site?

(Seriously, I once lived near Cleveland. I would probably be willing to go back to the sandbar north of Sandusky.

[geni]

For history museums and culture London wins hand down (it has been there far longer than any of these upstart US cities)

[scarlet_35]

I have to vote for Cleveland because well..its darn convenient for me :) and would you believe I have not been to the rock and roll hall of fame yet, shame on me :(

they might even be able to set something up at the science center as well...just an idea.

New York isn't a bad idea either, at least its closer than Vegas.

[pillory]

who cares as long i don't have to accommodate any of you my drunken friends...

[Dragonrock]

Originally posted by pillory
who cares as long i don't have to accommodate any of you my drunken friends...

umm, pillory? We're the sober ones...

[Nyarlathotep]

Originally posted by Dragonrock


umm, pillory? We're the sober ones...

Speak for yourself.....

[Soapy Sam]

Fort William? Tea and scones in Nevisport?
Awa wi yer teuchter toons!

WHIT'S WRANG WI GLESCA?
http://www.glasgow.gov.uk/

Though if we want a half way house twixt UK and US, how about
http://www.worldsbestbars.com/city/Reykjavik/

[Dragonrock]

Originally posted by Nyarlathotep


Speak for yourself.....

sorry, I was blinded by the irony of pillory complaining about drunk people.

[Craig]

Originally posted by Soapy Sam
WHIT'S WRANG WI GLESCA?
http://www.glasgow.gov.uk/
http://www.glasgowsurvival.co.uk/

:D

[jj]

Originally posted by Soapy Sam
Fort William? Tea and scones in Nevisport?
Awa wi yer teuchter toons!

WHIT'S WRANG WI GLESCA?
http://www.glasgow.gov.uk/

Depends, what colours are you wearing, Sam? :)

(Says someone who once went to Glascow with 2 rugby shirts intended to stand between the skin and the atmosphere, not to say "I want to be screamed at". I bought some new shirts.)

http://www.glasgowsurvival.co.uk/weapons/glaWeapons.html


Though if we want a half way house twixt UK and US, how about
http://www.worldsbestbars.com/city/Reykjavik/

Why not "the beautiful new hills and Cumbernauld"?

(Last time I was there, the development was being advertised on EVERY, and I mean EVERY form of medium there was. It looked like Windsor, On. Little boxes on the hillside, Malvina Reynolds incarnate.)

[!Xx+-Rational-+xX!]

Troll City!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[pillory]

troll city..come on...Troll city...why not...Troll City ...yes indeedTROLL CITYYYYYY

[sparklecat]

New Orleans, Dallas, and Cleveland all sound good to me, in that order :)

[Girl 6]

Originally posted by Luciana Nery
NYC here too! NYC has it all, it's irresistible. :) Maybe it could also be in early February, when ticket prices lower considerably everywhere?

NYC in February? Have you lost your mind, woman???!!! LOL!

I have one solid suggestion. Let's change the time of the year. Fall anywhere is good. I say we have it in October. Then we can go somewhere interesting in a low-peak travelling season and STILL have some good weather. :D

But, other than that, NYC is good.

G6

[Paul C. Anagnostopoulos]

I vote for Nawlins.

~~ Paul

[Nyarlathotep]

Originally posted by Girl 6


NYC in February? Have you lost your mind, woman???!!! LOL!

I have one solid suggestion. Let's change the time of the year. Fall anywhere is good. I say we have it in October. Then we can go somewhere interesting in a low-peak travelling season and STILL have some good weather. :D

But, other than that, NYC is good.

G6

I agree with changing the time of year completely. Winter travel can be a b!tch and three weeks after Christmas is not the best of timing considering that many of us have suffered a complete cashectomy over the holidays. Summer would be much better I think.

Here's a thought. Change it to mid-August or early September, then move it to Indianapolis, and the gamers among us can go to TAM and GenCon back to back.

[jj]

Originally posted by Nyarlathotep
I agree with changing the time of year completely. Winter travel can be a b!tch and three weeks after Christmas is not the best of timing considering that many of us have suffered a complete cashectomy over the holidays. Summer would be much better I think.


Two weeks before labor day, the traffic around Yellowstone (i.e. Gardiner) dies way, way back. You get there from SLC or Bozeman via car, and the scenery is spectacular. The prices aren't particularly high, the beds are comfortable, and you can tour the site of what might have been the biggest volcanic disaster ever to befall the earth, to boot.

You may, at this point, have realized I'm not a big city sort of curmudgeon. :)

[Upchurch]

SAINT LOUIS, MO!!!!

[jj]

Originally posted by Upchurch
SAINT LOUIS, MO!!!!

NO MO!

