What's your favorite TAM souvenier?

[kittynh]

I have my blindfold I wore in the workshop Thursday when I learned to "read" with my fingertips (or was it my third eye?). I had Mr. Randi sign it, and now I'm going to frame it.

Also, I have one of the posters Mr. Randi signed and I need to get that framed. Talk about supply and demand...if one more person asked LInda "how can I get one" or "are there any more?" she was going to bop them one. As is was people were hanging around to see if there were some that ended up unclaimed!

As usual though the best things you bring back are the memories! Mr. Randi and Jamy both did magic tricks for me! And as usual just chatting with Jerry Andrus was a total delight. Pool Boy and Ian Rowland were just fascinated with his "toys".

Of the skepchicks and the skepdudes, well, photographic proof of everyone smiling shows what great memories were made!

[Mercutio]

I have my blindfold, a bent quarter...a few other things...but none compare to my autographed Skepchick Pajama Party T-Shirt! Thanks, all of you!

[Chaos]

I have the T-shirt signed by all skepchicks present at the pajama party (including the Beiersdorfer twins). It think I´ll frame it.

[SkepticScott]

I have my signed Skepchick Pajama party T-shirt, my signed Randi poster, Penn & Teller souvenir pack, and a lot of pictures. I don't know if I want to risk wearing the signed T-shirt, but it would be a great envy-producer. ;)


The best part, though, are the memories.

[William H.]

Originally posted by kittynh
And as usual just chatting with Jerry Andrus was a total delight. Pool Boy and Ian Rowland were just fascinated with his "toys".




I've always really liked Jerry Andrus' optical illusions, is this what you mean by toys? If you have a minute, could you describe some of the items that he had for those of us who weren't there?

Thanks

[MoeFaux]

Kitty, I had something I wanted to give to you (and something for the Kittens, too), but I waited too long to give it to you. So, I'll have to mail it.

[Rose]

My crystal. After all, it was free, and I grew attached after carrying it around all weekend. I even feel healthier, skinnier and more energetic...oops, sorry, I must have been channelling one of my friends there for a moment.

I liked the certificate for attendence and plan to have it framed. Several autographed books of course(and Phil Plait was absolutely wonderful taking the time and effort to really personalize his autographs. The best souveniers I have are my memories, however fragile and ephemeral they end up being.

[Jeff Corey]

My crystal did not cure the effects of sleep deprivation and jet lag, bur I have it taped to my computer to protect it from viruses.
It's worked so far.
And videotapes of the presentations would be nice, since I don't have a DVD player.

[The Bad Astronomer]

Originally posted by Rose
...and Phil Plait was absolutely wonderful taking the time and effort to really personalize his autographs.

Pbbbt. That's just ego. He's such a jerk.

Besides the usual warm and fuzzy stuff, I think my favorite is a pen shaped like an alien given to me by The Amazing One himself. Evidently he found it and kept it on his desk for months so he could give it to me at TAMII. That's so cool I keep it next to my other outer space stuff on my shelf. :D

[The Central Scrutinizer]

Originally posted by Jeff Corey
And videotapes of the presentations would be nice, since I don't have a DVD player.

You do realize it's 2004, right?

[Mr. Skinny]

Originally posted by The Central Scrutinizer


You do realize it's 2004, right?
Hate to say it Scrut, but I just bought my first DVD player (outside of a computer) last month. Bought a nice 5 disc changer though for like $179. Seems to work well. New receiver is next on the list.

[Patricio Elicer]

Little stones from Red Rock Canyon park

http://usuarios.vtr.net/~skeptic/stones1.jpg

[kevinsbikes]

My best friend brought me to TAM II as a gift... the meeting was life changing for me. I love my crystal that Dr. Ray brought. BUT, my most treasured item that I brought back was a photo of me and the Amazing Randi himself.
When I was young and living in the heart of the bible belt, it was James Randi that allowed me not to feel like an outcast. Although I am, by nature, a loudmouth... I chose to keep my mouth shut as to not offend any persons of religion. It was seeing Mr. Randi that allowed me to be a born again Atheist. My "open mic" prophesizing of Atheism allowed me to meet my life long friend Stuart. SO, my photo of Randi and I means alot.

Kevin

[Patricio Elicer]

Originally posted by kevinsbikes
BUT, my most treasured item that I brought back was a photo of me and the Amazing Randi himself.Welcome, Kevin. Why don't you post that pic on the "TAM2 pictures thread"?

[exarch]

Well, my souvenirs include (besides a bunch of pictures of me and various skepchicks :D):

"Why people believe weird things" and the new "Good and Evil" book, both signed by Michael Shermer.
"Flim Flam", signed by Randi.
"Bad Astronomy", signed by Phil Plait.
One of the chocolate tasting blindfolds Girl 6 brought, even though I wasn't supposed to have one :o (she said I could have it)
An amethyst crystral
Probably some other stuff I forgot about right now ...

