Skepticamp Colorado--June 26, 2010

[TsarBomba]

The fourth annual Skepticamp Colorado has been scheduled for Saturday June 26, 2010 in Boulder, Colorado from 8:30am - 4:00pm.

The event will be held on the CU-Boulder Campus, Duane Physics Building, Room G125 (main) and E126 (smaller).

Due to the size limitations of our location, we have a hard limit of 80 participants, so if you want to come, sign up early.

Also--if you have any ideas for speakers in Colorado who might be interested in participating, please let them (and us) know.

For more information, and to sign up, click this link. (http://skepticamp.org/wiki/SkeptiCamp_Colorado_2010)

[TsarBomba]

In only five days, half the registration slots for Skepticamp Colorado 2010 have been taken. If you want to come, sign up soon.

[TsarBomba]

Here is a list of the current proposed presentations:



Stuart Robbins - "Apocalypse 2012: Death by the Mayans, Planet X, or Pole Shifts?" - large room - 30 minutes requested
Reed Esau - "The Pathologies of 'I Don't Know'" - either room - 30 minutes - early - summary: In many cases withholding judgment is the right thing to do. It’s an honest acknowledgment of ignorance in the face of the unknown. However, "I don't know" can be abused out of fear, neglect, cynicism and deliberate deception. (Note that if it turns out I'm empaneled at TAM, I'll switch to a 15 minute talk on the rationale behind SkeptiCamp.)
Rich Orman- Skeptical Trivia Challenge.
Amy Phillips-"Why you keep getting the annoying emails with urban legends in it" and launch of research project on how skeptics use information-15 minutes requested
Mike Smith - "Ouija boards and other mystical party games." - either room, 30 minutes requested - Summary: What is the origin of the Ouija Board? How does it work? Why is the mystique surrounding it so persistent? Interactive demonstration of "Light as a Feather, Stiff as a Board."
Frank Haskett - "9/11 - Truth or Fiction" - either room - 15 minutes
Micah Chambers - "By Any Measure" 30 Minutes either room
Alan Eliasen - "Skepticalculations" - Learn to effortlessly debunk crazy claims, to understand the world better, and to make yourself look (even) smarter with a tool Alan developed called Frink (http://futureboy.us/frinkdocs/). Some "paranormal" claims will be analyzed and shown to be laughable with simple math. Large room, 30 minutes requested.
Duff McDuffee - "What Happened to the Stars of The Secret?" (covering the scams, frauds, and other weirdness in the lives of the "stars" of the movie The Secret since its release) - request the big room and 30 minutes if possible
Don Lacey - "Tetris and Knowledge" 15 minutes, powerpoint presentation - A discussion of a knowledge model based on the video game "Tetris" (this talk was presented on The Amazing Adventure 5: Skeptics of the Caribbean)
Lucia "Elles" Guatney - "Pedophiles: A Skeptical Look at Legislation and Media Hype" probably 15 minutes, probably powerpoint, and no preference for room.
Skeptics and Academic Team from the upcoming Television Series "Colorado X: Case Files of the Paranormal"- "Wielding Occam's Razor: A Skeptical Retort to TV Paranormal Investigators". 30 Mins / Powerpoint and Panel / Any Room.
Chuck Wilcox - The Shakespeare Conspiracy: Did He Really Write The Plays? - 30 min
Rocky Mountain Paranormal Research Society

[paperskater]

Just a friendly bump.

[TsarBomba]

Just a friendly bump.

There are now only four spots left out of our 80 person limit.

[Phlebas]

SkeptiCamp Colorado is always fun. Clearly the second best SkeptiCamp around :)

But 80 participants in one day? In 7.5 hours? That's like five and a half minutes each. I did not know Colorado had so many tobacco auctioneers :)

[TsarBomba]

SkeptiCamp Colorado is always fun. Clearly the second best SkeptiCamp around :)

But 80 participants in one day? In 7.5 hours? That's like five and a half minutes each. I did not know Colorado had so many tobacco auctioneers :)

So far we have 19 presentations/events planned, involving something like 27 individuals (there is a panel and two multi-person events). People are given 15 or 30 minute blocks, with one 60 minute block right after lunch. At this point we have something like one unclaimed hour in each of the two rooms--which we hope will be taken up by people who decide to actively participate at the last minute.

[Reed]

SkeptiCamp Colorado is always fun. Clearly the second best SkeptiCamp around :)

I don't know about that. Both Vancouver and Chicago have had great events this year. We're likely third best. heheh

We have a full house with three weeks to go before the event. Clearly we'll need to plan for a larger venue next time.

[TsarBomba]

I don't know about that. Both Vancouver and Chicago have had great events this year. We're likely third best. heheh

We have a full house with three weeks to go before the event. Clearly we'll need to plan for a larger venue next time.

One can only dream.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/176/388749231_6a4f7636f1_m.jpg

[TsarBomba]

The Randi Room (the large room) at Skepticamp Colorado 2010 will (hopefully) be streamed live over these here intertubes, on ustream.tv.

I don't have a link yet, but searching for account skepticamp5280 should get you there. Things start in earnest at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time (9:00 a.m. local time in Boulder).

[TsarBomba]

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/skepticamp-colorado-2010

Live streaming now up, opening remarks to begin momentarily!

[The Central Scrutinizer]

Sorry, World Cup takes precedence! :)

[TsarBomba]

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=30551255&id=1001070770Group Photo of most of the Skepticamp Colorado 2010 attendees

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs093.snc4/36005_1351921150352_1001070770_31034782_3990867_n. jpg

[AZAtheist]

I attended this SkeptiCamp. It was my third SkeptiCamp and second in Colorado. Nancy's father lives in Colorado Springs, so we're able to justify attendance by combining a visit with SkeptiCamp attendance.