Too close to the New Madrid fault! :D

[Soapy Sam]

jj- I thought the original "Little Boxes on the Hillside " were at Daly City?
Bozeman- Damn fine museum as I recall (Museum of the Rockies).
Dunno if the volcanic disaster you refer to is the probable future one at Yellowstone or the entire Columbia River / Snake River/ Scablands story, but you could always take out megavolcano insurance. (Likewise mega quake cover for New Madrid- it's been a while since it moved much after all. Just think how happy the woowoos would be if a JREF convention was hit by a Richter 11).

Anyway, now we have you transatlantypes thinking about other countries, how about Baghdad? Hotels should be cheap.

Actually Estes Park I could go for. Get some skiing in at the same time. Kind of hard getting up the skyline highway in January though. And that new Denver airport-ech!

[geni]

Baghdad? Not a bad idea. Plenty of history and you never know things might have calmed down in a year.

[Zep]

Originally posted by Cleopatra
Why go to Australia and not come to Greece then. I assure you it's more interesting!!!!! Do both - come to Melbourne. Biggest Greek city after Athens. :)

[jj]

Originally posted by Soapy Sam
jj- I thought the original "Little Boxes on the Hillside " were at Daly City?

They were. That's just what the advertisements for Cumbernauld looked like, though, literally. Little boxes on the hillside...

Bozeman- Damn fine museum as I recall (Museum of the Rockies).

MSU is surprisingly good, and has at least one really substantial prof in my field there.

Dunno if the volcanic disaster you refer to is the probable future one at Yellowstone or the entire Columbia River / Snake River/ Scablands story, but you could always take out megavolcano insurance.

Oh, I'm assuming we'll see at least years of harmonic tremor first, I think that's safe, I meant the OLD disaster, the three "Yellowstone" craters, Huckleberry ridge, etc.

(Likewise mega quake cover for New Madrid- it's been a while since it moved much after all. Just think how happy the woowoos would be if a JREF convention was hit by a Richter 11).

Henh. I don't want to be sitting on all that water saturated sediment when it happens.

Anyway, now we have you transatlantypes thinking about other countries, how about Baghdad? Hotels should be cheap.

Ditto rounds for automatic weapons. :(

Actually Estes Park I could go for. Get some skiing in at the same time. Kind of hard getting up the skyline highway in January though. And that new Denver airport-ech!

No, in January you take Rt. 36, not peak to peak highway. (cringe)

Yes, and take the new Denver airport. PLEASE!

But I was proposing August. We could all go up to the tourist center in RMNP and experiment with anoxia :)

[Frankie]

Not that it matters really.

New Orleans has my vote. Scotland next.

[Zep]

Actually, I would second the move to change the DATE to either spring or autumn. That way, there would be many more potentially good locations around the world (not just the USA). I was going to vote for NYC next, but in winter...it's just not on for us, much as we dearly want to go back there and see more of it.

Other than that, La Nouvelle-Orléans.

[bug_girl]

i think we should go outside the usa, or at least very far south. but not texas [shudder]
if i'm going to spend money i don't have, i want it to be on something i'll really like.

Sorry guys, but NYC is way, way too big for me to cope with.

edited to add: if we go to New Orleans, i'll be your non-drinking buddy Luke.

[Rat]

Well, we seem to have established that, as much as people want to go to TAM, they don't want to travel there. Everyone wants it in their backyard. Never mind; I don't think I could have convinced you all to come to Leicester anyway.

The cynic in me says it's unlikely to leave the US. I agree there's lots to do in NY, but you shouldn't need lots to do.

Cheers,
Rat.

[EvilYeti]

SAN DIEGO

Best weather in the country, lots of attractions, great food, cheap, etc... etc...

[Zep]

Originally posted by EvilYeti
SAN DIEGO

Best weather in the country, lots of attractions, great food, cheap, etc... etc... ...and only minutes from Tijuana.

[Soapy Sam]

jj- you're talking to a man who once took a (rented) Lincoln Continental up Pike's Peak and over the Peaks highway (in July- I'm not totally loopy).

Actually it seems to me Denver / Fort Collins is a fairly central location in the US. (In terms of travel time rather than miles). And there's all the loonies at Colorado Springs just down the road.
(Lt.Col Bidlack NOT among 'em).

Several good microbrews around there too.

[jj]

Originally posted by Soapy Sam
Actually it seems to me Denver / Fort Collins is a fairly central location in the US. (In terms of travel time rather than miles). And there's all the loonies at Colorado Springs just down the road.
(Lt.Col Bidlack NOT among 'em).

Several good microbrews around there too.

Boulder, perchance? I'm not sure where we'd meet, perhaps when CU is not in session? Might be a hotel problem, too, since I never needed a hotel when I was there...

Btw, somebody or other, I haven't proposed places that are very close to me. :)
---
Edited to add:

Asilomar, California.