[Jeff Wagg]

I brought back a fortune cookie, and amazingly it's still intact.

[Brown]

I brought back a number of books autographed by the authors. My favorite, of course, was "Bad Astronomy," in which the author wrote the following message: "Only one book? Only ONE?? Buy at least three copies, you cheap b@$+@rd!! I have a house payment coming due. Love, Phil Plait."

I also got a bunch of Penn and Teller stuff, including the "Holy Relic." In addition, I snagged one of Ian Rowland's spoons and his magical golden envelope.

And I got some pretty good photos, and a piece of atheist, I mean, amethyst.

In addition, I brought home ticket stubs of various shows and attractions.

BTW, the above "quote" from Phil Plait is paraphrased, and the actual message may be somewhat different from what I reported.

[Jeff Wagg]

I forgot to mention that I also got one of Aye Jay's cards, through which he did, before my very eyes, make a quarter move. In fact it was my quarter and it moved right into his pocket. But I do have the card, and the knowlege that it came out of a wallet that was on fire.

[LazarusLong]

Best souvenirs:


Teller speaks! (Got it on an .avi with my digicam as he told a story about sugar packets during lunch at the Slammer.)
My amethyst from Slick. (I can't prove anything, but something changed my luck at the craps table!)
My signed Randi poster (picking it up from the frame shop on my way home tonight!)
Lots of books, photos, memories, etc.!


What a blast we had. Thanks again to all of the people we met (especially Randi, Penn, and Linda) and hopefully I'll get to know all of you forum folks better in time for TAMIII !

-Laz

[William H.]

I didn't get to go to TAM2, but thanks to Shanek's photos, I made a souvenier for myself - a set of those spinning ball bearings. I just happened to have some half inch bearings laying around, I connected them with super glue, and let them set over night. I found they they spin quite well, and the trick of blowing on them with a straw keeps them going for quite a while.

They look really cool while spinning, and have a neat sound to them also. Photos of them can be seen on here:


http://shanek.ispofusa.net/TAM2/

[PeterB]

I got one of those exclusive plaques that were given to the dozen or so speakers, but I think my favourite souvenir is just a signature.

I was a relatively new member of the committee of Australian Skeptics when I first met Randi. He came to Australia in 2000 for the World Skeptics' Conference and afterwards my daughter, who was 12 at the time, asked me if I had got his autograph. I had not.

To rectify the matter I carried my old and well-read copy of Flim Flam across the Pacific and got him to sign it for me at TAM2. I must have had the book for more than 15 years, but now it's better than new.

[Brown]

Originally posted by LazarusLong
Teller speaks! (Got it on an .avi with my digicam as he told a story about sugar packets during lunch at the Slammer.)Can you tell the "sugar packets" story?

I forgot to mention one of my odder souvenirs. The Blue Man Group uses HUGE quantities of paper in its show at the Luxor. Before the show, the show's staff distributes paper and invites the audience members to decorate themselves with it. During the performance an astonishing amount of paper is "poured" over the audience. As a result, I exited the performance wearing a large paper necktie that I had fashioned for myself from some of the paper.

And I pretty much forgot I was wearing it. I could not quite figure out why other patrons at the Luxor blackjack tables were giving me such odd stares. Later, as I went to the "cage" to cash in my winnings (yes, I did win), the cashier asked, "How did you like Blue Man Group?" and this reminded me that I was wearing the paper necktie. After that, I became a lot more mindful of how many smokers there were nearby, as they might inadvertently set fire to my "tie."

[deBergerac]

Got me some new friends, what can be better than that?

[SkepticScott]

Brown wrote, "Can you tell the "sugar packets" story?"

That's the story about the Tyvek sugar packets they were going to include in "How To Play With Your Food". The unrippable ones containing blue-dyed sand that they had to recall and remove just before the books went on the shelves.

[Brown]

Originally posted by SkepticScott
Brown wrote, "Can you tell the "sugar packets" story?"

That's the story about the Tyvek sugar packets they were going to include in "How To Play With Your Food". The unrippable ones containing blue-dyed sand that they had to recall and remove just before the books went on the shelves. Oh, yeah! Now I remember! The packets were unrippable, and the substance in them was harmless sand, but the sand had to be blue so that anyone who DID open the packet would realize that it wasn't sugar. If I remember right, government regulations prevented the packets from having real sugar in them because the country where the packets were made wasn't an authorized sugar importer.

Or something like that. Weird. All sorts of legal obstacles to a simple practical joke. (A joke, I might add, that had been previously pulled on unsuspecting diners by Allen Funt on "Candid Camera.")

I got the impression that this event inspired or contributed to a "fear of litigation" segment on the upcoming season of "************!"