It has the facilities. It has the rooms, it has the food, it has the scenery, it's next to Monterrey, it's a State Park instead of a commercial hotel, it's next to Big Sur, ....

[!Xx+-Rational-+xX!]

Originally posted by pillory
troll city..come on...Troll city...why not...Troll City ...yes indeedTROLL CITYYYYYY

Yes, It will be irrational if it's not in Troll City because Troll City is the only choice!

[jj]

Originally posted by Zep
...and only minutes from Tijuana.

Yeah, tragic, that. :D

[Hamish]

Originally posted by ratcomp1974
Well, we seem to have established that, as much as people want to go to TAM, they don't want to travel there. Everyone wants it in their backyard. Never mind; I don't think I could have convinced you all to come to Leicester anyway.


You would have convinced me!

Just think of all the cool stuff you could do in Leicester!

Shopping in The Shires!

See the historic clock tower!

Dance the night away in Po Na Na!

Oh, who am I trying to kid?

[Soapy Sam]

jj- matter of perspective. From over here, Washington, Colorado and Wyoming all look kinda close together. Having driven across them, I know it's not quite true.

Actually, maybe Hal could find us some cheap USAF tents and we could go camp at the ' Springs.

[Roadtoad]

I'd personally second the idea of Reno. There's the convention center, which would be able to handle such a crowd, and there's also the Tahoe basin, which would have great skiing.

And, Hal? Just so you know, I could volunteer, then. Hopefully, by next year, I'll have a real job.

(Of course, the way things are going, I'll probably be an O&O. God help us all...)

[neutrino_cannon]

Originally posted by Soapy Sam
jj- matter of perspective. From over here, Washington, Colorado and Wyoming all look kinda close together. Having driven across them, I know it's not quite true.

Actually, maybe Hal could find us some cheap USAF tents and we could go camp at the ' Springs.

I second that, cause it's near me.

What about march on the Platte in Nebraska? The central flyway is a truly impressive sight, and there's nice, warm weather that time of year;) (compared to pluto, anyhow).

Hmm... somewhere near maine perhaps? Would that be any help to UK JREF members? OOOr we could go to Cuba, 'cuz it's Cuba, and I've always wanted to visit a repressive communist autocracy while oggling skepchicks.

glaaahhhhh...


Where was I? Oh yeah. What about the Azores or Canary Islands? Could be nifty.

[The Central Scrutinizer]

Originally posted by Joshua Korosi
CLEVELAND! I assure you, both the Cleveland Public Library and the Cleveland Museum of Art are world-class...though perhaps not as great as New York.


And they have that wonderful Claes Oldenburg sculpture down by the lake. Not to mention the Gehry building at Case Western Universtity, and the Cleveland Art Museum has one section of Monet's monumental Water Lillies tryptich (the others being in St Louis & KC).

[Frankie]

Originally posted by Hamish


You would have convinced me!

Just think of all the cool stuff you could do in Leicester!

Shopping in The Shires!

See the historic clock tower!

Dance the night away in Po Na Na!

Oh, who am I trying to kid?

Don't forget the Space Centre. Now not every town has one of those and Leicester does. That alone should swing it.

What people want is to get a good lungful of smelly ally, nothing on earth could compare with a good dose of the indoor market to make you feel alive.

For entertainment a day out watching people queue to park in the shires.


Tam3 for Leicester.


:p

[El Greco]

The city of the Olympic games. Where skepticism was born and flourished.

(I offer free accommodation for all attending skepchicks)

[Frankie]

Originally posted by El Greco
I offer free accommodation for all attending skepchicks
Accommodation:jaw: What sleep in your drawers?

Note for those who lack a sense of humour. Drawers as in Chest of Drawers. An item of furniture to put ones socks, pants and other such items of clothing in. As it has been jokingly remarked El Greco is a sock puppet hence humorous remark made about his drawers.

[richardm]

Originally posted by jj


Yes, but when the tourist board has trouble putting up 4 of us, it's going to be really tough to put us all up, isn't it?


Depends on the time of year. In season it does get very busy (which just goes to show what a splendid, popular metropolis it is). The weather in January isn't brilliant being mostly wet (although blue sky today!), but the weather in September/October is usually fabulous - warm, sunny, dry. And it has the benefit of being the end of season, so the hotels are quiet and susceptible to block bookings.


Besides, how do we get there, take the train, or take the bus to that forsaken bus station?


Fly to London, take the Sleeper. If enough of you came at the same time you could practically book a whole carriage, which would be great fun!


Or South Ballahulish (sp?), the smoked trout at the pub there is quite good. You know, just north of the bridge?

I know it. What's more, I know the guy who owns it - my other half works with him in one of his other jobs (this isn't a great claim to fame since everyone knows everyone, really). I'm sure we could get him to do some very favourable rates for such a prestigious event; the Ballachulish Hotel (http://www.freedomglen.co.uk/ballachulish/fg_bh_001.asp) is a big, fancy Victorian pile.

JREF could call it "The Amazing Meeting - Braveheart Edition" :D

[El Greco]

Originally posted by Frankie
What sleep in your drawers?

Cleopatra's drawers, of course. Socks don't have drawers of their own.

No, I'm not telling you what else is in there.

[Matabiri]

Originally posted by jj


Yeah, yeah "....caribisles.com"
I've seen InverEwe, it looks nothing like that. It does have palm trees, though. :p

Last holiday I took in Scotland, I took these photos.

First one's Barra airport (read, "beach"), second is the Callanish standing stones.

[Matabiri]

Well that didn't work...

Last one is Callanish, this one is Barra:

[Frankie]

Looks like I might be planning a be short holiday to that place to. I like old stones and ancient monuments it has an attraction for me.

[Frankie]

Originally posted by El Greco


Cleopatra's drawers, of course. Socks don't have drawers of their own.

No, I'm not telling you what else is in there.
I hope you had permission to let people use Cleopatra's drawers.

Did I ask you for details of her drawers?:p

Are you also saying that as a sock you have no drawers? Are all socks drawer-less:jaw:

[Matabiri]

Originally posted by Frankie
Looks like I might be planning a be short holiday to that place to. I like old stones and ancient monuments it has an attraction for me.

Second most significant stone circle in the UK, after Stone'enge, apparently.

But it's a little out of the way.

[Frankie]

Originally posted by Matabiri


Second most significant stone circle in the UK, after Stone'enge, apparently.

But it's a little out of the way.
Thanks.
I never knew that, I must brush up on my archaeological interests more often.

A little out of the way does not bother me either.

I'm amazed how many items of such interest are on in the UK. That and people go abroad when they know so little or have seen so little of their own county. I'm just glad there are no active Volcano's here in the UK. Living with Etna as a neighbour I am glad to leave her well behind. Though seeing her make a point is quite something.

[Matabiri]

Originally posted by Frankie

I never knew that, I must brush up on my archaeological interests more often.

A little out of the way does not bother me either.

I haven't read this, but I hear it's very good - Julian Cope's The Modern Antiquarian:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0722535996/qid=1074167711/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_11_1/026-0831256-9081268


I'm amazed how many items of such interest are on in the UK. That and people go abroad when they know so little or have seen so little of their own county. I'm just glad there are no active Volcano's here in the UK. Living with Etna as a neighbour I am glad to leave her well behind. Though seeing her make a point is quite something.

I had some South African friends staying with me in Scotland a while back. Every day I'd ask, "What's the plan for today?" and they'd reply, "Castles!"

[Frankie]

Originally posted by Matabiri

I haven't read this, but I hear it's very good - Julian Cope's The Modern Antiquarian:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0722535996/qid=1074167711/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_11_1/026-0831256-9081268



I had some South African friends staying with me in Scotland a while back. Every day I'd ask, "What's the plan for today?" and they'd reply, "Castles!"
Scotland has some fine castles/


I will check out The Modern Antiquarian. thank you.

[richardm]

Originally posted by Frankie

I'm just glad there are no active Volcano's here in the UK.

We do have a few cool (literally!) extinct ones though:

http://www.scottishgeology.com/images/Ardnamurchan.jpg

Why, that one is just down the road from... Fort William :D

[richardm]

Originally posted by Frankie

Scotland has some fine castles


If you're ever in the Highlands, I suggest you visit Menzies Castle, near Weem. They've been restoring it for years, but slowly. It gives an unprecedented view into what these big 18th Century castles are like on the inside. Highly recommended that you take a look, before they complete it and close bits of it off (it's highly unlikely that they'll give access to the roof space when it's finished, for instance).

[Darat]

Originally posted by Matabiri


Second most significant stone circle in the UK, after Stone'enge, apparently.

But it's a little out of the way.

Has it been "restored" as Stonehenge was?

[Matabiri]

Originally posted by Darat


Has it been "restored" as Stonehenge was?

I don't think so, but if memory serves correctly there has been a bit of archaeology - digging around the bases of the stones, and uncovering burial sites etc.

It's a pretty extensive system.

[jj]

Originally posted by richardm


We do have a few cool (literally!) extinct ones though:

http://www.scottishgeology.com/images/Ardnamurchan.jpg

Why, that one is just down the road from... Fort William :D

Whoa! Caldera go boom!

Where near Ft. William is that? I've not known it was there when I was past.

You know, it would be prohibitive travel from the west coast of the USA, but the hotel would be a neat place to have the meeting....

[volant]

http://www.molvania.com/

[SRW]

Originally posted by jj



Asilomar, California.

It has the facilities. It has the rooms, it has the food, it has the scenery, it's next to Monterrey, it's a State Park instead of a commercial hotel, it's next to Big Sur, ....

Asilomar is a great choice, it is on the coast of Pacific Grove, 2 hrs from SF, 10 min from Carmel and walking distance to Pebble beach. It would be great to time the confrence for when the Grey Wales are migrating up the coast.

Near the Monterey bay Aquarium, Santa Cruz, and San Jose.

And has the added advantage of being 10 miles from my house.

[Zep]

Originally posted by volant
http://www.molvania.com/ Did you, by chance, pinch that idea from me? :)

[jj]

Originally posted by SRW


Asilomar is a great choice, it is on the coast of Pacific Grove, 2 hrs from SF, 10 min from Carmel and walking distance to Pebble beach. It would be great to time the confrence for when the Grey Wales are migrating up the coast.

Near the Monterey bay Aquarium, Santa Cruz, and San Jose.

And has the added advantage of being 10 miles from my house.

Let's see if we can pitch this one to the power that be, eh?

It's not close to me, but I've been there, and it's very workable.

[Soapy Sam]

jj- The Ardnamurchan peninsula is the most westerly point of the British mainland, despite all the nonsense about Land's End. The photo shows basically a section through a triple intrusive centre, part of the N.Atlantic opening "Hebridean" volcanic province including Skye, Rum, Mull, The Antrim lavas in Ireland, and of course (somewhat later) Iceland.

Any caldera would have been a kilometre or several above the ground level in the photo. Great place. I spent 8 weeks there in 1976 mapping rocks and drinking beer.

[Craig]

Originally posted by Soapy Sam
...mapping rocks and drinking beer.

"...damn, I'm all out of [rocks]."

[jj]

Originally posted by Soapy Sam
jj- The Ardnamurchan peninsula is the most westerly point of the British mainland, despite all the nonsense about Land's End. The photo shows basically a section through a triple intrusive centre, part of the N.Atlantic opening "Hebridean" volcanic province including Skye, Rum, Mull, The Antrim lavas in Ireland, and of course (somewhat later) Iceland.

Any caldera would have been a kilometre or several above the ground level in the photo. Great place. I spent 8 weeks there in 1976 mapping rocks and drinking beer.

I'll be looking at a map tonight. Glad I wasn't there when it was live :)

[ceptimus]

I visited Ardnamurchan point on my motorbike. I also went to the most southerly (Lizard) easterly (Lowestoft) and northerly (Dunnet Head) points on the British mainland.

(I was bored that weekend, and it seemed like a good idea at the time.)

[jj]

Originally posted by ceptimus
I visited Ardnamurchan point on my motorbike. I also went to the most southerly (Lizard) easterly (Lowestoft) and northerly (Dunnet Head) points on the British mainland.

(I was bored that weekend, and it seemed like a good idea at the time.)

If the weather was good, it sounds like a nice way to spend a weekend.

If it was raining, that would be another story altogether. How many hours of driving did it take? I have no idea where Lizard and Lowestoft are, I fear.
---
Ok, now I know where Lizard and Lowestoft are. I would suspect that Lizard was the odd one out, yes? You had to somehow get past London?

[Matabiri]

Originally posted by ceptimus
I visited Ardnamurchan point on my motorbike. I also went to the most southerly (Lizard) easterly (Lowestoft) and northerly (Dunnet Head) points on the British mainland.

(I was bored that weekend, and it seemed like a good idea at the time.)

That reminds me of an old question:

What are the northernmost, southernmost, easternmost and westernmost states of the US?

[Rat]

Originally posted by Matabiri

What are the northernmost, southernmost, easternmost and westernmost states of the US?
As a non-American with a shaky-to-moderate grasp of geography, I'd guess Alaska, Hawaii, Hawaii, and Maine-or-somewhere-else-in-New England.

Cheers,
Rat.

[ceptimus]

I think you got east and west mixed up, but other than that, I would guess the same.

What about Newfoundland? Is that in the USA? What state?

[Shaun from Scotland]

Originally posted by richardm


We do have a few cool (literally!) extinct ones though:

Why, that one is just down the road from... Fort William :D

Wht not have TAM3 in a castle on top of an extinct volcano?

http://www.photogold.co.uk/edin41ord.jpg

[SRW]

Originally posted by ceptimus
I think you got east and west mixed up, but other than that, I would guess the same.

What about Newfoundland? Is that in the USA? What state?

Newfoundland is part of Canada. Maine would be the eastern most.

[ceptimus]

Originally posted by jj


If the weather was good, it sounds like a nice way to spend a weekend.

If it was raining, that would be another story altogether. How many hours of driving did it take? I have no idea where Lizard and Lowestoft are, I fear.
---
Ok, now I know where Lizard and Lowestoft are. I would suspect that Lizard was the odd one out, yes? You had to somehow get past London? I started at Lowestoft on Saturday morning. I had ridden to Great Yarmouth, and camped there, after work on Friday.

I rode up to Inverness, John 'o' Groats and Dunnet Head, then back to Fort William, where I camped.

On the Sunday, I rode to Ardanamurchan point,and back (which took ages, as the road is very narrow and winding) and then all the way down to the Lizard, and I took in Land's End on the way. Then back to near Exeter, where I camped again. Monday morning, I was back at work (in Warwick then).

I did about 2000 miles, (including Friday and Monday). I rode for about 12 hours on both Saturday and Sunday. I had a fast bike then (I still do now, but a different one). I'd rather not say how fast I went at times.

[DVFinn]

The motto of bourbon street as related to me by some old dunken bastard who seemed to live there.

Anything you want. Anything you don't want. Anything you need, Anything you don't need.

I'm going to keep plugging New Orleans year after year until it happens or I can afford to fly elsewhere.

Here's a suggestion. New Orleans first, then we'll try some of these other great suggestions. The advantage is clear, it's convenient for ME damn it. And isn't that what it's really all about? Lets keep our focus people.


Strippers and jugglers and beer. Oh my! Strippers and jugglers and beer. Oh My! Follow follow follow follow follow the neon lit road.

http://www.inetours.com/New_Orleans/images/FQ/Brbn/Bourbon_Nite.jpg

[jj]

Originally posted by ceptimus
I started at Lowestoft on Saturday morning. I had ridden to Great Yarmouth, and camped there, after work on Friday.

I rode up to Inverness, John 'o' Groats and Dunnet Head, then back to Fort William, where I camped.

On the Sunday, I rode to Ardanamurchan point,and back (which took ages, as the road is very narrow and winding) and then all the way down to the Lizard, and I took in Land's End on the way. Then back to near Exeter, where I camped again. Monday morning, I was back at work (in Warwick then).

I did about 2000 miles, (including Friday and Monday). I rode for about 12 hours on both Saturday and Sunday. I had a fast bike then (I still do now, but a different one). I'd rather not say how fast I went at times.

That sounds like a blast, although somewhat of an exhausting one. I won't ask how fast you went. :)

If the road to Ardnamurchan point is anything like some of the 'b' roads up in the highlands, I'm surprised it didn't take all day for that.

[69dodge]

Originally posted by jj
I won't ask how fast you went.Well, I will.

How fast did you go?

(If you ask me what's the fastest I've gone, I can honestly say I don't know. My speedometer doesn't go that high. :D)

[Matabiri]

Originally posted by ceptimus
I think you got east and west mixed up, but other than that, I would guess the same.

What about Newfoundland? Is that in the USA? What state?

Turns out that Alaska is the most northerly, westerly, and easterly (some of the islands are over the 180th meridian).

Southernmost is Hawaii.

[richardm]

Originally posted by jj

If the road to Ardnamurchan point is anything like some of the 'b' roads up in the highlands, I'm surprised it didn't take all day for that.

It's a bit heavy going, right enough. Part of the problem isn't so much the road as the fish wagons coming from Kilchoan at 60 m.p.h., with wing mirrors hanging off them :D

[Soapy Sam]

That and the fact that the tourists are too busy looking at the view to watch the road. And aye, jj, there are a few stretches with passing places. It's that narrow. Worth it though.

But that's an astonishing run for a weekend, ceptimus. Your backside must have been numb by the time you got home.

[Zep]

Originally posted by Matabiri
Turns out that Alaska is the most northerly, westerly, and easterly (some of the islands are over the 180th meridian).

I thought they bent the dateline to keep all the US islands of Alaska on the same date, and the Siberian ones the day before...or something like that.

Southernmost is Hawaii.

Do any of the US Protectorates count? What about the US South Pole base? (Which, incidentally, is another bit of US hegemony - no-one actually ceded the South Pole to the USA (it belongs to many nations), but it plonked a base there all the same and jealously guards it from all uninvited people - but that's another thread, though.)

[Matabiri]

Originally posted by Zep


The dateline isn't the meridian.

[Michael Redman]

Originally posted by Dragonrock
Shiner Bock beer.You can get Shiner in Minnesota now. Sorry, Dallas doesn't do it for me.

I would vote for New Orleans, and I would probably go.

Also, New York, Washington, Toronto, or Chicago. Glacier National Park would be great, but it's too impractical logisticly. Not everyone can take off enough time to travel that far, or spend that kind of money.

How about Reykjavik? Air Iceland is very cheap from Europe or North America.

We're making plans to go to Ireland and the UK next year, so having the meeting over there would be great for me.

Hawaii? It would be a lot closer for the Australians.

[tamiO]

It seems to me that Amazing Meet-ups are in order throughout the year and around the world.

There really should be more skeptic events and "we the forum" can make that happen! New Orleans in the Fall! New York City in the Spring? Athens someday...

Maybe with a little organization we can create more events. Randi can't attend all of them, but he may be able to make some of them?

[Crossbow]

I suggest a TAM 2.1 at my house say about a month from now right around payday week-end.

However, owing to the small size of my house I will only invite Girl 6, Luciana Inery, tami0, Lisa, Electrix, and maybe five or six others of the female persuasion.

:p

[jj]

Originally posted by richardm


It's a bit heavy going, right enough. Part of the problem isn't so much the road as the fish wagons coming from Kilchoan at 60 m.p.h., with wing mirrors hanging off them :D

Yikes! DUCK!

[jj]

Originally posted by Soapy Sam
That and the fact that the tourists are too busy looking at the view to watch the road.

Oh, sorry, that would have been me if I was there. :)

And aye, jj, there are a few stretches with passing places. It's that narrow. Worth it though.

Well, given some of the roads I was on up in the highlands, I suspect I know what you mean. Ask me about the Vauxhaul I followed to Mallaig at about 15 mph the whole way. He wouldn't pull out ONCE for anyone, either. (&(*& yellow Vauxhaul. Can you imagine all the way from I think it was Tarbet to Mallaig behind a 15 mph vauxhall driving right down the middle, through the MIDDLE of the passing zones, etc? He even made some people coming the other way back up, they were rather furious with him, not that I blame them.

Irony was, we got to the ferry JUST in time, he stopped in town for some tea, and missed the ferry. Just after they closed the gates he came zooming up (moving faster than he had the whole way), only to get stopped by the toll person, who waved the ferry off, smiling in the direction of the ferry the whole time.

But that's an astonishing run for a weekend, ceptimus. Your backside must have been numb by the time you got home.
Either numb or worse!

[jj]

Originally posted by Michael Redman
Glacier National Park would be great, but it's too impractical logisticly. Not everyone can take off enough time to travel that far, or spend that kind of money.


Granted, but Gardiner is quite possible and logistically plausable, too, and it's at the north entrace of Yellowstone. I even know where they can find the necessary meeting room :)

Glacier just wouldn't work, it would have to be Kalispell, and then the question "why" would come up immediately and for good reason. Lake Flathead is ok, but there are lots of "ok" lakes in the world, I wonder, maybe Lake Geneva? :) Oh, say, Lausanne, or that little town on the water down the hill from it?

Of course, there's that "magic springs spa" south of Kalispell... It would be fun to get Ian and Randi to visit THEM :) (I stopped there for a hamburger. It was a (very empty and inadvertantly amusing) very odd place. Hamburgers and aromatherapy on the menu, and the hot springs that cure everything out back. Hamburger was ok and cheap, though.

[Michael Redman]

Originally posted by jj
Granted, but Gardiner is quite possible and logistically plausable, too, and it's at the north entrace of Yellowstone. I even know where they can find the necessary meeting room :) Even Gardiner is too remote, I'm afraid, for TAM. It needs to be in a major air market that people can get to directly and cheaply. Otherwise, a significant portion of folks will beg off.

However, a meeting of a sub group of JREFers in the mountains somewhere might be a really nice idea. :) (Jackson, WY?)

[jj]

Originally posted by Michael Redman
Even Gardiner is too remote, I'm afraid, for TAM. It needs to be in a major air market that people can get to directly and cheaply. Otherwise, a significant portion of folks will beg off.

However, a meeting of a sub group of JREFers in the mountains somewhere might be a really nice idea. :) (Jackson, WY?)

Hmm, Gardiner is a one-hour drive from Bozeman, and Horizon flies into there rather a few times a day. I've done it.

We might have to pony up a shuttle service between Bozeman and Gardiner :)

Jackson Hole is harder to get to, I think, do you use Idaho Falls or SLC?

[ceptimus]

Originally posted by Soapy Sam
But that's an astonishing run for a weekend, ceptimus. Your backside must have been numb by the time you got home. Yup. I was knackered. I went into work on the Monday, but I don't remember getting much work done. :)

I used to do those epic rides years ago. Another time, I rode all the way down through France from Le Harvre (I got the night ferry from Portsmouth), through Andorra and across Spain to Porto in Portugal, with just one overnight stop near Lourdes. I rode right through the second night, and got to the coast at dawn. That was about 1800 miles in 48 hours (including the one overnight camping stop) I didn't use any motorways / Autoroutes on that trip either. (I did use them on the 4 corners of Britain run).

I don't think I ever went above 150mph on the round-Britain run. The bike did over 170mph flat-out. Most of the time on good open roads, I was running about 100 - 110. Near Ardnamurchan, I was only averaging about 30. :(

[Keneke]

I know I am posting late, but let me add my hearty, emphatic vote for New Orleans. It's a plane flight for me no matter what, so I am not biased because of distance. Here's a few reasons why it's a great place to have TAM3:

1. It's fun, and it's the same type of fun Las Vegas is: a grown up, edgy fun.

2. Like Vegas, It's one of the major battlegrounds of skeptical thought. Vegas has magicians and superstitious gamblers, and New Orleans has ghost stories and voodoo. In fact, I find that New Orleans' penchant for the weird and spooky a much more inviting place for skeptics to come and observe, debunk, or just soak it all in.

3. New Orleans isn't ALL the French Quarter. I've visited many different places in New Orleans, and I find the city wonderful. The city has many hotels and convention centers nowhere near the dangerous atmosphere of the fratboy-infested French Quarter.

4. New Orleans' history is very, very intriguing. I highly suggest staying and going on tours before and after TAM (if it ever gets there, that is). Cemetery tours, home tours, even ghost tours. Even a skeptic like me is highly entertained.


Oh, and if TAM never moves, go visit New Orleans anyway. I'm telling you, man!

[jj]

PROD PROD PROD

Now that y'all back from Lost Wages...

[SilentBob]

I think it's time that the TAM came to Europe!

Then you could have one in America and one in Europe?

You could hold it in Birmingham at the NEC and then you could get Uri Geller to come and Colin Fry and Yvette Fielding and her Most Haunted crew and Derek Accora and Doris Stokes (I know she's dead but we could have a séance and she could talk to us that way!)

At least that way I could come and I wouldn't have to fly and it would give the skeptic movement over here a a good kick and perhaps make Living TV show something that's not based on fantasy!

[SilentBob]

Or Derren Brown. He's good too.

[Andalyn]

As Tulsa, OK was the second runner up for this years TAM, I would like to propose it be considered for TAM 3. :)

[tamiO]

tamiO at TAMIII in Miami along the Tamiami

Did I vote for New Orleans, yet? I say N O !
It's just a 5 hour drive for me. :) I haven't been in years. It's where we used to dock when we came to visit the States on Daddy's vacation every year.

We knew we were getting close when the toilet water on the ship turned brown. :D I would watch for that and then run up topside to wave like a Queen at people along the river.

I have pictures of me being chased by angry geese in Audobon Park. Is that the name? My parents were busy taking pictures and laughing while the geese were gaining on me. I didn't realise they just wanted my bag of goose food - as soon as I dropped that they stopped giving chase.

We also have pictures of my Cousin Bobby being pinned to the wall by angry deer. We went to all the side of the road zoos and attractions while we traveled.

[tamiO]

Crossbow, I will need to know more about the schedule of events, lunches, dinners...will you have speakers?

[pillory]

Vatican?

[ca3799]

I vote for Houston (or Dallas). I don't care for New Orleans. I have never gone to N.O. and not been robbed, or had my purse stolen or my car broken into. Maybe I'm just unlucky there!!

[Colloden]

London or Copenhagen would be good.

[shanek]

http://www.charlottecvb.org/02_planners/level2_shell.asp?sect=2&subsect=1

Just dropping a little hint... :D

[Girl 6]

Anywhere in Europe would be really nice, but if we are going to have TAM3 in the U.S., I'm still hoping for New Orleans!

G6

[Colloden]

Copenhagen it is then.....:D

[Lisa]

Reality check time.
Although registration was a little more expensive this year, please remember an additional day was added and we had more speakers. The hotel was cheaper than Ft. Lauderdale, and you didn't have to take out a home equity loan to get dinner.
If you attended TAM II, please fill out the evaluation form with any suggestions. If you did not attend TAM II, but you are serious about attending TAM III, email Linda with any location suggestions. (but don't spam the poor woman, she's busy)
If you have an alternate location in mind, please consider the cost factor. For example, Ft. Lauderdale was very nice and the weather was lovely, but if you didn't drive there or rent a car, you were screwed.
Also please remember that the forum attendees represent less than half of the conference attendees. JREF is going to take the actual total into account.

[Sidhedevil]

What Lisa said. (I found myself saying that quite a bit last week!)

Remember that the most important attendee at TAMIII will be Mr. Randi. Mr. Randi is a grownup and I expect likes to have all mod cons when he travels.

Also, there are a number of VIPs (JREF Board members, etc.) who are grownups as well. The Forumites are disproportionately younger and more adventurous (videlicet Girl 6's sparkly skirt!) than a lot of the JREF core constituency.

One thing that was quite special about being in Vegas (IMHO) was the presence of so many magicians. Apart from P&T, Jamy Ian Swiss, and Lance Burton, it was also an honor to meet Jay Marshall and of course Jerry Andrus.

[citytom]

New Orleans sounds good.
Also.....a cruise ship!

No on NYC or Toronto.......not in January! A snow storm will cause havoc.